New member

[Guest guest]

Hello. I've only begun reading about Hinduism,

and recognize the Yoga paths described here in your

club name. I have been corresponding to a Delhi

gentleman, asking him questions, and find that the

philosophy of Hinduism has set my spirit free. After the

terrorist attacks, I underwent a sort of post-traumatic

episode. I actually thought I was going through some

midlife crisis! Instead, after reading a chapter on

Hinduism, I believe that it is a spiritual crisis that I am

undergoing. I was raised a Catholic, and have no good

memories of it's schools. Hence, I have been an agnostic,

but for much too long. <br><br>I hope that as a new

member, I will be able to contribute and learn much from

everyone here. Question: Does one have to adhere to one

yoga path only?

[Guest guest]

welcome radtech. i hope you find this club as

comforting and informative as i have.<br><br>i, too, was

raised as a catholic but did not find much solace in the

religion. through my contact with many members of this

club, i have learned a lot about Hinduism, its customs,

its cultures, and its people. i don't feel qualified

to answer your question, but i do strongly encourage

you to contact the learned members here. most are

more than willing to help via email as well as through

posts here on the club.<br><br>Om Shanti<br>erica

[Guest guest]

Thank you Erica for the welcome. I am investing

in a few Hinduism books, and am reading selective

chapters in books I already have. The more I read, the

more excited and at peace I feel. Excited because I

Understand. It is thru this understanding that I wish to

approach the decade of my 40's.<br><br>I will indeed ask

many questions of the members here, as my reading

progresses. I work odd hours at a hospital, and cannot always

read messages/reply in a timely manner. But I was very

excited and thankful for your reply.<br><br>What is Om

Shanti?<br><br>Natalie

[Guest guest]

Natalie:<br><br>It sounds like you are off to a

wonderful start! I can totally relate, too, as I am

constantly amazed at how peaceful I feel now that I have

found my spiritual home. It's rewarding, but a

difficult path to follow. I have found that the benefits

far far outweigh the struggles, though.<br><br>As far

as the meaning of Om Shanti, let me first say that I

am by no means a teacher or an expert so what I give

here is my understanding. I ask the learned members of

our club to chime in with their answers as

well!<br><br>OM (or AUM) is a sacred syllable; it is used

similarly to the Christian word 'Amen'. OM is the sound of

Divinity -- the beginning and the end. OM resonates inside

of our bodies and our souls and brings us closer to

God. Through knowing ourselves we know God, and the

vibrations of OM help to align our bodily energy so we are

more able to do just that.<br><br>I took a chanting

class a few months ago. The teacher asked us to break

these unfamiliar words down into sounds, close our

eyes, and say each sound out loud by itself. He then

asked us, "How did that *feel*?" Try it. <br><br>O: a

worldly, open sound; to make it our mouths are fairly

open. We say "OH!" when we are happily surprised or

interested in something. <br><br>M: an internal, comforting

sound, made with lips and teeth mostly closed. We say

"Mmmmmm" when we are enjoying something or when we are

intensely listening to something or concentrating. (Say

MMMMMM outloud for a while with your eyes closed...see

how that feels. The man teaching this class said he

could "hang out there all day"!)<br><br>So basically,

the sounds go from open and outward to closed and

internal thus emcompassing everything. <br><br>Shanti

means 'peace'. <br><br>For more information, try

looking

here:<br><a href=http://www.omsakthi.org/worship/mantra.html

target=new>http://www.omsakthi.org/worship/mantra.html</a><br><a

href=http://www.yrec.org/om.html

target=new>http://www.yrec.org/om.html</a><br><a

href=http://hinduism.about.com/cs/omaum/

target=new>http://hinduism.about.com/cs/omaum/</a><br><br>Good online

glossaries:<br><a href=http://www.hindunet.org/glossary/

target=new>http://www.hindunet.org/glossary/</a><br><a

href=http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5822/aglossar.html

target=new>http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5822/aglossar.html</a><br><a

href=http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/extra/bl-glossary-index.htm

target=new>http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/extra/bl-glossary-index.htm<\

/a><br><br>I hope that helps!<br><br>Om Shanti<br>Erica