It is about time I bring your attention to the most powerful symbolic gesture on earth. The Hindus in this group need no explanation to this salutation. They have been practicing this since they were small children. In Sindh, Pakistan, the gesture of namaste, though extremely rare, is still maintained even by Sindhi Muslims. The gesture was introduced to the western world more commonly through Yoga. This is no surprise as the practice of Yoga is a process to reach your inner Spirit and peace which helps both body and spirit. When your session of Yoga ends you bow with a namaste to your Yoga Master out of respect.
The following is extracted from About.com:
"How to Namaste:
Bend the arms from the elbow upwards and face the two palms of the hands. Place the two palms together and keep the folded palms in front of the chest. Utter the word namaste and while saying the word bow the head slightly.
Why Namaste:
Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of worship. However, there is much more to it than meets the eye. The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet one another with namaste, it means, ‘may our minds meet’, indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love, respect and humility.
Spiritual Significance of Namaste:
The reason why we do namaste has a deeper spiritual significance. It recognizes the belief that the life force, the divinity, the Self or the God in me is the same in all. Acknowledging this oneness with the meeting of the palms, we honor the god in the person we meet.
Namaste in Prayers:
During prayers, Hindus not only do namaste but also bow and close their eyes, as it were, to look into the inner spirit. This physical gesture is sometimes accompanied by names of gods like ‘Ram Ram’, ‘Jai Shri Krishna’, ‘Namo Narayana’, ‘Jai Siya Ram’ or just ‘Om Shanti’ – the common refrain in Hindu chants. This is also quite common when two devout Hindus meet - indicating the recognition of the divinity within ourselves and extending a warm welcome to each other."
You notice that after each post I end with a Namaste, as I salute and respect you, who share that common space in the universe as we become ONE! I see no more powerful gesture expressing Love, Respect for your fellow human, regardless of race and creed.
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