Namaste sign seen upon Ben's arrival.
Namaste (नमस्ते [nʌmʌsˈteː]) is a Sanskrit salutation, frequently accompanied by a pressing together of the palms at the chest and a slight bow. It is commonly used in yogic practice. It is composed of "namas" meaning "obeisance" and "te" meaning "you".[1] Translations range from the more literal "I humble myself to you" to the more poetic "May the good in me honor the good in you" and "My spirit bows to your spirit." Conceptually, speaking "namaste" pays homage to the inner light in all living things.
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Commonly written "Namaste", 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"). |
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—Jai Maharaj | ||
On Lost[]
Pierre Chang gives the signature sign-off at the end of the Pearl Orientation video.
- Pierre Chang said "Thank you, namaste, and good luck" at the end of the orientation films found in the Swan and in the Pearl, respectively, the former with only one hand.
- Kelvin Inman used it, talking to Desmond. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1")
- Written on a painting that was in Charles Widmore's office. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
A polar bear, Buddha, and the word "namaste" appear in the painting Desmond sees in Charles Widmore's office. Some views in the scene show the painting, and therefore the word "namaste", in reverse. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes")
- When Ben arrived on the Island, a sign with the DHARMA Initiative logo appears, with "Namaste" appearing prominently in capital script, and punctuated by an exclamation mark. ("The Man Behind the Curtain")
- the DHARMA recruits posing for the 1977 DHARMA Recruits picture had to say it instead of "cheese". ("Namaste")
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Nama-what? |
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—Hurley | ||
Ben says goodbye to the two employees at the DHARMA Logistics Warehouse
- Ben says it to Hector and Glen in the DHARMA Logistics Warehouse. ("The New Man in Charge").
Related greetings and gestures[]
- Achara uses the Wai, a Thai greeting similar to Namaste. ("Stranger in a Strange Land")
- The gesture is used subtly by the Others (Ben and Tom in particular) without the verbal part of the salutation. ("A Tale of Two Cities") ("Stranger in a Strange Land")
Non-canon[]
- Used frequently by employees of the Hanso Foundation in The Lost Experience. [source needed]
- It is also regularly used by Alvar Hanso in his letters and public speeches. [source needed]
- In a promotional video for Ajira Airways, the flight attendants end the video by clasping their hands together and saying in unison "Namaste."[2]
- A song written about Lost by metal band Veil of Maya[3]
Definition[]
Definition(s) according to Dictionary.com:
"a conventional Hindu expression on meeting or parting, used by the speaker usually while holding the palms together vertically in front of the bosom."
"a bow and gesture of greeting or parting with the palms together in front of the chest; also, expressing respect through this gesture and bow"