GASSHO

The Japanese word gassho (gash-sho) refers to a ritual gesture formed by placing the hands - palms together, in the 'prayer' or 'praying hands' gesture, and is the most fundamental and also most frequently used of all the in-zou (mudras) in Buddhist practice.

Gassho implies recognition of the oneness of all beings and is used variously to:
express respect
prevent scattering of the mind
bring self into dynamic balance
express the One Mind - totality: congruence of being.

There are actually two primary forms of the standard gassho

We may refer to these as:

Formal gassho
This is used in formal situations, ritual, religious services, etc.
The hands are brought together in front of the face, fingers straight, palms pressing together. Elbows are raised, forearms at about 30° angles to the floor; fingertips at about the same level as the top of the nose, but hands roughly a fist's distance in front of the tip of the nose.
The eyes are focused on the tips of the middle fingers.

This formal gassho helps establish a reverential, alert attitude. This gesture is used to show reverence to Butsu, Bosatsu, Patriarchs & Teachers.

Mu-shin ('No-Mind') gassho
This form of gassho used primarily in greetings.
Here, the hands are held loosely together - the tips of the fingers/thumbs still touch, yet there is a slight space between the palms.
The forearms are at about 45° angles to the floor. The hands are still held at the equivalent of approximately one fist's distance in front of the tip of the nose, but the hands are lower, in front of the mouth - the fingertips at a level just below the nose. The eyes are focused on the tips of the middle fingers.
(Many people also perform mu-shin gassho with hands positioned in front of the chest at a level just above the heart.)

Beyond the 'standard' gassho, there are a number of other special versions of this in-zou.

For example:

The Lotus gassho - this is almost identical to mu-shin gassho, however the fingers are bent slightly more and the tips of the middle fingers are held about an inch apart.

The Lotus gassho (renge gassho) is primarily used by priests during particular ceremonies or rites.

The Diamond gassho (kongo gassho) - also called the 'gassho of oneness with all life' - this is almost identical to mu-shin gassho, however the fingers are perfectly straight and interlocked

As with the Lotus gassho, the Diamond gassho is primarily used by priests during particular ceremonies or rites.