Pray for me.

Kolkata. November 2013

Busy, noisy, hot, humid, polluted and beautiful Kolkata.

I made my early morning meditation sitting on the western style bed in our hotel room in the New Market district of Kolkata. Even at six o'clock in the morning the humidity is noticeable and the fan, gently turning all night, only serves to move the warm air around our bedroom.

After a shower and breakfast we took a taxi to the Mother House, the place established by Mother Theresa all those years ago in Kolkata to serve the poor.

I have never been a Roman Catholic, and so this environment was new to me, but it was impressive. From the friendly kindness of the nuns that greeted us as we entered, to the small museum that displayed her simple clothes and items that she used in her daily life.

Something about her sandals, so small and worn touched my heart.

We took our time and read her life story. I knew almost nothing about this woman except her name and reputation, but it seems that she gave her life to take care of some of the poorest people in the world and for that I put my hands together in Anjali.

Of course, when we returned to our hotel I 'googled' Mother Theresa and found different accounts of her life, many praiseworthy, some critical, but this is the way of the world and famous people. As the Buddha has said:

There is an old rule.

The one who stays silent is criticised.

The one who talks too much is also criticised.

Even the one who speaks only a little is criticised.

There is no-one in the world who is never criticised.

Dhammapada verse.227.

As we left the compound we were stopped by a lovely Polish nun, who had been a nun in Birmingham, England at the same time as I had been a monk there, and in the same part of the city, too.

We reminisced and enjoyed our conversation.

As we left she touched my arm and said 'goodbye, pray for me.'

I could only reply, 'you already have my love.'

It was a beautiful moment.

We walked slowly back to the hotel, meeting the friendly greeting of the people in the street.

We rested and prepared ourselves for the afternoon. This is Kolkata, it needs strength.

May all beings be happy.