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
