Violence
and depression are not symptoms of Covid. Yet as Covid spread, incidence of
depression and domestic violence, reportedly flared across the world. Experts explain these behavioural changes as response to emerging
uncertainties. It is said that, prolonged uncertainty triggers anxiety,
helplessness and loneliness. Severity of these states depend upon the ability of
an individual to handle situations. Human response to external events stream
through a ‘thought -emotions- behaviour’ channel, the characteristics of which is
primarily dictated by the ‘philosophy of life’ evolved over time and internalised.
Loneliness
Loneliness
is a state of existence, where one feels alone and abandoned. An
end-state of an event or events, real or perceived, loneliness is the beginning
of retreat. It erodes self-esteem and aggravates the reinforcing cycle of anxiety
and sense of loss. It decimates interpersonal connections forcing withdrawal
into impenetrable cocoons. Loneliness, a silent devastating affliction, is the consequence
of an individual’s choice. Though conceded to, brought upon and aggravated by
oneself, loneliness is not always a voluntary act. Almost every human being
would have experienced loneliness at some point in life. While most of us cope
with it and emerge strong, some may require assistance. In fact many a boisterous acts and forced smiles could be masking loneliness.
Solitude
Solitude is
the destination of an inward journey. Deliberate exclusion
of external connect and noise facilitates the journey. Yogis have been known to distance themselves
from the world in meditation to attain solitude. It is in solitude that we recognise
our divine inner-self, gets acquainted with divinity and establish clutter free
communication with the creator. Unlike loneliness that ebbs life away, solitude
is an empowering act that can culminate in awakening and enlightenment. In
solitude we are not alone.
We Are Not
Alone
There is a
beautiful poem titled “Footprints in the sand[1]” (Posters caption it ‘Footprints”) going around for decades,
soothing nerves and motivating people.
The author[2] talks of a man’s dream in which “he
was walking along a beach with God”. “As scenes of his life flash in the
sky, he notices for each scene, footprints on the beach”, mostly, two sets,
but at places just one. He ascribes the two, one to himself and the other to God.
Corelating it with life, he realises that the single set of footprints related
to the “very lowest and saddest times in his life”. He “questions”
God as to “Why when I needed you most, you would leave me?”. God is said
to have responded, “…during your times of trial and suffering when you see
only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you”.
This moving story has
been used by inspirational speakers, spiritual leaders, god-men and god-women to
drive home the lesson, “we are not alone”.
Is that the only
message?
Delve deeper, beyond
the obvious and superficial, pearls of wisdom reveal themselves.
A Walk with God
The poem revolves
around a man’s ‘walk and talk’ with the Creator. There is no one else on the
beach, but that man and God talking to each other.
When a man believes that he has complete attention of God
to himself, it is solitude in its pristine perfect form. Once a connect between
the divine and mortal has been established, the mortal is awakened to inherent divinity
and the divine, His mortal form. Walking shoulder to shoulder with divinity
becomes as easy as a walk on the beach. Such a ‘walk together’ only can “leave footsteps
on the sands of time”.. Predominantly, witnessed
throughout the poem is the
interdependence between Creator and creation. Solitude helps discover, define,
sustain and nurture that inseparable relationship.
Divine
Accountability
In the poem, man accuses
God of desertion during bad times. It is almost as if God hitched a ride during
good times and ditched before the storm. Silent but loud, is the fact that man
does not acknowledge God’s role in good times. Accrediting himself with success,
man accuses God for failures! Despite the ungratefulness, God lovingly replies to
man’s accusations. The poem leaves it to the readers to accept or reject God's commitment in seeing us through turbulent
times. Subtle but strong, it reminds us how we take divine assistance for
granted, attribute success to our abilities and blame Him for our inadequacies.
Habitual of
approaching God with wish lists, our communication with Him, is about logistics
of “asking” in order to “receive”. Our conversations
with Creator are conditional and about bargains we unilaterally strike,
assuming divine complicity. We relentlessly attempt to influence and bind God with
‘offers He can't refuse’. Being judgemental, comes naturally to humans. But we
forget that, it is only in rough weather that man looks to God for support,
often questioning Him, “why me?” or “where are you?”.
To walk with God
and seek answers, one has to achieve solitude. Solitude is not a distant
destination.
Loneliness to
Solitude
Compelled to stay
indoors and helplessly watch events unfold, one is overwhelmed by
uncertainties. When apprehensions actualise and fear of the unknown overwhelms,
loneliness creeps in. That’s a choice we mistakenly make because we are unaware
of the inseparable connect that we have with the divinity within. We can emerge
stronger and better, if we decide to go for a walk on the beach with God.
For that to
happen, we have to first look back at the two pairs of footprints that
celebrated life and recognise the one that carried us through our trials and
tribulations. Safe in His hands, nothing is impossible. The moment we truly
attempt to recognise His presence, loneliness makes way for solitude.
Times are tough.
We have survived
worse.
We will survive
this too. Sun will rise again.
We just need to
calm our minds.
[1] Though we are
accustomed to one version there are many versions of this poem.
[2] Though the
author is marked as anonymous claim to authorship is heavily contested.
