In Dilemma

In Dilemma

What is my dharma? 

—

Being a human, there comes many occasions when you face various dilemmas. You don’t understand what you should do. You get stuck. 

One such dilemma that I face on a regular basis is the sight of aged people who are homeless, without food, and many mentally disoriented. Everyday I got to see one or the other. I’m sure you also have similar experiences. There are plenty of such hapless people. In fact, it’s hard not to see them! They are everywhere, all around us—around streets mostly. Many of them are wanderers. 

There is a particular man, perhaps in his 70s, tall, and mentally somewhat unstable. All day he just walks back and forth the streets. Sometimes I see him sleeping. He doesn’t beg, at least I haven’t seen. Sometimes he gets into a different zone and talks gibberish in a hyperactive manner. His body is always dirty and he wears a khaki shirt. 

Whenever I see him, I face a dilemma: what should I do for him? What is my dharma? 

Out of guilt that I’m not doing anything for him, I’ve given him money many times, even bought food for him. But still, whenever I cross him on the road, I face this dilemma.

And it’s not only him, I also came across an aged lady, a dwarf, abandoned by her family. Now she has taken shelter on the railway station floor. I saw her in the winter last year. She sits on the stairs of the station and begs for money. When I met her, she sought some muri (puffed rice) and a blanket from me. Those were really cold days. Chilly! She had one or two chadar (thin shawls). That day I bought a full packet of muri, one packet of snacks, some puris (fried flattened bread) and one new blanket. 

I did what I could. 

But the guilt doesn’t go away. 

Still they are in rags; still they are homeless; still they are hungry. There are people who are devoting their lives to taking care of such people. But, I’m not doing that! I don’t even know why. Perhaps, my heart is not moved yet. Perhaps, I lack compassion. 

Well, we should do as much as we can. The least we can do is recognise their life, not abandon them, reach out to them in whatever way possible—with money, food, medicine, clothes or treatment aid. If we don’t even bother to look at them—I think that’s a crime. We should do our bit, however little that may be. 

If you have a heart

Full of love,

Eyes, full of compassion,

And words

Full of kindness,

You are a Man of the highest order

Whom gods shall praise! 

—

Thank you.

Image Credit: shutterstock & edited by me.