Here I am pictured sitting by my grandfather’s left shoulder.
Last week I wondered if any gurukulis were grandparents yet. Bhimasena, a Kulimela co-organizer and apparently the man with his finger on the pulse of what’s happening, responded with this comment:
“I know of two gurukuli grandparents. Gavin, son of Vasudeva Datta and Saraswati, is both third and fourth generation. Rukmini’s daughter is pregnant with a fourth generation child.”
One thing about having children is that the inexorable march of time is impossible to ignore. They grow and change so rapidly it is essential to also grow and change to keep up with them, if you want to at least try to be a competent parent.
One unintended consequence of celibacy is that that inevitability of growth can be more easily ignored. Other than losing a step in kirtan, or the gradual accumulation of a collection of aches and pains, it is easy to get locked into a certain mindset that was either successful for a time, or at least appeared to be successful, and stick to it.
One symptom of being locked into a rigid mindset might be if you were surprised that gurukulis have grandchildren. Now, I am addressing my own generation here, Prabhupada’s disciples. For younger people, still in the formative demographical stages of life, this may not be so relevant. It will seem normal to you.
The idea behind celibacy helping to avoid family attachment has often been misinterpreted to mean no affection or relationships with children. I think that the true meaning of detachment to family life means to not limit your affection to your own biological children, but to feel m/paternal to all children.
Obviously, considering the history of the gurukulas, this was not the operative understanding in the old days. Still, I propose that for the long term celibates in the movement, they do have a sort of parental relationship with the Kulis.
If, emotionally, they still think of Kulis as young, then hearing that there are Kulis who are grandparents should be a big wakeup call. We are aging. Parents know this well.
View From a New Vrindaban Ridge 
June 21, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I am a Great-grandmother of two. My son, Katyayana das who attended Gurukula Dallas in 1973 at the age of 10 and later in Vrindavan. He is now 44, his son Brandon is 22 and I am 62. Brandon has two children: a boy Timothy age 2 and a daughter Serenity age 14 months. My son, Katyayana took both 1st and Brahmin initiation personally from Srila Prabhupada. His sister, Damodara Priya and brother, Kesava also received 1st from Srila Prabhupada. I also have both 1st & 2nd from Prabhupada.
PS I have a picture of the original Gurukula in Dallas from the 70’s.
June 21, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Thanks for sharing that. In some earth friendly cultures, to have a great grandchild is considered the perfection of life.
I hope you get to see them occasionally.