"This Week"
by the
Bahrain Meditation Centre

7^th January, 2006

"Soul Wear"

The clothes we wear reveal so much about us. Traditional attire bears such individuality that it not only tells us about the wearer but it also reveals a lot about where they live, their environment and the social echelons, whether distinguished by colours, fabrics or feathers.

The special pilgrimage to Mecca advocates that each one must give up their noble dress and wear a loincloth without stitches, a sign of simplicity when in front of God. Imbedded in this request are many other meanings for pilgrims to learn as they journey. Pilgrims who adhere to this requirement find that they must still strive to achieve simplicity and more importantly a focus on God, as they may get caught up in another costume that becomes even more visible around them… the body. Though we are encouraged to see each other as a brother or a sister, a fellow pilgrim on the path to God, as we disrobe and don the required loincloth we realize yet another layer of consciousness exists; that the body too is a dress, a costume that envelopes the soul.

Looking back at most cultures it is amazing to see how social stratum was distinguished by the robes worn and one's status was based on core principles. Today many of us have fully embraced Western brand names and continue to use what we wear as a statement. However the statement today is not based on values so much as on our purchasing power, real or on credit! Also, institutions as diverse as schools and the military invest in 'attire' to make specific statements just on appearance. In this world of first impressions, an inability to see beyond the outer costume is understandable just from a 'conditioning' perspective. However, those who embark on a spiritual journey learn not to "judge a book by its cover", and seek to understand what is beyond the many layers.

The wisdom embedded in this call to clothe the body with a loincloth either while on a holy pilgrimage or after the soul has left the body, comes from those who knew man's deeper call, to go beyond matter and awaken the spiritual. It reminds us that before God we are all indeed equal and that what will distinguish us is what is in our hearts and how much of our lives is defined by our values.

This week, check to see how you define yourself by what you wear, how your attire is seen in the eyes of others and whether it is reflecting your values. As we ponder on this we will feel that we all would like to create our own 'haute couture' of high thinking and simple living.

Om Shanti
(I am a peaceful soul)

 Tel: +973-17-712 545, meditate@batelco.com.bh, www.bahrainmeditationcentre.org
Bahrain Meditation Centre is administered by B.K.W.S.U. (visit: www.bkwsu.org.uk)