Dalai Lama mentioned in The Art of Happiness that “happiness is determined more by one's state of mind than by external events” and, Yeshe is one of the living proofs for that. But happiness is not something physical that one can suddenly decide to gain, it comes through meditation, training of mind in achieving an equilibrium of strength, and hope, hope that tomorrow will be different. Thus, it lies within your own powers, with you being the supreme control center over life.
Yeshe, of Tibetan origins, was born in 1992 in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Or at least, this was what her refugee papers said. In reality she was known to originate from a small village in Nepal. Born in what was thought to be as a normal family: a father that was providing for them, a mother that cared for everything else around the house and two bigger sisters; she cannot recall any memory of it. Perhaps the imagination in this case could prove friendlier than the facts.
Yeshe’s mother passed away when she was only six months. Left with no memory of her to treasure and preserve, her life was about to take another turn when the father decided to not take the responsibility of raising them. Abandoned, with no time to grief, the bigger sister who was seven at the time, managed to take care of the baby by caring bricks at a construction site. The other sister was also struggling to earn an income by cleaning the streets, where Yeshe would join from the age of two. At least, they were together.
Rarely, at the end of working days when the three of them could gather some strength after heavy long hours under the scorching sun, they would walk together to the big market that was for them as Disneyland is to the Western children: an untouchable hyperreality. This time they even bought something, their first gift to themselves: three pairs of earrings - one yellow, one pink and one blue for Yeshe. What they did not knew was that this would be the last time they would spend out together.
The Old Man and the Evening Sun
by Kunga Rinchen
It was a rainy day
I went by the narrow way
The sun had nearly set
The ground was still wet
There was an old man
Who lost interest
To see the sunset
I asked him once
Where are you looking at
He answered me
I am looking at the east
But the horizon is foggy
And my vision is blurry
I asked him once more
Why you looking at the east
Since the sun is setting west
Which is not last any more
He was trying to tell me something
But he was crying saying nothing
My heart was crying loudly
But I smiled him ruefully
The sun was setting in the west
The old man was heading to the east
I went on my own way
Without telling him good bye
Time passed slowly until one day when some of the girls’ family acquaintances took them from the streets for giving them in care to some relatives.
- Girls! Decide between yourselves who stays with me and who goes with the other aunt! Said the strange woman as she couldn’t afford to keep the three of them.
That was the last time Yeshe saw her bigger sister. But again, there was no time for sorrow as soon afterwards she would be sent by her aunt to a boarding school of Dalai Lama known for its high number of foreign sponsors.
Being yet very small, the daily duties at the school were an easy task for her, she already knew how to clean, wash, and to look after herself, like an adult but with the purity of a child. She quickly learned to read and write Tibetan, Hindi and English, while studying Buddhism. Her charisma and love of life would soon be noticed by a kind-hearted French woman who unfortunately could never had a child of her own. Young, beautiful and so different than the people Yeshe was used to, she had so much love to offer and Yeshe needed that tenderness dearly. The aunt was so happy with the circumstances, that in her greediness disregarded the bond that would create between them.
Although Yeshe would question every holiday if she would be alone or not, Marie would always show up. They would talk, play and travel around India, introducing her to a world she was certainly not aware of. There was so much joy and sadness at the same time, so many feelings Yeshe could not yet express and so many dreams. Dreams for having a mother. In her eyes, Marie was so beautiful, elegant and sophisticated. How could she dream?
The teaching of Dalai Lama came always to her mind - There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live. So Today she lived… for a while.
By the age of eighteen Marie proposed to Yeshe to join her in France. Although excited about it, Yeshe felt once again afraid as she used to be when she was very small. The fear of unknown was running deep through her bones, but this was her chance, her chance of having a mother and her chance to a better life.
She was handed a rounded flight ticket to France. The first time she would go to an airport, see a big plane, and travel farther that she could ever imagine. All by herself and her thoughts: Would my mother wait for me? And what would I do if she will not?
On 21st of July 2010, at 2pm, Yeshe landed on Paris, Charles de Gaulle. Marie was waiting in front of the crowd at the Arrivals with a big bouquet of flowers.
She did wait for her!
She did wait for her!
Note: The name has been changed to protect the privacy of individual. In real life, ‘Yeshe’ is also fluent in French, graduated with honors from a French university, has a family of her own and, spends her free time volunteering with an organization committed to Tibetan refugees. For all these and more, Marie is a friend, mother and an active part in her life.
