A Virus Which Does Not Discriminate

A virus which does not discriminate
I am writing this short article in my capacity as an emergency medical clinician

and as a resuscitation training officer with the London Ambulance Service, where
I am fully conscious of the impact this virus has on my colleagues and on
members of the public. We are living, and some are surviving, in an
unprecedented global health crisis. We cannot return to “normal” because it was
that precise “normal” which brought the world to this pandemic, whether the
virus erupted in wet markets or accidentally escaped from a manufacturing
process in a laboratory – two of the most popular theories doing the rounds.
What we all know is that we are facing an invisible enemy which does not
discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, social status, culture, nationality
or faith. In the destructive path of this virus we are all equal. This virus cruelly,
but poignantly, reminds us of our shared humanity: the sanctity of every living
entity, with no one having the right to dominate another, nor the arrogance to
rightfully claim to be racially or spiritually superior. This is the time to utilise our
faith teachings to extend to all compassion, empathy and understanding in the
face of such adversity. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda set perfect examples.
It is with a notable sadness that this virus continues to have an effect on our
global ISKCON communities with devotees giving up their bodies, others being
hospitalised, and whilst some devotees are isolated at home with a positive
diagnosis.
It is incumbent upon each devotee around the globe to adhere strictly to the
advice given by their respective governments and its agencies – no two
governments are giving the same information nor are they imposing the same
draconian restrictions on their citizens. At the time of publishing this article the
statistics reveal the devastating effect the coronavirus is having on individuals
globally: 3,402,240+ million cases with 239,627+ deaths, and counting…
It is stating the obvious that this virus sets us all medical, social and emotional
challenges, but not often do we read about the spiritual challenges. It is,
however, comforting to notice how devotees around the world are utilising the
internet and social media to continue their preaching and outreach efforts.
It is this Krsna-given preciousness of spirit which is at the core of our existence,
where we find the grace and humility to extend a caring and helping hand to our
neighbour, irrespective of their belief-system, or of none. It is with this
community spirit where we have the opportunity to reflect the majesty, brilliance
and example of our acharyas and Krsna Himself. In our outreach, whilst socially
distancing, we can creatively express the tenacity of the human spirit. Srila
Prabhupada was exemplary in his genius to reach out and touch whomever
crossed his path. We are now equipped by his example and his teachings to make
the world a better place and to ensure that we do not return to what was
considered “normal.” We can use this pandemic to invigorate our energies to
bring the mission of Krsna consciousness to every corner of this distressed world,
wherein Mother Nature has been treated with such disdain and disrespect.
At the heart of our existence there seems to be an apparent contradiction: the
physical versus the spiritual. We have bodies but we are spirit souls. This virus is
a poignant reminder of our collective fragility because despite our technological
and medical advances in the 21st Century we seem to be helpless in the face of
this viral onslaught. It has brought about a vulnerability which we have not
experienced on such a scale for decades. It is in this vulnerability where we can
embark on a renewed journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
How can we respond to this pandemic? How do we keep body, mind and spirit in
good health during this arduous ordeal? We should refrain from spiritual tribalism
and stand together with members of all faiths, or none – a standing together as a
collective of mind and spirit. Here is a suggested six-part prescription from Rabbi
Shmuly Yanklowitz:
1. There is no value in placing blame: “Blame harms more than it helps; it is
myopic and never leads to practical solutions.”
2. Be afraid: “Our fear can inspire us to hold one another even closer and with
deeper resolve. Rather than denying that human impulse to have fear in the face
of serious risks, we can channel that fear productively.”
3. Wipe out evil: “In a world so focused on “us vs. them”, the coronavirus
reminds us in a profound sense there is only us.
4. Embrace a sabbatical: “It is about renewal and the need to nourish the soul
through extra time to study and meditate.”
5. Be gentle: “We do not know what others go through on a daily basis. Let us
have the strength to be understanding and kind in this time of great tumult.”
6. Love is contagious too: “The coronavirus is highly contagious, but so are the
actions we can take, inspired by love and joy.”
I have always been a keen promotor of holistic health in our spiritual care
workshops: where there is a balance of health amongst the body, mind and sprit.
An imbalance of any one these aspects of our being has a profound affect upon
the other. Holistic health considers the whole person and how the person
interacts with their environment. It is often purported that holistic health is
composed of 5 elements: physical, emotional, social, mental and spiritual. Srila
Prabhupada gave us the perfect antidote for spiritual illness or imbalance through
his teachings, writings and example. However, it is not very often reflected in our
own teachings and preaching the same emphasis he places on (physical) health.
Nor do we stringently follow his emphasis on good (physical) health – some
“Sunday Love Feasts”, as one example, comes to mind: “…we should not eat
more than required” – Srila Prabhupada. His writings are inundated with the word
“health”. There is hardly a letter without the annotation: “I hope this will find you
in good health” or “Hope this meets you in good health.” Srila Prabhupada
writes that we should maintain a healthy body for healthy preaching. In his The
Path of Perfection he writes, “…but we should remain in good health for spiritual
purposes.” In His Bhagavad-gita lecture in Mumbai on the 10th of April 1974 he
talks about, “Real life is that you keep your health nicely…” In his letter to
Jawaharla Nehru on the 4th of August 1958 he writes, “Material prosperity means
that the people must have sufficient to eat or to maintain the body and soul
together in sound health for further development in spiritual
consciousness.” Srila Prabhupada placed huge importance on the health of a
devotee. In his letter to Rayarama das in San Francisco on the 21st of December
1967 he clearly writes: “Be careful with your health first. This information is not
only for you but all my noble sons.”, whilst in his letter to Satsvarupa dasa in
Montreal on the 19th of August 1968 he writes that, “But still, we should not
neglect about our health.”
In context of the pandemic we should see our bodily health in relation to Srila
Prabhupada’s writings and in line with our own governmental guidelines. To flout
these could have devastating consequences on individuals and communities. It
would be folly to think that we as devotees and ISKCON as a global spiritual
organisation cannot make a constructive contribution to the eradication of this
virus. As it is said, “We are all in this together.” This is an opportune moment and
a time in history for us as devotees and ISKCON leaders to pause and reflect, and
thereby, allay any uninformed and dogmatic opinions that may prevail in certain
of our quarters.
I leave the final words to Srila Prabhupada: “Because we have to work for
Krishna, so we must maintain our health nicely.” – Letter, Montreal, August 23,
1968*

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A virus which does not discriminate

I am writing this short article in my capacity as an emergency medical clinician

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