Supply: M. R./Unsplash
All over the place you look, there may be the worry of the invisible, the specter of contagion, the unraveling of your life. However for a virus to trigger illness, it should comply with a pathway that’s common for an infection.
That is referred to as the “chain of an infection.” It entails “the reservoir,” which is the place the germs can stay and survive—reminiscent of a floor. Subsequent comes “the portal” via which the germs depart the reservoir to the skin setting. This may be somebody touching the germs, or an contaminated particular person coughing onto another person.
Subsequent comes the “mode of transmission,” reminiscent of touching or sneezing onto another person. Then comes “the host,” which is the one that is inclined to an infection. Lastly, there may be “the Infectious Agent”—that’s, the germs that enter the physique and start the method of the unfolding illness. We will forestall illness if we are able to cease any certainly one of these steps within the chain from success.
Proper now, we’re following the CDC tips—we’re specializing in distancing, isolation, and intensive private hygiene. There could also be germs on the market, but when we neutralize them with sanitizing substance, we are able to cease that step from shifting on. We will generally destroy the reservoir.
We will neutralize the hazards of the portal or exit of the germ by not touching surfaces or by masking our faces whereas sneezing or coughing. Distancing and isolation are important at this vital cut-off date. This may block the mode of transmission.
All of us are potential hosts for the virus, so the best way to neutralize that is to guarantee that you’ve got distance from an infection—keep away from crowds, keep away from pointless journey. You do not need to be the host for the Infectious Agent.
The Zen Warrior
We frequently consider a warrior as somebody who straight confronts and defeats an enemy. Essentially the most primitive fight is an arm-to-arm battle, wielding swords, bludgeoning the enemy. Or attacking the enemy with bullets. Or scuffling with the enemy in bodily fight. That is the Engaged Warrior, one which we examine within the chronicles going again to Homer and Virgil. Wherever the enemy is, the warrior seeks out fight. Warrior and enemy are in a single place on the similar time. They wrestle collectively.
The Zen Warrior is totally different. They know that to defeat the enemy is to disengage, to distance, to look at, to separate. The Zen Warrior is just like the Invisible Man—to not be seen, to not be heard. The Zen Warrior throws out a bewildering problem: “I’m nowhere to be discovered.”
I see a city with many doorways, all closed. The Infectious Agent goes door to door. It knocks on the door, yells aloud to return out; it challenges and ridicules—”You cowards. Come out and struggle.” However the doorways stay closed. The curtains are drawn within the home windows. The lights have been turned out. There’s silence in every single place.
The Infectious Agent is hungry. It wants to have interaction. It feeds off of direct wrestle, direct contact. However the Zen Warrior is aware of that if he doesn’t present up, if he’s out of city, if the doorways stay closed, then the Infectious Agent will wither away, starved, defeated, and ostracized. The Zen Warrior is aware of that the wrestle takes two to tango. However he isn’t partaking on this dance.
The Zen Warrior is aware of that doing nothing however staying in, staying away, staying calm will result in the Agent disappearing. When all of the doorways are closed, there isn’t a place for the Infectious Agent to go. Nowhere to feed off the Host. Because the Agent continues to bang on the door, there may be solely silence.The Zen Warrior observes, detaches, rises above, and lives one other day.
As the times go by, the Infectious Agent cries out for the Host: “I want you. Come out and struggle. That is the place you must be. Present your braveness.” However the Zen Warrior is the Grasp of Silence. There isn’t a reply that he’ll give.
As days go by, the Infectious Agent is stumbling via the road of the Ghost City, the place all live behind the closed doorways. On a drained mule, strolling slowly and aimlessly towards the gates of the city, heading away, we are able to see the Infectious Agent leaving. Using away. Unvoiced.
And within the city, the Zen Warrior celebrates his silence.
