The BlogTalk: 12th Question: Is it good to leave our current place? Should we consume immunity boosters?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath (The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Snehal Pawar

Q. I am having two questions about current situation. Firstly, in this pandemic situation, everyone ran towards their hometown as they thought they will be safe there. But the problem is there is no specific place which is safe during this time. But now living in our surrounding is also dangerous for us. My question is, it is good for us to leave our current place or not? And another question is, medical retailers are selling different tablets and medicines to increase immunity. So, it is good to consume it or not?

— Snehal S. Pawar, Student of Keimoudo® — Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: "I am addressing your first question where you said that during this pandemic everyone is running to their hometown because they think they will be safe. And you asked whether it is a good decision.

The entire upheaval that we have been witnessing over the past couple of weeks has multiple, complex angles and there are no straightforward answers.

But here are some things you need to understand: 

When the government initially asked people to stay put and stay where they were, it was the right appeal and a very necessary step to take at that time. Because if people would have been told to go in the beginning of the lockdown, we would have witnessed total pandemonium. People from what have now been identified as Red Zones would have gone to Green Zones, and we would be facing a much bigger crisis than what we are facing today.

So, the government did the right thing, and for some time people complied. But when people began realizing the actual implications of the lockdown, the seriousness of the infection and its rate of spread, and the fact that the lockdown could go on for longer than a few weeks, things started getting out of hand. All those who had come to cities from other states or towns became desperate to go back home. Why?

There are multiple reasons. 

First is basic human psychology. When we are in trouble, we remember our home and our family. People leave their hometowns and come to cities for various reasons. And when things are normal their busy schedule keeps them occupied and they follow a mechanical routine. But when they get sick, or lose their job, or if there is a pandemic, etc. they yearn for their home. Even those who have been told they have very little time to live, prefer to go home and spend the remainder of their life with their family. This nature is there in our DNA.

Then there is the question of safety. You say that no specific places are safe. It is not like that. At the beginning of the pandemic, almost all the villages and small towns in India were safe. According to news reports, instances of coronavirus infection were first seen abroad, and it first came into Indian cities through international travelers who landed in our city airports. 

And this pandemic spread at a very fast rate in cities because our cities are crowded, congested, houses are close by, and many people use common toilets, etc. But things are different in villages.

Villages are not congested and there the houses have bigger premises. People know that their villages and hometowns are safe and they can be fully isolated in their homes, and they know that their chances of getting infected by Coronavirus is very less in their hometowns.

The third factor is practical and financial. Most people don’t have jobs and they have to still pay house rent and pay for food in the city. They also don’t know what the future holds for them. They don’t know how long the lockdown will last, whether they will get a job later, etc. But if they go back to their villages, they don’t have to pay their house rent and they can get food.

Why do you think people walked or cycled thousands of kilometres, traveled by trucks and other vehicles and generally risked their lives to go home? If people were happy where they were, they would not have done this. If they had a proper and safe place to stay and had money, they would not have taken such drastic steps. Given these factors, their decision to go home seems very obvious.

But in their hurry to escape the risk of infection and other uncertainties, they failed to realize that the very journey they planned to undertake was fraught with even bigger risks. The crowds—whether on roads where people were walking in hundreds, or in trucks/tempos that were packed to capacity with people, or at ticketing areas, bus depots, and in train stations where people would gather in thousands—were so great that maintaining social distancing was near impossible. And people didn’t understand that the journey could make them a carrier of the infection and that they could infect their entire family or village after they go home. This is, in fact, happening right now.

The deadly virus, which was so far contained within urban areas, has now reached the rural areas. This, according to me is a very dangerous thing, and will make the situation worse.

And so, is it good to leave the current place? There is no simple answer. If people who are not affected by the virus are able to find a safe way to go home without getting affected during the travel, then going back is fine. But on the other hand, if people travel in a risky manner and contract the infection then they can affect their home and village. This can be an even bigger problem because arranging the required medical facilities in most villages might be difficult.

So, we cannot label the decision of people wanting to leave for their hometown as right or wrong; good or bad. There are pros and cons to everything.

Your next question is about medical retailers selling tablets and medicines to increase immunity and whether it is good to consume them.

Doctors and healthcare experts around the world are now saying that people with good immune system have a lesser chance of contracting coronavirus as well as greater chance of recovery if they do get infected.

Immune system can be boosted in a natural manner by eating proper food, getting good sleep, taking in fresh air and water, exercising, and keeping stress at bay. You need to get 7- 8 hours of sleep. Proper food includes green leafy vegetables, pulses, roots, nuts, and fruits. Most of our traditional food has ingredients like turmeric, ginger, black pepper, jaggery, cinnamon, garlic, onion, cloves, fresh coconut, etc. which are good immune boosters. You can also consume black raisins, honey, coconut water, and fruits like papaya and orange that help keep many infections at bay. You can have herbal tea. You need to exercise regularly.

This is the natural way. But if you feel you are deficient in any way or you cannot manage most of this, then for this particular situation you may take supplements. But don’t buy directly from medical retailers. Consult your doctor and ask them to prescribe, as it is the safest way to take any medicine or supplements. But remember it is just for this situation and I would always recommend the natural way to boost the immune system."

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 11th Question: India has such a strong culture. Can we guide the world out of this pandemic situation?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Venkatesh Katkar

Q. Looking at the current situation of COVID-19 and the impact it is having on entire world I always think that India as a country can lead the world out of this crisis. Looking back at our ancient times we see that Master Boddhidharma went to China and guided them to a spiritual path and taught how to live a healthy life. We have different ancient Healing Techniques, Mantras and Medicinal formulations. 

Also, India is called as the land of mystics and have a strong culture of Vedas, Vajras, Yoga and Ayurveda. 

Now based on this my question is that India as a nation with such a strong heritage can lead by example and guide the world out of this pandemic situation. How far this thought is correct? Master please put light on this and guide us.

— Venkatesh Katkar, Student of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: “You are ‘Venkatesh’, the one who saves the people from troubles, and yet you ask me this question?” jokes the Master. 
“You say that we had medicinal formulations. What are you trying to say? That there is a formulation present in some book and we can use it to make a medicine and send it across the world to cure the pandemic?” (The Master laughs)
“Your question is whether India can lead the world out of this pandemic and become an example. You base this given our rich history, culture, and science. 

Which India are you talking about? Is India the same today like it was when Ayurveda flourished and we were discovering medicinal formulations? Your question contains the answer.

‘Ancient India’ was the land of the wise and the mystics. It had a rich culture and several branches of science flourished. It was a country with wealthy people having good virtues and thoughts. This land nourished the spiritual quests of several great Masters and Spiritual Gurus, including Lord Shri Krishna, Lord Gautam Buddha, Acharya Chanakya, Lord Mahavira, Lord Guru Nanak, Master Bodhidharma, and hundreds of others.

Are we connected with this science and these Masters’ teachings? You know the answer to that question.
We are disconnected from it. We talk about Vedas, Yoga, Ayurveda, Martial Arts, etc. But these are mere fragments of the remnants of a very vast culture. What we have with us now is just superficial knowledge, which we put to superficial use as we boast about our ‘culture’.

But the very fact that these remnants are there is a very good thing. Using this, we can revive our science and culture and rise up once more.

But in order for us to reconnect with our culture and science and bring back the Glorious India, it is important for us to understand how we got disconnected from it. How from being the land that was once known as Sone ki Chidiya or “Golden Sparrow”, we are now identified as a land of snake charmers, and Western media and film makers, since the time of our independence in 1947, have shown dirty villages and cities, where people are struggling in abject poverty and hunger.

This is not how we were. We were economically, scientifically, culturally, and spiritually rich since the beginning of history. We lived in highly planned cities and towns like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro as far back as 2,600 BCE, and Takshashila around 1,000 BCE. We had great seats of learning. Takshashila had one of the world’s first universities. Nalanda University in present-day Bihar came into being about 2,500 years ago and is considered the second-oldest university in the world. Our land was adorned by graceful forts, and beautiful temples and monuments, which are still architectural wonders. Examples of this are still visible in almost all states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab. Throughout these times, our skills in handicrafts, metallurgy, exotic weaves of cotton and silk, etc. were the envy of the world and the motivation for people from across the planet to undertake thousands of kilometres of journey to this land of abundance.

If we were indeed as poor as depicted in today’s images, would we have been able to create all of the above? Even in ancient India, don’t you think building cities and monuments would have cost money? And if all the artists were subjugated, poor, and unhappy, would it have been possible for them to bring out their artistry?

We flourished because our people were guided by great Acharyas, Wise scholars and Spiritual Gurus. Even our kings had “Raj Gurus” or royal Gurus who played a very important role in nurturing the kingdoms. They helped the kings have a balanced mind, kept a check on them, and advised them against doing anything that would have dire consequences or went against the greater good of humankind. One such great example is Acharya Chanakya, a Guru, royal advisor, and a pioneer in the field of political science and economics.

We were skilled, wise and had good virtues, because we had the Gurukulam-based education system. Pupils stayed with the guru and learnt to become responsible individuals in society. Apart from teaching virtues, the Guru taught various arts and science, including the art of warfare, economic science, medicines, etc. as well as spiritual science like Yoga Vedanta.

We were technologically and scientifically advanced. We had developed agricultural technology and medicines. Ayurveda, which means ‘the knowledge (science) of life’ is said to have originated almost 5000 years ago in India. It was a divine healing science. Medicines made from ayurvedic principles using herbs, roots, plants, seeds, etc. were used for treating all kinds of diseases; and even during pandemics! A student of Ayurveda would study in the lap of nature and under the guidance of the Guru. It didn’t include memorizing the names of chemicals or herbs and their effects and prescribing it to treat various ailments.

The whole approach was meditative in nature where students would reach their higher self and identify plants, herbs and other materials, and understand their qualities and transform them into various types of medicines.

The very word “medicine” is very pure. There are two aspects to it. The first is “Meditate upon your sins.” Here don’t think of ‘sin’ in terms of everything that has been said to scare us (we will burn in hellfire, or our next life will be bad, etc.). Here sin means grave mistake. While doing a grave mistake is a sin, we must and should understand it, contemplate on it, and resolve never do it again. Then a large part of our problem will disappear! In the second aspect it means Medicine in physical form that is prepared in a deep meditative state.

And yes, we strived hard for people everywhere to benefit from our wisdom and science. You mention Master Bodhidharma who went to China and taught many things to the Chinese. Just think: He was a King’s son. But on his Guru’s orders he left everything and undertook such a long journey for the betterment of human kind. “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha” was part of our culture and when we said ‘sarve’ we meant every creature and entity that shares this planet with us. Our Upanishads taught us about Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, which means “the world is one family”.

But ever since the invasion by Alexander, we were continuously attacked by foreign forces who not only stole our wealth, but through every possible means also disconnected us from our science, culture and virtues. All the foreigners who came here got dazzled by our richness, befriended us, and then stabbed us in the back. To take over our kingdoms, spread their religion, plunder our wealth, and various other selfish desires, they stole everything from us. They brutally slaughtered the wise men, Gurus, and Masters who opposed them. They destroyed many monuments and temples, religious texts, and historical documents. Most of our records and documents didn’t survive their brutality.

For example, we know that Master Bodhidharma went from South India to China in about 5th Century CE to teach Dhyaana (Dhyaana became known as ‘Chan’ in Chinese and Zen in Japanese). But he saw that their physical condition was weak and so He also taught them martial techniques as a form of exercise. This martial arts form later came to be known as Shaolin Kung Fu, which later became the source of Karate, Taekwondo, and other systems of martial arts that are now popular around the world. And about 40 years ago when Karate was introduced in India, we came to know about Master Bodhidharma. And while all of Master Bodhidharma’s teachings, records, place of stay, etc. are intact in China, if you go to Tamil Nadu where he was born, there are no records of his early life in India or of his ancestors.

Even if you consider just the period from the Mughal invasion until the end of the British Raj, we are looking at approximately 400 years where our people lived a subjugated life. This itself is enough to change the people of a country.

But even after we got independence, we could have used our freedom to reconnect.

For example, one of the most important things from which the foreigners disconnected us are our languages. Before finally leaving us in 1947, the British introduced us to English which replaced every other language.

This had two effects: first was on our mother tongue, or regional/state languages. After they left, English took prominence instead of our mother tongue. We preferred (and still prefer) going to, and sending our children to, English medium schools. We learn “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water”! How does that help us? Ironically, I have to give this BlogTalk in English in order for a majority of you to understand!

Today there are very few state languages that are pure and without English influence. Otherwise, most state languages are spoken by mixing quite a few English words. There is nothing wrong with this, but our language holds the essence of our culture; it is the foundation on which our culture is based. And it is sad that we have lost quite a bit of this fragrance.

The second effect was on Sanskrit. We were completely disconnected from it. I say that while our mother tongue connects us to our country and our culture, Sanskrit is a Scientific language that connects us to our science.

The Vedas, Upanishads, and even the Medicinal formulations that you mentioned were written in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is a complete language and it is very difficult to translate it to any language. Translation cannot retain the same meaning and the essence is lost. Very often, there are no exact terms for Sanskrit words or phrases. For example, the word Dhyaana has no synonym that exactly translates the word. In English, the word meditation comes closest but still does not mean Dhyaana. Also, most of our scriptures are written in the form of Sutras, which literally mean thread or that which holds things together. Sutras are condensed rules that succinctly states the message. Minimal words are used to communicate the teachings within the Sutra. The ability to create sutras are the specialty of the Sanskrit language. And therefore, without knowing Sanskrit well, we cannot unlock the essence of our scriptures.

But like I said before, it is possible for us to revive and fully connect with everything. We and our ancestors belong to the same land that nourished the great Masters. And so, we also have the potential to discover what they discovered. The knowledge and spirit are there in our DNA as well.

And the key is the Sanskrit language. And so, if we study the Sanskrit language, we will be able to study these texts and understand them in totality. If we will study the Vedas in Sanskrit, they will act as the password that will activate and unlock the memories in our DNA. The Vedas will make us capable to see for ourselves and find answers to everything.

Again, I don’t want you to misunderstand that the scriptures themselves have the answers. If you compare studying of scriptures to the modern western education, then again you will go in the wrong direction.

But for us to reconnect ourselves and get our strength back, we need to pursue it seriously and invest time. The government and our citizens must work together and over the next 10-15 years, if the coming generations learn Sanskrit, then we will be able to study and understand our Vedas, Upanishads, mantras, etc.

But unfortunately, today in our country Sanskrit is associated with religion, even though all over the world youngsters are learning Sanskrit and Sanskrit Mantras because they have understood its true nature and view it as a source of knowledge and not as religious texts! Click this link to see how after giving us the English language, Britain is taking learning Sanskrit very seriously. Click here

Against that, look at what’s happening in India: Click here  

Vedas and scriptures came into being thousands of years ago before any organized religion came into existence. For us organized religion was a foreign concept. We had enlightened people whom we called Gurus. A Guru was one who could guide us out from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge.

Which is why when foreign organized religious people came, we accepted them as one of us and welcomed them wholeheartedly. Our scriptures tell us about “Atithi Devo Bhava”, which means every guest is God. But unfortunately, we did not understand this phrase then, nor do we understand it now. Let me explain. The “atithi” or guest referred to in our scriptures means every little creature and plant that is a guest on this planet; everything that has been born to go back to its source. This phrase was meant to teach us to treat every creature and being on this planet as God's (existence's) guest and to treat it with respect.

But we applied this saying only to human beings who came as guests! We did not stop to see whether they had any selfish intentions or if they were invaders. We welcomed them all. And look at what happened? Not only did they torture us, slay our kings and wise men, and destroy our heritage structures, books, and records, but also introduced their organized religion in our country!

Having said that, the same trait of humanity and concern for all is there within us even today. Which is why during the pandemic, in the spirit of universal brotherhood we gave allopathy medicines to countries across the world. Whenever possible we have also helped rescue non-Indians as well. Our management of the pandemic is being appreciated by people all over the world.

But we can and will do much more. If any part of the world needs anything, I am sure our country will do everything possible to help those people or country, even as we ourselves struggle with the same crisis. Such is the power of our culture.

And after the Pandemic dies down and the lockdown ends, if we all work to rise up once again, we can help nourish a new world. We can guide people in every field and can help take care of every being on this planet. With our spirit of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, we can aspire for

‘Sarvesham swasthir bhavatu,
Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu,
Sarvesham Poornam Bhavatu,
Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu,’ 
which means
May auspiciousness be unto all.
May peace be unto all.
May fullness be unto all.
May prosperity be unto all.”

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 10th Question: Will covid-19 have a long-lasting effect on our life? Will our life be the same as it was before?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centers, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Q. Will covid-19 have a long-lasting effect on our social life? Will our life be the same as it was before? Will people become more afraid to socialise?
We have been already living a digital life than social life, as today people are connected with each other mainly via Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram etc. and meeting or socializing with each other only occasionally due to current lifestyle and professional commitments. So, with this covid-19 situation, this type of lifestyle will become prominent and balance will be lost.
As there is no medicine for this disease as of now, this fear is increasing day by day. Also, what effect is it going to have on employment? Please advise, Master.

—  Shashikant Pawade, Parent of Dhruv & Kshitij Pawade, Students of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: "There are multiple aspects to your question, so I will address them one by one. You first asked if covid-19 will have an effect on our social life. Well I guess that depends on covid-19 and how long it will stay among us! If a medicine or vaccine is discovered or the virus becomes dormant on its own in the next few months, then things will come back to normal almost immediately. But if it lasts longer than that, then definitely social life will get affected and it won’t be like it is now. However, we will find newer and better ways, and with time we will completely adjust to it.

Then you ask if life will be the same as it was before and if people will be afraid to socialize. I want to ask you: do you think our life was better before this pandemic? We had made a complete mess of our lives as well as of the planet (read the 6th BlogTalk: This pandemic - A call from Nature? Or just a co-incidence?). And now we have got the time to contemplate and an opportunity to learn from all the mistakes we have made and create a much better life once we come out of the lockdown. So, I say there’s nothing to fear because things will be much better. But again, that depends on us.

What you said about the digital mediums replacing every aspect of our social life before the pandemic is true. For some years now, our hectic and demanding lifestyles gave us very little time. And so, digital media became an alternative. It even affected us on a cultural level. For example, even wedding invitations were being sent on WhatsApp! But of course, you must also be aware that we did misuse it a lot as well.

But don’t you think that perhaps all these technological inventions happened so that we can pull through during this situation? Can you imagine how difficult things would have been if there was no Mobile, WhatsApp, Video Conferencing, etc.?

Even though there might be physical distance between us and the people we love, we can still stay in touch using these means. Also, Mobile, 4G network, and the ability to use WhatsApp and other digital platforms have permeated every level of the society. Quite a few people in rural areas also have smart phones and access to good mobile and internet network. At this time, most of the migrant workers and those away from their family are able to speak to their family who are in villages or in other cities or countries, and they are able to entertain themselves by watching programs and movies online. Imagine how difficult life would have been if this technology had not existed! Thanks to modern videoconferencing technology, students can continue with their school and college education, and people can stay connected with their office colleagues and work from home. These are examples of putting technology to good use.

Even if the pandemic extends, then don’t worry. In fact, you should be happy that you can communicate without risking your life as well as the lives of others. We should consider this a very big blessing. If the crisis extends, then we will find different ways to do our work.

Next you say that fear is increasing as there is no medicine or cure for this disease. This is very obvious. Coronavirus can be fatal and so we are afraid for our lives. And that fear is very important and needed. It is this fear that will help us take care of ourselves and others, and follow the lockdown and social distancing norms.

Let me give you an example. One of my friends once asked me to suggest a good breed of dog to intimidate outsiders and strangers coming to his house. So, I told him that for his house any breed of dog would do, because people are not afraid of any particular breed. They are afraid of the 14 injections that they will have to take if they get bitten by the dog! (This incident happened when anti rabies vaccine required taking 14 injections around the stomach region!). Fear stops people from going near a dog, just like the fear of coronavirus will make us adhere to lockdown and social distancing norms.

But fear is okay only to that extent. Beyond that if the fear turns into panic, then it will affect your health. Fear should guide you to do the right thing and not cause problems for you.

Finally, you ask about employment. Employment and the fate of the economy are biggest cause of worry among people all over the world these days. So great is their stress that some are even willing to put their life at stake to keep their job or to boost the economy.

But what can happen? There are two possibilities: The pandemic might die down completely within a few months. In such a case, nothing will happen and we can get back to the way we were. Across the world, governments, industrialists, and other experts and innovators are constantly striving to bring life back in order. Work is happening to discover medicines and vaccines for Coronavirus as well as to minimize damage to the economy. And so, chances are that things will come back on track sooner than later.

But even if we think of the worst-case scenario, wherein we are not able to find a medicine or vaccine on time and the crisis continues for a longer duration, don’t worry. Sure, for some time things will be a bit difficult. But remember, you will not be the only one affected. Professions in every sector of the economy, and every person doing all kinds of jobs will be affected, because that’s how strongly we are linked to one another within the economy.

And therefore, there is a very good chance that other innovators and scientists will soon come up with brilliant, breakthrough technological inventions to resume work. Who knows, we might develop the technology to enable us to be present in another location without leaving our homes using technology like 3D hologram! Other advanced technologies that are being experimented and are under development, such as teleportation (which means the ability to travel instantaneously between two locations without crossing the intervening space) might also get introduced! 

You might laugh when I say this, but remember that everything that we have invented so far and everything we find common today was at one time a fantastic dream or science fiction. About 150 years ago if people were told that in future, we would be able to travel thousands of kilometres in one day and be back home by the end of the day, would they have believed it? And yet, inventions like the aeroplane, which were an object of fascination some time back, are now routine. Regular business travelers don’t even realize they have traveled half way around the world and back in a few hours!

So, don’t think that things will be bad if the pandemic lasts long. Our fear and worry are rooted in the fact that we get attached to the current way of doing things and we see everything based on where we are today. Also, most of us are unable to think that something better will come. We have so many brilliant scientists, and technology is so advanced and at such a peak that what will come will be a much better version of what we have now. And even that will soon become common and a way of life. The nature of employment will change and our manner of travelling and communicating will change, and the change will be for the better. I agree that all the great inventions and our improved life and lifestyle will come at the cost of the tragic loss left behind by the Coronavirus pandemic. But as sad as that is, it is a part of the change that is coming.

All I want to tell you, and everyone else, is to not be afraid. The world will not end. In fact, this is an opportunity to make the world even better. For now, we just need to take care of ourselves and our family and cooperate with the system as it tries to come out of this situation."

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 9th Question: How to stay calm and mentally strong during the lockdown?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the corona virus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Kundan Bhosale

Q. How to stay calm and mentally strong during lockdown period or difficult time or any bad situation? Because we need to be patient in this situation. But we are losing our patience.
— Kundan Bhosale, Student of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: “I am not sure what you mean when you talk about losing patience and an inability to stay calm. What will you do if you completely lose patience? Will you start dancing at home? Will you rush out and climb the trees in your society? Besides, what were you doing before the lockdown that was so critically important that the world will now suffer because you are at home!” (The Master laughs!)

“Also, all those of us who are from this state, who have a proper house with running water and electricity, and enough food to sustain us for some time, and who are staying with our family should not be losing patience or mental strength. If our situation was like those of the migrant workers, who are away from their family, have no proper place to stay, no money and no food; for whom the availability of the next meal is a question mark, and who are dependent on NGOs (who are doing a good job) for each meal, then what would you have done? Think about everything before you use such terms like losing patience.

These words should not even enter your mind, because they make you weak. Please understand that these are concepts that have been borrowed or have been implanted in us from the society. When we use any such borrowed or implanted words without understanding, then problems do not get resolved. Instead they get multiplied.

If people have not yet understood the gravity of the situation or the deadliness of the virus, then I am very surprised! Just seeing news of the extent of the tragedy in countries like Italy, Spain, France, the UK, and the US etc. should knock some sense into us. Look at the alarming rate at which the virus is spreading. Look at the number of people losing their lives every day. Just watching that should be enough for us to understand the reason for the lockdown and the reason why we are at home.

Nobody is sitting at home by choice. It is not a compulsion either. We are at home because it is our duty and our responsibility towards ourselves, our family, and our society. But if we think of it as some kind of compulsion, burden or a draconian measure, then things like losing patience, calm, and mental strength, etc. come in our minds.

Having said that even I can understand that it is very difficult for people today to stay at home indefinitely and not go out. I can understand that people are worried about many things. Thoughts of the plights of daily wage earners, fear of scarcity of essential items like food etc. in the future, worries about the economy, job, and many more things keep coming in our minds. It is obvious and understandable. But we must bundle all these things together and keep it aside for now. We have no choice but to do that.

The whole world is worried about this situation. Doctors are working day and night to treat the patients. Scientists are working tirelessly to find a medicine for treatment or a vaccine. Governments are thinking of ways to sustain the economy in the best possible manner. But until such medicine is identified, a vaccine is discovered, or the virus calms down on its own, we have no choice but to wait it out and sit at home.

It has just been about a month and a half since the lockdown, but people have been growing anxious and aggressive from the very first day! I said this in my previous blog talk as well. That if we give in to our fears (of economy, daily sustenance, etc.), and go out, not follow the rules of the lockdown and other guidelines given by the government, then we will be in for very disastrous consequences. On the other hand, if we sit at home and have these thoughts—like losing patience and mental strength, etc.—it will affect our health and our immune system, which is very important for resuming our routine life after lockdown.

They say time heals. So, give this some time and develop understanding.

Become action oriented. Then when any situation presents itself—I do not say good or bad situation, because every situation is an opportunity to learn and grow—you will look at ways to work around it and get the best out of it. To help you come on the right track, developing understanding is the only way.

I have said this time and again: This is a golden opportunity. You have actually been given an opportunity to do nothing! Isn’t it the best gift and the best state to be in? You get to be yourself; to rejuvenate and refresh yourself.

But because you are not used to doing nothing, you are losing your patience. So, the next best thing to do is to keep yourself busy. And like I said at the beginning of the lockdown in my article “Don’t let the “Lockdown” Lock You Down!", there are many, many things you can do.

Right from spending time with your family, and learning new skills like cooking, doing domestic chores, studying, reading, or watching movies (preferably comedy movies and cartoons like Tom and Jerry, etc.); to using the internet to gain knowledge about a lot of things that are relevant to your job or career; watching informative documentaries on TV; and practicing martial arts and yoga regularly, there are so many things that you can do. I had asked all my students to make a time table. If you had done that, even 24 hours would not have been enough. You wouldn’t have had the time to lose patience. In fact, you would have enjoyed!

Life’s journey is a constant series of ups and downs and you need to be able to navigate both. Without sadness we cannot appreciate happiness. Without disease we cannot understand the value of health.

Let me give you an example. If you come across a steep rise while driving a car, what will you do? You will judge the steepness and then change gears. You will probably come down to 3rd, 2nd or even 1st gear depending on how steep the climb is. Life is like that. When situations change, you have to change your life’s gear to move forward.

Don’t demand things from life. Become sensible. If you get happiness for 365 days in a year, you will get bored. Similarly, if you get sadness all the time you will be fed up. But life is not like that. There is a balance. Otherwise we would not have valued anything. We would never have saved, or planned anything. We would have squandered everything away because we know we will get it tomorrow.

Finally, I want to give you one more example to deepen your understanding. You must have seen people climbing mountains—either for a reason or because they are mountaineers. You will notice that they have very less baggage. In fact, mountaineers have specially designed equipment that is extremely lightweight. Even if you add an extra kilo to it, it will make climbing that much harder.

This situation is just like climbing a mountain. And you need to keep yourself light. Patience, calm, mental strength, and other things like fear of death, economy, boredom, frustration, etc. all add up to hundreds of kilos and you will get exhausted.

Throw these terms out of your mind. They are the rubbish that are holding you back. Your body and mind are the temple of your soul and it is a gift from God. And just like we leave our footwear outside temples to keep it clean and pure, leave these words and thoughts out too.

In such situations, people often ask me whether meditation techniques or mantras etc. can help them develop patience, become calm, gain mental strength, release stress, and get peace of mind. I tell them that meditation and mantras are for divine purpose and not for solving these problems. But still, if people will do meditation or mantra chanting, they will get some temporary feeling of relief. But as soon as they are out of that state, the thoughts will come back because the root cause of the above problems is still there within. And so, it is important to get to the root of the problem in order to completely uproot it.

And everything I have said in this BlogTalk has been to do just that. Everything I have told you is to make you understand and every example I have given you has been to help you to get to the root cause and permanently get rid of these thoughts. Then you will automatically find the strength and understanding to live life in all circumstances."

— Acharya Mahendranath

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The BlogTalk: 8th Question: To extend the lockdown? Or save the economy?

The Master’s Guidance Continues

Acharya Mahendranath
(The Master)

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, the entire country is in a lockdown. All students have been missing the joy of coming to the training centres, practicing in a group, interacting with the teachers, and of course meeting the Master. Everyone has also missed having our monthly “Master’s Talk Session”. But Master says that physical lockdown need not mean lockdown of our lives. We can still do the same things, but do them differently. Which is why the Master has given a schedule for daily practice of Martial Arts, Yoga and Reiki Energy Healing, and all students have responded really well. 

Our activities over Instagram and Facebook have kept us connected with each other’s energy. So why stop here? Why not have Master’s Talk Session as well, but in a different manner? So we asked students to send us questions and the Master has given His guidance through this blog. So we hope that you all read it, understand it, internalize it, apply it and make your life even better. Please share your comments at the end of each question and of course, more questions are welcome on moxshlife@gmail.com.

Q. Today we're just over one month into nationwide lockdown. It was an extremely crucial and very well-timed decision that our government took which has proved to be an ideal and a guide to the world on how to tackle Covid-19 pandemic. Today, however, we're at a very crucial stage wherein government is forced to take a difficult call, as we're caught between a rock and a hard place. If we stop the lockdown on 3rd May, we may risk losing everything that we gained during the 40-day lockdown. On the other hand, if we continue with the lockdown, there's a huge economic impact which is getting bigger every passing day. While we agree that one can rise like a phoenix even from a deep economic crisis, if it's avoidable it should be avoided. What according to you should be the government's decision to tackle this difficult situation, the ideal balanced approach to avoid both crises?

Sarang Tilak

— Sarang Tilak, Student of Keimoudo®— Moxsh® Martial Arts

Master’s Guidance: "This is a very pertinent question that is there in almost everyone’s minds.
My guidance comes to you when the Indian government has already announced its decision to extend the lockdown till 17th May, 2020. But the question still remains: What after 17th May? 

Everything you have said is true. The Indian government’s decision was timely, strict, and absolutely necessary. We have avoided a huge disaster. And we have indeed become an example for the world. I have said these things myself, and I salute our government.

You have very rightly said that the economic impact is getting bigger by the day. People are worried about losing their jobs and see a lot of uncertainty in the near future.

In order to know what to do in this situation, one needs to understand a very old Indian proverb, “Sar Salaamat, toh pagdi hazaar.” It means that if your head is okay, then you can wear a thousand different turbans.

If we are alive, then the economy means something. But if we die, then what economy is there to talk about? 

We must always keep in mind that we are dealing with a deadly virus, for which so far there is no cure. It needs a human host and spreads rapidly through contact. Lockdown and social distancing are the only proven methods to break the chain and stop its progress altogether. 

And so, there are no alternatives. We HAVE TO continue with lockdown and social distancing until the threat from the virus is completely eliminated.

But what about the economy? Analysts and experts have been screaming themselves hoarse from the beginning of this pandemic that the economy will go down, we will be set back by decades, etc. And as the lockdown continues, their voices will get louder. But if we listen to them and come out of the lockdown before time, then we will be in for a disaster, the scale of which we cannot even imagine.

Forget predictions and analysis. Just remember that WE made the economy in the first place and if it goes down, then we have the power to bring it back.

This is not the first time that large-scale natural calamities have struck the world. It has happened before and may happen again. At such times, I can think of only one country that is an example for people around the world: Japan.

Look at its size and its population. It is such a tiny country. It has been constantly ravaged by earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods and typhoons for thousands of years. It is the only country to have been attacked by atom bombs! As recently as the year 2018, it faced two earthquakes, severe flood, terrible heatwave, and a devastating typhoon, all within a few weeks or months of one another! If at each of those times during history, Japan had panicked and their people had thought like we are thinking now, the country would have probably ceased to exist or would have been among the world’s most wretched countries.

But we all know where Japan stands today. It is one of the most developed countries because of some amazing qualities in its citizens. Their spirit, resilience, will power, and confidence are so great that they never let any disaster bring them down. They bounce back within no time. They use each disaster to learn. They change their building construction and infrastructure to prepare for future calamities. But never do they stay down after a fall. 

They are the best source of inspiration and example right now. 

Fortunately, most of the other countries do not face such situations often, and this pandemic is probably the first calamity in recent times to have affected India in such a big way. So why worry? We need to wait it out till it is completely gone and then rebuild the economy and make it better than before.

Unlike the aftermath of disasters in Japan, we have not lost our houses, or public infrastructure. We are dealing with an invisible virus, and not large dinosaurs that are trampling our cities and homes, and killing us! We should be thankful for that. It’s true that small business owners and workers are afraid of losing business or jobs. It is obvious. But it will pass. Once we overcome this pandemic, we will be ready to go back to work in full strength! 

Look at the positive side. I always say don’t be like the person who complained to God that why is there only one day between two nights. Be like the person who thanked God for giving one night between two days.

I watch the news everyday and I keep seeing unfortunate incidents taking place in some of the most developed super-powers in the world where citizens are breaking lockdown norms and fighting with their governments to restart the economy. I am surprised at their irresponsible behavior in the name of economy. And I am very worried that if the pressure being applied on the government to come out of the lockdown becomes more severe and increases in scale, then the government might succumb and take a hasty decision and come out of the lockdown before time, leading to disastrous consequences.

Having said that, I am also sympathetic to the citizens’ concerns. Daily wage earners have had no income. People have invested in their business, houses, cars, etc. and are worried about keeping up payments and taking care of their family’s daily needs. 

This brings us to another aspect of our lifestyle that we will need to rethink after this pandemic. Until about 50 years back, we in India had a very superb culture. Out of our earnings, we gave a certain amount to charity and another percentage, we saved.

But over the years, due to unchecked migration to urban areas and our need to ‘progress’, we left this culture behind. “Having more” became our obsession, irrespective of the cost. I’ll give you a general idea of the path that most of us take in our lives and which is responsible for our fears and anxiety today.

We come to cities in search of better prospects. We struggle to find decent rented accommodation. But soon with hard work, we earn enough money to buy a small apartment on housing loan. Our happiness at that time knows no bounds. But very soon, the house feels small and we invest more, and take a bigger loan to buy a bigger house. Very soon our existence becomes all about managing EMIs on the house, car, large-screen television, international school education for our children, international trips… and the list becomes endless. Our possessions rise, just as our bank balance plunges below rock bottom.

And now in a situation such as this, we are not able to sustain ourselves even for a month without panicking! 

So, post this pandemic, my advice to any responsible individual is to save enough to be able to go on for at least 6 months during an emergency! Take a look at all the needless investments and so-called luxuries and see how you can have a sensible and comfortable lifestyle while saving for the proverbial rainy day. Just think about it: today if we had enough money in our banks, would we have been this tensed just within a few weeks into the lockdown? In fact, we could have constructively utilized and enjoyed this lockdown.

You spoke about a balanced approach. In India, the one small thing that we can do is allow economic activity within the ‘Green Zones’. But again, it would need to be a very carefully monitored situation where the government would have to seal the border in a watertight manner and the citizens within the Green Zone would have to stay within the boundaries. When both are 100% committed, then it can work. But even a minute instance of carelessness can change the Green Zone into an Orange Zone (or even a Red Zone) within no time.

In our country we have seen examples of villages taking the onus upon themselves and being very, very strict. They have sealed their borders and are not allowing outsiders, nor are they going out. The villagers are themselves manning the borders. These are very good examples. But then we have also seen people behave in the exact opposite manner.

Relaxations in green zones will work if all the people there are disciplined. Becoming disciplined is very important. Most people think discipline means obedience; obeying or following rules and regulations. But I have a good example for discipline and everyone in India will be familiar with this example.

Before lockdown, I would travel in auto-rickshaws or cabs. At the signals, the vehicles would never wait for the red signal to turn green. Either they would start mid-way into the red signal or ignore it altogether and drive past the signal! This has happened with almost every driver and when I would ask them why, all of them would have the same answer, “There is no traffic police, so don’t worry, I won’t get caught!” I would ask them why they need the police? The signal has been placed there by the government for our safety.

I call this discipline; or the lack of it! I have tried to educate every such driver. I have even said that this is the difference between animals and humans. If you train an animal to stop at a red signal, it will never, ever break the discipline in its life.

We develop discipline by using common sense. Until about 500 years back people used their common sense, and so they lived a disciplined life. And we were a very prosperous country. Which is why we built temples with unparalleled architectural design, and created beautiful art forms, music, dance, yoga, martial arts, and other arts and science. Our creativity flourished because we lived in a good society and environment.

Now we have cosmetic wealth. From inside we are very poor. We are subconsciously afraid. Unreasonable work pressures and timings have driven in fear and stress, and driven out common sense.

Coming back to your question. For now, at a national level, there is no question of having a balance. It does not matter for how long—15 days, 2 months—but we need to keep the lockdown and social distancing going. If we lose patience and give in to fears about the economy, then not only will all the hard work of the government, healthcare workers, police personnel, essential service providers, NGOs, and the citizens who stayed at home, be a huge waste, but the sacrifices of all those who lost their lives to this virus while doing their duty to protect us would also have been in vain. And we will be in for a super large-scale pandemic with unfathomably disastrous consequences."
— Acharya Mahendranath

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