Contemplatives In Action

"Contemplatives in action". Dr. Krishna has heard the term before this mini-revelation. Like monkeys bouncing around the trees, he sees his fellow villagers bustling about their tasks, but being equally oblivious to the way in which they do these things. Grumpy, rude, selfish, quick to anger, quick to rebuke, these people are lost in the burden of their duties and have no peace of mind.

When aware why and how one acts, there is room for peace, the doctor realises. Only through meditation, listening to the universe in peace and balance, can one be fully in control of ones actions. Deliberate action. Wisdom in deed. Things in life must be done, for food, shelter, clothing, what have you, but how is the question? With grace and love, with patience and kindness? Or like the monkeys surging through the trees, like bulls in glass shops?

Listen to God. Listen to the wisdom of ages. Contemplate my role and how this good news is applicable to me. Then act. This simple knowledge hits home like an epiphany. Of course, he had learnt how to listen actively during his medical schooling: not merely listening, but fully involved and participating in the listening, in the dialogue. The point of departure for this active listening is interest, patience, respect and creating the space for another's thoughts. Doctor Krishna smiles to the people around him. He is not the village prophet, nor the village guru, but he can change his own passage in this life. He heads home now, planning to close the clinic for the evening so that he can practise listening to God.

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.