Showing gratitude.

“Bowing to the World”

“The act of bowing---intentionally stopping, gesturing respectfully, and bending lower---can be a powerful tool for a more conscious relationship with yourself and with others.”

                                           Jeffrey Brantley, MD

                                           Wendy Millstine, NC

         To whom or what do you bow?  I grew up going to an Episcopal Church where people did a lot of bowing and kneeling, or as my grandmother would say, “scrapin’ and bowin’.”  We genuflected at the back of the church and before going into the pew.  Once in the pew, we pulled down the kneeling rail, got on our knees and at least pretended to pray.  At the time, I hated it and now, I miss that opportunity to express reverence.

         Around the world, the universal position of respect is hands together in front of the body--prayer position--and a slight bend at the waist.  It’s not that hard to do.  The question is what inspires me to bow?  When I see a beautiful sunset, or a particularly vivid flower, or the face of a friend, do I feel a desire to bow and express reverence and gratitude?  Bowing is one way of being conscious that life and everything in it is a gift, pure and simple.

         There are so many gifts in the course of one human day that most of us would be bowing and scraping constantly if that were our practice.  But taking one day of the week, or one hour of the day, for reverence is in itself a spiritual practice, a reminder that all of the things that really matter are given to us free of charge.  Beginning with oneself: bowing to the fact of waking in a warm bed, standing on two good legs, having a roof over one’s head and food in the belly, friends to love and family to cherish; it’s all an awesome gift of the universe---there are so many who do not have these simple necessities.  When you do have them, bowing and expressing gratitude is not so much to ask.

         Bowing is also a good way to consciously express intention.  For example, holding the intention: “May my heart be open to love today.” Following this with a bow is a way of expressing the desire for it to be so.  “May I appreciate the people I meet today.”  Bow.  “May I walk gently on the earth today.”  Bow.  Bowing becomes a way of affirming one's choice to live consciously in the world.  I have had much to bow to in the last week—friends, family, colleagues, hosts—to them I bow this day.

                                           Namaste,

                                           Jane