We make use of our body in two ways- physically and mentally. All the work in which we use our mind or brain in mental work. All the work we do with out body in physical work.
When the body has no work to do, it rests, but the mind is always actives taking in information. So we ought to keep it filled with good ideas. When a person sits idle, he will be doing no work apparently, but his mind hops from one thing to another, without really taking in anything. His thoughts begin to wonder. Since he has nothing to do, his idle mind begins to of doing evil. A person who is busy will not have time to think of anything, but of his work, and we know that work is worship.
Once the person’s thoughts turn to evil, he will be led to some evil actions as well. And all evil actions always lead to trouble.
One day Suresh was alone at home. His father had gone to his factory. His mother had gone buy some groceries. Suresh sat with his books before him. He quickly lost interest in them. He looked around for something else to do. His eyes were drawn towards the kerosene stove lying in the corner of the room. An evil thought flashed through his mind.
Suresh went into the store-room and brought out a tin of kerosene and a hand pump. He filled the pump with kerosene and tried to spray it into the kerosene stove. He did this again and again. The room smelt of kerosene; the stove was dripping with it. The Suresh decided to light the stove. He went into the kitchen and picked up a match box. Then he thought of playing a game. He threw the lighted match-stick from a distance to see how far it would travel before going out. Unluckily for him, the third match-stick fell into the pool of kerosene on the floor which immediately caught fire.
Suresh was shocked to see the flames and ran out of the house. The flames spread rapidly and when they reached the stove and kerosene, there was a big bang. The curtains caught fire and soon the fire spread into the next room.
Suresh’s neighbors heard his screams of panic and rushed outside. They were shocked to see Suresh’s house in flames. Soon the fire brigade arrived and the fire was putout. But the house was badly damaged. Most of the wooden furniture and clothes had burnt.
Suresh’s parents returned top find their house destroyed. Suresh himself could not speak as he was in shock. The idle mind of Suresh had worked in an evil manner and this had resulted in such a big tragedy.
Children, don’t you think this could have been prevented? If only Suresh had not been idle!
Learn to train yourself to keep your mind busy. Keep yourself involved in study, play exercise or entertainment. When you are busy in such activities, the mind will not have a chance to turn towards evil, as all your mental and physical energy will be involved in your work. A mind that does not think of evil surely not does any evil.
Remember
Remember, whatever you do, never sit idle with an empty mind.
An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.