ON OFFICIAL DUTY

On Official Duty

Spiritual insight lies at the heart of this complicated tale.

The suicide of a potentially rich man who accepts becoming an insurance agent after his father (who had stolen his inheritance) squanders his wealth on drink gets things rolling.  Karma is a bitch.

So this insurance agent commits suicide and because it looks suspicious a doctor and an examining magistrate are called in to investigate. But the real investigation is on what lies at the center of all human life.

The snobbish magistrate thinks that life only occurs in big cities like Moscow -- what takes place out in the provinces is just a shadow of life -- insignificant. Well, obviously this immature idea has to be further examined and it is what this story does.

What the magistrate eventually realizes is that we are all connected:

"Some tie unseen, but significant and essential, existed between them and Von Taunitz and between all men -- all men; in this life, even in the most remotest desert, nothing is accidental, everything is full of one common idea, everything has one soul . . ."  The concept of Moksha -- universal spirit or soul.

If we think we are superior to someone else -- and therefore entitled to a better life -- well, that is not in line with the way nature works. We must respect and be in harmony and in balance with life and each other to find some kind of solace in this world.

Otherwise, we risk becoming miserable -- out of ease(dis-eased) -- and in the most extreme cases resort to suicide.

I'll revist this theme in a minute. I just want to point attention to Chekhov's brilliant descriptions of the cruel Russian winters. Here is a terrific scene from the story:

"In the night, towards morning, it all subsided. When they got up and looked out of the window, the bare willows with their weakly drooping branches were standing perfectly motionless; it was dull and still, as though nature now were ashamed of its orgy, of its mad nights, and the license it had given to its passions."

Can you top that?

Put simply -- this story helps a young magistrate expand his mind from viewing life as only happening in the cultural centers of Moscow (elitism which is never healthy -- just -- or true) --- to a much broader --  mature vision and a more inclusive appreciation of life and humanity.

Meaning -- love -- suffering -- joy -- passion -- loss-- all the things that make up life are all around us wherever we are and we are part of that -- as we are part of the universe -- and we shouldn't look up or down at anyone -- no matter what their station in life is -- because they are just like us -- a small part of a greater whole.

This is deep stuff and I'm certain I didn't do it justice in this entry -- especially the way Chekhov develops this theme from the dirty and cold Zemstvo hut where death -- meaninglessness -- is residing next door -- to the Taunitz mansion where beautiful music is played and all is warm and cozy  -- that's the temptation -- to believe that somehow you will find satisfaction just in the mansion and not in the hut -- which if we buy into will only distort our soul. Of course, there's a lot more I missed or left out ( which is the case for most of Chekhov stories -- you can keep finding new things every time you reread them).

In any case,  if I were more ambitious -- I would write a book -- or maybe one has already been written -- I would title it:  Chekhov's Buddha. How the stories of Chekhov reflect the teachings of Buddhism.