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The basic premise of the bow is, as I mentioned yesterday, a sense of who you are;
and it is in three sections; first part is called "Holding" where we are just here;
and I also want to just acknowledge, because I know some of you are not used to
bowing maybe in this particular format;
but I just want to say that as I have experienced in different cultures
the notion of bowing is, I believe, pretty universal.
And I've seen a whole variety of, sort of bowing or attempts at bowing;
but.... so maybe in certain cultures, it’s... even like in Europe it’s the curtsy; [laughter]
so in the Tibetan Indian tradition sometimes it’s this, the namaskar, namaste, añjali;
Tibetan it’s tashi deleg, "may everything be auspicious";
so it’s the notion of connecting with the heart.
I think there’s also the handshake, the good old handshake;
so there’s some kind of human communication;
and obviously in certain Asian cultures there’s this warrior bow.
So whatever it is, and sometime it’s as simple as the,
what I like to refer to as just the simple head bob, like.... [laughter]
And I’ve seen people, you know, they’re not comfortable with the whole thing, so they go....
[laughter]
Then there’s just the wink; [laughter]
so whatever level you’re at is fine.
Then there’s some people who... it’s awkwardly long;
so you know whatever the situation is;
but I think there’s just some connection.
And so it’s not just simply a formality
or some sort of ancient ritual we’re trying to drag into the modern time here;
but I think it is, it’s hand shake or acknowledgement whatever that manifestation is.
And I know that in the, certainly in the Japanese tradition,
the notion of you know you don’t have any weapons;
so there’s a sense of vulnerability and accessibility;
and so there’s a lot of I think, notion of trying to communicate.
And I think when you do bow and or you acknowledge, it’s whatever you believe in.
And I think the notion of holding, which is the first one, is really important;
because if we are sort of embarrassed,
then we kind of crumble over, just try to get it over with.
So whatever the connection is; so there’s a sense of holding;
and it is also very important what you bow to;
so the whole thing to do with a sense of communication and power;
by acknowledging something you actually receive
a tremendous amount of power and acknowledgement.
At the same time if you are bowing to something which
is incongruous or inappropriate somehow,
then you feel like you’ve been taken advantage of.
So whatever the situation is, just kind of hold,
so that first moment.
And then the next one is called feeling.
And it just the... what I like to think of it is like the trees slowly blowing in the wind;
and it’s just first moment and it's a sense of vulnerability, openness;
and you feel, whatever you believe in;
and then you’re acknowledging.
So that feeling is that first part; and then as you go down; it’s called giving.
So it’s holding, feeling and giving.
And the notion of giving is that you’re exchanging;
then when you come back up, it’s fresh; so there’s a sense of
having completed an act.
So people bow to each other, to sacred images, whatever it may be;
and I think even at a, just a very basic level, you know at a.... just trying to see who we are.
So as we are here I feel like the
point of what we're doing is the notion of human basic goodness;
and that is really the sort of the ground principle.
So we’re feeling a sense of the notion of basic goodness; who am I; what’s actually going on;
that’s holding.
And then there’s feeling that; and then completely acknowledging,
and we say when you give, you receive.
So then you come back up and that act has been done.
So shall we try it, one time here?
So just sit in a good posture,
and I think whatever you are working with at this point and you feel confident about.
So holding your ground;
and it may not be that you have deep clarity or conviction,
but you have a sense of whatever it is;
so here there’s sort of the topic of basic goodness, and whatever that means.
So holding,
then feeling; it’s a little bit, a little slight bend.
A sense of openness, contacting.
Then a little bit further and giving; so a sense of releasing.
Even if you have had a long day, just tension, letting it go,
giving; then coming back up.
And then fresh.
So it’s...in those basic ways:
Holding in the sense of human dignity, acknowledging, respecting, inspired.
Okay
Extract from the talk “Bringing Meditation Into Our Culture” by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. From the Shambhala Retreat “Being Brave: Transforming Our World”. 2011
DVD “Being Brave: Transforming Our World”. Set of eight talks available from Shambhala Media at http://www.shambhalamedia.org