I live in a country in the Middle East. I begin with deep gratitude to my country’s defense teams for their alert actions to keep us safe. Ramadan began in late February, a holy month of faith and quiet devotion with scenes of crowds swarming towards mosques during prayer times. All was quiet and anchored until March 1, when everything changed.
The war is supposed to be between two sides but this time it spilled to other countries, for no fault of theirs. The term ‘war’ made us paranoid. While used to the sight of the sea through the windows, witnessing the drones over the same skyline on the first day got our nerves shaking. Panic grew with the never-ending WhatsApp messages and calls. Windows were sealed, AC ducts covered, ready to eat food and water stocked as we feared the worst of nuclear radiation. We even had our evacuation bags ready.
From paranoid nights to a new normal
Over the next few days, government’s reassurances of safety restored some calm. Except for closure of schools and airspace and the constant buzzing of alarm sirens, normal life continued as usual during the day. Nights became nightmares as sudden explosions jolted us out of sleep. We learned a new word – interceptions – which meant the explosions were a result of successful prevention mid-air.
After the initial days of fear, this became our new normal. Life moved on as the situation was brought fairly under control. We kept appreciating the country’s defense teams for all their efforts. There was nowhere to go with the airspace closed. We only had to repose our faith and pray for everything to end peacefully soon.
Then came the first direct hit on a residential building in the wee hours of a Thursday. And where? Just five buildings from ours, just 150-200 meters away. We woke up to the shaking windows like a earthquake had struck and then to the sound of fire-trucks, police cars and ambulances. Our road was blocked while we had no clue what had happened. Slowly news spread about one floor of the said building on fire due to drone hit. Two residents were injured. Calls from friends poured asking about our safety.
Mahatria, my guru, has taught us: ‘KNOW FAITH, NO FEAR; NO FAITH, KNOW FEAR’. Indeed, when nothing is in our control, what else could help us to remain peaceful, except faith? Constantly living in fear of being hit by the next drone or missile is destructive to our mental wellness.
The protective shield: When teaching becomes experience
Strangely, amid panic all around, I felt calm. Yes, the heart sank for all the horrible news around. Notwithstanding being so close to the drone attack, not once did this question cross my mind. ‘What if it was our building that was hit?’ There was no panic, nor fear. I prayed for the two injured. I realized that day how calm my kids have been all through the two weeks, though it was all bizarre things to witness for their age.
I realized that in the place of fear, faith had taken over. Over many years, we have been growing deeper in faith. We live with the absolute faith of having a protective shield around us. Mahatria, my guru, says ‘KNOW FAITH, NO FEAR; NO FAITH, KNOW FEAR’. I have heard it many times as his teaching. But this wartime experience made me realize how much it had seeped into me and my family as an integral part of us. Living it made tears of gratitude flow for my master.
After that incident, there have been more and worse attacks, including attacks on oil refineries. Yet, the heart stays anchored to faith.
When things go wrong in our life, it is quite natural to be scared and afraid. Fear of the unknown consequences does take over. When left unaddressed, the fear deepens and weakens us. It leaves us paralyzed. It closes our minds to thinking about solutions and possibilities. Whereas when we have an anchor of faith in something or someone, it becomes our inner strength. We don’t feel alone. We feel protected. On the strength of that faith being with us, protecting us and carrying us, the mind gets the clarity to think of a solution.
Yes, we still need to do what must be done, face what must be faced. But there is a huge difference when we go through a situation with faith than with fear. Especially, when we are in a choiceless situation like we have been, where nothing is in our control and we can do nothing about it, what else could help us to remain peaceful, except faith? Living in fear of becoming the victim of the next missile is destructive to our mind and health as well. The war would eventually end. The harm done to our health and mental wellbeing by this fear will not. It will one day show up in our body. It affects the mental well-being of those around us also.
It matters the most to children. Those young minds have no idea of the miseries and mayhem of a war, but neither can they be kept in dark. To give them the right knowledge and give them the security that they are safe and protected, by the government, by the defense team and by our ultimate faith in our God, our Guru, becomes our utmost priority.
For me, peace comes out of faith. When millions of us emanate vibrations of peace on the strength of faith on love, on unity, on brotherhood, on oneness, the world will be a haven of peace.
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