The Power of Namaste

During my first few days at the University of Washington, I remember meeting so many new people. I vividly recall meeting a group of international students from different corners of the globe at a get-to-know-each-other board games event. At first, we were all hesitant and unsure about how to interact with one another given our diverse backgrounds. However, as we played a whimsical round of Scrabble and chit-chatted for a bit, at the end of the day we all wanted to blend in to feel appreciated and loved. So, what does this tell us about human nature?

Getting a little bit in touch with my roots, here’s the most beautiful thing I see in Hinduism: Namaste! This one gracious word reminds us that:

“We are the same. And we are whole.”

As a little girl, I remember watching people join their hands close together with a gentle bow and wondering what this meant. Namaste recognizes that “the Divine within me bows to the same Divine within you.” By doing this, we see a god, a diety, an honour inside every person. Even with people who we barely even know, we create a sense of oneness. So incredibly beautiful, isn’t it?

Even from my Vinyasa Yoga classes, my instructor told me about the Bhagavad Gita, one of yoga’s classic texts. Here we are repeatedly reminded that a true yogi sees everything and everyone as equal.

If lived to its fullest intent, the meaning of Namaste can help us drop all the walls that superficially separate us and allow us to feel the hunger, the pain, the suffering of others, and also share in the joy of others. By recognizing the divine spark within each person, we can cultivate a sense of respect for all human beings regardless of their background, culture, or beliefs.

So for some key takeaways, why don’t we try the following?

• Embrace what others can teach us. We all have something to share, and we all have something to learn.
• Respect everyone we meet. All human beings: drivers, workers, teachers, elders, strangers, regardless of their background, culture, or beliefs.
• Express gratitude. Appreciate and value the people and experiences that bring joy and meaning to our lives.
• Mindfulness. Being fully present and attentive to what others sayto us.

That being said, Namaste 🙏🏻

• Respect, love, connection, unity •

– SaaniaSparkle 🧚‍♀️