Discipline: Whose Discipline?

I was in class six and during my summer break, I was coaching for table tennis. I took my coaching quite seriously. I obediently did my daily workout routine, waited for my turn to play without disturbing my co-players, while not playing I also observed others play to learn from them. Basically, I checked the entire list my coach expected out of us. I was an "ideal" student – probably because I was a product of a convent education!

There was another boy in the team who was imprudent – at least in my definition. He would pull pranks, crack jokes – at times even directed at the coach…

There was another boy in the team who was imprudent – at least in my definition. He would pull pranks, crack jokes – at times even directed at the coach, he would sledge the opponent, and that bothered me. It did not fit my understanding of being a 'disciplined' player. The problem was that he was one of the best players on the team. The bigger problem, he was consistent in his performance too. I thought his way of behaviour to be simply brisk and arrogant.

At one point I got so bothered by this behaviour that, that morning I brought this up to my coach. I bluntly asked my coach, "Sir, how do you tolerate him?" My coach, placing his palm in front of me said, "you see, not all my fingers are of the same size". He further continued by asking me a series of questions – does he cheat in the game? Or, skip his morning workout? Does he not gel with any of his partners during doubles? Is his behaviour affecting his game?

I realised, at that moment that he did not fit my definition of an ideal player. Whereas, he is actually in alignment with the rules and the intent of the game. That day the meaning of discipline altered for me. I loosened myself a bit. There was a sense of lightness, a sense of freedom. Some burden was shed. There was emptiness.

I realised, in that moment that he did not fit my definition of an ideal player. Whereas, he is actually in alignment with the rules and the intent of the game. That day the meaning of discipline altered for me.