Following the rules/orthodoxy

[Guest guest]

Namaste Listmembers,

There have been several threads on the list that have

caused me to reflect on my experiences and try to coalesce the lessons.

During my effort at explanation,I will try not to be long winded and lose

myself in the process...

When I first started nurse training, it was extremely strict and

regimented. I could compare it to the Foreign Legion. WW2 army nurses were

in charge and they were tough old biddies!. We had to enter and leave the

ward in single file according to rank,drop every thing and stand to

attention when they appeared etc etc. My egalatarian bent rebelled. There

was no opportunity to question. All was considered pure DUTY. In my naivety

or arrogance I asked the Sister in Charge not to bark orders at me, as I was

more than willing to do her bidding if she would explain and ask nicely, as

'civility costs nothing'. "So it's civility you need girlie" she sneered as

she marched me off to the pan-room.(I spent my first few months of

'training' as the medical equivalent of sad sack!!.) As a child, I was

constantly dancing around my mothers legs, asking Why? Why? Why?. Her pat

answer was invariably "Because it is" or "Because I said". Neither answer

satisfied.

Sade sati,followed immediately by a saturn return,stopped me 'bucking',

Once I learnt to 'trot in harness' everything just got a whole lot

easier."Because it is" is now understandable."Because I said" still requires

some logic by way of explanation.

Middle age and the tables turning; working with the young who have very

little life experience, I realised appealing to their higher nature often

does not reap the desired effects. Who naturally volunteers to clean up

excreta or calm a raving lunatic?.

Within any institution or bureaucracy,roles need to be well known and

rules adhered to. In my particular area, not following the rules can be

dangerous and put people at risk.

Mani defined devotional Bhakti as 'No right to question God". I believe

we have that feeble right. But no right to expect an answer!!. Having an

explanation certainly makes life easier to bare. But when the answer is not

forthcoming or is unclear, 'because it is' will usually suffice.

I have never followed anyone blindly. My Irish republican ancestors saw

fit to teach me to follow out of respect. I thank my elders for their

wisdom, although much is still undecipherable to me. They say Faith is a

gift. It is not something that can be learned or impressed upon one. I have

unending RESPECT for GOD. I thank GOD for this gift of FAITH.

OM TAT SAT

Ann.