July 6, 2003, New York



I had come back to my place after an exhausting trip over the long weekend: rafting, parasailing, and hours and hours of driving. There was a wedding at the place; the landlady's daughter was getting married.
The landlady offered me to grab a plate.
I wasn't really hungry. I went to the kitchen, to get some fruits.

There were a lot of vessels and food containers there. The refrigerator was stuffed. There were two common refrigerators for all the people staying in the lounge and the cottages around. I always had a tough time remembering what stuff was mine. I got some strawberries in a plate.

A big black guy entered the kitchen. He was over 6 feet tall. He haid a leather strap around his body. He was well built. He could very well be a cop somewhere, may be NYPD, I couldn't help imagining.

"You could get some food, in case you want", he said.
"Oh thanks. I got myself some fruits", I was rinsing the fruits. I tilted the plate towards him for him to get a view. I had imagined he would have an attitude, but it didn't seem like.
"Are you a vegetarian?", he ate as he spoke.
"No I'm not", I was still rinsing.
"So you guys work at IBM?"
"Yeah we do" I wondered how he knoew. "You must be here for the wedding"
"Yes. Where are you from?"
"India"
"Are you a Hindu"
"No, I am not"
" What are you then"
" A Sikh, I'm not sure if you've heard of that."
"You're supposed to have a turban then", he smiled.
"Yeah, but I don't have one" I smiled back.
"I am not that religious".
"Do you know about Christianity?"
"Yes I do"

I got the hint, where he was going. I felt a little turned off.

"Christianity teaches you the truth. Do you know what the truth is?"
"What truth? Things are as we percieve them to be. An individual decides what is good for him and thats the truth." I had sensed his interests by then.

"What you are saying is relativity"
"I am sorry?", I wanted to make sure I heard that rigth. It wasn't possible for somebody without a scientific temper to make such a statement. I suddenly felt very interested.

"Thats relativity. But you have to know the truth. You can't assault somebody. It might be okay for somebody to kill people. Somebody could decide to hurt elderly people."
"What you are saying is true. You're saying we can't just go about hurting other people, assuming what we believe in is the truth. We have to know about orienting our actions and beliefs to bring happiness to ourselves and other people; think about things that help us lead a happy and fulfilling life."

"Have you see the movie Matrix."
"Yes I have."
"The latest one?"
"Yeah."
"What do you think it is about?"
"Well, it mentions about the world being a simulation and humans being kept away from reality."
"Exactly. Humans are kept away from realtity. And when they are unplugged they get to know what is real. You are plugged right now and away from reality."

I thought that way rather presumptuous. But I suspended my judgement for a moment.

"Every human being has strong belief in his opinions. We all think what we belive in is true. I could say that you are plugged right now."
"Where do you think we all came from?"
"Nobody knows that. All I know is its good to remain open to possibilities. May be God created us all."
"Do you believe in evolution?"

He seemed to know what I might belive in.

"Yes I do."
"What is evolution, its survival of the fittest. It says that if you are to survive you can kill ohers and take your way. Where are the morals? Scriptures are based on morals and brotherhood." He souded very confident as he spoke.
"I respect your views and faith in religion. I understand what you are saying. I feel humans have grown into more intelligent individuls over ages, they don't rip others apart any more."
The maid picked up his plate. He had kept in on the table as he talked to me.
"What are you doing?" His voice was abrupt. I thought he was being insensitive. I judged him for a while.

He was his same assertive self again. Focussed and assured, I admired him for that.

"What happens after you die"
"You go back to God, is what they say."
"But what really happens?"
"Well, you either go to heaven or hell", I wasn't really sure what he was getting at.
I didn't answer what he was expecting to hear, so he came straight to it, "What happens when your life is over and you realize that you had been living in a world which was not real and you wasted your life carrying virtual beliefs?"
"Well, I don't care. May be that is the way it'll be. May be what you are saying is reality. I am open to that. If I realize I was illusioned it won't matter, for I lead a happy and satisfied life guided by my views and perceptions. And I am open to possibilities, I learn and I grow. If I can't live in consonance with my scientific temper and concept of God, I won't do it. I have immense respect for the entity and phenomenon that created us, but I don't believe in worshipping God.
If I worship God just out of the fear of possibility of what you say, it isn't right"
"Well, association with God is out of love for him, and not fear."
He had a point there, I admired him for that.

"Where in the world you have a book signed by God?"
"I don't know. Nobody saw God signing any book. Human beings are intelligent enough to create a book like that."


"Come on here."
We went to the other room, where he had his bag.
"Which one of these books would you choose", he showed me two.
I had a quick glance at both of them. I say a red rose and dew on one of them, it said "Desire of ages". The other one had the picture of Jesus, I saw the word, "controversy" on it. It had a building getting shattered.
After a quick second I pointed to the first book I had seen.
I read a smile of reluctant admiration on his face, or may be I flattered myself thinking that way. "Thats a good choice", he said slowly. "Thats a good choice", he repeated.
I felt good about myself at that moment. "Why would I read about some controversy when I have something better to read about", I pointed to the coice as I spoke.
"Is that like the blue pill or the red pill in Matrix."

"Yes, thats like the blue pill and the red pill, and you are getting unplugged", se smiled.

I wasn't too sure of getting unplugged but I smiled to be polite. Besides I knew the big guy could very well kick my butt if he chose to.

He folded a couple of pages of his book. "If you read pages 400 to 460 of this book, I am sure you will appreciate and get to know the reality. You have to be certain about what you choose.
You seem like an intelligent person".

"Oh thanks for saying that"
"Because you work for IBM. Just like you do you job, you have to uplift yourself spirituality."
"I agree spiritual development is very important.
I apperciate your giving me this book."

"If you need to contact, everybody knows me around here. My name is Joe. Just ask for big Joe and they'll tell you. He shook my had with compassion and patted me gently".

He had a look of victory in his eyes. I imagined it was out of a realization of having opened the door for one more person. Now that he felt secure he was ready to talk.

"My parents were from France."
"Oh really. Where are you from, the east coast?"
"Yeah. New York. I was born here."
"I go to school in California."
"California is a nice place. I've been there."
"Do you work somewhere?"
He smiled, "I am a freelancer. I show people the truth. I help them."
I respected his sentiments "Thats a very satisfying task to do. How did you choose to do that?"
"Its a calling, you have to respond to that.", he smiled, feeling nice and good.
Some elderly woman came to him and asked for something. He bid me bye," I gotta go. You take care".
"Good bye", I said.

A couple of hours later I bumped into Joe again. He shook my hand and patted me gently, "I gave you that book, right? If you read through those pages, I can guarantee you, we shall meet again".
"Yeah", I responded.
"Take care"
"Take care".