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the (a communal experiential approach to communication and self-realization) |
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The
3 main practices
the
Aaahh explained
(in 5 clicks)
The simple people and the young-old wise elephant
The
Osharam
(The paradoxical ecological being and communication artist)
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and Answers
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The 3 Main Practices
How
the Aaahh works:
The Aaahh seeks to establish small independent communities of caring
people, living and sharing as an extended family.
We
need something that can take care of the powerful psychological details
that affect our larger behavioral picture. Can we consciously access,
change or minimize these instantaneous psychological/chemical formations?
yes
All
the Aaahh practices and meditations are geared towards this. For many
in the "West", the feeling of community and belonging is lacking.
Our interactions leave many of us dissatisfied or alienated. Often we
compensate with words, and in other ways, bottling up too much. Here
we need to implement micro-actions and interactions under an umbrella
of a micropsychology. Such a psychology generates a different kind of
morality and ethics, and a way of living that requires us to be based
in an ongoing non-adversarial group or community framework and culture.
Beside these 3 practices, which are personally adjusted, most of the rest of our practices are individually tailored. They are assessed by the subject, the Helper and the facilitators. In the Aaahh, we do not think or act in broad general terms. We first address personal issues on a personal level. That is, first, I have to be responsible, and then I can be assisted by friends. The broadly general is combined with the narrowly specific in a whole process of integration.
The
Maba
(cathartic
emotional releasing and/or enhancing,
accessing our subconscious)
The "Maba" practice can help us reach mindful awareness, and for some self-realisation, through our emotions and feelings, mainly by using the extremes of emotional non-verbal engagement and release. These nonverbal expressions serve as a discharge and social negotiations however, when such release has achieved its aim, it turns to expressions of harmony, closeness and liberation within the Aaahh community culture.This culture is our main flexible constant. All our communications and interactions are fluid and need moment-to-moment adapting. This practice, by and large, needs to be complemented by the "Hama" and "Imme" practices, described below. In this way, we can find the right balance between our emotions and intellect, between left and right brain.
In the Aaahh framework, when we talk about communication and relationships, we are not talking mainly about hard facts, such as how much money do I have, or what obvious practical action to take about some issue. We are talking here more about "perceived, imaginative" things which we also call "psychological realities" or "psychological facts". These "perceived facts" or realities in communication, and our relationships, can play a role more vital than material considerations. These perceptions have to do more with our imagination and feelings, that is, the way we feel about someone or something, about our spouse, children, parents, ourselves etc.
To establish a base for such delicate and 'soft' perceived facts or realities, a community base is a must. The application of personal and group unorthodox transformation tools, such as the three main practises, are required because within this transformational process, it can take time for a habit based shift to happen.
A key subconscious insight that occurs in a flash, usually cannot be adequately expressed in words, and when we are able to do so, its impact may easily vanish from consciousness, but it is not lost.In the Aaahh, in addition to our verbal interactions, we learn to articulate essentials in communication through nonverbal ways ie. gestured communication such as, eye contact, facial expression, tone of voice, and other instant improvised expressions. This takes place when normal language is not adequate for our feelings and emotions to be expressed or we stay too much in our head. Paying attention to our nonverbal language is very important here.
Gestured communication comes mostly from our subconscious and enriches our emotional intelligence. Such a "language" is especially suitable for sensitive people, because of its natural boudaries. It does not further emotional or intellectual fragmentation, which often results from the tyranny of choice that the complexity of language (and life) and the so- called 'acquisition of knowledge' can bring.
Adding gestured language to our verbal language leads to personal and Community cohesion. Having role models in the Aaahh context adds emphasis to everything.
We revert or synchronize our intellectual conclusions with the dominant feelings of that very moment expressed in improvised manifestations. This also helps us detect when there is a big gap or uncertainty between what we say and what we feel or do.Thus maintaining the dance and flow of balance. In these complex and uncertain times, such a balance is hard to maintain by mere words and a fluctuating mind. It needs to be supported by psychological microactions which are cultivated with the help of practices, meditations and our group culture.
Our experiential background of this approach is vital for the rational understaning of the Aaahh communication.
In the Aaahh context, in any communications or interactions, we most often include our very personal (individual) subjectivity, however idiosyncratic, fractured or unbalanced it may be.
Through voice tones, facial expressions, mime, talking gibberish and other apparent spontaneous nonsensical or childlike actions that can fit into the given psychological context, we act out how we feel at that time. (If needed, we may use a maximum of only 3 understandable words.) These can provide both release and direction especially when we have prioritized our intentions. At times, we may be required to act out a kind of "simulated madness". Often, only such a behaviour can jolt us out of our personal, sometimes overpowering, ego fixations and lead us to our primal tribal emotions and feelings. This puts a stop to our going around in the "vicious circles" of mind regurgitations defined, to a large extent, by the psychological model we have imposed on ourselves, mainly through relying on the use in communication via our normal language.
We give vent to these "small unnoticed details" by using spontaneous, quirky nonverbal expressions to also negotiate psychological baggage, and to "tune into" each other. In this way we can create an on-the-spot nonverbal chemistry which will lead to balance and enhanced interactions, as and when needed.
The acknowledgment, and allowance into our midst, of a manageable level of 'craziness/clowning' and/or such instant improvised expressions, can be a very powerful liberating tool to restore both our emotional and rational flow of balance. Such a nonverbal and contained acting-out or childlike silliness (especially when sharing in front of other members), can be remedial fun and a pewerful tool in conflict resolution. Here we alow ourselves to pull apart the image/mask we have created and, so to speak"go naked" in front of our friends. A great honesty is required to "let go" and let our group spirit or community culture guide us. The Aaahh culture is forged through the cultivation of imaginative symbolic as well as practical constants. If we alow these, and adopt them into our live they will add meaning and enhance our communications.
When there is within us a deep desire for personal and community harmony, our individual strong fixations can eventually synchronise with that desire. In this light, it doesn't matter if we, individually or communally, get sometime "out of sync".
Here is a further description of this practice:The Maba, as a restrained enactment, can exaggerate and release tension. This can be the initial part of a overall practice enabling those in conflict to be able to determine where they emotionally stand with each other. This recognized Aaahh-acknowledged action can bring great release to the individual and the community. It can make a great difference to someone from a culture bent mainly on ironing-out fundamental individual problems in our lives (and larger issues) through intellectual conflict, or abstracting through talking and projecting them "out there". Up to a point, talking is OK, if it really helps to address the issue. If this is not the case, we use the Maba technique.
After this cathartic enactment, we can return to normal talking communication and see how it feels. We may also go back and repeat the Maba exercise until issues have been sorted out. Alternatively, we can just enjoy being in the presence of each other and experiencing good communication without our "mind clutter". Being present without words.IN ADDITION, AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, AT A CERTAIN LEVEL IN THE MABA PRACTICE, SOME OF US MAY BE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR PRIMAL (PRIMORDIAL) EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS, REACHING OUR TRIBAL CORE - THE MARROW OF OUR BONES - AND BECOME ONE WITH EVERYTHIG - SELF-REALISED IN THE "HERE AND NOW". THIS REQUIRES "A LETTING GO AND A TUNING IN". OTHERS IN THE AAAHH MAY REACH THIS LEVEL THROUGH PRACTICES AND MEDITATIONS OF MINDFULNESS AND AWARENESS. HOWEVER, FOR MOST OF US, A COMBINATION OF THE TWO, WILL BRING THE BEST RESULTS. HERE THE HAMA AND IMME PRACTICES (please see below) COME TO ASSIST US.
In the Aaahh context, we speak about "self-realization". This is a state in which an individual and the group (community) become fully synchronized, and also function in such a way. This is an occurrence that need not necessarily be talked about, but has become an implicit fact.
Understanding and seeing our relationships, our community and even our greater world, in its 'is-ness' or ' being-ness' without the need for words, helps us to balance our individual perspectives and indeed can place all of our relationships on a very different footing. A heartfelt language will then emerge.
The
Hama
(focusing)
The ImmeThe second principle practice which compliments the interactive Maba practice (and brings into focus many other processes) is the Hama. It revolves around a flexible non-religious "mantra" which can be practiced in a variety of passive or active ways, such as in sitting meditations, singing, dancing, chanting, and bringing rhythm as a form of meditation into our activities. In the passive Hama practices, we are able to divorce ourselves from our crude emotions and become the observer of passing feelings and sensations. This mantra, as a complete psychological unit, addresses and integrates three aspects: the negative, the neutral and the positive aspects in our psyche. The Hama synthesises all our practices and meditations and includes many forms of sitting meditation.
(creative visualization)
The very important third main practice that permeates all others is the Imme - Visualization and Imagery Practice. The Imme creates a framework for our imagination. This framework permeates many of our practices and is especially included in the Hama practice. As in our dreams, where we can "see" things, visualization is linked to our subconscious/ unconscious and to our feelings. As with the process of thinking, in visualization, we can create a chain of associations and reactions, and a chosen psychological environment. This, in turn, will affect our thinking and feeling abilities. The Hama and the Imme focus more on compassionate mindfulness and awareness. In actual practice, all three of the above elements interplay, creating an on the spot chemistry and result, an Aaahh realization moment.
In the Aaahh, members can practice meditations they already know and feel comfortable with, and which fit into the Aaahh culture.
For a case study please go to Q&A.
As we improve our skill, the combined effect, through exercise of the above practices, will be the appearance of a unique personal signature. This ignature won’t be set in concrete, but will evolve.
At any particular moment, we convey it through gesture, movement, voice, etc. This means of expression helps to minimize or eliminate clutter in our thinking, feeling and communication.Our signature will not need words, although appropriate ones can
complement it. This will be a responsible ecological Community orientated signature. Everything about us will become lighter.For more informative (optional) reading on the Aaahh psychology and philosophy, go to the 5 clicks below:
The Aaahh, in 5 clicks
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