Centre for Traditional Education is dedicated to bringing the Vedic educational concepts, methodology, pedagogy and curriculum to the forefront of our lives as a solution to issues faced by the world today.
The child is innocent and therefore he has taken the consciousness so quickly. And he appears to be previously practiced to such consciousness. Please help him more and it is the duty of good parents to help their children advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness (Letter, San Francisco, 11 Feb 1967)
“Make Vaikuṇṭha. That is my request. Teach from the very beginning of life. Just like bāla-krīḍā, Bāla-krīḍanakaiḥ krīḍān. By playing, he's becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious.… Just produce a new generation, just like Parīkṣit Mahārāja. Bāla-krīḍanakaiḥ, from very childhood. ..Kṛṣṇa-yoga, (or) bhakti-yoga, can be practiced even by a child without interfering with his natural propensities (Lecture, SB.2.3.14-15, Los Angeles, May 31, 1972)
These children are given to us by Krishna, they are Vaisnavas and we must be very careful to protect them. These are not ordinary children, they are Vaikuntha children, and we are very fortunate we can give them chance to advance further in Krishna Consciousness. That is very great responsibility, do not neglect it or be confused. Your duty is very clear. (Letter, Amsterdam, July 30, 1972)
Child should not be forced…If we want them to become great devotees, then we must educate the children with love, not in a negative way. Of course, if they become naughty we may show the stick but we should never use it…so you can trick him to obey you by making some little story and the child will become cheated in the proper behavior. But never apply force, especially to his chanting and other matters of spiritual training. That will spoil him and in the future he will not like to do it if he forced. (Letter, Ahmedabad, Dec 10, 1972)
Just like these children who were born amongst our devotees, they are not ordinary children. Because from the very beginning they are getting chance of devotional service: dancing, chanting, seeing the Deity, offering a flower, offering obeisances to the spiritual master. These things will not go in vain. Don't think (otherwise). Every account is kept. Every account… (Lecture, Los Angeles, May 10, 1973)
Atreya-ṛṣi's small child, about six months old, as soon as I shout out, "Hare Kṛṣṇa," immediately he'll laugh. (That’s) very nice. There are many such children. So all these children, they are Vaiṣṇavas, śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭaḥ sanjāyate (Bhagavad-gītā, 6.41). They are given chance to take birth in the family of Vaiṣṇavas father and mother. From the very beginning of life, they are getting encouragement. We had such opportunity. Somehow or other, we have come to this stage. Similarly, these children, they are getting opportunity from the very beginning of their life (Arrival lecture, Calcutta, Mar 20, 1975).
So far the children are concerned they should know simply four things: 1. Simply think of Kṛṣṇa always, 2. become Kṛṣṇa's devotee, 3. Offer Kṛṣṇa worship, 4. offer Kṛṣṇa obeisances. These four things should be taught and everything else will follow nicely and they will be learned persons.
There are no impediments to pleasing Him under any condition
A devotee… does not request Kṛṣṇa “Please take me back to Vaikuṇṭha or Goloka Vrindavana." No. "If You think that I must take birth again, that's all right. But only, only my request is that give me birth in the house of a devotee. That's all. So that I may not forget You." This is the only prayer of the devotee. Just like this child. She has taken birth having Vaiṣṇava father & mother. So she must have been a Vaiṣṇavī or a Vaiṣṇava in her previous life. Because this is an opportunity from the... All our children, those who are born of a Vaiṣṇava father, mother, they are very, very fortunate (Lecture, CC, Ādi Līlā, 7.91-2, Vrn, Mar 13, 1974)
If we simply train them properly they will come out just to the highest standard of Vaiṣṇava devotee. And what is that training? Simply they should be engaged in such a way that they are somehow or other remembering Kṛṣṇa at every moment, that's all (Letter, Hyderabad, Nov 18, 1972)