KOVIDA 2020 #1 COVID to Kovida

Latest: COVID has hit 200,000 cases worldwide, triggering over 8,000 deaths.

In Sanskrit, the word “Kovida” refers to one who is intelligent, wise and philosophically inclined. To appropriately respond to COVID, we each have to become Kovida. Positive affirmations, optimistic propoganda and comforting words are appreciated… but only go so far. We need spiritual insight to decode this mysterious global event.

It may be worth taking a break from reading endless articles and watching every other newsflash. We pretty much know what’s happening. Instead of getting bogged down into the crazy world of panic, open up to the bigger picture of life. Close observation will reveal an incredible correlation between whats written in ancient wisdom texts and what we see before our eyes. If we pause for a moment and digest the deeper lessons that are surfacing, we may find that COVID ushers us into a fresh new reality, individually and globally.

Find opportunities in problems.

KOVIDA 2020 #2: Isolate, but don’t Stagnate

Latest: Millions of people are lying low to limit the spread of COVID-19. Self-isolation and social distancing, they say, will help curb the crisis. Next problem: how do you cope with being cooped up for days on end? How do we use this time wisely?

Consider the three biggest reasons why people don’t experience growth in their life – they are too busy, too proud or too comfortable. We’re falling short of our potential. Could government-enforced self-isolation be an unexpected solution?

Thanks to COVID-19 we have time on our hands. The endless issues and daily demands of functional life suck up all our valuable hours. Now we’re forced into somewhat of a lockdown – a situation that facilitates reflection, planning, questioning and the crafting of a more conscious direction in life. We’d never free up that time ourselves, so here it is handed to us on a plate.

Thanks to COVID-19 our weaknesses have been exposed. The stress, insecurity and uncertainty makes us realise we’re not as flawless as we thought. The selfishness in pursuance of self-preservation is astonishing! There’s some inner engineering that needs to go on. Life is filled with many mini-tests, each of which help us to build our strength, resolve and character. Some resistance is required to build our inner muscles.

Thanks to COVID-19 we’ve ignited some urgency. The last two weeks are a wake-up call to not take things for granted. Complacency is our middle name. We never thought the situation could become so acute, so quickly. Thank you for blowing our misconceptions and reminding us that time is precious and life is volatile. Harsh realities help reinstate clarity and perspective into every aspect of our life.

Apprehensive about self-isolation? Don’t be. Create a vision, make a plan, build a schedule, and use this time ingeniously. It may never come again. We’ll look back at this strange time and realise how valuable it was.

Find opportunities in problems.

KOVIDA 2020 #3: Contradictions

Someone asked me if we should pray for the protection of our loved ones – of course we should! But it got me thinking.

A deep fear about losing family and friends…
but are we as worried about how we relate to them while their alive?
A deep fear of disease and illness…
but are we as concerned about bad diet and no exercise when we’re healthy?
A deep fear that we’ll lose our freedom…
but are we fussed about our daily laziness, procrastination and time-wasting?
A deep fear of death…
but are we bothered about living a meaningless life?

Ironic isn’t it? We’re worried about what we’ll lose, but neglect it when we have it… and I’m culprit number one! But not to fear – there is still some time! Some hope. Maybe COVID-19 will help transform our contradictory existence. Instead of worrying about what may be in the future, lets focus on what can be right here and now.

Find opportunities in problems.

KOVIDA 2020 #5: Freedom

Latest: UK Lockdown intensifies – no social visits, no whimsical shopping, no unnecessary trading, no avoidable traveling, no public gatherings. Everything will be police-enforced.

We’ve seemingly lost our freedom. But… consider this:

When ‘freedom’ means that everything is so available that we become familiar and complacent, what’s the benefit? If ‘restriction’ generates an appreciation and gratitude of what we’ve taken for granted all these years, where’s the loss?

When ‘freedom’ means we act and speak unrestrictedly, oblivious to the ramifications, what’s the benefit? If ‘restriction’ creates the space to exercise our freedom to THINK, helping us become sensitive and aware, where’s the loss?

When ‘freedom’ means we’re bombarded by so many things that we can’t focus on anything, what’s the benefit? If ‘restriction’ allows us to concentrate on a few things and do them well, where’s the loss?

When ‘freedom’ means we become imperceptibly dependent on comforts and facilities for our sanity, what’s the benefit? If ‘restriction’ helps one develop the wealth of detachment from temporary arrangements which are bound for destruction, where’s the loss?

When ‘freedom’ means we’re so ‘close’ to people that we don’t deeply connect, what’s the benefit? If ‘restriction’ creates a physical separation that sparks more conscious and meaningful interaction, where’s the loss?

Misused ‘freedom’ actually limits our life.
Utilised ‘restriction’ can open the doors to real freedom.

Freedom, my friends, is defined by something way deeper than governmental laws. Consciousness creates reality.

Find Opportunities in Problems.