Once upon a time, in the beautiful city of Jaffna, a small town nestled in the northern part of Sri Lanka, something magical was about to happen. Two little granddaughters, Abi and Maya, aged 4 and 2, had traveled all the way from Switzerland to spend their summer vacation with their extended family.
Their arrival filled the air with joy and excitement. The entire family eagerly awaited their arrival at the airport. As the two adorable girls stepped off the plane, their innocent laughter echoed through the bustling terminal, instantly melting the hearts of everyone around.
Abi, the 2-year-old, was particularly close to her grandpa. She would spend hours sitting on his lap, her tiny fingers gently playing with his beard. But what fascinated everyone the most was the way she interacted with the world around her. Abi had a special way of observing things and giving them names.
One sunny morning, as the family gathered in the backyard, they noticed two stray dogs roaming around. Abi’s eyes lit up with excitement as she pointed at the dogs. With her limited vocabulary, Abi couldn’t articulate the words to describe the dogs, but she cleverly found a way to identify them. She called one of the dogs “Small Vow” and the other “Big Vow,” based on the sounds they made. The family laughed and marveled at Abi’s imaginative way of associating the dogs with their barking sounds.
But Abi’s connection with the dogs went beyond mere names. She treated them with a genuine affection and kindness that touched everyone’s hearts. To Abi, these dogs were not just strays; they were her friends. She would lovingly call them “dear” and spend time playing with them, feeding them whatever she could find.
Her compassionate nature and unconditional love for all living beings resonated deeply with her grandpa. It was a reminder that children, with their pure hearts and uncorrupted souls, possess a profound understanding of equality and connection to the world around them. In Abi’s eyes, there was no distinction between humans and animals. She saw all beings as deserving of love and care.
As Abi and Maya’s vacation came to an end, they had to bid farewell to their beloved grandpa and the warm embrace of their extended family. The moment they left, a noticeable change occurred within Abi’s grandpa. He was a 63-year-old retired government official, who had seen his fair share of the world’s ups and downs. But something had shifted within him.
In the days that followed, he surprised everyone by referring to the neighborhood dogs as “chinna vow,” which meant “small vow” in Tamil, the local language. It was a small gesture, but it held great significance. He had learned a profound lesson from his 2-year-old granddaughter—the importance of embracing the childlike wonder within us.
He realized that humans come into this world as innocent children and leave it in much the same way. However, somewhere along the journey, they often lose touch with that childlike essence. They allow the world and its temporary factors to shape them into something different, conforming to societal norms and expectations.
Grandpa believed that if people were to truly live a meaningful life, they needed to rediscover that childlike innocence within themselves. He realized that society had been going about it all wrong. Instead of always trying to teach and mold children according to the ways of the world, perhaps adults should strive to learn from them.
Children possess a wisdom that comes directly from the universal consciousness. They see the world with fresh eyes, unburdened by the limitations and prejudices that often plague adults. He passionately argued that humanity should stop trying to teach children and, instead, be ready to learn from them
Children hold the key to unlocking a new collective consciousness, one that is untainted by the limitations of the old world. By following their lead, adults can update their perspectives, embrace empathy and kindness, and usher in a new era of peace and harmony.
If people were to collectively adopt this mindset, every child born would bring with them a fresh perspective, a new world waiting to be discovered…
Thank you
Veiyil Editorial Board
