Moments of Bliss 4 - Blessings from a Beggar

Hi All

Today morning I had a first time experience of getting blessed by a Beggar Woman. It may appear quite natural for every one to assume things (in this case, as a consideration for the alms) but this was very special which can be appreciated only with some explanation..... (It is quite tragic that I am using too many words to describe the "moments" of bliss... but what else to do other than trying to express such intangible moments....just as a tool for transcending my own limitations in writing skills)

I left to office today for doing some Quadrant II activity which I can do only without any disturbances from my team - which never happens on a working day.....So here I am getting up quite early (as early as 5 AM) and heading towards my office in my grand old motor byke leaving home by 6.30 AM....On the way I stopped at Rathna Bhavan at Venkat Narayana Road for taking the Hot Hot Idly and Sambhar for which it is known for..... (who says DUTY is the important thing in life ?? You need to take breaks simultaneously to enjoy the bounties of life !!)

I went, had just 3 idlies with a bucket of sambhar....so involved with eating as if the spoon full of the Breakfast was absorbed by my whole body....Then the extension of the bliss continued with a wonderful filter coffee and that was enough for me to make my day....I came out of the hotel fully charged & satisfied and went towards my mobike....

While I was about to sit on it, a beggar woman approached me and pleaded for alms...She appeard quite neat and dignified (sort of divine with a clear suggestion that she had taken bath already) at her 50s...and she smiled at me broadly while she asked me....As a matter of fact I did not have any coins with me and told her the same clearly....She listened to me, nodded her head as if she understood me (empathy ??) and left me to hold on the next person who is coming out of the Hotel

It was very unusual behaviour from a beggar - I have seen many of them mechanically moving towards the next person when we say "NO" or gesture so...but giving a response with a small smile and moving on graciously was some thing (at least) I have never witnessed....Particularly her looks in the early morning made me feel that she must have been a respectable lady some time back....(at least she must be a respectable begger since her girl hood....I cant think of any other word other than "respect" or "dignity" or "grace" with this person....though she begged..

Few seconds passed on & while I climbed up the seat of the motor cycle, before kicking the starter, I naturally put my hand inside my pant pocket, standing up a little bit, to get a 10 Rs note out of my pocket - which of course I had....I looked at her standing couple of feet away from me and the glance was sufficient for her to turn back towards me (good level of sensitivity more than the typical alertness of beggerfolks) and she walked towards me with a smile...even at that point, she did not know what I had for her in my hand...

Then the wonderful moment was blessed upon me....While I handed over the 10 Rs note very humbly to this old woman, her friendly smile grew up to a huge radiant smile and she took the same and folded both the hands at me with few words of blessings....Again the point was that it was not a sheepish folding of hands ... How can a beggar be dignified and graceful even when he / she is stumbled upon some thing unexpected / surprising...

She does not appear to me as a normal woman as we glanced at each other's eye balls for couple of micro seconds after this happened...she left off me and I kicked the kick starter with some wisdom.....!!

suchoo