CONVERSATIONS WITH SRI SRI THAKUR: ALOCHANA-PRASANGE (SRI PRAFULLA KR. DAS): JULY, 1946: HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT; BIRTH OF CHRIST
Mrs. Tennyson, “The efficiency attained by a man may not also be transmitted through generations!”
Sri Sri Thakur, “If the male is endowed with a superior standard of competency, if his marriage is compatible and in conformity with marital principles, if there is an ardent mutual love between husband and wife and if both of them have a common objective of love and go on with an active urge to fulfil him, advancing towards acquisition of excellence, then the child not only inherits the qualities of the father but surpasses him. In this way it continues to evolve higher and higher from generation to generation.”
Mrs. Tennyson, “What is the scientific proof that these factors lead to the improvement of the progeny? If a child becomes progressive how do we ascertain that it is due to heredity and not due to environment?”
Sri Sri Thakur, “If science has not as yet known it, it will come to know it if it follows this path, because it is a fact. The impulse of the environment stimulates the mind and creates ripples on it according to our receptive capacity and instinct. If there are no components in our mind as are required to receive and adjust certain kinds of impulses, then those impulses will be of no consequence to us. A person can receive from the environment exactly that which is inherent in him. Being placed in an environment consisting of different kinds of people, a person may choose to find out a ganja* smoker from among them and form the habit of smoking ganja. Place 25 persons in the same environment and everyone of them will receive from the environment according to his nature, giving rise to the growth of 25 different varieties of character.”
Mrs. Tennyson, “Nothing can be said as to how a child will turn out to be good.”
Sri Sri Thakur, “There is a law behind everything. The most important thing is all around and deep compatibility and love between the husband and wife. I have personally observed, there was a Muslim farmer. He had no schooling. He was quite an honest man and had high aspirations. There was such a deep harmony between him and his wife that there was no room left for aversion. Whenever he found an opportunity he use to visit the court and look around. He felt great regard and veneration to see the judge and when he came home he used to talk to his wife about the judge. Both husband and wife cherished the dream of having a promising lovely child. Then they had a son. How shining he was as if he symbolized a true picture of their yearning! Soon the boy grew up and also gained abundant prosperity in life. He brightened the face of his family and his parents and immensely contributed to their peace and happiness.
Again, I have witnessed a husband who was a brilliant man. He had a termagant* wife who had no regard for him. Practically he was an eyesore to her. She used to quarrel with him and give him shocking pains. Often she twisted and tormented him for money and the son born of her became the reverse of his father...
You may test it for yourselves. Suppose, both of you enjoy a theatrical performance portraying the life of Lord Buddha. Both of you become enchanted with a holy emotion. A son is born out of a union taking place in that elevated state of mental tuning. From his boyhood he will move his hands like an angel. Whether science admits it or not, this is an irrefutable truth. You may feel dejected to listen to what I say. But as far as I understand the truth about the birth of Jesus and as far as I perceive it, I distinctly feel that His parents were extremely pious and loving. There was mutual agreement for their marriage. Only the social ceremony was not gone through. But their mutual hearty acceptance bound them up indissolubly. The advent of Christ emanated from a physical union of the parents at this stage. This might have been a departure from the existing social practice. But they never violated the Divine Law.”
*Ganja: a potent form of marijuana used for smoking
*Termagant: witch, siren, tigress, ogress
Mrs. Tennyson, “The efficiency attained by a man may not also be transmitted through generations!”
Sri Sri Thakur, “If the male is endowed with a superior standard of competency, if his marriage is compatible and in conformity with marital principles, if there is an ardent mutual love between husband and wife and if both of them have a common objective of love and go on with an active urge to fulfil him, advancing towards acquisition of excellence, then the child not only inherits the qualities of the father but surpasses him. In this way it continues to evolve higher and higher from generation to generation.”
Mrs. Tennyson, “What is the scientific proof that these factors lead to the improvement of the progeny? If a child becomes progressive how do we ascertain that it is due to heredity and not due to environment?”
Sri Sri Thakur, “If science has not as yet known it, it will come to know it if it follows this path, because it is a fact. The impulse of the environment stimulates the mind and creates ripples on it according to our receptive capacity and instinct. If there are no components in our mind as are required to receive and adjust certain kinds of impulses, then those impulses will be of no consequence to us. A person can receive from the environment exactly that which is inherent in him. Being placed in an environment consisting of different kinds of people, a person may choose to find out a ganja* smoker from among them and form the habit of smoking ganja. Place 25 persons in the same environment and everyone of them will receive from the environment according to his nature, giving rise to the growth of 25 different varieties of character.”
Mrs. Tennyson, “Nothing can be said as to how a child will turn out to be good.”
Sri Sri Thakur, “There is a law behind everything. The most important thing is all around and deep compatibility and love between the husband and wife. I have personally observed, there was a Muslim farmer. He had no schooling. He was quite an honest man and had high aspirations. There was such a deep harmony between him and his wife that there was no room left for aversion. Whenever he found an opportunity he use to visit the court and look around. He felt great regard and veneration to see the judge and when he came home he used to talk to his wife about the judge. Both husband and wife cherished the dream of having a promising lovely child. Then they had a son. How shining he was as if he symbolized a true picture of their yearning! Soon the boy grew up and also gained abundant prosperity in life. He brightened the face of his family and his parents and immensely contributed to their peace and happiness.
Again, I have witnessed a husband who was a brilliant man. He had a termagant* wife who had no regard for him. Practically he was an eyesore to her. She used to quarrel with him and give him shocking pains. Often she twisted and tormented him for money and the son born of her became the reverse of his father...
You may test it for yourselves. Suppose, both of you enjoy a theatrical performance portraying the life of Lord Buddha. Both of you become enchanted with a holy emotion. A son is born out of a union taking place in that elevated state of mental tuning. From his boyhood he will move his hands like an angel. Whether science admits it or not, this is an irrefutable truth. You may feel dejected to listen to what I say. But as far as I understand the truth about the birth of Jesus and as far as I perceive it, I distinctly feel that His parents were extremely pious and loving. There was mutual agreement for their marriage. Only the social ceremony was not gone through. But their mutual hearty acceptance bound them up indissolubly. The advent of Christ emanated from a physical union of the parents at this stage. This might have been a departure from the existing social practice. But they never violated the Divine Law.”
*Ganja: a potent form of marijuana used for smoking
*Termagant: witch, siren, tigress, ogress
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