13 - Cleared Up Superstition

Exams were going on. Narayan and his friends were going to appear for the exams. One of his friends was looking worried. Narayan asked, ‘Why do you look worried?’ His friend replied, ‘I find today’s subject very tough.' Narayan reminded him, ‘Remember God while writing the exam. You will remember everything.’ While they were talking, a cat crossed their path. The friend was frightened and stopped in the middle of the road. Narayan asked, ‘what happened? Exams are about to start. Let us go, otherwise we would be late.' The friend replied, ‘First of all, I find today’s subject very hard and on the top of it, the cat has crossed the path.’ ‘Narayan inquired, ‘How does the cat affect the whole issue?’ The friend explained, ‘It is a bad omen. Now I will not do well in exam.’ Narayan chuckled. He said, ‘Such a small cat would decide your fate, is it so?’ The friend clarified, ‘It is considered as bad omen, if a cat crosses your path.’ Narayan asked, ‘Why do you believe in such superstitions? Don't you have faith in your efforts?’ The friend repeated, ‘Today’s subject is tough and the cat has crossed the path. Now I will not do well in exam.’ Narayan tried to convince, ‘how do you believe such superstitions? A cat is a living being. It roams around on the road. Why do you consider it as good or bad omen? Listen; write your exam with remembrance of God. And I promise, your performance would be the best in today’s exam. Come on! Let us go. Narayan spoke with determination.’

His words encouraged his friend. And in fact, he did very well in his exam. Bad omen did not affect him. As usual Narayan passed the exams with first rank. His friend got the second rank. The friend confessed, ¬‘Narayan, you were right. A cat is not responsible for misfortune. Now onwards I will not believe in such superstitions. You cleared up my ignorance. Now I will perform all the acts with remembrance of God.¬’ The friend¬’s belief in God was strengthened and Narayan was looking satisfied as his friend was freed from the bondage of superstition.

Difficult words:
Issue - Point under discussion
Omen - Sign of something to happen
Superstition - Belief based on fear or ignorance
Determination - Firm intention
Misfortune - Trouble, Calamity
Bondage - Slavery
Encourage - To inspire

Points to ponder:
- Shreeji Maharaj should be remembered while performing any act, so that He also joins us in our act, and we always experience good omen.
- We should not waste the precious moments of our life believing in superstitions.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Where were Narayan and his friends going?
2. Why was the friend looking worried?
3. Why did the friend stop in the middle of the road?
4. What did Narayan explain his friend about the cat and the bad omen?

Fill in the blanks :
1. A _____________ crossed their path.
2. Now, such a small cat is going to decide your________.
3. Why do you believe in such __________?
4. Listen carefully, write your exam with the remembrance of ______.