Life indeed has become a bit strange and unfamiliar for most of us over the last couple of weeks. Like I alluded to earlier this week, I was mostly in denial even a week back. And after I got myself more educated on the subject of Covid-19 and it's impact, I had no doubt in my mind that we're going to face massive uncertainty over the next few months. There are many businesses that will not see the light at the end of this dark tunnel. And more than that, probably many people won't as well.
As you can imagine, the thought of this is extremely grim and unhelpful for any productive work. When we sit to work, the worry about things we can't control, come rushing back. I've personally been distressed especially about the elderly and the homeless, who really are at an extraordinarily high risk right now. I am doing my bit through volunteering to keep the elderly engaged, but there's just so much outside my control. How do I remain calm and give my best to the world during such times?
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, a few years back I was going through something in my personal and professional life which I needed to deal with, in the most mature way possible. I rarely talk about this, but when I was at my worst possible mental state, when career counselors and mentors couldn't help, something extraordinary came into my life - Advaita Vedanta. Today, I refer to this as my faith, but it wasn't back then. In fact, I was a sworn atheist in my teens, and agnostic thereafter. But you know you're lucky when faith calls you, protects you, transforms you and provides certainty during times of uncertainty, especially when nothing around is in your control.
I have been extremely lucky indeed with my spiritual practice. But obviously, I am not a spiritual teacher- I need perhaps many lifetimes to master the art and science of unwavering concentration and be steady in my practice. However, I do know that during turbulent times like this, meditation helps.
If you're up for it, I can schedule half hour meditation sessions starting next week for us on Zoom, and continue for as long as this uncertainty lasts. It won't be guided. I will not lead. There will be no transmission of energy as it happens in most advanced spiritual meditation sessions. However, what I can do, is promise to turn up and stay with you quietly over the internet for half an hour. If this is something of interest, let me know.
