On the 2nd day of the #PositivityUnlimited lecture series organised by Covid Response Team (CRT), Delhi, on May 12, Vice-President of Vivekananda Kendra-Kanyakumari, Padmashri Nivedita Bhide was another speaker, who said, “We will win and we will definitely win. This is because Bharat is an ancient nation and has passed through many such difficult phases. Hence, we will emerge victorious even from this pandemic. We certainly were shaken by the second wave which hit us suddenly. But gradually we all are coming together as a society and all government, public, institutions are coming together to fight the pandemic.”

In order to win over the crisis, there are 5 things each of us can do:

1. Increase Life Force (Prana Shakti): We have to do Pranayama as Covid affects our lungs. We have to sit at a silent place and practice breathing rhythmically and gradually. Chant ‘Om’ repeatedly throughout the day. We have to chant at least in the morning and evening. Research also backs the claim that chanting ‘Om’ can increase immunity in us.

2. Understand our Subconscious Mind: We have to know our mind to stay positive. Swami Vivekananda had also spoken about the importance of our subconscious mind in staying positive. We have to remain positive when we deal with people and situations. We have to think good of the society, nation and world. Covid is an opportunity to learn the way to keep our mind positive.

3. Importance of Family:  Due to Covid lockdown, families have an opportunity to stay together with all members. Earlier everyone was busy in their own work and lives. Now instead of being affected by negative news, when we are at home we have to concentrate on learning new things and new experiments. We can learn new languages. We can learn languages of other regions or learn Sanskrit. We can perform Surya Namaskar together in the family and involve our relatives and friends online. We can play new house games, cook food. We need not be concerned as we are not able to go outside and instead make use of it as  an opportunity.

4. An Opportunity to Serve: Covid has given us an opportunity to serve the society which has given us so much. There are many people who need help in terms of food and other ways. Each day we can pray for the wellness of people who are in hospital and are recovering. There is strength in praying which also increases positivity in society. As Swami Vivekananda said the more we serve, closer we are in realising our true selves.

5. Understanding the nature of Death: We are from that civilisation and land which does not fear death. Just as Alexander failed to instill fear in Dandamis, we are from the land which does not fear death. We will face death with a smile if it is our time. Death is like changing one body to another and we need not fear. We think that our relatives have parted from us after death, but we might meet them again in the subsequent lives. Hence, we need not   fear death. 

While we serve others during this pandemic and earn ‘punya’, we also should not use it as an opportunity to take advantage of others at this difficult time. It is in the nature of Bharat to win over any difficulty and we will surely win this time too. We have to stay positive at this time to overcome the pandemic.

[Report: Prashanth Vaidyaraj]