Tent Town; 'professional beggars' or not?

You hear this phrase a lot in India; 'professional beggar' and yes in many ways some of them are.They play with your emotions, can put on a great act and of course can extract money, food and clothes if they pester you enough. Now I know you may think that it a harsh thing to say and yes it may be but hang around India long enough  and you get to know the game and see that a lot of ways in which foreigners give to beggars just encourages this practice even more. The problem is that people are suffering and if you have anything of a heart you want to help, the question is, how to help. In what skillful manner can the acts of one person ( little old me) make an impact that can work to change a mindset, a cultural norm or a corrupt and exploitative social functioning. It has taken many years of trying to figure this one out.

Do I give out of pity, believing somehow I am superior: I have done this but the real answer is; NO
Do I give out of guilt for having what they do not: In the beginning this was all I knew but now; NO
Do I give to make myself feel good:  Guilty as charged but it is never effective and again the answer  is; NO
Do I give to get rid them:  I have to say, been there done that too but the real response should be; NO

It all boils down to motivation. What is my motivation to give? and that in and of itself is a huge rabbit hole that needs to be survived, checked and re-checked.

gathering for samosas and mantras

eating samosas in peace

saying bye; tents and palace in background

I am beginning to think (and please tell me what you think as this is maybe something we can all understand better) that the only way to give has to come with compassion and empathy but no expectations or need for reward. It must also contain the essential ingredient of wisdom while planting the seeds of responsibility and long term thinking in the receivers mind.

Yesterday Jesulmeil,  Doris, Kush and I went to the beggar tent town which is on the banks of the Ganga across form the  Maharajah's Palace. Now if that is not a contrast of wealth I do not know what is. Anyway this is where Jesulmeilr's school children live and she goes once a week to meet the families and give some food to the children. It is a small act to buy and give samosas ( deep friend veggie pastries) but it is the manner in which she does this  and her motivation which I think is very effective.

A Christian religious women, maybe Christian spiritual is a better word here, Jesulmeir's  motivation is to get the children to sit together quietly (without hitting or fighting) and connect with their higher self or with God. She chooses to do this excises in front of the parents and encourages the parents to get the children to first gather and sit quietly. Now you have to remember that these kids live with constant noise of traffic, being yelled  at by drunken parents or people who shoow them away when they beg, well as the constant in fighting over getting stuff. So for them to sit still is huge.
Jesulmeil then lite some incense and got them all to quietly recite a mantra, which is all in line with their own culture, not forcing another religion on them. At first the kids yelled and mothers laughed but she persisted and slowly the kids all followed her lead. They closed their eyes, held their hands in prayer and quietly recited the mantra. WOW! We sat for about 5 minute,s not long  but it was probably the most peace these kids had experienced all week. She then had one of the girls fill a metal contained of holy water from the river. Then again some mantras were recited and she sprinkled all the kids with Ganga water. Lots of laughter ensued and the kids hugged each other and played nicely. Next we handed out the samosas and the kids still sat in their circle enjoying the warm food.

When finishing  she had the kids tidy the paper bags up and put the ground cloth back. She met some parents and encouraged the parents to bring the kids to her small school in Assis ghat. It was overall a very well received visit.

So as far as giving she gave with empathy and compassion, expecting nothing in return. She gave not out of guilt for having what they do not  she give not out of pity and not to get rid of them. She gave in a way that made then feel good, encouraging them to feel the goodness within themselves and her own  happiness from this act was a mere by-product. She planted the seeds of being responsible for their environment and going to school and an introduction to not only practical spiritual practice but also patience and sharing. The wisdom part I saw play out in several ways. She did not discriminate who came or who got food, all were welcome. She knows that some of this group are 'professional beggars' but sees that breaking the cycle of begging begins with people giving attention and showing love to beggars. Attention in the form of education, instilling self worth, self responsibility and self respect. Jesulmeil is starting with the kids and learning about how to change a community through the mothers.  As they say in India; Slowly Slowly. i.e the long term view.