The Joy of Children

One afternoon in the city of Shravasti, golden sunlight stretched across the earthen roads. The children of the city ran and laughed, their footsteps pattering busily. They ran out of the city gate, crossed the lush green fields, and arrived at a wide, open, and cool stretch of land—Jetavana Grove, where the Buddha often stayed.

There they played to their hearts' content, shouting and chasing one another beneath the tall trees. The air was fresh, birds sang cheerfully, and the laughter of children echoed like a joyful melody.

But this joy did not last long once they returned home. The children from families of other faiths, families who did not follow the Buddha, were called back by their parents, who spoke sternly: "From now on, you are not to play with those children who follow the ascetic Gotama. Their path is not our path. Do you hear me?"

The children bowed their heads in sadness, but only a few days later they were inviting one another back to Jetavana Grove to play. After all, young children know nothing of religious boundaries; they only know that when they are happy they play, and when they are sad they cry. And in that vast garden, they laughed and played freely once again.

One day, after playing until they were utterly exhausted, the little ones grew thirsty. The children from Buddhist families ran all the way into the monastery to ask for water. They brought water out for the whole group to drink, giggling as they sipped. Seeing this, the Buddha called them all inside and asked gently, "Which path do you follow, children?"

The children looked at one another in confusion, then one of them answered in a small voice, "I follow my parents' faith."

The Buddha smiled and began to teach them about cause and effect (karmic law) and karma, about what is wholesome and good, what is right and wrong. His voice was warm and unhurried, like a kind father teaching his children. The children listened attentively, their eyes sparkling, their hearts eager. After the teaching, they cried out together, asking to take refuge in the Buddha, their hearts as joyful as at a festival.

When the children returned home, news that they had followed the Buddha quickly reached the parents' ears. The families of other faiths were furious and called their children over to scold them: "How dare you follow his path? This family follows a different religion. You must obey your parents!"

The children felt wronged, tears brimming in their eyes, but they dared not talk back. The atmosphere in many homes became tense and heavy. Seeing this, their Buddhist neighbors came to comfort them, saying, "Please, don't do this. The children are still young; all they know is play, and they don't understand anything about religions. When we see them sad, see them suffering (dukkha), it pains us as well. And when we see them happy and joyful, life is already beautiful like that. Please take some time to look into it yourselves—don't rush to forbid them."

Those sincere, gentle words were like a stream of cool water soothing their anger. The parents gradually calmed down and began to wonder what the Buddha had said that could fascinate their children so deeply. One day, they went together to the monastery to meet him. He welcomed them with a gentle smile, without criticizing or disparaging their faith. He simply said, softly:

"In this world there are things that are right and things that are wrong. But often we do not know that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong, and so we embrace wrong view, causing our mind/heart to think wrongly and act wrongly. Those who clearly understand the principles of right and wrong, knowing that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong, keep their mind/heart pure and do good deeds, and they will be reborn in a wholesome realm."

Hearing the Buddha's teaching, many felt as if awakened, their hearts filled with joy, and they asked to take refuge in him. The families who had once been at odds now understood. Watching their children play in harmony with their friends, they felt warmth in their hearts and forbade them no longer.

The Meaning of the Story

This story reminds us of the danger of wrong view—when we see what is right as wrong, and what is wrong as right. The joy of children and the harmony among people should never be divided by religious boundaries or prejudices. Let us stay alert, use wisdom to discern right from wrong, and be kind friends and good neighbors who advise and comfort others with love, so that this life may become better and better.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Most Venerable Thích Chân Quang