Fear,
Mortality and Coronavirus
I
don’t think I have that many friends who don’t do somekind of
spiritual practice but I would like to post this short instruction to
be shared by my friends as an attempt to help anyone who might found
her- or himself overwhelmed by strong emotions due to fear of illness
and death caused by coronavirus. Please share this on your wall.
I
am a teacher of buddhist meditation. Some might think that ”buddhism”
is something religious but I personally view buddhism as a practical
philisophy that through different kinds of exercises can help us with
our existential and emotional issues. You can think yourself, use
your own reason and try the exercises I am about to suggest to you.
So.
Coronavirus triggers fear and anxiety in the minds and hearts of
many. We can feel this anxious energy that fills the air, even if we
are not in the immediate presence of other people. It is kind of
natural to be afraid in this life threatening situation. It is kind
of natural for us to react to this impending danger by becoming
fearful. However, we do not necessarily need to be bound by fear.
It
is a simple fact of life that what is born will also die. There is
not a single lifeform on Earth that is born and keeps on living. All
kinds of beings are born, live for some time and then pass away. This
includes everyone, you and I included. This simple fact is something
that people forget, even though it is inevitable. Think about it.
Our
Western culture does not discuss death openly so when something
unexpected happens in life, like we get into some accident or get
badly ill, we get very scared because we have forgotten our mortality
and are therefore in shock. Then in shock, not understanding the
situation, we are gripped by the fear of death or illness and we try
to grab onto something that could keep us safe. This is what hoarding
is, a primitive subconscious reaction to try get to a safe place.
Sure we need food and toilet paper but if you think it through
nothing in life can make us perfectly safe.
We
can have relative safety through family, friends, insurance and
wealth but if you think it through when the moment of death dawns or
we get a fatal illness these things are unable to quarantee our
safety. This is common logic.
Buddhist
meditation teaches you to know yourself. Knowing oneself means
becoming aware of what goes on in our mind. Instead of becoming
gripped by fear and anxiety, we can learn to notice how the emotion
of fear arises, comes into being. We can be aware of it rather than
dictated by it. This becoming aware of emotions makes us become free
from their negative power. This changes the way how we react and
experience things. Learning this is more precious than gold because
it helps us to find our true fearless and non-anxious being that
cannot be pushed by emotions and reactions. We all have that
fearless, peaceful and grounded potential, it just needs to be
recognised.
Through
this simple exercise we can find safety that does not depend on
external factors or other people.
If
we contemplate our mortality and become aware of our arising
emotions, we will not try to find safety and happiness from things
that can’t provide it. This doesn’t mean we need to get rid of
any of these things. Actually to have a loving family, trustworthy
friends and money is a great blessing. It’s just that through basic
life contemplation our way of being and our way of seeing things
changes.
Even
in difficult circumstances we can remain calm, clear minded and
sincerely joyful. Even at the moment of death we can smile and enjoy,
and not be scared. Many people are terrified by death because they
have not prepared and acquired understanding. This is merely a matter
of knowing who we are and what is going on in our mind.
There
are many forms and traditions of buddhism, meditation, mindfulness
and meditative yoga out there. Please help yourself and seek
instructions and guidance from proficient teachers and organisations.
The
point is not to join a religion or a group. The point is to acquire
first hand knowledge of ourselves. The point is to make sense of
life, to reduce and eradicate unstudied confusions, fears and
psychological contraction in our minds.
Thank
you for reading and sharing this message. Let’s put an end to the
pandemic of fear.
Kim
Katami
Pemako
Buddhist teacher,
