086 - The dirty nests

A dove was constantly changing her nest.

The strong smell that the nests had developed over time was unbearable for her. She complained about this bitterly as she spoke with a wise, old and experienced dove.

The latter nodded his head several times and said, "By changing your nest all the time, you don't change anything. The smell that bothers you does not come from the nests, but from you."

This is the first lesson to learn. Be determined not to curse anything outside, not to lay blame upon any one outside, but be a man, stand up, lay the blame on yourself. You will find, that is always true. Get hold of yourself - Swami Vivekananda.

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html

053 - Concentration

Once while in the US, Swami Vivekananda was watching some boys standing on a bridge and trying to shoot at egg-shells floating on the river.

The egg-shells bobbed up and down. The boys could not hit any of them.

They fired the gun many times but they always missed the target!

They noticed that Swamiji was watching them. So they called out to him, "Well, you are watching us. Do you thing you can do better?"

Swamiji smiled and said, "I'll try."

Swamiji took the gun and aimed at the egg-shells. He stood very still for a few minutes. Then he fired the gun. he fired twelve times, and everytime he hit an egg shell ! The boys were very surprised.

How could any man shoot egg-shells like that? they thought.
They said to Swamiji, "Well, Mister, How did you do it?"

Swamiji laughed. He liked the boys.

"Whatever you are doing," he said, "put your whole mind to it. If you are shooting, your mind should be only on the target. then you will never miss. If you are learning your lessons, think only of the lesson. In my country boys are taught to do this."

source: Stories from Here and There, Ekalavya Education Foundation - By: Sunil Handa - http://www.eklavya.org/storyhere.html