The tortoise' picnic

One day a family of tortoises went for a picnic. They prepared
the food and drinks and a blanket to sit on, and pack it all
into their picnic box. They set off and walked along, searching
for an ideal spot to have their picnic

Being tortoises they walked slowly and so it took them a while
to find the perfect spot.

Once they had their spot, they went about setting up the
picnic, laying down their blanket, unpacking the sandwiches
and drinks.

Oh no, I forgot the bottle opener,' said the mother tortoise.

"Go back and get it for me, will you, dear?' she said to her
eldest boy.

I'm not going back to get it! the boy cried.

"Why not?' she said.

If go, he will eat my sandwich,' he said, pointing at his
younger brother

I promise he won't eat your sandwich, said the mother in a
reassuring tone.

This discussion went on for some time, until eventually the
eldest son agreed to go back to get the bottle opener. Then he
set off for home.

One week passed and the younger brother tortoise started to
get hungry.

"Do you think my brother will really come back? I am hungry
and I would like to eat that sandwich, he said, pointing at his
brother's sandwich.

Let's wait a little more,' said the mother.

Two days later the younger brother was famished, and he asked
again, I am starving. Can I eat that sandwich now?

'Well, your brother has been gone a long time. Go ahead and
cat it son,' said the father.

So the younger brother picked up the sandwich and just as he
was about to take a bite, the elder brother popped out from
behind a tree, where he had been hiding the whole time.

I knew it! I knew you were going to cat my sandwich

This is the state of the world today. Between people, be
tween nations there is so much distrust, so much removing
of each other's dignity. Rather than get on with what needs
to be done, people are watching each other out of distrust

Rather than joining forces to tackle the real issues humanity
is facing, we are busy pointing fingers at each other.

The reasons and systems of human beings have become
more important than the humanity itself

T have spent my life pointing to the peace inside us, the
peace we need to feel, because that is the one missing
element.

We are good at everything else. We have sent a rocket to the
moon, we have made tiny mobile phones, we have removed
money and can buy things with little plastic cards. So much
progress in technology, but the peace inside us and human
dignity are not progressing. We all need to develop our own
inner understanding and then do whatever we can to in
crease the conscious awareness of humanity, so we can
come together and tackle the issues that face us.

As a small baby, when you had a need you cried out when
you were content you smiled.
Your fundamentals have not changed since then
Start to become aware of the need you have to be fulfilled
When you can acknowledge that need you have taken the
first step towards making it a reality in your life.

(International Peace Speaker MR PREM RAWAT)