Mystique Earth

Satelite images of Ramayana bridge believed 17 500 yrs old

2011-05-12T23:04:00.002+08:00

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.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTION (with thanks)
1. Gyandotcom
2. Hinduism.net
3. gauranga.org
4. shantansblog

Dead Man Returns - The Lazarus syndrome (A second chance)

2011-04-17T21:23:00.009+08:00

(Photo above: Son, Kean Hooi with his father upon his return)

Picture this scenario. First, you receive a phone call from the hospital. The officials reveal to you that your loved one has been pronounced dead. What would your reaction be if 1 ½ hours later, the doctor calls you again to tell you that your loved one back alive? Puzzled? Numb? Going to get a second doctor’s opinion whether your loved one is really alive or dead by checking the name once again? Simply overjoyed? Call the doctor again and ask him to use a different stethoscope? Or maybe, call all your friends and relatives to have a “Welcome back, party?”

Well, a series of perplexed thoughts are sure to run wild in our thoughts if this happens to our families. Of course, the variations, your heart beat rate and the intensity differs from individuals. Your heart is certainly not going to rest easily and may have to do some extra pounding every minute to distribute more oxygen to your body and hopefully from collapsing.

(Photo above: Mr. Ng, during his younger days)

Imagine the joy, of having to call out your relatives and friends again to notify that your loved dead is back from the dead. As for their reaction, your guess is as good as mine. After all, some would still want to see him/her and pat on the back and may want to say, “Hey, your lifeline has just been renewed and extended for an indefinite period of time, don't screw up your life and health with your second chance.”

Name of patient: Mr. Ng Swee Hock
Time of incident: 10.30am / April 14, 2011
Patient's age: 65 yrs old

Incident leading to the patient's condition:
It was reported that the 65 yr old man had a quarrel with his 70 yr old brother outside their house at 10.30 am. The 65 yr old brother sustained injury on the right hand and collapsed just as he reached home.

Chronology of events as reported:
10.30am: Quarrel with 70 yr old brother & sustain injury on right arm. Collapsed as he returned home.
11 am - 12 noon: CPR conducted but failed to revive
Approx. 1 pm: The son, Mr Wei (26 yrs old) goes to the Police Dept with his mother to lodge a report to obtain his father's death certificate
1.30 pm: The doctor calls the son, Mr. Wei to inform that his father is alive again

The family members reaction: Overjoyed
Patient's current condition: Still unconscious and reported to be supported by a ventilator machine.

ANOTHER LAZARUS CASE

(Picture Above: Michael Wilkinson, reported on 11th June, 2009 to have undergone Lazarus syndrome. He survived a normal life for another two days after his "first death" before passing away permanently for the second time)

There are only 38 reported cases of Lazarus syndrome worldwide making Mr. Ng's case no. 39. Well, that's what happened on April 14th, 2011 when a 65 year old man, Mr. Ng who was pronounced dead returned alive just 1 ½ hours later. Here are further details:

I paused and thought about who would likely welcome this syndrome with relief and with great joy. The insurance companies for they do not have to pay death benefits. Second would be the Police, the investigation time can be shortened if the murdered victims come back to life and provide significant information that could lead to the arrest of the criminal. But, I shudder to think what if criminals come back to life!!???

On the same day, April 14th, while the Tamils were welcoming the new year (Tamil Calendar "Kara" Year), Ng's family had a new life to start with. I wish Mr Ng a speedy recovery and a meaningful life ahead.

LATEST UPDATE: APRIL 26, 2010
After 12 days of sustaining life with the support of life machine, the family members of Mr Ng at the advice of the doctors had finally decided it is time to let him go in peace. He was brought back home, and the son slowly whispered to his father, "Dad, you are now at home and the family members are with you. Do not worry about us, as we are adults and capable of taking care of ourselves. You can now go in peace."

My condolences to the family members on their loss.

Contributions:
1. Star Online
2. Mail online
3. Sundaily Online
Further readings related:
Further readings related to above can be found here, here, here, here, here, and also here.

Case of a Photographic memory

2011-04-07T22:34:00.004+08:00

This is about an autistic man, who has an incredibly amazing ability. Mostly his videos are titled Beautiful Minds: Stephen Wiltshire and you should check out his drawings produced from the recollection of his memory.

If you have not seen this, I am sure you are going to enjoy it.

Giant Footprint in Penang, Malaysia

2011-03-24T22:40:00.015+08:00

In a place called Batu Maung, located in the state of Penang, Malaysia lies a Chinese temple known as the "Sam Poh Footprint Temple". The temple was built only in 1993 and the local Chinese fishermen here are said to pay respects to the temple before going out to sea each day. Therefore, this temple is currently only 18 years old.

The history (before the temple was erected):
Originally there wasn't any temple erected for this foot print.

(Photo above: Taken before temple was erected)

According to locals, the foot print which is stamped on solid rock is believed to be more than a century old. (Himanshu Bhatt-Neo Sentuhan)

The size of the foot print: 33 inches / 0.85 meters

What the locals believe:

1. The Chinese
The Chinese believe that the footprint belongs to Admiral Cheng Ho (Admiral Zheng He)from China whom the locals called "Sam Poh Kong".

Who is Admiral Cheng Ho?

Historical accounts points out that he was a Muslim born in the district of Yunnan Province. He had led seven sea expeditions in the 15th Century believed to be between years 1405-1433 on behalf of the emperor from reign of Emperor Yong Le. Has traveled across Southeast Asia and visited several ports including Ayutthaya, Melaka, Palembang, Surabaya, Aden, Champa, etc.

A quote from an Indonesian Islamic scholar, Hamka says, "The development of Islam in Indonesia & Malaya (Malaysia was still known as Malaya until Sept 16, 1963)is intimately related to a Chinese Muslim, Admiral Zheng He." It is believed that he left behind many of his Muslim crew members in Malacca after building warehouses, granaries and stockade because the local community in Malacca was also Muslim.

After Zheng He's death, all expeditions were suspended and the ensuing result 400 years later is that the Hanafi sect that originally was amongst the Chinese became lost and absorbed into the Shafie sect of the locals. Later, the Chinese were discouraged from converting into Islam. The result: Many of the Chinese Muslim mosques became the San Bao temples commemorating Zheng He. As time passed by, the influence of Chinese Muslims in Malacca waned to almost none existent. (Wang Ma, R 2003)

Thus goes the story of the Chinese belief linking the footprint to Admiral Cheng Ho.

2. The local Indians

The local Indians believe that the footprint belongs to Lord Hanuman who while leaping over the ocean in search of herbal cure for Lakshamana, Rama's brother had left an indelible mark on a solid rock.

Another account of the belief also links to Lord Hanuman who on his way to meet Rama's wife, Sita, left an indelible mark.

3. The Malays

The local Malays believe that it "Tapak Gedembai" belongs to a gigantic figure known as Sang Gedembai who was strong and feared by the locals. According to this version, one day while a villager was chopping wood, 1 piece flew high enough and caught the eyes of the nearby terrified giant who ran for his life leaving heavy footprints all over which is still visible till today.

They say that this footprint in Batu Maung is only 1 of the four footprints of "Sang Gedembai" where 3 others are available in Pulau Jerejak (Island of Jerejak), Pulau Aman (Aman island) and Bayan Lepas. All 3 others are not too far away from Batu Maung.

Photo 1/2 of Closer view of another footprint located at Bayan Lepas

Photo 2/2 below: Distant view of (cemented) footprint captured in Bayan Lepas

CONTRIBUTIONS:

1. Mr. Himanshu Bhatt- Neo Sentuhan with many thanks.
2. www.igeorgetownpenang.com
3. Asia Explorer
4. borneotip.blogspot.com
5. scenicreflections.com

Holy water from trees...

2011-03-06T17:32:00.008+08:00

First of all, apologies for the long silence once again. Just to break the silence, i am bringing in an amusing story of holy water falling down from trees. The local's have mixed feelings and like usual, some are quick to assume that the water may have some curative powers and started making some quick bucks selling MYR 5 for a little plastic container.

On the other hand, Science, authorities from Consumer Association of Penang are cautioning the locals not to be taken in awe by the unexplained until full investigation is conducted with leptospirosis in mind. This is because some are already experimenting the efficacy of the water by wiping the face and body with the "water" .

At the same time, former University UKM lecturer Prof Dr Zaidi explains that nothing is mysterious about this water possibly it is the urine of Cicadas during mating season. Another local when interviewed said in response, how come only this particular tree is showering water when the other trees also have cicadas but no showers? Well, time will tell.

Islamic Religious bodies are reminding Muslims to stay away and understandably cautioning that it is blasphemy (Syirik) to expect miracles from trees.

For some, it is opportunity and brisk business as they have put up stalls and started catering fast food for visitors. Chinese folks are going there with the hope that they might strike 4 digit local lottery as the tree might increase the luck due to the presence of a holy spirit (Datuk Kong).

Let's wait and see how this drama ends as it may take 2 weeks for the authorities to conclude the tests on the "water". So till then, the stalls can enjoy another 2 more weeks of brisk business; lottery punters can continue to try their luck for another 2 more weeks---they might either get poorer or richer.

For more details about this news, you can get it here and here .
Photo contributions (with thanks): The Star

The 16 year old girl that wouldn't grow...

2010-07-24T20:42:00.006+08:00

First of all, my apologies for my silence as i was very tied up with my project assignment. I was doing between 3-5 hrs sleep daily on workdays and work longer on weekends to complete a write up. It's good to be back again. Hope things will get back normal. And also time to catch up on my lost sleep.

Anyway, today's post is something interesting i came to learn about. It is about a 16 year old girl who appears to look like a toddler. Her name is Brooke Greenberg Doctors/Scientists can't find anything abnormal about her except that she may shed some light on how humans age. I felt a pity for her parents who are aging. There is a photo that shows her dad carrying her. How the parents may be concerned for her as they age and some fine day may pass on one fine day. Their worrying concerns could be who is going to look after their child once they are no longer around to take care of her.

Photo: Brooke when she was 1 yr old with her 2 elder sisters then, Caitlin-4yrs old & Emily 8 yrs old.

Photo: Brooke when she was 3 yrs old

Photo above: Latest picture of Brooke 16 carried by her younger sister Carla 13 yrs old.

Although she appears like a toddler, only her nails and hair are seen to grow. She has baby teeth but her bone age is estimated 10 years old. Her body is not developing as a coordinated unit but as independent parts that are out of sync, says a doctor from University of South Florida College of Medicine, Dr. Richard Walker.

There is one more fascinating fact about this little wonder child. There was a point of time when she was diagnosed with brain tumor. At that time, she slept continuously for 14 days and awoke with the missing tumor. In another incident, she had a brain seizure which doctors thought to be stroke which she recovered well without any physical damage to herself.

I hope she recovers and leads a normal life and age like everybody else.

Source: ABC News
More pictures of Brooke here: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/popup?id=7881955

A small tribute to MJ

2010-06-26T22:04:00.003+08:00

Yesterday, most of the radio stations continuously played Michael Jackson's songs. It was nice listening to them. Today, I am still hearing more requests for his songs. He had made an impact so great in the music industry that it would be difficult to forget him.

Here is a video clip of a 4 year old Xiao Bao from China with his Michael Jackson's impersonation. Quite amazing for a 4 year old who has been dancing since he was 2 years old.

Here are the videos:

To Read More ,here's the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/25/4-year-old-xiao-bao-does_n_625815.html

So, this must be Jane. Now, where is Tarzan?

2010-06-16T00:09:00.006+08:00

When I was young I believed everything i read, heard & saw. Of course, Television had the greatest impact on me as a child. I was exposed to all kinds of Superheroes, from Batman to Superman, Zorro, Man from Atlantis, Spiderman, Ironman & what not. Thank God they didn't invent "Con man".

One of those super hero stuffs were the one called "Tarzan-King of the Jungle". Just because of an air crash that left his parents dead, he learnt to survive in the woods without any Scouts training. Forget about the reef knots. But hey, this guy even had learnt to understand & speak the language of the jungles. Oh my, and i can't speak the language of my neighbors no matter how many times i hear them speak.

As for anyone living in the jungle, my question is, "Won't harm come to them in the form of venomous creatures like Centipedes, or animals like snakes, or ferocious animals like Tiger, Leopards etc? That is the question that came to me again when i came across this story of a little girl who was lost in the jungle at the age of 11. She came back as a woman who lived in the jungle for almost 18 years later without any clothes on to wrap her. The question on how she could have survived remains elusive as she is not able to utter any word. But this was a person who was with civilization for 11 yrs before she got lost. How could she have forgotten her native language? For this, i don't have the answers. Though there are some who are skeptical as she may have been fed by some hill tribe families.

She acts like a monkey, does not like the clothes she is wearing & would like to just remove them & return to the jungle. In most times, she seems to be in a world of her own with a gaze so far. She simply detaches herself from what is going around her.

More about her:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/cambodia/6468099/Jungle-woman-Rochom-Pngieng-wants-to-return-to-the-wild.html

Prahlad Jani-The ascetic who survives without food.

2010-06-06T18:48:00.004+08:00

I found something interesting. A man who has survived without any food or fluid for over 6 decades. Normally, fasting without food would lead to starvation, dehydration & eventually death. As i read about him, i learned a new word called "inedia" - the ability to live without food or fluid. Inedia is related to breatharianism in which people with such abilities that food & water are not necessarily needed for nourishment. Instead, they can rely on breath to draw on the energy of "Chi" or "Prana", the vital force by which they draw on or the energy from sunlight. This is a skill which is learned by the application of specific techniques.

The 76 year old ascetic who lives in Gujerat, India has not had any food since the age of 11 years after a spiritual experience that changed his life forever. Mr. Jani explains that he gets an elixir through a hole in his palate which helps him to survive without food or water.

More about him:
In November 2003, after over a year of coaxing, Prahlad Jani was finally persuaded to participate in a scientific research study. A medical research team of twenty-one specialists, headed by Dr. Sudhir V. Shah, had Prahlad Jani under twenty-four hours of observation for ten days at the Sterling Hospital in Ahmedabad. The team's research expertise included cardiology, neurology, urology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, renal function, pulmonary function, ENT analysis, psychiatry, general medicine, and other specialities. A series of investigations were done on Mr. Jani in each of these areas according to a pre-determined protocol, and additional tests were carried out as per suggestions of the team. At the conclusion of their intensive investigations the team's doctors were left with an unexplained mystery, unable to disprove Prahlad Jani claims.

Prahlad Jani was initially kept in ICU for the first twenty-four hours. For the next nine days he was kept in a specially prepared room with a sealed-off toilet and a glass door. The room was also equipped with video surveillance to continuously monitor Prahlad Jani. Additionally, staff persons were assigned to stay in the same room with Prahlad Jani round-the-clock to make sure that he did not eat, drink, or pass urine or stool.

To assure researchers of no possible intake of water, Prahlad Jani agreed he would not bathe during the medical investigation. Prahlad Jani was permitted a small measured quantity of water to use as a mouthwash. He then spat the water into a beaker to verify that none had been drunk. An ultrasound, which was made of Mr. Jani's bladder twice daily, indicated that there was urine accumulation, which subsequently decreased on its own without passing.

At the end of the ten days of observation, the team of doctors verified that Prahlad Jani had not taken food or drank fluids. (The average person cannot survive without water for more than four days.) The team concluded that Mr. Jani's health had not deteriorated during this study. Also, according to the hospital's deputy superintendent, Dr. Dinesh Desai, "A series of tests conducted on him show his body mechanism is that of a normal person." Prahlad Jani's survival without food or fluids remains one of those unexplained mysteries.

The following are excerpts from the research team's concluding report:

1. The protocol was strictly adhered to.

2. Mr. Jani had not passed or dribbled urine during these 10 days.

3. He has not taken anything by mouth or by any other routes not even water for 10 days.

4. All his parameters remained within the range determined by the committee.

5. He has shown evidence of formation of urine, which seems to be reabsorbed from his bladder wall. However, at present the committee does not have any scientific explanation for the same but the help of senior scientists and medical personnel of the country is being taken for the same.

We are surprised as to how he has survived despite above particularly without passing urine for 10 days and remaining generally physically fit. However, it should be made very clear that we have confirmed the claim over 10 days only and we as scientists and responsible doctors cannot say anything regarding validity of the claim of his sustaining without food, drinks, urination and excretion of stools over several years.

Dr. Sudhir V. Shah (Consultant Neurophysician, Sterling Hospital/Associate professor of neurology at K. M. School of PGMR, Ahmedabad) headed the research panel of doctors who performed this study. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Sudhir V. Shah for providing the Case Summary of this study along with the photos of Mr. Jani. To view the Case Summary of Mr. Jani in its entirety please go to: P. Jani Medical Report.

Another similar research study, also headed by Dr. Sudhir V. Shah at Sterling Hospital, was conducted on Hira Ratan Manek. Mr. Manek claimed not to have eaten since 1995. Mr. Manek was kept under scientific observation round-the-clock for 411 continuous days. During this time Mr. Manek subsisted only on boiled water. This study also left researchers baffled. Dr. Sudhir V. Shah kindly provided a copy of his article about this study which was published in Gujarat Medical Journal – March 2001. To view this report online please see: Mr. Manek Medical Report.

Source:
http://inedia.org/

Skeleton Rides Bike.....

2010-05-30T19:03:00.003+08:00

There's nothing mystical or supernatural about this Skeleton though. Except that, some of the respondents would have put runner Carl Lewis to shame. Hope this will cheer you up.

Third eye Meditation

2010-05-16T15:58:00.003+08:00

Just sharing a video explaining what is 3rd Eye Chakra Meditation all about.
It is almost self-explanatory.

The concerned & confused dog

2010-05-08T22:22:00.009+08:00

Photo: The dog barking at the riot Police.
(They are too busy to notice this dog)

I came across an interesting news about a dog. I don’t know what to call it, wonder dog or a confused dog. This incident took place in Greece. Amidst the protesters marching, this dog mysteriously never misses an occasion to take part in these protests too. And it is not with the good side of the law. Should we call him a bandit dog? Well, this dog already has a few nick-names such as the "rebel dog", "protest dog" and "riot dog" & already found it's way to the facebook. There is even a fan page dedicated to this dog.

Photo: Dog seen in Action. Fire-bomb thrown & the dog jumps to protest. But actually, this startled dog seen here seems to be reacting to a tear gas bomb exploding. Probably is screaming in pain, too. (A pitiful sight!)

Photo: The protesters may have fled the fire but the privileged dog stayed put.
Hmmmm...this is one "hot dog".

Photo:This time around the dog barks catches the attention of 3 riot police.
(I wonder what they are thinking...)

The above are some photos captured where this dog was seen in demonstrations & barks at the riot police (protesting God knows what). Where most people are airing their grouses in regards to the economic situation of their country, this dog wants its piece of say, too. Unfortunately, there was no translator for the dog when it made its barking speech that got the standing ovation from both sides of the law.
Ruff, ruff…..wow …wow …ruff..ruff…

For more details, the link: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Stray-dogs-Greece-riots/ss/events/wl/050710greeceriotdog#photoViewer=/100501/photos_bs_afp/b62f6765c4b8414c77cd9c4c7a9695bd

Reincarnation - A subject of Life again after Death

2010-04-19T01:02:00.005+08:00

Nature has many knowledge & phenomenon in store that is yet to be fully understood or discovered by human beings. When new relics are discovered from ancient sites, history has to be re-written all over again. Thus, brings to our attention, the limitation of our presumed knowledge.

In today’s post of mystique earth, the subject of reincarnation comes to my mind with the bringing forth of many claims & accounts of supposedly belonged from a previous birth. Are these truths or simply a figment of one’s own imagination? My purpose here is just to bring in these accounts for us to see. In these writings, you will find the subject written in a neutral manner, as usual –neither in support nor disagreement of the subject.

Many religions believed in the transmigration of souls from one body to another after death. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans & Aztecs believed in this. Buddhists & Hinduism also has similar faith.

There is a belief that early Christian Church accepted the doctrine of reincarnation which was expounded by the Gnostics & by numerous church fathers, including Clement of Alexandria, the celebrated Origen & 5th century St. Jerome. This theory was first declared a heresy in 533 AD by the 2nd Council of Constantinople. At the time, many Christians thought the doctrine of reincarnation afforded man too ample of time & space to encourage him to strive for immediate salvation.

Video: In the video above, a child recalls memories from past life as a pilot shot down by a Japanese during World War II.

Past Life Regression
There is a common believe by some that the problems & afflictions of current physical life could be understood by drawing on experiences of past life. Here is where past life regression comes to the picture. Here are some of the accounts of celebrities who have undergone PLR to understand a deeper explanations behind unexplainable fears & pain.

Glenn Ford

Glenn Ford, (photo above) the late famous Hollywood actor had fear of horses. In a PLR session it was disclosed that he had a fall from his previous birth.

Catherine Oxenberg.

Catherine Oxenberg, (photo above) a hollywood actress was suffering from constant stomach pains. In a PLR session, it was disclosed that in her previous life, she was held a prisoner of a Nazi camp & the pain she is experiencing are some painful experiments carried out on her.

Reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe
Dr. Adrian Finklestein, believes Sherrie Lea Laird is evidently the reincarnation of famous actress Marilyn Monroe.

Click here for the details:
http://www.johnadams.net/cases/samples/Monroe-Laird/index.html

A point to dispel
Some of these reports claim to be done scientifically or the proponents do claim that they have scientific proof of their research. The questions that normally surrounds such claims are how scientific were these research done. The methodology may come into question. There are claims by well known researchers of this subject such as Dr. Ian Stevenson who claims to possess over 5000 testimonies of past life accounts from children all over the world.

Argument in support of the theory above
When paranormal or the unexplained spiritual forms are attempted to be defined from a non-spiritual standpoint, the explanations can sometimes be quite elusive. To define this explanation requires an understanding of the paranormal realms which goes far beyond the tenets by which the 5 senses co-relate. Paranormal activity goes beyond our normal consciousness to tap on the sixth sense to source this knowledge from the sub-conscious mind.

Tibetan Sky Burial

2010-03-14T21:13:00.007+08:00

First Photo above: The body is prepared for "Sky Burial".

Second photo (below): The bones are crushed.

Third photo Below: Flour is added before fed to the onlookers, "the Vultures"

The following is a footage of the burial rites in Tibet. The people here practise a ritual known as Sky burial. It is the usual means for disposing of the dead. The corpse is offered to the vultures, known as Dakinis, the Tibetan equivalent of angels.

Some of the explanations i picked up:
1. The person who chops the body is known as tokden "realized one" or free of attachment.He is thouroughly professional. Family member do not do this job. It is neccessary to make pieces of bones and meat so that at nothing is left behind. All the remaining bones, including skull is crushed and mixed with baked barley" tsampa" and brain of the deceased and fed to the vultures at the end of the day

2. The Tokdens who perform sky burial are not necessarily monks. They do their job without repugnance and attachment.Most of them are lay pratitioners who have good knowledge of cho.Cho is a Budhist practice of offering ones body in prayer and visualization while alive, to help subdue ones ego and clinging. Accomplished Tokdens cut the corpse in Mandala style before he perform Cho to invite the vultures.

3. The person who took the video claims he heard an eerie singing voice (which can be heard at the beginning of the footage). There was no music added, according to him.

The video footage below:

Contributions:
1. Factsanddetails.com/china

The Secrets of a Fake Levitating "Yogi" Exposed

2010-02-27T22:46:00.006+08:00

It is funny as i find that the Powers of Creativity is being abused for selfish needs. What is it with people that make them go around trying to fool others? Are they trying to impress others to gain popularity due to their own low self-esteem? Or are they doing this to make a daily living from people who look upon them with awe & reverence? There is a saying that a camera cannot lie. Unfortunately, a camera is not capable of detecting lies as well.

It was quite amusing to see the paranormal detective doing his strut to expose this fake artist. Check this one out. It was quite an interesting discovery that this trick has been used for a long time to fool people.

First video (above): A Super Yogi doing a "Super Stunt".

Second video: A Shaman performing Levitation in the dark

I don't know about this one. Could it be that this is a trick performed to gain fame? Or are there some unseen beings lifting him in the dark? I can't say for sure. But he sure looks tired & is panting after the "performance". But, why the need to go through such pain? I wonder why...?

Sit back n enjoy....

The Happy Award

2010-02-14T19:18:00.007+08:00

Just days back, my friend, "the Bluesman" awarded me with this "Happy Award". Thanks for the award friend, happy to receive it.

What do you have to do? (i didn't make them but i got these same rules too):
01) Link the blogger who gave you the award on your post...
02) Write 10 things that make you happy...
03) Share it with at least 10 friends.......(i guess it's just to spread the goodwill) Spreading the goodwill is good.

As there is a condition attached to the receipt of this award, I am suppose to share with everyone the 10 things that makes me happy. 10 things only? We have so much of desires ... ;) No problem. Here goes:

I am HAPPY whenever...........

1. I am able to help someone out that could make his day a pleasant one. Even as simple as pointing directions to someone who is lost in the street looking for a place would fill my heart with joy.

2. I am happy when i am cruising down with scenic views of green mountains & hills. How i am happy when i see such views. One of my favorite is the Changkat Jering Highway which is filled with tall & thick trees which could be more than a Century old. It has survived 2 world wars but not sure about surviving the modernisation.

3. I am happy when i am sitting by the beach, enjoying the sound of each waves that hits the shores. I get lost in time in such situations. The warm & sometimes the cool breeze along these shores are a real bonus.

4. I am happy when i am able to get sufficient sleep especially on Sundays to substitute over the loss of my sleep mostly on my working days.

5. I am happy when i am in the library. I get excited & loss over the number of books there. How i want to read every one of them. I always wished there was a career for reading books in the library from 9am - 5pm daily. (Can anyone recommend me of such a job?)

6. I am happy when i get up early & fresh to have sufficient time for my morning meditation. I enjoy the tranquility & peace that i get in this simple practice.
(But minutes after, once in the road, all it takes is a wise guy or a woman to put signal light on the left & make a turn to the right. And then, the dictionary of forbidden words database enters into my mind. So much for tranquility i'd say then.)

7. I am happy when i am on the net reading my mails, articles & blogs. It is anytime better than watching the TV.

8.I am happy when i am listening to songs, especially slow numbers, sentimental or just any good compositions with good music.

9. I am happy when i am making friends through my blog. It is a borderless world where you can actually cross the borders of the world while just sitting in the privacy of your own room just wearing your shorts & without a shirt on.

10. I am happy when i do some spring cleaning in the house. After cleaning & clearing up whatever mess there is you can get the good feeling of having done something right.

So, there goes my happy-10 list. I am happy sharing it with you. And, just like the bluesman says, I am going to let them find it out themselves.

Now here are the 10 people I'd like to share this award in no special order:
1. Ely
2. Ridhhi
3. TJ Lubrano
4. Pools
5. multibrand
6. lina @ happy family
7. Pokagon member
8. Jonathan
9. River of Karma
10. Live a Beautiful Life

The Flying Mosque Dome

2010-01-31T17:50:00.003+08:00

Photo above: The flying dome

This is an interesting event that shows the dome flying when it was just about to be replaced. The event took place in Kailolo, Haruku Island, Maluku-Indonesia, in 2003.

There are some who refute this as a bluff, some believe that miracles do happen. There are also some quarters that believe that this is the work of a Muslim Jin. This incident was reported in the Indonesian TV, Trans 7. As the dome flew higher, the video shot also includes the clouds. As it flew higher, i noticed a strange formation in the clouds. Check it out! Details of this paranormal incident can viewed in this video below.

Video above: The flying mosque dome as reported by Trans 7, Indonesia

Photo Contribution: www.picklog.org

Remote Viewing

2010-01-16T17:57:00.011+08:00

The ability I'd like to write about today is a subject called remote viewing. No, it is not remote control gadget for the electronic appliances such as TV, DVD player, fan, air-conditioner, etc. It is a subjective topic of a perceived ability of the mind. The person (remote viewer) tries to sense an object (also called "target") which is usually located far & not visible within the perimeter of an eye's vision. In another words, using ESP (extra sensory perception) to obtain information in a far distant place.

Graphic below: No,... remote viewing is not about remote controls.

One of the well known proponents of remote viewing is Russel Targ, a para-psychologist.
See photo below.

Here is Russel Targ's story:
"One day, while we were working with Pat Price, he didn't arrive for the scheduled experiment. So, in the spirit of the show must go on, I spontaneously decided to undertake the remote viewing myself. Prior to that, I had been only an interviewer and facilitator for such trials. In this series we were trying to describe the day-to-day activities of Hal Puthoff as he traveled through Columbia, in South America. We would not receive any feedback until he returned, and I therefore had no clues at all as to what he was doing. I closed my eyes and immediately had an image of an island airport. The surprisingly accurate sketch I drew is shown below. What we learned from this trial, is that even a scientist can be psychic, when the necessity level is high enough."

Sketch above was produced by physicist Russell Targ, when he spontaneously took the role of remote viewer in the absence of psychic Pat Price.

Photo above shows the target, which was an airport on an island off San Andres, Columbia. Targ correctly saw, "Ocean at the end of a runway."

So, what exactly is the grand deal about the remote viewing, one may ask. Actually, it is no big deal but can be a big deal if one really can perform such a feat. After all, Einstein did once say that the average humans use less than 9% of the total capacity of the mind. It would bring no harm to add another % to enrich the capabilities that one can have.

Remote Sensing??
Remote viewing is not remote sensing. Remote sensing is a technology involving the use of sensors placed on platform moving at a far distance from earth's surface and it can be used for collecting data of the earth for the purposes of inventorying and monitoring.Technology refers to satellite, computer, image processing application, etc. Sensors consists of multi spectral electro-optical, radar, laser, camera, etc. Finally, the platform used for this technology are satellites, aircraft, balloons, etc. and certainly has nothing to do with the ability of the mind. One special features of this remote sensing is however is that it provides a bird's eye view coverage of large areas providing simultaneous different spatial information which is very suitable for integrated development planning & monitoring. Funny, I think the satellite viewing should be named remote viewing instead of sensing & vice-versa.

Photo above: Remote sensing via satellites.

As i was thinking....
What would a person do if suddenly the person finds he/she is capable of pinpointing a target with great accuracy?

Would he/she begin to look for the "pot of gold" under the rainbow?

Photo: Is there really a pot of gold under the rainbow?

DISCOVERING HISTORICAL SITES
Finding out the archaeological sites that are yet to be discovered. There are many hills, mountains & jungles. Quite a number have been discovered with startling stories to tell, such as the Bujang Valley & the Kota Gelanggi, Kumari Kandam, Machu-Pichu, etc.

CRIME
What are the possibilities or percentage of locating missing persons? Possibility of crime victims, or rapists. Some victims are barely teenagers & yet they fall prey to this unsuspecting criminals. The recent body of a school girl who was only partly covered happened to be a rape victim. Another most unforgettable, disheartening & heart-breaking incident is the infamous Nurin-Jazlin's brutal rape & murder which took place in 2007. (See Nurin Jazlin's pix below).

If only the child- parent both could communicate telepathically to the other or if remote-viewing is really reliable with accurate results, could the tragedy be avoided...?

Finding the exact hide-out of the kidnappers location? Some victims are lucky yet some are not gifted enough to see through the next day when ransom money fails to be delivered.

However, this are but just mere possibilities. The fact remains that this phenomenon could not yet be proved with sufficient evidence or intelligible accuracy. The data produced by the remote viewer seems to contain a lot of erroneous data & is very vague. Not much of help. The CIA sponsored about USD50k as early as 1972 to conduct studies & research of it's use for intelligence purpose. In 1995, the CIA started a 20 million dollar project called the "Stargate Project". However, when the program results were not encouraging, the idea was dropped the same year. It still leaves much to be desired.

What would you do if you are endowed with such an ability?

Photo/Graphic Contributions:
1. www.coasttocoastam.com
2. nasa.gov
3. deltanewsweb.com
4. dansemacabre.files.wordpress.com
5. 2.bp.blogspot.com
6. rjuna.net
7. www.espresearch.com

The mountain recluse & the beginning of Reiki

2009-12-20T21:41:00.008+08:00

Why is it that in many instances, seekers, seers, Rishis or Saints often heard to have chosen to stay in recluse in a mountains & caves? What is that mysterious part about the mountain, hills & caves that keeps pulling these souls to such a place for inspiration? In many instances, we have seen how these souls found answers to their question, found enlightenment & achieved great many things.

I'd like to start with the story of Mr. Mikao Usui (photo below). The founder of Reiki, an art of healing. By now, it comes as no surprise to you that I am going to say that he, too, found his way towards reaching his inspiration through a recluse into the mountains.

Reiki was an ancient art of healing. It was made possible through Dr. Mikao Usui who re-discovered it in the middle of the 19th Century. This is the story of Dr. Usui's search for this secret knowledge.

Dr. Usui went to America & attended the University of Chicago & became a Doctor of Theology. On his return to Japan, he discovered some Sanskrit formulas & symbols in old Buddhist Sutras which seems to have the answers to his questions. At that time he was living in a monastery in Kyoto, Japan & has undergone training as a Zen Buddhist for 3 years. On one fine day, somewhere in 1922, he finally asked his Zen Master how to attain Spiritual enlightenment after not making much progress. To his question, the master answered in 3 words, not "I Love You" but......"Die one time".
I would have got a jolting shock if people ask you to die when you ask them a question;)

In Mikao's case, he seemed to have understood what was the intrinsic message meant by his teacher and so set forth his journey towards Mount Kuriyama. He went there with a steadfast mind to fast for 21 days until he finds enlightenment...".
(a strict spiritual practice called "Shyu Gyo" which includes meditation & fasting for 21 days)

On the arrival at the mountain, he placed 21 stones to help him take account the passing number of each day. Nothing much happened each day until the 21st day, something extraordinary took place. It was still quite dark at the time when he saw a light approaching towards him at great speed. It grew bigger & bigger until it hit right at the middle of his forehead. He first thought that he was going to die until
he saw millions of colors....." (I'll stop here)

That was the beginning of the Usui system of Reiki which is still around and practised by practitioners of Reiki today. On the way back down the mountain, he stubbed his toe which resulted in bleeding. He held it in his hands for a few minutes & the bleeding just stopped & the pain disappeared. This was the first miracle realised by him after his 21 days pursuit.

Soon after, he was able to cure many kinds of ailment. He passed on his knowledge to others & soon many learned the art & could perform healing too. Such painstaking process one has to go through to attain mastery of a subject. I thought to myself, if I had put in a little effort during my school days, I would have got better grades in my maths. (;)) Anyone know any mountains that are safe from animals & crazy insects?

PHOTO CONTRIBUTION:www.angelreiki.ru

About King Kong, Monsters & Giant Humans...

2009-12-04T22:07:00.016+08:00

What is this about the size that mankind always seems mesmerised until they come up with such doctored photos in the internet? Does size really matter? (Maybe.... at the right time & in the right place?) When I was small there was King Kong the Movie which was filmed back in the 1950's I guess. Then in the 70's they came up with the same King Kong again snatching a woman & taking her to the woods. And just recently, another King Kong movie was made. This time, the film was modified to include other Giants too such as Dinosaurs, T-Rex, Centipedes etc, etc.

In the 70's we have been exposed to Monsters & Ultraman. In Ultraman, in every episode, there is a monster just waiting for it's turn to come out from the earth. (Back in my own yard, I only see worms coming out from the soil). So, no job for Ultraman over here.

On my way back home, I do come across some banners & advertistments by the road. They are trying to sell products that enlarge certain parts of human body for pleasure or beauty. Nothing about skeletons but the theme is about bigger size here again. Hmmm... I don't know what to say about this, anymore.

HOAX No 1
Recently, a friend sent me a mail plus photo attachments of a news report claimed to have originated in Chennai, India. The mail also had photo clips of the report to "validate" the "news". The media report claims that this ancient discovery was made by National Geographic(India Division). The location of the discovery is said to be from the Northern region of India. I realised that the date was not mentioned. Anyway, I thought it would be an interesting read, so I shared it at this site.

After I posted it, another friend, the Bluesman pointed out the truth about the claims. Feeling disgusted with my naivety, I probed the site & discovered that it is doctored. Immediately, the post was removed from my blog. "No space for such untruths," I said to myself.

Well, today another friend shared with me another mail with giant sized skeletons. Would I be fooled again? As expected, I did some searching & walla...I saw the truth, the whole bony truth & nothing else than the naked skeleton truth. Therefore, the post I cancelled is re-posted with a different title, theme & added hoax relating to human skeletons.

HERE ARE THE PHOTOS OF HOAX NO 1: Skeleton remains of Mahabarata - Chennai, INDIA.

HOAX NO.2: 47 INCH HUMAN FEMUR

So, the last 6 sets of photo is supposedly have been discovered in South East of Turkey at the Euphrates valley where many tombs of the giants were said to be uncovered. Great Find, yeah. What is the next story? Godzilla were actually household pets of the giant humans when dogs were too small to be spotted?

My sincere apologies to my fellow bloggers, TJ, Lita & LifesHighway for earlier posting about the story without checking the authencity of the news.

Suggested Reading:
http://www.historybuff.com/library/refbarnum.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/photogalleries/giantskeleton-pictures/index.html

Another Mysterious Mat

2009-10-04T23:41:00.005+08:00

Here's another mysterious incident that took place a day ago. A Muslim couple were arguing about the direction of their position to do prayers (Qiblat). Shortly after the arguement, they left the scene to do some household chores. The husband went to bath the child & the wife had some clothes to iron. Moments later, the wife came rushing towards the husband upon the discovery of something very unusual. She led her husband to the prayer room to witness the position of the mat which appears to be a form as though a lady is doing her "ibadah" (prayers). (See photo above)

The news spread quite fast & some relatives brought their compass to verify if the position (Qiblat) faced by the mat is correct direction & strangely enough it was verified to be correct. At the advice of the Religious Officers, the husband folded the mat to prevent muslims to sway from the Teachings of Islam by speculating or having erroneous interpretations of such incident.

Source: Utusan Malaysia

Resurrecting the dead & gone.

2009-09-27T22:31:00.008+08:00

Life After death has been a subject that has gained the attention of mankind from the days of Yore. From the ancient age of the Pharaohs we have been introduced with Mumies who are yet to awaken from their sleep & their pots of Gold still lying there as good as they were & unaffected by age. But seriously, can men really defy age and reverse the process of death? Is there really is a mechanism that has ever succeeded since time immemorial?

Here's an interesting story! This is a TRUE STORY (news)
Once upon a time, there lived a cult in a far far place (not too far) called Penampang, in city of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. This cult had a leader among them whom they trusted to possess Jesus Christ like powers. About 13 months ago, this leader of their sect, Ching Chi Vui @ Ivan who was 37 yrs then had died prematurely to causes which are still under investigation.

Yesterday, the local Police authorities stormed at a house in a residential area to find his body wrapped in plastic bag. The condition of his body was highly decomposed & there weren't unlikely any signs of resurrection much likely to take place. Although the body was badly decomposed, funny though that the neighbours did not smell any stench from the air.

The followers were trying to revive him for the past 13 months by inciting prayers tirelessly. At the time the Police stormed the house, 3 ladies were seen busy in prayers. As I read this, I wondered what makes a person go on doing such an impossible feat to such an extent? Is it blind love to the Spiritual Master? Hypnotism? Lower level education thus easily conned? Or the "Master" may have acquired some Psychic abilities that enabled him to perform some tricks or feats which was enough for this people to believe that he was a Saint or a Prophet?

While the "Sisters" were busy trying to bring light to the dead, they forgot to pay the dues to the authorities that provide them light at night. The Electricity & Power has been cut-off for some time but their "Operation Chanting" continued till the wee hours of the morning. This didn't go down too well with the local residents who lodged a Police Report & the rest was history.

The Final Message of this Spiritual Leader:-
"Not to bury him on his death as he would come back to life".

The Final Say from his avid Follower!!:-
"Do not Touch Him or you may risk his chances of returning from the DEAD"!!

The Latest Progress:-
Post-Mortem is being carried out to determine the "Prophet's cause of Death!

I think this would make an ideal story for another CSI or CSI Miami episode.

SOURCE: The Star

Spontaneous Human Combustion

2009-08-31T23:37:00.009+08:00

I have heard of combustible materials during Fire Prevention & First Aid Course, but I find that the term spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) is a way too mind-boggling a subject. Imagine a person going up in flames for no reason at all. It goes like this: Spontaneous Human Combustion is a name used to describe cases of burning of a living human body without an external source of ignition. Wow...say what? Burning without external source of ignition?

To date, there are over 200 reported cases that has been compiled for the past 3 Centuries. Although, in the past, due to the lack of modern technology, much is depended on hearsay & there is a lack of photographic evidence.

Some Cases of SHC
Case No. 1: Debbie Clark
In September 1985, a young woman named Debbie Clark was walking home when she noticed an occasional flash of blue light.

“ It was me. I was lighting up the driveway every couple of steps.
As we got into the garden I thought it was funny at that point. I was walking around in circles saying: 'look at this, mum, look!' She started screaming and my brother came to the door and started screaming and shouting 'Have you never heard of spontaneous human combustion?' ”

Debbie's mother, Dianne Clark:
“ I screamed at her to get her shoes off and it [the flashes] kept going so I hassled her through and got her into the bath. I thought that the bath is wired to earth. It was a blue light you know what they call electric blue. She thought it was fun, she was laughing.

I was not wearing any nylon clothing [at the time of the flashes]. I used to suffer a lot with static electricity so I tended not to wear anything nylon. I used to crackle with static when taking off my clothes and if I touched any metal thing it used to hurt me. I used to have a lot of trouble with electrical things. They would break down or blow up. ”

Case No 2: Susan Motteshead
In winter 1980, Cheshire, England resident Susan Motteshead was standing in her kitchen, wearing flame-resistant pajamas, when she was suddenly engulfed in a short-lived fire that seemed to have ignited the fluff on her clothing but burned out before it could set anything properly alight.

“ I was in the kitchen and my daughter just screamed out that my back was on fire. As I looked down it sort of whooshed all over me. It was like yellow and blue flames all over me. I was not burned at all. Not even my hair was burned. ”

The daughter, Joanne Motteshead, confirms this account and adds that the fire brigade arrived and tried (unsuccessfully) to set fire to Susan's pajamas.

I had just washed and dried my hair [at the time of the incident]. I used to have a lot when I was younger. I used to get shocks from touching fridges, things like that.

(These first 2 accounts are reported in a book entitled "The Entrancing Flame" by John Heymer. )

Case No 3: John Irving Bentley
Bentley was last seen alive on December 4, 1966, when friends visiting him at his home said goodnight to him at about 9:00 P.M. On the following morning, December 5, Don Gosnell, a meter reader, let himself into Bentley's house and went to the basement to check the meter—since Bentley could only move about with the help of a walker, Mr. Gosnell had permission to enter as necessary.

While in the basement, Gosnell noticed a strange smell and a light blue smoke. Intrigued, he went upstairs to investigate. The bedroom was smoky and in the bathroom he found Bentley's cremated remains.

All that was left intact of the aged doctor was the lower half of his right leg with the slipper still on it. The rest of his body had been reduced to a pile of ashes on the floor in the basement below. His walker lay across the hole in the floor generated by the fire. The rubber tips on it were still intact, and the nearby bathtub was hardly scorched. Gosnell ran from the building to get help, screaming "Doctor Bentley's burned up!".

Case No 4: Mary Reeser
On the night of July 1 – July 2, 1951 she burned to death in her apartment and the nickname "The Cinder Lady" was given to her posthumously by the local media.

The alarm was raised at about 8 a.m. July 2 when Reeser's landlady, Pansy Carpenter, arrived at her door with a telegram. Trying the door, she found the metal doorknob to be uncomfortably warm to the touch and called the police.

Reeser's remains, which were largely ashes, were found among the remains of a chair in which she had been sitting. Only part of her left foot (which was wearing a slipper) remained. Plastic household objects at a distance from the seat of the fire were softened and had lost their shapes.

Reeser's skull had survived and was found among the ashes, but was 'shrunken' (sometimes with the added descriptive flourish of 'to the size of a teacup'). The extent of this shrinkage was enough to be remarked on by official investigators and was not an illusion caused by the removal of all facial features (ears, nose, lips, etc). The shrinking of the skull is not a regular feature of alleged cases of SHC, although the 'shrunken skull' claim has become a regular feature of anecdotal accounts of other SHC cases and numerous apocryphal stories. However, this is not the only case in which the remains featured a shrunken skull.

Possible Causes???
1. There actually was an external source of ignition that does not present itself after the victim of SHC is found.

2. (Unscientific explanation) Paranormal explanations suspicion of to evil ghosts or demons as having caused this bizarre phenomenon.

3. Since every human body contains varying strengths of electrical field and the human body also contains flammable gases (mainly methane in the intestines), an electrical discharge could ignite these gases.

However, Arthur C. Clarke the author of 2001 has this to say about SHC, "There's one mystery I'm asked about more than any other: spontaneous human combustion. Some cases seem to defy explanation, and leave me with a creepy and very unscientific feeling. If there's anything more to SHC, I simply don't want to know.

I have seen self ignited cases as commonly reported during demonstrations where some just douse themselves with kerosene & light themselves up. What a painful & suffocating way to die (I often say to myself when I read such reports). Perhaps, such occurences are pretty rare & there is not sufficient information to find out the exact truth behind this unexplained phenomenon. Perhaps, Science will some day. But until then, these bizarre incidents will continue to baffle mankind who in turn try to speculate with various hypothesis & explanations.

CONTRIBUTIONS:
1. LISTVERSE.COM
2. PARANORMAL PEOPLE ONLINE

The Miracles in Medjugorje

2009-08-02T14:15:00.007+08:00

The event that I am about to narrate happens in a small village in Bosnia-Herzegovina called Medjugorge. Here, there are countless cases of unexplained phenomena, miracles and the healing. The claims are that Mother Mary has appeared in Medjugorje every day since June 24, 1981 to present. She has been giving messages ever since to this present day!

They are Messages of Peace and Love, and are meant to guide the followers to a closer relationship with God. Beginning on March 1, 1984, "Our Lady" began giving Weekly Messages to St. James parish in Medjugorje and the World. Then, on January 25, 1987, Lady began giving these Messages on the 25th of each Month. After 28+ years, "Our Lady" still appears to 3 of the visionaries daily (Marija, Vicka, and Ivan). The 25th of the month message is always given by "Our Lady" to the visionary Marija.

"Our Lady" continues to give messages to six people from the village of Medjugorje: Ivan, Jakov, Marija, Mirjana, Vicka, and Ivanka. These six people (referred to as "visionaries") have had apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary since June 24, 1981. In addition to these messages, Our Lady is to give each of the six visionaries a total of ten "secrets" or happenings that will occur on earth in the near future. Some of the secrets pertain to the whole world while others concern the visionaries themselves or their local village. Only one of the secrets so far has been revealed by the visionaries. Our Lady has promised to leave a supernatural, indestructable, and visible sign on the mountain where she first appeared.

The Unusual dance of the Sun....
Dr. fra Ljudevit Rupcic, the Medjugorje apparitions were accompanied by many unusual phenomena, both in the sky and on the ground, especially by miraculous healings. I myself, with about a thousand pilgrims, experienced one unusual dance of the sun. That manifestation was so unusual and obvious, that everyone without exception classified it as a miracle.

Dr. Fra adds,"None of those present remained indifferent, which I myself was convinced of by questioning the others who were present. The joy, the tears, and the statements of those present strongly confirmed it. From their words, it could be seen that they understood that manifestation as a confirmation of the authenticity of the apparitions, and as an incentive to respond to the Medjugorje messages by accepting them. And that is the real purpose of miracles: to help people believe and live by faith because they stand in the service of the faith and of the salvation of people."

Regarding the luminous phenomena in Medjugorje, a professor employed in Vienna, an expert in that field, admitted to me that he studied them in Medjugorje for a week. At the end, he told me: "Science has no answer to these manifestations." Although judgment about miracles does not belong to any natural science nor to science in general, but to theology and faith, nevertheless, the judgment of science is very important because where it leaves off, faith takes over. It is very significant that many events were understood by the faithful as a real miracle.

However, it is well known that several hundred of them have been reported and attested to. Several of them have been thoroughly examined and scientifically-theologically elaborated, and there is no serious reason whatsoever to doubt their supernatural character.

Miracle Healings:-
1. The first testimony was given by Nicolo Pacini from Florence. At 13, he was struck with muscular dystrophy that caused his hands to remain closed. He could not walk either when on of his foot got twisted. This then followed with another foot & the other hand. So, he was left with clenched hands & twisted legs. Not being able to walk anymore, he was rather very dependent. Then, a lady came to his house & spoke about Medjugorge. In his dreams, he saw a vision of the statue of Blessed Virgin inviting him to "Come, come!". Finally, he decided to visit the church. To his surprise, the vision he had in his dreams are the exact statue which is right before his eyes.

And in his own words, he explains,"I listened with great attention to the prayer in progress. In fact, it was the Mass, and then it happened: my right hand, which had been closed since May, opened itself very slowly. I came out of the church with the hand completely free, and I moved it perfectly. I was in my wheelchair, but my hand was cured.

The next day, Saturday, December 8, 1990, about 9 a.m. in the morning, we returned here to the church, and I told my friend who had spoken to me about Medjugorje of the dream which I had had of this statue. We went to see it in the garden, and I took two souvenir pictures. At that moment I felt the desire to get up. I got up and everything was normal. I walked and now I am truly well.

2. Nov. 12, 2004 — While many cancer survivors have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, Arthur Boyle says his story is nothing short of miraculous. The Boston man's fight began when he was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney. The situation became desperate when doctors realized the cancer had spread to his lungs.

Motivated by faith and a determination to live, Boyle made the journey to Medjugorje. Boyle said he believes the journey there saved his life. When Boyle returned home, a CAT scan showed that one nodule on his lung had disappeared and two others had shrunk to an insignificant size. His physician, Dr. Francis McGovern of Massachusetts General Hospital, says the sudden change was certainly uncommon. "He has not received any other additional treatment. At this time we consider him without any evidence of cancer," McGovern said.

SOURCES:
1. Medjugorje.org
2. Medjugorjeusa.org/miracles

Out of Body Experiences...

2009-07-12T02:16:00.004+08:00

Have you ever had a dream as if you were flying? Have you seen yourself floating in mid-air & watching yourself sleep. Have you had dreams of seeing yourself walking through solid barriers? If you have answered "Yes" to any one of these questions above, chances are that you might just have recalled one of your own "Out-of-Body-Experiences" (aka OOBE).

Understanding OOBE?
When your spirit body detaches from your physical body, that is the beginning of your journey. Many who have had such an experience do claim to have seen a silver thread or cord connecting from their physical body to their astral body. People who are departed are reported as not possessing this "silver cord".

Near Death Experiences
Some have reported seeing their body when undergoing surgery or operation. Some people have experienced seeing their liveless body during an accident. A friend of my brother once told my brother that he saw himself floating in mid-air after an accident. He saw onlookers at the scene, his vehicle & his own body lying on the road...lifeless. On seeing his own body, he was so shocked and the next moment he was gasping for breath & full of pain.

Can you see a person who is in Astral Form?
No. Not directly. You either have to be a "Clairvoyant" or in an Astral form yourself to see another person in his Astral Form.

Can you induce yourself for an out of body experience?
Yes. There are many techniques available. One of the prominent figure in this subject, Monroe has developed some techniques to achieve this.

So, what would you be able to do when you are having an Out of Body Experience?

1. Able to Leap Tall Bulidings in a Single Bound;
(Move)Faster than a Single Bullet
.....just like a Superman, but there won't be anyone to see you do that.
Nope, you can't stop moving trains like Spiderman or Superman either ;)

2. Able to walk through the Great Wall of China just like David Copperfield.
But there won't be anyone to cheer you at the end of your feat ;)
Cos' there will be no one watching you.
Maybe dead spirits wondering what you are trying to achieve :)

3. Vacations for FREE.
Able to travel to exotic places...Pyramid, Hawaii or anywhere!
No flight charges or duty charges. No passports required.
It has become a borderless world, just like the internet.

4. Become an astronaut without a space shuttle. Fly right to the destination.

5. Meeting Spiritual Masters.
This is interesting.

Now, ..... me doing Astral travelling? Nay, Never!
I have been excited about it when I was 15 yrs old. I had tried several methods but never succeeded. It is a spooky experience. I wouldn't advice this to anyone who is afraid of ghosts.

Contribution
1. Beamsinvestigations
2. Near-death.com
3. Supermanfanart
4. Nifty.com

The mystery of the Floating Mat in Mosque

2009-07-03T19:45:00.006+08:00

Just 3 days ago a mystifying incident took place in a mosque in Trengganu, Malaysia. The Crystal Mosque, as it is known, has attracted quite a lot of local public interest after the strange incident took place. Thanks to the advancement of Technology, a lady was able to capture this incident with her mobile phone camera.

The photo shows the carpet slowly inching, oblivious to the man, in prayers.

The photo has sparked fears among the rural folks who might believe it to be the work of evil spirits or genies, haunting the mosques. However, the chief "Imam", Uztaz Azizi Saidi dismisses this as hardly a phenomenon. He claims that such occurences have also taken place in Saudi Arabia. He believes that this is a sign that Muslims are distancing themselves from prayers.

(Source: The Star, June 30th, 2009)

The Lost City of Kota Gelanggi

2009-06-03T20:07:00.006+08:00

The Lost city of Kota Gelanggi was detected by satelite maps which confirms the existence of these structures and visible on site. "MACRES" or Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing revealed this. Refer to the photo below. This structure apparently matches with the aerial photographs taken by a Canberra based independent researcher, Raimy Che Ross. The satelite image proves that these structures are even larger than earlier presumed. Raimy believes he has found the lost city of Kota Gelanggi. He says, "Call it by any other name, but this is definitely the Lost City of Kota Gelanggi.

A Kuala Lumpur-based Geographical Information System (GIS), mapping and remote sensing consultant who analysed the satellite image further attested to this. They reveal, "Johor (southern state of peninsular Malaysia) does not have natural rock formations and what is seen in the satellite image is man-made. The lines could be walls or trenches," he said. But, besides supporting this hypothesy, they don't rule out former logging trails, fluvial networks caused by receding waters of a dam which is the result of sedimentation.

On the possibility that some of the lines seen on the satellite image were modern-day fences, the consultant said, "Fences are never built around dams in the country. I suspect these could be 'fences' built long ago." He said it was necessary for the authorities to go and verify the authenticity of the site.

Theories and theories......
Scholars & Historians are speculating:-
1. That the city was part of the "Ayuthia Kingdom" (Ancient Siam now known as Thailand) & may be the unidentified Naksat city of the Siamese folklore. Hence, the the word "Gelanggi" could be a mispronounciation of the Thai word "Ghlong-Keow" meaning box of emeralds or treasury of jewels.

2. The Malay annal, "Sejarah Melayu" (meaning History of Malay) has mentioned that the main fort of Kota Gelanggi was made of black stone & was named "Kota Batu Hitam" in Malay meaning "Black Rock City". Sejarah Melayu is a 17th Century Malay text.

3. Ancient Tamil inscriptions otherwise inform us that during the era of south Indian Chola Dynasty in 1025, after destroying the Malay Kingdom, Gangga Nagara.
(Some time ago, I wrote about the "the Bujang Valley" finding leading to ancient Indian settlers in the northern part of peninsular Malaysia)

Conclusive Finding?
On April 28th 2006, the Malaysian National News Service (Bernama) reported that the "Lost City does not exist". Khalid Syed Ali, the Curator of Archaeology in the Department's Research and Development Division, said a team of government appointed researchers carried out a study over a month in July last year [2005] but found no trace of the "Lost City".

However, Khalid later added that 'the Heritage Department (Jabatan Warisan) does not categorically deny that it exists, only that research carried out until now [over the month of July] has not shown any proof that can verify the existence of the ancient city of Linggiu [sic]' (Azahari Ibrahim, 'Kota Purba Linggiu: Antara Realiti dan Ilusi', Sejarah Malaysia, July-August 2006, p.37). When pressed for details, he revealed that Che-Ross was not involved in the museum's search team for the lost city.
(........hmm why do i smell a dead rat?)

New findings in 2008.
Late in May 2008, the Malaysian Press reported the discovery of an ancient bronze vessel or Kendi near a river close to Mentakab, Pahang Darul Makmur that may be connected to the ancient city of Kota Gelanggi in Johor Darul Takzim. Both sites are linked by a network of rivers once believed to form a trans-peninsular trading route cutting across the Malay Peninsula. (Ahem.... Heritage Dept, any comments? ;)

It does not really matter to which culture/people/religion the "Black Rock city" belongs. It can be a Malay, Thailand, Hindu, Portuguese, Punjabi, Australian aborigines, Africans, Kunta Kinte, Ku Klux Klan, Mongolians, red indians, black indians, yellow indians, purple indians or......whatever.....!Hmm...our future generations have a right to know, too. History ought to be told as it is and not be swept under the carpet. Not disclosing the find just proves the shallowness of the mind of those concerned with this task at hand.

Some wise sayings...

2009-05-29T22:23:00.005+08:00

1. There are a lot of things that go into creating Success.
I don't like to do the things I like to do.
I like to do the things that make the company succeed.
I don't spend a lot of time doing my favorite activities.
(Michael Dell)

2. Work joyfully & peacefully, knowing that right thoughts
& right efforts will inevitably bring about right results.
(James Allen)

3. The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it;
not knowing it is to confess your ignorance.
(Confucious)

4. You cannot tailor make the situations in life but YOU
can tailor make the Attitudes to fit those situations.
(Zig Ziglar)

5. Do not attempt to do a thing unless you are sure of
yourself; but do not relinquish it simply because
someone else is not sure of you.
(Stewart E. White)

6. Business is the Greatest Game in the World,
if you Only know HOW to play it.
(Thomas J. Watson)

7. Every exit is an entry into somewhere.
(Tom Stoppard)

8. No pessimist has ever
discovered the secret of the stars,
or sailed to an unearthed land,
or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.
(Helen Keller)

9. If you look at people,
whether in business or government,
who haven't had any moral compass,
who have changed to say
whatever they thought the popular thing was,
in the end, they're losers.
(Michael Bloomberg)

10. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
(Eleanor Roosevelt)

Swami Vivekananda's sayings...

2009-05-19T19:36:00.005+08:00

When I Asked God for Strength
He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face

When I Asked God for Brain & Brown
He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve

When I Asked God for Happiness
He Showed Me Some Unhappy People

When I Asked God for Wealth
He Showed Me How to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Favors
He Showed Me Opportunities to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Peace
He Showed Me How to Help Others

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted
He Gave Me Everything I Needed

- Swami Vivekananda

Secret of Success

2009-05-18T21:48:00.002+08:00

Success = "knowing the right people," "being in the right place at the right time," and "using the right tools".
Your career is not everything; your life is.
But then, what is life without a career or a career without a life?

1. You are always on your own. Even if you work for a big company, you will always be on your own. Companies aren't people. They're things and they don't have feelings. If you are expecting the company to "take care of you or "do the right thing", you'll be often disappointed. There are no strong bonds in a company. No one cares more about your career than you do. Remember that, and don't expect the company to take care of you.

2. Certain jobs fit certain people best. You do have special gifts that fit you for some, disqualify you for others. Take time to assess your skills, temperament and aptitude in depth.

3. Careers are short-term. Your present job can end anytime, even if you own the company! Therefore, think short term. Don't take your present career for granted. Someone once described a consultant as a person who wakes up every morning unemployed. You should feel the same way. Wake up every morning feeling unemployed so that you'll appreciate your present job more and figure out what you're going to do next. Always have a "Plan B." (No kidding!!)

4. It's more important to be a "people person" than an "achievement-oriented person" who always win at the cost of others. People skills are more important than technical skills. Even in technical jobs, you have to deal with someone. The average performer who are easier to get along will last longer in his job.

5. What you accomplish today will be your calling card tomorrow. Your accomplishments will determine your marketability. In marketing yourself, it's the results that count. A soccer forward who scores in every game is easier to market than one who doesn't. So make sure you're contributing something substantial and measurable every day. And make sure you keep a written record of your results, in case you forget!

6. If you lose your job, 80% of your marketing for a new position is already done . That's right. Your reputation, results, accomplishments, people skills, contributions, friendships are all a matter of record. If you've been a contributor, if you've been kind to others and easy-to-work-with, you'll be in better demand. If not, you won't. Nobody can create friendship for you if you haven't created it for yourself.

7. Changing fields, industries, and functional specialties is difficult. The more difficult it is, the bigger the change will be. Therefore, choose your career path carefully. As management expert Peter Drucker says, " The best way to predict the future is to plan it."

8. If you're fired or laid off, don't sue your former employer. Ask yourself why you didn't see it coming; or if you did see it coming, a sk yourself "why you didn't do something about it." Figure out your part in causing the problem. Then set about creating a new, better life for yourself. There is a better life in your future.

9. Don't stay in a job you hate. Hating your job can kill you.

10. Success is difficult. If success were easy, everyone would be successful.

11. There's a special place for everyone. You can create the kind of future you want.

12. The workplace is fun and challenging. It can also be cruel and heartless. It rewards effort and planning, but tends to punish indifference and lack of preparation. Those who don't manage their careers, who just let things happen - often end up in painful, dead-end jobs and lifestyles.

13. You are in full control of your own future. No one can deny you a happy life if you decide to plan it and work for it. No one can stop you from becoming successful, but yourself.

14. It's never too late for a new beginning.

15. Align yourself with winners. Hang around with winners . Success really does rub off from others. "If you keep doing what you have always been doing, you're going to get what you've always gotten"

~ Anthony Robbins

The Frog that didn't heed the words of "advice".

2009-05-17T19:37:00.004+08:00

This is just another story to boost up your motivation for the Day!

The Frogs.
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:
1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it throughout the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.

Be careful of what you say Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

(Source: Internet)

Not all the advice are worth the taking. Some are better off ignored like the story of the frog above. We never know our fullest potential and capabilities unless we try. To shy away before even attempting is indeed a great loss.

Swine flu & Lucky swines

2009-05-10T19:04:00.004+08:00

Ever heard of the phrase, "You Lucky Swine!"?
Well, that is exactly the case in this mystique earth episode of wild boars coming to an Indian temple in Taiping, Malaysia.

While all over the world, the mere mention of the word "swine,wild boars or just pigs" would make one grip in fear or instant terror. That is not the case with the people who come to this temple called "Jada Muniswarar Temple". Strangely, people are flocking in to get an opportunity to actually touch the wild boars which they believe can bring them good luck. Most of them who come here are the ones who are hoping to strike rich after buying some lottery tickets upon touching the wild boars.

Still, there are other claims, say the temple priest, that people who come here with ailments have also found cure upon offering their prayers.

These wild boars come here daily for food. But, they come in bigger numbers in the evening about 7pm when temple bells ring. It is almost like they instinctively or trained to know that there is food being served there. Normally, wild boars being very shy animal shun the idea of being close to the presence of human beings. But again, the same does not apply here.

Some sceptics believe that these are wild boars that are trained to be tamed & is merely a gimmick. But, we wouldn't know that for sure as no one locals have yet to dismiss this as a gimmick. Currently, buses full of local tourists also make this a place to visit in their tour itinerary.

Here are some photos:

Could there possibly be another Tsunami on July 22nd 2009? (Part 2)

2009-04-28T21:38:00.006+08:00

Tsunamis are not confined to sea & ocean. It can also occur in inland lakes caused by landslides. Most of the tsunamis that was caused by the sea are generated by earthquakes. Yesterday, there were 2 separate incidents of quake reported. They were both moderate in nature. The 1st incident of quake hit the coast of Philippines at a magnitude of 5.1, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Certainly, no tsunamis triggered. The 2nd quake yesterday hit in Sulawesi province, Indonesia with a magnitude of 5.9.

Could there be another tsunami on July 22nd, 2009?
Before we go on trying to speculate about the possibilty of another Tsunami, lets have a look at some facts about tsunami in the past. I have organised it in a question & answer format to stress some important points about this subject. It took me a few days to compile this and a few hours of sleep daily. It is finally out:-

1. Does all earthquakes lead to tsunami?
Answer: No. This is too obvious a question with an obvious answer. Only quakes or landslides affecting the water such as the sea, lake or a water dam causes it.

2. Then, if an earthquake occurs in the coast will it then trigger a tsunami?
Answer: Not necessarily so. Another simple question with an obvious answer known to many.

3. Does a tsunami occurs itself without any contributing cause?
Answer: No. Tsunami is not a natural disaster that can trigger itself without a contributing agent such as landslides or quakes.

4. Are there records of tsunami in ancient days?
Answer: Yes. In 373 BC, it has struck in Helike, a city in Greece. As a result, the city was permanently submerged by sea. This city was believed to be just 2km away from the sea. Many ancient writers have commented about this incident. The narration by these writers could have inspired Plato to the myth of the Atlantis.

5. Is there a co-relation between the manitude of an earthquake to the height of a tsunami?
Answer: Not accurate. The height of a tsunami wave is not necessarily influenced by the magnitude of an earthquake. There are no corelation between the magnitude of the earthquake to the height of waves it creates.
Example: The Great Chilean earthquake in 1960 recorded a 9.5 in magnitude. The highest height of the wave recorded was only 25 meters (less than 100 feet) in the Pacific ocean. A total of 6000 people lost their lives in this tragedy.

6. What is the fastest triggering time of a tsunami from the onset of an earthquake?
Answer: Within 2 ~ 5 minutes from the onset of 7.8 magnitude quake in Okushiri, Japan. This took place in 1993.
Many local wrongly underestimated that they had enough time judging from similar incident in 1983 that took 17 minutes to arrive. They were gravely mistaken when they choose to fled by car over the narrow lanes in the village. They NEVER did reach across.

7. What is the greatest height of a tsunami ever recorded?
Answer: Interesting question.
The Highest Tsunami ever recorded till this day is the "Lituya Bay Tsunami" which occured in 1958 caused by an earthquake magnitude of 8.3 on Richter scale.
How it started: The earthquake rocked a small inlet in Alaska called the Lituya Bay. Then, what followed was a part of the mountain at the back of the bay collapsed creating a landslide which then caused a MEGATSUNAMI measuring 1 742 feet!!!
It only killed 2 people from 2 separate boats. The amazing thing that happened here is that a father & his son both in the same boat was carried above the forest & the waves later washed back to the bay, bringing them both alive.

8. Which country has experienced the highest number of tsunami?
Answer: Japan. Records has it that a total number of 195 tsunamis have hit this country since it first occured at year 684 AD during the Great Hakuho Period.

9. Has there been any preventive walls built to protect against the tsunami?
Answer: Yes. It was a successful attempt. It was built in the coastal village of Taro, now a part of Miyako City, Japan in 1958. The result: The wall saved this village from the Chilean tsunami 2 years later.

10. Has the tsunami ever occured on any prominent dates?
Answer: Oh, yes it did.

i) On the April Fool's Day in 1946, it struck in Aleutian Islands, Hawaii which killed 159 people in Hawaii & 5 people in Alaska. It is known as the April Fools Day Tsunami in Hawaii due to people thinking the warnings were an April Fool joke.

ii) The Good Friday Tsunami ~ Occured on March 27, 1964 which hit Alaska, British Columbia, California & coastal Pacific Northwest towns. This was a "Biggie" with a quake magnitude of 9.2 with waves as high as 100 feet killing 132 people.

11. Has there been any tsunami on the same dates?
Answer: Yes. April 2nd.
i) April 2nd, 1868: Hawaii
ii)April 2nd, 2007: Solomon Islands

12. Has there been any tsunami originating other than the sea/ocean?
Answer: Yes. The Vajont Dam Megatsunami, in Italy.
On October 1963, an enormous landslide of approximately 260 million cubic metres of forest, earth & rock fell in the reservoir at the speed of 110 km/hour (68 mph). It caused 50 million cubic meters of water spillage from this highest dam in the world.
It created a 250 meter high tsunami wave killing almost 2000 people.

13. Which was the deadliest tsunami of them all?
Answer: Indian ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004 which took approximately 300 000 lives. It was caused by 2nd largest earthquake in history recording 9 ~ 9.3 magnitude. The highest wave was approximately 108 feet/33 metres.

Now, after inspecting the details at the top, lets look at this prediction once again:

...............Start of prediction..................
Just a warning..!

"Hello there. I just wanted 2 let you know that please stay away from the beaches all around in the month of July. There is a prediction that there will be another tsunami hitting on July 22nd. It is also when there will be sun eclipse. Predicted that it is going 2 be really bad and countries like Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Singapore, Maldives, Australia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Philippines are going 2 be badly hit.

Please try and stay away from the beaches in July. Better 2 be safe than sorry. Please pass the word around. Please also pray for all beings."

Please be more cautious as the warnings has been given.

cid:image001.jpg@01C9B6A9.0B499630.

...........End of Prediction.................

Not all predictions are correct no matter how evidence supports them. After the deadliest tsunami of all, the Indian ocean tsunami on 26th December 2004, it was followed by strong tremors right until March 2005. This prompted a lot of attention on warning detectors to avoid catching people off-guard.

In 2005, there was an article from the National Geographic warning of another tsunami soon. Well, it is now 4 years later and that soon never came soon enough. Thank God for that. In 2005, seismologists at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland cautioned "The earthquake- and tsunami-battered region of Sumatra, Indonesia, is at risk for more temblors and killer waves" on June 8th, 2005. They further said, ""We should assume it will happen in the near future and do as much as quickly as we can. For governments to take their eye off the ball of preparedness would be irresponsible."

For more details: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0608_050608_sumatra.html

Now, do you think there will be another TSUNAMI on July 22nd, 2009?

Another Tsunami on July 22nd 2009?

2009-04-26T19:40:00.005+08:00

LOL. Here we go again. All we need now is another Tsunami prediction. Some people are going bonkers over this prediction.
Check this one out:

Just a warning..!
"Hello there. I just wanted 2 let you know that please stay away from the beaches all around in the month of July. There is a prediction that there will be another tsunami hitting on July 22nd. It is also when there will be Sun eclipse. Predicted that it is going 2 be really bad and countries like Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Singapore, Maldives, Australia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Philippines are going 2 be badly hit.

Please try and stay away from the beaches in July. Better 2 be safe than sorry. Please pass the word around. Please also pray for all beings."
Please be more cautious as the warnings has been given.

cid:image001.jpg@01C9B6A9.0B499630.

.........End of Tsunami Warning............

However, the Hawaii based NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre's Geophysicist, Mr. Gerard Fryer says there is no scientific reason for big earthquake or a tsunami to occur in July. He further reiterates that great earthquakes do not correlate with eclipses, lunar phases or the moon's closest approach to Earth. This was his answer in response to the rumours that is going around like the one above.

He further states that:-

~there are about 10 earthquakes a day exceeding magnitude of 5.

~the usual argument is that eclipses impose an unusual gravitation attraction on the earth's crust. However, variations in gravity cannot influence earthquakes because in an earthquake, the 2 sides of a vault moves in opposite directions. Gravity, on the other hand, will pull both sides the same way. Therefore, pulling both sides in the same direction is neither going to increase or decrease the problem of an earthquake.

...............End of Gerard Fryer's comments........

This reminds me of the hoax prediction that was made about 3 months just after the worst tsunami on December 26th, 2004. Somewhere in March 2005, it was predicted that a Giant tsunami will sweep the shores (I can't really recall that date). Warnings were circulated vie e-mails. And, 5 years ago, YES, I went to the beach which is hardly a kilometer away from my house to witness it. What a sucker I was then?

Off the Tsunami topic to present Economic Recession
Anyway, if those of you who need something to worry, maybe the current economic recession will be worth it. Having trouble with inflated prices & limited purchase power? Maybe you can try this: If you are a smoker & drink beverages & snacks 3 times a day? You may want to do some calculation. A cigarette pack a day may cost $10 & 3 light drinks like Cola (beer is even more costlier if daily) say $6? (Approximate figure)

So, per day = $16
per month = $480
per Year = $5760.00

And THAT is a figure certainly is worth worrying about if you are one with very little control of the habit. The staggering amount above could be saved for a vacation trip or straight into your future saving if you QUIT SMOKING & replace your coffee with plain warm water. It's healthier lifestyle & caffeine FREE too ;)

Take care. And if you decide to quit smoking after reading this post....
My Best Wishes to You and Wish that You Will Succeed in Your Endeavour.
......May the Force be With You....;)

(In my next post, it is back to the subject of tsunami. In part 2, there wil be some interesting facts about tsunamis)

The Unnoticeable Miracles Surrounding Us Daily.

2009-04-25T18:47:00.003+08:00

I came across this piece of story from the net. I thought "how true" after going through it. We pass through each day, not noticing the slightest sprinkle of miracles that guide mankind daily. The awesome sunrise and the sunset, the rain, the weather, the wonderful nature ~ rivers, waterfalls, sea, hills and mountains, the goodness of mankind (forget the bad ones), the day & the nightfall each has it's role to play in this mystique filled earth.

The story goes as reported:-
A few years ago in downtown Denver, my friend, Scott, and I saw something tiny and insignificant that changed the world, but no one else even seemed to notice.

It was one of those beautiful Denver days.
Crystal clear, no humidity, not a cloud in the sky.
We decided to walk the ten blocks to an outdoor restaurant rather than take the shuttle bus that runs up and down the Sixteenth Street Mall.
The restaurant, in the shape of a baseball diamond, was called The Blake Street Baseball Club.

The tables were set appropriately on the grass infield.
Many Colorful pennants and flags hung limply overhead.
As we sat outside, the sun continued to beat down on us and it became increasingly hot.

There wasn't a hint of a breeze, and heat radiated up from the tabletop.
Nothing moved, except the waiters, of course.
And they didn't move very fast either.
After lunch, Scott and I started to walk back up the mall.

We both noticed a mother and her young daughter walking out of a card shop toward the street. She was holding her daughter by the hand while reading a greeting card. It was immediately apparent to us that she was so engrossed in the card that she did not notice a shuttle bus moving toward her at a good clip.
She and her daughter were one step away from disaster when Scott started to yell. He hadn't even gotten a word out when a breeze blew the card out of her hand and over her shoulder.

She spun around and grabbed at the card, nearly knocking her daughter over.
By the time she picked up the card from the ground and turned back around to cross the street, the shuttle bus had whizzed by her.

She never even knew what almost happened.

To this day, two things continue to perplex me about this event: Where did that one spurt of wind come from to blow the card out of that young mother's hand?
There had not been a whisper of wind at lunch or during our long walk back up the mall.

Secondly, if Scott had been able to get his words out, the young mother might have looked up at us as they continued to walk into the bus. It was the wind that made her turn back to the card in the one direction that saved her life and that of her daughter.

The passing bus did not create the wind.
On the contrary, the wind came from the opposite direction.
I have no doubt it was a breath from God protecting them both.
But the awesomeness of this miracle is that she never knew.
As we continued back to work, I wondered how God often acts in our lives without our being aware.
The difference between life and death can very well be a little thing.

~ Author Unknown ~

Karya Siddhi Hanuman Mantras

2009-04-23T23:44:00.007+08:00

Photo: Hanuman Statue in Karnataka, India

Photo: Hanuman statue lifted to the sky during an exhibition.

Jai Guru Datta,

"Karya Siddhi Hanuman "
IMPORTANT MANTRAS AND STORY

Coming back to Hanuman story, The Pancha Mukha Anjaneya (five faced Hanuman) gave first Darshana to Seeta Devi in Ashoka Vana. He offered Seeta to carry her back home. But Seeta refused and said that she wants Rama to come, fight with Ravana and take her home.

Photo: Standing Hanuman Chola Dynasty from the 11th Century

Ravana (the villain of Ramayana) had three forms. One lives in the skies. One on earth and the other in the nether world. Hanuman killed one such form of Ravana called as SHATA KANTHA RAVANA.

Photo: Jai Hanuman 105 ft tall in Maharashtra, India

1. Another important Mantra that Shukracharya gave to the world is called CHINTAMANI Hanuman Mantra.

Chintamani means - ridding of worries. It is also good for times when you are depressed. Let us chant this Mantra. Chant along.

" VANDE VAANARA NAARASIMHA KHAGARAT
KRODHASHVA VAKTRANCHITAM
NAANA LANKARANAM TRIPANCHA NAYANAM
DEDIPYA MAANAM RUCHAA
HASTAABJAI RASI KHETA PUSTHAKA
SUDHA KUMBHAAM KUSHAADREEN HALAM
KHATANGVAM PHANI BHURUHOW CHA DADHATAM
SARVAARI GARVAAPAHAM "

Never pray that your enemy should vanish. Pray that the thoughts about that person whom you consider as enemy should vanish in you. That should be the prayer.

When you don't feel him as your enemy, 90% of the problem is solved.

Photo: Hanuman statue in Trinindad

Photo: Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda sprinkling water

2. "Karya Siddhi Hanuman Mantra":-

"Karya means wish or act.
Siddhi means realizing.
Karya Siddhi Hanuman is one who fulfills your wishes".

Karya Siddhi Hanuman Mantra

Tvamasmin Kaarya Niryoge
Pramaanam Hari Sattama
Hanuman Yatna Maasthaaya
Dukha Kshaya Karo Bhava

It means "O" Hanuman, Please put Efforts and Remove my Sadness, Affliction, Difficulties.

Message By:
Sri Guru Datta.
His Holiness Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, Mysore, India.

CONTRIBUTION: Mr. Raviraman, GBS Malaysia.
Photo Contribution: http://debu7370. blogspot. com

The Short Stay in Enlightenment-by Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji

2009-04-12T19:15:00.002+08:00

This incident was narrated 23 yrs ago by a Spiritual Master, Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji. It was a message to the students who participated in the Kriya Yoga class at "The Centre of the Light" in Massachusetts, USA. It is about a man's journey towards Self-Realisation or some call it Moksha or Nirvana. The story has a message. The message is that with dilligent practice, perseverance and patience in anything, one can see improvement that leads to perfection in the due course of time. Perfection is not something that one can achieve in such short time, irrespective of whether the field is in Electronics, IT, habit breaking, improving one's attitude, sports or even moksha in this case.

The incident as narrated by Swamiji.
Some people ask Swamiji, "I am Swamiji's devotee for 10 years. I have been associated with Swamiji for 15 years. I WANT BLISS. I WANT ENLIGHTENMENT. But, Swamiji didn't give anything. I am following Swamiji for so many years. "Swamiji, you must give something!"

There is one particular devotee from Germany. I don't recall his name. He said,

The Devotee: " I have been following Swamiji for 10 to 12 years. I want enlightenment. I gave so much money to Swamiji. I gave so many things. I have done so much service. I want enlightenment. Swamiji promised that he would give me something. You didn't give me anything for the last 10 years. My life is wasted. My time is wasted. I don't go to any gurus (guru means Spiritual Master). I don't believe in any books. I BELIEVE ONLY IN SWAMIJI. I BELIEVE. I ADORE SWAMIJI,"

Swamiji: That is how he is thinking. After 10 years, he has become "crazy" (lost control of his emotions). He came up to Swamiji at a meeting. Everybody got upset. But, Swamiji was not upset. Swamiji asked, "OK. WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

The devotee: "I want enlightenment".

Swamiji: Your time has not come.

The devotee (complains): Every year, Swamiji says, "Not yet, not yet, not yet. When?

Swamiji: I don't know. Simply follow. Do meditation. Do your work and serve your mother.

The devotee (complains again): "Why are you always giving me this same advice? I don't believe in any other guru. I believe ONLY IN YOU.."

Then things started to happen....
At this point, Swamiji spontaneously acted by simply touching the devotee's forehead and said, "OK, I give enlightenment."

Upon getting the Swamiji's touch, the devotee left the place.
He took his mother and drove away in his car. He had hardly reached only a mile and strange things soon began to unravel. In that mile, he saw many Swamiji's with beard. Thousands and thousands and thousands of Swamiji's can be seen. And the car he is driving - that is also Swamiji's body. He then looked at his mother, and she too looked like Swamiji.

(A great pressure was building in his head. So, he decided to return to see the Swamiji)

The devotee (now): "I don't want this enlightenment. Such enlightenment....I don't want anymore."

(Swamiji then gave him some water and asked him to sleep. After one hour, he returned to his normal consciousness.)

Swamiji ends this story by telling, "Enlightenment is not easy, not easy. Be ready. That's the reason you practice all kinds of yoga. Be kind. Be generous. Be calm. Be peaceful. Follow one path. Believe. Have no room for confusion. Automatically, you will then get Enlightenment and Bliss. Guru is then not necessary. You will automatically get it. When the time is ripe, YOU will get it. He (GOD), will give it.

Swamiji: We are searching. We are very crazy (going haywire). We want physical evidence. Enlightenment is not like that. Enlightenment...."that blissful power is difficult to get. So practice. Control yourself. It will come. That is Swamiji's opinion.

Source: Heart to Heart - Kriya class 1986.

(Footnote: Swamiji picked up some simple English through his communication with foreign devotees. So, the communication is very simple and plain as he has not undergone formal education in this language.

In the present days, everyone is rushing on things at break neck speed. It is a mad rat race that has no end. There are instant noodles, instant photographs, instant this and instant that. Some may even question at the end of one's life journey if all the stress in life was worthwhile. The fruits of our pursuit sometimes bears little meaning towards the twilight years of the life. Therefore, patience, perseverance and practice do makes it perfect!

Living in a Grateful World

2009-04-09T02:28:00.004+08:00

I received this Buddhist Teachings via net and I thought of sharing it here. It embraces truth with simplicity. I think if we can emulate even a partial of these sayings, we can rid off some amounts of undue stress in this stress filled earth. We do not need to embrace Buddhism to practice it. Good things are found in all religions, and this teachings below is one such example.

LIVING IN A GRATEFUL WORLD

BE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE HURT OR HARMED YOU,
FOR THEY HAVE REINFORCED YOUR DETERMINATION.

BE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE DECEIVED YOU,
FOR THEY HAVE DEEPENED YOUR INSIGHT.

BE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE HIT YOU,
FOR THEY HAVE REDUCED YOUR KARMIC OBSTACLES.

BE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO ABANDONED YOU,
FOR THEY HAVE TAUGHT YOU TO BE INDEPENDENT.

BE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE YOU STUMBLE,
FOR THEY HAVE STRENGTHENED YOUR ABILITY.

BE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE DENOUNCED YOU,
FOR THEY HAVE INCREASED YOUR WISDOM AND CONCENTRATION.

(Source: Buddhist Teachings)

Angels of Mons saves British soldiers.

2009-04-02T22:40:00.006+08:00

The Angel(s) that I am about to narrate is a little different than the norm. It is also known as "the bowmen of Mons." The story describes of a phantom bowmen from the Battle of Agincourt who was summoned by a British soldier calling on Saint George. It is a spiritually inspiring tale with a common theme to the needs of every living being. The angels rescuing mankind in times of trouble. Don't we all have problems? Anyway, this story ends with the destruction of the German forces much to the favour of the British soldiers.

The Angels of Mon-The story goes like this...
During the onset of the First World War, on 22nd August 1914,the British expeditionary forces were engaged in a place called Mons, in Belgium. The battle was also known as the "Battle of the Frontiers". During this battle, the Germans who outnumbered the British soldiers were rapidly advancing. The British who were suffering major casualties had to retreat the following day. The task of beating the Germans seemed almost impossible. New recruitment drive for the British army was needed in such short time due to the heavy loss.

Contribution of Arthur Machen to this story
There was no hope at all. Some of them bidding farewell to each other by shaking hands and saying "Good-bye". One man improvised a new version of the battlesong, "Good-bye, good-bye to Tipperary," ending with "And we shan't get there". And they all went on firing steadily. The officers pointed out that such an opportunity for high-class, fancy shooting might never occur again; the Germans dropped line after line; the Tipperary humorist asked, "What price Sidney Street?" And the few machine guns did their best. But everybody knew it was of no use. The dead grey bodies lay in companies and battalions, as others came on and on and on, and they swarmed and stirred and advanced from beyond and beyond.

The Soldier who summons "St' George"
This soldier happened to know Latin and other useless things, and now, as he fired at his man in the grey advancing mass - 300 yards away , he went on firing to the end. Finally, Bill on his right had to clout him cheerfully over the head to make him stop, pointing out as he did so that the King's ammunition cost money and was not lightly to be wasted in drilling funny patterns into dead Germans. "World without end. Amen," he said with some irrelevance as he took aim and fired.

And then he remembered-he says he cannot think why or wherefore - a queer vegetarian restaurant in London where he had once or twice eaten eccentric dishes of cutlets made of lentils and nuts that pretended to be steak. On all the plates in this restaurant there was printed a figure of St. George in blue, with the motto, Adsit Anglis Sanctus Geogius - May St. George be a present help to the English.

The sound of battle drowns...
For as the Latin scholar uttered his invocation he felt something between a shudder and an electric shock pass through his body. The roar of the battle died down in his ears to a gentle murmur; instead of it, he says, he heard a great voice and a shout louder than a thunder-peal crying, "Array, array, array!"

His heart grew hot as a burning coal, it grew cold as ice within him, as it seemed to him that a tumult of voices answered to his summons. He heard, or seemed to hear, thousands shouting:
"St. George! St. George!"
"Ha! messire; ha! sweet Saint, grant us good deliverance!"
"St. George for merry England!"
"Harow! Harow! Monseigneur St. George, succour us."
"Ha! St. George! Ha! St. George! a long bow and a strong bow."
"Heaven's Knight, aid us!"

And as the soldier heard these voices, he saw before him, beyond the trench, a long line of shapes, with a shining about them. They were like men who drew the bow, and with another shout their cloud of arrows flew singing and tingling through the air towards the German hosts.

The other men in the trench were firing all the while.They had no hope; but they aimed just as if they had been shooting at Bisley. Suddenly one of them lifted up his voice in the plainest English, "Gawd help us!" he bellowed to the man next to him, "but we're blooming marvels! Look at those grey ... gentlemen, look at them! D'ye see them? They're not going down in dozens, nor in 'undreds; it's thousands, it is. Look! look! there's a regiment gone while I'm talking to ye."

"Shut it!" the other soldier bellowed, taking aim, "what are ye gassing about!"
But he gulped with astonishment even as he spoke, for, indeed, the grey men were falling by the thousands. The English could hear the guttural scream of the German officers, the crackle of their revolvers as they shot the reluctant; and still line after line crashed to the earth.

All the while the Latin-bred soldier heard the cry: "Harow! Harow! Monseigneur, dear saint, quick to our aid! St. George help us!"
"High Chevalier, defend us!"
The singing arrows fled so swift and thick that they darkened the air; the heathen horde melted from before them.
"More machine guns!" Bill yelled to Tom.
"Don't hear them," Tom yelled back. "But, thank God, anyway; they've got it in the neck."

In fact, there were ten thousand dead German soldiers left before that salient of the English army, and consequently there was no Sedan. In Germany, a country ruled by scientific principles, the Great General Staff decided that the contemptible English must have employed shells containing an unknown gas of a poisonous nature, as no wounds were discernible on the bodies of the dead German soldiers. But the man who knew what nuts tasted like when they called themselves steak knew also that St. George had brought his Agincourt Bowmen to help the English."

End of the Story. And now for the moments of Truth.
That was quite an inspirational story, or was it? Actually the writings above was mostly written by a Welsh author, Arthur Machen on 29 September 1914. It was a short story called “The Bowmen” which appeared in the London newspaper, "the Evening News". He had read about the fighting in Mons, and soon enough was inspired to write a story about it.

The only problem that Arthur Machen, (the author) didn't foresee was the effect of the story on the people. Machen had previously wrote a number of factual articles about the conflict in the same paper.

Machen's story was not however labelled as fiction and the same edition of the Evening News ran a story by a different author under the heading "Our Short Story." Additionally, Machen's story was written from a first hand perspective and was a kind of false document, a technique Machen knew well.

The unintended result was that Machen (the author) had a number of requests to provide evidence for his sources for the story soon after its publication, from readers who thought it was true, to which he responded that it was completely imaginary, as he had no desire to create a hoax.

Arthur Machen tries to explain in vain...
But the way the "news" spread was another matter.

1. A month or two afterwards, Machen received requests from the editors of parish magazines to reprint the story, which were granted. A priest, the editor of one of these magazines, subsequently wrote to Machen asking if he would allow the story to be reprinted in pamphlet form, and would he write a short preface giving authorities for the story. Machen replied that they were welcome to reprint but he could not give any authorities for the story since he had none. The priest replied that Machen must be mistaken, that the "facts" of the story must be true, and that Machen had just elaborated on a true account.

2. And soon enough, variation of the story soon began to add colour to this fiction, which was narrated as though they were authentic histories, especially one which describes how dead German soldiers had been found on the battlefield with arrow wounds.

3. In "The Bowmen" Machen's soldier saw "a long line of shapes, with a shining about them." Mr. A.P. Sinnett, writing in the Occult Review mentioned that "those who could see said they saw 'a row of shining beings' between the two armies." This led Machen to suggest that the bowmen of his story had become the Angels of Mons.

As Machen later said with regret:
"It seemed that my light fiction had been accepted by the congregation of this particular church as the solidest of facts; and it was then that it began to dawn on me that if I had failed in the art of letters, I had succeeded, unwittingly, in the art of deceit. This happened, I should think, some time in April, and the snowball of rumour that was then set rolling has been rolling ever since, growing bigger and bigger, till it is now swollen to a monstrous size."

Machen tried to set the record straight, but any attempt to lessen the impact of such an inspiring story was seen as bordering on treason by some. It just goes to prove that from time immemorial, people of the faithful type will choose to believe no matter what evidence are brought upon to the contrary. On the other hand, we also have s-c-e-p-t-i-c-s who will not stop questioning no matter what evidence is presented to them. They prefer for a scientific explanation though not all of them are scientific by nature!

Teleportation of Sister Maria de Agreda, Spain,

2009-03-25T19:14:00.008+08:00

This is a remarkable story about how a young and beautiful Spanish nun who has never travelled out of her convent, in her country's province of Soria in her entire life but yet was able to spread her missionary work to the Red Indians across Arizona, Mexico and Western Texas. She had also never, since taking her vows in 1619, set physical foot outside the walls of the Poor Clare convent in Agreda.The way she travelled is a phenomenon called "bi-location" or "teleportation".

Teleportation: The Photo above may jog one's memory of teleportation for those who have watched the Movie "The X-Men"? Sister Maria was able to do something even far more capable than the character portrayed in this movie, known as the "Nightcrawler" who performs "teleportation" - The ability to pass through closed doors...
(I'd like to see him pass through the Great Wall of China :)

Her Brief Famly Origin
Sister Maria, the 4th child of Francis & Catherine Coronel was born on 2nd April, 1602 in Her mother used to call her a "special blessing" because the labor and delivery had caused relatively very little suffering. Her parents were Spanish nobles who owned their own castle.

A brief history of her early transformation in Spirituality...
At 2 yrs old - Her parents felt that she might be endowed with some strange gift due to her precocious ability to reason.
By 4 yrs old - Her parents thought that she might be hearing voices from God as she was always seen talking and playing with invisible companions.
6 yrs old - They grew worried due to her pre-occupation with spirituality and her obsessive compassion for the poor.
8yrs old - She took a vow on chastity & told her parents of her desire to enter into sisterhood.
12 yrs old - She got her parents approval of her desire. But as she was about to leave to Sisters of Teresa convent of Saint Ann, her mum heard an instruction when she prayed. She heard a mysterious and powerful voice issue a command for her and her family to convert their castle into a convent for the Franciscan Order's Poor Clares, donate their possessions to the poor, and abandon their noble family life for the Church. She, Maria and her other daughter must enter the convent. Her husband must enter a monastery.
17 yrs old - Maria, has grown into a beautiful young woman. She clothed herself in a simple blue and gray sackcloth habit of a Franciscan nun. She bound it at the waist with a rope with three knots, which symbolized the fundamental Franciscan virtues of the order: poverty, chastity and obedience. She wore the Franciscan Crown rosary, which symbolizes the joys of the Blessed Virgin. She became Sister Maria a Jesus de Agreda.

63 yrs old - On May 24, 1665, she passes away.

The episode of Teleportation....
One day, when Sister Maria (she was 18 then) knelt down for prayer, she began to chant. As she went on, her face began to grow pale and her body began to sway. She appeared to be unconscious. This was witnessed by a beggar who claimed that a brilliant blue light enveloped her and her comatose body levitated high towards several feet above the floor. This is her 1st experience in a total of over 500 bi-locations/teleportation she had experienced in her entire lifetime.

(The photo above depicts Daniel Dunglass Home performing levitation in 1868. Sister Maria's body was also seen levitating by an eye-witness.)

And upon her 1st episode of teleportation, over the years, she has made over 500 such teleportation. In some days she uses to make 2 or 3 bi-location towards the land of the Red Indians within the same day. She instructed them in the fundamentals of the Faith, speaking to them in their own language. Her spirit carried rosaries from her cell to give to her charges. She healed the sick. She won converts. She urged them to contact Franciscan friars at the missions of the Río Grande pueblos and to solicit the construction of new missions for other tribes. If necessary, she would give her life, she said, to save a single Indian soul.

Well, it seems that the visions that went into the books weren’t the only ones Sister Maria had. Between 1620 and 1631, Sister Maria regularly went into what seems to be cataleptic trances, after which she described a strange dream in which she was carried to a strange and wild land, where she taught the gospel to strange and wild people. Between 1621 and 1629 numerous missionaries in east and west Texas and into New Mexico reported encountering Indians who had apparently never before been contacted by Spaniards or Frenchmen, who spoke no Spanish or French, who carried crosses, knew Roman Catholic ritual, maintained recognizable altars in their villages, and knew Catholic liturgy—in their own tongues. When the Spaniards asked how they had learned these things, they described a beautiful young woman in blue who had been coming among them for years, teaching them the new religion in their own languages, who told them to welcome the white skinned Christians who would eventually come to see them.

The probe begins when.....someone inquires directly to Sr Maria
The interview between the two was triggered when someone when to the church to ask the following questions following word of her abilities:
"Does anybody here know anything about a Sister who’s in New Spain teaching Indian Christianity?"
Sister Maria, said "Yes. I’m the one."
"But Mother Superior," they objected, "you’ve never been out of Castile. You haven’t even been outside the walls of your own convent since you took your vows."
"Not in body," she said, "but in spirit."

In the same vein as the reply she gave Father Benavides when he asked her where she learned to speak all the Indian languages. "I didn’t," she said. "I simply spoke to them—and God let us understand one another"

Following the above dialogue, a letter went back to New Spain, to Father Benavides, saying "You better come over her and talk to this woman, because there is decidedly something very strange going on..."

The following people testified...
1. Father Alonzo de Benavides, father-custodian of New Mexico interviews Sr Maria...
She gave him detailed descriptions of the clothing and customs of the tribes she taught—which she, as a cloistered nun, could not have know about because they either had never been written down or had only recently been observed and recorded. She gave him names of tribes and of specific individuals in tribes that he either knew or later found to be accurate.

2. Father Damian has this to say....
Father Damian Massanet, as he writes to Don Carlos de Siguenza y Gongora, a high-ranking Spanish official in Mexico, in 1690.

"While we were at the Tejas village, after we had distributed clothing to the Indians and to the governor of the Tejas, the said governor asked me one evening for a piece of blue baize to make a shroud in which to bury his mother when she died. I told him that cloth would be more suitable, and he answered that he did not want any color other than blue. I then asked him what mystery was attached to the blue color, and he said that they were very fond of that color, especially for burial clothes, because in times past they had been visited frequently by a very beautiful woman, who used to come down from the heights, dressed in blue garments, and that they wished to be like that woman.

On my asking whether this had been a long time since, the governor said it had been before his time, but his mother, who was aged, had seen the woman, as had also the other old people." Father Massanet went on to say that this was certainly the Reverend Mother Maria de Jesus de Agreda, whose story was already well known.

Further Readings:-
http://www.texfiles.com/eckhardt/ladyinblue.htm

Religious Festival from Thailand .....

2009-03-20T23:46:00.018+08:00

Here's another festival full of mystique. The festival is celebrated in south of Thailand. It is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, celebrated by the Chinese. It takes place annually on the 9th Lunar month, mostly end of September. I got these photos through e-mail. I thought it was worth sharing it here in this blog. I must warn that these photos are quite gory....

Those who took part in these Taoist festival (in which the origin dates back to early 19th Century) are required to observe strict vegetarian diet and rules for 10 days which among many includes cooking in separate utensils (for cleanliness), abstinence from sex and alcohol. Women are allowed to partake but those who are menstruating should not participate.

The practice on the whole is meant to cleanse the body and spirit with the assistance of the local shamans or mediums.

I have seen other "Mind over Matter" Festivals before but not one quite like this. Many of such kind are said to bring atonement with God. But, as I saw these photos, I could see endurance but could not fathom how these instruments helps bring one closer to God. There were varied instruments and it appears quite showy too. I tried to relate it with the vows fulfilled by Hindu devotees during Thaipusam festival but the difference that I saw was too much to spell. Anyway, that's all for the mystique practice from Thailand.

The Dreams that still mystifies me....

2009-03-13T00:22:00.004+08:00

The dream that which I am about to relate does not correspond to the goals, aspirations or ambitions that people have. It is but simply dreams that appear to us when we fall asleep. Most of us have dreams when we sleep. Some can only recall the last dream that they had before waking up. Though for some strange causes, some might say that they have not had any dreams for years. Some are even serious enough to keep a dream journal by their bedside to record any dreams the instant they get up from sleep. And finally, some at this point might want to say that they can dream with eyes wide open, but sorry, that's called "daydreaming";)

Some people form the habit of keeping a dream diary by their bedside to record any dreams that they've had the instant they wake up. The reason for doing this is that they believe dreams convey a meaning. They intend to monitor and decipher the hidden meanings behind the dreams of which they believe that the higher consciousness are trying to reveal. Scientists claim that when we sleep, our eyes moves in random directions which they call the rapid eye movement(REM sleep). It is claimed that during these times are which dreams begin to appear.

What triggered me into writing about my unusual dreams are that these dreams seems to linger vividly in my memories till this present day though I've had it more than a month ago. I would like to share it with the hope that maybe someone may have an inkling to what these symbols mean.

My Dream # 1
I was in an island, (Penang Island I suppose). As I was standing from the island, watching the mainland, suddenly a gush of heat swept through the land which came from the hill. What was happening beyond the hill was not sufficiently visible from the height I was standing. I saw the trees, houses and everything on the mainland go in ashes in just seconds. It wasn't a volcanic lava. Just a mysterious heat that was crawling through the face of earth at high speed. Strangely, I did not see any fire at all.

As the sea separated the mainland from the island where i was watching, I was not affected. The "heat wave" could not pass through the sea!

My Dream # 2
This time around, I was in a village when suddenly "the heat" was again travelling down from the Mount Jerai. It wasn't a volcanic lava. Everything including the trees, the houses and the people went into ashes in a matter of 10 - 15 seconds. Again, the earth was burning without any flames, just like my first dream.

As I was confronted with death, I tried to escape it by climbing on an antique metal box which was 3 feet high to avoid my foot from coming in contact with earth. Just as I had climbed, "the heat", by this time had already reached where I was and turned everyone into ashes within seconds including my dad just infront of me.

Later, in that same dream, I realised that there were other survivors too, just like me.

My 3rd Dream
In this final dream, I was travelling in a Van with about 10 to 14 passengers. All of them unknown to me. They were mixed races & gender but mostly women. As the Van strided along slowly through the road at night, some people were trying to tell us that there is something very strange about the sky. We saw nothing and proceeded. As we were moving along, I saw a strange phenomenon beginning to take shape. From the dark sky at night, suddenly, there was a patch of Blue light forming. This light was spreading and getting bigger as it was transforming the dark night into a shady light. (No. There weren't any UFO's coming from the light. There's no need to call in David Duchovny & Muldoon from the "X-Files" ;)

This light grew to transform into twin beaming blue light cutting the sky from one end to another end. By this time, I found many people at the roadside witnessing this event with awe.

Next comes the final part. At this point, the van was moving along a cliff with a view of a sea or lake at the bottom. This is when I saw a huge planet, across the sea, just like Sun but about 200 times the size that is visible to us daily. It wasn't the Sun because I could see both the Sun & Moon. This is a 3rd planet with the attributes of the Sun. It is in very close perimeters with earth which explains the size of it. It was glowing in light golden colour and was ready to burn the earth.

I saw fumes coming out from the lake/sea, the result of heat generated by the 3rd planet. As I turned upwards to see the hill by the road we were moving, I saw fumes coming out from the earth, too. And we were in the middle. And this time around, there was no way out. The heat was burning up from two sides and moving in closely towards us. All of us in the van looked at each other with the knowing look, as though telling it as "this is it....this is as far as life gets us". In less than a minute, all of us are going to perish, literally ashes to ashes and dust to dust.

And with that, ends my dream.......

As I said, I can still recall this dream although I don't keep a dream diary. I thought of drawing sketches of my dreams but I withdrew the thought immediately when I realised my drawing ability is of kindergarten standard.

Perhaps, some of you may be able to interpret what this dream symbolizes. I don't subscribe to being a fan of any Doomsday group. This is because for Centuries along, people have repeatedly been warning each other of the impending end of the day which never came. But, to me, whether it comes or not, "Tomorrow Never Dies" though it is the people who die anyway. The earth remains where it is. No matter what, life has to go on. We must make the best use of time and be able to appreciate and cherish whatever we have. Our time here on Earth is also limited. Our life clock is ticking every second and our days here are decreasing by the seconds. Whether we realise it or not, we are left with lesser time on earth with the passing of each second. The question is are we merely existing here on earth or are we making our existence here a meaningful one to us and others? That is what matters. Have a Great Life!

Ancient civilisation dating back to 300 AD unearthed.

2009-03-07T14:49:00.007+08:00

That was the headlines two days ago. Each time I read about discoveries of this nature I feel most intrigued. It amazes me to see how these ancient buildings, monuments, sites or statues can survive the test of time. Consider how the people of the past civilization would have lived. Imagine, No Saturday nights, no "Thank god it's Friday", no booze & No AIDS....but life was simple! Of course, they were lacking medical advancement, but people back then had limited wants and was just happy if they can meet their basic survival needs.

The Civilisation unearthed.
For the 2nd time within the same area, the Malaysian archaeologists have discovered atleast 30 ancient mounds, comprising structures like houses, clay brick walls & a Metal Workshsop dating back to approximately 1700 years ago. All of these discovered within a 3 square Kilometer area in a district called Merbok in the state of Kedah (in Malaysia). The previous excavation was at the foothill of Mount Jerai which uncovered structures, "chandi" and statues which could be described as principally religious in nature. Now, it is revealing some tell-tales of the lifestyles and activities of the people of that period.

Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang)
The Bujang Valley is a sprawling historical site located in the foothills of Gunung Jerai. It is the richest archaeological area in Malaysia. Archaeological research indicates that an ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdom ruled here as early as 300 AD. Relics of the kingdom found at the site and now on display at the Archaeological Museum include inscribed stone caskets and tablets, metal tools and ornaments, ceramics, pottery, and Hindu icons. More than fifty ancient tomb temples, called candi, have also been unearthed, many of which were built during the Bujang Valley civilization's heyday. Near the most impressive and well-preserved of these, in Pengkalan Bayang Merbok, is the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum. It is open from 9.30am-5pm daily.

Gunung Jerai
Gunung Jerai (1,200 meters) is the highest spot in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia, and as such it has for millennia served as a landmark for seafaring traders. Myths and legends concerning this peak abound. One is of a 'king with fangs' who resided at the foothills of the mountain in the Bujang Valley, now known to be the site of Kedah's ancient kingdom.

These discoveries are pointing towards a new evidence that the "Bujang Valley civilisation" existed long before neighbouring empires such as Majapahit (1200 AD) and Sri Vijaya (700 AD). Research is being carried out by the University of Science, Malaysia (USM) to determine how advanced is this little known civilisation, known by various names such as "Kadaram", "Kidaram" or "Kataha".

What remains now to be seen are some remnants of this ancient society which includes temples, tablets and drainage channels which have been found across more than 300 sq km surrounding the "Gunung Jerai" (means Mount Jerai) which happens to be the highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia located at the northern region.

Metal Workshop?
The archaeologists found a metal-smelting workshop replete with a network of furnace nozzles which was unearthed in an oil palm plantation in "Sungai Batu" (means Stone River). The system of metallurgy found here similarly resembles the techniques used in ancient India. There were also like ceramics, pots, bracelets and beads. "This is the first time that an advanced metal industry from such a period has been confirmed to have existed in this region",says Associate Prof Dr. Mokhtar Saidin from the Centre for Global Archaeological Research (CGAR) from the USM. He points out that they are gradually uncovering the remaining mounds which requires a lot of patience.

What pleases me is that the research is being conducted with a RM2.3 million ringgit. The CGAR is planning to develop the area into a heritage park with guided trail for the visitors. I am glad that money is being put to a worthy issue rather than on war. Just like the Lemuria or Kumari Kandam which has much story to tell, we hope it will be the same when the process of excavation is over.

Read more:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/06/asia/AS-Malaysia-Ancient-Find.php

The Previous Excavation Success
(Just a sample of 2 photos)

Photo below: A seated Bodhisatva

Photo below: Figure of a Lady Dancer

Muslim man kills wife for reading Bible & buries kids alive?

2009-03-01T18:50:00.011+08:00

I received this e-mail last night. It had a stunning story. I was both shocked and also relieved as I read on. Especially, how this people were able to survive buried for 2 weeks alive and how re-surrection took place. The text of the story are colored. Here goes:

Recent miracle in Egypt ! Broadcasted in CBS...

A Muslim man in Egypt killed his wife because she was reading the Bible and then buried her with their infant baby and an 8-year old daughter.

The girls were buried alive! He then reported to the police that an uncle killed the kids. 15 days later, another family member died. When they went to bury him, they found the 2 little girls under the sand - ALIVE!

The country is outraged over the incident, and the man will be executed at the end of July.

The older girl was asked how she had survived and she says:- 'A man wearing shiny white clothes, with bleeding wounds in his hands, came every day to feed us. He woke up my mom so she could nurse my sister,' she said. She was interviewed on Egyptian national TV, by a veiled Muslim woman news anchor. She said on public TV, 'This was none other than Jesus, because nobody else does things like this!'

Muslims believe Isa (Jesus) would do this, but the wounds mean He really was crucified, and it's clear also that He is alive! But, it's also clear that the child could not make up a story like this, and there is no way these children could have survived without a true miracle.

Muslim leaders are going to have a hard time to figure out what to do with this, and the popularity of the Passion movie doesn't help! With Egypt at the centre of the media and education in the Middle East , you can be sure this story will spread. Christ is still controlling and turning the world. Please let this story be shared.

The Lord says, 'I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. (Jeremiah 17)

The "news" above is stunningly impressive. As I read on, I thought to myself, " Well, atleast this story is able to restore the faith of those who are weak...". However, I wanted to verify, as the "news" above claimed to have got the coverage of CBS. Unfortunately, as I checked at CBS site, there are no records of such news ever reported.

Nevertheless, such incidents do take place on earth. Certainly not by civilised people, and not in Egypt. It is practised by the indigenous people. The following video shows a footage of children being buried alive by the indigenous people. IT IS QUITE PAINFUL TO WATCH. If you have a weak heart, PLEASE Don't watch it. In this fotage, you will also notice the women watching helplessly.... I have no words for this........

Back to the Egypt Story.
The story above has similarities with the Angels of Mons which was widespread early last century. The similarity is that they are both fake. In both cases, the story is remarkably inspiring. The faithfuls will have their belief reinforced as they hear of such stories. That's pretty ok and is harmless. But a hoax will remain as one if it is not supported by evidence to back the story. To read about the Angels of Mons, here's the link:-
Angels of Mons rescues British soldiers.

Not all the miraculous stories are a hoax either. Some can be testified with evidence, such as the case with Sister Maria de Agreda. The priest who investigated the Red Indians was quite startled with the facts presented by the Red Indians as well as Sister Maria de Agreda. Here's the link:-
Teleportation of Sister Maria de Agreda

Mahasivarathri Day

2009-02-27T22:41:00.002+08:00

Just a few days back, I watched the TV news & there was some coverage about the Oscar Winners of "The Slumdog" the movie that bagged 8 oscars. There was this Indian man (I can't remember his name) told that "...this is the best Sivarathri present for me...". MAHA SIVARATHIRI is celebrated once every year & this year it fell on Monday, 23rd February.

Sivarathiri
Sivarathri is the night on which Lord Siva's consort, Umamaheswari was said to have worshipped Lord Siva in accordance with the Vedic tradition. There are 5 kinds of Sivarathiris. These are 1. Niththya Sivarathiri (daily); 2. Patcha Sivarathiri(during the various phases of the moon); 3. Maatha Sivarathiri (Monthly); 4. Yoga Sivarathiri (Spiritual perception) & 5. Maha(the great) Sivarathiri (Annual). Among these 5, Maha Sivarathiri is celebrated with grandeur.

Above: Picture of Lord Siva

In the Indian calendar month of "Maasi" (February/March), during the descending moon at midnight on "Sathurththasi day" (the 14th day of the moon)Lord Siva has been said as have appeared in the symbolic form of a "Lingam". He is therefore refered to as "Lingothpayar". On this occasion, at every 3 hour interval from sunset to sunrise the next morning, special prayers are performed to Lord Siva. This means keeping awake the whole night through. On the following morning, after a bath, one can break their fast.

Some people resort to watching movies to keep awake. This practise defeats the purpose. Instead, it is beneficial to indulge in singing religious songs,hymns or chant the Sri Panchachaara Mantra - "Om Namasivaya" and listen to Siva Puranas (mythological anecdotes relating to Lord Siva). For fasting, drinking milk or water alone is considered satisfactory.

HH Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda & Maha Sivarathiri
The following video footage took place during a Mahasivarathri celebration. In this video, you will see HH Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji of India, performing a ritual in his own unique and inimitable fashion in a fire pit (Homakunda) & where he usually materialises objects from the fire pit & translates it as a prediction for the year to come.

Apologies for my Silence.

2009-02-22T13:11:00.005+08:00

My sincere apologies for maintaining silence for almost a month. I've been kept busy visiting my dad who was hospitalised. It was a day to day affair for the last 2 months.

My dad succumbed to Cancer early this month.
My postings will resume soon.
TQ.

Strange Architectural Homes & Buildings in Greece.

2009-01-27T02:07:00.018+08:00

I found this rather out of the ordinary from the net. These are homes and buildings erected below the hills in Greece. I presume air-condition is not necessary on hot days as the cool rock may emit a cool temperature. Most likely the nights should be cold as well. Notice the people having drinks in one of the cafeteria in the photos below. This is cool.

Here is another few photos posted to me by a nice gentleman, Mr. CJ Cristos.
He says,"This house is in Ikaria island, in east Aegen sea. It must be over 500 years there. Most of the building i found in this vilage are built using the 'back' of big rocks."

Well, thanks CJ for the input of fresh knowledge.

Kumari Kandam - The sunken land mass from the Indian continent

2009-01-18T13:25:00.005+08:00

Kumari Kandam or Kumarikkaṇṭam is the name of a legendary sunken landmass said to have been located to the south of present-day Kanyakumari District at the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean. The legend assigns the continent and its final submergence an antiquity ranging in tens of thousands of years.

Compare the photo above with the present map below to see how it is suppose to fit in. Proponents say that the land mass is "Lemuria", a different name for the same continent. The supposed sunken land seems to be covering most part of the Indian Ocean. On the East side of the land lays Sumatera & Malaysia. In 26th December, 2004, in the very same region, the world witnessed a devastating effect of mother nature when Tsunami took place. The tsunami is was the result of the shift in tectonic plate in the sea bed that recorded a tremor as largely as 8.6 in richter scale. Could it be that a Giant Tsunami, multiple times greater than what we witnessed 4 yrs & 1 month before, strucked this part of the continent?

Ancient texts has made some reference of this said sunken land.

There are scattered references in Sangam literature, such as Kalittokai 104, to how the sea took the land of the Pandiyan kings, upon which they conquered new lands to replace those they had lost.

There are also references to the rivers Pahruli and Kumari, that are said to have flowed in a now-submerged land. The Silappadhikaram, a 5th century epic, stating that the "cruel sea" took the Pandiyan land that lay between the rivers Pahruli and the many-mountained banks of the Kumari, to replace which the Pandiyan king conquered lands belonging to the Chola and Chera kings (Maturaikkandam, verses 17-22).

Adiyarkkunallar, a 12th century commentator on the epic, explains this reference by saying that there was once a land to the south of the present-day Kanyakumari , which stretched from the Pahruli river in the north to the Kumari river in the south. This land was divided into 49 territories, which he names as 7 coconut territories (elutenga natu), 7 Madurai territories (elumaturai natu), 7 old sandy territories (elumunpalai natu), 7 new sandy territories (elupinpalai natu), 7 mountain territories (elukunra natu), 7 eastern coastal territories (elukunakarai natu) and 7 dwarf-palm territories (elukurumpanai natu). All these lands, he says, together with the many-mountained land that began with KumariKollam, with forests and habitations, were submerged by the sea. Two of these territories were supposedly parts of present-day Kollam and Kanyakumari districts.

R. Mathivanan, then Chief Editor of the Tamil Etymological Dictionary Project of the Government of Tamilnadu, in 1991 claimed to have deciphered the Indus script as Tamil, following the methodology recommended by his teacher Devaneya Pavanar, presenting the following timeline.
ca. 200,000 to 50,000 BC: evolution of "the Tamilian or Homo Dravida",
ca. 200,000 to 100,000 BC: beginnings of the Tamil language
50,000 BC: Kumari Kandam civilisation
20,000 BC: A lost Tamil culture of the Easter Island which had an advanced civilisation
16,000 BC: Lemuria submerged
6087 BC: Second Tamil Sangam established by a Pandya king
3031 BC: A Chera prince in his wanderings in the Solomon Island saw wild sugarcane and started cultivation in Kumari Kandam.
1780 BC: The Third Tamil Sangam established by a Pandya king
7th century BC: Tolkappiyam (the earliest extant Tamil grammar)

BBC reports the following further evidence which suggests volcanic eruptions may have some effect to this said land.

Scientists have discovered the remains of a "lost continent" beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean.
Drilling by the Joides Resolution research vessel, which traverses the seas extracting samples from beneath the sea floor, suggests that the continent, about a third the size of present day Australia, sank from sight only 20 million years ago.
A recovered sample of the 'lost continent'. It lies beneath the southern Indian Ocean. Called the Kerguelen Plateau, it is one of the most remote places on Earth.
The Joides Resolution, the world's largest research vessel, bored a series of holes through the undersea plateau, which is about two kilometres below the ocean surface.
Spores and pollen
It brought to the surface many types of rocks associated with explosive volcanism, as well as sedimentary rocks similar to those found in India and Australia.
Sending the drill bit down to the sea floor. "We found abundant evidence that much of the Kerguelen Plateau formed above sea level," said Dr Mike Coffin of the University of Texas.
"Wood fragments, a seed, spores and pollen recovered in 90 million year-old sediment from the central Kerguelen Plateau indicates that it was above sea level."
Scientists believe that it rose out of the ocean about 110 million years ago, following a series of huge volcanic eruptions.
Small dinosaurs
50 million years ago, it may have been covered in lush ferns, moist with tropical humidity.
The 'core store' on the Joides Resolution Small dinosaurs would have hidden in the undergrowth stalking their prey.
20 million years ago, it started to sink beneath the waves of what is now the Indian Ocean.
Scientists hope that studying the region will help them understand the break-up of Australia, India and Antarctica.

..................End of BBC report.....................

The recent Mumbai attack & terrorism almost caused a war between Pakistan & India. While Pakistan maintained that it wanted peace but it was the first to deploy it's soldiers to the borders of Pakistan-India. Perhaps, if the particles of the drill by the Joides Resolution in the BBC report above uncovered some gold coins from the supposedly "Pandiyan Land" from Kumari Kandam, maybe that would have prompted a lot of media attention & sparked interests from various quarters from all over the world. Maybe then, it would have been worth investing $$ which is better than investing in war.

HH Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji & Kriya Yoga -3

2009-01-07T00:10:00.006+08:00

Kriya Yoga - helps aspirants to learn to activate and control their senses and to control their thought processes.Kriya Yoga involves learning breath control (Pranayama) to effectively channel the flow of prana (life force) which traverses the 72,000 nadis or astral nerves in the human body. By doing so the aspirant learns to direct mental power to open the three ganthis, (important knots in the nervous system) which obstruct the rhythmic flow of prana. By undoing these knots a kriya yogi opens the path for Kundalini energy to flow. According to Markandeya Purana, Kriya Yoga was revealed by Lord Dattatreya to great saints and yogis of ancient India. Sri Swamiji has made it part of His mission to revive this ancient knowledge and bring it to the West.

Pranayama - What is this?
"Inhaling and Exhaling. It sounds very easy but as you begin to practice, it is not as easy as it sounds. The practice of Kriya Yoga is good for Health, Knowledge and Meditation. Kriya Yoga helps us ease our tension on our day to day living." Swamiji further says that those who are equipped with this knowledge who puts it to practice are really gifted as this is a very rare and unique science of ancient yogic practice. He further reiterates that the word Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Kriya Yoga are common names that many people would have already heard of before. Some people have now found it as a tool to make money and to commercialise this ancient art, as though it is a very cheap commodity. There are people who are now giving lectures, producing beautiful books and teaching. But, sadly many are only touching the surface and not going beyond that. There are so many theories & lectures on radio, television and various seminars. "They are talking, talking and talking. That's all they do, but not much knowledge imparted. That is not all there is to know. We can advance further, only if we practice daily. Life is short. So, don't waste it by not inculcating this practice daily.

Kriya Yoga is not religion.
Do not think of Kriya Yoga as a form of religion. It may sound funny as so many mantras are chanted during the pranayama. These are actually the names of Indian Gods. This is so because each deity, god or angel is a master of a particular pranayama. That is why certain pranayama has a certain names to chant. In actual, we are merely praising the masters of the pranayamas and not worshipping the Hindu deities. Shivaya is Hindu and therefore one might regard it as a Hindu religion matter. However, a Muslim saint is also a master of a pranayama. Christ is also a master of one kriya pranayama. Because Christ is doing miracles, there is one pranayama that he knows. Lord Buddha also practiced one pranayama and a master of it. As you can see, Christ, Buddha, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam or Hindu can all equip with this knowledge, practice it and become a master in it. It is not a matter like a religion in a very narrow context.

We can't escape by not doing prana...
"Prana" (vital energy) is very important in Yoga. Prana is our soul. Prana is already within us as we are breathing. When one goes into a coma, he is still doing pranayama (breathing). You may be in any state, whether out-of-body, conscious, unconscious, hypnotised, chanting Omkara or So hum but your breathing never stops no matter what your activity is so long as you are alive.

Short Breaths and Long Breaths - Which is better?
Some people breathe short. That's why they have such a short life. When pain afflicts your body, try taking long, slow breaths. Inhale long and exhale long (slowly). Those masters of this art of breathing (Yogis) have lived 120 yrs, 200 yrs or 300 yrs. When Yogis control their intake of food, control their breath, control the senses & controls all sorts of actions they exceed normal human lifespan.

Our Attitude and Our Actions.
Our attitude and our actions have to be monitored closely. If someone says something to upset your feelings, you might feel upset, angry, disappointed, afraid, or hungry. One can sometimes be so uptight that one may not sleep, eat, talk & feel so sad and miserable. When we give in to these negative feelings, our energy is automatically used. The result is that you might just get disappointed with life itself. The energy lost can be likened to one year of life wasted. Whenever we get angry, our energy is lost again. Three or four days worth of energy is lost when we fail to control our emotions. One moment of tension when we might say,"Arrrghh!! The tension! I want to Kill!! (Tension moments) is equal to 3 or 4 days of our life is wasted. Our nervous system is working so hard and pumping our system, our heart is rapidly pounding and that results in our nervous system becoming weak. That is why we must learn to take things calmly. Be calm.

When our nervous system becomes weak, we begin to lose interest in everything. Such people might find food tasteless and unable to sleep. That's why some people are after some yogis, healing classes and so forth. Kriya Yoga may be able to alleviate you from all this mundane problems.

(Adapted from Swamiji's speech delivered during a Kriya Yoga class in 1986 that took place in "The Centre of the Light, Massachusetts, USA)

My 10 New Year Wishlist for 2009.

2009-01-01T02:17:00.005+08:00

At the strike of 12 midnight, just 2 hours ago sounds of fireworks blasted on the air. The midnight sky was suddenly transformed into brilliant colours. There was a stall of the vehicles at the highway leading to the port. This is a common feature that occurs on yearly basis on the eve of new year. Perhaps they were also admiring the combination display of fireworks contributed by the local goverment and shots of flare from sea-ships that could be seen above the sea not far from my house.

1. Though this time, I noticed that the usual volume of vehicles were minimal compared to the past few years. Is this an indication that people are generally not all too excited over the advent of this New Year? Is it due to economic uncertainty? However, come what may I wish that together, we shall all gracefully brace through it.

2. I wish that All the nations on the face of earth will put an end to war for good and learn to live in peace and toleration. Say NO to WAR! Lets hope that the Muslim communities put some sense in the minds of the terrorist to stop the bombings and attacks. Lets hope they can come with a Fatwah that declares people who take part in terrorism and die for this cause WILL NOT GO TO HEAVEN and this is not martyrdom in the context of Islam!!

3. I wish that the Rich with millions and billions of dollars for disposal would not forget the downtrodden, the poor people and poor countries.

4. I wish that science will find a cure for the dreaded sickness that starts with the letter "C" called Cancer. I hope that not only will science discover the cure, but also find the root cause for the ever increasing occurences. These sickness which during the times of our grandfather/grandmothers was almost rare. Is it coming from the adulterated food that we eat? For example, chickens are fed with growth hormones and antibiotics which hastens their growth within 45 days and this is consumed by humans.

5. I wish that there will be inter-faith harmony. Let not the different faith divide us for who we are - HUMANS! That's the similiarity in all of us despite the differences in our colours, native, geographical background. Let's learn to live in harmony.

6. I wish that people will begin to place some emphasis maintaining good health by regular exercises, breaking up stress by performing Yoga, Qigong, meditation, and the likes & also give up destructive habits. Let's enjoy the good health for as long as we live.

7. I wish that the corrupted politicians all over the world will cease to find opportunities to pocket public money. Let the public money be put to good use.

8. I wish that people will take up reading habit for those not in the practice. Let the wisdom prevail.

9. I wish that whatever economic meltdown occurs, it will end quick. Let this teach people to be humble and thrifty especially in good times so that they may be prepared the next time recession takes place. There is one in every decade.

10. I wish that All the working class people in the private sector who are going to be retrenched or laid off will be able to find jobs quickly. For I know how tough it is to lose job. I was jobless for 6 months and whatever little that I have saved have all been depleted. Come this 2nd January I will finally be starting over with a new job again. I wish that others wont have to endure such a long time to get a new job.

I Wish You All a Pleasant Year ahead with a lot of sweet memories to add. 'Happy New Year 2009'.

Watch out, the Sky Kingdom is here on Earth via Ayah Pin - Part 3

2008-12-27T02:59:00.003+08:00

From the news report below, it suggests that certain authorities have not made any attempts to capture Ayah Pin. This reflects the influence he has set-in. What is it that the respective figures could have probably witnessed until they did not enforce the law upon Ayah Pin? Hypnotism? Or some mystical powers that is endowed by Ayah Pin. For all we know that this Ayah Pin did not do any criminal harm on anyone. Maybe he has married 4 wives. Perhaps, he has renounced Islam in 2001 and a signed copy of Ayah Pin renouncing Islam is also available which is written in the Malay language.

The photos of the monuments that was posted in my part 1 and part 2 postings in this subject no longer exist today. They were all captured prior to the demolishments by the religious authorities and assisted by the Police Force. Perhaps, if he did not try to influence the Malays against going to the Mosque to attend the compulsory Friday prayers, things would not have been so bad for him. Further to that, there were other elements in his teachings that could be considered as deviationist teachings in the eyes of a Muslim.

Ayah Pin's concept of unifying Islam, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist teachings didn't quite work out with the combination of deviation teachings, strange rituals past midnights till dawn, absurdities of the monuments in terms of the cost involved (in Millions of dollars) and it's intricate meanings. However, there is still good done by this man as can be seen by the photo of the reformed addict with the help of Ayah Pin. He is not the only reformed addict as there are others who have also been cured of drug addiction.

Photo left: This man claims that Ayah Pin had helped him to reform his drug addiction problem.

In the news report below, Ayah Pin has been spotted again ever since his exile in year 2005 to Thailand. He came to celebrate the Pilgrimage Festival (Hari Raya Haji) in Malaysia that yearly involves sacrificing cows by slitting the cows neck. (When the neck is slitted, Quranic verses are read). However, the locals who eye-witnessed Ayah Pin performing "korban" (sacrifice) noted the peculiar difference in the manner that was performed. Ayah Pin started by slitting the cows tail first (very unusual and abnormal for this ritual) and then followed by the usual slit of the neck. He was again the object of the Malay skeptics who ridiculed his actions which they deem extremely weird.

And that ends the tale of the cows tail being slitted. This earth is filled by the strangest people with strangest teachings who may have some fusion of mystique. Perhaps, the mystique part of Ayah Pin is the pulling factor that gets his followers.

...........Star News Report....
Tuesday December 16, 2008
Ayah Pin back in Terengganu, says Barisan rep
KUALA TERENGGANU: Self-exiled sect leader Ayah Pin was seen in Terengganu during Hari Raya Aidiladha, the state legislative assembly was told yesterday.
The leader of the deviant Sky Kingdom group whose real name is Ariffin Muhamad feted his followers in Besut in the pretext of celebrating the auspicious day.
“Ayah Pin freely performed korban on Hari Raya Haji and no attempt was made by the authorities to detain him. I am sure he is on the wanted list and am baffled as to why he was allowed to roam without restraint,” said Ramlan Ali (Barisan Nasional-Jabi) while debating the 2009 state budget during the assembly sitting.
“Various enforcement agencies have blamed each other for the lackadaisical approach against him. How long do we have to wait before Ayah Pin is apprehended?
“Don’t let the Ayah Pin issue cause a chaotic situation for all of us,” Ramlan added.
Ramlan received support from Mohd Nor Hamzah (PAS-Bukit Payong), who urged the authorities to look into other mechanisms to detain Ayah Pin and eradicate any remaining vestige of his deviant teachings once and for all.

Watch out! The kingdom of the Sky is here on Earth with Ayah Pin - Part 2

2008-12-27T02:52:00.010+08:00

What do self-proclaimed prophets have in common? They have more than 1 wife, err... to fulfill their prophetic duties. Reverend Sun in my earlier posting had more than a wife, but Ayah Pin has 4 wives. In the news report below, you will be able to see the photo of his 2nd wife, Zaharah Awang.

But, what is it about this self-proclaimed prophet of all sorts raised the panic button of the Malaysian Islamic authorities?
In 2001 Ariffin renounced Islam. The Syariah court accused him of contravening Section 25 of the Enakmen Pentadbiran Hal Ehwal Agama Islam 1986 (Administration of Islamic Religious Affairs 1986), stating that his teachings and beliefs were false, deviant, corrupting and threatening to the public peace. He pleaded guilty to the charge of "belittling Islam", and was jailed for 11 months and fined RM 2,900. The Religious Affairs Office hoped that Ariffin's arrest would prevent the movement's growth, however Sky Kingdom continued to attract new followers from among university students. Photo below shows a troupe of Muslims who are followers of Ayah Pin.

Tea-pot cult? What on earth is that?

See the photo above. It is a giant sized tea-pot. Look at the size of the man walking near the tea-pot. What is the purpose of this tea-pot? To serve tea to guests? Nope this 2 storey high tea-pot is inspired by the dreams of one of his followers, and reflects a similar vessel in the sky which God uses to shower his blessings on mankind. The teapot is said to symbolise the purity of water and "love pouring from heaven". Followers who visits the commune for the first time have to drink "holy water" from the vase which is "perpetually" filled by the teapot. dNote the matching blue vase in the background. This tea-pot and the matching blue vase cost a whooping RM 45 million dollars (about USD 12.8 million dollars). The money could have been better used for a noble charitable cause.

Christianity
As you already know that I have mentioned in my first posting, followers claim him to be the reincarnation of Jesus (what a fusion!), the photo also has a cross in the background that attests to this.

Ayah Pin and Hinduism.

This photo of the large yellow umbrella above has been touted as a place for his followers to take shelter beneath God. The followers claim that this figure is similar to the Hindu practice that worship the 9 planetary gods.

In the center of the photo above is a well, similar to the Well of Zam Zam in the Islamic scriptures. Followers say that the well has curative powers. Perhaps, it is this aspect of mystique that is pulling followers of diverse religion and from diverse geographical backgrounds? Perhaps it is the healing that the followers are after? Ayah Pin, besides the Malaysian following also has followers from Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Indians and Singaporeans. (Part 3: Ayah Pin spotted again after massive crackdown by the Malaysian authorities in 2005)

..........News Report.............................
Saturday November 15, 2008
Ayah Pin not seen since 2005, say wives
By R.S.N. MURALI
BESUT: The wives of sect leader Ayah Pin claimed they had not seen him since he disappeared from the Sky Kingdom commune in 2005.
“We read in the newspapers that Ayah Pin had entered the country, but he never came to see us,” second wife Zaharah Awang, 48, said when met at her wooden house at the commune in Kampung Batu 13 yesterday.
Ayah Pin’s current whereabouts is unknown, although he is said to be living in self-exile in the southern part of Thailand.
Zaharah said she found it strange that her husband did not make any attempt to visit her or his children if he had the opportunity to sneak into the country as reported.
Rekindled stage: Zaharah Awang, Ayah Pin's second wife, and a Sky Kingdom follower at her home in Terengganu Friday.
“We miss him so much and just want to see him,” she said.
“He is old and frail, I don’t think he would pose any threat to the nation, if the police want to apprehend him, go ahead but give us the chance to see him.”

Third wife Ruzilan Mokthar, 44, who was also present at the interview, said she believed her husband would not be afraid of being detained.
She believed some vernacular media had rekindled the issue after Ayah Pin was allegedly seen intoxicated at a karaoke outlet in Kuala Lumpur recently.
“A few days ago, we saw a group of photographers taking pictures in the commune, and we suspected something amiss. True enough, the Ayah Pin saga has resurfaced,” she said.
Terengganu police chief Senior Asst Comm 1 Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan said Ayah Pin’s file had yet to be closed and the sect leader might face arrest soon.
He said police had discussions with the Terengganu Religious Department on taking action against Ayah Pin.
“Ayah Pin is still a threat to the public,” he added.

Watch out, the Kingdom of the Sky is here on Earth with "Ayah Pin" - Part 1

2008-12-27T02:43:00.008+08:00

The story I am going to narrate is about a man called Ariffin Mohamad who was born in Kelantan, Malaysia during the World War 2. This 65 year old man is called "Ayah Pin". In the Malay language, "Ayah" means father and Pin is the shortform for Ariffin (the local Malays have a knack of pronouncing names differently for instance "fin" becomes "Pin".

When he was 10 years old (1953), he became seriously ill and he alleged that an angel had visited him and the same angel had visited him 20 years later which started off his spiritual movement.

Ayah Pin, a muslim, claims that he has direct communication with Heaven. The followers on the other hand believes him to be the reincarnation of Buddha, Lord Siva, Prophet Muhammad and also not to miss out Jesus Christ. My, my, my....what a claim! This is more outrageous than the celebrity Madonna claiming to be the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe. Some guys who could not tolerate this claims went on to superimpose his image to reflect what he claims to be..."the king of the sky" as can be seen by the photo below:

Not only that, but the followers of the Sky Kingdom strongly believe that one day Ayah Pin will return as the "Imam Mahdi". In Islamic terms, the "Mahdi" means the "guided one". The "Guided One" is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay either 7 yrs, 9 yrs or 19 yrs on earth (some variation on the interpretation exists) before the "Yaum al-Qiyamah" meaning the day of Resurrection or Day of the Standing. It is a strange belief where Muslims believe that Jesus Christ and Mahdi will together rid the world of error, injustice and tyranny. I am a little bit loss of words to comment on this one. This concept of Mahdi is actually not at all mentioned in the Quran or in the Hadis belonging to the Sunnies. Infact, the theologians do question the Mahdist beliefs as such though such beliefs do form a necessary part of the Shi 'ite doctrine.

His followers consider him the king of the sky, and the supreme object of devotion for all religions. Yeah, Right! Somehow, strangely, this supreme object of devotion who is the king of sky is now on earth living in exile in Thailand as the Malaysian Islamic body is after him for his blasphemous sermons, claims and activities.

............News report from the Star........

Friday November 14, 2008
Sky Kingdom’s Ayah Pin living in Thailand
By STEVEN DANIEL and R.S.N. MURALI
Ayah Pin
KUALA LUMPUR: Elusive “Sky Kingdom” cult leader Ayah Pin, who disappeared after the crackdown at his Terengganu commune in 2005, is said to be living in self-exile in southern Thailand.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said Ayah Pin, whose real name is Ariffin Mohamad, had sneaked into Terengganu recently but fled soon after. He said police were about to pick him up but “the state Religious Department told us to leave him be.”

Musa, who was speaking to reporters after a seminar at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia in Gombak here yesterday, said he had instructed the Terengganu CPO to brief him on the details.

At the height of his popularity, Ayah Pin had four wives and almost 50 followers living with him in the commune, including a police inspector and a drummer of a rock group, all of whom are facing trial now.

The deviant religious group was known for its giant structures of a teapot, vase, umbrella, concrete boat and a “palace” erected at the commune in Hulu Besut, Terengganu.

Ayah Pin had, among others, claimed that God was human. His deviationist teachings included not making Friday prayers compulsory. At one point, many thought Ayah Pin had died as he had not been seen for a while.

Earlier in his speech, Musa pointed to Ayah Pin as an example of overlapping jurisdiction between the state religious departments and Syariah courts with the police on certain cases involving Muslims. He said in the Ayah Pin case, it was the Syariah courts that first monitored the group before the police assisted them in gathering information.

“We passed our information to the religious department but they were slow to act and by the time they gave us the green light to detain him, he had fled,” Musa said.

The IGP suggested it was time the police and the Syariah courts and state religious departments streamlined their laws and jurisdictions to prevent recurrences. Ayah Pin was declared an apostate for leaving Islam and had spent 11 months in jail in 2001 for his activities.

In Kuala Terengganu, State Religious Affairs and Information committee deputy chairman Muhamad Ramli Nuh said the religious department felt that Ayah Pin could no longer influence people as his teachings had been wiped out.
“Our mission was to eliminate his teachings and we had no intention of dragging him to court as it would be time consuming and bring no gain. We were successful in shooing him away to Southern Thailand, which is more relevant,” he said here yesterday. He said the “Sky Kingdom” base in Besut was no longer active, while his followers had also dispersed, adding that Ayah Pin was no longer a cause for worry.

Muhamad Ramli denied that enforcement officers were afraid to apprehend him as he possessed supernatural powers where he could vanish upon seeing the authorities. “All this talk is ridiculous. The man is old and frail, let him spend his twilight years repenting,” he added. When asked whether he knew the whereabouts of Ayah Pin when he visited Terengganu, Muhamad Ramli replied “Yes, we have been monitoring his movements closely.

The Master who uses music to aid in Healing-2 HH Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji

2008-12-25T13:14:00.012+08:00

WHAT IS NADA CHIKITSA?(CURING AILMENTS THROUGH MUSIC)
Music is a force that unites Humanity the world over. Music has for centuries been known to have a pleasing appeal to both humans and animals. Music is a harmonizing factor in today's world which is full of conflicts and tensions. Transgressing man-made frontiers, Music sends the message of harmony, peace and brotherhood. Musical Ragas (Tunes) are said to help treatment of patients with afflictions of physical and mental nature, in certain conditions.

Parama Poojya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore, India, Himself a great Musician and a composer, has been conducting Spiritual Music Concerts for meditation and Healing (Nada Chikitsa) in India and many other countries in Europe, America and Caribbean Islands. Listening to His Healing and Meditation music in person, or to his many recordings, is the melodical medicine prescribed by Sri Swamiji for all ailments and conditions ranging from Coma to Cancer and migraine to mental depression.

MUSIC THERAPY
"The music therapy is combined with Ayurveda, Psychology, Gemenotherapy and Astrology" says Sri Swamiji. He further adds " I only effect a rapport between man and God, the supreme reality, with help coming from man himself in good measure. I attune man to God through belief and music. Once that results, body-consciousness vanishes gradually, and with that, affliction ceases to be experienced and ceases to exist. That is healing through Music and Meditation.

"There is no complication about it, once you are in tune with the 'modus operandi'. "Listen with your heart and not with your intellect" He insists, not without reason, for He is no purist composer or musician. Sri Swamiji's therapy lays stress on Ekagratha or concentration on the part of the Healer-Musician and listener. "Listening, " He says "is a special technique requiring Indriya nigraha or sense control."

Cerebral sounds are aroused and long concentration on a Raga (tune) creates a healing effect on the listener. He Himself plays an synthesizer which produces the sounds of many instruments. He has opted for the synthesizer to reduce the number of accompanists in His concert troupe. The resounding synthesizer sets pace and the other instruments keep company, a melodious fusion sends the air.

Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji sees healing with music as a yogic practice. Yoga teaches that the astral body has 72000 nerve lets and 14 major nadis or nerves. Each nadi vibrates at its own frequency. Music soothes the nadis and helps them to vibrate at the proper rate. Music becomes a therapy, He says, when the healer, musicians and listeners all deeply concentrate on the sound.

Sri Swamiji stresses on concentration or Ekagrata on the part of the healer musician and the listener. Listening is a special technique where sense control or Indriya Nigraha is required. "Physical health and results from a healthy mind," Sri Swamiji says. "Music of the right type helps in achieving relaxation by soothing the nerves and through that, comes peace and stillness of the mind."Sri Swamiji claims that "ragas are the unspoiled sounds of eternal nature, the soul of man and Paramatman.

In the hands of the perfect technician, they are great forces." Sri Swamiji uses a synthesizer because this instrument can reproduce singly or in combination the sounds of more than 1,100 instruments. This allows Sri Swamiji a greater range for healing through music. Not all ailments can be cured by Sri Swamiji's music however, especially those which have already reached a terminal state.

Music therapy requires more than just intense meditation on sound. This great master understands the varying vibrational qualities of the different ragas and knows which raga can help a particular disease. Certain ragas can only be played at selected times to be healing.

HH Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji - 1 An introduction.

2008-12-24T21:06:00.009+08:00

An introduction of HH Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji.
HH Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji was born at Mekedatu in southern India on May 26, 1942. A Moslem saint predicted to His parents that their child would have supreme wisdom and knowledge and was destined to uplift mankind.

The holy Mother of Sri Swamiji
In the pious confluence of the rivers Kaveri, Arkavati and Gupta Gamini is situated the village of Mekadatu in Karnataka State, India. This sacred place is famous as "Agastya Kshetra" i.e. the pilgrim center sanctified by Sage Agastya. A pious Brahmin by the name of Linganne Sarma lived in the village. His wife was Savitri. The couple were ritualistic, kind and noble. In the pleasant season of spring, in the month of Fisakha, on the fifth day of the brilliant fortnight (the day on which Adi Sankaracharya was born in 7th century) the divine child Jayalakshmi was born.

She was beautiful and had a divine, noble power of attraction. She radiated mercy, peace and piety as she grew up. She was a source of endless joy to her parents. She worshipped Lord Shiva (Sangameswara) daily and served the saints and sages. She was initiated by a Muslim Fakir. As a result of severe penance she attained God realization and divine powers. She used to enlighten people regarding righteous living and helped them progress in the service of God. With her spiritual powers, she cured the sick and suffering. She relieved many people of their problems with her divine help. Eventually she married Sri Narasimha Sastry. She was a dutiful wife and gave birth to the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.

Her child is a perfect Yogi, the embodiment of Truth - Knowledge - Bliss (Sat - Chit - Ananda). The child named Satyanarayana is none else than our beloved Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji who feeds us throughout the world with a diet of Divine Knowledge.

The Actual Birth
- occurred on a rock in the Kaveri river. His mother Jayalakshmi was in deep meditation and the child was born covered with holy ash. The child was named Satyanarayana. His mother, whom the Swami calls His first Guru, initiated Him into spiritual life before her passing in 1951. Satyanarayana completed His education like other children, but found school had nothing to offer Him. He was endowed at birth with great knowledge and power.

Even as a child, he organized satsangs and taught bhajans to His friends, and performed "siddhis" to entertain them, such as turning tree leaves into sweets. For some time He performed various mundane jobs to earn a living, such as school teacher and postal worker. All along, however, he had been serving his fellow humans, helping them with their problems. Through his miraculous powers He was able to understand their situations, knowing their past, present , and future and helped them to overcome difficulties. Some of them became his first disciples who were soon to be followed by more. He sang bhajans and kirtans for them and started giving yoga classes in small village huts or on river banks, while he was wandering the countryside as a monk. He acquired a following which demanded all of His time an attention. In 1966 He moved to the present site of the Mysore Ashram, which in the early days was only a straw hut in a field. It was there at Mysore that He became Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji . Since then Sri Swamiji has been helping people in His unique way. People come to Him for help with their worldly affairs, or to become healed of physical afflictions, or for guidance in their spiritual practice. Many come to hear His beautiful and powerful songs, which draw the heart and mind to God or to celebrate the special Hindu holidays in the old vedic traditions.

MOVE OVER ROBOCOP, HERE COMES SUPERNATURAL COP !

2008-12-22T17:43:00.006+08:00

What do you get when two dogs of different breed mate? A crossbreed.
What happens when religion & occult practices mix? A fusion that leads to confusion! It is a common in Asian countries to practice in the occult. The same like the voodoo stuff, shaman, witchcraft and the likes.

The Malays in particular are known to rear supernatural beings such as "djinn" which consists of Islamic djinn and non-Islamic djinn. They are fed with meat. It is common for Malays to rear them in rural provinces to safeguard their fruit farms from thieves or intruders. If one goes and pluck any flower or fruits without the consent of the owner, one can develop allergy, diarhoea or get sick and not curable by allopathic medicines. Only when the person seek for pardon and forgiven by the landlord will the person be cured. This is common and there a lot of accounts by those who have experienced it.

When the owner gets old, the ownership of the djinn is transfered to the next of kin. These djinns cheaper to maintain than having a security guard that needs to be paid monthly wages. So, for the owner, there is no worries of Unions, employee benefit deductions, sick leaves, annual leaves, protest strikes, employee turnover, annual salary increments, payroll clerks, marketing staffs, production, Quality control.....etc. It's a good thing though that they are not tech savvy, for if not a lot of industrial workers may lose to the competition from the djinns in these trying times of economic recession.

The following reports below appeared in the local daily recently.

Burglar who picked the ‘wrong’ house
KEMANAN, TERENGGANU: December 13th, 2008.

A burglar entered a house-turned-grocery shop, thinking he was in for a killing. He nearly got himself killed instead. The owner, who was away to celebrate Hari Raya Haji returned home yesterday morning to find the burglar trapped in the house for 72 hours without food and water.

The intruder was fatigued and dehydrated when the owner and his wife returned to the shop in Kampung Binjai from their hometown in Kota Baru.
The couple, in their early 50s, found the burglar lying in a room, clasping his hands in an apologetic gesture for his wrongdoing.

The owner, instead of calling the police, decided to call an ambulance to rush the burglar to the nearest hospital. When interrogated later, the 36-year-old burglar told investigating officers that he had sneaked into the house after realising the owner was out.

The burglar, who entered via the back door, claimed that he was blinded once he was inside and felt like he was in a cave. “Each time I wanted to flee, I felt a ‘supernatural figure’ shoving me to the ground,’’ he told police. He claimed this was his first time experiencing such trauma during a break-in. The burglar had no choice but to stay put in the room for three days as his shouts for help were in vain.

Kemaman Deputy police chief Deputy Supt Abdul Marlik Hakim Johar said the couple lodged a police report on the same day. He said the burglar was warded at the Kemaman Hospital and his condition is stable.

......................END OF NEWS REPORT........................

Wednesday December 17, 2008
Grocery shop owner brushes off claims of sorcery
By R.S.N. MURALI
KEMAMAN: The owner of a house in which a starving burglar claimed he was trapped has brushed off any claims of sorcery. Grocery shop owner Che Ibrahim Che Abdullah instead believes it was punishment from the Almighty for the burglar who claimed he was mysteriously trapped in the shop for three days.

The 57-year-old Che Ibrahim said he was a constant victim of burglaries whenever he and his wife returned to their village in Selising, Kelantan.
Mystified owner: Che Ibrahim gesturing as he speaks to reporters at his shop in Kemaman on Monday. (See photo)

“This time, I asked for divine intervention as I could no longer tolerate it,” he said when met here. He said he had recited some prayers before leaving for Kelantan with his 52-year-old wife to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha. Last Friday, Che Ibrahim returned to his shop and found the 36-year-old man lying in a room, starving and dehydrated.

The man, (the burglar) who begged for forgiveness, claimed he had broken into the house-turned-grocery shop three days earlier. Upon entering the shop, the man claimed he was immediately blinded and the place felt like a cave. “Each time I wanted to flee, I felt a ‘supernatural figure’ shoving me to the ground,” he told police during interrogation later. He added he had no choice but to stay put in the room for three days as his shouts for help were in vain.

Meanwhile, Kemaman Deputy police chief Supt Abdul Marlik Hakim Johar said the burglar had been warded at the Kemaman Hospital for the last four days.
It is learnt that the burglar was still traumatised after the incident.

..................END OF NEWS REPORT...................

Of course, the owner has to deny the truth as rearing a djinn is blasphemous & he will be shunned by the Muslim religious clerics of the town for his indulgence with supernatural forces. In Islamic context, this is called "Syirik" (forbidden acts). Perhaps the United Nations should immediately convene to form a resolution to rear these invisible beings to guard nations from terrorism or the Somali sea-pirates? ;)

Gita Jayanti 2008 in Jawi, Penang

2008-12-21T14:53:00.010+08:00

The Gita Jayanti Festival of 2008 marks the 8th successive year of recitation in Malaysia, initiated by HH Prabhu Dina Anukampana das. On 9th of December, the marathon of Bhagavad Gita (complete recital of the whole texts) took place concurrently in many parts of the world by members of ISKCON (International Society for Krsna Consciousness) group and is usually opened to the public. HH Dina Dass who resides in the holy kshetra of Vrindavana also recited the Srimad Bhagavad Gita at another holy kshetra, Thirupathy for Lord Balaji.

Photo left: The body changes, but the soul remains the same.
Bhagavad-gita 2.13 The many, many frames on a reel of movie film, when seen consecutively, appear as one picture on the screen, although there are actually many different pictures. Similiarly, we see a man as localized (above), but actually his body is changing at every second. All this is happening without the notice of the viewer. However the soul within the heart (seen as a sparkling star) does not change; he remains eternally the same.

The Bhagavad Gita.
The Srimad Bhagavad Gita, originally written in Sanskrit, is a unique philosophical piece of spiritual literature which contains 700 verses in 18 chapters. It was compiled and arranged by the great Sage Veda Vyasa. The Gita is the central portion of the great epic Mahabaratam. It is in the form of dialogue between Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Arjuna. "Bhagavad" means the Supreme Being Sri Krishna and "Gita" means song. Thus, Bhagavad Gita means the celestial song. Its main theme is the upliftment of man both spiritually and materially.

The Gita enlightens the four Partharthas, Aram, Perul, Inbam and Veedu. They are classified in the Gita as Karma yoga, Dhyana yoga, Bhakthi yoga and Gnana yoga. Karma yoga or the yoga of right action; Dhyana yoga or the yoga of meditation; Bhakthi yoga or the yoga of devotion and finally Gnana yoga or the yoga of contemplation and the realization of the SELF.

"Thirukkural" is a text that that conveys words of wisdom from a Saint to mankind. "Thiruvachakam", is a book that conveys of a Realised Soul's communication with the divine forces. In the Bhagavad Gita, it contains the message of the divine to mankind on right and wrong actions and the ways to draw closer to divinity.

In Gita, the character of "Arjuna" is actually the personification of the entire human beings. God reaches out to mankind but man the limited being cannot understand it and HIS divine message. There is divinity within man. God speaks to man so that he can get rid off his Asuric or negative tendencies, avoid Tamasic gunas (inert, ignorant or lazy nature), Rajasic gunas (passion, greed) and attain Satvic nature (purity, goodness) and seek the Truth and realize God.

Photo left: RM Ravichandar, a disciple of HH Dina Dass.

However, in a little district known as Jawi, in the mainland at South of Penang, Malaysia, the festival concluded a day earlier in a small temple. A day which happens to coincide with the Muslim Pilgrimage Festival where cows are slaughtered which is termed by the local Malays as "Korban" (sacrifice). The chief organiser of the function, Mr. RM Ravichandar decided thus is because he says, "Today, tens of thousands of cows are being slaughtered right now as I speak to celebrate the Muslim festival. Cows are a sacred being next to our maternal mothers as we do feed from their milk & feed their milk to our offsprings. Cries of the cows are heard in all parts of this country as they are slowly killed by slitting the neck and Quranic verses are read in the process of killing the cow. This mass killing carries bad vibrations and are not good for the country therefore being the reason why I intended to carry out the Gita recital today".

Photos of Gita Jayanti in progress on 8th December.

The Nostradamus Prophecy

2008-12-12T00:44:00.004+08:00

Nostradamus, a jew by birth was born in Southwest of France. If he was still alive today, he would have celebrated his birthday, 2 days ago. He was born on December 14th, 1503 & died on July 2nd, 1566. He is probably the most famous non-Biblical individual(some claim him to be a prophet) on earth whose predictions have not failed to baffle the scholars for the last 400 years. Michel de Notredame has made over 1000 predictions of which half of them according to historians have already come true.

He was brought up under the auspices of the Catholic Church. Although being a physician, his real love revolves in the paranormal, clairvoyance & astrology. He became a traveller wandering around Europe after the demise of his wife and 2 children as victims of the Great Plaque.

Nostradamus predicts a priest who becomes the Pope 15 yrs later.
While he was in Italy, he fell to his knees at the feet of a young priest who was walking along the pathway towards him. The priest thought this was a mad man, but then Nostradamus proclaimed, "One day, you would be a Great Man in the Catholic Church. True enough. About 15 years later, the same priest, Felici Peretti was ordained as the Pope Sixtus V.

Why is his prediction often in rhymes & not straight forward?
Nostradamus published the book entitiled "Centuries" in the year 1555 containing 100 poems. Each 4 lines of the poems are called quatrains.

Nostradamus often wrote in curious rhyming riddles which is often laced heavily with symbolism and were often open to interpretation. The reason for his riddles are:-
1. He doesn't want to be accused of witchcraft. To protect himself from the superstitious witch-hunters of the time, he wrote the quatrains in an amalgamation of French, Latin, Greek and anagrams and mixes up these quatrains so that they weren't in chronological order.
2. The readers would be entertained & not too frightened by the weight of what he is saying.

Nostradamus predicted 3 powerful evil dictators whom he referred to as Anti-Christs.

Evil Dictator No. 1
The first among these 3 are thought to be Napolean Bonaparte. Nostradamus describes this 1st "Anti-christ" as an emperor born near Italy. Incidently, Napolean's place of birth was in Corsica, near Italy.

Here goes his quatrain:-

An Emperor will be born near Italy,
who will cost the Empire very dearly,
They will say, when they see his allies,
that he is less a prince than a butcher
(Century 1; Quatrain 60)

Evil Dictator no. 2
Historians agree that the 2nd Antichrist he was refering to was Hitler whom he names him as Hister.

His quatrain goes as follows:-

From the very depths of the West Europe,
a young child will be born of poor people,
he who by his tounge will seduce a great troop,
his fame will increase towards the realm of the east.
(Century 3; Quatrain 35)

Evil Dictator No. 3 ?
Nostradamus describes this as a terrifying one and more evil than the first two even if combined.

1.
From the three water signs will be born a man
who will celebrate Thursday as his feast day.
His renown, praise, rule and power will grow on land and sea,
bringing trouble to the East.
(Century 1; Quatrain 50)

We know Thursdays are special prayer day where Muslims are concerned. In Malaysia, Thursdays are refered to as "Malam Jumaat"meaning the night of Friday. (FYI: It is also the much anticipated day where Muslims will get "pahala"meaning good merits to go to heaven for having sex between husband and wife.)

There are also bad Muslims of the terrorist kind. These Muslims also share the same faith & offer prayers on Thursdays. Could this mean that the Muslim terrorists are the ones Nostradamus refers to as Antichrist? What about Osama bin Laden? Is he still alive or did he die? Nobody has seen his dead body yet. Or perhaps is it deeply buried beneath the earth?

2.
Out of the country of Greater Arabia
Shall be born a strong master of Mohammed,
He will enter Europe wearing a blue turban.
He will be the terror of mankind. Never more horror.

We are aware of Saddam Hussein & the gulf war, the scuds, the patriots, the blazing fire of the oil rigs when he lost the war. But, I don't think he is serious enough to be considered a terror to mankind. We can confidently say these as both his saga & his life ended in the gallows just a few months back. But, what about this blue turban thing?

3.
In the year 1999 and seven months
From the sky will come the great King of Terror.
He will bring back to life the King of the Mongols;
Before and after war reigns.

"From the sky the great King of Terror".... Who brought back to life the King of Mongols? Mongols were known to terrorize, loot, rape women & capture lands. It's 2008 now & almost reaching for 2009. Almost a decade past this prophecy. Before & after 1999, war still continues. Currently, only the Muslim terrorists fit this bill though I am not accusing for these groups have attacked the New York Twin Tower "before" 1999 and the terrorist attacks still plague on different parts of earth 10 years later. In South of Thailand, in a district called Patani, Muslim religious extremists were practically bombing tourist spots in their pursuit for independent Muslim country. In Bali, Indonesia bomb exploded in the Marriot Hotel. Perhaps somebody ought to issue a "Fatwa" (an informed authoritative statement) that the gateway of Heaven no longer is opened for those who "jihad" (martyr). And, of course, soorrrryyy no more virgins waiting in Heaven for people who KILL IN THE NAME OF RELIGION!!!

George Washington's Prophecy.

2008-12-07T00:52:00.009+08:00

The story that follows is of visions that George Washington's once had. Washington, a pious Christian devout, received the vision at Valley Forge during a cold winter in 1777 at a time when the revolutionary army was facing its worst trying hours. It was a time when the Continental Congress failed to supply food or money & some of the troops didn't even have shoes to wear in the snow. Many soldiers were sick, dying & the morale was very low. Although the Colonies were pretty worn out & had enough of trying to secure America's freedom from England, George Washington was persistent to see it through.

The old soldier, Anthony Sherman narrates the vision.

The account of the prophecy that Washington had comes to us through an old soldier by the name of Anthony Sherman who recalled it in 1859 & gave these information to a writer, Wesley Bradshaw. The 3 visions are about 3 great wars in America. The first being a revolutionary war, the 2nd is of the civil war & strangely till today, the 3rd war is yet to come. Two years after the old soldier confessed to the writer, the Civil War broke out in 1861.

These accounts were printed.

The old soldier's account of Washington's vision was reprinted in December of 1880 by The National Tribune, the U.S. war veterans' paper, and on December 21, 1950 by The Stars and Stripes.

The old soldier relates account when George first had his vision..

"One day, I remember it well, when the chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and the sun shown brightly, he remained in his quarters nearly all the afternoon alone. When he came out, I noticed that his face was a shade paler than usual. There seemed to be something on his mind of more than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters who was presently in attendance. After a preliminary conversation of about an hour, Washington, gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone commanded, related the event that occurred that day."

George Washington's own confession & his words describing his experience.

"This afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of her presence. A second, a third and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of her eyes.

"By this time I felt strange sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become useless, as though it had become paralyzed.

"A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor. Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed as if it had become filled with sensations, and luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarify, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my sight than before. I now began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my Companion.

The Mysterious Angel begins to forewarn Washington...

"Presently I heard a voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn,' while at the same time my visitor extended her arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world-Europe, Asia, Africa and America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific.

'Son of the Republic,' said the same mysterious voice as before,'look and learn.' At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating in midair; between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately a cloud raised from these countries, and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.
"A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view.

(The First Peril: The above vision could be the ongoing revolutionary war between "Europe and America".)

A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn,' I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them.

"Again, I heard the mysterious voice say, 'Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn.' At this the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word 'Union,' bearing the American flag which he placed between the divided nation, and said, 'Remember ye are brethren.' Instantly, the inhabitants, casting from them their weapons became friends once more, and united around the National Standard.

(The Second Peril. ...at the end of century ....and from Africa I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our land..."Remember, ye are brethen" probably depicts the Civil War.)

"And again I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one. Throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America. Our country was enveloped in this volume of cloud, and 1 saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities that I beheld springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast.

"Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shone the word 'Union,' end who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.

"Again, amid the fearful noise. of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the Republic, look and learn.' As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious!

"Then once more I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice:'While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last.' And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word 'Union,' he placed it upon the National Standard while the people, kneeling down, said, 'Amen.'

"The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, 'Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, but in this greatest conflict the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and the Union.' With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States."

The Third Peril.

.....Europe, Asia & Africa..dark clouds joined as one. We know that Asian countries such as Pakistan, India, Korea are now equipped with Nuclear powers. "Instantly, a light as thousand suns shone above me"... could this be a Nuclear attack?

Angelic intervention to the rescue of America?

There is some word mentioned about the need to attune oneself to God. "kneeling down...saying Amen". There is also some mention that the Angels will come down & protect the inhabitants of USA in times of despair. "...descended from heavens attended by legions of white spirits.

Battle of the Traditional ways?

"...marched by land & sailed by sea to America...". This is a thing of the past. Remember during the Gulf war, missile weapons? The Saddam had "Scuds" versus the "Patriot" from USA. In our present time, we have air planes. Remember the"Kamikazes" by the Japanese planes during WWII? This statement regarding sailing by sea & marching by land is a thing of the past & does not bite any sense to say that it has yet to come.

Finally, in relating to the 3rd peril, the question is whether has it come, yet to come, or all of this a mere halucination of a man battered in a cold winter? We have come to see many fortunes told by layman as well as prophecies foretold by mystique spiritual personalities from all parts of the earth. Nevertheless, there is also the famous doomsday cult who take a liking for the world to end & never learn to appreciate what lays before their eyes in the Present!

The Prophecy of Fatima (Part 2)

2008-12-06T04:24:00.003+08:00

(Photo) Pope John Paul II speaking with Lucia de Santos, 93, on May 14, 2000.

The first secret: Was a vision of Hell:
Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repulsive likeness to frightful and unknown animals, all black and transparent. This vision lasted but an instant. How can we ever be grateful enough to our kind heavenly Mother, who had already prepared us by promising, in the first Apparition, to take us to heaven. Otherwise, I think we would have died of fear and terror.

The second secret: It is a statement that World War I would end and supposedly predicts the coming of World War II should God continue to be offended and if Russia does not convert. The second half requests that Russia be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart:

You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.

Controversies of the 2nd Secret...

Some critics are saying that the second prophecy was only disclosed on August 1941 which is after the WWII had begun. Therefore, it is difficult to define it as a prophecy. But still then, on July the 7th, 1952, Russia was consecrated by Pope Pius XII.

The Third Secret.

The third part of the secret was written down "by order of His Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and the Most Holy Mother ..." on 3rd January 1944. Bishop Silva, visiting Lúcia on 15th September 1943 while she was bed-ridden, first suggested that she write the third secret down to ensure that it would be recorded in the event of her death. Lucia was hesitant to do so, however. Finally, in mid-October, Bishop Silva sent her a letter containing a direct order to record the secret, and Lúcia obeyed. In June of 1944, the sealed envelope containing the third secret was delivered to Silva, where it stayed until 1957, when it was finally delivered to Rome.

It was announced on 13th May 2000, 83 years after the first apparition of the Lady to the children in the Cova da Iria, that the third secret would finally be released. The text was published on 26th June 2000:

I write in obedience to you, my God, who command me to do so through his Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and through your Most Holy Mother and mine.
After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: ‘something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' a Bishop dressed in White 'we had the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger tries to sum up the 3rd secret...
Along with the text of the secret, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger published a theological commentary, in which he states that:
"A careful reading of the text of the so-called third 'secret' of Fatima ... will probably prove disappointing or surprising after all the speculation it has stirred. No great mystery is revealed; nor is the future unveiled."
After explaining the differences between public and private revelations, he cautions people not to see in the message a determined future event:
"The purpose of the vision is not to show a film of an irrevocably fixed future. Its meaning is exactly the opposite: it is meant to mobilize the forces of change in the right direction. Therefore we must totally discount fatalistic explanations of the “secret”, such as, for example, the claim that the would-be assassin of 13 May 1981 was merely an instrument of the divine plan guided by Providence and could not therefore have acted freely, or other similar ideas in circulation. Rather, the vision speaks of dangers and how we might be saved from them."
He then moves on to talk about the symbolic nature of the images, noting that:
"The concluding part of the 'secret' uses images which Lucia may have seen in devotional books and which draw their inspiration from long-standing intuitions of faith."
As for the meaning of the message:
"What remains was already evident when we began our reflections on the text of the 'secret': the exhortation to prayer as the path of 'salvation for souls' and, likewise, the summons to penance and conversion.

Controversies begin surrounding the 3rd Secret...

The Vatican withheld the third secret until June 26, 2000 – despite Lúcia's declaration that it could be released to the public after 1960. Several sources, including Canon Barthas and Cardinal Ottaviani, said that Sr. Lúcia insisted to them it must be released by 1960, saying, "by that time, it will be more clearly understood." When 1960 passed without any such announcement, immense speculation over the content of the secret materialized.

Father Nicholas Grunner from Fatima Center disapproves...

The Fatima Center, which is run by Father Nicholas Gruner makes an objection & disapproves of the content of the 3rd secret. Gruner was suspended as a priest by the Avellino, Italy diocese. The Congregation for the Clergy announced on September 12th, 2001, that Gruner's suspension was "confirmed by a definitive sentence of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature." Father Gruner rejected the validity of the suspension and continues to perform the functions of a priest. On November 22, 2006, the Italian author Antonio Socci published Il Quarto Segreto di Fatima (The Fourth Secret of Fatima) in Italian, which also argues that the Vatican has not formally released the entire Third Secret. These critics, for example, point to the fact that Lucia's vision, as recorded in the officially released text, does not contain any words from Mary, as one might expect, and says nothing about a crisis of faith in the Church.

3rd secret reveals the doomsday??

Some say that the 3rd secret is a warning that the earth will be hit by a comet or asteroid in 2012 in the style of "Armageddon" or "Deep Impact" movies. Somehow, humankind will not perish altogether though the extent of damage will be quite substantial. But, I have heard quite a lot of fancy theories of Armageddon in the past such as 7th of July 1977 or 7-7-77 & another fancy one is on the year 2000 about some milenium bug. Lets not bug ourselves with the unknown uncertainties & just get on with living in the present. Anyway, if it should come, why worry? We are all going to die someday, aren't we. If it would help, do a little prayers on daily basis & should earth be struck by a comet, then be it so.

We may be the inhabitants of earth, but each living mortal is not going to be here forever. The best principle one can have is to extend one's love to another humankind irrespective of culture, creed, religion or geographical background and seek the divinity within ourselves. One thing that we can remind ourselves is that science cannot explain the rational or the mystique of the dancing sun and certainly scientists can't explain all the phenomenon especially when it comes to things that are related to the divine though they may try....

The Prophecy of Fatima (Part 1)

2008-12-04T23:33:00.009+08:00

The story begins 91 years ago when 3 Portuguese children, Jacinta Marto, Lucia dos Santos & Francisco had claimed to have a vision of Mother Mary in a place called Fatima in Portugal. Hence, it got the name, "the Prophecy of Fatima" or "the Fatima Prophecy".

The description of the Appartition....
Lúcia described seeing the lady as "brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than a crystal ball filled with the most sparkling water and pierced by the burning rays of the sun."

Children required to do penance. upon revelation of the 3 secrets.
Lúcia's says, the lady confided to the children 3 secrets. She exhorted the children to do penance and to make sacrifices to save sinners. These children wore tight cords around their waists to cause pain, abstained from drinking water on hot days, and performed other works of penance.

The children were asked to say the Rosary every day.
Lúcia said that of most important of all, the lady asked them to say the Rosary every day, reiterating many times that the Rosary was the key to personal and world peace. At the time, many young Portuguese men, including relatives of the visionaries, were fighting in World War I (1914-1918).

Attention brings problems to the children...

Attracted by reports of visions & miracles, thousands of people flocked to Fátima and Aljustrel in the following months. On August 13, 1917, the provincial administrator and Arthur Santos & anticlerical Freemason , believing that the events were politically disruptive, intercepted and jailed the children before they could reach the Cova da Iria that day. Prisoners held with them in the provincial jail later testified that the children, while upset, were consoled by the inmates, and then led the inmates in praying the Rosary.

Unsuccessful attempts by the administrators to get the secrets prematurely.
The children were subject to interrogation by the administrators and yet they were unsuccessful in their attempt to get them to reveal the content of the secrets. In the process, he frightened the children that he would boil them one by one in a pot of oil unless they confessed the secrets. The children, however, resisted. That month, instead of the usual apparition in the Cova da Iria on the 13th, the children reported that they saw at nearby Valinhos, the Lady again on August 19th the same year.

Thousands witnessed the "Miracle of the Sun".
During July, The Lady had promised to the children a miracle for the final apparition, on October 13, so that all would believe. What took place on that fateful day became known as the "Miracle of the Sun". A crowd of approximately 70,000 gathered at Cova da Iria to witness including newspaper reporters and photographers. The continuous rain had finally ceased and a thin layer of clouds cloaked the silver disc of the sun such that it could be looked upon without hurting one’s eyes. Lúcia called out to the crowd to look at the sun. Sometime while Lucia was pointing towards the sun and seeing various religious figures in the sky, the sun appeared to change colors and rotate, like a fire wheel. For some, the sun appeared to fall from the sky before retreating, for others, it zig-zagged. The phenomenon was witnessed by most in the crowd as well as people many miles and miles apart.

Witnesses described what they saw in the press.
1. Columnist Avelino de Almeida of O Século (Portugal's most influential newspaper, which was pro-government in policy and avowedly anti-clerical), reported the following "Before the astonished eyes of the crowd, whose aspect was biblical as they stood bare-headed, eagerly searching the sky, the sun trembled, made sudden incredible movements outside all cosmic laws - the sun 'danced' according to the typical expression of the people."

2. Dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho, an eye-specialist, wrote for the newspaper Ordem describes, "The sun, at one moment surrounded with scarlet flame, at another aureoled in yellow and deep purple, seemed to be in an exceeding fast and whirling movement, at times appearing to be loosened from the sky and to be approaching the earth, strongly radiating heat".

3. The special reporter, O dia, of the Lisbon Daily reported in the edition for the October 17, 1917, "...the silver sun, enveloped in the same gauzy grey light, was seen to whirl and turn in the circle of broken clouds...The light turned a beautiful blue, as if it had come through the stained-glass windows of a cathedral, and spread itself over the people who knelt with outstretched hands...people wept and prayed with uncovered heads, in the presence of a miracle they had awaited. The seconds seemed like hours, so vivid were they."

Could there be another Astronomical explanation to the phenomenon of the Sun described by many?
No movement or other phenomenon of the sun was registered by scientists at the time. According to contemporary reports from poet Afonso Lopes Vieira and schoolteacher Delfina Lopes with her students and other witnesses in the town of Alburita, the solar phenomena were visible from up to 40 kilometers away.

Eventhough we are inhabitants of earth, there are many things on earth that are not fully understood. Only 5% of the deep sea have been explored leaving another 95% still unknown. How can science explain the rational or the mystique of the sun? Scientists can't explain all the phenomenon especially when it comes to things that are related to the divine though they may try....

The Moon that shines under the Sun - Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

2008-12-03T04:55:00.008+08:00

Reverend Sun Myung Moon, a Korean born will be 89 yrs come 6th of January 2009. He comes from a once traditional Confucius family which later converted to Christianity when he was just 10 yrs old. Today, he is the founder & the leader of the worldwide Unification Church and also owns, operates & subsidizes organisations involved in political, cultural & mass media including Washington Times.

This self-proclaimed "Messiah" as he calls himself claims that he is the 2nd coming of Christ himself and is here to complete the unfinished mission of Jesus Christ. For On April 17, 1935, when he was 16, Moon claims to have had a vision or revelation of Jesus while praying atop a small mountain. He says that Jesus asked him to complete the unfinished task of establishing God's kingdom on Earth and bring peace to the world. Today, Moon & his Moonies (followers) are not spared of criticism for their religious beliefs and their socio-political involvement.

Did the Korean authorities allow this man to propagate his "Teachings"?

In 1946, Moon was arrested by the Korean officials, who showed him no mercy by beating him up to near death. But, Moon's dark days was not long in the moonlight due to the aide of his follower who nursed him back to his health to see the sun. But, his church backs him up by saying that the whole thing arose due to jealousy as parishioners stopped tithing in their old churches and started tithing in Moon's church.

Moon's 2nd & 3rd arrest.

Moon was arrested again 2 yrs later and was slapped with a 5 year jail term but was saved when the UN troops marched in leaving the guards fleeing their guardpost. This is a place where prisoners were usually overworked but not properly fed causing a high fatality rate. But, Moon who was cautious with the water ration by cleaning his hands to remove the chemical that he deals with as a part of his prison work credits God for protecting his life. Moon's 3rd arrest on counterfeiting charges happened during the Korean war when he tried to spend some North Korean currency in South Korea. He was released soon enough.

Moon's many marriage adventures.

He 1st married in 1943, at the age of 23. He got himself divorced with 2 children in 1953. He got married to his 2nd wife while he was still legally married to his 1st wife and the church does not regard this as infidelity. She was sent to Japan to avoid legal dificulties when she became pregnant. In 1960, he married his 3rd wife who was 17 yrs old at the time of marriage. The 3rd wife is known as the "True Mother" & they both are known as "True Parents". These "True Parents" produced 14 children and hence their family is called the "True Family".

The practice of Messiah Moon out in the Sun...

Nansook Hong, ex-wife of Hyo Jin Moon, Sun Myung Moon's eldest son, said in her 1998 book In the Shadow of the Moons: "My Life in the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Family", that both Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han told her about Moon's extramarital affairs (which she said he called "providential affairs"), including one which resulted in the birth of a boy raised by a church leader, named by Sun Myung Moon's daughter Un Jin Moon on the news show 60 Minutes.

The 6 Mary's & the sex rituals...

In 1993 Chung Hwa Pak released the book Roku Maria no Higeki (Tragedy of the Six Marys). The book contained allegations that Moon conducted sex rituals among six married female disciples ("The Six Marys") who were to have prepared the way for the virgin who would marry Moon and become the True Mother. Chung Hwa Pak had left the movement when the book was published and later withdrew the book from print when he rejoined the Unification Church. Before his death Chung Hwa Pak published a 2nd book entitled "The Apostate" and recanted all allegations made in Roku Maria no Higeki.

And the "True Father" says,

Rev. Moon teaches that before the first human beings were able to grow into a natural completion of their relationship with God they sinned through a misuse of love. Thus they experienced separation from God and from their original, pure nature. (Yeah, Right!!)

Thus the messiah comes as "true Adam" to restore what the first ancestors should have achieved, to restore all people to a sinless state and to build the kingdom of God on earth. Largely because of the failure of John the Baptist, Jesus accomplished only the first part of this spiritual salvation, so a new messiah must appear from Korea to finish the work. (Like....more sex?? ;)

So, what does he actually preach?

One of the key concepts in the Divine Principle is found in Rev. Moon's interpretation of Genesis 1:28, "Be fruitful and multiply… and have dominion over the fish of the sea…" as constituting the "Three Blessings" that represent God's command to all human beings:

1. To grow to healthy maturity in body and spirit, where the body and spirit are integrated in mutual benefit and live in relation to the creator God, and for the sake of others;

2. To establish an ideal family and expand that to instantiate true family love to all levels of social expansion, again always in relation to the creator God; and

3. To maintain responsible stewardship of the earth and all of nature, and live a joyful and abundant physical life in preparation for an even more fantastic joy and abundance in eternal spiritual life.

Well, there's much more than meets the eye. The wise say that the eye is the window to the soul. Sometimes, the eyes get blinded in the midst of lunacy. The accounts above is only a fragment of unbelievable claims by a man on earth who claims to be the messenger of God from Heaven. The most difficult thing to understand is or rather the mystique part is how man allows himself to be deluded by such a phony individual.

Ram Bahadur Bomjon, the Buddha boy re-emerges on 10th November 2008.

2008-11-28T19:02:00.012+08:00

Ram Bahadur Bomjon nicknamed
"Buddha Boy" is a Nepalese boy born in Ratnapuri Village, District of Bara, Nepal on 9th April 1990. His official Buddhist name is however "Palden Dorje". The locals believe that he is the next reincarnation of Lord Buddha. It is reported that his mother fainted when she found out that her son meditated for an undefined period of time. His mother's name is Maya Devi Tamang, the same first name as Buddha's mother.

He began to attract thousands of visitors daily & also media attention after word spread out that he has been spending months on meditation. He first began meditating on the 16th May 2005 and disappeared on 11th March the following year. However, he was spotted in the same country that year on the Boxer's Day but strangely disappearing on 8th March 2007. His twice disappearance so far falls in the same month, the 3rd month of the Gregorian calendar. However, this disappearance mystique was quickly dispelled when he was spotted meditating in a ditch by the Police of Ratnapuri.

Why does he disappear?
There is a reason for his disappearance. On 19th March, in 2006, a group of Bomjon's followers met with him about 3 kilometers southwest of his meditation site. They say they spoke to him for 1/2 hour, during which Bomjan said "there is no peace here" and that he would return in 6 years. He left a message for his parents telling them not to worry.

Does Bomjon knows people look up on him as Buddha's incarnate?
On the 8th of November 2005 Bomjon arose and said to the public, "Tell the people not to call me a Buddha. I don't have the Buddha's energy. I am at the level of a rinpoche." A rinpoche is the level of a teacher, which indicates he believes he has achieved a significant amount. He said that he will need six more years of meditation before he may become a Buddha.

What does his followers have to say?

According to his followers, Bomjon may have reached the stage of a "bodhisattva", a person on the path to attaining full enlightenment of buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. According to the historical Buddha, Gautama Buddha, there were innumberable Buddhas before him and infinite Buddhas to come in future. Proponents also claim that Bomjon might also be the emanation of Maitreya Bodhisattva, the predicted successor to the historical Buddha.

The Boy with Divine Powers...

In 2007, the Discovery Channel produced a documentary titled The Boy With Divine Powers. On their first, four-day attempt, the film crew was required to stay outside a guarded barbed-wire fence, and their camera's infrared capabilities did not pick up evidence of a body at the base of the tree where Bomjon sat during their non-stop recording. On a second attempt a few weeks later, however, the film crew was able to film Ram continuously for 96 hours, day and night, during which time he did not drink any fluids or eat any food. According to scientists on the documentary, an average person would be expected to die from kidney failure after four days without drinking any fluids. The boy showed no signs of classical physical deterioration caused by dehydration. A close inspection conducted by the film crew of the area around the tree where Ram was sitting, no hidden water or food pipes were found.

Young Bomjon's Preachings...

On 2nd August 2007 Bomjon addressed a large crowd in Hallori jungle in Bara district of southern Nepal. The Namo Buddha Tapoban Committee, which is devoted to looking after Bomjon, assembled the meeting. A notice about the boy's first-ever preaching was broadcast by a local FM radio station, and the committee also invited people by telephone. Around 3000 people gathered to listen to Bomjon's address. A video of the event has also surfaced.

His Message:
Bomjon's message was "The only way we can save this nation is through spirituality". His speech goes as follows:

"Murder, violence, greed, anger and temptation have made the human world a desperate place. A terrible storm has descended upon the human world, and this is carrying the world towards destruction. There is only one way to save the world and that is through dharma. When one doesn't walk the righteous path of spiritual practice, this desperate world will surely be destroyed. Therefore, follow the path of spirituality and spread this message to your fellows.

Never put obstacles, anger and disbelief in the way of my meditation's mission. I am only showing you the way; you must seek it on your own. What I will be, what I will do, the coming days will reveal. Human salvation, the salvation of all living beings, and peace in the world are my goal and my path. "Namo Buddha sangaya, Namo Buddha sangaya, namo sangaya."

I am contemplating on the release of this chaotic world from the ocean of emotion, on our detachment from anger and temptation, without straying from the path for even a moment, I am renouncing my own attachment to my life and my home forever, I am working to save all living beings. But in this undisciplined world, my life's practice is reduced to mere entertainment.

The practice and devotion of many Buddhas is directed at the world's betterment and happiness. It is essential but very difficult to understand that practice and devotion. But though it is easy to lead this ignorant existence, human beings don't understand that one day we must leave this uncertain world and go with the Lord of Death. Our long attachments with friends and family will dissolve into nothingness. We have to leave behind the wealth and property we have accumulated. What's the use of my happiness, when those who have loved me from the beginning, my mother, father, brothers, relatives are all unhappy. Therefore, to rescue all sentient beings, I have to be Buddha-mind, and emerge from my underground cave to do vajra meditation. To do this I have to realize the right path and knowledge, so do not disturb my practice. My practice detaches me from my body, my soul and this existence.

In this situation there will be 72 goddess Kalis. Different gods will be present, along with the sounds of thunder and of "tangur", and all the celestial gods and goddesses will be doing puja (worship).

So until I have sent a message, do not come here, and please explain this to others. Spread spiritual knowledge and spiritual messages throughout the world. Spread the message of world peace to all. Seek a righteous path and wisdom will be yours."

There are so many things on earth that we can never explain and much more that we will never understand. I hope that Ram Bahadur Bomjon succeeds in his endeavor! As about the skeptics, just leave them be as you will find them in any parts of the world in abundance but poor in value of their thoughts. How often do you come across a teenage boy who chooses to delve in spiritualistic journey when hormones go running wild at such age. Life on earth is more than merely making riches in this materialistic world.

The Mystique surrounding the Turin Shroud - Part 2.

2008-11-26T20:34:00.000+08:00

How is it that the image in the Turin Shroud which miraculously survived 2000 yrs is able to be produced in a photo negative? Is this a miracle? Blood could not have caused such a stain to produce the whole image that we see in the negative!

The chemists tries to explain...
The explanation is the ammonia from the skin, sweat & as a gaseous form could have left such a stain mark on the shroud.

Another explanation......
The Resurrection caused a supernatural release of energy which resulted in the fabric becoming scorched. This particular theory seems to have some similar echoes from the US Air Force scientists saying that the marks on the shroud appeared to have caused by a "microsecond blast of intense radiation". Radiation??? Where on earth did it come from??

Lab test results....
In 1988, three separate laboratories conducted dating experiments on the tiny samples of cloth supplied by the Vatican. The results of their finding began to cast some doubts about the antiquity of this priced relic. They reveal that the age of the relic was not less than 14th century. (This was approximately the time when the relic turned up in a small French village). If 1 lab produced the findings such as this it is easy to suspect the credibility of their test but as 3 labs comes with similar findings...this triggers some thoughts along the whole subject of this relic.

More researchers come forward...
In 1994, Clive Prince & Lynn Picknett wrote a book entitled "Turin Shroud" claiming that the whole idea is a gigantic hoax but created by a genius. The "genius" according to them is no other than Leonardo da Vinci (remember the Da Vinci Code-the movie? :) who happens to be the most inventive artist & scientist ever lived. (Leonardo da Vinci's image left). The authors theory on why the artist did such a scam is due to the orders of the Pope Innocent VIII who "needed a fresh religious relic to boost his popularity".

Countering skepticism of the Turin shroud...
As a way to counter the skeptics, came another 2 fresh appraisers. They were German researhers, Holger Kersten & Elmar Gruber who wrote the book, "The Jesus Conspiracy". They believe that the carbon dating by these laboratories are perfect methods BUT the samples they dated DO NOT stem from the shroud!! They further state that the samples of flax prepared under unexplained secrecy were actually switched by the Vatican. The reason is that "since the winding sheet had been around a dead man, any evidence that it was a genuine relic would also have proved that Christ had lain dead long enough to cause such an imprint. And that means it would have destroyed the entire story of the Resurrection," says Gruber.

Another backer of the Turin shroud...
Then came Rodney Hoare, a scientist educated in the Cambridge who spent 26 years researching the relic. He wrote a book entitled "The Turin Shroud Is Genuine". His arguments too surrounds the carbon-dating laboratories were bound to make a mistake because unlike most objects they usually analyse, the shroud had been constantly exposed and handled for almost 2000 yrs. Fingerprints, fire, pollutants and other causes such as the high carbon content in treated flax made nonsense of the carbon dating figures. Hoare who also happens to be the chairman of the British Society for the Turin Shroud vehemently concludes that the relic is genuine. He says that paintbrushes could not have possibly created such an image because "it is a negative image that holds 3-dimensional information of a nature that NO ARTIST could ever produce.

Furthermore, nobody or no medieval artist could have produced a negative image since no one knew what it was in the middle ages since photography was not invented during that time. Does this mean that the Turin shroud is for Real? What significance does it hold for the humanity if it is to survive 2 centuries? What is the hidden message of this Turin Shroud? Perhaps, one day, someone may come forward to decipher the message to mankind.

The Mystique surrounding the Turin Shroud-1

2008-11-26T02:38:00.001+08:00

The Turin Shroud is the cloth which many believe covered the body of Jesus after his crucifixion. It is believed to be the Holy Shroud of Jesus, which many still believe is imprinted with the face & body of Christ after he was taken from the cross.
(photo: the Turin shroud via X-Ray imagery)

In 1898, an Italian archeologist cum amateur photographer named Secundo Pia took the first ever picture of the above said shroud in the "Chapel of the dukes of Savoy at Turin Cathedral. When the negative of the photo that Pia took are observed, it seemed to have produced the face of Christ. That was the beginning. The photo already got significant attention.

Only in 1931 that a proper scientific investigation was ever allowed. Guiseppe Enri, a professional photographer, meticulously captured the image on the shroud in a lengthy photographic study. And this is how the Shroud of Turin got the attention from the rest of the world.

The description one gets from the Turin Shroud:
From the description one can get from this relic is that the form of a naked 6 ft tall man who is bearded & has long hair hanging down his back & at shoulder length at his sides. His hands are barely crossed over his loins. There are indications that the figure has been tortured & crucified with the probability of the arms nailed through the wrists. The feet seems like it has been fastened by a single nail, while the sole of one foot appears to be darkened with blood. The figure appears to have been brutally pierced with a sharp object such as a spear. There are also patterns from the body that hints that it has been subjected to a hundred lashes which in those days would have been inflicted with a "scourge"- metal balls which are attached to a flail.

The hair is matted with blood. And blood is further coagulated in scratches in the forehead. Herein lies a Big question," Could this be the result of thorns placed on the head of Christ to mock the "King of the Jews"?

The flaxen shroud is about 14 ft long and 3.5 ft in width. This shroud has been treated an important find for over a century. The claim is that it once contained the remains of Christ. The only problem is that..... there are over 50 other shrouds in Europe....all making similar claims! Why is this? How many shrouds could one Jesus Christ probably have? Why are these men making such claims?What is there to be gained by this preposterous claims?

The next question is probably how did this shroud get to Turin? Why was it found specifically in Turin and not elsewhere? The shroud only depicts an image but can science further verify any evidence to validate the age of this shroud to the time that Christ was crucified? For starters, why is it that the image can only be seen via a negative photo and not by naked eyes?

(more to follow in part 2 of the Turin Shroud mystery)

Sathya Sai Baba's 83rd Birthday Today!

2008-11-23T15:33:00.000+08:00

Today, 23rd day of November, 2008 marks the 83rd Birthday of this Saint from Puttaparthi, India. The celebrations took place in his ashram center named "Prasanthi Nilayam".

On his 81st Birthday, Sathya Sai Baba addresses the following messages to students. Though it was directed to young students, it has a lot of message even the adults could use.

Here goes the 81st Birthday message to students:-

"It is not possible to describe how fortunate a human being is. Jantunam nara janma durlabham (of all living beings, human birth is the rarest). Man is not able to realise the value of humanness and is deluded by the sight of ephemeral and transitory objects of the world. The basis of man's life is not the transitory and ephemeral world. His life on earth is a synthesis of moral, ethical and spiritual values. Man, in fact, is the image of divinity. Mamaivamsho jivaloke jivabhuta sanathana (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being). "

"All of you are a part of Myself, you are not different from Me. Unable to realise the value of his humanness, man becomes a victim of his many delusions. All your learning and your strenuous efforts should be directed towards realising this truth. You don’t need anything else after realising this fundamental truth."

"All the material possessions of this world are a cause of bondage for man and so long as man is in bondage, he has to suffer. Therefore, man should try to achieve freedom from this bondage. He should get rid of the feeling of attachment. Nothing is ‘mine’ and ‘thine’, everything is one. Develop the feeling in your heart that all are one. Only then can you experience truth, peace and bliss."

Check your desire levels....

"Embodiments of Love! Your life is full of ambitions and desires. You have to enquire whether you are making appropriate efforts to attain fulfilment in life. First search your heart to know what your thoughts and feelings are - whether they are pure, steady and selfless or are they tainted with desires. Desires are like luggage which is a heavy burden in the journey of life. Less luggage more comfort makes travel a pleasure. Therefore, gradually reduce your desires. If you have less luggage, you will be more peaceful. On the contrary, man today is increasing his baggage of desires instead of lightening it."

Ekatma Sarva Bhutantaratma...1 atma dwells in all beings....

"Thousands of people have assembled here. Heads are many, but the feeling is one. Ekatma sarva bhutantaratma (one Atma dwells in all beings). Because of your body attachment, you are subjected to too many troubles. Today you are a single person. After completing your studies and securing a good job, you will try to get married. Then you become two. When one wears one bangle, no sound is produced. Only when one wears two bangles sound is produced. After marriage, you are inclined towards worldly acquisitions. You will have children and your family will expand. With this type of ‘progress’, how can you have peace? All these worldly attachments are the result of your deluded thinking. There is no reality in them. When your thoughts and feelings are not in the right direction, you are bound to suffer.

Love brings peace of mind.....

"Once you take to the path of service, your problems will gradually decrease. Love All, Serve All. Do not consider anybody as other person. Develop the feeling that he and you are one. The entire mankind is one. What you see in this world is only the reaction, reflection and resound of the reality that is one. Once you understand this truth, you will be peaceful. Only then will your mind be steady and one-pointed in the pursuit of your study and profession."

On the importance of service towards society...

"Therefore, first and foremost, engage yourself in the service of society. What is society? Society is your own reflection. Therefore, do not distance yourself from society. Keep yourself always engaged in the service of society. Why has God given hands to you? They are not given to scribble something on paper. They should be fully engaged in the service of God. Work is worship. Duty is God. Do your duty."

The Body-Senses-Mind-Intellect-Atma Relationship.

"You are now young and all your limbs are healthy and strong. First is the body. Next come the senses. Higher than the senses is the mind, and the intellect is higher than the mind. The Atma is the highest. When you understand and contemplate on the principle of the Atma, you will be free from all suffering and bondage. It is the perversion of the mind that is the cause of all your sufferings and bondages."

On accepting the beliefs of diverse religion...

"Gradually, My name is spread far and wide. This created jealousy in some people. In spite of the jealousy of people, people from many countries of the world representing various faiths started coming to Prasanthi Nilayam in large numbers and started celebrating their festivals here. Now December is coming and Christmas is approaching. Christians from all parts of the world will assemble here and celebrate this festival. Likewise, Mohammedans also came to Prasanthi Nilayam and prayed for My permission to celebrate their festivals. As I have always been telling you, “All are one.”

His Teachings....

Religions are many, but the goal is one.

Clothes are many but yarn is one.

Jewels are many but gold is one.(Telugu poem)

The essence of Truth....

"Who is God? Truth is God. Truth is unshakable. Sathyannasti paro Dharma (There is no Dharma greater than adherence to truth). It is Dharma that leads man to peace. Without peace man cannot live. Saint Thyagaraja said, “One cannot have happiness without peace.” When you attain peace, you will experience love and bliss. Truth is the origin of bliss. Non-violence also emerges from truth. A man of love will not entertain even a thought of violence. Sathya (truth), Dharma (righteousness), Santhi (peace), Prema (love) and Ahimsa (non-violence) are like the five life-breaths of man. These are the prime qualities of a human being. The need of the hour is to develop these human values. Only when these values are developed can there be peace in the country. Wherever you see today, you find limitless desires in people."

The final reminder...

"The worldly pleasures are no pleasures in the real sense of the term. Today you may enjoy pleasure, tomorrow you may experience difficulties. You may be happy when a son is born, but you will be grief-stricken when some mishap occurs to the son and he dies. One day you smile, another day you cry. There is only a little gap between happiness and sorrow. Everything in man’s life is transient and temporary. Ma kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam, Harathi nimeshath kalah sarvam (do not be proud of your wealth, progeny and youth; the tide of time may destroy them in a moment)."

That was the message Sri Sathya Sai Baba had for young students on his birthday 2 yrs ago. I cannot dismiss his "final reminder" of his birthday message: "Everything in a man's life is transient & temporary...the tide of time may destroy them in a moment". Currently, recession is taking place globally. Ask a man who has just lost his job of 10 to 20 yrs old due to downsizing or retrenchment & he will tell you how right is that statement!