This Is This

Son, 5: “This diya that ‘(Daughter, 3)‘ made is funny. It looks like someone’s shoe.”

Me: “What’s a diya for?”

Son, 5: “Hindus light them at Hindu festivals.”

Me (wanting to enourage awareness about diversity without cultivating a perception of divisiveness, although you can’t win these days): “Really? Just Hindus?”

Son, 5: “Yes, not Christians though. They have different parties.”

Me: “Christians, eh? And what are you then? Jewish, Hindu, Christian…?”

Son, 5: “Nothing. I’m a boy called ‘(says name)‘.”

I stopped what I was doing, stunned and humbled, and turned to him. He was looking right at me, matter of factly, dead in the eye.

Son, 5: “What? That’s what I am.” He says his name again.

He waits for my expression to change. He waits. And when it does, he walks away.

It could have been the absolute realisation of his true nature. It could have been some glimpse into mine. Maybe it was something for both of us. It could have been that he was a tired five year old whose dad asks too many questions. Either way, you can’t doubt the true wisdom of the beginner’s mind. It’s the still water where the moon appears.

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