A roadside awakening: witnessing our innate goodness
“There is hope in people, not in society, not in systems, but in you and me.”
— Jiddu Krishnamurti
Early this morning I was on my way to a 6am yoga class...or so I thought.
Instead, I quickly became both a witness to a road accident, and a first responder. A cyclist was hit at a fair speed by a car travelling in the lane to the left of me, after failing to give way to the cyclist who was turning through a roundabout. I saw it all unfold in front of me and instead of turning right to the yoga studio, I pulled over to the left past the car who had hit the cyclist and prepared myself for the worst. With the bike completely buckled underneath him, the cyclist looked quite still, as I had driven past to pull over so I thought it could have been the day I dig out my CPR know how.
Thank goodness, that the 56 year old man only minutes from getting back home, was conscious. I asked another witness to call the ambulance. I did my best to calm down the young tradie who had hit the cyclist, letting him know he did the right thing by stopping. I took off my puffer vest to put over the cyclist as it was a chilly 8 degrees, and others grabbed what they had in their cars. A man walking his dog came over to assist. Cyclists riding past slowing down to ensure their injured comrade was in a stable state. I couldn't help but keep a hand on him while encouraging him to stay as still as possible given the pain he was describing in his neck and back, assuring him the ambulance was on its way.
He asked me to call his wife...it wasn't the easiest phone call I've had to make. After hearing the immediate distress in her voice (quite understandably), she was at the scene within the next five minutes.
The human instinct was in full swing. Individuals catapulted out of where they thought they were going, thinking about whatever they were thinking. The Veda stipulates that we must first become established in being, then perform action. “Established in Yog [Being], perform action,” in the commentary of Bhagavad-Gita by Maharishi. Note: Established in Being [Transcendental Consciousness, the Unified Field of Total Natural Law, perform action' (Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 2, verse 48). The Sanskrit transliteration: Yogasthah kuru karmani.
When established in being (meditation is my main tool to do just that), nature will direct us to exactly where it is we need to be. In these moments, I had transcended time. I was fully present (the waking state) but wherever I thought I was going played no part in my mind. The power of individuals was bright and beautiful, amongst a harsh landscape.
Once the ambulance had arrived and taken over, and after giving my statement to police, I went over to the man's wife and gave her a big hug wishing them both all the best, and hoping that his injuries wouldn't be too severe. She didn't have to say anything to me. The look in her eyes, and the embrace we had said it all.
The power you have to make change, is always right where you are.
Shared with love and a smile,
Natasha x