A Family as a University

By Dr E. Ramanathan

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A good family is not just a collection of relationships; it should function as a miniature university. Tradition, culture, and education must grow in harmony within the family. For this to happen, it is essential that children grow under the loving care of the mother and the guiding hand of the father.

In most families, there is at least one well-educated elder. Their experience and wisdom serve not only as guidance for the entire family but especially play a vital role in shaping the minds of growing children. Such guidance from wise elders is a powerful influence on a child’s moral and intellectual development.

A school is not merely a place to acquire academic knowledge—it also teaches children how to integrate and function within society. However, as children come from diverse family backgrounds, they are exposed to a variety of habits. Unfortunately, bad habits tend to take root in young minds much faster than good ones.

To counter this, what children need is a nurturing environment with healthy friendships. Only through good companions and righteous mentors can they be guided onto the right path. Parents must be vigilant in this regard. It is essential that they spend quality time with their children in the evenings—not just to monitor schoolwork, but to impart life values as well.

If time constraints make this difficult, then children must be entrusted to trustworthy and wise mentors—people who can be considered as family gurus. The guidance of such elders is essential and immensely valuable in shaping one’s character.

A good environment is what creates a good human being. In today’s fast-paced world, what children need most is a value-based Gurukula-style education system. From my own experience, being involved in Sathya Sai Bal Vikas and satsangs from a young age helped me succeed in various aspects of life. There is no doubt about it.

If every family integrates education, values, and spirituality in this way, then the future of our society will undoubtedly be bright.