Word of the Week "Svadhyaya"

Svādhyāya (Devanagari: स्वाध्याय) is a Sanskrit term in Hinduism having several meanings, including study of the Vedas and other sacred books, self-recitation, repetition of the Vedas aloud, and as a term for the Vedas themselves. Svādhyāya is extolled in orthodox Brahmanism in its traditional sense as "study of the scriptures and darśanas which help the understanding of the nature of the Paramātman." Some translators simply use the word "study" without qualifying the type of study.  A more Western interpretation may be to recognise the difference between ignorance ("ignore") and Svadhyaya (learning through awareness and openness).It is in being open and aware to everything around us that we contimue our lifelong journey of learning and growing.  Only by ignoring our experiences do we become ignorant.  So we should endeavour to live in a more "aware" and "open" state.