Connection and Reflection…….

So, we have finally seen the sunrise of the last day of the year 2020 and as always, I looked at the morning sun closely to see if it had changed in any way! But as always it had the same hue, the same light, the same shape and even the same place from where it had arisen. But for us humans, so much had changed! A decade had changed! A rollercoaster, virus infested year 2020 had changed and with that had changed perspectives, lifestyles, outlooks and what not! My phone is packed with messages enlightening me how I am a better person after the 2020 Virus attack experience! I am told that people around the world have become more connected to self, more grateful, more appreciative of little things, relationships, they have become more compassionate, more mindful, more spiritual, more sharing, more hygienic and surprise, surprise people have become healthier etc. but knowing  human beings and their ways, I am dead sure most are believing in these thoughts because the trauma of 2020  virus attack is still fresh and the threat is still not gone fully, the moment they will be confident that the virus is dead or they have a remedy, they will soon go back to being their old self. Mind you, all the humans who are today willing to give up all their worldly pleasures and are feeling so enlightened that they are ready to go into the forest doing penance for all their ills, will be back to their old ways in no time - I really fear the saying-” comeback is stronger than setback!”  I am sure even our dear planet Earth must be shuddering at the thought of such a thing happening! 

So how have the last 365 days shaped me?! Well, frankly except that I had to do more chores at home and exercise indoors, nothing much has changed except that my ‘writing and reading time’ has reduced somewhat. But my thinking and reflecting has got wings during the lockdown phase and my thinking brain has compelled me to reflect on the future of humanity and the planet!

Jokes apart, I think that the CoronaVirus pandemic is a wakeup call to this entire planet that I have begun to truly appreciate the “वसुधैव कुटुंबकम” mantra. Because people of the planet are interconnected more so today than any time in the past! Any problem arising in one part of the world has its effect on so many other parts of the world! I think as humanity we have to learn to be transparent in our dealings and learn to tolerate each other. We can only live together in that way. But if we are to live together, and not die together (as his coronavirus pandemic has shown us), we must learn a kind of clarity and simplicity and a kind of patience and balance, which is absolutely vital to the continuation of human life on this planet. The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here, and you are out there. The truth is that all humanity is like an ocean, for all is flowing and blending; a touch in one place sets up movement at the other end of the earth. The thought is very scary and empowering at the same time. Collectively the human race has the capacity to survive the dance of megacosm, else just this idea that our planet is the only one having ‘life’ in the entire vast universe and continue to do so for millions of years, makes me sit in the corner and bite my fingernails in horror and consternation. And I quickly bow my head to don't know which power of the universe, and say ‘सर्वे भवन्तु  सुखिनः ......Forever and ever and ever!