Junior Sadhaks
Main site (grown-ups)
A scrolling story · for children aged 5 to 11 and their grown-ups
Compassion (Karuna)
On Moonwell Hill, Tara helps her grandmother light the lanterns that guide travellers home. On the night of the great fog she breaks the old family lantern just as a traveller calls out, lost. What will she do first? And which light can no fog hide?
Scroll down, or use the arrow keys, to walk through the story. Nothing is narrated: it is made for reading aloud together.
Act 1 · The World & the Conflict
Act 1 · card 1 of 4
High on Moonwell Hill, above a valley of rice fields, lived a girl named Tara with her grandmother, whom she called Dadi. Every evening, as the sky turned the colour of ripe mangoes, they climbed the winding path together and lit the lanterns that showed travellers the way home.
Act 1 · card 2 of 4
Dadi’s oldest lantern hung at the very top of the hill. It was made of brass and coloured glass, and it had once belonged to Dadi’s own grandmother. “Hold it gently,” Dadi always said. “A lantern is a promise. Somebody out there is counting on its light.”
Act 1 · card 3 of 4
One evening a thick white fog rolled up from the valley, so thick that Tara could hardly see her own hands. Dadi’s knees were aching, so she stayed by the fire. “Can you light the lanterns tonight, little one?” she asked. Tara nodded proudly. She would do it all by herself!
Act 1 · card 4 of 4
Tara hurried up the path, swinging the old brass lantern. She was going much too fast. Her foot caught on a root, the lantern slipped from her hand, and CRACK! The coloured glass broke into pieces on the stones. Then, far below in the fog, she heard a traveller calling: “Hello? Is anyone there? I can’t find the path!”
Act 2 · The Crossroads
Act 2 · card 1 of 2
Tara’s heart thumped. The old lantern was broken. Dadi would be sad. And somewhere in the fog a traveller was lost. Part of her wanted to cry, to run home, to hide the broken glass under a bush and pretend nothing had happened.
Act 2 · card 2 of 2
Then she remembered something Dadi often said: “When everything feels foggy outside, first make it clear inside.” Tara stood very still on the hill. The fog swirled around her. The traveller called again. What should Tara do first?
The crossroads · every path is a kind one
Tap a path to see where it leads. You can open all three: there is no wrong answer.
Tara chose Satya (truth). She ran back to the cottage and told Dadi at once: “I was hurrying and I broke your lantern. I’m so sorry.” Dadi hugged her. “Thank you for telling me straight away. Glass can be mended, and so can sad hearts. Now, the traveller needs us.” Dadi lit a small candle lamp, and Tara carried it back up the hill.
Tara chose Dharma (doing what is right). The broken lantern could wait; a lost person could not. She lit the little candle lamp she kept in her pocket and called out, “Stay where you are! I’m coming!” Step by careful step she followed the path she knew by heart, and she promised herself she would tell Dadi everything the moment they were home.
Tara chose Shanti (peace). She closed her eyes and took three slow breaths. Her thumping heart grew quiet. In the stillness she heard the traveller’s voice more clearly: it came from near the old well. With a calm mind she knew exactly which way to go, so she lit her little candle lamp and set off down the path.
Tara chose to sing. She could not see the traveller, but she could make sure he heard her. She sang Dadi’s lantern song, loud and clear, into the fog. “Keep singing!” called a voice, a little closer. “I can follow you!” Then Tara ran home to tell Dadi about the lantern, and came back with a candle lamp, still singing all the way.
Act 3 · The Inner Awakening
Act 3 · card 1 of 2
In the fog, the little candle lamp looked so small. But Tara walked slowly and steadily, singing so the traveller could follow her voice. Soon a tired man with a heavy bag stepped out of the mist and smiled with relief. One by one, Tara lit the lanterns along the path, and they walked home together in their soft golden glow.
Act 3 · card 2 of 2
That night, by the fire, Dadi held the broken pieces of glass in her hands. “A lantern is a promise,” she said gently, “and tonight you kept it.” Then she tapped Tara’s heart. “There is a lamp in here too: a calm, kind light. When you are honest and brave and still, it shines, and no fog in the world can hide it.” Tara smiled. She could feel it glowing.
Try it tonight
Tonight, when something feels foggy or frightening, sit very still and take three slow breaths. Imagine a small, warm lamp glowing in your heart. Then think of one kind or honest thing you can do tomorrow, and let your little lamp light the way.
The heart of the story
A kind heart and an honest word light the way, and the steadiest lamp of all is the calm light within.
An original story, inspired by teachings shared across many traditions: the light within, kindness a