Well folks, India has been a whirlwind of everything these past couple of days. I noticed that this week, I became bland much like un-buttered potatoes. If there is anything I fear in life at all it is apathy. I will not allow myself to be apathetic, and I was certainly on my way to being apathetic. Luckily, this past weekend it completely changed. Yesterday, Saturday, Tiffany, Brenna, Rita and I went to Tangra, which is basically China Town. It's in an older and more deserted part of Kolkata. It used to be much more heavily influenced by the Chinese, but it has dissolved greatly, even though there are still influences around the village. It was a small village, and I think it may be the closest to China that I will ever be. It was incredibly peaceful and so beautiful. I loved just walking down the dirt roads and looking at all the broken down homes and the gardens. We also came across a beautiful cemetery, and there was so much history. I still can't believe how many layers Kolkata seems to have. It truly is remarkable that you can find so many aspects of the world in one city. Kolkata never ceases to amaze me.
After going to Tangra, we went out to coffee with our friend, Vipul. He seriously is an amazing person, and he also recently obtained a job for after college so we were celebrating his victory. He was telling us how he believes that if you do good in life, then good things will happen to you, much like Karma. He also told us that he honestly can't think of ever hurting someone, because the idea hurts him so much. I just thought this was such a beautiful way of looking at humanity. It is much like what Kakima said about acts of service as worship to God. Why can't we as humans beings be more good to each other? Why also do we pat ourselves on the back when we do something good? It isn't something to commend ourselves on; it's an obligation that we have to humanity. If more of the human race felt the way that Vipul feels, then I honestly think we would have complete peace in this world.
Later Saturday night, we attended a conference on nonviolence and globalization given by the rotary club. We were asked to sing our national anthem, and we also had the pleasure of hearing India's national anthem. It was such a breathtaking blend of cultures in one room. I also had the extreme blessing of being able to give a short answer to what I believe nonviolence to mean. I said how I believe that although it does include the absence of war and weapons, it is so much more. Nonviolence is also non-cooperation and civil disobedience. It is also ensuring that every, and I mean every human being on this earth receives the necessary rights to human life. This means that there is enough food, health care, hygiene, shelter, water, education for everyone. I hope that one day we can achieve this. I wasn't going to talk, but I'm so thankful that I was given the opportunity. One thing that also stuck out to me was when one of the speakers, to be honest I don't remember his name or his position, but he said, "It is the filling that is the life." I just thought this simple sentence was so true it hurt. Wow. If only I could say things like that...
India is incredible. It is breaking me, but I need it. The people that I see on the street and the people that I meet are so captivating. I am honored to be able to meet them and to share a piece of time with them. Isn't it crazy to think that all of us human beings were put on this earth together and that when we are standing next to someone on the metro or buying chocolate from someone by school, we are sharing a moment of each other's existence together? I know I'm getting philosophical, but I just can't get over that. I can't believe I get to live in India.
After going to Tangra, we went out to coffee with our friend, Vipul. He seriously is an amazing person, and he also recently obtained a job for after college so we were celebrating his victory. He was telling us how he believes that if you do good in life, then good things will happen to you, much like Karma. He also told us that he honestly can't think of ever hurting someone, because the idea hurts him so much. I just thought this was such a beautiful way of looking at humanity. It is much like what Kakima said about acts of service as worship to God. Why can't we as humans beings be more good to each other? Why also do we pat ourselves on the back when we do something good? It isn't something to commend ourselves on; it's an obligation that we have to humanity. If more of the human race felt the way that Vipul feels, then I honestly think we would have complete peace in this world.
Later Saturday night, we attended a conference on nonviolence and globalization given by the rotary club. We were asked to sing our national anthem, and we also had the pleasure of hearing India's national anthem. It was such a breathtaking blend of cultures in one room. I also had the extreme blessing of being able to give a short answer to what I believe nonviolence to mean. I said how I believe that although it does include the absence of war and weapons, it is so much more. Nonviolence is also non-cooperation and civil disobedience. It is also ensuring that every, and I mean every human being on this earth receives the necessary rights to human life. This means that there is enough food, health care, hygiene, shelter, water, education for everyone. I hope that one day we can achieve this. I wasn't going to talk, but I'm so thankful that I was given the opportunity. One thing that also stuck out to me was when one of the speakers, to be honest I don't remember his name or his position, but he said, "It is the filling that is the life." I just thought this simple sentence was so true it hurt. Wow. If only I could say things like that...
India is incredible. It is breaking me, but I need it. The people that I see on the street and the people that I meet are so captivating. I am honored to be able to meet them and to share a piece of time with them. Isn't it crazy to think that all of us human beings were put on this earth together and that when we are standing next to someone on the metro or buying chocolate from someone by school, we are sharing a moment of each other's existence together? I know I'm getting philosophical, but I just can't get over that. I can't believe I get to live in India.
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