 |
religious thought 06
Whatever we see or think about is the manifestation of the Mother, of the Primordial Energy, the Primal Consciousness. Creation, preservation, and destruction, living beings and the universe, and further, meditation and the meditator, bhakti[devotion] and prema [divine love] all these are manifestations of the glory of that Power.
- Ramakrishna
__._,_.___
Patience is the sprouting of religion, firmness its root, good conduct is the flower, the enlightened heart the boughs and branches, wisdom supreme the entire tree, the "transcendent law" the fruit, its shade protects all living things. Say then! Why would you cut it down?
- Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King
__._,_.___
When the ocean of Mercy begins to foam, even stones drink the water of life. The face of earth becomes lush green, the dead wood springs to life, the lamb and the wolf together play, the despairing becomes valiant and strong.
- Rumi
__._,_.___
Kindness is Christianity with its working clothes on.
- Unknown
__._,_.___
Get one by trade, rather than a thousand as gifts.
- Rabbi Samuel HaNagid, Spanish poet (993-1056 CE
__._,_.___
religious thought 05
Get up! Wake up! Seek the guidance of an Illuminated teacher and realize the Self. Sharp like a razor's edge, the sages say, Is the path, difficult to traverse.
- Katha Upanishad
__._,_.___
Take no pleasure in worldly talk; Take delight in what passes beyond the world. Cause good qualities to grow in others In the same way (you wish them) for yourself.
- Nagarjuna, "Precious Garland"
__._,_.___
If in the darkness of ignorance, you dont recognize a persons true nature, look to see whom he has chosen for his leader.
- Rumi
__._,_.___
The greatest single distinguishing feature of the omnipotence of God is that our imagination gets lost thinking about it.
- Blaise Pascal
__._,_.___
He who, for the sake of learning, lowers himself by exposing his ignorance, will ultimately be elevated.
- Ben Azzai, Talmud: Berakot, 63b
__._,_.___
religious thought 04
This Self who gives rise to all works, all desires, all odors, all tastes, who pervades the universe, who is beyond words, who is joy abiding, who is ever present in my heart, is Brahman indeed. To him I shall attain when my ego dies.
- Chandogya Upanishad
__._,_.___
If you really want freedom, happiness will arise From happiness will come rapture When your mind is enraptured, your body is tranquil When your body is tranquil, you will know bliss Because you are blissful, your mind will concentrate easily Being concentrated, you will see things as they really are In so seeing, you will become aware that life is a miracle Being so aware, you will lose all your attachments As you cease grasping, so you will be freed.
- Digha Nikaya
__._,_.___
If you are dependable, honest, virtuous, and content in Allah's will, no harm shall come your way.
- Hadith The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by AbdAllah bin Amr
__._,_.___
The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day.
- E.M. Bounds
__._,_.___
Holiness is the essence of all moral perfection.
- Kaufmann Kohler, "Jewish Theology"
__._,_.___
religious thought 03
Prosperity is not for the envious, Nor is greatness for men of impure conduct.
- Tirukkural 14:135
__._,_.___
The creatures that inhabit this earth--be they human beings or animals--are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
__._,_.___
The spiritual path ruins the body, but subsequently restores it to health. It ruins the house to reveal the treasure, and with that treasure it builds better than before.
- Rumi
__._,_.___
W]ith light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a broken dam, [the angels] began to shout and sing the message that baby Jesus had been born. The world had a Savior! The angels called it "Good News," and it was.
- Larry Libby
__._,_.___
If you gather not in youth, how will you find in old age?
- Apocrypha: Ben Sira 25:3
__._,_.___
religious thought 02
People weep for their spouses, their children, and their wealth, but who weeps for God? While a child is engrossed with its toys its mother attends to her household duties, but when the child throws the toys aside and screams for its mother, then the mother puts down her cooking pot and takes the child in her arms.
- Ramakrishna
__._,_.___
You cannot find Buddha nature by vivisection. Reality cannot be caught by thinking or feeling mind. Moment after moment to watch your breathing, to watch your posture, is true nature. There is no secret beyond this point.
- Shunryu Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind"
__._,_.___
Practice patience; it is the essence of praise. Have patience, for that is true worship. No other worship is worth as much. Have patience; patience is the key to all relief.
- Rumi
__._,_.___
Christmas is the one day of the year that carries real hope and promise for all mankind.
- Edgar Guest, The Gift of Christmas
__._,_.___
Happy is he who controls his inclination.
- Joshua b. Levi, Talmud: Aboda Zara
__._,_.___
Religious Thought 01
In the world people think they can attain glory by having cows and horses, elephants and gold, family and servants, fields and mansions. But I do not call that glory, for here one thing depends on another. Utterly independent is the Infinite.
- Chandogya Upanishad
__._,_.___
Our problems, both those we experience externally such as wars, crime and violence and those we experience internally as emotional and psychological suffering will not be solved until we address this underlying neglect of our inner dimension. That is why the great movements of the last hundred years and more--democracy, liberalism, socialism, and Communism--have all failed to deliver the universal benefits they were supposed to provide, despite many wonderful ideas. A revolution is called for, certainly, but not a political, an economic, or a technical revolution. We have had enough experience of these during the past century to know that a purely external approach will not suffice. What I propose is a spiritual revolution.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
__._,_.___
Sometimes in order to help He makes us cry. Happy the eye that sheds tears for His sake. Fortunate the heart that burns for His sake. Laughter always follows tears. Blessed are those who understand. Life blossoms wherever water flows. Where tears are shed divine mercy is shown.
- Rumi
__._,_.___
Before Jesus died, He willed us His Peace...He wants us to have peace in the midst of our current circumstances--peace in the morning, at night and all times in between. Peace is our inheritance! And it is a wonderful possession.
- Joyce Meyer
__._,_.___
Everything should be made as simple as possible--but not simpler.
- Albert Einstein
__._,_.___
Georges Barbier- Paintings (1882 - 1932)
BIOGRAPHY
French art deco illustrator. 'Georges Barbier'.
Primarily a book illustrator, he also designed fabrics, wallpapers and posters and commercial wrappings, boxes and postcards. He designed costumes and settings for several theatrical productions and for Rudolph Valentino's movie Monsieur Beaucaire. A regular contributor toLa Gazette du Bon Ton, the Journal des Dames et des Modes, Fémina, Vogue, Comoedia Illustré and other journals, his illustrations were frequently reproduced in the pochoir process. His finest book illustrations were those interpreted in woodcuts by F. L. Schmied.
Kailash Temple, Elapura
It is estimated that about 400,000 tons of rocks was scooped out over hundreds of years to construct this monolithic structure.
The Kailash Temple is notable for its vertical excavation—carvers started at the top of the original rock, and excavated downward, exhuming the temple out of the existing rock.
All the carvings are done in more than one level. A two-storeyed gateway opens to reveal a U-shaped courtyard. The courtyard is edged by a columned arcade three stories high. The arcades are punctuated by huge sculpted panels, and alcoves containing enormous sculptures of a variety of deities. Originally flying bridges of stone connected these galleries to central temple structures, but these have fallen.
Within the courtyard are two structures. As is traditional in Shiva temples, an image of the sacred bull Nandi fronts the central temple housing the lingam. In Cave 16, the Nandi Mandap and main Shiva temple are each about 7 meters high, andbuilt on two stories. The lower stories of the Nandi Mandap are both solid structures, decorated with elaborate illustrative carvings. The base of the temple has been carved to suggest that elephants are holding the structure aloft.
A living rock bridge connects the Nandi Mandap to the porch of the temple. The temple itself is tall pyramidic structure reminiscent of a South Indian temple. The shrine – complete with pillars, windows, inner and outer rooms, gathering halls, and an enormous lingam at its heart – carved from stone, is carved with niches, plasters, windows as well as images of deities.
The Kailash Temple is notable for its vertical excavation—carvers started at the top of the original rock, and excavated downward, exhuming the temple out of the existing rock.
All the carvings are done in more than one level. A two-storeyed gateway opens to reveal a U-shaped courtyard. The courtyard is edged by a columned arcade three stories high. The arcades are punctuated by huge sculpted panels, and alcoves containing enormous sculptures of a variety of deities. Originally flying bridges of stone connected these galleries to central temple structures, but these have fallen.
Within the courtyard are two structures. As is traditional in Shiva temples, an image of the sacred bull Nandi fronts the central temple housing the lingam. In Cave 16, the Nandi Mandap and main Shiva temple are each about 7 meters high, andbuilt on two stories. The lower stories of the Nandi Mandap are both solid structures, decorated with elaborate illustrative carvings. The base of the temple has been carved to suggest that elephants are holding the structure aloft.
A living rock bridge connects the Nandi Mandap to the porch of the temple. The temple itself is tall pyramidic structure reminiscent of a South Indian temple. The shrine – complete with pillars, windows, inner and outer rooms, gathering halls, and an enormous lingam at its heart – carved from stone, is carved with niches, plasters, windows as well as images of deities.
The real crystal palace
The real crystal palace: Inside one of the most beautiful caves in the world
With crystal lined walls glittering deep beneath the earth's surface, these mesmerising scenes are taken from inside what could well be the world's most beautiful cave.
The Mlynki is a rare crystal cave which lies in the Ternopil region of Ukraine and is known for the multi-coloured gypsum crystals which adorn its walls and twinkle in the light.
These are the awesome images taken by intrepid photographer Oleg Grigorev who ventured into the remote cave to capture its beauty on camera.
Twinkle: Two cavers look as if they are surrounded by fairy lights as beams from their torch bounce off the crystal particles of the Mlynki caves in the Ukraine |
Animals In News
Shar Pei dog Cleopatra breast-feeds one of the two adopted tiger cubs in the Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi. The two cubs, named Clyopa and Plyusha, were born late last month in Sochi zoo and adopted by their new mum.
जब तोप गरजती है, तो 50 गांव खोलते हैं रोजा
भोपाल/रायसेन। देश में यह अपनी तरह की अनूठी परंपरा है। रायसेन जिला मुख्यालय पर रमजान के पवित्र महीने में तोप की गर्जना के साथ सभी मुसलमान सहरी और रोजा इफ्तार करते हैं।
नवाबों के शासनकाल में रायसेन में रमजान महीने में तोप की गर्जना के साथ सहरी और रोजा इफ्तार की परंपरा शुरू हुई थी, जो आज भी कायम है। कलेक्टर द्वारा हर साल रमजान के महीने में तोपे चलाने और उसके लिए बारूद खरीदने कि लिखित अनुमति मुस्लिम त्यौहार कमेटी को निर्धारित समय के लिए प्रदान की जाती है।
रायसेन जिला मुख्यालय में ऐतिहासिक किले की पहाड़ी पर एक फिक्स्ड जगह है, जहां रमजान महीना शुरू होने के एक दिन पहले प्रशासन की अभिरक्षा में रखी तोप को मुस्लिम त्यौहार कमेटी के सदस्य लेकर जाते हैं। इसे चलाने के लिए प्रशिक्षित तोपची को ही नियुक्त किया जाता है।
रायसेन संभवत: देश का एकमात्र ऐसा शहर है, जहां रमजान महीने में रोजा इफ्तार और सहरी का संकेत, तोप चलाकर दिया जाता है। इसमें सबसे दिलचस्प बात यह है कि तोप कि गर्जना सुनकर आसपास के लगभग 50 गांव के लोग रोजा खोलते हैं।