Ayushman Jamwal
The world is a sea of noise, distraction and odd conventions, where all of us are struggling to swim. As we toil to find some fabled shore, we often forget or even refuse to look at ourselves, failing to recognise what we’re becoming or what we’re squandering in an unending dash to be something more. Now the tides of nature have pushed us to retreat from the world, behind our familiar walls, forcing us to take a good look in the mirror, as well as through the eyes of our friends and family.
The coronavirus is spreading havoc across the world and millions are praying to their Gods for a miracle. This time there is no divine will from the skies that can protect us. We only have each other and must find that piece of God in ourselves and others. Life strains so many relationships, dulls so much zeal, makes the path to fulfilment so elusive that our fears and insecurities get the better of us. The Nobel Prize winning scientist and philosopher Albert Einstein once called it the ‘optical delusion of consciousness’, an artificial prison that must be beaten by our sense of fraternity and kindness. Life seldom gives us time, but now we have every opportunity to restore ourselves and each other.
The Coronavirus is a faceless, colourless and faithless threat to every nation, faith, caste, creed & race, a great adversity that carries important lessons of common existence. Nelson Mandela once said that compassion is a binding force that turns common suffering into hope for the future. That zeal is carried by the thousands of doctors, police personnel, sanitation workers and citizens who in this unprecedented time are going beyond the call of duty to heal, nourish and protect us. Their actions diminishes what differentiates us and they become the Gods we pray for on the frontlines. This selflessness towers above the selfish motives of people like the Tablighi Jamaat attendees, where thousands gathered in some ‘divine’ defiance of the containment measures. They rallied in the name of God but their actions now threaten the lives of millions across the nation, a big spike in cases linked to just one religious gathering. There was no humanity in their actions, and now the road to normalcy is longer.
God is humanity, not above it. Prayers at the holy mosques of Mecca and Medina have been suspended and Hindu temples across the globe have been closed to protect the public. In Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was closed right before Easter for the first time since the Black Plague. The decision was welcomed by everyone in the holy city where interestingly, the church has been managed by a Sunni muslim family for over 8 centuries. Divinity lies in our sense of service and the Gods on the frontlines are carrying on. The foolishness and stubbornness of others is not deterring them.
From our homes, televisions and phones, we must soak in this compassion and carry it forward in the way we think and act. We must reassess the way we look at the world, revisit our biases and prejudices, challenge the fear in our hearts to bolster our faith in each other, tearing down all that divides us for a common purpose and shared values.
The Buddha once said that generous hearts and service help renew humanity. Everyday we see glimpses of how nature is healing – polluted waters turning blue, clearer skies revealing distant and beautiful mountains, deer and dolphins venturing into once crowded roads and toxic coasts. This is a beautiful world we share which deserves an altered humanity. While medicine heals our bodies, these sights nourish our souls, as did the Prime Minister’s call for national solidarity for 9 minutes on Sunday. Beyond the grim nature of what we face, beyond the petty politics, it was a brief spark of happiness, respite and hope for millions who chose to take part. With the power of light they said they were not alone and stood behind those fighting to see us through this.
This time of self-reflection and togetherness carries one message with it – the world may return to normal, but we need to be different. We can only persevere and beat this pandemic with an epidemic of compassion and hope it leaves a lasting impression on who we are and who we can be. In the words of Superman, “There is a hero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape. Through sheer will all that seems impossible and improbable becomes inevitable.”
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