Nuclear Family or Joint Family: Which System is Better?



My Dear Students! 

You can develop your science and knowledge to any extent. There is nothing wrong in it. Learn everything. That is awareness in life. There is nothing wrong in learning. Subject all of your learning to discrimination, i.e. whether it is right or wrong, truth or not, permanent or temporary; and follow that which is true. 

Here is a small example. See the narrow-mindedness formed because of education. People are developing themselves in an environment of narrow-mindedness and eccentricity. There are two different kinds of families. One is a nuclear family where there are father, mother and children. This sort of family is narrow. In a joint family, there are grandparents, parents and children, all living together. What is happening now is that in a nuclear family, both father and mother go to office, and the child has to stay with the maidservant or peon. These children develop the qualities of the peon or maid servant. They may become good for nothing. Parents get their children educated paying some money as fees. The parents do not even think as to where the son is, what he is doing, where he is going and how he is growing up. 

In a joint family, even if parents go to work, grandparents will be taking care of children. They will be teaching them right conduct and good things about life and steer the life of the children in the proper direction. In the nuclear family if parents quarrel with each other, there is no one to settle the issue. But in joint family, either the parents or in-laws advice the quarrelling mother and father against it. Today, the joint family system has disintegrated. How can those who are ruining their own families develop broader outlook? They don’t even care for their parents. They chant ‘Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu’ (May all the beings in the world be happy) out of sheer recklessness without any sort of sensitivity of implementing it. 

Firstly, this nuclear family should be broadened. Joint family should be the family system. There is a lot of benefit in the joint family system. There are many ways people benefit out of such a system. Good qualities develop in children. This system has been responsible for upholding the respect and honour of the family. There is no use of nuclear families. They are only pomp and show. 

Today, we are teaching children artificial nursery rhymes such as “twinkle-twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.” Consequently children are not learning anything worthwhile. Devoid of the real knowledge and wisdom, they are cheating the world outside. This is not what we are supposed to teach. The society has to be transformed. The country should develop. The family should be uplifted. If everyone contributes to the upliftment of their families and society, the country will prosper. Today people are not feeling the responsibility towards their family. 

Students! 

Firstly take care of your family. Uphold the respect and honour of your family. Keep your parents happy. If you cannot do that, there is no use acquiring so many degrees.

Inspite of his education and intelligence, a mean minded person will not give up his evil qualities.
Modern education leads only to argumentation, not to total wisdom.
What is the use of acquiring education which cannot lead you to immortality?
Acquire the knowledge that will make you immortal.


One may acquire a high academic qualification such as M.A. or B.A. and attain exalted position.
One may amass wealth, perform acts of charity and attain name and fame.
One may have physical strength and enjoy a long and healthy life.
One may be a great scholar studying and preaching the Vedas.
But none can equal a true devotee of the Lord!

Without devotion all these are useless. A toy looks beautiful in all aspects. The eyes are like stars. Nose looks like a gem. Hands and legs look beautiful. All the parts of the body have correct dimensions. But there is no life. All your education is like that. You have everything. You passed M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D., etc. If there is no character, then of what use is all this? One should develop virtues. Of what use is teaching music to a deaf person? The same is the case with our Upanishads and scriptures. If there is no character, there is no use learning all the scriptures and calling oneself a scholar.


23 comments:

  1. Beautiful message.... Thank you swami!!

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  2. A recent study by Boston College, USA, reveals that a strong relationship between grandparents and grandchildren plays a strong role in their mutual well-being. Many of Swami's guidelines would sound theoretical and pedantic. But with passing time, the world would come to know the scientific and psychological basis of each of them.
    The link to the article is given below:
    http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/strong-grandparent-grandchild-relationship-reduces-depression-in-both_23479.html

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  3. Thank you Swamy for this precious message!

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  4. great message you give to me swami
    thank you for giving me this swami

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  5. great message you give to me swami

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  6. One may have to put in a lot of sacrifice. But as Swami says it does wonders for the children. I have first hand experience with this. 7 years and we are still trying to make things work. Both MIL and DIL of the house are the 2 main pillars who should hold the family together.

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  7. The Joint Family System teaches us to live in harmony & to share the love with others...Swami teaches us community living by making us (his students) stay in shared accommodation in Hostel...The benefits are same of both the systems...

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  8. Thank you so much seaming ji and u am inspiring from your message

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  9. thanxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  10. great message you gave to me swami thanku so much

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  11. thank you swami for ur wonderful words

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  12. Nice :) Thanks for spreading it

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  13. So important message for the modern age women who are very much keen in separating the family into nuclear pieces. Hope atleast ladies from Sai circles follow what Swami said here.

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  14. Thank you, Swami! You are antarayaami! Every word you utter is a gem!

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  15. Sairam. This message holds good for both men and women. Both of them are contributors to the nuclear families. Swami did not specify gender. Nobody can simplify and emphasize facts like Swami! This one statement - The children will develop the qualities of maid servant - is enough for this younger generation.

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  16. thankyou swamiji.We should explain and teach to every indians that all should stay jointly and FIL,MIL and DIL are the main pillars who can hold family and harmony together. Exl-Gujarat,Punjab

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