We send our children to school for twelve years; plus nursery school, kindergarten, college and possibly grad school but are we teaching them the basic lessons of environmental respect, spirituality and compassion? Can we save our planet if we are not teaching our children to love the earth and treat her as our mother? We need to start when they are very young and give our kids an appreciation of nature and her importance in the grand schema of our lives.

So often today’s little ones come home from school and plant themselves in front of the computer or television for the rest of the day. How much better it would be for their mind and spirit to take them for a walk in the woods or help plant in the garden or a day by the lake. Kids love to play in the dirt and we need to explain to them that the trees, flowers, grasses, animals and birds that they encounter on their travels are also souls and deserve our respect and love.

Children will mimic their parents and learn their basic value system by observing and listening to them. If we teach that we are not separate from nature and that we indeed are nature, then we can foster in our children an attitude of conservation, love, and respect for the rest of the natural world. This is really the only way to save our planet from the ongoing environmental disaster that is taking place as well putting in place a new generation that looks to protect nature not subjugate it.

Teaching compassion and non-violence can lead to shifts in the political environment as well. If we want a peaceful world we must start with the future stewards of the Earth and let them know that it is not right to kill for any reason and that war is not acceptable. If we teach them to love all humanity and emphasize that all people are God’s people then we can expect to raise a generation of human beings that value the whole of humanity. Outdated and narrow minded ideas of patriotism must be left behind if our children are to live in truly safe, peaceful world. All borders are imaginary and we can imagine a time where they cease to exist in the minds of man.

Our children are taught math, reading, and writing in school but what about the basic skill of meditation? It does not matter what religion you are because meditation is a common thread in all religions. It just goes by different names and techniques. Teaching our kids meditation will slowly begin to connect them with spirit. They will go into the sacred silence that joins the spiritual world to the physical mind and begin to open up to the magical world that we live in. By emphasizing daily prayer and meditation we let the young ones know that God is with us all the time, everywhere we go and is indeed part of us. By connecting to spirit daily and not banishing God to the once a week halls of a church or temple we let them understand that every day and everything is sacred.

Instead of demanding our children get straight A’s or win every game on the football field what if we instructed them in the art of service? How would our world be different if all kids were taught by their parents from an early age that it is our duty to serve our fellow human beings, the animals, nature and the earth? If kids were trained to understand that service is the ultimate goal, not money, fame, power, awards, or domination then we would be raising a world of Bodhisattvas (In Buddhism enlightened souls who return to Earth for the purpose of leading other souls to enlightenment) By socializing kids to be helpful and always ask how they can serve we can make the world a better place.

So we see that the future of the world is indeed in our hands. There is no more important job on this earth than raising a child and teaching them. By imparting to them wisdom instead of just knowledge the earth itself can change too. How beautiful a world it would be if the children of this world were taught love, not hate, compassion not oppression, forgiveness not revenge and respect not subjugation. These impressionable souls rely on us to give them the tools to carry on the tasks of the next generation. If we guide them wisely we can create a world that is truly a wonderful place.