Generation Gap
79
But while eating, you should tell yourself that you need to exercise
some control. Then gradually you will really enjoy the food. It is
because you do not restrict yourself that you do not enjoy your
food. You keep searching for enjoyment in other things.
Questioner : Should we allow our children to go to these
parties? And how many times a year should we let them go?
Dadashri : People have learnt from experience and have
come to the conclusion that it is always better for girls to listen to
their parents and act according to their parents’ wishes. And after
marriage they should comply with the wishes of their husband.
Questioner : Should boys do the same? Should they also
have to listen to their parents?
Dadashri : Even boys must go along with their parents’
wishes. With boys, you can be a little more liberal and more lenient.
Your son can stay out late at night even if he goes alone, but can a
girl walk around alone late in the night?
Questioner : No, a girl would be afraid.
Dadashri : It is fine to be liberal with boys. Girls shouldn’t
have so much freedom because in general they are afraid to stay
out late. If you run into problems now, you will ruin your future
happiness. Your parents refuse to allow you to go out late, to
protect you from any unhappy consequences in the future. Your
parents caution you because they do not want you to ruin your
future.
(P.498)
Questioner : It is usually the boy in an Indian family that is
favored by his parents who generally feel that the daughters will
eventually get married and become part of another family, while
the boys will bring home money and support them. This makes
the girls feel unwanted and unloved.