Respect is an important virtue that carries multiple meanings. We are taught to respect parents, elders, teachers, family traditions, the country's flag and leader, and different races, religions, and opinions.

Respect is essential to all the world's religions and is universally seen as a building block to a more human and humane world. All this means, according to cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien, that we must remain open and flexible: "The term respect comes from the Latin word respicere, which means 'the willingness to look again,' take a second look rather than remain stuck in a particular view."

There are many who claim that we are leaking the precious fuel of respect all around us. When elders are not respected, the stream of wisdom is diminished. When we disrespect our bodies, illness is the result. When people's rights are not respected, violence erupts. When nature, animals, places and even things are treated as disposable objects to be cast aside after they are used, chaos ensues.

The material in this topic has been designed as a supplement to The Reverence Project, and it is our hope that it will give you plenty of material to think about, discuss, and practice. Everything you will find here is meant to encourage your intention to remain open, flexible, and willing to look again.