WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Meno-SHHHHHHshhhhhhzzz...

`
zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt>
OM… ShaantiH-shaantiH-shaantiH
Aatman… peace, peace, peace

The three repetitions of peace are to be concentrated on separately as "may there be peace in our bodies/speech/mind as we reach for Aatman." The 'sh' here is one of three 'ess' sounds in Sanskrit, each a little harder than the other. This is the 'hardest' being pronounced with the tongue full on the back of the teeth and held a little flat. Think 'zebra'. That's the closest and is why this is appearing here.

This is chanted at the end of prayers, at the end of puja worship, as a prayer in its own right and as a blessing to others. It is a fitting close to the A-Z month.

The challenge held within these thirty days was, for me, to present such a flow of deep and meaningfuls here on the Meno bloggy, a place generally not quite so intense. However, it has been most gratifying to have had so many beautiful comments and 'conversations' happening, and it settled my mind about whether any of my regulars here would want to visit. Quite a few hung around and didn't take fright! A few did, though, and that's okay. I knew the challenge would not be mine alone.

The  A-Z Experience; cons. As I had stated in my 'setup' post, am not really a blog-hop person. I don't partake in any social media outside of blogging (hang, I barely even use text on my flipfone). There was a bit of bombardment about visiting as many blogs as possible and leaving 'hey well done!' comments. You all know me well enough by now to know that's not what I do. I also don't particularly appreciate the 'thanks for sharing' kinda thing being left with me - unless it is preceded by something actually pertaining to the post.   I'm an engager. A builder of relationship.  I gave up entering my URL halfway through because I wasn't reading the list, so why should I expect that anyone would be looking for me? That's not why I did this**. As one of the lovely places I did visit said in their "Q" post, there ought to be quality, not quantity. This is not to detract from the considerable effort of the organisers - blessings to anyone who commits to such as this on the admin side (been there done that never again). I just didn't particularly enjoy the vague implication of guilt for not getting to 650+ blogs. I am sure I was not the only one feeling this.

 The  A-Z Experience; pros. I forgave myself the lack of 'fibre' to do all that visiting and after two days without sleep settled on 20 blogs where I felt at home; some fell by the wayside, so by the end of the first week it was 17 to visit and enjoy each day. I looked forward to them. Several were working along the same 'drift' as myself, several were just quality writing in different forms, and a few were 'left field' and fun for that! Some will have served their time in the month, but a few will be added to my blogroll. I loved that I have had good reading, the opportunity to give voice in return and with the ability to agree to disagree on occasion. In return, I have received some fantastic feedback on the posts here, and there has been a real sense of adding to knowledge and making a connection. 

Most of all, it has been much appreciated that so many were engaged with my topic. Advaita is not an easy philosophy; having researched widely, it proved to be the one which addressed my need for logic, science and art all combined. To convey that successfully requires skill beyond my own, but if in some small way any part of the last month of posts has touched you, then I am grateful to have been given the words to write them. In this closing stage, I feel it important to impress upon the reader that, whilst there are rites and vigils and other such things associated with a religious activity, Advaita itself is precisely what it purports to be and is not a religion per se. It is a tool for assessment and practice by which we can see our condition and do something to improve it. One of the great joys for me in taking it on to advanced levels is that it allowed me to return to Biblical scriptures with a fresh and critical eye and gain so much more than I ever believed possible. Advaita belongs to no institution and can be freely applied by all. There are advocates for Advaita Vedanta in the faiths of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. None lose by its study. There is only gain.

We all have within us the potential for a 'Damascan' experience. Whether we are ready for that or not depends upon our karma, our praarabdha and our guna. If we do have such an experience, it is almost impossible to convey the sense of the profound and Divine. As I commented on another lady's blog in response to her 'Damascan' reveal; "When we receive revelation, much of the world is too ready to be scared and condemn. We who are listening will always find the path to Him which suits us best. For some, that may be Catholicism, for others Methodism, or Mormonism; but equally those of Islam and Sanatana Dharma. What is important is to always be listening to that Higher which we call as God. Problems arise when there are claims of “only” and “my”… All faiths practiced well are joyous and freeing to the spirit, and the participants condemn no other."

Thank you all. Love and Blessings,












Acknowledgement and gratitude for the company of the following during April:


**sadly, Mcguffy's Reader, who was my 'goad', had lots to deal with during this month and was unable to join in conversation after all.  Sending out continued POTP to her and the 'anipals' for whom she cares.

26 comments:

  1. Congratulations on a month long journey that taught me much and made me think.
    OMCs YaYa I wish you could see mom trying this.
    "This is the 'hardest' being pronounced with the tongue full on the back of the teeth and held a little flat. Think 'zebra'. That's the closest and is why this is appearing here."

    As her Annie Ma used to say when she got tongue tied,
    'her tongue is around her eye teeth and she can't see what she is saying'!!
    Hugs Madi and the tongue tied OGM

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  2. Wow, that sounds like a rather intense undertaking! But like many things, it is often a reward in itself. Oh, and speaking of chanting, mom used to like to go listen to the monks chant at the monastery before it closed. She didn't do any of it, just took it in and she said it was wonderful.

    Just Stopping in to bark hello!

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. Hari OM
      Hello my dear doodz, what a joy to see you here! If you feel you would like to catch up on all the D&Ms, they are now resident on the dedicated A-Z page up top. Am in the process of preparing another 'redecoration' for May, so it's all getting shuggled around again!!! Hope you are all well. Yxx

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  3. Hi Yamini - you did so well ... and visited lots - thanks for those comments. Advaita I must explore now there is more time ... so thanks for explaining a little more - take care .. cheers Hilary

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  4. congrats!!! we love efurry word and maybe you changed some things to the good for your readers ;O)) I bet you did :LO)

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  5. I have thoroughly enjoyed your thought provoking posts this month Aunty Yam, very interesting, must have been quite hard work for you to do ?
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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    1. Hari OM
      Hard work? Not really, it is, after all, what I trained for - but certainly intense and more focused than is usual for the MENObloggy; this is always ongoing over at AV-bloggy. Running two 'teaching' posts daily was proving challenging and I feel they both may have suffered a little for that. It has been truly enjoyable though, to find a new audience and to make some fresh connections. Thank you for reading along! Yxx

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  6. Hi Yam - it's been lovely getting to know you and reading all your very wise (and well balanced) teachings. It's nice to know that mine was one of the blogs you persevered with and I know what you mean about the pressure to try to get around to more than it was physically possible to read. I settled on around 20 as well and it was more than enough for me. I'm doing my last wrap up post next Monday and trying my hand at putting together an e-book of my posts - we'll see how that goes!

    Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au
    Z for Zero in on your target

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    1. Hari OM
      Yes, Leanne, considering one already had about 30 regular blogs to visit in a day, it was getting a tad exhausting! Now there are 10 newly added to my 'roll' and whilst I may notbe as regular a visitor as during April, it will be a pleasure to maintain these new threads... I noticed a few folk talking about making books of their posts. I too had thought about it not realising that this was 'a thing'... let me recover a bit and see what happens! Yxx

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  7. I learned a lot. I did discover that I had to be in the right frame of mind. The kids visited, and it was too crazy to process anything! JB tends to watch curling, and I play on my computer, that was the perfect time. Parallel play.
    I really enjoyed this series, Yam! xx

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    1. Hari OM
      Luv ya 'our Jenn'... thanks for taking the time to comment as well as to read! Yxx

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  8. Many congrats on making it to the end of the AtoZ - your posts have been most enlightening. Sorry I dropped the ball with commenting in the last week or so. Best wishes for the future and thank you for all the lovely comments you left on my blog.
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters

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    1. Hari OM
      It was a pleasure and great fun Tasha! Yxx

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  9. the reason i don't do the meme or blog hops is just what you said, i don't intend to go to all the blogs, so i don't do it at all. once in a while i will do one with the pet theme or flower theme, but i don't visit and they don't visit me, just fun to do the flower pics. you made it through and that is a good accomplishment.

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    1. Hari om
      Thank you Sandra; your comments and points of view have added to the depth of this April experience! Yxx

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  10. What a thoughtful final post Yamini. I thoroughly enjoyed your series, learning a great deal and being inspired to reflect on my own thoughts and feelings. I'm particularly impressed with how you organized such a useful "overview" of such an extensive topic AND managed to do it within the confines of alphabetic posts. Bonus kudos for that!

    Congratulations on such a sustained and thoughtful effort on your own posts, as well as the clarity you held about how you were going to, and did, navigate the other component of the challenge - the connecting with others. I'm grateful for all your lovely and thoughtful comments on my posts, and look forward to continuing the connection. All in good time, after a bit of recovery of course. :-)

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    1. Hari OM
      Absolutely, Deborah - although am still a bit frantic as have to prepare some posts due to being absent from the Hutch over the coming weekend... sigh... The spring decoration is done at least - just some tinkering to do now! Rest well my lovely new pal! Yxx

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  11. What a beautiful concluding post! Your posts on Advaita Vedanta made such a huge impact on my mind. Thanks a ton for enlightening me so much. And of course for following my A to Z series. It was a pleasure meeting you :)
    Much love and many congratulations on the completion of this challenge :)

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  12. I was so impressed throughout the month with the obvious careful thinking and even more careful writing that you'd done to explain difficult ideas to many who had never heard of them before. You did a wonderful job, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ones that I read slowly and carefully (and often more than once). It was not a series for a "blog hopper" because it required slow and deep thinking. Thank you.

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  13. Congrats on making it to the finish line with your intensely philosophical and thought provoking posts. I have really enjoyed reading your takes on Advaita.

    Thanks also for the shout out. Hope to stay in touch.

    Best wishes always,
    Nilanjana.

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  14. Hi! Very nice post to finish the A to Z Challenge. I have enjoyed reading your posts and learned a lot.
    I will be revising the 30 posts again, for sure! :)
    I am grateful that you visited and shared your views on my posts. I learned many new things from your insightful comments. Thank you for encouraging me for 30 days of April. I enjoyed your company, too!

    Best wishes,
    Jui Positive Cookies

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  15. Your final paragraph brings to mind the scripture of 'in my father's house are many rooms'. Who am I to say who occupies the various rooms. I just hope we get to play together.

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  16. What a wonderful accomplishment!! I am slowly reading and re-reading all of your wonderful and very thoughtful and thought provoking posts!!

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  17. I completely agree with you about the commenting - quality comments are much more meaningful than "nice post" etc and by choosing a few blogs to visit I think you make much more meaningful connections.
    Debbie

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  18. I agree that the pressure to visit so many blogs is a little overwhelming. So I didn't bother either. There are even a few blog posts that I didn't comment on, because all I could think to say was, "Here I am, great blog post!"

    You chose such a deep and profound theme, I can barely understand it because I've nipped here and nipped there. Eventually, I hope to come back to the beginning of your AtoZ and really study your posts. As you said, much would be gained!

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