MY PREFERRED DEFINITION OF NAMASTE:
“I honor the Spirit in you which is also in me.” — attributed to but not claimed by author Deepak Chopra
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“I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One.”
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“That which is of God in me greets that which is of God in you.””The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you.
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My preferred definition is the second one.
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See also HERE
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Traditionally Namaste is spoken while bringing the palms of your hand together at your heart and gently bowing your head. In it’s simplest form it is a humble act honoring the equality and sacred nature ofall.Namaste is composed of two Sanskrit words, nama meaning “to bend or bow”, and te meaning “you”. To offer this greeting to another is to surrender your self and acknowledge that you and the receiver are one. Namaste invokes recognition of the divine nature of all beings.
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Denise E Brittain yoga instructor includes this explanation on her site;
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The Namaste hand gesture, also known as the Anjali mudra, is rich in symbolic meaning.
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As we line the left hand, representing karma or action, with the right hand, representing rightful knowledge, we are implying that our actions and thoughts are of the highest form.
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This simple physical, mental and verbal act is a deeply spiritual expression meant to honor and celebrate the divine essence of all beings.
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In Namaste we let go of our differences to find common ground where we bathe in divine light.
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Let us surround those who are dear to us, as well as those we don’t even know, in peace, love and light; with the acknowledgement that we are all one.
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Let our thoughts, words and actions be full of kindness to one another, as well as to ourselves.
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Let our yoga practice be a sanctuary to calm our spirits and open our hearts to the beauty of our world.
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Source http://www.fitmoves.com/ArticleArchive/Namaste1.htm
This organization appears to have taken the cooperative spirit and charitable giving a step further than that which drives the other ‘great co-op of the age’ – the open source movement.
They might also have done the virtually impossible – created a community that is inclusive, transcendent, free of ego maniacs that float to the top, that maintains the centrality of religions mystical core whilst eliminating 99.99% of religious cant, hypocrisy & frippery AND does millions of pounds worth of good in the world. My Uncle Fred says it can’t last – he says its like mobile phones they’ll never catch on!
Here are some quotes from their website;
Eleven years ago, three people decided to sit in silence for an hour, in an everyday Silicon Valley living room. No teachers or gurus. No set agendas or proposed beliefs either. Just silence for an hour every week with one strong principle — when you change within, the world changes.
And instead of closing the door, they left it open … open to all. The rest, as they say, is history.
You’re Invited!
Simply put, Wednesday evenings are about sharing. In the spirit of an ashram, we offer the space for everyone to walk their own walk. A random group of 20-40 folks convenes once a week; we meditate for an hour and follow it up with a roundtable sharing of “aha” moments from everyday life, based on the wide-ranging thought of the week.
While each journey takes different routes, the paths have many similarities. Along that road, sometimes, it is useful to have a place to share … our conviction, compassion, presence or even something undescribable. We grow and learn by listening both to ourselves and the people around us. By looking within — and without.
And you’re invited to join us this Wednesday! There is no charge, we don’t solicit donations, and you don’t have to bring anything. Simply RSVP and you’ll be emailed the directions.
Thank you!
Over the years, thousands of folks have come; some offered much, some received much, but all were present with the same heart. We don’t really understand how this spontaneous convergence of goodness happens every Wednesday, but as hosts, we feel fortunate to have such an opportunity to be of service, and to be home for such sincere and powerful inspiration.
These meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend. For many of us they have been and continue to be a constant source of inspiration, insight- and joy.
‘Helping others help others.’ Who said miracles don’t happen any more?
“Namaste” : I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor
the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where
if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Yup – that’ll do for me!
Soul Needs - One Garden 