Chapter 76 Chapter 20 At Benares

The trip was from Kolkata to Rajkot and I had planned to stop at Benares, Agra, Jaipur and Balampur on the way.Other than that, I don't have much time to go anywhere else. I only stayed in each city for one day, and lived in Fushe like an ordinary pilgrim, with the exception of Balampur.As far as I can remember, this trip cost only 31 rupees (including the fare). When traveling by third-class trains, I mostly travel by ordinary cars, and I don't like to take mail cars, because I know that mail cars are always more crowded and more expensive.In fact, the filth and toilets of the third-class carriages are no different today than they were back then.

It may be better now, but there is a big difference between the equipment of the first-class and third-class carriages, which is out of proportion to the difference in ticket prices.Passengers in the third class are treated like sheep, and the comfort they get is the comfort of the sheep.I've also taken third class when I was in Europe - only once in first class, just to see what it was like - but I didn't find the difference between first and third class to be that great.The third-class passengers in South Africa are mostly black, but it is much more comfortable than here.In some parts of South Africa, the third-class carriages also have sleeping berths and spring seats, and the seats are also limited, so as to avoid overcrowding, and here I found that the normal quota is often exceeded.

The indifference of the railway authorities to the comfort of third-class passengers, combined with the passengers' own filth and bad habits, was a test for a clean-loving third-class passenger.The most common of such unpleasant habits are littering, smoking, chewing betel nut leaves and tobacco leaves anytime and anywhere, turning the whole car into a spittoon, shouting, laughing, and talking rudely, regardless of whether others Convenience and comfort.I found that my experience of third class in 1902 was no different from my consistent third class experience from 1915 to 1919. I think there is only one remedy for such a bad situation-all educated people should take third-class trains so as to correct people's habits and not let the railway authorities be at peace. Bribes or any unlawful means for one's own comfort cannot be left to foul by anyone involved.Doing so, I'm sure there will be great improvements.

In 1918-19 I had a serious illness which unfortunately forced me to de facto abandon the practice of traveling in third class, and it has always been a matter of sorrow and shame to me, especially as it was just to eliminate the difficulties of third class passengers. I couldn't continue traveling like that when the publicity work had already progressed.The misery of the poor railroad and steamship passengers, exacerbated by their bad habits, and the undue facilitation of foreign trade by the government, and the like, have created some serious problems which deserve a man or two of courage and perseverance. Make the work of life to reform.

But that's all I've said about third-class passengers, and now I'm going to talk about my experience at Benares.I arrived there in the morning, and I decided to stop at a "Panda" place. As soon as I got out of the car, there were countless Brahmins around me. I chose one that was cleaner than the rest and gave me a lesser impression. good person.Facts have proved that this choice is good.He has a cow in his yard, and I live upstairs in a two-story house.According to orthodox rules, I did not eat anything until I went to bathe in the Ganges.This "Panda" was busy preparing for me.I told him in advance that I could give him no more than a small gift of one rupee and four annas, and he should bear this in mind in all his preparations.

This "Panda" of course agreed. "It doesn't matter whether the pilgrim is rich or poor," he said, "our service is the same. But the amount of small gifts we accept depends entirely on the pilgrim's intention and ability." I didn't find this "Pan Da" is not good at my reception. "Puja" ended at twelve o'clock, and I went to pay my respects at the Kashi Vishnu Temple.What I met there pained me terribly. In 1891, when I was practicing as a lawyer in Bombay, I went to the auditorium of the Protanna Society to hear a lecture on "Going to Kashi for Pilgrimage."Therefore, I am mentally prepared not to have extravagant expectations.Unexpectedly, the actual disappointment was much greater than I imagined.

The alley leading to the temple is narrow and slippery, and it is not quiet there. The swarms of flies and the noise of sellers and pilgrims are really uncomfortable.One was expecting to find an atmosphere of contemplation and communion here, which is clearly lacking here.The only way to find this kind of atmosphere is to find it from people's own hearts.I did see devout sisters completely absorbed in meditation, unaware of the commotion around them.However, for this situation, the temple parties really can't win much trust.The parties have the responsibility to create and maintain a pure, sweet and quiet atmosphere inside and outside the temple, both physically and spiritually.Instead of this atmosphere, I found a market of cunning little traders selling sweet treats and fashionable toys.

As soon as I arrived at the temple, someone offered me a bundle of dead flowers at the gate.The floor of the temple was paved with exquisite marble, but it was smashed by some devout men and women who did not understand aesthetics. They donated money, but built an exquisite dustbin. I approached the "Janna-Vapi" (well of knowledge) in search of God, but did not find him.So I'm not in a good mood. The environment around "Janna-Fapi" is also very dirty.I wasn't in the mood for small gifts, so I just gave a copper coin.A responsible "Panda" got angry and threw the copper plate away.He cursed at me, "This insult will send you all the way to hell."

This does not trouble me, "My lord," said I, "whatever my luck may be, a man of your class should not say such things. Either take the penny, or you will lose a penny." Can't get it." "Go away," he replied, "I don't care about your penny." A stream of expletives followed.I picked up the coin and left, proud of the fact that the Brahmin lost a coin and I spent one less, but this prince is not a person who is willing to lose a coin.He called me back and said, "Well, keep that penny, I'd rather not be as fussy as you are. If I don't take it, it won't do you any good either."

I handed him the coin without a word, and walked away with a sigh.Since then, I have been to Kashi Vishnu twice, but that is after I have been troubled by the title of "Mahadma". Of course, the experiences I mentioned above will never happen again.People are so eager to visit me that I won't be allowed to visit that temple anymore.Only the "Mahadma" knows the distress of being a "Mahadma", otherwise, the filth and noise would still be the same. If anyone doubts the goodness of God, let him visit these holy places.Hypocrisy and apostasy are attributed to the Yogi deity, how much humiliation does his holy name suffer?He announced long ago: If you sow melons, you will reap melons, and if you sow beans, you will reap beans.

The law of "Kama" is eternal and cannot be avoided.So there is really nothing for God to worry about. He established this law, then retreated without doing anything.After visiting this temple, I waited to be received by Mrs. Besant.I knew she had been ill, and I went to see her, and she came out right away.Because I only wanted to greet her when I saw her, I said, "I heard that you are not well. I just want to come to say hello. Although you are not in good health, you still came out to meet me. This kind of generosity, I'm very grateful. I don't want to take any more of your time." Having said this, I bid her farewell.