Namaste is a very trendy word that is used on t-shirts and in coffee shops and of course in yoga classes. But what does it actually mean?
Namaste is a Sanskrit word that is used in yoga as a greeting much like we say hello when we come face to face with someone, even a stranger. The word Namaste, though, is packed with so much more meaning. In essence Namaste means, “the Divine in me, honors and respects the Divine in you, and there is no separation between us.” If you break this down and go deeper in to the pieces of this definition, you will discover how profound this small little word is.
To say, “the Divine in me” requires that we actually believe that we are Divine. To be divine means to have the spark of God or Spirit or Love, whatever you call it, inside you. It means that you recognize your potential for greatness and perfection as you were created to be. This requires us to let go of our insecurities, the negative thoughts about ourselves, the idea that we are not good enough and that we will never be enough.
To say, “the Divine in you” requires that we actually believe in that same divinity in others. This means that no matter how mean or difficult someone is, no matter how much they have hurt us, no matter what poor choices they make in their life we still acknowledge their goodness at the heart of who they are.
“There is no separation between us.” This is the understanding of our connectedness, our oneness. This is the belief that the choices I make, the words I speak, the actions I take will affect those around me and ultimately the entire world. This is the idea that when I choose to run a red light I could cause another person to have to veer off the road which could cause them to feel angry which results in them being very hostile to their coworker when they finally arrive at work. Our one action created a ripple effect to many other people.
In the same token, if I take a moment to thank the grocery clerk who just helped me with my groceries, that woman may feel a bit of joy and appreciation and validation that stays with her all day. They then take that feeling of worthiness back to their children after the work day allowing the kids to feel the love their mother has for them.
Maybe these examples seem extreme but are they really? You truly never know the full extent of the affects our actions and words have on other people. When you recognize our oneness and connection it causes us to make more mindful choices and be more conscious of our actions.
So the next time you bow your head with your hands on your heart and recite the words Namaste, I encourage you to really think about what you are really saying to the one in front of you. Just imagine if every time we said the word Namaste we really meant it with our whole being.
Namaste!