The removal of shoes before entering homes and sacred places is common for those in the East and also those who live in warmer climates. Is it because of the heat or for reasons of hygiene, or could there perhaps be a deeper significance behind this ordinary act?

At holy places such as temples and mosques the shoes are left outside, not just to leave the dirt behind, but as a symbol of shedding a layer of the old consciousness of our physical, material identity. The custom represents removal of the leather of "body consciousness", so that as we enter we do so without our egos, because before the Supreme we are all equal. To connect to the Supreme I cannot carry my ego, even concealed in the cloak of my noble character!

Similarly, the act of taking off our shoes as we arrive home represents an un-covering of our consciousness. It symbolizes the transition of roles from the variety of characters we play at work, external achievement, to the internal and higher goals of self and family. Changing from shoes to slippers, from closed and protected to open and, for some, colourful, is but the first clue to our truth as we acknowledge that it is "OK" to relax into our own world. As our consciousness has changed, so the quality of our interactions will change.

This simple act of removing our shoes, a tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation, holds so much meaning but in essence it reflects our shedding of the various layers of ego and attachment, to which we hold so tightly as a form of identity . And what about no shoes at all? Many believe this is even healthier, as we are then grounded (magnetically too) and are in harmony with our mother Earth - symbolic of our connection to the universal family.

This week, especially as we take off our shoes, let there be the gentle reminder of a return to pure consciousness, our truth and humility. The next time you remove your shoes, pause for a moment and ask yourself what they symbolize for you. You may be surprised to know whose shoes you are walking in.

Om Shanti (I am a peaceful soul)

Tel: +973-17-712 545, meditate@batelco.com.bh, www.bahrainmeditationcentre.org

Aruna is an international management development trainer, a teacher of meditation and a freelance writer currently based in Bahrain. She is also the director of the Bahrain Meditation Centre, which is administered by Brahma Kumaris, London, an international organisation with over 6000 centers in over 85 countries (http://www.bkwsu.org.uk) and she continues to coordinate various activities for them in the Middle East.

Aruna has spent the last 22 years focused on learning, living and teaching the art of self-development. As a lecturer and teacher of meditation she gained a wealth of experience working with the Brahma Kumaris, teaching meditation, values and ethics, positive thinking and creativity seminars.