‘Human life is an on-going process of growth and outgrowth, my son. It evolves through stages. Each stage has its needs and special characteristics….
‘The youthful years are hungry years. There is a deep hunger and curiosity for knowledge. Youth are also very dynamic and creative. Opportunities for a value-based quality education and avenues for giving full expressions to their dynamism and creativity are the needs of this stage…The sex-urge is also very strong during the youthful years….
‘The middle age is a stage for experience of the pleasures and challenges of life. Mutual trust and support are the needs of this period. Marriage and family life can surely help one to find greater fulfillment at this stage. A human child can be brought up well only in such a secure and protective family atmosphere.….
‘The old age is more mature and reflective. It can be used best for teaching and guiding the younger generations…
‘The last stage is the time for one to prepare oneself for the final journey to the beyond…..
‘The ‘Chaturashrama Parampara’ of ancient India had divided human life into four stages. These stages consisted of Brahmacharya, the stage of celibate studentship; Grahastha, the stage of married family life; Vanaprastha, the stage of contemplative life in the forest; and Sanyasa, the stage of renunciation and preparation for the final journey. These stages could find a strong natural basis in the example of the butterfly…..
‘The larva goes through various stages before it finally becomes a beautiful butterfly. Each stage is distinct yet inseparable with specific needs and characteristics of its own…
‘A compassionate yet ignorant person may venture to help the struggling insect to come out of its cocoon by tearing open the sheath and making things very easy for it. The result would be disastrous…. It will be a fat and ugly insect without its colourful wings. It will die soon….
‘It had to go through the struggle in order to become the butterfly, a beautiful new creation,that it was destined to be….
‘This is also true in our case. We need to go through the various stages in life with its pleasures and pains, its trials and tribulations, in order to be strengthened and purified… and to become a new creation… Only then can we be instruments of God for a new creation….
‘You have learnt that gold and silver are purified by fire. Similarly, human soul is sanctified by suffering, through trials and tribulations…… This is the process of a new creation….
‘Knowledge becomes wisdom only through experience and suffering. Humility is learnt through humiliations…. Our true character can be understood only in adverse conditions. Our divinity shines forth only during times of crises….
‘The example of the butterfly also teaches us that patience and perseverance are two essential virtues and requirements for our growth, and for us to gain strength and beauty. These virtues are also essential for a life of fruitfulness…..
‘Reviving and promoting the Chaturashrama Parampara with necessary modifications to suit the present age will also be an important part of your life-mission….. This is an effective way to challenge the onslaught of materialism and consumerism…
‘Much of our problems today come from our tendency to cling on to people, things, pleasures and positions of power. Without ‘letting go’ we cannot advance and grow. This universal law allows no exceptions. Learning to ‘let go’ is also a basic requirement for one’s spiritual development….
‘People catch monkeys using narrow-necked pots with monkey nuts put into it. The pot will be tied to a tree. The monkey will come and put its hand into the pot and grab as many nuts as it can hold. But when it tries to take out its hand, it will not be able to do so because of the clentched fist with so much of monkeynuts held tight in it. The monkey will scream.. It will jump up and down. But it will not open its fist and let go of the nuts…. People will come and catch it…….
‘The monkey gets caught because of its refusal to let go of the nuts in its hand!.....We too face similar predicaments when we refuse to let go of people and things… We get caught. We get stuck…
Excerpts from ‘Integral Revolution’.
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