As I drove towards the next traffic signal, I asked myself what I had to do. If I turned right, I would pass Zulekha Hospital and from there, a further right would take me back to the accident spot. I asked Swami what I could do in my capacity. Dhanya was not there as well, and her presence in the accident spot would mean something. Also, many conflicting thoughts crossed my mind, including one that people who have tried to rush road-accident victims have even ended up behind bars, while Swami says service is in action, and not in speech. However, I was finally prompted to take the right at the signal and return to the accident spot.
On reaching, we parked along the service road and reached as close as we could get to the spot. By now, there were two cop-cars, and a number of cops on the road. Praji noted that the biker was breathing though motionless. That was a great sign of relief. We also noticed another guy on the road, and we gathered that he was hit by the biker while trying to cross the road. Thankfully, he too was not dead. By now the ambulances arrived. I noticed that the paramedics strapped something around the jaywalker's neck, and then carefully lifted him to to the stretcher. This was probably to avoid any bone dislocation, and further complications later on. A similar procedure was carried out for the biker, and they were whisked off soon after.
Incident over. We reached the office. My question (and this is not an intellectual exercise, for which only SABN would contribute) is this: What does the normal guy (who is not a doctor) do under such circumstances? I noticed how the paramedics handled the victims, and the normal road-side guy can never manage that due to lack of knowledge. Additionally, any attempt to take a fractured person in your car could complicate his situation medically, and yours, legally. So, how does one handle exigencies of this nature? Additionally, how does one who wants to tread the spiritual path handle exigencies of this nature?
This could be a genuine topic for the exchange of applied knowledge.
On a spiritual level- The Head will always stay clear of problems-by focusing on "problems"-litigation, medical complications, time required to help, late for meeting, late to office etc. The Heart will always focus on relationship- The belongings with fellow humans, the kinship, the affinity we share with everyone- that are more important than the pain it causes. Swamy says “Love and Service to others invariably involves some sacrifice and pain- Without sacrifice and pain there cannot be true love or service”.
ReplyDeletePhyliss Krystal in her book “Reconnecting the Love energy-Don’t bypass your heart” (which was written at the instruction of Swamy) has said - “Living what we believe in involves the heart and not merely the head. Of course, we must use the brain to help us determine what is correct, but the heart needs to be brought into play to balance the often cold, critical, or calculating attitude connected with the brain, for compassion kindness and willingness to help all spring from an open heart. Bring the heart to the fore however requires giving, or giving up something, sacrificing and exercising qualities of tolerance, forbearance, steadfastness and patience”
Spiritually the answer is clear- We cannot help anybody if we cannot tolerate the pain that will come to us as a result of our intention to help
On a more practical level the answer to Praveen’s question is perhaps sought from another question “What would I want If I had been hit by a biker and lying motionless?” -Make me alive, give me treatment and medication at the earliest, call my kith and kin, call my employer, take care of my vehicle (and the valuables and belongings in the vehicle) and clear of the road of the accident scene, offer words of consolation that I will soon become alright (even if I will not become alright)- Who does it Police, Praveen, Ben or Jack or Benny is both a moot and an irrelevant point
The Gold Standard of ideal behavior is set by a Keralite Lady in Dubai- Yes in our Dubai-and that lady also happens to be Shashi Taroor’s cousin. Whenever she drives on any road and she finds any lady behind any wheel in distress, she will stop by and offer help- no matter what- and no matter what really means anything- going for a meeting- going to catch a flight, going for a wedding etc. She does it with one tool in her armour- She always leaves well before the time of her appointment for any meeting or commitment in order that she has time to offer whatever help she can if she faces such exigencies. Sometimes her help is just to sit with the lady (victim) and cry with her....
Miles to go before we sleep....
Least u can do is pray for his speedy recovery.The law of land needs to be abided by, so u did not do any wrong by not going to the person. Your presence on site would have added to crowd who would have been obstructing the crew in getting to victims for first aid.
ReplyDeleteTrust god and his creation, then all other things will fall into place.
On a personal level, the practical solution of SABN somehow does not gel with me.
ReplyDeleteMy situation is this: what can a layman who does not know medical first-aid procedures do under such an emergency? The risk is high that an attempt to relocate an injured person might dislocate him further and thus compound the problem.
The spiritual aspect is well taken. But what about the aforementioned practical situation?
Praveen
ReplyDeleteQ What can a layman who does not know medical first-aid procedures do under such an emergency?
A: Nothing excepting pray- As our respected Sai Brother would say and Praveen, you have noted in you blog earlier- "You cannot plan for everything but You can always pray for everything!". Anonymous has rightly said "Least you can do is pray for his speedy recovery"
Q. "The risk is high that an attempt to relocate an injured person might dislocate him further and thus compound the problem" and so should one take the risk of assisting the injured to relocate him?
A: It depends on the circumstances. Where paramedics is on hand it is perhaps best left to the experts. On the other hand where no expert help is available in the vicinity, the risk of relocating and dislocating may well be worth it to save someone's life if the situation is indeed that precarious
The point I was making is our action or our ability to assume responsibility under any given crisis or problem is always a function of the sense of belongingness with the aggrieved. We will always give our 100% if we feel that the victim belongs to us, which would inevitably be the case if the victim happens to be our closest kith and kin or a very close friend. That 100% may well be to do nothing as would happen if expert help is available on hand- This is my answer coming from my Head
But when I speak from my heart, I can say, there is perhaps never a situation when doing nothing or a mere prayer is the only option available to us to alleviate pain and sufferring especially if someone were to lose his life or is in extreme pain and suffering and this was due an accident and the related accident scene and the victim's pain and sufferring were to happen in front of our own eyes. That does not gel with me either!
Analogy- What if I was travelling in a boat and my 3 year old daughter fell into the water accidentally and what if both the daughter and I do not know swimming. My Head will say- Cry for and seek help, but do not jump. If you are alive, you can have another daughter, you life is more valuable to the family and this world. Try to rescue your daughter but come what may do not give up your life to rescue the child. My Heart will say "Jump"
What happens finally is a result of what dominates in me- The Head or the Heart!! In women generally- the heart dominates instinctively! In Men it is the Head that rules!
As stated earlier- Life, whether for a man or a woman, is a journey from the Head to the Heart-the distance is too short but the journey too long!!
Praveen- My apologies-I have neither the heart nor the ability to give simple practical answer to your questions!!
Praveen- I hope you get the drift of the point I have made earlier from these two Quotes
ReplyDeleteAlbert Einstein:
The intuitive and instinctive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
Blaise Pascal:
The heart has its reasons which reason knows not of