Extending respect

There is a verse in the Bible where God asks Moses to take his shoes off, for this is holy ground. There is a similar verse in the Quran where God asks Moses to take off his sandals when entering a sacred space. If a man wears a hat when entering a church, he is expected to remove it. Jews and Muslims, on the contrary, would wear a cap when entering a place of worship. Removing footwear before entering temples has continued over centuries. In each of these cases, it is a sign of humility, respect and the importance of keeping the sacred space clean.

While a clean environment is conducive for prayers, one wonders if respect means only removing or wearing external appendages. Respect for a sacred place should also mean adherence to teachings of holy books and traditions, which emphasise the importance of being virtuous. Respect will mean many more things if one imbibes these teachings and extends them to daily life. It would mean being honest, kind, courteous, considerate and empathetic. It would mean being calm, polite, accepting differences in beliefs, and accepting someone for what she is.

It would mean being willing to admit and learn from shortcomings, which implies high self-esteem. It would mean being tenacious and hardworking. And all this would mean that the world would be a better place. As it is said, you will also get respect once you give respect.