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“Yes, I remember you,” she replies bluntly.
“I have given our first meeting a lot of thought and I’m glad I finally got to meet you. I’ve been hoping I would have the chance to apologize. I have no excuse for how I reacted. I wasn’t being mindful of my surroundings and I was very unaware of the significance and culture surrounding the Ganges. I came here to help and had no intention to offend, which is why I am deeply sorry that I offended you. I hope you can accept my apology.”
The woman is still. Defensive. After a moment, she nods carefully and a timid smile softens her face. Unexpectedly, she responds:
“I see people like you all the time – a tourist, a visitor. The expression is always the same. I grew up next to this river. I have happy memories of my mother bringing me here as a child to bathe, learn, play, walk, or pray. Everything that made me who I am today. This river is the lifeblood of the people and the heart of India. We came from this river and it is a part of all of us. To see it so harshly criticized by outsiders is hurtful and disappointing. I accept your apology, but I hope you are mindful and observant about people's feelings and connections in the future.”
After a short pause, the woman turns to walk away. Blake wishes that she could go back and do things differently. In the time that she’s been in Haridwar, she has learned so much about the city’s culture, but in some ways it wasn’t enough. She feels frozen, looking out at the river as the woman’s shrinking figure recedes further into the distance, when she hears a sonorous and hearty, “Good evening, Blake! What brings you to the river?” Blake! What brings you to the river?” She turns around she sees her dear friend Mahant. He’s tickled pink tonight, both in dress and attitude. Blake smiles immediately because Mahant is one of those people that feels like home. He tells her that he just finished an evening riverside service and saw her along the bank. He knows she’s leaving soon and was hoping to have an opportunity to say goodbye. Blake’s eyes start to well up as she tells Mahant about her shortcomings with the woman and her time in Haridwar. She never wanted to be a distrusted researcher, but a friend – someone who could make a difference.
Blake! What brings you to the river?” She turns around to see her dear friend Mahant. He’s tickled pink tonight, both in dress and attitude. Blake smiles immediately because Mahant is one of those people who feels like home. He tells her that he has just finished an evening riverside service and noticed her on the bank. He knows she’s leaving soon and was hoping to have an opportunity to say goodbye. Blake’s eyes start to well up as she tells Mahant about her two meetings with the woman and her time in Haridwar. She never wanted to be a distrusted researcher, but a friend – someone who could make a difference.
be a distrusted researcher, but a friend – someone who could make a difference.
Mahant’s smile fades only slightly, and becomes warmer and more open. He tells Blake about the difference she has made in the city, the perspective she shared with its citizens about pure water, and the friends whose lives she has impacted. Then, he explains:
“Being non-judgmental towards others is important, and you have learned that lesson, but being non-judgmental towards yourself is like opening every curtain and window when your home feels too dark. No one is perfect, but we press on each day and do our best. In Rishikesh, you learned so much about mindfulness and the benefits it has. From Haridwar, I want you to take away the interconnectedness of mindfulness – how it can seep into every corner of life.
non-judgment & Describing Application
Chapter Four