I parked my car outside the temple. As expected, a beggar lady approached.
“So, you’ve come to visit the temple?” she asked.
‘Of course,’ I thought. ‘Why else would I park here?’ But I smiled. No point being rude.
“Yes,” my wife replied instead.
“Okay, go and come,” said the beggar.
Huh? Was this her temple now?
We went in. My son ran around, played, got tired. Eventually, we came back — and there she was, waiting. In fact, waiting like a mother would. Honestly, even my own mother wouldn’t have waited this long. She began following us to the car.
“So, all done?” she asked.
What does that even mean?
I started the car. She walked around to the other side and knocked on the window near my wife. My wife didn’t give her anything.
And then she snapped:
“Why so much drama for just ten rupees?”
Wait, what? Was I obligated to give her money now? Who decided it had to be Rs 10? And why this passive-aggressive guilt tripping?
As we drove away, she hurled abuses at us.
Oddly enough, I felt relieved — good, even — that we hadn’t given her anything.
There’s something embedded deep in Indian culture: the idea that if you visit a temple, you must give money to beggars. If you don’t, you’re considered a bad person. This same moral expectation applies to certain professions too — astrologers, doctors, teachers. People assume that if you’re in these fields, you should not mind offering your services for free. That somehow, charging money for your expertise makes you less noble.
Why?
If you’re suffering, it’s your karma. Don’t go around trying to transfer that burden to someone who’s spent years — falling, failing, and rising — to master their craft.
Every profession is divine. And if you don’t think so, try this – next time your HR gives you a 10% salary hike, don’t just upgrade your phone or car. Instead, donate it — to an astrologer, a teacher, or a doctor. So they can afford to help someone truly in need. That’s how guilt should work — through action, not expectation.
Because here’s the truth: money matters. To every human being. Whatever their job.
So stop transferring your guilt to others. Own it. And deal with it.