Having guided three Hindu youth camps this summer, I have marveled many a time at children under my care.  The speed at which they learn is absolutely amazing.  The younger they are, the more eager they are to learn.  After only one or two lessons on the drum, many of them start accompanying me as I sing.

As we become older, we gain more wisdom.  Nonetheless, we lose the adventurous spirit we had as children.  We hesitate to learn anything new.  The mind says, "Don't even try it!  You know you can't do it."  Thinking so, we close our mind, and refuse to learn.  Because the child's mind is open to many possibilities, he takes an interest in learning a new skill and succeeds in acquiring it.

A child asks questions and does not feel foolish asking them.  An adult, on the other hand, keeps his questions to himself because he is afraid of being judged and looking foolish in the eyes of others.

Most children at the camps had not chanted the names and glories of God, but when given an opportunity, they would grab the microphone and start singing.  When asked about the change they had experienced at camp, most agreed that they had started enjoying chanting.

If you are reading this, make a promise to learn something new in the coming week.  Work at it, and let me know what you have started learning.

A final word to the children:   I miss you already, and look forward to seeing you soon.

Yours,
Didi Ji