MARRIAGE-1                                                MARRIAGE.TXT
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       MARRIAGE IS A MULTI-LAYERED PARTNERSHIP, A DEFINED SOCIAL STRUCTURE
       BASED ON A SET OF AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS MADE BETWEEN A MAN AND A
       WOMAN. A MARRIAGE WORKS WELL WHEN THE AGREEMENTS AND THE COMMITMENTS
       MADE HAVE THE SAME MEANING TO BOTH PARTNERS AND BOTH KEEP THEIR
       AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS. A MARRIAGE WORKS WELL WHEN EACH PARTNER IS
       WILLING TO GIVE UP SOME OF THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO CREATE A UNION,
       A ENTITY THAT IS MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS. MARRIAGE IS A
       SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, SEXUAL, MATERIAL, AND ECONOMICAL
       PARTNERSHIP. MARRIAGE CREATES A STABLE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS ESSENTIAL
       FOR THE SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
       CHILDREN INTO SPIRITUAL, LOVING, CREATIVE ADULTS. MARRIAGE ENABLES
       CERTAIN DEEP ASPECTS OF A A MAN-WOMAN RELATIONSHIP TO MANIFEST FULLY.
       WITHOUT IT, THESE ASPECTS ARE DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP.

       IN A REAL MARRIAGE, THE PARTNERS AGREE:

       TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS FULLY TO EACH OTHER.
       TO SHARE THEIR SPIRITUAL PRACTICES, EMOTIONS, BODIES, AND THEIR
	  MATERIAL POSSESSIONS FULLY, COMPLETELY, WITHOUT ANY RESERVATIONS.
       TO SHARE BOTH THE JOYS AND THE SORROWS OF LIFE.
       TO SHARE THEIR EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS AS THEY ARE HAPPENING.
       TO COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND FULLY ON ALL SUBJECTS.
       TO SHARE THEIR BODIES ONLY WITH EACH OTHER.
       TO BE EACH OTHERS FIRST PRIORITY IN LIFE.
       TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
       TO FULFILL EACH OTHERS NEEDS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
       TO BE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHERS GROWTH AND EDUCATION.
       TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT, A HOME, WHERE EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IS
	  FULLY NURTURED AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR GROWTH.
       TO CREATE ALONE/PRIVATE TIME FOR THEIR PARTNER, WHEN THIS IS NEEDED.
       TO TRY TO HAVE THEIR PARTNERS HAPPINESS BE A PRIME DAILY GOAL.
       TO TRY TO ACCEPT THEIR PARTNER JUST AS THEY ARE.
       TO TRY TO CONTINUOUSLY SEE THE DIVINE IN EACH OTHER.
       TO TRY TO SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DAILY LIVING EQUALLY.

       A MARRIAGE PROVIDES A STABLE SAFE TIME/SPACE IN A VERY UNSTABLE
       CONSTANTLY CHANGING WORLD, A SAFE "HOME BASE" TO VENTURE OUT FROM,
       TO EXPLORE, LEARN AND ACCOMPLISH THINGS.
       IT PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE TO RETREAT TO WHEN THE WORLD IS DIFFICULT,
       WHEN ITS SITUATIONS ARE THREATENING, WHEN ILLNESS HAPPENS OR UNREST
       MANIFESTS. JUST AS YOUR MOTHER WAS THE SAFE PLACE TO RETREAT TO
       WHEN YOU WERE A SMALL CHILD, ONE'S MARRIAGE IS YOUR PLACE OF SAFE
       RETREAT AS AN ADULT. IT IS A PLACE WHERE THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE TO
       SHARE WITH, TO TAKE CARE OF, AND TO BE TAKEN CARE BY.
       A STABLE LOVING MARRIAGE PROVIDES THE NECESSARY ROLE MODELS NEEDED
       BY CHILDREN, SO THEY CAN IN TURN CAN CREATE HAPPY HEALTHY FAMILIES,
       WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS.

       A CULTURE MUST BE FULLY SUPPORTIVE ITS MARRIAGE STRUCTURES, MUST
       PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR MARRIAGES THAT ARE STABLE AND HEALTHY, MUST HAVE
       AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES ITS YOUNG ONES WITH THE
       UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED BY THEM TO CREATE STABLE MARRIAGES,
       AND MUST HAVE SOME WAY OF SUPPORTING MARRIAGE AGREEMENTS IN POSITIVE
       JUST WAYS, OR THE CULTURE FALLS APART AND SELF-DESTRUCTS JUST AS OUR
       CURRENT CULTURE IS DOING RIGHT NOW.

       GO TO ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TODAY AND ASK 100 YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS,
       "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE, TO DO, WHEN YOU GROW UP".
       SEE HOW MANY GIRLS SAY "I WANT TO BE A GOOD WIFE AND A GOOD MOTHER".
       SEE HOW MANY LITTLE BOYS SAY "I WANT TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND AND A GOOD
       FATHER".

       THIS CULTURE HAS FORGOTTEN, HAS LOST IT'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE
       PURPOSE OF LIFE, LIVING AND THE UNDERLAYING UNITY OF ALL LIVING
       CREATURES. IT'S EDUCATION SYSTEM TEACHES OUR YOUNG TO MAKE MONEY,
       AND HOW TO "FIT" INTO AN UN-NATURAL CULTURE, NOT HOW TO BE A "GOOD"
       PERSON AND A "GOOD" PARENT.

       THE ONLY WAY THIS SITUATION CAN BE CHANGED, IS IF THE ADULTS OF THIS
       COME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A REAL MARRIAGE IS, WHY IT IS NECESSARY AND
       COMMIT TO THE IDEA, THE IDEALS OF MARRIAGE AND CREATE STABLE FAMILY
       SITUATIONS.

       --ganashyam das