Children are Wiser than Adults

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQezECAxtQ

First time I heard the story "Wisdom of Children" (also translated as Little Girls Wiser than Men) by Russian author Leo Tolstoy was during my childhood. Last year It resurfaced in mind when I read news about parents getting into big fights during The Little League games. Since I had never forgotten the title and the names of two girls in the story, I could easily find it on internet and saved it foran appropriate time to publish. Seeing the above photos and video last week made it the right time.

Story Line (Synopsis-Wikipedia): The story opens at the beginning of Holy Week, when there was still melting snow on the ground. An older girl, Akulya, and a younger girl, Malasha, go outside to play. They both have just been given new frocks, but they insist on wading through one of the puddles from the melting snow. They both take off their shoes to keep them dry, and Akulya warns Malasha against splashing the water on her new frock. Malasha splashes Akulya despite her warning, and Akulya runs home in tears. Her mother is furious at the ruined frock, and she spanks Malasha in the middle of the street. Soon Malasha's mother emerges from her home, and the mothers begin arguing. The shouts brought the peasants into the street, who also begin arguing with each other. The peasants start pushing each other, and Akulya's grandmother urges everyone to stop, but to no avail.

In the meantime, Akulya had washed off her frock, and she and Malasha returned to the pool. The two girls make a small boat out of bark, and they make a stream from the puddle. They go chasing after the boat together, as happy as ever. Akulya's grandmother urges everyone to follow the example of the children, and take their spirit of forgiveness into their own hearts.

Reflection: Most of the things in life are simple but only wise understand them. What is it that we understood and practiced well in childhood that gets forgotten through the growing years? Love, Forgiveness, Compassion, Kindness are so much easier than EGO, Anger, and Hatred. What a pity that a man must die before he wakes up?

 

 

Comments

[Joanne Wabeke]

Pure love and no bias. Unfortunately as they grow they are exposed to many factors that change them.

[Bon Bon]

I would say intuition, honesty and connection to divinity. :)

[RBS]

Thanks for sharing! Children indeed are very honest and truthful.

[Graeme Price]

Racism, like many other abhorrent traits, are learned.

[Neerja]

They are simple and dont complicate issues . Older people carry too much baggage.

[An old Friend from Philippines]

Children 's mind are full of positiveness... everything's ok for them..no malice..no danger..no hatred...

[Hedda Robinson]

Children are so simple in terms of friendship and most of the times, are more lasting.

[sujat]

Familial, social, cultural, religious conditioning that is gradually absorbed with age forms artificial identifications and boundaries. This is what corrupts the purity of the mind. When perception is tainted by the filters of these artificial boundaries, responses to the environment are bound to be distorted and devious.

And yet, it is totally a matter of choice as an adult whether to work towards the mind's cleansing.... or not. Not all adults stay stained with such corrupted minds. If we are aware and sincere in wanting to sanitise our mind.. we can surely manage it! :)

There is nothing that stops noble work. :)

[micro CEO]

Thanks for sharing an extraordinary and timely story.
So it is with artists and scientists, too. The successful and happy ones do not give up their childish sense of curiosity and creativity.
For the rest of us, we give up the childish heart in a bogus trade for adulthood, including self-consciousness, arrogance, and a large dose of bureaucracy.

“Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact.”
-Catl Sagan