One small act

Recently I was shown an act of unusual kindness. I was looking for a seat in a very crowded hawker centre with my hands full carrying a tray of rice and soup when I spotted one with a lot of clutter on the table. There was a tray of bowls and plates filled with left over food. The table was also stained with sauces and littered with remnants of food and tissue paper. I thought I would carefully use my tray to edge the dirty tray to one side before removing it. A middle aged man sitting diagonally opposite had apparently finished his food and sipping his coffee. As he saw me approaching the empty seat he helped me removed the dirty tray to his side of the table which was quite helpful of him. However to my utter surprise he not only helped me cleared the remaining pieces of cutlery but even picked up the dirty tissues and used one of them to clean up the sauces and bits of food. I was totally caught off guard because I wouldn't have touched the tissues myself. I would have probably just used my tray to gingerly push the scattered tissues aside. I flushed and thanked him profusely. He just  acknowledged briefly and continued with his coffee. This guy's matter of fact behaviour elicits 2 descriptions. One is the Nike's slogan "Just do it", the second is what my Buddhist teacher often describes as a mind undisturbed by conditions.

A passage in the Dharma of Mind Transmission jots my mind:
"One should emulate the great earth.....Adorned with jewelry and rare fragrances, the earth does not give rise to greed. Bearing excrement and  foul smells, the earth does not exhibit hatred or disgust. "

To achieve the unconditioned mind (a peaceful mind) is to me a big challenge, never mind big events, even minor conditions like the air cond being either too hot or too cold in the trains can ruffle me. This man's behaviour and demeanor will now surface as a reminder when my mind is afflicted.