“To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” -Buddha
There was a 12-year-old boy named Anand. He was good at studies, but he loved mobile games. As soon as he came to school, he would put his homework aside and immerse himself in games like "Free Fire" and "PUBG".
He would not listen to his parents, no matter how much they told him. He would shout, "Let's play another round, oh my! You killed me!" and play for hours. Due to this gaming habit:
1. He kept forgetting his homework.
2. He started falling asleep in class without listening to the lessons.
3. He would forget to play outside with his friends and stay alone with his mobile.
4. His eyesight deteriorated due to looking at his phone all the time.
On November 7, a "Science Fair" was announced in the school on the occasion of Sir C.V. Raman" birthday. The teacher asked each student to make a project.
Anand was immersed in games and did not do any projects. On the day of the competition, everyone showed amazing projects and received praise from everyone. Anand, however, stood empty-handed, alone and gloomy on the stage.
That evening, when he returned home, Anand was about to play the game again, his father came and took the phone and recited a verse from the Bhagavad Gita:
"Uddharedatmanatmanam natmanamavasadayet |
Aatmaiva hayatmano bandhuh aatmaiva ripuratmanah ||"
Anand did not understand and looked at his father in surprise.
His father, addressing Anand, explained the meaning:
Babu! "Our mind is our friend, and it can also be our enemy. Our habits should be good, not destructive. You alone can change your life. Only you can make yourself victorious."
Those words touched Anand's heart. "What if I could put the same amount of time and attention into winning a level in the game... on my studies and my talent?" he thought.
From that day on, Anand's life changed:
1. He set a limit on game time — only 30 minutes a day.
2. He made a rule that homework comes first, then games.
3. He set a goal to learn something new every day.
A few months later, an "innovation competition" came up in school.
This time, Anand made a "smart water saving model" in advance. He made a better project than everyone else.
Winning the first prize, he stood on stage in front of everyone and received congratulations from the teachers. His father happily took him close and hugged him, saying, "Now your mind has become your friend."
From that day on, Anand started running for victory in real life, not in levels in the game.
Moral to be learned from the story:
1. Know the value of time and give priority to education first.
2. If you control your mind, it becomes your friend; otherwise, it becomes your enemy.
3. Success does not come from outside of you — it comes from within you.
4. Laziness and inaction are your real enemies.
Things to learn from this story:
1. You should limit time-wasting activities.
2. You should learn new things every day.
3. Games should be fun to play, but you should not become addicted to them.
4. Defeat is just a lesson. If you try something new, there is always a chance for success.
Questions to discuss with your children:
1. "If you think you are addicted to mobile, TV, and games like Anand — how will you change it?"
2. What is the meaning of the verse your father said? How did you understand it?
3. Whether it is a game or a study, what is needed to win?
4. What limits would you set for yourself? Why tell everyone that?
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