Will chanting help in the job to enhance the skills and success?
A devotee surgeon asked like this:
Hare krsna prabhu.Dandavat pranams. Please keep my name hidden. I am a budding surgeon. I have had this question probing me for a very long time. My question is: I always get a sense of incompleteness despite the surgical skills I have learnt. I read Bhagavad Gita As It Is and Srimad Bhagavatam and also Chant Hare Krsna mahamantra and find solace. But this thought keeps probing me that I am not good enough. There are many good surgeons out there in the world who are not Krsna Conscious but doing successfully. I m trying here to utilize all my skills for service of Krsna and preaching this KC philosophy and not for money or sense gratification but it is still not good enough. I am very grateful to the Lord for bestowing me with whatever I have learnt and with humility I learn from others. I want to ask you prabhu does chanting Hare Krsna give any material benefit like enhancing your surgical skills which ultimately I am interested in service of Krsna? Am I being selfish by asking Krsna for such a small request? How to understand what is Lord Krsna’s plan in my life and how to be patient and fully surrendered unto Him? I am very sorry prabhu for such a long question. Please keep my name hidden. Hari bol. Dandavat pranams.
REPLY:
I appreciate your self evaluation. It is the right attitude.
This is where you should learn to balance the devotional practices and your career.
(HOW TO AVOID KARMA WHILE WORKING! 10 PRACTICAL EXAMPLES! READ HERE!)
It is wrong to say that only a chanting devotee can be a successful surgeon. But, a chanting surgeon will definitely be a good and successful surgeon. This is true. Because chanting will help in the job to enhance the skills and success.
Any surgeon who has good concentration and dedication in his job can become a successful surgeon. But, he may have some profit motive and a devotee surgeon may consider that as a service to the Lord. That’s all.
(SERVING KRISHNA USING YOUR JOB/ CAREER – USEFUL TIPS! READ HERE!)
A good surgeon needs these qualities:
(1) Identifying the problem in the body of the patient accurately.
(2) Identifying the right type of treatment / surgery to that patient.
(3) Performing the surgery PERFECTLY with FULL CONCENTRATION.
(4) Encouraging the patient with kind words before and after the surgery.
(5) Not having a mechanical attitude, but, a service attitude feeling for the pains of the patients.
One of my brothers had heart attack decades back. He underwent bypass surgery in Madras Medical Mission hospital in Chennai. The surgeon was the world famous Dr. K.M.Cherian.
He took a detailed class to the patients undergoing surgery by him on that day and their relatives with the videos about how the surgery is done and how safe the patient is during the surgery, etc. He used very kind and encouraging words and made the minds of the patients and relatives fearless about that surgery.
Then, he performed the surgery for my brother and two more patients on that day. Even after 25 years, my brother is a very normal person without any problems in his heart.
Such a talented surgeon he was and hence he was popular worldwide AT THAT TIME when bypass surgeries were not common as of now.
He would just say: “Pray to the god. He will not let you down. We are just His tools”
(Why should we do prayers to cure diseases if karma is unchangeable? READ HERE!)
Thus, he acted as a tool in the hands of God in saving the lives of the patients. He had no ownership PRIDE for his surgical talents and entrusted them to God.
The point to be noted is:
Just because he is considering himself as a tool of God, he did not leave the matter to God and remain careless. He applied all his god given skills in his profession that saved many lives.
The failure rate in his surgeries is almost negligible that too because of the critical situation of the patient, not his fault.
So, if you are a devotee, you should give double concentration and mercy while performing a surgery. God can be believed. But, that god consciousness should not make us frustrated. You should consider every patient as the person sent by Krishna to you to get relieved from his/ her pains. This is the great opportunity given by the Lord for doctors.
So, you should apply all your skills to make the surgery successful and succeeding in the assignment given by the Lord.
(PRAHALADA’s PRAYERS TO LORD NARASIMMHA DEVA! READ HERE!)
If you see Krishna in the face of every patient, your surgical dedication will be outstanding. You will do your best. You will not say no to perform surgery for any patient.
Chanting gives your mind capacity to concentrate in your assignment effectively without diversions. Chanting instals Krishna in your mind and hence you will serve every patient as an opportunity given by Krishna. Chanting helps to see Krishna in face of your patient. Chanting also gives a vigil that you should not commit any mistakes in your surgeries.
This is how chanting help in the job to enhance the skills and success.
(I am unable to chant because of job. Should I change the job or drop chanting? READ HERE!)
That’s all chanting can do in your job. It will help you to do your job effectively with the mercy of Krishna. However, if you allow any diversion of mind, frustration, etc, your surgeries may be affected. Krishna is not responsible for that.
So, my advice to you is:
Chant. Install Krishna in mind and heart. Perform surgeries as effectively as possible. Satisfy as many patients as possible every day.
Charge liberally from rich people and less from poor people. Perform surgery for free for atleast a single poorest person every week. Speak to them about Krishna and His support.
This is enough. In due course of time, you too will become a successful and popular surgeon.
Hope you are clear now whether chanting help in the job to enhance the skills and success.
(Will Causing and Postponing the death of a patient add karma to doctors? READ HERE!)