COMMENTREE

New Doorway To Introspection

Instead of feeling stifled under the lockdown, SHAMMI PARANJAPE suggests we take this opportunity to do some soul-searching

With lockdowns, isolation, quarantine and social distancing being practised all over India and also in some other parts of the world in the wake of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic,this is a good opportunity to make full use of seclusion to go in, from out.To do this is possible only in stillness and seclusion, and by force of circumstances, nature has, though in a harsh and relentless way, brought us to it.We need to utilise this time for introspection and soul-searching.

The primary principle of Nature is balance.When this balance is disrupted,there is temporary chaos and readjustment.Also,as human beings,we have failed in our moral duty to the planet. Now we are forced to do it. Call it the law of natural ethics.When a tipping point is reached, a power mightier than all the combined strength of humankind, starts operating.

Our disconnect with our higher Self made us ignore our responsibility towards two deadly ‘viruses’ that have already been raging for a while on our planet.These are virus of ‘excesses’ and the virus of ‘hunger.’ Deadly as these viruses are,they have got scant attention.

The hunger-virus, or virus of the poor,afflicts and kills millions.Thousands starve and go to bed hungry whereas some among the affluent throw wasted food in the garbage bin. Minimal effort has been given to mitigate this callousness against humanity.

The other virus — excesses brought on by ‘affluenza’ — has upset the ecological balance.To earn a decent amount for family and self, to lead happy and healthy lives is the common goal of all people. But, somewhere, the equation has gone askew. Enough is never enough, as greed has taken over, leading to imbalance and degradation of the environment.

It is being reported that the current pandemic was possibly triggered by mishandling of and consumption of unusual animals like bats. If this is true, then it is perhaps a good time to rethink what we eat. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says,“Your body is a shrine,not a burial place for innocent animals.”He further elaborates that humans are no longer cavemen who need to hunt for meat, to consume it for survival.We have come a long way and have changed many of our habits to suit the need of the times. He further says that consuming the flesh of animals passes on negative qualities and also the fear animals experience when they are slaughtered.Many healthy eating options are available.This being the case, why eat animals?