Fredericks story

Every morning, my alarm clock goes off at 5:45 am. Each time, I feel very tired and wonder why I am doing this to myself. My morning routine consists of a quick shower and brushing my teeth before I leave the apartment. On my way to the Yoga Shala I am absolutely amazed by the wonderful starry sky.
The lesson begins at 6.30am. Nobody is allowed to speak, so we all sit silently in a circle, crossed-legged on blankets.Candles in the center of our circle shed the only light in the room and it smells nice like incense sticks.
Every day one of the students begins the lesson with a daily ritual. With the sound of a singing bowl, they start to read a short story, poem or other inspiring words for the day. After, Steve the teacher takes over to lead the Prana Yama practise and meditation.

 

One time, Kristina, a German student read a story which I found so cute and inspiring, that I would like to share it on my blog. It’s the story of Frederick, the little mouse which is a German children's book by Leo Lionni, translated to English. 

Frederick by Leo Lionni

All along the meadow where the cows grazed and the horses ran, there was an old stone wall. In that wall, not far from the barn and the granary, a chatty family of field mice had their home. But the farmers had moved away, the barn was abandoned and the granary stood empty. And since winter was not far off, the little mice began to gather corn and nuts and wheat and straw. They all worked day and night..... all except Frederick.
"Frederick why don't you work?" they asked. "I do work," said Frederick. "I gather sun rays for the cold, dark winter days."  And when they saw Frederick sitting there staring at the meadow, they said "and now Frederick?" 
"I gather colors," answered Frederick simply, "for winter is grey." 
And once, Frederick seemed half asleep. "Are you dreaming Frederick?" they asked reproachfully. But Frederick said "Oh no, I'm gathering words, for the winter days are long and many." The winter days came and when the first snow fell the five little field mice took to their hideout in the stones. In the beginning, there was lots to eat and the mice told storys of foolish foxes and silly cats. They were a happy family. But little by little they had nibbled up most of the nuts and berries. The straw was gone and the corn was only a memory. It was cold in the wall and no one felt like going to look for more food.
Then they remembered what Frederick had said about the sun rays and colors and words. "What about your supplies Frederick?" they asked.. "Close your eyes," said Frederick. "Now I send you the rays of the sun. Do you feel how their golden glow...." And as Frederick spoke of the sun, the four little mice began to feel warmer. Was it Fredericks voice? Was it magic?
"And how about the colors Frederick?" they asked anxiously. "Close your eyes again," Frederick said. And when he told them of the blue perriwinkles, the red poppies and the yellow wheat and the green leaves of the berry bush - they saw the colors as clearly as if they'd been painted in their minds.
"And the words Frederick?" Frederick cleared his throat and then as if from a stage, he said "Who scatters snowflakes? Who melts the ice?
Who spoils the weather? Who makes it nice? 
Who grows the four-leaf clovers in June? 
Who dims the daylight? Who lights the moon? 
Four little mice who live in the sky, four little fieldmice like you and I. 
Spring is first with April showers, summer next with fragrant flowers. 
Then comes fall with nuts and wheat and winter last with chilly feet. 
Aren't we lucky the seasons are four? Think of a year with one less, or one more.
They cheered, "But Frederick," they said, "You're a poet!"
Frederick blushed, took a bow and said shyly " I know it."
Every morning after the lesson I then know why I got up so early. Because it was worth it. During this month of daily practise I got into really deep states of meditation. Deeper than ever before. I can't describe it in words yet, but those sensations are worth it!