Everywhere we turn these days, it seems there is nothing but tragedy. Not just in Canada, with its floods and fires, but all across our fragile planet. This, on top of the severe economic and social upheaval that has wreaked havoc for the past several years in almost every corner of the globe. Each disaster seems to follow another in rapid succession. There are even thoughts of “End Times” popping up here and there – see Jared Bland’s commentary in the Globe & Mail:
But “End Times”, even though it is an interesting topic, is not what I want to talk about here. Nor do I wish to address “moral evil” – disasters and tragedies caused by the action of humans. What is amazing to me is the capacity of human beings to live through all this suffering, pick up the pieces, and come together as a community. There is always the ray of light; faint at the beginning, but then it gets stronger and stronger.
What the victims must be going through, I can only conjecture. I can not even think how I would react and cope with the grim circumstances of the people in the midst of disaster. The best I can do to empathize with them is to look back to times in my own life when I faced devastating challenges.
As a practicing Hindu, three key teachings of my religion sustained me in extremely painful times.
The first Hindu teaching that I constantly thought about is that I am one with God (or Supreme Being) – my soul is one with God. My body, mind and possessions may be ravaged by everything that is going on, but the body, mind and possessions are transient, like the clothes we wear and discard when they are no longer useable. (Of course, materialism makes us discard clothes and material possessions long before their useful life is over!)
“I am one with God” – brings peace to the mind.
The second extremely helpful Hindu teaching for me was acceptance. Yes, psychologists have told us about the stages we go through when unexpected disaster befalls us. But we finally come to the stage of acceptance. The more prepared we are to reach acceptance without getting stuck in the intermediate stages, the stronger we come out in the end.
The third Hindu teaching that made me come out on top in the end is action. Not any kind of action, but action without (excessive) focus on outcome. The Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita says:
“Be intent on action, not on the fruits of action.
Avoid attraction to the fruits and attachment to inaction.”
Success or failure as the outcome should not be of concern. The action needs to be performed with a pure mind (goodwill) and should cause no harm to anyone.
At the end of each terrible experience when it was all over, I have even wondered, “How did I ever cross that torrential fast moving deluge, and come out alive at the other end?” I leave analysis to psychologists, and simply reaffirm my faith in the teachings of Hinduism.
How have you coped with incredibly painful circumstances? Do teachings from your faith background provide the strength and nourishment needed?
Would it help if we think of current disasters and tragedies and their victims in light of our faith / religious teachings?
Suresh Basrur practices the Hindu faith, participates in inter-faith activities in Victoria and speaks to audiences about Hindu religion, philosophy and practices.
You can read more posts from the interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking HERE
