An Affirmation for All

Namaste. A saying or word we see on yoga mats and water bottles; or spin-offs on cutesy T-shirts, “Namaste in bed” or something like that. I’m sure most of us have seen it, we may use it from time to time as a word of greeting or relaxation. But what does it mean? A quick google search will tell you it means “I bow to you” or “greetings to you”; however, I heard an interesting interpretation of it this week. While listening to a podcast of an interview with a Hindi woman, the host of the podcast mentioned that Namaste means “I see the divine in you” or "the light in me sees the light in you". The interviewee agreed and moved on to make her point about Hinduism being both a religion and a philosophy, but I thought “wow” hold on a second. This concept of seeing the divine in other people is big. Even if you don’t believe in a god, or creator of the universe in the same sense as someone else, can you see the “divine” in others? Are you purposefully and effortfully looking for it so that you can inform your actions better in the world? Divine does not have to mean godly or holy, but can mean excellent or delightful. I would argue people use the word divine even if they don’t believe in god to describe food, or experiences, or clothes. When things are just so purely good or pleasing to our senses that no other words touch it. In the same way, can we look at another person and say, there is something divine, something special, something unique about you that should cause me to pause, see you as a fellow human being, and act accordingly. And if we choose the mindset of seeing good in others - not thinking they are inherently bad or deserving of anger or unkind words based on one action or impulse they exhibited - what will that change in us? Will we be more willing to extend grace? Will we use kinder words? Will we make acquaintances and friends instead of holding grudges and making enemies? I don’t have many more profound words to say about this right now, just that we should look for the soul, spark, essence, image of god, divineness - whatever you wish to call it - in everyone so that we treat each other a little more kindly. I have another larger post I’m working on right now, but the past few weeks between work, a sick kid, and a computer cord replacement ordered, I have not had the time or ability to finish it up and post it yet. So for now, be kind to one another, and enjoy the day.