Sunday, July 31, 2005

Eradicating of delusion of 'I am'


A questioner asked the Buddha: "I would like to know about the state of peace, the state of solitude and of quiet detachment. How does a person become calm, independent, and not wanting to grasp at anything?"

"A person does this," replied the Buddha, "by eradicating the delusion of 'I am.' By being alert and attentive, he begins to let go of cravings as they arise. But whatever he begins to accomplish, he should beware of inner pride. He must avoid thinking of himself as better than another, or worse or equal, for that is all comparison and emphasizes the self.

"The person should look for peace within and not depend on it in any other place. For when a person is quiet within, the self cannot be found. There are no waves in the depths of the ocean, it is still and unbroken. It is the same with the peaceful person. He is still, without any longing to grasp. He has let go the foundations of self and no longer builds up pride and desire."


-Sutta Nipata

From "Buddha

Saturday, July 30, 2005

HAPPINESS

Today's Quote

The greater part of our happiness depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances.

-Martha Washington

Man's lot and fortune

IT IS THE MAN'S LOT TO SUFFER; IT IS ALSO HIS FORTUNE TO FORGET.

Friday, July 29, 2005

MIRCALE WATER IN A WELL IN INDIA

Miracle water keeps locals hale, hearty

Karimnagar, July 28: Hundreds still gather at the ancient well in Molangoor, known as Dood Bowli, to have a taste of the miracle water which is believed to cure many ills. Even those who discount its miraculous effects vouch that the water tastes “really good”. A trip to the water source is almost a pilgrimage for people in far-flung areas of Karimnagar district. Generations have believed that the well, which was constructed between 1171 and 1199 AD by Kakatiya rulers, contains water with medicinal properties. The well was built at the foothills of the famous Molangoor fort in Shankarapatnam mandal.

Locals say that the water helps cure kidney stone problem and several other ailments. The water, which originates from the giant hill housing the fort, is famous for its purity. The quiladars of Quli Qutub Shah regime, who ruled the fort from 1518 to 1687 AD, used to send the pristine pure water to their nawabs in Golconda to curry their favour. The tradition continues and even now employees of various government departments in Karimnagar take the water from the well situated near a huge banyan tree to their bosses.

Mrs Nakka Venkatamma, 55, of Molangoor said that her family had used water from Dood Bowli for generations. “It is a tonic sent by God to keep us hale and hearty,” she said. The villagers still have no idea from where the water comes and vouch that it has never dried up. “The water flows from the hilltop into the bottom of the well,” said Mrs V. Vijaya, another villager. “Its sweet taste has persisted for years”. Mr Tirupathi, the village sunkari, said that several scientists had taken samples of the water to find out the reason for its flavour. People of the village who go abroad take bottles of the water with them. “It is our own Ganges,” he said.

THE WAY I SEE IT

There are no limits on how much the heart can love, the mind can imagine, or the human being can achieve.

LYNNE COX
Author of Swimming to Antarctic. She broke the world record for swimming the English Channel.

Thursday, July 28, 2005

JAPANESE SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES

Japanese develop 'female' android
By David Whitehouse
Science editor, BBC News website

Japanese scientists have unveiled the most human-looking robot yet devised - a "female" android called Repliee Q1.

She has flexible silicone for skin rather than hard plastic, and a number of sensors and motors to allow her to turn and react in a human-like manner.

She can flutter her eyelids and move her hands like a human. She even appears to breathe.

Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University says one day robots could fool us into believing they are human.

Repliee Q1 is not like any robot you will have seen before, at least outside of science-fiction movies.

She is designed to look human and although she can only sit at present, she has 31 actuators in her upper body, powered by a nearby air compressor, programmed to allow her to move like a human.


We have found that people forget she is an android while interacting with her
Prof Hiroshi Ishiguro
"I have developed many robots before," Repliee Q1's designer, Professor Ishiguro, told the BBC News website, "but I soon realised the importance of its appearance. A human-like appearance gives a robot a strong feeling of presence."

Designed to look human

Before Repliee Q1, Professor Ishiguro developed Repliee R1 which had the appearance of a five-year-old Japanese girl.

Its head could move in nine directions and it could gesture with its arm. Four high-sensitivity tactile sensors were placed under the skin of its left arm that made the android react differently to differing pressures.

The follow-up has the appearance of a Japanese woman. To program her motion, a computer analysed the motions of a human and used them as a template for the way Repliee Q1 moves.

She can be designed to follow the movement of a human wearing motion sensors or to act independently.

"Repliee Q1 can interact with people. It can respond to people touching it. It's very satisfying, although we obviously have a long way to go yet."

Professor Ishiguro believes that it may prove possible to build an android that could pass for a human, if only for a brief period.

"An android could get away with it for a short time, 5-10 seconds. However, if we carefully select the situation, we could extend that, to perhaps 10 minutes," he said.

"More importantly, we have found that people forget she is an android while interacting with her. Consciously, it is easy to see that she is an android, but unconsciously, we react to the android as if she were a woman."


I have no particular taste for post-mortem immortality. I am immortal now, while I am gloriously alive.

- Rabbi Joel Blau, "My Uncertain God," 1924

Rep

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

FORGIVENESS AND HOPE OF A BETTER PAST?

Today's Quote

Forgiveness means giving up all hope of a better past.

-Landrum Bolling

Devotion and God's response

Devotion shown to God always evokes some form of plain or mysterious response. No true devotee is ignored by God.

—Paramahansa Yogananda, “Glimpses of the Gita’s Wisdom” from Self-Realization magazine, winter 1995.

Monday, July 25, 2005

REJOICE MAN

Rejoice in what you have; sign not for what you lost.

- Abraham Hasdai, 'Ben HaMelek VeHaNazir'

Sunday, July 24, 2005

TODAY IS YOUR LUCKY DAY.

Today's Quote

Forget mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now and do it. Today is your lucky day.

-Will Durant

DIVIDING AND HARMONIZING

Abandoning malicious speech, he abstains from malicious speech; he does not repeat elsewhere what he has heard here in order to divide (those people) from these, nor does he repeat to these people what he has heard elsewhere in order to divide (these people) from those; thus he is one who reunites those who are divided, a promoter of friendships, who enjoys harmony, rejoices in harmony, delights in concord, a speaker of words that promote harmony.

-Majjhima Nikaya

BEAUTIFIERS

Today's Quote

Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are famous preservers of youthful looks.

-Charles Dicke

Good people and success

Today's Quote

Good people are good because they’ve come to wisdom through failure. We get very little wisdom from success, you know.

-William Saroyan

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Calendar and the value of the friend

Today's Quote

I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.

-Robert Brault

Friday, July 22, 2005

YES, I CAN.

The most destructive habit.................Worry
The greatest Joy...............................Giving
The greatest loss...........Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work....................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.....................Selfishness
The most endangered species.......Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource....................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"...........Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome.....................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill............Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease................Excuses
The most powerful force in life..........................Love

The most dangerous pariah......................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer..........The brain
The worst thing to be without.... ..................... Hope

The deadliest weapon........................The tongue
The two most power-filled words.............."I Can"
The greatest asset....................................Faith

The most worthless emotion.......................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire..............................SMILE!
The most prized possession........................Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication...........Prayer
The most contagious spirit..............................Enthusiasm


Thursday, July 21, 2005

joy and smile OR smile and joy

Today's Quote

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

TRAVEL LIGHT

Today's Quote

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fear.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Adjust to the kitchen rules, stupid!

Signs Found In Kitchens
1. Kitchen closed - - this chick has had it!

2. Martha Stewart doesn't live here!

3. I'm creative; you can't expect me to be neat too!

4. So this isn't Home Sweet Home... Adjust!

5. Ring Bell for Maid Service...If no answer do it yourself!

6. I clean house every other day.... Today is the other day!

7. If you write in the dust, please don't date it!

8. I would cook dinner but I can't find the can opener!

9. My house was clean last week, too bad you missed it!

10. A clean kitchen is the sign of a wasted life.

11. COOK CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

12. I came, I saw, I decided to order take out.

13. If you don't like my standards of cooking...lower your standards.

14. You may touch the dust in this house...but please don't write in it!

15. Apology...Although you'll find our house a mess, come in, sit down, converse. It doesn't always look like this: Some days it's even worse.

16. A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen, and this kitchen is delirious.

17. If we are what we eat, then I'm easy, fast, and cheap.

18. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

19. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

20. Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.

21. A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.

22. Help keep the kitchen clean - eat out.

23. Countless number of people have eaten in this kitchen and gone on to lead normal lives.

...and the best one of them all...

24. My next house will have no kitchen --- just vending machines.

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Buyi

What you want to be in your next life... a bear

In my next life -- I Want to be a Bear...

If you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that, too.

If you're a bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them, too. I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup..... I wanna be a bear.

Monday, July 18, 2005

GAYATRI MANTRA

The Gayatri Mantra

Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.

AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA,
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT

ENJOY IT MAAN SO LONG AS IT LASTS!

Today's Quote

All I can say about life is, Oh God, enjoy it!

-Bob Newhart

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Healthy mind and moods

The healthy mind is immune to disfiguring moods. That state is so grand.
>When you are completely free from the dictates of your second nature,
>the flaws of the ego, you anchor in the Truth of your real nature. In
>that state it does not take any effort of will to be good... Keep this
>vow: "I am going to behave perfectly no matter how others behave toward
>me." It can be done. When you remain in the calmness of the soul, you
>will know God. And when you know God, you will see in every human being
>a temple of God.
>

Lord KRISHNA'S EXTRA MERCY!

A woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree when his axe fell in the river. He tried to locate it but he didn't know swimming. So, he started to pray to Lord Krishna and he prayed so hard that Krishnaji appeared himself and asked him what he wanted. He told Krishnaji what had happened.

In no time Krishnaji brought out a silver axe and offered it to the woodcutter. Being an extremely honest man, he told Krishnaji that that axe was not his. Krishnaji took another dip in the river and this time he brought a golden axe. The woodcutter again refused to accept it stating that that one was not his. So Krishnaji had no alternative but to jump again in the river and this time he brought out the real iron axe belonging to the woodcutter. The woodcutter gladly accepted it. However, Krishnaji said that since he had given such a good proof of his extreme honesty, which may not always be the case with his bhaktas, he gave him all three axes as reward.

The woodcutter was very happy and on reaching home told his wife the whole episode and showed her the three axes. The wife became very excited and said he must take her to the spot where the incident happened.

Both came to the river and as destiny would have it, the wife slipped into the river. The woodcutter was distraughtwith grief and again started praying very hard. Krishnaji appeared again and asked what was bothering him now. The woodcutter told him how his wife had slipped into the river. Krishnaji jumped into the river and came out with Aishwarya Rai and asked the woodcutter if that was his wife. After thinking a little, the woodcutter said, yes.

Krishnaji was surprised at such a big change in the honest man becoming such a big liar in one day. He asked him that he can't believe this. The woodcutter admitted that he was lying but added that only Krishnaji himself had taught him to lie. How is that asked Krishnaji.

The woodcutter replied that if I said no, in your next dip you would have brought Karishma Kapoor and again if I said no he would have brought his wife. And in the end he would have offered all three of them to him for being an honest man. He said, Prabhu it is already so difficult to manage one wife how you think I was going to be able to take care of three of them.

Afsana likh rahi hoon dile bekarar ka.......


It is good to make a habit of inspiring yourself with a melody…For the loftiness of melody is beyond all measure.

- Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav

Friday, July 15, 2005

@ISKCON HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE on SAT. JULY 16 STARTING AT 5 PM

VIRAT HASYA KAVI SAMMELAN
BY

HASYA SAMRAT VISHWANATH VERMA

(of INDIA FAME from PATNA, BIHAR)

WHERE: @ ISKCON, HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE,
1420 228th AVE SE, SHAMAMISH (WA 98075)
Tel: 425 391 3293
(OLDEST HINDU TEMPLE IN THE SEATTLE area)

WHEN: SatuRday, 5 PM to 6.30 PM (sharp) ON July 16 05
(HASYA KAVI SAMMELAN )

BHAJANS from 6.30 - 7 PM

AARATI from 7 - 7.30 PM

7.30 PM onwards PRASAD AND BHOJAN

Please inform your friends who may be interested to laugh and laugh.

ALL ARE WELCOME.

If you need more information, please call:

The temple at the phone number given above or at 425 558 4251 Shri
Hari Vilasji or
@ 425 688 1155 PUSHPA AND SHER AGRAWAL.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

YOU WOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF DEATH IF YOU WILL WORK HARD EVERY MINUTE THAT YOU HAVE.

Today's Quote

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.

-Michael Landon

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

LOVE THYSELF

Today's Quote

Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and of true progress.

-Nicholas Murray Butler

CONSTRUCTION OF VEDIC CULTURAL CENTRE HALL

Forward to a Friend

As you may be aware, a new temple with DEITIES of SHRI RADHAMADHAV, RAM DARBAR, DEVI MAA and several of our Gods is planned to be made soonest ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE PRESENT TEMPLE.

Moreover, a big cultural hall is planned to be constructed ON THE FIRST FLOOR which can accommodate about 500 people. So this will be the largest Indian cultural centre in town

JAI SHRI RADHAMADHAV, JAI SITARAMJI, JAI DEVI MAA, JAI HANUMANJI..



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