Reflections on Earthquake

 Kishore C.S. (February 2001)

After hearing about the Massive earthquake on Jan 26, 2001, the following are my emotions and views I felt and I wanted to share the same with you. I do hope you also felt the same.

At first the reaction was not one of shock because I could not imagine what can happen based on the magnitude of earth quake. But as the news started pouring it, certainly my mind got a lot disturbed.

Being like a normal selfish individual, I thanked my stars that I was not there in the earthquake area. This reaction is normal because only when we start imagining ourselves in the possible situation many people are going through now, our emotions come to the fore.

Next my mind searched for any known friends or relatives in the area effected, so that I can check about their welfare if needed. But I didn’t know of anyone who stays in that area.

It was a relief but reading the news reports about the earthquake, filled me with strong emotional thoughts.

Death is one event, we tend not to think too much about and live in the fond hope that everything would be fine. As a normal individual we have our dreams, plans for future and continue to live our life everyday as if we are going to live forever. But such natural calamities bring death upon individuals so suddenly that we feel like puppets in the hands of a supreme force. All our hopes, dreams go for a toss and what results is pain and suffering. An individual experiences shock at sudden turn of events and it takes lot of time to recover. The emotional stress one individual goes through at such a time is very high. Now more than the destruction we have thousands of individuals who are put under such emotional stress. They are undergoing pain and suffering for variety of reasons:

-          Loss of near and dear ones

-          Loss of home, belonging which they cherish

And some special cases where part of family survives, it turns out to be more complex situation. A child survives but parents die leaving the child an orphan. Parents survives but children die, leaving a tremendous loss to parents. Numerous will be the cases in such a natural calamity and no one can console them. It will take lot of time to recover.

Such loss for a single family itself causes lot of emotional stress and what to speak of the emotional stress that thousands undergo at the same time. I cannot just imagine the emotions.  While one family is mourning the loss, another is trying to recover from injuries and another family is happy about their lucky survivals. There will be mix of emotions and also a confused state of mind for everyone not knowing how to react to either good news or bad news. You reach a state of emotional numbness where you don’t know what to say.  It is SHOCK.

While imagining such massive pain and suffering on one side, I cannot force myself to take up an activity that I enjoy. As I continue to mourn the suffering of thousands in far off lands, my thoughts go out to all the stupid wars we fight, all the stupid things we do in our lives assuming we live forever.

-          Why should countries fight for supremacy?

-          Why should countries wage wars for a share of land?

-          Why should a society need a particular piece of land?

-          Are the causes that political parties or terrorists or even individual think too much about and take extreme steps – are they worth the effort?

I also felt what is the life really worth? When it can be just wiped out in seconds. What is goal of my life? Such questions arise in my mind when I keep thinking more and more about the same.

What the world needs is LOVE. We need a society that gives and shares love. As countries and individuals advance huge monetary donations to the victims, it certainly help the victims rebuild their physical loss. But what about the emotional loss? How can we help the emotionally effected people?

Pray for them. Pray for emotional well being of the individuals for their well being. A sincere prayer in your heart that brings tears to your eyes for the suffering of all the victims will generate emotional thoughts which would go a long way to reduce suffering of the individuals. Whatever may be the religion you belong to, pray sincerely.

And as a caring individual resolve yourself to be a better human being that would generate more LOVE in the universe and help every individual in the world to share the LOVE with each other and heal the wounds of victims. Do everything you can do to spread LOVE.

-          Don’t get angry either with your friend or your family member

-          Think of ways you can spread love and affection and do it

-          Remember of any instances where you picked up a fight or had a difference of opinion with a friend or relative. Take time to apologize to them and bring back the LOVE.

I sincerely hope every individual’s sincere prayers and monetary will reach the needy victims on time.

After you read this. Just take two steps.

- Find the easy accessible agency through which you can send your monetary help and do it NOW

- Spare a few minutes of your day and pray sincerely to them. When I mean pray, concentrate your thoughts on the suffering and imagine yourself offering solace to a few victims and do that mentally. A few will certainly receive your prayers.

God bless the Good-hearted and God bless everyone.

Note: The above are a few reflections that came up deep from my heart and mind when I was thinking about Earthquake and the suffering it has left behind in a matter of minutes.