There is so much fear, and perhaps rightfully so, about COVID-19 virus.
If we subscribe to the philosophy that Krishna’s plan is always for our welfare, then the COVID-19 virus is here to help us.
To reset.
To remember.
What is truly important.
What is the purpose of life.
By reconnecting with family, community, and, God.
Reducing travel so that the environment, the air, lungs all get a break.
Huge regions of China are seeing blue skies and clouds for the first time in decades because the ugra karmic factories have been shut down.
People who can must work from home rather than commute in polluting cars; they get more personal time, to communicate, to contemplate.
The existence of this universal enemy is an invitation to turn inwards, retract the senses from the object of the senses, to find the true self. “While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.” BG 2.62
The slamming of the breaks on artha is an circumstance to reset economically, to re-evaluate the systems – especially for the working poor, the elderly, the mentally challenged, etc.
The practices of healthcare systems worldwide are being highlighted. Nutrition in maintaining healthy immunity is being emphasized. And, washing our hands — how did that become a “new” thing that we needed to be remembered. Cleanliness has always been next to Godliness..
How hard does one need to work to be able to live, to have a life outside of work? Maybe people will be more open to the “hard” questions – the ones that are truly meaningful.
A devotee sees the existence of COVID-19 as Krishna’s mercy – a preaching moment. Krishna has once again appeared: “Oh, Arjuna, I give heat, and I withheld and send forth the rain. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both spirit and matter are in Me.” BG 9.19
We are being forced to feel what it means to be connected, humane, less impactful and more kind to each other and our environment. The panic buying for me and mine to exclusion of the welfare of others is a wake-up call to the inherent insanity of the bodily concept of life.
This is the point in time when the Hare Krishna devotee shines a torchlight of knowledge into the darkness. Krishna has arranged the stage and the spotlight. The vicious virus is yet another 9/11, a pause, of silence in which the conditioned soul can hear the chanting of the holy names, the transcendental sounds of the Gita and Bhagavatam, come into contact with the pure devotee. Let us use our intelligences to take advantage of this Golden opportunity. Maybe our message can go viral.
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