100 Monkeys Indiana Fans
 
I didn’t pay any attention when the people from the Dharma Initiative used “namaste.”  I was smart enough to figure out that it was some kind of greeting and I wasn’t curious enough about that part of the show to dig deeper.

Then I went to grad school and met Jim Edmondson.  Jim is an actor and director with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and he may be the wisest person I have ever met.  I found myself taking pages and pages of notes only to realize later that they were more bits of life wisdom rather than content I would need for class.

Jim greeted us with “namaste”...and an explanation from his perspective as well as history.  Meanings vary by culture and can be as simple as “good afternoon.”  Etymologically speaking, the tone of the roots is more subtle and textured than the dictionary meaning of “I bow to you.”  As Jim explained, there is a spiritual flavor to it.

“The divine in me salutes the divine in you.”

It was yesterday when I, exhausted from the concert and the efforts leading up to it, realized that the reason I was SO tired went beyond the dictionary definition of “I handed out some fliers and went to a concert,” as well.  It is because anyone who was there Wednesday night can tell you that calling a 100 Monkeys show a concert is like equating “namaste” with “wazzup.”

Wednesday at the Egyptian room was a musical namaste.  It was the very best of 100 Monkeys and the very best of me and that synergy being repeated exponentially for the hundreds.  “Concert” is too easy.  It was joy and energy and pure bliss.  It was divine.

As the tour continues, I encourage each of you who will attend to allow the very best you to be the one walking through the door.  Respect the band.  Respect the crew.  Respect the others in attendance.  Respect yourself.  It’s communion, not competition.  The most fabulous part of a live performance of any kind is that everyone present plays a role and adds something to the event, for better or worse.

Imagine the possibilities of a roomful of “namaste” mindsets...

 


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