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Editorial

Living with the Pandemic in

the New Normal

It’s been two years now since the first known case of we acknowledge that the pain we feel is normal. But
Covid-19 was identified in Wuhan, China, in December if we lack the understanding that such suffering is a
2019. The disease has since spread worldwide, leading result of our being, then we will be shot by a second
to an on-going pandemic. To date, over 5 million arrow. In life, we often cannot control the first arrow
people have died world-wide. But after two years, but the pain from the second arrow is caused by our
is an end of the pandemic in sight? Experts say that reaction to the first. While we cannot control our
Covid-19 will likely lose its pandemic status sometime external environment, we can control our attitude by
next year, due largely to rising global vaccination recognizing that while we don’t have a choice with the
rates and developments of antiviral Covid pills that first arrow, we do have an option not to be affected by
could soon become more readily available worldwide, a second arrow.
despite the spread of the new variant Omicron. The
virus will likely become “endemic,” eventually fading Another important Buddhist teaching to understand
in severity and folding into the backdrop of regular, during this pandemic is the nature of inter-connection
everyday life. Yet, the uncertainty and fear of being between everything. We can clearly see this during
infected with Covid-19 remains. the pandemic. When we are mindful of our actions,
by taking care of our own health such as washing
As practitioners of the Buddha Dharma, we realize that our hands, social distancing, etc., we are protecting
uncertainty is a fact of life and a characteristic of our ourselves as well as others. It actually breaks down the
existence. It is therefore good to be reminded what the dualistic view of separateness between self and other,
Buddha said about living with uncertainty. or self and society. This is the Buddhist meaning of
interconnection.
The first teaching is from the Upajatthana Sutta, AN 5.57,
where the Buddha taught us to contemplate that whoever As we are inter-connected to all sentient beings, the
is born will be subject to aging, illness, and death; hence, suffering of others is also our own suffering. Therefore,
eventual separation from those we love. This reminds we put into practice the four sublime mental states:
us that uncertainty is natural to ordinary life. With right loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.
understanding, we learn to make peace with our reality, Such noble qualities help us transform our fears and
no matter what, by expecting impermanence, lack of worries about the pandemic into motivation to change
control, and unpredictability. For us to think otherwise our life and perspectives of the world, and to radiate
will only add unnecessary suffering. the same qualities towards others. We can therefore
view obstacles such as the enduring Covid pandemic
In a related teaching found in the Sallatha Sutta, SN as part of the spiritual path, and use them as our
36.6, the Buddha explained that when we experience commitment to live a more spiritual life for the benefit
something painful - being infected with Covid-19 or of oneself and others.
news that a close relative has died – this is as if the
world has shot an arrow into us. With understanding,