Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
'Only the Brahmin man he can know this thing,' he informed
me. 'Brahmin peoples very pure, isn't it? Not eating of meat,
performing the mantra each day.'
'But you kill the goats.'
'Yesh, yesh -
killing
but not
eating
. Low-caste people, they eating
the meat.' He sounded faintly disgusted.
'But surely it's the killing part you're supposed to avoid?'
'Killing the goat for Kali Ma, not for the eating.' He grew defensive.
'Kali Ma she like too much the
blood
. Brahmin peoples they doing the
kill of goat for Kali Ma, so goddess she too much happy for them.'
'If you studied business, why didn't you go into some kind of
business?' He twirled his upraised palm, and clucked his tongue.
Indians ask why a lot less than Westerners, partly because they're more
fatalistic, and partly because they find it absurd to question the course
a life takes of its own accord. Only in our culture does 'fate' invariably
have sinister connotations.
'You like horoscope?' he asked, indicating an astrological chart
pinned to the wall of his cubicle. 'I tell you all thing in the futures,
yes? So you have good understanding of complete life to come.'
'I prefer surprises.'
'You come here nine, remember?' He thrust a packet of red powder,
a gift from Kali, into my hand.
'Thank God, darling!' Lady Sinha laughed later. 'I think we save
the goat sacrifice for a last resort!'
She placed some of the red powder on Sanna's forehead, assuring
him that Kali was now on the job. Anjoo was oddly grateful for this
little gesture.
The next day Sanna seemed better, too, asking for food - something
that hadn't crossed his mind or his lips in weeks.
God loves those to whom He can give the most, those who expect
the most from Him, who are most open to Him, those who have
most need of Him and count on Him for everything . . . The greatest
sin is the lack of love and charity, the terrible indifference to those
on the fringe of the social system, who are exposed to exploitation,
corruption, want, and disease.
- Mother Teresa,
Spiritual Counsels
