Corona and Jainism

I came home, washed my legs and hands at the gate only using water and soap. Then immediately went to the bathroom for a bath without even touching a  single thing at home. I even kept my changed clothes in a tub for washing adding detergent to it. No. No…It was not morning but afternoon nor I had come from somebody’s last rites.

This routine was started from the day the Covid-19 pandemic has taken over our life.

From this routine, I just remembered my childhood days when my grandmother used to change clothes very frequently. We were not allowed to touch anything before bathe in kitchen. She used to wash hands for every little activity. Like wash hands for touching chapatti, wash hands for just serving food, wash hands after touching every pot before touching any other thing. And this was followed so rigorously that there would be arrangement of washing hands using two pots near her. One pot with clean water and another pot to add dirty water after hand wash. She would make every body who would be cooking in kitchen to follow the rules. There would be no outside food allowed. And above all there would be clothes untouched required to cook in kitchen. Can you imagine the level of hygiene was used to maintain? This practice was followed in most of the Jain community. Slowly we started deviating the rules. Now there will be very few Jains who follow the same rules.

Not only youngsters but elders also today are mostly deviating the Jain rules. All have only one excuse that “We don’t have time”.

But Nature has its own way to solve problems.

The time Coronavirus entered our life, nobody had said that we can not follow washing hands, changing clothes, washing vegetables twice, avoid hotel food, eat healthy options as we don’t have time.

About health practices, I think Jain Food is the healthiest food in the world. And above all, Jain food practices are now accepted by the entire world. Jains do not eat after sunset. And now this is a proven technique to stay healthy and lose weight. Now dietitians of all over the world are telling not, to eat food before sleep or have food in the evening itself. Even dietitians are also coming up for 16hrs intermittent fasting every day which means that, like Jains, one should have food in the evening at 6 pm and then have the next food at 10 am. These are the simple proven techniques used by Jains from ancient times. When there was no treatment available for Covid-19, improving immunity was the only way of safeguard. And I am very much sure, if followed Jainism, immunity will never be an issue.

From ancient times, Jains are shouting about germs in water and air before the microscope was invented. In Shwetambar Jain Category, wearing a mask on the mouth to follow a high level of nonviolence is continued till today. And now, the whole world is wearing masks to avoid germs.

Nonviolence is the key pillar of Jainism. Vegetarian Food is the soul of Jainism. You need not say that you are vegetarian if you already said that you are Jain. This equation was losing its strength day by day. But thanks to Coronavirus, which not only Jains but many other communities came back to its root philosophy of Vegetarians. Many people started vegetarian food strictly homemade in this corona pandemic.

One more Jain philosophy was helpful in this pandemic was “ Our own Karma decides our destiny.” There was a situation before Covid-19 pandemic such that young generation had a view on everything “Nothing wrong in breaking rules.” But pandemic has taught them to follow rules and it is observed that mostly young generation is behind elders to follow rules.

Another beautiful aspect of Jainism is Helping hand for truly needy people. When Pandemic was at peak, our many Jain organizations as well as individuals have helped government to support to fight with Corona.

Who can forget the work done by Bhartiy Jain Sanghatna in Maharashtra? I have seen many such incidents where Jains have helped society either by donation or by volunteering social services.

In the corona pandemic, Lockdown was very much new to the society. Suddenly from social life to Home quarantine life became burden to many. There could be reasons of financial condition, family fights which resulted in a very much instability in life. Students and working people had no habit of staying at home for such a long time. These all situations resulted in mental disturbance and depression. Jainism is the best medicine in such situations.

The most beautiful and the best aspect of Jainism is meditation through self analysis and understanding Jain Tatva. If you read Jain philosophy daily basis, calmness comes naturally to you. Then no depression can conquer you. A mental piece comes within which heals your disturbance.

Once you understand that no one can make or break you other than your own Karma, the fear and anxiety due to the corona pandemic situation go away.

Bhagwan Mahaveer taught us “ Live and let live”.  This is so true in today’s situation also.

Really, as human beings, we keep on blaming each other for every fault. But Jainism makes us believe in ourselves and ourselves only.

Last but not least, I think the most suitable saying to explain Jainism is “You are your own boss