I
must say I enjoy my weekend walks from Likoni to the outskirts of Kwale. I have done this religiously for the
last 5 years unless due to some unavoidable circumstances such as today. I did
not walk but still remember the doses of assalum alaikum I receive from wonderful people from time to time. On average it takes me one hour and a half thereabout to accomplish this healthy mission and covenant I have with my body.There is a small fresh water pond at the middle of no where that never seems to dry. The villagers call it ziwa la Pungu. Its rain collection from the surrounding hills.
During
my walks – I try as much as possible to focus in the now by interacting with the environment. This form of meditation is very nourishing and works well for me. The climax is usually when I meet people on the way in this sparsely
populated subsistence farm region. It is humbling that there is always exchange of greetings. From
the young and old – I receive Assalum alaikum. And I respond Wa
Alaikum Salaam. Every greeting
brings a smile and brightens my heart – most of the time from people I had
never met before.
Over the years – it has given me a lot of
grace and peace by just reflecting the deeper meaning of this very powerful
greeting. I have checked on its translations and discussed it with my coastal friends.
With all humility – I wish to share this.
The deeper meaning - may peace be upon you –
peace from what? A guarantee – I will not harm you – my guarantee to you is no
harm will come to you. Can you imagine if you were to be told and to tell everyone
you meet – I guarantee you no harm will fall upon you. This to me is a very
powerful greeting and actually an every moment prayer.
It goes further to say – May the blessing of
the almighty be upon you – wa rahmatulullahi wa barakatuh’ – I ask the almighty
to bless you. You be at peace with your
creator and may his blessings be upon you. May you be at peace with yourself,
your soul and everything in you and about and around you. In English it sounds
a mouthful to explain but I hope you grasp it.
I
was quick to learn that the Muslims are taught that they must always greet and
if you were to receive greetings, it is your duty to receive the greetings either
equally or better it.
If
you did not know the meaning of Assalum alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktuh –
now you know. Feel it as I do when you receive. Attitude of gratitude teaches
us – return the greetings too.
Thousands of years ago, we borrowed numerical writing from the Arab world. this science of 0,1 to 9 has translated the scientific world in calculations, predictions and you name it. probably we need to borrow assalm aleykum and Namaste too for a unified and peaceful global village.
Namaste is another greeting that fascinates me.
I first took a note of it from an Austrian friend who every mail he wrote, he
ended it with Namaste. Namaste is an ancient Sanskrit greeting still in
everyday use in India and especially on the trail in the Himalayas. Translated
roughly, it means “I bow to god within you,” or “The spirit within
me salutes the spirit in you.” – a knowing that we are all made from the same
one divine consciousness. Jai-Bhagwan – is also in common use, and carries the
same meaning in Hindi.
My main focus is Namaste as it is being used North America
and Europe.
The
notion in the East that we are spiritual beings temporarily occupyi9ng our
bodies – make Namaste a very in-depth salutations on focusing soul to soul
level.
now you know the power of the two greetings.
