Entry 5

Being a Hindu by faith and growing up in a home with strong moral and spiritual values, I was taught several principles which I was constantly reminded, will govern the rest of my life. some of these included:

• Mind and self control
• Tolerance
• Hospitality - demonstrating magnanimity and the value of service
• Compassion - the ability to feel for others as we feel for ourselves
• Protection - an essential duty is to give shelter to others, especially those less fortunate
• Respect - for all living beings and for the sanctity of all life
• Wisdom - knowledge is contrasted with ignorance
• Austerity - essential to gain wisdom in addition to mere theoretical knowledge
• Celibacy - important for spiritual life
• Honesty - essential to build legitimate trust within relationships and to avoid self-deception
• Cleanliness - includes external hygiene and inner purity

Changing with each culture is the translated definition of body language. When at first exposed to a new environment where attitudes, language and behavior are all unfamiliar, people may often suffer from culture shock.With these varying meanings from country to country it is easy to see how misunderstanding may occur. Culture gives meaning to manners, different hand gestures, our patience, and even handshakes and greetings; and thus culture influences every aspect of nonverbal communication.
Within the Hindu culture staring at the impoverished population is considered a way to humiliate. Before
entering any sacred area, footwear are removed. Elders must be addressed with the proper title. When greeting someone, palms are pressed together with fingers pointing upwards and we say Namaste.