To the motorcycle guy who hurt me today: Here is a Phenomenal Woman's response

We were coming back from lunch today (wishing farewell to skippetty), when a young, confused Indian man slapped me on my back from his motorcycle.  He was riding on the back, his other, young, confused male friend, in front.  He looked back as they rode cowardly fast, perhaps to check the effect he had had on me.

I gave him the finger, and I was angry, still am.  Guess all that talk about being a yogi and returning hurt with love did not work this time and I am cool with that. This is not the only account of things that have happened around the shala, right in Gokulam and to women.  It makes me wonder.

UPDATE: An Indian female student from the shala mentioned that it is possible to dial #100 from any indian phone to report abuse to the police.

Being the actual target of something of this sort, which hurt me both physically and emotionally made me a lot more aware of the role of women in Indian culture. Vivekananda back in the 1800's wanted women to be respected, treated equaly, honored for the Divine beings they are.  Hey! I am wondering about the role of women everywhere, not just here.

I feel that there is a lot of fear in the world over women, I feel that, still, these days, in this time, men fear us, which explains so many attrocities committed against females around the world.  I was going to list examples but do not want to fuel more anger, you know the cases. (picture)

So I wondered: What is the best way that we women can further the cause of equality? And you know, I think that the way is to honor our own beauty, our own strenght, our power.

It is by becoming all that we can be, by letting our light shine, by respecting ourselves and other females, by empowering each other.

Reminds me of that Marianne Williamson quote I am so fond of:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world


(picture)

So:

To the man in the motorcycle: may you be healed and liberated from your utter confusion.

To all men: no need to fear us, we are sweet people, and I know you are sweet people too, just some of you (like the guy in the motorcycle) are confused.

And to all women reading this: here is a poem by Maya Angelou that always makes me feel amazing, I can almost touch the light inside of me whenever I read it, and it is a great comfort tonight. Here is to you: phenomenal woman!

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.


(picture)