Definition Help Please

Exact definition of Namaste?

Re: Definition Help Please

from wikipedia: Namaste

Namasté or Namaskar (नमस्ते [nʌmʌsˈteː] in Hindi, from Sanskrit namaḥ te) is a South Asian greeting originating in India, which is used when both hello and goodbye would be used in English. The meaning is quite different, however.

Sanskrit na reflects a simple negation. maḥ points to ego, refering “i” and “my”.Thus namaḥ means “bow, obeisance, reverential salutation, adoration to your inner truth”, but not next to your ego. Te is the dative of the personal pronoun tvam, “you”. A literal translation of namaḥ te is thus “reverential salutation to your inner.” It is commonly accompanied by a slight bow made with the hands pressed together, palms touching, in front of the chest.

In a religious context this word can be taken to mean any of these:

• The Spirit in me meets the same Spirit in you.
• I greet that place where you and I are one.
• I salute the Light of God in you.
• I bow to the divine in you.
• I recognize that within each of us is a place where Divinity dwells, and when we are in that place, we are One.
• My higher energy salutes your higher energy.

In other words, it recognizes the equality of all, and pays honor to the sacredness and interconnection of all, as well as to the source of that interconnection. Namaskar is the term for such greetings, and is also used as a greeting itself.

Re: Definition Help Please

Now that's a definition/ explanation!  Namaste

Re: Definition Help Please

Thank for that definition, MsCapri. I've always wondered, but not quite enough to look it up! Somewhere along the way, I was told that it meant “the god in me bows to the god in you”. I have always found it to be a beautiful greeting that shows great respect and recognizes just how much more there is to each of us than surfaces, names, appearances, and even personal histories: The sacred silent Something : )   

I'm not entirely satisfied with the wikepedia definition. Though it doesrepresent what Namaste is understood to mean, the actual literal translation seems to inject a great deal more than is in the Sanskrit words.

If read just as it is, it seems to me it would translate as “Not I, you.”  which is an interesting and rather sweet sentiment, itself.  It reminds me of the day a Sri Lankan friend of ours invited us to his cousin's restaurant; he was so eager to assure our dining pleasure that he could hardly stand to eat, himself. His whole bearing and attitude seemed to be saying “not I, you”. The food was delicious, but after the first few bites I couldn't even taste it, because I was unused to “hot” foods, and my mouth was on fire! But I would have swallowed flame itself, with a grateful smile, in answer to his touching kindness. So, anyway…… If read as “not I, you”  Namaste, would be an expression of great generosity, humility, and old-world hospitality, but not of anything spiritual or divine.

By the way, I'm not suggesting you are incorrect in your definition. Almost everyone defines namaste as being some sort of acknowledgment of mutual divinity. I'm just puzzled by the addition of higher spirit into this word, as it doesn't appear to actually  be anywhere IN the word. I don't see “bow, obeisance, reverential salutation, adoration, inner, or truth in the translation.

What I'm thinking is that the hands-together bowing gesture is inextricable from the word, and it is these gestures that infuse the unspoken portion of the word. Bowing is the spirit of obeisance/salutation/adoration, and the hands together are a gesture of prayer, thus the element of the divine/spiritual.  

Anyway, I just wanted to ruminate with you a bit, and join the conversation! Namaste is such a wonderful word. I don't think I can ever hear it without simultaneously smiling, and returning the sentiment. It reminds me of the sacred in all of us. I love that.

Namaste : )

Tea

Re: Definition Help Please

I agree, tea, and it has been stated by many that there is no literal translation from sanskrit to english… although the “parts” of the word do translate as you noted, “Not” “I/my” “you”.  It is then up to the person making the statement to set their intention.  There are some who use it as just the “spiritual hello/goodbye” … kinda like “aloha”… it really depends on the person.  But I have found that many who practice the word (notice the change in perspective), actually bow slightly even when using it as a signature on letters… so it is important, really, to understand what it means to you, the individual, when saying it… rather than asking what it means to use it as a cool spiritual thing to say. 

So I guess my question would rather be:  “What does it mean {feel} when you say, 'namaste'?”

I've studied sanskrit, so the language has been something that has fascinated me for a few years… and I never could say “namaste” until I knew the deeper meaning… because I felt like I was using something someone else said it was… so, until I knew for myself what it meant inside me, I didn't say it.

I also hold this for any perspective… until it settles within me, I can not just start using a phrase, ideology, theory … it has to resonate.

Words… I love them!!  Linguistics & etymology - fun stuff! :)

~K

Re: Definition Help Please

Namaste     _/\_    _/\_    _/\_    _/\_    _/\_   _/\_    deep bows to all…

To me it 'feels' like giving honor to another. Bowing to that soul's life. I do not need to know anything about the person, just that here is another soul walking the path of life. I am bowing to all that that soul endures and transforms to be as wise and loving as he/she can be.

Blessings,
Peggy J

Re: Definition Help Please

This is interestig and hot.

When I think of namaste, I think of many things.  It can mean to love everyone.  to know that you are god to have a broad acceptance.

it can mean to be very emapthetic in ways you feel the things others are feeling.  to understand what love is and how it can change the world.

it means you understand the ultimate truth

that you are very unconditional in all aspects

that you believe and know what works for the world

that you want and are the change

there are so many meanings, I'll write an essay than post it here.

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Thank you all for your deep input!  I dont think I was quite expecting that much but I am soooo happy to receive this much.  I very much agree that a word's meaning has to resonate with the individual and I have seen it used in so many different ways that I wasn't comfortable with it.  Now I am liking it more and more!
Thank you Thank you!

Re: Definition Help Please

That's the whole point of language…..there are many meanings to one word, but society tries to put it in a box for the benefit of a wide assumption of a word. 

Namaste however is a very powerful word…I have a crystal stone with the word imprinted on it because I value the meaning of that word as much as I love you, tammy and everyone else.

Now yes love is another word and i understand it more everyday, that's why i feel happy tellin you I love you, because I do even if I hardly know you.  I would say Namaste to any stranger if I were in a big city all because that is the power of life and true and thats who I am.

Re: Definition Help Please

The way it was taught to me was, “The God in me sees and honors the God in you.” =)

Re: Definition Help Please

I love that I stumbled upon this conversation tonight…. ;-)

As an Indian-American, I have often been looked at to define “all things Indian” and have felt very discomfited by this….It was so refreshing to come upon a conversation about the meaning of the word “Namaste” and see that no Indian has yet weighed in on the subject….

I'm amused because there's a part of me that is asking “why has an Indian not been asked?” and/or “why has no Indian Zaadzster come to weigh in with their version of a definition?” There's something elemental about asking an individual who comes from the culture that originated the word and yet, there may be a worry (fear?) of tokenizing the person, etc.

Just passing through with my own mental machinations… ;-)

Re: Definition Help Please

lol That's awesome.

I think probably cuz its one of those words that have been adopted into so many cultures, so we forgot it was indian. ;)

Sort of like ipod, or zaadz. ;)

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Now Nishtha……how can you give a reply like that and then not give your definition on the word!  haha   No fair.  I do thank you all.  I had just heard it used in so many different ways and settings… I was curious.  And now I have my answer.  Unless there are a few more experts out there that would like to respond. 
Thanks again.
Tammy

Re: Definition Help Please

Namaste'  

i have a graphic in my photos….

i hope the link works!


Peace on…

Re: Definition Help Please

Ladybear,

I love this, thank you! It's a keeper.

crow

Re: Definition Help Please

I am so justified and satisfied of revelation of meaning of Namaste by caprikell, you have defined exactly. but here are some more if one wish to have broad knowledge over this greeting word - most welcome ;

                                                    
Namasté: A Sanskrit word meaning The Light of God in Me recognizes and honors The Light of God in You and in that recognition is our Oneness.

The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. “Nama” means bow, “as” means I, and “te” means you. Therefore, Namaste literally means “bow me you” or “I bow to you.”

To perform Namaste, we place the hands together at the heart charka, close the eyes, and bow the head. It can also be done by placing the hands together in front of the third eye, bowing the head, and then bringing the hands down to the heart. This is an especially deep form of respect. Although in the West the word “Namaste” is usually spoken in conjunction with the gesture, in India, it is understood that the gesture itself signifies Namaste, and therefore, it is unnecessary to say the word while bowing.

We bring the hands together at the heart chakra to increase the flow of Divine love. Bowing the head and closing the eyes helps the mind surrender to the Divine in the heart. One can do Namaste to oneself as a meditation technique to go deeper inside the heart chakra; when done with someone else, it is also a beautiful, albeit quick, meditation.

For a teacher and student, Namaste allows two individuals to come together energetically to a place of connection and timelessness, free from the bonds of ego-connection. If it is done with deep feeling in the heart and with the mind surrendered, a deep union of spirits can blossom.

Ideally, Namaste should be done both at the beginning and at the end of class. Usually, it is done at the end of class because the mind is less active and the energy in the room is more peaceful. The teacher initiates Namaste as a symbol of gratitude and respect toward her students and her own teachers and in return invites the students to connect with their lineage, thereby allowing the truth to flow-the truth that we are all one when we live from the heart.

Thank you for this wonderful question, i am so delighted to telling about my culture and i am so happy also people from other countries acknowledging our culture and knows about it since i can see numbers of definations. Thank you so much for this great question.

Love, Light and Wisdom !
Namaste !

Re: Definition Help Please

I so appreciate the efforts and participation of everybody in this thread,  especially owais's local take on it.  It is so easy to add and remove meaning to phrases in another's language or from other culture.

namaste
one and all

-the little cow

Re: Definition Help Please-Namaste

I appreciate what you said,  the little cow.

I also feel that language and words belong to the user. They have a meaning beyond the literal, connotative and cultural meaning. Namaste is rooted in the culture where it arises, but as the world branches out to other cultures, it develops even richer meaning.

As I've lived in different parts of India and then the world, I marvel at the range of meanings given to namaste  [link to my blog on how namaste is lighting up the world], from the commonplace 'hello' and 'goodbye', to the spiritual aspect.

In yoga classes andonline spiriutally-minded communities,  I was so amazed at the prevalence of Namaste, that I was surprised when I met people who didn't know the meaning. Luckily, they asked, and I found  a great picture  showing the global aspect of this word.

Namaste
Meenakshi

Re: Definition Help Please

I just discovered this thread and am glad to see you here, Meenakshi, as I recall you wrote about this some time ago, and your cultutral/spiritual description was similar to the one given here so beautifully and eloquently by owais. Thanks to Tammy for posing such an important question, way over a year ago!

Here's my contribution, in a blog last September. If I were to rewite it now I would include more thoughtts from this thread. I think I shall edit it with a link to this thread.

A fitting subject for my first post of 2008. this one..

I am going to nominate this thread to the Hall of Fame for Zaadz Threads, in the Collective Wisdom pod, because it is a subject many people wonder about, and there's collective wisdom represented here from so many inputs!

Blessings, OM Bastet