Children and Young People
in Adidam

Children also suffer, but they do show this Life-sign of a spontaneous commitment to the Motive of Ecstasy Itself, of True Joy. This is why their company is pleasing — because they, without all the baggage of adults (in their suffering at any rate) rather typically show the sign of this commitment that is fundamental to being human, to being born. All other signs made in Nature, or by reaction, are there to be overcome. And it is a great struggle — no doubt. Avatar Adi Da Samraj

Every child must be free and ecstatic at the simple native level of his or her own existence. Children must be awakened to feel that they are associated with an Infinite Power or Mystery that sustains them, that gave them birth, that is their Destiny, and that is the Power that moves their entire future if they will associate with It rightly. Avatar Adi Da Samraj The First Three Stages of Life

This section is organized as follows:

1. Children and Conscious Childraising

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Every child must be free and ecstatic at the simple native level of his or her own existence. Children must be awakened to feel that they are associated with an Infinite Power or Mystery That Sustains them, That Gave them birth, That Is their Destiny, and That Is the Power That Moves their entire future if they will associate with It rightly. Avatar Adi Da Samraj The First Three Stages of Life

art by Maja van der Veer

Adi Da Samraj has given extensive instruction about child development, the process of human growth, and conscious childraising based on the principles of non-separation, prior unity, and truly sacred culture. Adults in the Adidam community have studied, practiced, and learned many lessons about the serious responsibility of raising children.

 

	Big Wisdom Free School San Rafael, CA

Many devotees choose not to have children because they understand the profound obligations of parenting and decide to dedicate their time to the inherent demands of spiritual practice. But for children who live in the community of devotees, we have provided excellent education programs ranging from preschool to high school level. Big Wisdom Free School (in San Rafael, California) and the Garden of Lions (in upstate New York) are examples of Adidam schools that successfully served the education of young people during the 1980's and 1990's.

Big Wisdom Free School San Rafael, CA

This section includes stories about the children and young people in Adidam, and their experiences growing up in the Adidam community. We also will be adding personal accounts from the adults who learned how to serve children, and from the young people who made the choice to practice the Way of Adidam when they reached adulthood.

Please also visit the website published by our community organization dedicated to serving children and educating others about Adi Da Samraj's Instruction on children: The Vision of Mulund Institute.

Children boating on Mother's Bed at The Mountain Of Attention (click picture for enlargement)

1.1. Excepts from Adi Da's Teaching on Children and Childraising

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		Three Talks by Avatar Adi Da Samraj about the love of children and Spiritual practice. Adi Da: "I Love men, women, children, walls, and frogs with the same profound intensity. I simply have a different kind of relationship with every being. I am in Love with children! I mean deeply in Love with them. I have a profound love relationship with them."

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What To Remember To Be Happy length: 04:33 views: 6734 Slideshow showing Adi Da's relationship with children, with images/words from His book for children (and adults): What, Where, When, How, Why, and Who To Remember To Be Happy. Soundtrack is Ray Lynch, "What To Remember To Be Happy", from his album, Truth Is The Only Profound. This video is an excerpt from Second Evening: Track 6 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him. A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here. Other excerpts available on this site can be found here.

"We feel the Mystery and even breathe it. We are more than what we look like.
We don't know what anything IS. We ARE the Mystery. IT is all one feeling."

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1.2. Stories and Insights on Children and Childraising

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		Roar Like a Lion — A three-year-old is drawn beyond his fear by Adi Da Samraj.
		Pandas, Woodpeckers, and Renunciation — Avatar Adi Da teaches seven-year-olds about ego-transcendence.
		Remember the Mystery in Which You Live — Avatar Adi Da Samraj responds to a young boy who wants to know how he can stop being "righteous".
		The Peach — Adi Da reads the mind and heart of one young devotee with a strong desire.
		Loss of Intimacy and Inappropriate Behavior — Frank Marrero tells the story of a lesson he learned as a teacher at Adidam's Big Wisdom Free School, about using Adi Da's wisdom about relationships and intimacy to address children's inappropriate behavior.
		A Spontaneous Gesture of Heart-Recognition of Adi Da — From an 18-month old child.
		A Feeling, Breathing Relationship to Mystery — Deborah McNamara writes about conscious parenting, with insights inspired by Adi Da's wisdom about children and childraising.

© Nara Wood
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1.3. Videos about Young People and their Relationship to Adi Da

You must understand the limits you yourself are imposing upon Enlightenment. That sobers your very being. It must, and only that sobering is the beginning of the Way. All beings are enthusiastic. Look at children. They would like to enforce their own vital happiness forever, and have it Realize the Divine. At some point, they must understand — they must be sobered by Reality. Avatar Adi Da Samraj, at a gathering with devotees in July, 1987

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Remember The Mystery in Which You Live part 4 of Surrender of self Is A Koan length: 06:45 event date: October 28, 1978 views: 3425 From a question and answer session with Adi Da on October 28, 1978, in Land Bridge Pavilion at the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary in Northern California. This is track 6 on the DVD, Surrender of self Is A Koan. It is also available in audio form as Track 3 of the free, downloadable CD, The Liberating Word of Avatar Adi Da Samraj, Volume 1. Adi Da answers a question from a 10-year-old boy who wants to not be so angry all the time. Very sweet exchange! To view more parts in this series, click here.

full page link If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).	My Feet Are ALIVE! length: 05:05 event date: October 1978 In 1978, in Land Bridge Pavilion at The Mountain Of Attention, Adi Da answers a young boy's question about His energetic feet, pointing out that Enlightenment is not merely inner happiness but a whole bodily state. (He answered questions from young people for an hour.)

full page link If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).	Children's Retreat, Fiji, July 2006 length: 08:15 event date: July 2006 views: 3067 Children preparing to go on retreat to Naituba. The retreat was organized by the European children's culture of Adidam.

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Slideshow: Remember The Mystery part 8 of A Tribute to the Life and Work of Adi Da Samraj length: 04:35 views: 8764 Slideshow showing Adi Da's relationship with children, with images/words from His book for children (and adults): What, Where, When, How, Why, and Who To Remember To Be Happy. Soundtrack is Ray Lynch, "What To Remember To Be Happy", from his album, Truth Is The Only Profound. This video is an excerpt from Second Evening: Track 6 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him. A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here. To view more parts in this series, click here.

AUDIO

Grant Children Freedom and Responsibility length: 02:40 event date: 1978 listens: 3781 In this talk, Adi Da offers guidance on how to relate and serve children in the process of fully maturing and becoming a loving, balanced human being, capable of relating to others and to the Divine Itself. This talk excerpt can be found on the CD, Remember About Being Happy: Instructions to and about Children. On this CD, Adi Da gives humorous and loving answers to questions from children and speaks of the freedom and the responsibility that parents and guides must grant to children for the sake of their “growth and out-growing”.

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Growing Up as a Devotee of Adi Da part 2 of European Danda Retreat March 2012 length: 03:28 event date: March 2012 views: 5330 Tilly talks about the value of growing up within the Adidam community, her relationship and time with Adi Da, and her Sacred Art of music. From the March, 2012 Retreat at The European Danda. For future retreats, visit our Special Events section. For more about young people growing up in the Adidam community, click here. To view more parts in this series, click here.

full page link If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).	Children's Retreat: Naitauba - 2009 length: 29:22 event date: July 2009 views: 3304 Young people growing up in the Adidam community go on retreat to Adi Da Samrajashram, the sacred island of Naitauba, in Fiji, during July, 2009. Opening music: Frou Frou, Let Go. Videographer: Matt Braithwaite.

		The First Three Stages Of Life: Serving the Right, True, and Free Development of Children and Young People and Completing the Human Work of Individuation, Socialization, and Integration for Adults. Presenting Instructions Given By His Divine Presence, Avatar Adi Da Samraj Compiled by Meg Fortune McDonnell, for The Vision Of Mulund Institute An Adidam Practical Wisdom Guidebook August 2011 edition order here Table Of Contents
		Remember About Being Happy: Instructions to and about Children Given By His Divine Presence, Avatar Adi Da Samraj CD: August 2011 order here
		What, Where, When, How, Why, and Who To Remember To Be Happy by Avatar Adi Da Samraj February 2000 hardcover edition order here
		Vegetable Surrender or Happiness Is Not Blue by Heart-Master Da and two little girls September 1998 edition order here A humorous and instructive story written by Adi Da Samraj for young children. Onion One-Yin and his vegetable friends embark on a search for someone who can help them solve their problems — and discover the secret of how to be happy, right now! Illustrated with black and white line drawings.
		The Scale of the Very Small: Establishing Yogic Responsibility for Your Reproductive Potential (Including Regenerative Sexuality and Orgasm, Birth Control, Conscious Conception, Pregnancy, Birth, and Infant Care) by the Ruchira Buddha, Avatar Adi Da Samraj 1997 edition order here Avatar Adi Da’s Instruction on how and why we incarnate, death and reincarnation, conscious conception and birth control, Spiritually sensitive pregnancy and infant care.
		The Lesson Of Life: A Consideration with Young Practioners of the Way of Adidam Vol 6, The 20th Anniversary Series DVD order here Avatar Adi Da responds to a gathering of His young devotees who were on retreat at Adi Da Samrajashram (Avatar Adi Da's principal Hermitage, in Fiji) in 1991.
		Look at the Sunlight on the Water: Educating Children for a Life of Self-Transcending Love and Happiness by Da Free John 1983 edition out of print
		Jingle Baba: The Happiest Camel by Rita Gordon Siglain November 2018 edition order here In 2008, Beloved Bhagavan Adi Da said that He would like to see more children's books written in Adidam and that He wanted to write more as well. Now, after many years, with the help of many devotees, there is a children's book about Bhagavan and His first camel Jingle Baba — with 55 awesome color photographs, many of which have never been seen before. Jingle Baba: the Happiest Camel is a heart-warming story about the love between a camel from the London Zoo and the Unique Spiritual Master and World-Teacher Adi Da Samraj. more info
		The Story of Yaneshwari: Based on True Events by Rita Gordon Siglain August 24, 2023 edition order from the Dawn Horse Press order from Amazon Enjoy this magical story for children-about a duck named Yaneshwari who lived on the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary in California, a little girl who loved animals and became his best friend, and the Great Heart-Master Adi Da Samraj who was visiting His non-human friends at Fear-No-More Zoo. Beautifully illustrated by artist Melany Fay, this heart-warming little book will delight any child. more info
		Love, Wisdom, and Happiness in the First Three Stages of Life: Booklet 1 of the Conscious Childrearing Series compiled and edited by The Vision Of Mulund Institute Based on Instructions Given by Sri Sri Bhagwan Adi Da, The Da Avatar 1995 edition order here Detailed, practical instruction and Wisdom on the first three stages of life: individuation (1-7 years); socialization (8-14 years); and discrimination and integration (15-21 years). Includes Talks and Essays by Avatar Adi Da on conscious child-rearing.
		The Practice of Ecstasy with Children: Booklet 3 of The Conscious Childrearing Series compiled and edited by The Vision Of Mulund Institute Based on Instructions Given by Sri Sri Bhagwan Adi Da, The Da Avatar 1995 edition To order call 1-877-770-0772
		Four Primary Principles of Conscious Childrearing Based on the Teaching of Da Free John Prepared by the Education Department of The Johannine Daist Communion 1985 edition out of print Intimacy is the Healing Principle The Principle of Attraction Discipline is an Act of Love within the Culture of Expectation Transcending Sexual Neurosis in Childhood
		God Games Games created to ground children in feeling the Mystery. Based on the Wisdom and Instruction of Adi Da Samraj. order here

2. Adolescence as a Spiritual Opportunity

Four young devotees in a puja acknowledging the transition to the third stage of life
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Many (perhaps most) adolescents tend to allow their adolescence to be used up by what Adi Da characterizes as a struggle between dependence and independence. At a certain point, they "leave the nest", and settle into the patterns of conventional "adulthood" (defined primarily by family, friends, and job) for the long run, through the end of their lives.

But adolescence can serve a greater purpose than just this transitional struggle. It is a time when one has the free energy and attention (along with the motivation) to ask deep questions like: Why are we here? and: What is the purpose of life? Almost all of us do at least briefly consider questions such as these when we are adolescents, but then the responsibilities of adulthood impinge greatly on our time and energy, and these questions usually go "underground". (They sometimes emerge explosively, decades later, in the not altogether conscious form of a mid-life crisis. But doing things to make oneself feel "young" — like buying sports cars or having affairs with younger people — doesn't actually effectively address the deeper question of one's mortality: "What's the point of it all if we're going to die in the end, anyway?")

The usual life sequence is described in the Hindu tradition in four stages: brahmacharya: the young person and student; grihastha: the householder, married with children; vanaprastha: the retiree (a transitional period); and sannyasa: the renunciate, whose life is focused on Spiritual Realization. (In our contemporary materialistic society, the final, spiritually oriented "renunciate" stage has been eliminated, and "retirement" is mostly devoted to materialistic preoccupations.) The householder phase is presumed to be generally unavoidable — something one must experience oneself for a few decades — to get it out of one's system . . . to the degree where one is ready and willing to take up renunciate practice (in a non-idealistic fashion).

However, a fortunate few adolescents engage in a fuller consideration of deep questions than most, and allow that consideration to move their life in a profound direction, one that bypasses the usual life sequence. (Perhaps they are being assisted by spiritual understanding carried over from past lives. And perhaps they are also receiving the wisdom and spiritual blessing of a great Spiritual Master like Adi Da.) Their life has the possibility of proceeding straight from brahmacharya to sannyasa, giving them a far greater opportunity than most for Spiritual Realization (regardless of whether they go on to have intimate partners, children, jobs, etc. — as is the case within life-positive traditions like Adidam, where renunciation is not defined by ascetic dissociation from ordinary life, but by one's complete focus on the Divine in the midst of — and transforming one's relationship with — everything else).

The stories below are about adolescents who are engaging their adolescence and early adulthood as just such a spiritual opportunity.

full page link If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).	Neeshee Pandit, Buddhism, and Adi Da length: 09:55 18-year old Neeshee Pandit describes his process of approach to Adi Da from Buddhism. More from Neeshee here.

full page link If video won't play in place, refresh the page and try again. Or you can click "full page link" (above).	Divine Love (Part 1) part 1 of Divine Love length: 08:24 views: 4192 In part one of this three-part series, 20 year-old Max Rykov describes first hearing about Avatar Adi Da Samraj and how Beloved Adi Da began to manifest in his life. More from Max here. To view more parts in this series, click here.

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Growing Up as a Devotee of Adi Da: Rachel Kuhn part 9 of A Tribute to the Life and Work of Adi Da Samraj length: 06:18 event date: November 29, 2009 views: 6809 Devotee Rachel Kuhn, who grew up in the Company of Adi Da, offers this testimonial to His life and work. Excerpt from Second Evening: Track 7 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him. A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here. To view more parts in this series, click here.

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Growing Up as a Devotee of Adi Da: Megan Anderson part 10 of A Tribute to the Life and Work of Adi Da Samraj length: 06:39 event date: November 29, 2009 views: 2425 Devotee Megan Anderson, who grew up in the Company of Adi Da, offers this testimonial to His life and work. She also describes how she was encouraged by Adi Da to take up her service to Him as one of the key editors of His Word, and how He personally guided her growth into human maturity. Excerpt from Second Evening: Track 7 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him. A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here. To view more parts in this series, click here.

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Image-Art Testimonial: Ben Grisso part 11 of A Tribute to the Life and Work of Adi Da Samraj length: 08:33 event date: November 29, 2009 views: 7888 Devotee Ben Grisso, who grew up in the Adidam community, and who worked with Adi Da on His Divine Image-Art, offers this testimonial to Adi Da's life and work. Excerpt from Second Evening: Track 11 on the DVD, A Tribute to the Life and Work of His Divine Presence, Adi Da Samraj. More than 7 hours long, this Tribute DVD was filmed on the occasion of the first Anniversary of Adi Da's Divine Mahasamadhi, when devotees, family, and friends of Adi Da Samraj gathered at Adi Da Samrajashram, Fiji (Adi Da's principal Hermitage), to acknowledge Adi Da as the Divine in human form, to praise His Greatness, and to express their heart-felt gratitude for the Blessings they have received from Him. A list of all the tracks on this DVD can be found here. To view more parts in this series, click here.

Painting by Lynne Wagner
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