Adolescence is a critical phase in the life of a human being. It is a period of intense growth not only physically but morally, emotionally and intellectually. In this transitory phase most adolescents go through upheavals, confusion and drastic changes.

At such a time it is essential that adults provide them proper guidance, support and the environment to facilitate their holistic development.

Contrary to the common perception about adolescents, they are often energetic, thoughtful, idealistic and have a deep interest in values of life. They have a strong sense of right and wrong and are keen to measure up to role models. They are full of optimism, hope and positive outlook.

However, adolescents lack experience and hence they are deceived easily. Due to immaturity the surge of energy and idealism that adolescents have, often gets diverted to wrong and destructive ways.

The primary task of adolescence is to achieve independence. For this happen they often seek a lot of space and freedom. They start to think more rationally and abstractly as they form their moral code. In the process, they may often become assertive, rebellious, nonconformist, self-opinionated and aloof. Therefore, they need to be guided and supported with great sensitivity and maturity.

In order to attain a well-integrated maturity, a series of factors need to be addressed for adolescents. They need to acquire self certainty, be ready to try out new roles, strive for achievement, acquire a self-identity, balance their rights with responsibilities and identify personal goals and ideals.

When dealing with the problems of adolescents, it would help to step into the young persons' world, treat them with discerning respect rather than suspicion, share their joys and sorrows and genuinely address their questions whilst engaging them in a moral and spiritual discipline.

There is a need for adults to work with youngsters in a way that promotes their general well-being and development which is inclusive of the spiritual dimension. Spirituality integrates the emotional, cognitive and intuitive self. It includes the formation of a personal spiritual belief and principles, attitudes and emotions as per one's value system.

During this formative period, adolescents need a strong sense of direction and value system. Where will they find these? Today religion has been reduced to a superficially practiced set of rituals. The family is no longer the strong institution it used to be; parents hardly have time to spend with their children.

The educational institutes are primarily concerned with teaching professional skills without attending to the need to impart values and strengthen the character youth. In this scenario, adolescents try to find support from other means such as their peer group, TV, books etc.

It need not be elaborated here what kind of guidance and values are being given through these media. Most of the awful fare churned out by the entertainment and media industry is mainly targeted at the youth whose impressionable minds become a fertile ground for spawning vicious tendencies and irrational ideas.

Tempted by the glamour and gloss that is promoted by the media there is a constant conflict that adolescents go through in order to measure up to their peer group's values and to cope -up with the ideals and the reality of life. In the absence of proper guidance it is but natural that many adolescents are pulled to crime, abuse and drug addiction.

While family, educational institutions and social groups do have a major role to play in guiding and supporting adolescents, spirituality lends a deeper and stronger basis for forming a clear identity and value system upon which the edifice of a strong character will be raised.

Spirituality empowers a person to lead a value-based lifestyle. It helps people understand the purpose of life and guides them towards fulfilling it through well developed intellectual, moral and emotional qualities. It provides the highest benchmark for formulating codes of conduct and for performing best actions. It facilitates holistic development of a person and integrates moral, mental and emotional faculties into a well-balanced personality.

Since spirituality touches on the core goodness of every human being, it is the most potent tool for guiding all sections of society. As per a spiritual perspective all individuals have the potential to perform the best actions and every person has some speciality that needs to be shared with others.

The process of empowering adolescents begins with the practice of treating them with respect and facilitating their growth in such a way that they are able to realize their hidden potential. Instead of looking at them as helpless or ignorant beings who need to be chastised and controlled, spiritual treatment calls for accepting them as potential carriers of higher wisdom, pure values, fresh ideas and skills that need to be channelised in the proper direction.

Such a growth process is driven from their inner self, guided by wisdom and love rather than a forced development compelled by insecurity, fear and false expectations. If adolescents are motivated to explore spirituality at their age they will be equipped with excellent powers to cope with life as well as to excel in their children roles.

Today spiritual awareness and experiences are not just confined to adults and the aged. In fact, there are a growing number of youngsters who are increasingly becoming active in exploring the self and in making sense of life by developing a strong faith which is promoted by value-based institutions and environment.

The Brahmakumaris has been actively supporting families, schools, NGOs, social organizations and Govt. agencies in disseminating value-education and spiritual awareness for the past 70 years. Thousands of children and youth around the world have benefited from its courses, programmes and seminars and adapted to a healthy and virtuous lifestyle.

All theses efforts will have a greater impact on youngsters if media agencies were to wake up to the dire need to impart a strong value system to their young audience. Due to the far-reaching and strong influence that media exerts on the masses, it ought to spearhead a mass campaign to enlighten and empower adolescents with the help of all other agencies active in this cause.

Source: Purity, A Monthly Spiritual Magazine of the Brahmakumaris World Spiritual University.
Further insights of this knowledge can be had from the Brahmakumaris, Manipur Branch,
Email: bkimphal(at)sancharnet(dot)in, Phone: 2226768.