Our Children

Our children already Know how to be present. I’ve watched my little girl light up time and time again at every ring of bubble I blow. Her delight when she throws autumn leaves into the air and watches them flutter to the ground. The same leaves I barely notice beneath my feet. I’ve always felt a deep love for kittens, puppies, children, any young animals, and even little seedlings, they’re so cute! Now I understand why. 

Eckhart explains in one of his Q&A teachings, its because they have just been ‘formed’ and their software is fresh from the Source. Untainted and in its purest form. That makes absolute sense now. 

Our job, as adults, is 2-fold:

1. Practice our own presence, so we do not taint or pass on our own Ego and Emotion to our children

2. Share with our children the theory of their presence, which will help them identify Ego and Emotion as it arises in themselves, and in others. 

Let me go into it further:

By practising our own presence, we don't end up tainting our children with our own Ego and Emotion. Children are so pure and innocent, but impressionable when they come into this world. They learn by watching, mimicking, practising and applying what they see and hear adults doing around them. How does an adult taint their Ego onto children? I could write a novel on examples of our Ego and Emotions, but deep down, you know what they are. Every time I lose my cool in the car, my child watches and absorbs. Every time I speak ill of or to someone, my child watches and absorbs. Every time I push them to be someone, achieve something, earn something, I am tainting them with my Ego. I still catch myself all the time and I’m still dissolving my own lifetime of conditioning and being tainted. But I try and catch it, explain to my daughter if I feel I can, and use the lesson to identify my Ego. 

Here’s a few common examples that I have come across in my own life and through sharing stories with family and friends, for your reflection:

• Our prejudices against other people: Racism, sexism, ageism, sexual orientation, disgruntled family members, right-wing vs left-wing, white collar vs blue collar. The notion of Them vs Us is dysfunctional Ego’s forte. It likes creating conflict, discord, segregation, disharmony because in doing so, it creates power and energy for itself. 

• Our ambitions: “You need to graduate Highschool”, “You need to study Medicine”, “You need a stable and lucrative career to succeed in life”, “You need to marry before 30”, “You need to save and buy an investment property”, “You need to settle down and have children”, “You need to repent your sins” – sound familiar? Does it cause you to feel some anxiety just thinking about it? Where have you heard this from, by whom and when? This is Ego casting our minds and inevitably our children, into the Future, to be trapped in the never-ending ‘search’ for money, stability, possessions, titles, positions, bragging-rights, status, forgiveness, achievements and milestones. These examples are also a reflection of our insecurities, fear and worry. 

• Our frustration and anger: A heated argument between mum and dad, a burst of frustration from an impatient parent towards their child, swearing at the car that cut you off, an angry phone call, are all examples of us losing our cool. Emotion has totally overwhelmed and taken over. Our children see and hear it, and so immolate it themselves with friends, society and future partners. 

• Our need to be right: “I am your mum, I know best! “You will listen to me, I am your Teacher”, “I am your boss, my way is the right way”. Ego asserting itself to gain power. 

What better motivation to practice presence, than to break this cycle of destructive and dysfunctional behaviour, so we don’t pass it onto the next generation. Even if it was in good intention!

Share with our children the theory of their presence: As my daughter grows older, I can start to see her Ego become stronger as she begins to identify themselves herself with her new form (hardware) i.e “My toy”. Inevitably society will seep into her existence and she will also come across Ego and Emotion in other people. If I am able to help her identify her emotions as they slowly become stronger and is then aware of them, then she can turn her attention to acknowledge them as they arise. As she gets older, if I can help her identify her Ego, she can acknowledge her thoughts and be aware when they try and consume her. 

Our children are the key, to the world wide peace and harmony that we all so crave and want.