ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: N Is for Namaste!

ABC:  Bible Meditation for Me!:  N Is for Namaste!

ABC:  Bible Meditation for Me!:  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation

Introduction:  This is one of twenty-six ABC lessons for parents, grandparents, kids, and teachers.  There are two more lessons to be posted: M and K.  Please scroll back for all the others.

N Is for Namaste

N is for Namaste,
something I can not say,
for I must not bow
to the god in you, for
it's not the Bible way!

The Day I Heard "Namaste!"

The first time I recall hearing Namaste was after a bird program I watched at a theme park.  Just as I was about to get up, the program narrator bowed to the audience saying, "Namaste!"  Namaste?  I had never heard of that word until then.  What did it mean?

I Bow to the God in You!

Namaste, a Sanskrit word, is a Hindu greeting which means: "I bow to the god in you, and you bow to the god in me."  Other variations include: "I bow to the divine in you, the light in you, the goodness in you, the good in you, the divine spark in you ...;  while others say, "I bow to you with respect..., the goodness and light in me, sees..." and so on.

Bible Meditation Reflection

Namaste says we all have a spark of the divine inside us, but Proverbs 20:9 reminds us we are but sinners until we come to know the Lord as Savior and are not divine within.  It asks this question, "Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"  Can you answer this question?

"The Question Mark" Hanger

Draw an over-sized question mark. You can use as a book mark or door hanger.  Instead of a circle shape at the end of the question mark, draw a heart.  Cut it out.  On it write Prov.20:9.  Inside the heart write the reference.  Hang it over a door knob.  Think about it!

Jesus Gives Light Within

It is Jesus who gives us light within, for he said, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  John 8:12  Have you asked Him to be your Savior?  If so let your light shine for Him!

Have No Other Gods Before Me!

The very first commandments given to Moses tells us to have no other gods before the Lord, and not to bow down to anyone or anything.  For to do so is idolatry.  This is another reason we shouldn't bow to another person believing there is a god in them. (Exodus 20)

Should A Christian Say Namaste?

Should a Christian say Namaste?  No way! The Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  (Romans 3:23)  All means everybody, you me, and everyone else!  It also says in Roman 3:10: "There is none righteous no not one."  The only righteousness or goodness Christians have is righteousness through Jesus.

Eastern Meditation

N is for Namaste

Namaste is
the Hindu way
To say: I bow to
the god in you.
You bow to the
god in me.

The Namaste Way

Namaste requires one to place one's hands together over our heart. When one does this, it is called the "Anjali mudra."  This mudra, often accompanied by "Namaste!," is done in the tree pose, the mountain pose, and before sun salutations. A Yoga Education Institute article "Teaching and Practicing Mantras and Mudras" says the namaste salutation is, at the very core of yogic practice, seeing "the Divine within all of nature."(pantheism)  As one brings their hands together at one's heart center it is said to connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain.  This yogic process is called "unification."

The Namaste Song

Kira Willey sings the "Namaste Song" (1:34) on this video; this song is part of "Dance for the Sun: Yoga Songs for Kids" (Vol.1)  Here are its lyrics:  "The light in me sees the light in you. (2x)  I honor you as you honor me."  Namaste!  (3xs)"  Willey's soft voice easily captures the hearer drawing them in.  Wiley also produced two more yoga song collections: "Kings and Queens of the Forest: Yoga Songs for Kids Vol. 2" and "How to Be a Cloud: Yoga Songs for Kids Vol.3."  Besides, Willey has made a "Mindful Moments for Kids" song time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E70pNrQt0k
 
Yipee Ki-Yay Namaste 

A kids yoga program called "Yiipee Ki-Yay Namaste Yoga for Kids" associated with Fernbank Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia has a TV program with videos that can be viewed.  This is a  program that is full of all kinds of yoga and mindfulness, with a mix of new age teachings thrown in.  Clever words and poses are used which are drenched in meditative teachings. 

Every lesson begins and ends with the sound of the singing bowl, followed by the cowboy term "Yipee Ki-Yay" which they say means "inner joy," along with"Namaste" which means "the goodness in me sees the goodness in you".  Its teacher, Cheryl Crawford, talks about tuning into themselves and being grounded and balanced. 

In one video she tells the kids that yoga is a dance between earth and sky and between warm energy like the sun and softer energy like the moon. She tells them that "2" is a harmonic number and involves balance with two feet, two hands, or a hand and a foot.   

These programs are part of a Yoga Movement Namaste in School.  A web site states: "Yippee Ki-Yay Namaste is the first TV show for elementary aged children!  Its mission is to connect the children of Atlanta to their breath, to their bodies, and to each other. …  "Our first two season classes are part of our celebrated Yoga by Number Curriculum.  Our third season celebrates colors and energy and center … our forth season explores the five elements."
https://atlantayogamovement.org/programs/yippee-ki-yay-namaste

May our mission be to fill our own hearts and our children's hearts with scripture and with information that will help kids learn to discern that such meditative practices as described above are not the Bible way.

Parental Suggestion:

Notice Namaste Is Much More than A Greeting!

Familiarize yourself with Yogapedia by looking up "Namaste" in its dictionary.  Note its article

"Yogapedia Explains Namaste"  which begins "The significance of the word namaste goes far beyond its use as a greeting; namaste is an acknowledgement that we are all divine and that we all are ultimately connected. …"  Find it here at:      

https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/4988/namaste