Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Reflection: Bhagvad Geeta

Kay Brown
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Palo Alto, CA

When I got Amy’s email about today’s topic, the first thought that came to my mind was I MUST share. Do you know why? I have just decided to finally retire, after years and years of working. Took a long time to get here. Starting December 6, I will work for only about 5 hours a week on easy clerical tasks, but no more technically challenging responsibilities. This big change in my life will free up a lot of time for new things in my life, and I am certainly planning on being far more active at the church. So, this a good practice to get started.

Then I started to think about what to say. First, I thought of talking about my most important source, this church. But I thought if I do it, it will make it booooring. The next, I thought of the standard “gorgeous California sunrise, Sierra gurgling streams, and flutter of butterfly wings.” But with MY literary skills, the concept would just die a premature death.

Then I started to think a little more deeply. My life philosophy has been to make a mini goal or two and achieve them. As soon as they are achieved, make a new a goal. But talking about this will be just a long boring autobiography and the person who will enjoy is the most is me. Not good.

Soooo, I decided to venture and talk about a REAL life long struggle of mine. After all, this is my church home, and I should be able to share the truth. I generally struggle more than an average person should when expected results for my actions do not materialize. I need major appreciation for my efforts. Praise will not get you anywhere with me, it will get you everywhere. For example:

I raised two boys single handedly. The other day, my eldest just made a casual comment: “Mom, when we were little, we did not travel much internationally.” Immediately I was on the defensive. I felt unappreciated unloved. Not too long ago, we wanted to scale the half dome. We were 14 miles away in the valley. We were rather slow, and by the time we made it to within 200 yards of the peak, it was fairly late in the day. We had to start on our way back. So, I forever remember this as a failure.

Well, the solution is the very famous concept from Bhagvad Geeta. It might be the most famous teaching. Somewhat like “Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you”. Almost every Hindu knows this line in original Sanskrit:

Karmanye vadhukarasthe ma faleshu kadachan.

It loosely means “Do your duty with all your heart and soul, do not do it for the rewards, the accolades.”

So, why am I so sensitive to even the slightest deficit of appreciation or minor failure? Let me tell you a story from my childhood, which I think has shaped me this way.

It is an early childhood story. I was born in my Grandfather’s house, who was a doctor, in Mumbai. Most of my life we lived in Mumbai, except for the first 6 years of my life. Then, we lived in Pune. Have you heard that name? I ask because it is now quite famous. It is now the second largest region for contract software development, outsourcing, just behind Bangolre, Hydrabad region. It is on the West coast of India in a state called Maharshtra. But then, it was just a small, by Indian standards, sleepy town, only about 300,000 people. Now the city has grown to over 4.5 million. When the British were ruling India, they had made the city into military cantonment, that means a military base.

The second world war was ending. In those days, I remember my little brother and I would hang out in our front yard every afternoon. We would watch thousands of British solders, in their military vehicles or tanks roll past our house for hours, handsome, well tanned, in their military helmets and camouflage. We would look at them in amusement. Their red faces looked to us like the faces of mischievous monkeys that roamed all over the city. They would wave at us. Instead of waving back we would get scared and run back into the house.

As was the tradition in Indian upper class families, my parents started training me in classical Indian dance as soon as I could walk. By the age 4, I had already trained in the dance tradition for 2 whole years. My teacher was a leading dancer, with nation-wide reputation. One day, we were told that he had scheduled all of us in the class to dance for the public on a certain evening. My mom and teacher must have talked, because my Mom had hired a tailor and was making me a full half skirt and a little Choli in navy blue with a lot of gold thread woven into the fabric.

That evening, I took my place in the back row, the last girl at the stage left, for our group number on stage. The curtain opened, we did our number, we got a lot of applause. I noticed that the audience was made up almost 100% of British solders. He stopped my Mom and asked her to put me back into the costume. The solders had noticed me even when I was in the back row behind a line of much taller girls. The teacher said that they are asking for Kunda. That’s me. They wanted an encore. I was trotted back on the stage, and did a full 5 minute solo number, the only real choreographed dance I had memorized by then.

There was a tremendous applause, and whistles. Only me and our Masterji were garlanded. I was a big hit.

Since then, I have gotten addicted to applause. When ever it does not come in profuse quantity, I am disappointed. The line from Geeta helps me. But the Geeta concept is easier to say than put into practice. So, I struggle.

Thank you for listening.

 

Reflection: Jesus of Nazareth by Leslie-Anne Bain