Organ donation

‘Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.’ There are many in this world who need a heart, a pair of eyes, kidneys and other organs to live perfectly well. Urging all the readers of this article to pledge themselves to organ donation. This article is basically a takeoff point from the article of Jaya Row named Gift of Life which appeared in the Speaking Tree, a Times of India Publication on August 7^th, 2016.

She cites the 17^th mantra from the Ishavasya Upanishad which says, ‘Let the body, the pranas and mind go back to the totality.’ The reason for citing this mantra is basically to bring us to the realization that we have had the custody of the earth’s resources in the form of our own body and other material things. The following words put down by her touched the core of my being because I too had thought of this long ago and still continue to reflect on it. She says ‘At the time of death we no longer need them. They are being left behind. Let them serve someone else.’

By doing organ donation, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, we are giving something to someone else which will be useful to him/ her. By donating organs or at least by pledging to do so, is by itself an act of kindness, charity and concern for the other. Jaya Row calls this a ‘win- win scenario’ where both the parties are at benefit and obviously no one is at loss. This can happen only if one has an attitude of service towards others and a heart which accommodates the wellbeing of others.

 

All of us know that there is a basic desire to do good in all human beings, however what prevents us from doing good according to her is ‘sheer ignorance.’ She says that most people do not know that their organs could be of use to those whose organs have failed, or those suffering from a malfunctioning heart, liver, kidney or eyes. This ‘ignorance’ leads to ‘no- action’ being taken in this line.

She then goes on to mention about those who want to donate their organs but don’t know how to go about with it. Those people, in the rush of their daily routine, fail to make the effort to find out. She says that knowledge is of great essence. Taking this point further, I would say that ignorance is a cause of much distress in the world, more especially in our country. One catholic priest once said, “The ones who blabber the most are the ones who are ignorant, the wise keep their composure.” (Interpreted, not exact words).

Next, she mentions about those who have wrong notions about organ donation. Some believe that donating eyes or a kidney may result in one being born blind or without a kidney in the next life. Here, ‘Fear of loss and adherence to blind belief and superstition keeps you from doing the simplest, yet most noble act of giving.’

By donating organs what we are actually doing is giving life to another which is a noble act. The act of being selfless and donating ones organs can happen only when one constantly keeps on thinking of serving the other. When one starts thinking about the wellbeing of the other things automatically begin falling in place. The attitude of giving takes place in a better manner when one is aware of what one already has. We have a lot and are blessed with much, however she says that the mind has the knack of yearning for one or two things that we don’t have or possess. This only leads one into deficiency mode which eventually leads to unhappiness. However when we shift our attention to what we already have, we become grateful for all that we have and receive. This leads to an irresistible desire to give, serve and contribute to others.

Many scriptures ask us to give; this is basically because giving brings us success. What you give to others, you will get back in double or even more measures. Grabbing things for ourselves only makes us more and more selfish, tormented and agitated while giving to others bring us much happiness, despite the fact whether we possess much or not. The principle is simple, ‘The more you give the more you will get.’ 

“We make a living by what we get.

  We make a life by what we give”                   - Winston S Churchill