The Spirit of Namaste
I have recently been considering the challenge that we all face of the “us versus them,” the my team versus your team-ness of it all. As our algorithms continue to push us further into our echo chambers and our politeness keeps us from risking discord with our friends or family members who may have different views from us, our ability to find common ground can feel frustrating and far away. The tendency is to label people good or bad, right or wrong, pull people close that agree and cut off or “block” anyone who doesn’t hold our views.
A Buddhist tenet that I really love is that human beings are fundamentally good at our core and that flaws and suffering arise from a temporary confusion that obscures our underlying nature. Similarly, in Hindu and Sanskrit culture, bowing and saying “Namaste” is a salutation that acknowledges the divine spirit in one another. (Fun fact: when we greet someone in the West we shake hands - the history of this is to prove that you weren’t carrying a gun or weapon.) I don’t often have cause to use the word “namaste” out in the wild on the streets of London but I think that we could keep these Eastern philosophies and practices in mind in 2026.
Sometimes my anger feels close to the surface and I find it challenging not to lash out. I find the injustice, hypocrisy and disrespect so overwhelming that I can’t help but want to scream and be unkind. Seeing other’s basic goodness feels damn near impossible. BUT I think this is some of what is the most important small stuff that we can do and can control. However, we don’t have to start with the places that are the most inflammatory. We can start with ourselves and our local community.
What does it feel like to acknowledge your own basic goodness? How would that change how you talk to yourself or relate to others? The next time you order a coffee, you might try to shift your perspective to acknowledge your barista’s basic goodness. You might even try to remember that "corporate Karen" is still a human with basic goodness. Just like with exercise, we use neural pathways to make them stronger. I think now is a great time to be doing a little more proverbial bowing to our family, co-workers and neighbors as we try to figure out where to direct our rage that is helpful and just.