The following are images captured by NASA Satelite believed to be the Ramayana bridge as depicted in the ancient Hindu scriptures connecting between India and Sri Lanka. According to the story, the bridge was built by an army of Lord Rama in pursuit of Sita who was captured by the evil Ravana.
The bridge is made of chain of shoals estimated at 30 km. The curvature of the bridge seems to suggest that it was built by man. Perhaps, the undercurrent may have done some movement of the shoals bringing about the curved outlook of the bridge. It draws intrigue regarding the ancient technology or methodology employed that seems to pass the test of time.
The Floating Rock
The rock below weighing 15Kg is believed to be what is remained of the enormous sized rocks once used in the ancient days to build the bridge connecting to Sri Lanka which floats in the water. Could this be held proof that the Ramayana bridge which calls for more research? This rock was brought in from Hanuman Temple from Rameshwaram, India. It was told that during a massive cyclone in 1964, many stones from Ram Setu was found scattered near Rameshwaram.
The video below gives a clearer view of the floating stone which was once believed to be used to build this bridge:
Are there anymore mysteries or artifact lying under the seabed yearning for its discovery. This may be an opportunity for archeologist to study about this civilization from the days of shore. Perhaps history can teach us something that we have forgotten over time. Only time will tell.
Today, something more of a light stuff. It is unusual to see a dog wanting to pound on a shark. Which of these two species have a larger mouth opening with more number of teeth. The answer is obvious. The common between the two among many, a pair of and a tail comes instantly to the mind. However, the differences between the two are too many to mention. It may get boring if one begins to get on the anatomical details.
Here are the light introduction:
On the Blue Corner weighing God knows how many pounds, introducing the Shark aka the Shark.
On the Brown Corner weighing probably 20 pounds, introducing the dog, aka the "brown dog".
Most of us have seen witches flying with brooms or Super heroes flying. Kids watching will try to often emulate without success. However, it was a different case with a kid, a little girl from Russia. This footage that you are about to see was accidentally caught by an amateur cameraman who videotaped the event while taking his dog out for a walk. In fact, it was the dog that lead him to the scene. The girl was just hovering on the air about 10 feet off the ground defying the laws of gravity. On seeing the cameraman, the girl and her mother immediately fled from the scene.
You can see it for yourself in this video that was broadcasted in a local TV station in the vicinity.
Here is another one with the shaking stabilized for a clearer view:
Well, it seems like Science have taught us that man have only 5 physical senses. This video may suggest further studies about the capabilities unknown to mankind and not taught in this little girl school going syllabus. Just food for thought.
This is one of my favorite Sutra known as the Heart Sutra. It has a very soothing and a calming effect to me just listening to it. I never get enough of it. The lady singing this song has such an amazing voice and she sang the Sutra very well.
The Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra or Heart Sutra or Essence of Wisdom
Sutra (Sanskrit: प्रज्ञापारमिताहृदय Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya) is a
well-known MahāyānaBuddhist sutra that is very popular among Mahayana
Buddhists both for its brevity and depth of meaning.
The Heart
Sutra is made up of 14 shlokas in Sanskrit; a shloka composed of 32
syllables. In Chinese, it is 262 Chinese characters, while in English it
is composed of sixteen sentences.
The Heart Sutra has generally
been thought to have probably been composed in the first century CE in
Kushan Empire territory, by a Sarvastivadin or ex-Sarvastivadin monk.
The earliest record of a copy of the sutra is a 200-250CE Chinese
version attributed to the Yuezhi monk Zhi Qian. It was supposedly
translated again by Kumarajiva around 400CE, although John McRae and Jan
Nattier have argued that this translation was created by someone else,
much later, based on Kumarajiva's Large Sutra. Zhi Qian's version, if it
ever existed, was lost before the time of Xuanzang, who produced his
own version in 649CE, which closely matches the one attributed to
Kumarajiva. Xuanzang's version is the first record of the title "Heart
Sutra" (心經 xīnjīng) being used for the text, and Fukui Fumimasa has
argued that xinjing actually means dharani scripture. According to
Huili's biography, Xuanzang learned the sutra from an inhabitant of
Sichuan, and subsequently chanted it during times of danger in his
journey to the West.
Lyrics
Namah sarvajnaaya
-Adoration to the Omniscient!
Aaryaavalokiteshvara-bodhisattvo
gambhiiraayaam prajnaapaaramitaayaam caryaam caramaano vyavalokayati
sma: panca skandhaah; taamshca svabhaava-shuunyaan pashyati sma.
-When
Holy Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva performed the deep practice in the
Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom, he contemplated that there were five
aggregates but observed that they were devoid of essential nature.
Iha
Shaariputra ruupam shuunyataa shuunyataiva ruupam, ruupaan na prithak
shuunyataa, shuunyataayaa na prithag ruupam, yad ruupam saa shuunyataa,
yaa shuunyataa tad ruupam.
-In this case, Shaariputra, form is
voidness and voidness is itself form; voidness is not different from
form, and form is not different from voidness; that which is form is
voidness, and that which is voidness is form.
Evem eva vedanaa-samjnaa-samskaara-vijnaanaani.
-So it is for perception, conception, volition and consciousness.
Iha Shaariputra sarva-dharmaah shuunyataa-lakshanaa, anutpannaa, aniruddhaa, amalaa, na vimalaa, nonaa, na paripuurnaah.
-In
this case, Shaariputra, all things have the characteristics of
voidness; they neither arise nor perish; they are neither defiled nor
pure, neither deficient nor complete.
Tasmaac Chaariputra shuunyaayaam na ruupam na vedanaa na samjnaa na samskaaraa na vijnaanaani.
-Therefore, Shaariputra, within the voidness, there is no form, no perception, no conception, no volition, nor consciousness.
Na cakshuh-shrotra-ghraana-jihvaa-kaaya-man
aamsi.
-Neither is there eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind.
Na ruupa-shabda-gandha-rasa-sprashtavya-dharmaah.
-Neither is there form, sound, smell, taste, touch nor concepts.
Na cakshurdhaatur yaavan na mano-vijnaana-dhaatuh.
-Neither is there realm of sight, etc., until we come to the non-existence of realm of consciousness.
Na
vidyaa, naavidyaa, na vidyaa-kshayo, naavidyaa-kshayo, yaavan na
jaraa-maranam na jaraamarana-kshayo, na duhkha-samudaya-nirodha-maargaa,
na jnaanam, na praaptir apraaptitvena.
-Neither is there wisdom, nor
ignorance, nor extinction of wisdom, nor extinction of ignorance, etc.,
until we come to the non-existence of old age and death and the
non-extinction of old age and death. Neither is there suffering, cause
of suffering, extinction of suffering, nor the path leading to
extinction of suffering. Neither is there wisdom nor acquisition because
there is no grasping.
Bodhisattvasya prajnaapaaramitaam
aashritya viharaty acittaavaranah. Cittaavarana-naastitvaad atrasto,
viparyaasaatikraanto nishtha-nirvaanah.
-Depending on the
bodhisattva's Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom, one dwells without any
mental hindrance. Because of the absence of mental hindrance, one is
fearless; freed from delusory thoughts, one will reach Nirvana.
Tryadhva-vyavasthitaah sarvabuddhaah prajnaapaaramitaam aashrityaanuttaraam samyaksambodhim abhisambuddhaah.
-All
Buddhas dwelling in the three periods realize the highest, perfect
enlightenment depending on the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom.
Tasmaaj
jnaatavyo prajnaapaaramitaa-mahaamantro mahaavidyaa-mantro
'nuttara-mantro 'samasama-mantrah, sarvadukha-prashamanah, satyam
amithyatvaat, prajnaapaaramitaayaam ukto mantrah.
-For this reason,
know that the Great Mantra of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom is
the Great Wisdom Mantra, the Unsurpassed Mantra, and the Unequaled
Mantra. It extinguishes all suffering, and is true and real because it
is not false. It is the Mantra proclaimed in the Perfection of
Transcendent Wisdom.
Tad yathaa gate gate paaragate paarasamgate bodhi svaaha.
-Namely, "Gone, gone, gone to the other shore;
Gone completely to the other shore.
Svaha."
Iti prajnaapaaramitaa-hridayam samaaptam.
-Thus ends the Essence of the Transcendent Wisdom Sutra.
The largest Jade Buddha in the world weighs 4tonnes and 2.7m in height. Originated from Canada, the 18-tonne gemstone was incidentally found by a man who also had a "green" attached to his name, Ian Green, who is an Australian. He managed to raise funds to buy the piece at US 1.5 million.
The jadestone had its formation after Buddha, thanks to the 6 renowned jade carvers from Thailand who carved the figure inspired after the famous image of Buddha at Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodh Gaya (holy city), India.
It took 5 yrs completion for the carving and polishing work and since 2008, this Buddha statue has traveled over 14 countries and is currently displayed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and will then continue its travel for another 3 yrs until finally resting at its permanent home at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo, Australia.
Visitors who snap photo with the Buddha statue as the backdrop have come to show that they see a symmetrical light or as i see it is round sometimes. More news about this can be viewed here.
Video above shows the place looks deserted on the Nyepi Day (seclusion day), a day where silence, fasting and meditation is observed.
Perang Api Ritual literally meaning "Fire War" has been practiced over many generations by Hindus in Bali, Indonesia. , Perang Api commemorates on the eve of every Nyepi Festival. This year it was observed on 11th March, 2013.
Fire War is believed to have the potent to dispel negative spirits which started many generations ago. It has its origins hundreds of years ago at a time when the people of Bali was struck by a plaque and many perished. In order to overcome the situation, a ritual was carried out by lighting up a torch, shouting and throwing it at all directions. Incidently, people who were struck by the plaque was cured and that is how this practice became embedded in their tradition.
Before beginning the tradition, purified water is sprinkled on the participants to ensure no untoward incidents during the ritual. Then, coconut husks are piled and burnt which later the participants will kick in all directions. The participants will be broken up with two groups where they will also throw torch made of dried palm leaves on each other.
After the Fire War is over, this is followed by "Nyepi" which is Balinese New Year
where the Hindus are required to observe fasting, silence and meditation
purely for self-reflection. There is a restriction placed refraining
interference with this practice. Any other activities such as working,
entertainment or pleasure or even traveling is prohibited. In fact,
there is even traditional security men known as "Pecalang" who will
monitor and patrol the streets to make sure that the prohibitions are
observed. There is an exemption to the rule though, that emergency
vehicles carrying persons with life-threatening conditions or women with
labor pain are allowed to pass through.
