We could not help ourselves. We had to follow our last post on Sacred Space (which also included a reference to the Hindu faith) with a post on the Sacred Cow!
It is a wonderful reminder of how diversity often starts with a humorous recognition of a difference. How many times have you laughed about an absurd notion that turned out to be just the oppposite of absurd once you heard the rest of the story? Do you remember hearing about the Hindu's Sacred Cow for the first time? Was it very different from your own experience and beliefs? Did you think it was a joke at first? Did you soon realize the person or people telling you about this absurd belief were completely serious?
Many things in life are this way. In our circle, it's okay to laugh when something seems absurd. And we will encourage you to look at others beliefs and your own in order to move from "you've got to be kidding!?" to the ability to listen objectively, and then to the ability to accept and integrate.
If you have been a teenager or the parent of one, you might agree this skill would be very useful. If you're a manager in a diverse workplace, you'll find this skill very useful. Can you think of another place where this skill will help you communicate more effectively and become a more compassionate listener and effective collaborator?
In our Women's Circle, Center Circle, we will explore this theme of co-existing with different beliefs often. Look forward to exploratory conversation, role playing, and learning in public (our next post).
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