When I was born, my Bubby (Yiddish for grandmother) gave me the name Sara Bella. When I was older, she explained to me that it meant pure beauty or radiance and that I was born to be a beautiful princess and leader of people. As a young girl, that always made me smile and it has been an integral part of my journey. The other day I was reading a blog on Bhakti and Sincerity that my friend Michael Neary shared with me. It begin by talking about how the sincerity comes from the Latin word “sara” which means wax.
The author then said,
“During a time when marble was highly valued, its value depend on its whiteness. White wax, or “sara” was used to fill in portions of the marble that were not white. So “sara” came to mean pure, or having integrity. Thus the word, sincere, because it stemmed form the Latin “sara” came to mean pure, or having a pure motive.”
Reading this paragraph brought me back to my roots and reminded me that being pure, sincere, and having integrity are not only important spiritual values, but are part of the prophesy my Bubby claimed for me when I became a part of this family.
As I sat here and thought about “sara” I came to realize that this is what I am doing now in my calling, I am working with people teaching them how to “wax” themselves, and fill in the portions of their “marble” that need polishing and evolution. It is what I hope my writings do for people, give them the “sara” to “wax” their lives and assist them in their journey.
It is what I do in my own life, as I constantly seek to evolve to a higher level in my own journey. To “wax” the areas of my life is to ensure that the motives behind all I say and do are pure. One of the things I periodically have to remind myself is that when the motives are pure, then the blessings will follow. It is as Lao Tsu wrote about in his poem, The Archer.
When an archer is shooting for nothing
He has all his skill.
If he shoots for a brass buckle
He is already nervous.
If he shoots for a prize of gold
He goes blind or sees two targets--
He is out of his mind!
His skill has not changed,
But the prize divides him.
He cares.
He thinks more of winning
Than of shooting--
And the need to win
Drains him of power.
--Chuang Tzu (19:4)[1]
When my motives are pure, then I have all that I need to bring healing to others and myself. When my motives are tarnished by the desire to make a profit, then I am drained of my power to heal and transform. It is important for me to constantly “wax” myself and maintain the “sara” within me. This “waxing” is a discipline. It is like when Mr. Myagi was teaching Karate to Daniel in Karate Kid. Wax on, wax off and there was a time to breathe between each one. The more I discipline myself to take time to “wax” my life, the more my “sara” for the Infinite will shine through in my life and the more I walk in the prophesy my Bubby gave me for my life.
[1] https://sites.google.com/site/livingwithoutmoney/Home/all-the-world-s-religions-agree-on-this-one-thing/the-tao-the-way