Siva Keeps the Bucket Full

I was sitting in my usual spot opposite Ramana Ashram out front of the Sri Ramana Grocery Store, a little spot I’d crafted for myself where I could chill and watch the world go by. Sometimes I had headphones in. Sometimes I was just sitting, eyes open, watching. People-watching is one of my favourite pastimes.

I’d become friends with the four dogs who hung out near the chai shop. I loved feeding them and I noticed other people fed them too. There are so many beautiful souls in this town, feeling and doing the same things I do. I don’t see them as just dogs. I see them as God.

One day, I noticed one of the dogs drinking from a shallow puddle, runoff water from a roof. I remembered there was always a bucket nearby, usually close to where I sat, that they drank from too. I’d never actually looked inside it. Why would I? It always seemed full.

But something nudged me. I walked over and looked in.

To my horror, I realised what it was, a bucket full of floor-washing detergent.

The dogs were desperate and had been drinking it.

Fuck, I thought.

I went inside and spoke to the staff, who I’d become friendly with over the months. I asked them to please empty the bucket after cleaning the floors so the dogs wouldn’t drink from it. It would make them sick. They understood.

I also bought a new bucket just for the dogs and told the staff this one was for them. They nodded. After that, I’d buy bottles of water most days and keep it full.

One day, I arrived and went to clean the bucket and refill it. As I was doing that, two people approached me. One man I’d seen around barked at me to put the bucket down.

“It’s for the dogs!” he snapped.

Another woman nearby was yelling in Tamil.

I looked at him calmly and said, “I put this here. I clean it. I fill it.”

His whole tone shifted.

“You’re the one who put this here?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He stared at me. “I don’t understand how it’s still here. I’ve put buckets here before; they always get stolen. Why hasn’t yours?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

But I did know.

I didn’t put the bucket there. Siva did.

Siva bought the bucket.

Siva keeps the bucket clean.

Siva fills it with water.

Siva drinks from it.

It’s all God.

I did it without attachment. It’s in Siva’s hands now.

I cleaned the bucket, filled it with fresh water, and left.