When Swami Vivekananda was young, he once visited a village where people were afraid to cross a river. They believed a spirit lived in the water and would harm anyone who entered. Seeing their fear, Vivekananda calmly walked to the riverbank.
He asked the villagers, “Have you ever seen this spirit?”
They shook their heads. “No, but everyone says it is there,” they replied.
Smiling gently, Vivekananda stepped into the river and began to cross it. The villagers watched in silence, expecting something terrible to happen. But Vivekananda reached the other side safely and returned without a scratch.
He said, “Fear lives in the mind, not in the river. When we believe blindly, fear becomes stronger. When we think clearly, fear disappears.”
The villagers realised that their fear had no basis in truth. From that day on, they crossed the river freely.
Through this simple act, Swami Vivekananda taught an important lesson. He showed that courage comes from knowledge and confidence. When we question our fears and trust our inner strength, even the biggest obstacles lose their power.
