A rich Athenian was sailing with some other travellers. A violent tempest arose and the boat capsized. Then, while the other passengers were trying to save themselves by swimming, the Athenian continually invoked the aid of the goddess Athena, and promised offering after offering if only she would save him.

One of his shipwrecked companions who swam beside him said, "Appeal to Athena by all means, but also move your arms!"

Reprinted with permission from Olivia and Robert Temple, from The Complete Fables, by Aesop, translated by Olivia and Robert Temple, 1998, Penguin Books Ltd, 27 Wrights Lane, London 5TZ, England.

Q: There is a proverb in English that says, "God helps him who helps himself," which has a meaning similar to this story. It is also important to surrender to God and acknowledge that it is not possible to do everything alone. How can you balance and combine both these perspectives?

Q: Do you think that it is equally true that Master helps him who helps himself?

Q: Do you sometimes rely on others to do things or fix things that you could have done yourself, e.g. parents, teachers, friends, Master? How would you change this?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.