According to Bhishma in the Mahabharata, was Karna considered a better archer than Arjuna?

According to Bhishma in the Mahabharata, was Karna considered a better archer than Arjuna? Bhishma never considered Karna as better archer. His statements throughout prove the fact.His only statement in favour of Karna happened when Karna came to him after he fell on arrow bed. Whatever he said to Karna in praise when the latter met him after his fall was done on purpose to try and stop the destruction of Kuru clan. Even then he did not say Karna is a better archer. He excepted Arjuna and Krishna in his expression referring to Karna’s praise as per Bori but actual translation of the verse show him similar to Krishna and Arjuna since he used the word sadRRishaH. iShvastre bhArasandhAne lAghave.astrabale tathA | sadRRishaH phalgunenAsi kRRiShNena cha mahAtmanA || 14| |In the use of arrows, in aiming at a target, in dexterity and in the strength of your weapons, there is no one like you, with the exception of Phalguna and the great-souled Krishna. Ch 17 Bhishma parva,Bori critical Edition KMG translated it correctly. In bowmanship, in aiming weapon, in lightness of hand and in strength of weapons, thou art equal to Phalguni himself, or the high-souled Krishna! So he said Karna is similar to Krishna and Arjuna. Just before this incident,Bhishma clearly told Duryodhana to make truce as it is impossible to defeat Arjuna who knew every existent Astra by mind.He praised Arjuna as the best archer of the time. AdityastejasAM shreShTho girINAM himavAnvaraH | jAtInAM brAhmaNaH shreShThaH shreShThastvamasi dhanvinAm || 33|| “O king! In the presence of all the kings, Shantanu’s son was satisfied. He honoured Bibhatsu and spoke to him. ‘O mighty-armed one! O descendant of the Kuru lineage! You have done something wonderful. O infinitely radiant one! Narada spoke of you as an ancient rishi. With Vasudeva as your aide, you will perform great deeds that even Indra of the gods, with the other gods, will not attempt. O Partha! Those who are aware know that you will bring about the destruction of all the kshatriyas. Among all the brave men on earth, you alone are the one who can wield the bow. You are the best among men on earth, like Garuda among the birds, like the ocean is the best among all stores of water, like the cow is the best among all quadrupeds, like the sun is supreme among those with energy, Himalaya is foremost among all mountains, the brahmana is best among all classes and you are the foremost among all archers. Ch 116 Bhishma parva Bori critical Edition So no,Karna was not praised by Bhishma as the better archer instead Arjuna was declared the best by him. My answer is based on story of Vyasa Bharat

Why did Dronacharya teach 'chakravyuh' only to Arjuna? Why not other Pandavas or even Kauravas as they were his students as well?

Why did Dronacharya teach 'chakravyuh' only to Arjuna? Why not other Pandavas or even Kauravas as they were his students as well? Can you share any references mentioning Dronacharya did not teach Chakravyuha to his other students? The reference in Mahabharata says that only Arjuna, Shirkrishna and Pradyumna were capable for breaking into it successfully. It doesn’t say that others did not know it. Knowing something doesn’t necessarily translate into the ability to execute it. Also a teacher teaching something doesn’t necessarily translate into all the students learning it with the same degree of effectiveness. My teacher taught me to code in Fortran 90 and I cannot write a code in any language. Does this mean that my teacher was partial to me and did not teach it to me. Dronacharya taught the Vyuha to all his students but only Arjuna among them was capable enough to execute it.

*Pope Francis wrote this in the Hospital.*- As received

*Pope Francis wrote this in the Hospital.* “The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches... They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those in airports... It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor. A privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar... In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist... A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care... A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor... It is in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing. The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss. A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence. This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people. Do not criticize your body too much. Do not complain excessively. Do not lose sleep over bills. Make sure to hug your loved ones. Do not worry too much about keeping the house spotless. Material goods must be earned by each person—do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance. You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect... Listen, perfection does not exist. A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here. Here, we are given an opportunity to learn. So, make the most of this trial of life—and do it now. Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you. Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere. Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely! And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator.” —Pope Francis Many Blessings on the Day of the Lord

Is it true that Ravana was defeated by Kartavirya Arjuna and Vali in battle?

Is it true that Ravana was defeated by Kartavirya Arjuna and Vali in battle? Based on Valmiki Ramayana, first six books, Ravana wasn't defeated by anyone till the Lanka war. Sugreeva is the first being to defeat Ravana, in physical duel, by exhausting him and forcing him to use Illusions to save his skin. And approaching each other, they strove to slay each other, like unto two cats seated, momentarily encountering each other over some food. And the lord of monkeys and Rāvana, accomplished in fight, coursed the arena, displaying wonderful mandalas,¹⁰⁴ various _sthānas_¹⁰⁵ curious _gomātrakas_¹⁰⁶ gatapratyāgatas, tiraschi-nagatas, vakragatas, parimokshas, varjanas, paridhāvanas, abhidravanas,¹⁰⁷ āplāvanas,¹⁰⁸ savigrahāvasthānas, parāvrittas,¹¹⁰ apāvrittas,¹¹¹ _apadrutas_¹¹² avaplutas,¹¹³ apanyastas,¹¹⁴ and upanyastas. In the meanwhile the Raksha attempted to put forth his power of illusion. Knowing this, the king of monkeys shot into the sky. And Rāvana, overpowered by fatigue and out of breath, thus baffled by the monkey-king, stood where he was. Thus the master of the foremost monkeys, securing fame in fight, beat the night-ranger, causing him to experience fatigue. And bounding beyond the spacious sky, the offspring of the Sun came to the side of Rāma in the midst of the monkey-forces. Further, was beaten by Lakshman, Hanuman and Rama. Except these four, he didn't lose to anyone. Kartavirya Arjuna or Vali beating him is mentioned only in Uttara Kanda of Ramayana and Puranas and is baseless and contradicts several instances in the first six books of Ramayana. Vali can easily crush him into a pulp in a physical duel. But would lose if Råvana use celestial weapons. But I don't think Kartavirya can best him in any case. Neither in physical duel or using weapons. Kartavirya simply doesn't have any feats to rival that of Råvana in any way. Both of them were formidable forces mainly due to boons. But It took way more effort for Rama to kill Ravana compared to Parashurama killing Kartavirya Arjuna. Rama is considered superior to Parashurama in every aspect btw., even clearly established in Valmiki Ramayana itself. Ravana holds multiple infallible spears that can destroy Karttavirya's divine spear, eliminating Karttavirya's only advantage over him. Beyond this weapon, Ravana's vast arsenal, boons, and powers far surpass anything Karttavirya possesses. Especially when donned in the divine armor of Brahma. Even if Ravana is chopped into pieces, he could easily regenerate. Ravana's heart, his sole vulnerable spot, is protected by Brahma's divine armor, rendering him nearly invincible. The only weapon capable of piercing this armor is Brahma's infallible shaft, a weapon that Karttavirya does not possess. In a hypothetical duel, Ravana would easily defeat Karttavirya, as there is no way to put him down while he wears his armor. And Ravana’s offensive power is no joke, as seen in his final duel. However, without his armor, Karttavirya Arjuna may be able to defeat him.

AS A MAN THINKETH

Good Morning!!! AS A MAN THINKETH Around the Year with Emmet Fox April 29 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” Matthew:27-28 In this unforgettable paragraph, Jesus stresses the master truth, so utterly fundamental, yet so unsuspected by the world at large, that that really matters is thought. People have always been accustomed to suppose that as long as their deeds conformed to the law, they have done all that can be reasonably expected of them, and that their thoughts and feelings are their own business. But the type of thought that we allow to become habitual will sooner or later find expression on the plane of action. The logical consequence of this fact is very startling. It means that if you entertain covetous thoughts for your neighbor's money, you are a thief, even though you may not yet have put your hand in the till. The adulterer at heart is corrupting his soul even though his impure thought is never expressed on the physical plane. Lust, jealousy, vengeance, mentally entertained carry the soul's consent, and this soul-consent is the malice of sin. “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” Proverbs 4:23

GROUP AUTONOMY

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* April 29, 2025 GROUP AUTONOMY Some may think that we have carried the principle of group autonomy to extremes. For example, in its original “long form,” Tradition Four declares: “Any two or three gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that as a group they have no other affiliation.” . . . . But this ultra-liberty is not so risky as it looks. A.A. COMES OF AGE, pp. 104-05 As an active alcoholic, I abused every liberty that life afforded. How could A.A. expect me to respect the “ultra-liberty” bestowed by Tradition Four? Learning respect has become a lifetime job. A.A. has made me fully accept the necessity of discipline and that, if I do not assert it from within, then I will pay for it. This applies to groups too. Tradition Four points me in a spiritual direction, in spite of my alcoholic inclinations.

How many times Krishna saved Arjuna?

How many times Krishna saved Arjuna? Lord Krishna saved Arjuna in five instances as per Vyasa Mahabharata. He saved Arjuna from the all-powerful Vaishnavastra of Bhagadatta on the 12th day of Kurukshetra war. He saved Arjuna from the Varuna mace of Sudakshina on the 14th day of Kurukshetra war. He saved Arjuna from the Vasavi dart of Karna on the 14th night when he deluded Karna's mind and made the Suta's son to hurl the invincible spear towards the colossal demon Ghatotkacha. He saved Arjuna's life from the snake-mouthed arrow of Karna in the final encounter on the 17th day. He protected Arjuna's life from the 11th day to the 17th day of Kurukshetra war wherein the two Kourava commanders namely Drona and Karna had destroyed the middle Pandava brother's Nandighosha chariot with their celestial missiles but the chariot remained undamaged due to the yogic power of the son of Vasudeva.

ENTERING A NEW DIMENSION

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* April 25, 2025 ENTERING A NEW DIMENSION In the late stages of our drinking, the will to resist has fled. Yet when we admit complete defeat and when we become entirely ready to try A.A. principles, our obsession leaves us and we enter a new dimension – freedom under God as we understand Him. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 283 I am fortunate to be among the ones who have had this awesome transformation in my life. When I entered the doors of A.A., alone and desperate, I had been beaten into willingness to believe anything I heard. One of the things I heard was, “This could be your last hangover, or you can keep going around and round.” The man who said this obviously was a whole lot better off than I. I liked the idea of admitting defeat and I have been free ever since! My heart heard what my mind never could: “Being powerless over alcohol is no big deal.” I’m free and I’m grateful!

NECESSITY FOR SELF-CONTROL

Good Morning!!! NECESSITY FOR SELF-CONTROL Around the Year with Emmet Fox April 25 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5:21-22 The Old Law said "Thou shalt not kill," but Jesus says that even to want to kill, nay, even to be angry with your brother, is sufficient to keep you out of the Kingdom of Heaven. It was a distinct gain when primitive people could be persuaded not to murder but to develop sufficient self-control to master their anger. Spiritual demonstration demands that anger itself be overcome. It is simply not possible to get any experience of God worth talking about, or to exercise spiritual power until you have gotten rid of resentment and condemnation. You can have either your demonstration or your indignation, but you cannot have both.

Pope Francis wrote this before his death while in the hospital.

Pope Francis wrote this before his death while in the hospital. “In Definition of "Hospital" by Pope Francis POPE FRANCIS always surprises with his reflections: "The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches... They have witnessed far more sincere kisses than those in airports... It is in hospitals that you see a homophobe being saved by a gay doctor. A privileged doctor saving the life of a beggar... In intensive care, you see a Jew taking care of a racist... A police officer and a prisoner in the same room receiving the same care... A wealthy patient waiting for a liver transplant, ready to receive the organ from a poor donor... It is in these moments, when the hospital touches the wounds of people, that different worlds intersect according to a divine design. And in this communion of destinies, we realize that alone, we are nothing. The absolute truth of people, most of the time, only reveals itself in moments of pain or in the real threat of an irreversible loss. A hospital is a place where human beings remove their masks and show themselves as they truly are, in their purest essence. This life will pass quickly, so do not waste it fighting with people. Do not criticize your body too much. Do not complain excessively. Do not lose sleep over bills. Make sure to hug your loved ones. Material goods must be earned by each person—do not dedicate yourself to accumulating an inheritance. . . . You are waiting for too much: Christmas, Friday, next year, when you have money, when love arrives, when everything is perfect... Listen, perfection does not exist. A human being cannot attain it because we are simply not made to be fulfilled here. Here, we are given an opportunity to learn. So, make the most of this trial of life—and do it now. Respect yourself, respect others. Walk your own path, and let go of the path others have chosen for you. Respect: do not comment, do not judge, do not interfere. Love more, forgive more, embrace more, live more intensely! And leave the rest in the hands of the Creator." —Pope Francis 🙏 Absolutely flawles

A woke journalist

A woke journalist was lecturing to a soldier while taking a walk in an open grassland, to properly identify and capture militants for trial and only as a very last resort to kill. No innocent should be harmed at all, she lectured. The soldier aware of the terrain gently led her to stand on a small ant hill and continued to listen to her diatribe. And soon enough she was stomping all over the ant hill and swatting the ants crawling on her legs. The soldier with a smile waited for her to finish and then asked her to identify the ants that actually bit her, and the innocent ants that were killed by her reckless acts. She left in a huff red faced after learning the practical difficulties faced. A lesson well learnt.

In Mahabharata, Krishna didn’t help Abhimanyu

In Mahabharata, Krishna didn’t help Abhimanyu knowing about his past life. Why did he save his unborn child when Ashwatthama used the brahmastra? Krishna saved Parikshit because he was born with the destiny of ruling Kuru kingdom after Yudhishtir. Aswathama tried to disrupt the divine plan of establishing the empire of dharma. When Chandra dev agreed to send Varchas to be born as Abhimanyu it was on condition that his child should succeed the throne. Let this Varchas, therefore, go thither, but let him not stay there long. Nara, whose companion is Narayana, will be born as Indra's son and indeed, will be known as Arjuna, the mighty son of Pandu. This boy of mine shall be his son and become a mighty car-warrior in his boyhood. And let him, ye best of immortals, stay on earth for sixteen years. And when he attaineth to his sixteenth year, the battle shall take place in which all who are born of your portions shall achieve the destruction of mighty warriors. But a certain encounter shall take place without both Nara and Narayana (taking any part in it). And, indeed, your portions, ye celestials, shall fight, having made that disposition of the forces which is known by the name of the Chakra-vyuha. And my son shall compel all foes to retreat before him. The boy of mighty arms having penetrated the impenetrable array, shall range within it fearlessly and send a fourth part of the hostile force, in course of half a day, unto the regions of the king of the dead. Then when numberless heroes and mighty car-warriors will return to the charge towards the close of the day, my boy of mighty arms, shall reappear before me. And he shall beget one heroic son in his line, who shall continue the almost extinct Bharata race.' Hearing these words of Soma, the dwellers in heaven replied, 'So be it.' LXVII Adiparva So Parikshit should survive to rule despite Aswathama’s vain attempt to kill him with his Brahmashira. Krishna revived Parikshit from death to make the promise given by gods become true. Abhimanyu has to return to Chandra on the 13 th day after fighting a heroic battle in the absence of Krishna and Arjuna. Krishna did not let Arjun know the fate of Abhimanyu who entered the chakra vyuha alone.He kept him preoccupied with Samshaptakas through out the day again for the same reason ie to let destiny act according to predestined plan. Krishna declared before Aswathama The holy one said, "The fall of this mighty weapon will not be fruitless. The foetus will die. But being dead, it will live again and have a long life! The heroic Parikshit, attaining to age and a knowledge of the Vedas and the practice of pious vows, shall obtain all weapons from the son of Sharadvata. Having obtained a knowledge of all high weapons, and observant of all kshatriya duties, that righteous-souled king shall rule the earth for sixty years. Sauptika parva section 16. Supreme power won’t interfere in the flow of happenings unless it is too essential for them to change it. Gods generally work in sink with one another and let the boons or curses effect without fail. Krishna did not let Indra’s Shakti weapon given with a word fail instead he made Karna use it against Ghatotkacha. He knew Arjun had more powerful astras but he also was aware of Arjun’s thought process which won’t make him oppose his father’s word that may bring illfame to Indra. My answer is based on story of Vyasa Bharat

Oudh Rohilkhand Railway (ORR) – Working and Organisation - - AK Shrivastava

Oudh Rohilkhand Railway (ORR) – Working and Organisation - ORR played a major role in the extension of the network and the change of mode choice in the late 19th Century. It spread a vast network by the dawn of the 20th Century, reaching its spread to both corners of what is now UP. Within a year of the railway reaching Lucknow, IBR was metamorphosed into ORR, a guaranteed railway, and with assured returns, ready to leapfrog. Very few of us recall that ORR was taken over by the State in 1888, and it also stitched two extended hands of MG, one of BN$NWR and the other of BB&CI, by building Kanpur –Burhwal MG (Kanpur- Aishbagh and Daliganj- Burhwal) and provided MG connectivity from the Arabian Sea to Assam. Pictorial Lucknow (1883) provides a brief overview of the working and organisation of ORR, “The designation was now changed from Indian Branch to “Oudh and Rohilkund Railway.” The management and supervision of the Company are done by a managing Director in London, and here by an Agent, who with his Deputy, is responsible for the general conduct of affairs, a Chief Engineer, who with his Residents, sees construction and maintenance of Railway Lines and buildings,—a Loco-Superintendent, who in his Workshop, looks to the Locomotive and Carriage Department; a Traffic manager, who with his two Superintendents, controls the traffic, stations- and staff; an Auditor, who checks accounts and expenditure, and a Consulting Engineer, who supervises the whole staff and works. The latter two are the representatives of the Government of India. The business of the railway is transacted by and recorded in official meetings, which are held periodically; while the Government sanctions all expenditure, and the lines are inspected in half-yearly tours. “(Page 81-82): ORR, as a private company, was short-lived for about 22 years. On 1st January 1889, it was acquired by the Government. One can visualize the financial performance by looking at the results at the end of 1889 (report of 1918). At the time of acquisition, it had a 692.55 KM open network which included a short MG line of 2.18 miles, from Banaras to Banaras City. At the end of 1889, its operating ratio (ratio of earnings to expenditure) was 44.24, meaning for 100 Rs earnings, it was spending only Rs 44.24. Return on Capital was 4.56 %. With Gross earnings of 75,38,683, it made some net earnings of 42,94,076. By 1917-18, the network grew to 1,511 Miles. Its operating ratio further improved to 38.13, and return on capital went up to 8.29.

Shared by someone on Pakistan

Things have really gone wrong in Pakistan. In 2016, I was having dinner at an Indian restaurant in Gallarate, Italy. The restaurant was owned by a Pakistani. I was in Italy with a Muslim colleague of mine. The waiter and my colleague got into a conversation, after the waiter realised that my colleague was a Muslim from India. The waiter was very young, in his early 20s. His story shocked the daylight out of us. He came from a village, 100 KM away from Lahore. At 12 or 13, he had lost his father. At the pretext of getting him educated, the Maulvi of his village convinced his Mom to allow him to take this kid to a Madrasa, a few hundred kms away from the village. That is where he was taught hate and jihad. He was brainwashed to hate Hindus. He was all set to sneak into Kashmir. Before joining the jihadi movement, he went back to his village to meet his family for one last time. His uncle, mother’s brother, who had a restaurant business in Italy, was visiting Pakistan. He was appalled to meet his nephew and instantly knew that if this kid is not weaned away from this self destructive ideology, his end was inevitable. He took this kid under his wings and brought him to Italy. The kid had changed over a period of time, but he still had issues of irrational anger & thoughts. These were the scars, years of brainwashing had left on his psyche. I presume, I was treated well by this waiter, because of presence of Muslim colleague of mine. That was the last time I went to that restaurant.

How to Not Let Things Bother You - Secrets from Ashtavakra Gita- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

How to Not Let Things Bother You - Secrets from Ashtavakra Gita The five senses have five dimensions in the universe. We can classify the entire universe into five elements with their corresponding functions: Smell and the earth element. Taste (tongue) and the water element. Touch and the air element. Sound and the ether element. Shapes and forms and the fire element (light or fire it’s all the same). Is there any sixth beyond this in the world? No, there are only the five elements, the five senses, the five dimensions. Each of these five elements is present in one another in a very small and subtle way. The world, the universe is, of course, made up of five elements; so also this body and this mind. Our mind is made up of five subtle elements. And it’s a natural law that they take turns to dominate. For some time one, then the other dominates, then the third, fourth and fifth dominates. They take turns dominating. Nothing remains dominant forever. The rain comes. You can’t stop the rain. The wind blows. You can’t stop the wind. The sun shines. You can’t stop the sun. It is all ‘happening’. And they have a subtle control on the mind. These five elements also dominate the mind, each causing different moods and sensations to come up. It’s very interesting. It is such precious knowledge! There are five main types of sensations and moods that arise. One is the sensation or feeling of consolidation, of heaviness – earth element. Another is the fiery feeling or feverishness – the fire element. Movement or wanting to run away and go somewhere – the air element is dominant. A lot of anger, tightness or a burning sensation – the fire element is dominant. A feeling of togetherness, a feeling of consolidation, oneness, a flowing and floating feeling – the water element is reigning. Fear, love, discomfort and total comfort – the ether element. The different elements dominate, and create such different sensations, feelings, emotions and actions in the body. A person can be sitting very quietly but the moment the air element starts dominating he cannot do so! He starts moving his hands and body, getting up and moving around here and there aimlessly. Some people go on moving or shaking their hands and legs. Have you seen people sitting and shaking their head? The air element is dominating their system. They are overtaken by the air element. You may be sitting quietly when somebody walks into your room, and immediately fire element starts dominating. It comes right from within your head, and you want to shout at them! What happened? The fire element was dominating them. When they came in, it affected you. You were ready and fire element began dominating. You found yourself getting very angry and also, later, wondering why you did it. But you were taken totally by surprise by the fire element! Ether element – you walk into a place of meditation and there is ākāsha, there is space. Immediately you feel spaced out. What happened? The ether element – space is dawning or dominant. We get carried away by all these elements when we identify ourselves with them. You shouted angrily, and then you regretted it. You identified with it. ‘Oh, I feel so heavy. I shouldn’t be feeling like this. I have to get rid of it.’ You have identified yourself both with the state of the body and the mind. These things are the features in the silence program. The more you go into the silence program, several times, the more will you be able to appreciate this. In silence, you can very clearly observe this happening. Na prithvī na jalam na agnirna vāyurdyaurna vā bhavān. You are none of these five elements. And know that none of the elements stay all the time. If you observe, they stay for the time that have to stay and then vanish; they change. But if you are ignorant of this, then a particular element can continue for a long period of time, because you don’t let it go. You try to hold them back. That is bondage. In fact, nothing is binding you. You are binding something that is moving! The irony of it is that the elements are not binding you; you are binding them! A fly is trying to get out of your room, and you are holding on to it. You are shutting the door! Something wants to escape but you don’t want it to. You are trying to control it. You are binding them. In fact it’s the other way round. Ēsḥām sākshiṇamātmānam chidrūpam viddhi muktayē. There is freedom when you realize that you are just a witness to all that is happening. If you could just see that all the states of the mind are temporary. Chidrūpam viddhi muktayē. You are just the pure consciousness untouched and unstained by any event or any happening; pure like space. When this becomes well-founded in you, then you are totally liberated. And when is this possible? Right now! Excerpts from Gurudev’s commentary on Ashtavakra Gita.

polygamy.

A Female Professor was invited for a lecture and the topic she chose to talk about was polygamy. She talked on the benefits of polygamy, why women should embrace it and support their husbands towards achieving it. As she kept emphasising on this topic, a lady from the audience raised her hand, stood up and introduced herself before speaking. Lady: "Professor, I really appreciate this topic because I am relieved of my fear, I never knew you are this simple and understanding. Your message has given me the opportunity to open up to you," She cleared her throat and continued.... "I have been married to your husband for the past four years, and between us, we have a set of twins " To the greatest surprise of all in the hall, the Professor fainted and was rushed to the hospital. After she was revived, she opened her eyes to see the same lady standing by her bedside. Lady: Professor I don't know who your husband is. I just lied to you to see if you can handle what you preach to others. Next time, please pick on subjects that you are good at. Don’t stand up on a stage and throw your shit around just because you have the title Professor in front of your name. Same applies to a lot of Corporate Heads & Politicians

*The Khana Coolies of Calcutta*

*The Khana Coolies of Calcutta* _A Taste of the City I Love_ Before apps tracked our every craving, there were the Khanna Coolies of Calcutta — bicycle - riding food porters who brought lunch with soul and dinner with character, in a city that once danced to the rhythm of jazz and jhalfrezi. *_The City That Swung_* There was a time when Calcutta dressed for work — and for dinner. The 1970s and ’80s were the city's golden decades, when blue - chip companies like Brooke Bond, Dunlop, Reckitt & Colman, and ITC dominated the business skyline. Secretaries, especially the elegant Anglo - Indian ladies who trained at Suffee Commercial College on Wellesley Street, typed at dazzling speeds and knew how to carry a pencil skirt and pearls with effortless grace. Come evening, Park Street shimmered to life. At Trincas, Blue Fox, and Moulin Rouge, crooners like Pam Craine, Eve and Usha Uthup serenaded the city, while elegantly clad Calcuttans at the city's many clubs engaged in polite conversations with the clink of cocktail glasses. There was music, magic, and a distinct flavour of modernity woven into the old - world charm. BUT!! There Was No Time to Cook!! Women worked. Families rushed. There were board meetings, social evenings, and everything in between— but little time to cook! That’s when they arrived: the Khanna Coolies — Calcutta’s original food delivery men carrying lovingly cooked home made meals. They weren’t just delivery boys. They were lifelines. On sturdy bicycles, they pedalled across the city, balancing aluminium tiffin carriers strapped tightly in metal frames. They brought meals from quietly efficient home kitchens – usually run by women – directly to homes and offices. They knew who liked what. They remembered dietary quirks. They delivered not just food, but a working woman's dream come true!! *_The Art of the Three - Tiered Tiffin Carrier_* Each tiffin carrier was a small ceremony in itself: ```Top Tier – The Showstopper``` • Chicken Jhalfrezi with caramelised onions and crisp capsicum. • ⁠Minced Lamb Cutlets wrapped in banana leaf with a hint of lime. • ⁠A bold Fish au Gratin flavoured with kasundi, the perfect East - meets - West. ```Middle Tier – The Companion``` • Cauliflower Mornay with a sprinkle of garam masala. • ⁠Chhana Paturi – Spinach Roulade, marrying local and continental notes. • ⁠Stir - fried seasonal vegetables with sultanas and cashew. ```Bottom Tier – The Soul``` • Tomato Soup with curry leaf croutons. • ⁠Lentil Mulligatawny, creamy and smoky. • ⁠A comforting meatball broth, rich and peppery. Evenings brought heavier delights — • Stuffed Peppers with mince/ bandel cheese and raisins, served alongside panch phoron fried rice • ⁠Roast Chicken with rosemary and mashed aaloo posto • ⁠Or the eternal comfort of Mutton Stew, slow-cooked to perfection Each meal was carefully composed, unfussy, and deeply satisfying — a quiet celebration of Calcutta’s multicultural palate. ```The Men Who Carried Memories``` The Khanna Coolies from Sultan and Guzmonds – to name a couple of the most popular ones didn’t need apps or spreadsheets. They knew their customers personally. “No egg for Mrs. D’Souza today.” “Extra gravy for Bobby Babu.” "Vegetarian for Anjali Sharma madam", "2 'isspesal' (special) with caramel custard on Sundays for Sandy baba". They knew it all!! Food delivered with clockwork precision and a sense of pride. They were part of the family without ever crossing the threshold. Their arrival with the _tring tring_ of the doorbell heralded joy!!! Nana or aunty would be ready with the containers to empty out the tiffin carrier, give it a quick wash with a mixture of vim powder and clean ash from the wooden chulha. All so much fun!!! ```When I Think of Calcutta``` Now, as I watch young riders zipping through traffic, thermal bags slung across their shoulders, I smile at the memory of those simple tiffin carriers. Not as efficient, perhaps. But far more human. The Khana Coolies didn’t just deliver food. They carried care. They connected kitchens to boardrooms, working women to home - cooked love, tradition to modernity. They carried a Calcutta which some of us still remember......... *Nostalgic memories* *_ by aneeta brooks_* *_June 2015_*

Naan-sense & Pun-eer

Naan-sense & Pun-eer Congress Parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor shared some light-hearted food humour while commenting on a Twitter thread. He reposted a witty conversation between former Managing Director of Twitter Parminder Singh and two others. In the hilarious exchange, Singh had said, “If two guys fight over a tandoori naan, is that violence or naan-violence.” Ram Vaidyanathan, a Twitter user, replied, “Naan violence is part of our kulcha.” Another user added, “Lassi who wins.” Coming up with a hilarious food pun while taking forward a conversation in the same vein, Shashi said “as a Southie I would rice to the occasion, provided some-bar wasn’t there.” The exchange of puns continued after Tharoor’s tweet. The Delhi University alumnus turned nostalgic about the fun they used to have on campus. “Thanks for Tweeting this Shashi. Not just Stephen’s, repartees like this were a DU rasam. Though I was there at a different time would have loved to spar with you idli,” commented Parminder Singh. “It’s never too lait… but for now yeh coffee hain,” replied Tharoor. “It's butter not to fight over this naan sense,” said another. “A daily “dosa” of humour was a staple diet at College! I’m not going to “mince” my words- jokes at the Cafe prevented too much “roti” learning from “scrambling” your mind,” added Vikram Chandra Poori dish can be bevy translated in English as paan india, said a netizen. No 'mo Tea ! We knead a change.” Another tweeter *Happy punning* Loved all this Naan Sense

Some beautiful and inspiring words

Some beautiful and inspiring words . Be soft. Rest when you can. Take time to sip your coffee (or tea). Study a leaf. Scooch down low and witness the beauty of moss and its art. Paint colors in your mind. Turn a corner of a room into an oasis. Clear out the clutter. Stack books any way you please. Paint a wall pink or blue or yellow. Follow the vines in your soul and climb up or down or swing back and forth. Listen to your heart. It knows what you need. Slow down when confused. Pause inside the tidepools and breathe. Ask the night to bring you dreams. Ask the day to bring you slices of daydreams. Sprinkle soul juice on your heart. Soften those brow furrows and nibble on dark chocolate. This world wants to change you. Say no. Be soft. Be you.

Why did Arjuna not use his divine weapons during the war of Mahabharata when he fought against Drona, Karna, and Ashwatthama?

Why did Arjuna not use his divine weapons during the war of Mahabharata when he fought against Drona, Karna, and Ashwatthama? Arjuna hurled divine weapons when he fought against prominent warriors of opponent side. He did not hurl the most powerful astras like MahaPashupata ,Narayanastra,Vaishnavastra.. Arjuna hurled Brahmashira not by will but to neutralise Aswathama’s Brahmashira. Arjuna did not use most of the astras he got from devas like Yamadanda . He got so many powerful astras from them but desisted from shooting them most of the time. Usage of powerful astras against Bhishma,Drona & Karna,Aswathama Some of the divine astras used by Arjuna against Bhishma,Drona and Karna can be cited here Against Bhishma tato bhujAbhyAM balavadvikRRiShya; chitraM dhanurgANDivamaprameyam | mAhendramastraM vidhivatsughoraM; prAdushchakArAdbhutamantarikShe || 110|| He used the strength of his two arms to draw the beautiful bow Gandiva, whose energy was immeasurable. In accordance with the prescriptions, he invoked the extremely terrible and wonderful weapon of the great Indra and made it appear in the sky. Ch 55 Bhishma parva Bori critical Edition Bhishma had no counter for this Astra of Indra and withdrew his forces. Against Drona On fifteenth day Arjuna hurled divine astras and countered Drona’s astras with them. Drona could not establish his superiority over Pandava in any way. The one who was skilled about the motions of weapons then invoked special weapons—aindra,pashupata, tvashtra, vayavya and varuna.°” However, as soon as these were released from Drona’s bow, Dhananjaya destroyed them. When his weapons were duly destroyed by Pandava’s weapons, Drona released supreme and divine weapons towards Partha. However, every weapon that was invoked with a desire to vanquish Partha, was duly destroyed by Arjuna with another weapon. When those weapons, including the divine ones, were duly destroyed by Arjuna, Drona honoured Arjuna in his mind. The immensely intelligent Drona invoked brahmastra. It scorched Partha and all the invisible beings. The earth, with all its mountains and trees, began to tremble. Turbulent winds began to blow and the oceans were agitated. When the great-souled one invoked that weapon, there was terror among the Kuru and Pandava soldiers and all the beings and a great uproar arose. O Indra among kings! However, Partha was not frightened. He countered that weapon with his own brahmastra and everything became peaceful again. Ch 163 Drona parva Bori critical Edition Against Aswathama Arjuna hurled Brahmastra on Aswathama’s Agneyastra on fifteenth day. ““O great king! At this, Arjuna invoked brahmastra. The one who was born from a lotus’® has decreed that this is capable of repulsing all weapons. That darkness was dispelled in an instant. Auspicious winds began to blow and the directions became clear. At the end of the war,when Aswathama hurled Brahmashira Arjuna released the same Astra to neutralise that weapon. pUrvamAchAryaputrAya tato.anantaramAtmane | bhrAtRRibhyashchaiva sarvebhyaH svastItyuktvA parantapaH || 5|| devatAbhyo namaskRRitya gurubhyashchaiva sarvashaH | utsasarja shivaM dhyAyannastramastreNa shAmyatAm || 6|| Sauptika Parva ch 14 Bori Critical Edition Against Karna Arjuna released higher Brahmastra on Karna when Bhima and Krishna goaded h8m to use higher astras. Having said this, he in- voked the invincible brahmastra in his mind, in accordance with the prescribed rites. All the directions and sub- directions were covered by extremely energetic arrows. O bull among the Bharata lineage! Many hundreds of swift arrows were released from it. Ch 65 Karna parva Bori critical Edition Arjuna was about to hurl Raudrastra but stopped seeing Karna’s chariot wheel sink deep into earth. Dhananava invoked an arrow with davie mantras. It was hike a hre and the poison of a serpent. I was made completely out of tron. Kiriti united this with roudrastra and wished to shootit. But, in that great battle, the earth swallowed up one of the wheels of Radheya’s chanot * "Radheva wept in rage. He told Arjuna, 'O Pandava. Wait for an instant. You can see that because of destiny. Ch 66 Karna parva Bori critical Edition There were other astras like Nagastra that Arjuna used on Samshaptakas and some more at various situations. Except for the most powerful astras of Trinity Arjuna used other ones when he faced prominent warriors of Kaurava side. My answer is based on story of Vyasa Bharat

LEARNING TO LOVE OURSELVES

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* April 24, 2025 LEARNING TO LOVE OURSELVES Alcoholism was a lonely business, even though we were surrounded by people who loved us… We were trying to find emotional security either by dominating or by being dependent upon others . . . We still vainly tried to be secure by some unhealthy sort of domination or dependence. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 252 When I did my personal inventory, I found that I had unhealthy relationships with most people in my life - my friends and family, for example. I always felt isolated and lonely. I drank to dull emotional pain. It was through staying sober, having a good sponsor and working the Twelve Steps that I was able to build up my low self-esteem. First the Twelve Steps taught me to become my own best friend, and then, when I was able to love myself, I could reach out and love others.

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

Good Morning!!! STRIVING FOR PERFECTION Around the Year with Emmet Fox April 24 What of the man who is conscious of considerable moral imperfection, perhaps of the habit of grave sin, and is at the same time sincerely desirous of spiritual growth? Is he to relinquish the quest for spiritual knowledge until he has first reformed his conduct? By no means. As a matter of fact, any attempt to improve himself morally without spiritual aid is foredoomed to failure. The thing to do is to pray regularly and to throw the responsibility for success upon God. The man must carry on, no matter how many times he may fail. Let him keep affirming that God is helping him, and that his own real nature is spiritual and perfect. In this way moral regeneration and spiritual unfoldment will go hand in hand. The Christian life does not require that we possess perfection of character, or else, which of us would be able to live it? What it does require is honest, genuine striving for that perfection. "he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee" Job 36:4

Why did Shri Krishna make Draupadi Swayamvar easier for Arjuna?

Why did Shri Krishna make Draupadi Swayamvar easier for Arjuna? As per modern narratives, Arjuna was a spoon fed kid, who was served everything in platter. He never fought any war, and even if he did it, I am sure people may even come up with new narratives like - it was Krishna who disguised himself as Arjuna to win wars like the Gandharva war, Virata war. All because he wanted to glorify Arjuna as the hero. Lately, it has become a trend and a sole agenda of few cult of audience to downplay Arjuna's talent, his victory by either terming it as taken in truce from someone or won due to his weapon or because he had Shri Krishna by his side. The latest in this bandwagon of fallacies is - Shri Krishna made Draupadi Swayamwar easy for Arjuna. Why not say, Shri Krishna by his Maya, assisted Arjuna lift the bow and trickly made the arrow hit the target or made it appear as if the target was hit? So was the swayamwar made easier for Arjuna by Krishna? Well, the answer is a big NO. For all those who have genuinely read the text without bias will know Shri Krishna was never even minutely involved in the swayamwar win of Arjuna. Shri Krishna was part of swayamwar, although he did not take part in the competition. Arjuna never met Shri Krishna before the swayamwar. Neither did Shri Krishna meet Arjuna before the swayamwar or behind the scene to give him idea. Drupad himself wanted Kirti (Arjuna) to be his son-in-law and thus was the competition arranged which was in par with Arjuna's capabilities and skills. Arjuna did not raise from midst of audience until all other warriors or participants per se failed to string the bow or hit the target. The bow named Kindhura was chosen for the swayamwar. The participant had to shoot the target through the machine using five arrows. Arjuna stood after all others had failed. He lifted the bow, strung it and hit the target using five arrows and won Draupadi's hand. Now do you think Shri Krishna magically made the arrows hit the target and Arjuna just acted to string the bow? Shri Krishna never had any role to play in Arjuna's win in the swayamwar. Neither did he help Drupad set such a competition that is apt for Arjuna, neither did he meet Draupadi before swayamwar, so there is no question of him revealing about Arjuna’s existence. Shri Krishna himself recognised the Pandavas only during the swayamvar and is seen telling Balarama about Pandavas possible safe escape from the Varnavrat fire. Thus as he himself saw them at the swayamwar, how do you think he will give idea to Draupadi how Arjuna looked or to Drupad? Do not believe what SP Mahabharat portrayed. In short, let us not downplay Arjuna for his skills. He was an able warrior who was looked upon by many. He won many battles by his prowess, and the same skill was the reason he won swayamwar too.

SELF-HONESTY

Thu 17 Apr, 21:48 (17 hours ago) to Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. ~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~ April 18, 2025 SELF-HONESTY The deception of others is nearly always rooted in the deception of ourselves. . . . When we are honest with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 17 When I was drinking, I deceived myself about reality, rewriting it to what I wanted it to be. Deceiving others is a character defect– even if it is just stretching the truth a bit or cleaning up my motives so, others would think well of me. My Higher Power can remove this character defect, but first I have to help myself become willing to receive that help by not practicing deception. I need to remember each day that deceiving myself about myself is setting myself up for failure or disappointment in life and in Alcoholics Anonymous. A close, honest relationship with a Higher Power is the only solid foundation I’ve found for honesty with self and with others.

SALT AND LIGHT

Thu 17 Apr, 21:49 (17 hours ago) to Good Morning!!! SALT AND LIGHT Around the Year with Emmet Fox April 18 In the fifth chapter of Matthew are recorded some of the most powerful pronouncements of Jesus. “Ye are the salt of the earth. . . Ye are the light of the world” Matthew 5:13-14 It is possible, and, in fact, only too easy, to accept these vital principles as being true; to love the beauty in them; and yet not to put them consistently into practice in one's own life; but this is a perilous attitude, for in that case the salt has lost its savor, and is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden underfoot. If you make every effort to practice the teachings of Jesus in every department of your own daily life; if you seek systematically to destroy in yourself selfishness, pride, vanity, sensuality, self-righteousness, jealousy, self-pity, resentment, condemnation, and so forth— not feeding or nourishing them by giving in to them; if you extend the right thought loyally to every person within your ken, then you are worthy to be called the salt of the earth. If you truly live this life, then not only will you make your own demonstration, in the quickest possible time, but you will be, in a very positive sense, a healing and illumining influence on all around you. You will be a blessing to men and women in remote places and times, men and women of whom you have never heard, and who will never hear of you--a light of the world.

Gandhari

How biologically possible is it that Gandhari gave birth to 100 children (Kauravas) in the Hindu epic “Mahabharata”? In the true sense Gandhari didn't give birth to 100 children. It was at the time when Kunti and Gandhari were both pregnant but Gandhari's pregnancy continued for a very long time which was unnatural. Meanwhile Yudhishthira was born to Kunti and Gandhari was furious as Kunti's son would now be the heir to the throne. In frustration she started beating her womb; the side effects of which, she gave birth to a lump of flesh. All were disappointed. Then Vyasa cut the flesh into 100 pieces and kept each one in a pot(immersed in ghee as mostly said). these pots were buried underground and after an year each piece was born as a son. If viewed under scientific light, all this does make sense!!

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Daily Knowledge #4⃣5⃣ Bali Cliff Resort 18 Apr 1996 Indonesia WORDS We attach meaning to words and we distort them, too. For example, the word "brainwashing." Like your body, your brain needs washing sometimes. You don't want to walk around with a dirty brain, a dirty mind. What is wrong with the word "brainwashing?" It indicates a clean brain, a clean mind, but it is used in a derogatory manner. Like that, the word "disillusionment." It is good that you are disillusioned. You have come to reality. Like purana. It means "that which is new in the town, the most modern." But it is used in the sense of being old. In the course of time, meanings of words change. The word "enthused" comes from the Greek which means "God is with us." Then it came to mean crazy, and now it's changed again. Don't be stuck with the words. Your worries are words. Your ideas are words. Wisdom is beyond words. It is the very Being. It is the essence of all words. See and relate beyond words. Then there is no lie in your life. If you manipulate words, it is a lie. If you play on words, it is a joke. If you rely on words, it is ignorance. If you transcend words, it is wisdom. 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸   साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र ०४५ १८ अप्रैल,१९९६ बाली क्लिफ रिसोर्ट, इंडोनेशिया शब्द हम शब्दों में अर्थ जोड़कर उन्हें विकृत कर देते है। उदाहरण के लिए, यह शब्द "ब्रेन वाशिंग" -दिमागी- धुलाई। शरीर की तरह दिमाग को भी कभी कभी धुलाई की जरुरत होती है। तुम एक दूषित दिमाग, गंदे मन के साथ नहीं रहना चाहोंगे। फिर इस शब्द 'ब्रेन वाशिंग' में गलत क्या है? यह एक स्वच्छ दिमाग, साफ़ मन को इंगित करता है। पर इस का प्रयोग बुरे अर्थ में होता है। ऐसे ही-"डिसइलूशनमेंट" भ्रम से मुक्त। यह तो बहुत अच्छी बात है कि तुम भ्रम से मुक्त हो गये और वास्तविकता में आ गये। जैसे "पुराण" इसका अर्थ है, ' जो नगर में नया हो , सबसे आधुनिक'। पर आजकल इसका प्रयोग पुराने के अर्थ में होता है। वक्त के साथ शब्दों के अर्थ बदलते है। 'एन्थुसेड' शब्द ग्रीक भाषा से उत्पन्न है जिसका अर्थ है 'ईश्वर हमारे साथ है' । समय के साथ इसका अर्थ पागलपन से जुड़ गया और अब इसका अर्थ फिर बदल गया है। शब्दों में मत फसो। तुम्हारी चिंताएं शब्दों में है। तुम्हारे विचार भी शब्द है। किन्तु बुद्धिमता शब्दों के परे है। यही तुम्हारा आत्म-स्वरुप है जो कि सब शब्दों का सार है। शब्दों के परे देखो, तब तुम्हारे जीवन में असत्य नहीं रहेगा। चालाकी से शब्दों का प्रयोग झूठ है। शब्दों से खिलवाड़ मज़ाक है। शब्दों पर निर्भरता अज्ञान है। शब्दों के परे जाना ज्ञान है। 🌸जय गुरुदेव

This text won the German Short Literary Award

This text won the German Short Literary Award 🤔 A man was dying; when he realized he was dying, he saw God holding a box in His hand. God said: “It’s time to go.” The man said: “So soon? I had so many plans.” God said: “Sorry, but it’s time to go!” The man asked God: “What’s in your box?” God replied: “Your belongings.” The man asked: “My belongings? You mean: all my things? My clothes, my money, and so on?” God said: “Those are no longer yours! They belong to the earth.” The man said: “What about my memories?” God replied: “They belong to time.” The man asked: “My family and friends?” God said: “No, they were temporary!” The man asked: “What about my wife and children?” God replied: “They belong to your heart.” The man asked again: “So surely the contents of the box are my body parts, right?” God said: “No; they belong to dust!” The man said: “Then surely it’s my soul?” God replied: “Wrong! Your soul belongs to Me.” The man, with tearful eyes and great fear, took the box from God and opened it, only to find it empty. The man, with a broken heart, said: “I never had anything?” God replied: “That’s right, you owned nothing. The man asked: “So, what did I have?” God replied: “The moments of life were yours. Every moment that you lived was yours. Life is just moments; treasure the moments and love the moments. What has passed, became the past! Sadly, it passed without attention, but it passed! And when we wanted to reflect on ‘just a couple of days,’ the sign on the door said: ⇦ Passed Away ⇨ Let us treasure each other and the good moments we share. 🌹 This text won the German Short Literary Award. Dedicated to all noble and wise individuals. Let us value the moments of life. .... this is indeed life's best message and lesson on how to live fullyand to die fully

*WHY INDIA MUST KNOW ABOUT BAISAKHI*

*WHY INDIA MUST KNOW ABOUT BAISAKHI* While the Sikhs celebrate Vaisakhi across India; rest of India wonders if it is about doing Bhangra and dancing. No, it is not; Baisakhi holds a lesson for all Indians...... Specially in this day and age... So *this day in 1699*, in a congregation of people from all across India...standing there listening to their Guru the then, Gobind Rai. *Gobind Rai asked for human sacrifice of five men one after the other.* Five men from different castes from different parts of India stood up from the crowd of thousands. - *A shopkeeper, Baniya called Daya Ram from Lahore* - *A farmer, Jat called Dharam Das from Meerut* - *A so called low-caste water carrier, called Himmat Rai from Jagannath Puri, Odisha* - *A tailor,of Cheemba caste called Mokam Chand from Dwarka, Gujarat* - *A barber, of Naai caste called Sahib Chand from Bidar, Karnataka* With his choice of disciples from five different corners of India, *Gobind Rai ji visualised the national dream... from the coast of Gujarat along Western Arabian Sea to coasts of Odisha along the Bay of Bengal; from the great Plains of Punjab to the the Gangetic Plain and then onto the Deccan peninsula covering Karnataka.* Do not forget that at that time, all these were separate states; it was Guru Gobind Singh ji that thought of all of them as one... this Baisakhi day of 1699. With the choice of disciples from five different caste-groups, *he visualised an integrated class-less society.* The five were christened as the First Five Khalsa Sikhs, and the five in turn christened their Guru as the sixth. Gobind Rai was now Gobind Singh ji. *All caste names and surnames were dropped, & a common surname SINGH* was proposed for all Indians across India; a surname that denoted a caste-less, class-less creed of men willing to sacrifice themselves for the nation and against injustice. This motley group of people uprooted Afghan and Mughal rule from entire North India from the Yamuna to the Khyber pass, such was the power of this vision. And this was the Indian that he envisioned from the five corners of HIS nation. Guru Gobind Singh ji was a visionary par excellence. His vision has been diluted and limited to Sikhism, that is a travesty. *Awake India, awake to his vision. Leave those caste barriers, acquire knowledge, be strong in body and be a Khalsa in spirit. Khalsa is a state of mind, not just a religion.* Happy Baisakhi...

If Parshuram was better than Arjuna, then why did he fail to defeat Bhishma

If Parshuram was better than Arjuna, then why did he fail to defeat Bhishma but the same Bhishma was defeated multiple times by Arjuna? there are two reasons why Parshurama was defeated by Bhishma first Parshurama had lost his Vishnu tej as per Valmiki Ramayana which had been transferred into Lord Rama. Parashu Rama opts for elimination of his ascetic merit and heavenly realms thereby. Rama releases the bow annihilating that merit and after that, Parashu Rama retreats into oblivion. That inflamed missile fired from the arms of Śrī Rāma agonized Parashurāma and returned back to Śrī Rām after snatching only the divine (Vaishanvi) spendour of Parashurāma.” In this amazing event the supreme lord Ram not only destroyed the ego of parashuram but also took back the Vishnu-tej present in his own ansh roop ParshurAma. Lord Vishnu blessed Parashuram with Supreme powers and also informed him that he will take back these powers when he comes in the form of Sri Rama - The Lord said, 'Oh Brahmin! Conclude (wind-up) your austerities; your efforts are successful. You shall be empowered with a fraction of me (i.e., by my potential powers). Slay Kartvirya who is the best in the clan of Haihaya but is the killer of his own father and for which purpose you have done such severe penances and austerties (Tapa). After doing that, kill all the Kshatriyas on this earth twenty one times repeatedly. After that, hand the earth over to sage Kashyap. Be blessed with peace and tranquility. I who am an indestructible and eternal supreme Soul—shall take birth (i.e., reveal or manifest myself as an incarnation) as ‘Ram’ in the household of Dasrath in TretaYug (the 2nd era of the 4 era celestial cycle of creation and destruction). At that time, you shall see me with my supreme power (i.e., my infinite cosmic energy in the form of Sita). At that moment, I shall take back from you those immense powers that I am bestowing upon you now. After that, till the end of the Kalpa, you would do austerities and penances and stay on this earth. Canto 7, Bala Kanda, Adhyatma Ramayana. note that Adhyatam Ramayana is as authentic as Valmiki Ramayana it was a story that happened in different kalpa and it was composed by Ved Vyasa as per Tulsidas Ramcharitmanas second reason why Parshurama was defeated by Bhishma that his strength had decreased from treta yug to dvapur yug, so he was very old and his reflex skills were slower as compared to Bhishma who was very young at that time. A prime Parshurama would have mopped the floor with Bhishma Hanuman's Words:— Time was different in krita yuga and it is different in treta and dvapara. This is the time of decay and I no longer possess that form. The earth, rivers, ranges, mountains, siddhas, gods and maharshis must all conform to time and adjust their forms from one yuga to another yuga. Strength, size and power decline, and then increase again. O extender of the Kuru lineage! Therefore, do not wish to see that form. I am conforming to the rules of the yugas and no one can overcome time. similarly Jabavant was million times powerful in Sata yuga as compared to treta yug. but in treta yug he was defeated by Kumbha and Mahaparshava. that does not mean they are powerful than him. Because Jabavant originally belonged to Sata yuga and during that time he had the capability to finish the entire army of Ravana alone. Same applies on Parshurama too. he simply did not belong to that yuga. Parshurama during Treta yug was extremely powerful. Even celestial sages like Vasishtha and others lost their consciousness just by the mere presence of Parashurama anger. While they were conversing, a wind began to rage. It made the earth tremble and brought down the auspicious trees. The sun was enveloped in darkness and none of the directions could be discerned. Everything was covered in ashes and the army was confounded. Vasishtha and the other sages and the king and his sons remained stationed there. Though all of them were in their senses, they seemed to be unconscious. As per Brahmanda purana Parshurama had destroyed the power of two Brahmastras using his ascetic energy and had saved the world from destruction. what could Praswapan astra of Bhishma do to Parshurama. And Brahmastra during Treta yug was so powerful that using it Indrajit killed 66 crore vanaras and Lakshmana using it would have wiped out the entire rakshasa race. Parashurama Killed One hundred Akshouhinis in just 1.36 Hours. WITH AN AXE. On seeing his heroic sons who were proficient in battle, Rāma took up his axe and fought with them in battle. Within a short period of only two Muhūrtas , Rāma hurriedly slew that army consisting of a hundred Akṣauhiṇīs. Parshurama fought a fierce battle with Ganesha on Mount Mahendra and broke his tusk using his parashu. and after that Ganesha was called as Ekdanta. Parshurama wrestled Mahadeva for 21 days and made a scar on his forehead using his parashu. hence he was called as Shiva parashu. What chance does Arjuna stand against him? He was defeated by Mahadeva in the form of a kirata who did not even use his full potential yet Arjuna was unable to cause a scratch to him. an out of prime Parshurama during dvapur yug would certainly lose to Arjuna. but Parshurama during his prime in Treta yug was superior to every warrior of Mahabharata except Krishna and Balarama. Bhishma and Arjuna were nowhere near a prime Parshurama in treta yug.

*CARNEY'S CHECKMATE*:

*A very very interesting read!* *CARNEY'S CHECKMATE*: _How Canada's Quiet Bond Play Forced #Felon47 to Drop Tariffs_ Dean Blundell Let’s talk about the moment Donald Trump blinked. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t a tweetstorm or a rally rant. When the tariff threats that had the world on edge—125% on China, 25% on Canada’s autos, a global trade war in the making—suddenly softened. A “pause,” he called it. A complete turnaround from the chest-thumping of the past week. And the reason? Mark Carney and a slow, deliberate financial maneuver that most people didn’t even notice: the coordinated Treasury bond slow bleed. This wasn’t about bravado. It was about leverage. Cold, calculated, and devastatingly effective. Trump’s pause wasn’t because people were getting yippy… Rewind a bit. While Trump was gearing up his trade war machine, Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister, wasn’t just sitting in Ottawa twiddling his thumbs. He’d been quietly increasing Canada’s holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds—over $350 billion worth by early 2025, part of the $8.53 trillion foreign countries hold in U.S. debt. On the surface, it looked like a safe play, a hedge against economic chaos. But it wasn’t just defense. It was a loaded gun. Carney didn’t stop there. He took his case to Europe. Not for photo ops, but for closed-door meetings with the EU’s heavy hitters—Germany, France, the Netherlands. Japan was in the room too, listening closely. The pitch was simple: if Trump went too far with tariffs, Canada wouldn’t just retaliate with duties on American cars or steel. It would start offloading those Treasury bonds. Not a fire sale—nothing so crude. A slow, steady bleed. A signal to the markets that the U.S. dollar’s perch wasn’t so secure. Here’s a brief explainer about Treasury Bonds and why Carney encouraged other countries to follow Canada’s lead, and why it worked: •What Are Treasury Bonds? -They’re IOUs the U.S. government issues to borrow money. -Countries, banks, and investors buy them, lending cash to the U.S. -The U.S. promises to pay back the loan with interest over time (e.g., 10 years). •Who Owns Them? -Foreign countries hold $8.5 trillion of U.S. debt (as of 2025). -Big players: Japan ($1 trillion+), Canada ($350 billion), EU nations ($1.5 trillion combined). -They buy bonds to park money safely and earn steady interest. •How Do They Affect the U.S.? -The U.S. uses this borrowed cash to fund everything—military, Social Security, tax cuts. -Cheap borrowing keeps the economy humming; the government spends more than it collects in taxes. -If countries like Canada, Japan, and the EU start selling bonds together (even slowly): -Flood of Bonds: Too many bonds hit the market at once. -Prices Drop: More supply than demand pushes bond prices down. -Interest Rates Spike: When bond prices fall, yields (interest rates) rise to attract buyers. •Why Does This Hurt the U.S.? -Borrowing Gets Expensive: Higher interest rates mean the U.S. pays more to borrow. -Debt Snowballs: The U.S. owes $34 trillion already; pricier loans make it harder to manage. -Dollar Weakens: Selling bonds means dumping dollars, so the currency’s value drops. -Spending Dries Up: Government cuts back as borrowing costs soar—fewer jobs, less aid. -Businesses Tank: Higher rates choke loans; companies can’t expand or hire. -Imports Cost More: A weaker dollar makes foreign goods (oil, tech) pricier, jacking up inflation. -Markets Crash: Panic hits stocks and banks as confidence in U.S. debt fades. •The Domino Effect: -Jobs vanish, prices spike, savings erode—classic depression triggers. -A slow, coordinated sell-off isn’t a bluff; it’s a quiet gut punch that would take the US YEARS to recover from. And here’s the kicker: Canada wasn’t alone. Japan, holding over $1 trillion in U.S. debt, signed on and started to sell those US Treasury bonds which scared Trump shitless. Key EU countries—collectively sitting on another $1.5 trillion—nodded in agreement. This wasn’t a bluff. It was a silent pact. A coordinated move to remind Trump that the free world doesn’t just roll over when he swings his tariff bat. Hurt us, Carney said, and we’ll hurt you—right where it counts. The U.S. Treasury market is the backbone of the global economy. Foreign holders like Canada, Japan, and the EU keep it humming, financing everything from America’s military to its tax cuts. Start selling those bonds in unison, even gradually, and the yields spike. The dollar wobbles. Borrowing costs climb. Suddenly, Trump’s “beautiful” bond market—he bragged about it just yesterday—looks like a house of cards in a stiff breeze. That’s the message Carney delivered in his call with Trump last week. No leaks on the exact words, but the outcome speaks volumes. Trump didn’t just pause the tariffs; he backpedaled hard. China’s still in the crosshairs—125% duties are no joke—but Canada? The EU? Japan? They’re off the hit list. For now, at least. Why? Because Carney’s play wasn’t noise. It was power. Let’s be real: Trump’s spent years calling Canada a freeloader—remember his 2019 NATO jabs?—while ignoring the inconvenient truth. Canada’s $350 billion in U.S. debt isn’t charity. It’s a lifeline. Japan’s trillion-plus? Same deal. The EU’s pile? Ditto. These countries aren’t just buying bonds to be nice; they’re bankrolling the U.S. government. And when they threaten to pull the plug, even slowly, Washington listens. This was the determining factor in Trump’s surrender. Not the public spats, not the retaliatory tariffs Canada slapped on U.S. autos (though those stung). It was the quiet, coordinated threat of a Treasury bond unwind that bent Trump’s knee. Carney didn’t need to shout. He didn’t need to posture. He lined up the free world—Japan, the EU, Canada in lockstep—and showed Trump the cliff’s edge. Strategic brilliance doesn’t get louder than that. Carney also issued Canadian Treasury bonds in USD which was another brilliant way to strengthen Canada’s position and financial reputation. Little triggers and strategies you get when the world’s most respected economist is your PM… When Trump announced his tariff “pause,” it wasn’t a victory lap. It was a concession. Carney moved markets without firing a shot. He gave Canada a seat at the power table and proved that global respect isn’t won with bluster—it’s earned with moves that hit where it hurts. Trump talks tough. Carney plays chess. And right now, the board’s his. Want the raw data? Check the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s “Major Foreign Holders of Treasury Securities” report. Look at Canada’s holdings. Japan’s. The EU’s. Then ask yourself: who’s really holding “the cards.” OH, and will Canada’s tariffs and countermeasures remain in place until after the election on April 28th? Yup. Carney made sure to tell the world that despite Trump kissing our northern ring, we’re not negotiating shit until after the election. He also said we’re still moving away from our relationship with the US for greener, saner

The Power of Positive Thinking

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2025/columnists/the-power-of-positive-thinking.html

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Question:*_ Gurudev, My life full of problems at home, office, relationship, finance. What to do? _*Gurudev Sri Sri:*_ Your life is a Mahabharat, all these problems are Kaurav's which are huge in numbers. You're the Arjun in this battle, just know that you're going to win over them because Krishna is with you and He has given his _*"Sudarshan Chakra"*_ to you, use

"It will take 2 minutes, but you must read it!"

"It will take 2 minutes, but you must read it!" A 30-year-old man standing on the pavement in front of the famous Tata Cancer Hospital in Parel area used to keep staring at the crowd standing below. The fear on the faces of the patients standing at the door of death, the helpless running around of their relatives used to make the young man very restless. Most of the patients were poor people from outside villages. They did not even know whom to meet, what to do. Not only did they not have money for medicines and water, but they did not even have money for food. The young man used to return home with a sad heart after seeing all this. The same thought kept coming to his mind again and again that "Something should be done for these people!" Day and night he kept himself engaged in this thought. And one day he found a solution to this. He gave his well-running hotel on rent, and after collecting some money he started his yagya on the way to Kondaji Chawl in front of Tata Hospital. He himself did not know a yagya that would go on uninterrupted for the next 27 years. His initiative of providing free food to cancer patients and their families was liked by countless people in the area. Initially, this effort of providing food to 50-60 people gradually reached 100, 200, 300 and then countless helpers joined him. This work grew year after year. Neither the cold, nor the heat, nor the heavy rains of Mumbai could stop his Yagya. Gradually the number of people getting free food every day increased to more than 700. Harakhchand Sawla did not stop here. He also started providing free medicines to needy patients. For this, he opened a medicine bank, in which three pharmacists, three doctors and many social workers are working. He also started a "Toy Bank" for children suffering from cancer. Today, his established "Jeevan Jyot" Trust is engaged in more than 60 social works. 57-year-old Harakhchand Sawla is still engaged in service with the same enthusiasm. Hundreds of salutes to his incomparable work and dedication! In our country, crores of people consider Sachin Tendulkar, who played cricket for 24 years, as God, but hardly anyone knows Mumbai's Harakhchand Savla, who has provided free food to 10-12 lakh cancer patients and their families in 27 years. Forget about considering him God, people don't even know his name. This is the truth of our country's media. The crores of devotees who go to **Pandharpur's Vithoba, Prabhadevi's Siddhivinayak, Shirdi's Sai Baba, Tirupati's Balaji** or other temples in search of God, will never find God. God is around us, but we don't recognize him. In the last 27 years, lakhs of cancer patients and their families found God in the form of Harakhchand Savla! Just as you forward poems, jokes, news and other messages immediately, send this message to everyone as well. Such a great person should be respected, he should be famous! Please share this message, so that someday it reaches that god like person, and we can thank him!

'The Friendship Recession'

'The Friendship Recession' I recently read a very interesting article in the Feb Edition of the Harvard Business Review and it immediately touched a chord and resonated with me. It talked about how “Friendship Recession” is making its way into the vernacular—a profound shift in how Americans experience & sustain friendships. According to the American Perspectives Survey, the % of U.S. adults who report having no close friends has quadrupled to 12% since 1990, while the % of those with 10 or more close friends has fallen by nearly threefold. Iam afraid that a survey conducted in Urban India will also show similar results. We are increasingly having more acquaintances & lesser number of ‘Friends.’ Gone are the days when you visited a Bar, even in a new town & sat on a stool at the counter to catch up with friends or make new ones. Most people are sitting on solo tables with their back to the crowd. A recent survey in the U.S. found that solo dining increased by 29% in the past 2 years. Stanford Univ in fact, now offers ‘Design for Healthy Friendships’—a class dedicated to helping students structure their social lives with intention? These trends point to something more insidious: a cultural crisis. Time for ‘Friends’ is a privilege, but it is also a matter of priorities. The way we spend our time, whom we invest in & what we prioritize is shifting. Solitude is becoming more than a preference—it’s becoming a default. And when not used well, the result of solitude isn’t just fewer friendships—it’s a fundamental loss of the ability to form and sustain them. If we don’t consciously reshape our priorities& relearn how to cultivate meaningful relationships, we risk a future where connection—one of the most fundamental sources of happiness & well-being—fades into the background of our lives. Institutions which were once the glue that held social networks together, places where friendships naturally formed through shared experiences are dwindling, be it religious congregations, sports & club associations, alumni groups or voluntary groups like Rotary etc. We are increasingly retreating inward, instead of engaging in communal activities, maybe due to social media, ‘Intensive Parenting,’ nuclear families or Pet care, Yes even Pet care. I have had many occasions when friends have refused an evening out or meeting up due to this reason. Friendship is no longer seen as an integral part of daily life, but rather something we squeeze in when all our other responsibilities have been met. This change is despite research highlighting the importance of friendship. In her bestselling memoir, ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying’, hospice nurse Bonnie Ware says one of those top regrets is, "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends." A study report states: "Social isolation is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, dementia and death; it can be as deadly to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day." Friendship has been shown to improve mental, physical & emotional states. A major study at Harvard spanning 80 years found that the single best predictor of health & happiness was not your wealth or your professional success, it was your close relationships & friends. Data from the Survey Centre on American Life also reveals this basic happiness principle: 'More friends equals more life satisfaction.' Remember that like an investment requires time to compound, so does friendship. It is not built overnight but requires effort, energy & time. Forgive & forget, Apologise if required, Make the call, Pick up the tab, Take the trip, Send a Gift, Create a memory - Even if you're just doing it for your own well-being. Just like to end with a famous couplet by Mirza Ghalib: दोस्तों के साथ जी लेने का मौका दे दे ऐ खुदा... तेरे साथ तो मरने के बाद भी रह लेंगें ।... Be a friend & Stay Blessed Forever! THANK THE LORD FOR THE GOODIES!!

*GURU Can Be Anyone ~ By Dr.Subhash Munje*.

*GURU Can Be Anyone ~ By Dr.Subhash Munje*. I started my first job at a hospital in Alibaug. *One afternoon, an injured woman was brought in. She was pregnant after 11 years of marriage.* *A bull roaming around the streets of Alibaug knocked her down & gored her stomach with its horn.* *It was a scary sight, with part of the woman's stomach injured and a baby's hand peeping out of the crack of the uterine wall.* *My mind was in a turmoil. The mother's life could be saved, her stomach wound was not serious. But to sew up the wall of the uterus was unthinkable, as it was impossible to put the child's hand back inside.* *The family's mandate was clear, "Save the mother's life". But how would I ignore the call of that little hand which appeared to be asking for help!!!!* *The operation theatre had a skeleton staff. Apart from me, there were two nurses, a compounder and a helper whose job was to sterilize tools.* *He was middle aged and an alcoholic, but extremely sincere & efficient in his work for which the entire staff tolerated him.* In the OT, I observed that he was standing quietly & observing the proceedings. *After healing the stomach wound, how do I get that little hand inside was beyond my bookish knowledge.* The creator had made the Uterine wall so strong that it cannot be opened easily, no option came to my mind except to perform surgery. At this point, the helper, who was silently watching, all of a sudden came up to me and whispered in my ear, *"Sahib, there is a way that the hand will automatically move back in".* I stared at him. Time was precious. I didnt know why, but my inner conscience made me ask him what he had in mind. *He said, "Heat the injection needle and touch the hand, it will immediately go back".* Having no other option, I agreed to his suggestion. I prayed to God in my heart and asked for a hundred apologies from that little one. I gathered courage, warmed the needle and pricked the little hand lightly. *The miracle happened at once!! The baby's hand immediately withdrew back inside with a jerk.* The further work was easy. I put the strap on by dressing the uterine wall. *Two months later, the woman safely delivered the baby in the same hospital and that little baby was smiling right in my hands.* *I consider that helper as one of my many gurus.* *To my mind, I believe that when there is no cure by the books, God shows the path as a guru in any form, as the helper showed me that day.* His tip will not be found in any medical book. In the end I will say, *"This is the Will of God"* (From Doctor Subhash Munje's book "Behind The Mask")

*Interesting Information!!

*Interesting Information!! *Glass* takes one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times! *Gold* is the only metal that doesn't rust, even if it's buried in the ground for thousands of years. *When a person dies* hearing is the last sense to go. The first sense lost is sight. *Your tongue* is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end. *The tooth* is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself. *If you stop getting thirsty* , you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off. *Zero* is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals. *Kites* were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers. *The song Auld Lang Syne* is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. *Drinking water* after eating reduces the acid in your mouth by 61 percent. Drinking a glass of water before you eat may help digestion and curb appetite. *Peanut oil* is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn't smoke unless it's heated above 450F. *The roar* that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear. The seashells work as amplifiers. *Nine out of every 10* living things live in the ocean. *The Banana* cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man. *Airports* at higher altitudes require a longer airstrip due to lower air density. *The University of Alaska* spans four time zones. *In ancient Greece* , tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage. Catching it meant she accepted. *Warner Communications* paid 28 million for the copyright to the song Happy Birthday, which was written in 1935! *Intelligent people* have more zinc and copper in their hair. *A comet’s tail* always points away from the sun. *Caffeine* increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers, that is why it is found in some medicines. *The military salute* is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity. *If you get into the bottom* of a well or a tall chimney and look up, you can see stars, even in the middle of the day. *In ancient times* strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed. *Strawberries and cashews* are the only fruits whose seeds grow on the outside. *Avocados* have the highest calories of any fruit at 167 calories per hundred grams. *The moon* moves about two inches away from the Earth each year. *The Earth gets 100 tons* heavier every day due to falling space dust. *Due to earth's gravity* it is impossible for mountains to be higher than 15,000 meters. *Mickey Mouse* is known as "Topolino" in Italy. *Soldiers* do not march in step when going across bridges because they could set up a vibration which could be sufficient to knock the bridge down. *Everything* weighs one percent less at the equator. *For every extra kilogram* carried on a space flight, 530 kg of excess fuel are needed at lift-off. *The letter J* does not appear anywhere on the periodic table of the elements. *And last but not least:* This is called 'Money Bags.' So send this on to 5 people and money will arrive in 5 days. Based on Chinese Feng Shui, the one who does not pass this on will have money troubles for the rest of the year. *Superstitious or not, I passed this along because it is interesting information!!!*

LOVE AND FEAR AS OPPOSITES

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* April 17, 2025 LOVE AND FEAR AS OPPOSITES All these failings generate fear, a soul-sickness in its own right. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 49 “Fear knocked at the door; faith answered; no one was there.” I don’t know to whom this quote should be attributed, but it certainly indicates clearly that fear is an illusion. I create the illusion myself. I experienced fear early in my life and I mistakenly thought that the mere presence of it made me a coward. I didn’t know that one of the definitions of “courage” is “the willingness to do the right thing in spite of fear.” Courage, then, is not necessarily the absence of fear. During the times I didn’t have love in my life I most assuredly had fear. To fear God is to be afraid of joy. In looking back, I realize that, during the times I feared God most, there was no joy in my life. As I learned not to fear God, I also learned to experience joy.

SEEING CHRIST IN OTHERS

Good Morning!!! SEEING CHRIST IN OTHERS Around the Year with Emmet Fox April 17 We often hear the expression "saluting the Christ in him," or "seeing the Christ in him," and we may well ask ourselves what that phrase really means. It is simply the practical application of the rule of Jesus Christ. “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” John 7:24 Each of us has a divine Self that is spiritual and perfect but that is never seen on this plane. That is the true man, God's man, and is what we sometimes call "the Christ within." Now whenever you dwell upon or realize the presence of the Christ within yourself or within anyone else, outer appearances begin at once to improve. If somebody displeases you, silently salute the Christ in him. If someone says something against John Smith's character, salute the Christ in him, refuse to discuss the matter, and of course, do not repeat it. The more often you salute the Christ in others, the sooner you will find Him in yourself.

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The Mind

A prisoner was sentenced to death by hanging, but a group of scientists wanted to test the limits of human belief and the power of the mind. They told him that instead of a hanging, he would be killed by a venomous snakebite. To make it more convincing, they showed him a large, terrifying cobra. The prisoner, filled with fear, was then blindfolded. Unbeknownst to him, the scientists used a sharp needle to prick his hand in the same spot where a snake's fangs would strike, simulating a snakebite. As they watched from a distance, the prisoner, believing he was poisoned by the snake, began to feel the effects of venom coursing through his body. Despite there being no actual venom, the man’s belief in the snakebite led to his rapid physical decline. Within minutes, the man collapsed and died. This phenomenon, though shocking, is known as the placebo effect where belief and expectation can bring about real physical outcomes. It illustrates just how powerful the mind can be. The mind can shape our reality, either for better or for worse. In this case, the prisoner’s belief in his fate was so strong that it caused his body to react as though the bite had truly occurred, even though it had not. This story teaches us a crucial lesson: our thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions have a profound impact on our well-being. What we believe about ourselves and our lives can either uplift us or tear us down. Therefore, it’s essential to maintain a positive outlook, as our minds have the potential to shape our realities. Never underestimate the power of your thoughts. Choose to believe in your strength and potential, for your mind can be your greatest ally in overcoming challenges. ~ Unknown

*The Mysteries of Anatomy*

*Brilliantly written verse...For lovers of the English language:* *The Mysteries of Anatomy* Where can a man buy a cap for his knee, Or the key to a lock of his hair? Can his eyes be called an academy? Because there are pupils there? In the crown of your head can jewels be found? Who crosses the bridge of your nose? If you wanted to shingle the roof of your mouth, Would you use the nails on your toes? Can you sit in the shade of the palm of your hand, Or beat on the drum of your ear? Can the calf in your leg eat the corn off your toe? Then why not grow corn on the ear? Can the crook in your elbow be sent to jail? If so, just what did he do? How can you sharpen your shoulder blades? I'll be darned if I know. Do you? Amazing English Many parts of the body can be used as verbs in either a physical or a metaphorical sense. You can *head* a company, but if things go wrong you'll have to *shoulder* the blame, or *face* your investors. A good leader will *back* his employees, but if you don't *toe* the line the management can *skin* you. Did you *muscle* your way into that job? You might *eye* someone suspiciously, or wait for the police to *finger* a suspect. But avoid putting your *nose* in someone’s business. But if you need to get out of town, you can *thumb* a ride or you can ride with me if you can *stomach* the thought. Use strong *arm* tactic if you want to *elbow* out someone. I don't always sing along with the radio, but I sometimes do *mouth* the words. *(To all English-Language Lovers)*

Some interesting facts we are not aware of: You’ll love this .

Some interesting facts we are not aware of: You’ll love this .. 😇 1. In the 1400s a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb.' 2. Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden'... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language. 3. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David, Hearts - Charlemagne, Clubs -Alexander the Great, Diamonds - Julius Caesar 4. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.' 5. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon. 6. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.' It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's' 7. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice. 8. In 1696, William III of England introduced a property tax that required those living in houses with more than six windows to pay a levy. In order to avoid the tax, house owners would brick up all windows except six. (The Window Tax lasted until 1851, and older houses with bricked-up windows are still a common sight in the U.K.) As the bricked-up windows prevented some rooms from receiving any sunlight, the tax was referred to as “daylight robbery”! Now, there you have the origin of these phrases. Interesting isn’t it!! ☝ ( Forwarded as received)

Can Arjuna beat Kumbhakarna in a fight?

Can Arjuna beat Kumbhakarna in a fight? He cannot even scratch a single hair of Kumbhakarna. In fact, Kumbhakarna would devour everyone in Kurukshetra battlefield, if unleashed upon it. Kumbhakarna' single handedly defeated armies of devas and asuras several times in treta yuga. Just like a routine. “For several times, in battles between gods and demons, you conquered the celestials and demons, after attacking them in the battle. O Kumbhakarna of terrible prowess! Therefore, show your entire prowess. There is indeed no one, in the entire beings, who is equal to you in strength." Even Indra or Yama could'nt stand in his path. "He is the powerful Kumbhakarna, the son of Visravasa. He conquered Yama and Indra in battle. There is no other demon, corresponding to the size of his body. O Rama! He conquered thousands of celestials, demons, a class of demi-gods, serpent demons, ogres, Gandharvas the celestial musicians, Vidyadharas the celestials artistes and Kinnaras (the semi-divine beings with the human form and the head of a horse) in battle." The weapons of Devas and Asuras could only tickle him and even Indra's Vajra was merely able to make him angry and nothing more. Indra posessed weapons like Brahmashira and Vaishnavastra, still couldn't do anything against him. Kumbhakarna' plucked out Airavata’s tusk and pierced into Indra's heart. That Mahendra wielding a thunder-bolt was enraged and struck Kumbhakarna with his weapon of the white thunderbolt. The great souled Kumbhakarna struck by Indra's thunderbolt was quite agitated at it and roared loudly with anger. Hearing the roar of that Kumbhakarna, the demon, who was howling loudly, the frightened people were further frightened." "Enraged as he was on Mahendra, the mighty Kumbhakarna then pulled out a tusk of Airavata, Indra's elephant and struck it into Indra's chest. That Devendra, tormented by the hit of Kumbhakarna, was burning with rage. The celestials, Brahmanical sages and demons were suddenly aggrieved. Even Indra with his people went to the abode of Brahma the Lord of creation." Power of celestial weapons depends on the user. And still Rama needed 4 celestial weapons back to back to kill Kumbhakarna. Speaking of Rama's energy, his normal arrows destroyed a divine spear of Makaraksha, which was built by Shiva. Yet these arrows couldn't even scratch Kumbhakarna. In fact, even the Roudrastra used by Ram was merely able to stun him and nothing more. Compare that to Arjuna who failed to beat Brahmastras of like of Karna and Drona. His Brahmastra killed few hundred foot soldiers. With that, he won't be able to cause a dent to Kumbhakarna. The so called Mahapasupata could be able to tickle him, but that's the best it could do based on its feat(when used by Arjuna) of killing sixty thousand Kalakeyas and Poulomas. It won't be able to cause him any significant discomfort. Sure it could kill Kumbhakarna if used by someone with immense power. But Arjuna simply doesn't cut it. Kumbhakarna' would feast of Pandavas' and Kauravas, and it won't even satisfy his hunger to be honest.

Is it true that Dasaratha (father of Lord Rama) had more than 350 wives?

Is it true that Dasaratha (father of Lord Rama) had more than 350 wives? Yes. It is true that Dashratha had more than 350 wives. Before leaving for exile, Sri Rama visited his father last time to seek his blessings. When Rama alongwith Devi Sita and Lakshmana reached Dashratha's place, he asked Sumantra (Dashratha's charioteer) to inform Dashratha about their arrival. Sumantra then informs Dashratha about their arrival. Dashratha expresses his wish to Sumantra that he wants to see Rama in presence of all his wives. This is how it is narrated in the critical edition - O Sumantra! Bring all my wives who are present. I wish to see Raghava when I am surrounded by all my wives. Sumantra then on Dashratha's order informs all of his wives about the king's desire. This is how it is narrated in the critical edition - Knowing about the king’s command, they went to their husband’s residence. Three hundred and fifty women, with coppery red eyes and firm in their vows, surrounded Kousalya and went there slowly. The Gita Press (Hindi translated) version also confirms this fact. From these excerpts of Valmiki Ramayana, it is clear that Dashratha had 350 wives plus 3 chief wives (patranis).

GROWING UP

Good Morning!!! God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done. *~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~* April 10, 2025 GROWING UP The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 115 Sometimes when I’ve become willing to do what I should have been doing all along, I want praise and recognition. I don’t realize that the more I’m willing to act differently, the more exciting my life is. The more I am willing to help others, the more rewards I receive. That’s what practicing the principles means to me. Fun and benefits for me are in the willingness to do the actions, not to get immediate results. Being a little kinder, a little slower to anger, a little more loving makes my life better–day by day. **************************************************** Gratitude "Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward. "In other words, if you carry the message to still others, you will be making the best possible repayment for the help given to you." No satisfaction has been deeper and no joy greater than in a Twelfth Step job well done. To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, and above all to watch them awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives – these things are the substance of what we receive as we carry A.A.'s message. 1. LETTER, 1959 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 110 *********** "Take care of the little things, the bigger things are easier to handle" ******************** GRAPEVINE quote of the day "May those who come to know the truth never forget it." Mulberry, Florida, June 2011 "This Wasted Life," AA Grapevine **************************************************** People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. --George Bernard Shaw It's easy to let circumstances determine how we think and behave. While it's true that some events seem devastating, our relationship with a Higher Power can help us accept and even grow from experiences that seem impossible to cope with. We all have known men and women who've handled grave upsets far more easily than we have. How did they do it? They have no magic. Rather, they may be more comfortable letting their Higher Power help them accept and understand unfortunate circumstances. Once we accept our anger or disappointment, we're free to move on to better feelings. We begin to realize we have choices in how we look at problems. We are never given more than we can handle. We can develop acceptance of any circumstances, but our success in doing so, comes mainly through our reliance on God to show us the way. God will help me handle the uncontrollable events of today. Through acceptance, I can change my feelings at any moment – even right now. *********** "Success is getting up after you fall down." ****************** Just considering.......... "At heart we had all been abnormally fearful. It mattered little whether we had sat on the shore of life drinking ourselves into forgetfulness or had plunged in recklessly and willfully beyond our depth and ability. The result was the same – all of us had nearly perished in a sea of alcohol." Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 123-4 Thought to consider ………. I didn't make it all the way to the beach to drown in the sand. Topic Question: What fears do you have today and what are you doing to overcome them? ********************************************** There are persons who have some parts like me, but no one adds up exactly like me. --Virginia Satir Most of us feel pretty ordinary. We probably wish we were taller or shorter. Some of us are fat rather than thin. Few of us have perfect skin or teeth. Often, we look at others, compare ourselves, and wish we were different. At these times, it's important to remember that each of us is special. We differ from others because we're created for different purposes. Some of us will make a contribution to the world of sports, some to the art of music. Teaching or medicine will attract others and yet, no two of us will give to the world in the same way. Our unique mixture of looks, attitudes, and abilities will be special and very necessary to the people sharing our lifetime. How can I give my special gift to the world today? ********** "Time takes time." ****************** ALKIESPEAK – Book – Quote We’re blessed with a disease where we’re forced to love people. - Terry In 1938, Drastic - Acting strongly and quickly, as a remedy. ~ The Winston Simplified Dictionary Encyclopedic Edition (1938) “But the program of action, though entirely sensible, was pretty drastic.” (42:2) ** You already know what they wrote. Now you know what they meant. ** **************************************************** Any time you sense you are getting overrun by outside influences and losing your feelings, put your attention inside your body. Relax ………., let your breath sink low ……., breathe in your abdomen...... —ANNE KENT RUSH When we are feeling as though all our energy is scattered throughout our bodies, we need to practice centering, or focusing this energy into one place. Our center may change from day to day, and each of us feels it differently. When we're walking, we may feel power coming from our hips and spreading through the body, heart, and mind. When we're in a meditative mood, we may feel warm energy at the back of the head. At other times, we might feel a real centering place in the middle of the chest, right where our heart and arms and breathing come together. There is no one way to be at peace. Centering is a way for each of us to find and picture to ourselves our focused energy. When we can do this, we increase our power to bring about those things we want from life, those things we really do deserve. Where is my energy right now? ********** "A resentment is hurting yourself with the hope that someone else will feel the pain." ******************** Just a thought……………… They say that the most dangerous year in our sobriety is the nth year, where "N" equals our current year of sobriety. It's another way of saying we can never afford to become complacent about our sobriety -- hang around long enough and we'll hear about some former members who went out in their nth year. We should be grateful for our past sobriety and hopeful for future sobriety, but we need to continue to do the work today that makes continued sobriety possible. So........ Faith without works is dead – do I have faith that AA will work if I work it? ***************************************************** ~*~A.A. Thoughts for the Day~*~ ^*^*^*^*^ (\ ~~ /) ( \ (AA)/ ) (_ /AA\ _) /AA\ ^*^*^*^*^ Growing Up ^*^*^*^*^ "As we grow spiritually, we find that our old attitudes toward our instincts need to undergo drastic revisions. Our desires for emotional security and wealth, for personal prestige and power, for romance, and for family satisfactions - all these have to be tempered and redirected. We have learned that the satisfaction of instincts cannot be the sole end and aim of our lives. If we place instincts first, we have got the cart before the horse; we shall be pulled backward into disillusionment. But when we are willing to place spiritual growth first - then and only then do we have a real chance." Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 114, "How many of us would presume to declare, 'Well, I'm sober and I'm happy. What more can I want, or do? I'm fine the way I am.' We know that the price of such self-satisfaction is an inevitable backslide, punctuated at some point by a very rude awakening. We have to grow or else deteriorate. For us, the status quo can only be for today, never for tomorrow. Change we must; we cannot stand still." Bill W., Box 1980: The AA Grapevine, June 1961 As Bill Sees It, p. 25