The First Lie

 

Photo Credit: Inheritance

The First Lie

When a child is born, he/she is so innocent. The child does not have a care in the world as it grows up in the shelter of its parents. The child’s mind is clean and does not have any mental garbage of this birth. But as it grows up the child observes its parents and those around it. We are told to be very careful about what we say in front of children as their mind’s are like sponges as they absorb and observe everything that happens around them. Their mind is extremely inquisitive and you will find their innocent questions so much fun to respond to.

The environment under which the child grows up has a tremendous influence on the path it ultimately takes in life. Children till the age of about five are absolutely untouched by body consciousness, but thereafter they start absorbing the influences of the physical body on them. As children they are completely untouched by body consciousness, but as they grow older, they start absorbing the influences of the physical body from their family members and the society around them. There is a saying that children are always honest and they always speak the truth! Being truthful is the basic nature of the soul.

The intellect of children develops gradually, and then the intellect teaches them reasoning and logic, and it tells the child if you lie like your dad or mom did 'at that time', you will escape punishment! Thus, under the influence of the intellect and based on what the child has already seen at home or in society, that lying helps avoid trouble, the child then lies for the first time. Then the child lies a second time and if this trend is not caught and stopped by the parents or elder siblings, then the child’s path takes a wrong turn early in life. Lying increases a person’s body consciousness as this goes against the basic nature of the soul.

Hence, in the spiritual world, it is important to give the correct guidance to our children – lying is not acceptable. Admitting to a wrong act or perceived wrong act will lead to admonishment and explanation of why the act should not have happened. The child is forgiven by the parents and told not to repeat the act. This helps the child follow the right track, and with proper values being instilled into him since childhood, the child can easily walk on the path of spirituality as he grows up. The early values are very important in a child’s overall development over time.

As the child grows, he/she starts living in soul consciousness and this leads him/her on to the spiritual path very easily. Once the child grows up and finds a realised Master or the realised Master finds the adult, his/her inward journey commences. The young seeker has a huge spiritual bank of TIME on his/her side to attain self-realisation and liberation in this birth itself. Hence, avoiding the first lie is very important for spiritual growth!