Some folks celebrate this word, Some used it with serious reverence. And upon hearing this work, some folks fearing its "pagan" origins flee from the room.
Which makes "namaste" a truly fascinating word as it is both a blessing and a greeting derived from the Hindu language and religion.
I was taught that namaste means "I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is one of us."
What a lovely spiritual way of thinking of our relationship to others and to ourselves! This message encapsulates the magical sense of union we can share with others. It encourages me to see the good in others. And reminds me to strive to live centered in love, light, truth, and peace.
This gentle nudge may not seem to have much to do with going to the grocery store and scrolling through the Internet.
And yet, those moments of being centered in spirit are important to me. Actually, they are vital. Namaste reminds me to go to that place and linger a while when I can. Sometimes, just a few centering breaths are aenough to reawaken my yoga mind.
At Mountain Yoga, namaste is the last word said in class. The teacher intones, the class participants echo. We're already settled into our final savanna and the instructor leaves the room. Ahh. Delicious. During this time we catch our breath, start to cool down and let our body, mind, plus spirit bask in the glow of yoga.
I liken "namaste" to the ubiquitous "God bless you" said often in my birth religion, Catholicism. Another phrase, "et cum spiri tu tuo" is said during the Mass It means, "may the spirit be with you" with the response being, "and also with you."
The common response when a person sneezes is "God bless you." It's said by folks around the world, and most likely by plenty of Hindus.
I'm not a student of the many varieties of religious greetings, but I assume they all convey an uplifting and lovely message about recognizing the spirit.
If the word namaste makes you uncomfortable, you can do what one friend does, which is to respond with God bless you. The message is similar, the language and culture are different. Both convey love and light. And what we strive for in our humanity.
