Before I go on with this blog, I will post this image to begin.

NAMASTE:
“I honor the place in you, in which the entire Universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is love, of truth, of light and of peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, WE ARE ONE.”


I’ve been asked by many Zen Evolution TV viewers what Namaste means. This is what prompted this image above to be posted on our Zen Evolution TV Myspace so that it would be present for those who would question its meaning.

However today, I felt it was time to talk about NAMASTE on a deeper level.
Let’s start with the basics. Namaste is Sanskrit. It comes from the two words Namah and Te. “I bow to you.”

Now while the origins of Namaste travel back to India or Nepal, ‘bowing’ isn’t something that is foreign in any culture, even if the word Namaste is. A performer on stage will bow to the audience in conclusion of the performance as a ‘thank you … thank you for your time, for receiving my talent, my gift of expression, my art.’
While most associated with the Japanese culture – the constant bowing action can be given and received simultaneously as a greeting of hello/goodbye physically. It is used in arriving and departing, similar to how the Hawaiian word ‘Aloha’ means both hello and goodbye. In Medieval times peasants often bowed in the presence of kings.
I don’t necessarily view “Namaste” as a means of bowing as much as the meaning behind what the bow represents – and to me, it is synonymous with RESPECT.

To me, RESPECT is everything. In order to get respect, you have to give respect. And even if you don’t receive respect, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it, just because you didn’t get it. Respect is a full-circle thing, like life. It is what makes the world go around.

Without respect, there cannot be acceptance. Without acceptance, there cannot really be love. And without love.... well, what’s the point?

Isn’t the point of life to live and to love? Thus, shouldn’t we honor a life of love with respect?

Let’s look at Namaste from another point of view. There is a life lesson to be learned.

Re-read the meaning of Namaste.

“I honor the place in you, in which the entire Universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is love, of truth, of light and of peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, WE ARE ONE.”

Now couldn’t the same be said of hate, prejudice, judgment and anger? When we dishonor the place in someone where their Universe dwells and we dishonor the place which has love, truth, light and peace. And instead aggravate it, push buttons, and get that person angry, don’t we then trigger them to be angry at us and in turn, we get angry?

There was a PSA (public service announcement) back in the 1970s which spoke of eliminating hate as an emotion. It’s a negative emotion, one which destroys humanity.

So with this knowledge, doesn't it make sense to become the positivity which NAMASTE stands for?

Can you imagine a world, where we exercised utilizing NAMASTE as our base, as our foundation, as the place where we all come from? Wouldn’t that be a beautiful and wonderful world?

Imagine if we took the time to look within to respect and honor someone’s spirit and soul….

Perhaps then, we would have a world filled with love, truth, light and yes, even peace.

We don’t need to wait for the rest of the world to catch up. We can have peace each day, everyday, within our being, within our own spirit and within our own hearts and minds. If we take the time to practice the action of NAMASTE each day with all those we come in contact with – from our family and friends, our co-workers and colleagues, our neighbors and strangers we encounter while living our lives and pay NAMASTE forward…WE CAN CREATE OUR OWN UNIVERSE OF love, truth, light and peace. And if this perhaps inspires someone, at some moment to share this and become this and live like this, maybe we can’t create world peace today or tomorrow for the world, but in time we can, one person at a time, and it begins with ourselves.

Namaste.

Stacey Kumagai – Zen Goddess 9, Integrity & Wisdom and all your friends at Zen Evolution TV