Spirituality for children

An exact approach based on traditional pramāṇa [1] for children, at least 15 years or older:

1. Understand that just as you can pay attention to the physical world - the body and outside the body, you can also pay attention inwards. Systematically.

2. For at least 100 hours, follow a light, regular, daily practice [2] that takes you inwards, away from physical sensations, memories of sensations, and away from anything or anyone outside you. In other words, away from the outside world and ideas or thoughts about it.

3. Make a map of your own personal inner world, especially how you turn inward; emotions, thoughts, and/or sensations at different levels; how you go deeper inward; how you return to outward attention.

4. After 100 hours, compare your map with that of others. Good ones to compare against may be those of mystics or of Gurus from your chosen path [2].

The 100 hours will give enough experience to understand the experiences behind the words of others. [3] Reading the words without practice merely builds imaginary frameworks without any validating experience.

NOTES

[1] In India, the traditional ways to validate knowledge or understanding are called pramāṇa. Three ways are
a) pratyakṣa or direct experience (from my own practice),
b) anumāna or conceptual framework (my own understanding) based on pratyakṣa, and
c) āgama - validating my own experience and understanding against reports or teachings of trusted others.
(Respectively 2, 3, and 4, of the approach above)

[2] The Heartfulness Way practices are an effective inward approach. To start, take a set of guided introductory sessions first. Available online through the Masterclasses at heartfulness.org. Or through a nearby trainer or centre via heartspots.heartfulness.org.

[3] For Heartfulness practitioners, Daaji's March to Freedom articles in the Heartfulness magazine, Babuji's Towards Infinity and Efficacy of Raja Yoga. Also, Babuji's Autobiography or the 1944 Whispers vol. 1, or Chariji's In His Footsteps, vol. 1. Please do not read before practising for at least 100 hours.