Last week while taking a round in school, I felt someone is sobbing somewhere. I tried to find the source of the sound. Up and below as it lead me to the basement. One student sat under stairs in darkness, his head down between his legs. He got scared the moment he saw me, stood straight and hit his head hard on the stair roof above him and went down again like a cloth falling from a string. Sobbing out loud.
Pandemic fenced my travelling like anyone’s and it turned my attention towards my school. Taking Yoga classes, developing students skills around arts and photography, teaching conversation and language skills. Later when I asked Akshat, the crying boy, what he said took me by surprise. He told me that he fears his mother will die soon, that he cannot bear he will be all alone. His had already lost his father years ago.
That evening back home, I decided that I will introduce my children to the wisdom of the ancients. Once a week I will carry them to their edges, something that schools rather teachers do not recognise. Some truths that they may remember all their lives. Because we know that hard times will come.
The next day as i entered the class, I asked them to close all their books and take out a paper. One loose paper. Today’s class might be the first most important class of your lives. Today when this paper fills, carry it with you to home and paste it in front of your study tables.
Because what you will learn today, it is going to help you prepare for life, as it helps me still.
Children were anxious. Silent. Super Attentive. And we started talking about some of the most important things that might even be helpful to my co-travellers here :-
1. Take care of your health, and it includes everything : I cannot pressurise enough as one must take it seriously that this one thing will determine your happiness and your productivity throughout your life. A good fit body will only work to its potential when a good mind will assist it. Health is not how one looks from the outside. It is a mix of food choices and habits.
Even though I tried giving them some examples from the Secret Ways of Yogic Living but it was too early for them to grasp it.
2. Write daily and Run or Play daily : One doesn’t know but one’s breath is accounted for. And to have a balanced life one must keep an account of one’s daily activities. And one should make sure to Sweat daily.
3. Nobody will ever love you more than your parents : They are our cheerleaders. We are their everything. Never take them for granted.
4. Practise Focusing Daily : This is one of the most important aspect that the world does not want to teach you or they do not themselves know how to. But you are young and if you can start practising sitting with yourself daily, by the time you are twenty or twenty four, it will make you sharper, smarter and might just start surprising you more often than not.
5. Patience is a virtue : We are living in a world which breeds on your attention. Short attention spans severely limits a person’s ability to be patient, but the more able you are to wait for the good things in life, the better they will be. As you will grow, have some setbacks, heartbreaks, failures in life, you would realise if only you had listened to the good advice that was always there, you wouldn’t have spent too much time on many things. Slow down, start breathing deep. And take all your time to decide your path. But when you do give your all.
6. You are responsible for yourself : Do not think that the world is going to be good to you all the time. Your actions, your decisions will determine your path of life. Do not let anyone else decide for you but be open for suggestions.
7. Do not fear : Always go for it if it is making you weak from within. Making you afraid to achieve it. Go for it because that obstacle is your way to life.
8. Choose your Friends : One of the most important aspect that you will carry along all your life will be the people you will start spending your time with. Your associations. Because remember, you can only become as good as them. Hence strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, who value you, make you think better and motivate you to do good things in life.
9. Be Frank, choose Truth and speak with honesty : It is something the world, individuals are losing. They want comfort. They would rather like to escape taking any responsibility. But if you can work on this skill out, it in turn will build your character, you inside out.
10. Travel : And how can I not ask to travel. Travel as you will. Alone if you can because it is only thus you are going to learn your most profound lessons.
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It were beautiful thirty-five minutes with children and the attention they showed throughout was uplifting.
As I am putting out these in front of you all, please share what do you all think and If there are any important truths that I’ve forgotten? Please share them in the comments section. I will keep taking such classes. It will help me learn from you just as much as you learn from life.
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Thank you.
If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste
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I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly;
As a co-traveller, my Ten Learnings from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.
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Also, You will be happy to know about My Little School Project. If you wish to come over for a visit someday that you must, you will be heartily welcomed here
If you would like to contribute to my travels, you can please do so here
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If you have anything to share, or feel like saying a hello, feel free to write to me at narayankaudinya@gmail.com
To visit other long-term photographic works, please visit here.
To follow my walks through the rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at
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ROAD TO NARA 
Beautiful and powerful insights! Though it is a bit tricky for me to surround myself with the best people but I have been more aware about who truly values me.
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hehe.. bit tricky for many Jennk. Only life can bring those people and understanding. Thank you for your thought provoking comment.
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Indeed!! very nice insights! fear and patience are the ones that I am struggling with the most.
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Aww.. waiting induces fear, or so it brings sometimes. I hope you have close friends to talk with my friend. Thank you for your valuable comment.
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This is such a wonderful idea, Narayan, to teach children the most important rules of leading good life! How lucky your children are to have someone passionately concerned with their well-being in life. Of course, they will remember your words as they are presented in such a concise manner. All the points you made are in the right order of importance, and nothing is more important to start with than good health.
I think that your incentive should be made more public and recognized as a blueprint for how to influence people at a young age as at that time they will absorb the teachings much more easily as a positive “brain training”, and will later in life say without knowing why I must do running, yoga, or exercise to keep healthy.
All the wonderful rules you presented, Narayan, will be imprinted in their hearts, and their minds. I think that is one of the important legacies of your life, apart from filming and writing, and you will be remembered with gratitude long after you are gone.
Joanna
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Such beautiful words AND your understanding dearest Joanna. And your affirmation means the world. You are right, I tried consciously to provide reason with threads leading from one to other as they might find it later.
I will try keeping up with these tips then I think, keeping students and parents/people in general. It will also give me a way to understand life the other way, and may be we can bring it as an extra course on conversation as the time passes.
You are so so kind Joanna, for your precious words get imprinted every-time you leave such beautiful, thought providing comments.
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A heart felt comment. Thank you again.
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Wonderful life lessons we should all know. 😊 Maggie
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Thank you Maggie 🙂
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Way opens. We think we must struggle but realize, often too late, that the way forward will be made available to us. 💜 I loved this and thank you for sharing them.
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So wise and actually the only way is that K. I have no doubt. Such profoundness in your words. I am as much thankful for you saying it this way. Thank you!!
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Thank you for your wisdom in this life’s journey. I’m lucky to have found your posts.
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Fortunate to have your company too dear K. Thanks for saying that.
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Every guideline you’ve given them is valuable and time tested and i hope they will always keep them in their hearts. May i just add one more. Teach them that blaming others for everything that goes wrong is counterproductive and complaining, actually weakens ones character. Thanks for sharing, enjoyed reading this.
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Diti, what a wonderful guideline. And somewhere that will take them far in clearing their conscience. They keep doing it all the time, I do not know out of habit or parents habits but they want the world to know what the other is doing, so thank you for pointing, rather bringing it to my notice. I will see how can i put it across to them.
Thanks for this again Diti.
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Thanks, Narayan.
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The most important lesson for your children, these guidelines will take them through their lives. How lucky they are to have your wisdom.
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And how lucky I am to have your wisdom and understanding too, Caro. Thank you.
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The story of the crying student struck me. I was older — my first year in college — and my dad — my closest friend — was dying of MS, slowly, slowly at home. I was a couple hours away at college. I was (to outward eyes) “depressed” but I wasn’t depressed. I was sad and scared. My dorm mother — who was unimaginative and naive — sent me to see the school psychologist. He actually sat down and talked to me. He reported to her, “There’s nothing wrong with Martha. Her dad is very ill and dying. She’s sad and she’s scared. If she were anything else, she wouldn’t be human.”
I learned a lot from that episode in my life that I could apply to my life as a teacher. Just because someone is young doesn’t mean nothing serious is happening in their lives. I love the way you approached your student and your class.
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This heart-felt story Martha, I am sorry to feel this but I felt your dorm mother needed that psychologist more, as she could not talk to you herself.
Its actually very emotional to have lived it Martha.
Such a beautiful comment that I could learn more about you. Thanks so much.
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These life lessons are more important than skill in taking multiple-choice tests, more important than learning to spell, and more important than grammar and punctuation…so why are they neglected in the curriculum? Kudos to you, Narayan, for focusing on what is truly important! ❤
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Thank you Cheryl, You are right, nothing- Grammar or most subjects will come to any use after a point. For life tips, a teacher has to live it, but because of competition or even lack of curiosity most teachers haven’t exposed themselves to many things in life. But because I got opportunities or may be I pushed myself to live under different circumstances, I could feel or become someone like them.
Thanks for your thought provoking comment Cheryl.
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I love this post, what a great story. And great truths to teach your students. I sure hope Akshat is doing ok. So sad that he lost his father and fears for his mother ❤🙏 My heart hurts for him.
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Thank you Lisa. And thanks you mentioned his name. He seems fine and after this class children seem to be little disciplined when I am around 🙂
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Oh, good to hear!
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I love your initiative, Narayan. Sound advice for young minds.
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Rosa, thank you much for affirming. It means a lot. Yes this post is completely dedicated to parents and children whomsoever and if searching for, can find good suggestions.
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Also you know last day, i was hearing Foreign ministers of Guyana and Jamaica, and they were deeply praising India at the UN for assisting them with the Covishield Vaccines in hard times. I felt well and remembered you.
Thanks again Rosa.
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This is a wonderful post Narayan! #3. is so true . As a parent I know that the love of my two children is complete and strong. All of your guiding ideas are sound ones and the children will benefit for their entire lives if they follow them .
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Anne, lovely to have your compassionate comment. And also for reaffirming as a mother and parent. Means a lot. Thank you.
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Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week. Stay safe.
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Thanks Shaun. Yes I will try having a better week. Thanks for your kind comment.
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You are welcome.
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Such great lessons to share!
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Thanks Vanya
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I think you should teach them how to handle grief and bereavement. No syllabus teaches us that.
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O my gc, i think you pinned the demon right where it was. So so important, to handle grief could be the most important lesson one could prepare oneself even though only grief can teach us by going through it, but thank you so much for this. I am going to remember it.
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A very good list for children to keep in mind. I would certainly add two things: appreciate the wonders of nature, and cultivate a sense of humour. These can help one to handle the googlies of life.
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Cultivate a sense of humor, yes Hitha(let me keep this for you only :-)) I think in coming time it is going to be the most important thing anyone can carry in life. I am going to add them for the next round of Tips class. Thanks for these gems!
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Narayan, how like Jesus to care for children and give them tools to help them in life.
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Jesus, Matthew 18:3-6)
May the Creator bless you in your efforts to bless these children.
❤️& 🙏, c.a.
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Thanks C.A
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Undoubtedly, Narayan ji, these tips are beautiful and will be immensely useful for your students. These things are not generally discussed in schools.
I’m happy that you have not only thought on those lines, but also implemented it. What I feel is that it should not be one-off case. Periodical interactions for half an hour each will help boost their morale and EQ, as children like Akshat now-a-days develop suicidal tendencies if something goes wrong either at home or school or in exams.
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Thank you for your thought providing comments Kaushal Ji. You are right. Periodal interactions are a must today. With population such as ours, I personally think teachers should be exposed to many a situations including edu trips and other retreats to be able to handle students better.
Also schools must recognise that too many children in a class is not good for anyone apart from the school itself. Because suicidal or feeling incompetent early in life is dangerous. Thank you again Kaushal Ji.
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You’re welcome, Narayan ji. I agree, number of children in a class should be restricted, preferably to 20.
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I agree with the ten points you gave!
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Thank you Ann.
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This post touched my heart!
I love the way you handled Akshat’s fear and turned the reason for his fear into a lesson for all. Kudos.
As a retired teacher who taught and learned from socio-economically and linguistically diverse children and students with special needs, I can relate to the post.
I may just add two more truths for the little ones to know:
Empathy
Sharing
Stay blessed dear Narayan.
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Thank you Chaya Ji. I actually did not react, and handled it may be because I had also been through similar thoughts.
Thank you
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Also What you suggested Chaya Ji are must. If they get to learn about these two emotions in life. Nothing can stop them from deciphering right way to deal with situations.
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” I decided that I will introduce my children to the wisdom of the ancients. Once a week I will carry them to their edges, something that schools rather teachers do not recognise.” love this Nara.. wonderful message and teaching. ❤️❣️💞
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🙂 Cindy ❤️
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How excellent that you took the time to share with the children something other than facts, and what wonderful messages you gave them.
Alison
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Thanks Ali.
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Love this simple important truths Nara!!💕❤️🥰
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They are dearest Cindy. Thank you ❤️
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You’re always welcome my friend❣️
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Namaste Narayana! This is a comprehensive life-lesson not just for children, but also for adults who have not embarked on the exercises still. It is almost complete in all respects, but I would like to add a couple of them: Curiosity about things around us, asking questions when one has doubts. And, healthy respect for our ancient wisdom, and our elders both at home and in the society, for without respect for our traditions and our elders, arrogance and smugness take over — sooner than later.
Zephyr
Blog : The Cyber Nag https://cybernag.in/ Twitter https://twitter.com/thecybernag – https://twitter.com/thecybernag
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Namaste Narayana! This is a comprehensive life-lesson not just for children, but also for adults who have not embarked on the exercises still. It is almost complete in all respects, but I would like to add a couple of them: Curiosity about things around us, asking questions when one has doubts. And, healthy respect for our ancient wisdom, and our elders both at home and in the society, for without respect for our traditions and our elders, arrogance and smugness take over — sooner than later.
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Yes, asking questions. I actually say it out loud many a times, even with my nephews. And you pointed it out right about curiosity even though it stems from how parents are but younger students do catch up looking around.
You know, I was myself fortunate to have parents who were my ideal in thinking Bharat as India. It is given now when I know that If any student can understand this, he will make at least a healthy and though filled life.
Your words mean a lot and presence Cyber ma-m 🙂 Thank you
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Yes, parents do have a big role and responsibility but many many are way down in the secular path, having obliterated Bharat and only imagining a westernised India as their ideal. It is good to have young people like you who value this great legacy of our rishis and endeavor to bring it to kids growing up in India today.
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True. It is a task. And more so when Indian students travel outside, most come back as outsiders only. I cannot understand why they start defending, feeling weak or inferior to others.
But I feel time is here to stall this, to encourage Ancient studies and Skills.
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Very true and I am glad young people like you are taking the initiative to put this in place for the current generation of children.
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Kinchit Kinchit 🙂
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Thanks for a great lesson and what lucky kids! I’m saving these truths for my personal use.
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Dearest Crystal. Hope your kids and everyone are in joy. Thank you for keeping them close. Makes me feel Well.
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Sending love. Thank you, Dear Narayan.
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Reblogged this on Self Help (Personal Growth) Books.
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Thank you Narayan. Namaste 🙏
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The students are very lucky to have you teach them these wise things.
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Long time. Thank you. It is me who have that luck dear friend. Hope films inspiring you as always.
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I never thought about the realities of student life from that angle before. Your post really got me thinking. Usuallly candidates got excited before initiating their schooling from universities, colleges so they can get idea about the challenges they have to face which can make them alert and they can prepare themselves.
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