An old Tibetan woman was walking along the river bed with a cow. The woman's name is NamTso; she grew up in poverty and she did not have any children when she was young. She is the poorest and the kindest person in my village. Now she is in her eighties and still takes care of herself.

Momo NamTso's house is just behind my house. When I was a little girl, I always went to her small house to help her take water or wash some clothes. She gave me some fruit as a gift. Many children liked to help her and listen to many kinds of stories from her. She was very poor when I was in Tibet. Some villagers gave her food and some villagers gave clothes or other necessary things to her. She only had a cow, which was given to her by a high Lama in my village.

Every time I make phone call to my home, I ask about Momo NamTso and how she is doing. Last year my sister-in-law told me that Momo NamTso's cow was stolen. All of the villagers have been asking the thief to take pity on the old, lonely woman, because she only has a cow. The cow is like her life partner, friend or child. Losing it is like losing a family member for her.

Already one year has passed; I nearly forgot about Momo NamTso and her cow. Recently I got a phone call from one of my friends who is living in

Tibet. She told me that the Chinese police arrested a group of thieves one week ago.

They stole some domestic animals from the Tibetan nomads. Therefore, the judge gave them a sentence of three to five years in prison.

When I heard this information I was feeling little bit happy, because the bad thieves would spend a few years in prison. In my village we had lost lots of cows, yaks, horses, sheep and donkeys. This was the first time the police arrested some thieves. I asked my friend, "What is Momo NamTso's attitude to the thieves?"

I was astonished by her answer. She told me Momo NamTso is very unhappy now. Momo La feels great empathy for the thieves; she is worrying about the thieves' lives in prison. Every day Momo La is saying more prayers, for the thieves to have a happy life.

I'm wondering about Momo La's way of thinking. I think I need to change my behavior. Sometimes I feel angry with someone, and I don't want to talk with them. Momo NamTso can forgive even thieves. Why can't I forgive myself? It is said that anger is a punishment to yourself. Why do I punish myself?

Now I think Momo NamTso is not the poorest person in our village. Actually, she is the richest person as she has a kind heart and always thinks of others.

It's very nice to be your student in India as a Tibetan refugee. You have given us a very good study time. Thanks very much.