Two weekends ago, I was involved neck deep along with my little one where she participated in a live ballet - hosted by her 'Bharatanatyam' teacher. The live ballet was about the great epic 'Ramayanam' set to music and danced to perfection by renowned artists and little angels alike.
It was a fantastic performance. All involved had put in their heart and soul into the performance.
Me, my little one and 49 other children sat there for about four hours in the last seats of the theatre, silently waiting for our turn. Every now and then a child would prance up and down to stretch her little legs, she would then giggle with a friend, hug her mommy or stand there with her hands on hips -unable to express how tired she was or how impatient to perform her tiny act.
Snacks, trips to the rest room, drinks of water and after all the tantrums, I had to lead the children to the green room behind the screens. There we sat again for about an hour. Hot, sweaty, and silent. The little ones waited - unable to move, talk or giggle. My heart went out to them - just for hanging in there.
At last - it was our turn. When the little 'Vanara Sainyam' was needed to go on stage! Off they went...bouncing, jumping, and rolling on...not one, not two, but fifty of them!
The brown little monkeys - smiling from ear to ear! All ready to perform and all ready to please!
They formed the bridge and as soon as Lord 'Shree Rama' entered, began the chant of 'Jai Raam ...Jai Jai Raam"...so melodiously and so innocently. The huge hall echoed with their chant! The happiness they felt seemed to reflect every bit on their angelic little faces. Were these our children or really little monkeys of the monkey army, transported into the great epic in time and space...I wondered.
The glee, the joy, the reverance...just came together...
I stood their with tears in my eyes behind the curtains thinking...this was innocence. Every bit of it....after hours and hours of waiting, tired and hungry - after hours of putting up with all sorts of inconveniences...here were these tiny beings...doing and acting just the way they were taught.
Giving all they had into their performance and enjoying what they did - all so that their teachers, friends and parents would be pleased! Just like tiny little animals...so eager to please their masters...
If this was our innate nature, our true human self...where and how do we transition into the people we end up being - why do we move away from this innocence and shun it?
The sweaty, shiny, happy little faces had taught me something...
I was truly touched...
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