I realized many of you probably do not understand what the title of this blog is a reference to...it is from T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland, the fifth section "What the Thunder Said." This is one of my favorite poems, which I recently reread for a class, and is particularly important to me for this adventure. I can explain why in greater depth, if you are interested, just ask.
These words were taken from the Upanishads, Hindu fables, and they were commands given by Brahma to the Devas, Manushyās and Asuras - gods, men and demons. The single letter Da was repeated three times, meaning Dāmyata, Datta, Dayadhvam - be self-controlled, be charitable and be compassionate. These instructions are construed as the 'thunder of teaching, Stanayitnuḥ,' a 'roaring sound'. I really like the message of them, and the way they function in the poem (too complicated to explain here). The only section I want to point out is the quote from Dante's Inferno, Canto XXVI: "poi s'ascose nel foco che gli affina," ("then hid him in the fire that purifies them). It means that one can find catharsis through pain, refining the human character through tongues of passion and suffering.
I am posting a link to Eliot's poem itself. Look to the last section to find the three Da's.
http://eliotswasteland.tripod.com/
The poem ends with the words "shantih shantih shantih," which is sanskrit and invokes peace.
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