27 - Taught Fearlessness To Children

Once the school organized a trip. Teachers and students were sitting around Bhai in the bus. They told Bhai, ‘Please tell us some nice narratives of God.’ Bhai said, ‘Won’t you feel bored?’ A student said, ‘No, not at all. We enjoy listening to your narratives.’ A teacher said, ‘Bhai, your style of narration is very interesting, children get absorbed into the story.’ Another teacher said, ‘Not only children, but we also feel captivated.’

Bhai narrated beautiful parables full of fun and knowledge to all. During the trip, they played a lot, ate a lot and enjoyed a lot. Whole day was passed off happily. Night set in. Two male teachers came to Bhai and said, ‘Bhai, there is no place available to stay at night. Rooms are not available in any lodge or hotel.’ Bhai was concerned. A teacher said, ‘We must make all the children sleep. We have beddings but the problem is where to spread them.' Bhai agreed, ‘You are right. Children are also very much tired.' He observed the surroundings. Suddenly he had a flash of an idea. He informed the teachers, ‘Let us go to the graveyard which is close by.’ The teacher were shocked, ‘Bhai, what are you telling? In the graveyard!!’ Bhai affirmed, ‘I am saying correctly. At the moment we shall not find a better place than that.' Teachers stood there thoughtfully.

Bhai went to the students and spoke, ‘Come on, we have found a place to sleep.’ Children were relieved. Bhai instructed, ‘Please spread your beddings in the graveyard and go to sleep.’ The kids halted. They asked, ‘In the graveyard? That is a scary place.’ Bhai explained, ‘At this hour, it is not possible to make any other arrangements. What did I tell you in the morning?' A student replied, ‘We must face the problems bravely.’ Bhai said, ‘Right!’ The another boy said, ‘We should not get scared of the problems. We should become fearless.’ Bhai was pleased. The third one said, ‘We must remember God during emergency, He would certainly help us.’ At that moment a student spoke loudly, ‘God helps him who helps himself.’ They laughed. Bhai encouraged them, ‘Good! You are right. And I am also saying the same. All these people are sleeping here after death, similarly we can also sleep here for tonight. Let us remember God. So that God will help us. God will protect us. Whoever believes me and has faith in God, please sleep here.' The students had tremendous faith in Bhai. They immediately spread out their beddings and slept off.

The students were talking among themselves, ‘Sir has assured us, so nothing will happen to us.’ It was a hot, summer night. Cool breeze was blowing. Within a few second, all of them slept off. The teachers were surprised. They told Bhai, ‘Bhai you have performed a miracle. You removed the fear from the minds of children just by talking to them. You have made them completely fearless.' Bhai said, ‘Right from their childhood, if the children are fearless and brave, they can attain all round growth. We should never scare them. And we should never discourage also. Then the hidden talents of a child bloom properly.'

Difficult words:
Graveyard - Where dead people are burried
Breeze - Cool, fresh air
Scare - To frighten, to create fear
Bloom - Develop

Points to ponder:
Þ Here Bhai teaches the kids to become fearless and brave.
Þ However impious a place may be, it can be converted into a pious and holy by reciting the name of God.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. What did everyone suggest to Bhai to talk about in the bus?
2. What did the teachers inform Bhai at night?
3. How did Bhai sort out the problem of night stay?
4. What did Bhai remind the children?

Fill in the blanks:
1. All these people are sleeping here_________ God will help us.
2. Whoever believes me__________sleep here.
3. Right from their childhood _____________ all round growth.