Creating a safe and meaningful lifestyle during COVID-19

The consequences of Coronavirus (COVID-19) have many of us glued to the news, concerned for loved ones, and adapting our lives to deal with the changes the pandemic is having on our homes, schools, workplaces, and relationships.

Though it is very tough, there are many in our country and in the world to whom our compassionate help of phone calls and smiles (while keeping physical distance), emotional and financial support can make a big service for humanity. 

Based on my past experiences and spiritual upbringing – understanding the impermanent nature of everything - I have developed positive coping strategies to handle the situation at hand and may be more prepared to deal with this crisis.  

I can say that it is a good first step to strengthen yourself, ensure your safety and the safety of your loved ones, and then extend your hand with kindness to support humanitarian efforts being done by many individuals, organizations and the government. Some of us are lucky that we have paid sick leave and at our company, Bruce Power, we have the option to work from home and continue to support the generation of electricity during the crises. We should be grateful for that opportunity and sharing our resources with the most vulnerable.

Considering the closure of schools and child-care centres for the extended periods, the burden on working parents (especially low-income, single-parent or single-earner households) without flexible work conditions, are extreme. People without shelters, daily wage earners, seniors, and the very young are vulnerable, as are those who have pre-existing health conditions. Though the economy is important, right now is the time to extend help to save the life and health of the people.

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are – and will be – defined by our own choices. Those choices should be based upon values, not value (material): compassion, courage, sharing, caring, and co-operation. Those have always been ours, but this is the time to test them. Life and death decisions are not only being made by doctors and nurses but by each and every one of us as we practise physical-distancing, ensure safety, and extend the helping hands to others. Together, let’s make the right choices.

In this global village, some of our extended families are living far away (like ours in India) and our worries are compounded by distance and by health care and crisis management systems. It is hard to find balance in the emotional turbulence. But like most of you, we find a connection when we broaden our mind and consider the whole world as a global village under one fatherhood (vasudhaiv kutumbkam in Sanskrit).

We have discovered deep soul connection through self-reflection and taking care of not just ourselves and neighbours but by extending our financial support in rural India, Fatehpura, UP (my birthplace) for the free distribution of food and essential items (flour, daal, vegetables, salt, and soap) to needy (daily wagers and handicapped) people in nearby six villages (right).

Thanks to Saudas, Ghanshyam and Vivek here in Canada and my relatives in the village (Raju, Shri Krishna, and Rajesh), we are able to feed almost 200 families daily for more than two weeks during the 21-day lock-down period (March 24 to April 14), enforced by the Government of India to prevent the community spread of the infectious virus.

Further to pass my time, I have also taken this crisis as an opportunity to use technology to teach communication skills (listening, reading, writing, comprehension and speaking), math, philosophy and strategic thinking to a few high school students in my village in India. Here in my home in Canada, besides being self-isolated, I have found a way to support some needy families by giving emotional comforts, giving to charity and donations to food banks.

Some of these new experiences of giving and sharing are fulfilling along with my daily routine of scripture studies, yoga, meditation, trail walks with my wife, Abhilasha, and working from home, as well as routine conversations with my children in the city and  families in India. It all helps to make my day go by very fast and to feel a sense of achievement every day.

I hope this information may be useful to others. We are only a call away to support or provide any help to needy within the regulation.



Free distribution of food items in India; photos courtesy of Chandra Tripathi