user11390: A commenter on the NewBuddhist blog claimed that one should not say Namaste in a Tibetan Buddhist event (in this context).

I remember one time saying "Namaste" while at a Tibetan Buddhist event, and someone quickly pulled me aside and said, "Oh, no-- do not say 'Namaste!' Say, 'Tashi Delek!'"
I'm not entirely sure why I brought that up... perhaps because I'm still confused as to why it was wrong to say Namaste.
-- SillyPutty

I'd like to make a disclaimer that I am not from a Buddhist country so I'm confused. I never even read from anywhere that The Buddha even says this, or is the phrase really Buddhist -- you can imagine my confusion.
Is this a modern phrase? What is its connection to Buddhism?

user8157: My impression from travelling in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand & Nepal is 'namaste' is Indian & Nepalese & not related to Buddhism.

Namaste, sometimes spoken as Namaskar, Namaskaram is a respectful form of
  greeting in Hindu custom, found on the Indian subcontinent mainly in
  India and Nepal and among the Indian diaspora. It is used both for
  salutation and valediction. Namaste is usually spoken with a
  slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers
  pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called
  Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana. In Hinduism it means "I bow to the divine
  in you". The greeting may also be spoken without the gesture or the
  gesture performed wordlessly, carrying the same meaning.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste


user295: Namaste is a greeting in the Hindu custom and does not have a context in Buddhism.

Namaste (/ˈnɑːməsteɪ/, Hindi: [nəməsteː] (About this sound listen))), sometimes spoken as Namaskar, Namaskaram is a respectful form of greeting in Hindu custom, found on the Indian subcontinent mainly in India and Nepal and among the Indian diaspora. It is used both for salutation and valediction. Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana.
In Hinduism it means "I bow to the divine in you".The greeting may also be spoken without the gesture or the gesture performed wordlessly, carrying the same meaning


11390: <p>A commenter on the <a href="http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/18661/what-does-namaste-mean-well" rel="nofollow noreferrer">NewBuddhist blog</a> claimed that one should not say Namaste in a Tibetan Buddhist event (in this context).</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I remember one time saying &quot;Namaste&quot; while at a Tibetan Buddhist event, and someone quickly pulled me aside and said, &quot;Oh, no-- do not say 'Namaste!' Say, 'Tashi Delek!'&quot;</p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure why I brought that up... perhaps because I'm still confused as to why it was wrong to say Namaste.</p>
<p>-- SillyPutty</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'd like to make a disclaimer that I am not from a Buddhist country so I'm confused. I never even read from anywhere that The Buddha even says this, or is the phrase really Buddhist -- you can imagine my confusion.</p>
<p>Is this a modern phrase? What is its connection to Buddhism?</p>
 8157: <p>My impression from travelling in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand &amp; Nepal is 'namaste' is Indian &amp; Nepalese &amp; not related to Buddhism.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>Namaste, sometimes spoken as Namaskar, Namaskaram is a respectful form of
  greeting in <strong>Hindu</strong> custom, found on the Indian subcontinent mainly in
  India and Nepal and among the Indian diaspora. It is used both for
  salutation and valediction. Namaste is usually spoken with a
  slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers
  pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called
  Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana. In <strong>Hinduism</strong> it means "I bow to the divine
  in you". The greeting may also be spoken without the gesture or the
  gesture performed wordlessly, carrying the same meaning.</em></p>
  
  <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste</a></p>
</blockquote>
 295: <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namaste" rel="noreferrer">Namaste</a> is a greeting in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu" rel="noreferrer">Hindu</a> custom and does not have a context in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism" rel="noreferrer">Buddhism</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Namaste (/ˈnɑːməsteɪ/, Hindi: [nəməsteː] (About this sound listen))), sometimes spoken as Namaskar, Namaskaram is a respectful form of greeting in Hindu custom, found on the Indian subcontinent mainly in India and Nepal and among the Indian diaspora. It is used both for salutation and valediction. Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana.</p>
<p>In Hinduism it means &quot;I bow to the divine in you&quot;.The greeting may also be spoken without the gesture or the gesture performed wordlessly, carrying the same meaning</p>
</blockquote>
