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In
Japan, according to an ancient custom, people bow whenever they greet
each other, show appreciation, or admire an object of beauty.
For example, a person may bow when admiring a flower arrangement
at a tea ceremony, then bow to the host to show appreciation for the
thoughtfulness that the host provided. Yet,
what does this traditional bow mean?
Our minds are constantly filled with
extraneous thoughts and emotions, like a cup filled to the rim with
water. In that condition,
there is no way to accept even an additional drop.
To enjoy the next beverage, one must empty the cup in order to
accept something new. Like
the cup, the purpose of bowing is to clear the mind and express kyo
shin, which means “without prejudice.”
When the head is raised, the empty mind can then greet a person
or a work of art with an entirely fresh mind, thus fully appreciating
the beauty and meaning that are being presented.
Although we may never bow in our society,
we can benefit from emptying the mind whenever we greet someone or
appreciate beauty. Being
empty-minded means that we have released the need to be judgmental,
which means letting go of the habit of constantly evaluating things in
terms of good or bad, like or dislike, agree or disagree.
By not judging, we see life without the expectations of how
things should be, or how we should be.
By having an open mind we free ourselves of the “shoulds” in
life!
When our mind is empty and free, we have
a clear perspective of everything around us and can embrace life as it
really is. This open embrace
of ourselves and others creates an atmosphere of peacefulness and
serenity. With emptiness, we
can fully appreciate the beauty and richness of life.
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