Great Story to share: Met Kerry & gave him a letter from my 4 yr old...

[Pachamama]

Yesterday, John Kerry was in the Bay Area....got to see him and finally meet him in person....I posted this yesterday, but thought I'd share it with the Weekend DUers:

This afternoon I had the honor to personally deliver a "letter" and "picture" from my two beautiful daughters to our future President. It was a sweet drawing with a picture of them attached and a message that read "I love you John Kerry & Mama T"

I attended a luncheon for John Kerry at the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco and was introduced to him and got to give him the letter personally. He said to me "This is what this election is about - its about them....I promise to make sure they have a better world" I told him I know and he leaned over to me, we hugged and I said "Namaste" to him...

He is a good man....he is going to be a great President and make our country great again....and unlike Bush, care for the future of our children.

Namaste

Pachamama

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2272414&mesg_id=2272414

[madmax]

1. Great post ...what does

"Namaste" mean?

[Pachamama]

2. Namaste - Ancient Sanskrit Greeting.....

"I honor the place in you where Spirit lives
I honor the place in you which is
of Love, of Truth, of Light, of Peace,
when you are in that place in you,
and I am in that place in me,
then we are One."

It is pronounced as "Namastay" with the first two a's as the first a in "America" and the ay as in "stay", but with the t pronounced soft with the area just behind the tip of the tongue pressing against the upper-front teeth with no air passing (as the t in "tamasha").

For Hindu(s), the greeting of choice is "Namaste," the two hands pressed together and held near the heart with the head gently bowed as one says, "Namaste". Thus it is both a spoken greeting and a gesture, a Mantr(a) and a Mudr(a). The prayerful hand position is a Mudr(a) called Anjali, from the root Anj, "to adorn, honor, celebrate or anoint." The hands held in union signify the oneness of an apparently dual cosmos, the bringing together of spirit and matter, or the self meeting the Self. It has been said that the right hand represents the higher nature or that which is divine in us, while the left hand represents the lower, worldly nature.

Namaste....its a beautiful word.... :hi:

[stellanoir]

4. truly

lovely explanation

[madmax]

5. Thank you...it is a beautiful word.

Working on the pronunciation. Namaste

:hi:

[Pachamama]

3. Here's another description/definition of Namaste I found from Yoga Journal

http://www.yogajournal.com/newtoyoga/822_1.cfm

The Meaning of "Namaste"

What does "Namaste" mean? My yoga teacher says it every week after our practice and I've always wanted to know.

—Rita Geno

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.

[madmax]

6. Very interesting.

I don't know anything about Yoga but, now I have a starting point to find out. You've piqued my interest. Thanks.

[Eloriel]

9. Yoga is wonderful

There are many forms (Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, etc.), but what most Westerners think of as "yoga" is Hatha Yoga -- the physical poses (called "asanas") combined with proper breathing (Hatha means breath).

All the various asanas not only help improve flexibility and limberness as well as benefit internal organis which are "massaged" via the postures themselves, but they also enhance one's spirituality. They are best done in a conscious, focused, somewhat meditative state. For this reason, I strongly suggest you stay far clear of any of the many books or even "classes" that Westernize yoga by making it some sort of calisthenic (or ugh! even cardio) regime. Think of it being practiced more like Tai Chi or Qi Gong (which to my knowledge haven't been Westernized and speeded up) -- smooth, flowing, graceful and, as I said, executed very consciously.

[Catch22Dem]

7. How interesting

Did he know what it meant? What was his reaction. What a great guy!

[Pachamama]

10. Watch Kerry when he is talking to crowds...he does the Namaste gesture

....he knows what it means....:) He expresses it to the people and they don't realize it...I did the first time I saw him speak....

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. This is so great. It reminds me of Howard Dean on the campaign trail

with a little boy...who gazed up at him and said,"My Mom's obsessed with you". Bringing personality to the candidate is a good thing. What a great day for you. :hi:

[Tsiyu]

11. How Awesome!

If you weren't such a Kewl pachamama, i would be exceedingly jealous!
:kick: