CHAPTER 24

Summary

• The chapter begins with Rune finishing a long shift and questioning why he feels restless every night, despite his contentment with his life and career in medicine.
• While sitting by the sea, Rune observes a leprous figure approaching. He temporarily experiences an empathetic shift in perspective, as if he is seeing the world through the eyes of the leper.
• This moment of empathy leads to a profound change in Rune, who suddenly realizes that the distinction between him and the leper, and by extension all separateness amongst beings, is an illusion. He feels a peace and unity with the universe.
• Rune then makes a drastic change in his life, giving away all of his possessions and leaving his job to live in a monastic retreat. He spends seven months there, during which he develops a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to service. As he leaves the retreat, he is striving to answer God's call, as he understands it, to help others.
• Rune travels to a deserted leprosy hospital, or lazaretto, that has been repeatedly built and abandoned over the years. His first night there is difficult, but he decides to restore the property and make it a home for lepers.
• Two lepers, Sankar and Bhava, approach Rune and decide to help him restore the lazaretto. They all work together, and over time more lepers join their community.
• Rune receives a summons to help a man who has collapsed in an alcohol-induced fit. He visits the man's home and administers first aid. Rune becomes acquainted with the man, Chandy, and his wife, and ends up forging a strong friendship with them.
• With the medical equipment he receives through the mail, Rune sets up a small clinic and surgery. He performs operations to help lepers regain or retain hand functionality. He also creates innovative safety measures to help lepers avoid injury in their daily tasks.
• The lazaretto and its community are continuously growing, with Rune regularly writing letters to solicit donations for their needs. He feels frustrated at the lack of medical treatments for leprosy, but he remains dedicated to improving the quality of life for his community.

• The chapter talks about the pride of some beings who can walk and stand indefinitely, without experiencing discomfort.
• However, this constant movement and standing harms their feet, leading to inflammation, stretching, and rupturing of foot ligaments.
• Eventually, the talus bone, which transfers body weight to the heel, collapses causing the foot's arch to become flat and then convex, resembling a rocking chair's bottom.
• The distribution of body weight is no longer spread across the entire foot but concentrates on one spot that may develop a pressure ulcer.
• If not attended to, the ulcer grows and turns gangrenous, leading to an amputation. Despite this, they feel no pain or discomfort.