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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00005 Jan 2003

 
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/namastE Shri Mukund.

I think we can get a better understanding of /acAram and /maTi if we try to 
capture the basic ideas behind it. One way to do this is to look at the meaning 
of these words. What do these words mean? Are there English equivalents or are 
these ideas unique to us?

Let me attempt by beginning with the word /maTi.

A relevant meaning for /maTi is "retreat" or "withdrawal". The word comes from 
/maTittal --- to fold. We fold a paper; that is /maTittal. What happens? The 
full-size has become half-size. The paper has been withdrawn from its full use. 

Retreat is a religious idea seeking withdrawal from the world to be in unuion 
with God for a few minutes or a few days. Catholics practice /maTi, when they 
enter into retreat every year --- even children. No talk for most of the day. 
Only reading.

The word /maTi has negative use too! You must withdraw of course routinely, not 
for ever! When you do that you are a /maTayan, one who has separated himself or 
hesrelf from reality of the world. He or she has built an isoalted world good 
only for hin or her. That is /maTayan. A very god example is given by 
/maHA/kavi subramanya bhAratiyAr. /mAtar tammai iZivu ceyyun maTamaiyaik 
koZuttuvOm. That is a stupid isolation of women from public life until Gandhiji 
came.

There is a pleasnat use of the word /maTi. Women are iften bashful. Let a boy 
of 16 0r 16 tell a little girl of 14 how pretty she is. She is going to fold. 
She is a /maTantai. A /maTantai is a woman slim enough to be able to fold! 
(Sorry, not putting down others; I cannot change the meaning of words!). 

I hope it is clear to you that /maTi in the sense of "retreat" is good for all 
of us. What we need to do is to get expand the current concept of /maTi to one 
where people reamin in "retreat camps" For example, /gItai maTi will be an 
occasion for people to fold into the /gItA.

/vantanam.

Visu




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