Contagion and Connection: 2 Sides of the Same Coin

A Lesson From Coronavirus

As the world reels from the effects of the coronavirus many of us are inquiring into the spiritual meaning and future implications of this global event.

We’re noticing from a perspective of consciousness the potential to live more in harmony with each other and the environment…IF we can learn lessons from what is occurring now and make changes to the way we inhabit our planet.

One of the things I’m noticing is this duality between “contagion” and “connection”. Today I read that in Italy people are being asked to remain at least 1 meter away from one another when they meet. Data suggests that the virus is highly contagious and rapidly moving around the globe. Predictions run rampant as to how much of the world’s population will be affected.

What others see as contagion I perceive as the illustration of our interconnectedness.

I believe that all our personal and collective problems arise from the illusion of separateness. If we were to embrace our inherent unity our problems would cease. If we were to understand and live through unity and interconnectedness our lives and the health of our planet would be better for it.

Coronavirus and its rapid global spread (as well as its origin in animals) demonstrates how truly interconnected we, all living beings, are. What happens in one country affects other countries. What happens economically in one area has a domino effect in many others. As industries shut down not only is there an economic downturn but also a diminishment of pollution and harmful effects of the environment. Less consumption also has an effect across politics and economics.

Everything everywhere affects everything everywhere.

Now we see this played out as “contagion” when the other side of this coin is interconnectedness. This perception does not deny what is occurring however it does challenge us to find another way of being in the world based on connection to all.

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” Albert Einstein

These are two different views of how we perceive the world. The first and prevalent view is that all living beings exist independent of one another. From this perspective, life and death of one being is unrelated to the life and death of another. From this perspective continuing to deplete our natural resources (the Amazon, fracking, pollution of the oceans, etc.), violence and oppression of people globally (indigenous, women, etc.) and the ongoing extinction of species holds no relevance to your life. It’s something that is happening “out there” somewhere else in the world and it doesn’t affect you in your comfortable daily life.

The second world view is that all living beings, rather than existing independently, exist in relation to other beings. (Many religions and philosophies espouse this belief.) From this perspective what happens to a species has a domino effect on what happens to humans and to the environment. Nature in its wisdom will rebalance to create harmony again. And that can be through disasters (we are seeing uncontrollable fires, glaciers melting, storms and earthquakes) as Nature strives to cull what is not essential to ongoing life and return to balance.

“Since this exists, that exists, and, since this does not exist, that does not exist. That is created because this is created, so if this disappears, that disappears.” Buddha

What if we were to focus on the ways we are connected (the counterpoint to the obvious contagion) and learn the lesson of interconnectedness as a way to address significant global problems such as climate change, human rights, animal rights, environmental pollution and so many other issues that are hindered by greed and ignorance — and the illusion of separateness?

Could we shift our focus to creating the conditions for peace and well-being for all living beings instead of maintaining our bias for consuming resources and seeking power and dominance over others?

Might we begin to see how we are more similar than different and use both similarities and differences to channel the higher intelligence needed to evolve as a species?

I believe that our global problems can only be resolved when we adopt a higher level of consciousness that views all life as being interconnected. That includes the spiritual perspective that all life is imbued with a soul, a spiritual energy, that may not be obvious but is certainly present. This connection is unseen but not any less felt or significant.

If you take this view, our own individual consciousness is part of a wider network of consciousness and that network of consciousness is within each individual much like a hologram. You may have experienced this sense of oneness during a walk in nature or in your deep connection to someone you love or the way you communicate without words to your animals.

You are simply experiencing the fundamental connectedness of all beings, and the universe itself. Feeling, being and information flow between us all, across this network of shared consciousness.

The question remains, will we be able to learn to live in greater harmony with each other, our planet, and all living beings through the lessons coronavirus teaches us or will we remain isolated in our lives and nations, valuing profit over life and politics over empathy as the world declines further and the planet in its wisdom rebalances through the force of nature?

I know that I can affect my small piece of the world and will continue to do so exactly where I am and within my capacity to do so. I pray that others will do the same and exponentially through this interconnectedness, our collective thoughts, actions and advocacy may indeed shift our collective consciousness towards this fundamental understanding of our basic interconnectedness.

Photo by Shahadat Rahman on Unsplash