Wisdom from the Master : “Don’t let the “Lockdown” Lock You Down!"

Acharya Mahendranath (The Master)

" ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ to all my senior students,
I hope you are all keeping yourself well and taking good care of yourself and your family.
I am giving you this message at the very beginning of the 21-Day lockdown period, in order to help you manage your health and mental/emotional wellbeing and create a good atmosphere at home.
Twenty-one days may seem like a long time to be confined to your home. But it is possible to pick out silver linings in this dark situation. Here are some of my suggestions:

I. Family Matters!
You have been given a very good opportunity to connect with your family and your home.

1. Daily Chores: I am sure most of you do not have household help (maids, etc.) now. So, help your mother/wife/sister with daily chores like washing utensils, sweeping/mopping, washing and drying clothes, etc. If possible, distribute work and you will enjoy working together!

2. Help with cooking! I have always said, “avoid junk food”. Now thanks to the curfew, you can enjoy healthy home-cooked meals for 21 days! But don’t be a burden on your mother/wife/sister. Lend a helping hand. For those of you (especially my boy students) who do not know cooking, it is the best time to learn!

3. Clean the Junk: Usually we reserve Diwali, Eid, or Christmas to make our houses spic and span. Now you can use this time to clear out junk. You will be surprised at the amount of junk that would already be accumulated, even in your phones!

II. Be with Yourself
This is also a very good time to do things for which you normally do not get the time.
1. Read: Not in your mobiles, tabs or kindle! But read books—paperbacks, hardbound, magazines, comics—that you may have at home. Read technical books that will increase your professional skills and also have fun with comics, etc.
2. Learn new skills: Use this time to learn skills that are relevant for yourself, your house, or in your profession. For example, learn how to fix simple things at home, polish your language skills, etc.
3. Practice: For most of you who found it difficult to keep up practice, you now have 21 days to practice every day! Practice Martial Arts, Practice Yoga, Practice Reiki Healing, Do meditation. You will see the difference in yourself in 21 days!

III. Be responsible
The world is undergoing a crisis and thousands of our fellow countrymen are working very hard to bring us out of this calamity. In this time, you need to exercise responsibility.
1. Reduce use of Internet: Internet bandwidth has been reduced because of high amount of surfing by those sitting at homes. Please understand that the internet still remains vital for emergency workers, the government, those working from home to support their families and their business/trade, etc. Avoid unnecessary surfing and try to limit internet streaming to not more than 2 hours a day, and that too not 2 hours at a stretch.
2. Avoid WhatsApp/Phone Calls: Again, bandwidth is scarce, so do not waste time talking on the phone, or chatting or spreading messages on WhatsApp, Facebook, etc. Keep some limited time for this.
3. Stay safe: Stay indoors. Take care of your family. Keep yourself updated with the news. And no matter how much someone compels you, do not yield to temptation or boredom to roam outside the house with friends, etc. Do not go out for morning walks and jogging, do not participate in outdoor group activities, do not invite people home, and discourage others also from doing so.

IV. Follow a time table
The best way to achieve all of this is to make a time table and, most importantly, follow it! You can organize your days well. Get up early, sleep on time, do all the things I have said above and you will experience a sense of balance and understanding; the two things that I have always said are very important in life.

For those who are working from home: Do not sit for long time at a stretch. Stand up from time to time. Look away from the computer screen and outside the window to relax your eyes. Take a walk around the house every couple of hours.

I would like to hear your feedback on this post from time to time. Also, if any of you are doing something else innovative and useful with your time, please share it by commenting on this post.

Be well, stay healthy. My blessings and best wishes are with you.
Om!”
 — Acharya Mahendranath