"I have seen you."
The cave was amazing, as it was every time we came to see it. Thousands of stalactites hung from the ceiling and crystal clear water reflected them making it seem like two worlds in tandum, one an upside down reflection of the other, not unlike the Maya world view.
Max thanked Estaben, the property caretaker who was indgienous Maya, and then said, "Good-bye." But he was a bit puzzeled when Esteban responded with his own way of saying good-bye . . .
"I have seen you."
I have seen you. Not just; I have seen you, your body, your physical form. More than that. I have seen into you. I acknowlege you as another soul. I have paid attention, looked into your eyes, and seen the you who lives in your body. How often do we look at someone and not really see them? We go about our days bee-bopping around, flitting from one activity to another, a bit self-absorbed (though not with any kind of bad intention). How often to we live for days on end in our own world and not get outside of ourselves enough to really "see" into someone?
The Maya world view is fundamently different than our western one. I spend a lot of time connecting with people in small villages and doing my best to really pay attention, to listen, to "see" as much as I can. And I am learning some things that I value very much and want to apply to my own life. Things you might also want to apply to yours.
Simply paying attention to the language is giving me a view into the heart of how people think, the color of the glasses they see the world through. And it is a very connected and caring color indeed.
Bix a be'el? (beesh a bel)
It is a simple greeting that we would translate as "How are you?" Actually, it more accurately could be translated, "How is your path?" And of course the word path would not just mean a simple path. It refers to your way in life. How is your walk? How is your the motion and direction of your life as it moves forward?
Not a simple greeting.
How many times have you asked someone, "How are you?" expecting to just get a simple response of, "Fine."? And do you really want to hear anymore than that? Really listening to the answer would take time. It would mean getting outside of your own head for a moment. That might be inconvient when you are busy doing errands, shopping, moving at a brisk pace through your day.
So, I am asking you to stop for a moment and think about the question. How is YOUR path? How is the motion and direction of your life as you move forward? Would you like it to go in a different direction or move forward in a different manner?
Bix a be'el?
And after you spend a minute thinking about your direction, your path, think about what it would feel like to ask someone else the same question. What would it be like to move through your day asking this rather deep question to all that you greet? It might be answered in just a few words, but its significance would be much greater than what you are currently used to.
And then, after you have spent a few minutes talking to a friend or even to a stranger, a few minutes of being really plugged in, really listening to their heartfelt answer to the question, "How is your path?", when you said good-bye, you would really be able to say, "I have seen you."
Thinking, feeling, and trying to open my worldview,
Laura