Curing the Pandemic

What do we do when there’s a pandemic?

Well, firstly, we all get terrified, and then we calm ourselves and focus on finding a vaccine.

And so what do we do about the current pandemic?

I wonder if you know which particular pandemic I’m referring to? If you’re mindful of your thoughts and behaviour you’ll be aware of your own fearful responses to situations. We might verbally (or worse) lash out at a partner or friend. We might seek to control people and situations. We might freeze and simply do nothing; limiting ourselves through fear.

As is the case with many things, the simplest solution, is the most powerful

It isn’t necessary to negotiate with our fear, this only keeps it alive. Instead, we must focus on understanding it’s nature; what exactly are we afraid of? Becoming aware of this through meditation and mindfulness instantly reduces it’s hold over us. Previously, we weren’t aware of the fear, and now that we are, we’re able to look beyond it. What is the worst that can happen? Switch on the light of awareness through mindfulness.

The long term cure is available when we begin to water the seeds of love and compassion

The antidote to fear is love. Let’s say, for example, the fear is that of rejection. Look at the root of rejection and we can see, once again, it’s illusory nature. Rejection has the potential to hurt us emotionally. The fear is of that pain. It is fear of fear itself.

When we love ourselves sufficiently, rejection, holds no potential for pain. The love of the self is the antidote. Begin by watering the seeds of love and they will flourish. Finding these seeds within involves stopping and meditating. We follow this with constant concentration and mindfulness on our thoughts and behaviour. Which seeds are you watering today?

Learn to meditate.