100 Paths

“You are my role model, mom,” said my 12-year-old yesterday evening, taking me by surprise. “How come babies and dogs all like you so much?”

“I guess it’s because I like them too,” I replied. “Actually, to be honest, I didn’t really care about other people’s kids earlier. But ever since I’ve started on my spiritual path, I really love babies and animals. And when you really like someone, they like you back too, right?”

Isha nodded and asked, “I wish I could be spiritual like you, but I don’t know what God is.”

“Well, I don’t know what God is either,” I said. “I just try to see God in everything. So if we are lying on the bed with our legs interlinked, that connection and bonding is God; and if the fan is sending a soft breeze our way, this delightful sensation on my skin is God, and so on.”

With a smile, Isha said, “Oh mom, you’ve done Vipassana so you know all this stuff. I’m too young for all that.”

“In a sense, you are too young. The brain can’t understand super-abstract concepts like God until your mid- or late teens. So don’t worry, you’ll get there. Just see the good side of every situation, no matter how bad it seems.”

“You know, mom,” Isha went on, “of all my friends’ moms, you’re the nicest. I’m so glad you’re my mom.”

“And I’m so glad I’m your mom,” I replied, and promptly decided to write all this down. You never know, she’ll hit 16 and start to hate me. I’ll show her this blog post then! 😀