by Swami Ramananda

With much of the world practicing social distancing, we are connecting online in unprecedented numbers and in myriad ways. We are all faced with both the threat of severe illness and the anxiety that isolation creates, driving literally millions of people to their devices for information, support, security or some sense of relief. While there are numerous platforms and apps being used for this, the real connection we all crave is with the innate peace that is the very ground of being.

The connection that is most meaningful and healing for us does not take place online but in the spiritual Self. Here, we can rest in a place that is unchanging and free, where we know no separation, and where natural compassion springs forward unbidden from the heart.
This pandemic has exposed the artificial nature of the many boundaries we humans have created between ourselves. The ways we divide ourselves—by nationality, race, religion, politics, and more—have no relevance to a microscopic virus that makes no such distinctions. It seems ironic that something so small has brought our world together in such a big way, and is bringing the world economy to its knees.

The scriptures of Yoga clearly articulate that the divisions we experience are created in minds that perceive reality in a very superficial way. We draw a circle around ourselves, defining who we are and limiting our ability to feel connection. We unconsciously build armor around our hearts to protect ourselves from being hurt.

The intention of all spiritual practice is to quiet all of these limiting beliefs and habitual thought patterns that imprison us, restricting our ability to feel love and compassion beyond those close to us. A regular meditation practice empowers us to disengage from this self-image we create and become aware of the fears that drive our addictions and selfishness, and give rise to the barriers that divide us.

Self-awareness enables us to recognize the fear-driven behavior of others and refrain from judgment when we see selfishness, knowing that others struggle in the same ways we have. Now more than ever in history, we are exposed to the inhumane actions of others by the media. And now more than ever, we need to practice looking deeply at others to see the essential nature beneath the surface and come together in addressing this challenge we all face.

In the same way that healthcare workers all over the world place no importance on the reputation, race or religion of virus-stricken patients, we can reach across the old fences we’ve built to offer respect and support for those around us. We can reach out to the housebound to bring them supplies. We can reach out from the heart to anyone we know who is alone and in need of comfort. We can fill our hearts and minds with mantras and send healing energies outward, praying for the many that are suffering great losses.

The world needs the presence of people whose hearts are anchored in peace, whose minds are stable enough to be present to the multiple stresses we face without being lost in reactivity. Our spiritual practice is a responsibility. We may not be able to open our doors to each other but we can open our hearts in countless ways to breathe goodwill and harmony into the collective consciousness.

Swami Ramananda is the President of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 35 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.

He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced level yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco, and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U. S., Europe and South America. Ramananda trains Yoga teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.