In a vibrant jungle, where the sun painted the canopy with streaks of gold, lived a clever yet restless monkey named Kavi. Kavi was known for his boundless energy, leaping from branch to branch, chattering endlessly about what could be, what should have been, and what might never happen. His thoughts were like the jungle itself—wild, untamed, and filled with shadows.
At the heart of the jungle stood the Tree of Thoughts, an ancient and towering presence. Its branches stretched endlessly skyward, laden with leaves that shimmered with the colors of emotions: bright green for joy, deep blue for sadness, fiery red for anger, and dull gray for fear. Each time Kavi leapt onto the tree, the leaves rustled, and the colors shifted, reflecting his chaotic mind.
One day, as Kavi swung wildly, he noticed a peculiar bird perched on a low branch. The bird was unlike any he had seen before—a quiet, radiant creature with feathers shimmering like sunlight on water.
“Why are you so calm, little bird?” Kavi asked, unable to keep still. “Don’t you see the dangers in the jungle? The storms, the predators, the unknown?”
The bird, whose name was Sama, tilted her head and smiled. “I used to flutter about like you, chasing every thought. But I’ve learned the secret to peace.”
Kavi’s ears perked up. “A secret? Tell me, tell me!”
Sama nodded and gestured to the Tree of Thoughts. “This tree grows from the seeds of your mind. Each thought you feed strengthens its branches. The secret lies not in silencing the tree but in choosing which branches to nurture.”
Kavi scratched his head. “But how can I choose? My thoughts are everywhere, all at once!”
“Come,” said Sama, “I will teach you.”
The First Lesson: The Pause
Sama led Kavi to the base of the tree, where its roots plunged deep into the earth. “Sit here,” she said, “and listen to your breath.”
Kavi fidgeted, his tail twitching. “Why should I listen to my breath? It’s so boring!”
“Because the breath is the anchor,” Sama explained. “When you focus on it, you stop feeding the storm in your mind.”
Reluctantly, Kavi tried. At first, his mind darted like a dragonfly, but gradually, he noticed a stillness growing. The tree above seemed less chaotic, its leaves swaying gently in the breeze.
The Second Lesson: The Question
Next, Sama asked Kavi to pluck a single gray leaf from the tree. “Hold this leaf and ask, Is this true? Look closely at it.”
Kavi examined the leaf, which shimmered with his fear of failing to find food. “Well,” he said slowly, “I suppose it’s not entirely true. There’s plenty of fruit in the jungle if I look for it.”
As he spoke, the leaf began to fade, its dull gray light softening into a calming green. Kavi’s eyes widened. “What magic is this?”
“No magic,” Sama said. “Only clarity. When you question your fears, you rob them of their power.”
The Third Lesson: The Song
Sama then sang a simple melody: “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.” The sound was soft but resonated deeply within Kavi’s chest.
“Why do you sing?” he asked.
“Mantras are like sunlight,” Sama said. “They nourish the tree and guide your thoughts toward peace. Each time you sing, you strengthen the branches of joy and calm.”
Kavi hesitated but soon joined in. With each repetition, the fiery reds and dull grays on the tree gave way to greens and golds, the colors of balance and contentment.
The Final Lesson: The Gift
For the last lesson, Sama asked Kavi to repeat a phrase to himself: “I trust myself to find what I need.” At first, Kavi felt silly, but as he repeated it, he noticed something extraordinary. A new branch began to grow on the tree, its leaves vibrant and shimmering with a light Kavi had never seen before.
“This is the branch of belief,” Sama said. “Affirmations plant seeds of strength. With time, they grow into a canopy of trust and confidence.”
Kavi’s Transformation
As the days turned into weeks, Kavi practiced Sama’s lessons. He questioned his fears, chanted mantras, and spoke affirmations. The Tree of Thoughts transformed, its once-chaotic branches becoming a harmonious sanctuary.
Kavi still leapt from branch to branch, but now he moved with purpose and joy, no longer a prisoner of his restless mind. The monkey who had once been overwhelmed by the jungle of thoughts became its master, swinging gracefully through the vibrant canopy of his own making.
The Moral
The mind is like a tree, growing from the seeds of your thoughts. Feed it wisely, question its shadows, and nourish it with light, for what you cultivate within shapes the world you see.