On Slowing Down

According to United Nations statistics on birth and death, approximately 58 million human beings died globally in 2019 from a variety of causes. Converted to a daily average, that’s about 159,000 people per day. The latest Covid 19 statistics show a global death rate of about 7000 people per day.That’s about 4 % of the total deaths that happen anyway. But, suddenly, the human race is afraid…..and, for the first time since World War 2, the world has come to a stop. The frantic global activity that is “normal” has slowed down to almost a stand still. Why is all this happening? What does it all mean? There are so many theories: conspiracies by evil cabals, Nature’s revenge, end of the world , etc. etc.
I don’t know the answers. I do believe in the wisdom of the universe and that “ This, too,shall pass!” An old friend sent me a poem, supposedly by a Spanish lady, that made a lot of sense. So this post is to share that poem.

Wonderful poem by a lady from Spain: ( Gracias Senora!)

The earth whispered but you did not hear.
The earth spoke but you did not listen
The earth screamed but you turned her off.
And so I was born...
I was not born to punish you..
I was born to awaken you..

The earth cried out for help...
Massive flooding. But you didn't listen.
Burning fires. But you didn't listen.
Strong hurricanes. But you didn't listen.
Terrifying Tornadoes. But you didn't listen.
You still don't listen to the earth when
Ocean animals are dying due to pollutants in the waters,
Glaciers melting at an alarming rate,
Severe drought.

You didn't listen to how much negativity the earth is receiving.
Non-stop wars.
Non-stop greed.
You just kept going on with your life..
No matter how much hate there was..
No matter how many killings daily..
It was more important to get that latest iPhone than worry about what the earth was trying to tell you..
But now I am here.
And I've made the world stop in its tracks.
I've made YOU finally listen.
I've made you take refuge.
I've made you stop thinking about materialistic things.
Now you are like the earth...
You are only worried about YOUR survival.
How does that feel?

I give you fever.. as the fires burn on earth.
I give you respiratory issues.. as pollution filled the earth’s air.
I give you weakness as the earth weakens every day.
I took away your comforts..
Your outings.
The things you would use to forget about the planet and its pain.
And I made the world stop...
And now...
Earth has better air quality.. Skys are clear blue because factories and vehicles are not spewing pollution into the earth's air. The water in Venice is clean because the gondola boats that pollute the water are not being used.
YOU are having to take time to reflect on what is important in your life.
Again I am not here to punish you.. I am here to Awaken you...
When all this is over and I am gone...
Please remember these moments..
Listen to the earth.
Listen to your soul.
Stop Polluting the earth.
Stop Fighting amongst each other.
Stop caring about materialistic things.
And start loving your neighbors.
Start caring about the earth and all its creatures.
Start believing in a Creator.
Because next time I may come back even stronger....
Signed,
Coronavirus.

We are all part of a cosmic story that has no beginning or end. This planet and all life-forms that live on it are also part of the story. Woven out of loving, intelligent consciousness, this story has tears and laughter, suffering and joy, pain and bliss, everything and nothing. Enacted through the dance of the opposites, this story is powerful, beautiful, magical and awe-inspiring while it is equally terrifying and monstrous and tragic.
Who is the author? Who is the audience ? What does it all mean? How can we know anything else without first knowing ourselves?
You and I are an integral part of this story. To answer these questions, we must examine our own roles in this story. Deeply and purposefully, we must delve into the source of our own being; what wonders we may find !

“ When you have not understood yourself, what is the point of understanding other things?
When you have understood yourself, what else is there to understand?” Atma Vidya, Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharishi.