Responsibility and accountability during Covid-19!

Hello all,

Namaste! All of you, my dear blog readers, know about my website-swaroopa.net. I have started my business, Swaroopa store, which can be accessed from Shop tab on my website, for Souls who are interested in a personal reading. Now to the post.

Before going into this weeks post, I would like to do a slight change in the feeds of my blog. I used to subscribe to a feed called "Specific feeds", which they later sold or changed to "follow it". I find that it is loaded with advertisements and actually negates the very purpose of this blog itself- higher ideals and thoughts. Hence, I am planning to stop this RSS feed and go just back to Google Blogger free subscriber services.

By next week, I would manually add every single email, that has been with "Follow it" back to the Google Blogger free subscriber service. Wait for a mail from Google. If you didn't get the email, please subscribe back using the blog "subscribe" button- that is from Google. I find the Google email to have, just the blog alone- clean and nice, without any of the distracting advertisements that come with the "follow it" feed. I would like to keep this blog, one place where you, the blog reader can just read and think about higher concepts, ideas and thoughts in a world that is kept prisoner by Maya- advertisements. noise and chaos. So, please check your email for a Google mail and accept the link to authorize it. Now, to the blog.

Changing times:

But as we are being made to realize, we share a lot of things and have a lot in common. The space called Earth we share, the atmosphere, the Earthly resources, finally the human race as a whole. It is actually an illusion, that we are different kind of humans and have different countries and ethnicity. To be in a society, countries, ethnicity, geographical borders, currencies, markets all are needed. But underneath there is a deeper truth.

World Covid-19 outbreak map
Image credits - Raphaël Dunant, Gajmar (maintainer)

All of us are humans, a bag of blood and bones. If a contagious virus, that is very virulent comes, all of us are going to be affected. It doesn't matter, one is wealthy, has influence, special security clearance or a powerful position in society. In a society-these all things are important. But when a sickness or disease comes, all those outer trappings of society, money, culture and influence fall away. The deeper truth comes front and center- being a human, having a physical body and a thinking mind to go with it.

Stephen Hawking
Image credits -
Nasa/Public Domain

We discuss, these philosophical concepts and thoughts. But one thing is very important. A healthy mind and a body is needed to lead a deep, fulfilling life. It is not enough to have a fantastic mind. If the body is not well, the person struggles with physical issues. Examples - Stephen Hawking and John Nash. Both brilliant physicists. Stephen Hawking suffered all through his life with a very debilitating neuro-muscular disease and John Nash struggled with his bipolar affected mind. He had to be institutionalized for one or two decades. Both brilliant minds, but struggling with disease of the body or the mind. Then we see, innumerable people with a very healthy body, but a very sick mind. Without a sane mind to help those Souls, they end up living a very handicapped life.

So, first of all we should be grateful if we were blessed, with a healthy mind and a body. We could very well have been kept away from both of them. As of now we are provided with a healthy body and a healthy mind. Let us be Thankful. We could have very well be born without that. Gratefulness is a deep Universal virtue that opens the chest of abundant blessings. Even the Universe or the Divine will likes to be appreciated. The question becomes- "You were provided with these blessings. Why are you not appreciating it in the first place?" Were we really appreciating what we had?

No! In the last decade, we as humans were at the throat of one another, trying to portray, the right and wrong, us versus them and my group versus the alien group. Who are these us and them? All were born here on Earth- of course, in many different places, but all enclosed within the Earth. Yes, according to the country/ origin/ citizenship, the statuses changes. But even then, with all those differences can't we be nice to each other?

John Forbes Nash

That is the true question. With all these surface differences, can we see the human that is there underneath the culture, values, country, ethnicity, religion and party politics? That is where we missed out big time. If we had seen that human underlying every person, the first country, whichever it was (here, China) would have called an authentic press conference and informed the global community of such an emerging pandemic. In the tardiness that happened, the global community lost a few months. Above this individual countries also made tonnes of mistakes. Think about it.

Is it a wise decision to come out of the World Health Organization (WHO) that helps in missions for global health, in the middle of a serious, raging pandemic? That is the step the United States of America has done. Of course, the change would only happen in 2021. But is that the correct step to take? When we are having a raging fever, we take the medicine bottle, throw it on the floor and waste all the medicine?

Isn't it exactly that kind of behavior? A world leadership comes with it's responsibilities. Both countries failed miserably. This was about the responsibilities of countries and leadership. Unfortunately, we, as a single human cannot do much about it, other than express what we feel.

Personal responsibility:

During a pandemic, if we are not taking the appropriate actions, that is where we would end up - in a hospital, ICU, ventilator or even death bed. Except for some governmental authorities who have other ulterior agenda, all health authorities are saying the same things again and again. Wear a mask in public spaces, wash hands frequently, socially distance, keep oneself  six feet apart and take precautions to be safe.

Another thing I find not correct entist, is the way a mask is being worn. The correct way is, the mask should cover the mouth and should come above the nose. Otherwise there is zero use in wearing a mask. It is not going to protect us or another person. The virus particles can stay in the droplets of sneeze someone did. When our nose is uncovered, the sneeze particles we breathe in and the next second, the virus is within our lungs.

I see, a lot of people on television, standing in groups, having social interactions with the mask sitting underneath the nose. Wrong. The mask should come and sit on the bridge or just below the bridge of one's nose. Otherwise there is no point in wearing a mask. Only we the person may be content, we are wearing a mask. Other than that, it is not going to help us much.

So, these all are personal responsibilities we need to give attention to. The internet and the online library is within our reach. It becomes our responsibility to find the correct information and use it for ourselves. God or Divine already gave us mind, intelligence and intellect. It becomes our duty to use it to the very best of our ability. The other day, I saw a lady wearing the mask with both nostrils fully uncovered. I was hesitant whether to let her know or not. People tend to take it in a bad way many times if you point out the mistakes. I didn't. But decided I needed to write about it, so that people know it.

The correct way to wear a mask,
nose and mouth covered
Image credits - Paladin Zhang

It is our responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Fighting against the guidance that are there to keep us alive is mere stupidity. We may think, wearing a mask is not necessary. But what we think and feel doesn't matter in this case. If one is not taking the safety precautions, one is sure to get the virus, whatever we think or feel. So, the people nowadays protesting against wearing the mask and social distancing is actually putting their own lives at risk as well as that of others. If we are not ready to just wear a simple mask and socially distance, we may end up staying within our home for the next two years. How about that? Is that good enough?

Accountability:

When the administration is not doing the correct procedures actually who are the ones suffering? It is not the government officials or the top executives. It is the very normal people- people like you and me. The top level officials get great insurance and medical facilities. But it is the day laborer, the vegetable vendor or the normal every day being, who is taken to task. Also, as the administration is not following strict rules and regulations, dilly-dallying, the respective citizens become confused and chaos ensues. So, there should be accountability for the administrations as well as with the people.

Another mishap that happened was the enormous number of people who were forcefully displaced in India due to the pandemic. Many migrant workers had gone to other states to find jobs. Suddenly when the country shut down, these every day

CDC Face mask check list, (CDC- Center for Disease Control, USA)
Image credits - Posted on website of CDC during COVID-19 pandemic / Public domain

As the governments and health authorities are accountable to what they do and how they protect their citizens, we as people are also accountable to our actions and behaviors. What are we doing? How are we taking care of ourselves? Are we spreading correct information or fake news? Are we wearing masks, socially distancing and washing our hands? It is so easy to relax our standards and do what we want to do.

It may be great to go to the beach at this time, among the crowd without a mask. But when the sickness hits us, are we ready to take accountability for our behavior? Many times people are not. People want the pomp and show the position or the behavior brings. But when the same position asks us to be responsible and accountable, we are not ready for it. Last week, I wrote, as long as we are not ready to be totally responsible and accountable for our life, our intentions and our actions, the true power of the being as well as the Soul is kept away from us.

True power:

Yes, I have 25 years of life, where I tried my level best to be not responsible to my own intentions and thoughts. Even going behind the trend or the 'cool thing' of those times for career or education is not taking responsibility. In 1991, it was upcoming field of Biotechnology- very cool! As my mind suggested, I went, leaving behind

Great, I can now understand Science and Biotech well. But as a person, it was irresponsible on my part to throw away the passions and interests, I had. See, how true power comes? Only when a being is ready to totally embrace every part, every essence and every aspect of himself / herself, living fully, totally from the heart that is aligned with the body, mind and will, the true power of the being comes into play. If you have seen the movie Matrix, the main character, Neo was able to access his true power only when he had faith in himself and belief in his talents and skills.

The same applies to us as well. At this time, it is the responsibility for our health and well being, by listening to the guidance from medical and Science professionals. As long as, we are not ready to take total accountability and responsibility for our thoughts, intentions and actions, we are never given access to our own innate, true, authentic power.

We believe before this decision also, we have 'power'. But this power is only half-measure as many times the heart is not in the picture, project or life. We humans can very well live an 'alive but a zombie' life. Sleep walking through life, even without realizing we are sleep walking. Not even an iota of realization. We are born, we grow, do many actions, about which we ourselves have zero clue, keep ourselves extremely busy, grow old, then go back behind the curtain.

The true power of a being!
Image credits - Pixabay.com

No clue, what we are doing. Instead, this is how truly we should live. Our deepest desires from the Soul should lead our heart. Our heart should lead our intentions. Our intentions should be helped by our mind with the deepest will. That deepest will should help us to transform our intentions into actions through our body. When we do that Soul energy flow into heart, then flow into our intentions that flow into the mind, which flows to our will and then flows to our body and transforms into actions. A very powerful place!

Soul, heart, intentions, mind, will, body and actions aligned. When a being stands in this powerful place, even their simple words become true. Total accountability and responsibility for one's life, intentions, behaviors and actions. When we are not ready to take that, we as a being really don't know what we are missing out on. We, as beings, when don't even want to take responsibility to wear a mask and keep ourselves safe, how can we even think about this kind of responsibility and accountability? We can't.

But only to such a person, who is ready to take that kind of accountability and responsibility for one's own life is given the key to their own chamber of inner power. To such a person, the realms of true creativity open. Then, the verse in the Upanishads come true in their life.

True power- Aham Brahma Asmi ! (I am the creator of my experiences!) The power to create!

Now, whether to become accountable and responsible, that is always a being's free will and choice!

I wish you a good and safe weekend, and I'll see you next Friday!😉

Next week: Intellectualization or Experience?

Image Credits:  Wikimedia Commons and Pixabay