Namaste — Chapter 3 in Aspire
“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else—means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight.” —E.E. Cummings
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 3:
There is a path along the California coast that I love to walk. Its course mimics the shoreline as it meanders a stone’s throw from the sandy beach and the pulse of the Pacific Ocean just beyond. The sun is warm, the breeze consistent; the smell, seasoned with salt, is delicious. On the sand, people sit in beach chairs reading, or sunbathe, or job to the point and back, while children build castles and surfers catch waves, and on the horizon ships ply the waters bound for distant lands. In a place that tends to attract only those who want to be there, the mood is tranquil, and it is reflected in the friendly greetings. When I smile and say hello to someone on that path, I can count on getting a smile and hello in return.
I have often wondered what reaction I would get if, instead of “Hi” or “Hello” or “How are you doing?” I said, “Namasté”
This sacred greeting translates as “I salute the Divine within you; I salute your God-given gifts.” It is appropriate that a greeting that shows such respect has a unique and reverential way of being expressed.
Albert Einstein learned of the word “Namasté” and its meaning after watching Mahatma Gandhi in a newsreel greeting people in the streets of India by bowing with his hands pressed together. Einstein wrote Gandhi and asked what he was saying.
In this chapter, we find out how Gandhi replies to Einstein. In addition, we discover the depth and symbolism that embodies this sacred word.
You’ll also read about Kevin’s encounter with the renowned Gene Siskel of Siskel and Ebert and the Movies. The famous American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune had a unique gift that brought us a refreshing experience of movie reviews and the invention of “two thumbs up.” Through this story, you will find out how important it is to identify your unique gifts and how to follow your nature.
This chapter eloquently reminds us that a talent wasted is a sin.
Every person is an unrepeatable miracle and the word Namasté recognizes that no one, not one soul, in the human family is exempt from receiving gifts that are uniquely his or her own. You are authentic. And most importantly, you are an unrepeatable miracle.
Thank you for reading and sharing your God-given gifts with the world. Remember to take a moment to recognize the divine within you, as well as those you encounter, no matter how brief.
Namasté.
Read more in Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose Through The Power of Words