Week 2, Post A

VOCAB:

mantravirya (123): A Sanskrit term meaning "the potency of the enlightened conciousness" in relation to yoga.

bindi (129): A small, colored ornamental dot worn in the middle of a Hindu woman's forehead.

APPEALS:

1. "The word Guru is composed of two Sanskrit syllables. The first means "darkness," the second means "light." Out of the darkness and into the light" (123). This is a logical appeal because the definition of the word "Guru" is a factual statement. The definition is intriguing and the reader is eager to hear more about Elizabeth's Guru.

2. "And the first time I saw her, it was as though she looked at me through her photograph- those dark eyes smoldering with intelligent compassion- and she said 'You called for me and now I'm here.So do you want to do this thing, or not?'" (125). This is an emotional appeal because the reader wants to hear the answer to the question that Elizabeth's Guru "asked" her the first time she saw her.

3. "They want you to come here [the Ashram] strong because Ashram life is rigorous. Not just physically, with days that begin at 3:00 AM and end at 9:00 PM, but also psycologically (128). This is a logical appeal because it states the factual schedule of life at an Indian Ashram. It is also somewhat emotional because it hints at the emotional and psycological change that Elizabeth will experience in the months ahead.

QUOTE:

"This is the first New Year's Eve I can ever remember in my life where I haven't known any of the people I was celebrating with. In all this dancing and singing, there is nobody for me to embrace at midnight. But I wouldn't say that anything about this night has been lonely. No, I would definitely not say that" (130). This reflection signifies a big step, emotionally for Elizabeth. Beginning in the last months of her marriage, through the stressful divorce process, and even occasionally in her months spent in Italy, Elizabeth had admitted to feeling very alone. Now, as she begins her stay in India and celebrates the New Year in a new way with the other Ashram pupils, she finally feels the lonliness lifting. Even though she doesn't know anyone she is singing and dancing with, she feels so happy and full of life that she no longer feels any lonliness.

THEME:

The theme seems to continue to focus on the same ideas as I read farther on. The journey to understanding of oneself and the meaning of one's life continues to be the focus as Elizabeth moves from the "pleasure" leg of the trip to the "spiritual" leg of the trip.