Here are some heartening short stories to give you the burst of hope and courage to persevere and fill your heart with optimism.
Once, a crab was happily walking along the seashore, pausing now and then to look at the marks its feet had left in the sand. It would walk forward, look back at the footprints, and feel happy… Suddenly, a wave came and washed away all of the crab’s footprints. This made the crab very angry, … Read more
There was a poor man. Every day, he would go to his Guru’s ashram, clean the place and then head off to his work. Often, he would say to his Guru, “Please bless me so that I gain lots of wealth.” One day, Guru asked, “Is this why you come here to serve in the … Read more
Once, two seriously ill men shared a hospital room. One of them had his bed placed next to the only window in the room, while the other was unable to move and had to lie flat on his back all day, with no view outside. Each day, the man by the window would describe to … Read more
Despite being a universal emperor, King Ambarisha was deeply spiritual and detached from material pleasures. He is known in Hindu scriptures as a symbol of Sattva (purity and goodness). One day, as he was about to break his Ekadashi fast, Sage Durvasa arrived with his disciples. The king humbly invited them to partake in a … Read more
One day, a man was roaming around a kingdom and lost his way and started looking for someone to ask for directions. After looking for a while, he saw a person who was wearing government uniform. Man went to that official and asked him, “Sir, what is the way to a certain place, please tell … Read more
The Story of a Greedy King and His Fate Once upon a time, there was a king obsessed with wealth. Over the years, he collected immense riches and, fearing theft or rebellion, hid his treasure in a secret underground chamber deep within the forest. Only two keys existed—one with the king himself and the other … Read more
The cobbler’s shop was small, and his earnings were modest. He had only a few utensils at home, yet he lived a content life. He was honest, kind, and always ready to help others. To test his devotion, God decided to visit him. One night, cobbler had a dream in which God spoke to him, … Read more
There was a man who had been under stress for quite some time, which had made him irritable and easily angered. He was constantly bothered by thoughts that he had to bear all the expenses of the house, that the entire responsibility of his family rested on him, that there was always some relative coming … Read more
A 6-year-old little boy often insisted on meeting God. He didn’t know much about God but was filled with a strong desire to meet Him. His wish was to sit and eat a meal with God. One day, he packed 5-6 flatbreads in a bag and set out to find God. He walked a long … Read more
One night, a group of thieves broke into the home of a fakir. The house was empty, with nothing but a single blanket, which the fakir was using as a covering while he lay there. It was a cold night, and the fakir began to cry, not because he feared the thieves, but out of … Read more