The Elements: Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Sky

Hindu philosophy defines all matter to be made of 5 elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air and the sky. With modern advances in chemistry we have discovered 112 elements (and counting?), where deciphering properties of elements like Silicon brought about the semi-conductor revolution and Uranium and Plutonium’s were exploited to make the A-bomb, a source of a many political heartaches today and having far-reaching consequences. The elegance of the Hindu philosophy’s definition lies in its simplicity. While it was primitive and crude in nature, it brought a harmonious vision of nature. Matter was used in the currently easily available form; ores weren’t mined nor were chemicals extracted/produced by performing chemical reactions under artificially attained high or low temperatures or pressures. For those more interested in walking a spiritual path, such a definition sufficed, the intricacies of matter didn’t really matter.

The elements of nature may at times show off its brute force on us lesser mortals. When earth moves we experience landslides and earthquakes, or simply bends and rips and we have volcanoes erupting. When water in clouds precipitates, rains can turn to storms, possibly with hail or ice falling. Incessant rains cause floods while lack of it causes drought. Earth movement under the ocean causes tidal waves (tsunamis) that ripple through can hit coastlines and water can rise many floors high and wash everything 100s of meters inland. Wind, or air in motion, can blow at raging speeds resulting in hurricanes or tornadoes. Fires spread faster than rumors (or so the saying implies) and burn everything on their way to ashes, even acres of forestland. The sky hasn’t fallen down yet, but I have the impression it has something up its sleeve, too.

When the elements attack, they sometimes come with an element of surprise, but even if we are aware of the impending disaster, its magnitude surely evokes shock and awe. They can be unforgiving even apocalyptic. Many, going about innocently engrossed in their own daily lives, are suddenly caught in a struggle of life and death and before they realize it, it’s over. Death must be extremely painful, but surviving hurts no less. Those who survive have to get up, gather the pieces together and start life again. There is injury and death, destruction and ruins all around. The wails and cries are heart-wrenching. Most of the loss is irrecoverable, a child losing a parent, a parent losing a child, a person losing his/her sibling or spouse; it all creates a void in life that can hardly be filled. The trauma carries over long after the initial concerns of food, water and sanitation, medical supplies, temporary shelters and maybe primary education for children and continuing agriculture in the areas hit are dealt with. The helplessness and hopelessness is inexplicable.

If the disaster receives decent media coverage, relief and aid organizations, NGOs, charities, governments, the Red Cross and UN agencies usually respond fast. They coordinate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. At times, disasters tear down the communication and transportation infrastructure of the areas hit. Workers enter ground zero ready and willing to face hellish conditions. Thanks to global media, we can see images, hear and read the stories real time. Good Samaritans usually respond by wiring in their monetary contribution or digging in their houses for old clothes, blankets, tents, medicines, non-perishable food, any basic supplies they can get their hands on. This usually reduces the guilt of living luxuriously while others suffer. Something tells us we were just fortunate it wasn’t us. It’s also time for insurance companies to pay up. After all, it’s for this day that their customers bought insurance in the first place. But high order disasters scare them and their machinery of lawyers and MBAs frantically find ways to minimize their losses. Finally, scientists and researchers work on improving their predictive technologies, whether geological or atmospheric, to better pin-point the timeframe and magnitude of such disasters. Logistics institutions use the feedback they get to better coordinate disaster management efforts in the future. Yet, somehow I feel nature will continue to find ways to catch us unprepared.

In hindsight, we find a large population callous to the crisis prevention measures. Builders and contractors conveniently overlook guidelines to earthquake resistant or flood and landslide tolerant construction. Occupants don’t follow fire precautions, i.e. don’t use smoke alarms, keep extinguishers accessible or make fire exits easily reachable. Some don’t even pay heed to the alerts issued by the, say, meteorological department or coast guards. They are blinded in their run to make a quick buck, crack a good deal or simply put food on their table. Somehow, they get used to dangers and risk and safety comes last for them. Another set of revelations that brings bad taste to an already ugly episode is when we learn of those who thrive on others misery. Recent tragedies have been followed by bogus charities asking for donations. Donations are reduced by the time they reach the intended recipients, maybe because the channels were expensive or plain corrupt. Some people, close to the site, run down to steal from the dead or loot the deserted and damaged establishments. Such stories undermine the efforts of the benevolent volunteers making their contributions to a greater cause.

I experience a short-lived renunciation when I see and hear of such natural disasters. It could’ve been me in it. What’s the use of worrying about my trivial problems if life itself is so fragile? We are so meager in front of the elements. With one blow we disintegrate back to the five elements that constitute us. But, the feeling is temporary. The media moves on to the next sensation. The market and society quickly adjust to the sudden change and re-align accordingly. I only hope it isn’t me, because I certainly cannot live off the pittance I donate to relief efforts. Otherwise the tragedy soon loses its importance and reduced to a topic of dinner conversation while we verbally sympathize with the poor victims.

We are bound by the laws of karma. If I happily live through the good times, all good things come to an end. While I revel in my own small world, I realize it could’ve been my bad time. Where is the justice, the fairness, the goodness or the mercy in these acts of nature or maybe the Almighty? Is God so cruel? If a tragedy shatters my life, I will probably find no logic or good intent behind the act of nature. But, if God creates, He destroys. We are subject to His whims. We grow too attached to the world we find ourselves in. We create a family, a home, and find belongingness in a workplace, community, and society. God simply smokes us out of our hives, no use asking why. Faith begins where reasoning ends. And I do believe that karma runs full circle and the higher powers administer justice equally and fairly.

Some of us complain and whine about the elements. We feel our utter helplessness against the forces of nature. But we remain passive and take things as they come. Some of us actively strive for better solutions to deal with tragedies prior and post its occurrence. Yet some others, as the Urdu poet Ghalib wrote, are born in the world, but do not long for anything in life. While they walk through the marketplace that’s life, they aren’t involved in any of the proceedings in the market, they aren’t customers, they simply walk by.