An Unknown Witness
(This is 25th in a series of reminisces by Lama Lodu Rinpoche)
(While taking a walk on September 28th at around 10:30 AM, Lama Lodu Rinpoche was hit by a car in the intersection of Haight and Masonic. He was taken by one of his students to the hospital, where x-rays and other tests were done and he was found to be bruised but not seriously hurt. When he returned from the hospital, he noticed an apparently homeless woman, about 50 years old, standing off to the side. She watched him get out of the car and go into KDK, looking at him with interest and concern. The next morning, when he left KDK for his usual walk, he found that a note had been slipped into the door. It read as follows:)
Today I saw something very unusual on the corner of Haight Street and Masonic. There was a crowd of people standing there shouting. I went over to them and saw an older Asian man down on the sidewalk and there was a young black man holding his arm. The black man was shaking all over and was very upset. There was a big van parked beside them. The Asian man kept saying to the black man: ‘Don’t worry, I’m ok.’
Then I saw a Chinese man who was very angry, shouting and saying somebody should call the police. He was asking the black man for his drivers license and writing down the license number of his car.
The older Asian man said ‘I’m ok, let him go, I’m not charging him with anything. He could lose his job. I’m fine.’
Many people thought it wasn’t right to let a criminal go and that he should be punished. The older man was very kind and said. ‘I don’t want to punish anybody. I’m going home.’ He got up slowly and left.
I followed him as he walked down the street and many people spoke to him. I could see they knew and respected him. I followed him to the Panhandle and saw him go into the big orange house on Fell Street. After ten minutes a girl came to pick him up and I think they went to the hospital.
In my whole life I have never seen such a kind individual. My heart was full of joy. That is why I am writing this note—so people will know there are people like him in this world.
