The Wise Guy

This morning I went shopping in a mall. Databir drove me there, and Vidhu was the distinguished back-seater.

In one store I was browsing through a book called How to Become a U.S. Citizen. My soul was telling me not to waste my time because it does not want me to become a U.S. citizen. The book had so many facts that had to be learned if someone wanted to become a U.S. citizen: what was the capital of this state; how many members there are in the Senate and Congress; and so forth. How do people remember all these things?

An elderly woman about 70 years old asked me, "Where do you come from?"

I answered, "India."

She said, "Do you have a green card?"

I said, "Yes, I have a green card."

She asked, "Now you want to become a citizen?"

"No, no," I replied.

Then I turned around and started looking at books in the religion section. I bought some books about Socrates, Buddha and the Christ. I also saw a tiny booklet by Thomas Merton. Vidagdha had written her Masters' thesis on him. The lady was still watching me. I saw one of my booklets, The Fountain-Heart of Wisdom. The price sticker was over the word 'Wisdom', and I was trying to read the title behind the sticker. The lady saw me trying to read the title and she said, "Wisdom." Then she said, "By Sri Chinmoy-wise guy Sri Chinmoy."

I was quite amused and just smiled at her. I didn't have the heart to tell her I was that wise guy.

-27 March 1988