I always wondered about your impressions over this aspect we encounter on roads.
I don’t like beggars. Not because they are ugly poor or needy. But because I respect them as fellow human beings. I treat them as if they are capable of things that I could perform… for that matter any other human being could perform. That is to have a little amount of confidence in and little amount of self-esteem and ability to sweat a little.
I distinctly remember those days when I was a kid… that beggars used to beg for food. And nothing else. My mother used to give them a nickel or dime when she was too embarrassed to tell them that she does not have food to spare for them. She used to tell me that giving food as alms is the greatest service you could do to your fellow human being. I could not quite comprehend what she meant till I grew up and started to see things in materialistic perspective,
The vice of giving some useful thing to a fellow human being is repeatedly taught in very religion. In Islam it’s emphasized to the peak point. In Hinduism it’s narrowed to giving food as alms. I found some sense over a period of time what my mom told me. Food… is the life giver and one cannot consume it beyond a point. Mainly because one cannot accumulate food as wealth as it perishes and cannot eat like a hog till his tummy burst. This facet actually makes one who receives satisfied at some point. And anything else than food… be it money, cloths any other thing they consider valuable… the greed you will see right before your eyes has no end.
I never saw a single Sikh Beggar. They are a proud clan who sweats out even at an old age, making knives and things that could be used in kitchen. I have immeasurable respect towards their attitude.
Buddhist monks on the other hand… in the name of reclusion need to beg for sustenance. Please do not misinterpret my intentions. But I believe every human being has a purpose in this world that serves the fellow human being in one-way or the other.
I do not give any alms to beggars of normal age. How much ever they look destitute, ignored or needy. That leaves me two other categories. Children and elderly people. Both are innocent victims in this diabolic setup of what we see around. I saw many children made use of in earning money through identifying the givers weakness for innocence. I used to watch them in anguish but restrain myself in extending my hand as I feel the way these children learn new techniques in begging, they must also learn that they must see how satisfying it is to make them selves worthy.
Actually I am too perplexed here. I feel a child’s life must only be filled with love, basic needs and learning. I do not advocate labor to them for sustenance. I am baffled between advocating an employment to a child to begging. Many a times I watch urchins blissfully unaware of their inadequacy when they are not hungry. Few kids genuinely move me to tears. These kids are not gallantry enough to beg. They meekly sit at an unseen corner hugging them selves not meeting any eye. They don’t even beg. I am cruelly observant and willing to waste my time on convincing myself if this kid is such a kid who is hungry but feels ashamed to beg.
I approach them and ask them if hey had food. Quite naturally they would say no. But I trust not their words. I look deeply in to their eyes and see weakness and hunger in them. Then I would lead them to canteen and buy them some food. Most of them grab the food and run to a corner, try not to mingle with other crowd who are confident enough in what they buy. I feel enraged by the attitude of the food venders as they condescendingly look at that urchin who grabs food from their hands that’s paid for. I tried reason with the kid to stay proud at the counter and eat in dignity. Sure they obeyed me but with an obvious fear and embarrassment. I watch them as my heart not only break but burn. Once they finish I ask them if they want more. One guy asked me shyly that he wanted a sweet. I closed my eyes tight shut to contain tiding pain out of my heart. Bought him what ever he wanted. I again asked him if he wanted more food. He said no.
My mom was right. Giving food to the needy is the greatest virtue. It extends the hope in life for a few more hours where an urchin could think clearly to do something better. It makes me feel better as it pinch not my pocket but… also not my ego and my own personal greed over not spending too much money.
Then come elderly people. They are too incapable to think, move and decide in anyway they wish. They meekly submit to anything that comes before them. They are too lonely in this world not just because they were abandoned by their own. But their own strength and body abandoned them. I do not know if food alone could help them. I sometimes give them money. May be they are in need of some medicine that I am not aware of.
All in all I learnt one thing for sure. Its food and the unequivocal respect we must offer towards food. There is only one way to do it. Waste not food. What ever is not wasted may be consumed by some other tummy and live for another day. Food is god. Respect food more than anything that you chose to respect. Always eat 10% less than what your body demands. It’s the best was not only to save food but also to keep your body be treated irresponsibly. Eat green and raw veggies of fruit more as life still radiates out of them. Plant not plants and trees for beauty and style. Plant trees that offer food and medicine.
Allow me please… to know your perspectives about this matter I raised.
I don’t like beggars. Not because they are ugly poor or needy. But because I respect them as fellow human beings. I treat them as if they are capable of things that I could perform… for that matter any other human being could perform. That is to have a little amount of confidence in and little amount of self-esteem and ability to sweat a little.
I distinctly remember those days when I was a kid… that beggars used to beg for food. And nothing else. My mother used to give them a nickel or dime when she was too embarrassed to tell them that she does not have food to spare for them. She used to tell me that giving food as alms is the greatest service you could do to your fellow human being. I could not quite comprehend what she meant till I grew up and started to see things in materialistic perspective,
The vice of giving some useful thing to a fellow human being is repeatedly taught in very religion. In Islam it’s emphasized to the peak point. In Hinduism it’s narrowed to giving food as alms. I found some sense over a period of time what my mom told me. Food… is the life giver and one cannot consume it beyond a point. Mainly because one cannot accumulate food as wealth as it perishes and cannot eat like a hog till his tummy burst. This facet actually makes one who receives satisfied at some point. And anything else than food… be it money, cloths any other thing they consider valuable… the greed you will see right before your eyes has no end.
I never saw a single Sikh Beggar. They are a proud clan who sweats out even at an old age, making knives and things that could be used in kitchen. I have immeasurable respect towards their attitude.
Buddhist monks on the other hand… in the name of reclusion need to beg for sustenance. Please do not misinterpret my intentions. But I believe every human being has a purpose in this world that serves the fellow human being in one-way or the other.
I do not give any alms to beggars of normal age. How much ever they look destitute, ignored or needy. That leaves me two other categories. Children and elderly people. Both are innocent victims in this diabolic setup of what we see around. I saw many children made use of in earning money through identifying the givers weakness for innocence. I used to watch them in anguish but restrain myself in extending my hand as I feel the way these children learn new techniques in begging, they must also learn that they must see how satisfying it is to make them selves worthy.
Actually I am too perplexed here. I feel a child’s life must only be filled with love, basic needs and learning. I do not advocate labor to them for sustenance. I am baffled between advocating an employment to a child to begging. Many a times I watch urchins blissfully unaware of their inadequacy when they are not hungry. Few kids genuinely move me to tears. These kids are not gallantry enough to beg. They meekly sit at an unseen corner hugging them selves not meeting any eye. They don’t even beg. I am cruelly observant and willing to waste my time on convincing myself if this kid is such a kid who is hungry but feels ashamed to beg.
I approach them and ask them if hey had food. Quite naturally they would say no. But I trust not their words. I look deeply in to their eyes and see weakness and hunger in them. Then I would lead them to canteen and buy them some food. Most of them grab the food and run to a corner, try not to mingle with other crowd who are confident enough in what they buy. I feel enraged by the attitude of the food venders as they condescendingly look at that urchin who grabs food from their hands that’s paid for. I tried reason with the kid to stay proud at the counter and eat in dignity. Sure they obeyed me but with an obvious fear and embarrassment. I watch them as my heart not only break but burn. Once they finish I ask them if they want more. One guy asked me shyly that he wanted a sweet. I closed my eyes tight shut to contain tiding pain out of my heart. Bought him what ever he wanted. I again asked him if he wanted more food. He said no.
My mom was right. Giving food to the needy is the greatest virtue. It extends the hope in life for a few more hours where an urchin could think clearly to do something better. It makes me feel better as it pinch not my pocket but… also not my ego and my own personal greed over not spending too much money.
Then come elderly people. They are too incapable to think, move and decide in anyway they wish. They meekly submit to anything that comes before them. They are too lonely in this world not just because they were abandoned by their own. But their own strength and body abandoned them. I do not know if food alone could help them. I sometimes give them money. May be they are in need of some medicine that I am not aware of.
All in all I learnt one thing for sure. Its food and the unequivocal respect we must offer towards food. There is only one way to do it. Waste not food. What ever is not wasted may be consumed by some other tummy and live for another day. Food is god. Respect food more than anything that you chose to respect. Always eat 10% less than what your body demands. It’s the best was not only to save food but also to keep your body be treated irresponsibly. Eat green and raw veggies of fruit more as life still radiates out of them. Plant not plants and trees for beauty and style. Plant trees that offer food and medicine.
Allow me please… to know your perspectives about this matter I raised.
1 comment:
loved the relevance of giving food to the needy ,especially in today's times..watch the movie "traffic signal" in hindi,heard it speaks of the life of beggars..
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