How Do You Think Stories Should be Told to Young Children, and Why?

Young children, at around an elementary school level, should be told stories of complete kindness. Afterward, more naturally, they should be given stories where evil is present on par with good, i.e., stories where good wins and evil retreats. When a child matures, then the child can read stories where evil prevails.

This process gradually transitions from fairy tales to real life, where evil wins. Children need to learn not to oppose evil, because doing so will lead them to invite problems on themselves. They need to learn that evil wins, but they should remain on the sidelines. At no point should children engage in the fight against evil.

The progression from children being small and gentle, where we do not want to scare them, through introducing them to evil but in a way where good wins, so they would side with good, and then the drastic turnaround—where evil prevails—is one where at the third stage, we show children that there is good and evil in our world, and we need to stay away from evil.

At the third stage, the children need to understand that the world is full of evil, and that they need to avoid it, turn away, step back, and distance themselves from it.

After the third stage comes a further stage where the children involve themselves with evil and start using it for their own selfish needs, such as to progress in their careers, and to acquire respect, fame and control in varying degrees. That is, our little protagonists, who begin their lives as pure beings, end up climbing the ladder of society, building themselves by trampling on others.

We have not reached the stage after that one yet. But at the boundary of our current stage, we need to reach the conclusion that we cannot continue living in such a distorted world where our egos lead us to try and build ourselves on the ruin of one another. We then have no choice but to try and distance ourselves from this world as much as possible, because we still have to exist, provide for our families, and so on. But we live our lives immersed in this major problem.

That is, if we reach the latter conclusion, then we realize that there is a tug-of-war of money and power interests behind the various beliefs we are fed, from which we need to distance ourselves. When we reach that realization, we encounter the questions: What is the right way to distance ourselves from this paid-for world? What should we surround ourselves with to detach ourselves from these power struggles that come to infiltrate our minds?

We should find ourselves hobbies and interests that we enjoy besides our work and home lives. I remember that I had a neighbor who was into woodwork. It was his main interest in life. He spent lots of time, thoughts and efforts searching for various kinds of wood and logs. He worked on them, making birdhouses and other crafts and furniture. It worked for him. As long as the hobby brings no harm to others, then it is indeed beneficial.

If we take it a step further, then such engagements will bring people closer to their soul. In the example of my neighbor who immersed himself in woodwork, then even this basic hobby softened his soul, bringing satisfaction to his life.

If deeper existential questions start bothering us, such as “What is the meaning of life?” “What happens when we die?” “Where are we from?” “Where are we headed?” “What is reality?” “Who are we?” and “Why is there so much suffering in the world?” then there is further development we can take, for instance, by engaging in the method of Kabbalah. But if we are not attracted to existential questions, then delving into various hobbies and interests would suffice for the level of development of our souls.

Based on KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur on December 21, 2023. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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