By Swami Chidananda
As Covid-19 continues to cause damage, destruction and death everywhere, unabated in our country India, we recognize that a large number of our citizens are starving. They have lost their jobs. their savings are exhausted. They have no doors before them to knock, to get some relief.
At this time, some of our friends – individually and through organizations – are making food available to these suffering brothers and sisters. We sincerely appreciate such service. We must, where possible and to the extent possible, extend our hand of help to such friends of ours.
Do not insult food! Let reverence for food be your vowed observance.
annam na nindyāt, tad vratam
Taittiriya Upanishad, 3.7
The mantra above shows once more how the Vedānta carries ‘the ultimate and the intimate’ together. The exploration into the transcendental goes hand in hand with sensitivity to the ground realities of human life in the teachings of the Upanishads.