Do we ever wonder the situation we are in, is so unique. Never before have we stayed indoors for such an extended period of time. Never before have we worked from home so diligently and never before the streets have been so empty. It seems like a dilemma or a disaster on the surface but look beneath history repeats itself. Every now and then something emerges that shakes us to the core then may be it is 9/11 or swine flu or Katrina. But the human spirit comes out strong and the world goes on. Sometimes we conquer and at times surrender , but the humility and resilience to be calm in such dire situation needs looking beneath deep down and trusting the light we see there. Knowledge of ancient scriptures could be the torch we all need so that we can ride smoothly on the unsettling, stormy waves of our turbulent oceanic world.

Patanjali are yoga sutras also called as eight limbs of yoga. Its a way of life. Science can only go to certain extent , it can heal our physical, physiological, mental wounds. But sometimes we come in our own way , self inflicting , bestowing unpleasant things on ourselves because of lack of righteousness , discipline and compliance with the rhythms of nature.

1. Yama: Correct behavior towards others

We see so many frontline workers risking their own lives so that society as a whole comes out strong. There are people who are ill , dilapidated, poverty stricken and hitting rock bottom and Corona is not helping this situation. We can imagine a thousand reasons to blame. Virus was manmade, economic and intellectual race became its harboring ground, early reports of widespread were taken lightly. Yet the need of the hour is to get beyond the past for a sturdy future. Donate, volunteer, follow the protocols of social distancing and above all course correct so that we don’t lose more than we have already lost.

2. Niyama: Correct behavior for ones own self

We think we can control others if that is too far fetched, then commanding our own senses should be easy. Nevertheless why do we always fall in the trap of guilt, anger , shame, failure. We have to reinforce that its ok to be tired , its ok to take a break , its fine to let go, take a pause in this frantic pace of the world. How many times do we reflect on our behavior , how many times do we set aside our phone to listen to our kids, do we exercise when stuck at home. There are thousand ways to neglect our own form, our mind but our body is the vehicle for the soul. In order to experience the deity in its purest form , the temple has to be tidy and clean. Elevate yourself or get sucked in the world drama , the choice is ours.

3. Asana : Seat of Consciousness

If we would just sit down and witness everything like a movie unfolding. We are the observer and life is the object. The judgmental mind never takes a break. The intellect says if things were not so bleak , we would have gone on that lovely vacation, taken that cruise, dined in the finest restaurants. Man proposes God disposes. If one thing we can learn from how things have unfolded so far is although science and technology benefits mankind, but if underlying ethics and moral values are jeopardized the tide can turn on us in no time. Thats why the seat of consciousness is ever so essential in this fragile, unsteady environment to fathom between right and wrong.

4. Pranayama: Expanding life force through breathing

Do we pay attention to our breath? How many times do we marvel at synchronicity of all our organs tapping in for that gulp which keeps us alive. There is one incident that I recently heard about. After the 93 years old man in Italy got better and was about to leave the hospital, he was told to pay for the ventilator for one day and he started to cry. The old man said “ I don’t cry over the bill . I can pay all that money. I cry because I have been breathing Gods air for 93 years and did not have to pay anything for it. But for using a ventilator in your hospital for just one day I have to pay €5000 . I realize how much I owe God. I never thanked Him for it before.” Let that sink in.

5. Pratyahara: Turning senses inward

When we close our eyes , can we observe our thoughts without judging them. Let them float in the sky like the clouds. Let them maintain their own color till they are ready to be one with the heavens. Each one of us is a work in progress. Everybody is at different level, but now is the time to look inward. What matters is not the next promotion cycle or fancy clothes or an expensive retreat . All those plans can be toppled like a stack of cards but if there is peace, resilience within, you can rebuild from scratch. “You are the sky , everything else is the weather.”

6. Dharana: Effortless focussed attention

Before Corona , life was privileged we had takeout food , occasional dining out , social gatherings, maid services, hanging out in theatre’s you name it every luxury to ease our life. Everything seems to be upside down now but don’t you think the ability to focus and pay attention to details has gone up? Unless I was forced to do the cleaning myself, I would have never imagined the nooks and crannies where scum and stains saturate the most. Similarly my superficial feel good life can remain spotless to the world on instagram , youtube or facebook but to keep it orderly and sane beyond the glamour and hype, our generation needs undistracted mindfulness. If multitasking led us here then may be there is some virtue in laser focus attention on the task at hand.

7. Dhyana: A continuous flow

Everything in nature has a flow. Einstein had said “God does not play dice.” If you take any yoga practice it has steady movement that unites mind and body. We never realized until now how much we have gotten out of step. Constant texting, sleeping late , mindless eating, binge watching where are we heading as a society. The other day I checked my daughters phone usage .. 4 hrs on tik tok, 3 hrs on snapchat , 1 hr on Instagram and there goes her day. If you question ”Mom every body is on the phone , what do you expect in quarantine. “ she says. I sigh and long for those days when there were no phones. Nature never takes a break or deviates from its responsibilities. The natural world never rushes , yet everything gets accomplished. Can we get back in that heightened, elevated, orderly self of being where even the most mundane ,ordinary task is an offering to God without expecting anything in return.

8. Samadhi: Lost or found in the divine unity

We are not Buddha or Christ or Tukaram or even close to being a saint. We may never reach the state of Samadhi. Yet all the wisdom traditions, ancient scriptures tell us that the purpose of life is to realize the divinity within oneself.

Lets not shun this year. It was given to us just like any other year with endless sunshine, bountiful flowers, plenty of harvest, breezy winds , dazzling stars, sparkling raindrops and hail. Even today after so many of us have confounded 2020 with casualties , job losses, economic break down it still pulls itself together and renders a new day perhaps making it a little bit brighter than the one before.

2020 needs a chance to redeem itself and so do we by imbibing our Vedic principles in our daily life. For all one knows, may be it did have something to offer. Reduced pollution, reduced consumption, disruption of wall street numbers, breaking the profit and loss mentality, more sustained living, less dependence on material comfort , improved morals and ethics and above all awareness to the transient nature of life so that we realize each day is a blessing and a new beginning.