Commodities

Someone in our group had a unique way of looking at beggars today, and I had to share it. We (the group) have all been confronted with a woman and her children begging. The scene is often similar; a young woman walks up holding one or two children. They are clearly wearing tattering clothes and either say the word please or simply make noises and hold out their hands, looking you in eye whenever possible. So, we have talked a lot about changing the tone of the interaction. Giving to every person in India is not only impossible but most likely completely ineffective. I have learned that one must place the conversation on a level of respect rather than a commodity based interaction - I have something and they need something. The woman in our group did her best to see the person as a human being and a member of Indian society. She did what she felt was most human, she engaged the beggar in conversation. She asked what the children’s’ names were and made specific eye contact with the mother and asked her name and where she was from. Seconds later the children were no longer begging. Our group member began to tell them about herself. All of a sudden the conversation had switched from our group member as the ‘have’ and the beggar as the ‘have not’ to her as a person communicating with them as a person. It is a beautiful thing, just to consciously switch your reality. See people - as you know they are. Don’t accept anything less.