Comments on: In Breath and Love http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/inspiration/2008/08/06/in-breath-and-love/ A Perceptive Eye on News, Life & Society. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:21:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: nava http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/inspiration/2008/08/06/in-breath-and-love/comment-page-1/#comment-4549 nava Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:28:20 +0000 http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/?p=236#comment-4549 Hi Mona, Thanks so much for the positive feedback. Feel free to re-post this on your blog. I think in general as long as you cite your source all of the writers here are happy to have their pieces re-posted. Hi Mona, Thanks so much for the positive feedback. Feel free to re-post this on your blog. I think in general as long as you cite your source all of the writers here are happy to have their pieces re-posted.

]]> By: Mona http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/inspiration/2008/08/06/in-breath-and-love/comment-page-1/#comment-4483 Mona Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:56:18 +0000 http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/?p=236#comment-4483 Absolutely beautiful! Do you mind if I quote you on my blog. I love your writings and insights. love, -m Absolutely beautiful! Do you mind if I quote you on my blog. I love your writings and insights.

love,

-m

]]> By: LizKauai http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/inspiration/2008/08/06/in-breath-and-love/comment-page-1/#comment-575 LizKauai Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:07:57 +0000 http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/?p=236#comment-575 The ancient Hawaiians knew that breath was the key to good health. The Hawaiian word for breath is ha, but ha has many other meanings. It means exhale. And since the old Hawaiians were deeply aware that without breath there is no life, ha also means life. (Pukui & Elbert) Because ha was so important, breathing was revered and often done with conscious intention. Breath is sacred in part because it carries the words of the pule (prayer). (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In ancient times, long prayers were chanted on a single breath. The kahuna la’au lapa’au (medical doctors) created herbal remedies and then ha –exhaled – on them to impart mana (spiritual power). (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In other ceremonies, kahuna held their breath for two hours. (Kepelino) A kupuna (elder teacher) about to die would pass his last bit of wisdom and mana on to his chosen successor by expelling his breath ha into the other’s mouth. (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In Hawai’i still today, breath is considered sacred. As my mother-in-law Tutu Elizabeth Pa Chai says, “Breath is important because when God created man He – ha – breathed him into life.” Breath was sacred, but the Hawaiians of old also had fun with it. Children played a game to see who could exhale the longest. (Handy & Pukui) During the Makahiki festival, warriors held breath-holding contests. (Pogue) http://www.hawaiianinsights.com/art_ha.php The ancient Hawaiians knew that breath was the key to good health. The Hawaiian word for breath is ha, but ha has many other meanings. It means exhale. And since the old Hawaiians were deeply aware that without breath there is no life, ha also means life. (Pukui & Elbert) Because ha was so important, breathing was revered and often done with conscious intention.

Breath is sacred in part because it carries the words of the pule (prayer). (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In ancient times, long prayers were chanted on a single breath.

The kahuna la’au lapa’au (medical doctors) created herbal remedies and then ha –exhaled – on them to impart mana (spiritual power). (Pukui, Haertig & Lee) In other ceremonies, kahuna held their breath for two hours. (Kepelino)

A kupuna (elder teacher) about to die would pass his last bit of wisdom and mana on to his chosen successor by expelling his breath ha into the other’s mouth. (Pukui, Haertig & Lee)

In Hawai’i still today, breath is considered sacred. As my mother-in-law Tutu Elizabeth Pa Chai says, “Breath is important because when God created man He – ha – breathed him into life.”

Breath was sacred, but the Hawaiians of old also had fun with it. Children played a game to see who could exhale the longest. (Handy & Pukui) During the Makahiki festival, warriors held breath-holding contests. (Pogue)

http://www.hawaiianinsights.com/art_ha.php

]]> By: Elise http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/inspiration/2008/08/06/in-breath-and-love/comment-page-1/#comment-574 Elise Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:57:37 +0000 http://www.bahaiperspectives.com/?p=236#comment-574 Your poem is beautiful. Thank you. Your poem is beautiful. Thank you.

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