Graduating class of 2012, you have rendered me speechless.
I am at a loss for words as I behold such immense wealth of talent, a room filled with knowledge, skills and a passion to heal. What I see before me, and I ask you to imagine, is walking into a room piled high with gems – diamonds, rubies, pearls, emeralds. Don’t you think it will take your breath away? That is exactly my reaction, looking at all of you – at this wealth before me and my spontaneous reaction is “Go Forward.”
In India, where I come from, stories are a very important part of our life. We are a land of storytellers and storytelling. So I use story to explain “Go Forward.”
A long long time ago, there lived a woodcutter. He lived at the edge of a deep forest and earned his keep by chopping down a few trees every day, taking them to the local market and selling the wood. He had a small practice which he maintained daily. One day a wise and enlightened woman passed by and watched this very talented woodcutter with a beautiful body, rippling muscles, and sharp axe just chipping away at small trees and she said to the wood cutter “Go Forward.” And then walked away. The wood cutter was nonplussed by the remark and went on with his daily toil. Several days later he started to ponder and reflect on the wise woman’s words “Go Forward.” One day he decided to go forward into that forest at the edge of which he had lived his existence.
When he had walked but slightly into these dark and dense woods he found a vast expanse of sandalwood trees. Sandalwood, as we know are the very fragrant and aromatic trees used to make everything from antimicrobial products to cosmetics to being used in religious prayer services. Needless to say, the woodcutter became very wealthy after he found his treasure of sandalwood. Sometime later he again began to reflect on the wise woman’s words “Go Forward” and decided to venture even further into the forest. This time he came up on treasure trove of precious stones and metals. And with this find became even a wealthier woodcutter than ever before. And so the story goes on.
The essence of this story, “Go Forward” is what I see in all of you sitting before me – the potential, the passion and the world’s children in your hands waiting to be healed. And I say to you, to each one of you –
Go Forward -- your ability to make change and improve the lives and wellbeing of children is boundless.
Go Forward knowing that with every step you take deeper into the forest, there is a new treasure that awaits you, a new uncharted area that requires you, your skills and your work.
I spend my days, time and energy towards improving the lives of young children in low and middle income countries. When I drive through small towns and villages in those countries, I see places for all of you to work, to make a change. I see abused children, I see neglected children, I see children suffering – no physicians, no psychologists, no social workers, no trained professionals to help.
Go forward with the knowledge there are no geographical boundaries,
Go forward knowing that children around the world are suffering and can benefit from your healing.
As you continue to go forward, I want to share 3 principles that I hope will help you on your journey - - the principles are: reflection, equal mindedness and compassion.
One of the elements of the woodcutter’s story was reflection. It was only when the woodcutter reflected on the wise woman’s words that he understood the meaning and direction. We spend our days – doing, talking, knowing, rushing, but do we spend our days “being"?
When I first came to the United States a couple of decades ago, I was just past 20 years of age. It was my first time ever leaving home. Not only that it was my first time ever traveling or being alone because until then, I had 24-7 chaperone, to college, to play. For everything in life, I was chaperoned. So when I got on that transcontinental flight to the U.S.A. it was my maiden journey alone. I landed in JFK airport, first time on American soil and stood in the immigration line to enter the country. The first American I met was the immigration officer. He took my Indian passport, scrutinized it. Remember this was the 80s prior to when charm school had been introduced to the INS. Looked me up and down – and the first words out of his mouth were – “will you marry me?” You can imagine my reaction.
I share this story with you because it is one of reflection. As I reflected on those words I realized I had accepted his proposal. The United States is my new home. I am an American citizen and I did get married to my new land.
In our everyday work what we see are the waves, when we take the time to reflect what we see is the ocean. We watch the waves ebb and flow, their strength and vigor, how they burst on the land, slam against the rocks and slowly seep away -- is all part of our daily work – but to truly understand waves -- we have to look out at the entire ocean. Only then do those waves and that constant action make sense. Reflecting on the ocean gives us a depth of understanding beyond immediate motion of cresting and receding. So every day give yourself time to reflect, to be.
The second principle is that of equal mindedness. In Sanskrit there is a Shlokha or verse “Samatha Sarvae Bhutae Hita”. Samatha means equal mindedness; Sarvae Bhutae means for all and Hita means wellbeing. When you are in that state of equal mindedness you can help all beings and work towards their well-being. The profession that you have entered is one where you are committed to the well-being of all children. Your intention is to their benefit. But in order to help them you have to be Samatha, you have to be equal-minded. The attributes of an equal minded individual or balanced individual are wisdom, contentment, and fortitude. Wisdom to recognize that you cannot control every moment of your life. Contentment that you have the intention of making every moment beneficial that you want to move forward with positive intentions. Fortitude to follow through with actions with strength and courage. So if you have equal mindedness you can understand every moment with wisdom, bring to it the intention of contentment, and positive attitude that derives benefit for all and act with fortitude and courage. For the children who seek your refugee, your care, treat them with equal mindedness. Think about your goal, what is it that you want to achieve for them and with wisdom, pure intention and fortitude you will make it happen. Your words, your actions and your interactions will demonstrate Samatha and ensure the wellbeing of all.
The last principle is compassion. It is a word we hear a lot and means so many different things to so many people. I want to share with you my definition of compassion. In any difficult situation or interaction, I think of the other as someone I love dearly -- my own daughter or son. We know when we interact with a loved one, we compassionate. We accept them as they are and we respond with kindness and not judgment. Compassion towards our own is a way of preserving our own tribe. In evolutionary biology, parents protect their own, they show compassion towards their own. When you are in difficult interpersonal interactions, in situations that are challenging – look at the other, think of the other as a loved one, as your own, your daughter, your son, someone beloved. And you will find that interaction will change. With your attitude of compassion you will find that interaction will start moving forward more smoothly because your perspective has become kinder. You are now engaging with that person with kindness. This principle of compassion is critical in all interactions especially because you have entered the profession of healing and understanding.
My wishes and blessings are “Go Forward” with reflection, equal mindedness and compassion.
I would like to close my remarks with a poem that I dedicate to you. When I was asked to give this keynote, I thought about this auspicious occasion which to me is emblematic of dawn, of a new beginning, a new day for each one of you. So I have written a few lines about dawn that I dedicate to you and I hope will resonate as you Go Forward into making the world a better place
A New Dawn for the Child Study Center’s Graduating Class of 2012
Cobalt blue merging with spicy orange
Supernatural sorcery
In a seamless moment
Anticipation. Expectation.
In a seamless moment
Awe, whence cometh apparitions of paradise
Contentment, respiration synchronizing senses
Ecstasy, witnessing fleeting conjure
Tranquil shapely silver burns into sensational searing gold
In a seamless moment
It is dawn
Is born, A new day
Congratulations and my very best wishes!