HH Niranjana Swami about the Current Global Pandemic.
(From a letter to a disciple)
I understand the confusion which must be going through everyone’s mind there in ________. I don’t claim to know where all of this will go. I don’t think anyone… not any of the world government leaders, not the World Health Organization, nor any of the leading epidemiologists of the world, can claim they know where this will go.
As I wrote to one devotee just yesterday,
>>>…it’s all in Krsna’s hands. We are currently living in a state of almost total uncertainty. But one thing for sure is that Krsna will always protect His devotees.
I do believe that the situation would likely be a lot worse if it were not for Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan Movement.<<<
There’s no doubt in my mind that those engrossed in a modern hedonistic lifestyle have been exploiting Mother Bhumi for too long. This could be the reaction required to force a necessary change in that way of thinking and living.
I doubt that many hedonist addicts will readily change their views. But many of those less inclined could become receptive or possibly more receptive to Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. Millions and millions of Srila Prabhupada’s books are already out there from at least five decades of profuse book distribution. There is a good reason why Lord Caitanya wanted those books profusely distributed. Maybe this is the time to encourage everyone, both devotees and non-devotees alike, to read them… either alone or in small groups (with proper social distancing standards of course)?
Most people can’t go anywhere right now. Practically all flights have been canceled. Public transportation is shutting down. There are massive city, state, and national shutdowns and the numbers are increasing day by day. In many places there are completely empty streets, there is forced self-isolation, quarantines, and the list is just too long to go any further with it. I do believe that this is not something which is going to go away overnight. It could be weeks. It could be months.
This seems like a good time for self-edification and self-reflection. Just encourage everyone you may come in contact with to make use of the current crisis by either staying where they are or, if their situation is necessary, by immediately going (if that’s even possible) to the place where (as much as their situation allows) they can sit down and absorb their minds in Srila Prabhupada’s books. Panic will not do anyone any good. Krsna is providing a situation to give His devotees an increased opportunity to remember Him.
Wherever you are or wherever you might decide to go, however, please be mindful that this does seem just like the authorities on the subject are saying– a global pandemic. Please take all the necessary precautions as they are being described almost everywhere by the health experts, maintain body and soul, chant Krsna’s names, read Srila Prabhupada’s books, and be as prepared as you can be to “weather the storm.”
Hoping this meets you in good health.
Always,
Your well-wisher,
Niranjana Swami