“I want to live in a world where people are kind to each other …”
– Choices Do Matter
For the month of May, I want to bring Namasté into my daily life. I hope Namasté finds a comfortable forever home and stays with me longer than just one month.
Being kind to each other is a way to express the idea of Namasté (nah-mas-tay), a Sanskrit word with many interpretations:
My soul honors your soul.
I honor the place in you where
the entire universe resides.
I honor the light, love, truth,
beauty and peace within you,
because it is also within me.
In sharing these things
we are united, we are the same,
we are one.… common definitions of Namasté
Namasté, as a greeting, says, “may our minds meet.” I touch my palms and place them over my heart-center and bow in greeting, extending respect and love. It says that we share one life force.
It will be harder for me to be cruel – to dislike – or to disrespect someone after sharing this greeting of respect and love.
For the month of May, I am going to make a conscious effort to be in a Namasté relationship with everyone I meet. I will remind myself that we are one – the same. Outwardly, I might not always bow…I might shake a hand, give a hug, or say a kind greeting. Inwardly, I will remember to keep these words in my heart, “the good in me honors the good in you, may our minds meet – in love.”
What do you think? Is it crazy to envision a world of love? A world of kindness?
Will you join me? If each of us invited three friends to join us soon we would grow to 300, then 3,000, then more.
Can this idea be used in the workplace? In our politics – our faith traditions?
As always, the conversation starts here.
Peace, Bruce, in your discipline for May…and Namaste!!
An excellent plan. May Namaste rule in our hearts and lives always.
Barbara,
Yes – Peace and Namasté and all things good.
– Bruce
Ella,
“May Namaste rule in our hearts and lives always.” I love it.
–Bruce
What a wonderful idea!
Just think what a difference it would it would have made if the good people of Baltimore had only said namaste to each other instead of looting and burning the very businesses they needed in their daily lives previously.
Yes Robert, I understand your feelings. Namasté in all societies, all cultures is the ideal. It is my prayer that we will get there. It will take time. All voices in Baltimore, and everywhere in our world, need to be listened to with true Namasté in our hearts. Riots, as MLK, Jr. said, are “…the language of the unheard.” Is Baltimore an example of the unheard?
i am going to focus on this. I think I may actually perform the Namaste act in addition to or instead of the traditional handshake and see what that feels like.
Bruce I admire you so much. Agape!!!
Molly,
Try it. I am on my ninth day. It is making a difference in my connection with the people I meet. The bonus for me is the ‘carry over’ through-out my day – I even sleep better at night. Let me know how it goes for you.
Thanks for commenting. Any admiration for me is double back at you. Agape and Happy Mother’s Day.
See you soon,
– Bruce
Namaste for me is honoring the light and spirit each and every individual has. My outlook on social interactions has changed drastically since i began this challenge! As Ghandi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Realizing and treating others as equal spirits can truly change the world for not only you but that person as well.
Do good things, Grandaddy!
Namaste,
Ellie
Ellie,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Your watercolor gave birth to the Namasté Challenge, Brava. I am in my eleventh day and as I said to another reader, “the bonus for me is the ‘carry over’ through-out my day – I even sleep better at night.”
Your Ghandi quote is one of my favorites; why not do a watercolor featuring change?
Thank you for saying, “Do good things, Grandaddy.” Those words are the “wind beneath my wings.” I love you.
Namasté
– Granddaddy