UNITED STATES, March 21, 2020 (hinduamerican.org, by Kavita Sekhsaria): In the last few weeks many have tried to explain how all of the disruptions from COVID-19 have felt to them. There has been an overwhelming feeling of unfairness, as people have cancelled everything from weddings to funerals. The sacrifices required have been big, whether risking personal health and safety to provide for others, losing the opportunity to celebrate once in a lifetime events or, increasingly, losing your job. Given the level of ambiguity and uncertainty about how life will look tomorrow, next week or a month or two from now, the level of anxiety many of us have had to process has been high. In the face of the financial and physical stress brought on by COVID-19, it can be difficult to consider our emotional and spiritual health. However, in a world of uncertainty, Hindu teachings and practices are helpful in taking care of ourselves in the most essential and basic of ways.
Hindu teachings and spiritual practices offer many ways for us to bring ourselves back to the here and now, and release ourselves from the pain and regret around thinking about that which has already passed, and the anxiety and fear around thinking about the future which we cannot predict or control. Use hatha yoga and pranayama to ground yourself in the moment. We can use jnana yoga to engage in reading scripture. Raja yoga, or meditation, is an option for those of us who can simply look within to find calm. Hindu rituals can also help ground us in the here and now. Though many mandirs (temples) are currently closed to devotees, many are also using streaming services to help people feel spiritually connected. Puja in particular can call upon all the senses: the smell of agarbatti (incense), the reverberation of a bell, visually pleasing murtis, the sensation of bringing our palms together–all can be lovely ways to set aside stress and center ourselves.
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