04-16-2007, 08:19 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-narayanan+Apr 14 2007, 08:16 PM-->QUOTE(narayanan @ Apr 14 2007, 08:16 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Do we rich people ever consider that no Almighty worthy of that name, would ever be impressed by someone paying a Rs. 2000 bribe to the temple money-collectors, to save time in making the "darshan"?
Once I was snuck inside the Guruvayoor temple, skipping maybe half an hour of queue, by some friend of my relative who had accompanied us. On compassionate grounds, no bribe, reasoning that "US-retarned" wimps would probably faint if they had to stand on their own feet for a few minutes.
Took me a year to get over the shame of that line-jumping. Long training should have automatically made me refuse the special consideration, very firmly and with no "ifs" and "buts". But the moment for that came and went, and I just "acquiesed".
[right][snapback]67045[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I had similarly "acquiesed" recently paying some local temple <i>guide</i> for a fast-track in-out of a temple. Felt really bad on the way there, but when I met this guide and his family during a simple lunch and shade at his place, my 'guilt' disappeared. They lived hand-to-mouth in a dilapitated structure. I'd do it again if I had to. Better than seeing hard earned money go to our hundi-chor netas and babus.
Once I was snuck inside the Guruvayoor temple, skipping maybe half an hour of queue, by some friend of my relative who had accompanied us. On compassionate grounds, no bribe, reasoning that "US-retarned" wimps would probably faint if they had to stand on their own feet for a few minutes.
Took me a year to get over the shame of that line-jumping. Long training should have automatically made me refuse the special consideration, very firmly and with no "ifs" and "buts". But the moment for that came and went, and I just "acquiesed".
[right][snapback]67045[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I had similarly "acquiesed" recently paying some local temple <i>guide</i> for a fast-track in-out of a temple. Felt really bad on the way there, but when I met this guide and his family during a simple lunch and shade at his place, my 'guilt' disappeared. They lived hand-to-mouth in a dilapitated structure. I'd do it again if I had to. Better than seeing hard earned money go to our hundi-chor netas and babus.