Namaste - is it okay for a Catholic to use the word while greeting people of the Hindu/Buddhist faith

[catholic_cradle]

Is it okay for a Catholic to say namaste while greeting a Hindu, Buddhist or any other person?

Namaste means, “The Divine within me bows to the same Divine within you.”

Clearly the meaning is opposed to Catholic doctrine.

Seeking Catholic advice, inline with the Catholic Church's teachings/doctrine. Thanks in advance!

 

[concretecamper]

I wouldn't even consider it. Even though you may not intend to do anything wrong, it is like performing a religious prayer pose in yoga.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Namaste literally means "bowing to you"

Since Jesus taught us to be servants of each other, I do not see a problem.

 

[Paul4JC]

It has meaning like "Adios" does in Spanish means go with God. So in the same vein people use Namaste, and Namaskar is more formal. It's just the normal salutation. No need to take it literally cause we don't.

 

[RileyG]

Personally? I would not.

 

[High Fidelity]

Given its ties to other religions, you use of it could be construed by others as support.

Personally I think it’s best to just stick to hello and a smile and/or handshake.

 

[RileyG]

Given its ties to other religions, you use of it could be construed by others as support.

Personally I think it’s best to just stick to hello and a smile and/or handshake.

Agreed.

 

[AveChristusRex]

I wouldn't even consider it. Even though you may not intend to do anything wrong, it is like performing a religious prayer pose in yoga.

I second this; I would not allow it at any point. Even if you did not intend to do wrong, “… whoever dares to depart from the unity of Peter might understand that he no longer shares in the divine mystery…‘Whoever eats the Lamb outside of this house is unholy’” (Pope Gregory XVI, Commissum divinitus #11). Moreover, Pope Leo XII's Ubi Primum #14: “It is impossible for the most true God, who is Truth itself, the best, the wisest Provider, and the Rewarder of good men, to approve all sects who profess false teachings which are often inconsistent with one another and contradictory, and to confer eternal salvation on their members… by divine faith we hold one Lord, one faith, one baptism… This is why we profess that there is no salvation outside the Church.” I would highly suggest not to do so, and to follow concretecamper's advise.

God bless.