THE INDUCTION LESSON

On the very first day of their first-year-MBBS college, the Dean, Dr. Asthana (Boman Irani), asks the fresh batch of medical students as to what do they dream to do as doctors. An overexcited girl-student raises her hand to impress her Dean that she looks forward to treat her patients as her ‘close friends’.

“Sorry, wrong!” Dr. Asthana’s reaction stuns the audience, making the young girl dumbstruck. He tells the packed hall, “For a doctor, a patient is just a body to be treated… and not a ‘friend’.” Then, he dramatically tells the young medicos: “I have been a doctor for decades and I have carried out hundreds of operations.” He shows them his hands and continues, “Look at these hands, they are rock-steady. But, God forbid, if I am to operate my own daughter, these hands will surely tremble.”

The young girl and all her batch-mates get the message loud and clear… and, on the very first day… That, as future-doctors, they must learn to perform their duties with a ‘loving detachment’ – means, very professionally. In other words, if they start seeing their own children or close friends in their patients on the operation tables, they have had it!

Now, that is in a movie – ‘Munnabhai MBBS’, as you know. But, what we see in our ‘reel world’ also applies in our ‘real world’… And, what applies to a doctor also applies to everyone else … Yes, to me, as a teacher; to you, as a police officer; and to someone, as a law officer, perhaps.

In life, we cannot take everything personally… Everyone cannot be my children, no matter how ‘spiritual’ that sounds whenever I say so… Just as every woman cannot be my wife!

As a teacher, I must learn to go home, leaving behind my students in the classroom.

As a doctor, I must learn to go home, leaving behind my patients in the hospital.

As a police officer, I must learn how not to take my harsh world to my home.

As an advocate, I must learn how not to allow my clients’ victory or loss to be my own.

And, so on and so forth it goes…

Everything can not be personal… even if I take upon me my commitments with total devotion and love. No, there is a line… and, I must know, where it is. 

The stress in my life comes 

whenever I cross this line… try to take the results 

of my professional or social commitments 

and performances, personally.

Byron Katie beautifully tells us about this in her amazing book - ‘Loving What Is’.  “There are only three types of business we mind in life: ours, others’ and God’s,” she concludes, “We experience stress whenever we try to step out of our own business and start minding business of others or God.”

The early we understand this ‘induction lesson’, the less stressful our lives will be!

Bole toh, not to take ‘everything’ on our head… or, into our hearts!

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Abhishek Iyer