Ham-Sa

There's a new book I have been dying to get my hands on. It is called "Eat. Pray. Love" and it is by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I was with my sister yesterday and she gave me a passage in the book to read.

There are times in our lives when we feel so disconnected from everything. Alone. Fragile. Small. The journey through life is incredible, but it can also be perilous and frightening. I was having one of those moments when I picked up the book and was reminded that in a breath we can connect to all of life.

The passage from the book that touched me deeply was about a mantra one can use in meditation. It is "Ham Sa" which literally means "I am THAT":

"HAM-SA.  I am That.  I am divine, I am with God, I am an expression of God, I am not separate, I am not alone, I am not this limited illusion of an individual." (From Eat.Pray.Love. by Elizabeth Gilbert.)

You say the "ham" (haum) on the in breath, and the "sa" (saaah) on the out breath.

What a miracle that we can reconnect with ourselves, lives and higher purpose in something as simple as breathing.

Thank you to my beautiful and loving sister Wendy for this gift.

Comments

[Mandy de Waal]

@nursemyra: I hear you - but the bit I read was sensational. Anyway my sister's bought it for me so I'm going to see for myself.

@Dolce: Nice one. I'll be getting it as a prezzie from my sister in the next day or two. Can't wait!

[Dolce]

Fuuuuuuuck. Synchronicity. I didn't want to read this book. Gilbert was on Oprah and irritated me hugely. But something said "read it". So I did. And I loved, loved, loved it. And especially the Ham-Sa paragraph. It's now my moment to let go in the day. My moment of closed-eyes and breath. Beautiful book.

[nursemyra]

I've read that book. It's quite good but not brilliant. think I liked the Italian "Eat" part best :-)

[oniongirl]

gotcha vaps. except - mines closer to 'yeow -sah'... and its what i use to calm my raging beastie heart when confronted with long haired toys/boys/boytoys.

fekkity. you are funny, you lovely lad. theres no way i'm going to forget this mantrathingie now... or be able to use it without weeing a little.

[Mandy de Waal]

@kyknoord: Ag we're all weak. Don't you know it.

@Vaps: Man alive - you have the most delicious sense of humour. You slay me. I almost fell off my chair laughing.

[Vapour]

Lovely Mands.

Ps.I use the following chant late at night, on your breath in 'HAM' on your breath out 'Sandwhich.'

[kyknoord]

The temptation to say something facile and frivolous like "it sure beats the alternative" is too great. I am weak.