The Jasmine Pearls and Shanti Sena Communities

Around this time of the year –right before Christmas– a Big Man (BM) comes to a peaceful calm tea house, looks around and returns at closing time to rob it. A friend, who now works there, told me that a big man came earlier with a very unfriendly malicious look, used the bathroom way longer than the time average of a costumer, looked at the photo exhibit, asked for jasmine pearls, bought none, have no tea and left.

She didn’t want to amplify negative vibrations but the reality was that she was about to be in a very uncomfortable situation. The owner of the tea house wasn’t around but urged her to close early and/or to call the police, since this is the typical pattern experienced by the business in previous years before the robberies they have experienced.

She didn’t want to call the police because she was concerned about the wellbeing of BM but at the same time she didn’t want to go through a violent episode without doing something, other than supporting the actual punishment (in)justice system.

I happened to be around, and offered her nonviolent accompaniment. She accepted and she stressed the point that she wasn’t concerned about her own safety. To make such statement requires some nerve due to the physical and spiritual attractiveness of the young woman.

To respond accordingly to a potential challenging situation, I meditated for an hour at the tea house and we waited for BM with fresh tea and a hot meal —ala Julio Diaz. Soon, a close satyagrahi showed up with another delicious vegan dish: lentils with walnuts, kale, ginger and turmeric. The three of us were having a loving dinner waiting for our surprise guest at the front table of the tea house. We were having the time of our life imagining what a world without police would look like if we were able to have peace armies in our communities. It was a delightful Peace Army Dinner indeed. BM’s plate was ready and waiting form him.

The last client of the day was about to show up. It was 15 minutes before 9pm –the closing time. This was a different BM –according to the previous description of my friend– with a black leather jacket. We greeted him with a lovely look, smile and a small bow head because he was on the cellphone.

He hung up, my friend stoop up and asked him how she could serve him. He looked at various teas and bought some. She was treating him with her usual sweetness. As he was leaving the tea house, the four of us smiled at each other and we wished him a great Sunday.

I thought it was just another client. Perhaps it was. Little did I know about the undeniable and incredible courage, compassion and equanimity of my friend, a true love warrior.

Later I learned that he bought from her some jasmine pearls. To which she responded with a big smile 🙂