Suffering is optional

This week, the evening of Makar Sankranthi, I went to watch the movie 'Tanhaji', with my friends. The movie got over at around 9:15 pm. I was riding my bike back home, singing one of that movie's song which had stuck to my mind.

I was about half the way; empty road, down slope, average speed and a dark spot - where, I don't know how, a dog suddenly came in front me and I didn't see it. 

I hit the dog, fell and skid along with my bike for about 1.5 meters. During those 4-5 seconds of skidding, I could hear the changed sound of bike engine, see the headlight plastic breaking, feel my forearm skidding on the road, my foot stuck to the break pedal. And at the same time, I felt as if something is very carefully trying to save me as much as possible - my head was very close to the road while skidding, but did not touch the road; my spectacles were about to hit the road while dragging, but did not; just at the right moment (during skidding) I lifted my foot from the break pedal(which was totally bent at the end of skid) and saved my foot from bending.

At the end of this drag, I got up and checked for what all has changed in last 4-5 seconds. I noticed:

What had changed outside:

• My bike was lying on the road, making some weird sound
• My pant was torn at about 10 places
• My jacket was torn at 4-5 places
• There was little bit of blood on my left hand
• Some bruises I could notice wherever my pant and jacket were torn

What had changed inside(in my mind):

• ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

I was surprised to notice that I was absolutely calm, my legs and hands were not shivering (which would generally happen when something like this happens to me). And instead of freezing or worrying or getting confused, my immediate thought was 'Ok. What to do next.'

Even before people came to help me, my phone was already in my hand - and I was about to dial a friend's number for help. Then, people came and spoke to me, helped me lift my bike, offered to drop home etc.

By then I had realized that I don't need help. I just told people "Let me see if the bike starts, I will only drive till my home, its not very far. I am fine."

The bike started, and with a smile I thanked the people who had come to help. They were so surprised looking at the smile and calmness, that one of them asked me in kannada "Sir, was this pant already torn like this or it got torn now?"

I continued driving the bike to my home, singing a different song this time. I could notice that one very nice fellow who had stopped to help me, followed me till my home to make sure I reached safely.

Only when I reached home and cleaned up, I realized the pain and depth of the wounds. In the middle of this very painful process of cleaning and applying medicine for next 2 days, I noticed again if anything had changed inside? Answer was 'No'. The calmness and smile was still intact.

And after 13 years of regular practice of meditation and pranayama, finally I had experienced a sentence of Sri Sri Ravishankar ji - "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."