“You cannot be adventurous when you are unhappy. Adventure needs a subtle happiness in you. Then you can leave the known…only with a dancing heart…happy, blissful, positive…can take you into the uncharted”.

Osho: The Book Of Secrets III, 1976

Continuation from last issue………

Laxmi has a distinct memory of her first day at school. Her stomach churned because she had made it to school in spite of uncle’s ire. Confident, Laxmi received a good welcome to the class. There were over seven hundred children attending school. Some were playing while the others were jumping. A feverish excitement prevailed. After school hours Uncle came to pick up the children. En route home he asked all the boys as to how their day had been. However he did not inquire of Laxmi. Exuberant, excited Laxmi bubbling with joy narrated her stories even though no one asked her. Uncle merely smiled. He had stopped relating with her and did not hold any conversation with her. The ice did not break till he died. If there was any communication at all it was always initiated by Laxmi. He did not make any effort either.

School was like second home as children had the freedom and spent several hours at school.

Each day school began with a prayer. The students sat on floor laden with mats in the assembly hall and were trained not to step on these mats with their shoes on. This was a test of their awareness. In the middle of the day the school bell would chime musically. This was an invitation for all present to observe silence and pray for two minutes each day in the assembly hall.

Once Laxmi inadvertently stepped on the mat in the assembly hall with her shoes on. Promptly the principal asked her to sit on the mat and clean it. Laxmi obeyed, cleaned and later sat on the mat. A few days later the principal stepped on the mat. Laxmi went up to him requesting him to sit down on the mat. At first he ignored Laxmi. However on Laxmi’s insistence he sat on the mat. Many were amazed with Laxmi’s boldness. Since that day both students and staff were cautious not to step on mats. Each one tried to remain aware.

A good eater Laxmi put on weight until once a schoolmate called her fat and overweight. To this Laxmi reacted sharply and told her to shut up, yet she felt the bulging belly. Soon Laxmi realized that she needed to eat with more awareness and less greed. Laxmi followed her awareness and shaped up her body. Later in her life Laxmi heard Osho say that body has its own clock and if one attuned oneself to it, the body is in harmony.

Tagore breathed his last when Laxmi was rather young. Deeply influenced at school, she imbibed many values, including those of responsibility and truth. Laxmi was grateful to her teacher, principal and above all Tagore. Secular in school there were no dictates on how and who to worship. The students came from all religious and political backgrounds. Laxmi credits this openness to Tagore although Laxmi learnt of the significance of these values after her meeting with Osho. The students were groomed with humility and kindness. They were coached to greet people as per the Indian tradition with both palms folded together like in prayer. This is called namaskar and in India it denotes -I honor the light in you. The students recited a prayer from the holy Hindu book the Upanishad read “Lord, lead us to Truth from untruth”. Moreover the motto at school was ‘Satya mev Jayate” which means truth always wins. Many a renowned musician, dancer, writer and poets were invited to reinforce the idea of truth in children. Also they performed in school.

Amongst the many habits Laxmi noticed that she would rationalize many a time when things did not work out her way. The effort was to blame the other and or circumstances for any and every issue and never take the responsibility. In this context Laxmi was reminded of a story especially liked a story Osho narrated more than once in discourses. The story is about the fox and grapes suspended from a creeper. Having failed to reach the bunch of grapes in spite of jumping several times, the fox turned away to leave in disappointment. Just then a rabbit that watched the fox walk away called out to the fox. “What happened can’t you reach the grapes”? “They are sour,” replied the fox and walked away.

Bold Laxmi made an impression on her teaches too. A sporty child Laxmi was introduced to swimming along with the other students. The instructor asked students to jump into the pool. Gripped with fear none did. Feeling the water with her hands Laxmi jumped and swam spontaneously and fearlessly.

Laxmi’s favorite game was hootutu also known as kabadi. A simple team game it needs no expensive gadgets and can be played in an open field. Two teams of twenty players each assemble on either side of the field to play the game. The centerline divides the field into two equal areas, one for each of the teams. Each player must approach the center repeating hoottututtutuu….in a single breath. Inhaling is not permitted .The mantra should be audible while the player approaches the center continuously chanting hooottuttututu. If caught near the centerline in this process by a rival player he/she must free himself/ herself, continuously chanting hoottututtuuuttu even if it means breathlessness. Untouched the player must return to his /her side of the field. Or else the player is declared out. All the players get a chance to play. The team with fewer players declared out wins at the end.

To be continued…..