This Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the modernity limits. Now, time is reflecting the illusionary character of our egos and the way of life.
As we are passing through fear of death and existential uncertainty, a question is that is confronting us is, How do we live? Is there nothing in living other than following the Covid guidelines like using sanitizers, wearing masks, avoiding gatherings, and having vaccination? In addition to them, our basic survival issues like financial and economical anxieties haunt us. Despite these, some moments are reflecting the purpose of living as we have seen loved ones dying, our world crumbling, and even medical insurance are proving to be illusionary. We will have the vaccines, and economists may assurance of a better future with enhanced GDP and growth rate. But, the spiritual questions that are raised by the pandemic will always continue bothering us. Even doctors and pharmaceutical companies will be unable to answer those questions. Maybe this pandemic is giving a message to us.
The tremendous energy generated by modernity makes us think like we are the masters of the world. Science helps us in predicting and controlling. we can change the world as we want through Technology. As well, with the medical sciences and diagnostic technologies growth, we can do postponement of death. All these are good and successful stories of modernity. Yet, with this modernity, we are forgetting the uncertainty of existence. A beauty queen will become a skeleton. The productivity of an efficient corporate executive might deprive by a cardiac arrest. Because of the modernist certainty, productivity, growth, and limitless consumption, everyone is forgetting that nothing and no one is permanent and prediction of the next moment is also impossible. To see the reality, we required a pandemic like this. This is the sad one.
Everyone has to think that can look beyond the illusory optimism of modernity is possible. If we know the reality of uncertainty and impermanence then we will know the mindfulness value. Yes, prediction of our tomorrow is not possible. Even a doctor or astrologer can not predict whether we see tomorrow’s sunrise. But, living at this moment intensely and mindfully is possible. In the name of future fear, why should we be negating this moment’s aliveness? When we experience this moment then only our life has a meaning.
Look at the way we are living. The urban centers have normalized anonymity. The workspaces made us strangers or competitors. We are thinking like money can buy anything. We are seeing ourselves in the social media followers and subscribers statistics. Surveillance technologies are teaching to suspect everyone. With all these, where are the chances of human relationships? Is there any single person, who has not feared of virus and lonely death in the hospital? Every one of us felt that we need loved persons. As well, we realized that everything can not be getting with money. Only love can conquer fear, love can make death meaningful. Moreover, love is more than a vaccine. This pandemic has given a permanent question: prioritizing love over money is possible?
The pandemic is destructive. The world may not be the same for the survived persons. Still, so many attempts are made to convince the next generation that life has to go on with the same greed, loneliness. But, if I and you are willing to be reflective then we can learn the living of life with love and gratitude.