Learning with the Mother

WHAT A CHILD SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER

In 1952, the Ideal Child was distributed as a booklet to all the ashramites and children. In spite of the children having the booklet, the Mother wrote the whole thing in my notebook herself and used some of these sentences for dictation and for recitation.

What a child should always remember

The necessity of an absolute sincerity.

The certitude of Truth’s final victory.

The possibility of constant progress with the will to achieve.

AN IDEAL CHILD

Is good—tempered

He does not become angry when things seem to go against him or decisions are not in his favour.

Is Game

Whatever he does, he does to the best of his capacity and keeps on doing in the face of almost certain failure. He always thinks straight and acts straight.

Is truthful

He never fears to tell the truth whatever may be the consequences.

Is patient

He does not get disheartened if he has to wait a long time to see the results of his efforts.

Is enduring

He faces the inevitable difficulties and sufferings without grumbling.

Is persevering

He never slackens his effort however long it has to last.

Is poised

He keeps equanimity in success as well as in failure.

Is courageous

He always goes on fighting for the final victory though he may meet with many defeats.

Is cheerful

He knows how to smile and keep a happy heart in all circumstances.

Is modest

He does not become conceited over his success, neither does he feel himself superior to his comrades.

Is generous

He appreciates the merits of others and is always ready to help another to succeed.

Is fair and obedient

He observes the discipline and is always honest.

The Ideal Child was already published but during the Green Group class, Mother once added this phrase in a lighter mood:

The Ideal Child

Is intelligent

The facsimile in Mother’s handwriting in French of the dictation below

The ideal child is intelligent. He understands everything he is told, he knows his lesson before he has learnt it and answers every question he is asked.

… likes to study when he is in school,

... he likes to play when he is in the playground,

… he likes to eat at meal-time,

… he likes to sleep at bed-time,

… and always he is full of love for all those around him,

… full of confidence in the divine Grace, full of deep respect for the Divine.

Much later, when we were recording Mother’s reading of The Ideal Child,

She added another phrase:

Childhood is the symbol of the future and the hope of all the victories to come.

At another time, She wrote on a piece of paper the following in continuation:

A facsimile in Mother’s handwriting in French of the phrase given below

He has faith in the future which is rich with all the realisations that are to come, full of beauty and light.