Whispering Wednesday

Hari OM

अहं किं करोमि? So often, it is heard, usually accompanied by a shoulder shrug or wrinkling of the brow. "Aham kim karomi?.. What can I do?"

Okay, this may be asked if we seek direction from a supervisor or workmate in a work or volunteer situation. Let that pass. What is being referred to in the thought processes here today is asking this question when we see something happening in the world and are feeling a bit helpless - or are not willing to put effort into discovering ourselves exactly what we can do.

Sometimes events are overwhelming. No doubt about that. Does this absolve us from making some attempt at helping out, at resolving or alleviating, if we can?

KAROMI - the Sanskrit for 'I do' (action). We can take responsibility even for our thinking around events. Let us take, for example, extreme weather events. These are becoming common. They appear on the news with a regularity that has them becoming no more a 'shock' item, but an 'oh dear not again' item. Even a 'sigh - switch channels' item... The further away, geographically, any of these events are, the less we feel we even have to give them any thought. Even when they are within our own countries, somehow it seems that we shrug our shoulders. 

Imagine for a moment, though, where you gave a little more thought to your neighbours, be they near or very distant (we are all neighbours, remember!) You have the empathy of feeling how it might be in their place, with loss of goods, property, pets, family... the shock not of the observer but the afflicted. 

Now ask yourself, "aham kim karomi?" as if you were present on the ground awaiting instruction from a supervisor in the rescue teams. What skills could you offer? It might be you are fit and able and can clamber rubble or swim in strong currents to aid the rescue. It might be you are less physical but have good nurturing and counselling skills. It may simply be that you are a good cook and can brew a ripping cup of tea... and if you were on the ground, would you come forward and offer those skills? It matters not how little you may be able to offer, but that you do actually make the offer in the first place. 

Thus the difference of emphasis of the question can inform our response, is it not? Asking the right question at the right time - and asking that question rightly - can make the difference between playing our part socially or shrugging off our responsibilities.

How do you respond when the question arises as to what can be done?