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March 31, 2007

The Glory of Education: Part II

If I had one wish, it would be for everyone (in the world) to read this hot-off-the-press book prior to the 2008 Presidential election. Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower ...

Author Zbigniew Brzezinski, of many qualified opinions out there, is for me probably the most experienced and sustinct in his interpretation of the feelings many global-minded Americans must be experiencing...that things are currently not-at-all well with the stature, influence, or power of the United States. Admittedly, I did not understand how dangerous Bush II has been to America's national security and overall future until now. I mean, I knew that things were bad (as does any fan of Bill Maher)...but I didn't have the comprehensive framing of the issues from someone as asteemed as Brzezinski. In short, the book was a deep education for me...an education from one of the very most qualified people around to espouse just opinions in the first place.

In short, you will comprehensively and deeply understand the reasons and meaning behind his last words of the book, that if the American people do not pick the right president in 2008, there will be no third chance for America.

Posted by Saira Mohan at 09:08 AM | Comments (14)

March 30, 2007

Fighting and debating the wrong "war"

I find myself quite uncomfortable with the near consensus I see in America today (as reflected in the media and recent policy coming out of the House and Senate) on the belief that "the war" on terror is going poorly, and the answer to this problem is for America and the world to pull out and leave the Middle East to solve it's own civil and societal issues.

My two main contentions/concerns are as follows:

1. I feel everyone is missing the forest (the real war), as they are focused on the trees (Iraq, and sometimes Afghanistan). The war, and I do believe, we are in the midst of "the third world war" is much broader than just the conflicts in these 2 countries....and I fear "pulling out" of Iraq, may reflect a broader pull back on any sustained attack or defence against the root cause of the war....which I believe is largely, if not fully, unaddressed today (more than 5 years after 9/11).

2. The real war we have is not a physical war at all. It is a virtual or mental war....a war of beliefs and values (largely Islamic beliefs and values on key issues, but broadly religious fundamentalism and the violation of basic human rights using religious beliefs/edicts as a justification).

This real war is the ultimate untraditional war. Yet, the world has largely responded to it with traditional tactics....i.e., physical attack and defence. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent already, on physical conflicts in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Imagine what this money could achieve if appropriately redirected into fighting the real war....the war of beliefs.

I think it's time to take a step back, somehow firmly but fairly extricate ourselves out of Iraq over time (I know this in itself is a huge issue, but I'll leave my thoughts on Iraq specifically for a separate discussion. I will say I think it's key despite all the past mistakes....to leave Iraq a much better and more peaceful place than it was and is), redefine and understand the real war against terror, and get cracking using more "untraditional" means such as economic policy, incentives, education, TV and the internet, opportunity and basic common sense and logic....to help the muslim world adopt a more moderate version of their religion (as has happened with other religions, including Christianity over the past few hundred years).

It won't be easy for people to ignore the actual words from the Quran that are used by some to justify killing, discrimination against women, and other inhumane and backward practises....but this is religion....and muslims must adopt moderating changes themselves after debate and discussion....if they are to retain their pride....which is paramount when you are talking about religion and culture.

Posted by Rayman Mathoda at 04:31 PM | Comments (20)

The British hostages in Iran

Why dont the EU and the USA stop buying oil from Iran until the hostages are returned? Hit them where it hurts.

Or is it politics as usual?

Posted by Deepak Singh at 03:34 PM | Comments (16)

The Mystery of the Real Jesus (Part 1)

A stir was made recently by the documentary film from 'Titanic' director James Cameron that claimed to have found the final resting place of Jesus and his family, and although the evidence presented wasn't satisfying to the vast majority of biblical scholars, the search for the real Jesus has become a preoccupation, even obsession. Modern people want evidence that a wandering rabbi, or teacher, actually preached in northern Galilee two thousand years ago, yet outside the New Testament, even the simplest facts about Jesus are essentially non-existent. This has given rise to a number of contending views:

1. The real Jesus is contained in the four gospels.
2. The Jesus found in scripture is so confusing and contradictory that the real person has been lost.
3. Historical evidence is irrelevant. The real Jesus exists in disembodied form.
4. There was no real Jesus, or if he existed, he is buried under layers of theology.
5. In the absence of historical documents, a circumstantial case can be made that reveals much about Jesus and his times.

There are pros and cons to each position, most of them unknown to practicing Christians and skeptics alike. I will devote a post to each argument, although entire books go into extensive detail about them.

Argument #1: The real Jesus is contained in the four gospels.

Pros: This would seem to be the simplest and most logical position to take. The four gospel writers either knew Jesus personally or talked to his disciples. They wrote their accounts roughly in the generation after Jesus died, or the one after that (in any case, before 100 CE). In addition, the accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke overlap extensively --John is a separate case--further corroborating each other. If the four gospels don't offer the true Jesus as he existed, no other documents can claim such authenticity. They are the best we have or can hope to have in the future.

Cons: There are no cons if you believe that the four gospels are divinely revealed. But we live in an age of doubt and scholarly research, which have combined to upset the tradition of faith. Here are some of the relevant facts that make the four gospels less than convincing:
.
--The gospels are by unknown writers. Only tradition names Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as the authors. There is no historical evidence that these four figures wrote anything down, and we do not know their actual relationship to Jesus when he was alive. That again is a matter of tradition.
--It is likely that many unknown scribes altered the original texts before a final version was settled on between the third and fourth centuries CE.
--Whoever wrote these accounts, they do not offer the same picture of Jesus, but rather are full of contradictions. Nor do they agree on the same time line of events. (We don't know if Jesus taught for three years, as tradition holds, or as little as eighteen months. We don't know if he went to Jerusalem for high holy days or only once on the Passover when he was arrested and crucified.)
--Words are attributed to Jesus that no one could have heard (such as the scene in the garden of Gesthemane when Jesus asks God to take away the cup from his lips, meaning his coming doom on the cross. This is also when the text tells us that the disciples had all fallen asleep, without anyone to overhear his words. Since he was immediately arrested, he would not have had time to recount them, either).
--The four gospels are full of gaps. Except for a single incident in Jerusalem when he was around twelve, the gospels offer nothing about Jesus's life between the birth story and his appearance to be baptized by John the Baptist when he was around thirty.
--The Jesus of the gospels is psychologically incomplete (for example, not once does he either smile or laugh. We have to wait for later accounts to learn even the barest facts about his brothers and sisters).
-Many key teachings of Jesus are countered by their direct opposite. Jesus preached love, peace, and forgiveness but also vengeance, punishment, intolerance for sinners, and so on. He preaches humility but also says that no one can come to God except through him. He denounces the Pharisees as hypocrites who are blindly tied to the laws of Moses but at other times commands that his followers uphold the same laws.
--Jesus rarely refers to any historical or biographical facts. Such a basic thing as his marital status becomes open to speculation.
--The writers of the gospels did not set out to tell the facts of a life but to convert nonbelievers and support their own belief in Jesus as the Messiah. For this reason they almost certainly exaggerated events, invented miracles, put words into Jesus's mouth, or all three. (For example, Jesus often directly quotes the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah or refers to them. Is this how the actual Messiah spoke or how a Messiah has to speak if converts are to be won over?)
--Other documents may be as old as the four gospels and therefore have their own claim to authenticity. These include the so-called Gnostic Gospels, such as the Gospel of Thomas, which are early documents banned by the church after 313 CE, when the Emperor Constantine officially adopted Christianity, ending the persecution of the faith but beginning a massive effort to destroy heresy and authorize one church and one scripture.
--Among hundreds of early Christian congregations, scriptures differed widely. For example, local beliefs had a lot to do with the birth story of Jesus set down in the gospels. The fact that a scribe from a certain church was drawing from local stories probably played a big part.
--Mark appears to be the first gospel written, and scholars generally agree that it was based on a lost document (known as Q, from Quelle, the German word for source), which is thought to have been a list of Jesus's most important sayings, parables, and teachings. To this bare list Mark added all the stories he could find--these were handed down orally. At a certain point Q disappeared as the popularity of such lists of wise sayings waned.

Unless you believe that the gospels are revealed truth, these internal problems with the written text are enough, I think, to cast doubt on the Jesus we meet in the Bible. The hunt for the real Jesus had to continue elsewhere, as we will see in the next post.

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 08:34 AM | Comments (79)

Good vs. Great

Some days ago, I read a story about an obviously famous Baseball player, that I never heard of before, as I have never been specifically interested in Baseball. His name is Babe Ruth. And his story illustrates perfectly the transition from being good to being great.

When Babe Ruth was 19, Jack Dunn, owner and manager of the Baltimore Orioles (a Boston Red Sox minor league team at the time), recognized his talent and signed him to a contract. After only five months with that team, the Boston Red Sox purchased Babe’s contract, and he became a Major Leaguer still at the age of 19.

At that time, he has been a pitcher. This is the guy, who throws the ball, whereas the hitter tries to hit it - ideally in a way that none of the players can catch it. And he was a GOOD pitcher. In his first World Series game for Boston in 1916, Babe set a record that still stands today. He settled down to pitch 13 scoreless innings for the 2-1 win. The 14-inning gem stands as the longest complete game in World Series history.

At one point he made the decision to stop pitching and to focus on batting.

What a move!

Try to imagine: he was already good in what he was doing, a famous and successful pitcher, but something told him - or "he thought" -, he could do even better in batting. Something pushed him further.

So now he was a hitter and he took a lot of heat for his decision but stuck with it because he knew he had the motivation to be a GREAT batter and he could imagine it.

During a 22-year professional career, Babe Ruth cemented his name as the most prolific home run hitter of his time. He may no longer be the home run king, but his record .690 lifetime slugging percentage may never be topped!

Maybe the most famous moment in baseball history, and certainly of his career, came during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs: he slammed what is believed to be the longest home run ever hit out of Wrigley Field, directly above the spot where he had pointed.

At that point, he was GREAT in what he was doing. That's why he had such tremendous success. Often the difference between being good and being great is making adjustments that allow you to spend more of your time developing your greatest strengths.

You have to find what you really love to do and have the faith that you will be able to do it. Thus you will allow yourself to be the great person that you already are on another level.

Many people give up on the way to becoming great because of various reasons. Most believe, that becoming great must go easily and that on the right road, no doubt, no struggle, no failure appears. All crap! IT DOES NOT! That's why being GREAT is not for everyone.

There is something you have to pay for it, a pay price to action and you have to honestly ask yourself, if you are willing to do whatever it takes to realize your GREATness, your vision or dream. Becoming great or achieving great success, comes out of struggle, out of doing things wrong and accepting failure.

Napoleon Hill once said that "Edison failed 10,000 times before he perfected the incandescent electric light bulb. Don't worry if you fail once" - as Martin Luther King jr. expressed it, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

It does not matter in what you want to be GREAT. Your intuition will lead you the way. It could start with being a GREAT person. From there, have the faith and courage to have a dream or vision and then go for it - no matter what it takes. BE a great person, DO your best and "act as if There are NO Limits to Your Abilities", as one of my business mentors says and you will HAVE made the transition from a good life to a GREAT life.

With that in mind, you can achieve everything. Everything is possible, just do it!

Posted by Heiko Faass at 07:19 AM | Comments (4)

March 29, 2007

Massage of the Week - The "Self Abhy"

As part of the Ayurvedic daily routine, it’s recommended to do a self-massage with oil each morning before getting into a warm shower. (If you have a Vata imbalance, it’s especially important.) At the Chopra Center, we call it the Self Abhy (pronounced AH-bee, which is short for the word abhyanga, which, incidentally, simply means “massage”).

We rub the oil into our skin every day to nourish and protect the skin, as well as loosen the ama (toxic residue) that accumulates in our tissues due to stress. The warm water from the shower helps to open up the pores in the skin, allowing the oil to penetrate deep into the tissues.

The whole process shouldn’t take you longer than five minutes. When I’m in a rush, I can do it in 60 seconds.

Supplies needed:

An old towel to stand on
A plastic bottle of massage oil (you will only use a few tablespoons of oil each morning)
A sink full of hot water (optional, but recommended if you like using warm oil)

Optional: Fill your sink with hot water and put the bottle of massage oil in it for a few minutes to warm up.

Start to run the hot water in the shower so that it’s nice and steamy when you get in. Lay out your old towel on the floor in front of the shower to stand on while you do your abhy – it’ll protect your carpet/floor from any oil that spills.

Pour a tablespoon or so of oil into the palm of one hand and rub it between both hands. Start with the scalp. Rake your oily fingertips through your hair to get a layer of oil onto the scalp. Vigorously “shampoo” the oil into the scalp, moving the scalp in all directions. Next, apply a little bit of oil to the face, throat and neck, rubbing the oil into the skin. Try some little circles with your fingertips over the forehead, into the temples, around the cheeks and jaw. Do a couple strokes under the cheekbones from the bridge of the nose to the ears. Massage some oil into the ears. Be quick but make sure to touch everything once.

As for the rest of the body, the general guidelines are as follows: long strokes (back and forth, or up and down) over the long muscles (e.g. the biceps, triceps, forearms, thighs, calves…), and circular strokes over the joints (e.g. the shoulders, elbows, knees …). There’s really no wrong way to do this – follow your intuition. Cover as much of the body as you can with oil, and rub it in creating friction and heat between the palms of your hands and the skin. If you have time, do one or two strokes up and down each finger (and toe!), and use your thumbs for 10-20 seconds to dig into the bottoms of the feet.

Once your body is covered with oil, step into the warm shower and relax for a minute in the heat. You can shampoo your hair as usual, but just use soap where necessary, leaving a layer of oil on most of the skin.

Yes, you will get oil stains on your towels. Your bath towels will not last as long if you do a self-abhy every day and you will need to buy new ones more frequently. But so what? They’re just towels. It’s more important to nourish and protect your skin.

Posted by Grace Wilson at 10:08 PM | Comments (7)

Hometown Baghdad

Dear Friends,
Here's the latest episode of Hometown Baghdad. Worth watching: www.hometownbaghdad.com.
Love, Deepak

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 11:11 AM | Comments (8)

March 28, 2007

Recipe of the Week - Khichari

This week’s recipe is a simple Khichari or mung bean and basmati rice stew. This is also known as Sattva food. Sattvic foods are pure, wholesome and balancing for the body and the mind. They are also easily digested and assimilated. This is especially good to have during the transition of the seasons.

The great thing about Khichari is that you can add additional spices or vegetables to this recipe if so desired. Split mung beans (or dahl) can be found at most health food or Indian specialty markets.

½ cup split mung beans
½ cup basmati rice
½ teaspoon ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
Pinch red chili flakes
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and minced
¼ teaspoon asafoetida powder (also known as hing)
¼ teaspoon turmeric
½ sea salt
3 ½ cups vegetable stock
1 leek, white part only, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 cup fresh spinach leaves, cleaned and chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Sort through the mung beans and remove any debris such as stems or rocks. Rinse the mung beans and rice in a fine mesh strainer and set aside. In a stock pot heat the ghee, cumin seeds, red chili flakes and ginger on medium high heat for 2 minutes. Add the mung beans, basmati rice, asafoetida powder, turmeric, sea salt, leeks, carrots and vegetable stock. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat to low. Cook for about 30 to 40 minutes or until mung beans are soft and completely cooked. Stir in the spinach and fresh lemon juice. Enjoy

Posted by Teresa Long at 10:35 PM | Comments (2)

CHOPRA MEDIA -- CORRECTION

Dear Friends, Stay tuned. Deepak's taped segment on CNN Larry King Live will be aired on April 6 or 9 - check your local TV listings: www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live.

Warm regards,
Chopra Media

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 12:47 PM | Comments (3)

Can a blind guy climb the Mount Everest?

Especially if your first thought was "No", read on. Be confirmed that most people answer stuff like "Hell no, this is too dangerous, way too difficult" or other crap like that. My first thought was "Why not?" - and despite being a professional optimist, I do not wear pink eyeglasses or see only positive aspects:

I would never think that it might be easy for that guy, that he doesn't experience problems or that there is no struggle or pain until he reaches the top of any mountain. The opposite is the truth: yes, he will experience difficulties, he might hurt himself, he will find pain and struggle on his way. But he CAN make it, if he is willing to pay the price for it and take all the challenges he might face on his way there! So I asked "Why not?" Let me tell you that this person really existed. And everybody can only learn from the story of his life - especially those among you, who still have to see first, before they can believe or in other words, those who answered "No" to my introductory question.

As I said, Erik Weihenmayer really exists. When he was 13 years old, he went blind. That was about 24 years ago. Since then, he has become one of the celebrated and accomplished athletes in the world, who climbed the highest mountains of the world, ran marathons and jumped out of planes. In the year 2001, he became the first blind climber who reached the summit of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, and he also is one of less than 100 individuals to climb all of the Seven Summits - the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. Remember: he IS blind, does not see anything. So what made him succeed, what made him walk and climb his way up there through snow and ice being blind - while you are still complaining that you cannot get a bigger car, bigger house and make a better living? He had a clear goal and vision in his mind and dared to dream big. The courage to dream big, to reach for nearly impossible goals and determination and perserverance to transform his life into what he wanted and imagined it to be. "Twenty years ago, when I went blind, it was tough to even find the bathroom. Now that I've climbed Mount Everest, well, I guess I've come a long way", Erik said once, and Erik knows that when you dream big, failure is always a possibility, but it is up to everyone to turn this failure into a positive step in the direction of one's life goals, make it only a temporary failure enroute to overall success. In other words: he knows that there can be temporary set-backs but this does not change his vision and for sure, this is never a final defeat.

Definitely, Erik has what makes a high performance person. And what separates high performance people from everybody else is the attitude with which they face life. It all starts with a big dream, a vision and the willingness to pay the price that is necessary to get what you want. There is no accomplishment without risk, nothing you get without giving something else. And understanding that principle and living your life according to that, can already make your life work for you. Add perseverance! Especially if you dream really big, things won't always go that easy and you might have to take a bunch of temporary set-backs until you can ultimately succeed. But you can be sure, you will.

Meanwhile you have learned, that the correct answer to the initial question is "Yes", a blind man CAN climb the Mount Everest. So the question is, what finally keeps you from achieving your goals and realize your vision? For most people it is the pure lack of vision and goals. And even if people have visions and or goals, they are not willing to take the risk, that they might fail in the realization of them. It is by far easier to stay in the little fairy tale town and not risk to get hurt out there in the real world. But all these are only thinking pattern, that can be changed. You have no vision? Go create one! You have no goals? Set them! You are scared of failure? Forget about that and move ahead! Move your brain and do it now! Get used to action and get used to acting as if there were no limits to your abilities, because the truth is that there are no limits: Everything is possible!

To create a vision, a long term picture of your life, you can for example imagine yourself at your 97th birthday. Imagine exactly where you are, who is with you, how the surroundings look like, what you can smell, what you can hear. Allow yourself to dream and fantasize about it and do not limit yourself, everything is allowed because you can imagine everything you want. Do make the picture as exact as you can. Imagine what people say in their speeches, listen exactly to what you want them to have said. Can you see your grandchildren there, a wife, business partners, friends, etc. ? What about stuff you have achieved, do you see yourself in a big house with servants, can you see the various books you have written over the time? Have you been a sportsman all your life, are you still in great shape and are you obviously wealthy? Work on this picture! Paint it as detailled as possible. Make it perfect. Write it down. Edit it. I do it every day. Then take this picture to figure out the important roles you want to play in your life. If you imagine a birthday in the evening of your life, you will be able to figure out specific areas which are very important for your life - now, then and overall. For these areas, set a specific motto, slogan or goal for each. For example, if you are celebrating the above mentioned birthday with business partners, try to imagine conversations with them there to find out, what kind of business you did together and formulate your goal for the business role you play in your life. If you can see pictures of your successes as a sportsman, visualize the finishing pictures of you on the wall crossing the goal lines or being honored with medals.

Set high goals! Look at those goals and the vision you wrote down every day and organize your day, week, month, year accordingly. Erase stuff from your agenda that will never contribute to your goals and start working on your own life every second of it. Thus you are virtually working all the time, but it is the work on the fulfillment of your imagined life: through that, you can really BE yourself as you are progressing towards your own set vision and can fulfill your goals. DO everything you can, give always your best in everything you do and you will HAVE what you always wanted, you can ultimately succeed - what you imagined first, becomes reality. Once you started doing that, you will not only realize that you get what you wanted, but you will also dramatically improve your self esteem, because you are becoming more and more authentic and can like yourself for everything you do. And ultimately, you will be more happy than you have ever imagined to be. About 90% of the people who attempt to climb to the peak of Mount Everest fail. Many die. Doesn't this equal life? The vast majority of people leads a life of quiet desperation, never getting what they want or deserve and many die with 18 and get buried with 73. Start climbing your Mount Everest today, even if your starting parameters are not the best. If a blind guy can climb the real Mount Everest, you will be able to climb yours.

Everything is possible, just do it!

Love,
Heiko

PS: If you want to learn more about Erik, his book, 'Touch the Top of the World' can be bought on his website http://www.touchthetop.com/

Posted by Heiko Faass at 05:07 AM | Comments (4)

March 27, 2007

Open Thread

March 28, 2007

Posted by Intent at 10:14 PM | Comments (297)

FROM CHOPRA MEDIA

Dear Friends, Visit Deepak's new website: www.deepakchopra.com and watch him tomorrow night on CNN Larry King Live (March 28) at 6:00 pm PST - check your local TV listings: www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live.

Warmly,
Chopra Media

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 04:22 PM | Comments (19)

March 26, 2007

Health Tip of the Week - High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol

Q: What is your opinion on lowering cholesterol levels? My LDL and HDL lab results were off, and I don’t want to take medications because I heard they have potential side effects. How can I lower and manage my cholesterol levels and avoid taking medication for rest of my life?

A: Elevated cholesterol levels increase our risk for cardiovascular disease. Even more important than the total cholesterol level is the relative and absolute amounts of LDL (“bad”) and HDL (“good”) components of cholesterol. Although cholesterol is an essential chemical for our body, providing the basic molecule for many essential hormones, too much cholesterol increases the deposition of fat into our blood vessels, increasing our chances for a stroke or heart attack. Most cholesterol that circulates in our body is manufactured in the liver. Only 15% actually comes from the foods that we eat; however, diet is the most direct non-drug way we have to modify cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a component of animal fat so that any food derived from animals will carry some cholesterol – red meat, fowl, seafood and dairy are all sources of cholesterol. Favoring a mostly vegetarian diet is the easiest way to reduce cholesterol intake and blood levels. Mono-hydrogenated oil such as olive oil and omega-3 fatty acid rich flax seed and cold water fish have been shown to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels, while partially hydrogenated vegetable oils have a negative effect.

An Ayurvedic herb called guggulu (Commiphora mukul) has been shown in studies to lower cholesterol levels by about 15%. It is derived from a resin and acts similar to some Western medicines to bring cholesterol out through the digestive tract. Red yeast rice utilized in Traditional Chinese Medicine contains natural sources of monacolin K, the basis of the medication, lovastatin. Another product developed in Cuba known as policosonal is derived from sugar cane wax and has been suggested to lower serum cholesterol levels, although a recent study failed to confirm the results reported in earlier studies.

If despite lifestyle changes your cholesterol level remains unacceptably high, the “statin” drugs are generally successful with low risk of side effects. Liver and muscle toxicity are known side effect (and have also been reported with red yeast rice). It’s important to remember that a risk factor means that your chances are increased – it does not mean that because your cholesterol level is elevated that you will definitely have problems with your blood vessels. There are several other important risk factors for heart disease that can be modified through conscious choices. High blood pressure should be identified and treated. In the early stages, a meditation or relaxation technique can be helpful. Lack of regular exercise is another risk factor. Some moderate aerobic activity three times per week for thirty minutes is sufficient for most people to gain the benefits. Hostility is a substantial independent risk facto for heart disease. Look at the underlying conversation you are having with your life. Is it one of resentment and blaming? If so, change whatever needs changing so your inner dialogue can be one of enthusiasm and enjoyment.

Posted by David Simon at 09:59 PM | Comments (2)

Apparently the World Cup is on

And I, a self-proclaimed Sports nut, don't know squat about what's going on with arguably the world's second most popular sport (I'm placing futbol #1).

I check espn.com every hour or so, just to see images of college basketball players or check out if they have updated their NFL Draft preview, or to check on the box score of a meaningless exhibition baseball game.

But when it comes to cricket, I hardly know the differnce between a googly and a sixer. What I do know is that there are fans that obviously take the game more seriously than one really should. Rahul Dravid's house was burned down and the Paskistani coach was murdered because of their respective teams disappointing performances. That's some sick shit. I mean, I'm not going to lie to you. When the 86 Sox lost to the Mets in game 6, I had such bad nightmares I wet my bed (I was 11). When the 2004 Bosox flamed out in game 7 to the Yanks, I cried (I was 29).

But here's teh cricket World Cup and to be honest, I just can't get into it. In part, I blame it on the complete lack of coverage - I mean not a mention anywhere on ESPN.COM. I'll also blame the location of the games. I mean the Carribean is nice and all for a honeymoon or a hurricane but for a global sporting event, you may as well hold it in Qatar - oh wait they did that with the Asian Games!

I suppose at this stage of my life, I only have so much bandwith to pollute my head with stuff that has no relevance to my life and that I cannot control. It's weak excuse but I'm grasping. Truth be told, I'd get into it if I could, I'm just waiting to be woo'd.

Posted by Gotham Chopra at 08:40 PM | Comments (48)

Elizabeth Edwards and the Campaign

"You know, you really have two choices here. I mean, either you push forward with the things that you were doing yesterday, or you start dying," Elizabeth Edwards said on 60 Minutes.

"If I had given up everything that my life was about, first of all, I'd let cancer win before it needed to. You know, maybe eventually it will win. But I'd let it win before I needed to." And so, Elizabeth and John Edwards continue his campaign for the presidency.

I did not watch the interview with Katie Couric, but some blogs, like here and here and here, indicate she was relentless in questioning their decision.

I think it takes guts for them both to do what they need to do as a family. Best wishes to the Edwards family for finding solace, peace and resolution in their decisions!

Posted by Mallika Chopra at 11:16 AM | Comments (13)

population 2050

Worldmapper.org warps world maps based on factors such as birth rates, GDP, and population. It amazes me how much more significant it feels to see a visual representation of something rather than to read facts and figures (which is why Al Gore climbing a ladder to show the rise of global warming in an Inconvenient Truth was an excellent touch).

Check out how fat India looks based on its population in 2050.

Kinda scary or exciting, depending on your feelings around volume and glasses of water (not to mention the presence of heavy metals in the water, the temperature of the water, the availability of that water, and perhaps the politics around access to that water - makes me want a coconut.)

Wanna see the US get fat? Check out their maps based on carbon emissions or GDP.

Posted by Sandeep Sood at 11:05 AM | Comments (5)

A Happiness Check List

Recently I posted on the new trend in corporate America toward well-being, which may signal a shift in values. Well-being has been a hard sell in alternative medicine, because rather than relying on proven means to stay healthy, people wait for a serious crisis and then rush to the doctor for drugs or surgery. Similarly, any kind of addictive behavior

poses an obvious threat to well-being, but it's in the nature of addictions to thwart reason. Doing what's bad for you doesn't feel good, but the pleasure principle is helpless when obsession and fear are at work. America is addicted to rampant consumerism, and our twinges of guilt don't serve to stop our obsessions. This doesn't mean, however, that pessimism rules the day. We are changing what it means to be happy all the time, and it's worthwhile to examine the difference between American well-being in 1967 and 2007.

In 1967--
Assuming that societies are like individuals and are motivated to pursue happiness, here are things that met with general approval forty years ago:

--Letting rivers and lakes become polluted without controls.
--Allowing more or less unlimited air pollution.
--Letting cigarette companies sell a known carcinogen without culpability
--Eliminating animal species at will
--Legislating a universal draft
--Expending tens of thousands of lives in a civil war in Vietnam
--Killing millions of Vietnamese without culpability
--Supporting repressive Middle East regimes in return for cheap oil
--Stockpiling atomic weapons in numbers that could destroy human life several times over
--Counting Communists of any stripe as deadly enemies
--Providing unlimited funds to military expenditure
--Funding a vast secret intelligence agency
--Passing civil rights laws while at the same time secretly monitoring and threatening the most prominent civil rights leaders
--Accepting a 300% rise in crime and a twenty-fold rise in drug use
--Condoning pervasive inequalities between men and women in the workplace
--Ignoring the feminist movement or consigning it to the extremist fringe
--Turning our backs on post-colonial strife in Africa
--Tolerating apartheid in South Africa
--Meddling secretly in foreign governments, including targeted assassinations and CIA covert insurgencies
--Responding feebly to the threat of global overpopulation
--Consuming fossil fuels without check or pollution controls
--Accepting the medicine is a branch of private enterprise, with no concern for universal health care
--Regarding homosexuality as a disease, punishing homosexuals as criminals
--Allowing rain forests to be destroyed at will
--Paying mere lip service to the end of poverty and hunger in the world

The list could go on indefinitely, but it's compelling to see how far we have awakened since 1967, as well as sobering to realize how many things remain the same. Overall, the trend is toward a new system of values that is life-enhancing, however. There's reason to be optimistic that positive change will always be more powerful than negative change. One could itemize such advances as the decline in deaths attributed to war, the decreasing number of serious civil conflicts, the end of the Cold War, the rise of economic conditions in many counties, and so on. When totaled up, the progress made over the last forty years is undeniable, despite the current fashion for doomsday gloom.

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 10:08 AM | Comments (44)

HQR: Dissolution on 100th Post: Thanks with Love!

Dear friends, as The Holistic Quantum Relativity Socratic Dialogue resolves and dissolves this is our last post together for the time being...

... and I will no longer be writing or responding on IntentBlog in regard to HQR having made the 100th post over all, which adds up to One. It has been a swift and enjoyable journey with The Consciousness manifest in us. How time flies when One is having fun! Thanks for your billion-in-One love and support! The time has come to move on ...

Thank you for being my teachers! HQR is about the eventual resolution and dissolution of the duality in the One, seeing the One-in-All and the All-in-One, our liberation and letting go. With the Grace of the Supra-Universal Consciousness manifest in our Great Spiritual Masters, we are free and They have liberated us with Their initiating Wisdom!

You may conclude whatever you wish to conclude out of the HQR Socratic Dialogue. Beauty lies in the inner eyes of the Beholder! For some, the total overlay and compatibility of the Super-Symmetry of The Sahasrara Lotus of Spirituality with the Holistic E8 Visualisation of The String Theory, which unites Quantum Mechanics with Relativity, is proof enough of HQR. We have come a long way, the Absolute is constant, we are changing -- as if in evolutionary metamorphosis -- day by day.

Please accept apologies for all errors and omissions with folded hands and head bowed down. Any mistakes committed were mine, for which I seek your forgiveness. All that was achieved, was achieved by The Consciousness manifest in All, so no credit is due other than to say thanks to all the distinguished participants.

With a sincere prayer for your joint happiness and well being to The Consciousness, I remain,

Yours humbly -- with no esteem, self-respect or knowledge --


DK

Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Background

A. The HQR Project's Latest Glossary (v0.5) is available from here.

B. For those who wish to understand the genesis of the HQR Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

24. HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

25. HQR: Burden of Proof, Synchronicity & Applications

26. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.5

27. HQR: Energy & the Bizarre Danger in Calling Spirits

28. HQR:HH Sant Ajaib:Truth Connected is Never Alone

29. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Humility

30. HQR: E8, String Theory, Sahasrara, Spirituality

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family


DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

Add to Technorati Favorites

Posted by DK Matai at 12:49 AM | Comments (57)

March 25, 2007

Atman and Robin

Ken Wilber’s in my yoga class again. He appears shiny headed, stocky and strong.
But I think I can take him. I am 6 feet tall in my stocking feet and I’ve been working out. My takedown fantasy includes spandex, a Mexican wrestling mask and really good boots.

Not on me silly…. That’s what he’s wearing!!

Okay. The guy in my yoga class is not really Ken Wilber. He’s a dead ringer for him however. I’ve fantasized about sparring with Mr. Ken Wilber since taking Dr. Christian de Quincey’s “MIND IN THE COSMOS” course at the University of Philosophical Research. De Quincey and Wilber had their share of polite philosophical barbs to one another, mostly over differing opinions of Integralism. I’ve also run into Wilberosophy in my “Physics of the Soul “ course w/ Dr. Amit Goswami, and as a fan of Sri Aurobindo, I often google and cross- reference these boys all the time.

The Atman, or impersonal absolute to Wilber is the realisation of Godhead in the transcendence of embodied existence in the final cycle of involution/evolution.

If I interpret my studies correctly, Sri Aurobindo supports a state of enlightenment/liberation as an end state, however the Divine absolute is in the involution/evolution process itself, and at ALL levels.
Where then, is the Supermind in all of this?

Probably wearing spandex as well. With a cape and a giant “S” on his chest. And really good boots.

As I find this east-meets-west forum to be a fountain of philosophical fun, I’m hoping some of you can share your criticisms and Wilberisms to sharpen my mind, wit and well-being.

By the way, I make a kickass, ass-kicking sidekick. But I am too tall and too old to be Atman’s Robin.

Any takers?

Posted by Renee Reeser Zelnick at 01:01 PM | Comments (4)

FIERCE LIGHT FLASH # 1

WHAT WOULD LOVE DO?

Ever asked yourself that question? Want to see your life change, in a flash?

Starting now, see how your day is transformed when you live out that question. How would Love make breakfast? What would Love say to the people you meet today: to your beloved, to your family, to the dog, the bird, the people on the street? The guy who drives you crazy at work? The beggar on the corner? Love might give her change, or maybe just smile and acknowledge her as a human being - Love is not guilty or dogmatic. Love knows what to do, if you let it guide your steps.

The next time the phone rings, take a breath, and ask yourself: how would Love answer? Then, let love answer, no matter who is calling. Love always knows what to say.

Love is not a wimp. Love stands up for justice, for truth, for dignity, and sometimes that means being Fierce. Fierce Love, Fierce Compassion, Fierce Gentleness. Fierce Sensitivity. Don't insult Love with a hallmark imitation. We're talking about the real deal here. Love is able to remain loving, unconditionally, in every circumstance, without exception. That's fierce.

Sound like too much work to be Love all day? Then wait until it's really needed-the moment irritation or anger or fear arises. Stop for a moment before you respond. Look at what it is that's really triggering you - is it this particular person, or event, or is it really an old pattern from the past. Is it just a web of projections and past injuries and dissapointments that you have superimposed over your eyeballs, until you can no longer see whats really in front of you? Can you approach this problem with freshness, with aliveness, as it is, not with a big bundle of pre-conceptions that stops you from seeing the other as a real human being, someone who suffers and dreams, just like you?

Before you respond to anyone or anything, ask yourself: what would Love do?

Awaken yourself to Love-in a flash.

~Velcrow Ripper

_______________________________

There are no manuals to read

Or rules to follow

Other than the open book

Of the heart.

_______________________________

www.FierceLight.org

www.ScaredSacred.org

Posted by Velcrow Ripper at 11:53 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

HQR: E8, String Theory, Sahasrara, Spirituality

We are grateful to Mieke van der Poll from Holland for pointing to the similarity in visualisation of the 200 billion parameters, formulae of the most complicated symmetrical object - E₈ - utilised in String Theory, to Sahasrara Lotus within Spirituality!

E₈, String Theory and 1,000 Petal Sahasrara Lotus

"I found this very to the point for our HQR Dialogue as it is closely connected to Relativity Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Particle Physics and The String Theory. What struck me was the picture of the E₈ Root System that is almost a total copy of the One-Thousand-Petal Sahasrara Lotus discussed at length within HQR." Compare!

E₈ and Physics

For well over two decades now String Theory has been the preeminent model for physics beyond the Standard Model. Indeed, String Theory is often touted among physicists as the ultimate Theory of Everything. The basic premise of String Theory is that the most fundamental building blocks of the Universe are not atoms, or even elementary particles like electrons, muons and quarks, but rather exotic string-like objects living in a 26-dimensional space. The great appeal of String Theory to modern physicists is two-fold. First of all, it very deftly circumvents two theoretical obstructions that had long thwarted the unification of Einstein's theory of General Relativity with the quantum field theory of elementary particle physics (ie, the lack of renormalizability and the occurrence of quantisation anomalies). The second is its apparent uniqueness: once one adopts the basic principles of string theory, it can be argued that we live in the universe we live in because it is the only one that is possible.

Actually this uniqueness is not quite complete; there are in fact several competing string models. But the dominant model by far is that of heterotic string theory, and it is there that E₈ plays an essential role. String theory postulates that the universe has more dimensions that are visible to our eyes: the extra dimensions are hidden by a mysterious mathematical structure. One version, known as heterotic string theory, uses two copies of the E₈ lattice to hide the extra dimensions.

Naturally, the most stringent requirement of a viable string theory of the Universe is that eventually the theory has to make contact with the 4-dimensional space-time in which we (at least appear to) live. In heterotic string theory this passage from 26 dimensions to 4 dimensions occurs in two steps. First of all, 16 of the original 26 dimensions must compactify, or curl up on themselves, in a very nice self-consistent way; and then 6 of the remaining 10 dimensions must compactify nicely as well in order to get down to our apparent 4-dimensional observed universe.

E₈ arises in heterotic string theory because in order for the initial reduction from 26 to 10 dimensions to procede consistently, one needs to endow a 16-dimensional subspace of the orginal 26-dimensional space with an even, unimodular lattice. It turns out that there are exactly two such lattices in 16 dimensions, one of which is the root lattice of E₈+E₈.

See the beautiful exposition by John Baez for more details of this fascinating story.

Visualising the E₈ Root System

The E₈ root system consists of 240 vectors in an eight-dimensional space. See what is E₈?   

Those vectors are the vertices (corners) of an eight-dimensional object called the Gosset polytope 4₂₁.  

In the 1960s, Peter McMullen drew (by hand) a 2-dimensional representation of the Gosset polytope 4₂₁.

The image shown below was computer-generated by John Stembridge, based on McMullen's drawing.

The lines in the picture connect adjacent vertices in the polytope, with colours chosen according to the length of the 2-dimensional projection. Since the picture is a 2-dimensional projection of an 8-dimensional object, it captures only some of the symmetries of the Gossett polytope.

We thank John H Conway, mathematics professor at Princeton University, for pointing out to us the connection between E₈ and the Gosset polytope 4₂₁. The Lie algebra E₈ is 248-dimensional: the 8-dimensional space depicted here, plus one dimension for each of the 240 root vectors.

E₈, String Theory and 1,000 Petal Sahasrara Lotus

The presentation of the enormous calculations can be found here. Who knows some day it may appear that E₈, the group of the largest super-symmetrical structure of all, forms the basis of a complete description of our Supra-Universe (Alakh, Agam, Agami, Sachkhand, Par Brahmand) and Universe planes (Causal, Astral and Physical), ie, 5+3=8!

Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Background

A. The HQR Project's Latest Glossary (v0.5) is available from here.

B. For those who wish to understand the genesis of the HQR Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

24. HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

25. HQR: Burden of Proof, Synchronicity & Applications

26. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.5

27. HQR: Energy & the Bizarre Danger in Calling Spirits

28. HQR:HH Sant Ajaib:Truth Connected is Never Alone

29. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Humility

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family


DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

Add to Technorati Favorites

Posted by DK Matai at 10:21 AM | Comments (12)

March 24, 2007

I was in the zone

On my way home from Seduction of Spirit in Florida this week, I had an experience that is too funny not to share. As usual, I will be embarrassing myself for your entertainment. Enjoy.

After 5 straight days of teaching yoga and meditation, I was definitely a little out there. My plan was to head home on Thursday by flying Southwest from Florida to Nashville to San Diego. When I arrived at Nashville, I had about an hour layover to my connecting flight. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to get some writing done.

I sat down next to my gate and got in the zone. I came into this trance-like meditative state where creativity was flowing through me. I was writing like I had never written before and brilliant insights were pouring out of me. I felt so inspired.

All of a sudden, I was jolted out of my creative daze by an overweight southern girl who was asking to share my electrical plug. At that moment, the thought popped into my mind: "I wonder what time my flight leaves?"

Feeling very accomplished from the work I had just done, I moseyed over to the check in desk where I saw the Southwest attendant taking down the information for my San Diego flight.

Uh oh, not a good sign.

I asked: "what time does my flight leave to San Diego leave? She replied: "you mean what time did your flight leave?" Oh shit.

"Do you mean to tell me that I missed my flight while sitting directly next to the gate?"

"Boy that's a first!" she said with a chuckle.

I was not amused.

The absurdity of the situation was too much and I couldn't help but laugh too. Recognizing that there was nothing I could do to turn back time, I immediately went into teacher mode to try and soothe my troubles: "What's done is done so just drop it. There's no reason to loose your cool. Everything is going to be fine. Something good is going to come out of this. This is going to make a good story. Take a deep breath. Chill out."

Ok, I feel better..... so let the adventure begin.

There was no adventure.

I ended up flying to LA, renting a car for $100, stopping at McDonalds to eat on the way home (because it was the only restaurant open at 11 pm on a Thursday night), getting a terrible stomach ache from that greasy crap, and finally crashing into bed at around 1 am. Sheesh.

I woke up the next morning trying to think about what life lessons I could take away from my little travel excursion. Here's what I came away with:

1. even smart people do stupid things sometimes.

2. don't ever eat McDonalds again

3. next time you meditate for 5 days straight......fly home direct.

thank you. I hope this made you smile.

Posted by Max Simon at 10:27 PM | Comments (4)

Weekly Intent - Joanie Reisfeld

Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.

remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.

The movement doesn't flow with the music,

and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,

both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back

or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.

It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness,

and attentiveness from one person

and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.

When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".

"God, "u" and "i" dance."

God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust

that I would get guidance about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings

and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.

May you abide in God as God

abides in you.

Dance together with God, trusting God to lead

and to guide you through each season of your life.

This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.

If God has done anything for

you in your life,

please share this message with someone else,

for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive.

There is no cost but a lot of rewards;

so let's continue to pray for one another.

And I Hope You Dance

Posted by Intent at 10:10 PM | Comments (20)

March 23, 2007

Where do you talk about it?

As we begin to develop selfcenteredtour.com - a website that will act as a portal for young people around the world to connect about deeper issues like meditation, spirituality, fear, etc, I started to wonder what else was out there.

So, do you know of any sites that do a particulary good job of creating an environment for people to freely speak their mind (besides this one of course)? The focus can be around any subject or geared towards audience. At this point, I'm just interested in exploring.

Much love,

Max

Posted by Max Simon at 05:53 PM | Comments (6)

The Right Reasons for Going, The Right Reasons to Stay

As the Senate and House move closer to making the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq happen faster and sooner, those loyal to Pres. Bush and his war policy mutter darkly about letting down the troops and crippling "forward" motion in the war. Partisan bickering has turned into a smokescreen, behind which lies a baffling and very sad reality. Iraq seems doomed whether the U.S. leaves or stays. Therefore, the future remains clouded; no one can possibly predict whether either course would lead to a greater catastrophe than the one now at hand. Moral judgment needs to come into play here. Leaving Iraq isn't more moral than staying, nor is it more immoral. There are bad reasons being offered to back both strategies.

Bad reasons for staying:
--Pride. This seems to be Bush's main reason. He doesn't want to look bad personally by admitting his mistakes.
--Stubbornness. America finishes what it starts.
--Fear of failure. Staying means we're not losers.
--Humiliation. It's better to stay than to admit what we've done to destroy Iraq.

Bad reasons for leaving:
--Blame. The Iraqis had their chance to pull together as a democracy, but they blew it.
--Expediency. The American public is tired of the conflict; they want out now.
--Xenophobia. Why should American troops die for Arabs?
--Denial. If our troops pull out, the violence in Iraq might subside or at least not grow worse.

One hears all these arguments every day, and worse. The bitter division between Democrats and Republicans defines the position of many party loyalists, who favor leaving or staying because the other side disagrees. Yet there are good reasons (moral ones) to be weighed.

Good reasons for staying:
--Responsibility. The American invasion created the current debacle, and we can't abandon those whom we have injured already.
--Compassion. After so many deaths in Iraq, a bloodbath would be intolerable on humanitarian grounds.
--Stability. The occupation is necessary so long as chaos reigns in the streets of Baghdad.

Good reasons for leaving:
--Stability. The American presence incites much of the current violence
--Political pragmatism. The current Iraqi regime will not seriously try to form a unity government as long as they are protected and coddled by the American occupiers.
--Defeat. America has no means of winning the war or stabilizing the country. When you lose, you leave.

If we faced the good reasons on both sides (I am not arguing how valid any one of them is), a more honest debate would ensue. There are numerous other reasons, good and bad, to bring up. But honesty remains the crucial factor. The rest of the world hasn't made the slightest effort to intercede in Iraq, and the reason traces back to Pres. Bush's bad reasons for staying. Why should other nations risk troops to bolster American pride, stubbornness, and fear of looking like a loser? In addition, there are suspicions that we wanted to control Mideast oil in the first place, and therefore our global competitors seem happy to watch America sink deeper into the quagmire, just as we were happy to see the Soviet Union during the Brezhnev era sink out of sight in Afghanistan.

If honest debate could start, the obvious reason for massive UN peacekeeping in Iraq is obvious. An Iraq that spins chaotically into bloodshed repeats the wretched failures in Bosnia and Rwanda. The blunt fact is that Bush keeps posturing as if the U.S. can achieve military hegemony in the world when 9/11 shattered that hallucination. One doubts that there will be any honesty from that quarter soon, but the minute that right-wing warmakers leave the White House, the Iraq debacle needs to be laid at the feet of all nations with a humble plea for a global solution.

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 01:44 PM | Comments (33)

This is a good one....

"Take Your Mama"

Posted by Saira Mohan at 01:43 PM | Comments (3)

HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Humility

In regard to the Holistic Quantum Relativity Socratic Dialogue, the excerpt of His Holiness Master Kirpal's talk on "Humility" is worth noting.

Humility

I have been mostly dwelling on rising above body consciousness, to be reborn and to learn to die while alive, etc, so as to enable one to enter the Kingdom of God, which is within us — as prescribed by all the past Masters now come to us through His Benign Grace. There are many aspects of His Divine Life, but I will now dwell on the two most important ones viz, humility and simplicity — the most needed at this hour, which if followed will set our lives in the right direction and enable us to achieve perfection.

All Masters, such as Jesus, Mahavira, Buddha, Kabir and Nanak, etc., of the past, and Ramakrishna, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh, Sadhu Vaswani, etc., of recent days, radiated this divine luster from their personalities.

Man knows so many things, but he does not know himself. A man has so many sheaths in himself, covering the depths of his heart. Man learns and unlearns all through life. It is wiser to remain a student than to be a teacher; a student of the Mystery of Life.

A parable goes to say that a seeker of God, in the quest of Heaven, wandering here and there, found himself perchance at the Gate of Heaven. The gatekeeper asked him, "Who are you?" The seeker answered, "A teacher." The gatekeeper asked him to wait, and went in to report. After a while he returned and said that he could not let him in, as there was no place for teachers in the heaven-world. He was told to go back and wash the dust of dead words clinging to him in the waters of Silence.

So many teachers are vain; they parade their learning. How can there be a place in there for him who lives in a world of vanity?

Every day he sat in the silence and listened to the words of Saints, and his self-consciousness began to develop, and he became humble, and prayed to be the servant of all men, lonely and lowly ones, and animals — a servant of God's creation. Then the portals of Heaven were opened and he entered in and beheld the Master's face: pure and fair beyond compare.

All the Masters of the past and the present say that, "The Kingdom of God is for the humble of heart." So many of us, alas, are proud, vain in ego lost; and blind to the wisdom, we do but wander from darkness to darkness.

The God that rules millions is the ego; enthrone on your heart the God of Love, and cease to wander — and what should be done to do so? Become humble as ashes and dust.

The world is full of the proud of purse or power or learning. Whereas, we should be humble and simple and empty ourselves of all "self" that the Lord might do with us what He would.

The life worth living is life in the Spirit. Its basis is humility. We should be reduced to a cipher and God becomes ax. "Let us be perfect as our Father is in Heaven."

The truly humble are the truly happy. For want of humility, men and women are leading an unbearable, miserable life. All this misery is from within it is not a change in our circumstances, but deliverance from the thralldom of the self, the petty "ego" that sits tyrant, robbing us of the bliss that is our heritage as children of God. We are, as it were, in a cage of self-centeredness, and until this prison is opened by the key of humility, the swan bird of the Soul is not free and cannot swim to the regions of radiance and joy.

The way to true blessedness is the way of humility and love. He who is humble has no problems. He has God as his Guide. Significant are the words of the shepherd boy singing in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress:

He that is down need fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.
I am content with what I have,
Little be it, or much;
And Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou sayest such.

Rightly has it been said that if there were no humility in this world, everyone would long ago have committed suicide.

When the light of humility dawns on the soul, the darkness of selfishness disappears and the soul no longer lives for itself, but for God. The soul loses itself in God, lives in God, and is transformed into Him. This is the alchemy of humility. It transforms the lowest into the Highest. The great Chinese sage, Lao Tse, expressed the thought in beautiful words:

How does the sea become the king of all rivers and streams?
Because it lies lower than them.

St Augustine said the way to God is, "First humility, second humility and third humility." He who is proud of possessions or of learning or of authority will not go to any Saint unless he is humble. Even if he goes to the Saint, but considers himself superior to Him, he will not listen to Him. A glass which is kept above a tumbler of water will remain empty — until it is put below the tumbler. You know what you know; just listen to what the other says. Perhaps we can learn something from him.

Yes, the branches of a fruit-laden tree bend of their own accord. Even so, the man who, losing himself, finds God — finds Him everywhere and in everyone — bends before all, offers homage of his heart to all. This is true humility. It is not a forced sense of lowliness. Such a one lives in unity with all. He is in others and others are in him.

It is the fake ego-self that gives rise to the sense of discord and separation. When the illusion of ego is broken, one feels, "I am not apart from others, but others are parts of the One — God — The Master — and all of us are engaged in the same service of God."

Each one of us is unique in his own way. There is a divine purpose behind the life of everyone who comes into the world; no one has been created for nothing. We have something to learn from everyone. This is the mystery of humility.

The truly humble person does not compare himself with others. He knows that none of us, however evolved, is perfect; none of us is complete in himself. The humble person does not regard one as better than the other; he believes in the divinity of each. If one says and asserts that he is better than others, then he is not perfect as yet.

It is only when one realizes his nothingness that God comes and fills him with Himself. Where man is, God is not; where man is not, God is! God cannot enter the heart of the self-seeking person. He who is full of himself considers himself as above others and so puts a limit on himself. God is without limit. How can the limitless enter the limited?

O ye who seek God: See that you do not set yourself above others. Give up all that you are and all that you have, empty yourself of all "self," cast the ego out, and you stand face to face with God. Wondrous are the words of the Sufi Saint, Abur Hassan:

Brothers! This is the Law:
He who cometh nigh to God
Loseth what he hath,
Aye, he loseth himself,
But gains instead the Gift Supreme,
The gift of humility.

A man may strive to be humble, but for all his efforts, may become all the more proud. There is such a thing as the pride of humility; it is a very dangerous thing, for it is too subtle to be discerned by the inexperienced. There are some who will take great pains to be humble; they make humility impossible. How can a man be humble who is all the time thinking of how best he can be humble?

Such a man is all the time occupied with himself, but true humility is freedom from all consciousness of self, which includes freedom from the consciousness of humility. The truly humble man never knows that he is humble.

The truly humble man accepts everything as coming from the hands of God. He knows that in him there is nothing praiseworthy. All the good that is in him is from God, and the praise that men give him belongs to God. When the young man called Jesus "Good Teacher," Jesus quietly said, "Why call me good? There is none good but God."

"Humility," says Lacordaire, "does not consist in hiding our talents and virtues, in thinking ourselves worse and more ordinary than we are, but in possessing a clear knowledge of all that is lacking in us, and not exalting ourselves for that which we have, seeing that God has freely given it us, and with all His gifts, we are still infinitely of little importance." So the truly humble man may accept sometimes the praise which men give him, and quietly passes it on to God, keeping nothing for himself.

The man who is not truly humble behaves in a very unnatural manner when he is not praised by men. He becomes upset, loses his patience and even becomes angry. He repulses them with his irritation and creates for them an awkward situation. Sometimes he suppresses his feelings and remains silent; but he cannot forget the things that are said about him; they haunt him again and again and do not give him peace of mind.

The humble man makes no fuss. He is at harmony with himself and others. He is gifted with a wondrous feeling of peace. He feels safe and secure, like a ship in harbour, unaffected by howling storms and lashing waves. He has found refuge at the Lotus Feet of the Lord and the storms of changing circumstances have no power over him. He feels light as air. The burdens which we carry all our life — the burden of the self and its desires — he has laid aside, and he is ever calm and serene. Having given up everything, he has nothing to lose, and yet everything belongs to him, for he is of God, and God is in him. Having broken the bondage of desire, he is as happy with a piece of dry bread as with a sumptuous meal. In every situation and circumstance of life, he blesses the Name of God.

He who would be humble regards himself as a student. He learns many new things, but what is more difficult, he unlearns many things he has learned. A scholar came to a Saint and said, "O Seer of the Secret, tell me what I may do to live the life divine." And the Saint said to him, "Go, unlearn what thou hast learnt and then return and sit before me."

He who would walk the way of humility must renounce his earlier ways of living. He must give up the opinions he has formed, the standards to which he is accustomed. He must have a new outlook on life. The things the world would worship are to him of no value. His values are so different from those of other men. Rich food, fine houses, costly dresses, positions of power and authority, the applause of men, honours and titles, no longer attract him. He feels drawn to a life of simplicity. He is happy in living a hidden life in the Hidden Lord.

He is dead to the world; he is alive in God. At times he actually behaves like one dead.

Yes, the truly humble man is, in that sense, the "dead" man. He has "died." God alone lives in him. His self has been annihilated. His self has vanished into God, and only God remains. God works in him and through him, and God emits in his eyes. God speaks in his words. On his feet, God walks the earth; and through his hands gives His benedictions to all.

Such men are the real strength of the world — its illumination and inspiration. To see them is to commune with God, for God dwells in them. They are the living, moving Temples of the Lord. They are the ones who keep the world intact, though they do not know it themselves. The whole earth depends on them without anyone being aware of it. Their hearts and minds are in tune with the Great Heart and Mind of humanity. They are in complete accord with all that lives. They give their love to all living beings, as though they were the sons of the one sweet Mother. They have broken all fetters and entered into the freedom of the children of God. God does their will, because they have merged their wills in His. God fulfills their least desire, for it is He Who desires all their desires. They are the little saviours of humanity.

I wish each one of you to follow the lesson of humility, born of love and simplicity.

[ENDS]

His Holiness Master Kirpal (1894-1974)

Born on 6th February 1894 in Sayyad Kasran, British India, His Holiness Master Kirpal Singh was confronted with nationalism, religious intolerance, and bigotry since His early youth. In view of the suffering humanity He deeply thought about the nature of man and sought for a solution to the permanent discord leading to violent conflicts. After a profound study of the basic scriptures of the Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Zoroastrians etc, He found that they all give out the same basic truth and speak about the birthright of man to attain self-knowledge and God-knowledge. Due to His universal view He could create mutual understanding among the different religions. During fourteen years He was repeatedly elected President of the World Fellowship of Religions which came into being in 1957. He left his physical body on 21st August 1974.

Books written by His Holiness include: The Crown of Life - a comparative study of Yogas and Surat Shabd Yoga; Godman - the mission, nature and need of a spiritual Master; The Jap Ji: The Message of Guru Nanak; Morning Talks - a series of short informal talks giving practical advice on the general subject of spirituality; The Mystery of Death; Naam or Word - an in depth study of the Celestial Sound Current or God into Expression Power called variously: Naam, Word, Music of the Spheres, Shabd, etc; The Night is a Jungle - a collection of 14 public discourses on spirituality; PRAYER: Its Nature and Technique; SPIRITUALITY: What it is - an exploration of the Science of Spirituality; The Way of the Saints: SANT MAT - collected short writings, booklets, circular letters, and seasonal messages; and The Wheel of Life - about Karma, "As you sow, so shall you reap."

On three world tours in 1955, 1963, and 1972 His Holiness visited major cities in the Western world, where He met religious leaders -- including the Pope, politicians, and personalities of the society. Everywhere He conveyed the importance of self-knowledge and God-knowledge and emphasized the need of selfless service. His efforts to create understanding from man to man, for peace in the world and for tolerance among the religions have been recognized by many honours. His efforts reached a summit when He convened the first World Conference on Unity of Man, which took place in New Delhi, India, from 3rd to 6th February 1974. Religious, political, and social leaders from all over India, and delegates from approximately 18 countries participated in the conference. This World Conference was the beginning of the Unity of Man movement. As a result of the conference He was invited by the Indian Government to address Parliament. When He spoke to the members of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 1st August 1974, it was the first time that a spiritual leader was given that honour.

Successors

The successor to His Holiness Master Kirpal Singh (1894-1974) was His Holiness Master Ajaib Singh (1926-1997). His successor is His Holiness Sant Sadhu Ram. Their books, thoughts and analyses are available for download from www.mediaseva.org.

Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Background

A. The HQR Project's Latest Glossary (v0.5) is available from here.

B. For those who wish to understand the genesis of the HQR Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

24. HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

25. HQR: Burden of Proof, Synchronicity & Applications

26. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.5

27. HQR: Energy & the Bizarre Danger in Calling Spirits

28. HQR:HH Sant Ajaib:Truth Connected is Never Alone

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family


DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

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Posted by DK Matai at 01:03 PM | Comments (40)

Massage of the Week: Wash Your Partner's Feet!

In many cultures of the world, washing another person’s feet is a way to honor a friend or loved one, and has been used as a religious rite for centuries. The practice can be such a loving, nurturing experience, and an unexpected way to show someone that they are special to you. If that’s not enough, it feels so good! For the ten minutes you might invest in serving another soul, don’t be surprised if it brings tears to your partner’s eyes.

Supplies needed:

A large mixing bowl or other waterproof container to use as a portable wash basin – large enough to fit your partner’s feet.
A chair
Two bath towels
Some soap (liquid or solid)
A little body lotion

Optional:

¼ cup garbanzo flour
Some oil to mix with the garbanzo flour to make a thick paste (massage oil or organic cooking oils are okay, too – you won’t need more than ¼ cup)
A small bowl and a spoon to mix the flour and oil
A washcloth

Set the scene by arranging the chair with a bath towel laid out in front of it. Fill the large bowl half-full with warm water. Lovingly direct your partner to sit down on the chair and soak his or her feet in the water. Use your hands to rub the skin on the feet a little bit, loosening any dirt or grime from the day, splash a little water around the ankles and lower legs, etc.

Next, take your soap and wash the feet. You can lift one foot out of the water at a time, or if that’s too cumbersome, ask your partner to raise his or her foot for a moment while you wash it. Take your time and be thorough. Get in between the toes and around the toe nails, the ankles, the heels, everywhere. When finished washing, rinse off with the warm water.

Optional: Scrub each of the feet, either with the home-made garbanzo paste, or you could just use a washcloth. Put the garbanzo flour into the small bowl, and start adding the oil, a little bit at a time, and mixing it with the spoon until it becomes something in between a cookie dough and a cake batter. Then spread some of the paste on one of the feet and give it a good scrub (or just scrub with the washcloth). Again, take your time and be thorough. Rinse the foot when you’re finished scrubbing. Pay particular attention to the areas in between the toes and around the toe nail cuticles when rinsing – the paste has a tendency to stick there!

Last, put the other bath towel in your lap and dry off your partner’s feet. Move the large bowl with the dirty water out of the way so you can put your partner’s feet back on the floor. Finish with an application of some body lotion to keep the feet hydrated. If you feel like spending an extra minute rubbing the lotion in and massaging the feet, great, but if you’re not up to it, don’t worry. You’re partner will already feel blessed with your attention and affection.

Posted by Grace Wilson at 03:33 AM | Comments (6)

March 22, 2007

CCC: Celebrities, Climate Chaos, Carbon Footprints

Whilst wishing the newly weds felicity, longevity and sustainability, The Philanthropia is picking up strong signals across Europe that environmental groups...

Hurley, Nayar and 200 tonnes of Carbon

...are questioning the wisdom behind Elizabeth Hurley's extravaganza for producing the same amount of carbon emissions during her week-long wedding as the average British couple does in 10 years and a typical Indian couple would do in 123 years to match! Are the concerns justified?

The 41-year-old wed Indian businessman Arun Nayar in a series of festivities in England, India and the Maldives which campaigners believe emitted 200,000 kilograms (200 tonnes) of carbon. As part of their celebrations, the couple jetted 24 of their closest friends from England, and then onto three different Indian cities over six days.

Here are the footprint numbers: “Best Foot Forward says the biggest polluter is the Learjet, which emit more than 70,000kg on its 12,000-mile round-trip. Accommodation in India added 18,605kg, and food and drink 18,000kg. Flying in flowers produced 28,250kg, and flying three chefs to India added 2,377kg. Guests and staff who travelled to Gloucestershire released 30,000kg. The bride’s flight to Milan for a dress fitting added just 215kg.” The total? A staggering 200,000kg of carbon emissions...

The UK ecology group Best Foot Forward has stated, "This level of emission is utter wasteful extravagance... We have to challenge the idea that this is something wonderful -- and realise it is putting the planet in danger." Friends Of The Earth have stated, "Perhaps stars like Liz should think about setting a more positive example."

What are your thoughts, observations and views? Will celebrities be increasingly condemned for setting the wrong example on countering climate chaos via exra large carbon footprints?

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

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Posted by DK Matai at 06:58 PM | Comments (14)

Universe: Revealing Our Modern Mythology

I wanted to share this with you...
Universe

Posted by Saira Mohan at 06:44 AM | Comments (5)

March 21, 2007

Recipe of the Week - Chopra Granola

This week's recipe is the Chopra Granola. One of the best things about this recipe is the smell of the fragrant spices being baked with the maple syrup. This is definitely a form or aromatherapy. Enjoy the granola for a snack or breakfast with milk, soymilk or on top of low-fat yogurt.

2 cups organic rolled oats
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup flaxseeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup almonds, sliced or pieces
2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
2 Tablespoons ghee or canola oil
2 Tablespoons organic apple juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup currants or raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a sheet pan and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients, excluding the cranberries and currants (or raisins). In a separate small bowl combine all the wet ingredients. Add to the dry mixture and combine well. Evenly spread the granola over the baking sheet pan. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Stir often with a spatula. When done let cool. Add the dried cranberries and currants. Cool completely and store in an airtight container or plastic bag. Serve with low-fat milk or soymilk.

Posted by Teresa Long at 10:43 PM | Comments (5)

HQR:HH Sant Ajaib:Truth Connected is Never Alone

Before Sukhdev Muni [Sanskrit: Sage] went to King Janak to get Initiation, he used to think, "How can a worldly person become the Master of a renunciate?"

The Ocean of Love

-- because you know that Sukhdev Muni was a renunciate right from his birth, and whenever he used to ask his father, Ved Vyas, about Initiation, Ved Vyas would tell him, "King Janak is the only perfect Saint nowadays, but He is a King. You may think that He is a worldly person, but He is not, and He is the only one who can connect you with the Naam [and give you the] Initiation."

So whenever Sukhdev Muni would think about going to King Janak to get Initiation his mind would bring up this question, "How can a worldly person become the Master of a renunciate?" that is why, for many years, he did not go to see King Janak. But later on, when he realized that there was no other substitute for him, that he would have to go to the king to get Initiation, he finally went to see King Janak. On his way up to see Him he left his clothes and a metal cup in the courtyard of the king's palace.

His Holiness Sant Ajaib Singh (1926-1997)

When Sukhdev Muni and King Janak were talking with each other, at that time, King Janak, because He was a perfect Saint, created such a Will to teach a good lesson to Sukhdev Muni. What He did was this: after some time an attendant came to King Janak and told Him that the cantonment [the army barracks] of that city was on fire. When King Janak heard that He did not react sharply. He didn't do anything; He was not confused. He said, "It is the Will of God"; and that attendant went away.

Sukhdev Muni thought, "This person is not fit to be a king because the army is like the heart of the king. He should have gone to rescue the people who are in the fire; he should have done something to save them, but he doesn't care. So that is why he is not fit to be the king." After some time, when they were still talking, another person came and told King Janak, "Now the city is on fire." King Janak again remained calm and quiet; He only said, "It is the Will of God." Sukhdev Muni again had that negative thought. He thought, "He is the king and he must have a lot of things in his palace so that is why he thinks, `Why should I worry about the city and the people of my kingdom?' But it is very bad that he doesn't care for the other people. He is only bothered and concerned about his own self. That is why he is only saying, `It is God's Will,' and doing nothing to save the other people."

After some time another person came and said, "Your Highness, now even the palace is on fire. The courtyard of the palace is on fire." At once Sukhdev Muni jumped up to save his clothes and his metal cup. Then King Janak held him by his hand and said, "Now you tell me - who is the renunciate, you or me? You left some clothes and some trivial things in my courtyard, and you are afraid that you will lose them if you don't rush to take them. But you see that when the cantonment was on fire, when the city was on fire, I didn't go to save them because I am not attached to them. So now you can decide who is a renunciate and who is not."

The Ocean of Love

Then Sukhdev Muni learned that in reality he was attached to the world and King Janak was not. Even though King Janak used to live like a worldly person, since He was a King and He had many obligations, many responsibilities, but in fact He was not attached to all those things. He was just performing His duty. So when he realized that King Janak was a perfect One, and that he should take Initiation from Him, he requested, "Master, now You should give me Initiation."

But King Janak was not going to give him Initiation so easily. He told Sukhdev, "Well, I will give you Initiation, but first I will put you to some tests, and if you pass those tests, only then you will get the Initiation."

King Janak gave Sukhdev Muni a cup full of oil and told him, "You take this oil, and holding this cup in your hand, go around the city. If you come back with the same amount of oil, without dropping even a single drop of this oil, only then will I understand that you can concentrate, and that you can do the meditation. And only then will I give you Initiation." He said, "Mind that, if you drop even a single drop of oil on the ground, you should know that a person with an open sword is behind you, and he will cut off your head, so you should be very careful."

When Sukhdev Muni took that cup of oil and went into the city, King Janak, at many places in the city, had arranged some distractions, such as dancers and other things. This was only to attract Sukhdev Muni's attention. But Sukhdev Muni had the desire of realizing God, and he wanted to get the Initiation from the perfect Master, and since he knew that if he dropped the oil he would be killed, he was afraid of death also. So his mind didn't tell him to look at all those things, all those distractions, and he was so concentrated in that cup of oil that even though he went all around the city he didn't look at any other thing except that cup of oil. When he came back to King Janak having passed that test King Janak asked him, "Tell me, what did you see in the city? Did you like the city?" He said, "Let me tell you that I didn't see anything in the city. I don't know what was happening there, because I was afraid that I would be killed if I removed my attention from this cup of oil, so I was fully concentrated on this cup."

Then King Janak said, "Now I see that you can concentrate in the meditation also. Later on, when you get Initiation, if you will have that much concentration in your meditation, only then will you become successful." Later, after Sukhdev Muni passed many other tests, and when he got the Initiation, he was so much concentrated in his meditation that he became successful, and he also became a perfect Saint.

So if we also remember that death is hanging over our head, and we are not supposed to look at this or that place, if we remember and we have real yearning for God, then there is no question of our mind taking us away from our Simran. We will be absorbed in the Simran just as the attention of Sukhdev Muni was absorbed in that cup of oil.

Our head is filled with the enjoyments and the distractions of the world, and we always remember them. But if we are afraid of our Master, if we are afraid of our death, and if we remember that our main purpose for coming into this world is to realize God, then it will not be very difficult to take our mind away from the enjoyments and distractions of the world. We can easily put all our concentration and all our attention in the Simran only.

[ENDS]

Excerpt of Question and Answer session with His Holiness Sant Ajaib Singh on September 29, 1980 at Sant Bani Ashram, 77 RB, Rajasthan, India. The successor to His Holiness Master Kirpal Singh (1894-1974) was His Holiness Master Master Ajaib Singh (1926-1997). His successor is His Holiness Sant Sadhu Ram. Their books are available for download from www.mediaseva.org.

Sant Ajaib Singh Ji, 77RB Ashram Sevadars, and a Few Westerners, July, 1976

Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Background

A. The HQR Project's Latest Glossary (v0.5) is available from here.

B. For those who wish to understand the genesis of the HQR Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

24. HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

25. HQR: Burden of Proof, Synchronicity & Applications

26. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.5

27. HQR: Energy & the Bizarre Danger in Calling Spirits

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

Add to Technorati Favorites

Posted by DK Matai at 08:32 AM | Comments (49)

Open Thread

March 21, 2007

Posted by Intent at 12:58 AM | Comments (165)

March 20, 2007

Knut The Polar Bear

Baby Knut was abandoned by his mother, and adopted by a zoo keeper at the Berlin Zoo. Some animal rights activists think Knut should not be coddled like a baby and should actually be killed. The zoo

thinks and is acting otherwise. Per Reuters, "The polar bear is bottle-fed, washed and cuddled by his adoptive father, who moved in to the zoo to sleep in a bed by the bears crate. Newspapers report that Doerflein also plays him Elvis songs on the guitar and gave him Christmas presents."

Per another article in the Daily Mail:

"Activists fret that it is inappropriate for a predator, known for its fierceness and ability to fend for itself in the wild, to be snuggled, bottle-fed and made into a commodity by zookeepers... "The zoo must kill the bear," said spokesman Frank Albrecht. "Feeding by hand is not species-appropriate but a gross violation of animal protection laws."

I honestly know nothing about animal protection laws, but don't zoos already commoditize animals? And, boy, he is so adorably cute. He has been photographed by Annie Leibovitz and check him out on You Tube.

Posted by Mallika Chopra at 08:27 PM | Comments (25)

A miracle comes our way

It is said that miracles happen only to those who believe them. One came our way. It is here for those who wish to share it.

Posted by Anouradha Bakshi at 07:03 PM | Comments (5)

March 19, 2007

Health Tip of the Week - Herbs for Migraine

Herbs for Migraine
Q: I have recurring migraines and hate the side-effects of the medications. Are there any alternatives?

A: Headaches are a very common problem for human beings. Studies have estimated that about ninety per cent of men and ninety-five per cent of women have at least one unprovoked headache each year. Over 20 million Americans have moderate to severe migraines that cause some incapacitation one to several times per month. Migraine headaches are distinguished from the more common tension-type headache by their throbbing component often associated with nausea and visual disturbances. Despite their prevalence, the cause of migraines is not well understood. People with migraines have an increased sensitivity to a wide range of stimuli from certain foods to noise to bright lights. A center in the nervous system deep in the brainstem seems to lose its equilibrium triggering the pain and blood vessel changes.

Every person has a favored physiological system that expresses the accumulation of stresses and imbalances. For some, it may be the digestive system; for others the immune system. For people with migraines, their nervous systems are vulnerable. You can use your headache as a “canary in the mine shaft.” Ask yourself, “What aspects of my life need some attention?” and make the necessary shifts. Look at your sleeping patterns, look at your diet, look at your work environment, and look at your core relationships. Make the commitment to eliminate what is not nourishing you and bring in more of what will. If you are not already meditating, learn to quiet your mind and settle your body, to raise your threshold of reactivity to stressful events in your life. Be certain to get enough rest and try to stay on a regular daily routine (early to bed, early to rise) even on the weekends.

For about one-quarter of migraine patients, foods can provoke a headache. The most common foods that have been associated with migraines include alcohol, aged cheeses, chocolate, cured meats, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and caffeine. A common cause of migraines is due to caffeine withdrawal in someone who drinks coffee daily and then goes for a day without the caffeine dose.

Herbal medicines may offer some benefit. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) was traditionally used to help normalize menstruation and facilitate childbirth. In two separate studies published in the mid 1980’s patients who took feverfew on a daily basis had significantly fewer headaches than those taking a placebo control. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus), an herb native to Europe and Asia, has been shown in a recent study to reduce the frequency of migraine headaches by more than two-thirds. The Ayurvedic herbs, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) have been used traditionally to balance the nervous system. They have been shown to reduce reactivity to stressful events and may raise your threshold to trigger a life disturbing headache.

Posted by David Simon at 10:49 PM | Comments (3)

West must meet East & Threat to Lowlands, Islands

We are grateful to Ashutosh Sheshabalaya from Brussels and Bassilly, Belgium, for "West must meet East -- Climate Sermons, Innovation and Poverty"; and Elizabeth Marshall from the northern extremity of the United Kingdom, based in Wick, Caithness, for "Climate Chaos: The Threat to Islands & Lowlands."

Dear ATCA Colleagues; dear IntentBloggers

[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]

We are grateful to:

. Ashutosh Sheshabalaya from Brussels and Bassilly, Belgium, for "West must meet East -- Climate Sermons, Innovation and Poverty";
. Elizabeth Marshall from the northern extremity of the United Kingdom, based in Wick, Caithness, for "Climate Chaos: The Threat to Islands & Lowlands";
. Lord Howell of Guildford from The Palace of Westminster for "Outdated Euro-centric Thinking needs to focus on Asia and The Real Keys";

in response to "EU to become Green Model for US, China and India -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel; EU leaders to make Europe change lightbulbs."

Ashutosh Sheshabalaya is the author of 'Rising Elephant', which is a heavily-researched bestseller about India's rise and long-term opportunity and challenge to the West, published in the US, India and Europe. Described as a "tour de force" by the Director of UBS bank's Wolfsberg think-tank and as "highly provocative" by former Indian Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, 'Rising Elephant' has been reviewed worldwide. He has worked in Brussels as an accredited foreign correspondent, in public affairs (for the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries), and as a strategic consultant -- both for private corporations as well as the European Commission, Invest in Sweden Agency and others. In total, he has led research projects for over 65 studies covering a wide range of industries. Now heading Belgium-based India-Advisory, he is a frequent speaker at conferences and seminars in Europe, India and the US, a columnist for the Indian online news portal Sify and an occasional contributor to Yale University's Center for Globalisation and Washington's Globalist. A winner of the all-India National Science Talent Scholarship and the Wien International Scholarship, he studied at a leading Indian engineering institution, the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, and at Brandeis University in the US. Mr Sheshabalaya is married to a Belgian and is part of New and Old India. His parents were both university Vice Chancellors, and his family includes an Industry Minister in the Nehru government, a Commissioner in British India and representative of the Tata industrial group, one of India's first women legislators, senior military officers, diplomats and seven members of the elite Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He writes:

Dear DK and Colleagues

Re: West must meet East -- Climate Sermons, Innovation and Poverty

Chancellor Angela Merkel's call is welcome. However, I doubt it will set an example for India.

As I explained to MEPs recently at a European Parliament conference on biofuels, India's broader climate chaos effort will depend on a much higher level of per capita income; currently, even in terms of purchasing power parity, it is not only 15-20 times lower than the West, but three times lower than the world average. In other words, in two very different playing fields (Europe and India), the sums simply do not add up -- and such sermons go unheard.

What is especially relevant here is India's massive but highly price-sensitive rural consuming segment which -- unlike China -- not only votes to throw out governments, but is also key to driving India's near double-digit economic growth. And yet, it still consumes less than 0.5 TOE (Tonne of Oil Equivalent) per head in commercial energy.

Instead, what Europe needs to do is to take very-serious political (and in some cases, competitive/industrial policy) note of Indian advances in the renewable energy area.
For example, Indian biomass gasification technology is already licensed in Europe. Indian electric car Reva (currently under evaluation with fuel cells) was recently described by the New York Times as one of the biggest successes in its class (and is exported, among other places, to the UK). Meanwhile, Indian windpower giant Suzlon is fast becoming a world player (not least by acquiring key assets in Europe to leverage its already significant market presence back home).

Last but not least, India's biodiesel substitution target is actually more ambitious than Europe's; it is also using a novel route (Jatropha). As with some other national programmes -- combining innovative Indian high-technology approaches with a political mandate -- may provide some surprises. This not only concerns the examples mentioned above, but also areas like supercomputing (with massively parallel processing, India broke the teraflops barrier before Europe), Thorium fast-breeder nuclear power, Tritium extraction, liquid fuelled launchers, etc.

In the home lighting area mentioned below, a Le Monde review last November featured Mighty Light, an Indian-designed solar powered answer to rural needs.

Due to its unique combination of 21st century know-how and 19th century problems, India may have some unique answers for the wider world. But what it does not have is the money to propagate such solutions with sufficient speed both in India itself, let alone in other developing countries.

This is where the EU may have a critical role to play.

Regards


Tosh
____________________________________________________________________________

Elizabeth Marshall is a Fellow of The Energy Institute in London and Member of the Ad Hoc Expert Group on Energy convened by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1992. Elizabeth is a former director of the British Institute of Energy Economics and a member of The Windsor Energy Group of which The Lord Howell is Chairman. She is based in the extreme North of the United Kingdom in Wick, Caithness, and is a member of the Institute of Directors in London and The Reform Club. She writes:

Dear DK and Colleagues

Re: Climate Chaos: The Threat to Islands & Lowlands

Lord Howell is certainly right about the inconvenient truths. The most pressing for maritime island nations like the UK are the rising sea levels. When I gave a presentation recently about the need for an urgent look at energy economic policy to integrate energy production with coastal protection in light of the need for coastal protection/sea walls and other barriers to be raised a minimum of six feet, as is now happening at Wick, some of the audience did not want to believe that six feet was the level needed despite the photographic evidence of the sea pouring over sea walls that were raised four feet two years ago.

We are risking immense and irreversible damage to our coastal towns and cities and our power station cooling systems, refineries, oil storage depots and other major energy and related infrastructure such as water and sewerage systems, if we continue to pretend the problem does not exist or continue to fail to put together some of the best engineering and construction brains in the country to devise the methods and stratagems whilst estimating the costs to tackle this problem.

Alan Jones at the London Climate Change Agency has a model for integrating energy, water and waste and for looking at distributed systems. We need to take such models, refine and cost them, and put together new alliances and partnerships to implement them. This requirement is more urgent than emissions reduction proposals. Experience suggests that in respect of the rapidly rising sea levels which the recent IPCC report fails to clearly express -- we have not got twenty years to wait before we take action. Building the London Olympics without taking care first of the Thames Barriers seems a total waste of time and money if this entire area is inundated as it could well be by 2012 if no action is taken now.

This should be northern Europe's main immediate concern in respect of climate chaos as so many our great cities are low level, on or near the sea or tidal rivers --Rotterdam, Antwerp, Paris, Hamburg, London, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, St Petersburg, Lisbon -- to name but a few-to say nothing of the Mediterranean area and North Africa with its huge populations in cities such as Cairo.

Sincerely


Elizabeth Marshall

[ENDS]

Please click here for previous Socratic Dialogue. We look forward to your further thoughts, observations and views. Thank you.

Best wishes


For and on behalf of DK Matai
Chairman, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA)
____________________________________________________________________________

ATCA: The Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance is a philanthropic expert initiative founded in 2001 to resolve complex global challenges through collective Socratic dialogue and joint executive action to build a wisdom based global economy. Adhering to the doctrine of non-violence, ATCA addresses opportunities and threats arising from climate chaos; radical poverty; geo-politics, organised crime & extremism; advanced technologies -- bio, info, nano, robo & AI; demographic skews; pandemics; and financial systems. Present membership of ATCA is by invitation only and has over 5,000 distinguished members from over 100 countries: including several from the House of Lords, House of Commons, EU Parliament, US Congress & Senate, G10's Senior Government officials and over 1,500 CEOs from financial institutions, scientific corporates and voluntary organisations as well as over 750 Professors from academic centres of excellence worldwide.

The views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. Please do not forward or use the material circulated without permission and full attribution.
____________________________________________________________________________
Intelligence Unit | mi2g ATCA The Philanthropia Φ

Posted by ATCA at 11:17 AM | Comments (5)

Visiting "Hometown Baghdad"

Mass media coverage has hammered home the impression that Iraq is a country of street people constantly embroiled in religious strife. Because of the dangerous conditions in Baghdad, Western cameras only go where the army goes. Now we can glimpse a different, much more humane view of daily life in the city, thanks to a video project known as "Hometown Baghdad."

To access the video, click on the link below: http://hometownbaghdad.com/2007/03/18/first-3-webisodes-of-hometown-baghdad/

In this documentary, made with the help of Iraqi filmmakers who have much more access to their own hometown, we see 1 and 2-minute snippets that seem to come from another planet. A mother cooks lunch and affectionately talks about her sons--a very ordinary scene except that you notice the modern house behind her, which is far from a ruined hovel. A dental student continues his studies. The violent side of life is never far away--another student shows us the place where a missile scattered the brains of a friend on the ground--but for the first time one sees reasonable, friendly, worried people who seem very much like us.

The tragedy is that most of the middle class has fled Iraq, taking with them the country's reputation for education, technological skill, and tolerant secularism (however horrific Saddam was, he bolstered two generations of non-sectarian Arabism in the country). The people we see in "Hometown Baghdad" are nearly mythical creatures, at least as viewed from America: moderate Arabs who would thrive under democracy and who are the last hope of their country. Such people also live in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon. One only prays that they are not doomed in the future to being eliminated as the tide of violence rises. Their present life is tenuous, and very moving to observe.

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 07:02 AM | Comments (28)

Weekly Yoga Session with Claire!

Cobra Pose

Instructions:

Come into Child’s Pose. Sit back on your heels and rest your forehead on your towel or mat. Breathe in and out 3-5 times.

Come onto your belly. Rest your forehead on the towel or mat and have your fingertips in line with the tops of your shoulders.

Breathing deep full breaths. Keep your elbows in toward your body. Gently pressing your shoulders back and down.

Inhaling and slowly lift your face up toward the sky and then allow the rest of your upper body to follow. Keep your hips on the ground. Breathe in and out 3-5 breaths.

Exhale and lower down and then press back into Child’s Pose. Relax all the muscles in your face, rest and enjoy.

Repeat Cobra/Child’s Pose 3-5 times.Then rest in Child’s Pose for 5 minutes.

Benefits

Strengthens the muscles around the spine.
Lengthens the abdominal muscles and front of the neck.
Strengthens and tones the liver and kidneys.
Strengthens the shoulders and chest.
Increases blood flow around the lower back and hips.

Safety Tips

If you have back pain, perform Child’s Pose.

If your shoulders are uncomfortable raise up where it is comfortable or just perform Child’s Pose.

Move easily from Child’s Pose to Cobra Pose. Notice how your body feels and chooses the most nourishing choice.

If you have Knee situations omit Child’s Pose and rest on your belly.

This Week’s Mantra

Om Vardhanam Namah

Pronunciation: Om Vahr-Dah-Nahm Nah-Mah

“I am the nourisher of the Universe and the Universe nourishes me.”

This week:

Take time each day to do something nourishing for your mind, body and soul.

Be gentle with yourself and others.

Give the most precious gifts of love, caring and affection.

Notice the people you love to be around and spend more time with them.

If You Have Any Questions or to Order Claire’s DVD’s and Books Contact Me

Claire@Chopra.com
www.ClaireDiab.com

Have a Wonderful Week!

Namaste!

Posted by Claire Diab at 12:03 AM | Comments (1)

March 18, 2007

HQR: Energy & the Bizarre Danger in Calling Spirits

A few years ago in Zurich, Switzerland, we met a beautiful lady involved in computing systems for major banks at a "Sechseleuten" party, which celebrates the coming of spring and the melting of snow by burning a Böögg or Giant Snow Man...

The Burning of The Böögg at Sechseleuten, Zurich

This lady ended up becoming a friendly acquaintance, until one day at Zurich railway station, I tripped and twisted my ankle quite badly. This lady came to find out about it because we were due to meet her and she had to pay us a visit where we were staying rather than at the previously arranged place.

When she saw my swollen ankle, she said that she had this balm and somehow the pain would go away very quickly and she asked my wife, Surinda, to come with her to her flat to pick up the same.

When Surinda returned an hour later, whilst I was still unable to move much, she had the balm and two small gifts of match boxes arranged in a matrix of four each. Each matrix of four match boxes had different images pasted on it rather elegantly. One image was of a Lotus flower and another of an Oriental God or Goddess. The cabinets made up of the match holders had crystals sewn on and as one opened the four cabinets, sure enough, there were loads of matches.

At any rate, a few months went by and we met this lady again in Zurich for dinner. She came again with some more gifts and more matches. Earlier in the afternoon, she had taken Surinda away for tea.

Now, upon receiving the gift of another 8 match boxes in a matrix of 4, we got rather disturbed. We said to the lady, look, we don't smoke and we don't need more matches, much as we like you.

She wouldn't listen and so we had to be firm. At this point her face metamorphosed and it became two faces. One her original face and another a blue hallucination which had flames coming out of it, that looked rather angry with me. So I was rather scared.

We tried to conclude the dialogue amicably, bid her goodbye by taking her to her car, as courtesy demands. Now, the blue image of a snarling face, next to her real face, was still there all along. Getting angrier and angrier!

As we parted company, the angry blue face decided to come with us and left her. It had half a blue translucent body as well.

Mr "Angry Blue" came back to our room and at this point, I was very scared and I said to my wife, are you seeing anything, are you feeling anything. She said no! I said, look we will talk later.

So, I started praying as one does for regular meditation and sat in meditation. At this point the snarling face receded out of our precinct and I bolted the door!

Looking through the magic eye of the main door, the blue face was still there: snarling angrily! What a day!

So, Surinda says to me, "What's up, you look like you saw a ghost!" I said, "Yes, something like that."

I asked again, "Did you see anything?" She said no. I explained the entire situation to her and Surinda said, "Are you taking something for your jet lag?" I said, "NO!"

Now I said, "Tell me what this lady told you when you had gone for tea together in the afternoon. Did she give you anything, did she place anything in your bag?"

Surinda said that the lady had said that she was under pressure to win more business and had found out a way to achieve this. She would give gifts to senior managers with images on them and then she would summon spirits by uttering the words of "Shakti" or "Energy".

When the Energy was summoned, she would then be able to dictate terms to a senior manager at a distance and he or she would invariably sign the contract the next day. We figured the identification of the individual was via the images on the matchboxes she had gifted.

Upon further investigation, we found cardamom seeds in Surinda's handbag which had been placed by the lady so that the voodoo, black magic or indeed Siddhi may not work on her but only on me.

When we returned, we burnt the matchboxes she had gifted to us and the flames rose a fair bit higher than expected. Three feet at one point!

This is why the Great Spiritual Masters have always said that Siddhis can be a dangerous affair and impediment to true spiritual progress. There is no such thing as a free lunch and when someone summons a spirit to do something the spirit may end up doing something else as well.

The health of the lady in Zurich deteriorated considerably and she was divorced from her husband etc as she went deeper and deeper into Siddhis, we were informed.

We never had such a bizarre experience in our lives and we pray to God that we don't have another one again. If someone gives you free matches, candles or incense as gifts, think twice before taking them. They may be momentos to set free roaming spirits on you!

What are your thoughts, observations and views?

Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Background

A. The HQR Project's Latest Glossary (v0.5) is available from here.

B. For those who wish to understand the genesis of the HQR Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

24. HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

25. HQR: Burden of Proof, Synchronicity & Applications

26. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.5

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

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Posted by DK Matai at 02:23 AM | Comments (120)

Sex and the Siddhi

Ooh, The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali get me hot.

What?! I had to tie-in the title early, people. You blog people can be such pervs!

A tantric glossary defines “siddhi” as "a magickal or spiritual power for the control of self, others and the forces of nature".

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.

These extraordinary human abilities are in actuality supernormal perceptual states available to all human beings. SIDDHI in Sanskrit means “ Accomplished One” . The word shares roots with The Buddha’s name Siddharta and means "he whose aim is accomplished,"

Siddhi phenomena, such as Telepathy, bilocality, OBE’s and remote viewing and the like pisses off the skeptics. My guess is that they probably aren’t “getting’ any”.

Back in 500 A.D., the siddhis were summarized in Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras”. Jean Millay PhD., introduced me to Dr. Dean Brown’ s translation, included in his book “The Upanishads”. While there are many translations of the writing, several share the following verse one in chapter four:

"IV KAIVALYA PADA --
Verse 1: janma-osadhi-mantra-tapah-samadhi-jah siddayahsamadhi.

1- The siddhis are born of birth, drugs, mantras, tapas, or samadhis.. "

The verses continue, saying that the use of certain herbs it is possible for a partial or full Awakening can be achieved. In Sanskrit, the method of Awakening through herbs is called Aushadhi. Writing from Buddhist researcher Anna Jones contends:

“ Awakening thus achieved, can, under the right circumstances and conditions, albeit short term, replicate at least partially the level of a Chalabhinna, an Arhat of the third level of realization with the ability of Iddhavidha, the power of transformation.” (Jones, 2004)

Jones continues:
"The power of Siddhis can come because of previous Karma and genetics (janma), from herbs (Aushadhis), the use of Mantras, the kindling of the psychic fire (tapas), and/or from Samadhi."

She also cites translations from some sources as the following, reading the same:

"The attainments are not only the fruits of the Threefold Inner Discipline, but they are congenital in some, and in others they may follow the right and intelligent use of certain medicinal herbs or of certain mantras or they may follow the kindling of the psychic fire.

I believe all of us, fantasize about “Laghima Siddhi “- The ability to make one's body lighter than air and fly at will. In the perfection of this siddhi, one is able to travel on the sun's rays and enter into the sun. Imagine if you could get air miles for that trip!

Ladies, you will SO love the siddhis of LAGHIMA: " TO HAVE NO WEIGHT".
Laghima is the control of the effect of the gravity on the body by developing in each cell an opposite (centrifugal) tendency. And levitation is totally sexy when David Blaine does it.

And the ability to bring others under one's control, or “Vashita Siddhi” sounds very hot in an SM, fetish kinda way-

As with any other natural human ability, certain people have stronger propensities towards developing and/or spontaneously displaying siddhis. Some folks are born with gifts that they exercise without being aware that their particular psychic gift is unusual.

In other cases, one can practice yoga and actively develop siddhis. Since increasing my yogic and meditation practice, some things have been “happening”. Another means to trigger off siddhis in an unexpected and uncontrolled manner is by the use of certain hallucinogens and entheogens such as LSD, mescaline, peyote and others.

I am curious what stories you intentbloggers have to share.

So, go ahead. You, first.

Press “star”, then “pound” and punch in your credit card number.

I’m waiting.

Posted by Renee Reeser Zelnick at 01:07 AM | Comments (45)

March 17, 2007

Weekly Intent - Shiva Bhakta

The Fire is there on the hill there.
But I don't see it there.
You can see it if you are really bent upon seeing it.
Are you afraid of being engulfed by it?
Then you can't see it ...

... Have courage, no fear
You are sure to see it
[Yogi Ramsuratkumar]

A few years back I was in a trip to India. I had been recently introduced to Ramana Maharishi and had read quite a few books on his teaching and his life. Naturally, a visit to his ashram in Thiruvannamalai was on my agenda as I planned my trip to India.

I stayed at the ashram’s sparse but adequate guest house. I had read of various accounts of the traditional girivalam (circumambulation) around Mount Arunachala. The first morning of my stay, I decided to venture out for the ~9 mile (14 kms) walk around Mount Arunachala, As is the tradition, I visited the Arunachaleswara temple before setting out on the girivalam.

The merits of doing this circumambulation around Mount Arunachala were many and after the morning worship, I set out for my walk. I stopped at the various Shiva temples along the way : 1. Indira lingam 2. Agni lingam 3. Yema lingam 4. Niruthi lingam 5. Varuna lingam 6. Vayu lingam 7. Kubera lingam 8. Eesanya lingam

Halfway through my walk, I was overwhelmed with thirst as the February morning warmed up. My throat was parched and I was seeking coconut water – my absolute favorite drink when I am under the duress. But as it happened, I was in a rural stretch of the walk, far away from the city. These coconuts had begun a rather fanatical dance in my mind when I spotted this local on a cycle carrying the green coconuts. He kept looking at me with the hope that I would ask him to stop. I did! He had this utter humility about him that reminded me of Bhagwaan Ramana Maharishi. I tried to respond with equal humility. The coconut water that I then got to experience was totally blissful. It seemed like there was God's play in it. They were the sweetest and freshest ones compared to any other I had ever had before. Back at the Ashram, fresh idlis were waiting for me packed away - as planned earlier. The ashram food was just so simple and yummy too...the food by itself is another everyday miracle at this pious spot.

The girivalam became an obsession as I took the rickshaw tour almost everyday of my stay. I did the walk only once, but it is fairly easy to do and I now wish I had done it a couple more times.

During my stay at Ramana’s ashram, I was absolutely fascinated by the Arunachaleswara temple.

The inner chambers of this temple where the Shiva lingam representing FIRE is housed, is very warm - the heat from the Shiva Lingam I was told. I was at the temple every morning right after it opened, wanting to imbibe the blessings of Lord Shiva. At that early hour (around 5:30 - 6AM) there were very few people in the temple and it was a magical hour. One of the mornings as I stepped out after doing darshan, I soaked in the peace wrapper that engulfed the temple and surrounding areas before the daily hustle bustle started. The birds were chirping away as the early rays of the sun were emerging onto the landscape.

I observed the Arunachala peak in the distance and it had a strange cloud cover, over it - similar to this picture but the clouds followed the curvature of the slopes on the sides like a thin veil. It was a bit uncanny, as if the spiritual energy of Arunachala wanted to present itself. I sat for a few minutes gazing at Arunachala, soaking it in and trying to preserve the memory.

As I walked later that day from the base Ashram to Skandashram (where Ramana Maharishi had spent a few years of his life), I imagined how it would be when Bhagwaan Ramana walked that Arunachala path.

I sort of felt blessed to have the chance to just be there and walk down that same path. As Stuart has said Arunachala was inside us before we came to Thiruvannamalai, and it will be with us after we leave. Arunachala was always in us. We only had to be awakened to its presence.

Just to make sure, I had one of the stone carvings brought with me to preserve the memories and the spiritual vibrations.

Background: I was born in India, and lived most of my life in Mumbai, before moving to the US for my graduate studies. Growing up in India, the seeds of spirituality and the quest for enlightenment or consciousness were firmly implanted, but spirituality was seemingly passé. It found renewed vigor after my move out west, wherein I have developed a resurgence and new perspective, with the distance and separation. I have found a convergence with the Dualism, Advaitism philosophy that I enjoy reading and mulling over. The result was my spirituality blog http://shivabhakta.blogspot.com that has rambling and ranting of my spirituality experiments. I also host a website on the worship of Lord Shiva and have created online collateral including many virtual darshan videos for the spiritual aspirant. I am keen to continue to progress in my chosen path and also help the seeker in the path of Shiva Bhakti and Advaitism. I currently live in the Northern California Bay area, and work in the high-tech industry.

Posted by Intent at 11:47 PM | Comments (5)

A Three Year Old Boy

submitted by Maria Luisa from www.mindyourmind.ca

Angelina Jolie adopted another son. His name is Pham but she changed it to Pax Thien which translates into Peaceful Sky. He’s three.

At three a child knows his name, responds to it and if he is anything like most children he puffs his chest out proudly as he answers the question “what is your name?”

Seems weird and self indulgent. Peaceful Sky-designer names?
Cynical, I know. But doesn’t anyone else think that its more about her than the boy?
What is the true measure of a mother? I don’t know but sometimes I think it boils down to the small stuff. The separation that you make or the opportunities you make for your child to grow into their own person. It’s the difference between saying “I am so proud of you Son” and “You must feel so proud Son”. The former is all about you and the latter acts more like a reflecting pool.
I’m irritated by her. But cant quite put my finger on it. She reminds me of people I have known. Women who have difficulty connecting emotionally with others so they have children to reflect light back. Roles reversed.
Harsh criticism for someone who has used her celebrity to do good deeds.
And yet I’m still irritated.

Posted by mindyourmind.ca at 04:44 PM | Comments (21)

Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.5

The excellent HQR Socratic Dialogue in regard to Glossary v0.4 has shaped the latest version v0.5. Yet there are key terms missing as the HQR project accelerates. Please assist via definitions. Thanks!

The Purpose of the HQR Glossary is to ensure that all the terms covered in the Holistic Quantum Relativity Socratic Dialogue are succintly defined so that it becomes easy for new entrants to understand what a particular term means in HQR's context. The Glossary does not seek to become comprehensive in terms of every faith. It primarily aims at providing meanings for those concepts, abstractions, thoughts, observations and views in Spirituality which converge with modern Science and vice-versa.

Please feel free to suggest hitherto un-mentioned terms, balanced definitions & refinements that have been encountered in the HQR Socratic Dialogue thus far. We will modify the terms, add new ones and delete old ones as we get your invaluable feedback. As HQR integrates relevant terms from Physics, Computing & Mathematics to analogous terms from Oriental faiths of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sant Mat, Shinto, Sikhism, Sufism, Taoism & Zoroastrianism as well as Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam & Judaism, the Union of Science & Spirituality's Glossary unfolds. Around 444 terms & rising! Please forgive errors and omissions in the interim, as this is work in progress. Your loving patience is much appreciated!

Definition of Holistic Quantum Relativity and Genesis

[First Draft provided by Harbhajan Singh, slightly changed, and presented... Please suggest modifications as this is work-in-progress with attendant errors and omissions]

The Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Socratic Dialogue seeks to integrate Modern Science -- particularly Physics, Computing and Mathematics -- with Spirituality. HQR is an effort to present humanity with the possibility of an indestructible and immutable spiritual dimension underpinning all changing phenomenon, long embrace by Great Spiritual Masters of various traditions in various Ages. When this truth is really understood it is hoped that it will provide humanity with much sought for Certainty, Eternal Reality and Truth.

The HQR Socratic Dialogue began with 13th century mystic poet Maulana Rumi’s poem “I Died as a Mineral.” In this poem, Rumi in effect says that he is the same one soul, which beginning from All Soul or God (spiritual dimension) takes various forms such as mineral, plant, animal, man, angel and will eventually again merge into It/Him.

This truth of Rumi was further seized upon by Harbhajan Singh, author of Self-Designed Universe. He stated that he has already written a similar paragraph to Rumi’ poem in his book (“Yesterday we were animals, a day before, plants, a couple of days before minerals….”), which actually shows all such forms evolving from a single Unified Force when it separates into four basic forces of gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak. He further added that this happens because of every system having to go through four basic forces or interactions of physics relevant to its level in the course of it evolution.

Four basic forces or interactions brought physics, unified force and finally the Unified Force of Love (again spiritual dimension only in an other way of saying it) into the picture. They also showed that thanks to them all systems had four basic phases in their lives. This drew participants’ attention to four basic elements of earth, water, fire and air of the Greeks, as also to the supposed fifth element of akasha or sky of the Orientals. Efforts were made to integrate them also into the above picture of unification of forces.

The Socratic Dialogue’s open mindedness regarding the use of scientific findings in relation to arts and spirituality brought some people to say that it was pseudo-science, non-science, bad-science or even non-sense. This turned Socratic Dialogue to strike at the root of all boxed thinking and eventually towards the synthesis of science and spirituality via Holism.

Holism brought into focus its past in 19th century Hegelian philosophy. Which in fact too was an effort to unify science, art and spirituality of the times into one whole. Soon it was discovered that efforts at such holism were made in every cultural and religious tradition of the world and not only in western philosophy. This introduced many symbols in the form of figures, pictures, and diagrams such as triangles, pyramids and charkas, depicting such holism in various ways into the dialogue. Here Richard Thomas (Computing & 3-D Visualisation), Mieke Vander Poll (2-D Visualisation), Syamala Hari (Computing and Mathematics), Keith Watson (Philosophy and Poetry), Todd Ingram (Existential Experience) made their seminal contributions in thought and deed.

Unification of science and spirituality brought into focus the complete unification of science first, and in this regard Dr Avtar Singh, author of The Hidden Factor: An Approach for Resolving Paradoxes of Science, Cosmology and Universal Reality presented his newly developed concept of Holistic Relativity, which according to him unites science to Consciousness through the observable spontaneity in nature and thus solves all modern paradoxes of science, especially of quantum theory, such as dark energy, dark matter etc. Harbhajan Singh opined that if we were to take science along, we would have to take note of their present problems and efforts at uniting Quantum Theory and Relativity, that ignoring Quantum Theory will mean ignoring major part of present science and so it will not be advisable. This led DK Matai, the initiator and overall coordinator of the Socratic Dialogue to name this dialogue, or now rather the project based on it, as Holistic Quantum Relativity.

Given the open nature of the dialogue it was found that different people were presenting and understanding certain terms differently. This led to the need for developing a common glossary, which is continuing alongside the development of the HQR Socratic Dialogue.

After science, attention naturally turned towards masters of Spirituality as also of other fields. In came the Dialogue of Einstein and Tagore on Music, quotes of Einstein having bearings on science and mysticism and of His Holiness Master Kirpal on Unity of Man etc.

Dialogue once again turned towards science when it was found that certain key findings of hitherto neglected Quantum Theory such as Dr David Bohm’s work about the universe being made up of an “interconnected unbroken wholeness”, The Non-locality phenomenon related to Bells’s Theorem, and The Observer’s Effect implying that consciousness underlies all reality, led one to believe that we were advancing towards a holotropic state, strikingly resembling timeless spiritual concept of all reality being the manifestation of one infinite singularity, various named as Creative Principle, Self-Designing Source, Supra-Universal Consciousness, Divine Principle or God.

Harbhajan Singh summed up that universal evolution in fact comprised two parts, the one, described by the Quantum Theory in which the universe gets wound up or entangled into forces – Einstein’s spooky action at a distance - and the other, described by the Relativity Theory, in which the universe gets unwound or disentangled; that thus, Quantum Theory describes a universe contracting from many to One while Relativity theory describes a universe expanding from One to many, and so, it was no wonder that Quantum Theory was leading us to the Holotropic state, a state of Oneness. He furthered opined that it may be good for us to help science further explore the Quantum Theory rather than prematurely discard it in favour of Holistic Relativity.

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

24. HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

25. HQR: Burden of Proof, Synchronicity & Applications

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

Terms utlised in Holistic Quantum Relativity

Adwaita or Advaita: Non-duality between the observer and the observed.

AHARMAN: (also spelled as Ahriman): The Evil God perpetually at war with the Good God, Ahura-Mazda or Ormuzd, the Supreme Creator as given in the Zen-davasta of the Zoroastrians.

Air: Fourth Element.

AJNA or AJNA CHAKRA: Focal point behind and between the eyes, seat of the soul during waking state.

AKASH BANI : Voice from the heaven. fig. the Audible Sound Current, the creative life-principle, sustaining everything in the universe; same as Udgit of the ancients, the holy Word of the Christians, the Barg-i-Asmani or Kalma of the Mohammedans, and the Naam or Shabda of the Sikhs.

Akasha: "Non-visible." Sky, Inner sky, or ether. A broad term referring to the "fifth element" (earth, water, fire, air and sky), perceived as the rarified space or fluid plasma that pervades the universe. Even more subtly, akasha names the inner mind or superconscious stratum. It is through psychic penetration into the akasha that great cosmic knowledge is gathered and the entire circle of time, past, present and future can be known.

AKATH or AKATH KATHA: What cannot be adequately described; fig. the mystic sound principle: the wordless Word, the God-in-expression power, or the Music of the soul.

All-pervasive: Diffused throughout, or existing in every part of the universe, beyond universe and supra-universe.

AMAR DAS, Guru (Ministry 1553-74): Third in succession to Nanak.

ANAMI : The Nameless One without attributes. Same as Maha Dayal, Nirala and Soami.

ANANDA : Ecstasy or bliss.

Anava: The ego, sense of "I" and "mine," ignorance; separation from God. Denotes a sense of finitude and individuality. Derived from the word "anu" meaning an atom or something exceedingly small. One of the three malas or bondages: anava, karma and maya. Anava is the cause of the soul's mistaken sense of separation from God, and the last bond broken at union or Self-Realisation.

AND : The Third Grand Division in the creation, comprising of Trikuti and Sahansdal Kanwal, where subtle matter in the form of emotions and thoughts predominates and the spirit cannot but make use of them; a materio-spiritual region.

ANGAD, Guru (Ministry 1538-53): Second in succession to Nanak, original name being Bhai Lehna. Nanak recognised in him his worthy successor, with a claim to his spiritual riches (Lehna), in preference to his own sons. Nanak styled him 'Angad,' i.e., one cast in his own mould and filled by his own light, as a veritable part of his own being.

ANHAD or ANHAD BANI: Sound that is unending and knows no limits; fig. Audible Life-Current originating the Divine Will, endlessly carrying on the work of creating and sustaining the universe; interchangably used with An-hat meaning 'Unstruck,' as it is automatic and not instrumental.

ANTISH KARAN: inner four-petalled lotus of the mind, symbolic of four mental faculties: chit (memory), manas (feeling mind), buddhi (thinking intellect) and ahamkar (the self-assertive ego).

APRA VIDYA: Knowledge of the material world (observation and experiment) through senses, comprising of religous rites and rituals, formulas and formularies, fasts, vigils, pilgrimages as opposed to 'pra', the awareness of the spiritual world, the knowledge of which lies beyond senses and which is quite independent of them.

Aranayaka: Any of several Sanskrit religious and philosophical treatises, closely connected with the Brahmanas and Upanishads, and intended to be read by hermits in the quiet of the forest. [Sanskrit Āra-yakam, from neuteral singular of āranyaka-, pertaining to the forest, from āranya-, from aranyam, foreign land, wilderness, forest, from arana-, distant, foreign; see al- in Indo-European roots.]

ARJAN or ARJAN DEV, Guru (Ministry 1581-1606): Fifth in the line of succession to Nanak, compiled the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib), the Bible of the Sikhs containing hymns of praise to God from the writings of all the Saints whether Hindus or Muslims, that he could lay his hands upon, besides his own compositions.

ASANA : A generic term denoting any posture in yogic discipline for self-development.

Asana: "Seat or posture." Positions or postures used in hatha yoga and meditation; the third stage of the ashtanga (eight-limbed) yoga system codified in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and discussed in numerous other scriptures. Padmasana ("lotus" or cross-legged pose) is a famed example, though many other postures exist which balance the energies of mind and body, promoting both health and serenity. Asana may also refer to the mat or place on which one sits during meditation. An important dimension of Natha sadhana.

Ascetic: A person who leads a life of contemplation and rigorous self-denial for religious purposes.

Ashram: "A place or state of striving." Holy sanctuary -- physical or virtual; abode or residence of a sadhu, saint, ascetic or guru who is engaged in spiritual instruction. May be a simple place where a guru and his disciples reside, a monastery or a communal institution with schools, guest houses, publishing facilities, charitable enterprises, etc.

Ashrama dharma: That dharma (way of righteousness) which expresses the natural unfoldment of the body, mind and emotions through four stages of life: student, householder, elder advisor and solitaire.

ashrama: Any of the four stages into which a person's life is divided according to Vedic teachings.

ASHTANG YOGA : An eight-fold path of yogic discip-line as developed by Patanjali, the reputed founder of yoga or the path of union of the soul with the Over-soul .

Ashtanga yoga: "Eight-limbed union." The classical raja yoga system of eight progressive stages or steps as described in numerous Hindu scriptures including various Upanishads, the Tirumantiram by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali. The eight limbs are: restraints (yama), observances (niyama), postures (asana), breath control (pranayama), sense withdrawal (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and contemplation (samadhi).

Astikya: "Faith." Among the traditional niyamas, or ethical practices, of ashtanga yoga, astikya is faith in God, Gods, guru and the path to enlightenment.

Astral body: "Body of the stars." Sometimes known as the emotional body, the astral body is the third most dense of the five interpenetrating bodies or sheaths (known in Sanskrit as koshas), through which the soul functions. The five bodies are: physical (annamayakosha), pranic (pranamayakosha), astral (manomayakosha), mental (vijnamayakosha) and causal (anandamayakosha). The astral body functions in the astral plane or Second World (Devaloka).

Astral plane: The subtle, non-physical plane or Devaloka, the second of three primary planes or worlds, or lokas, which include the Bhuloka (First World, or physical plane) and the Sivaloka (Third World, or causal plane).

Astral: "Of the stars." Belonging to the subtle, non-physical dimension of the Second World or Plane. "Astral forces" exist in the Second World but can be felt psychically in the First, ie, the Physical Plane.

Atma: Sanskrit for soul, including the individual soul body and its essence, in contrast with the outer self of individuality and personality with which a person commonly identifies.

Aum: Mystic syllable of Hinduism, identified in the Upanishads as standing for the whole world and its parts, including past, present and future, as well as for Paramatma, the Self of all things. "Aum" is the seed sound, the one undifferentiated primal vibration from which all manifestation issues forth. Associated with Lord Ganesha. Pronounced: "ah" "oo" "mm."

Aura: A subtle, luminous energy field radiating within and around the human body as far as 3-7 feet. That part of the aura which surrounds the head is often represented by artists as a nimbus or halo to depict saints and enlightened beings. Though awakened souls have more brilliant and pure auras, everyone has an aura. Seen psychically, the aura is filled with many colors which are reflections of the thoughts and emotions active in the nervous system and change according to the person's state of mind.

Austerities: Practices of strict self-discipline & self-denial.

Awareness: Individual consciousness, perception, knowing. In the teachings of Saiva Siddhanta Church, awareness describes the soul's ability to sense, see or know. When awareness is aware only of itself and of no object, it merges into Pure Consciousness, Satchidananda.

BABA: A reverential prefix, added to the name of a holy man of merit and renown, like the English prefix Rev. before clergymen.

BANG-I-ASMANI: The Call from heaven. fig. Kalma a holy Word.

BANI : Scriptural texts. fig. the holy Word or Naam

Bhagavad Gita: A portion of the Mahabharata, having the form of a dialogue between the warrior hero Arjuna and his charioteer, the Avatar of Vishnu, Lord Krishna, in which a doctrine combining Brahmanical and other elements is evolved by way of a discourse presented as "The Blessed One's Song."

Bhai Gurdas has given a beautiful description of it in his Kabits and Swaiyas Nos. 140, 141, 213, 265, 269, 270 and 294. Kabir has also referred to Till, in his Dohas or couplets. Tulsi Sahib, tells us that mystery of God is revealed only when one penetrates behind the Til.

BHAJAN : One of the three Sadhans (disciplines) in self-realisation and God-realisation and stands for attuning one's self with the Audible Life Stream.

Bhakta: A devotee (same as bhaktar).

BHAKTI : Worshipful devotion to the God-Man.

BHAKTI YOGA : One of the three important systems of Yoga: Jnana (The path of knowledge), Bhakti (the Path of devotion) and Karam (the path of action)

Bhakti: Devotion; the expression of love for and surrender to God.

Bhuloka: The physical world perceived through the five senses. Also called the First World or Plane.

BIBLE: The holy scriptures of the Christians, comprising of 66 books: 39 in the Old and 27 in the New Testament.

BRAHM GIANI: The knower of Brahm (the Universal Mind), the creator of Brahmand: the cosmos.

Brahmachari: An unmarried man and spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes religious disciplines, including sadhana, devotion, service and teaching, and who may be under simple vows.

Brahmacharini: An unmarried, female spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes certain disciplines, often relating to devotion, service and teaching children, and who may be under simple vows.

Brahmachariya: "Godly conduct." Brahmachariya, among the ethical restraints known as the yamas, means sexual purity--the restraint of lust and other aspects of the instinctive nature. In its strictest application, brahmachariya is celibacy, complete sexual abstinence, as practiced by monastics and advised for all persons prior to marriage. Thus, the first phase of life, until age twenty-five, is called the brahmachariya ashrama, a time of studentship and transmutation of sexual energies into intellectual and spiritual concerns. In a broader sense, householders practice the sexual purity of brahmachariya by remaining faithful in marriage.

Brahman: A name for God or Supreme Deity in the Vedas. Descriptions of Brahman include the Transcendent Absolute, the All-Pervading energy, as well as the Supreme Lord or Primal Soul. Brahman is thus equivalent to God Siva in one or all three perfections.

BRAHMAND: Second Grand Division in creation, below Sach Khand. It is a spiritual-material plane of the Universal Mind and subject to decay and dissolution.

BUDDHA: More correctly 'The Buddha': 'the awakened' or 'the enlightened'; title of prince Siddhartha, often called Gautama; the founder of Buddhism.

Buddhism: The religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha. He refuted the idea of man's having an immortal soul and did not preach of any Supreme Deity. Instead he taught that man should seek freedom from greed, hatred and delusion, and enlightenment through realizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are: the fact of suffering, the origin of suffering, the annihilation of suffering, and the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path comprises: Right Views, Right Aspirations, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation. Buddhism migrated out of India, the country of its origin, and now enjoys a following of roughly 300 million, mostly in Asia.

BUDDHI: Thinking and reasoning faculty: intellect. One of the three constituent parts that go to form a rational being: body, mind and intellect, the last being the discriminating faculty that reasons out right from wrong,

Chakra: "Wheel." A center of force and consciousness located within the inner bodies of man. Nerve plexes, ganglia and glands corresponding to principle chakras are located in the physical body, situated along the spinal cord from the base into the cranial chamber. Seven principle chakras, psychically seen as colored and multi-petalled lotuses, are commonly described, though many more exist.

CHAKRAS: Six ganglionic centres in the bodily system by controlling which one attains mastery over various processes going on in the body: e.g. physiological, psychological and respiratory etc. Since these centres are in the form of small wheels or lotus, these are called chakras.

CHHANDOGYA UPANISHAD: Based on Sama-Veda, explains the sacred syllable OM, (Udgita or Pranava), i.e. Brahma, the intelligent cause of the universe.

CHID-AKASH : Pure mind-essence wherefrom mental vibrations arise and assume the form of feelings, thoughts and actions.

CHIT OR CHITA : Lake of the mind wherein are stored all kinds of impressions in the form of memories, it is one of the four facets of manas: Chit, Mana, Budhi and Ahankar.

CHITR: One of the two recording angels: the other being Gupt; keeping a record of the deeds of each person (manifested acts and unmanifested latencies and thoughts).

CHRIST: (Gr. Christos, the Annointed one). Title given to Jesus, the founder of Christianity, as being the Messiah or Lord's Annointed of the ancient Hebrew prophecy.

Concentrated meditation: A type of meditation which may infuse a new type of life (Jia or inner awareness) in the heart of the meditator.

Conscience: The inherent knowledge or sense of right and wrong. Our conscience is the innate wisdom of our soul, along with all we have learned from our past lives.

Conscious mind: The everyday, thinking state of mind. We function in the conscious mind during most of our waking hours. One of the five states of mind: conscious, subconscious, sub-subconscious, sub-superconscious & superconscious.

Conscious: Aware, sentient, able to feel and think; the ordinary waking state.

Consciousness: Short form for Supra-Universal Consciousness.

consciousness: Perception, awareness, apprehension. There are many layers or levels of consciousness ranging from the ordinary, every-day consciousness of our body and mind to omniscient states of superconsciousness, the ultimate Truth being Supra-Universal Consciousness. Consciousness aware only of itself is Pure Consciousness. Basic consciousness and soul are essentially the same. The soul which has begun functioning in an individual (begun entanglement) is basic consciousness, consciousness when not functioning in an individual is soul. When unaware, both are the same as spirit.

Creed: An authoritative formulation of the beliefs of a religion or a community. A creed is meant to summarize the specific teachings or articles of faith, to embody and thus protect and transmit the beliefs. Creeds have arisen historically when a religion was transplanted from its country or region of origin to a new culture.

DADU (1544-1603): Brahman sage of Ahmedabad, rejected the Vedas and Qoran; thought of Siva, Vishnu and Brahma as deified men; denounced caste and priestcraft and taught worship of One God, the Creator Preserver of all.

Dana: "Giving." A traditional niyama, ethical practice, dana is charity, giving creatively without thought of reward, including tithing and feeding the poor.

Dark Energy: A hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and has strong negative pressure causing the observed expansion of the universe. Compare Kal Niranjan.

Dark Matter: Matter which is not directly observed and has unknown composition. It does not emit or reflect enough electromagnetic radiation to be detected directly, but its presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter. Compare Kal Niranjan.

DARSHAN : To have a view of the Master's form with loving devotion, within or without.

DASAM DWAR or DASAM DUWAR: Region between Brahmand and Par Brahmand, both of which form the second Grand Division in creation, plane of Universal Mind consisting of Pure Spirit and subtle form of matter varying degrees; here the pilgrim-soul, by a dip in Amritsaar (the sacred pool within), is washed clean of impurities regaining its pristine purity, becoming hansa or a royal white swan.

Daya: "Compassion." Among the traditional yamas, moral restraints, daya is conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.

DAYAL: Merciful or compassionate. It is one of the attributes of God.

Delusion: A fixed false belief that is resistant to reason or confrontation with actual fact.

Deity: "God." Can refer to the image or murthi installed in a temple or to the Mahadeva whom the murthi represents.

Deva: "Shining one." A Second World being living in the higher astral plane.

Devaloka: The higher Second World, wherein souls take on astral or mental bodies; deep within the First World.

Devotee: A person strongly dedicated to something or someone, such as to a God or a guru. Often used interchangeably with disciple, though the latter term generally implies a deeper commitment.

DHARAM RAI : King-Judge; The Lord of the Astral world who judges all by their actions: the law being as you sow, so shall you reap. But those who take refuge at the feet of a Perfect Master easily escape from the pinching effect of this Law.

DHARM : The term is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Dhir' meaning that which supports or upholds some-thing. (Here of course the world systems on all levels of existence).

Dharma: Divine law; the law of being; defined broadly as the way of righteousness or "that which holds one's true nature." The fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny. To "follow dharma" means to act in accordance with divine law.

Dhriti: "Steadfastness, constancy." Among the traditional yamas, dhriti is overcoming non-perseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness, keeping the mind and emotions steady through all circumstances.

DHUN-ATMAK: Music of the soul.

DHUN: Reverberation of the sound principle in creation, Music of the spheres.

DHYAN: From Dhi. (Skt. Dhi). Concentration, particularly the holy Shabd; communion with the Word.

DHYANIS: Devotees who go into ecstasy with the musical chants of cymbals.

Divine Mother: See Shakti.

Earth: First Element

Ego: The "i" thought and the center of various basic interactions as we evolve. Sum total of our personality, beliefs, experiences, memories, wishes and desires. It (also called self) represents the character(s) progressively surrendering through which, we reach our fundamental identity of indestructible Self or Soul as one with the All-Encompassing One or God.

Egotism, Egotistical: Characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance. Characteristic of false pride or having an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

EK-ANKAR: The Unmanifest-Manifested, God-in-expression power, the holy Word, the primal manifestation of Godhead by which and in which all live, move and have their being and by which all find a way back to Absolute God.

Electron: A stable subatomic particle in the lepton family having a rest mass of 9.1066 × 10^-31 kg and a unit negative electric charge of approximately 1.602 × 10^-19 Coulombs.

Emanation: To "flow out from." In Saiva Siddhanta philosophy, God Siva creates and is His creation. Siva's creation of the world from Himself is described in scripture as being similar to "sparks issuing forth from fire" or "a web from a spider." This vision of cosmic creation contrasts with other views such as "creation out of nothing" (Judeo/Christian), or non-creation--a view in which reality is permanent and always existing (Meykandar Saiva Siddhanta and other dualist and pluralist schools).

Entanglement: Aan intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim. The act of entangling. The state of being entangled. Something that entangles; snares; involvement; complication. To twist together or entwine into a confusing mass; snarl. To complicate; confuse. To involve in or as if in a tangle. eg Entanglement for this life happened in previous lives, entanglement for the next life may happen in this life. Similarly, entanglement for this cycle of evolution of universe happened in previous cycles, entanglement for the next cycle may happen in this cycle. In the context of universal evolution, unified force's coupling to various gross to subtle forms of matter and through them to various basic interactions. Thus, when it couples to the molecular level and above, it gets entangled into gravitational interactions; when to the atomic level, it gets entangled into electromagnetic interactions; when to nuclear level or to nucleons, it gets entangled in strong interactions; and finally, when it couples to sub-nuclear level, it gets entangled to weak interactions. At human level it may be taken as awareness or consciousness's coupling to/absorption into physical body, emotional body, causal (mind/thoughts) body and finally subtler emotional body or spiritual body. Evolution is the result of this coupling/entanglement, which causes mutations in bodies through evolutionary surges (Design Part), and the respective body's reaction/response to adapt to them (Darwinian Part). See Evolution.

Essence - That which cannot be described with or is beyond words / language and labels because it is the sum of the parts, ie, detail. An essence can only be experienced and is an intangible existence.

Ether: Word used most often to translate akasha. Most subtle of the five elements (earth, air, water, fire and ether) which make up the physical universe. Invisible essence which pervades all form and all other elements. In a broader sense etheric refers to the non-physical spheres (as in "inner ethers").

Evolutionary Leap: A phenomenon caused by soul or spirit when it acts as evolutionary force and makes any system make a quatum jump to its next energy orbit or interaction centre. Thus it makes an electron of an atom to jump to its next energy orbit (in which case it is also called free energy of an atom or energy entrapped in an atom); and it makes Kundalini Shakti or Energy in humans to jump to the centre of next basic energy interaction or Chakra. See Entanglement.

Evolutionary Surge: See Evolutionary Leap.

Faith: Confidence or trust in a person, concept, abstraction or thing: faith in another's ability. Belief that is not based on traditional proof. Belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of spiritual schools of thought. Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit. A system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith. The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise or engagement. The observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance. In theology: the trust in God and in His promises as made through a Master and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

Fire: Third Element.

First World: The physical universe of gross or material substance in which phenomena are perceived by the five senses.

Free Will: That which sees and understand things as they are, ie, free from causality (independent of the past or future)

GAGGAN : The upper portion that crowns the Trikuti (the second plane on the spiritual path). it is the place where all kinds of latencies are stored np.

Ganesha: A Mahadeva or great God created by Lord Siva to assist souls in their evolution. The elephant-faced Patron of Art and Science, first Son of Siva, Remover of Obstacles.

GITA : Bhagvad Gita: (Skt. Song of the Lord, the Adorable One or the Blessed One): forming part of the great epic of Mahabharata, in the nature of a dialogue of Plato or the book of Job. Dissertation by Krishna on the duty of the Kshatriya to fight a righteous war against injustice, no matter what the odds.

GOBIND or GOVIND: Lord of the universe; here Lord Krishna, the eighth avtar of Vishnu, the creator and sustainer of the three realms: physical, astral and instrumental.

GOBIND SINGH, Guru (Ministry 16761708): A soldier-saint ranking as tenth in succession to Nanak, brought about the transformation of Sikhs (mere disciples) into Singhs (militant lions), a martial race for the defense of the country against injustice and tyranny of the rulers, and gave the new institution the name of Khalsa: the brotherhood of the pure, by a form of baptism, called Khanda-di-Pahul or 'Baptism of the Sword.'

God: Beyond definition, timeless, infinity. The creator and observer or witness to all disguised as everything else.

Gods: Mahadevas, "Great Beings of Light." Extremely advanced beings existing in their self-effulgent soul bodies in the Astral plane. Originally created by , as all souls are, Gods have evolved to a constant superconsciousness as they govern, advance and assist all worlds. Gods are genderless, neither male nor female, but pure kundalini-energy beings.

GOSPEL: 'Glad Tidings' preached by Christ and his apostles. 'Good news' (of salvation), Anglo-Saxon 'God,' and 'spell,' a narrative, or 'God-story' of Revelation.

Grace: The free and unmerited favour or beneficence of God. Benevolence and love. Central religious concept denoting God's innate quality of giving and caring for creation. Grace is both general and specific. In the general or cosmic sense, functions of veiling and revealing are termed grace -- like a dutiful parent guiding the growth of a child, concealing that which the child is not prepared to face and revealing or teaching that which it needs to know to progress in life. In the specific or microcosmic sense, grace may be defined as receiving a gift from God, often as a result of spiritual striving or as a response to the devotee's love. It is bestowed upon those who are consistent in their spiritual discipline, bhakti and devotion, though what is attained by grace cannot be attained by any other means. For example, by his own efforts a yogi can obtain great control over his mind, but the final Self-Realization can only occur through the grace of the Guru.

GRANTH SAHIB : The holy Bible of the sikhs compiled by Guru Arjan. It contains the songs of all the fore-runners in the realm of Spiritually, irrespective of the caste or vocation of their authors.

Gravity Nullification Model (GNM): The model integrates consciousness into a simplified mathematical model of general relativity theory to resolve outstanding paradoxes of quantum mechanics, relativity, and cosmology theories. GNM forms the basis of the Holistic Relativity theory as part of the overall HQR Project. GNM was propounded by Dr Avtar Singh.

Grihastha: Householder; family man or woman. The period of human life after the brahmachariya ashram (studentship period) is over, the individual establishing a career, home and family.

GUNA : Quality or attribute which constitutes a motor-power for all our deeds and actions according to one's inherent nature.

Gunas: "Qualities." Metaphysically, the gunas are fundamental cosmic qualities of nature. The three gunas are tamas (inertia, density, the force of contraction, resistance & dissolution), rajas (stimulative, restlessness, activity; the expansive energy of growth and movement) and sattva (quiescence, rarified, translucent, pervasive, reflecting the light of pure consciousness).

GUR-BANI: cf. Bani, Scriptural texts as given by the Gurus in Granth Sahib, not to be confused with Gur-ki-Bani, the holy Sound Current made manifest by a competent Master (Guru), as a means to attain the highest spiritual realm from where it emanates.

GURMAT: Path of the Guru, both as he preaches without and the one that is revealed within, by following which one reaches the true eternal home of God.

GURU DEV : Radiant Form of the Master that meets a disciple as his spirit ascends above body-consciousness.

Guru Ram Das, in this context, says: "Mind wanders away every second as it has not entered the Til."

Guru: "Remover of darkness;" guide. A teacher. Though it can connote a teacher of any subject, guru usually denotes a spiritual teacher or master.

Gurudeva: "The shining spiritual being who is the destroyer of darkness of ignorance." Part of the name of His Holiness Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. An affectionate, yet respectful term used to address the guru or spiritual master.

GURU: in Hinduism, a spiritual teacher or preceptor, treated with the deepest respect and greatest reverence; one who lights up the Way Godward; a torch-bearer on the way back to the mansion of the Lord.

HAFIZ (1320: -1389 A.D.): A great Persian Saint-poet born at Shiraz. Hafiz is the pen name which means 'one who knows Koran by heart'. His real name was Shams-ud-Din Mohammed which means 'Sun of the Religion founded by Prophet Mohammed'. Hafiz enjoys great popularity among the Muslims and Hindus alike both as a saint as well as a poet.

HARMUZD : (also spelled as Ormuzdj) The Good God or Ahura-Mazda who in the oldest scriptures is the supreme creator being opposed by the Evil God, Ahriman as given in Zendavesta. the scriptures of Zoroaster.

HATHA YOGA : A form of yoga dealing with the control of the body and bodily activities as the means of stilling the mind. The process of deintoxication and rejuvenation is done by means of six purificatory acts called Shat Karma, like Neti and Dhoti etc. It is considered as a methodical approach to the attainment of the highest in yoga: Raja Yoga. 'Hatha' literally means will-power or indomitable will to do a thing, howsoever uncommon it may be. Etymologically 'Ha' represents the sun and 'tha' stands for the moon. Hence Hatha Yoga aims at coordinating the warm and cold aspects of sun and moon respectively by working through Ida and Pingla.

Hatha yoga: "Sun/moon yoga." Ha and tha are the sun and moon nerves ending in the nasal region of the head. They correspond to the pingala and ida nadis--mental and emotional currents--flowing up, in a crisscross pattern, the sides of the kundalini nadi: sushumna. Through breath control--ha is inbreath, tha is outbreath--and the manipulation of the physical/astral bodies through specific series of asanas (postures) and mudras (bodily positions), the ida and pingala currents are perfectly balanced and the yogi functions in his sushumna (kundalini) nadi. The yogi is then prepared for deep meditation, following raja yoga, or kundalini yoga under the guidance of a guru. Besides its spiritual benefits, hatha yoga results in purification of the subconscious mind and robust physiological health contributing towards longevity. Hatha yoga is an ancient Natha Sampradaya science--

HAZUR : A venerable form of address applied to persons of distinction in any grade of life.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty: It is a mathematical limit on the accuracy with which it is possible to measure the smallest possible physical properties there are to know about a physical quantum system at the nano- and sub-nano- level or related phenomenon.

Hinduism: Often known as the Sanatana Dharma or eternal faith, or the Vaidika Dharma, the religion of the Vedas. The most ancient religion in the world; the only religion not founded by man. Encompasses a broad spectrum of religious philosophies ranging from pluralistic theism to absolute monism. There are three main sects: Saivism, Vaishnavism, Saktism--and liberal, non-sectarian forms, such as the Smarta Sampradaya.

Holistic Quantum Relativity: A theory which seeks to integrate spirituality with modern science.

Holotropic State: Holotropic means "moving toward wholeness." [Origin: Greek "Holos" = whole and "Trepein" = moving in the direction of]

Holy Kural: Another name for the ethical and moral scripture Tirukural ("Holy couplets''), written by Saint Tiruvalluvar on dried ola leaves over 2,000 years ago near present-day Madras, South India. Saint Tiruvalluvar was a householder and a weaver by profession. His Tirukural or Holy Kural, written in the Tamil language, embodies a treasury of knowledge on conduct, human experience and Hindu dharma. In 1,330 verses, its advice ranges from household finance to affairs of state, from the bravery of warriors to the budding love of adolescents. Today the Holy Kural is widely studied as a guide to the practical application of religion in daily life. Acclaimed the "Tamil Dharma Shastra," it forms a cornerstone of virtuous living for millions of Hindus. It is a primary scripture of Saiva Siddhanta Church, whose members study it and refer to it often and apply its timeless wisdom to their lives.

Hri: "Remorse." One of the traditional niyamas of ashtanga yoga, hri is being modest and expressing shame upon committing a misdeed.

Ida: Inner body nadi current, pink in color, that flows downward ending on the left side of the body. This current is feminine in nature, radiating a physical, emotional energy.

identical with the totality of observed phenomena and that reality does not exist in the absence of observation", and the well known statement of Bohr "There is no Quantum World. There is only an Abstract Quantum description."

Illusion: See Maya.

Illusory Universe: See universe.

Instinctive: In a religious context, instinctive and instinctiveness are used to describe the lower animal instincts of human nature--for example: greed, hatred, anger, fear, lust, and jealousy.

Intellect: The ability to reason or understand; power of thought; mental acumen. An intellectual is a person who has great mental abilities and intelligence. Such persons usually have control over their instinctive nature, but may not be awakened to their higher intuitive nature.

Isvarapranidhana: "Devotion to God." Cultivating devotion through daily worship and meditation, the fifth of five niyamas listed by Sage Patanjali in his 2,200-year-old Yoga Sutras. Isvarapranidhana is essentially the equivalent of Isvarapujana (worship), the corresponding niyama listed in the Sandilya Upanishad and other texts which include ten niyamas rather than five.

Isvarapujana: "Worship of the Lord." Isvarapujana is worship, especially ritual worship known as puja in which devotion is expressed toward an image of the Deity. It is also internal worship, or meditation and is a traditional niyama of ashtanga yoga.

its first historical appearance being on the famous Pasupati seal from the 6,000 year-old Indus Valley empire. Hatha yoga is propounded in the Saiva Agamas, Tirumular's Tirumantiram and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It was made famous by Gorakhnath of the Adinatha lineage in the 10th century C.E. From India, hatha yoga was exported to China and Tibet.

JAIMAL SINGH (1839: 1903 A.D.): A soldier-saint initiated into the sacred teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga by Soami Ji Maharai of Agra, who deputed Him to carry on His Mission in the Punjab so as to repay, in some measure, the debt the world owed to Guru Nanak who came from the Punjab and whose teachings had imbibed and influenced Soami Jo Maharaj. Baba Jaimal Singh Ji in his turn, left his spiritual mantle on Hazur Baba awan Singh Ji.

JAP JI : A prologue to Guru Granth Sahib provided by Nanak, outlining the basic tenets of his teachings, by practising which one gets an insight into the philosophy of spiritual awakening as a prelude to Jia-Dan (infusing life impulse itself).

JAP or JAPA: intense repetition with the tongue of thought of God's name, losing one's individuality in the act.

Japa: "Recitation." Japa is the spiritual practice of devotedly repeating a mantram (sacred, mystic syllables), often while counting the repetitions on a mala, or rosary. Japa may be done silently or aloud. Sometimes known as mantram yoga, it is one of the ten niyamas (spiritual practices) of ashtanga yoga, serving to quiet the mind prior to meditation.

JI-A suffix added to personal names as a mark of respect.

JNANA YOGA : See Bhakti Yoga.

JYOTI : Divine Light.

KAAL (or Kal) : Time, wherein all the embodied souls live, move and have their being, until disrobed of the physical raiment, by disease, decay, and dissolution, called 'death,' a final change in the level of consciousness.

KABIR (1440-1518 A.D.): A great Indian Saint and contemporary of Guru Nanak. The modern age of Sant Mat wherein the Science of Surat Shabd Yoga is openly taught and first-hand experience given may be said to have begun with Kabir Sahib.

Kadavul: An ancient Tamil name of Lord Siva; "He who is both immanent and transcendent."

Kal Niranjan: Time Invisible. Creator of Illusory Universe (Brahmand) with three planes -- Causal (Karan), Astral (Suksham) and Physical (Sthul). Controls human being via the mind.

Kal: Time, controller of the mind.

Kali Yuga: "Dark Age." The Kali Yuga is the fourth age in the repetitive cycle of four phases of time the universe passes through. It is comparable to the darkest part of the night, as the forces of ignorance are in full power and many of the subtle faculties of the soul are obscured.

KALMA : A Koranic term that stands for Word in the Bible, Nad in the Hindu scriptures and Naam as termed by the Masters, all of which denote the Audible Life Stream pulsating in the entire creation, visible and invisible.

KARM BHUMI: (Karrn Kshetra). Field of actions and reactions. fig. the earth plane in which individuals freely sow seeds with a free-will and reap the fruits of their own actions .

KARMA - The term denotes a highly complex system of actions and reactions weaving a ceaseless chain of cause and effect resulting from a thoughtless thought, an inadvertently uttered word or an unintended deed, for each of these has a potential to fructify, not only in this lifetime but even in lives to come; though one may in blessed forgetfulness, fail to find the link and call it a mere 'chance.'[ "Wheel of Life" in the book section, is an entire book on the subject of karma]

KARMA YOGA : See Bhakti Yoga.

Karma: Sanskrit word meaning "deed or act;" more broadly describing the principle of cause and effect. Also, the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and all previous lives.

KHALSA: The brotherhood of the pure in Sikhism. cf. Gobind Singh.

KRISHNA: In Hindu mythology, eighth avtar or incarnation of Vishnu; the author of Bhagwad Gita, a valuable dissertation in defence of a righteous war, considered from different angles.

KRIYA YOGA : A form of Karma Yoga having its own limitations like so many other forms of Yoga.

Kshama: "Patience." Kshama is the restraint of intolerance with people and impatience with circumstances. It is among the ten yamas.

KUNDALINI : A serpentine power that lies coiled up at the far end of the spinal cord and is awakened by the Yogi, through various kriyas which when roused up helps to cross the various bodily centres leading up to Sahsarar or the thousand-petalled Lotus behind the eyes which is the goal of all the yogis. It is because of this that sometimes it is designated as Kundalini Yoga.

Kundalini Energy: "Serpent power," the primordial cosmic energy in every individual which lies coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine and rises up the sushumna nadi. Through yoga it is awakened and made to rise up the chakras to the crown or sahasrara chakra. It is a fundamental energy of the soul that activates all the levels of the soul, from lowest to highest, fitting it for enlightenment. An energy that is the very principle of life by which the whole human being lives. So every expression of human life, the lower and the highter planes, is a divine expression.

LAKSHMI: Goddess of wealth, particularly the wealth of Divine virtues, sought by seekers after Truth preparatory to listening to the Divine Song, coming from the 'Veena of Saraswati' singing forever the 'Song of Divine Wisdom' in the soul of each, and heard only when one destroys all vices by propitiating goddess Kali and develops virtues through the grace of Lakshmi.

Liberation: Moksha; release from samsara (the round of births and deaths).

Logic: The non-arithmetic operations performed by a computer, such as sorting, comparing and matching, that involve yes-no decisions.

Loka: Habitat, region or plane of existence. A place of a particular level of vibration and associated beings, Gods, devas or men. Three primary lokas (Bhuloka, Devaloka and Sivaloka) and fourteen sub-classifications of the cosmos are designated in Hindu scripture.

Love or Unifying Love: That which loves and connects with everything unconditionally.

MAHA DAYAL : Literally the most compassionate: the term is synonymous with the Nameless One, without attributes. It is the same as Anami, Nirala and Soami .

MAHA KAAL: cf. Kaal. The Great Time or eternity with its sway extending over three worlds: physical, subtle or astral and mental or instrumental, forming Brahmand and Par Brahmand wherein everything is subject to disease, decay and final disintegration, until spirit stands disrobed of all the enclosing sheaths or vestures of the body, mind and intellect, besides deep-rooted latencies, and shines forth in its pristine glory, conscious of itself alone, free from all bondage.

MAHA PRALYA: Grand dissolution wherein everything born of the universal mind merges in its source and fountainhead.

Mahadeva: "Great Deva" or "Great Shining One." A name of Siva. Also used to denote any of the multitude of Gods--Ganesha, Muruga, etc.

MAHAVIRA : Literally the great warrior who conquered his self by extreme austerities and penances; the founder of Jainism which like Budhism was yet another attempt at reforming the Brahmical supremacy based on rites and rituals.

MANA : Reflector of the mental vibration as they float to the surface, form the depths of the chit. Thus Mana or mind is said to preside at the council table and presents the picture whenever necessary to the intellect.

Manikkavasagar: "He whose utterances are ruby-like." 9th century Tamil saint who contributed to the medieval Saivite renaissance. He gave up his position as prime minister to follow a renunciate life, recording his aspirations, pathos and yogic realizations in his poetic scripture, Tiruvasagam.

MANSAROVER: (Hauz-e-Kausar). The fount of nectar in the third spiritual plane (Dasam Dwar), wherein the pilgrim-soul gets real baptism, when washed clean of all the impurities.

Mantra: A sacred mystic syllable, word or verse used in meditation and japa to quiet the mind, balance the inner bodies and attain other desired aims.

MAQAM-I-HAQ or MUKAM-I-HAQ: (Sach Khand). The abode of Truth; the First Grand Division in creation, a purely spiritual region with spirtuality reigning in its entirety and so eternally the same, beyond the sway of Dissolution and Grand Dissolution.

Marga: "Path" or "way." Spiritual path.

MASNAVI or MATHNAWI: A long spiritual poem by Jalal-ud-Din Rumi (1207-73), greatest of the Sufi poets of Persia, am ardent disciple of the illustrious Shamas Tabrezi (the Sun of Spirituality), a perfect spiritual guide of his time. It is a wonderful masterpiece in Persian literature and describes the plight of the outcast soul from the day of first separation from God. The book is held in high reverence and its careful study is supposed to serve as a passport to heaven.

Mati: "Cognition, mind, will." Mati is the religious practice, niyama, of developing a spiritual will and intellect with a guru's guidance.

Matter: The coarsest form of Energy. All that can be perceived directly or indirectly by physical senses. Part of Maya.

MAULANA RUMI, Jalal-ud-Din (1207-73): The famous author of the greatest mystic poem called Masnavi or Mathnawi. He was just a school teacher (Maulvi) but under the powerful influence of his spiritual guide and preceptor, Shamas Tabrezi, he very soon rose to the eminent position of a great spiritual guide (Maulana) and became a teacher of mankind, in the higher (spiritual) values of life. Immediately on his death, he was worshipped as a Saint.

MAYA: (Skt. illusion or deception). A term frequently met in Upanishads, signifies the inscrutable and indescribable power inhering in the projections of the Ultimate Reality (e.g. human body), in all the forms in the material universe making them appear as real, when in fact they are but shadowy substances.

Maya: Illusion. The universe is an illusion because it is really made up of the one and only universal consciousness, but appears as so many. Mind, matter, the four forces are all part of Maya. Maya also stands for mystery. There are some fundamental questions such as why has this universe been created, and why is there the ignorance that prevents one from seeing that the universe is the same as Consciousness. There are no readily available observable and recordable answers; and all the mystery is attributed to Maya. Same as Four Forces of Energy (Shakti) including Four Forces, Matter and Mind. Considered an Illusion when understood in the context of the Unified Force.

Meditate: To think deeply and continuously. In yoga, meditation describes a quiet, alert, powerfully concentrated state wherein new knowledge and insights are awakened from within as awareness focuses one-pointedly on an object or specific line of thought. Meditation is the result of successful concentration; uninterrupted thought on a subject, leading to intuitive discovery. It is dhyana, the seventh of the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga.

Metaphorical: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to -- by way of analogy -- designate another, thus making an implicit comparison.

Metaphysics: "Beyond physics." The branch of philosophy that deals with first principles and seeks to explain the nature of reality and the origin and structure of the world. In recent times, metaphysics has come to include the study of phenomena such as reincarnation, astral travel, psychic people, chakras, auras, etc.

Mind: In a human (or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc. The medium through which we play the Ego's characters in the world. It contains thoughts, memories, and desires. The component in the individual of the Universal Consciousness. A subset of Kal Niranjan or Time Invisible who is resident in the Causal plane. The component in the individual of the Supra-Universal Consciousness is the spirit and of the Universal Consciousness is the mind.

MIRA: (B.C. 1504): A Hindu poetess of the Vaishnavite school. Wife of the Raja of Chitore. A devotee of Krishna.

Miracle: An extraordinary event interpreted to manifest divine or super-natural intervention in human world affairs.

Mitahara: "Little eating; moderate appetite." Mitahara is moderation in diet, avoiding over-indulgence. In the spirit of mitahara, one should not eat meat, fish, fowl or eggs, and avoid all foods which are not beneficial to physical, emotional and mental well-being. Mitahara is among the yamas, ethical restraints, of ashtanga yoga.

MOHAMMED (C. 570-632), Mohomed or more con Mohammed (Arb. the Praised One): The last prophet his age and the founder of Islam called Mohammedaanism after him. Shocked by the prevailing idolatory of Meccans, he sought to work for the reformation of his people both in religion and social order. The religion Mohammed is known as 'Islam' (Arb. resignation entire submission to the Will of God) and the adherents thereto speak of themselves as 'Muslims' (the believers)

Moksha: Liberation from samsara, the round of births and deaths.

Monastic: Monk or nun. Derives from the Greek word monazein, meaning "to be alone." Monasticism includes strict personal discipline and religious practice for the purposes of self-purification, unfoldment and service to others. This is a different word from monistic, the adjective form of monism (the doctrine that Reality is a one whole without independent parts).

MONDUK UPANISHADS: Upanishads (Skt.) esoteric mysterious teachings, forming the most spiritual portion of the Vedas, the philosophical treatises offered by ancient forest-dwelling Rishis to their disciples. Monduk Upanishad is one of about 100 such texts, dealing with problems like origin of the Universe, character of Godhead, nature of the human soul and its relationship to matter and spirit.

Muladhara chakra: The chakra located at the base of the spine and governing memory, time and space. The first of seven nerve plexes or centers of force and consciousness in the psychic nerve system of man, located along the spinal column from its base to the cranial chamber.

MURSHID-i-KAMIL : Muslim term which stands for Perfect Master

Muruga: "Beautiful one." A Mahadeva, Ganesha's younger brother, created by God Siva to assist souls in their evolution, especially through the practice of yoga.

NAAM: The Creative Power-of-God, variously called Vak-Devi, Sruti or Sraosha by ancients, Nad or Akash Bani by Hindus, the holy Word by Chnstians, Kalma or Kalam-i-Qadim by Muslims, and Naam or Akhand Kirtan by Sikh Gurus. Being an emanation from the Supreme Being, it reveals the Divine Will to man.

NAD BIND UPANISHAD: One of the ancient texts dealing with the glory of Nad or the Sound Current. It prescribes the spiritual exercises that give power to the yogins to hear Anhad (Omkar or Onkar) sound of Brahma's first manifestation, within one's own self. its realisation gives knowledge and power to create as it is the only creative principle working in the cosmos.

Nadi: Psychic nerve channel; the network, traditionally said to number 72,000, of subtle energy fibers that form the nervous system of the inner body. These nadis interconnect the chakras. The sushumna, ida and pingala are the three main nadis.

Nakshatra: One of 27 principle asterisms (star clusters, also called Lunar Mansions) in the Hindu system of astrology. Usually refers to one's birthstar. In this sense, a person's nakshatra is determined by drawing a straight line from the earth through the moon at the exact time of birth and noting the group of stars the line points toward. The nakshatra is an important factor in determining the characteristics of an individual.

Namasivaya: "Adoration (or homage) to Siva." The supreme mantra of Saivism, known as the Panchakshara or "the five letters." Embodying the essence of Saiva Siddhanta, it is found in the center of the central Veda (the Yajur) of the original three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) . The meanings of the five letters are: Na is the Lord's veiling grace; Ma is the world; Si is Siva; Va is His revealing grace; Ya is the soul. Namasivaya is a mystic chant which should be given by an authorized teacher.

NAMAZ: One of the five pillars of Islam: Allah (God), Namaz (prayer), Zakaat (charity), Roza (fast), and Haj (pilgrimage to Mecca): so that the faithful work on the straight path, undevious, direct and explicit. The Qoran abjures the faithful to 'be constant' in prayer, at least five times a day: on rising, at noon, in afternoon, after sunset and before retiring: if not oftener. The real Namaz consists in attuning oneself with Ism-i-azam or the Great Name.

NAMDEV: A householder sage of Pandarpur, born in1480, disciple of Guru Giandev, held in great esteem by the people; earned his living by printing calico and spent all his time im worshipful devotion.

NANAK (1469-1539): The founder of Sikhism, born in the village of Talwandi, near Lahore in the Pumjab. A scion of a Khatri family, he had close associations with Kabir and like his great contemporary, he preached monotheistic faith, compounded out of Hindu and Muslim elements and as such, was equally acclaimed and admired by both.

Nanotechnology: The science and technology of building electronic circuits, engines and physical devices from single atoms and molecules.

NARAYANA : Lord, the title of Vishnu.

Natha Sampradaya: "Lineage of Masters." Natha means lord or master, one who has mastered the intricacies of his inner and outer bodies and realized Parasivam. Sampradaya means an established oral teaching tradition or lineage. The Natha Sampradaya is the oldest Saivite sampradaya existing today, currently consisting of two lineages: the Nandinatha lineage and the Adinatha lineage. Historically, the Natha Sampradaya first appears with Sat Guru Nandinatha and his disciples, including Tirumular, who powerfully articulated the Natha teachings in his Tirumantiram. Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and his devotees are of this Nandinatha lineage of the Natha Sampradaya, the Siva Yogaswami Guru Paramparai being one stream of this ancient lineage.

Nature: Universe with all its phenomena. The sum total of the forces at work throughout the universe. Another name for Maya. The forces and processes that produce and control all the phenomena of the material world including things and sentient beings – micro-organisms, plants, animals and humans.

Newtonian Physics: Three physical laws which provide relationships between the forces acting on a body and the motion of the body in fixed or absolute (as opposed to relative) space and time, first formulated by Sir Isaac Newton. Compare Relativity.

NIDA-E-ASMANI: The Sound coming from Arsh-a-mu'ala or the high heaven. cf. Akash Bani.

NIRALA : indescribably wonderful. Same as Anami, Maha Dayal, Soami, the Lord of the entire creation.

NIRANKAR: The Formless or Imageless. One without attributes (God-in-abstraction).

NIRVANA : Literally blowing out; state to which a Buddhist aspires as the best attainable.

Niyama: "To unleash." The niyamas are ethical and religious practices which release or cultivate refined, soul qualities. These observances comprise the third limb of the ashtanga ("eight-limbed") yoga system codified in numerous Saivite scriptures including the Sandilya and Varuha Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Sri Gorakhnath, the Tirumantiram (circa 200 BCE) by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras (circa 200 BCE) of sage Patanjali. There are ten yamas and ten niyamas in all, though Patanjali listed only five yamas and five niyamas in his classic work, & these have become widely known. Along with the yamas (restraints), the niyamas provide guidelines for ethical, moral life and lay the foundation for yoga. The ten niyamas are: 1) santosha (contentment), 2) tapaha (austerity), 3) dana (charity), 4) astikya (faith), 5) Isvarapujana (worship), 6) mati (cognition), 7) Siddhantasravana (scriptural study), 8) hri (remorse), 9) vrata (sacred vows) and 10) japa (recitation). Note that Sage Patanjali's niyamas are saucha (purity, which other texts list as a yama), santosha, tapaha, svadhaya (scriptural study) and Isvarapranidhana (worship).

Non-locality: A theory which states that all events, things, and phenomena in the universe are interconnected at the non-manifest level and it is not possible to treat widely separated systems or events as independent. The non-locality phenomenon suggests that occurrences on one side of the Universe can instantly effect 'matter' on the other side of the Universe. Non-locality has profound implications for the prevailing world view of reality in that it clearly demonstrates the inter-connectedness between all matter in the Physical Universe and the illusory nature of Space and Time, something that those who have had some sort of deep spiritual experience are already well aware of.

Nothing: No thing; not anything. Nothingness. A thing that does not exist. A person or thing considered of little or no importance.

Nothingness: Non-existance, Insignificance, Unconsciousness.

NUKTA SWEDA or NUKTA-E-SAVEDA: (Til or Teesra [or Tisra] Til). Sufi term for 'Shiv Netra' or 'Divya Chakshu' (the third eye) as known among the Hindus and 'Single Eye' as termed in the Gospels. It is this point behind and in between the eyes wherein the soul-currents are gathered-in by concentration; for rising into higher spiritual planes. (2) Til: it literally means the mustard seed. Here it is used for the ganglion between and behind the two eyes. Hindus call it Shiv Netra or the Third Eye. In the Gospel it is termed as Single Eye. The Sufis call it Nakta-i-Saveda. It is the seat of soul in man. It is the first stage where the soul collects itself and is enabled to rise in the higher spiritual planes.

Observer's Paradox: Refers to the phenomenon where the the observation of an event or experiment is influenced by the presence of the observer/investigator, ie, it is dependent upon the consciousness of the observer/investigator. Same as Quantum Measurement.

Outside: The outer side or part, ie, exterior. Outward appearance. Any area not inside or within.

PAHUL: Baptism by sword, introduced by Guru Gobind Smgh, to transform the meek Sikhs into a militant force to fight against injustice and tyranny of the rulers.

PANCH SHABD: Five-worded Word comprising five harmonies, each coming from the five planes on the Way to the kingdom of God. (2) The Word-of-words (Ism-e-azam) or the King-of-words (Sultan-ul-Azkar); whereby one reaches the Kingdom of God.

Pancha nitya karmas: "Five constant duties." A traditional regimen of religious practice for all Hindus: 1) dharma (virtuous living), 2) upasana (worship), 3) utsava (observance of holy days), 4) tirthayatrai (pilgrimage) and 5) samskaras (observance of sacraments, known as samskaras, such as rites of birth, first feeding, marriage, etc.). While dharma and upasana are daily obligations, utsava, tirthayatrai and samskaras are periodic.

Panchakshara Mantram: "Five-lettered chant," the most sacred Saivite mantram, "Namasivaya."

PANDIT: (Skt. Pandita, a learned man). A teacher, usually a Brahman, learned in religious, legal and social lore.

PAR BRAHMAND: The upper part of the Second Grand Division (Brahmand) where spirit predominates over matter, unlike in the lower part (Dasam Dwar), where both are at par.

Paradox of time and evolution: Time, although widely used in physics as an independent parameter, cannot be proven to have a physical existence. Time is often inferred as the increasing entropy reflecting the changing (evolutionary) state of a material entity that can be observed or measured, eg, the time evolution of quantum states for unstable particles. See Kal Niranjan.

PARAM SANT: A veritable Sant: a title bestowed upon Saints of very high order having access to the Nameless Region.

Paramatman: In Hindu theology, Paramatman is the Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul or Spirit (also known as Supersoul or Oversoul) in the Vedanta and Yoga philosophies of India. Paramatman is one of the aspects of Brahman or Universe: "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan." Also known as the divine self or the one object, Paramatman is situated in the heart of every individual jiva or spirit in the macrocosm. Rigveda and Upanishads compare Atman and Paramatman to two birds sitting like friends on a tree (body). Atman eats its fruits (karma) and Paramatman only observes his friend as a witness (sākşhī) of his actions.

Parasivam: "Transcendent Siva." Siva's Absolute Reality. That which transcends time, form and space and defies description; the Self-God.

PARVATI: (Skt. Parbati, one living on a parbat or mountain, fig. soul). Consort of Siva, for both dwell togethether on the mount of transfiguration (Kailash) behind and between the eyes; meditation at this focal point leads to the opening of Shiv-netra, the third eye, symbolically depicted horizontally in the middle of forehead. The goddess a symbol of devotion to Siva (the annihilator of vices); as Lakshmi and Saraswati are symbols of wealth (of Divine virtues) and learning, the secret essential nature Self respectively.

Patanjali: A Saivite siddhar who codified the ancient practice of ashtanga yoga into the pithy and potent aphorisms of the Yoga Sutras. Lived around the 2nd century b.c.e.

Penance: An act of devotion, self-denial or discipline undertaken to soften or nullify the reaction to one's past actions; "self-inflicted karma." Consciously relieving the karmic burden of wrongful actions by undergoing physical or mental hardships and challenges. Examples of penance are performing 108 prostrations in the temple, fasting and performing kavadi (carrying heavy and elaborate structures on shoulders for long distances).

Perception: The mental grasp of objects, personalities and events through the senses. Tthe knowledge accumulated by perceiving. Can lead to insight or intuition and also the reverse.

Phenomenology: A philosophy or method of inquiry, based on the premise that reality consists of objects and events as they are perceived or understood in human consciousness and not of anything independent of human consciousness.

philosophic training and propound a lofty, non-dual realization as the destiny of all souls.

PIARAS: (Five Piaras). The institution of the beloveds of God, created by Guru Gobind Sngil when five persons out of the congregation responded to his call to offer their life as sacrifice to the goddess Shakti. He called them the Khalsas or the Brotherhood of the pure ones, vouchsafing that whenever five Khalsas would gather in His name, they will know and feel His presence amongst them. Christ too declared: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt. 18: 20). Similarly, the Society of Friends (Quakers) hold that holy spirit is poured out on two or three gathered together in Christ's name.

PIND: Physical body upto the focal eye-centre, behind and between the eyes.

Pingala: Inner-body nadi current, blue in color, that flows upward, ending on the right side of the body. This current is masculine in nature, radiating an intellectual, mental energy.

PRAG-RAJ: Confluence of the rivers Ganges, Jamuna and the subterranean Saraswati, the most sacred place of pilgrimage. fig. it refers to the confluence within, of the Ida, the Pingla and the Sushmana, the three channels as they join together at the sacred pool of Amrit-saar (Aab-e-Hayat), Here the pilgrim-soul, free from trappings, gets completely purified and shines in its own radiance.

PRALABDH KARMA : Destiny or fate with which one comes into the world and over which one has no control. These have to be undergone with smiles or tears as one may like for there is no escape from them. Also Karma

PRALAYA: General dissolution of the universe, as opposed to individual disintegration, to which all material things, constituted as they are by divergent elements, dissolve.

Prana: Vital energy or life principle; literally, "vital air," from the root an, "to breathe." Prana in the human body manifests further in five primary modifications, known as the vayus or "vital airs or winds:" prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana, each governing crucial bodily functions, and five auxiliary vayus: naga, kurma, krkara, devadatta and dhananjaya. Usually prana refers to the life principle, but it is sometimes used in a broader sense to mean energy, power or the animating force of the cosmos.

PRANAS: Vital airs pervading in the entire bodily system and controlling the various physiological processes: (1)perceiving, receiving and accepting impressions and things from without; (2) rejecting and throwing away that which the subjective life does not want or does not like to retain; (3) helping the digestive system building flesh, bones and blood; (4) controlling the circulatory blood system, and (5) lifting the mind and intellect to higher and nobler flights in the realm of pure consciousness of the spirit. 'Pranas' are distinct from 'swasas' or 'breathings', the grosser manifestation thereof.

Pranayama: "Life-force restraining." Science of controlling prana (life force or vital energy) through breathing techniques which dictate the lengths of inhalation, retention and exhalation; prepares the mind for deep meditation and develops psychic abilities. Fourth stage of ashtanga yoga.

Pranic: Adjective form of prana, the vital energy which permeates the universe. Living forms are most charged with prana, but inanimate forms have their own low-level prana energies as well.

Priest: A person whose function is to make sacrificial offerings and perform other religious rites for the benefit of devotees. In Hinduism, priests are servants of God and the Gods. They do not personally stand between God & the devotee.

PSALMS: A book of Old Testament comprising 'song of praise' by David.

Psychic: "Of the soul or psyche." Non-physical, pertaining to the soul. Also the quality of being attuned to or adept at the more subtle psychic, or soul, faculties and energies. One who is so attuned, such as a medium or an accomplished yogi. Psychic faculties include such extra-sensory perceptions as clairvoyance, clairaudience, precognition, psychometry and others.

Puja: Agamic rite of worship performed to the murthi (home or temple image) to invoke the Deity and establish a psychic connection with Him in the inner worlds. During puja, the officiant (pujari) recites various chants praising the God and beseeching His blessings, while making numerous offerings in accordance with established traditions. These include water, sandalpaste, holy ash, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, light (the flame of oil, ghee or camphor lamps) and special food preparations. On special days additional offerings are made, and as part of the puja, abhishekam or ritual bathing of the Deity is often performed as well. The items blessed during the ceremony, known as prasadam or sacraments, are distributed to the attendant devotees after the rite. Puja is also performed to one's guru.

PUNJABI: Gurmukhi script as introduced by Guru Anga fig. people of the Punjab.

PURANAS: (Skt. old or of former times). A body of Indian sacred writings (18 in number) which followed the Vedas, containing legendary account of the creation, destruction and re-creation of the universe, the genealogy, the gods, besides a mass of encyclopaedic information mostly in the form of parables. Of these, the Bhagvat and the Vishnu Purana are the most venerated.

Pure Consciousness: Pure Consciousness is Consciousness conscious of itself: In which one's awareness transcends/goes beyond anything, anybody, any world outside, out there. In it one's awareness rather comes back to oneself in all and all in oneself.

Purusha dharma: Man's proper pattern of conduct; observances, vocational and spiritual options available to a man that will most advance him in a given lifetime. The pattern for a woman is known as sthree dharma.

Purusha: Male person in mundane usage, as in purusha dharma. When used metaphysically, however, purusha refers to the soul, neither male nor female.

QAZIS - the Muslims learned in religious law and theology.

Quanta: Plural of Quantum.

Quantum Computing: It makes direct use of distinctively quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data.

Quantum Measurement: Same as Observer's Paradox.

Quantum Mechanics: The branch of Quantum Physics that accounts for matter at the atomic level; an extension of statistical mechanics based on Quantum Theory.

Quantum Theory: A physical theory that certain physically measurable properties occur only in discrete amounts (Quanta).

Quantum: The smallest natural unit that appears in our cosmos.

QURAN: (Arb. Qur'an, the reading). The sacred book of th Mohammedans; the Bible of Islam written in chaste Arabic as revealed to the prophet by Gabriel.

RADHA SOAMI: lit. the Lord of the soul. It was by this title that Rai Saligram when in ecstatic moods, used to address his spiritual Mentor, Soami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji as a living spouse (Soami) of his soul (Radha), signifying inwardly the union of his soul with the Sound Current as revealed to him by Soami Ji, a living embodiment of the holy Word. Now mostly used as a form of salutation like Radha Krishna or Sita Rama.

RAJ YOGA : The royal road to integration. The path implies a scientific approach Godwards and is best suited to persons gifted with scientific mind and scientific outlook, both within and without. A Raj yogi does not take things for granted or accept them on blind authority, scriptural or otherwise, it being the path of self experiment in the laboratory of the mind.

Raja yoga: "Royal (or kingly) yoga." The eight-limbed ashtanga yoga as defined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

Rajasic: Having the quality of rajas, the second of the three gunas or fundamental cosmic qualities of nature as described in the Samkhya system--tamas (inertia), rajas (activity) and sattva (illumination, purity). The rajaguna is said to be the driving power animating the other two gunas. It is the stimulative, restless, expansive energy of growth and movement. (Literally, "sphere of mist or clouds," in the Veda distinguished from svar, "sphere of light.")

RAM DAS, Guru (Ministry 1574-81): Fourth Guru in the line of succession to Nanak.

RAMAKRISHNA (1836-86): The sage-priest of the goddess-Mother Kali at Dakshineswar, near Calcutta. By his constant devotion, he made the Divine Mother manifest to himself. Next, he plunged into the yoga of meditation in every way conceivable and realised the Absolute Brahma, the attributeless Allah and Christ the Master-yogi, establishing the synthetic value of all religions which is his greatest contribution to the spirit of his age, for he virtually laid the foundation for a living Harmony of Religions and a common Fellowship of Faiths.

RAMA: The seventh incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the great epic Ramayana (Adventures of Rama).

RAVIDAS: The cobbler-saint of India, who earned his living by mending people's old and worn-out shoes, and spent all his time in meditation. Among his followers were personages, like Raja Pipa, the Rajput princess Meera and others.

realism: A tendancy to face facts as observed and be practical. In art or literature, the portrayal of people or things as they really are.

Reality: What exists. Same as absolute Truth. It is independent of who is observing it, from where, and when. Unchanging, eternal foundation for all of creation. Can be thought of as the “The Canvas”. Can also mean that which is born of nature undivided and experienced without thought or mind. Some might describe to be the void/nothing and it’s contrast, total awareness/being.

reality: What is observed by an observer (human or mechanical); reality does not exist if it is not observed. Reality depends upon both the observer and the observer's state. Hence the reality observed by one need not be the same as the reality observed by another. Changing, shared experience, that is agreed upon by observers, often considered to be Maya / Illusion when contrasted with Reality. Can be thought of as the “The Paint”. Can also mean that which is fabricated by man with labels. eg, A lion in a forest is a reality to a person who went to the forest and observed it. It is not a reality to anyone else who did not go to the forest. If it looks like a dog to one who is just entering the forest and quite far from the lion then that person's reality is dog. Another example of dependency of reality on the state of the observer frequently quoted in Adwaita is: what is observed in a dream is very real while dreaming it but not real once the person wakes up. The entire external world simply does not exist for the one who is asleep. The Theory of Relativity is consistent with this definition of reality because in Relativity, the space-time measurements of the same world-event differ when measured by sticks and clocks in relative motion. In spite of all the paradoxes within Quantum Mechanics and its conflicts with Relativity, the philosophical foundations of QM are consistent with this definition of reality from Adwaita. This is seen from the Copenhagen interpretaion "reality is

realities: They are different from truth in that each reality represents only a small part of the truth. reality is relative to the observer’s state of the mind and can vary in space and time. A common mistake one makes is to assume that a relative reality is the truth. Realities are many, but truth is one. Truth has no Duality (or relativity), which is property of unconsciousness or inanimate matter (body). Duality exists for matter because matter is bounded in space and time. Anything that is bounded has a boundary that separates it from the wholesome unitary consciousness causing the duality or relativity in Einstein’s words. Since matter (body) is bounded in space and time, it is afflicted with time (birth & death) and evolution, and hence it represents a relative reality that changes in space/time as opposed to the truth, which is eternal and omnipresent. For example, evolution is a relative reality for the material body but not for consciousness, the truth. Truth never evolves, realities do.

Reincarnation: "Re-entering the flesh," describing the process of individual souls experiencing an orderly sequence of lives. Reincarnation provides the means for the soul to mature, and ends when all karmas have been resolved and Self-Realization has been attained. This is known as Moksha or Liberation.

Relative Permanence: Dependent or interconnected permanence (of visible and invisible worlds).

Relativity (Einstein’s theory): The theory in Physics that space and time as well as mass and energy are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts.

Relativity: A state of connectedness or dependence in which the existence or significance of one entity is solely dependent on that of another.

RIDHI: Ridhis and Sidhis usually go together and stand for miraculous or supernatural powers of 18 kinds that one may acquire by developing the mind-force but such powers prove a positive hindrance in the way of spiritual growth and development.

Rig Veda: Oldest of the four Veda Samhitas (collections): Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. Organized into ten mandalas (group patterns) of salutary and prayerful hymns, the Rig portrays a monistic Supreme Being-as-Cause-and-Lord-of-all cosmology, describes a pattern of dharma towards righteous and prosperous living in tune with the Gods. This scripture also details yogic disciplines leading to realization of the Absolute.

Rishi: An old and venerated sage or seer, often a visionary who sees beyond the present time. Often refers to the sages, many of whom were householders, who codified dharma thousands of years ago in India.

RISHI: in Hinduism, an inspired poet or sage. The hymns of the Vedas were revealed to the seven Rishis: the Sapt Rishis: referred to as Prajapabs (the highest among the people), being born from the mind of Brahma.

RUHANI SATSANG : A gathering of purely spiritually minded persons. Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji, constituted it as a Common Forum for the meeting of representatives from all religions, who believe in the efficacy of the Science of Soul as panacea for all the ills of the world.

RUMI (Jalal-ud-Din Rumi): (1207-1273 A.D.): Greatest of the Sufi poets of Persia; the author of many odes in praise of his Master, Shamas-i-Tabrez. His monumental work, the immensely long 'Spiritual Masnavi' is a collection of ethical precepts, illustrated from Koran, and the sayings of Mohammad.

SACH KHAND: Realm of Truth, the First Grand Division in the creation, which is purely spiritual in essence and hence eternally the same, and beyond the sway of grand dissolution.

SACHI BANI: The True (eternal and unchangeable) Sound-Current, the life-impulse in all creation.

Sacrament: A rite that conveys a spiritual blessing. Used to translate samskara, any of the various temple or home ceremonies performed by a priest, such as name-giving, first feeding, beginning of formal study, marriage, death, etc. Sacrament also names the various sacred items passed out after a puja, such as holy ash, kumkum and holy water.

Sacred: In various schools of faith, sacred or "holy", objects, places or concepts are believed by followers to be intimately connected with God or Divinity and are thus greatly revered. For example, some schools of faith consider the Earth sacred, while Roman Catholics consider the transubstantiated host sacred. Reverence is the "deep respect and veneration for some thing, place, or person regarded as having a sacred or exalted character." [From Latin: Sacer meaning untouchable.]

SADH or SADHU: A disciplined soul with inner access as far as Par-Brahm. His greatness and glory extend beyond the trigun-atmic spheres or realms.

SADHAN -Spiritual discipline for subduing the mind and the senses as preliminary to self-unfoldment.

Sadhana marga: Sadhana means "leading straight to the goal," and marga means "path" or "way." Coined by Siva Yogaswami to describe the way he urged serious aspirants to follow--a path of intense effort, spiritual discipline and consistent inner transformation.

Sadhana: "Effective, leading straight to the goal." The practice of spiritual disciplines such as meditation, japa, fasting, austerity, yoga and humble service. The goal of sadhana is to harness and transmute the instinctive/intellectual nature, allowing progressive unfoldment into the superconscious realizations and innate abilities of the soul.

SAHANSRAR-: The region of the thousand-petalled lotus with thousands of lights in a pyramidical formation. It is lower astral plane where subtle matter predominates and as such is very tricky and treacherous.

Sahasrara: "Thousand-petals." Seventh chakra, located in the cranial chamber of the soul body. It is composed of 1,008 petals indicative of the God-powers of the Satchidananda state in which this chakra is awakened and fully functions.

SAHIB --The Supreme Being, the Overlord of all. As a suffix it is usually added after the names of saints, as a mark respect, as Kabir Sahib, Paltu Sahib and Tulsi Sahib.

SAINT JOHN: Christian apostle, reputed author of the four Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. His Gospel is a manual of Christianity identifying Jesus with the Logos or the Word.

Sakti: See Shakti.

Samhita: A collection of sacred devotional hymns in Sanskrit constituting one of the four Vedas. From Sanskrit Samhita, collection, from feminine past participle of samdadhati, he puts together, collects: sam, together; same as sem- in Indo-European roots + dadhāti, he puts; same as dhē- in Indo-European roots.

Sampradaya: "Tradition." Sampradaya can be understood in two ways. First, it refers to an oral tradition of teaching, such as a Guru of an established lineage verbally passing on eternal truths to his sishiya. Second, it refers to an established historical lineage, a living stream of tradition or theology within Hinduism.

Samskara: "Impression." The imprint or traces left in the mind after an experience, whether in this or previous lives. Root impressions, especially from profound events, which mould character and guide actions. Also denotes ceremonial purification: one of a number of religious ceremonies performed at psychological moments through the Hindu's life, such as first-feeding, marriage, etc., and various ceremonies performed to restore something to its original purity.

SANCHIT KARMA : All the unfructified karmas lying to the credit of individuals from time immemorial in the shape of vasnas or latencies which from time to time help in the process of reincarnation.

SANGAT: A holy congregation or a religious brotherhood fig. communion of the spirit with the holy Word.

Sankara: Also Samkara or Shankara. A name for Siva meaning "causing prosperity, auspicious, beneficent." Also the name of the 9th century monk, Adi Sankara, preeminent Guru of the Smarta Sampradaya. He is most noted for his non-dualistic Vedanta, for strengthening eclectic worship, ratifying 10 orders of sannyasins and writing prolific scriptural commentary.

Sanskrit: "Well-made, perfected." The classical sacerdotal or religious language of ancient India, considered an excellent vehicle of divine communication. Employed today as a religious, literary and scholarly language, but not generally used as a spoken language.

SANT MAT : Literally, the path of the Masters. It is elastic in essence free from the rigidity of religious doctrines and dogmas. Attunement of the soul with the Life Principle within each individual through the agency of a perfect Living Master who is the alpha and omega on this Path.

SANT: One with an access to the purely spiritual Realm: the Sach Khand (the First Grand Division in creation). It is the highest rank in the spiritual heirarchy.

Santosha: "Contentment, peace." Santosha names the practice, or niyama, of seeking joy and serenity in life, perceiving the perfect state of balance and perfection in God's creation.

SAR BACHAN : Literally, the sayings about the eternal Truth. Metaphorically it is the name given to the utterences both in prose and verse of Soamiji Maharaj of Agra who expounded Sant Mat in the present era.

SARASWATI--Hindu goddess of eloquence and learning of the highest spiritual type. (2) As a compound word it consists of Sar and Swa; 'sar' meaning the essence (essential nature) and 'swa' the self. Mother Saraswati generally represented as playing her veena and singing eternally the song of Divine Wisdom in the soul of each. (3) As consort of Brahma, she is credited with the inven ion of Sanskrit language and letters. (4) As a suffix, it is added after the names of learned Rishis well-versed in t essential knowledge of the self, like Rishi Dayana Saraswati.

SASTRAS: Name given to the sacred religious and legal textbooks of the Hindus.

Sat Guru: "True remover of darkness." A spiritual preceptor of the highest attainment, one who has realized the ultimate Truth and is able to lead others securely along the spiritual path.

SAT NAAM: Name given to the Primal Sound Current (Ek-Ankar) as emanating from Sat Purush, the first manifestation of the Absolute God, an imageless abstraction without attributes.

SAT PURUSH: The presiding God-Power (the first and foremost manifestation of the Absolute God) in Sach Khand, the First Grand Division in the creation, a purely spiritual realm.

SAT SANGAT: A congregation devoted to search for Sat or Truth eternal. On the earth-plane, it is presided over by a God-man who is moved by the Holy Ghost in thoughts, words and deeds. On the inner plames, it is the union with the Power-of-God, practically effected by a Master-Saint, by contacting the soul with the Light and Sound of God, the primal manifestations of Godhead.

Sat: Pure being or existence.

Satchidananda: "Truth, Supra-Universal Consciousness, Bliss." Divine Mind -- Universal Consciousness -- and simultaneously the Super-Conscious mind of each individual soul. It is perfect love and omniscient, omnipotent consciousness, the fountainhead of all existence, yet containing and permeating all existence.

SATGURU: A Sant commissioned to teach the inner path to the seekers after Truth and to grant them contact with the saving life-lines within. Every Satguru is basically a Sant, but every Sant cannot be a Satguru unless and until the Sat-Power in him commands him to take up the work of leading the world weary souls back to the true eternal Home of God (Sach Khand).

sattvic: "Of illumination, purity, truth." Sattva is the most subtle of the three gunas or fundamental cosmic qualities of nature as described in the Samkhya system--tamas (inertia), rajas (activity) and sattva (illumination, purity). The sattvaguna is rarified, translucent, pervasive, reflecting the light of pure consciousness.

SATVIC : Pertaining to Satva Guna or attributes like tranquility or equipoise of the mind. The term also applies to diet that is conducive to bring about the above qualities.

Satya: "Truthfulness." Among the traditional yamas, ethical restraints, satya means to refrain from lying, deception or betraying promises and confidences.

Saucha: "Purity." Saucha means to avoid impurity in body, mind and speech, and is one of the traditional yamas, ethical restraints, of ashtanga yoga. (In Sage Patanjali's list of five yamas and five niyamas, saucha is among the niyamas.)

SAWAN SINGH (1858: 1948 A.D.): The Great Master who succeeded Baba Jaimal Singh Ji Maharaj at Beas.

Schrödinger Equations: Describe the space- and time-dependence of Quantum Mechanical systems.

SEHAJ YOGA : Literally, it means an easy path leading to Sehaj or equipoise. Usually used as synomyn with Surat Shabd Yoga or Yoga of the Sound Current which can easily be performed by all alike, old or young.

Self: Same as Self-God or Supra-Universal Consciousness. The creature awareness, producing the "I AM IN ALL and ALL ARE IN ME" behind all Being and every point of view, undivided, formless and infinite in nature.

self: The personal ego, one's individual identity or personality in contrast with the Divine Self. The creature ego, individual, sense of separation, divided, with form, and finite in nature.

SHABD - Sound Current vibrating in all creation. It can be heard by the inner ears. It is termed by Mohammedans as Bang-i-Asmani and among the Hindus as Shruti, variously known as Nad, Word, Naam, Bang-i-Ilahi, Sarosha and the like.

SHABD-BANI - The Eternal Sound or Music going on within each living creature for It is the very life-principle sustaining all that is, visible and invisible.

SHAITAN (Satan): The god of evil residing in each individual as mind.

Shakti: Energy over time or Power. Energy. the creative, dynamic aspect of the Godhead of the Causal, Astral and Physical planes, ie, universe. Another form of Maya, ie, Matter, or Illusion. Popularly envisioned in the feminine form as a Goddess. Denotes impersonal forces such as Iccha (Desire), Kriya (Action) and Jnana (Knowledge), three Shaktis wielded by Shiva. Divine Mother: The female principle or organ of generative power, the consort or Shakti of Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva, variously known as Ashtangani (Eight limbed), Devi, Durga, Kali, Shakti, etc.

SHAMAS TABREZ: The illustrious mystic of Tabrez in Persia, the spiritual mentor of Maulana Jalal-ud-Din Rumi.

SHAREY MARG : The path of expansion based upon scriptural texts which enjoins performance of rites and rituals, strict adherance to doctrines and dogmas, sacrifices and worships of all kinds on the plane of the senses. Such practices, good in themselves, do not and cannot grant liberation to the soul.

Shishiya: A pupil or disciple, especially one who has proven himself and has formally accepted a Sat Guru as his guide in spiritual instruction.

SHIV DAYAL SINGH JI, Soami (1818-1878): Seth Shiv Dayal Singh Ji of Agra, popularly known as Soami Ji Maharaj who, in the modern age, revived the teachings of ancient Masters including those of the later times like Kabir and Nanak; with emphasis on the Surat Shabd Yoga or Yoga of the Sound Current providing way back to the Kingdom of God from where this creative life-principle descended.

SHIV NETRA: The eye of Shiva, the third eye behind and between the eyes of flesh, providing an access to the higher planes within. It is symbolically shown in the middle of the forehead.

SHIVA or SIVA: The 'blessed one,' the third member of Trimurti of Hinduism. He is Mahadeva, the 'great god' but primarily the Destroyer or Rudra, 'the terrible,' he destroys all that is born of evil and as destruction is but a prelude to fresh creation and the so-called death gateway to new life, he is worshipped as a creative expression of the Supreme Being, the one great god, (Mahadeva).

SHRUTI: (Skt. revelation). That portion of the Vedic scriptures which was directly revealed to the ancient Rishis.

Siddhantasravana: "Hearing the final conclusions; scriptural study." Among the niyamas of ashtanga yoga, Siddhantasravana is the practice of studying the scriptures and listening to the wise of one's lineage.

SIDHIS: Yogic powers of supernatural character.Also: SIDH: A sect of the yogins, who claim to possess supernatural powers, by means of yogic discipline. SIDHAS: Higher disciplined souls endowed with supernatural powers.

Sikh: Same as shishya.

SIKH: lit. a disciple, one engaged in learning higher truths life. fig. a sect mainly living in the Punjab and the adjoining areas, forming a brotherhood based on religious ideas and traditions as propounded by Guru Nanak, on the simple creed: Oneness of God and Brotherhood Man.

SIMRAN: Constant remembrance of a person, place or thing of one's liking. By habit, all are doing simran of of one kind or another: of our relatives and friends, riches and possessions, or name and fame, all of which are of a temporary nature, and give just a flicker of pleasure which more often than not is tinged with sorrow. Saints enjoin the Simran of the God-power revealed by a God-man, a veritable source of eternal happiness.

Singularity: A point in space-time at which gravitational forces cause matter to have infinite density and infinitesimal volume, and space and time to become infinitely distorted. Big Bang is one such singularity.

SITA: The heroine of the great Indian epic, the Ramayana; the lovely and loving wife of Rama. lit. the word signifies 'a furrow,' as she personifies the goddess of agriculture and fruit-culture for she is supposed to have sprung from a furrow and ultimately disappeared into a furrow.

Siva: "The Auspicious One." God Siva is all and in all, the one without a second, the Supreme Being and only Absolute Reality. He is both immanent and transcendent.

Sivaloka: Siva's "loka"--habitat, region or level of existence. Known as the causal plane or Third World, the Sivaloka is the abode of Siva, the Mahadevas and highly advanced souls. It exists deep within the Second World.

Sky: Fifth Element. See Akasha.

Soul and Spirit: Soul and Spirit are essentially the same. The only difference is in their being attached or unattached to any individuality. Unattached soul is spirit, attached spirit is soul. Attached to individuals, spirit is soul, attached to Universe as a whole it is Soul (with capital S). There is no such difference between spirit and Spirit, though one may make so when using in the context of an individual or Universe.

Soul: Soul is the spirit put in ritual by sense, emotion, thought in an individuality. It is the principle of individual life. It is the atman of the Vedas. It is the sum of the matrix of a continuum of experience and its resulting essence. Within each of us is a soul, a great spiritual potential created in God's image and likeness. Though attached it is also regarded as separate from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part. The spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul. The disembodied spirit of a deceased person. A human being's real self, person. The animating principle; the essential element or part of something. The inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc. Part of God; the divine source of all identity and individuality. See Spirit.

Space-Time: The fabric of the universe; the 4-dimensional coordinate system (3 dimensions of space and 1 of time) in which physical events are located.

Spirit: Unattached Soul or the Soul at the unified level is Spirit. The spirit is an immortal and spiritual body of light, eternal, uncreated and identical with the Supra-Universal Consciousness. It animates life and reincarnates again and again as individualized soul until all necessary karmas are created and resolved and its essential unity with the Supra-Universal Consciousness is realized. This Spirit acting as soul -- not the body and mind with which we now identify -- is our real self. The subtlest form of Energy. The component in the individual of the Supra-Universal Consciousness is the spirit or soul and of the Universal Consciousness is the mind. The attached spirit, also called soul, gives the sense of being and being conscious. It is different from the physical body and mind yet binds them both into one unit. See Soul.

Spiritual Equivalence: To be defined.

Spirituality: The quality or fact of being spiritual -- incorporeal or immaterial, ie, non-Maya or non-Materialistic nature or state of being. Predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc; Spiritual tendency or tone.

Spotaneity Phenomenon: The individual act of will, happening or arising without apparent external cause or observable force.

SRAOSHA: The Gathas of Zendavasta make mention of two divinities- Atar (fire) and Sraosha (lit. obedience: obedience to the Law of Life or the God-in-action power, i.e. His Divine Will as revealed by the Sound Current within).

SRITIS: (Skt. that which is remembered as opposed to Sruti which is revealed). The Hindu term for inspiration or inspired writings which include such works as the two great epics and the puranas.

ST. AUGUSTINE (354-430): Christian Saint and one of the four great fathers of the Latin or Roman church.

Sthree dharma: Conduct, observances, vocational and spiritual patterns that will most advance a woman in a given lifetime. The parallel pattern for a man is known as purusha dharma.

Subconscious mind: The phase of mind beneath ordinary consciousness. Known as chitta in Sanskrit. The storehouse, the reflection of all previous experiences. All the past experiences of the soul (whether remembered consciously or not), unresolved karma and involuntary physiological processes lie in the subconscious mind. Negative areas of the subconscious mind can be detrimental to a person's spiritual and emotional well-being. Such can be discovered or resolved through meditation, penance, sadhana, temple worship, grace, etc.

Sub-nuclear physics : Elementary Particle Theory

SUFI: A Muslim mystic. (Arb. Suf, 'wool' originally ascetics who wore coarse wool, symbolic of their having renounced all the comforts of life). The earlier Sufis were indeed ascetics rather than mystics, more of saints than seers. Mysticism as such grew and developed in Persia and not in the Arabian desert. Pantheistic unitarianism is the essential characteristic of Sufism. It signifies a person with a pure heart.

SUKHMANA or SUSHMANA NADI: The subtle central nadi (the fire channel) in between the Ida and Pingla on either side of it, the one representing the moon-influence and the other the sun-influence. The way-in for the soul-currents when collected at the eye-focus lies through Sukhmana. Of all the astral tubes, these three are the most important. Sushmana for functioning of bioenergy and the other two for co-ordinating and controlling voluntary and involuntary functions of the human body.

SULTAN-UL-AZKAR : Meditation on Ism-i-Azam (the Highest Name), deemed by Muslim mystics as the highest form of prayer (zikr).

SUMER: The golden mountain which the pilgrim-soul comes across in its spiritual journey.

Superconscious mind: Satchidananda, the Divine Over Mind of God and of all souls, for "there is only one mind." The superconscious mind is "the mind of light," of omniscient knowing, omnipresent awareness, pure consciousness, truth and love. Within the individual, it is one of the five states of mind: conscious, subconscious, sub-subconscious, sub-superconscious and superconscious. The intuitive or knowing state of mind; "the mind of light." From another perspective, the superconscious is one of the three phases of the mind: instinctive, intellectual and superconscious.

Super luminous inflation: The Inflation Theory, developed by Alan Guth, Andrei Linde, Paul Steinhardt, and Andy Albrecht, proposes a period of extremely rapid (exponential) expansion of the universe leading to the Big Bang expansion, during which time the energy density of the universe was dominated by a cosmological constant term that later decayed to produce the matter and radiation that fill the universe today.

Superposition: The superposition principle is the addition of the amplitudes of waves from interference.

Supra-Consciousness: Same as Supra-Universal Consciousness. Same as Satchidananda.

Supra-Universal Consciousness: It represents unity (yoga) or oneness (Ek Onkar), has no boundary, and hence no relativity or duality. That is the reason it cannot be seen or measured. What can be seen or measured explicitly, such as the matter, is constrained in space/time separated with a boundary, and hence, measurable or observable. What sees cannot be seen, just like the eye cannot see itself. Consciousness is the observer itself and so it cannot be seen or measured, but can be experienced by being conscious or aware. In which one's awareness goes beyond any boundaries. Thus in its sweep come both universe, beyond universe and Universe.

SURAT : Attention or individual consciousness

SURAT SHABD YOGA - the yoga or union of the Surat (soul) with Shabd (Sound Current) ; also called Sehaj Yoga because it can easily be practiced by all, young or old; strong or infirm.

Svadhyaya: "Self-study." The study of truth, especially through religious scripture. The fourth of five niyamas, or ethical practices, listed by sage Patanjali in his 2,200-year-old Yoga Sutras. It is essentially the equivalent of Siddhantasravana, the corresponding practice listed in the Sandilya Upanishad and other texts which include ten niyamas rather than five.

Swami: "He who knows himself." Title for a Hindu holy man, usually a sannyasin.

Synchronicity: A term coined by Jung to designate the meaningful coincidence or equivalence (a) of a psychic and a physical state or event which have no causal relationship to one another. Such synchronistic phenomena occur,
for instance, when an inwardly perceived event (dream, vision, premonition, etc) is seen to have a correspondence in external reality: the inner image of premonition has "come true"; (b) of similar or identical thoughts, dreams, etc occurring at the same time in different places. Neither the one nor the other coincidence can be explained by causality, but seems to be connected primarily with activated archetypal processes in the unconscious. See Synchronism.

Synchronism: This simply means the simultaneous occurrence of two events. Compare with Synchronicity.

Tamasic: "Of darkness or inertia." Tamas is the most crude of the three gunas or fundamental cosmic qualities of nature as described in the Samkhya system--tamas (inertia), rajas (activity) and sattva (illumination, purity). The tamaguna is the quality of denseness, inertia, contraction, resistance and dissolution.

Tapaha: The performance of purificatory spiritual disciplines, sadhana, penance, tapas and sacrifice; one of the niyamas, practices, in the ashtanga yoga system. Tapaha is from tapas, meaning "heat," or "fire," indicating the inner fire of transformation kindled by ascetic practices.

Tapas: "Heat" or "fire." Denotes religious austerity, intense meditation, penance, bodily mortification or special observances. Connotes spiritual purification and transformation as a "fiery process" which "burns up" impurities, ego, illusions and past karmas that obstruct God-Realization.

TAYUMUM: An easy process of cleansing the hands by rubbing them with sand, before going in for meditation in desert places that suffer from lack of water: the object being just to wash the hands clean of all the affairs ofthe world.

TEG BAHADUR, Guru (Ministry 1664-76): Son of Gul Hargobind, but ninth in the line of succession to Nanak. Captained the Sikhs during the tumultuous times of Aurangzeb, was beheaded in Delhi where now stands Gurdwara Sisganj in commemoration of his martyrdom.

Temple: A place of worship of God or Gods. (An ancient Jewish term, later adopted by various religions.) Hindus revere their temples as sacred, magical places in which the three worlds most closely commune--special structures built according to Agamic specifications to channel the subtle spiritual energies of inner world beings. The temple's subtle or psychic atmosphere is maintained through regular worship ceremonies (puja) invoking the Deity who uses His installed image (murthi) as a temporary body and channel for His blessings. Also known as koyil (or kovil).

TENNYSON, Alfred Lord (1809-92): First Baron, a famous English poet with faith in God, immortality, and the 'on far off divine event to which the whole creation moves'. As a lyrist, he ranks with the highest in English poetry.

Third World: The causal plane or Sivaloka.

Three pillars of Saivism: The guru, the temple and the sacred scriptures. Each of these is considered a distinct and necessary part of Saivite Hinduism.

TIL: (Tisra Til). cf. Nukta Sweda.

Tirthayatrai: "Traveling to a holy place." Pilgrimage. Among the pancha nitya karmas ("five constant duties") of Hindus, tirthayatrai is a devout journey to a temple or other sacred site, near or far. It is a time when spiritual matters are one's central concern, and worldly matters are set aside or placed before the Deity for assistance.

Tirukural: "Holy couplets." See: Holy Kural.

Tirumantiram: "Holy mantrams." The Natha Sampradaya's oldest Tamil scripture; written circa 200 B.C.E. Earliest of the Tirumurai, 12 essential canons of Saiva Siddhanta. Authored by Sivajnani Tirumular, the Tirumantiram comprises the essential teachings of the Saiva Agamas and is prized as a confluence of Siddhanta and Vedanta (meaning the original conclusions of the Vedas, not the later interpretation of Sankara's Mayavada Vedanta). It contains many esoteric teachings on kundalini yoga and spiritual unfoldment towards the enlightened state.

Tirumular: Siddhar, sage and yogi of the Natha Sampradaya who came from the Himalayas (circa 200 b.c.e.) to Tamil Nadu where he composed the 3,000-plus hymns of the Tirumantiram, tenth (but earliest) of the twelve Tirumurai. In this scripture he recorded the tenets of Saivism in concise and precise verse form, drawing upon his own realizations and the teachings of the Saiva Agamas and the Vedas.

Tirumurai: "Sacred (or holy) book." Twelve-book compendium of writings of Saivite saints. The first seven are known as Devarams. Of these, books 1-3 are the hymns of Saint Tirujnana Sambandar. Books 4-6 are hymns of Saint Appar. These latter two Saints lived in the 7th century. Book 7 contains the hymns of Saint Sundarar (9th century). The eighth book contains the two works of Saint Manikkavasagar (9th century): Tiruvacagam and Tirukovaiyar. Book 9 is the Tiruvisaippa and Tiruppalandu, which together comprise the works of nine saints. The Tirumantiram by Tirumular (200 b.c.e.) is the 10th book. The 11th book is a compilation of 10 saints. The 12th book is the Periyapuranam by Saint Sekkilar (11th century).

Transmutation: Changing a gross force into a finer one. Metaphysically, transmutation refers to changing or transforming the sexual/instinctive energies into intellectual and spiritual ones, and thereby bringing oneself into the higher nature.

TRATAK: A yogic exercise for developing the gazing faculty by putting a black-spot on a paper at a distance, in front of the eyes and then steadily looking at it without blinking, until the blackness transforms into whiteness by the concentrated spiritual rays proceeding from within. It may be done on the tip of the nose or in between the eyes, as one may like, for developing concentrated attention as a means to meditation.

TRIKUTI: The upper part of the Third Grand Division of the creation, called 'And,' the sphere of Maya wherein matter predominates over spirit: a materio-spiritual plane, including Sahasara, the lower portion of it as well. The karmic law of transmigration works in full swing in this region as in the gross material region.

Truth: The truth is what does not change in space and time. The truth is Supra Universal Consciousness, the expansive energy in the so-called empty space in the universe as well as in every atom that is causing the expansion of the observable universe (giving life to the universe and living things in it) and keeping the observable universe and atom (unit of body) from collapsing. Faith is not the truth; it is only a positive attitude towards truth. It is not faith but this supra universal consciousness energy that is keeping things from collapsing due to gravity, moving, and alive in the universe. Supra Universal Consciousness represents the wholesome energy of the universe that is eternal (beyond time, never born never to die) and omnipresent (beyond space). There is no duality (good/bad, day/night, birth/death etc.) in Supra Universal consciousness. It is a total free will representing the universal laws of the entire creation including Supra-Universe and universe. It is pure existence that always has been there (never born or created) and will always be there (never die). Truth entails the cosmic law. It is beyond evolution. See reality, realities, Reallity.

TULSI or TULSI SAHIB (1763-1843): Shama Rao Peshwa, the elder brother of Baji Rao Peshwa. Renouncing all worldly ambitions for spiritual enlightemnent, he settled at Hathras as Tulsi Sahib: author of Ghat Ramayana, the inner version of the great epic; passed his spiritual mantle on to Soami Ji Maharaj of Agra who greatly venerated his mentor from quite an early age when he came under his influence.

TUN-TUN: An onomatopeic word for the sound of a big bell or a gong when struck with a mallet: the sound that one hears within on the spiritual path, resembling that of a huge bell as is found in the central dome of temples or in a church belfry, symbolic of thc inner Sound.

Turing Machine: An hypothetical computing device capable of storing information and responding to computational questions, used in mathematical studies of computability.

TURIYA PAD: The fourth stage of Consciousness, above the consciousness of the waking state, the semi-consciousness of the dream state and lack of consciousness in the deep sleep state. It is a yogic awareness at the supra-mental level that comes when the senses are at rest, the mind is in a state of vacuum and the intellect is at a stand-still.

UDGIT or UDOGEE - The other-worldly Music coming from the realms beyond the mind and the senses.

Unfoldment: A making known or laying open to view, especially in stages or little by little. Often used in the phrase "spiritual unfoldment" to mean the gradual uncovering of our soul or spiritual qualities through consistent religious practice, meditation and grace.

Unification (of science and spirituality): To identify common ground in the understanding of science and spiritualism and to enhance their present approaches by reconciling any apparent differences and inconsistencies and adopting the "better" aspects of the other approach so that both the scientist and spiritualist communities can benefit in achieving their own purpose.

Unification: The process of unifying or uniting, ie, union. The state or condition of being unified

Universal Consciousness: In which one is aware of the whole evolving universe -- physical, astral and causal planes -- as one.

universe: A transient and finite universe (Illusory Universe or Brahmand) which evolves from the Universe (True Universe) with Big Bang and ends in it with Big Crunch. It is like the wave on and seen as different from the sea of energy, from which its begins and into which it vanishes.

Universe: Universe (True Universe) is defined as including everything there is including the universe and Beyond Universe, with the exception of the true creator "God", as such there may be. In scientific language it may be called as always there in steady state.

Upanishads: "Sitting near devotedly;" the name of the final portion of the Vedas; divinely revealed to rishis who thus expounded the ultimate nature of God, soul and world and answered the philosophical queries of devotees.

UPANISHADS: cf. Monduk Upanishad.

Upasana: "Sitting near." Worship or contemplation of God. One of the pancha nitya karmas ("five constant duties") of Hindus. Upasana is to be performed daily without fail.

Utsava: "Festivity." Utsava is the Sanskrit word for religious festival or holy day. It also names the discipline of observing holy days including festivals in the home and temple as part of one's yearly religious pattern. Utsava is one of the pancha nitya karmas.

VEDA: (Skt. Divine knowledge). The most sacred of the Hindu scriptures, some dating back to 1,000 or 2,000 years B.C., before the Aryans left their original homes beyond the Himalayas. As they were orally revealed by Brahma to the ancient Rishis, they are known as Sruti, 'what is heard.' There are four Samhitas or collections: (1) Rig, the Veda of praise; (2) Yajur, the Veda of prayer and sacrificial formulae; (3) Sam, the Veda of tunes and chants; and (4) Atharva, the Veda of the Atharvans, the officiating priests at the sacrifices.

Vedas: "Wisdom." Composed 1500-500 b.c.e., four companion scriptures--Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva--consisting of roughly 20,000 Sanskrit verses that form Hinduism's primary scripture (along with the Agamas). Transmitted to man from God Siva and the Gods through the superconscious faculties of the rishis, the Vedas are sruti, "that which is heard." Because the mystic knowledge described in the Vedas cannot be experienced through man's intellect, these scriptures are considered superconscious wisdom. Originally, the Vedas were passed down orally, only taking written form centuries after their inception. Each Veda is comprised of four sections: Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads. The Samhitas and Brahmanas detail a transcendent/immanent Supreme Being cosmology and a system of worship through fire ceremony and chanting to establish communication with the Gods. The Aranyakas and Upanishads outline the soul's evolutionary journey, provide yogic/

VINA: A stringed instrument of music, also the melodious music-sound of the instrument itself.

VISHNU: Sccond of the Hindu triad of divinities, a benevolent deity with Lakshmi as his consort, god of plenty and prosperity, credited with the work of sustaining the universe.

Vow: A solemn promise, oath or pledge, especially one made to God, dedicating oneself to an act, service or way of life. Hindus take vows, vratas, for many reasons, both mundane and divine.

Vrata: "Vow." A religious oath. Vratas are personal promises to perform certain disciplines over a period of time, such as fasting, specific japa repetitions, worship or meditation, to enhance one's spirituality, establish self-discipline, invoke divine blessings and often to atone for misdeeds. Certain vratas are long-term, such as the brahmachariya vrata, the traditional promise to remain celibate until marriage or, in the case of the sannyasin, for life. As one of the traditional niyamas (practices) of ashtanga yoga, vrata means to fulfill religious vows, rules and observances faithfully.

Water: Second Element.

WAZU: Among thc Muslims, the washing of the important parts of the body like face, hands and feet, just as Panj-ashnani among the Hindus, necessitated perhaps by scarcity of water in drought-affected areas, or when one is too ill to have a full-bath.

Witness: The eternal awareness that views/perceives all experience.

Word: The One Vibration of which All That Is - Supra-Universe, Universe, One, Nature - is comprised of.

Yajur Veda: "Wisdom of sacrifice." Second great Veda that contains, both in poetry and prose, the hymns and formulas chanted during ritual. This work is divided into 40 chapters of 1,975 stanzas, about 30% of which are repetitions of the Rig Veda.

Yama: "To rein, or restrain." The yamas are ethical restraints which check or curb the base, instinctive nature. These abstentions comprise the second limb of the ashtanga ("eight-limbed") yoga system codified in numerous Saivite scriptures including the Sandilya and Varuha Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Sri Gorakhnath, the Tirumantiram (circa 200 BCE) by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras (circa 200 BCE) of sage Patanjali. There are ten yamas and ten niyamas in all, though Patanjali listed only five yamas and five niyamas in his classic work, and these have become widely known. Along with the niyamas, ethical practices, the yamas provide guidelines for ethical, moral life and are the foundation for yoga. The ten yamas are 1) ahimsa (noninjury), 2) satya (truthfulness), 3) asteya (nonstealing), 4) brahmachariya (sexual purity), 5) kshama (patience), 6) dhriti (steadfastness), 7) daya (compassion), 8) arjava (honesty), 9) mitahara (moderate appetite) and 10) saucha (purity). Note that the yamas as listed by sage Patanjali's are ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmachariya and aparigraha.

YAMA: The Hindu Pluto or king of the nether world: the world of spirits; a Judge-god administering justice untampered by mercy, according to the inexorable law of karma: As ye sow, so shall ye reap, with sway extending to Pitrilok or the region of the Pitris (manas) can neither create nor destroy spirits, but perpetually keeps them in bondage of matter and mind of varying forms and patterns, as one deserves.

YOGA: (Skt. yuj: to join, much the same as yoke in English). The practice aims at stilling the mind as a means to concentrated meditation for securing at-one-ment of the soul with the Universal Soul (Isvara, the Lord). (2) One of darshans or orthodox systems of Hindu philosophy developed by sage Patanjali about 300 A. D Composing Ashtang or an eight-fold path of reunion with the Divine.(3) Of all the different forms of yoga, the yoga of the Sound Current or attunement with the holy Word, is by far the easiest, the safest and the speediest, yielding results that are verifiable with mathematical precision.

Yoga: "To yoke or unite," connoting the process of yoking or fusing individual consciousness and awareness with superconscious awareness -- the natural mind state of soul and God. This yoking process ultimately leads to a realization of identity, that our innermost consciousness and Absoluteness is and always has been that of God. Yoga is the third of the four successive stages (margas) of purification and enlightenment in Saiva Siddhanta--chariya, kriya, yoga and jnana. Yoga's culmination of samadhi in Parasivam, the Absolute, is the first step upon the jnana path. There are many legitimate forms of yoga -- excluding bhakti and karma yogas which are preparatory practices -- all of which lead the aspirant toward kundalini/raja yoga.

YOGI or YOGIN: One who has mastered the technique and practice of yoga and can impart yogic discipline to others. A true yogi (of the Sound Cutrent) can, by transmitting a little of his own life-impulse to others, cast them in his own mould. (2) in common parlance, a yogi is a yoga-ascetic engaged in hard yogic disciplines. (3) Yoga today is reduced to physical level and is practised for health and longevity. YOGIC: Pertaining to yoga.

Yuga: "Period, age." A time span, from tens of thousands to one million years, which is a single cycle within a four-yuga greater cycle. The four yugas are: Sat, Treta, Dwapara, Kali.

ZOROASTER: (Gr. form of the Persian Zarathustra: 600?-583 ? B. C.). Founder of Zoroastrianism whose modern version is Parseeism. He is believed to have been the first of the Wise Men or Magis. From Gathas in the Zendavesta, we find that he was possessed by a new vision of God and gave to the world a dualistic theology of the good God (Ahura Mazda or Ormuzd) and the Evil God (Angra Mainyu or Ahirman). The way to Ahura Mazda lies through two divinities, Atar (fire) and Sraosha (willing obedience to the Divine Will).

ZRE-I-RUHI: Communion of the Ruh or spirit with the holy Word. cf. Sultan-ul-Azkar.

[ENDS]

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

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Posted by DK Matai at 02:17 PM | Comments (17)

Faith...

faith-a-faith-a-faith
you gotta have faith-a-faith-a-faith

Alone-acrylic on canvas-4feet x 6 feet

doubt sees the obstacles
faith sees the way
doubt sees the darkest night
faith sees the day
doubt dreads to take a step
faith soars on high
doubt questions "who believes?"
faith answers " I "

Posted by Suchitra Krishnamoorthi at 04:56 AM | Comments (24)

March 16, 2007

The new definition of Self Centered

As I have started to spread the word about the coolest new movement to hit the spirituality scene, well....ever, some people have had a knee jerk reaction to the name - Self Centered Tour.

Why would you want to be more self centered they say? Between the pretentious celebrities, the insatiable corporate business moguls, and the rigid political activists, many would argue that there are far too many people out there like that already.

But you've got it all wrong. You are thinking about it from an old school perspective and I believe you are ready to get with the times. So let me enlighten you to the new definition:

Self Centered (old): someone who is egocentrically engrossed in one’s own BS (belief systems, of course).

Common attributes: unfortunately bitchy, redundantly snobby, incredibly annoying, extraordinarily selfish, and perpetually frustrating to anyone (and everyone) in their general vicinity.

Self Centered (new): someone who is completely grounded and secure in one’s own awareness and ready to take on the world.

Common attributes: irresistibly attractive, tastefully confident, overflowing with creativity, magnetically passionate, genuinely caring, unexplainably inspiring, refreshingly open minded, and curiously explorative.

More to come about this exciting program in future posts. Until then, let me know your thoughts on this fun little play on words.

Posted by Max Simon at 07:10 PM | Comments (13)

HQR: Burden of Proof, Synchronicity & Applications

Further to the Socratic Dialogue with Pure & Applied Scientists, Philosophers and Spiritualists across the world as well as IntentBloggers over the last few months, it seems that one of the key ways in which there could be the burden of proof for Holistic Quantum Relativity lies in building pilot applications...

Bubble Chamber Event, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

... which bring Web Science -- including the Semantic Web -- Quantum Computing and Synchronicity together. Such pilot applications could be based on devising a series of experiments that prove the concept of the supra-universal consciousness, the universal consciousness and its influence on world events via and at the individual and collective consciousness levels both at the macro- and micro- layers of our existential environment. What does this mean?

2m Hydrogen Bubble Chamber, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

When CERN tried to prove successfully that there are sub-atomic particles other than neutrons, protons and electrons in the '50s, '60s and '70s they used bubble chambers, which traced the path of those sub-atomic particles and through the radius of the circular paths and the magnitude of the electric and magnetic fields applied, it was possible to calculate the mass and charge of those particles and other properties.

Gargamelle Bubble Chamber, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Many theoretical particles were discovered as a result and many particles became totally fictitious thereby debunking some of the associated theories!

Large Hadron Collider, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

In the same way, the world wide web is a bubble chamber of the supra-universal consciousness, universal consciousness, collective consciousness and individual consciousness or indeed the one "Consciousness" all in interplay in real time or indeed in infinity where the past, present and future are the same.

Particles at High Speed observed at Particle Physics Laboratories

If synchronicity between events can be demonstrated in the bubble chamber of the web via "Web Science" and the "Semantic Web" via correlations with individual and world events to rising awareness of global risk and opportunity challenges within climate chaos, radical poverty, energy and geo-politics, organised crime and extremism, emergent new technologies -- robotics, genetics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and informatics -- demographic skews, pandemics, water shortages and financial markets trends, we will be able to show Synchronicity's blazing trail as-if in a "Bubble Chamber" of the world wide web in the present and immediate past events and to some extent in the immediate future.

Specimen Web Graph of Web Site

This would then become a real time global economy or global ecology type application for Holistic Quantum Relativity. Where really high performance computing would be necessary for hitherto unrealisable projects, then some of the new power and inspiration may come from Quantum Computing and Quantum Cryptography.

Specimen Carbon Flow Food Web Network

NASA Global Survey Synthesised Image of Green-House Gas (GHG) Emissions Data

Would you like to think about experiments that could be devised along such lines? Here is what you might need:

1. Web Science and the Semantic Web is covered here.

2. Quantum Computing is covered here.

3. Understanding Synchronicity:

Synchronicity is the coincidence of events that seem to be meaningfully related, conceived in the theory of Carl Jung as an explanatory principle on the same order as causality. The concept of synchronicity -- when seen in a wider context -- raises strong questions concerning the existence of "coincidence" at all! Before the concept was known by this name, people often referred to such synchronistic events as portents or omens.

Artistic Impression of Synchronicity - I

India hs a similar concept, called auspicious coincidence (The Sanskrit word is Pratitya-Samutpada) and/or interdependent co-origination; strongly hinting at the basic definition of synchronicity as a coming together of several factors which, in concert, give rise to a certain situation.

The term "synchronicity" is viewed as the term "coincidence" by those who do not find themselves perceptually within the flow of Consciousness.

With the basic frequency of the environment of the universe increasing, the concept of synchronicity is very important, because the ongoing perception of it is a "marker" of the relationship between one's consciousness and the subjective reality one perceives.

Artistic Impression of Synchronicity - II

As most of us have no doubt noticed, the rate and perception of synchronicity is increasing, as is the perception that the linear time flow is speeding up. Perhaps the best overall composite commentary on synchronicity that we have so-far seen is as follows:

Synchronicity is the conscious perception in a physiological time track of the simultaneous manifestation of the multi-dimensional universe.

It is the conscious recognition that all events, objects, relationships, points of view, perceptions and interactions are "ONE ENTITY" viewed from different perspectives. As the basic resonant vibration of the system increases, synchronicity becomes more easily perceptible within experiential reality.

Synchronicity is also a reflection of what one believes or perceives one's reality to be. Synchronicity, relative to reality, IS what reality IS, and it is the WAY, and the WAY it is.

Now, many people have discussed the subject of synchronicity, all the way from Carl Jung to Bashar. However, it is from Bashar, representing the Essassani, that we get further clarification:

"Recognize that you are all functioning completely within synchronicity, but many of you choose to function within negative synchronicity, choosing a perception of a negative reality, rather than positive synchronicity and a positive perception of reality. Should you choose a negative reality, than those situtations will be negative reflections." And the reverse is true...

Supposedly it is in the supernovae of dying stars that the more complex elements, necessary for life, are created. While it may seem the physical universe is running down it may be fueling something else. And what is that dark matter which takes up 90% of the mass of the universe? Interestingly that is the same proportion that we are told the unconscious has to the conscious mind. Is this parallel just a coincidence?

According to Victor Mansfield, in "Synchronicity, Science, and Soul-Making", he states, "Just as invisible matter dominates the physical evolution of the universe, so does the invisible component of the psyche -- the unconscious -- dominate psychological evolution. Yet the conscious part of the psyche plays a critical role because the unconscious is often reacting to it. Although our interest in visible ego consciousness has consumed us, depth psychology has clearly shown that the dark, invisible aspect of the psyche -- the unconscious -- displays a profound wisdom in directing our evolution."

Synchronicity as expressed by the Intelligence of Dolphins

"The Police" had an interesting set of lyrics within "Synchronicity":

With one breath, with one flow
You will know
Synchronicity

A sleep trance, a dream dance,
A shared romance,
Synchronicity

A connecting principle,
Linked to the invisible
Almost imperceptible
Something inexpressible.
Science insusceptible
Logic so inflexible
Causally connectible
Yet nothing is invincible.

If we share this nightmare
Then we can dream
Spiritus mundi.

If you act, as you think,
The missing link,
Synchronicity.

We know you, they know me
Extrasensory
Synchronicity.

A star fall, a phone call,
It joins all,
Synchronicity.

It's so deep, it's so wide
You're inside
Synchronicity.

Effect without a cause
Sub-atomic laws, scientific pause
Synchronicity...

The Quest for Synchronicity is a Search for Divine Intervention

As Marie Louise von Franz wrote: "(...) Jung found further that the mandala does not only mirror an inner state of order, but that its harmony or disharmony encompasses also the surroundings of the individual. Thus a mandala needs a symbol in which the outer and inner world merge. There is for Jung a ultimate reality beyond matter and psyche which he called the unus mundus, its empirical manifestation is the principle of synchronicity because in synchronistic events the inner world behaves as if it were outside and the outer world as if it were inside. As the mandala symbolism expresses the holistic order of matter and psyche it should have been investigated by physicists as well as psychologists because the mandala reappears in their hypothetical models of the atomic world. The atomic model of Niels Bohr is already a cosmic mandala and the models which the physicists construct nowadays to visualize the quarks are also mandalas. It is therefore a merit of Dr. Remo Roth's book to pick up that neglected subject which is of the utmost importance, and I hope that it will provoke further widespread serious discussion of the subject (...)"

We may ask why are young people of the twenty first century so interested in Spirituality? What prompts Holistic Quantum Relativity to compare the discoveries of quantum physics and relativity with the representations of Far Eastern mystics? What deeper reality might lie behind events demonstrating synchronicity?

Human Mind -- Psychological -- Synchronicity

It is one of the purposes of HQR to demonstrate that these phenomena are all expressions of an unconscious transformation of the divine image (the Self) which has occurred over the millenia. We can recognize this archetypal process in the beliefs of the mystics, and it had already existed in the early ideas of the Gnostics of the first centuries. In the Middle Ages this process culminated in the visions of the Swiss mystic Nicholas of Flüe and in the alchemical symbolism of Paracelsus. Since this process is deeply archetypal, it is relatively independent of cultural differences. This is why we also find this transformation of the divine image in Buddhistic thinking and in Islamic Sufism.

When the spirit of the collective Supra-Consciousness (acting at spirit-level) desires such a process of transformation, universal-consciousness (acting at mind-level) may indeed repress it, but it will succeed step-by-step and beyond the destructive form via the constructive intentions of the individual and collective consciousness.

The central symbolism of the transformation of the divine image, that is, the central symbolism of Paracelsus' alchemy and of the visions of Nicholas of Flüe, appears again in one of the latest theories of quantum physics, the quark model of Murray Gell-Mann. In the model, quarks and antiquarks constitute the so-called mesons, which are nothing less than nuclear force. The liberation of this force occurs uncontrollably within the bomb and in the nuclear reactors it is freed under control. One of the most important results of the repression of the transformation of divinity's image therefore is the fact that humanity, for the first time in our history, is capable of destroying ourselves and our planet.

In Synchronicity Quest (German title: Die Gottsucher) Remo Roth establishes a correspondence between the central symbols of Christian (and of some Tantric and Sufic) mysticism and several of the central ideas of quantum and elementary particle physics by means of Jungian psychology. When applied to the central contents of cultural development, this method can be represented as follows:

At the beginning of a cultural era some central ideas -- the paradigm of that particular culture -- are constituted. This Zeitgeist consists of archetypal ideas that are believed in without demonstrable proof. As time passes, these ideas change. Psychologically seen, this process corresponds to the transformation of the divine image (the Self). But collective consciousness is unaware of this transformation. Certain individuals, the mystics of the culture concerned, are overwhelmed by visions, which are compensatory to the Zeitgeist, and are rooted in the collective unconscious.

By means of the so-called amplification method developed by C G Jung, Roth endeavours to decode these symbolically encoded visions of Paracelsus and Nicholas of Flüe. In this manner he determines the psychological content of these ideas which are compensatory to the Christian Zeitgeist.

Comparisions with the Germanic God Wotan and with Buddhist and Hinduist philosophy are essential, and parallels with the mystics of the Heart of Jesus Christ and with Islamism Sufism have been demonstrated. The principle result of the psychological interpretation of these compensatory ideas from the collective unconscious consists in the transformation of the old Zeitgeist into the new, a transformation which is in constellation at present. This new Zeitgeist corresponds to a new collective consciousness, the paradigm of the post-religious era, which so many people are searching for today.

In Synchronicity Quest (Die Gottsucher) the example of the early Christian gnostics is used to demonstrate the method adopted. In this manner one can precisely reveal the phenomena of "absolute" or "preconscious knowledge" in the collective unconscious and its compensatory function in relation to consciousness, both recognized by C G Jung.

Roth then deals with the Christian idea of the trinity, which consists of two hypotheses. In the idea of the homoousie, the same essence constitutes the three persons of the godhead; in mathematical terms the three are one. This paradox is solved by postulating one unique energy behind the three. The second idea is that of the so-called filioque, which sees the Holy Spirit as originating from the Father and also from the Son. Symbolically seen, "father" and "son" are opposites. In a psychological language the filioque states therefore that the archetype of the spirit as the third symbolizes the union of these opposites. This leads to the important conclusion that, with the inclusion of the third (the archetype of the Spirit) within the first and second, we must take into consideration the ambivalent twoness of the third. The third and therefore the number three are always duplex. The Fathers of the religious order could not accept this conclusion. Therefore, as an archetypal necessity, a compensatory antitrinity of matter was postulated in alchemy philosophy. Since then this trinitarian "spirit of matter" lives as the hostile brother of the Divine Trinity. One of the most important tasks of the post-religious era may therefore be to effect a union of the Divine Trinity and the alchemical antitrinity on a higher level. This union occurs as the phenomenon of the so-called synchronicity as delineated by C G Jung.

Roth describes the archetypal process of the transformation of the divine image which, because of the resistance of the relegious heads, developed unconsciously. The heads could not accept the archetypal, ambivalent twoness of the third (of the Holy Spirit or the archetypal spirit); consequently, the dark side of the spirit was cut off and devoured as evil. This "spirit of the earth", which the Fathers of the Church falsely called Satan, was projected onto women -- in history -- and also to the lower classes. The consequences of this diabolising and repression of the "light of nature" (Paracelsus) were the Inquisition and the burning of witches in Europe.

In contrast, the alchemist philosophers dealt with this diabolized aspect of the ambivalent archetype of the spirit and by doing so followed the archetypal process of God's transformation, in constellation since the turn of the millenium. This concept begins with the fall of the divine man (Anthropos) into matter (macrocosmic level) or in the instincts of the human body (microcosmic level). From there the Anthropos must be liberated by the human being and led back to the realms of light. To do this the alchemists at first had to differentiate this earthly aspect of the spirit into an antitrinity.

Subsequently, this divinity hidden in matter, in the drives of the human body and in the female principle was able to return to the heavenly realms. Psychologically, this process involves the construction of a renewed upper image of Divinity, consisting of the three principles, logos, meditation and eros, which develop out of the socalled triad of drives: aggression, exploration and sexuality. This renewed image of divinity implies a reunion of the opposites of the two trinities, a reunion represented by the famos distinctive sign of alchemy, the Seal of Solomon or the Star of David, which HQR has discussed at length.

Symbolically seen, the third represents the concept of energy, which is why this new image of divinity has to contain the ambivalent energy. In addition to the concept of physical energy it also contains what Jung called objective psychic energy. The relatively simultaneous effects of these energies can be observed in synchronistic phenomena. Out of the compensatory antitrinity a renewed upper trinity, composed of logos, meditation and eros, is built up in the four-step -- four forces -- alchemical opus.

Paracelsus developed an antitrinity of matter compensatory to the trinity, which we can equate with the instinctive principles of aggression, exploration and sexuality. Out of this compensatory antitrinity a renewed upper trinity, composed of logos, meditation and eros, is built up in the four-step alchemical opus. In this renewed image of divinity the upper trinity replaces the old, exclusively male one, and with eros it also contains the female principle. Together with the instinctive trinity of aggression, exploration and sexuality it forms the new double trinitarian image of Divinity - thereby giving birth to the new Zeitgeist. The principle tool for developing this new Zeitgeist is the Body Centered Visualisation or - in the case of illness - the Symptom Symbol Transformation, a method that combines the method of active imagination developed by C G Jung with intuitive concepts of Paracelsus about the subtle body, and is based on the concept of synchronicity.

The Wheel Image of Niklaus von Flüe as Symbol of the Subtle Body

Examining the visions of the Swiss mystic, Nicholas von Flüe, shows how the new and double triadic image of god developed in him and how he finally found his famos Radbild (image of the wheel), which seen symbolically is an equivalent of the alchemical seal of Solomon or Star of David. In the visions of this Swiss saint we not only recognize this goal of god's transformation, but at the same time the visions show us the process which leads to this goal.

In symbolic language this process can be described by a metaphor, "the lance pierces the heart", and the goal of the process by the statement, "the seal of Solomon in the heart", an image which corresponds to the Radbild of Nicholas of Flüe. The process as well as its goal can also be seen as the central contents of the heart chacra (anahata) of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy and of Islamic Sufism and in the Germanic belief of Wotan. In psychological language this myth represents the transformation of affective impulses and therefore of the psychic energy contained in the instinctive triad of aggression, exploration and sexuality into the upper principles of the renewed god image, that is, into the principles of logos, meditation and eros.

To accomplish this the first step is to introvert the drive to explore. This leads into the meditative technique of active imagination developed by C G Jung. In the near future -- at the beginning of the post-religious era -- humanity will be forced to begin this transformation process, since identifying with collective aggression is no longer possible because of the nuclear bomb and since collective (extraverted) exploration will be halted by pollution and collective (promiscuous) sexuality by AIDS.

Active Imagination is based on synchronicity, a principle which compensates the casuality - the desolate clockwork fantasy (Jung) - of today's scientific Zeitgeist. Both Nicholas' Radbild and the Seal of Solomon symbolize the principle of synchronicity, in which relatively simultaneous inner (dreams, visions) and outer events indicate the way out of the crisis of our day.

In the synchronistic event, the two above mentioned energies the physical and the objective psychic coincide, and experience shows that by observing these paranormal events a potential, new creation of the divine head is discernable. Therefore, synchronicity compensates the creatio ex nihilo (the unique creation of the world by God out of nothingness) and replaces it with the idea of the creatio continua. This revolutionary new principle means nothing less than that the empirical human being is forced to observe the transformation of the divine image. In this way new creation is initiated, a creation whose effects we are unable as yet to observe.

Quark-Antiquark-Sextette

During the 20th century, towards the end of the religious era, the process of Divinity's transformation was, with the tools of modern science, once more observed in a totally unexpected place. For the accelerator and the bubble chamber, the epistemological instruments of quantum and elementary particle physics, correspond symbolically to the metaphor "The lance pierces the heart"; and the goal of the process, the Seal of Solomon or The Star of David, reappears as the so-called quark-antiquark-sextette, a result of the observation of newly created elementary particles in the bubble chamber.

The quark-antiquark-sextette parallels the main structure of the atomic nucleus and nuclear force. It corresponds exactly to the alchemical seal of Solomon. As mystic symbolism requires, it arises in the "heart" of the bubble chamber as a result of the piercing lance process. Psychologically seen, this process involves the introversion of psychic energy through active imagination, which should begin with the introversion of the exploratory instinct in order to build up the upper principle of meditation.

Physics, however, has not yet been able follow this first of the four steps of Paracelsus' opus. That is why the process of Divinity's transformation appears as a projection into matter. Psychologically seen, Fritjof Capra's "cosmic dance of matter" turns out to be that unconscious mixture of aggression and sexuality which Paracelsus had already diagnosed as the principal illness of man.

This eternal dance of matter corresponds also to the prima materia of alchemy philosophy, which Paracelsus meant to transform through his opus. We see further that Capra's mythological interpretation of physics regresses behind the insights of the alchemical physician. So the principle of eros remains projected onto matter into the quark-antiquark-sextette and into nuclear force.

When we examine the symbolism of the quark-antiquark-sextette from the perspective of Jungian psychology, we reach the same conclusions. There are many indications that the quark model of quantum physics is comparable to the synchronicity concept of C G Jung, a concept which is strongly connected with the principle of eros. In order to experience synchronicity consciously, it is necessary to bild up a new kind of consciousness. This consciousness is double, that is, it is simultaneously oriented outwards and inwards (extraverted and introverted), and it underlies the condition of the so called "contingent spacetime". In this way, it is also able to transform instinctive energy by means of active imagination. This transformation appears to be sufficient for consciously observing the phenomena of synchronicity.

Nuclear force is acausal, because it is only possible as the result of the uncertainty principle, formulated by Werner Heisenberg. This physical nuclear force, phenomenologically seen, corresponds to the principle of acausal orderedness, postulated by C G Jung. After a certain level of energy, nuclear force is accompanied with so called strangeness, which itself corresponds to the principle of synchronicity. And behind this principle lies objective psychic energy.

Therefore we must expect that, after a critical point, parallel to the energizing of matter and the production of artificial radioactivity in the nuclear reactors, events will occur in which objective psychic energy is manifested.

A dream of Wolfgang Pauli, the famos physicist and Nobel Laureate, which he had in the early fifties (that is, prior to the formulation of the quark theory) verifies the hypothesis that quantum physics is unconsciously seeking synchronicity as a supplementary principle of explanation.

Further this dream shows, that we will find this new principle -- and in this way find the consciously lived principle of eros -- only by a new science, a reunion of physical theory and depthpsychological experience, which begins with the introversion of the exploratory instinct. This new science deals with the nonphysical role of so called "negative energy" of physics in the subtle-body reality of the objective psyche beyond the split between matter and spirit.

ESSASSANI PHILOSOPHY & SYNCHRONICITY

JUDGEMENT & PREFERENCE WITHIN SYNCHRONICITY

JUDGEMENT: Judgement is invalidating everything one prefers. When one invalidates something, one become equal to it, and thus what one does not want one becomes. Seen from a Hermetic standpoint, when one focusses on something one brings it into one's life. If one focusses on what one does not want, one become resonant with the frequency of its reality and manifests it. The answer to all of this lies in the apparent paradox of Hermetic Law, wherein one must see the reality one prefers as currently existing in the moment, despite the apparent contradiction of its immediate lack of presence. Hard for most people, but not impossible to do. Furthermore, every being has their own way of exploring the idea of existence. It does not mean one must judge the way they are living as invalid. If one is busy judging that which they are doing is less than what one thinks they could be doing, ONE is maintaining those effects and those realities in ONE's reality. One is focusing upon them.

Want a real challenge? Consider Reptilian Draconians eating human children and maintaining a 4 billion year history of tyrannical behavior, and attempt to attain a state of non-judgement while at the same time focusing on a reality ONE prefers to exist. ONE may move to a parallel line of existence where these guys do not exist ... they won't be shifting their perspective, so ONE must do so.

PERSONAL ABILITY, EXPERIENCE & SYNCHRONICITY

No matter what one's mind or beliefs tell one, one never gets more than one can handle. If one finds that one has arrived at a point in one's life where a certain situation is "dropped in one's lap", and one find oneself recoiling from it, relax. Take heed.

One is never given anything that is beyond one, because that would be pointless. The universe has no pointless or extraneous creations. Everything fits. Anything that interacts with anything else interacts because it belongs in interaction with it, to represent a particular belief that is being lived out. Everything fits. The universe works. Let it work. Allow it to work. Allow oneself to work by doing what excites one the most.

Know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, if one does find something that excites one, something that one knows is "what" one is, that's because it represents one's "truest" self at that time, it will automatically provide one with all the abundance one needs in whatever form one needs it, to allow one to keep on being "that" one, because every single reality, every single belief, whether "positive" or "negative", always comes with its own built-in self-perpetuating mechanism that makes it seem like "that's the only reality that exists", and "that's the only reality that works".

ON RELATIONSHIP & SYNCHRONICITY

When one knows one is complete within onerself and attracts a relationship to share as true equals, each being in the relationship being complete, then an individual can come and go in the relationship and will feel no loss. If an individual comes and goes, it is an accurate reflection of the completeness of the relationship ... and it serves a purpose in the relationship and is not an interruption in the relationship."

"People assume that one needs a relationship to be complete, so what one is always going to attract to onerself is a reflection of one's own (self -perceived) incompleteness. One will attract someone who will act incompletely, to remind one that it is what one believes oneself to be."

"Individuals in one's society say that if they could only find their soul mate, everything would be wonderful ... but understand that one only attracts what one is the vibration of."

PERSONAL REALITY, BELIEF & TRUTH WITHIN SYNCHRONICITY

Because every single reality, every single belief, whether "positive" or "negative", always comes with its own built-in self-perpetuating mechanism that makes it seem like "that's the only reality that exists", and "that's the only reality that works.

This is why when one person finds "one thing", they think that "that's it! , and they will go around trying to force everyone to believe that one thing, or else they feel they will be "lost", or "damned", or "doomed".

The idea is that this is the nature of the structure of creation. Every idea is self reinforcing. Otherwise, if it were not, one would not be able to experience the pristine and pure nature of any one singular reality. All possible realities would be jumbled and one wouldn't know what to do.

The idea is that when one locks onto a belief in physical reality, it will always attract the circumstances, situations, opportunities and objects into one's life that will reinforce that circumstance.

When one "change one's mind" or "prefers something else", one get all the tools that reinforce that belief. It doesn't invalidate the last belief before that, because the last belief and reality is just as true as it was before, because all truths are true. That's the nature of All That Is. It's all real. One cannot imagine non-existence. Anything one can possibly conceive of is "somewhere", "somewhen", "somehow" a real experiential reality. Maybe not immediately applicable to this particular physical universe, but it doesn't mean it is not real.

CONTROL & GOING WITH THE FLOW OF SYNCHRONICITY

Allow oneself to understand that the relaxation one experiences when one "goes with the flow" is not "giving up control", it is "taking control". It is just that the natural control one already contains doesn't meet with resistance. Our civilization has only been taught to see "control" when it contains resistance.

In other words, "I'm in control because I can feel it resisting me". This gives the illusion that if there is no resistance, there is no control. In fact, it is the complete lack of resistance that let's one know one has arrived at one's center of perfect peace, where all possible realities are equal, and it is easy to choose the one one prefers, because no reality has any more importance than any other one. There is no defensive "I'd better do this, or else

There is only the understanding of the thing that needs to be taught to every child on the planet, and that is the knowledge that every single individual on this planet is already as powerful as he or she needs to be to create any reality desired, without having to hurt onerself, or anyone else, to get it. That's how powerful one is!

[ENDS]

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

24. HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

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Image requested by Harbhajan Singh -- author of Self-Designed Universe -- vis-a-vis his post #21 below:

"Self-Designed Universe: In fact, the same process goes on at all system levels (see chart). Beginning from and propelled by the superforce of the big bang all hierarchical systems similarly go through four basic interactions relevant to their levels and thus display the characteristics of respective interactions."

Posted by DK Matai at 12:12 PM | Comments (33)

The Absurdity of Peace

Recently I posted on America's war system, the vast economic web that ties every sector of the country into the business of war and the death it produces. One responder expressed sarcastic disdain for the following sentences about the Cold War era: "The race to develop the atom bomb, considered so critical back then, proved to be a chimera in the end. A peace pact could have been made with the Soviet Union not to proliferate atomic and missile technology, saving untold billions of dollars." In response he writes, "A peace pact with the Soviet Union! Wow! How come nobody thought of that before?!? It's genius!! Go run and tell the government about your new idea, Deepak!"

Any historian will point out that the U.S. had a pact with the Soviet Union throughout WW II and is now at peace with Russia; therefore, the notion of a peace agreement in the intervening years isn't absurd. On the other hand, it is absurd if you consider peace itself to be so. Sadly, that's exactly the case in the U.S. today. We are so dependent on a state of international tension, on the constant presence of an enemy, on self-proclaimed demands for "security," that our sense of reality is tied to making sure that peace never breaks out permanently.

America has an addictive need for the military-industrial complex to keep churning on. Societies that get into such an economic bind--one thinks of the Confederacy's dependency on slavery, South Africa's on apartheid, the British empire's on colonialism--generally break free in one of two ways. Neither, as it turns out, is economic. Either internal pressures build up to the point of explosive violence (revolution in Czarist Russia, the Civil War here), or the society confronts its own immorality and decides to change (South Africa, the Soviet bloc under Gorbachev). Which will be the path the U.S. takes? It's self-evident after the debacle in Iraq that the neocons' dreams of military supremacy lasting forever are ruined.

A realist would say that the status quo can continue indefinitely. This country is rich enough to arm itself with new means of mechanized death, such as the proposed robot army that is on the horizon. It will require a sizable investment in death and will no doubt turn a commensurate profit to everyone enmeshed in the war system. But the realists could be wrong. The U.S., as Richard Nixon prophesied in the Seventies, could turn into a pitiful helpless giant, victimized by worldwide terrorism and more. Anti-American governments are rising throughout South America. Nasty forms of chemical and biological warfare threaten to sell to the highest bidder on the open market. Rising militarism in China and the Muslim world are by no means a paper threat. The underground market for developing the "Islamic bomb" continues at a brisk rate.

Peace suddenly doesn't look so absurd. It may turn out to be the key to saving the planet, since countries that waste their resources on pointless arms races become much less able to cooperate over climate change, pandemics, overpopulation, and other pressing crises. War has always been good business and the very core of nationalism. If that situation changes, baby boomers may live long enough to greet a world where war is absurd, at least on the grandiose scale that currently keeps America afloat, to its lasting shame.

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 08:15 AM | Comments (153)

Persistence pays, so does Peace.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Some of you might know that while politics is my passion, my entry into politics came because of the challenges I faced in community work. Asha for education is one of the organizations that I work with in providing education resources to the underprivileged and children in danger. There are many barriers that these people face, but persistence pays. Here is an email that I’m publishing in full. This is a person that my group supports. He belongs to the lower caste and has been fighting the upper caste landlords. After 19 years of peaceful resistance and court battles he has secured land for all the landless dalits in that village.

Two things to learn:

1) Persistence pays.
Lalit did not have a lot of resource but the determination to fight the rich landlords and after 19 years of determination and court battles he has won true independence to the lower caste villagers. It is an inspiration to people like and many others who want to make an change through education.

2) There is hope for Peace.
Lalit had a couple of choices. Fight it violently like the naxalites who opted to lift arms in their fight. Fight it peacefully in the streets through protests and in the courts with petitions. Lalit picked the later.

Many of us have the same option facing at times and here is an true example of what persistence and peace can do.

Here is the email .
—————————————————————————————————————
Folks,

Please read below some really good news from Aau a little village in UP where Bhoomi Heen Sewa Samithi has been running a school. The entire effort is a victory based on a single man Lalitji’s (Lalit Uniyal) courage and
commitment in a very difficult area. His persistant use of the legal system in the state of UP has finally paid off after 19 years of struggle. Asha Seattle has been supporting Bhoomi Heen for many eyars now and Asha
wide supported Bhoomi Heen during WAH 1998 (not sure of the exact year).

I would like to request everyone who can do so - to write to Lalitji and congratulate him. What he has shown is insane courage - to take on a feudal system and step by step bring empowerment to the poor in one of the most
violent districts in Banda, UP. He has faced many threats against his life and also many false charges to try and stop his work. This has been the effect of a single man’s persistance against all odds. An often lonely
prolonged persistant battle.

Warm wishes,
-Jayashree
—– Original Message —–

—– Original Message —–
From: Lalit Uniyal
To: Gagan Chopra
Cc: Jayashree Janardhan
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 10:59 PM
Subject: Updates

Dear Gagan,
This is just to give you a few udpates.
The great news is that we have won a land ceiling case against the biggest landlord of Aau. I had to pursue this matter in the High Court for about 19 years! The result is that 191 bighas of land will now be released
for distribution among landless Dalit labourers. My estimate is that no one will remain totally landless in Aau. Everyone will hold at least a small plot. And the insane domination of the village by one family will end
forever.
You may recall that I have often spoken of being engaged in a fight against feudalism. Well, this legal victory constitutes the single most powerful blow to the feudal structure in Aau village. It will unquestionably
make a huge difference to life in our village. I hope and expect that the tasks for the future will be largely constructive and educational. (Of course the general environment outside Aau will not change along with the
expected changes in Aau, so the element of difficulty and struggle cannot be eliminated altogether.)
Also, there is a lot of territory still to be covered. To start with, the landlord can appeal in the Supreme Court. But my lawyer friends are confident that he will not get any relief from the SC. Then, there is the
problem of implementation. There is so much corruption: one can expect attempts to distort the distribution to favour those who already possess land. It will be a prolonged process, and I may need to devote some
attention to that too. But if all comes through without too much corruption the consequences will be huge, and for all time.
The other thing to tell you is that our children of the 7th class are currently on a tour in Gujarat. We have sent 31 children (17 boys and 14 girls) and 4 teachers including 2 lady teachers. A friend there is financing
their stay and meals and transportation. The children are enjoying themselves and have already been to the Vidhan Sabha and Gir Foundation. They will be seeing Akshardham Temple and Science City today.
We have given a lot of thought to mid day meals. We are seriously considering reducing the expenses on Horlicks, which are huge. We are thinking of altrenatives like poha, chhola, sooji halwa, sprouted moon or
chana, aata laddoo, etc. Each of these will be cheaper than Horlicks. Lai Chana is our fixed base as it were. It is given every day, and one of these will be added as the second item instead of Horlicks, which may however be
given once a week.
Regards,
Lalit

Vijay Sappani

Posted by Vijay Sappani at 05:42 AM | Comments (1)

HQR: Linking Ancient & Modern: WWW of Worship

Our friends Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan, the London Bureau Chiefs of The Washington Post, have been researching the global rise and participation of multiple-faiths, far flung religious communities, and advancement of collective spiritual thought enabled by 21st century communications technology...

T K Jayaraaman, Sri Rangam temple and The Internet

...such as the web, search engines, blogging, mobile telephony and other virtual world developments which have an accelerating impact on humanity in the physical world. Like with all things, there are positives and negatives.

Their findings in the coming series of articles within The Washington Post are relevant to the Holistic Quantum Relativity Socratic Dialogue from the perspective of Web Science and its global, local and individual impact, of which IntentBlog is a component. Kevin's first article is worth noting and in order to assist their research as well as that of HQR, we would like to hear your views in regard to this phenomenal revolution with its attendant light and dark sides.

Linking Ancient and Modern, A Worldwide Web of Worship

By Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post Foreign Service, Wednesday, March 14, 2007; A01

(Original article can be accessed from here)

TIRUCHIRAPALLI, India -- Balaji, a Hindu priest, stood before the reclining god and offered a plate of coconut and bananas. His chest bare and his face adorned with red and yellow sacred paste, he set the food at the foot of a statue that Hindus regard as an embodiment of the powerful god Vishnu.

Following ancient tradition deep inside one of India's oldest and holiest temples, he chanted Vishnu's names 108 times to beseech health, wealth and good fortune -- not for himself, but for an Indian emigrant living in London who had purchased the prayer with her credit card on a Hindu Web site.

"If you wish to make an offering, the god will accept it -- even if it's on the Internet," said Balaji, standing barefoot in the hot sand of the South Indian temple compound.

The Internet has become a hub of religious worship for millions of people around the world. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs and people of other faiths turn regularly to Web sites to pray, meditate and gather in "virtual" houses of worship graphically designed to look like the real thing. Some sites offer rites from baptism to confession to conversion to Judaism.

For many cyber-worshipers, online religious life conducted at home or in an Internet cafe has replaced attendance at traditional churches, temples, mosques and synagogues. Some are coming to religion for the first time, in a setting they find as comfortable as their grandparents found a church pew, while millions of people reared on churchgoing are discovering new ways to worship.

"The first wave of religion online, in the 1990s, was mainly for nerds and young people and techies," said Morten Hojsgaard, a Danish author who has written extensively about online religion. "But now it really is a mirror of society at large. This is providing a new forum for religious seekers."

Hojsgaard said the number of Web pages dealing with God, religion and churches increased from 14 million in 1999 to 200 million in 2004. Religion now nearly rivals sex as a topic on the Internet: A search for "sex" on Google returns about 408 million hits, while a search for "God" yields 396 million.

The boom in online religion comes at a time when people, especially the young, are questioning traditional institutions, Hojsgaard said. Many are interested in religion, but they want the freedom to fashion a personalized style of worship. "Old mechanisms of religious authority are changing," Hojsgaard said. "There is more emphasis on individualism. We want to decide for ourselves."

India, with more than 1.1 billion people and a passion for technology, has become a leader in the practice of religion online, through a very large number of often very small Web sites, a pattern that reflects the decentralization of much of religious life here. Hindus sitting in the United States or Europe watch streaming live video of morning prayers from temples in their home towns. Sikhs listen to podcasts of prayers from Kashmir. Muslims download schedules of prayer times and recordings of sung verses from the Koran.

Members of India's fast-growing middle class have embraced the Internet in ways that startle their parents, many of whom were raised in villages that still barely have telephone service. At many Hindu temples, a priest's typical day includes pre-dawn prayers for a sacred cow or elephant, and time set aside to read e-mails asking for blessings.

Shopping for Prayers

On a cold and rainy January day, Kumudini Kumararajah logged on to her computer in London and started shopping for prayers.

Kumararajah, 36, is a Hindu who moved to London from India eight years ago. She prays every day, she said, at home and in a small temple in Tooting, a south London neighborhood popular with Indian expatriates. Every morning and evening she performs a puja, an offering to a god, seeking a blessing of health and happiness. But she said performing pujas in London was never as meaningful to her as doing them in the ancient temples of India, where Hinduism was born.

"The gods there are very powerful," said Kumararajah, sitting in the storefront of her family's software company. "I always want to pray there, but it is not possible for me because I live in London."

Then she heard about Saranam.com, a Web site based in Chennai, in southern India, that sells "Hindu rituals and products," whether they are prayers or auspicious names for a baby.

Clicking her way to Saranam.com, Kumararajah recalled, she arrived at a site that looked like the home page of bookseller Amazon.com, with colorful graphics and a slick menu of products and services -- and a link to check on "my stuff."

She clicked on the "pujas" tab, which brought her to a page where she could choose from a menu including "pujas for health" and "pujas for children." She chose a puja for wealth, health and happiness -- asking for help in finding a husband and having a family, and for the family software business to prosper.

Then she clicked on the "temples" tab and chose Sri Rangam, a thousand-year-old complex near Tiruchirapalli, about 200 miles south of Chennai near the southern tip of India. She had grown up in Chennai but had never visited the temple, one of India's most venerated religious sites. The centerpiece of the temple is a reclining image of Vishnu, which draws Hindus from across the world. Kumararajah was thrilled to find it on the Web site's list of temples available for pujas.

She clicked again and put her puja in her "shopping cart," then hit "proceed to checkout," filled in her billing address and paid with her Visa card over a secure server.

She chose a package of 12 pujas, one a month for a year, to be performed each month on her "star day" according to Hindu astrology. She also chose a second puja to be performed each month to a goddess at the temple. Total price for her personalized package of worship: about $140, or about $6 per puja.

"I could never do this before," she said, her chestnut eyes beaming. "The gods are happy when we perform pujas."

Saranam.com was founded by Mahesh Mohanan and Mervyn Jose, a pair of young computer software engineers in Chennai, the steamy port city formerly known as Madras. It is home both to some of India's most magnificent old temples and to some of its most cutting-edge technology firms.

Mohanan said he hit on the idea shortly after his marriage in 1999, when his new mother-in-law insisted that he and his new bride visit 15 Hindu temples over three days to seek blessings. "It was exhausting," Mohanan said. "I thought it would be so much easier if I could just do it on the Internet."

With financial backing from a local businessman, Saranam.com was up and running within weeks as a for-profit company.

The site now gets about 100,000 visits a year and about 200 orders each month, the company says. Most customers buy pujas to pray for sick relatives, to ease marital or financial problems -- or even, in the case of some Indians living in the United States, to help get a green card.

According to Mohanan and Jose, Saranam limits its advertising and marketing to avoid offending users who visit the site for serious religious purposes. "We can't say 'Winter Sale!' or things like that, because it would damage our credibility," Jose said. But it does use a time-honored promotional technique of posting articles written about it, including a news service account that appeared in The Washington Post.

At first, most of the customers came from the 20 million or so Indians who live overseas. But now most are Americans, Europeans and people from the Middle East who have become interested in Hinduism, at least in part because of information available on the Internet.

Shaunaka Rishi Das, director of the Center for Hindu Studies at Oxford University, said Hindus traditionally give little formal religious instruction to children, who learn largely from family tradition.

Now the Internet is allowing many Hindus to learn about their religion in depth for the first time.

"Hindus have jumped on this technology," he said.

T K Jayaraaman waits at Sri Rangam temple in southern India,
where he arranges for a Hindu priest to perform devotional rituals purchased by
customers of an Internet firm in Chennai. (Kevin Sullivan - The Washington Post)

Filling the Order

A few weeks after Kumararajah ordered her puja in London, 5,000 miles away in the 92-degree southern Indian sun, T.K. Jayaraaman walked barefoot into Sri Rangam, a 156-acre complex of 21 towers decorated with colorful and ornate carvings.

The retired schoolteacher, 65, is the local contact for Saranam.com. When someone orders a puja at a temple here in Trichy, as this city is known, the people at Saranam call him and ask him to arrange it; he has handled scores of orders in the past couple of years. Now he was here to take care of Kumararajah's, on her star date, Feb. 27.

Jayaraaman walked past a buzzing hive of vendors near the temple gate, where ancient meets modern: Three-wheeled motorized rickshaws compete for space with Mercedes buses full of tourists; an elderly woman weaves traditional Hindu floral garlands from sweet-smelling jasmine, while a more tech-savvy hawker approaches tourists, saying, "Mister -- digital camera memory stick?"

Wearing a sarong-like garment wrapped around his waist, Jayaraaman walked through the main gate of the temple, a 236-foot-high structure with ornate carvings in soft pastel blues, pinks and greens. He moved through the dark, shady places where scores of pilgrims were escaping the broiling midday sun by lying on the cool stone worn smooth by a millennium of use, and approached a line of fruit vendors.

He bought a small basket with a coconut, two bananas, a few sprigs of basil and some flowers for the equivalent of about 50 cents. He carried the plate of fruit to a barefoot priest, who cracked the coconut open for him -- opening it loudly in the presence of the reclining god is considered rude.

From another vendor, he bought a small packet of red and yellow powder, made from vermilion, sandalwood and turmeric, and placed it in his basket.

Jayaraaman walked deeper into the temple complex, arriving at a door that only Hindus may pass through. Inside, he said, he stood before the reclining god, bowed his head and handed the offering basket to Balaji, the priest. Balaji tossed flower petals and basil sprigs onto the statue and called the god's names 108 times. Jayaraaman told him the customer's name -- Kumararajah -- and the priest chanted it loudly, praising Vishnu in her name: "You are great! You are good! Bring her good health, good fortune, a good life!"

Balaji blessed the powder, tucked it into a folded bit of white paper and handed it back to Jayaraaman. Eventually the packet would be mailed to Kumararajah in London, along with a letter certifying that her order with Saranam.com had been filled.

For his efforts, Jayaraaman earned about 75 cents.

"I don't know anything about these people -- except their name and star date," he said. "But it makes me very proud to send them God's grace."

Outside the temple later, Balaji said he liked the temple's mix of old and new. Many people live far away and cannot travel here, he pointed out, so Saranam.com and other Internet-based services are bringing a new wave of worshipers to his ancient temple in spirit, a phenomenon the temple encourages.

"Of course," he said, "we have a Web site, too."

Back in chilly London, Kumararajah awaited her shipment in the offices of the family software company; her mother and sister also purchase pujas regularly from Saranam.com. Dressed in a flowing pink traditional dress, Kumararajah said she couldn't wait to get the red and yellow paste, blessed at a temple she dreams of visiting someday.

When it arrives, she said, she will mix it with a few drops of water and wear it on her forehead, in the traditional Hindu style indicating the presence of God.

"I will put it on every day," she said. "It will give me peace of mind."

[ENDS]

The copyright for this article belongs to The Washington Post and the original article can be accessed from here.

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

23. HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

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Posted by DK Matai at 02:15 AM | Comments (6)

Massage of the Week: Pinch the Traps

Stand behind your partner and rest both palms on her left shoulder (between the neck and the top of her arm). The big muscle covering this area is the trapezius, and virtually everyone stores chronic tension here. You’re going to perform a simple “squeeze-and-release” technique that will help relax the area.

(For further clarity, this link to a wikipedia webpage shows an anatomical diagram of the trapezius muscle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapezius)

With your four fingers curling over the top of your partner’s shoulder and toward her chest, and with your thumbs reaching behind and down the back, grab on to a big hunk of that trapezius muscle and squeeze! Then relax.

Continue squeezing and releasing, squeezing and releasing, covering the entire area between the top of the arm and the bottom of the neck. Each squeeze-and-release segment should take about two seconds total, squeezing for one second and then releasing for one second. You’ll be able to grab on to the biggest piece of the muscle right at the junction of the neck and the back. Here you’ll probably use your whole hand to grab on and squeeze. As you move out toward the arm, you’ll be pinching smaller and smaller pieces of muscle, sometimes using just your fingertips. Most people can take a lot of pressure in this area. Start squeezing gently, getting progressively firmer until you find a pressure that’s comfortable for your partner.

Try pinching the traps with alternating hands; squeeze with one hand while the other is releasing, alternating back and forth between the two. Don’t forget to save some energy to do the other shoulder.

Note: It’s easy for your hands to get tired doing this technique. Never hurt yourself by trying to squeeze too hard. If you’re giving a massage and you need a break, TAKE ONE! Your partner can sit or lie quietly while you rest.

This partner massage technique is reprinted from Grace’s book Massage In Minutes: Simple Techniques for Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere. Click on this link for more on the book: http://store.chopra.com/productinfo.asp?item=486&deptcode1=510

Posted by Grace Wilson at 12:18 AM | Comments (2)

March 15, 2007

The Rove Gonzalez Connection

Can someone explain to me what the big deal around the attorney firings is? And why

Karl Rove is suddenly in the midst of this scandal...
Is the issue that they targeted people that disagreed with them? And, that they lied about Harriet Miers role?
What are the repercussions here, other than Gonzales being fired?
I am genuinely trying to sort this out, so thanks in advance for simple explanations!

Posted by Mallika Chopra at 10:42 PM | Comments (16)

Random Suff

I've been away too long! Been struggling with what to blog since I am so out of the loop. Here's what's top of mind:

1) Going to expensive fundraisers at this point for presidential candidates is not about selecting the best leader for this country. It's about betting on a horse and hoping they remember you when they make the BIG WHITE HOUSE. I don't like it.

2) Google news Sachin Tendulkar and Virgin Comics. Read about Master Blaster. Pretty cool.

3) I went to the test screening for Shekhar's new film GOLDEN AGE yesterday. Wow! Early favorite for Oscars. Seriously. Bet on it.

4) I loved 300. But upon further thinking, it's kind of racist.

5) I have soooo not followed College hoops this year but I do know Duke lost in the first round :) and for some reason I still find myself cheering for Boston College though it's a Catholic school set in a state I haven't lived in for almost half my life.

6) Anand Jon - whoa brother. What the #$@$ is going on?

7) Sheikh Mohammed confesses to something everyone assumed he was responsible for 6 years after the fact, after being imprisoned in an illegal jail for a couple of years. This is news? What am I missing here?

8) For three years I was a member of a gym and managed to put on 15lbs. For 4 weeks I've been ona diet and started riding a bike and lost half of it. Confused.

9) Finally getting back to India. Too long between trips.

10) Please send scifi references. I need to learn the genre fast.

11) Tom Brady - what happened there?

12) Vik Chatwal. Call me back. I need to tell you something.

13) How did Mal write 100 promised and 100 questions? I can't even think of 14 thoughts....

14) I really want to make the SADHU happen!

15) Where should I on vacation?

16) Al Qaida is so yesterday. Fatah al Islam is the new cool terrorist group. Mark it down. Book your tickets to Gitmo, boys.

17) I'm sticking by Jetblue.

18) I do think Kobe is a dirty player.

19) Am I obligated to see the Namesake? Or should I just see 300 again?!

20) I really hope I get my upgrade!

Posted by Gotham Chopra at 08:59 PM | Comments (38)

HQR: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: The Future of The Web

It would be "une grande folie" to assume that we can progress the Holistic Quantum Relativity dialogue without understanding how the human mind works and interacts with others. This is where Computing and Web systems have to come into our thinking alongside Holistics, Philosophy, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity and Spirituality.

Prof Sir Tim Berners-Lee

The play of the grand cosmos is visible within the sub-atomic world as indeed it manifests in our minds. The working of the mind -- which is similar to a Quantum Computer -- and its labyrinthine matrix is best understood by comparing it with the 21st century internet, web and mobile telephony anytime anywhere systems which were not around in the past. Computing and the emerging area of Web Science also helps to draw parallels with inteconnectivities within and without human beings and our communities. In this regard the views of Sir Tim Berners-Lee are worth noting.

It was a great pleasure to be with Prof Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, looking back and looking forwards at the Web's development within his inaugural lecture at Southampton University, my alma-mater, on 14th March. In this context, the recent testimony of Sir Tim before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, Hearing on the "Digital Future of the United States: Part I -- The Future of the World Wide Web" is worth noting.

Prof Sir Tim Berners-Lee is the Director of the World Wide Web Consortium, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory for Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he leads the Decentralized Information Group (DIG), and Professor of Computer Science in the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton. A graduate of Oxford University, Professor Berners-Lee now holds the 3Com Founders chair at MIT. He directs the World Wide Web Consortium, an open forum of companies and organizations with the mission to lead the Web to its full potential. With a background of system design in real-time communications and text processing software development, in 1989 he invented the World Wide Web, an internet-based hypermedia initiative for global information sharing, while working at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. He wrote the first web client (browser-editor) and server in 1990.

Prof Sir Tim Berners-Lee at The Royal Institution, London

Before coming to CERN, Tim worked with Image Computer Systems, of Ferndown, Dorset, England, and before that as a principal engineer with Plessey Telecommunications, in Poole, England. Tim is a Founding Director of the Web Science Research Initiative (WSRI) launched in November 2006 to provide a global forum for scientists and scholars to collaborate on the first multidisciplinary scientific research effort specifically designed to study the Web at all scales of size and complexity, and to develop a new discipline of Web science for future generations of researchers. The other Founding Directors of WSRI are Professor Wendy Hall, Professor Nigel Shadbolt, and Daniel J Weitzner. He stated:

Chairman Markey, Ranking Member Upton, and Members of the Committee. It is my honour to appear before you today to discuss the future of the World Wide Web. I would like to offer some of my experience of having designed the original foundations of the Web, what I've learned from watching it grow, and some of the exciting and challenging developments I see in the future of the Web. Though I was privileged to lead the effort that gave rise to the Web in the mid-1990s, it has long passed the point of being something designed by a single person or even a single organization. It has become a public resource upon which many individuals, communities, companies and governments depend. And, from its beginning, it is a medium that has been created and sustained by the cooperative efforts of people all over the world.

To introduce myself, I should mention that I studied Physics at Oxford, but on graduating discovered the new world of microprocessors and joined the electronics and computer science industry for several years. In 1980, I worked on a contract at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory, and wrote for my own benefit a simple program for tracking the various parts of the project using linked note cards. In 1984 I returned to CERN for ten years, during which time I found the need for a universal information system, and developed the World Wide Web as a side project in 1990. In 1994, the need for coordination of the Web became paramount, and I left to come to MIT, which became the first of now three international host institutes for the World Wide Consortium (W3C). I have directed W3C since that time. I hold the 3Com Founders chair at MIT where I pursue research on advanced Web technologies with the MIT Decentralized Information Group. The testimony I offer here today is purely my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of the World Wide Web Consortium or any of its Members.

The special care we extend to the World Wide Web comes from a long tradition that democracies have of protecting their vital communications channels. We nurture and protect our information networks because they stand at the core of our economies, our democracies, and our cultural and personal lives. Of course, the imperative to assure the free flow of information has only grown given the global nature of the Internet and Web. As a Federal judge said in defense of freedom of expression on the Internet:

The Internet is a far more speech-enhancing medium than print, the village green, or the mails.... The Internet may fairly be regarded as a never-ending worldwide conversation.[1]

Therefore it is incumbent on all of us to understand what our role is in fostering continued growth, innovation, and vitality of the World Wide Web. I am gratified that the United States and many other democracies around the world have taken up this challenge. My hope today is to help you to explore the role this committee and this Congress has in building upon the great advances that are in store for the Web.

I. Foundations of the World Wide Web

The success of the World Wide Web, itself built on the open Internet, has depended on three critical factors:

1) unlimited links from any part of the Web to any other;
2) open technical standards as the basis for continued growth of innovation applications; and
3) separation of network layers, enabling independent innovation for network transport, routing and information applications.

Today these characteristics of the Web are easily overlooked as obvious, self-maintaining, or just unimportant. All who use the Web to publish or access information take it for granted that any Web page on the planet will be accessible to anyone who has an Internet connection, regardless whether it is over a dialup modem or a high speed multi-megabit per second digital access line. The last decade has seen so many new eCommerce startups, some of which have formed the foundations of the new economy, that we now expect that the next blockbuster Web site or the new homepage for your kid's local soccer team will just appear on the Web without any difficulty.

Today I will speak primarily about the World Wide Web. I hesitate to point out that the Web is just one of the many applications that run on top of the Internet. As with other Internet applications such as email, instant messaging, and voice over IP, the Web would have been impossible to create without the Internet itself operating as an open platform. [2]

A. Universal linking: Anyone can connect to anyone, any page can link to any page

How did the Web grow from nothing to the scale it is at today? From a technical perspective, the Web is a large collection of Web pages (written in the standard HTML format), linked to other pages (with the linked documents named using the URI standard), and accessed over the Internet (using the HTTP network protocol). In simple terms, the Web has grown because it's easy to write a Web page and easy to link to other pages. The story of the growth of the World Wide Web can be measured by the number of Web pages that are published and the number of links between pages. Starting with one page and one site just about 15 years ago, there are now over 100,000,000 web sites[3] with an estimated over 8 billion publicly accessible pages as of 2005. What makes it easy to create links from one page to another is that there is no limit to the number of pages or number of links possible on the Web. Adding a Web page requires no coordination with any central authority, and has an extremely low, often zero, additional cost. What's more, the protocol that allows us to follow these links (HTTP) is a non-discriminatory protocol. It allows us to follow any link at all, regardless of content or ownership. So, because its so easy to write a Web page, link to another page, and follow these links around, people have done a lot of this. Adding a page provides content, but adding a link provide the organization, structure and endorsement to information on the Web which turn the content as a whole into something of great value.

A current example of the low barriers to reading, writing and linking on the Web is the world of blogs. Blogs hardly existed five years ago, but have become an enormously popular means of expression for everything from politics to local news, to art and science. The low barriers to publishing pages and abundance of linking ability have come together, most recently with blogs, to create an open platform for expression and exchange of all kinds.[4] The promise of being able to reach anyone over a communications system that will carry virtually anything (any type of information) is somewhat like other infrastructures we depend upon: the mail system, the road system, and the telephone system. It stands in contrast to more closed systems such as the broadcast or cable television networks. Those closed systems perform valuable functions as well, but their impact in society is different and less pervasive.

The universality and flexibility of the Web's linking architecture has a unique capacity to break down boundaries of distance, language, and domains of knowledge. These traditional barriers fall away because the cost and complexity of a link is unaffected by most boundaries that divide other media. It's as easy to link from information about commercial law in the United States to commercial law in China, as it is to make the same link from Massachusetts' Commercial Code to that of Michigan. These links work even though they have to traverse boundaries of distance, network operators, computer operating systems, and a host of other technical details that previously served to divide information. The Web's ability to allow people to forge links is why we refer to it as an abstract information space, rather than simply a network. Other open systems such as the mails, the roads or the telephones come to perform a function in society that transcends their simple technical characteristics. In these systems, phone calls from the wireline networks travel seamlessly to wireless providers. Mails from one country traverse borders with minimal friction, and the cars we buy work on any roads we can find. Open infrastructures become general purpose infrastructure on top of which large scale social systems are built. The Web takes this openness one step further and enables a continually evolving set of new services that combine information at a global scale previously not possible. This universality has been the key enabler of innovation on the Web and will continue to be so in the future.

B. Open Foundation for Information-driven Innovation

The Web has not only been a venue for the free exchange of ideas, but also it has been a platform for the creation of a wide and unanticipated variety of new services. Commercial applications including eBay, Google, Yahoo, and Amazon.com are but a few examples of the extraordinary innovation that is possible because of the open, standards-based, royalty-free technology that makes up the Web. Whether developing an auction site, a search engine, or a new way of selling consumer goods, eCommerce entrepreneurs have been able develop new services with confidence that they will be available for use by anyone with an Internet connection and a Web browser, regardless of operating system, computer hardware, or the ISP chosen by that user.[5] Innovation in the non-commercial and government domains has been equally robust. Early Web sites such as Thomas have led the way in efforts to make the legislative process more open and transparent, and non-commercial sites such as the Wikipedia have pioneered new collaborate styles of information sharing. The flexibility and openness inherent in Web standards also make this medium a powerful foundation on which to build services and applications that are truly accessible for people with disabilities, as well as people who need to transform content for purposes other than that for which it was originally intended.

The lesson from the proliferation of new applications and services on top of the Web infrastructure is that innovation will happen provided it has a platform of open technical standards, a flexible, scalable architecture, and access to these standards on royalty-free ($0 fee patent licenses) terms. At the World Wide Web Consortium, we will only standardize technology if it can be implemented on a royalty-free basis. So, all who contribute to the development of technical standards at the W3C are required to agree to provide royalty-free licenses to any patents they may hold if those patents would block compliance with the standard. [6] Consider as a comparison the very successful Apple iTunes+iPod music distribution environment. This integration of hardware, software, Web service shows an intriguing mix of proprietary technology and open standards. The iTunes environment consists of two parts: sales of music and videos, and distribution of podcasts. The sale of music is managed by a proprietary platform run by Apple with the aim of preventing copyright infringement. However, because Apple uses closed, non-standard technology for its copy protection (known as Digital Rights Management), the growth is seen as limited. In fact, Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently wrote that the market for online music sales is being limited by the lack of open access to DRM technology.[7] By contrast, the podcast component of iTunes is growing quite dramatically, providing a means for many small and large audio and video distributors to share or sell their wares on the Web. Unlike the music and video sales, podcasts are based on open standards, assuring that it's easy to create, edit and distribute the podcast content.

C. Separation of Layers

When, seventeen years ago, I designed the Web, I did not have to ask anyone's permission. The Web, as a new application, rolled out over the existing Internet without any changes to the Internet itself. This is the genius of the design of the Internet, for which I take no credit. Applying the age old wisdom of design with interchangeable parts and separation of concerns, each component of the Internet and the applications that run on top of it are able develop and improve independently. This separation of layers allows simultaneous but autonomous innovation to occur at many levels all at once. One team of engineers can concentrate on developing the best possible wireless data service, while another can learn how to squeeze more and more bits through fibre optic cable. At the same time, application developers such as myself can develop new protocols and services such as voice over IP, instant messaging, and peer-to-peer networks. Because of the open nature of the Internet's design, all of these continue to work well together even as each one is improving itself.

II. Looking forward

Having described how the Web got to where it is, let us shift to the question of where it might go from here. I hope that I've already persuaded you that the evolution of the Web is not in the hands of any one person, me or anyone else. But I'd like to highlight three areas in which I expect exciting developments in the near future. First, the Web will get better and better at helping us to manage, integrate, and analyze data. Today, the Web is quite effective at helping us to publish and discover documents, but the individual information elements within those documents (whether it be the date of any event, the price of a item on a catalog page, or a mathematical formula) cannot be handled directly as data. Today you can see the data with your browser, but can't get other computer programs to manipulate or analyze it without going through a lot of manual effort yourself. As this problem is solved, we can expect that Web as a whole to look more like a large database or spreadsheet, rather than just a set of linked documents. Second, the Web will be accessible from a growing diversity of networks (wireless, wireline, satellite, etc.) and will be available on a ever increasing number of different types of devices. Finally, in a related trend, Web applications will become a more and more ubiquitous throughout our human environment, with walls, automobile dashboards, refrigerator doors all serving as displays giving us a window onto the Web.

A. Data Integration

Digital information about nearly every aspect of our lives is being created at an astonishing rate. Locked within all of this data is the key to knowledge about how to cure diseases, create business value, and govern our world more effectively. The good news is that a number of technical innovations (RDF which is to data what HTML is to documents, and the Web Ontology Language (OWL) which allows us to express how data sources connect together) along with more openness in information sharing practices are moving the World Wide Web toward what we call the Semantic Web. Progress toward better data integration will happen through use of the key piece of technology that made the World Wide Web so successful: the link. The power of the Web today, including the ability to find the pages we're looking for, derives from the fact that documents are put on the Web in standard form, and then linked together. The Semantic Web will enable better data integration by allowing everyone who puts individual items of data on the Web to link them with other pieces of data using standard formats.

To appreciate the need for better data integration, compare the enormous volume of experimental data produced in commercial and academic drug discovery laboratories around the world, as against the stagnant pace of drug discovery. While market and regulatory factors play a role here, life science researchers are coming to the conclusion that in many cases no single lab, no single library, no single genomic data repository contains the information necessary to discover new drugs. Rather, the information necessary to understand the complex interactions between diseases, biological processes in the human body, and the vast array of chemical agents is spread out across the world in a myriad of databases, spreadsheets, and documents.

Scientists are not the only ones who need better data integration. Consider the investment and finance sector, a marketplace in which profit is generated, in large part, from having the right information, at the right time, and reaching correct conclusions based on analysis and insight drawn from that information. Successful investment strategies are based on finding patterns and trends in an increasingly diverse set of information sources (news, market data, historical trends, commodity prices, etc.). Leading edge financial information providers are now developing services that allow users to easily integrate the data they have, about their own portfolios or internal market models, with the information delivered by the information service. The unique value creation is in the integration services, not in the raw data itself or even in the software tools, most of which will be built on open source components.

New data integration capabilities, when directed at personal information, pose substantial privacy challenges which are hardly addressed by today's privacy laws. The technology of today's Web already helps reveal far more about individuals, their behaviour, their reading interest, political views, personal associations, group affiliations, and even health and financial status. In some cases, this personal information is revealed by clever integration of individual pieces of data on the Web that provide clues to otherwise unavailable information. In other cases, people actually reveal a lot about themselves, but with the intent that it only used in certain contexts by certain people. These shifts in the way we relate to personal information require serious consideration in many aspects of our social and legal lives. While we are only just beginning to see these shifts, now is the time to examine a range of legal and technical options that will preserve our fundamental privacy values for the future without unduly stifling beneficial new information processing and sharing capabilities. Our research group at MIT is investigating new technologies to make the most of the Semantic Web, as well as both technical and public policy models that will help bring increased transparency and accountability to the World Wide Web and other large scale information systems.[8] Our belief is that in order to protect privacy and other public policy values, we need to research and develop new technical mechanisms that provide great transparency into the ways in which information in the system is used, and provide accountability for those uses with respect to what ever are the prevailing rules.

B. Network Diversity and Device Independence

The Web has always been accessible from a variety of devices over a variety of networks. From early on, one could browse the Web from a Macintosh, a Windows PC or a Linux-based computer. However, for a long time the dominant mode of using the Web was from some desktop or laptop computer with a reasonably large display. Increasingly, people will use non-PC devices that have either much smaller or much larger displays, and will reach the Internet through a growing diversity of networks. At one end of this spectrum, the devices will seem more like cell phones. At the other end, they will seem more like large screen TVs. There are, of course, technical challenges associated with squeezing a Web page designed for a 17 inch screen into the two to four inch display available on a mobile phone or PDA. Some of these will be solved through common standards and some through innovative new interface techniques. All of this means more convenience for users and more opportunity for new Web services that are tailored to people who are somewhere other than their desks.

Growth in access networks and Web-enabled applications presents a number of important opportunities. For example, more robust, redundant network services together with innovative uses of community-based social networks on the Web are coming to play an increasing role in areas such as emergency planning and notification.[9] Reports about ad hoc communication networks supporting disaster relief efforts are just one illustration of the benefit of the openness, flexibility and accessible of the Internet and Web. This one area is a microcosm of many of the issues that we are discussing today, because in order to work well it requires seamless integration of diverse types of data; repurposing that data instantly into valid formats for a myriad of different Web devices; and including appropriate captions, descriptions, and other necessary accessibility information. I would encourage all web sites designers to ensure that their material conforms not only to W3C standards, but also to guidelines for accessibility for people with disabilities, and for mobile access.

C. Ubiquitous Web Applications

In the future, the Web will seem like it's everywhere, not just on our desktop or mobile device. As LCD technology becomes cheaper, walls of rooms, and even walls of buildings, will become display surfaces for information from the Web. Much of the information that we receive today through a specialized application such as a database or a spreadsheet will come directly from the Web. Pervasive and ubiquitous web applications hold much opportunity for innovation and social enrichment. They also pose significant public policy challenges. Nearly all of the information displayed is speech but is being done in public, possibly in a manner accessible to children. Some of this information is bound to be personal, raising privacy questions. Finally, inasmuch as this new ubiquitous face of the Web is public, it will shape the nature of the public spaces we work, shop, do politics, and socialize in.

D. The Web is Not Complete

Progress in the evolution of the Web to date has been quite gratifying to me. But the Web is by no means finished.

The Web, and everything which happens on it, rest on two things: technological protocols, and social conventions. The technological protocols, like HTTP and HTML, determine how computers interact. Social conventions, such as the incentive to make links to valuable resources, or the rules of engagement in a social networking web site, are about how people like to, and are allowed to, interact.

As the Web passes through its first decade of widespread use, we still know surprisingly little about these complex technical and social mechanisms. We have only scratched the surface of what could be realized with deeper scientific investigation into its design, operation and impact on society. Robust technical design, innovative business decisions, and sound public policy judgment all require that we are aware of the complex interactions between technology and society. We call this awareness Web Science: the science and engineering of this massive system for the common good.[10] In order to galvanize Web Science research and education efforts, MIT and the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom have created the Web Science Research Initiative. In concert with an international Scientific Advisory Council of distinguished computer scientists, social scientists, and legal scholars, WSRI will help create an intellectual foundations, educational atmosphere, and resource base to allow researchers to take the Web seriously as an object of scientific enquiry and engineering innovation.

III. Conclusion

So how do we plan for a better future, better for society?

We ensure that that both technological protocols and social conventions respect basic values. That the Web remains a universal platform: independent of any specific hardware device, software platform, language, culture, or disability. That the Web does not become controlled by a single company -- or a single country.

By adherence to these principles we can ensure that Web technology, like the Internet, continues to serve as a foundation for bigger things to come. It is my hope, Chairman Markey, members of the committee, that an understanding of the nature of the Web will guide you in your future work, and that the public at large can count on you to hold these values to the best of your ability. I am grateful for the opportunity to appear before you and am ready to help your efforts in future.


Tim Berners-Lee

[ENDS]

References:

[1] American Civil Liberties Union v. Reno, 929 F. Supp. 824, 844 (E.D. Pa. 1996) (Dalzell, J.)

[2] Kapor, M. and Weitzner, D. "Social and Industrial Policy for Public Networks: Visions for the Future". Harasim and Walls, eds. Global Networks: Computers and International Communication. Oxford University Press. Oxford. (1994)

[3] Netcraft February 2007 Web Server Survey.

[4] Weinberger, D., Small Pieces Loosely Joined: A Unified Theory of the Web. Perseus Books. (2002)

[5] Note that due to failure by some browser vendors to comply fully with standards, web site developers sometimes have to go to extra trouble to make it so that their sites actually work properly on all browsers.

[6] Overview and Summary of the W3C Patent Policy. W3C Patent Policy. D. Weitzner, Standards, Patents and the Dynamics of Innovation on the World Wide Web.

[7] Jobs wrote on the Apple Web site: "Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music," Steve Jobs, Thoughts on Music (February 6, 2007).

[8] Weitzner, Abelson, Berners-Lee, Hanson, Hendler, Kagal, McGuinness, Sussman, Waterman, Transparent Accountable Data Mining: New Strategies for Privacy Protection,; MIT CSAIL Technical Report MIT-CSAIL-TR-2006-007 (27 January 2006).

[9] B. Shneiderman, and J. Preece, PUBLIC HEALTH: 911.gov, Science 315 (5814), 944 (16 February 2007)

[10] "Creating a Science of the Web" Tim Berners-Lee, Wendy Hall, James Hendler, Nigel Shadbolt, Daniel J. Weitzner. Science 313, 11 August 2006. And see the Web Science Research Initiative.

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

22. HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

Add to Technorati Favorites

Posted by DK Matai at 01:19 PM | Comments (33)

Recipe of the Week - Potato Cauliflower

This week’s recipe is similar to an aloo matar dish. This recipe calls for one of the Chopra Center Surya Spice Blends. I have been enjoying using these wonderful, balancing spice blends in many dishes and have started to incorporate them into current recipes. You can substitute the Pitta or Kapha spice if desired. These is an easy way to have all the six tastes in one meal.

1 Tablespoons ghee or olive oil
1 teaspoons mustard seeds, black or brown
Pinch red chili flakes
1 teaspoon fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
1 teaspoon, Vata Surya Spice blend
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 small Yukon gold potatoes, washed and cut into very small cubes
1 large cauliflower (1 pound), cut into in medium florets
1 small tomato, seeded and cut into small dice
2 cups vegetable stock
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Fresh cilantro

In a large sauté pan, heat the oil on medium-high heat and add the mustard seeds, cover the pan with a lid for about 1 minute and let the seeds pop. Remove the lid and add the red chili flakes, fresh ginger root, sea salt and Vata Surya Spice blend and let cook for about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes and vegetable stock. Stir the mixture and cover for about 15 minutes until the potatoes and cauliflower are tender. When done, stir in the lemon juice and fresh cilantro.

Enjoy.

Posted by Teresa Long at 12:35 AM | Comments (4)

March 14, 2007

Open Thread

March 14, 2007

Posted by Intent at 12:31 AM | Comments (243)

March 13, 2007

HQR: Sir Karl Popper: Paradox of Science & Truth

The modern notion of the relationship between Science and Truth, was espoused by Sir Karl Popper. Quantum Mechanics is a good Scientific theory precisely because it is falsifiable and the same can be said to be the case for General and Special Relativity when beyond certain boundary conditions they all becomes false. That which is falsifiable is Science! That which is True may Not be Science at all! Such is the paradox humanity has created!

Most scientists now believe that in order to be a real scientific theory or model, it must be falsifiable. This means that a given model of reality must make testable predictions, such that if one were to design an experiment to test those predictions and the data correlated well with the predictions, then one's theory would be supported, BUT that does not make the theory or model TRUE.

On the other hand if one designed the experiment and the data did not correlate at all with one's prediction within specific boundary conditions, then one's theory would be FALSE. No amount of supporting evidence would ever make one's theory true, but any amount of evidence against one's theory -- some little amount or a lot -- would render it false within those boundary conditions.

Scientific theories cannot provide us with truth, rather they are models of what we as humans percieve the world to be. This does not mean that science is subjective, because not all models of reality are equal. Some models of reality can predict and explain phenomena much better than others, and some models are more falsifiable than others. What does this mean?

This of course does not mean we should dump all of our theories, because every theory makes false predictions, rather we should know when to use a theory and when not to use it, ie, understand its boundary conditions for working appropriately.

Like Quantum mechanics and General Relativity. One normally does not utilise Quantum mechanics to analyse a galaxy within the cosmos, and conversely one will not use General Relativity to analyse a semiconductor's behaviour within a microchip. So, when anyone claims that their theory of modified Relativity eliminates the need for Quantum Mechanics, how do they explain the behaviour of a semiconductor and therefore a basic transistor? Equally, how does Quantum Mechanics step up to the grand cosmos to explain the behaviour of galaxies, when it clearly was never designed to do so and falsifies at that macro-level?

Background

Sir Karl Raimund Popper (1902 – 1994) was an Austrian born naturalised British philosopher and a Professor at the London School of Economics. He is counted among the most influential philosophers of science of the 20th century, and also wrote extensively on social and political philosophy. Popper is perhaps best known for repudiating the classical observationalist-inductivist account of scientific method by advancing empirical falsifiability as the criterion for distinguishing scientific theory from non-science; and for his vigorous defense of liberal democracy and the principles of social criticism which he took to make the flourishing of the "open society" possible.

[ENDS]

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

21. HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

Add to Technorati Favorites

Posted by DK Matai at 05:02 PM | Comments (78)

To The White Bitch Who Stole My Shorts

Dear WB,

As you are well aware, at this time each year, I check out of my apartment in the city and check into a cottage on the secluded beach you live on. For the next few weeks, this remote stretch of coastline becomes my base and the languid days filled with swimming, reading and feasting on fresh seafood and wild rice revitalize and rejuvenate both my body and soul.

This year, however, I find myself uneasy, perplexed and, dare I say it, stressed out.

And you’re to blame.

I’ve seen you off and on over the last few years and, although you’ve kept to yourself, I’ve always acknowledged you with a polite smile or wave when our paths cross. This time it’s different.

For one, I notice you now have a young son but no mate in sight. So, I presume, there’s a broken relationship there.

But, other than the apparent, I sense a new vibe between us. Every time I walk onto the beach, you sit up and take notice but you never come over to say hello. You timidly approach my towel while I’m body-surfing in the ocean but you immediately scurry away when you see me emerging.

Hey, you’re beautiful and I’d like to get to know you better. And, although, calling you over with a loud whistle may not have been the best move, even gently motioning you over sends you skipping off in the opposite direction.

I would have left it at that but you are clearly vibing me. I see you shyly checking me out from your sand dune as I watch the dolphins frolic on the horizon every morning. And we both love watching the indigenous white-breasted Brahminy kites glide through the sky (although I see you glare disapprovingly at me when my eyes wander to the migratory pale-breasted Europeans sashaying down the beach.)

A couple of times, when I’ve been out for my sunset run, you grabbed one of my flip-flops that I’d left on the dune and ran off. Initially, I thought it was your playful way of breaking the ice so I cheerfully ran after you in the hope of finally making contact but, after an exhausting chase, you just dropped the slipper and ran away leaving me panting and bemused.

But now you’ve gone too far. When I woke up this morning, my swim shorts that were drying on the clothes rack outside my cottage were gone. Don’t try and deny it, I know it was you. The prints on the sand are distinctly yours. I really don’t know what to make of this. I’m getting such mixed signals. On one hand you’re constantly making eye contact and checking me out but you never want to meet. Then you run off with my slippers and now my shorts.

Are you into me and just really bad at expressing your feelings? Or are you peeved at all males because you were knocked up and abandoned and I’m the most convenient one to take all your frustrations out on? Or, is it a racist thing considering you’re so pure white and, after 2 weeks in the sun, I’m the colour of coal.

Like all men, I’ve never really been able to completely understand females; but you, in particular, have got me completely befuddled. Why are you playing these games?

We could be having such a good time together. I’m a lot of fun. I love to play throw and fetch the stick, I’m not afraid to get down and dirty -- I can roughhouse with the best of them and no one gives belly rubs like I do. Just ask your other friends on the beach who, no matter how late I’m running for my morning yoga class, won’t let me pass until I put in some quality throwing and rubbing.

Please stop messing with my head. We could really have something special.

Yours,

The bare-assed guy in the blue cottage

Posted by Rahul Khanna at 10:41 AM | Comments (41)

March 12, 2007

Health Tip of the Week - Depression

Depression
Q. In the past year, I have been very depressed. I have a good family and job, but my energy is so low I have trouble getting out of bed. Outwardly, I seem fine, but inside I have lost my enthusiasm for life. Please help.

A: Depression is a complex condition with physical, biochemical, emotional and spiritual components. Although the conventional medical model tends to focus on imbalances in neurochemistry, we find that for many people, depression is the consequence of long-standing unresolved emotional issues, often from childhood, but also from later in life. The depletion of psychological energy used to repress accumulated painful feelings translates over time into depression. There are a number of things you can do to awaken your inner pharmacy and regain your enthusiasm and vitality.

First, I encourage you to learn and practice Primordial Sound Meditation. Meditation is one of the most effective ways to shift your inner reference point from the part of you that is depressed to the witnessing aspect of yourself that is beyond suffering and able to help you begin taking the steps to recovery.

This is an important time to eat in a healthy way by favoring a six tastes diet with fresh organic foods. Although you may not be in the mood for it, it is also helpful to begin some kind of exercise program, including yoga, cardiovascular and strength training activities. Getting your life energy moving will enhance the production of natural mood elevating chemicals.

Look at the emotional issues underlying your condition. Seek out a counselor who can help you see your personal issues from a more expanded framework. If your depression is interfering with your ability to function, a course of anti-depressants may be helpful and will not preclude you from exploring a more holistic approach to deeper emotional healing. We offer a program at the Chopra Center called Healing the Heart, which addresses depression from an Ayurvedic model. This process is designed to identify, mobilize, release, and replenish toxic, life-force inhibiting emoticons with nourishing life-celebrating ones.

There are a few Ayurvedic herbs which may be helpful in depression. I see these as part of a holistic program rather than as a substitute for anti-depressant medications. The most important Ayurvedic herbs to help improve the mind are Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) and Brahmi (Centella asiatica or Bacopa moniera.)

Cultivate conscious communication skills so that you are better able to identify and meet your core emotional needs. The confidence that you can cultivate healthy relationships from this point forward will help heal your heart and soul.

Posted by David Simon at 10:14 PM | Comments (30)

Outdated Euro-centric Thinking must focus on Asia

We are grateful to Lord Howell of Guildford from The Palace of Westminster for "Outdated Euro-centric Thinking needs to focus on Asia and The Real Keys."

Dear ATCA Colleagues

[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]

We are grateful to:

. Lord Howell of Guildford from The Palace of Westminster for "Outdated Euro-centric Thinking needs to focus on Asia and The Real Keys";

in response to "EU to become Green Model for US, China and India -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel; EU leaders to make Europe change lightbulbs."

The Right Honourable Lord (David) Howell of Guildford, President of the British Institute of Energy Economics, is a former Secretary of State for Energy and for Transport in the UK Government and an economist and journalist. Lord Howell is Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords and Conservative Spokesman on Foreign Affairs. He also Chairs the Windsor Energy Group. Until 2002 he was Chairman of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group, (the high level bilateral forum between leading UK and Japanese politicians, industrialists and academics), which was first set up by Margaret Thatcher and Yasuhiro Nakasone in 1984. In addition he writes a fortnightly column for The JAPAN TIMES in Tokyo, and has done so since 1985. He also writes regularly for the International Herald Tribune. David Howell was the Chairman of the House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, 1987-97. He was Chairman of the House of Lords European Sub-Committee on Common Foreign and Security Policy from 1999-2000. In 2001 he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Japan). He writes:

Dear DK and Colleagues

Re: Outdated Euro-centric Thinking needs to focus on Asia and The Real Keys

Outdated Euro-centric thinking is leading Mrs Merkel, and other EU leaders, to overlook key elements in what is actually happening in the global economy.

The pace of innovation in energy-savings technologies, in energy-use efficiency and in energy-related innovation is accelerating fast OUTSIDE Europe and in the dynamic regions which cluster round China and India and are giving birth to the world's new centre of economic (and increasingly political) gravity. Chinese decision-makers are examining how China can become the pace-setter in the new energy technologies and in mobilising their available massive investment resources to promote these type of developments not just in their own country -- where they are needed immediately to combat pollution and water crises -- but throughout the world, both the poorer areas such as Africa AND the richer Western ones. Indian enterprises and business leaders are looking the same way.

Thus we shall shortly see Europe not as a model or example, which Mrs Merkel dreams about, but as a beneficiary and recipient of new research and new technologies which we will need to apply. Carbon emissions are still rising too fast by far in Europe. I am far from convinced that the recent EU Commission focus on new mandatory targets and taxes is the right one in setting us all on the path to the greener, cleaner world we want to see, and to a successful fight against violent climate chaos.

The Real Keys

Dealing with energy security, radical reductions in oil dependence, new generation nuclear investment, combined with rising energy efficiency and innovation -- these are the real keys to the decarbonising world. If these keys are lost, or discarded, by policy-makers they will find that they are facing a lot of near-term 'inconvenient truths' long before we make any inroads in the struggle to curb greenhouse gases.


David Howell

[ENDS]

Please click here for previous Socratic Dialogue. We look forward to your further thoughts, observations and views. Thank you.

Best wishes


For and on behalf of DK Matai
Chairman, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA)
____________________________________________________________________________

ATCA: The Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance is a philanthropic expert initiative founded in 2001 to resolve complex global challenges through collective Socratic dialogue and joint executive action to build a wisdom based global economy. Adhering to the doctrine of non-violence, ATCA addresses opportunities and threats arising from climate chaos; radical poverty; geo-politics, organised crime & extremism; advanced technologies -- bio, info, nano, robo & AI; demographic skews; pandemics; and financial systems. Present membership of ATCA is by invitation only and has over 5,000 distinguished members from over 100 countries: including several from the House of Lords, House of Commons, EU Parliament, US Congress & Senate, G10's Senior Government officials and over 1,500 CEOs from financial institutions, scientific corporates and voluntary organisations as well as over 750 Professors from academic centres of excellence worldwide.

The views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. Please do not forward or use the material circulated without permission and full attribution.
____________________________________________________________________________
Intelligence Unit | mi2g ATCA The Philanthropia Φ

Posted by ATCA at 09:49 AM | Comments (1)

Well-Being: A New Standard for Happiness?

The new watchword in corporate America these days seems to be "well=being," a term associated with alternative medicine, not the hard realities of business. Google and Apple, among other corporations, have won admiration for providing work environments full of amenities like on-site gyms, day-care centers, and other life-enhancing add ons. Japanese corporations pioneered this trend decades ago. But now a new dimension has been added: the well-being of the public at large, which includes the well-being of the environment. Business is beginning to take seriously that their future depends on going green.

Although we gain our personal values as children through family and school, adults in the corporate world are pressured to obey corporate values, so this shift is potentially enormous. As long as only the bottom line counted, egregious misdeeds by Enron and its ilk mirrored a general disregard for consumers, workers' security, and the deteriorating environment. No individual could safely stand up to protest; therefore, those who saw themselves as good people were entangled in a bad system. Such endemic callousness hasn't gone away by any means, and "multinational corporation" continues to be a four-letter word in many progressive circles. That has to change in this generation, and the smarter CEOs like Richard Branson, the British billionaire who heads the Virgin conglomerate, already understand.

Yet there's a larger issue here. Well-being essentially is a measure of happiness, and the imminent perils that we are warned about day after day are rooted in outworn ways to pursue happiness. Global warming won't be solved as long as American happiness means unbridled consumerism that recklessly disregards what is good for the planet. Rampant overpopulation in the developing world won't be solved as long as a family in India isn't happy without multiple children, especially sons, and the ever-pressing need to bring in wages through child labor. AIDS won't be solved as long as elites in Africa and elsewhere continue to uphold widespread prostitution, a traditional male outlet that traps tens of thousands of young women and girls.

Ultimately, it's not human evil or even human weakness that's at fault and needs to be reformed. Communism began as a reform movement with utopian ideals, but it wound up creating hellish wrongs. The war in Iraq is a hellish wrong created by capitalism, the opposite of Communism. Lasting change comes about when people feel that their well-being will increase. Even the nightmare conditions of the Industrial Revolution, or the endless slums in mega-cities like Cairo and Mexico City today, came about because people tried to pursue happiness, moving from lesser to greater as they saw fit. A poppy farmer in Afghanistan is happy with a good crop, irrespective of his ties to feuding warlords, the Taliban, or heroin addicts overseas. Of course, one can't discount the untold numbers of poor people who are forced by conditions beyond their control to accept inhuman living conditions, but even there the pursuit of happiness is a daily preoccupation. (Startlingly, utterly impoverished Nigeria recently ranked number one when people around the world were asked if they are happy. The U.S. ranked fourteenth on the list; Russia was at the bottom.)

There's a huge amount to be said about the coming shift in our notion of well-being. Every aspect of life will be affected. But the single most important thing--as underlined in Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth--is that changing our current notions doesn't have to hurt. Nor does it require punitive legislation. We can become as green and clean as the world's leading societies. We can devise new methods of solving poverty and hunger that don't deprive ourselves (unless your idea of deprivation is not getting a third SUV and having to pay your house cleaner a decent wage). It's asking a lot for corporations to temper their greed and consumers their selfishness, but the right attitude is one of increasing happiness on a vaster scale than ever before, not leveling down to global scarcity.

Posted by Deepak Chopra at 07:26 AM | Comments (50)

March 11, 2007

Weekly Yoga Session with Claire!

Reaching Butterfly

Instructions:

Sit upright. Clasp your hands underneath the sides of your feet. Breathe in and out 3-5 times.

Inhaling reach right arm up toward the sky press your fingertips up. Look up at your hand.

Exhaling come back to the center.

Inhaling reach your left arm up pressing fingertips toward the sky. Look up at your hand.

Repeat 6-9 times. Relax all the muscles in your face and enjoy.

Come back to center. Breathe deeply 6-9 breaths.

Benefits

Lengthens the muscles around the spine.
Massages the liver and kidneys.
Lengthens the inner thigh muscles (abductors).
Increases blood flow around the lower back and hips.

Safety Tips

If your knees bother you move you feet away from your body.

If your shoulders are uncomfortable keep your arms down by your sides.

Move easily from one side to the other. Notice how your body feels and choose the most nourishing choice.

This Week’s Mantra

Om Varunam Namah
Pronunciation: Om Vahr-U-Nahm Nah-Mah

“My life is in harmony with the Universe.”

This week:

Be gentle with yourself and others.

Notice the things you love to do and do more.

Notice the people you love to be around and spend more time with them.

If You Have Any Questions or to Order Claire’s DVD’s and Books Contact Me
Claire@Chopra.com
www.ClaireDiab.com

Have a Wonderful Week!

Namaste!

Posted by Claire Diab at 11:43 PM | Comments (5)

EU to become Green Model for US, China and India

The European Union's adoption of measures to fight climate chaos this week could set an example for the United States, China and India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

Dear ATCA Colleagues

[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]

The European Union's adoption of measures to fight climate chaos this week could set an example for the United States, China and India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said. Under Germany's presidency, EU leaders set a binding target on Friday 9th March for renewable sources to make up 20 percent of EU energy consumption by 2020 and agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount in the same period. Further, European homes, offices and streets will have to use energy-efficient lighting by the end of the decade, EU leaders decided on the same day.

"We think that Europe could set an example for others to implement more attractive and better climate protection goals," Merkel said in her weekly video "podcast" available for download on her Internet site. "By this I mean, for example, the United States and developing countries India and China. We want to discuss this at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm in June."

The decision to order a massive switchover that will affect the lives of all the European Union's 490 million citizens came at a summit of the 27-nation bloc as part of an ambitious green energy policy to counter climate chaos. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who chaired the summit, said, "We're not saying people should throw out all the bulbs in their house today but people should start looking at what's in the shops. Most of the light bulbs in my flat are energy-saving bulbs."

Incandescent lamps are traditional lightbulbs which use a filament. They are inefficient compared with new fluorescent lights and other alternatives. Australia last month said it will be the world's first country to ban incandescent lightbulbs in a bid to curb greenhouse gas emissions, announcing it would phase them out within three years.

The leaders asked the executive European Commission to come up with proposals for saving power in office and street lighting by 2008 and in homes by 2009. The decision, hailed by environmental campaigners, is a potential business opportunity for manufacturers such as Philips and Siemens-owned Osram but risks stirring Eurosceptical complaints about EU meddling in citizens' lives. "The European Council ... invites the Commission to rapidly submit proposals to enable increased energy efficiency requirements for office and street lighting to be adopted by 2008 and on incandescent lamps and other forms of lighting in private households by 2009," the final statement said.

In addition to its six-month EU presidency which runs until July, Germany is president of the Group of Eight (G8) club of industrialised nations for the entire year. Chancellor Merkel has focused on climate chaos in both presidencies. The new EU targets will form the basis of the 27-nation bloc's negotiating position for an international agreement to extend the Kyoto Protocol on climate chaos and emissions reduction targets past 2012. The EU produces about 14 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, while the United States, the world's largest polluter, produces some 25 percent.

[ENDS]

We look forward to your further thoughts, observations and views. Thank you.

Best wishes


For and on behalf of DK Matai
Chairman, Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance (ATCA)
____________________________________________________________________________

ATCA: The Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance is a philanthropic expert initiative founded in 2001 to resolve complex global challenges through collective Socratic dialogue and joint executive action to build a wisdom based global economy. Adhering to the doctrine of non-violence, ATCA addresses opportunities and threats arising from climate chaos; radical poverty; geo-politics, organised crime & extremism; advanced technologies -- bio, info, nano, robo & AI; demographic skews; pandemics; and financial systems. Present membership of ATCA is by invitation only and has over 5,000 distinguished members from over 100 countries: including several from the House of Lords, House of Commons, EU Parliament, US Congress & Senate, G10's Senior Government officials and over 1,500 CEOs from financial institutions, scientific corporates and voluntary organisations as well as over 750 Professors from academic centres of excellence worldwide.

The views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. Please do not forward or use the material circulated without permission and full attribution.
____________________________________________________________________________
Intelligence Unit | mi2g ATCA The Philanthropia Φ

Posted by ATCA at 03:48 PM | Comments (7)

The Art of Healing

I have a friend who convinced she is not creative. She’s always telling me what a great artist I am, and that she’s my biggest fan. What she fails to realize is, that I am her biggest fan. She too is an artist. Her Medium? Healing.

Tabitha is a professional nurse and natural healer. While the lines and brushstrokes of my creativity are visible for all to see, her artistry is often invisible to the naked eye.

Tabitha creates inner cellular, physical change on her canvas, the human being.

While my works are staid graphically on substrates like paper or computer screen, her artistry moves throughout an individual, literally. She paints a path to wellness, relieving pain. Tangible, positive change in a patient’s condition is the highest of the arts.

I salute the left-brained scientists, physicians, nurses, and all practitioners who truly artistically theorize and intuit for the transformation of us all.

Cheers!

"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while Nature cures the disease." –Voltaire

"The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician. Therefore, the physician must start from nature with an open mind." – Paracelsus

"When health is absent wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot become manifest, strength cannot be exerted, wealth is useless and reason is powerless." - Herophilies, 300 B.C.

Posted by Renee Reeser Zelnick at 03:39 PM | Comments (3)

HQR: HH Master Kirpal: Consciousness & Free Will

Holistic Quantum Relativity's Glossary v0.3 sparked a welcome Socratic Dialogue on "Free Will": The Q & A session with HH Master Kirpal is worth noting.

His Holiness Sant Kirpal Singh (1894-1974)

Consciousness, Reincarnation and Free Will

Q. Why can man lose his human position and go to lower planes?

A. God is all Consciousness, and our soul, being of the same essence as that of God, is also a conscious entity. If this conscious Self comes in contact with higher consciousness, it will become more conscious. It won't return to lower planes. But if this conscious Self is identified with the material which is less conscious, naturally it will not go higher but to the same consciousness or to lower planes of consciousness.

All are conscious. Even the animals are conscious; birds are conscious; but there are lesser degrees of consciousness. Man is more conscious; animals are less conscious; birds are still less conscious. If our consciousness becomes identified with the material things, naturally it will be lowered and will have to go to a lower plane. In man body we have the privilege of coming in contact with All-Consciousness. If we do that, we won't even return to man body. But if it comes in contact with the material things, its consciousness will be lessened. It's a sort of death of the soul as the Saints have called it. It is not actually death but the consciousness being lowered. Word or Naam Power, that God-into-expression is All-Consciousness. If soul comes in contact with that Naam Power, it will grow more conscious, you see. If it becomes identified with lower, material things, naturally, that consciousness will become morbid and will naturally go to that lower plane.

If you come in contact with the Higher Consciousness, you will become more conscious. If you come in contact with, identified, or imbued with the lower consciousness or the material things, you might say, naturally your consciousness is lessened. Each man has to go to his own plane. But such cases are few. There are some, unfortunately.

Q. Does each incarnation in nature work out specific karmas?

A. Only in the man body. They are bound in lower forms of creation. They are not free. In man body, man is bound to some extent, and free within certain limits. When a railroad line is set, the train will run over it. You are given the railroad line with the freedom of laying the tracks in whatever direction you like. So in man body, we are free to certain extents. All other forms are bound. There is no question of freedom.

Q. How can soul once obtaining man body go back to lower forms of creation?

A. I have replied already from the common sense point of view. That if you come in contact with the higher consciousness, you're not to return. If you come in contact with the lower consciousness, naturally your consciousness is lowered. Each soul has his own plane of consciousness. Man has got most. If there is the possibility of going up, there is also the possibility of going down. The Saints have referred to this as the "death of the soul." Death of the soul does not mean soul dies but that the consciousness is lessened. I have replied from a very common sense point of view. How is it possible? Well you'll see. We do not know the language of animals but some dogs are very, more familiar, more conscious, you see, than others. Similarly, that is the state of other animals also. So this is given from a common sense point of view, but I also added that there are few cases like that. If your consciousness becomes morbid, naturally you'll go to lower planes, down to that level. Pity it is that we do not know our past or the future. Those who do know, know that what I am telling you stems from a common sense point of view.

Q. You have said that clue to one's past good karmas, one takes initiation from a Saint and just now, you said that we have a certain amount of free play. Is it what we do with our initiation that is part of our free will? How much or little we apply ourselves; is that our free will?

A. No, no. You see, each man has his own background. Some get more, some less at initiation. Some advance quickly, others less quickly. But that is further modified. If a man who has got good background, as I think I have told you some time before, starts here, then stops further ... Then another man who has got less background but is regular, puts in more time back there, regularly, he will go further than the other man who only goes by fits and starts.

[ENDS]

His Holiness Master Kirpal

Born on 6th February 1894 in Sayyad Kasran, British India, His Holiness Master Kirpal Singh was confronted with nationalism, religious intolerance, and bigotry since His early youth. In view of the suffering humanity He deeply thought about the nature of man and sought for a solution to the permanent discord leading to violent conflicts. After a profound study of the basic scriptures of the Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Zoroastrians etc, He found that they all give out the same basic truth and speak about the birthright of man to attain self-knowledge and God-knowledge. Due to His universal view He could create mutual understanding among the different religions. During fourteen years He was repeatedly elected President of the World Fellowship of Religions which came into being in 1957. He left his physical body on 21st August 1974.

Books written by His Holiness include: The Crown of Life - a comparative study of Yogas and Surat Shabd Yoga; Godman - the mission, nature and need of a spiritual Master; The Jap Ji: The Message of Guru Nanak; Morning Talks - a series of short informal talks giving practical advice on the general subject of spirituality; The Mystery of Death; Naam or Word - an in depth study of the Celestial Sound Current or God into Expression Power called variously: Naam, Word, Music of the Spheres, Shabd, etc; The Night is a Jungle - a collection of 14 public discourses on spirituality; PRAYER: Its Nature and Technique; SPIRITUALITY: What it is - an exploration of the Science of Spirituality; The Way of the Saints: SANT MAT - collected short writings, booklets, circular letters, and seasonal messages; and The Wheel of Life - about Karma, "As you sow, so shall you reap."

On three world tours in 1955, 1963, and 1972 His Holiness visited major cities in the Western world, where He met religious leaders -- including the Pope, politicians, and personalities of the society. Everywhere He conveyed the importance of self-knowledge and God-knowledge and emphasized the need of selfless service. His efforts to create understanding from man to man, for peace in the world and for tolerance among the religions have been recognized by many honours. His efforts reached a summit when He convened the first World Conference on Unity of Man, which took place in New Delhi, India, from 3rd to 6th February 1974. Religious, political, and social leaders from all over India, and delegates from approximately 18 countries participated in the conference. This World Conference was the beginning of the Unity of Man movement. As a result of the conference He was invited by the Indian Government to address Parliament. When He spoke to the members of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 1st August 1974, it was the first time that a spiritual leader was given that honour.

Successors

The successor to His Holiness Master Kirpal Singh (1894-1974) was His Holiness Master Ajaib Singh (1926-1997). His successor is His Holiness Sant Sadhu Ram. Their books, thoughts and analyses are available for download from www.mediaseva.org.

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

20. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

This is presented as an amalgam from a number of sources with attendant errors and omissions. Please forgive the same and we welcome your submissions, thoughts, observations and views.

With warm wishes to you and family

DK with family

DK Matai
The Philanthropia, ATCA, mi2g.net

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Posted by DK Matai at 02:51 PM | Comments (32)

Pursuit of happyness

What do I tell you? And how? Let me try...

Days have passed. Many days. Many insignificant days. I am hobbled, tethered with invisible ropes. The sight of ink fills me with dread. Nothing moves within me except a few strands of my soul, to music. My bile is feeble and my guts acidic. There is sand in my eyes. I have no patience with words. Or anything else.

Maya used to say that I paint with my eyes. I have stopped now. I wouldn’t have, had I not felt that the steps she took that evening were certain. It was almost as if spring had moved, away from my dreams with her, and, then abased itself at her feet. I aged so quickly in those few moments as if years had sprinted away from me. My world turned grey and bronchitic. Asphalt chipped off from roads leading to her. It melted and got sucked through my ear lobes.

It is not my destiny to pursue happiness. I had hoped, at least, to turn my bile into ink. Even that is no longer visible on paper. My papers are virgin. My words suffer from erectile dysfunction.

The fire within me has died. But my canvasses have burnt. Only embers remain. It has begun to rain now.

Posted by Rahul Pandita at 09:51 AM | Comments (28)

Weekly Intent - Susan Cherian

Allah! I am in Pain! Allah
Words of a four year old, Aisha Bibi, at a hospital bed in Pakistan, a few days after the 2005 earthquake! I read Aisha’s story in the UK based Guardian newspaper. It said, “writhing like an eel, the four-year-old thrashed the air with bandaged stump that was once her right foot. Eyes still foggy from the fading anesthetic, she cried some of the only words she knew: ‘Allah! I am in pain, Allah’ ! ”.

The mere horror I felt just reading it prompted the question, as it would all of us; what can I do, especially as someone hailing from South Asia [India]. I remember sharing an idea with Kavita Chhibber and asking for her feedback. Her comment was, go for it, but if it does not happen, you have at least set something in motion in the Universe.

Almost two and a half years later, today, I remember her words. Something has been in motion! I received a call from Dr. Farzad Najam, a cardiac surgeon at the George Washington University Medical Center, in Washington DC. He wanted to talk about Operation HeartBeat, an organization formed by a group of physicians in Washington DC, 14 years ago. In 2005, after the major South Asian earthquake, the group focused its attention to Garhi Dupatta, a town very close to the epicenter of the quake. The group led by Dr. Najam and other physicians, have been running make-shift clinics in Garhi Dupatta ever since the earthquake, taking care of hundreds of people each day. Gari Dupatta, although a very small town of approx. 1300 people, became the base of operations for the relief efforts then and it still continues today.

I do this in honor of Aisha Bibi. Operation HeartBeat has now allotted 3.5 acres of land in Garhi Dupatta for the construction of Garhi Dupatta Memorial Hospital. I have offered to help raise funds for the building of the hospital through all means possible, including a concert. Every penny raised will go directly to the project. May I invite all of you to participate in ways that you can? We welcome all your ideas and suggestions. Please check out the website www.operationheartbeat.org

Garhi Dupatta, 20 miles from LoC [Line of Control], is a small town that connects Kashmir on both sides of the fence; India and Pakistan, perhaps a symbol for reconciliation, hope and a bright future.

Susan Cherian, Washington DC

Susan Cherian is a Producer of television and global broadcast events, her work has taken her to over 130 countries and territories during the past 20 years. She was born in India, a US citizen, has lived in The Netherlands and in England for a number of years. She is currently developing feature films and entertainment projects leveraging on her international experience and exposure, with a major focus on Asia. Personal motto: What unites us is far stronger than what divides us. Therefore, humanitarian issues have been a key interest and focus in her life, she is also known for her originality and inventiveness.

Posted by Intent at 02:08 AM | Comments (1)

RELIGIOUS AWAKENING OR MEGALOMANIA?

Shahrukh Khan proclaims in an exclusive to an Indian paper“I see myself as an ambassador of Islam” Earlier I had read a quote by him that said ”Look at me-I am the face of Islam” See he’s got a great face-I absolutely adore the guy. Infact I love everything about the man-especially the huge mansion that he resides in and rules from. After all he symbolizes personal achievement, goodness, peace ,religious tolerance(beautiful Hindu wife and all) and is known to be a great contributor to various charitable causes. But is it necessary to bring one’s religion into everything we do? Especially from an icon who has such a powerful influence on young minds and hearts in the eastern world? Isn’t humanity the greatest religion we can spread to the world? Is religion not merely the skin of the fruit of spirituality and not the sweet core itself?

I personally wish I never had to write or declare my religion in any document or Government form in the world. I wish I could put NA-non applicable -on any piece of paper that made it mandatory to declare what is essentially a matter of personal belief. I wish it wasn’t so perplexing to explain to my daughter and her little friends that inspite of the fact that we are Hindu by birth & I incessantly paint Ganesha’s (a very very Hindu God) I love praying at churches and visiting dargahs and budhist monastries too. I try to explain to her that God is a feeling of love and oneness –but she’s too little she dosent yet get it. So I’m wondering what I should say to her to make her understand…

So coming back to the interview –it’s probably a good thing that Shahrukh said. Especially in the light of the new hostility towards Islam in the western world and in the minds of the less informed and tolerant. People love the guy so they believe him.
So they believe him when he says that his religion does not preach violence-& then he goes on to say in the next breath that he tells his son that if he ever does drugs he will behead him!! Non violence….excuse me…. Am I dumb or am I dumb or am I just not reading this correct?

I also learnt from this same interview that A.R. Rehman sent him a text message that said “ you are the ambassador of Islam” Yes we all know that Rehman too considers himself to be blessed by Allah. His music he believes is the voice of Allah. Fair enough. Art for many comes as a form of religious awakening & we buy it totally. The music of A.R Rehman has transformed the lives of many around the world when it flowed from the heavens through him as a channel-till everybody and he himself started to believe that the man & not his music is God himself. Earlier it was him taking on the mantle of the Islamic messiah & now he seems to be passing the buck on to Shahrukh-after all the actors face is far more saleable & can work wonders where Rehmans plummeting music sales figures have put a damper on his own Godly ambitions. How else would you explain his latest single “Pray for me Brother”

So before I am clubbed and hammered by anymore religious dogma in the name of art, entertainment and music here’s what I have to say
Shahrukh-please let us love you for your films and the person you are. Please keep all religion out of it-yours mine and ours.
A.R Rehman-Change the title of your latest single to “Pray for me Sister”
then, ask your sisters around the world what they have to say and for a change try to listen.

Posted by Suchitra Krishnamoorthi at 01:30 AM | Comments (22)

March 10, 2007

Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.4

Dear Friends, the excellent HQR Socratic Dialogue in regard to Glossary v0.3 has shaped the latest version v0.4. Thanks! Step-by-step as we have common definitions for the significant terms, we can advance patiently to the next pre-determined phase in Holistic Quantum Relativity's evolution, with love. The first step lies in defining HQR itself, which Harbhajan Singh has attempted to do as a first draft. Please check!

The Purpose of the HQR Glossary is to ensure that all the terms covered in the Holistic Quantum Relativity Socratic Dialogue are succintly defined so that it becomes easy for new entrants to understand what a particular term means in HQR's context. The Glossary does not seek to become comprehensive in terms of every faith. It primarily aims at providing meanings for those concepts, abstractions, thoughts, observations and views in Spirituality which converge with modern Science and vice-versa.

Please feel free to suggest hitherto un-mentioned terms, balanced definitions & refinements that have been encountered in the HQR Socratic Dialogue thus far. We will modify the terms, add new ones and delete old ones as we get your invaluable feedback. As HQR integrates relevant terms from Physics, Computing & Mathematics to analogous terms from Oriental faiths of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sant Mat, Shinto, Sikhism, Sufism, Taoism & Zoroastrianism as well as Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam & Judaism, the Union of Science & Spirituality's Glossary unfolds. Around 444 terms & rising! Please forgive errors and omissions in the interim, as this is work in progress. Your loving patience is much appreciated!

Definition of Holistic Quantum Relativity and Genesis

[First Draft provided by Harbhajan Singh, slightly changed, and presented... Please suggest modifications as this is work-in-progress with attendant errors and omissions]

The Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Socratic Dialogue seeks to integrate Modern Science -- particularly Physics, Computing and Mathematics -- with Spirituality. HQR is an effort to present humanity with the possibility of an indestructible and immutable spiritual dimension underpinning all changing phenomenon, long embrace by Great Spiritual Masters of various traditions in various Ages. When this truth is really understood it is hoped that it will provide humanity with much sought for Certainty, Eternal Reality and Truth.

The HQR Socratic Dialogue began with 13th century mystic poet Maulana Rumi’s poem “I Died as a Mineral.” In this poem, Rumi in effect says that he is the same one soul, which beginning from All Soul or God (spiritual dimension) takes various forms such as mineral, plant, animal, man, angel and will eventually again merge into It/Him.

This truth of Rumi was further seized upon by Harbhajan Singh, author of Self-Designed Universe. He stated that he has already written a similar paragraph to Rumi’ poem in his book (“Yesterday we were animals, a day before, plants, a couple of days before minerals….”), which actually shows all such forms evolving from a single Unified Force when it separates into four basic forces of gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak. He further added that this happens because of every system having to go through four basic forces or interactions of physics relevant to its level in the course of it evolution.

Four basic forces or interactions brought physics, unified force and finally the Unified Force of Love (again spiritual dimension only in an other way of saying it) into the picture. They also showed that thanks to them all systems had four basic phases in their lives. This drew participants’ attention to four basic elements of earth, water, fire and air of the Greeks, as also to the supposed fifth element of akasha or sky of the Orientals. Efforts were made to integrate them also into the above picture of unification of forces.

The Socratic Dialogue’s open mindedness regarding the use of scientific findings in relation to arts and spirituality brought some people to say that it was pseudo-science, non-science, bad-science or even non-sense. This turned Socratic Dialogue to strike at the root of all boxed thinking and eventually towards the synthesis of science and spirituality via Holism.

Holism brought into focus its past in 19th century Hegelian philosophy. Which in fact too was an effort to unify science, art and spirituality of the times into one whole. Soon it was discovered that efforts at such holism were made in every cultural and religious tradition of the world and not only in western philosophy. This introduced many symbols in the form of figures, pictures, and diagrams such as triangles, pyramids and charkas, depicting such holism in various ways into the dialogue. Here Richard Thomas, Mieke Vander Poll, Syamala Hari, Keith Watson, Todd Ingram made their seminal contributions in thought and deed.

Unification of science and spirituality brought into focus the complete unification of science first, and in this regard Dr Avtar Singh, author of The Hidden Factor: An Approach for Resolving Paradoxes of Science, Cosmology and Universal Reality presented his newly developed concept of Holistic Relativity, which according to him unites science to Consciousness through the observable spontaneity in nature and thus solves all modern paradoxes of science, especially of quantum theory, such as dark energy, dark matter etc. Harbhajan Singh opined that if we were to take science along, we would have to take note of their present problems and efforts at uniting Quantum Theory and Relativity, that ignoring Quantum Theory will mean ignoring major part of present science and so it will not be advisable. This led DK Matai, the initiator and overall coordinator of the Socratic Dialogue to name this dialogue, or now rather the project based on it, as Holistic Quantum Relativity.

Given the open nature of the dialogue it was found that different people were presenting and understanding certain terms differently. This led to the need for developing a common glossary, which is continuing alongside the development of the HQR Socratic Dialogue.

After science, attention naturally turned towards masters of Spirituality as also of other fields. In came the Dialogue of Einstein and Tagore on Music, quotes of Einstein having bearings on science and mysticism and of His Holiness Master Kirpal on Unity of Man etc.

Dialogue once again turned towards science when it was found that certain key findings of hitherto neglected Quantum Theory such as Dr David Bohm’s work about the universe being made up of an “interconnected unbroken wholeness”, The Non-locality phenomenon related to Bells’s Theorem, and The Observer’s Effect implying that consciousness underlies all reality, led one to believe that we were advancing towards a holotropic state, strikingly resembling timeless spiritual concept of all reality being the manifestation of one infinite singularity, various named as Creative Principle, Self-Designing Source, Supra-Universal Consciousness, Divine Principle or God.

Harbhajan Singh summed up that universal evolution in fact comprised two parts, the one, described by the Quantum Theory in which the universe gets wound up or entangled into forces – Einstein’s spooky action at a distance - and the other, described by the Relativity Theory, in which the universe gets unwound or disentangled; that thus, Quantum Theory describes a universe contracting from many to One while Relativity theory describes a universe expanding from One to many, and so, it was no wonder that Quantum Theory was leading us to the Holotropic state, a state of Oneness. He furthered opined that it may be good for us to help science further explore the Quantum Theory rather than prematurely discard it in favour of Holistic Relativity.

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

Terms utlised in Holistic Quantum Relativity

Adwaita or Advaita: Non-duality between the observer and the observed.

AHARMAN: (also spelled as Ahriman): The Evil God perpetually at war with the Good God, Ahura-Mazda or Ormuzd, the Supreme Creator as given in the Zen-davasta of the Zoroastrians.

Air: Fourth Element.

AJNA or AJNA CHAKRA: Focal point behind and between the eyes, seat of the soul during waking state.

AKASH BANI : Voice from the heaven. fig. the Audible Sound Current, the creative life-principle, sustaining everything in the universe; same as Udgit of the ancients, the holy Word of the Christians, the Barg-i-Asmani or Kalma of the Mohammedans, and the Naam or Shabda of the Sikhs.

Akasha: "Non-visible." Sky, Inner sky, or ether. A broad term referring to the "fifth element" (earth, water, fire, air and sky), perceived as the rarified space or fluid plasma that pervades the universe. Even more subtly, akasha names the inner mind or superconscious stratum. It is through psychic penetration into the akasha that great cosmic knowledge is gathered and the entire circle of time, past, present and future can be known.

AKATH or AKATH KATHA: What cannot be adequately described; fig. the mystic sound principle: the wordless Word, the God-in-expression power, or the Music of the soul.

All-pervasive: Diffused throughout, or existing in every part of the universe, beyond universe and supra-universe.

AMAR DAS, Guru (Ministry 1553-74): Third in succession to Nanak.

ANAMI : The Nameless One without attributes. Same as Maha Dayal, Nirala and Soami.

ANANDA : Ecstasy or bliss.

Anava: The ego, sense of "I" and "mine," ignorance; separation from God. Denotes a sense of finitude and individuality. Derived from the word "anu" meaning an atom or something exceedingly small. One of the three malas or bondages: anava, karma and maya. Anava is the cause of the soul's mistaken sense of separation from God, and the last bond broken at union or Self-Realisation.

AND : The Third Grand Division in the creation, comprising of Trikuti and Sahansdal Kanwal, where subtle matter in the form of emotions and thoughts predominates and the spirit cannot but make use of them; a materio-spiritual region.

ANGAD, Guru (Ministry 1538-53): Second in succession to Nanak, original name being Bhai Lehna. Nanak recognised in him his worthy successor, with a claim to his spiritual riches (Lehna), in preference to his own sons. Nanak styled him 'Angad,' i.e., one cast in his own mould and filled by his own light, as a veritable part of his own being.

ANHAD or ANHAD BANI: Sound that is unending and knows no limits; fig. Audible Life-Current originating the Divine Will, endlessly carrying on the work of creating and sustaining the universe; interchangably used with An-hat meaning 'Unstruck,' as it is automatic and not instrumental.

ANTISH KARAN: inner four-petalled lotus of the mind, symbolic of four mental faculties: chit (memory), manas (feeling mind), buddhi (thinking intellect) and ahamkar (the self-assertive ego).

APRA VIDYA: Knowledge of the material world (observation and experiment) through senses, comprising of religous rites and rituals, formulas and formularies, fasts, vigils, pilgrimages as opposed to 'pra', the awareness of the spiritual world, the knowledge of which lies beyond senses and which is quite independent of them.

Aranayaka: Any of several Sanskrit religious and philosophical treatises, closely connected with the Brahmanas and Upanishads, and intended to be read by hermits in the quiet of the forest. [Sanskrit Āra-yakam, from neuteral singular of āranyaka-, pertaining to the forest, from āranya-, from aranyam, foreign land, wilderness, forest, from arana-, distant, foreign; see al- in Indo-European roots.]

ARJAN or ARJAN DEV, Guru (Ministry 1581-1606): Fifth in the line of succession to Nanak, compiled the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib), the Bible of the Sikhs containing hymns of praise to God from the writings of all the Saints whether Hindus or Muslims, that he could lay his hands upon, besides his own compositions.

ASANA : A generic term denoting any posture in yogic discipline for self-development.

Asana: "Seat or posture." Positions or postures used in hatha yoga and meditation; the third stage of the ashtanga (eight-limbed) yoga system codified in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and discussed in numerous other scriptures. Padmasana ("lotus" or cross-legged pose) is a famed example, though many other postures exist which balance the energies of mind and body, promoting both health and serenity. Asana may also refer to the mat or place on which one sits during meditation. An important dimension of Natha sadhana.

Ascetic: A person who leads a life of contemplation and rigorous self-denial for religious purposes.

Ashram: "A place or state of striving." Holy sanctuary -- physical or virtual; abode or residence of a sadhu, saint, ascetic or guru who is engaged in spiritual instruction. May be a simple place where a guru and his disciples reside, a monastery or a communal institution with schools, guest houses, publishing facilities, charitable enterprises, etc.

Ashrama dharma: That dharma (way of righteousness) which expresses the natural unfoldment of the body, mind and emotions through four stages of life: student, householder, elder advisor and solitaire.

ashrama: Any of the four stages into which a person's life is divided according to Vedic teachings.

ASHTANG YOGA : An eight-fold path of yogic discip-line as developed by Patanjali, the reputed founder of yoga or the path of union of the soul with the Over-soul .

Ashtanga yoga: "Eight-limbed union." The classical raja yoga system of eight progressive stages or steps as described in numerous Hindu scriptures including various Upanishads, the Tirumantiram by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali. The eight limbs are: restraints (yama), observances (niyama), postures (asana), breath control (pranayama), sense withdrawal (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and contemplation (samadhi).

Astikya: "Faith." Among the traditional niyamas, or ethical practices, of ashtanga yoga, astikya is faith in God, Gods, guru and the path to enlightenment.

Astral body: "Body of the stars." Sometimes known as the emotional body, the astral body is the third most dense of the five interpenetrating bodies or sheaths (known in Sanskrit as koshas), through which the soul functions. The five bodies are: physical (annamayakosha), pranic (pranamayakosha), astral (manomayakosha), mental (vijnamayakosha) and causal (anandamayakosha). The astral body functions in the astral plane or Second World (Devaloka).

Astral plane: The subtle, non-physical plane or Devaloka, the second of three primary planes or worlds, or lokas, which include the Bhuloka (First World, or physical plane) and the Sivaloka (Third World, or causal plane).

Astral: "Of the stars." Belonging to the subtle, non-physical dimension of the Second World or Plane. "Astral forces" exist in the Second World but can be felt psychically in the First, ie, the Physical Plane.

Atma: Sanskrit for soul, including the individual soul body and its essence, in contrast with the outer self of individuality and personality with which a person commonly identifies.

Aum: Mystic syllable of Hinduism, identified in the Upanishads as standing for the whole world and its parts, including past, present and future, as well as for Paramatma, the Self of all things. "Aum" is the seed sound, the one undifferentiated primal vibration from which all manifestation issues forth. Associated with Lord Ganesha. Pronounced: "ah" "oo" "mm."

Aura: A subtle, luminous energy field radiating within and around the human body as far as 3-7 feet. That part of the aura which surrounds the head is often represented by artists as a nimbus or halo to depict saints and enlightened beings. Though awakened souls have more brilliant and pure auras, everyone has an aura. Seen psychically, the aura is filled with many colors which are reflections of the thoughts and emotions active in the nervous system and change according to the person's state of mind.

Austerities: Practices of strict self-discipline & self-denial.

Awareness: Individual consciousness, perception, knowing. In the teachings of Saiva Siddhanta Church, awareness describes the soul's ability to sense, see or know. When awareness is aware only of itself and of no object, it merges into Pure Consciousness, Satchidananda.

BABA: A reverential prefix, added to the name of a holy man of merit and renown, like the English prefix Rev. before clergymen.

BANG-I-ASMANI: The Call from heaven. fig. Kalma a holy Word.

BANI : Scriptural texts. fig. the holy Word or Naam

Bhagavad Gita: A portion of the Mahabharata, having the form of a dialogue between the warrior hero Arjuna and his charioteer, the Avatar of Vishnu, Lord Krishna, in which a doctrine combining Brahmanical and other elements is evolved by way of a discourse presented as "The Blessed One's Song."

Bhai Gurdas has given a beautiful description of it in his Kabits and Swaiyas Nos. 140, 141, 213, 265, 269, 270 and 294. Kabir has also referred to Till, in his Dohas or couplets. Tulsi Sahib, tells us that mystery of God is revealed only when one penetrates behind the Til.

BHAJAN : One of the three Sadhans (disciplines) in self-realisation and God-realisation and stands for attuning one's self with the Audible Life Stream.

Bhakta: A devotee (same as bhaktar).

BHAKTI : Worshipful devotion to the God-Man.

BHAKTI YOGA : One of the three important systems of Yoga: Jnana (The path of knowledge), Bhakti (the Path of devotion) and Karam (the path of action)

Bhakti: Devotion; the expression of love for and surrender to God.

Bhuloka: The physical world perceived through the five senses. Also called the First World or Plane.

BIBLE: The holy scriptures of the Christians, comprising of 66 books: 39 in the Old and 27 in the New Testament.

BRAHM GIANI: The knower of Brahm (the Universal Mind), the creator of Brahmand: the cosmos.

Brahmachari: An unmarried man and spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes religious disciplines, including sadhana, devotion, service and teaching, and who may be under simple vows.

Brahmacharini: An unmarried, female spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes certain disciplines, often relating to devotion, service and teaching children, and who may be under simple vows.

Brahmachariya: "Godly conduct." Brahmachariya, among the ethical restraints known as the yamas, means sexual purity--the restraint of lust and other aspects of the instinctive nature. In its strictest application, brahmachariya is celibacy, complete sexual abstinence, as practiced by monastics and advised for all persons prior to marriage. Thus, the first phase of life, until age twenty-five, is called the brahmachariya ashrama, a time of studentship and transmutation of sexual energies into intellectual and spiritual concerns. In a broader sense, householders practice the sexual purity of brahmachariya by remaining faithful in marriage.

Brahman: A name for God or Supreme Deity in the Vedas. Descriptions of Brahman include the Transcendent Absolute, the All-Pervading energy, as well as the Supreme Lord or Primal Soul. Brahman is thus equivalent to God Siva in one or all three perfections.

BRAHMAND: Second Grand Division in creation, below Sach Khand. It is a spiritual-material plane of the Universal Mind and subject to decay and dissolution.

BUDDHA: More correctly 'The Buddha': 'the awakened' or 'the enlightened'; title of prince Siddhartha, often called Gautama; the founder of Buddhism.

Buddhism: The religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha. He refuted the idea of man's having an immortal soul and did not preach of any Supreme Deity. Instead he taught that man should seek freedom from greed, hatred and delusion, and enlightenment through realizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are: the fact of suffering, the origin of suffering, the annihilation of suffering, and the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path comprises: Right Views, Right Aspirations, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation. Buddhism migrated out of India, the country of its origin, and now enjoys a following of roughly 300 million, mostly in Asia.

BUDDHI: Thinking and reasoning faculty: intellect. One of the three constituent parts that go to form a rational being: body, mind and intellect, the last being the discriminating faculty that reasons out right from wrong,

Chakra: "Wheel." A center of force and consciousness located within the inner bodies of man. Nerve plexes, ganglia and glands corresponding to principle chakras are located in the physical body, situated along the spinal cord from the base into the cranial chamber. Seven principle chakras, psychically seen as colored and multi-petalled lotuses, are commonly described, though many more exist.

CHAKRAS: Six ganglionic centres in the bodily system by controlling which one attains mastery over various processes going on in the body: e.g. physiological, psychological and respiratory etc. Since these centres are in the form of small wheels or lotus, these are called chakras.

CHHANDOGYA UPANISHAD: Based on Sama-Veda, explains the sacred syllable OM, (Udgita or Pranava), i.e. Brahma, the intelligent cause of the universe.

CHID-AKASH : Pure mind-essence wherefrom mental vibrations arise and assume the form of feelings, thoughts and actions.

CHIT OR CHITA : Lake of the mind wherein are stored all kinds of impressions in the form of memories, it is one of the four facets of manas: Chit, Mana, Budhi and Ahankar.

CHITR: One of the two recording angels: the other being Gupt; keeping a record of the deeds of each person (manifested acts and unmanifested latencies and thoughts).

CHRIST: (Gr. Christos, the Annointed one). Title given to Jesus, the founder of Christianity, as being the Messiah or Lord's Annointed of the ancient Hebrew prophecy.

Concentrated meditation: A type of meditation which may infuse a new type of life (Jia or inner awareness) in the heart of the meditator.

Conscience: The inherent knowledge or sense of right and wrong. Our conscience is the innate wisdom of our soul, along with all we have learned from our past lives.

Conscious mind: The everyday, thinking state of mind. We function in the conscious mind during most of our waking hours. One of the five states of mind: conscious, subconscious, sub-subconscious, sub-superconscious & superconscious.

Conscious: Aware, sentient, able to feel and think; the ordinary waking state.

Consciousness: Short form for Supra-Universal Consciousness.

consciousness: Perception, awareness, apprehension. There are many layers or levels of consciousness ranging from the ordinary, every-day consciousness of our body and mind to omniscient states of superconsciousness, the ultimate Truth being Supra-Universal Consciousness. Consciousness aware only of itself is Pure Consciousness. Basic consciousness and soul are essentially the same. The soul which has begun functioning in an individual (begun entanglement) is basic consciousness, consciousness when not functioning in an individual is soul. When unaware, both are the same as spirit.

Creed: An authoritative formulation of the beliefs of a religion or a community. A creed is meant to summarize the specific teachings or articles of faith, to embody and thus protect and transmit the beliefs. Creeds have arisen historically when a religion was transplanted from its country or region of origin to a new culture.

DADU (1544-1603): Brahman sage of Ahmedabad, rejected the Vedas and Qoran; thought of Siva, Vishnu and Brahma as deified men; denounced caste and priestcraft and taught worship of One God, the Creator Preserver of all.

Dana: "Giving." A traditional niyama, ethical practice, dana is charity, giving creatively without thought of reward, including tithing and feeding the poor.

Dark Energy: A hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and has strong negative pressure causing the observed expansion of the universe. Compare Kal Niranjan.

Dark Matter: Matter which is not directly observed and has unknown composition. It does not emit or reflect enough electromagnetic radiation to be detected directly, but its presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter. Compare Kal Niranjan.

DARSHAN : To have a view of the Master's form with loving devotion, within or without.

DASAM DWAR or DASAM DUWAR: Region between Brahmand and Par Brahmand, both of which form the second Grand Division in creation, plane of Universal Mind consisting of Pure Spirit and subtle form of matter varying degrees; here the pilgrim-soul, by a dip in Amritsaar (the sacred pool within), is washed clean of impurities regaining its pristine purity, becoming hansa or a royal white swan.

Daya: "Compassion." Among the traditional yamas, moral restraints, daya is conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.

DAYAL : Merciful or compassionate. It is one of the attributes of God.

Deity: "God." Can refer to the image or murthi installed in a temple or to the Mahadeva whom the murthi represents.

Deva: "Shining one." A Second World being living in the higher astral plane.

Devaloka: The higher Second World, wherein souls take on astral or mental bodies; deep within the First World.

Devotee: A person strongly dedicated to something or someone, such as to a God or a guru. Often used interchangeably with disciple, though the latter term generally implies a deeper commitment.

DHARAM RAI : King-Judge; The Lord of the Astral world who judges all by their actions: the law being as you sow, so shall you reap. But those who take refuge at the feet of a Perfect Master easily escape from the pinching effect of this Law.

DHARM : The term is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Dhir' meaning that which supports or upholds some-thing. (Here of course the world systems on all levels of existence).

Dharma: Divine law; the law of being; defined broadly as the way of righteousness or "that which holds one's true nature." The fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny. To "follow dharma" means to act in accordance with divine law.

Dhriti: "Steadfastness, constancy." Among the traditional yamas, dhriti is overcoming non-perseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness, keeping the mind and emotions steady through all circumstances.

DHUN-ATMAK: Music of the soul.

DHUN: Reverberation of the sound principle in creation, Music of the spheres.

DHYAN: From Dhi. (Skt. Dhi). Concentration, particularly the holy Shabd; communion with the Word.

DHYANIS: Devotees who go into ecstasy with the musical chants of cymbals.

Divine Mother: See Shakti.

Earth: First Element

Ego: The "i" thought and the center of various basic interactions as we evolve. Sum total of our personality, beliefs, experiences, memories, wishes and desires. It (also called self) represents the character(s) progressively surrendering through which, we reach our fundamental identity of indestructible Self or Soul as one with the All-Encompassing One or God.

Egotism, Egotistical: Characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance. Characteristic of false pride or having an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

EK-ANKAR: The Unmanifest-Manifested, God-in-expression power, the holy Word, the primal manifestation of Godhead by which and in which all live, move and have their being and by which all find a way back to Absolute God.

Electron: A stable subatomic particle in the lepton family having a rest mass of 9.1066 × 10^-31 kg and a unit negative electric charge of approximately 1.602 × 10^-19 Coulombs.

Emanation: To "flow out from." In Saiva Siddhanta philosophy, God Siva creates and is His creation. Siva's creation of the world from Himself is described in scripture as being similar to "sparks issuing forth from fire" or "a web from a spider." This vision of cosmic creation contrasts with other views such as "creation out of nothing" (Judeo/Christian), or non-creation--a view in which reality is permanent and always existing (Meykandar Saiva Siddhanta and other dualist and pluralist schools).

Entanglement: Aan intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim. The act of entangling. The state of being entangled. Something that entangles; snares; involvement; complication. To twist together or entwine into a confusing mass; snarl. To complicate; confuse. To involve in or as if in a tangle. eg Entanglement for this life happened in previous lives, entanglement for the next life may happen in this life. Similarly, entanglement for this cycle of evolution of universe happened in previous cycles, entanglement for the next cycle may happen in this cycle. In the context of universal evolution, unified force's coupling to various gross to subtle forms of matter and through them to various basic interactions. Thus, when it couples to the molecular level and above, it gets entangled into gravitational interactions; when to the atomic level, it gets entangled into electromagnetic interactions; when to nuclear level or to nucleons, it gets entangled in strong interactions; and finally, when it couples to sub-nuclear level, it gets entangled to weak interactions. At human level it may be taken as awareness or consciousness's coupling to/absorption into physical body, emotional body, causal (mind/thoughts) body and finally subtler emotional body or spiritual body. Evolution is the result of this coupling/entanglement, which causes mutations in bodies through evolutionary surges (Design Part), and the respective body's reaction/response to adapt to them (Darwinian Part). See Evolution.

Essence - That which cannot be described with or is beyond words / language and labels because it is the sum of the parts, ie, detail. An essence can only be experienced and is an intangible existence.

Ether: Word used most often to translate akasha. Most subtle of the five elements (earth, air, water, fire and ether) which make up the physical universe. Invisible essence which pervades all form and all other elements. In a broader sense etheric refers to the non-physical spheres (as in "inner ethers").

Evolutionary Leap: A phenomenon caused by soul or spirit when it acts as evolutionary force and makes any system make a quatum jump to its next energy orbit or interaction centre. Thus it makes an electron of an atom to jump to its next energy orbit (in which case it is also called free energy of an atom or energy entrapped in an atom); and it makes Kundalini Shakti or Energy in humans to jump to the centre of next basic energy interaction or Chakra. See Entanglement.

Evolutionary Surge: See Evolutionary Leap.

Faith: Confidence or trust in a person, concept, abstraction or thing: faith in another's ability. Belief that is not based on traditional proof. Belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of spiritual schools of thought. Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit. A system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith. The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise or engagement. The observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance. In theology: the trust in God and in His promises as made through a Master and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

Fire: Third Element.

First World: The physical universe of gross or material substance in which phenomena are perceived by the five senses.

Free Will: That which sees and understand things as they are, ie, free from causality (independent of the past or future)

GAGGAN : The upper portion that crowns the Trikuti (the second plane on the spiritual path). it is the place where all kinds of latencies are stored np.

Ganesha: A Mahadeva or great God created by Lord Siva to assist souls in their evolution. The elephant-faced Patron of Art and Science, first Son of Siva, Remover of Obstacles.

GITA : Bhagvad Gita: (Skt. Song of the Lord, the Adorable One or the Blessed One): forming part of the great epic of Mahabharata, in the nature of a dialogue of Plato or the book of Job. Dissertation by Krishna on the duty of the Kshatriya to fight a righteous war against injustice, no matter what the odds.

GOBIND or GOVIND: Lord of the universe; here Lord Krishna, the eighth avtar of Vishnu, the creator and sustainer of the three realms: physical, astral and instrumental.

GOBIND SINGH, Guru (Ministry 16761708): A soldier-saint ranking as tenth in succession to Nanak, brought about the transformation of Sikhs (mere disciples) into Singhs (militant lions), a martial race for the defense of the country against injustice and tyranny of the rulers, and gave the new institution the name of Khalsa: the brotherhood of the pure, by a form of baptism, called Khanda-di-Pahul or 'Baptism of the Sword.'

God: Beyond definition, timeless, infinity. The creator and observer or witness to all disguised as everything else.

Gods: Mahadevas, "Great Beings of Light." Extremely advanced beings existing in their self-effulgent soul bodies in the Astral plane. Originally created by , as all souls are, Gods have evolved to a constant superconsciousness as they govern, advance and assist all worlds. Gods are genderless, neither male nor female, but pure kundalini-energy beings.

GOSPEL: 'Glad Tidings' preached by Christ and his apostles. 'Good news' (of salvation), Anglo-Saxon 'God,' and 'spell,' a narrative, or 'God-story' of Revelation.

Grace: The free and unmerited favour or beneficence of God. Benevolence and love. Central religious concept denoting God's innate quality of giving and caring for creation. Grace is both general and specific. In the general or cosmic sense, functions of veiling and revealing are termed grace -- like a dutiful parent guiding the growth of a child, concealing that which the child is not prepared to face and revealing or teaching that which it needs to know to progress in life. In the specific or microcosmic sense, grace may be defined as receiving a gift from God, often as a result of spiritual striving or as a response to the devotee's love. It is bestowed upon those who are consistent in their spiritual discipline, bhakti and devotion, though what is attained by grace cannot be attained by any other means. For example, by his own efforts a yogi can obtain great control over his mind, but the final Self-Realization can only occur through the grace of the Guru.

GRANTH SAHIB : The holy Bible of the sikhs compiled by Guru Arjan. It contains the songs of all the fore-runners in the realm of Spiritually, irrespective of the caste or vocation of their authors.

Gravity Nullification Model (GNM): The model integrates consciousness into a simplified mathematical model of general relativity theory to resolve outstanding paradoxes of quantum mechanics, relativity, and cosmology theories. GNM forms the basis of the Holistic Relativity theory as part of the overall HQR Project. GNM was propounded by Dr Avtar Singh.

Grihastha: Householder; family man or woman. The period of human life after the brahmachariya ashram (studentship period) is over, the individual establishing a career, home and family.

GUNA : Quality or attribute which constitutes a motor-power for all our deeds and actions according to one's inherent nature.

Gunas: "Qualities." Metaphysically, the gunas are fundamental cosmic qualities of nature. The three gunas are tamas (inertia, density, the force of contraction, resistance & dissolution), rajas (stimulative, restlessness, activity; the expansive energy of growth and movement) and sattva (quiescence, rarified, translucent, pervasive, reflecting the light of pure consciousness).

GUR-BANI: cf. Bani, Scriptural texts as given by the Gurus in Granth Sahib, not to be confused with Gur-ki-Bani, the holy Sound Current made manifest by a competent Master (Guru), as a means to attain the highest spiritual realm from where it emanates.

GURMAT: Path of the Guru, both as he preaches without and the one that is revealed within, by following which one reaches the true eternal home of God.

GURU DEV : Radiant Form of the Master that meets a disciple as his spirit ascends above body-consciousness.

Guru Ram Das, in this context, says: "Mind wanders away every second as it has not entered the Til."

Guru: "Remover of darkness;" guide. A teacher. Though it can connote a teacher of any subject, guru usually denotes a spiritual teacher or master.

Gurudeva: "The shining spiritual being who is the destroyer of darkness of ignorance." Part of the name of His Holiness Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. An affectionate, yet respectful term used to address the guru or spiritual master.

GURU: in Hinduism, a spiritual teacher or preceptor, treated with the deepest respect and greatest reverence; one who lights up the Way Godward; a torch-bearer on the way back to the mansion of the Lord.

HAFIZ (1320: -1389 A.D.): A great Persian Saint-poet born at Shiraz. Hafiz is the pen name which means 'one who knows Koran by heart'. His real name was Shams-ud-Din Mohammed which means 'Sun of the Religion founded by Prophet Mohammed'. Hafiz enjoys great popularity among the Muslims and Hindus alike both as a saint as well as a poet.

HARMUZD : (also spelled as Ormuzdj) The Good God or Ahura-Mazda who in the oldest scriptures is the supreme creator being opposed by the Evil God, Ahriman as given in Zendavesta. the scriptures of Zoroaster.

HATHA YOGA : A form of yoga dealing with the control of the body and bodily activities as the means of stilling the mind. The process of deintoxication and rejuvenation is done by means of six purificatory acts called Shat Karma, like Neti and Dhoti etc. It is considered as a methodical approach to the attainment of the highest in yoga: Raja Yoga. 'Hatha' literally means will-power or indomitable will to do a thing, howsoever uncommon it may be. Etymologically 'Ha' represents the sun and 'tha' stands for the moon. Hence Hatha Yoga aims at coordinating the warm and cold aspects of sun and moon respectively by working through Ida and Pingla.

Hatha yoga: "Sun/moon yoga." Ha and tha are the sun and moon nerves ending in the nasal region of the head. They correspond to the pingala and ida nadis--mental and emotional currents--flowing up, in a crisscross pattern, the sides of the kundalini nadi: sushumna. Through breath control--ha is inbreath, tha is outbreath--and the manipulation of the physical/astral bodies through specific series of asanas (postures) and mudras (bodily positions), the ida and pingala currents are perfectly balanced and the yogi functions in his sushumna (kundalini) nadi. The yogi is then prepared for deep meditation, following raja yoga, or kundalini yoga under the guidance of a guru. Besides its spiritual benefits, hatha yoga results in purification of the subconscious mind and robust physiological health contributing towards longevity. Hatha yoga is an ancient Natha Sampradaya science--

HAZUR : A venerable form of address applied to persons of distinction in any grade of life.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty: It is a mathematical limit on the accuracy with which it is possible to measure the small