Ishani Naidu’s Letter to the Grownups

A Letter to the Grownups: A Note from the Author

Many spiritual traditions see children as being closest to God. Their Souls have so freshly arrived to this
world that they must be remembering the divine place from which they have come. Our desire for this
book is to speak to the hearts of children and to the children within the hearts of adults. Though the
wisdom of the Soul never leaves any of us, life and the mind have a way of becoming louder than the
steady whisper of the all-knowing heart. Meaningful stories planted in us from childhood can be a
guiding light from within, bringing us back to the Truth we knew at the moment we were born.
The spiritual science of Vedanta, developed by the Sages of Ancient India, contains a systematic
roadmap back to understanding ourselves as we did as children. Free from the labels, expectations and
confusions of adult life, we fully identify with our divine nature. The Sages of India also gave us
Ayurveda, a comprehensive and holistic wellness system, to guide us in keeping our body, mind and
senses balanced so that we are able to make the spiritual journey to reconnect with the origin of our
Soul.

The Song at the Heart of the River is woven with core concepts from Ayurveda and Vedanta, with
suggested activities for you and your child to play with the ideas yourselves. Though both of these
knowledge systems originated thousands of years ago in India, you will happily discover their teachings
are as globally applicable and potent today as ever.

With love and warmth,
Ishani

ACTIVITY 1.
MODERATION: AN AYURVEDIC KEY TO HEALTH

Too much or too little of anything is not good. Ayurveda tells us that just the right amount of everything
will keep our whole health balanced. In the following activity, we playfully imagine extremes, and
moderation reveals itself as something to look forward to.

Imagine what Not Enough, Too Much and Just Right would look like in these examples…

1. Eating cake at your birthday party
• Not Enough: You won’t enjoy your birthday treat.
• Too Much: You will have a tummy ache. Ouch!
• Just Right: You get to enjoy the cake and feel good to play at your party all day.
2. Shampooing your hair
• Not Enough: Your hair won’t get clean and will be a tangled mess.
• Too Much: You will be covered in bubbles and the shampoo will go in your eyes.
• Just Right: Your hair gets clean without shampoo going all over the rest of your face.

Now, try to imagine what Not Enough, Too Much and Just Right would look like in these situations…
• Playing outside
• Playing games on the computer
• Listening to music
• Drinking water
• Watering a plant

ACTIVITY 2.
A HEALING FAMILY RITUAL

Every morning, when your child wakes up, take them outside or to a window facing the rising sun in the
east.

Create a personal ritual for the two of you to share: sing a quiet song welcoming the day, talk about how
the glowing sun is giving both of you its energy and blessings for the day, simply cuddle and enjoy this
special moment of stillness before the day begins, water a special plant together, imagine a Sun just like
the one you are seeing glowing in your hearts.

What does this practice do for you and your child?
• Eases you into the morning routine with a calm and natural awakening for less struggles getting
ready in the morning.
• Synchronizes your bio-rhythms with the Sun cycle for countless mental and physical health
benefits.
• Cultivates a special connection between you and your child.