Extra Credit (closed for pipper)

[pipper]

Being a Friday, Miranda knew that Jonny wouldn't get back to mantras until the following Monday, so after he had dismissed the class, she stayed behind, and then walked up to him, as he was packing both his papers and the student's assignments into his business case.

He looked at her, his eyes asking what she wanted. Was it about that incident in his office?

Taking in a deep breath, Miranda then said, "A mantra is a non-christian, Hinduism, Buddhism chant were any sacred word or syllable is used as an object of concentration and embodying some aspect of spiritual power, or simply a commonly repeated word or phrase."

Jonny just starred at her, stunned at her short, but precise answer, which hit the nail on the head.

 

[jonny1878]

"well miranda, thank you for that expert description of what mantra's are" he said, collecting himself again after the initial shock "however that is a very textbook answer and something I expect from some of your less intelligent classmates, but not from you"

He saw that she couldn't quite suppress a grin as he insinuated that she was one of the more intelligent members of the class, though it was a point he felt was obvious "so I expect you to go away and research into their use, maybe some accounts of people who have used them, use your imagination"

 

[pipper]

Miranda just stood there, taking in Jonny's request, before giving her response.

"Well, Sir, it's plainly obvious that they are used to allow a person to talk themselves into dealing with difficulties, such as stress, smoking, dealing with another person, or putting one's trust in another person. As for accounts of persons who have used them, I'm afraid I don't know of any, except for my father's patients, who are protected by confidentiality. So it appears that I will not come up to your high expectations of me, so I will just accept the fact that I will fail the assignment. Good day, Professor."

With that Miranda turned around and walked out.

 

[jonny1878]

He wasn't sure what to think of that response, to be impressed or actually a little bit disappointed in miranda. He was impressed at her knowledge and that she had the guts to tell a professor that she was prepared to fail, she seemed like the sort of person who would put failing on a par with serious injury, something she wants to avoid at all costs.

On the other hand, he was disappointed with her lack of imagination. He was sure that she could find some accounts online if she dedicated just a little time to it or, there was one other way.

He opened up his computer and opened up an email, addressing it just to miranda. It read, 'Hi miranda, I'm impressed with what you already now about mantras but there is only one way you can really find out anything about them and that is to try them. I must urge caution in this, they can be dangerous, but it will really open your mind about them'

 

[pipper]

The drive home, was a tough one for Miranda. She wanted to ring the neck of that idiot of a student, who had brought up the topic of mantras. She had done her best, with her description of mantras, but it was obvious Jonny wanted more from her. "Who the hell does he think I am?" she muttered to herself.

After eating a snack, she logged onto her computer, to find an email from her instructor. Miranda read it twice, and then decided to write him a reply.

'Professor, like I have told you earlier, there are many mantras, each one dedicated for a certain situation. I also know that they are to be treated with respect, and not to be abused. Maybe you may know of a simple mantra that I could experience?'

 

[jonny1878]

Jonny was still in his office when he heard the ding of a received email and found himself smiling when he noticed it was miranda. He was glad that she seemed to have come around to the idea of trying the mantras and putting in some extra effort.

He thought for a second before sending his reply "thank you for your reply miranda, I know of a few mantras but one of the simplest and easiest to start with is hamsa, its a simple meditation mantra intended to relax. You should seat yourself comfortably and keep your breathing natural. As you inhale say 'h-ah-m' and on the exhale 'sah'" He was about to send the email before going back to add "I'm sure you will be sensible but at first I would not recommend that you use it for more than a few minutes, just to feel the effects"

 

[pipper]

Miranda double read Jonny's email, to make sure she fully understood his instructions, before trying the mantra.

Miranda tried it for three minutes, before stopping. It did relax her, but something was on her mind. How could she use this for her assignment? The truth be known, she couldn't! So she emailed Jonny back, not knowing when he would read it, due to the weekend.

"Professor, thank you for the mantra, but in all honesty, I really can't use it for my assignment, so I will accept the fact that I will fail. I hope that will not upset you, as you had so much faith in me."

 

[jonny1878]

Jonny read the email and tried to suppress annoyance at the fact that miranda seemed determined that she was not getting any use from this. He replied in an email

"In your assignment you can write about how you feel about their use, and how you felt when using them, I implore you to use it again, if this one doesn't give you any inspiration to use, let me know and I will try to find something else for you"

 

[pipper]

Miranda didn't want to reply to Jonny's latest email. It was obvious that he was trying to get her to keep trying on the assignment, rather than giving up. So she decided to give the mantra one more chance.

So, while she lied down on her bed, she began the mantra again. Inhale, "h-ah-m", exhale "sah". Inhale, "h-ah-m", exhale "sah". Miranda continued for the next five minutes, before she began to relax, as her breathing slowed. Soon, she fell into a deep sleep.

Over the weekend, for some unknown reason, she tried the mantra again, Each time the relaxing feeling came on quicker. With that in mind, she wrote her assignment, describing her responses to the mantra, each time she had used it.

The following Monday, she presented her assignment to Jonny, while saying, "I did my best, but I fear my best, wasn't good enough."

 

[jonny1878]

Jonny smiled as miranda came into the room clutching her assignment. He knew that he would manage to get some work from her and he was sure it would be very interesting.

"thank you miranda, I'm sure it will be perfectly good" He said with a smile and turned towards the rest of the class as they continued to file in. He knew that mirandas work would be better than that of the rest of the class, and he was pretty sure she knew that too

 

[pipper]

Miranda listened to Jonny as he went through the history of mantras with the class, describing how they could help a person overcome difficulties in life. Then he mentioned that mantras could be made personal in nature.

As the class looked at a video on the history of mantras, Miranda noticed that Jonny was typing something on his laptop, before leaving the class with a data stick, returning later with a box of what appeared to be paper in it.

At the end of class, as the students filed out, he stood at the doorway, handing each person a piece of paper from the box. He smiled as he handed Miranda hers.

On the way to her car, Miranda read the note. "I have decided to explore the use and benefits of mantras in more detail. I have selected a handful of students, at random, to help me with this exploration. I will email them tonight, on the understanding they remain anonymous, and not to mention it to anyone else. All correspondence will be through personal communication with me."

Miranda wondered why Jonny had never mentioned it in class. After all, it would have saved time and paper.

 

[jonny1878]

What miranda didn't know was that not all the pieces of paper were informing people of the mantra's study. The majority of the class simply got a piece of paper with assignment writing advice on it, on the understanding that their last assignments weren't good enough and that they needed more work on their assignment writing

A few though got the note which miranda received, informing of the mantra study. He wanted it to be completely anonymous, and he thought that if the students thought they all knew about it, they would be more secretive in holding onto the knowledge. He waited until later that night until he sent out an email to the chosen few, miranda included. The email simply read

"You have been chosen"

He made sure to send the emails separately so that the students did not know who was or was not receiving the messages

 

[pipper]

Miranda read Jonny's email. All it said was, "You have been chosen"

Did this mean that she would be one of students to help him with his study on mantras?

She had a hard time sleeping that night, due to excitement. That awful day in Jonny's office was now a blur in her mind, and not really worth pursuing.

The next day, again wearing plenty of clothing, Miranda sat down at a desk in the classroom, wondering how Jonny would get in touch with her, with more details of the study.

 

[jonny1878]

Jonny's mind wasn't particularly in that day's lesson. He was running late and rushed into the room 10 minutes late, apologising to the class even though he knew most of them wouldn't care.

He couldn't keep hi mind on the lecture that he was attempting to deliver on mantras, his mind kept slipping off to the email he intended to send at the end of the day, to set his plan in place about the "private" mantra study

 

[pipper]

Miranda was worried. Jonny didn't seem to be himself. First he was late, then he appeared not to be concentrating on the class subject at hand. Was he sick?

At the end of class, he still hadn't mentioned the study, so Miranda went home, wondering if she would hear from him that evening.

With nothing else to do, she decided to try the mantra, again. Inhale, "h-ah-m", exhale "sah". Inhale, "h-ah-m", exhale "sah". Miranda continued saying the mantra for about four minutes, before her breathing slowed, allowing her to relax.

 

[jonny1878]

Jonny was glad when the class was over, he couldn't concentrate right through the day and was glad when he could have some time to himself to send out the email. He had sent the last emails and planned to do the same. He typed out the message to miranda

"Hello miranda, I am sending this email to confirm that you are going to be part of the investigation we are going to look into, before i start, would you like to ask any questions. reply quickly please" He clicked send and relaxed back in his chair to wait for a reply

 

[pipper]

Miranda read Jonny's email, though she was a bit disappointed that he still hadn't gone into the details of the study. Seeing that he had asked her, if she had any questions, Miranda took the opportunity he had presented to her.

"I was wondering what the study's details are, and how you intend to go about it."

Then Miranda waited to see how long it would take for him to reply, while wondering if he had asked the same of the others involved in the study.