What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

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Lhug-Pa
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What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by Lhug-Pa »

...Seed-Syllables?

Tried the Tibetan Text Converter but I doubt that it gave me a complete answer, at least not one with the detail that I'm looking for.

I know what HUM looks like, but am not sure what HAM looks like.


Thanks.
Blue Garuda
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Re: What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by Blue Garuda »

This is a good source with part of the answer:

http://www.visiblemantra.org/bija.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Another explanation in a specific context:

kalachakranet.org/teachings/KTR_graz_tenfold_powerfulr.rtf

The same sound may represent different things in different mantras. We mustn't forget that these are sounds rather than spending too much time focusing on scripts, and that these sounds and meanings need correct transmission from guru to disciple.

For appearance of Ham in Devanagari script, Google 'Devanagari Ham' and go to 'Images'.
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Lhug-Pa
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Re: What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by Lhug-Pa »

Thanks Blue Garuda

I've looked over the first link you posted.

Am mainly trying to get a clear picture of what the Seed-Syllable HAM looks like in Tibetan.

Found a clue:

Image

http://www.gasamling.ca/gsl-logo.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It says there that HUM and HI combine to form HAM, and that HAM is contained in the logo.

Although I don't see a letter HI here:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_alphabet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Perhaps if knowing how to put Tibetan letters together to form syllables, and how diacritics or modifiers work, we could figure it out.
Last edited by Lhug-Pa on Sun Dec 11, 2011 4:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Grigoris
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Re: What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by Grigoris »

Well ham looks something like this:
ham.jpg
ham.jpg (36.58 KiB) Viewed 5842 times
But seriously, HAM is like HUM but without the diacritical at the bottom (which is the "U")
ham2.jpg
ham2.jpg (2.68 KiB) Viewed 5852 times





Post script (7 years later): Actually I am wrong. The picture is of the syllable HĀM not HAM. One has to get rid of the tonal mark at the bottom to get HAM.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
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Lhug-Pa
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Re: What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by Lhug-Pa »

Hey! This thread is Halal. Get that first picture out of my sight!

Thanks Gregkavarnos!

I was actually coming close to concluding that HAM is what you posted (your second pic of course) but without the very bottom part, the latter of which seems to be a modifier.
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Grigoris
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Re: What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by Grigoris »

Basic rule of thumb: The letters of the Tibetan alphabet end in the phonetic "a" for example:
a ra pa tsa na.jpg
a ra pa tsa na.jpg (6.84 KiB) Viewed 5814 times
The diactritical markings are used for the rest of the vowel sounds:
ta te ti to tu.jpg
ta te ti to tu.jpg (8.03 KiB) Viewed 5812 times
and for the "m" sound and long and short syllables:
ba bam a aaaaaa.jpg
ba bam a aaaaaa.jpg (6.88 KiB) Viewed 5812 times
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
dakini_boi
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Re: What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by dakini_boi »

Lhug-Pa wrote:Hey! This thread is Halal. Get that first picture out of my sight!

Thanks Gregkavarnos!

I was actually coming close to concluding that HAM is what you posted (your second pic of course) but without the very bottom part, the latter of which seems to be a modifier.
The pic Greg posted is Hām (long A sound). Without the mark at the bottom, you would have Ham (short a).
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Lhug-Pa
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Re: What is the Difference Between HAM and HUM...

Post by Lhug-Pa »

Perfect. :twothumbsup:

This all helps out a lot!

Much thanks. :anjali:
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