The Ganga, Never Failing

Rewritten by Babak Kardan

The Ganga is the daughter of the Himalaya. The Himalaya is the tall, snowy mountain range in northern India. From him originate many rivers, and these flow over land for long distances, providing life-giving water to many civilizations for thousands of years.
The Ganga is a special daughter of the Himalaya. She has been gifted with many good qualities. At her source, high up in the mountains, there are many glaciers and snowy peaks. Very little can grow up there, and few people live there. That is how cold it is.
Yet, from beneath the huge glacier she emerges, full of life and strength. Right from the start, she flows as a strong, fast current, pure and sparkling, dancing in the sunlight. However, she doesn’t stay around the mountain peaks, because she has a goal, a destination to reach.
She moves quickly over the rocks and around the large boulders that are in her way. Even over the rough ground, she doesn’t slow down. She is full of determination and will-power, because she has a destination to reach: the Sea.
To reach the sea: that is her only goal and purpose. It is far, far away, but she doesn’t lose faith. She is confident she can reach it, and she is full of courage to face any difficulties on her way. She moves over and around the obstacles in her path, always keeping her attention fixed on her journey. She doesn’t let herself get distracted or discouraged. She is careful and vigilant not to let her energy get dispersed, because then she might get lost in the gulleys and become stagnant and impure, far away from her destination.
Down the mountain valleys and onto the flat plains she flows. There, she becomes wide and large, and she slows down, to provide water to the farmers who depend on her for raising their food, and for their survival. But even there, her strength lies deep inside her. She is calm and ever-flowing, her power steadily moving her forward. After crossing huge lands, she finally reaches the delta, where the river meets the Sea. There, in front of her, is the Sea, majestic, vast, deep and so welcoming! The Ganga doesn’t waste any time though, not even now!
The Sea knows about the many obstacles that Ganga has crossed, the difficulties of her journey from high up in the mountain where it began. The Sea knows of her daunting courage and persistence too, throughout the journey. So, it accepts her fully and makes room for her, and lets her mix and merge into it, until there is no difference at all between the two of them. There, at last, the Ganga is content and full of peace, at home at last!
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Questions:
1. Why is the Ganga called “never failing”?
2. In the mountains where the Ganga is born, there is very little growing because of the cold. Does the Ganga let this environment affect her?
3. Read over the story, and find the words that describe the good qualities that Ganga has.
4. What would happen to the Ganga if she didn’t have these good qualities?
5. Even though the Ganga changes in shape in her journey, there is something about her that doesn’t change. What is that?
6. What would happen to the Ganga if she became attached to one place in her journey, and she would decide to stay there?
7. Why does the sea so quickly accept the Ganga and let her merge in it?
8. From this story, what can you learn about the Ganga and her life, which can help you in your life?

Sundar's Farm

By Babak Kardan

Sundar is a farmer who has just bought 10 acres of farmland in the hills. The land is below a forest. And the area is very green with plenty of rainfall. On his new land, Sundar has a spring which gives pure, fresh water all through the year. This water flows down the hill, to other farms, eventually becoming a river that provides water to many villages further down in the valley.

Sundar plans to grow rice on his new farm. He is preparing a list of chemicals that he needs to purchase, to use on his land. He has a neighbour, Rajesh, who grows his crops naturally, without any chemicals. This is how his ancestors used to farm, and Rajesh learned this method from his grandfather.

One day Rajesh comes and visits his new neighbour, and looks at the list Sundar has prepared. He asks Sundar,
“Why don’t you also grow your rice naturally, like I do? You don’t need to use all of these chemicals. I will share all of my knowledge with you.”

“Why?” asks Sundar. “Doesn’t using chemicals make my rice grow bigger, and faster too? And if I spray the rice with some insecticides, then insects and diseases won’t affect my crop. I have three children, and I have to save up for their future, so I have to make a lot of money.”

“I understand”, says Rajesh. “That is also how most people think around here. But these chemicals are toxic, they pollute the water and soil, and eventually they will destroy the land itself. Once the river is polluted, everyone using the water downstream will fall ill, and even the doctors can’t cure them.”

“But everyone else is using these chemicals on their fields. So I don’t think that one more person like me using chemicals will make a difference to these people, anyway.” said Sundar.

“Look at it this way” said Rajesh, “by living a simple life, you will be able to support your family by natural farming. True, you won’t become rich, but you will manage your life.

“When we put chemicals on our land, the soil becomes weak, and loses its health. After some years, it is so poor that crops will not grow well on it. But by natural farming, the soil becomes more and more healthy every year. It will be strong and it will give food for a long time. One day, our children will inherit our land from us. Do we want to leave them a dry, barren soil, or do we want to leave them healthy soil which will give them nutritious food? Sundar, we teach our children our customs and values so they will benefit from these later in their own lives. Similarly, should we not leave them a healthy land, which they will benefit from later on also?

“Think about it, Sundar. Each one of us can make a difference for our community. I think you have to decide, what are your priorities in your life, spending your time and energy just for yourself and your family, or living in a way that benefits everyone in your community, even if it means making some sacrifice.”

Rajesh left Sundar to decide what to do.
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Questions:

1. Do you agree with Sundar’s reasons for using chemicals on his farm?

2. Do you think Rajesh’s ideas are realistic in today’s society?

3. What would you do if you were in Sundar’s situation? Expl

The Beaver, Our Friend

By Babak Kardan

Shireen was a city girl from a province where everyone lived a very busy life. People there didn’t have much time for each other. One day Shireen went to spend her holiday with her relatives, who lived in another province. They were native people and lived in a small house near a hill. In this province the people were quite poor, but everyone in the community helped each other, so they managed to survive.

Shireen was not familiar with such simple living, but she was happy to adjust to the conditions for a few days. In the morning, she realized that her relatives had no running water in their house. Her cousin accompanied Shireen to fill some buckets with water from the nearby river, their water source. As they walked up the hill, Shireen noticed that they crossed over a dry river bed. She stopped there and asked,

“Doesn’t the water flow here any more?”

“Oh yes it used to”, replied Nilam, her cousin. “this is where we used to come to collect our water, but now, since the beaver has come, we have to walk up the hill to fetch our water.”

“The Beaver?” asked Shireen, “what does a beaver have to do with your fetching water?”

“Well, you know, beavers make their homes in water. A few months ago, a beaver came and settled up on the hill” replied Nilam, “then it built a dam on the water by dragging branches and logs across the river. So now the water stops there, and doesn’t flow down here any more.”

“What is up there now?” Asked Shireen.

“There is a pond there now” replied Nilam, “the beaver has made its house in the pond, and it searches for its food in the water there.”

“So, do you mean to say you walk all this extra distance, twice a day, just because of a beaver?” Shireen asked.

“Yes, we do. After all, the pond is its home now” said Nilam, a little surprised at Shireen’s question.

“Well, if this would have happened back home where I live, people would have killed that beaver a long time ago! They would not have let a little beaver cause so much disruption in their lives” said Shireen, “But I am really glad that the people here think differently! Maybe I should spend more time here, and see what else your family does differently…”

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Questions:

1. Why do you think the native family does not have running water in their house?

2. How has the beaver affected the daily life of the family?

3. How do Shireen’s relatives feel about the Beaver?

4. What lesson does Shireen learn from her cousin?

5. What values do you think Shireen has for herself: similar to the people in her province or to her relatives?

6. Shireen’s relatives may be poor in some ways, but in other ways, they are very rich
Explain what this statement means for you.

7. Would you like to live in Shireen’s province, or in that of her relatives? What adjustments would you have to make in your life to do this? Explain.

The Silent Sage

By Babak Kardan

This story is based on a true situation. When you read the story, you may feel puzzled at first. But keep on reading, and do think about the Buddha’s teachings! Then a new understanding may come to you.

There was once a sage, young in years, but already respected across the land for his wisdom and insight into life. He once visited a monastery up in the mountains, and spent a few days there. The monks all benefited greatly from his visit, by his presence and his teachings.

The abbot of this monastery was an old man at this time. Since his younger days, he had a keen sense of spirituality. Many years ago, when he was young, he would spend many hours in the day meditating and reciting sacred verses. But after some years, he started to spend more time organizing charity work for his monastery, to help the local community, and less time in his inner practice.

When the young sage first met the old abbot, he recognized the man’s spiritual nature. He could also see how far the abbot had advanced in his spiritual path. You must remember that a true sage doesn’t think, or do anything for himself. He doesn’t have any personal agendas. Whatever he says, whatever he does is for the welfare of the people around him, and not for his personal gain. Well, in this case, the young sage thought a little about the abbot’s life. And, he felt that perhaps the abbot had not spent his years of life in the best way, even though he was the head of a great monastery. So with these feelings, the young sage spoke gently to the abbot.

“Venerable sir, I see that you are so heavily engaged in the affairs of the monastery, so much so that you have very little time to yourself these days. Why is this so?”

“It is my life duty” replied the abbot, “It is a resolution that I made many years ago, to spend my life in service to the monastery and the local community.”

“That is very noble and fine” said the sage, “It is very good that you wish to serve people and be of help to them. But I can see that when you were young, you once had a very deep spiritual experience while meditating and chanting sacred verses. That experience opened up many doors to spiritual truths and the Dharmakaya for you. However, it seems to me that you did not follow up correctly on that experience. It seems to me, respected abbot, that you did not deepen that experience, and did not let it expand your consciousness. How come? I am surprised. Please tell me, why did you choose not to do that?”

The abbot was silent for a while. He looked intently at the peaceful and simple face of the young sage. No one had known about his previous experience, as he had told this to no one all his life. And yet, here was this young man, who knew everything about it!

“Because” replied the abbot, “I chose to spend my energies in helping people outwardly, actively, with my hands and feet, with action rather than becoming silent and inert like a rock. Who could benefit from my presence if I just sit silently, not doing anything?”

“Aah” exclaimed the young sage, “I can see that there is a shortcoming in your spiritual understanding. Despite your many years of study and learning, you have failed to grasp the truth of the Buddha’s teachings. Listen, oh abbot! It is very good to be engaged in helping others. By all means, don’t abandon that. But why do you think that you can only be of help to people by your outer actions? If a person wholeheartedly pursues the Dharmakaya, and develops true inner vision, his consciousness will expand until he attains to Nirvana. Is this not the ideal that the Buddha taught? Such a person, whether he is sitting quietly, or engaged in work, will be of tremendous benefit to everyone around him. From him will emanate invisible spiritual vibrations that will silently purify the hearts and minds of everyone around him. Such transformation will be far more beneficial than just outer actions alone.”

The old abbot listened quietly to the young sage. He remembered the spiritual experience he had in his youth, and he realized how precious it was. Even though the sage was much younger in years to him, the abbot recognized the wisdom in his words. Over the next few weeks and months, there was a gradual transformation that took place in him. Even though he still helped the monastery and the community, the abbot started to spend more time in his inner contemplation. With every sitting, every day, there was more silence within him, more stillness, and more clarity, peace and understanding. Even his daily activities in the community became more efficient, and less tiring to him. By his perseverance, the abbot was able to once again bring to life his former spiritual practice. No doubt, behind all of this, backing him up, was the power and grace that flowed from the young sage, invisibly, in silence.

The Boy and the Forest

Rewritten and planned by Babak Kardan

This is a teaching story. That is, it teaches us about life, and about Truth. It helps us understand who we really are, and how we can relate to our world. Many such stories exist in different cultures around the world. As you read the story, try to identify with the characters and what they go through. Think about how we can undergo a change in our understanding, and experience true transformation in our lives.

Once upon a time, there was a young boy who lived with his parents in a village next to a dark, thick forest. The boy would often hear stories from the villagers about ghosts and spirits who were living in the forest, and how they would harm the people traveling through the forest.

When the boy was old enough to go to school, he had to walk through the forest every morning to reach his school. But he was scared to travel through those woods, in case he would be attacked by the ghosts there.

“Don’t be afraid”, his older brother told him, “I will accompany you and I will protect you in case the ghosts attack us. Just make sure you do everything I tell you to.”

That made the boy feel better, and he would travel through the forest with his older brother. But after some time, his brother told him,

“I can’t accompany you any more through the forest. From today onward, you have to go on your journey alone.”

Once again, the boy felt scared to go alone into the forest. But morning had come, and he knew he had to set out alone. Just then, when he was trying to get his courage up to face the forest alone, he met a teacher who had just walked through the forest. The boy talked to this teacher, and mentioned his fear of the forest, the ghosts and all the stories he had heard about the dangers lurking in the forest.

The teacher was a wise old man. He had been through many forests alone, sometimes for long periods of time. He knew what was inside them, -- and what wasn’t. The teacher listened attentively and silently to the boy. Then he began to speak.

“Listen to me”, said the teacher, after some moments of silence. “There are no such things as ghosts. There are no ghosts living in these forests. I have lived in these forests for many years. These are just stories that have been made up. They are not real. There is no truth in them. These ideas about ghosts, they only exist in our mind, that’s all. There is nothing to be afraid of. There is nothing that can harm you. Just remove all such negative thoughts from your mind. Don’t let your mind trick you, or deceive you. Put this understanding firmly into your heart, and face the forest alone, with contentment and happiness.”

The boy listened attentively to the teacher’s words. The teacher’s words struck a chord deep inside him. Even though the boy had never met the teacher before, he felt that what the teacher was saying was true. The boy’s fear soon vanished, and the whole situation became clear to him. He felt new confidence growing in him, and his mind became calm and steady. With his strength renewed, and full of courage, he stepped into the forest alone, unafraid.

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Questions:

1. Who does the boy represent in this story? What does the dark forest, which he has to travel through represent, for each one of us?

2. The fear that the boy had, how did it come about, by his own understanding or from outside himself?

3. What could the elder brother represent in the story? Why do you think the brother could not accompany or help him after some time?

4. The teacher seems to appear at just the right time. What would have happened if he had appeared sooner or later than that?

5. Read again what the teacher says to the boy. Did the teacher give any new information to the boy? Did he talk about his personal ideas and opinions? Did he ask for anything from the boy?

6. Anyone could have given the same advice that the teacher gave to the boy. But for some reason the boy believed the teacher. Why do you think this happened?

7. Has this story helped you in your understanding of life? Explain how. What can you do so that you will always remember this new understanding, just like the boy does in the story?

Dattatreya and the Ocean

Rewritten and planned by Babak Kardan

In the past, different sages took different spiritual paths to find the Truth. Of course, even though they may have followed different paths outwardly, the same human values, the same inner wisdom, dawned in all of them. Take, for example, the sage Dattatreya. He was very unique, in that he did not have a human being as a spiritual master or guide. Instead, for him the whole universe was his master: the five elements and all the forces in nature. They guided him and taught him the crucial lessons of life. Dattatreya had the necessary qualities to learn these lessons. Here is one of these lessons.

One evening, Dattatreya was walking along the sands near the ocean. He was walking, deep in meditation. His mind was very calm and quiet, and he could perceive everything around him with clarity and insight. As he walked, Dattatreya watched the waves, how they would reach the shore and spread out on the sand, before silently going back into the ocean. Then, he noticed the waves had brought some small pieces of wood to the shore, leaving them back on the sand.

“How selfish is this ocean”, Dattatreya thought to himself, “a few pieces of wood, even these the ocean won’t keep, but it throws them out onto the shore”

Just then, Dattatreya heard a voice! It was the ocean, speaking to him!

“Why do you think I am selfish, Dattatreya?” asked the ocean. “Just because I am not letting even a few pieces of wood defile me? O wise man, can’t you see that if I let even the smallest speck of dirt to stay in me, then I will no longer be pure and clean? If I allow any piece of dirt to stay in me, then more and more will follow them, and it will soon become impossible for me to get rid of them. So I am always vigilant, and I make sure that in every moment of my life, I don’t keep anything impure inside myself.”

As in a flash, all at once, Dattatreya realized his wrong thinking. He understood the importance of the ocean’s action.

“But of course!” he thought, “If I let even a single negative or bad thought stay in my mind, then I have lost my purity of mind. I will become weak, and then more and more negative thoughts will come and stay in my mind. So I must follow the example of the ocean, and always be vigilant to watch the thoughts that come into my mind, and never let the negative ones stay in me. As soon as they arise in my mind, I have to remove them, just like the ocean removes even the smallest piece of dirt. Only then can I be pure. When my thoughts are pure, only then will my words and actions be pure too. And only when all three are pure, will I always be content, happy, stable and unchanging like the ocean.”

Dattatreya was so thankful for this lesson that he fell on his knees and bowed down before the ocean, in gratitude for such a valuable lesson.

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Questions:

1. In what frame of mind was Dattatreya when he noticed the waves on the shore? Why do you think it is valuable for us to always have such a frame of mind?

2. When the ocean spoke to Dattatreya, he didn’t get upset or angry at the ocean. He didn’t try to defend himself. What quality does this show Dattatreya had? How did having this quality end up being beneficial to him?

3. Can we also take such lessons from nature? What qualities do we need, within ourselves, in order to understand our “life lessons”? How do you think our lives will change by going through these lessons in our lives?

The Sun and the Wind

Rewritten and planned by Babak Kardan

Once, the Sun and the Wind were looking over a beautiful autumn day in the countryside. They saw a young man happily walking along a country road, whistling to himself and enjoying the pleasant surroundings. He was wearing a light jacket, unbuttoned and gently swaying in the light breeze.

The Wind watched the young man for a while. Then he told the Sun, “hey, let’s see which one of us can get that jacket off of the man.”

“OK”, said the Sun, “you try first”.

The Wind started to gently blow across the countryside where the man was walking. At first, it was just a gentle wind. The man noticed it but didn’t react to it. Then, the wind started to blow harder and harder.

The breeze would blow across the man’s path. The man just shrugged a bit and started to walk a little faster. The wind picked up more, and by now it was blowing hard against the man, hoping to pull off the jacket from the man. But the harder the wind blew, the more tightly the man would wrap the jacket around himself, to protect him against the wind. Eventually the man buttoned up the jacket, and pulled up the collar, too.

By now the wind had turned into a storm. It slashed onto the man with such force that it threw the man down, trying to tear the jacket off of him. But the man, rolling on the ground, held on to his jacket with an even greater grip, for protection.

The Wind realized it could not take the jacket off of the man. So it finally gave up. “I give up”, said the wind to the Sun. The wind died down, and everything returned to normal. The man got u, brushed off the dirt from his clothes, regained his composure, and started to continue his walk along the country road.

Now it was the Sun’s turn. The Sun looked at the man, and smiled. He started to shine happily onto the countryside, silently. As the man walked, he noticed it was sunny and bright. It was also getting a little hot. He gently loosened his jacket collar from around his neck.

The Sun, however, didn’t react to this. He just smiled, happily, and just shone, stronger and stronger onto the man. As the man walked, he noticed it was getting more and more hot. He started to perspire. So he slowly unbuttoned his jacket. It was still becoming more hot, and slowly the man wiped the perspiration from his face. The Sun kept on smiling and shining happily and more and more intensely on the man.

Finally, the man felt so hot that he stopped on the road, and took off his jacket,

swinging it over his shoulder, while he started to continue his walk down the road.

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Questions:

1. Compare the way the Wind tried to take off the man’s jacket to the way the Sun tried to. How are they different?

2. What does the Wind represent to you? What does the Sun represent to you?

3. What does this story teach us about how we should relate to others in our lives?

4. Would you rather relate to people and the world around you like the Sun or like the Wind? Explain your answer in full sentences.