Menorise [men-oh-rIse]; the process of inculcation

"Learning how to be still - to really be still and let life happen - that stillness becomes a radiance."
(Morgan Freeman)

` © Yamini Ali MacLean

First Friday Filmclub

It will not have escaped the notice of regular readers that the YAMster is very much inclined to the philosophical. One of the greatly relieving things which has been inculcated from the study of Vedanta is that death is only another step in life.  To some extent, most folk are aware of this, but there is so much attachment to the body (and other 'bodies') that a great fear arises at the thought of such a departure. Not so much in the one departing (though therein lies a whole other post), but in those who must say the farewell.

This little film looks at what it is for Death itself to be doing the farewell. Furthermore, in it we see how Death is an ever-present part of life and that, if we befriend that idea, our end will be peaceful and correct. Enjoy every moment, but accept the impermanence and embrace the leaving. You may wish to have a hanky handy. Jus' sayin'...

The Life of Death from Marsha Onderstijn on Vimeo.

Menolistal [men-oh-list-all]; the state of leaning out of the box a bit.

Abby lab's mum LBJ posted last week about 'bucket lists'. I tend to think of these as being "not done yet, waiting to happen" kinda things, but Abby and her mum gave us more the BTDTTMTS** version. Which is fine too. It triggered a memory for me though. Waaaaaayyyyyy back at 1stYB^^, (almost exactly three years ago in fact), I was challenged by my good pal Aitch to produce a '50 things before I die' wish list. At that point I was still sitting in Sandeepany ashram deep under dissertation pressure and needing a bit of a 'vent' - she thought this might do. 

It just added more stress!!! Mainly because I am not someone who exists on wishes, to be honest. Very much take life as it comes at me and although there is a level of planning required when it comes to interactions with others, for myself there is little requirement. Life is simple and I like to keep it that way. What is more, there is a great deal of the BTDTTMTS in the YAMster's life; have been very fortunate in garnering significant life experience and walking the 'rim' of things.

Needless to say, then, I couldn't come up with 50 items. I barely could produce the original 40 that came out at the time - and there are some truly cringe-worthy items on that list. This is not going to be a re-post as such, but more of a review. A lot has happened in three years. Would a similar list appear were I to start afresh? If truly pushed, it wouldn't be all that different; as you will see, there is a bit of a theme and they are consistent with my character. There are several here I was tempted to strike out - just give the highlights, as it were. The list, though, speaks to a time in my life which held huge transformation and it ought to stay intact, but viewed with wiser eyes. Here, then, are the original 40 with new (and brief) annotations.

Wishes were prizes… (the "snowball's chance" variety of wishing)

Get stranded on tropical island - have visited many, just never got stranded.

Virgin space flight - hey, am a Trekker...

Never have to do another laundry - c'mon, who truly wouldn't wish this one?

Live in tree/cave - this kinda goes with the tropical island thing; unoccupied trees and caves are both becoming quite scarce however - prime real estate, as city folk suddenly rediscover their inner hunter-gatherer

Grow orchids - this was a space-filler item; but I don't have the best track record with pot plants of any variety, so the orchid is a symbol for that. (I did okay when I had a garden though.)

Sing at SOH - Having sung in Edinburgh's Usher Hall, there was a bit of me which fancied doing the same on the other end of the globe. Handel's Messiah, or Verdi's Requiem...

Meet;

Richard Branson

Nelson Mandela...   These were names just to represent my desire to always be in the presence of great people; I have had the great good fortune to be so anyway, so in some respects this one could be crossed off the list.

Mark every bird in ornithology books of OZ/UK - a Young Ornithologist member at school and a member of several bird clubs over the years, this is something which would be great to do; but it's definitely in the 'you gotta be dreaming' category.

Dance in Bollywood film... I was under stress remember... (but I do love a good bhangra...)

Know sanskrit by inserted chip tech - I can get by in Sanskrit; but our aachaarya did actually give up on me, saying I didn't have to sit the exams... I know what is necessary to teach without looking idiotic. Will have to settle for that...until the 'insert chip' tech arrives!

Distant horizons... (the "if $$$ fell from heaven" variety)

Play with tigers - it can be done! But it takes dosh. (NB - I would NOT attend the Thailand 'tiger temples' for such as this, as it is not at all a healthy situtation; the conservation parks such as Longleat, however, are a 'necessary evil' for the preservation of species - one wishes such places would become obsolete...)

High tea at Raffles - this one is a 'pie in the sky' filler... (all punning intended)

Ride in sleigh with reindeer - and Santa - He has his own television tubular channel... LOOK!!!

Ride in sled with malamutes - again, I say, it can be done - if ya got the dosh.

PhD comparative philosophies/religions - this was put in here even though I was studying PhD at Sandeepany, because the gurukula system doesn't actually provide a 'hard copy' certificate; the aachaarya will either permit one to go and teach - or not - and this is the acknowledgement of having attained the appropriate level. In the West, this takes a lot of explaining. If I'd had the years and the dosh and nothing else to do, then I might have taken this on.

Read and absorb every philosophy - looks the same, but is different. This is actually something I have been attempting to do throughout life; plenty of reading has been done - absorption is a whole different kettle of words.

Transcend/Moksha - every Vedantin worth their salt has this on the bucket list. Guess this ought really to be in the 'WIP' basket... 

Guest appearance on Graham Norton show - have been on a few telly shows - in relation to science and science fiction - this was just more about the stress valve of study, expressing a need to be involved in total fluff and nonsense, flapping the lips about nothing of any great importance whatsoever...

And why not…? (the "could be done if I tried" variety - or "we're getting a bit more real here")

Himalayan yatra - since original writing, this was partially achieved! Could do more.

See Canada/Alaska - as of time of this post, am about to make this partially true also - visiting the East coast of Canada!

See Russia - This one may have to be added to the distant horizons basket

Ride the Ghan - another one which could be done - does involve dosh, but still a possibility..

Meet the blogdogs and other mates - this one ought to be shifted down into the Work In Progress basket - have met several and am about to add a lot to that over the next month!!!

Visit every ruin in the UK - this one needs shifted into the 'never gonna happen' basket - (did I make one of those?)

See Shakespeare's work at Stratford - still vaguely possible - actually there has recently been a very wonderful series on BBC of the 'Royal Histories' of old Will's; Plantagenet plunderings and all that sword-clashing stuff... satisfying enough.

Devise and present a stage show - just vague

Write books that sell - the writing is going on - its the rest which needs (mega87) work...

WIP (the 'work in progress' variety - where wishes become more like goals)

Own another telescope - this one requires the $$$ but is still on my list, just had other priorities. Was once very involved with astronomy in Sydney - so this one may belong more correctly in the BTDTTMTS category.

Live in clear view of E and W horizons - the YAMster's hutch almost fulfills this - big tick!

To know a thing or two more - daily manage to tick this one - it's a perennial

Be surrounded by animals/nature - still haven't added any more animals of my own, but nature sure abounds round here

Sell Mandalas - kinda-sorta on the way... have had the RedBubble shop running for a year now and a couple of the mandala designs have sold

Produce the cartoons - this one related to work done at the ashram wherein an entire story-telling enactment was undertaken with cartoons and puppetry... notions of taking it further...

Get the spiritual blog going - Big Tick!!!

Be on others' blogrolls - another big tick; this was put out there because original posts were only three months into this blogging malarkey; now am well embedded and others seem to like having me around

Visit every sacred place - I had this here? More like the 'wishes' category this one; but it would be lovely...............wait up...what's that?... in typing that, I got 'the message' that the whole of Earth is sacred - even where you sit right now... so big tick on this one then.

Run spiritual counselling/healing setup - this one is again closer to BTDTTMTS, given I ran a health practice for 15 years; but the refinement is finding the spiritual aspects of life - even for those professing no 'faith'. Big stuff, too much for this synopsis.

**BTDTTMTS (the "Been There Done That Too Many Tee Shirts" variety)

...I think I added this in just to make up numbers! To actually list all the escapades and things out of the usual daily living experience would bore the pants off most - some of the list above could actually be moved here now anyway. I leave these last two, simply because they were examples of the strife the YAMster often walks into - and walks away from. They got posts all of their own, hence the linkies.

Climb Uluru
Scuba diving

(post-Post note - I have absolutely no idea why the post is appearing in technicolour, 'coz the draught is all in B&W... is this another sign that making up such lists is like walking the rainbow looking for gold???)

OH, and ^^ = first year blogging, in case you'd remembered to wonder what the shorthand was ...or had you lost all will to live by now?

J

Menokakkuls; Fun on Film Season

I love Vimeo. As a result of finding a few worth the sharing, there is now a season (a few weeks) of little films which I found fun... hope you do too! NB - always watch to the very end as many (not all) use images and continue the story beyond the end-titles.

Ever wondered where possums go when the play... possum???

Oh, Possum! from Justin Hilden on Vimeo.

Me-Now-Views; Less Speak More Peek

This little sequence holds its own story!  These are Jackdaws. They pair for life - and that lifespan is around five years. They are equal-ops pairs too, both the male and female take part in home building. This pair appear to be nesting either in our chimney, or in one of the trees behind the building. They are always on this roof creating some entertainment for me!

Menogurgitating; a bloggy re-run

Last Monday there was a 'rerun' of the piccies from my mixing and mingling with some sci-fi stars. This week a bit more in-depth about what influence Star Trek had... (have tweaked it minimally - improved blogging skills!)

.........??????  what's this you ask....

Despite close resemblance, this has nothing whatsoever to do with my sojourn in India.

This is a costume I made myself. From scratch.  Entirely by hand.

This was as true a representation as I could manage to produce of the outfit worn by the Bajoran spiritual leader, known as a Vedek.

Still confused?





Does the next shot help?

There was a call-out for 'ambassadors' for the Star Trek Exhibition at the Sydney Powerhouse Museum. I was a science fiction fan from childhood.  True sci-fi.  NOT fantasy. Dad and mum permitted the viewing of Star Trek.  It contained scientific possibilities.  Much of what we now take for granted was demonstrated first in that visionary show.

Automated sliding doors.  Mobile phones.  PADDs (personal access data devices = youpads!!)... I'm still longing for the teleporter to become reality.

Yes there are people working on it!

More than all that though, there was always the implied question of 'what makes it all tick...or who?'  When the next franchise in the Star Trek series came up (Deep Space 9) there was more of a socio-political slant to the story-lines, and much of that also spiritual. Little did I know it at the time that I would end up following the spiritual path from which the Bajoran religion took it's form, phraseology and even it's naming formats.

You see, the Vedas are the founding scriptures of Sanskrit faith, cultural and social structure, and many languages - not just the Indian, but also the Latin ones.  A person who is of that culture is referred to as 'vedic'... (are you seeing the line of thinking???)

It was not Star Trek that led me to where I am now, spiritually.  Quite another path entirely. However, having landed here and with the benefit of hindsight, I can truly see how and why the show appealed so deeply to the space within me (pun intended).

When I realised that one of the main script writers of the series was of Indian origin, it made sense.  What a great way to inject a cultural heritage that informs so much of Western thought - without the West actually noticing or wishing to own up to it.  

Another part of the ST universe is the Vulcan culture.  That is where the concept of "Unity in diversity" is held at its strongest.  It is also where control of our baser instincts and strong, logical thinking is held in esteem.  I now know that this is pure Advaita Vedanta.  So which came first?  The seeds of vedic understanding deep within me, already held from previous experience and accrual of many positive karmic 'brownie points'?  Or the awakening through this unlikely 'guru'?

Both perhaps are required.  ...it has been fun getting here!

MenoSundays; Life Lived Lovingly

This week is a post which might be considered as promotional. How does it figure in the sceme of capital 'ell' love?

Here is a glimpse of music which appears on the two albums created by Transgressive North as a direct result of being with the children in India, at Tuni's Light of Love Children's Home. It is here because it is a direct expression, an output, from the Love behind its inception, development, collaboration and completion.

It must be said that not every track would be to everyone's taste. The music, as it clearly states, is modern and experimental. The wonderful thing is, by using BandCamp, it is possible to listen to each track individually - and buy only the tracks you want. All profits from the sale of this music is being forwarded to Scottish Love in Action and thus to Tuni LOLCH. Here are two of my personal faves (I have both albums in disc form... buying that way meant I also got the film which goes with).

doseone (feat. The Light Of Love Children's Choir) - Weight In Song from Transgressive North on Vimeo.