Question: When my son comes home from school he has homework everyday and if he does not finish his homework he would have to miss his recess and finish his homework. As parents we insist that he finish his homework everyday no matter what, but when it comes to chanting Japa, we are hesitant to insist like that…and say no matter what, you must chant your Japa. There is a fear that we might be forcing him and that may break his taste for doing japa later on and so we don’t insist on it in the way we insist that they have to complete their homework. I have been feeling why if I am so insistent on material thinks why can’t I be equally insistent on spiritual things also. Yes, some children have a taste and aptitude for it and take to it naturally, but what about the children who do not take to it naturally? Should we just wait for them do develop that taste on their own or is it OK to insist that no matter what do your Japa else face a consequence. Is it OK to insist like that? to be firm about their daily sadhana even though and especially when they don’t have a taste for it particularly?
Answer by Romapada Swami :
Best to engage your son in daily chanting of japa along with you, at least some minimum.
Beyond that minimum of daily chanting together, increasing can take place via your encouragement and good example.
> Will not consistently chanting give my children a taste for chanting?
Yes, but…the other part of what you wrote is also true.
