Generation Gap Generation Gap | Page 18

Generation Gap 9 towards the worldly life and your spiritual progress? You should not neglect your duties. You are to fulfill your obligations, even if your son speaks to you rudely and is disrespectful towards you. What are your duties as a parent? Your duty as a parent should be to nurture and raise your child well and direct him on the right path. If he speaks to you in a disrespectful manner, and you do the same to him, he will become rebellious. Instead you should sit and explain things to him in a gentle and loving manner. There should be a spiritual understanding behind all your acts. If you do not allow spirituality to enter, something negative will enter in the vacuum. The vacuum will not remain for long. If a house is left vacant in these times, will squatters not trespass and occupy it? (P.39) What is the role of a woman in the home? All the people in the neighborhood should be impressed by the way she fulfils her duties. The true religion of a woman is to raise her children with good moral values. And if her husband is lacking in these values, she should help him with that too. Religion is to make things better for one’s family. Should one not try to make things better? (P.41) Some parents get so involved and engrossed in their religious practices and rituals that they become irritated when their children disturb them. They become irritated with their children, within whom God resides, while they continue worshipping an idol of God. How can you ever become angry with your children? There is a living God present within them. (P.41) DO NOT FIGHT IN THE PRESENCE OF CHILDREN If you are a vegetarian, you do not drink alcohol and you treat your wife with respect, your children will take note of your virtues. They will notice how other parents fight, whereas their