life in the desert: NAMASTE

Sunday, July 03, 2005

NAMASTE

Aadil Palkhivala's reply:
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.
Recognized as one of the world's top yoga teachers, Aadil Palkhivala began studying yoga at the age of seven with B.K.S. Iyengar and was introduced to Sri Aurobindo's yoga three years later. He received the Advanced Yoga Teacher's Certificate at the age of 22 and is the founder-director of internationally renowned Yoga Centers™ in Bellevue, Washington. Aadil is also a federally certified Naturopath, a certified Ayurvedic Health Science Practitioner, a clinical hypnotherapist, a certified Shiatsu and Swedish bodywork therapist, a lawyer, and an internationally sponsored public speaker on the mind-body-energy connection.
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# Posted by Marybeth @ | 9:10 PM

10 Comments:

You actually live in the desert? Not fair! I want to live in the desert too.

By Uncle Sammy, at 1:46 AM

Uncle Sammy,
With as hot as it is here in the desert,110 today, I would happy to trade it for your cooler temperatures.
Namaste,
MB

By majamom, at 1:23 PM

Namaste Grumble =)

By majamom, at 1:24 PM

Ahhh, Namaste explained...I wondered when I saw it on my blog today...I looked it up in the dictionary and it kept referring me back to namesake.
I suppose I would have gotten around to googling it at some point. But no need now, thank you.

It is cool here for now. We will get hot though. We don't have any fog yet, so we may be able to see the firework displays tonight afterall!

By Nancy, at 5:34 PM

The first time you posted "Namaste" in my comments, I was taken back to high school, where I learned this tradition. I offer Namaste onto you but not the level with my third eye version. ;)
I love the pictures below! Looks like you both were thrilled to see each other. I hope the visit was wonderful!
Lois Lane

By Lois Lane, at 11:50 AM

mb - i was on my way over to your blog with every intention of leaving a comment in which i said "you never told me what namaste means!" when i choked on my words as i read your current post. patience is a virtue. one day i will possess some.

By meelo, at 2:18 PM

Namaste my friend. A term that I love. The light in me honors the light in you.

Blessings,
Lighty

By lightfeather, at 9:02 PM

GRUMBLE,

YOU DID GUESS INDIAN JUST NOT

THE CORRECT CONTINENT =)

n A M A S T E

M
B

By majamom, at 2:40 PM

C a m i l l e,

I t m u s t b e a K a r m i c

W a v e O c u r r i n g t h i s

w e e k!

H o w a r e Y o u ???

N a m a s t e ,

M
B

By majamom, at 5:18 PM

L i g h t,

y o u s o s h i n e !

N a m a s t e ,

M
B

By majamom, at 5:20 PM

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