As a practitioner of yoga, I have commonly used the sanskrit greeting namaste, meaning "the God in me sees the God in you." Although I have always figured it to be a profound reminder of enlightened consciousness, I rarely thought to look at the person that I was greeting as a reflection of higher power. Similarly, it was hard for me to imagine myself as the divine. The flowery language felt appropriate in a yoga context, but had little application to my daily life.
After recent meditations on oneness -- the elimination of duality in our perception of reality -- I have discovered relevant meaning to the namaste principle. I have spent the last several years living an ideal yogini lifestyle; I spend several hours of each day in sadhana (spiritual work) while living at a yoga ashram and teaching the visual and holistic arts. During this sanctuary of solitude, I have discovered spiritual union within myself and an abundance of joy.
Though I continued to thrive in my relationship with myself, my relationships with others were stagnant. I failed to look at my relationships as an opportunity to practice my spiritual development. I saw people as separate from my life lessons. I saw their flaws before I saw their beauty.
I couldn't understand the essence of namaste, that every being possesses enlightened consciousness, because I wouldn't allow myself to feel such vulnerability. If I believed that everyone is ultimately God, then I would be forced to love and respect everyone unconditionally. I would then forgive them for their egos and their earthly ways. My fear is a sign that my own ego feels threatened, as it sees its transcendence so that I may emerge into higher consciousness. I now realize that honoring relationships is a spiritual practice. The very thing that I had been dismissing would be a gateway into divine awareness.
I now revere all relationships with others as a tool for my own growth and development. I search for the spark of light in every person I encounter daily, from a store clerk to a family member to my best friend. When I see another, it is my goal to see them as whole and complete, a reflection of how I imagine God. In this way, I am honoring their ability to ascend into greatness and am not focusing on their egos, personalities, or faults. When I look at myself in the mirror, it is my responsibility to see that same wholeness and completion. I, too, possess infinite potential and shine with radiant light.
The bridge between the heavens and the earthly world lies in the heart chakra (an energy center located in the middle of the chest). The heart chakra governs unbounded love and transcends all fears. In order to master our own lives and gain full consciousness, we must recognize the divinity that exists through pure unconditional love. In this way, we are discovering namaste on a tangible level. We are willing to be open, vulnerable, and trusting. We are recognizing oneness in our relationships and are ultimately discovering true union with God.
Namaste.
Helina Metaferia is a holistic practitioner, visual artist, and long time learner of Enlightenment. She teaches classes in Light Consciousness, Meditation, and Intuitive Painting. Visit the website: www.themetaexperience.com.
I now revere all relationships with others as a tool for my own growth and development. I search for the spark of light in every person I encounter daily, from a store clerk to a family member to my best friend. When I see another, it is my goal to see them as whole and complete, a reflection of how I imagine God. In this way, I am honoring their ability to ascend into greatness and am not focusing on their egos, personalities, or faults. When I look at myself in the mirror, it is my responsibility to see that same wholeness and completion. I, too, possess infinite potential and shine with radiant light.
The bridge between the heavens and the earthly world lies in the heart chakra (an energy center located in the middle of the chest). The heart chakra governs unbounded love and transcends all fears. In order to master our own lives and gain full consciousness, we must recognize the divinity that exists through pure unconditional love. In this way, we are discovering namaste on a tangible level. We are willing to be open, vulnerable, and trusting. We are recognizing oneness in our relationships and are ultimately discovering true union with God.
Namaste.
Helina Metaferia is a holistic practitioner, visual artist, and long time learner of Enlightenment. She teaches classes in Light Consciousness, Meditation, and Intuitive Painting. Visit the website: www.themetaexperience.com.
