Many years ago, I started doing prostrations after reading A Joyful Path by Thich Nhat Hanh. He described these as a Buddhist practice to help us stay connected to our blood and spiritual roots. I used to prostrate six times: to my blood ancestors, to my spiritual ancestors, to those I love, to those who have made me suffer, to Mother Earth, and to God. Over time, I shortened the six to two: to my combined blood and spiritual ancestors and to God. I changed “bow” to “honor” because I felt this term had more relevance to me, although I understand the great significance bowing has in Asian cultures.
Recently, I’ve begun to ask, “what am I actually doing to demonstrate honor throughout my day?” Statements are so easy to make. After awhile, I don’t even hear myself. Often, I’m thinking of other things as I touch my forehead to the floor and state: “I honor my blood and spiritual ancestors. I honor God.”
So one morning after I meditated, I wrote down what it means to me to honor God, to honor myself as an expression of God, and to honor my ancestors who have lived through so much and enable me to be here with such fortune in this time and place. I am so very thankful for their guidance and assistance. I came up with a long list: respect, forgiveness, compassion, gratitude, minimizing complaints, watching what I put into my temple, how I care for my temple, being mindful of what comes out of my mouth (speech), and what goes into my mind.
Am I contributing to or diminishing peace? In the midst of stress, am I matching it, giving back what is being expressed in my presence? Am I creating harmony or disharmony? Can I be at peace in the midst of chaos? Am I a light in the darkness or am I darkness in someone’s light?