“Namaste” Do we live it? Why make fun of others? (birthday)

[Hema]

“Namaste” is a greeting which is equivalent to saying; “I bow to that Divinity within you; the same Divinity that is within me.” It is another way of saying, “We are all equal”. We are paying respect to the love, light and peace within others.

I often see people laughing at others – people who are fat; people who wear old fashioned clothes; people who differ from the norm. One person might have a big nose; someone else might have big teeth. Some people might find these differences and many others, to be a huge joke! Why do we do this? Aren’t we all brothers and sisters in spirit? Aren’t the differences only on a physical level? Whatever is on the physical level is only material. We will leave it all behind when we die.

It hurts me to see people being made fun of.

Even if we don’t use the term “Namaste” in out day-to-day lives, we can remember the meaning behind it every time we meet others.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Hema

“Namaste” is a greeting which is equivalent to saying; “I bow to that Divinity within you; the same Divinity that is within me.” It is another way of saying, “We are all equal”. We are paying respect to the love, light and peace within others.

I often see people laughing at others – people who are fat; people who wear old fashioned clothes; people who differ from the norm. One person might have a big nose; someone else might have big teeth. Some people might find these differences and many others, to be a huge joke! Why do we do this? Aren’t we all brothers and sisters in spirit? Aren’t the differences only on a physical level? Whatever is on the physical level is only material. We will leave it all behind when we die.

It hurts me to see people being made fun of.

Even if we don’t use the term “Namaste” in out day-to-day lives, we can remember the meaning behind it every time we meet others.

You are quite right. I think I probably used to be that type of person when I was younger - and, unfortunately ignorant.

Why do we do this?

I honestly don't know; it could be because it helps us forget our own inhibitions - maybe even our own (most people see, in themselves, visual "faults") - fears of dismorphia..... That seems to be the only logical possibility - apart from being outright "nasty".

I love the greeting "Namaste" - but I like to use it mindfully - I somehow feel that to overuse it devalues its meaning. I guess that sounds silly, but, the use of such a word without meaning it as it deserves somehow lestens the "value" of it; does that make sense ?

[michaelm]

When we laugh at others, we are laughing at ourselves. When we are angry with others, we are angry with ourselves, and when we love others, we love ourselves.
A baby smiles at everyone who smiles at him or her, it has no prejudice about appearance. As we grow in this world, so we get contaminated with worldy fears and worries. When we look down on others, its because we fear others look down on us. It is a learning process. Hopefully we gradually learn cause of the pain and suffering that lie behind our actions and gradually let it all go, and achieve peace.

[michel]

Originally Posted by michaelm

When we laugh at others, we are laughing at ourselves. When we are angry with others, we are angry with ourselves, and when we love others, we love ourselves.
A baby smiles at everyone who smiles at him or her, it has no prejudice about appearance. As we grow in this world, so we get contaminated with worldy fears and worries. When we look down on others, its because we fear others look down on us. It is a learning process. Hopefully we gradually learn cause of the pain and suffering that lie behind our actions and gradually let it all go, and achieve peace.

Good post; fruballworthy, I guess!

[Hema]

Originally Posted by michel

You are quite right. I think I probably used to be that type of person when I was younger - and, unfortunately ignorant.

I honestly don't know; it could be because it helps us forget our own inhibitions - maybe even our own (most people see, in themselves, visual "faults") - fears of dismorphia..... That seems to be the only logical possibility - apart from being outright "nasty".

I love the greeting "Namaste" - but I like to use it mindfully - I somehow feel that to overuse it devalues its meaning. I guess that sounds silly, but, the use of such a word without meaning it as it deserves somehow lestens the "value" of it; does that make sense ?

Ah well, when we are growing up, we do all sorts of strange things because we don't know any better.

I think some people who are insecure feel better about themselves when they can make other people feel smaller.

I understand what you mean by using it mindfully. It's sort of like a birthday - if we celebrated it all the time it wouldn't be as special!

[Hema]

Originally Posted by michaelm

When we laugh at others, we are laughing at ourselves. When we are angry with others, we are angry with ourselves, and when we love others, we love ourselves.
A baby smiles at everyone who smiles at him or her, it has no prejudice about appearance. As we grow in this world, so we get contaminated with worldy fears and worries. When we look down on others, its because we fear others look down on us. It is a learning process. Hopefully we gradually learn cause of the pain and suffering that lie behind our actions and gradually let it all go, and achieve peace.

So true!

When I was little, there was this thing that used to come across TV. It was a message which said, "There are two places where it doesn't matter who your neighbour is. This is the first place....(they show a nursery with many babies).....and this is the other place....(they show a cemetary)" That moved me every time!

[Hema]

Originally Posted by michel

Good post; fruballworthy, I guess!

I passed out some frubals too!

[PureX]

Focussing on how funny you look, covers up how ugly I feel.

I didn't know the meaning of "namaste", but that sure is an excellent way of greeting someone. In fact, I can't think of a single more reaslistic way of meeting someone.