A Good Life

Nestled in the valley of high mountains was a quiet little village. The village had surreal beauty and the people there were kind. Rich in generosity and care, not so much in material wealth, the pious people of the village had built a beautiful prayer hall right on the banks of a beautiful and peaceful lake. The priest of the prayer hall would often go out for walks alongside the banks of the peaceful lake. On one such walk he saw a young boy sitting by the lake with a basket beside him. The priest couldn't help but notice the boy's hands folded as if in prayer. He walked up to the boy and asked him what he was doing. The boy replied, "my family has not eaten fish in many months, I wish to get some fish from the lake. I believe and have faith that God is the one who provides, so I'm asking him for the fish". The priest smiled, put his hands on the boy's shoulder and explained "It is true that you must believe in God, but he can help you only if you he...

Raja is a majestic lion, he was little cub when he was brought to the circus. Innocent and unaware of the ways of the world, he was to now be brought up by humans and other domesticated animals at the circus. Just as a human child who grows up in this circus of urban life believing all he sees to be the reality, Raja too was to accept this life as his reality. Raja was given a lot of love, he was an adorable little cub after all. At the same time he was told that this was his world and that everything outside was beyond reach. He was taught to 'fall in line' or face the 'consequences'. Like the human child who is loved, protected and also taught the norms of the world, Raja was a trained lion. He would follow the routines of all the others in the circus being sure this was the only right way to live. He was satisfied as he played around with the other animals. He was given rewards to perform tricks, just as we all get in our lives as well, and he happily performed th...