20
Generation Gap
and even discipline them if necessary. Those who have tried to
exercise their authority as parents have failed miserably. (P.100)
Every parent should make an effort to better his child, but
these efforts should be fruitful. Although you have become a father,
are you willing to relinquish that authority in order to improve
your child? Can you give up your belief that you are his father?
Questioner : If there is scope for improvement, all attempts
to improve him must be made without any ego, a sense of
‘doership’ or abhorrence.
Dadashri : You have to let go of the sense and the feeling
that you are his father.
Questioner : Am I to believe that he is not my son and I
am not his father?
Dadashri : That would be the best thing.
(P.101)
Some people greet me casually, while others heartily express
their fondness and call me Dada. I have devised a way to
reciprocate their feelings by balancing it out. When they address
me as Dada, I would simultaneously in my mind, think of them as
Dada, thus I would balance it out. Once I began to do this, I felt
better. I felt lighter and people were more attracted towards me.
If I think of them as Dada, my words reach them and they
feel delighted by the love and concern they receive from me. This
is indeed a very subtle and important matter, which is worth
understanding. You are fortunate to get this. If you can manage to
do the same, it will be to your benefit.
(P.103)
Questioner : The father wonders why his child does not
adjust to him.