January 25, 2023

Notes by Naami Deo

Review

A young person asked a Swami how to get wisdom and knowledge. In the river, the Swami pushed the person in water and they fought to get air. Soon the Swami lifted them up and the person screamed – were you trying to kill me? The Swami replied that if he had wanted to kill the person, they would have not lifted them up or helped. If one needs wisdom and knowledge as much as air, then one will achieve it. 

The R.A.W. was to set three goals each day. 

Story

Imagine the whole class at the ice skating rink and everybody is getting their skates on and is excited. When they got on to the rink, they held on the railing or to each other and no one was trying to skate at all. After few minutes, a boy started to skate and fell down, butt first. Everyone laughed, but he tried again and fell down and tried again and fell down.  He wouldn’t take no for an answer. But then, he started running and tilting forward and started to skate. Everyone was silent and looked in awe. They were shocked that he actually managed to do it. Then it was time to leave. Everyone took off their skates and went home. 

Lesson

It doesn’t matter how many times we fall, we get up and try again. 

Goals help us grow. How do we feel when we have a goal and we fail? We shouldn’t be embarrassed and give up.  Be curious to learn, so failure is not embarrassing and getting hurt is not important. Be curious each time we fail. When we fail, we learn from the mistake and grow. Not getting what is wanted is the most important part of growing. When we set a goal, the whole universe supports it and we are not the only ones responsible to make it happen. 

Two important things:

1) our self-effort and 

2) our attitude. The boy’s attitude was that they wanted to learn to ice skate.

3) Be curious. 

R.A.W.

Everyday, try to work on the task that you struggle with, whether we succeed or fail.