Namaste

June 10, 2021 Posted in: ASK AN EXPERT

Namaste is a non-contact greeting with ancient Hindu origins. It is a slight bow slightly with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upward, thumbs close to the chest. Sometimes the word itself may be spoken while bowing. It can be used both as a greeting and a way to say goodbye and is a way to show respect for the other person. While the gesture originated in India and is still widely used there and throughout Southeast Asia today, western cultures have adopted the greeting as a way to recognize the beautiful essence within each of us. Its use today may be as practical as it is wonderfully healing. It is practical because it is non-contact. In a world where many wear face masks and no longer shake hands as a sign of greeting, bowing makes as much sense as anything. With the world still only learning about how to co-exist with the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, bowing is safe and easy but still shows respect and love.

However, it may be more than practical. The greeting Namaste, says to another person “I see you. I really see you.” I see beyond your skin and bones the amazing power that animates you. I see beyond where you came from or where you live to the incredible innate intelligence that organizes us both. I see beyond your age or position in life to the remarkable wisdom that maintains the entire world in existence. Wow!! That’s pretty big stuff! But truly there is a principle of organization that is at work in each of us and in our world. The principle of organization is as real and applicable as the principle of gravity. And just like gravity works on everyone and everything on earth, constantly attracting things downward to the earth, the principle of the organization to applies to everyone and everything. And just like the principle of gravity works whether you know about it, have studied it extensively, or don’t even believe in it, so too with the principle of organization. It does its thing whether you recognize it or not.