COVID-19: A great blessing in disguise Prof Birendranth Bardoloi, Prashanthi Nilayam, India

If there is divinity at the fall of a sparrow, and if a blade of grass cannot move of its own will, and if the entire creation of this universe is an expression of His Will, how can then a virus named COVID-19 have its sway over the race of mankind unless it has been willed by a Power far beyond its (mankind’s) reach? One good thing to note: This virus does not seem to distinguish between a prince and a pauper, between a temporal-power-intoxicated nation with its stupendous advancement in Science and technology on the one hand and a remote community of scantily-clad tribesmen on the other. It is obvious, therefore, that first of all, man has to learn to be humble and simple in his relationship with his fellow-brethren, and bow down his head to that Power which knows no barrier between man and man, between one nation and another, between one religious community and another. In our own time, Nobel Laureate, Tagore, sang, “O Lord, bend down my head to the dust of Thy Feet.” (“Aamaar maathaa nato korey daao hey tomaar chorono dhulaar taaley”)

Our simple and wise forefathers prayed thus: 

? ????? ?????? ?????? ll (Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah)

????? ????? ???????? ? (Sarve Santu Niraamayaah)

????? ??????? ???????? (Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu)

?? ???????????????????? ? (Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet)

? ??????? ??????? ??????? ? (Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih) ll

Om, May all be happy,

May all be free from illness,

May all see what is auspicious,

May no one suffer,

Om, May there be peace, peace, peace.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

They realised that ‘togetherness’ is the way of human life. We are not independent of each other. We are rather interdependent on each other as much as each tiny cell of our body is dependent on its neighboring cell or cells for its survival. So, ‘togetherness’ is the very biological process of man’s life. Togetherness is Unity, and Unity is Divinity, Love being the Unifying Force. There is no power on earth stronger than the all-conquering Force of Love, since the One became ‘Many’ in order to love Himself in the ‘Many’ ("Ekoham Bahu Syam").

To conclude this brief write-up - illuminations during this COVID-19 Self-Immersion period, I choose to quote the following two passages from Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Divine Discourses given on different occasions. 

“There is one caste, the caste of Humanity,  

There is one language, the language of the Heart,  

There is one religion, the religion of Love,  

There is one God who is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent.”

“Even if we do not have any property, we can lead a happy life only if the property of Love is with us. This Love should be supported with self-confidence. God is the only Source and sustenance of the entire universe. Everything else is an illusion. Sorrows and difficulties, loss and gain, diseases and sicknesses – treat them all as Divine Will. Then everything will turn out to be good for you. You are God verily, just get rid of the ‘I’ – ego and the ‘My’ – attachment. Rise above all this. Let us move together; let us all grow together; let us all stay together, let us grow in intelligence together; let us live together in friendship and harmony. Lead a contended life; you will derive great happiness.”