Renette Stinnett

Metaphysical Pratiticner MP (World Metaphysical Assoc.)

Holistic Practiticner HP (Holistic Healer's Coalition)
Reiki Master Teacher RMT  (multiple modalities)

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 The gesture or Mudra of Namaste is a simple act made by bringing together both palms of the hands before the heart and lightly bowing the head.
  Namaste is pronounced Namastay and is a composite of two Sanskirt words, Nama and Te.  Te means you, Nama means to bend, incline,or bow. The meaning of these two words together is a sense of submitting oneself to another with complete humility.
 
  The word Nama is split into two, Na signifies negation, and Ma represents mine. The meaning would then be "not mine".  The import being that the individual soul belongs entirely to the supreme soul, which is identified as residing in the individual towards whom the Namaste is directed. Indeed there is nothing that the soul can claim as it's own. Namaste is thus the necessary rejection of "I"and the associated phenomena of egotism. It is said that Ma in Nama means death (spiritual) and when this is negated Nama it signifies immortality.

  The whole action of Namaste unfolds itself at three levels.
               Mental
                Physical
                 Verbal
 The mental submission is in the spirit of total surrender of the self. This is parallel to the devotion one expresses before chosen deity, also known as Bhakti. The Devotie who thus venerates with complete self surrender is believed to partake the merits or qualities of the person or deity for whom he performs this submission. A transaction can only be between equals, between individuals who share some details in common. Hence by performing Namaste before an individual we recognize the divine spark in them! Further by facilitating our partaking of these divine qualities, Namaste makes us aware of these very characteristics residing within our own selves. Simply put, Namaste imitates the following:
     The God in me greets the God in you.
      The spirit in me meets the same spirit in you.

      In other words, it recognizes the equality of all, and pays honor to the sacredness of all and everyone. Regardless of age, status, or wealth. Translated into a bodily act, Namaste is deeply rich in symbolism. Firstly the proper performance of Namaste requires that we blend of the five fingers of the left hand exactly with the fingers of the right hand. The significance behind the simple act in fact governs the entire gamut of our active life. The five fingers of the left hand represent the five senses of karma and those of the right-hand the five organs of knowledge. Hence it signifies that our karma or action must be in harmony, and governed by rightful knowledge, prompting us to think and act correctly.

  Namaste recognizes the duality that has forever existed in this world,and suggests an effort on our part to bring these two forces together. Ultimately leading to a higher unity and non-dual state of oneness. Some of these dual elements which the gesture of Namaste Marries together and unifies as one include:

           God and Goddess
           Man and woman
           Heaven and earth
           Sun and moon
           Theory and practice
           Wisdom and method
           Pleasure and pain
           Astral body (consciousness) and Etheric body (sensation)
            Mind and body
            Conscious and unconscious
            Intellect and instinct
            Reason and emotion
            Thought and feeling
             Word and meaning
 
   Finally, The gesture of Namaste is unique also in the sense that it's physical performance is accompanied by a verbal utterance of the word "Namaste." This practice is equivalent to the chanting of a mantra. The sonority  of the sacred sound "Namaste" is believed to have a quasi-magical value, corresponding to a creative energy change. This transformation is that of the aligning  one's self in harmony with the vibration of the cosmos themselves.  At its most generic Namaste is a social transaction. It is usual for individuals to greet when they meet each other. It is not only a sign of recognition but also an expression of happiness at each other's site. This initial conviviality sets the positive tone for the further development of a harmonious relationship.

   Namaste as a greeting is this a mosaic of movements and words constituting affirmative thoughts and sentiments. In human society it is an approach mechanism, brimming with social, emotional and spiritual significance. In fact it is said that in Namaste the hands are put together like a knife so that people may cut through all differences that may exist, and immediately get to the shared ground that is common to all peoples of all cultures. In this context, A comparison with the widely prevalent "handshake" is inevitable.
     Though shaking hands is an extremely intimate gesture, Namaste scores over it in some ways. Primarily the one that Namaste is the great equalizer. You do Namaste with God ( and not shake hands). A King or President cannot shake hands with the large multitude they are addressing, but Namaste serves the purpose well. It is the same gesture one would have exchanged with a king when with him alone,  So no in congruity arises. In the absence of Namaste those facing a large audience will have to make do with a wave of the hands, A much less congenial greeting, and indeed which does not state the essential equality of all people. It instead highlights the difference even more. However, on a parallel level it has been conjectured that both the Namaste  and the handshake developed out of a desire on the part of both parties to show themselves to be unarmed and devoid of malicious intentions. The outstretched hand, and the palms joined together, both the stab wish the proponents as disarmed and show that they come in peace.

    As much as yoga is an exercise to bring all levels of our existence, including the physical and intellectual, in complete harmony with the rhythms of nature, The gesture of Namaste is a yoga in itself. It isn't surprising that any yogic activity begins with the performance of this deeply spiritual gesture.

   The Buddhists went further and gave it the status of a Mudra, or a gesture displayed by deities, where it was known as the Anjali Mudra. The word Anjali it's self is derived from the root Anj, meaning to adorn, honor, celebrate or anoint. According to Indologist Renov "meditation depends upon the relationship between the hands (Mudras), The mouth (Mantras), and the mind (Yoga)."
    
     The performance of Namaste  is comprised of all of these three activities. Thus Namaste is in essence equivalent to meditation, which is the language of our spirit in conversation with God, and the perfect vehicle for bathing us in the rivers of divine pleasure!

(Extracts from an article by Nitin Kumar, editor of .exoticindia. Master resale rights purchased by me rewritten and or added to by me and copied from one of my manuals with full permission and Copyright protected. )

     

     
Dare to be different,dare to be you, and Dare to learn to love yourself unconditionally!!!

Namaste 

Renette Stinnett MP, HP, RMT

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