The Beggar Who Wanted More
The beggar, a young man, had his cup in his left hand as he
sat on the cold concrete. As I walked by him, his eyes looking upward, I could
see a movement of lips, but his voice was muffled. Traffic noise restricted my
hearing. I responded with a, “Sorry, I don’t have anything.”
The beggar retorted, “I didn’t ask for anything.” I stopped,
and then said, “Well, then, how can I help you?”
“Are you a real monk?” he asked.
“For 43 years.”
“That’s awesome,” he said, “can you tell me about it?”
“Well, I’m committed to a lifestyle of higher consciousness
– addressing the needs of the spirit, the soul. Essentially, we are the spirit,
we are not this body.”
“What do you do and how do you spend your time?”
“I have a few things on the agenda which includes
pilgrimage.”
With curiosity still kindled he inquired, “Can you explain
about that, and what do you get out of it?”
I conveyed it involves walking, meeting people, getting very
much in touch with the elements and getting in touch with yourself. “You begin
to see in these travels that sacredness is behind everything. Where are you
from?” I asked.
“Everywhere.”
“I mean, where were you born and raised?”
He said, “Lindsay.”
“Your name?”
“Darcy.”
“Darcy, please chant this mantra (I gave him a card with the
mantra). Come over some time to our ashram. We can have a great meal together.”
“I’d like that.”
May the Source be with you!
6 km
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