The Cobbler Who Also Mends Souls

Posted by Mihir Kaji on Mar 7, 2016

8294 reads

There is a cobbler who sits across the street in front of my office building. Every day, i see that there is a stray dog who comes and sits with him as soon as he arrives at the place, and he feeds him biscuits and some times milk. The man goes about his work while the dog sits there and gives him company. One can feel that there is a connection between them and that unknown to everyone, they are having a conversation without a word being said. There is also food that he brings for birds, which he keeps at different places on the street pavement where he sits for his work. Many people stop by and ask him for directions, and he always guides them with a smile. Even if he doesn't get any business from them. If he sees a homeless person going by, he offers them water and food that he has brought for himself, and engages in conversations with them. One can see and feel the peace the conversations bring to them.

I felt called to go and meet him today. He smiled at me and said his name is Dayaram, and asked me if i would like to have tea?! Pleasantly surprised, i say sure, lets have some tea :) Here is a man who would be struggling to make Rs. 100 a day, out of which he would be spending 12-15 on the stuff he brings for the dog and the birds, and the two cups of tea would cost him Rs. 14. His being is rich, he smiles radiantly, and his calm, effortless, abundant state of being is infectious. I tell him that i have been observing him and what he does, and that i am humbled and fascinated by it. We get talking, and i refer to the dog, and he says "oh he's just one of us - God's own creation". Talk about non-duality! He goes on to say that "I am not serving...it is He who is making it happen via this person. It would be egoistic to say that 'I' am doing it!" I fold my hands and bow to him, and request him to accept some money, saying it is not I who is giving him that money, it is He who is sending it to him via myself :-) We laugh and he graces me by accepting it.

As i am about to leave, he says: "Maango Ussi se, Banto khushi se, Kaho na kissi se" (Ask from Him, but then don't just accumulate it - give with happiness and gratitude, and do it silently!)

The cobbler who apparently mends shoes, mended my soul today. Overwhelmed by this encounter...

Posted by Mihir Kaji | | permalink

Share A Comment

Smiles From 26 Members Login to Add a Smile

Comments (10)

Neha Phukan wrote ...

What a beautiful being! Thank you so much for sharing this little story, it mended my soul too, just reading it :)
Meghna Reva wrote ...

What a beautiful encounter! Grace comes in so many ways if we just open our eyes to it! Thank you from a deep space inside!
Audrey Lin wrote ...

Incredible, Mihir! So grateful for your sharing of such an encounter. :)
Khushmita Sanghvi wrote ...

Wonderful to read this Mihir :) specially loved his last message :)
Sheetal Sanghvi wrote ...

beautiful
Nipun (N2) wrote ...

Great. This man proves that Love can be distributed only when there is contentment within & when there is contentment within, no efforts required to spread Love......
Richard Whittaker wrote ...

what a beautifui [true] story
Deepak wrote ...

Thank you for sharing . A noble soul .
dsf wrote ...

Maango Ussi se, Banto khushi se, Kaho na kissi se

it did mend my soul too
Puneet wrote ...

Greetings,

May i plz get the exact location of this cobbler? wud like to visit him.

Search Blog

Read via our RSS feed

Get updates by email (coming soon!)

Volunteer Reflections

10 Histoires De 2021 Qui Nous Donnent De L'Espoir Alors que l'année 2021 s'achève, les rédacteurs de KarunaVirus se ... Read more

Older Reflections >

Newsletters Most Popular

September 2021 An interfaith challenge plus new website inspired by Gandhi's Law of Love.

August 2021 Plus five uncommon leaders asking five profound questions.

June 2021 Four pods, seven interns, and a lots of reasons to be grateful.

May 2021 We invite you to three unique conversations in three continents: bowing, folktales, hospice.

May 2021 In response to India's utterly devastating and heartbreaking surge of coronavirus, global friends are coming together for an interfaith circle this Sunday.

Apr 2021 Coming together isn't enough. Beauty emerges when we knit the sacred into our being, such that my virtue folds into yours along an inseparable fabric of creativity.

Feb 2021 When generosity graces our interactions, everything changes.

Jan 2021 Anticipating zoom fatigue, we orchestrated new ways to cultivate deeper ties.

December 2020 Blossoming of an innovative platform at the intersection of silicon tech, carbon intuition, and eternal wisdom