"Where There is Love... there is Life"...Ghandi

The other day I needed a break from the bustle of Gokulam so I walked down to the slums just to look around..It was not a plan I just started walking and ended up in the slums surrounded with a bunch of kids and elderly..The people were so inviting and beautiful..There houses were made of straw and mud and had thatched roofs of palm...I was with few friends and the three of us were in heaven...There was a young girl named Latta who was turning 15 in a few days and she invited us into her house and showed us around..It was pretty much a room the size of a large Western bathroom with a dirt floor and a bed and a little burner for cooking..There was a double sized bed where six of them slept and they invited us to sit on their bed and offered us tea and milk..Here they are poor when it comes to material possesions but rich in love and kindness..They have little but offer us so much...We were invited back to see the family in a few days to visit again on the little girl Latta's Birthday..

So a few days later we walked back to the slums with candy and pastries and cricket bats for the kids..We also picked up a few coconut pasteries for Latta and her family because of the special day..We were greeted with warm embraces and smiles and laughter..The kids went crazy when we brought out our cameras and jumped up and down with joy when we asked to take their picture..They just kept yelling photo..photo..photo..When you show them their photo they get so happy and smile really big..The people here are the beggers you see on the street and the men you see working to take away the garbage from the houses..I would have to guess they are of the low untouchable class..in reality the treat us better than some of the higher classes here in Gokulam..When I see these beautiful people I think of when Ghandi said.."If I am fortunate enough to come back and live another life on this earth...let me be of the lowest class of workers..These humble people... are the heart of India"...Ghandi was so right..These people are the heart of India..They didn't judge us..they didn't ask for anything..they just invited us into their humble home and offered us stories of their past and lovely food...They showed me a new side of humanity..This is unconditional love.  Ghandi also said once.."Where there is love...there is life"...Here in the small slums of Mysore there is love..and there is life..
 

 
Om Shanti Shanti