Editor's Note

Dear Readers,

We are here again with the fourth issue of Cloverleaf but in a time unlike any other ridden with the perils of Covid 19 and its associated devastation which is worldwide.

The tremendous loss of lives and livelihood in once prosperous nations and the worsening of calamities in war torn regions ironically leading to more misery could possibly wipe out all hope and confidence from our minds.

However if one were to go back to the religious texts and re read the utterances of evolved souls when they were in strife and tribulation,  it would perhaps would make us realise the transient nature of all ills that human life encounters.

Job faced all sorts of afflictions but though he would not curse God  he wanted to know why it was he who was made to suffer. God responded by making up for his losses eventually and Job was wiser and stronger because of his misfortunes. God’s real message was  that one can not rationalise about life and its suffering and try to get clear cut answers for every trauma. One needs to look deeper and understand the purpose of trauma and suffering.

Arjuna in the Bhagwad Gita suffered the moral agony of having to fight his own brothers.

Krishna replied: Become My devotee, always think of Me, act for Me, worship Me, and offer all homage unto Me. Surrender unto me alone. Do not fear sinful reactions.

Once again Krishna was guided to observe his divine nature and follow its injections.

There were moments for Prophet Mohammed too when he felt that God had deserted him and he was abandoned because he did not receive any revelations from God for certain periods of time.

The following translation of Surah Ad Duha highlights the presence of God and a way of dealing with suffering:

By the morning bright

And by the night that when it covers with darkness

Your Lord has not taken leave of you, (O Muhammad), nor has He detested you

And the Hereafter is better for you than the first (life)

And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied

Did He not find you an orphan and give (you) refuge?

And He found you lost and guided (you)

And He found you poor and made (you) self-sufficient

So as for the orphan, do not oppress (him)

And as for the petitioner, do not repel (him)

But as for the favour of your lord report (it)

As the enlightened ones have shown us, times of  trauma and strife are times that need us to act on our reserves of courage, generosity and faith.

Thus even at times when one feels trapped in trauma and agonising events there is still the presence of the Divine who may not answer us directly but His plan for us is flashed before us in those moments and we are made stronger for the journey ahead.

The articles and poems in this issue all highlight human concerns in the present day world.

Dr. Shiv Talwar as eloquently as always enlightens us about wisdom and faith traditions in the Publisher’s Note. He focuses on how there is a unity inspite of these diverse cultural traditions.

Professor Farukh Arjmand reflects on the possible effects and outcomes of reopening post Covid-19.

Garima Talwar has commented on the idea of unity in diversity from the perspective of education in her article titled “Opinion Piece: Education to Create Unity in Diversity in an Era of Populism”.

In her article titled “Love and the Subconscious” Christine has enlightened the readers about the deep and abiding relationship between deep breathing and the subconscious mind.

Christopher Hagan in his article titled “Did God Have A Choice in Making Our World” dwells upon spiritual beliefs and their necessity to survive in the modern world.

The poems by the eminent Australian poet Dennis Haskell dwell on love, loss, separation and beauty.

My own poem “Vaccine” has some thoughts on a vaccine as the ultimate resolution to the Covid pandemic.

All the articles and poems in this issue highlight some iota of human experience during the lockdowns of Covid -19 or the times of freedom before it.

We wish and hope and pray that all our readers stay safe and are able to make the most of their time in the Covid lockdowns.

May Cloverleaf bring solace and comfort to all, in these harsh times.