Bhai Kanhaiya - Water for All

Dadi: "Beta Guddu, if you were fighting a battle and your enemy fell wounded, what would you do?"

Guddu: "Leave them? They're the enemy, right?"

Dadi: "That's what most people would say. But one Sikh did something so extraordinary that even his own soldiers complained about him."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "During a fierce battle in the late 1600s, Sikh soldiers noticed something strange. There was a man named Bhai Kanhaiya moving across the battlefield with a water bag. He was giving water to wounded soldiers - which seemed normal. But then they noticed something shocking."

Guddu: "What?"

Dadi: "He was giving water to enemy soldiers too! The Mughal soldiers who were trying to kill them - Bhai Kanhaiya was helping them, refreshing them, nursing them back to health!"

Guddu: "But why? Wouldn't they just fight again?"

Dadi: "That's exactly what the Sikh soldiers said! They were furious. "This man is a traitor!" they complained to Guru Gobind Singh. "He gives our enemies water and strength to fight us again!""

Guddu: "What did the Guru do?"

Dadi: "The Guru called Bhai Kanhaiya and asked, "Is this accusation true? Do you give water to our enemies?""

Guddu: "What did Bhai Kanhaiya say?"

Dadi: "He said something beautiful, beta. "Yes, Maharaj, it is true. But when I look at the wounded soldiers, I do not see Sikh or Mughal. I see YOUR face. You taught me to see the divine light in everyone. When I give water to a dying man, I give water to you. How can I refuse anyone who bears your face?""

Guddu: "He saw the Guru in everyone?"

Dadi: "Yes! And do you know what Guru Gobind Singh did? He smiled and said, "You have understood the true message of our teachings." Then he reached into his bag and pulled out medicine and bandages."

Guddu: "Medicine?"

Dadi: ""You are not doing enough," the Guru said. "Here. Now you can also dress their wounds.""

Guddu: "The Guru wanted him to help the enemies even MORE?"

Dadi: "Yes! The soldiers who had complained were silent. They had thought they understood the Guru's teachings. Bhai Kanhaiya had shown them what understanding actually looks like."

Guddu: "But Dadi, if you help enemies, won't they just heal and fight you again?"

Dadi: "Someone asked Bhai Kanhaiya the same thing. He replied: "Let them. That is their karma. My karma is to serve. I cannot control what they do with the life I help preserve. I can only control whether I offer service or withhold it.""

Guddu: "That's a different way of thinking."

Dadi: "Very different. This is called seva at its most radical - service without discrimination. Not serving those who deserve it, not serving those on your side, but serving whoever is in need, even those who would kill you."

Guddu: "Did anyone ever become friends because of this?"

Dadi: "The tradition teaches that "the enemy you help today may become a friend tomorrow. But even if he doesn't, you have kept your own soul clean.""

Guddu: "What happened to Bhai Kanhaiya after the battle?"

Dadi: "He founded what became the Seva Panthi movement - Sikhs dedicated specifically to selfless service. Their principle: help everyone, regardless of caste, creed, or even hostile intent."

Guddu: "Are they still around today?"

Dadi: "Yes! And their influence is everywhere in Sikhism. You know the langar - the community kitchen at every Gurdwara?"

Guddu: "Where anyone can eat for free?"

Dadi: "Exactly! No questions asked. No qualifications required. Hindu, Muslim, Christian, rich, poor, anyone - just come, sit, eat. That's the spirit of Bhai Kanhaiya alive today."

Guddu: "Water for enemies became food for everyone!"

Dadi: "That's a beautiful way to put it, beta. Bhai Kanhaiya died peacefully, having never raised a weapon, having never turned away a suffering person."

Guddu: "What does this story teach us, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Beta, most people serve selectively - helping friends, ignoring enemies, calculating who deserves assistance. Bhai Kanhaiya removed all calculation. He asked himself one question: "Is this person suffering?" If yes, help them. Period. In your life, you'll meet people who've hurt you, people you don't like, people who seem undeserving. Bhai Kanhaiya's example asks: can you see the divine light even in them? Can you offer kindness without keeping score? An apple tree doesn't check whether the person eating its fruit is worthy - it simply produces apples. Service can be your nature too."

Guddu: "That's really hard, Dadi. To help someone who hurt you."

Dadi: "It is the hardest thing. But it is also the most powerful thing. Hate answered with hate doubles the hate in the world. But kindness offered to an enemy - that can break the cycle forever. Now, shall we practice seva today? Maybe there's someone at school who needs kindness, even if they haven't been kind to you?"