The gentlemen in the picture are "Holy men" in India. They have renounced earthly possessions in favor of a spiritual quest and they rely on charity for their daily needs. I saw them while I was waiting for Fr. Bala when we were in Hyderabad shopping for supplies. I was able to just stand in the doorway of the store and watch the world go by and I saw several different groups of "Holy men" during the time I was there observing. To me, each group looked like they were "working the street". When I mentioned this to one of the priests, they commented that anyone in India can dress up in orange/saffron and become a "holy man", no training is necessary. Just put on an outfit and hold out your hand for money- a good reminder not to confuse "mystic" with what is simply "exotic".Tomorrow I'm off with Fr. Joseph to find another holy man, the Apostle Thomas. He came to India in 58A.D. and he's buried in Chennai (old name: Madras). So I'm taking a break from working to learn some history and see a little of India. Check back in a few days for the story of Thomas.
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