Swami Chinmayanandaji once narrated the following:
While in the U.S., he was requested to come and bless a devotee. When he visited her, he found that she had recently given birth to a daughter, but in the process she had become permanently paralysed from the waist down.
She wished to speak to Swamiji privately. She told him that she did not want to ruin the lives of her husband and daughter. Her husband was young and was not earning enough to afford a caregiver for her, while he also had to go to work.
She therefore requested Swamiji to tell her husband to marry again. She said that she and the baby could return to India, where help would be easier to find. There did not seem to be any other practical solution. Very hesitatingly, Gurudev agreed, as this appeared to be the only viable option.
When Gurudev conveyed her request to the husband, he was taken aback.
He said, “Swamiji, I am surprised that you are saying this. I have taken vows in the presence of the sacred fire that I will protect her through good times and bad. How can I selfishly abandon her now?
“Suppose it was I who was paralysed and she walked out on the baby and me to marry someone else? Oh no, Swamiji. For now, I will request her parents and mine to take turns helping us for a few years. By then, I should be earning enough to hire part-time help for her. But we will stay together, Swamiji. Our culture does not allow such selfish living.”
Gurudev shared this example to convey the glory of the rich Hindu culture and the true spirit of Karma Yoga, where one accepts one’s situation with Prasad Buddhi, surrenders to the Lord, and performs one’s duties selflessly without expecting anything in return.
Prarthna Saran, President, Chinmaya Mission Delhi.
