The call began with an interesting debate. A few seekers felt that having a family—children and grandchildren—is almost a sure-shot way of getting trapped in attachment and, therefore, in the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Those with families offered different perspectives. Some agreed that family responsibilities and emotional attachments can become hurdles on the spiritual path. Others felt that spiritual progress and family life can comfortably coexist. Buddha was cited as an example of how family attachments could become a hindrance on the spiritual journey, while Lord Krishna was cited as an example of how having a family need not be an obstacle to spiritual realization.
One seeker brought the discussion back to the AIR philosophy of DIALS—being a Dedicated Divine Instrument, Awakened, Living the AIR Philosophy, and Spreading the Knowledge. Perhaps the real question, then, is not whether we have a family, but whether we are living DIALS.
AIR summarized the debate beautifully.
Karma may decide whether we marry or remain unmarried. But we have a choice in how we understand family. If we remain attached to the body, mind and ego, and consider only our spouse, children and grandchildren as “my family,” attachment can indeed hinder spiritual progress. But when we learn to See, Love and Serve SIP (Supreme Immortal Power) in everyone, the boundaries of family disappear.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one large family.
Perhaps liberation is not about leaving the family. It is about realizing how large our true family really is.
