“Among the tribes of Northern Natal in South Africa, the most common greeting equivalent to “hello” in English is the expression: “savu bona” which literally means, “I see you”. If you are a member of the tribe you might respond by saying “sikbona” or “I am here”. The order of the exchange is important; until you see me, I do not exist. It’s as if, when you see me, you bring me into existence.”
Excerpt from The Fifth Discipline Field book edited by Peter Senge
The above excerpt is very profound in that we choose to bring into existence that which we desire or are open to see. We see the authenticity of our self when we choose to just as we choose to see the authenticity of others when we choose to see or are open to see. When we are open to see all that is, there is much more that is brought into view.
In the movie “The Sixth Sense” a little boy who famously said “I see dead people” has the ability to see, hear and speak to dead people. When he is describing his experience to the psychologist played by Bruce Willis he states that the dead people he sees often don’t know they are dead and that they only see what the want to see. Until this very moment I did not relate this line back to the living and in many ways we the living are dead and don’t realize it and that many of we the living only see what we want to see and that many have a very limited aperture with which we view our experiences through.
When you take a moment and look at the order of the Natal’s greeting, you will note that once they are “seen” by someone they state that “I am here” which means they are declaring that they are present for each other. “I am here” means that I am ready to hear you, I am ready to engage you and that I am not multi tasking, sending text messages or accepting phone calls or watching the television while you speak to me. To say “I am here” and to truly be present is to give ourselves fully to the moment and the person or people in that moment.
In most of our cultures today to be full present with someone is truly a gift given isn’t it?
We create our reality and we choose the reality we create by the amount of light we allow ourselves to give and by the amount of light we allow ourselves to receive. In many ways it may seem easier to hear just what we want to hear or see just what we want to see however we are creating an illusion. It is this illusion which is the cause of the majority of our angst along our journey.
We may choose to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to that which comes our way however it is only a matter of time before we will be forced to see that which we choose not to see. To truly live is to be open to all experiences. Our joy is greater when we are open to experience the depths of sadness. The light is brighter when we bravely enter the darkness and shadows of our soul.
We must remain open and embrace each experience for all has a purpose and throughout our journey we will experience the all-ness in one way or another. If today you find yourself tearing up and overcome with sadness allow that sadness to wash over you, allow your tears to fall freely upon you cheeks, this too is part of your experience. Embrace all of your emotions and allow yourself to fully be. Live from your soul and know that the sweet and the bitter are tasted upon the same tongue.
Greet yourself and softly say “I am here” and fulfill the intent of being here for yourself. It is in doing this that you will know your authentic self and it is through the process of knowing yourself that you will come to know all.
The above excerpt is very profound in that we choose to bring into existence that which we desire or are open to see. We see the authenticity of our self when we choose to just as we choose to see the authenticity of others when we choose to see or are open to see. When we are open to see all that is, there is much more that is brought into view.
In the movie “The Sixth Sense” a little boy who famously said “I see dead people” has the ability to see, hear and speak to dead people. When he is describing his experience to the psychologist played by Bruce Willis he states that the dead people he sees often don’t know they are dead and that they only see what the want to see. Until this very moment I did not relate this line back to the living and in many ways we the living are dead and don’t realize it and that many of we the living only see what we want to see and that many have a very limited aperture with which we view our experiences through.
When you take a moment and look at the order of the Natal’s greeting, you will note that once they are “seen” by someone they state that “I am here” which means they are declaring that they are present for each other. “I am here” means that I am ready to hear you, I am ready to engage you and that I am not multi tasking, sending text messages or accepting phone calls or watching the television while you speak to me. To say “I am here” and to truly be present is to give ourselves fully to the moment and the person or people in that moment.
In most of our cultures today to be full present with someone is truly a gift given isn’t it?
We create our reality and we choose the reality we create by the amount of light we allow ourselves to give and by the amount of light we allow ourselves to receive. In many ways it may seem easier to hear just what we want to hear or see just what we want to see however we are creating an illusion. It is this illusion which is the cause of the majority of our angst along our journey.
We may choose to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to that which comes our way however it is only a matter of time before we will be forced to see that which we choose not to see. To truly live is to be open to all experiences. Our joy is greater when we are open to experience the depths of sadness. The light is brighter when we bravely enter the darkness and shadows of our soul.
We must remain open and embrace each experience for all has a purpose and throughout our journey we will experience the all-ness in one way or another. If today you find yourself tearing up and overcome with sadness allow that sadness to wash over you, allow your tears to fall freely upon you cheeks, this too is part of your experience. Embrace all of your emotions and allow yourself to fully be. Live from your soul and know that the sweet and the bitter are tasted upon the same tongue.
Greet yourself and softly say “I am here” and fulfill the intent of being here for yourself. It is in doing this that you will know your authentic self and it is through the process of knowing yourself that you will come to know all.