Amid Coronavirus Lockdown, Fall in Love with Life Again by Following These Tips by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

When the world’s largest lockdown was announced in India on March 24, in view of the pandemic, COVID-19, little did we know that it will change everything for everyone. 1.3 billion people stuck in their homes for 21 days, and most of whom may have never stayed indoor for so long, mostly out of financial and professional reasons.

In response to the apocalyptic projections, this step was taken by the Indian Government, ensuring the safety of each one of us. But, while this quarantine period is saving us from the pandemic, it is becoming a nightmare for many as well. On the one hand, domestic violence is on the rise, and on the other anxiety counselling helplines haven’t stopped ringing. In many states, tipplers are struggling to cope with withdrawal symptoms too.

Although the news of the death of thousands breaks our heart, this may also be a time for many of us to go within and find the strength to deal with the unprecedented ties that we are in. This may be the best time for self-healing, for going back to our roots by practising Yoga and meditation for self-attainment?

In a recent conversation with Adotrip, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar revealed some important ways to use this lockdown period to find yourself and love yourself for who you are, the first way being understanding the context and purpose of our life.

“Let us first see, what is the context of our life? What have we been doing? When we open our eyes, we are lost in the world and when we close our eyes, we are off to sleep. Our senses are constantly engaged outside. We have been so busy, not getting enough sleep and rest or on the other hand, we had too much rest and couldn’t do what we needed to do. Use this time to see what should be the context of our lives. Understand what is that, that can make our happiness stronger in these times. That is called Wisdom. Wisdom expands the context of our life. Anyone who is not happy, make them see life from a broader context and you can bring a smile back to their face. As the context of life expands the problems and issues appear smaller and insignificant”, said the spiritual leader.

Gurudev also emphasized on experiencing silence. For that he stated, “We have hardly spent any time with ourselves, being fully present to this moment of silence. Look at the noise in your mind. What is it about? Money? Fame? Recognition? Fulfilment? Relationships? The noise is about something; silence is about nothing. Silence is the basis; noise is the surface. During this time, get a taste of silence. Very often, we are lost in the scenery. Now is the time to come back to the seer from the scenery. That is yoga. Solitude does not always have to be boring. It brings us inner strength and clarity of mind. The real communication happens in silence. Now that you are with your family, listen and just be with them.”

Another top tip of the ambassador of peace was to read and create. “Cut down on your screen time. It can be jarring for your nervous system. Limit your news intake to what is necessary and important. Do some reading instead. Pick up the Ashtavakra Gita or the Yoga Vasishta or Gita. These books will open your mind to a whole new dimension, in discovering more about consciousness. This is the time to be creative – write poems, come up with new recipes, learn an instrument or languages or paint! When you are creative, you break the monotony of time. Everything comes alive. Creativity brings along with it a lot of enthusiasm and energy and when you are enthusiastic you are closer to the creative principle of existence. Deep silence is the mother of creativity. No creativity can come out of one who is too busy, worried, over-ambitious or lethargic. Balanced activity, rest and yoga can kindle skills and creativity in you”, said Gurudev.

He also commented on the importance of not being scared. Here’s how he explained it, “We have seen epidemics before (SARS, Swine flu, and the plague after World War II). This is a temporary phase. Be rest assured, we will overcome this! Know that you are blessed. Just follow the rules – do not congregate. Take precautions. Eat well. Let your food have some turmeric and black pepper - they boost immunity. Cut down on sweets and sugar. They are known to halve our immunity. While staying at home, you will feel like eating a lot. Avoid overeating. Make it a point to meditate thrice every day. It will help to settle your mind, calm your emotions, bring physical and emotional strength and boost immunity. Meditation gives you the strength and positivity to pull through any adversity.”

Last but not the least, was his advice to ‘Connect’. Talking about the same, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar stated, “Use this time to connect with friends, maybe those in a different land that you have not spoken to in a while. Check how they are doing. Give them confidence and strength. It does not have to be superficial or forced. When you start feeling connected to them, they start feeling connected to you as well. It does not matter what you say. It matters who is speaking. We convey more by our vibrations than our words”.

See, this lockdown is after all not so bad. With so many voices around us, we often forget to appreciate what life has offered us with. And, in order to appreciate the same and your own being, follow these simple ways. These days, too, shall pass, and what’s left behind would be a better world and a better version of you.

We, at Adotrip, would reiterate ourselves: Nothing is Far… Neither happier days, nor self-acceptance and love.