Namaste: The Salutation of the Yogis And it's meaning.

The word Namaste has been used a lot recently, but its origin and meanings are not always known by all the people who use it. In general, young people, yoga practitioners, people who identify with a lifestyle more linked to wellness practices, spirituality, vegetarianism, among others, are the ones who use this word the most.

Namaste: Meaning and Origin

The origin of the word Namaste or its more formal form Namaskar comes from Sanskrit, an ancient language of the South Asian region, which generally means “I bow before you”. The term has many translations, but among all of them, the idea of ​​reverence is present. This happens because etymologically the word derives from Namah, also from Sanskrit and which means “surrender” or “reverence”.

It is very common for people to also refer to Namaste: "the God who dwells in me salutes the God who dwells in you". Either way, it is possible to identify a deep sense of respect, connection and humility. Behind its meaning is a very beautiful greeting, where the person who pronounces this word to another, somehow in his heart is saying: “to you, I give my namah” that is, I bow in the presence of the Being in you. , of the divine in you.

In yoga culture, the words Namaste or Namaskar is often used as a greeting or farewell between people. And also in this same culture, there is an understanding of the importance of revering all that is divine. Everything that surrounds us is considered divine and, therefore, bowing to everything that is divine presupposes nurturing a feeling of gratitude and reverence for everything in life, for all beings, for all creation.

Anjali Mudra: The Hand Salutation

In addition to the word, the gesture or mudras. In cultures or groups where the word Namaste is used, it is usually accompanied by an attitude of reverence and respect, but also by a gesture with the hands.

The hand salutation is done by placing your hands with the palms together in the form of a prayer and close to the heart chakra. Sometimes, following this movement, one also bows with the head forward, and closes the eyes, demonstrating the act of bowing and revering to the divine before you.

The gesture can be made for another person or even for oneself, as a way of starting a meditation or some moment of connection with one's own being. And considering that in yoga groups, as in life, we always have masters, who guide and make us grow, Namaste is also used as a disciple's reverence to his master, whether he is his yoga master, his spiritual master or even a person who represents this wisdom in the life of the person he greets.

Made in this way, the greeting establishes a connection between the beings present there, so that they harmonize energetically and that they maintain that feeling of unity that comes from the heart, union through divine love.

Namaste: The Indian greeting.

Yea! Namaste is still used in India today, and many other groups and cultures outside India have adopted the gesture as part of their way of communicating and bringing people together.

India is a country with a great cultural diversity, where you can find very different ways of dressing, different types of cuisine, different languages ​​and dialects, but if there is one thing that can unite all these differences, it is the word Namaste.

In the world, it is also increasingly common to find people who have adopted the greeting. Most importantly, wherever it is, the energy and symbolism that this ancient word carries demonstrates a shift in consciousness. The recognition of each person, that there is something divine in the other, that there is a universal connection between beings and between all things that exist. This attitude also leads to an awareness of respect, preservation and care, thus changing the way people live.

A list of translations for NAMASTE

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• I honour the place in you where the entire universe dwells.

• I bow to the place in you that is love, light and joy.

• When you and I bow to our true nature, we are one.

• My soul recognizes your soul.

• We are the same, we are one.

• I honour the place in you that is the same as it is in me.

The Spiritual Teaching of Namaste

It is always helpful to find a clear sentence that captures spiritual teaching.

However, there is a lot about namaste.

Namaste represents the idea that all are one.

It is said that even under the external traps that make you look different from others, you are made of the same thing as everyone else.

Tantric philosophy teaches that all that exists is a Divine consciousness that yearns to experience itself in different ways.

As a human being, it is in your nature to forget this truth—that every person, thought, feeling and experience is a perfect expression of the one divine consciousness.

When a being forgets (feeling separate, less than, better than, or identifying with any external and impermanent aspect of being more than its true nature), it suffers.

The teachings say that your spiritual practice is the art and act of simply remembering who you are.

Seeing others, because the other does not exist, WE ARE ALL ONE.

By saying namaste (truthfully), you are saying that you see others for whom you really are.

It is an affirmation of choosing to identify with God consciousness rather than your ego making you believe that you are somehow superior or inferior to any other being on this planet.

It is an active choice to take the spiritual lessons that come from the practice of yoga or meditation and bring it into the laboratory of life.

What would life be like if you saw others as perfectly whole? What if you saw yourself like this?

A namaste between two yogis is a pact made to honour the highest, truest and most authentic parts of yourself and let your limitations disappear.

In his translation of the 1,000-year-old spiritual text The Recognition Sutras, Tantric scholar Christopher Wallis describes how this understanding can affect your approach to life:

“Once you become aware of the true nature of reality, everything you do becomes an act of reverence.

Simply living your ordinary everyday life with full awareness becomes a complete meditation practice, a perfect form of worship, an offering to all beings and to the Self itself.

Tantra teaches that because there is only one in the universe, all actions are actually the Divine exploring itself, revering itself, worshipping itself.”

Sanskrit is a truly magical language because its words represent concepts that have no equivalents in English or Portuguese.

As no words can sum up the meaning of namaste, the unpacking process can be a spiritual quest of the heart.

It is one thing to understand this philosophy conceptually, but another to feel it deeply. Knowing this teaching as truth is both the goal and the way.

Find a meaning of this greeting that speaks to your heart—to plant that meaning as a seed, so you can find it again every time you put your palms together.

I AM Erika Mourão Cireia, and my mission here is to help.

NAMASTE