View: Covid is an opportunity to evaluate what truly matters

By Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

When the novel coronavirus began to appear in India, I was concerned for the people of the Himalayas above Rishikesh, where I have been blessed to live for the past 24 years. If Covid-19 spread to the remote and unequipped villages of India, how much life would be lost?

By God's grace and with the outstanding efforts of the government, the Himalayan villages are still Covid-free. I have been amazed at the obedience and tenacity of nearly 1.3 billion people. The way this country has come together across partisan lines and borders to protect themselves, even in the face of inevitable economic hardship, has filled me with optimism. It is essential to harness this commitment to our health, safety and, ultimately, our existence, when we move beyond this crisis.

While the global impact of coronavirus is undeniably a horrendous tragedy, the greatest threat to our life, even today, is definitely not Covid-19. Last year, millions of people in India died from air pollution and millions more from water pollution. As I meditate, I realise that Mother Earth, much like any exasperated mother, after trying for decades to discipline us into changing our ways, has sent us to our rooms, until we learn our lesson.

On Earth Day last week, we led an international summit where scientists, activists and environmentalists emphasised the essential healing of Mother Earth taking place, while we are relegated to our homes. In a few months or years, we will hopefully overcome the Covid-19 challenge.

But then it will be another virus or bacteria, lack of water or climate change waiting to pounce. There is a long queue, sans any social distancing, of threats lining up to wreak havoc upon us unless we change. We cannot go back to normal. We must go forward to a new normal.

In a beautiful irony, that new normal is not actually new to the traditional culture of India, which is rooted in philosophies of oneness, giving, service, selflessness and simplicity. Bharatiya sanskriti is a culture rooted in teachings of "vasudhaiva kutumbakam" - the world is one family. It is a culture that prays to and for Mother Earth and all beings. It is a culture whose mantras are based on oneness, connection and indivisibility. Prior to saying our prayers before meals, we offer a few grains of rice and a few drops of water to feed any bird who might be passing by. Our tradition wisely teaches "isha vasyam idam sarvam" - everything in the universe is pervaded by the divine. All is holy. All is sacred. Tragically, today, development has become synonymous with filling our shelves.

My Guru, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, always emphasises: "Don't focus so much on filling your shelf, but rather, focus on the fullness of your Self." In the rush to consume and to fill shelf after shelf, we have lost both our connection to our Self and also to Mother Earth. Mahatma Gandhi summed up the dilemma beautifully when he asked, what's the point of speed which has no direction? Modernity, development, technology and progress give us speed, but our culture and samskaras give us essential direction.

As we open the doors of our homes and societies after the lockdown ends, here are a few suggestions for a new normal:
1. Remember we are one, interconnected humanity. Each individual action impacts the world. The days of the illusion of separation are over.

2. Do yoga, meditate, pray, keep your spiritual practice strong. These are incredible immune system boosters, keeping you healthy, strong, and mentally and emotionally grounded.

3. Go vegetarian, or even vegan. The meat industry is at the heart of not only the Covid crisis, but climate change, environmental destruction and global hunger.

4. Go organic. Toxic agricultural fertilisers and chemicals pollute our soil, our waterways and ultimately our bodies.

The writer is president, Divine Shakti Foundation, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh