Page 14 - All India Magazine Jan-2025

The body knows
From one's very childhood, one should know that one eats in
order to give strength and health to the body and not to enjoy the
pleasures of the palate. Children should be given food that suits
their temperament, prepared in a way that ensures hygiene and
cleanliness, that is pleasant to the taste and yet very simple. This
food should be chosen and apportioned according to the age of
the child and his regular activities. It should contain all the chemi-
cal and dynamic elements that are necessary for his development
and the balanced growth of every part of his body.
Since the child will be given only the food that helps to keep
him healthy and provide him with the energy he needs, one must
be very careful not to use food as a means of coercion and punish-
ment. The practice of telling a child, "You have not been a good
boy, you won't get any dessert," etc., is most harmful. In this way
you create in his little consciousness the impression that food is
given to him chiefly to satisfy his greed and not because it is indis-
pensable for the proper functioning of his body.

CWM 12: 14

Not to instill fear
Another thing should be taught to a child from his early years:
to enjoy cleanliness and observe hygienic habits. But, in obtain-
ing this cleanliness and respect for the rules of hygiene from the
child, one must take great care not to instil into him the fear of
illness. Fear is the worst instrument of education and the surest
way of attracting what is feared. Yet, while there should be no fear
of illness, there should be no inclination for it either. There is a
prevalent belief that brilliant minds are found in weak bodies. This
is a delusion and has no basis. There was perhaps a time when a ro-
mantic and morbid taste for physical unbalance prevailed; but, for-
tunately, that tendency has disappeared. Nowadays a well-built,
robust, muscular, strong and well-balanced body is appreciated at

14 All India Magazine, January 2025