{"id":25608,"date":"2020-05-12T18:46:37","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T15:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.revers-sun.fi\/?p=25608"},"modified":"2020-05-12T18:52:04","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T15:52:04","slug":"lessons-for-sequestered-families-chapter-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revers-sun.fi\/fi\/sanatana-dharma\/lessons-for-sequestered-families-himalayan-academy\/lessons-for-sequestered-families-chapter-10","title":{"rendered":"Lessons for Sequestered Families. Chapter 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Affirmation<\/h1>\n

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Today’s lesson \u00a0begins with the affirmation seen above, for the family to repeat together or alone. These are little mental mantras. Each is a medicine for the mind, a salve for the spirit, a comrade during quarantine. This is the final one in our series, and an apt summary of all the others. The family can talk about what this short but profound quote means, philosophically and also to us, personally, during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

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An Audio Story from The Guru Chronicles<\/h2>\n

DISCOVERING THE LEMURIAN SCROLLS<\/h1>\n

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This audio story goes back to a special time in Gurudeva\u2019s life. It describes the unusual way he wrote The Lemurian Scrolls, guided by inner plane devas. As the art above depicts, writing was an important part of Gurudeva\u2019s life and mission, something he did almost daily, sometimes dictating to the monks and sometimes writing himself. This story takes place in the early 1970s in the Coco Palms Hotel just down the hill from Kauai\u2019s Hindu Monastery. Enjoy our final tale from the Guru Chronicles and remember, the entire book, all 804 pages, is online in audio book (narrated) form if you want to keep exploring. Here is the link<\/a><\/p>\n

A Tale About Purity<\/h2>\n

Ten Tales About Self-Control<\/h1>\n

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A Friend\u2019s Bad Influence<\/p>\n

The first day of each school term was always exciting for Ranjit. He liked school and looked forward to learning new subjects. He wore the new clothes his mom had bought for him, he had his notebooks and study materials all neatly arranged in his backpack and had set up his study corner in his room at home. He approached the first day of school with a mix of uncertainty and excitement. Sitting in the third row of his 6th grade classroom, Ranjit looked around for Shailesh. The bell rang and, as the teacher appeared, Shailesh came rushing in. Ranjit hissed, \u201cCome, Shailesh. Sit beside me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shailesh grinned and plopped down into his seat.<\/p>\n

The teacher, Mrs. Sivan, wished them good morning, then said, \u201cChildren, let me introduce a new boy who has joined our school this year.\u201d She beckoned a boy who was seated just behind Ranjit. Tall and lean, with a mop of curly hair, he walked up casually to the front of the class, \u201cHi, I\u2019m Ravi. Ravi means the sun\u2014and believe me, I\u2019m sure to bring sunshine and fun into your lives.\u201d He smiled broadly. Most of the students took a liking to him right away.<\/p>\n

Ranjit, however, felt a strange uneasiness. Something about Ravi was not right. He seemed too sure of himself. Over the next few weeks, it became clear that Ravi liked to have fun at the expense of others. For example, one day he let the air out of Mahesh\u2019s bike tire, knowing that Mahesh had to rush home for his younger sister\u2019s birthday. When Mahesh was on the verge of tears, Ravi walked up and offered to take him home on his bike. From then on, Mahesh hung around with Ravi, not realizing that it was Ravi who had caused him the trouble in the first place.<\/p>\n

In class, Ravi constantly whispered about Mrs. Sivan. Some of his remarks were really funny. The children sitting near him had to work hard to not break out laughing. Ranjit enjoyed the jokes some of the time, but Shailesh was really getting hooked on Ravi. One rainy day, Ravi didn\u2019t turn up at school. The whole day, Shailesh complained how boring it was without Ravi and how much he missed him.<\/p>\n

Just a month into the new term, Shailesh insisted Ravi sit with them at lunch. Shailesh and Ranjit had been best friends from third grade, and neither had ever invited anyone to join them. All the other children were casual friends. They would meet over a game of cricket or during swimming practice, but during lunch it was always just the two of them. Now Shailesh wanted Ravi to join them every day. Ravi talked nonstop at lunch. Ranjit started to miss the days when he and Shailesh could enjoy lunchtime alone.<\/p>\n

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One day in class, while the teacher\u2019s back was turned, Ravi snuck up to the front and snatched her pen. Everyone knew the pen was her prized possession, a gift from her father upon her college graduation. The class saw him doing it. Some smirked and others shook their heads and motioned with their hands for him to put it back. But Ravi just grinned and ran back to his seat.<\/p>\n

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As the bell rang, Mrs. Sivan, looked around her desk and murmured with a frown, \u201cWhere did I leave my pen? Maybe it\u2019s in the staff room!\u201d She hurried out with a worried look.<\/p>\n

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Some of the children giggled loudly. Taking that as a sign of approval, Ravi stood up and bowed humorously. Shailesh laughed and said, \u201cYou are sure bold. How did you think of doing that? You know she won\u2019t drop the matter. Once she is sure it\u2019s missing, she is going to grill all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ravi grinned, \u201cLet\u2019s face that when it happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ranjit\u2019s eyes did not move from Ravi. After class he secretly followed him out of the school. He watched Ravi put the pen into a paper bag, then drop it on the road and walk off. In another moment, a passing vehicle would run over it.<\/p>\n

It was one thing for Ravi to play up to the class by stealing the pen in front of everyone. But this was entirely different. Now Ravi was attempting to destroy the pen the teacher valued so much. \u201cThat\u2019s just plain mean,\u201d thought Ranjit. \u201cHe should have found a way to give it back.\u201d Ranjit dashed onto the road and picked up the bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of person is this Ravi?\u201d Ranjit wondered as he walked back to school. But he would deal with Ravi later. First, he had to relieve Mrs. Sivan\u2019s anguish.<\/p>\n

When he reached the staff room, she was sitting nearly in tears. \u201cMadam, here is your pen. It had rolled under the table.\u201d That was a lie, but Ranjit was not brave enough to turn Ravi in.<\/p>\n

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Her face brightened, but her smile quickly changed to a frown when she saw the sweat on Ranjit\u2019s face. He looked like he had run a mile. She knew something was not right. She didn\u2019t think Ranjit had stolen the pen, but she wondered how he had really found it. \u201cThank you, Ranjit. I would be a very proud parent if you were my son.\u201d Her mind turned to Ravi. She had suspected him from the beginning.<\/p>\n

The next day, Shailesh was about to rush out of class to catch up with Ravi, but Ranjit caught him. Shailesh stopped and turned around.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne minute,\u201d Ranjit blurted out, \u201cI need to talk to you. You spend too much time with Ravi. I, too, like his jokes and think he\u2019s really funny. But you need to watch out. He\u2019s really not a nice person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shailesh was offended by this chiding. \u201cHey, why are you giving me a lecture? I like Ravi. I think he\u2019s fun to be with. He and I have lots more fun than you and I ever did. You need to chill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shailesh took off after Ravi, leaving Ranjit very irritated.<\/p>\n

The next day the teacher came in with a sad look. She stared at the students and said, \u201cI never believed that this class is capable of something like what happened yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A quiet panic swept over the room. Several children lowered their heads. Shailesh stole a glance at Ravi, who was sitting straight up, staring at Mrs. Sivan. She returned his look and asked, \u201cI wonder if you know who took my pen, Ravi? I would like you to come and meet me after class.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without thinking, Shailesh spoke, \u201cWhy Ravi? It could have been me!\u201d He said the words in a whisper but the teacher heard him. She looked at Shailesh for a moment and then turned towards the blackboard and continued the class.<\/p>\n

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Ranjit approached Shailesh after school. \u201cYou fool! You could have gotten into trouble with the teacher today! She kept quiet because this is the first time you have behaved badly. But the next time you talk back like that, you\u2019ll be in for it. Remember what the\u00a0Tirukural\u00a0says, \u2018As water changes according to the soil through which it flows, so a man takes on the character of his friends.\u2019 A swami once told me that means just as water running through red soil turns red, so will being friends with a dishonest person make you dishonest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ranjit looked at Shailesh with real concern, but Shailesh just laughed, \u201cRemember my words, Ranjit? You really need to have a bit of fun in your life. I need to go. Ravi is waiting for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Ranjit walked home, he had a strange feeling that something bad was about to happen. He felt this way once before, and the next day his dog fell ill. Softly he whispered a prayer, \u201cLord Ganesha, please keep Shailesh out of trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

That night he slept restlessly. Once he thought he heard police sirens. In the morning he woke up still feeling tired. The moment Ranjit reached his first class, Mahesh told him that Ravi and Shailesh had been picked up by the police for trying to break into the school last night. Neither was at school today.<\/p>\n

After school, Ranjit rushed to Shailesh\u2019s house. Shailesh was sitting in the living room with his father, mother and grandparents, staring down at his feet. It was obvious he had been crying. Walking in, Ranjit asked, \u201cShailesh, are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy\u2019s father glared at Ranjit, \u201cOf course, he\u2019s okay. But we aren\u2019t! Why did he break into the school? Now he could be expelled!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ranjit turned to his friend, \u201cWhy did you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shailesh held back his tears, \u201cJust for the heck of it. Ravi said it would be a lot of fun. But as soon as we got in, the guard dog heard us. We barely managed to run into a classroom and lock the door before the dog caught up with us. He barked outside the door until the police came. They thought we were there to rob the place, or maybe steal test papers. I told them we were just having some fun, but they didn\u2019t believe me. Our parents had to come to the police station to pick us up.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Shailesh\u2019s voice broke and he starting crying.<\/p>\n

Ranjit said, \u201cDidn\u2019t I warn you to keep away from Ravi? He\u2019s bad company for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shailesh hung his head, \u201cNow I know, but I had started to think like Ravi. I believed we could do anything we wanted to. Now look at the trouble I\u2019m in. I\u2019ll be lucky if I don\u2019t get suspended from school. You were right to warn me. While I was waiting for my parents in the police station, your verse from the\u00a0Tirukural\u00a0kept replaying in my mind. I remembered another one, too, \u2018What matters in making friends is not having fun, but a stern rebuking when friends go astray.\u2019 When you told me I was wrong to be friends with Ravi, I thought you were just jealous of him. But you were being a real friend. You\u2019ve never let me down. I\u2019ve been such a fool!\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspiration from Bodhinatha<\/h1>\n