Parents: It is too dark, lie down and go to sleep now.

Child: No, I don\’t feel so. Tell me a story first.

Parent: Okay, listen.

Many years ago, there was a school in the forest. Such a school is called as ashram. A river also flew near this ashram. Many boys and girls used to study in that ashram.

Child: Boy and girl, both used to study?

Parents: Yes, many years ago, both of them used to study just like they study in schools today.

Then one day what happened is that Guruji of that ashram, told some boys that there is a lot of grocery goods to be brought for the ashram, so ten of you guys go to the other side of the river and get the goods.

Ten of those boys came and said that okay, we are going.

Guruji said that okay, you ten boys go and come early.

Now they knew how to swim in the river. Tell how? Because apart from regular study in the ashram, they were also taught to do many other things like swimming, boating etc. along with study.

Everyone should know how to swim.

So, they all reached near the river and started thinking whether to swim across the river or sit in a boat? They thought that the goods had to be brought early and if the clothes get wet, it would be too late, so let\’s go by boat. Then all ten of them got into the boat.

After a while when they landed on the other side, a boy said that let\’s count and see, whether we have all crossed the river or someone jumped into the river to swim secretly.

Rest of them said that yes, you are right. Then a boy among them said, “Everyone stand up in a line, I will count.”

Now, he started counting — one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine. Oh, there are only nine people here.

Then another boy said, “Everyone line up and I will count, maybe he is not counting correctly.”

The other started counting — one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine. Yes, only nine are coming in the count.

In this way, everyone counted one by one, but each time only nine came in the count. Then they all felt that someone had drowned in the river. And because of this, all those boys sat down in despair as what to do now.

Then what happened is that after a while Guruji came towards the river for some work and saw that all of them sitting on the other side of river bank. Then he sat into the boat and went over there and said, \’What happened, why you are all sitting here?\’

They said that we were ten boys but one got washed away in the river and now only nine of us are left, and that is why we are all sitting here till now.

Guruji said, \’Okay! Count it one more time and tell me.\’

One of them started counting again – one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine. There are only nine, Guruji.

Guruji grabbed his finger, with which he was counting, and pointed it towards that boy himself and said – and here it is ten, all ten of you are here.

They all started saying — yes, all ten of us are here.

Then they asked Guruji, ‘why were we not able to count correctly? ‘

Guruji said — we have to first look at ourselves and start counting from there. Whenever you see or do anything, first of all ask yourself who is watching or doing it, and if you are doing it yourself, then ask why you are doing it.

Then they started saying that whenever you see something, tell yourself that \’Who saw it? Seen through the eyes, but who saw it?\’

They all said, ‘Alright Guruji. Now whenever do something, we will ask again and again that who is doing it and why. And if I am doing it, then who am I and why am I doing it.

Guruji said, \’Well done, now go, bring the goods quickly.\’

Parents: And our story is complete. Now sleep.

Child: It was a very good story. I will also ask to myself again and again that who is doing and why.

(Saying this, he fell asleep)

[This story is a well-known story in Vedanta literature which is presented here in a palatable form]