In the Chinese language, the word for crisis and opportunity is the same. Coronavirus is a huge crisis in the world today, but we can turn it into an opportunity to reflect about our own life. Let us look into the truth of this existence: What is life, society, and our responsibility here? Who are we, how can we share? We may not get all the answers right away. But it is still well worth contemplating on these essential questions of life. Often, it is a crisis that forces us to go inwards and introspection.
Here are the six ways to making isolation more meaningful, especially in the time of coronavirus.
1.Understand life’s context
Let us first see: What is the context of our life? What have we been doing? When we open our eyes, we are lost in the world and when we close our eyes, we are off to sleep. Our senses are constantly engaged outside. We have been so busy, not getting enough sleep and rest or on the other hand we had too much rest and couldn’t do what we needed to do. Use this time to see what should be the context of our lives. Understand what is that that can make our happiness stronger in these times. That is called wisdom. Wisdom expands the context of our life. Anyone who is not happy, make them see life from a broader context and you can bring a smile back to their face. As the context of life expands the problems and issues appear smaller and insignificant.
2. Experience silence
We have hardly spent any time with ourselves, being fully present to this moment is silence. Look at the noise in your mind. What is it about? Money? Fame? Recognition? Fulfillment? Relationships? The noise is about something; silence is about nothing. Silence is the basis; noise is the surface. During this time, get a taste of silence. Very often, we are lost in the scenery. Now is the time to come back to the seer from the scenery. That is yoga. Solitude does not always have to be boring. It brings us inner strength and clarity of mind. The real communication happens in silence. Now that you are with your family, really listen and just be with them.
3. Read and create
Cut down on your screen time. It can be jarring for your nervous system. Limit your news intake to what is necessary and important. Do some reading instead. Pick up the Ashtavakra Gita or the Yoga Vasishta or Bhagavad Gita. These books will open your mind to a whole new dimension, in discovering more about the consciousness. This is the time to be creative — write poems, come up with new recipes, learn an instrument or languages or paint! When you are creative, you break the monotony of time. Everything comes alive. Creativity brings along with it a lot of enthusiasm and energy and when you are enthusiastic you are closer to the creative principle of existence.
Deep silence is the mother of creativity. No creativity can come out of one who is too busy, worried, over-ambitious or lethargic. Balanced activity, rest and yoga can kindle skills and creativity in you.
4. Connect
Use this time to connect with friends, may be those in a different land that you have not spoken to in a while. Check how they are doing. Give them confidence and strength. It does not have to be superficial or forced. When you start feeling connected to them, they start feeling connected to you as well. It does not matter what you say. It matters who is speaking. We convey more by our vibrations than our words.
5. Don’t be scared
We have seen epidemics before (SARS, Swine flu, and the plague after World War II). This is a temporary phase. Be rest assured, we will overcome this! Know that you are blessed. Just follow the rules — do not congregate. Take precautions. Eat well. Let your food have some turmeric and black pepper — they boost immunity. Cut down on sweets and sugar. They are known to halve our immunity. While staying at home, you will feel like eating a lot. Avoid overeating. Make it a point to meditate thrice every day. It will help to settle your mind, calm your emotions, bring physical and emotional strength and boost immunity. Meditation gives you the strength and positivity to pull through any adversity.
6. Contribute and serve
I call upon those who can, to take a pay cut and form endowments together to take care of daily wage workers and low income groups in your areas so that the economic burden is shared by society locally. Let’s give the assurance that there is enough humanity to take care of everyone.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher and an ambassador of peace.