The other day, one of the girls in class asked me what 'namaste' means and why we say it. I gave her a very coles notes version of my understanding behind the word and the gesture:
"namaste, I bow to the divine light within you and you bow to the divine light within me."
She seemed satisfied with this, and so did I.
Later in the day while searchin' the 'net I came across something by someone, somewhere out there which takes my half-assed explanation a little further.
Then, just now, while searching for a pic for this post, I came across this interpretation.
And according to wikipedia.... my source for everything.
namah = bow
te = to you
Namaste ~ I bow to you
Namaste as a gesture is used to greet one another. It is a gesture of respect that can be used globally between people of all age, race and gender. Totally encompassing the belief that 'we are one'. Hands together at heart centre "represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra" (wiki).
Namaste. What does it mean to you????
side note: what did we do before the internet????
Nice post! :) You're right, such a simple gesture we do so often. What I especially like about it is its egalitarian meaning. What I also learned was that by moving the hands from the heart (chest, chakra, etc.) to the forehead (3rd eye), we are creating a bridge between the two, linking the heart and the mind together.
ReplyDeleteHi! Yes, love the idea of the bridge between heart and mind. This is how I end each of my classes "fingertips to forehead".
DeleteI also read that in greeting one another the higher up you hold your hands the more respect and honour you show. Interesting stuff.