Live Vedanta: Parenting Culture

Virtues: Direction

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 12, we pursue Virtue #9: Atma Vinigraha (Direction) to remind us that we are more, and we can handle more. Being virtuous is the requirement to being Joy.

Episode Notes

Recap:

• Focus on the ends (to feel light), not the means (e.g. being fixated on cleaning a certain way etc.)
• When you want to commit to something, reflect on its utility. Once we know the utility, it is easy to commit. 
• The greatest utility is to be happy (independently joyous). When we are happy, everything seems easier.

How to practice Atma Vinigraha (Direction)?

1. Practice pushing back on ego, experiences, equipments so that we are left only with that which is deep (awareness).
2. Thought level: Remember that we are trying our best, we are also children, with another parent with greater responsibility than us. 
3. Word level:  Do not react to words; being quiet helps us respond more thoughtfully. 
4. Action level:. Do not be controlled by comparison; more choices (vacations, homes, jobs etc.) leads to more comparison.