Many people have asked me what the word Namaste means. In this blog post I am sharing the definition of the meaning of the word Namaste.
Namaste comes from the Sanskrit word namah te.
Namaste is pronounced Nam-a-stay. In Sanskrit namah means "bow, obeisance, reverential salutation, adoration". Te is the durative of the personal pronoun tvam, "you".
A literal translation of Namaste (namah te) is thus "reverential salutation to you." It is commonly accompanied by a slight bow made with the hands pressed together, palms touching, in front of the chest called Gassho.
Often times one will use this as a greeting to say hello or goodbye. It is a
common greeting for Yoga or Reiki practitioners, but the meaning is far more then a greeting.
There are many translations in English to Namaste and here are some of
them:
- The Light in me recognizes the Light in You. I respect and acknowledge your place in the universe or simply "Amen"
- I remember you from then that you dwelled in heaven as a highly developed spiritual entity and now I find you on earth and identify you as an incarnated human being, radiating the same pure divine light from your heart.
- I recognize and honor me and you as the God, cause we're all loving children of God.
- The Spirit in me meets the same Spirit in you.
- I honor the light and love within you
- I greet that place where you and I are one.
- I salute the divine in you.
- I salute the Light of God in you.
- I bow to the divine in you.
- I recognize that within each of us is a place where Divinity dwells, and when we are in that place, we are One.
- I greet the place where you and I are one.
- I see and honor in you the place where God (or the universe) resides. When you are at that place in you, and I am at that place in me, we are one. * The word Namaste to me implies that despite outward appearances to the contrary, there is really only one of us present. I am openly acknowledging this.
- May God be with you and protect you
- The divine in me, recognizes the divine in you.
- I honor the place in you, where the entire Universe resides. I honor the place in you, where lies your love, your truth, and your beauty. I honor the place in you where... If you are in that place in you... And I am in that place in me... Then there is only one of us.
Although, in the Western world, Namaste is often used to greet other Reiki or Yoga practitioners... I believe that the meaning behind Namaste all gets us back to the same place, as one.
Namaste, Starlene Breiter PAC, RMT
1 comment:
Great article. This was the first word spoken to me by my Hatha yoga teacher 20 years ago. It was spoken true and given to me as a Divine gift to give all others. Some people hear the term and believe it is to be said out of obligation. It's true meaning is lost when not spoken from the heart. They seem to be using it as an affirmation for their own Ego projection onto others ("see! look at me I am spiritual and therefore a good person and if I say this word it will make it true!") This is insincere, dishonest, and taints a sacred blessing. They do not see that all they are actually affirming to others is that they have a long way to go before learning its lesson. A lifelong journey - not something accomplished by merely placing it in Twitter or a Facebook message. It's all in your hands.
"The divine in me,
recognizes the divine in you.
When I am in that place in you,
And you are in that place in me,
We are then truly One."
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