Karma in the battlefield of life

The common understanding of the word Karma is that your fate is shaped by your actions, meaning “what goes around comes around.” People say, Good karma brings good results, while bad karma leads to bad results. However, there is a broader and deeper meaning to this word. The true essence of Karma concerns your duty and responsibility, which means you must act and fulfill your obligations even when the situation is difficult and intimidating. Instead of backing away, you must face it, take action, and fulfill your Karma. In the battlefield of “Kurukshetra,” Arjuna, the warrior prince, was overwhelmed when he saw the enemy army. “They are my own relatives, my stepbrothers, my cousins, my teachers. How can I fight them?” he lamented and ran away from the battlefield. His mentor, Krishna, chased him and brought him back, saying, “Oh Arjuna, fighting is your sacred duty; you cannot run from your duty; you must fulfill your karma.” 

Friends, I never truly understood the meaning of karma until I met someone special named Dave Bora. Dave and I share the same last name, and we grew up in the same neighborhood in a small town called “Nagaon” in India. His elder brother, Rupam Bora, was a popular figure whom all of us admired. He established a clubhouse, a library, and a Table Tennis center in our neighborhood. But during his prime, Rupam was diagnosed with kidney disease and lost both kidneys. We were devastated upon hearing the news. Medical science for treating kidney failure was still in its early stages then, and options to extend a sick person’s life were limited. We saw no hope on the horizon. But then we received the unbelievable news: Dave brought him to America for advanced treatment. Dave had come to the United States to pursue further studies. He was a new student in a foreign country. He had to support his family with limited financial resources. He faced overwhelming obstacles. Still, Dave rose to the challenge. He arranged his brother's travel and medical expenses, logistics of his stay, and even arranged an interview with his brother in the local newspaper. He fought courageously for his dear brother in the battlefield of life.

Unfortunately, it was the late 1980s, and treatment options for kidney failure were limited, even in a developed country like America at that time. There were no effective treatments, and his brother Rupam’s health was worsening. Dave once again stepped up. This time, he made a significant sacrifice—he donated one of his own kidneys to his brother. I was in high school when I heard this news, and I was stunned. His act of sacrifice might cause medical complications in his own life, yet he chose Karma, his sacred duty, over everything else. Rupam Bora returned to our town, and we were overjoyed to see him healthy again. He lived to see many of his promises to the community fulfilled and passed away in early 1990.

I met Dave first time when I moved to the United States. He is a benevolent man known for his involvement with charitable organizations in both this country and his homeland.  An urbane and erudite man, he stays informed about world events, particularly advances in medical science and kidney transplantation. He had been living a healthy life with one kidney, but a few years ago, it stopped functioning completely. His only option was to stay on dialysis for the rest of his life. Although he trained himself in the intricacies of the dialysis machine, over time, the years wore on him and his family; many days were filled with tears, exhaustion, and despair. However, there was a silver lining. There had been rapid advances in medical science and in the field of kidney transplantation, whereby the healthy kidney of a deceased person could be transplanted to a patient in need. There was hope for him, and he registered at the local transplant center. Unfortunately, a large number of patients had applied before him, and he was put on a waiting list for ten long years, a hopeless situation.

It was again an uphill battle, but Dave faced it bravely. This time, he decided to try something new. Dave made a video telling his story—how he had donated his kidney to his brother—hoping that someone, inspired by his story, might donate a kidney and give Dave a new chance at life. The video was touching and quickly went viral. Then something truly magical happened: a new kidney transplant center opened in Dallas. Since it was new, the wait time was shorter. Dave registered right away, and in less than a month, he got a call: “We have a kidney for you.” It turned out that an anonymous donor in Houston had given his kidney. Life came full circle for Dave; life rewarded him generously, and his good karma yielded positive results.

Karma is about acting with purpose and commitment, doing what is right without expecting personal reward or being discouraged by the potential consequences. Dave faced many battles in life, and each time he rose to the challenge, and thus he became a shining role model for us. Friends, in the battlefield of life, adversities, trials, and hardships are inevitable. What matters is whether you are willing to face them. If you are not deterred by the challenges and remain committed to your karma, life will reward you; you will emerge victor and triumphant.

By Ankur Bora, November 16th is the day seven years ago when Dave Bora received a kidney transplant from an anonymous donor in Houston, Texas.

QA Session compilation

The awareness campaign for organ donation and transplantation is very important and worthwhile work. I am pleased that Thumps Up Toastmasters is getting the information out to the general population, hopefully someone, somewhere will benefit.

1) https://www.organdonor.gov/statistics-stories/statistics.html Organ sharing can be from deceased and living. In 2019 there were ~40,000 life saving transplants from deceased & living donors. 109,000+ people are on the waiting list for organs. Living donors can donate; kidney, lung, portion of liver or pancreas

2) To be a living donor one may register at any of the transplant performing hospitals, living donors selection process go through stringent physical and mental health evaluation. Organ compatibility is number 1 priority.

3) Sources of information are : National kidney Foundation (NKF), National Kidney Registry (NKR) for compatible pairing

4) Most important is the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), which connects all organ transplant hospitals and distributes organs nationwide.

5) Another is Organ Procurement and Transplantation network (OPTN). Ned brook's TED Talk is very inspiring, at age 65 he became a living donor and went on to form the donor to donor org to inspire other living donors.

District 25 Newsletter: Everyone Has a Story

https://www.d25toastmasters.org/2021/02/14/everyone-has-a-story/