TALKING TO TEENAGERS

TALKING TO TEENAGERS
BY BRIGADIER CHITRANJAN SAWANT,VSM

Indeed what a pleasure it is to visit a school and meet teenagers. The Teens feel close to me, a septuagenarian, the moment they come to know that I have had the privilege of spending three decades or so as an officer. I make it a point to tell them that I have visited the forbidden land of Tibet. Their immediate question is : have you seen where the 14th Dalai Lama lived before he fled from Tibet to take refuge in Bharat? Indeed I visited the Potala Palace and also his summer residence called Norbu Lingka. The audience sits wide eyed and rather quietly for a gathering of Teens. They don't tell me but I know that the Teens are all ears to me. They call it telepathy. I say we are on the same wave length.

CHANGING TRACK

Time was ripe for introducing Dharma. Dharma is a subject of communication between me, a Veda pracharak, and a disciple of Dalai Lama, the top Guru of Mahayan Budhism as practised in Tibet. Some call it Lamaism. Our goal is the same - realising Parmatma so that we attain Moksha or freedom from shackles of life,death and birth again. Quite a commonality between the Vedic Dharm and the Buddh Dharm. Both believe in reincarnation of soul. Both preach and practise Karuna or compassion. An inquisitive young lad shoots a question that was not expected from a teen. Quite a pleasant surprise for senior citizens like me. What is DHARMA ? Will you be kind enough to explain in a language that teens follow, he emphasised. Sure, I said and sought shelter in the lap of Manu Maharaj,the greates law maker and law giver mankind has ever come across. I did not quote the Sanskrit couplet from Manusmriti butnarrated the Ten Essentials of Dharma in simple English. The Teens received Manu well and felt one up compared to other compatriots who missed the show.

DHRITIH KSHAMA DAMO STEYAM SHAUCHAM INDRIYA NIGRAH
DHIH VIDYA SATYAM AKRODHO DASHKAM DHARMA LAKSHANAM.

Well, be that as it may, it was difficult to resist the temptation of quoting Manu Maharaj in original and then explain in English subsequently. There are TEN Elements that go to make Dharma. By the way, our entire life and behavioural pattern should be guided by Dharma. A good man does what is sanctioned by Dharma and the reverse of it is Adharma which we all should shun. This also brings us to the point , Dharma encompasses religion and scope is much wider and bigger. Religion is a statement of basic tenets and may be some rituals. The scope of Dharma is much wider and bigger. The Teens were restive by now and wanted to know the Ten Elements of Dharma. Some wished to make a note and requested me to go slow so that the class is with me. These may be enumerated thus : Patience, Pardon, Sublimation, Abstinence from Theft,Purification of body, mind and soul and Control of Ten Senses.
Intellect, Knowledge, the Truth, Absence of Anger.\
"Sir, isn't it rather difficult to follow the Ten Elements of Dharma, specially when one is as young as we are?". asked a boy who looked timid but had the courage of conviction. I agreed with his line of thinking and admired him for his expression. I replied that the very fact that you asked a searching question on precept and practice shows that you are attracted to Dharma. keep it up. I further added that Arjuna, the great archer and commander-in-chief of the Pandava army in Mahabharat had a similar nagging doubt when Yogeshwar Shri Krishna encouraged him to follow his Dharma as a kshattriya and wage war against the Kauravas. Arjuna found that practising the principle of Dharma was beyond him. Shri Krishna set his doubt at rest by advising "Practise and philosophical Detachment". Ït was the turn of Teens to know if I could quote the original words of Shri Krishna. I knew I was almost there on the ladder of success. Interest among teens of foreign origin had been aroused, it was with great pleasure that I quoted Shri Krishna from the Bhagvad Gita :
ÄBHASEN TU KAUNTEYA VAIRAGYEN CH GRIHIYTE

AU REVOIR

Many a Teen asked many a question on way of life and basic philosophy of life in Bharat. Allquestions were entertained. never mind their relevance or otherwise to the topic of the day. One of the basic rules of communication with the Teenagers is to let them talk. Let the pent up emotions be given vent to. As a mature man, speaker of the day should lend his shoulders to the youthful audience and let them put their heads on this shoulder and cry. Communication is through. The two generations,separated by difference in age, are now on the same wavelength. Well begun is half done. Now please proceed step by step and pass on the baton of the Vedic Dharma. It will be accepted with pleasure and passed on to the succeeding generation with aplomb.
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