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The Duel of the Figures continues ( you can find the previous part here: )
It’s not battle of Jedi vs Sith, it’s not a battle of Good vs Evil, it’s a battle of coolness as the high quality “Samurai” Darth Vader action figure fights against a “mass market” version of Kit Fisto.
Continues from part 2: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/25370023110/in/photos...
You can find the whole series (to be completed soon) here: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/albums/72157665467242701
Vader Force lifts his opponent and grabs him. He slams against the wall of the nearby structure.
Vader: “There is more than mass revenue [a reference to their previous dialogue] Collectibles are works of art and quality does matter! Figures like you are a curse for the world of Collectibles!”
To be continued…
No action figure has been harmed during the making of this photo; this is just a simulation of violence/combat etc, etc :) It’s obvious (they are just toys after all :) ) but nowadays a little disclaimer does not hurt lol :)
Samurai Vader is the Bandai Tamashii Nations Movie Realization Samurai Taisho [General] Darth Vader, Death Star Armor action figure :)
Fisto figure lacks his right arm because he lost in the previous image.
This is one of the problems of making a series of photo stories. There are images that are essential to the narration and in the whole story’s context they make sense and appear “in the perfect place”; however if you look at them alone they don’t seem to tell a lot.
I think this photo may be an example of this.
Anyway, I hope you still like it :)
May the Force be with You :)
There are some moments in your life, when you feel like you're in the exact path you should be. It's not a blatant or obvious moment; it's more like a feeling that creeps up your neck, that fills you with confidence and joy in what you're doing.
For a while, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I went from course (major) to course, got one BA and two post-grads in different fields, until I fell on photography. And when I thought about it, when I put the possibility of becoming a professional photographer on the table, I realized that photography is one of the few things that has always been there. Every year, on my birthday or christmas, I would get a camera. I would always take photos, I'd do that when I was bored, or sad or lonely. And it was so natural that I didn't even realize.
I sort of had the day to myself, today. I went to my dad's boat with him and my cousin, and I just sat and read all day. Sontag. And I thought about a whole lot of things, too. When we were driving back and I had my head halfway out of the window, the wind pushing against my skin and the music loud in my ears, I had that realization that I mentioned a couple of paragraphs ago. I felt like I might turn the world around, I might work at McDonalds or Zara or whatever to keep myself, but someway, somehow, I'll always be a photographer first. And an artist, second. It will always be about art. Like the good people say, "the opposite of war isn't peace: it's creation!"
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How many of you would be interested in a print give away? I've been thinking about doing it for a while, what do you think?
Realization hits her and she falls to the ground, her face in her hands, her heart torn to pieces, memories racing through her mind, the early morning snuggles, the breakfast in bed, late night movie dates, now all of that was gone, there was no fixing things , no winning her back now.
When getting an idea in your head, it won’t let you go at times. If so, it slowly but surely takes over your thoughts and settles in. After a while, such a view might become a feasible venture.
By planing its realization, one embarks on a journey characterized by all sorts of highs and lows: Some things will turn out great while other approaches prove useless, which means that one needs to start over again.
As patience is a high virtue, this path is also a test of whether the initial idea can assert itself in reality. If one makes it to this final goal, the courage it took to come there will be richly rewarded.
While observing this achievement, joy, relief, and satisfaction compensate for all the intense efforts that vigorously took place. Soon after, one realizes that the heavy load which accompanied this journey slowly falls off the shoulders, and that lightness spreads around.
So many of my favorite moments probably look like nothing. But I think I like that they’re not understood. For this, you had to be there. And I'm so glad you were. #sweeterpoetry || Patagonia, Argentina ||
Jake Hegel Photography Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Jake-Hegel-Photography/21335669868...
Deviantart: www.jakehegel.deviantart.com/
It is crucial to understand that when we die, it is only the death of the human body; the spirit (our soul) lives on. When we die our soul loses its physical connection with the world which we know when we are alive.
Everything we do in this life, we should do with the conscious awareness that the consequences of every action will carry on after we leave this world; that our soul will bear the burden of it.
With this thought should come a realization; what is the purpose for us to be in this world!
Inner peace and happiness actually comes from a clear conscience which keeps our soul at peace!
Let me elaborate this point with an example – If we help someone in times of need, or give food to the poor, these actions will not result in any monetary gain, but these actions will fulfill us at a spiritual level because our soul will reap the rewards of these actions, even after our exit from this life. On the other hand if we cheat or steal money from someone, this action might result in a temporary gain of a monetary benefit, but will lead to a guilty conscience - which is the unrest of our soul. It is our soul which will have to face the consequences of these deeds.
So whatever we do in life, please do keep in mind that every action will result in a positive or negative reaction from our soul. So if you truly want to create a life full of inner peace and happiness, be fair with others, keep your word, and be kind and generous. This approach to life will rid us of corruption and dishonesty & will steer our lives in the direction of success and prosperity.
Maryam Arif
Today I had a realization that went something like this - oh crap I'm leaving thursday and I need to get a photo in now or i'll have to skip a week. So this was sort of last minute. I had no lighting in my room and my walls looked a horrible neon shade in all the pictures I took, so I threw on the 'antique light' preset on LR. I test how that preset looks on most photos that I import into LR and I love it. I don't use it too often. But I am really enjoying it with the tinsel photos :P
Man, Perry's been on a roll lately! This was not easy with him, I made him balance his ass on the stool again, and pose with the dreaded tinsel. Such drama. But it took just a few shots to give a good one, so the torture was short lived and Per survived.
വരണ്ടുണങ്ങിയ മണ്ണില് ഒരായിരം പരുത്തിച്ചെടികളിലൊന്നില് എന്റെ ആത്മാവ് കുടികൊണ്ടു. പരുത്തികള് പൂത്ത് കായ്ച്ചപ്പോള് അവിടെയായിരുന്നു ഞാന്. വെളിച്ചം എന്റെ കണ്ണുകളില് ജന്മ വേദനയോടെ പിറവികൊണ്ടു. രാവിന്റെ നിറഭേദം മാത്രമാണ് പകലെന്നും അത് ചമക്കുന്നതൊരേയൊരു സൂര്യനാണെന്നും മനസിലക്കിയപ്പോഴേക്കും അമ്മയുമായുള്ള പൊക്കിള്ക്കൊടി ബന്ധം മുറിക്കാന് ഞാന് തയ്യാറായിരുന്നു. വിളവെടുപ്പിന്റെ വേദനയിലും നിറങ്ങളിലേക്കുള്ള മോക്ഷമാണിതെന്ന് അമ്മമാര് ഞങ്ങളുടെ കാതുകളിലോതി.
യാത്രകള്, ഇരുട്ട്, വേദന. ഞങ്ങളെല്ലാം വേര്തിരിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. വിധി നിര്ണയിക്കുന്നവന്റെ നെയ്ത്തുശാലകളില് ഞാന് വെറുമൊരു തൂവെള്ള തുണിയായി രൂപപ്പെട്ടു. നിറങ്ങളില്ല. സ്വപ്നങ്ങള് മാത്രം. വീണ്ടും യാത്രകള്, ഇരുട്ടറകള്. ഞങ്ങളില് ചിലര് നിറങ്ങളന്വേഷിച്ചും ചിലര് ലക്ഷ്യബോധമില്ലാതെയും യാത്രയായി. വേദനിച്ചെങ്കിലും നാളെയുടെ നിറച്ചാര്ത്തിനേക്കുറിച്ച്, ഞങ്ങളിലെ ഒരായിരം വര്ണങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചോര്ത്ത് സന്തോഷിച്ചു. തപസ്യ തുടരവേ ഒരു നാള് അരിച്ചെത്തിയ വെളിച്ചം അറിയിച്ചു - നിങ്ങള് നിത്യ ചൈതന്യത്തിനു മുന്പില് തിരിനാളങ്ങളാവേണ്ടവരാണ്. അതാണത്രേ ഞങ്ങള് നിറങ്ങളുടെ വിഷങ്ങളില്ലാതെ സ്ര്യഷ്ടിക്കപ്പെട്ടത്. ആ നുറുങ്ങുവെട്ടം ഞങ്ങളിപ്പോലൊരുവന്റെ സന്തതിയാണത്രേ!
വെളുപ്പിന്റെ നൈര്മലയതയേക്കാല് നിറങ്ങളാണ് നല്ലതെന്ന് പഴകിചെളിപുരണ്ടവരപ്പോഴും മൊഴിഞ്ഞു. നിറങ്ങളുടെ മാലിന്യം തങ്ങളിലെ കറകളെ താല്ക്കാലികമായെങ്കിലും മറയ്ക്കുമെന്ന വ്യാമോഹം ! ചിലരത് കേട്ട് സംശയാലുക്കളായി. ഒരു ദിനം എല്ലിച്ച രണ്ടുകരങ്ങളെന്നെ കോരിയെടുത്ത് ഒരു പഴകിയ ദണ്ഡില് ചുറ്റി, നറുമണമുള്ള എണ്ണയില് മുക്കി എന്നിലേക്ക് അഗ്നി പകര്ന്നു. ചൂട്, വേദന. ശ്വാസം നിലയ്ക്കുന്നത് പോലെ. ഒരുമാത്രകഴിഞ്ഞ് ഇറുക്കിയടച്ച
കണ്ണുകള് തുറന്നപ്പോള് വേദനയില്ല, ഉഷ്ണമില്ല എങ്ങും പ്രശാന്തതമാത്രം. നിറങ്ങളല്ല ഈ പ്രശാന്തതയിലാണ് മോക്ഷമെന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവ്. കത്തിജ്വലിച്ച് നിത്യതയിലലിഞ്ഞ് ചേരുന്നതാണ് മോക്ഷമെന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവ്.ഞാന് രാവിനെക്കിറിമുറിച്ച്, ഒരു കൊച്ചു സൂര്യനായി, നനുത്ത കാറ്റുകളോട് മല്ലടിച്ച് ജ്വലിച്ചു നിന്നു.
ഞാന്. ഞാന്. ഞാന്. ഞാന് മാത്രം. ഇന്നു ഞാന് എന്നെയറിയുന്നു. പക്ഷെ എന്റെ ഉടപ്പിറപ്പുകള്ക്ക് അവരെന്തെന്നറിയാന് കഴിയാത്തിടത്തോളം ഞാന് വെറും സ്വാര്ത്നത്രേ. ഈ വെളിച്ചം എല്ലാവരിലേക്കും പകര്ന്നു നല്കേണ്ടിയിരിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു തീപ്പന്തമായി, വഴി കാട്ടിയായി കത്തിജ്വലിച്ചമരും മുന്പ് എന്റെ തിരിച്ചറിവുകള് ഞാന് അവരിലേക്ക് പകര്ന്ന് നല്കും.
അന്ന് പതിവുപോലെ കാലം മുറുക്കിത്തുപ്പിച്ചുമപ്പിച്ച ഒരു സന്ധ്യയിലേക്ക് ഞാന് കണ്ണുകള് തുറന്നപ്പോള് എനിക്ക് മുന്പില് ഒരായിരം ചെരാതുകളില് എന്റെയുടെപ്പിടന്നോര് ! നിറങ്ങളാണ് എല്ലാം എന്ന് കരുതിയിരുന്നവരിലേക്ക് ഞാന് സ്വാത്രന്ത്രത്തിന്റെ, മോക്ഷത്തിന്റെ, തിരിച്ചറിവുകള് പകര്ന്ന് നല്കി. ഞങ്ങളൊന്നായി, ഒരേ മനസോടെ, ഇരവിനെത്തോപ്പിച്ച് ഒരായിരം സൂര്യന്മാരായി, ഒരേ സ്വപ്നങ്ങളോടെ, പ്രതീക്ഷകളോടെ, നല്ല നാളെയുടെ പ്രതീക്ഷകളോടെ സുവര്ണ പ്രഭ ചൊരുത്തി കത്തിജ്വലിച്ചു നിന്നു. നേരം വീണ്ടുമിരുളവേ ഒരിളം കാറ്റെത്തി. ഞങ്ങളില് ചിലരെയാക്കാറ്റ് വാരിപ്പുണര്ന്നു. ചിലര് ആടിയുലഞ്ഞു. നിറങ്ങളായിരുന്നു മോക്ഷം. ഇത് തീയാണ്, കാറ്റാണ് ഒരു തിരിനാളം
പരിതപിച്ചു. ഇളം കാറ്റത് കേട്ടത് ആര്ത്ത് ചിരിച്ചു. തിരിച്ചറിവുകള് നഷ്ട്ടപ്പെട്ട് കരിന്തിരി കെടും മുന്പ് മറ്റു ചിലരും പറഞ്ഞു നിറങ്ങളായിരുന്നു മോക്ഷം.
സ്വയം കണ്ടെത്തല് നാമോരുത്തരും സ്വയം എത്തിച്ചേരുന്ന അവസ്ഥയാണ്. സ്വയം തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നവനേ ഇളം കാറ്റുകളെപ്പോലും തരണം ചെയ്യാന് പറ്റൂ. സംഘടനകള്ക്ക് നമ്മെ സ്വതത്രനാക്കോനോ കരുത്തരാക്കാനോ കഴിയില്ല (ref 1). അത് സ്വയം നിര്വഹിക്കാന് കഴിയാത്തവന് കരിന്തിരിയണയേണ്ടത് അനിവാര്യതയാണ്. നീയും കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകളെ നേരിടാന് പ്രാപ്തനല്ല. നീ വെളിച്ചം പകര്ന്ന ഈ ചെരാതുകളില് ചിലരൊക്കെ നിറങ്ങളല്ല വെളിച്ചമാണ് മോക്ഷമെന്ന് തിരിച്ചറിയും. പക്ഷെ നിനക്ക് കൊടുങ്കാറ്റുകളെ നേരിടാന് ശക്തിയാര്ജ്ജിക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. ഇളം കാറ്റ് ഇത് ചൊല്ലി വിടവാങ്ങുമ്പോള് ഞാനറിയുകയായിരുന്നു അവനാണ് നാളെയുടെ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റ്. ഇളം കാറ്റുകള് മോക്ഷം നേടി മഴയും പേമാരിയുമായി തിരിച്ചെത്തുന്നു. ഇവിടെ നഷ്ടങ്ങളില്ല, നേട്ടങ്ങളിലേക്കുള്ള പ്രയാണമാണ് നാമൊരുത്തരുടെയും ജീവിതം. പലപ്പോഴും നാമത് തിരിച്ചറിയാതെ വിട്ടു വീഴ്ചകളുടെ തലച്ചുമടുമായി ജീവിക്കുന്നു. എനിക്ക് യാത്ര തുടരേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. പേമാരികളേയും നേരിടാനുള്ള കരുത്താര്ജ്ജിക്കുവാന്. ഭാവിയുടെ ഭൂതകാലത്തില്, ഇന്നുകളില് ജീവിക്കാതെ ഭാവിക്കുവേണ്ടി കരുത്താര്ജ്ജിക്കുവാന്.
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Indirectly describes the reason for dissolving Malayalikkoottam as it was originally created & here by I announce that the vision and mission of the Malayalikkoottam is unachievable unless the very people involved don't realize themselves. In any case, it seems the realization is something similar to what J Krishnamoorthy had in 1929. I here by quit from Malayalikkoottam and the original intentions for which the group has created seems to be still unachievable. All assets of the group if there is any will be handed over to anyone identified by koottam-manage and I will preserve the photos and other artifacts of the group with atmost care until its handed over to respective individuals. It was a great attempt to create a group which is not for comments and which has a physical existence and which could do many things beyond mere photography. The group still has the best resources and great people and few souls still fighting to make it what it was intended. Those are the ones who knows who they are and the very reason for the issues. I have no words to express my respect for them. It was a great journey I thank every member of the group especially the great souls who are still fighting against the chaos and those who stood from the beginning. But the path is else where. The relationships I earned from the group, often wanted to called itself as a family is precious and may may be, we can put everything back. Looks like for last 2+ years I was fighting with individuals and vendors when they try to take advantage of us. May be its time to relax a bit and stop the never ending fight for a while and give more time to myself than the family / group.
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Ref 1: this sentence is added after originally writting the Malayalam text on November 5th, 2009 and its based on J Krishnamoorthy's "The Order of the Star in the East" dissolution speech.
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DSC_3556_1, Taken at Thrikkakkara Vamana Temple on Thirivonam day & the caption and processing done ages ago. The text / description was written on November 5th 2009.
If you think, you were involved somehow, in the effort to build this community in last 3 years, there is "Add a person" link on the right hand side ! add yourself there. It will be fun
Also it will be interesting to check Honey Moon photos too :-)
The Duel of the Figures continues…
It’s not battle of Jedi vs Sith, it’s not a battle of Good vs Evil, it’s a battle of coolness as the high quality “Samurai” Darth Vader action figure fights against a “mass market” version of Kit Fisto.
Continues from part 3: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/25093753264/in/photos...
You can find the whole series (the last part will be posted soon) here: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/albums/72157665467242701
Vader maintains his hold on Fisto figure.
Fisto: “You…are deluded to think your kind actually means something…cough.. You have just a niche market…your kind are so expensive…we are so affordable…cough… we can swarm the market and be forever remembered…”
Vader: “You are a fool to think you can leave a mark in the history of collectibles. Quality does matter and while my kind may be expensive, you are annoyingly overpriced for a figure of your quality! We'll be a prized possession in a collection but you… you will be forgotten. It’s time to sink into oblivion.”
With a swift movement Vader plunges his Lightsaber into his opponent’s chest.
To be continued…
No action figure has been harmed during the making of this photo; this is just a simulation of violence/combat etc, etc :) It’s obvious but a little disclaimer never hurts lol :)
Samurai Vader is the Bandai Tamashii Nations Movie Realization Samurai Taisho [General] Darth Vader, Death Star Armor action figure :) I know it’s as long as a Hyperspace route lol :)
Fisto figure lacks his right arm because he lost it earlier in the fight.
I hope you are enjoying this little series :)
May the Force be with You :)
HELIAR Vintage Line 50mm F3.5
フォクトレンダーのレンズです、昔は営業写真のレンズとして重宝されました。
オールドレンズの中でもあまりボケることなく現行レンズのようにスッキリ撮影でき、小さなレンズで軽く持ち運び便利。F３.５なのでピントも素早く来て嬉しいレンズです。撮影したい時、気付いた時にさっと撮影できるいい奴みたい。なぜかこのレンズをつけていると色々な人がこのレンズは何かと必ず聞いてくる人気者のレンズです
The Duel of the Figures continues…
It’s not battle of Jedi vs Sith, it’s not a battle of Good vs Evil, it’s a battle of coolness as the high quality “Samurai” Darth Vader action figure fights against a “mass market” version of Kit Fisto.
Continues from part 4: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/25156534853/in/photos...
You can find the whole series here: www.flickr.com/photos/133750589@N08/albums/72157665467242701
Vader release the grip and the lifeless body of his opponent hits the ground and he checks the life signs (it’s always better to be sure, certain figures can be very tricky )
Vader: “All too easy.”
Today he scored another victory for the New Order of High Quality Collectibles but there are more battles to fight…
Samurai Vader is the Bandai Tamashii Nations Movie Realization Samurai Taisho [General] Darth Vader, Death Star Armor action figure.
This image completes the mini series about Vader and Fisto figures.
I hope you like it :)
Your feedback is really appreciated and it will be very useful for my next projects. So feel free to post what you think about this mini series. If you like that format or if you prefer other formats, like for example the comics format etc.
By the way which of the mini series five photos is your favorite?
Any feedback will be very useful, my friends :)
May the Force be with You :)
"It is a difficult thing to say in what ways can significance be determined. Stature or width or volume or height; all of them possibilities, but who knows what is right? The more I explore what I seem to find, is that nothing can stand up to the mind."
Kallur Lighthouse, Kalsoy, Faroe Islands
Self Realization
It is crucial to understand that when we die, it is only the death of the human body; the spirit (our soul) lives on. When we die our soul loses its physical connection with the world which we know when we are alive.
Everything we do in this life, we should do with the conscious awareness that the consequences of every action will carry on after we leave this world; that our soul will bear the burden of it.
With this thought should come a realization; what is the purpose for us to be in this world!
Inner peace and happiness actually comes from a clear conscience which keeps our soul at peace!
Let me elaborate this point with an example – If we help someone in times of need, or give food to the poor, these actions will not result in any monetary gain, but these actions will fulfill us at a spiritual level because our soul will reap the rewards of these actions, even after our exit from this life. On the other hand if we cheat or steal money from someone, this action might result in a temporary gain of a monetary benefit, but will lead to a guilty conscience - which is the unrest of our soul. It is our soul which will have to face the consequences of these deeds.
So whatever we do in life, please do keep in mind that every action will result in a positive or negative reaction from our soul. So if you truly want to create a life full of inner peace and happiness, be fair with others, keep your word, and be kind and generous. This approach to life will rid us of corruption and dishonesty & will steer our lives in the direction of success and prosperity.
Maryam Arif
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
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Hair:
.Entwined. - Blythe -
Outfit:
Vanilla Bae - Serena Knotted Shirt & Serena Shorts - COLLABOR 88
♥ Info ♥
Serena Knotted Top & Serena Shorts Sold separately
Serena Knotted Top
• Strippable Top with 3 steps Strip + fully nude
• Strip me menu access includes: Private, Public, Add Master
• PG Option (step 1 only, non strip)
Serena Shorts
• Shorts with 3 steps of wear + fully nude
• Strip me menu access includes: Private, Public, Add Master
• PG Option (step 1 only, no strip scripts)
• White band is not color changeable
Poses:
FOXCITY Play Ball Set
Backdrop:
Basketball Gym Skybox
Frannie was a year behind me in High School. She was so cute and vivacious. She still is...
It's wonderful that we are still friends...
Miss Cecily, my beautiful wife, shot this photo with her iPhone 6 Plus.
Photographed in the Self-Realization Meditation Garden. It is a cliff top garden high above the Pacific Ocean 🌊 in Encinitas California - Cardiff By The Sea
IMG_0584
Shot with a Minolta CLE
Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 lens
Fujifilm 200 (US) film
Shot at EI 200 and developed normally
Developed by The Darkroom
Scanned with a Coolscan 9000ED
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THE REALITY OF EVIL AND THE NEED FOR GUIDANCE
With all the debate now raging in America between the Christian view of original sin and fallen humanity and the goodness of human nature according to what some call a modern version of Gnosticism, it is imperative, in discussing the truth according to Sufism, to deal with the question of evil and the necessity for Divine Guidance.
It must be emphasized that Sufi treatises are not simply "self-realization kits" to be handed out to those who wish to realize the Supreme Self within on the basis of their own efforts and without Divine Succor. Islam does not believe in original sin, but it does emphasize our fall from our primordial state, that primordial nature we still bear deep within ourselves.
We are separated from this nature by layers of forgetfulness and imperfection, by veils that can be removed only with God's Help. And it is precisely these veils, or ontological separation from our Source, that result in what theologically is called evil.
It is to these veils with which we usually associate ourselves and our existence that the Sufi saint of Basra, Rabi'ah, was referring when she said, "Alas my son, thine existence is a sin wherewith no other sin can be compared.”
Metaphysically one can explain the reality of evil as separation from the absolute Good. Let us remember the saying of that supreme Christian poet, Dante, who said that hell is separation from God: As mentioned above, the Divine is at once the Absolute, the Infinite, and the All-Good. And let us not forget that infinite means containing all possibilities, including that of self-negation; as mentioned already, it is in the nature of the good to give of itself as it is in the nature of light to irradiate. This emanation, which constitutes all the levels of existence below the Absolute Being, also implies distancing and separation, gradual dimming of the light and appearance of shadows. Positively, the reality of the world issues from the One Reality, but to use the very term world implies already separation from God. As the Kabbalists have said, the Divine had to "withdraw" from Its full Plenitude to create a "space" for creation.
What we call evil is the result of this withdrawal and separation. That is why evil does not have the same ontological status as the good in the same way that darkness does not have the same ontological status as light.
The so-called problem of theodicy (that is, how could a good God create a world in which there is evil?) is the result of ignorance of the nature of God and the world and lack of knowledge of the doctrine of veil or maya. This so-called problem, which has driven many a modern Westerner away from Christianity and in some cases from Judaism, has been discussed in depth by many non-Western philosophers, theologians, and mystics belonging to other religions. Countless souls in traditional societies have observed evil and misery surrounding them, but such experiences have hardly ever drawn Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists, to name just a few examples, away from religion and the world of faith. Observing evil in a world created by God who is good has not had the same religious consequences for them as it has had for many in the modern West and of course did not have the same consequences for those in the traditional West, whose reactions to this problem were similar in many ways to those of people today in most non-Western cultures.
From the point of view of the Divine Reality, there is no evil because there is nothing to be separated from the Source of the Good, but for human beings living in the domain of relativity, evil is as real as that domain, although creation in its ontological reality is good since it comes from God. This is demonstrated by the overwhelming beauty of the natural order. That is why both the Bible and the Quran assert the goodness of His creation and the fact that goodness always predominates ultimately over evil. Furthermore, the infernal, purgatorial, and paradisal states are real although located in the domain of relativity but each with very different characteristics.
The problem of evil becomes intractable when we absolutize the relative and fail to distinguish between the existential reality of a thing, which comes from the Act of Being, and its "apparent" separative existence. To speak of a world without evil is to fail to understand what the world is and to confuse the Absolute and the relative, the Essence and its veils, or to use the language of Hinduism, Atman and maya.
Some Sufis have said that there is no evil but only goodness and beauty. Such statements must be understood in the context of the state of consciousness from which they were speaking, the state that allowed them to see the Face of God everywhere. Everything has a face turned inward to God beyond all blemish and evil and a face turned outward. The Sufis who have denied evil have gazed upon that face of inwardness and have seen the outward face of things in light of that inner reality.
Otherwise, if Sufism had denied evil, there would be no need for Sufism itself because the role of Sufism is to overcome the imperfections and evil tendencies of the soul, called "nafs inciting to evil" in the Quran and subsequently by the Sufis. On the existential level of the ordinary soul, they are as real as the soul itself.
To transcend evil and to behold only the good and the beautiful, one must transcend one's own ego or this nafs. The overwhelming beauty of God's creation and the ultimate triumph of the good, whatever transient phenomena of an evil nature may hold sway in the short run, is itself proof of the existential inequality between good and evil, the beautiful and the ugly.
Sufis seek to cling to the good and the beautiful even amid what appears sometimes in life as predominance of the evil and the ugly. They hold fast to the Truth even when surrounded by error and falsehood, being anchored in the certainty that the Truth, which is always good and beautiful in the metaphysical sense, shall finally prevail. The Sufis would be the first to agree with the medieval Latin adage vincit omnia veritas, the Truth shall always triumph.
To overcome the imperfections of the soul and the abode of evil cannot be accomplished by fallen humanity without help. If there are exceptions, they only prove the rule, and one must never forget that "The Spirit bloweth where it listeth." Putting such exceptions aside, the rule and principle is that human beings are in need of Divine Guidance to remember who they are, to be able to slay the dragon within. Through His Mercy God has therefore sent prophets throughout history to guide human beings to the One.
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The Garden of Truth by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
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Image: Yamantaka, Destroyer of the God of Death
early 18th century
Yamantaka is a violent aspect of the Bodhisattva Manjushri, who assumes this form to vanquish Yama, the god of death. By defeating Yama the cycle of rebirths (samsara) that prevents enlightenment is broken. Yamantaka shares many attributes with Mahakala.
First printing resin giraffe, and makeup during the first realization BJD create handmade by jesliedolls: jesliedolls.weebly.com/
A night view of Cesenatico port canal, whose design and realization is usually attributed to Leonardo da Vinci (I am not sure how solid the foundation of this claim are). The canal is provided with a modern water gate to protect it from the incoming waves when necessary (but such a device could well have been present since the beginning, as Leonardo was an expert hydraulic engineer).
On the left there is St. James church (a XIV century church rebuilt in the XVIII century). In the canal you can see some of the traditional boats parked there as part of the exposition at the Marine Museum (sorry, it looks like the site is only in Italian). Since 1986, during Christmas time, these boats become populated with 50 wooden life-size sculptures creating a very peculiar Marine Nativity scene.
During this photographic session I was thinking of Leonardo conceiving, designing and surveying the realization of this canal. I found myself brooding over the fact that ordinary people dream by night, whereas a genius is always dreaming - especially when she is awake :-)
I have blended three HDR images derived from a 3-bracketing, -1.67 ev/0/+1.67 ev, generated and tonemapped with Luminance HDR 2.4.0 (Fattal, Reinhard05, and Mantiuk06 operators).
I am not fully satisfied with the result of this scene (especially the spot lights, which have proved to be beyond recovery (grrr!), so I hope to receive useful comments, suggestions and critics helping me to understand what are its weak points (and possibly how to avoid them in the future).
Luminance HDR 2.4.0 tonemapping parameters:
Operator: Fattal
alpha: 1.49
beta: 0.92
Saturation: 0.81
Noiseredux: 0.05
fftsolver: 1
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PreGamma: 1.55
Operator: Reinhard05
Brightness: 1.0
Chromatic adaptation: 0.28
Light adaptation: 1.0
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PreGamma: 1.18
Operator: Mantiuk06
Contrast Mapping factor: 0.88
Saturation Factor: 0.5
Detail Factor: 2.2
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PreGamma: 0.48
Drifter; development 2008 to 2016, realization 2017
In addition to early designs, the exhibition features new, previously unseen work by the Dutch duo Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta – the founders of Studio Drift. Specially for the presentation at the Stedelijk, Studio Drift will create the largest-ever installation of Fragile Future. At the core of the installation will be Fragile Future Chandelier 3.5 (2012) acquired by the museum in 2015. Another highlight is Drifter, a floating concrete monolith measuring four by two by two meters. After making its world première at New York’s Armory Show in 2017, this magical installation will be on display in the IMC Gallery at the Stedelijk. The film Drifters (2016) and the installation Materialism (2018) go on view for the first time. In total, the presentation comprises eight of Studio Drift’s room-filling installations, together with a selection of films.
The work of Studio Drift occupies a unique place at the interface between tech art, performance, and biodesign. As a museum that has always placed great importance on both art and design, and performance, the Stedelijk Museum is the perfect venue to display this transdisciplinary work. Gordijn and Nauta engage with contemporary topics such as sustainability, the meaning of natural processes for today’s environment, and issues raised by the use of augmented reality. Their work focuses attention on a society in flux, shaped by the impact of fast-paced innovations, without judging.
Hello Everyone!
I had a realization today. I go on this website almost everyday, sometimes multiple times, and have interactions with all these different photographers, yet I know almost nothing about them. The same goes the other way, many of you do not know me, and I want to reach out and share something of myself with you. I appreciate every comment and the people who regularly view my work and want to write something more personal today. So, here is a list of ten things about me.
1. This photo was taken in my bedroom. I think one's bedroom is a very personal place which is why I chose it as the setting. Here I am, passed out on all the pillows, which is very similar to how I awoke this morning.
2. I am a vivid and regular dreamer. I actually keep a dream journal because I dream so regularly and usually have crazy dreams. I typically dream of people I know but with a fantastical twist. I decided to express these crazy dreams of mine through the clouds hovering above me.
3. I am very close with my family. My mom is one of my best friends.
4. I love waking up in the morning and drinking a cup of warm coffee.
5. I have always been an artist. I actually started my creative journey as a painter and recently discovered photography. I loved painting, but I believe photography is my true passion.
6. I am in college. Next semester I will be traveling to Rome with one of my close friends, Helen. She is lenimiss on flickr :) Check out her photos they are wonderful!
7. Music is another one of my artistic outlets. I love to sing and play guitar.
8. I am an introvert, but I am not shy. I can actually be extremely talkative!
9. I love physical activity and run often. I used to do gymnastics and wish I could be a dancer. I find dancing so inspiring and liberating. I appreciate everyone with that special talent!
10. Lastly, I love to learn, and that is one of the reasons I am so drawn to photography. I am continuing to learn and grow with every shoot and that process is incredible.
Wooo that was a long post! Feel free to share something about yourself as I would love to get to know you better. What would you like to share about yourself that helps define who you are?
Self-Realization Fellowship Temple on Sunset Blvd in East Hollywood. (Established by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1942.)
thoughts, confessions, realizations & quite a few pictures around our home shared here ~
have a wonderful rest of the week everyone :)
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Realization washed over her in alternating waves of pain and numbness.
"If we don't end war, war will end us." - Words by H.G. Wells
For The People of Ukraine
Millions of people around the world want to find practical ways to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Here is a list of organisations you can donate to and help people affected by the terrible crisis. Every little helps. 'Thank You'.
Help for Ukrainians in Poland. Important addresses and telephone numbers.
P.C.P.M. - PILNE: Pomoc Dla Ukrainy - URGENT: Aid for Ukraine
The U.N. Children’s Fund in Ukraine
Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal with Adrian Lester
for Flickriver - Sophie Shapiro
I would like to thank everyone who takes an interest in my work. I am truly grateful. Please take good care of yourselves in these uncertain times. Keep well, safe & inspired.
Kind regards,
Sophie
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