Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive (Official Music Video)

Spiritual practices and a false sense of Immunity from diseases.

Today we would touch upon an important and often neglected aspect of mental health.
Often many "spiritual" people who engage in regular meditation,chanting of mantras and adherence to yoga etc feel they have a protective shield (कवचम्)(kavacam) around them and think that diseases can not harm them.

This is a very dangerous mindset and we need to remember that the goal of spirituality/meditation/chanting/yoga is not to give us superhuman abilities but instead instill in us the ability to make better decisions.

Let's read two verses from Patanjali Yoga sutras today which talks about sense and sensibility.

प्रत्यक्षानुमानाअगमाः प्रमाणानि ॥७॥
pratyakṣa-anumāna-āgamāḥ pramāṇāni ॥7॥

Insight arises from direct perception, conclusions, or learning that are based on reliable sources. ||7||

विपर्ययो मिथ्याज्ञानमतद्रूप प्रतिष्ठम् ॥८॥
viparyayo mithyā-jñānam-atadrūpa pratiṣṭham ॥8॥

Error arises from knowledge that is based on a false mental construct. ||8||

So how do we apply these two sutras during a Covid-19 pandemic?

1)Use insight from direct perception/conclusion/learning that are based on reliable sources!
So its clear that we have to be evidence based here.
Through direct perception we can notice how lethal Covid-19 can be when it invades the human body.
Then, make sure our sources of medical information are from a reliable source and refrain from filling our minds with non-evidence based information.

2)Now lets look at the other stanza which talks about error arises from knowledge that is based on a false mental construct.
Here is where we can be our own source of "delusion".
During a pandemic do NOT think that one is IMMUNE from a disease just because one is spiritual.
NO! That's not how the body immune system works.

If we feed our mind with a false mental construct that we are protected by spiritual practices, we tend to neglect the basic precautionary methods employed for protection of self and others.

We can continue our spiritual practices/chanting/yoga etc BUT do not forget to practice :

a)Hand washing with soap/water & hand sanitizers
b)social distancing
c)stay safe at home

Spirituality as clearly stated in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is pure logic for well being of Mind,Body,Soul and Staying Alive!