Beggars

From childhood I have a fascination with gypsies, tramps, beggars. It has to do with a sense of independence and freedom.

When I was 10 years old, I saw street musicians earn their money with music. They were just on the sidewalk. That appealed to me tremendously and I realized that I wanted this, too. I could smell freedom.

That's why I wanted to travel around with a guitar. That is what I did when I was 18 years old. I sang in the streets to earn my money. And so I got to know the street life.

And thus, I came into contact with a lot of vagrants and beggars. (Gypsies,  that's another story.) On Sundays I stood between beggars, for the churches. That earned pretty good and the beggars who had their permanent place deserved better than usual. Because I sing and when the people gave me money, they immediately gave money to the other beggars. I also split my own income. They took me to other places and taught me the art of begging.

Very quickly I learned on this trip that it spiritually not matters whether you're rich or poor. Both poor and rich people experienced on average as much happiness as unhappiness.

Personally I felt better  with some poorer people than among the rich. The rich do mentally demanding (more intellectual) on their Being;  the poor behave much more direct (spontaneous). Okay, wealth is much easier and more fun and poverty can cause much misery. But my preference goes to the simple direct existence.

I have met several beggars who told me that they chose a life of beggars. It made them happy. This led them to the bottom of the existence. I also met beggars who had it really hard and struggled with the law of the strongest in the street. Yet I also saw a lot of humor and recognized by many beggars a large (often paranormal) sensitivity to their environment and who they are.

Much attention is devoted to tricks to extort money, to survive, the others are off smart. When I sang in the street, I had to  sing alone. Once a beggar came to sit next to me I immediately earned half as much. So I sent them away. I did not like it, but I also needed money to pay my places to sleep.

I have learned a lot from it. I have since my trip never been afraid of poverty. Poverty does not exist for me. Poverty does not exist because I have always MYSELF.

Whether you're rich and happy or poor and miserable: consciousness is universal. The possibility of experience of freedom is a universal given.

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