The story of COVID — Fear to Fearless
No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. — Albert Einstein
I was living a so-called normal life before all this pandemic changed the very core of our modern way of living. In the morning, I used to wait on the bus stand for a struggle to get my feet on the bus. Whenever I couldn’t make it, I used to meditate that what will happen to this crowded, polluted civilization when they hit a dead-end driving in 5th gear with no control at all? I never knew that when 2020 begins, nature will press the reset button, and the whole world will crash. Tom Foolery already made a great video to bring the Realization out of it. Do have a look at it.
After the lockdown was imposed, things changed pretty quickly. Now no more rushing to the bus stand to catch a bus, no more sharing lunch with colleagues, no funny moments on the desk and no more being part of a crowded meck.
“Nature is pressing a reset button so that we can take inventory of our values our desires our purpose and what really is meaningful in our life. With all the distractions and diversions that we are vulnerable to we have an opportunity individually and collectively to take some time to take a step back and what direction do I really want to take in my life. This is an extraordinary crisis, it’s unprecedented but also gives us unprecedented opportunities.” — HH Radhanath Swami
Blinded by the assumption that we can control nature, we thought we could exploit it without getting any reaction. Not only did it hit back, but the pandemic also reminded us of the ultimate fear, which is always our constant companion right from the time we took birth, i.e death. While nature was healing itself, millions of people have got affected and hundreds of thousands of deaths to date. The whole modern science was brought down to its knees.
Now everything we do is restricted within the four walls of our room, and this new normal would take some time to adjust. Within a week, wearing a mask, sanitization, or cleanliness, physical proximity became crucial. Only essential shops could be seen open within controlled timings. Since it was unclear when the unlocking will start, so like other people we also piled up grocery stocks for a few weeks. Luckily we managed to get all the necessary items. For some of us, it was a secure situation working from home without getting exposed. But with a 1.3 billion population under lockdown, this struggle for survival was not going to be easy for many people.
“To transform a crisis into an opportunity is true wisdom.” — HH Radhanath Swami
In this crisis situation, the daily wagers, street vendors, construction workers, and labourers, were terribly affected by the economic and social repercussions of the coronavirus. Although the government and many other organisations stepped up to ensure that at least free food reaches everyone in need, it demanded a significant number of volunteers. But I doubted who would be ready to expose himself to the virus in the name of volunteering? Who would be willing to leave their comfortable situation at home? Nevertheless, many of us felt that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to help humanity by serving people in this pandemic. I took this decision considering all the risks and opportunities involved.
Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Temple, Juhu was one of the organizations which had taken the initiative to feed the needy through their Food For Life Program. They planned to distribute 22,000 plates every day to different parts of Mumbai with the help of BMC. Since I had been in regular touch with the temple, I shifted to the temple and picked up the tasks promptly under the guidance of the temple management. Now, this was the beginning of a new phase under the lockdown.
“I used to think that top global environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address these problems, but I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed, and apathy, and to deal with these we need a spiritual and cultural transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.” — Gus Speth
Things were unique here, which can be assumed since it is the palace of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari(SSRRB). Every single devotee was engaged in helping the people out there, by contributing to the Food For Life. By the mercy of SSRRB, and the excellent management, the task was completely streamlined.
Preparation of such a vast number of plates needs a lot of time. So our day started very early around 4 am, and this first session would go till noon. The cooking of the Prasadam itself used to begin around 4:30 am inside the big kitchen. On the menu, it generally used to be fried rice and dry/semi-dry mix vegetable sabzi, along with Mango pickle. Sometimes we also used to have parantha. Later, we also had Chappatis and on special occasions pav-bhaji. At around 8 am, we would start by preparing the base of a big hall with sheets where rice and dry sabzi were emptied and spread for cooling. This onerous task was of bringing the cooked items from the kitchen would continue for hours. Another set of devotees, around 3–4 dozens would fill the aluminum pouches with the Prasadam. This then would go to another 3–4 dozen group of devotees for getting sealed. The packed pouches would be transferred to big bags, ready to be picked by the BMC. They would then distribute this nutrient-rich food to different parts of Mumbai. This is how I used to spend the first half of my day before starting with my huddle call at the office. The volunteers would begin their next session with full force at around 2 pm.
Not even a single day there was any kind of compromise with the quality of the Prasadam. To strengthen the immunity of the body it was very important for us to provide vegetarian nutrient-rich food to the people. One very special thing about Prasdam is that it not only nourishes the body but also the soul. The ordinary ingredients of the food got imbued with all spiritual qualities once it is offered to SSRRB. The below verse from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita confirms this.
tāte ei dravye kṛṣṇādhara-sparśa haila
adharera guṇa saba ihāte sañcārila — CC 3.16.112
The herculean task of distributing the Prasadam would have been practically impossible without the blessings of SSRRB. Although this act may outwardly look like a mundane welfare work, behind the scenes this was adding pious credits to the accounts of the people. Actually, spiritual activities go beyond the codes of mundane morality since it is based on the principle of doing everything as a service and for the pleasure of God. And this is from where the devotees were getting the energy to execute this service of distributing food. The morning darshan of the deities, the meditation, and the discourses would charge us to take up this task as our everyday duty.
svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatāṁ
dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā
manaś ca bhadraṁ bhajatād adhokṣaje
āveśyatāṁ no matir apy ahaitukī — SB 5.18.9
Unfortunately, even if we find a vaccine for this virus in the future, the real problem would still remain unaddressed. These kinds of situations would keep coming just like the appearance and disappearance of the summer and winter season. But the above verse describes how one can be peaceful and calm even while going through the miseries coming from one’s own mind/body, other living entities, or nature. One has to curb the envious tendency in oneself towards other living entities and think always of the welfare of others.
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati — BG 5.29
Our Vedic scriptures explain that the basis of work, which has been taught to us from childhood and is the most fundamental thing in a common man’s life is incorrect. At every moment we are interacting with material objects in an attempt to achieve more of them. But are we the supreme or real proprietor of all these things? All the matter which we can perceive is a combination of five elements namely Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. If God is the creator of these elements then how can we be the enjoyer of the results of their combination? Just like a mason who will use the different ingredients to build a house, but this doesn’t mean that he becomes the owner of that house. Similarly, for things that are in our custody we are more of a caretaker rather than a proprietor. Another analogy can be given of a bank cashier. He knows that millions of dollars are coming to him, but he knows that “This is belonging to the bank. I am simply a cashier.” When one comes in contact with māyā (illusion) due to the desire to lord it over māyā, the sufferings come as a complimentary gift whether we like it or not. This verse from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita tells us that who is the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities. One who knows this attains peace from the pangs of material miseries. This is described as the peace formula by many scholars.
labhante brahma-nirvāṇam
ṛṣayaḥ kṣīṇa-kalmaṣāḥ
chinna-dvaidhā yatātmānaḥ
sarva-bhūta-hite ratāḥ — BG 5.25
The root of suffering of humanity in many scriptures is given as the forgetfulness of God as the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor, and the supreme friend. Therefore, to act to revive this consciousness within the entire human society is the highest welfare work. This is similar to a person who is the son of a loving and caring billionaire father but has rejected the relationship with his father and loiters on the street for survival. While living in separation he will have to face innumerable difficulties and may also ruin his life if comes in a bad association. But if he revives the relationship with his father he can live a comfortable and happy life. Similar is the situation of the people of Kaliyuga today. Actually, we have become accustomed to this miserable condition of life and due to lack of proper knowledge, we can’t even perceive that utopian life can exist.
“A person engaged only in ministering to the physical welfare of human society cannot factually help anyone. Temporary relief of the external body and the mind is not satisfactory. . Therefore, to act to revive this consciousness within the entire human society is the highest welfare work. One cannot be engaged in such first-class welfare work without being liberated in the Supreme.” — purport to BG 5.25
While COVID-19 will stay with us for some more time or maybe for our complete lifetime, the important thing is that what have we learned from it? Nature will make us face these kinds of situations again and again but it is up to us whether we inquire with the given intelligence and take the necessary steps or bury our heads in the sand.
But whatever be the future, the COVID-19 has definitely brought us closer as a family, bringing a sense of happiness that comes from the relationship with the people we love. And why was the virus able to bring us closer? Cause sometimes we need to get sick before we feel better — from fear to becoming fearless.
Let us not forget that human knowledge and skills alone cannot lead humanity to a happy and dignified life.
— Albert Einstein
