United By Suffering

As a doctor, Krishna sees much suffering. Indeed, he has sworn an oath to alleviate suffering through all his medical means. The woman in front of him weeps continuously, now more than twenty minutes. She cannot speak, and the good doctor decides to let her weep. There is physical suffering, but there is also mental suffering; which of the two is greater, he cannot decide. Most of his colleagues focus on the body, as this is often the simplest approach, he reflects. Symptoms, removal of the cause of illness, the body heals, these steps are straightforward. But actually having to talk to a patient, get to know them and listen to their stories, that is often a step too far for his professional colleagues.

We are bound to each other in our suffering, he thinks, magnifying at once our mortal weakness and our divine strength.

Great people have all lead us through suffering through their own example. One teaches us to accept suffering as the condition of being human, another shows his humanity through sharing in our suffering. However, both demonstrate that while the body suffers, the mind can remain in repose, remain in love, freed from a suffering that can spread like oil on water when fear and anger are given free reign. Doctor Krishna accepts these teachings, embraces this faith in the power of the mind, the power of compassion, to allow tears to fall, without letting the suffering poison our hearts or cripple our will.

The woman now dries her cheeks. She is embarrassed, yet relieved to have a sympathetic space in which to vent her emotions. Before she leaves, the doctor reminds her that her pain will not in a day be magically removed, but that the woman can strengthen her will in daily mindfulness, of prayer, meditation and purposeful exercise, that though the wind might blow, she need not snap like a brittle tree, but bend like bamboo. She will come at the end of the week to talk and she may even cry a little less, doctor Krishna knows.