Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas Alumni Meet 2023

13th All India Convocation and 10th Benediction Ceremony
of Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas Alumni
Prasanthi Nilayam

From 2pm on 9th to 2 p.m on 11th June, 2023
  1. All Alumni and Group III students should report at Prashanthi Nilayam by 7th June2023.
  2. Food will be provided on Thursday 8th June (dinner), Friday 9th June, Saturday 10thJune (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner), and Sunday11thJune (Breakfast and Lunch).
  3. All Participants can plan their return Journey from 02-00 PM on 11th June, 2023.
  4. Balvikas Children for Convocation and Alumni Students will be accommodated in ROOMS / Sheds. Costs for the same will be borne by occupants / respective States on sharing basis 3 per room.
  5. The last date for sending the list of names who attend Alumni Meet and Convocation to Kamala Pandya by 1stApril, 2023 as per formats provided by Padma Diwakar/ Ganga Pidatala.
  6. Physical Registration will be facilitated by Maharashtra East, Maharashtra West, Maharashtra West – 1 and Himachal Pradesh at a venue to be intimated.
  7. Each of the State Coordinators will carry 2 extra copies of names for Registration.
  8. Registration will be at W 3 A19 from 10-00 AM on 7th June , 2023
  9. Dress Code: i). For Girls / Ladies:
    Day –I (9TH June) Pink saree for Alumni and Gurus, or white dress with Pink dupatta.
    Day- 2(10 th June) –Blue saree or white dress with Blue dupatta.
    Day 3 (11th June) green saree or white salwar kameez with green dupatta.
    ii). For Boys / Gents: White Dress
  10. Name of the Outstanding Alumni from each state for Excellence Awards has already been sent with brief bio data and passport size photo. Please confirm the name of Excellence Awardee of your respective State once again by 1st April 2023.
  11. Alumni student whose name is being sent from the states for delivering Speech can speak for 5 min. and Group III student for 3 minutes duration. The speech can be in English, Hindi and Telugu on theme “Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas- Pathway to Global Peace and Harmony”.
    Select only one student (either boy or girl) from each state and confirm the names by 1stApril 2023 with Neeta Khanna.
  12. Convocation will be held on 11th June, 2023. All children (boys and girls) receiving diplomas should come in the recommended Dress Code. Pink Scarves for Convocation/Alumni will be provided at registration counters.
  13. Gurus accompanying the students should ensure discipline in Prashanti Nilayam.
  14. Parents accompanying students must make their own arrangements for accommodation.
  15. Names of one PAIR OF boys or one pair of girls per state from Group-III and Alumni only to be sent by 1.4.2023 to Sasi Bala for Singing Bhajans from B.V syllabus . The students will have to be ready to go through the audition by SSS Media Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam .

Responsibilities assigned for the event management to the various states is as follows;

  1. Food and medical facility- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
  2. Registration and Accommodation, Maharashtra, Maharashtra West-1 and Himachal Pradesh assisted by Sister Neeta Khanna.
  1. Veda Recitation (Day 1 & 2)

a. Chanters for Vedas – Either boys OR girls in separate groups of 9 each

b. States assigned for Veda Chanting in Sai Kulwanth Hall

i.Tamil Nadu (9 boys) – 20 minutes
ii.Kerala ( 9 Girls) – 20 minutes
iii.Delhi NCR (9 Boys) – 20 minutes
iv.Telangana (9 Girls) – 20 minutes

Veda Chanting in Poorna Chandra Auditorium
i.Goa (9 Girls) – 10 minutes
ii.Maharashtra East (9 Girls) – 10 minutes

  1. I-cards- for all 5 categories of participants – group III, Alumni students, Convocation, Gurus and Parents:
    by –Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh: 5 categories – numbers for each category to be provided by Neeta Khanna
  2. Punjab to prepare the Convocation scarves. Scarves for only Convocation students. Scarves should be white in color with letters in red – ‘CONVOCATION’ (to coordinate with Neeta Khanna for numbers )
  3. Band team- …. Visakhapatnam (to coordinate with state coordinator Shakuntala Vallabheni)
  4. Scroll of Pledge – Delhi NCR (Delhi to coordinate with Kamala Pandya) pledge to be lead by Srilata Ramkumar from Delhi
  5. Medals for National ESSAY Writing and Sai Quest … Gujarat/ Karnataka North.
  6. Printing of Diploma– Telangana – (All States to send the names of Convocation students by 1st April, 2023 to Smt. Kamala Pandya and Ganga Pidatala in the prescribed excel format only.
  7. Printing of Compendium of Articles: Manipur WITH RAMA SAMPATH (Balvikas Magazine editor ) Already Done
  8. Getting the Mace – Brijesh Bamalwa /WB
  9. Rajasthan has to prepare 5 Banners with Guidance and Assistance of Neeta Khanna
  10. Outstanding Students Mementoes & certificates Karnataka North /Haryana. (coordinate with Kamala Pandya for design and wordings)
  11. Audio files of
i. Theme Song by MH and
ii. TWO welcome songs by Maharashtra West-1 to be sent by 01.04.2023 subject to audition of SSS Media Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam
  1. Cultural Programs: In Sai Kulwanth Hall
i. welcome Dance – Andhra Pradesh
ii. Drama – “Bend the Body, Mend the Mind, End the Senses. – Way to Godhood” by Tamilnadu North (Chennai Metro).
iii. Maharashtra West-1 (Mumbai Metro) –group singing retro balvikas songs , subject to audition of SSS Media Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam
iv. any other inadvertently left

National Quiz – Sri Sathya Sai Quest 2022

We have been immensely blessed to have Darshan, Sparshan and Sambhashan of the Yuga Avatar Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The Life and Message of Bhagavan is His greatest Legacy to mankind. It is our bounden duty to share this Message of Love and Service of Sri Sathya Sai Baba so as to inspire mankind to take up the path of Nishkama karma to realise inherent Divinity.

It is proposed to use this Quiz as a platform to expose children, parents, families and Society at large to the life and Message of Bhagavan Baba through His literature. Inculcating the habit of Reading of Sai Literature is seen as an extension of Bal Vikas to gain insight into the lofty messages of Bhagavan Baba that serve as guiding posts in the journey of life.

Who can participate in the Quiz?

Students of Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas, Bal Vikas alumni, students of Sri Sathya Sai Schools and Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Jyoti Schools can participate.

What are the age Groups Eligible?

10-13 yrs – Grade I

Age 10 to 13 yrs –
Children with birthdays from 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2012

13-16 yrs – Grade II

Age 13 to 16 yrs –
Children with birthdays from 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2009

16-18 yrs – Grade III

Age 16 to 18 yrs –
Children with birthdays from 1st April 2004 to 31st March 2006

What are the Levels of the Quiz?
  1. Samithi Level
  2. District Level
  3. State Level
  4. National Level
How will the Quiz be conducted and what is the Medium?

The Quiz will be conducted ONLINE from Samithi level to National Level.

The Medium of the Quiz is both English and Hindi

Where to register for the Quiz?

Registration/Announcement of Results will be done through the website, details of which will be given shortly.

What are the dates of the Quiz?

Sri Sathya Sai Quest 2022 will commence after 15th July 2022.

What is the Course Content for the Quiz?

CONTENT OUTLINE FOR SAMITHI AND DISTRIC LEVEL QUIZ ROUNDS

GRADE LIFE OF BABA MESSAGE OF BABA HUMAN VALUES VISUAL CONTENT
Grade 1 (10-13) Sathyam Shivam Sundaram Vol 1 Bhagavata Vahini Lessons from the Divine Life of Young Sai – Parts 1 & 2 Sri Sathya Sai Answers Series
Grade 2 (13 – 16) Sathyam Shivam Sundaram Vol 1 & 2 Ramakatha Rasavahini Chinna Katha Part 1 Sri Sathya Sai Answers Series
Grade 3 (16 -18) Sathyam Shivam Sundaram Vol 1, 2, 3 & 4 Geeta Vahini Chinna Katha Part 2 Sri Sathya Sai Answers Series

Content on Life and Message of Bhagawan Baba will be made available on the site in the form of PDF files wherever possible and short videos apart from books that will be made available in all Samithis, Districts and States.

PRIZES /CERTIFICATES S AT

Samithi Level
District Level
State Level
National level

AWARDS ONLY AT NATIONAL LEVEL FOR EACH AGE GROUP

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Gold Medals for winner with Citation for each of the age groups 10 TO 13,13 TO 16, 16 TO 18 years AT National Level

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Commendation Medals for first Runner up and Second Runner up in each AGE GROUPs 10 to 13, 13 to 16, 16 to18 years at NationaL Level

Please be free to clarify any doubts you may have

24th April 2022 Aradhana day announcement of Sri Sathya Sai Quest at National level and demo of how to fill in the registration forms of Sri Sathya Sai Quest between 24th April to May 5th 2022

6th May,2022 launch of registration portal of Sri Sathya Sai Quest

JAI SAI RAM

Period 51

Sloka

Om Tat Sat Shri Narayana Tu Purushotthama Guru Tu
Siddha Buddha Tu Skanda Vinaayaka Savitha Paavaka Tu
Brahma Mazda Tu Yahva Shakthi Tu Eshu Pitha Prabhu Tu
Rudhra Vishnu Tu Ramakrishna Tu Rahima Tao Tu
Vasudeva Go Vishwaroopa Tu Chidaananda Hari Tu
Advitheeya Tu Akaala Nirbhaya Aatmalinga Shiva Tu

Meaning

You are Narayana, God in the form of man;

You are the Embodiment of perfection and the perfect master.

You are enlightened Buddha; You are Subramanya and Ganesha, the remover of obstacles;

You are the Sun-fire You are Brahma, the Creator; Mazda, the Great One; You are Jehovah and the Divine Mother, the creative Energy.

O Lord! You are the Father Jesus.

You are Rudhra, the Transformer, and Vishnu, the Preserver;

You are Rama and Krishna;

You are Rahim, all kindness, always giving and expanding;

You are the Tao. You are Vasudeva, the Sustenance of all, omnipotent and omnipresent;

You are Hari, Destroyer of illusion, the blissful Spirit.

You are unparalleled, beyond time and fearless of adversities;

You are Shiva, Creator of the lingam, Symbol of the formless Absolute

Tu Hindu Banega Na musalman Banega

Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalmaan Banega,
Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai, Insaan Banega,
Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalmaan Banega,
Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai, Insaan Banega..
Maalik Ne Har Insaan Ko Insaan Banaya,
Hamne Use Hindu Ya Musalmaan Banaya, (2)
Kudrat Ne Tho Bakshi Thi Hamen Ek Hi Dharti,
Hamne Kahin Bharat Kahin Iran Banaya,
Jo Thod De Har Band Voh Toofan Banega,
Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai, Insaan Banega,
Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalmaan Banega,
Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai, Insaan Banega..
Nafrat Jo Sikhaye Voh Dharam Tera Nahin Hai,
Insaan Ko Jo Rondhe Voh Kadam Tera Nahin Hai, (2)
Quraan Na Ho Jismen Voh Mandir Nahin Tera,
Geeta Na Ho Jismen Voh Haram Tera Nahin Hai,
Tu Amn Ka Aur Sulah Ka Armaan Banega,
Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai, Insaan Banega,
Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalmaan Banega,
Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai, Insaan Banega..
तूहिंदूबनेगा न मुसल्मान बनेगा
इन्सान की औलाद हैइन्सान बनेगा

मालिक नेहर इन्सान को इन्सान बनाया
हमनेउसेहिन्दू या मुस्लमान बनाया
कुदरत नेतो बक्षी थी हमेंएक एक ही धरती
हमनेकहींभारत कहींइरान बनाया
जो तोड़ देहर बंद वो तूफ़ान बनेगा
इन्सान की औलाद हैइन्सान बनेगा
नफरत जो सिखायेवो धरम तेरा नहींह
इन्सान को जो रौंधेवो कदम तेरा नहींह
कुरान न हो जिसमेवो मंदिर नहींतेरा
गीता न हो जिसमेवो हरम तेरा नहींह
तूअम्न का और सुलह का अरमान बनेगा
इन्सान की औलाद हैइन्सान बनेगा

Period 50 – Gratitude

Story
Thank You God

There was a small bird living in a desert. With no sign of greenery the bird uses to hop around on the hot sand through the day. An angel while on his way to god saw the little bird and felt pity. He went and asked “O little bird! What are you doing in this hot desert? Can I do something for you?” The little bird said, “I am very pleased with my life, but this heat is unbearable. Both my feet are getting burnt. Only if there was a tree here, I’d be delighted”. Angel said, “Growing a tree in the middle of desert is beyond my scope. I am to going meet god, let me speak to him and ask if he could fulfill your desire”. Angel asked God, if he could help the bird. God said, “I could grow a tree, but her destiny doesn’t allow it. And I can’t change that. However, you can give her my message, which will help her survive the heat. Ask her to hop with one foot at a time. That ways she can rest the other one for a while and change foot often. This way only one of her foot will have to bear the heat and other one will be able to rest and recover. Also tell her to remember all the good things that have happened in her life and be thankful to god for that. Angel came back to where the bird was and gave her this message from God. The bird was delighted by the idea and thanked him for the effort he made to make her comfortable. After a few days, Angel was crossing the same desert and thought of checking on the little bird. He saw the bird sitting on big green tree, right in the middle of the desert. Angel was happy to see the bird in comfort but was very disappointed with God who suggested that there was no tree in this bird’s destiny. He went to meet God and told him the whole story. God replied, “I never lied to you. There was no tree in the bird’s destiny. However, after you gave her my message, which asked her to be grateful to God for the kind things, she did put those words to action. She remembered every possible thing from her life and thanked God with a pure heart. I was moved with her feeling of gratitude and that’s what made me change her destiny”. Angel was pleased with the answer. A small gratitude can bring so much in our lives.

The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more is to appreciate and enjoy it. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. If there is Gratitude in your Heart, then there will be tremendous sweetness in your eyes.

Period 49 – Speech

Story
Good Tongue and Bad Tongue

Once there was a king who wanted to know what would make every one of his subjects wise and happy. So, he organised an exhibition and invited all the wise men of his kingdom to keep there in the articles which could bring happiness into everyone’s life. The king himself came to see the exhibition. There he saw rows and rows of good things like flowers, fruits, beautiful plants, sweets, clothes, books, musical instruments, gold ornaments, things of art and so on. But none of these things appeared to him to be thing which would make everyone happy. At last, he came to a coloured model of clay. It was the mouth of man showing the tongue while talking to a poor, lean and hungry old man on the road. At the bottom of the model were written two words “Good Tongue”.

The sculptor of the model was sent for as the king wanted to know more about it. “My Lord,” said the sculptor, “All other things in this exhibition make man happy only for some time. But a good tongue, by speaking a few words of sympathy and love, makes others happy for years and years. It gives hope and cheer to the suffering, strength and confidence to the weak, sympathy and love to the orphaned. Only a good tongue can make all men happy all time.”

The king, who was immensely pleased to hear these words, gave the sculptor a good casket full of gold coins as a prize.

After some days, the king was very keen to know what could make every man unhappy. So, he organised another exhibition asking the wise men of his land to keep articles which could fill everyone’s life with misery. This time the exhibition hall was filled with objects like sticks and whips, knives and swords, thorny plants and bitter fruits, liquor and poison, barking dogs and cawing crows. But in none of them did the king see a satisfactory answer to his question. At last, he came to a clay model just like the one he had seen in the earlier exhibition. But this time it showed big, red eyes and blackish tongue abusing a poor, lean, hungry old man. At the bottom were written two words: “Bad Tongue”. The sculptor was sent for. He came and explained to the king, “My Lord, a bad tongue can kill others’ happiness and joy, destroy their hope and courage and push them into a pool of misery. It can cause to others, hearts wounds which may not heal for years and years. A bad tongue is the worst enemy of man.”

The king gave the sculptor a good casket full of gems and diamonds. “Indeed your clay models teach us a lesson more precious than these gold caskets, gems and diamonds all put together”, said the king to him. “A good tongue is the best friend of every man and the simplest way to the happiness of all.”

Song

Bhala kisi ka kar na sako
To bura kisi ka mat karna
Pushp nahi ban sakte to
Tum kaante ban kar mat rahna – 3
Ban na sako bhagwan agar tum
Kam se kam insan bano
Nahi kabhi shaitan bano
Nahi kabhi haivan bano – 2
Sadachar apna sako to
Papo meinin pag mat dharna
Pushp nahi ban sakte to tum
Kante ban kar mat rahna
Satya vachan na bol sako to
Jhooth kabhi bhi mat bolo
Maun raho to hi aachha
Kam se kam vish to mat gholo – 2
Bolo yadi pahle tum tolo
Phir muh ko khola karna
Pushp nahi ban sakte to tum
Kante ban kar mat rahna
Ghar na kisi ka basa sako to
Jhopadiya na jala dena
Maraham patti kar na sako to
Khare namak na laga dena – 2
Deepak ban kar jal na sako to
Andhiyara bhi mat karna
Pushp nahi ban sakte to tum
Kante ban kar mat rahna
Amrit pila sako na kisi ko to
Jahar pilate bhi darna
Dheeraj bandha nahi sakte to
Ghaav kisi ke mat karna – 2
Ram nam ki mala lekar
Subah shaam bhajan karna
Pushp nahi ban sakte to tum
Kante ban kar mat rahna
Bhala kisi ka kar na sako to
Bura kisi ka mat karna
Pushp nahi ban sakte to tum
Kante ban kar mat rahna

Period 48 – Honesty

Story
Honesty is the best policy

Gandhiji never told a lie. Once the inspector visited his school class and gave a few words of dictation. The third word was “kettle.” Gandhi’s friends were able to spell the word properly, but Gandhi didn’t know how.

The inspector began going around to check each student’s paper. While the inspector moved from student to student, the teacher saw that Gandhi’s spelling was wrong, so he touched Gandhi’s leg with his foot to get his attention. With his eyes he urged Gandhi to look at someone else’s paper. But Gandhi didn’t want to copy from anyone.

When the inspector came to Gandhi, he said, “Here’s a mistake. This boy doesn’t know how to spell ‘kettle.’ He has written it ‘ketle’.”The inspector wasn’t angry, but he was disappointed that Gandhi didn’t know the answer.The teacher was very angry with Gandhi. I told you to look at your friend’s paper, but you wouldn’t listen to me. You’re a disgrace to my class.”

Gandhi said, “I may be a disgrace, but I can’t tell a lie.”Gandhi was sorry he’d made a mistake and had displeased his teacher, but he had pleased himself by being honest.

Everyone knew that Anita was the best speller in the whole class. She could spell difficult words like “rhythm” and “millennium” very easily. She used to get perfect scores during each weekly spelling test.

Her English teacher made a rule for the spelling tests that any child who doesn’t get at least 60% correct spellings would have to copy each word fifty times for next week’s spelling test.Sunita who sat next to Stuti always struggled in spellings. Last Thursday, she received 50 percent which meant copying each word fifty times.

Anita was so confident in her spelling abilities that she had felt and decided not to study for her next spelling test. The test began. Teacher pronounced each word and then repeated it. Everything was OK until she spoke “Handkerchief”. Anita scribbled h-a-n-d-k-e-r-c-h…..now what?? i??…or…e?? Her mind was blank.

Teacher started to move on to the next word. It occurred to Anita that Sunita knew how to spell it!! Sunita had written this word fifty times. There was wide open space between Anita and Sunita. Anita’s eyes rolled to the right. There it was, spelled out in Seema’s handwriting. Her eyes went quickly back to her own paper and finished the word with the letters “i-e-f”

Anita remained tense and nervous as teacher read the last spelling word. She had cheated just for the first time in her life. She thought, “Is this the way I want to keep my perfect record – by being a cheater?”

Frantically, she erased what she had written earlier and replaced it with what she knew was the wrong answer. She wrote “e-i-f”. As her sweaty hands released pencil and passed the test up to the front, she sighed with relief. She thought, “So, what if my perfect scores are no longer intact? At least my honesty is.”

Moral

There is a saying, “Honesty is the best policy.” Know dishonesty as dishonesty & repent for it. Without doubt, one who repents is an honest person.

Period 47- Peace

Story
Real meaning of Peace

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried The king looked at all pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in the crack of the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There in the middle of the angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest – in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart, that is the real meaning of peace.

Period 46 – Life is a mirror

Story
Reflections

Once a man from mountainous part of Himachal Pradesh walked a long way to reach a sacred valley. His fellow villagers used to call it the Valley of Gods because of its heavenly beauty. They also believed that the God of the mountains lived there and talked to them.

On reaching his destination, the villager saw a breathtaking beautiful valley, surrounded by a semicircular range of hills, with stretches of grassy plains dotted with the most gorgeous mountain blooms.

He waited long for the God of the mountains to speak, but he was met by silence.

Becoming impatient, he shouted, “ Can’t you say something?”

The God of the mountains replied, “Can’t you say something?”

Getting angry he shouted even more, “ How rude of you to shout?”

The reply came again, louder too. “How rude of you to shout!”

The man got so angry that he yelled, “ I hate you.”

Pat came the response. “ I hate you.”

The man turned around and walked out of the valley, deciding never to return.

A few years later, a sage visited his village. He told the villagers that he was coming from the valley of Gods and that it was very sacred and peaceful place. The villager who had visited the valley got up and protested and spoke angrily about his experience. Hearing his story, the sage smiled and said, “Will you give me a chance to take you back there?” Hesitantly, and out of reverence, the man agreed.

After many days on foot, they reached the Valley of the Gods. The disappointed person, recalling the bitter experience of his previous visit told the sage, “I will not speak even a word to the God of the Mountains. You can talk to Him and be insulted as much as you please!” the sage smiled.

He then cupped his hands and loudly said, “Greetings to You.”

The God of the mountains replied at once, “Greetings to you!”

The sage then shouted, “I love you.”

The reply came back loud and clear, “I love you.”

The sage turned to his surprised companion and said “See! I was respectful and good to Him and He returned it with same goodness. Life is also like this If you spread love, kindness and cheer you receive the same. In return. If you have only hate, hurt and rudeness to offer to the world, again you receive the same. So if you want to be happy, give happiness to others.”

Many of us make the same mistake that the young villager did. When we have problems , we look inside ourselves. Instead we blame the world – our family, our friends, home , school, society and even things like traffic, weather and so on.

What we do not realize is life is like the mountain echo, it simply reflects what we give.

Remember World is the mirror of yourself.

Period 45 – Hard Work

Story
The Hidden Treasure

Once, there was an old man who had four sons. All four of them were very lazy.

One day, the old man fell sick and was counting his last days in bed. He worried a lot about his sons’ future as the young men hesitated a lot to work. The sons believed that luck would favour them.

The old man’s health deteriorated every day and he decided to talk to his sons about their future. However, his sons did not listen to him.

Finally, the old man decided to play a trick to let his sons realize the importance of work. He called all his sons and let them sit near him on his bed. He said that he had a treasure box with gold coins and expensive gems for them and wanted to share the treasure equally among the four of them.

The young men were very happy and asked where his father had placed the treasure. The old man replied, “I cannot exactly remember the place where I have hidden the treasure. However, the treasure box is buried in our land. I’m really not sure about the place where I have hidden the treasure box.”

Even though the lazy young sons were happy, they were sad that the old man had forgotten the place where the treasure was hidden. After a few days, the old man died. The sons decided to dig the land to find the treasure box.

They worked very hard and dug their land. They could not find any treasure box in the land. Finally, they decided to dig a spot in their land that was a bit different from the rest of the area. The sons believed that the treasure was buried in that spot. They dug the specific spot deeply, but got nothing but water.

A passerby who noticed the land and the water flowing from the spot talked to the sons about farming. Upon his advice, the four sons sowed vegetable seeds, and planted greens and flowering plants in their land. Since the land was very fertile with abundant water, within a few weeks, it became a fertile garden with nutritious vegetables and greens. The four sons sold the vegetables at a good price and earned a good amount of money.

Then they realized that it was hard work that was referred to as ‘Treasure Box’ by their father. Gradually, the four sons overcame their laziness, worked hard, earned more money and lived happily.

Hard Work Always Pays.

Period 44 – Sharing Love

Story
The Most Beautiful Heart

One day, in a heavily crowded place, a young man began shouting.

“People, look at me. I have the most beautiful heart in the world.”

Many people looked at him and were stunned to see his beautiful heart in a perfect shape, without any flaw. It looked quite amazing. Most of the people who saw his heart were mesmerized by the beauty of his heart, and praised him.

However, there came an old man who challenged the young man, “No my son, I have got the most beautiful heart in the world!”

The young man asked him, “Show me your heart, then!”

The old man showed his heart to him. It was very rough, uneven, and had scars all over. In addition, the heart was not in shape; it appeared like bits and pieces joined in various colours. There were some rough edges; some parts were removed, and fitted with other pieces.

The young man started laughing, and said, “My dear old man, are you mad? See, my heart! How beautiful and flawless it is. You cannot find even a bit of imperfection in my heart. See, yours? It is full of scars, wounds, and blemishes. How can you say your heart is beautiful?”

“Dear boy, my heart is just as beautiful as your heart is. Did you see the scars? Each scar represents the love I shared with a person. I share a piece of my heart with others when I share love, and in return I get a piece of heart, which I fix at the place from where I have torn a piece!” said the old man.

The young man was shocked.

The old man continued, “Since the pieces of heart I shared were neither equal nor in the same shape or size, my heart is full of uneven edges and bits and pieces. My heart is not in shape because sometimes I do not get love in return from those to whom I gave it. Your heart that looks fresh and full with no scars indicates that you never shared love with anybody. Isn’t that true?”

The young man stood still and did not speak a word. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He walked to the old man, tore a piece of his heart and gave the piece to the old man.

Many give importance and respect to physical beauty. Yet, real beauty is not physical!

Swami Vivekananda says , “When you see a man in distress & you feel a pain in your heart then you are truly human.”

Activity
  • List out the kind activities you have done.