January 28, 2011
If you ever wanted a modern day example of निष्काम कर्म or selfless action, read the story below. It is typical to use examples such as Mahatma Gandhi or Baba Amte when discussing selfless action and truly their stories are indeed examples of a lifetime spent in selfless action. However, our challenge always is that "In todays' world, no one acts selflessly". Then one might say that "In my life, it is impossible". Well Gil Meche is a professional baseball player, a species that is known to contain innumerable self-centered celebrity player. Well Gil Meche is different.
Yesterday's New York Times had a fascinating headline. "Pitcher Spurns $12 Million, to Keep Self-Respect". Saying he wanted to do the right thing, Kansas City Royals baseball pitcher, Gil Meche told the Kansas City Royals he did not want any of the $12 million due him in 2011 and retired from baseball. The story goes onto say:
The Sports Illustrated writer Joe Posnanski uses words such as astonishing and heroic to describe's Gil's retirement and quotes Gil in his post as saying, "There's no settlement, the team's done enough for me."
It is important here to state that we're referring to Gil's act in announcing his retirement even though he could have done very little except show up for training and earned US$12 million. The NY times article refers to other stars who have done it and been in full compliance with their contract and within the boundaries of the law.
Some have argued that Gil Meche should have collected the money and given it to charity. However Gil was clear. He was certain that it was his money that he would not have earned. Here Gil was going above and beyond. This truly is a selfless action.
Hari Om and Namaskaar till the next post.
If you ever wanted a modern day example of निष्काम कर्म or selfless action, read the story below. It is typical to use examples such as Mahatma Gandhi or Baba Amte when discussing selfless action and truly their stories are indeed examples of a lifetime spent in selfless action. However, our challenge always is that "In todays' world, no one acts selflessly". Then one might say that "In my life, it is impossible". Well Gil Meche is a professional baseball player, a species that is known to contain innumerable self-centered celebrity player. Well Gil Meche is different.
Yesterday's New York Times had a fascinating headline. "Pitcher Spurns $12 Million, to Keep Self-Respect". Saying he wanted to do the right thing, Kansas City Royals baseball pitcher, Gil Meche told the Kansas City Royals he did not want any of the $12 million due him in 2011 and retired from baseball. The story goes onto say:
The Royals signed Meche to a five-year, $55 million free-agent contract before the 2007 season, when he made the American League All-Star team. He pitched well again the next season, but by mid-2009, his body started to crumble. He made nine starts last season without a victory.
Still, the Royals fully expected Meche to pitch in relief, and to pay him the $12 million — three times more than any other player on the team. If nothing else, they believed, Meche could be a positive influence for a young roster.
But Meche knew the Royals really signed him to start games and log innings. His deteriorating shoulder, surgically repaired twice in 2001, would not allow him to do that. As a divorced father of three, he believed his children — ages 7, 5 and 3 — needed him more than his teammates did.
The Sports Illustrated writer Joe Posnanski uses words such as astonishing and heroic to describe's Gil's retirement and quotes Gil in his post as saying, "There's no settlement, the team's done enough for me."
It is important here to state that we're referring to Gil's act in announcing his retirement even though he could have done very little except show up for training and earned US$12 million. The NY times article refers to other stars who have done it and been in full compliance with their contract and within the boundaries of the law.
Some have argued that Gil Meche should have collected the money and given it to charity. However Gil was clear. He was certain that it was his money that he would not have earned. Here Gil was going above and beyond. This truly is a selfless action.
Hari Om and Namaskaar till the next post.
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