4 The House of Compassion
[Daya Nivasa, Mulgampola, Kandy] I started back at the House in November after a year away. One of the major changes that had taken place in that time was an increase in the number of children in the home. When I had left the previous year there had been, perhaps, five children, and now there were fourteen, all of whom were both mentally retarded and physically handicapped. The sisters asked if, when I had finished on the men’s ward, I could come and help out with the kids? It was the first time I had worked with children and it proved to be a delight. Ostensibly I was supposed to be doing physiotherapy, the children inevitably get very little exercise, and keeping their limbs supple plays an important part in caring for their overall health. A few of the children could stand if they were helped with their balance, and one young girl, Kumari, was even making an effort at walking, her natural instinct overcoming terrific obstacles in the process. However, a lot of what I was doing in ‘physio’ was just making a fuss of them one by one.
he cried and cried
I was busy elsewhere
he cried and cried
so much to do
he cried and cried
I did not notice
he cried and cried
I left him there
he cried and cried
who is that crying?
he cried and cried
come here my child
he cried and cried
there there my son
he cried and cried
and cried and cried
I’ve often found with people who have been neglected or rejected in one way or another that they are very responsive as soon as you give them even a little time and attention – just a little bit of loving is like rain falling on dry earth causing all to blossom forth. The effect, needless to say, is reciprocal, love is what we all need in order to grow. Working with the mentally handicapped is really a wonderful experience, they don’t have the normal defence mechanisms and ego-sense that keeps the rest of us apart, they are open to the reality of the present moment without any projections coming like a veil between people, and in working with such people there can often be a direct communion, and it can be like finding yourself in a school of love.