Jeffery Bow 0:03
Have you ever thought that respect can unify the world? Stay tuned for this episode.
Hōʻihi - Unity Through Respect.
Aloha, and welcome to Create - Your Life, Your Way. My name is Jeff bow, and I'm here to serve you as a healer, master certified life coach and Kahu. I will be sharing insights, tips and suggestions to support you on your healing journey. In essence, it's helping to bring you to a place of happiness, authenticity and truth. What do you see? Let's get started.
Thank you for joining me today for this episode, Hōʻihi - Unity Through Respect.
Hōʻihi translates from Hawaii to English as to treat with respect. The root of the word ho'ihi is 'ihi, which translates to sacred, holy, majestic, dignified. So the meaning goes deeper. My interpretation of this is that it is an elevated level of respect that which is sacred and holy.
I felt the need and was guided to do this podcast because I have personally witnessed the alarming increase in the lack of respect and abuse for people the land, animals, culture, property, and for individuals themselves.
In this world of instant gratification, it is easy to forget about our part of a bigger ecosystem; our part in the Universal Consciousness; our Kuliana or responsibility to bring more light and love into this world.
We often associate respect with the elderly, for children to respect their elders, or to respect those in positions of authority. This is all great and we should have respect for those individuals. However, I believe that Hōʻihi goes much deeper, I believe it is understanding that all things are sacred, not just what we believe, but the openness of other possibilities, opinions and ways. Hōʻihi comes with an underlying tone of humility, not entitlement.
Sir Isaac Newton, who was a physicist, mathematician, inventor, mechanic, philosopher, and just the pure genius has been recognized as one of the greatest minds in history, and his contributions have shaped the world that we know today. His third law of motion states that when two bodies interact, they apply forces to one another that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. The third law is also known as the law of action and reaction. So basically, to every action, there is always an equal and opposite or contrary reaction. Imagine how our thoughts and actions have an impact on the world, what we say, think and do. If we believe in the concept of ho'ihi, we can now take a look at what we can do differently, how our actions impact those around us, and on a bigger scale, the universal energy, consciousness and vibration.
We often see when there is an imminent threat of hurricane, typhoon or other natural disasters, the hoarding that occurs with supplies and food. Most people are centered around their own immediate well being and safety. This is understandable to some degree. What would happen if we only bought what we needed so that everyone could get supplies to endure the duration of the anticipated event? I have personally witnessed people buying a dolly full of cases of water and toilet paper, only to return the unused bulk items after the storm had passed. Many people couldn't buy water or toilet paper for that reason. So Subsequently, the store had to put a limit on what you could buy. Plus they created a no return policy. This is unfortunate that a store had to regulate humanity.
The opposite exist as well. I know of a friend in Japan who was lucky enough to find a four pack of toilet paper during the lockdown for COVID in Japan. She decided to share that with a friend whom she knew he had to work and couldn't go out to the store at that time. This is a great example of Hōʻihi - Unity Through Respect. Respect is universal and unlimited. It has no boundaries.
The law of cause and effect also holds true. When tragedies such as natural disasters occur, we see humanity arise. It reveals love, kindness, compassion, and caring as people come forward with financial aid, prayers, support and love for those affected.
We have a symbiotic relationship to the world we live in, much like the Hawaiians had an ahupua'a system. An ahupua'a is a land division from Mauka, which means mountain to Makai, which means ocean, that was maintained by a community. There was an understanding that each part of the ahupua'a affected the other parts. It was a life support system for Hawaiian family groups, ohana, as it is known. Resources were shared and respected. Much later, the State of Hawaii did research on different islands. The results showed that were trees had died back or were cut down in the mountains, especially the watershed. It affected the sections of the ahupua'a. Its effects traveled all the way down to the ocean. There was a drastic reduction in the fish population at the shoreline. The state of Hawaii only proved what the Hawaiians already had known.
Hōʻihi is the honoring of the land, people, animals, the culture, the universe that you live in and on wherever you are in the world.
Hōʻihi values these things as sacred, and with the understanding that it is a part of the whole or Oneness.
Hōʻihi on a deeper level of respect, is the knowing that it is a privilege to be on this earth and not entitlement. This podcast is titled
Hōʻihi, Unity Through Respect. It all starts with us as individuals. If we begin to look at everything around us as sacred, how would our world change?
I'd like to share with you a personal epiphany that actually happened to me. I was getting some change out and pennies dropped on my car floor mat. I left it there. Another time more pennies dropped on the mat. One day, I thought what if money was sacred? Wood I leave it there? I realize that money really is sacred. I picked up all the money on my car floor met that instant. I now treat money as sacred. And with much more respect, I do not leave any money of any denomination on the floor or laying around. It really has opened up for me a different perspective on money and finances. I understood the money concept intellectually. But now I feel it also emotionally.
Think about the possibilities. Imagine if we treated our loved ones and others with respect and as sacred. How much physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse would stop? How much sex trafficking would stop? How much generational abuse would stop? How much crime could be reduced or ended? Imagine if we didn't walk past rubbish on the ground, even if it wasn't ours? How would our land be if we treaded lightly on the trails and left the land like it was untouched? What would happen if we didn't bulldoze all the trees to build developments but incorporated into the landscape? What if we didn't pollute the air? What if we realize that all our actions are affecting the future generations in real time? What would happen and can change if we researched the culture that we live in or before going to visit another place? What would happen if we as consumers bought the blemish fruit or veggies that are non sprayed with pesticides? Could this support local farmers better, lower their prices, and be better for our health? What would happen if we only use what we needed so everyone can have the necessary resources? These are just some examples to start the conversation. There are so much more to explore.
You may be thinking that it's not possible based on where the world is, but we have to start somewhere. It has to start with us as individuals.
Hōʻihi, Unity Through Respect can be viewed as a jigsaw puzzle, and no one piece is more important than the other. Unless you're a corner or an edge, haha I'm just joking. It takes all pieces to complete the puzzle. Together, it forms the final product or picture.
Here are some action steps that you can start with. One, respect for self. release all negative thoughts and criticisms about yourself, be honest. Replace it with more honoring thoughts of love. Ask yourself, would I say these things to my Source of Divine Presence? Two, reflect on your thoughts and actions. Think about this before you do something. How will what I think, say, or do affect other people? How will it affect my surroundings? Three, live through the eyes of love, kindness, compassion, and caring. Four, learn, do, teach. The adage see one, do one, teach one is often used for medical trainees, particularly in surgery. You can apply this mantra of learn, do, teach in regards to
Hōʻihi, Unity Through Respect. It's important not to push your ways but to educate to those who are open to it. Five, live
Hōʻihi, unity through respect.
Thank you for joining me on this episode,
Hōʻihi, Unity Through Respect. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to this podcast. Please share with anyone that you think of that can benefit from this information. It would be an honor if you took the time to visit Soulpono.com for more information about me and my services. That's S-O-U-L-P-O-N-O.com. A Hui Hou, Malama Pono. Until we meet again, take good care.
