Live Vedanta: Parenting Culture

Virtues: Authenticity

Episode Summary

Welcome to Parenting Culture, a space to learn and reflect on 20 virtues that are prerequisites to be an extraordinary caregiver. ​During Week 9, we pursued Virtue #5: Arjava (Authenticity) to become more like Arjuna, who was the most authentic, direct, honest and therefore the most ideal student to Shri Krishna.

Episode Notes

Recap:

• Two qualities that attract us to others are depth and authenticity.
• When stuck with too many priorities, check that we are working harder and smarter. Reflect on what kind of person we want to be and whether our path is leading us there.
• Invest in some alone time every day so that we begin to have faith that we are not alone and Bhagavan is always with us.
• Negative emotions are useful only if they propel us to be better. Think long-term.

How to practice Arjava (Authenticity)?

• Follow your own advice in all spaces at all times. If we are not following the path of “rightness” consistently, we are imposters.
• Model behaviour we want to see in others.
• Share based on practicality. When discussing topics such as death or mental illness, do so in a way that pushes the other person a little bit out of their comfort zone. For example, talk about change instead of death (i.e. if you depend on that which changes, you will not be happy). Be patient.