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Journalism of Courage
I ambled between stalwart oaks during my mid-morning walk. Acorns torn off their boughs by the winter rain were strewn all over the gravel. A curious tableau played behind me: an interrogating father and a recalcitrant son. The boy appeared to be in acute discomfort, while the man sounded demanding. Finally, the boy balked: “Don’t push me!”
Thirty years later, the boy could well be inquisitor and his son, the young man shuffling alongside. People don’t like being pushed for results. Strangely, results don’t like being pushed either. We push, they balk; we pursue effort, results pursue us. My friend, Krishna of the Gita, knows this well. Therefore, karmanyevadhikaraste — you are obliged to act, not to produce results. What a relief!
I like my friend Krishna-of-the-G, he cares for me. Frankly, the focus on effort rather than on results makes things a lot easier — and faster. Imagine dawdling over a decision: what if so-and-so doesn’t like it? What if my comfort zone goes for a six? What if…? Alternatively, as my friend says, I see a duty, I do it. It’s as straight and prompt as that. The counsel follows a sequence: how does one know a duty. Simple. It should be ethical, lawful and within my capability. That is reasonable enough.
But wait, there is a corollary. Suppose it is not a duty but a desire masquerading as duty, how does one know? A check is in order. Suppose my decision turns out to be a disaster, pushes the targeted result beyond my reach, will my enthusiasm also ride away with it into the horizon? Then, unmistakably, it is an impostor of a desire strutting around in purple robes as a duty. But, if my spirits remain upbeat despite the failure, I don’t get stuck singing a dirge at the funeral of a lost venture, then I am safe within the duty design.
I move ahead to another task, another decision, another action, and the grand dame — what if? — florescent in red, can keeps rolling her doleful eyes in dismay. I shall pass her by, waving cheerily as I make my way ahead, tossing my desires in the care of my friend K-of-the-G to handle them as He sees fit. As for me, I do my duty with my capability.
