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To show his community spirit, Jersey Shore Fightin’ Texas A&M Aggie Ring drove over to a local community college for their food truck event this evening. Aggie Ring had seen most of the trucks that were there before at the many other local food truck events.
There was one particular food truck that caught Aggie Ring’s attention. It was called “1 Potato Two.” Their three main items were “Spudwiches,” “Spudnachos” and fries. Apparently, the “Spudwich” is an oversized potato (over a pound) which is baked, scooped out and deep fried until dark, crispy, and crunchy shells. The shells are then filled with a selection of items (cheesesteak, bacon cheeseburger, pulled pork with coleslaw on top, turkey and cranberry, or BLT.
Texas Aggie Ring doesn’t eat much bread and quite liked the idea of a crispy sandwich made from two halves of a fried potato instead of bread so we decided that we’d order the cheesesteak “Spudwich.” Aggie Ring and I were the first in line at the truck and while we waited for them to open, Aggie Ring kept saying, “This “Spudwich” thing is going to be so damn good…”
After a few minutes, the 1 Potato Two truck opened for business and as we were about to order the cheesesteak “Spudwich,” a miracle happened. The boss lady of the truck put down a static display tray of the three items that they were selling today to show everyone what they were about. The three items on the tray were fries (covered with all kinds of toppings), a bacon cheeseburger “Spudwich” (which looked awesome!) and the most elusive of all potato products, the coveted “Spudnachos.”
Texas Aggie Ring shined just a little bit brighter in the late afternoon sun when he saw the last of the three items on the display and cried out loudly, “Spudnachos!” It seems that they take pieces of crispy fried potato skins and they top them with chopped bacon burger, and heap on the lettuce, tomato, cheese, a special house sauce, and plenty of chopped jalapeños. Well, I knew that there was absolutely no way to win this argument with Aggie Ring. Anyone who has an Aggie Ring can tell you that there’s nothing any Aggie Ring loves more than Shiner Bock or nachos. Let alone, the miracle of the “Spudnacho.”
“We’ll have the “Spudnachos.” I told the lady at the window. Minutes later, Aggie Ring and I had our “Spudnachos” and headed over to a table with our freshly squeezed lemonade. Before I could pick up a fork and napkin, Aggie Ring in the most selfless and heroic act that I’ve ever seen an Aggie Ring perform, leapt off of my finger and onto one of the crispy fried potato skins in the “Spudnachos.” Then, Aggie Ring cried out “I’m King of the Spudnachos!”
(Editor’s note: As I was putting Aggie Ring into the container of jewelry cleaner later in the evening to get the cheese sauce out of his crest, Aggie Ring said, “I did that because I love you and I wanted to make sure that those potatoes had enough toppings and were safe for you to share with me.”)
#AggieRing #TexasAggie #AggiesEverywhere
and amazing, bizarre ~
dearest friends, magnificent souls ... *
well, am trying to infuse a little humor in this .. as the results of the surgery came in tonight, and they're both amazing and bizarre...
will try to explain, in the least graphic way, what i was just told by my doctor:
when the surgeon took the biopsy of my bone, he kept finding no cells (of either kind) from the lesion to test, only blood.. so he went back in 3 more times, but each time it was the same.
puzzled, the surgeon figured the pathology lab would be able to spin it down and find some cells.. there have got to be cells! ... but the lab couldn't find any cells either.. benign or otherwise..
so... my doctor, who said he is hopefully optimistic yet is not sure what to make of this, is sending me to an oncologist, a cancer doctor for bones, for him to try to figure out the puzzle.
there is only one in the whole state, dr. singer (a wonderful name :)..
it may take awhile to get in to see him, despite my doctor wanting it to be done 'asap', because he is so busy (as, in addition to being a bone cancer specialist, he's also a hand surgeon.. which is also kind of amazing & bizarre :)
that's All okay .. i really have no fear ... because, after the initial wonderment, here's what am feeling in my soul .. ~
Life is a mystery. .. not everything is explainable.
in my heart of hearts, i would not be surprised if they never figure it out ... because.. (and you may think this is bizarre :) ..
i believe its gone ~ and truly believe that You and all my loved ones took it away with your heartful intentions sent to me...
You, with your beautiful gifts... with your healing energies, your generosity of spirit, your selflessness and true kindness... with Love.
*~ may you have these same gifts returned to you a thousandfold in your lives ~*
as soon as i heal a bit more from the surgery .. and can become familiar with my new computer (which is still in the box), i will come to each of your photostreams to thank you personally ... and would then also like to make each of you new friends my contact, hope that will be okay..
am so thankful for You... *
You ~ each of you ~ have meant everything to me during this ordeal ..
You have kept me, tenderly, in the Light ..
and You have allowed me to feel at peace and safe.
because of You, i will continue to feel at peace and safe, no matter what unfolds..
with an enormous warm hug to each of you .. a hug which will last a whole lifetime...
and love on you.. beyond-thanks to you always & always .. alight *
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This is the moment of arrest for the elderly protester depicted in the previous image and just one of the many older protesters who participated in the demonstration against the proscription of Palestine Action in London's Parliament Square on 6 September 2025.
Her calm expression seems to reflect the quiet dignity and selfless courage that organisers and observers noted in the crowd. This interaction was one of 890 arrests made that day as part of a massive and methodical police operation. It was the pre-scripted outcome of a carefully planned act of mass civil disobedience designed to challenge the legitimacy of the government's ban on Palestine Action
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Protest and the Price of Dissent: Palestine Action and the Criminalisation of Conscience
Parliament Square on Saturday, 6 September 2025 was a scene of quiet, almost solemn defiance. The air, usually thick with the noise of London traffic and crowds of tourists, was instead filled with a palpable tension, a shared gravity that emanated from the quiet determination of hundreds of protesters, many of them over 60 years old, some sitting on steps or stools and others lying on the grass.
They held not professionally printed banners, but handwritten cardboard signs, their messages stark against the historic grandeur of their surroundings. This was not a march of chants and slogans, but a silent vigil of civil disobedience, a deliberate and calculated act of defiance against the state.
On that day, my task was to photograph the protest against the proscription of the direct-action group Palestine Action. While not always agreeing entirely with the group’s methods, I could not help but be struck by the profound dedication etched on the faces of the individual protesters.
As they sat in silence, contemplating both the horrific gravity of the situation in Gaza and the enormity of the personal risk they were taking — courting arrest under terror laws for holding a simple placard — their expressions took on a quality not dissimilar to what war photographers once called the “thousand-yard stare.” It was a look of weary but deep and determined resolve, a silent testament to their readiness to face life-changing prosecution in the name of a principle.
This scene poses a profound and unsettling question for modern Britain. How did the United Kingdom, a nation that prides itself on its democratic traditions and the right to protest, arrive at a point where hundreds of its citizens — clergy, doctors, veterans, and the elderly — could be arrested under counter-terrorism legislation for an act of silent, peaceful protest?
The events of that September afternoon were the culmination of a complex and contentious series of developments, but their significance extends far beyond a single organisation or demonstration. The proscription of Palestine Action has become a critical juncture in the nation’s relationship with dissent, a test of the elasticity of free expression, and a stark examination of its obligations under international law in the face of Israel deliberately engineering a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
To understand what is at stake, one must unravel the threads that led to that moment: the identity of the movement, the state’s legal machinery of proscription, the confrontation in Parliament Square, and the political context that compelled so many to risk their liberty.
Direct Action and the State’s Response
Palestine Action, established in 2020, has never hidden its approach. Unlike traditional lobbying groups, it rejected appeals to political elites in favour of disrupting the physical infrastructure of complicity: factories producing parts for Israeli weapons systems, offices of arms manufacturers, and — eventually — military installations themselves.
Its tactics, while non-violent, were disruptive and confrontational. Red paint sprayed across buildings to symbolise blood, occupations that halted production, chains and locks on factory gates. For supporters, these were acts of conscience against a system enabling atrocities in Gaza. For the state, they were criminal disruptions of commerce.
That clash escalated steadily. In Oldham, a persistent campaign against Elbit Systems, a key manufacturer in the Israeli arms supply chain, culminated in the company abandoning its Ferranti site. Later actions targeted suppliers for F-35 fighter jets and other arms manufacturers. These were no random acts of mindless vandalism but part of a deliberate strategy: to impose costs high enough that complicity in Israel’s war effort would become unsustainable.
The decisive rupture came in June 2025, when activists infiltrated RAF Brize Norton, Britain’s largest airbase, and sprayed red paint into the engines of refuelling aircraft linked to operations over Gaza. For the activists, it was a desperate attempt to interrupt a supply chain of surveillance and logistical support to a state commiting genocide. For the government, it crossed a line: military assets had been attacked. Within days, the Home Secretary announced Palestine Action would be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.
Proscription and the Expansion of “Terrorism”
Here lies the heart of the controversy. The Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism with unusual breadth, encompassing not only threats to life but also “serious damage to property” carried out for political or ideological aims. In this capacious definition, breaking a factory window or disabling a machine can be legally assimilated to mass murder.
By invoking this law, the government placed Palestine Action on the same legal footing as al-Qaeda or ISIS. Supporting it — even symbolically — became a serious offence.
Since July 2025, merely expressing support for the organization can carry a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
This is based on Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The specific offence is "recklessly expressing support for a proscribed organisation". However, according to Section 13 of the Act, a lower-level offence for actions like displaying hand held placards in support of a proscribed group carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment or a fine of five thousand pounds or both.
Civil liberties groups and human rights bodies have denounced the proscription move as disproportionate. Their concern was not primarily whether Palestine Action’s tactics might violate existing criminal law. One might reasonably argue that they did unless they might sometimes be justified in the name of preventing a greater crime.
But reframing those actions as “terrorism” represented a dangerous category error. As many pointed out, terrorism has historically referred to violence against civilians. Expanding it to cover property damage risks draining the term of meaning. Worse, it arms the state with a stigma so powerful that it can delegitimise entire political positions without debate.
The implications go further. Proscription does not simply criminalise acts. It criminalises expressions of allegiance, conscience and even speech. To say “I support Palestine Action” is no longer an opinion but technically a serious crime. The state has moved from punishing deeds to punishing expressions of solidarity — a move with chilling consequences for democratic life.
Parliament Square: Civil Disobedience on Trial
It was this transformation that brought nearly 1,500 people into Parliament Square on 6 September. They knew what awaited them. Organisers announced in advance that protesters would hold signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” In doing so, they openly declared their intent to break the law.
The crowd was strikingly diverse. Retired doctors, clergy, war veterans, even an 83-year-old Anglican priest. Disabled activists came in wheelchairs; descendants of Holocaust survivors stood beside young students. This was not a hardened cadre of militants but a cross-section of society, many of whom had never before faced arrest.
At precisely 1 pm, the protesters all sat or lay down silently, cardboard signs raised. There was no chanting, no aggression — only a quiet insistence that they would not accept the criminalisation of conscience.
The police response was equally predictable. Hundreds of officers moved systematically through the crowd, arresting anyone displaying a sign. By the end of the day, nearly 900 people were detained under counter-terrorism law. It was one of the largest mass arrests in modern British history.
Official statements later alleged police were met with violence — officers punched, spat on, objects thrown. Yet independent observers, including Amnesty International, contradicted this. They reported a peaceful assembly disrupted by aggressive policing: batons drawn, protesters shoved, some bloodied.
www.amnesty.org/zh-hans/documents/eur45/0273/2025/en/
Video footage supported at least some of Amnesty's report.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZQGFrqCf5U&t=1283s
The two narratives were irreconcilable, but only one carried the weight and authority of the state.
The entire event unfolded as political theatre. The government proscribed a group, thereby creating a new crime. Protesters, convinced the law was unjust, announced their intent to commit that crime peacefully. The police, forewarned, staged a vast operation. Each side acted out its script. The spectacle allowed the state to present itself as defending order against extremism — while in reality silencing dissent.
The Humanitarian Context: Why Protesters Risked All
To see the Parliament Square protest as a parochial dispute over free speech is to miss its driving force. The demonstrators were not there merely to defend abstract principles. They were responding to what they, and a growing body of international experts, describe as a genocide in Gaza.
By September 2025, Gaza had descended into almost total collapse. Over 63,000 Palestinians had been killed, the majority of them women and children. More than 150,000 had been injured, many maimed for life. Entire neighbourhoods had been flattened. Famine was confirmed in August, with Israel continuing to impose and even tighten deliberate restrictions on food, water, and fuel, a strategy condemned by human rights groups as a major war crime. Hospitals lay in ruins. Ninety percent of the population had been displaced.
It is in this context that the term genocide has been applied. Legal scholars point not only to mass killings but also to the deliberate infliction of life-destroying conditions, accompanied by rhetoric from Israeli officials dehumanising Palestinians as “human animals.” In September 2025, the International Association of Genocide Scholars declared that Israel’s actions met the legal definition of genocide.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cde3eyzdr63o
Major NGOs, UN experts, and even Israeli human rights groups such as B’Tselem echoed that conclusion.
For the protesters, then, the question was not abstract but immediate: faced with what they saw as a genocide, could they in good conscience remain silent while their own government criminalised resistance to it? Their answer was to risk arrest, their placards making the moral connection explicit: opposing genocide meant supporting those who sought to stop it.
The Price of Dissent
The mass arrests in Parliament Square were not an isolated incident of law enforcement. They were the product of a broader trajectory: escalating tactics by a direct-action movement, a humanitarian catastrophe abroad, and a government determined to suppress dissent at home through the bluntest of instruments.
The official line insists that Palestine Action’s campaign constituted terrorism and thus warranted proscription. On this view, the arrests were simple enforcement of the law. Yet this account obscures the deeper reality: a precedent in which the state redefined non-lethal protest as terrorism, shifting from punishing actions to criminalising expressions of solidarity.
The cost is profound. Once speech and conscience themselves become suspect, dissent is no longer tolerated but pathologised. The chilling effect is already evident: individuals weigh not just whether to join a protest, but whether uttering support might expose them to years in prison. Terror laws, originally justified as a shield against mass violence, are recast as tools of political management.
The protesters understood this. That “thousand-yard stare” captured in their faces was not only the weight of potential arrest, but the knowledge of Gaza’s devastation, the famine and rubble, the deaths mounting daily. It was also the recognition that their own government had chosen to silence them rather than address its complicity.
In a functioning democracy, the question is not why citizens risk arrest for holding a handwritten cardboard sign. It is why a state finds it necessary to treat that act as a terror offence. The answer reveals a narrowing of democratic space, where conscience itself is deemed subversive. And that narrowing, history teaches, carries consequences not just for those arrested, but for the society that allows it.
'Love is for those who strangle the throat of their desires knowingly.' - His Holiness Younus AlGohar
“One of the chief obstacles to this perfection of selfless charity, is the selfish anxiety to get the most out of everything, to be a brilliant success in our own eyes and in the eyes of other men. We can only get rid of this anxiety by being content to miss something in almost everything we do. We cannot master everything, taste everything, understand everything, drain every experience to its last dregs. But if we have the courage to let almost everything else go, we will probably be able to retain the one thing necessary for us -whatever it may be. If we are too eager to have everything, we will almost certainly miss even the one thing we need.
Happiness consists in finding out precisely what the ‘one thing necessary’ may be, in our lives, and in gladly relinquishing all the rest. For then, by a divine paradox, we find that everything else is given us together with the one thing we needed. “ - from No Man is an Island (Thomas Merton)
Politically or philosophically, we can disagree, but we cannot deny their courage, devotion and selflessness. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
...inside or outside... then we have to pray... as i believe, as more of us will pray... the more positive vibes will be generated and that unseen power; which all the great crusaders of inhumanity, hate & injustice; who made the history of mankind, had in them, to bring justice & freedom to humanity, which at a time seem impossible, with there committed, selfless n genuine efforts...
Notice:
"Beware of my bad English... i beg your pardon!"
hehehe...
About the Photo-
This capture was taken when i went to see the Hyderabad city...
It was sunset time; all of sudden a Jet plane came along, as if to make my capture more interesting.. there's more to come!! :)
Inspired to-
With all respect towards the noble souls, i am planning to do some pencil sketching...
the list is as follows...
1. Buddha
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. Nelson Mandela
4. Mahatma Gandhi
5. Mother Teresa
& so on....
My Studies-
Well, my Btech classes of final semester(8th) will probably start from next month's first week.
Before that our Final year Project batch of 4, have to go for a course at the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum - as called by the Late British Rulers..
its like 'tree+van+drum', hah.. its funny school day memories! :)
[its 'Thiruvanathapuram' actually in our sweet language.. (But. English will be my buddy, k!!) :)]
My LIfe (n all the present 'emos')-
// I m Sorry for these emotional words... pls skip this, if uninterested!! :)
Flickr should introduce a flip-updown facility for hiding this if required... just saying.. bit seriously!!;-)//
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"hello friends, check...check..k.. this is the real ME i m going to tell you guys!!"
One day i ll speek up to an audience like that... i always feel so.. :)
Now I feel like the Turning point thing have begin... to its full swing... & i am able to move ahead towards my dreams now.. with a proper pace, focus n stability!!
What i mean is that the struggle which was going on for ages, over a particularly disturbing 'cause' is at last over..finished!!!
Its like i have made to the end of a big chapter in my life... & so so much relieved by that!!!
No words for that.. yeh some are destined to have a life with so much pain n sorrow...
But dear.. :)
I thank god... yepp!! and i really appreciate myself for being so brave, persistent, patient, optimistic, honest, sensitive, flexible, sacrificing, innovative, creative, etc. for myself...
and my family too... to support & guide them to safety!!
My Sister is now happily married, & actually living her dream - to own a business of her own with her husband!!
Mom is relieved & is now under my protection of love & care...
This family which has gone through literally a HELL... is now gradually recovering...
and ohyaa... what was the main CAUSE of this 'family' tragedy sh*t??
What else.. F*ck yeh...
Ego problems..!!
& I GUESS its 'the problem' everywhere around here on planet earth..
and wherever LIFE is... Its an Universal phenomena...
& here man often 'defeat' himself for being an As***le!!!!!!
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A Message-
But i want to spread the message, my life have taught me..
"to move on, may what happen around you,
believe in yourself & do whatever you can for yourself first... but just do it!!
If you are truly strong, you will automatically do all the karmas of being a good human!!
Jungle rules are the basics of our life, so be strong, keep learning & grow on, its a continuous process & always will be... however ultra-modern our planet earth may become these rule are set forever!!!"
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May God bless us...
I wish you all a great weekend.. have a lovely time with your family n the loved ones...
This love & relations... Its not just precious... its invaluable ... :)
*//U//* Eeep! My lovely Euclid finally has a new faceup!!
TEXTWALL AHOY
T3T Haha yeah...unfortunately i've been going through a personal rough patch in life lately as well as have been very busy with commissions so I haven't really had the time or energy to really work on my dolls as much as I want(ed) to. I have made/done a small bit of dolly things over the last few months but I also haven't had much time or energy to share them yet, I guess in part because i'm in a period of thought when it comes to my dolls and its difficult for me to want to share them at points when i'm deeply undecided and contemplating them. Its also incredibly frustrating for me that I have so many projects and new ideas for my dolls that I want to work on but I can't either because of a lack of time and/or funds so please do excuse me for being such a secluded and angsty dolly person lately. I do really need to get back to making dolly videos soon again though I just don't want my videos to be annoying/depressing/idkwhatsgoingon type of things and that's what I've felt i'd be creating for a while so I stopped asdfghjkl-
;-; Hopefully you guys can understand and aren't too upset with me that i've been quite distant lately. I still adore my dolls and the hobby of course, but we all have confusion and frustrations for the things we love and need a little distance sometimes.
Anyways, Euclid!
TwT So yeah, I did finally find the time/motivation to redo Euclid's faceup! I had meant to redo it for quite a while because the style and colors of their old faceup was never exactly canonically accurate but I didn't get a chance to do so on my break as I wanted to. Then not long ago Eui's head took a tumble and got some scratches in it so now it was REALLY time to redo it. *A* It was a bit of a challenge actually because its really very different from their old faceup in almost every way. I've mentioned it before but Euclid was never meant to have pink be the main color in their faceup as it was before but I did that because at the time I was less experienced with doing faceups and using more unique color combos so I sort of just took the easy way out and made Eui's faceup more pink and "natural" than it should have been. This time around I felt much more confident that I had the skills and vision necessary to bring their character to life much more accurately. It was tedious and a bit frustrating experimenting with a lot of little details trying my best to get them right but thankfully I think it worked out as I'm actually really happy with how it turned out!!~
^u^ These aren't the best pictures to show it off really but hopefully you can see that its very different than before. I incorporated a lot of blue in addition to purple in their faceup as Eui's skintone as like my unicorn character's bodies are made from gemstones therefore their skin tends to glimmer with multiple colors. I was thinking of leaving out pink entirely as I typically view Eui's skin as being a very very pale purple-grey with light blue highlights but when applied to them in bjd form it was just a bit too cold and "alien" like for their character. Speaking of their character, Euclid's overall look and expression was kind of hard for me to decide on as while they are a proud, intelligent, sophisticated, and formal person who purposefully projects upon themselves an added look of cold sternness, they are also a very selfless, coquettish, benevolent, and vivacious person by nature and its important that, while quite different, these sides of their personality shine through their intentional veil of severity. I always felt their old faceups were a bit too "nice" looking if that makes sense. Euclid is definitely a very warm and open person but should have a rather harsh front. xD It doesn't make much sense i'm sure since their faceup is by society's standards very feminine but by my own perception of Euclid and my own characters/aesthetic I view it as being somewhat more masculine now, which, since Euclid is genderfluid, is important for their character. Like, they are supposed to give the impression that they are glamorous but quite obviously either a boy who is trying to look intentionally more feminine or a girl trying to intentionally look more masculine. xD ...Its hard to explain but hopefully you know what I mean and you can tell haha.
I changed the shape, color and and thickness of their eyebrows to look sharper and more masculine as well as implied a heavier upper eyelid to give a more flirtatious look. I also made their bottom lashes darker and sharper for a more harsh and dramatic look. The only think I wasn't 100% sure about was how I wanted to paint their mouth as unlike a lot of my characters who have fuller lips, distinct shapes and more emphasis on their mouths as key features, i've always imagined Euclid's mouth to be smaller and not be as much of a focal point or definitive feature as it is with a lot of my other characters. xD Hence why i've always colored it minimally and not intentionally painted it to look open unlike almost all my other dolls. This time I painted it more prominently in the style I usually do and its the only thing in their new faceup that I can't say is necessarily more canonically accurate, but I like it just fine for now and it does go well with their current faceup. I may or may not paint it more simple again in the future whenever I decide to redo their faceup again. xD This one is definitely going to stay for a while though hopefully as I am really happy with it and how much better it capture's their character~
TwT I know its very different, but hopefully you all like it too~
Next step is going to be blushing their entire body....but maybe i'll just work on their hands for now xD
*U* ALSO SEAHORSE TAIL WOO! xD I really need a better setup to take pictures of Eui with it but I just adore them so much with their lovely tail and just had to try my best to get it in some shots even if it isn't complete yet. I still need to dye it one more time to add the black layers to it but its still beautiful all purple too~
xD Also speaking of little dolly things i've made ages ago that I haven't shown off yet; I made Eui a cute little harness, a new horn, little books, and some bouquets of roses. I also made Eui some seashell epaulets but I didn't put them on for some reason asdfgh- next time I guess.
;w; Ahh I just adore Euclid so much! I have so many more things I want to make for them but alas, most of them probably won't be anytime soon as I'll be needing to focus on another doll in the near future...but lets just say that Euclid will be more than happy to wait for this other doll in particular... oh ho ho! e//w//e
//shot
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Euclid (gender fluid) is a modded Fairyland Minifee Luka in Beautiful White skin. Faceup, mods, horn, wig, books, clothes, and bouquet by me. Seahorse tail (like this and all of my other dolls) is 100% legit and has been custom dyed a different color using iDye Poly by me.
Man may travel far and wide or establishes a second home beyond the borders of his native land; Yet at the twilight years of life, he will travel back on the long road to the old Home where he spent the first 7 years of his childhood from the time he was born. - wilfredosrb
Everyman in his second childhood forgets all material things. His wife, children and grandchildren are mere friends and playmates. He remembers only the years as a child below 7 yrs of age and going home to the place where he was born.
Robert Frost, an American poet, wrote "Where Are The Old Men?", re-living in poetic lines the men who left England on the MayFlower. The men with their family who worked in American plantations until their old age. No one saw them leave, died and buried in American soil . . . -wilfredosrb
Mindanao Tourist Destinations
Local/Travel Website and Angelique Ross Kaamiño/TravelEscapade TRAVEL Leisure/Cebu/CdO/Butuan
Featured Link-
Selfless dedications in God, Country and People
PHOTO INFO-STORY: -wilfredosrb
Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things - a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.
Quote: John Grogan, Marley and Me, 2005
And for those who have not yet read the book or watched the movie.... you should.
4 frame
In 1896 the decree of the Minister of Finance Sergei Yulyevich Witte in the Russian Empire was the state monopoly on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. In 1901 the monopoly came to Moscow. "Moscow state wine warehouse No. 1", the future factory "Crystal", located on the banks of the Yauza, and was the largest, most powerful company. Warehouse No. 1 at that time employed about a thousand people.
Opening and consecration of warehouse No. 1 was held on June 24, 1901. In the beginning of its history, the plant produced only three kinds of vodka: "simple", "improved" and "knights". Originally it was planned to produce 600 thousand buckets of vodka of the highest quality in a year. However, one week after the opening of the plant, because of huge demand for state wine of the highest purification, the question arose about the increase of its production. Were proposed for this purpose: first, to increase the number of batteries (filters) to produce high-quality vodka, and then rebuild the entire warehouse for the manufacture of wines of the highest purification".
Future "Crystal" from the very beginning was advanced industrial complex equipped with the most modern equipment and multistage quality control system products. By 1914, the product range has expanded to five titles: now here produced vodka "Moscow special", "Bread wine", "wine", "Vodka" and brandy's "Casserole". "Moscow special" - perhaps the most famous kind of Russian vodka, designed by the great chemist D. I. Mendeleev.
From 31 October 1914, the plant was closed in connection with the introduction of the "dry law" for the period of the war. Some time in his building housed a military hospital, but the ban on production was not absolute, having been involved in the alcohol for the army. The ban was extended and after the revolutionary events, in August 1923 the Central Executive Committee and Sovnarkom of the USSR issued a joint decision on the resumption of production and trade of alcoholic beverages.
In 1937 at all vodka distilleries of the USSR introduced a prescription unified standards for the entire range of products. The experience of the former "state warehouse No. 1" in the making of table vodkas from alcohol dual rectification (mark "prima-prima") applies to the whole country. In the same year, the range of the plant appear strong liqueur (Chartreuse, Benedictine, Curacao) and dessert liquors (pink, chocolate, vanilla).
During the great Patriotic war the plant, in addition to traditional products, produced dry alcohol, vodka and wine bottle poured a "Molotov cocktail". Despite the bombing (July 22, 1941 during the massive German air RAID on Moscow from falling bombs nearly burnt down the main building of the plant), the selfless efforts of the workers of factory production flammable products were put on stream. For work during the war the plant was awarded the Banner of the State defense Committee.
In 1953, the plant was designed by the famous vodka "Stolichnaya". Its author was Vinokur extra class VG Svirid. Already in 1954, this variety has received international recognition: during the procedure "blind testing" vodka "Stolichnaya" won the famous brand Smirnoff. In January 1987, Moscow distillery gets its current name of "Crystal".
"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."
~ John Bunyan
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Just last month, I learned how to knit! This has been a huge gift to me, since I have always wanted to learn. The thought of making scarves and blankets for our long New England winters has always warmed my heart...especially when I can share my warmth and love with needy people who will truly treasure my handmade gifts. This soft wooly red scarf will go to the Orphan Foundation of America sometime this winter, and be given to a special person on Valentine's Day. Every year hundreds and hundreds of people knit red scarves to give away to young people as a gift of selfless kindness and love. What a beautiful gesture. If I ever saw all those thousands of scarves, knitted from people all over the world, in one place, I think I would cry. I am so proud to be a part of such a beautiful tradition. If you wish to take part in it too, here is the link...Red Scarf Project.
♥
Last Night was nothing short of Beauty, Love and Celebrating with my sisters of Psi at our Bridgerton Founders Day Ball.
We had the honor to recognize some of SL's most amazing individuals along with our Talented, Smart, Creative and Outstanding Sisters. As always we love to give The Queen herself our Founder Big Sister Stately Profound her flowers, without you sis there is no us and no PSI thank you for running with your vision and creating an Amazing Organization. I will Forever and Always be a LADY OF PSI.
Thank you to my Founder Suzie Coba-Esquire for the Selfless Award, I do what I do out of love and with love, there will never be a day I am not there for my sisters. Thank you for pushing me sis you see so much more in me than I do at times. Keep shining Queen. Thank you to my Sisters Pinky Devon & Cindy Alaric For the beautiful awards very overwhelming and was not expecting it at all. You ladies are amazing and I love you for life.
BIG SISTER METICULOUS
The Ladies Of Psi Mother Earth the Elements SL Inc.
A small tiger,It has just been born.but it lost its mother.So it is eatting a dog's milk.That dog become its nurse mother.In order to take concrete only a small tiger,so i didn't take to shot the female dog.but "she"is selfless and lovely,because "she"is feeding a future king of animals.This's motherly love.
Selfless actions create a higher karma, which brings you into higher states of mind. When you are in higher states of mind you will see things that you never saw before.
thank you, mothers, each and all ... you who are sacred sources of love, light, nurturing, healing, selflessness, protection, comfort, encouragement, compassion, balance, nourishment, trust, patience, kindness and generosity!
It is you who hold the world together!
birth mothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, dads who are mothers, teachers who are mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, godmothers, aunts who are mothers, siblings who are mothers, neighbors who are mothers...
dog mothers, bird mothers, raccoon mothers, tortoise & turtle mothers, cat mothers, rattie & hamster mothers, alpaca mothers, horse mothers, all mothers...
earth mothers, Mother Earth, Mother Nature...
Love to you All! .. Thanks to you All!
(this image is from Baalbek Lebanon near the Temple of Bacchus. .. This is Roman tilework from the 1st or 2nd century A.D. .. and even though it has been outside on the ground for hundreds of years & has not been restored, it has retained its bright colors, intricate details and beauty. (its nicer larger. ;-)
**
Through a selfless act of courage, the beautiful and strong-willed Belle is confined to the castle of a terrible Beast. Always the epitome of grace, Belle is enchanting in her golden silk gown and brings hope for a curse Prince who did not have love in his heart. And in a tale as old as time, Belle and Beast each learn acceptance, understanding and the meaning of true love.
Romantic curls swept back, revealing golden gemstone earrings. Off-shoulder embroidered bodice and opera length gloves,
Satin gown with subtle ornate print, embroidered gemstones, luxe shirring and gathering, plus lace underskirt.
Handsome velvety coat with golden embroidery, piped trim and golden buttons. Matching printed waistcoat.
from Disney Store Europe
A selfless selfie to end 2015! A week in the box for a change(!) so took this on the last day of 2015.
Photo Credit Cutty McGill
Jay Heritage Center (JHC) Founder Catherine "Kitty" Aresty and New York Preservation Advocate, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel were recipients of the 1st Annual "John Jay Medal for Service" awarded at JHC's 20th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2012. In keeping with the legacy of one of America's greatest Founding Fathers, the John Jay Medal recognizes individuals who demonstrate a selfless spirit of commitment and engagement with their community.
As an early member of the Jay Coalition, Catherine "Kitty" Aresty helped harness the energy of thousands of volunteers and citizens to save the Jay Property when it was threatened by commercial development in the early 1980s. She was one of 5 dynamic women who formed the vanguard for preservation of the site, finally securing a victory in 1992 but her total commitment to seeing the propert restored for public use extends more than 30 years including 22 consecutive years on the JHC Board.
Similarly, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel's career spans more than 40 years. She has been a pioneering champion of preservation and the arts, credited with bringing the first public art to Bryant Park and the first public performance to Central Park. The first Director of Cultural Affairs for New York City, she was the longest term Landmarks Commissioner in the city’s history, spanning four mayoral administrations from 1972 to 1987. Her expertise and advocacy of historic preservation has garnered her countless honors and prestigious appointments from nor fewer than 4 US Presidents. Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel is the current Vice Chair of the New York State Council on the Arts.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino served as Honorary Co-Chairs of the evening which drew over 170 people from Manhattan, Westchester and Greenwich to the National Historic Landmark site. While the event also marked an important 2 decade milestone for the organization, adding to the festive feeling was the recent announcement of a public private partnership between JHC, New York State Parks and Westchester County to manage and restore the entire 23 acre Jay estate as a historic park and educational resource.
See the announcement here:
www3.westchestergov.com/news/all-press-releases/4358-asto...
The site has been a member of Westchester County's African American Heritage Trail since 2004 and was added to the prestigious Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area following its nomination in 2008 by County Legislator Judy Myers.
JHC President Suzanne Clary commended the men, women and coalition of non-profits that first saved Jay's home but also emphasized the "new coalition" they are forming with other museums and preservation groups like the NY Preservation League, The Landmarks Conservancy, Audubon NY, the World Monuments Fund and more. Congresswoman Lowey recognized the power of bi-partisan support that continues to guide JHC's success. Ken Jenkins, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators presented a proclamation to both honorees and added his strong words of support for the Jay Heritage Center's mission to revitalize one of Westchester's premiere heritage destinations. Steve Otis, former Mayor of Rye brought accolades from Sen. Suzi Oppenhiemer and personally congratulated the two medal awardees on their vision and tenacity; he reminded the audience how dilapidated the Jay site was when first acquired and how miraculous its transformation had been under JHC's trusted stewardship. Both honorees gave moving remarks and thanks and underscored the continued need to stay "passionate" about preservation.
The theme of the night was Roaring 20s - guests dressed in everything from raccoon coats and spats to flapper dresses and boas made for an evening that was simply "the bees knees!"
Jay Heritage Center
210 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
(914) 698-9275
Email: jayheritagecenter@gmail.com
Follow and like us on:
Twitter @jayheritage
Facebook www.facebook.com/jayheritagecenter
Pinterest www.pinterest.com/jaycenter
YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UChWImnsJrBAi2Xzjn8vR54w
www.instagram.com/jayheritagecenter/
A National Historic Landmark since 1993
Member of the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County since 2004
Member of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area since 2009
On NY State's Path Through History (2013)
• •
.. the greatest story never sold..
..or sold out..
.. a true American Icon and a selfless global hero.
The Easter Bunny ..
for generations has selfishness-ly (gee that's a tricky word).. been hiding hard boiled, pastel painted egg after egg after smelly egg.. more than enuff' eggs to feed the entire planet for years to come on egg salad sammiches.
Unfortunately for him..those of 'fatter' persuasions,government ties,religious rhetoric ,and X-mas holiday rigging n' playin the 'Reindeer Game'. Slanderous accusations against E.B. by a one "S.Clause" concerning a 'Crying Game' have been extremely exaggerated. There is no 'E.B. Games' ..it's all a conspiracy and ka-bish put on by ka-bosh. And thus killed the whole sammich idea.
Overinflated,overpaid and pompous ,ego drivin' faries and saints with nothing better to do than to hide behind a 'mask' of happiness and candy-canes,Jesus, mall visits,St.Nick,pretty trees,and presents. The people have been brainwashed into thinking highly of this "Jolly-ol' Elf" ..behind the pudgy white beard and seedy,sugar plumb laiden grin hides a history of elf enslavement,molestation, and murder. In the Year 3000 he will be replaced by a sinister Robot that will rule the X-mas with an iron fist.
Enuff' ..the real legend of the artful genius: E.B. has been suppressed ..until now. While various movies and 'Peter Cottontails' have brought some light into the mystery surrounding our good,fuzzy friend.
~~**
Born in ancient Egypt.. rabbits symbolized new life & rebirth. The goddess, Easter was symbolized by the rabbit. Having set forth her loins uponce the loined plains..a small baby bunny was born.
rom the throne of Mt. Olympus .. Zeus (..who never really got along with God ..and quite at odds with the guy) had let little a birdie fly out. Once he farted. God had smelled wind. Thus Zeus's wind broke heed and broke the nose and nostrils of the wind. Thus God farted as well and sent heed ..once the heed arrived at the baby Jesus's ears.. the gears were set into motion. Years later ..as the Virgin Mary,Jesus' Apostles, and Mel Gibson were setting the stones and the plots for the beginings of the very first 'Super Church' ..(at the time it was called a 'Supper Church'.. cuz that's where everyone ate their last 'Suppers'). The real 'Passion' was just begginning ..as a very young,unsuspecting Easter Bunny was out minding his own buisiness.. when..
~~** THUNK.. on the head.. out of nowhere Judas bonked E.B. on the head.
E.B. woke up in a blurr.. next thing he knows he's in court before Pontius Pilate ..nailed on a cross,crucified ..and he died fore veryone's sins.. and then Jesus saw his chance and took credit for the whole d4mm mess.
Then St.Peter formed the secret sect known as the 'Vatican' based on Jesus's teachings.. added a little holy water.. n' BOOM ~~**
Super church and one of the most powerful denominations of the world !! For Centuries.. God's secret mantra.. :
"Jesus is Good.. Jesus is our pal." ( You WILL BELEIVE..or go to hell!!)
..Greedy Greedy ..Greedy !!
..alas our poor Bunny buddy was burried and forgotten. But on the third day after St.Paul painted the "Shroud of Turin" ..the power of Eastre.. who originally gave seed from her loins .. raised E.B. from the dead.. to start his own little company. A super secret company..of pastels,jelly beans,candy,lambs, chickies and eggs. But all that would come later
One year ..centuries later.. a poor woman in Germania (now Germany) needed to feed her children during the great famine. E.B. dressed valiantly in drag as the poor woman to help her. He decorated eggs ..as was the custom of the Egyptians and the Persians.Exchanging eggs eggs decorated in Spring colors.They believed Earth hatched from an egg.
At the moment the Children found the Eggs they looked up to see a big bunny hopping away.
Seeing this selfless act made Jesus jealous (say that 3 times fast). Conspiring with Santa Clause.. they had devised a plan to not only exploit E.B.'s image but capatlize on the whole Eastre deal.. and well the rest was history. After the Cival War.. Santa and Jesus started spreading so many lies ..sometimes even poor Easter Bunny was prone to beleive it.The twisted tale became so engrossed in even more lies..:
Easter became a Christian Festival that celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as a capitalistic super-star. On the third day after Good Friday, the day of E.B.'s crucifixion, now called Easter Sunday, when E.B. rose from the dead. Mourners went to His tomb to collect Jeus;s body. However, He was not there and they were greeted by Santa dressed as an angel angel who said
"He is Risen !! Jesus has Risen !!" So of coarse now everone really started to near 100 % fully beleive this ..and they sell a milllion bajillion Easter Baskets every year at Wal*mart makin' ..the poor kids really think that E.B. made 'em when he didn't. They were made by Santa's Sweat Shop's in China.
What ?!
Poor E.B. is in a continual secret war against the 'Vatican'. Impossible as the odds are..and the the power of Mel Gibson and the Son of Man. E.B. remains nervously optimistic.
Every year ..around Easter time Chocolate Crosses go on display at shoppes and confectionaries world-wide.
This started as : 'Project Chocolate Crucifix' . A secret yet magical and global effort by E.B. to remind people of the truth. The truth about they guy who really hides all those eggs for the kids. The guy who delivers candy and goodies to all the good boys and girls regardless of denomination or creed.
Actually E.B. Himself is Jewish !!
The self-less and thankless acts are still out there.. wriggling there cute lil' wet bunny nose. Hoppin' n' puffin' a cute lil' cotton powder-puff tail all the way down the bunny trail. And behind every pink ribbon n' easter basket and in every Chocolate cross n' bunny every child munches to spite our Lord and 'Savior' ;Jesus Christ. (Jesus's only really intrest in you is th' ..bling bling ~~** Thats right..$$ !! )
To all those who beleive.. truly beleieve. The truth IS out there..
.. really it is.. Honest !!
Fight on Easter Bunny .. Fight On !!
Power to the people .. Power to the powder-puff !! And try one of those Chocolate Crosses ..they're "Sacrilicious" !!
Ain't that the truth !?
Sure it is.. you beleive me.. doncha ??
+++++++++++++++++++++++
© tOkKa,http://www.terrible2z.com ..all other elements © their much respected owners..please respect the copyrights..
“We should all be healers, healing the inner scars, emotional damages, broken hearts, and souls selflessly.”
― Aiyaz Uddin
For the past 62 years, National Police Week has given Americans across the country the opportunity to honor law enforcement officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“It’s a chance for us to reflect on the level of selflessness that our law enforcement officers display each and every day,” said Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) Chief Paul Neudigate. “We shall never forget the sacrifices that these officers have made in service to their communities.”
President John F. Kennedy saw the need to honor those sacrifices in 1962, when he signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week. Every year, thousands of law enforcement officers across the country come together to recognize, honor and thank the men and women that have fallen in the line of duty.
VBPD staff look forward to taking part in these events every year. Master Police Officer Allen Perry is among those officers participating in memorial events this week.
“We’re fortunate to live and serve in a community that supports us in our service to others,” Perry said. “We owe it to all the officers before us to remember their sacrifices and to pay it forward to the next generation.”
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund records the deaths of officers across the country, ensuring that each officer is recognized. Since 2020, the organization reports that 1,472 officers have fallen in the line of duty.
Sadly, mental health challenges may contribute to these figures, as some public safety personnel die by suicide, and police departments across the country focus on officer wellness. VBPD expanded on its efforts to support its officers’ health and well being, by adding new resources for officers and hiring a dedicated clinician that is available to all VBPD personnel.
“Police Week is also a time to think about how we can support the officers with us today,” Neudigate said. “Ensuring that our officers are resourced and supported to keep them healthy and safe is a priority for VBPD.”
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Photography by Craig McClure
© 2024
ALL Rights reserved by City of Virginia Beach.
Contact photo[at]vbgov.com for permission to use. Commercial use not allowed.
Dylan Van Rooyen, a selfless volunteer in Surrey, is presented with BC’s newest honour on May 31st, 2016. Van Rooyen is a firefighter whose inspirational leadership and involvement with many organizations and events centres on helping Surrey youth and families. His service to community includes countless hours volunteering at organizations like the Child Development Foundation of British Columbia, Tong Louie Family YMCA, Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society as a director and committee member of its charity golf tournament and Leave a Legacy group.
Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016IGR0014-000857
The traditional jigsaw puzzle as we left it on Tuesday. As you can see, we selflessly left the interesting, challenging parts for Jinx to finish up.
Dylan Van Rooyen, a selfless volunteer in Surrey, is presented with BC’s newest honour on May 31st, 2016. Van Rooyen is a firefighter whose inspirational leadership and involvement with many organizations and events centres on helping Surrey youth and families. His service to community includes countless hours volunteering at organizations like the Child Development Foundation of British Columbia, Tong Louie Family YMCA, Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society as a director and committee member of its charity golf tournament and Leave a Legacy group.
Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016IGR0014-000857
Caretakers of a temple in Taiping. Living simple. Food consist of small bowl of vege and chicken. Didn't stop them from sharing whatever little they have with orphaned kittens. Selfless and kind. Give love, not war.
-OILGRAPH ON WOODEN PANEL-
(Mixed media - silver emulsion print, acrylic media and oil)
Created in performance - Saturday April 17 - Theory Labs
#59/365
If you don't know about Milton S. Hershey's story, I'd highly recommend reading about his life. He was a very selfless man who built an amazing trust fund that will never run out. Many children that come from a low income household can receive a great education for free through this school and then through scholarships many have their entire college bill paid for once they graduate from highschool. His selflessness gave so many people jobs even throughout the drought-ed times of the major depression.
The students here are given the opportunity to live adequately where they otherwise wouldn't have been able to have a sufficient place to sleep or food to eat every night after a regular day of school. All students live in a large house with house parents and go to school on this magnificently landscaped campus.
I drove around between jobs tonight and found a spot to shoot a few of the many beautifully lit trees. The grounds go on for miles and you could definitely get lost if you don't know your way around.
The Hershey Story:
Through a selfless act of courage, the beautiful and strong-willed Belle is confined to the castle of a terrible Beast. Always the epitome of grace, Belle is enchanting in her golden silk gown and brings hope for a curse Prince who did not have love in his heart. And in a tale as old as time, Belle and Beast each learn acceptance, understanding and the meaning of true love.
Romantic curls swept back, revealing golden gemstone earrings. Off-shoulder embroidered bodice and opera length gloves,
Satin gown with subtle ornate print, embroidered gemstones, luxe shirring and gathering, plus lace underskirt.
Handsome velvety coat with golden embroidery, piped trim and golden buttons. Matching printed waistcoat.
from Disney Store Europe
Taoist Ethics ,By Bill Mason ..Portions of this essay is derived from The Tao of Inner Peace by Diane Dreher. I highly recommend this book for the way it beautifully divides the Tao Te Ching into principles and ways to live.Through the four basic principles of nature, there are several derived ethical suggestions which make up the bulk of the Tao Te Ching. The unique thing about the Taoist approach to ethics is that they aren't designed to preach to people about how to live. They're simply a description of what certain behaviors produce, when applied to these four principles. It's sort of like wondering why your foot hurts but then you find out that you stabbed yourself in your foot with a nail. The Tao Te Ching wouldn't say, "thou shalt not stab thy foot with thy nail," it would say, "if you stab yourself in the foot with a nail, your foot is going to hurt!" This may seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised just how easily everyone violates the principles of nature.Selflessness
One thing basic to the Taoist belief is a redefinition of "self" or "ego." Taoists believe that the way we try to stand outside ourselves in the attempt of self-observation is the source of most, if not all, of our unhappiness and loneliness, simply because in order to observe as such, we must see our "self" as separate from other "selves." This creates many unnecessary and troublesome illusions, and is based on an untrue assumption: that organisms are mutually exclusive. For a good argument against this assumption, as well as some of the negative affects of the illusions it creates, it is recommended that you read The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts. The goal of Taoism isn't to obliterate the ego, simply because this isn't possible. In order to stop ourselves from seeing ourselves as separate, we must see ourselves as separate, which creates a never-ending paradox. The goal instead is to keep our attention on the greater whole, the process to which there is a pattern, which is known to always return the source. The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is present for all beings. The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead. She is detached from all things; that is why she is one with them. Because she has let go of herself, she is perfectly fulfilled.- Tao Te Ching (Mitchell translation), Chapter 7 ModerationLimitations are everywhere. Even if you were convinced by science fiction that some day, humans will conquer nature, and we will no longer be subject to its limitations (which is logically impossible), think of all the other limitations you're given from day to day: rules imposed by society, parents, and your nation. Even if you pick and choose which rules to obey, you're still left to deal with the consequences. Limitations are unavoidable. Freedom resides in the recognition of limitations. In knowing how far you're able to reach, you'll have perfect freedom to choose just how far within that range to reach. The ideal of unlimited freedom is an illusion. Maximum freedom is experienced when one is in the middle between the upper bound and lower bound limitations, in other words, moderation. Then one has the maximum range in which to alter his behavior. This is the Taoist ethic of freedom through moderation. Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity.
- Tao Te Ching (Mitchell translation), Chapter 9 Embracing the Mystery Fear is a basic inate feature of living things. It is what allows the "fight or flight" response. By being afraid, one keeps himself away from danger. However, by humbling yourself with the knowledge that you are a part of nature, you know that you have to rely on nature for your needs. Not everything can be "out to get you," and, in fact, most of our fear reactions are overreactions. Despite all we know of nature, through science and art and living, there are still many things which we don't know. How could we? We only have a brain a few cubic centimeters in volume. How could we store the knowledge of everything about nature? The truth is, we've stored only those things which help us to survive in nature, with perhaps a few added goodies which enable us with the potential to enjoy a happy life and pursue our own dreams and aspirations. But what of all the things we don't know? That's what religion is for, right? Well, despite what you may claim is true or not true, despite all your opinions and biases, beliefs and disbeliefs, the Universe is still a great mystery to you, and much of life is taken up with coping with this mystery. Living your life in an environment which you know nothing about. No wonder why we're so scared!
But Taoists take a different approach. Taoists embrace the mystery. They enjoy every confusion and misunderstanding and mysterious thing they see, because to them, life is a game, and games, as you know, aren't fun without both the possibility of winning and the equal possibility of losing. Mystery is what makes games fun, and to Taoists, mystery is what makes life fun. For this reason, Taoists still retain their basic innate fear. As Lao Tzu put it, "they were careful, as someone crossing an iced-over stream," yet "Receptive as a valley, clear as a glass of water." They balance their fear with their curiousity to seek the true potential of their existence. They look within themselves and see all that they don't understand, and they like it that way. Because they're centered in the Tao, they don't need to worry about that which they don't understand. The Master keeps her mind always at one with the Tao; that is what gives her her radiance. The Tao is ungraspable. How can her mind be at one with it? Because she doesn't cling to ideas. The Tao is dark and unfathomable. How can it make her radiant? Because she lets it. Since before time and space were, the Tao is. It is beyond is and is not. How do I know this is true? I look inside myself and see.
- Tao Te Ching (Mitchell translation), Chapter 21 Non-Contrivance
As I said above, the Tao Te Ching doesn't preach. At most it describes the results of various behaviors, based on the four basic principles of nature. However, it goes on to warn against those who preach, or try to tell you how to live. It warns against contrived, or consciously manipulated morality. Because nature is dynamic, and contrived morals are stiff, contrived morals go against nature. Furthermore, the purpose for these morals are usually not better living, but greater control, either for yourself or for others. By dictating your morals, other people feel a sense of control over your life, and its no different just because you dictate your own morals. The bottom line is that whether you're living better or not has no bearing on morality, only if your more controlled. Nature is not something that can be controlled; it controls itself. You needn't impose your control on it, or let others impose their control on you.
Perhaps an example would help here. Several years ago, I worked at a pizza place. I was a great worker, did everything I was told, and did it as efficiently as I knew how. I was very open to constructive criticism, and I was constantly trying to improve my job skills. One day, I had to pick up my mother from work and bring her home before I went to work. I got into work just in time, but I wasn't in my uniform yet. I changed as quickly as I could and reported to my manager at 6:03p.m. She asked me, "what time is it?" I said, "around six o'clock." She yelled, "what time is it?!" I repeated my answer. She told me to look at the clock. I returned and said, "it's six o' three mam." She proceeded to scold me for being late to work. When I tried to explain, she yelled at me to shut up. So I quit. I use this as an example because there was nothing of substantial value I could have done in those three minutes. She scolded me not because I have caused problems but because I broke the grand moral, "thou shalt not be late for work." If you want to be a great leader, you must learn to follow the Tao. Stop trying to control. Let go of fixed plans and concepts, and the world will govern itself. The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self-reliant people will be. Therefore the Master says: I let go of the law, and people become honest. I let go of economics, and people become prosperous. I let go of religion, and people become serene. I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes common as grass.- Tao Te Ching (Mitchell translation), Chapter 57 Detachment Because there are two polarities overriding all existence, to attach to one or the other would be to misunderstand them. By nature, they are inseparable. To have one, you implicitly have the other. Therefore the Tao Te Ching often teaches detachment. Attachment can come in several forms, just as the yin and yang come in several forms. You can be attached to knowledge from the knowledge/ignorance polarity. You can be attached to life from the life/death polarity. You can be attached to action from the action/non-action polarity. The most general of all, you can be attached to the being, or manifestation, in the being/non-being polarity. The Tao Te Ching teaches that learning is a part of life, but what you learn doesn't belong to you. To attach to your learning as your own, strutting your stuff and trying to scare people with your big concepts, or to even think that your knowledge is all that important, is to misunderstand the knowledge. In such a game, knowledge becomes a prize, and ignorance is the enemy. The Tao Te Ching teaches that life and death are cycles of nature. One day something is allowed to live, the next day it dies. One thing lives at the expense of another, and this creates a chain of dependence of one species upon another. This is neither bad nor good, it just is. The goal of all species is to survive, but only as a part of the living/dying game. To attach to life and fear death is to misunderstand life. Life is a cycle, not a grand victory or grand loss. The Puritan work ethic is prevalent in Western thought. Work, work, work. Laziness, by this way of thinking, is the enemy. The Tao Te Ching teaches that playing gives purpose to work, and work gives perspective to playing. Furthermore, as everything else, they go in cycles. Lao Tzu warned that anything excessive will lead to its excessive opposite. Thus, by preaching that everyone work excessively, the Puritan work ethic is actually creating laziness and excessive playing. People seek more and more exciting forms of play: drive-by shootings, all-night parties with kegs and every drug known to mankind, promiscuous sex, etc. By detaching, you allow yourself to live in moderation.
In the most general sense, all of these can be summed up as the battle between having and not having, being and not being, existing and not existing. The frantic struggle to control and possess more and more things (being, or manifestation), and eliminate lack, misfortune and emptiness (non-being). The struggle, of course, is what makes life fun, but without the thing to be struggled against, there is no struggle. Therefore, the Tao Te Ching teaches to honor the enemy, to humble yourself in knowing that you'll never win, but that doesn't mean to quit playing, it just means to play with honor and fairness. To use the game analogy, it means to not pull a .64 magnum on your opponent in the middle of a monopoly game. Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow. When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king. Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.
- Tao Te Ching (Mitchell translation), Chapter 16 Humility "Congratulations! You just won! What are you going to do now? ... I'm going to Disneyland." This is a classic Disneyland commercial that most people have heard before. You know, whenever someone does something outstanding, they're what they're going to do next, and they would reply that they're going to Disneyland.
The proper question is, what else is there to do? No one is going to play trumpets for you and have the whole world bow. You'll get a bit of recognition no matter what you succeed at, but you can't expect too much. Disneyland happened to believe the best thing for someone to do once they've succeeded at something is to go to Disneyland. Lao Tzu would agree. Humility means doing your job with detachment from the outcome. It means to commit yourself from moment to moment, all that it takes. Success happens every moment you do this; it's not something that only happens when you have no more to do. Actually, that's the time that you've stopped succeeding, and, of course, the time to go to Disneyland. The Master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao. Because he believes in himself, he doesn't try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn't need others' approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.
SRI RAMANUJACHARYA'S LIFE HISTORY
(BY SRI UBHAYA VEDANTHA ANBIL RAMASWAMY)
Sri Ramanuja (1017 - 1137 CE), the most important philosopher-saint of Sri Vaishnavam and one of the most dynamic characters of Hinduism. He was a philosophical as well as a social reformer, displaying a catholicity that was nearly unparalleled in Hindu religious history before him. He revitalised Indian philosophy and popular religion so much that nearly every aspect of Hinduism has been influenced by his work. His life and works show a truly unique personality, combining contemplativ e insight, logical acumen, catholicity, charismatic energy, and selfless dedication to God.
The less known fact even among Srivaishnavas about this well known Acharya by whose name Srivaishnava philosophy is called 'Ramanuja Darsanam' and who is hailed as "Sri Vaishnava Siddhanta Nirdhaarana Saarva bouma" is that he was a 'Vadama' by birth.(Authority :" Periya Thrumudi Adaivu, Pazhanadai Vilakkam and Visishtaadvaita Catechism" - quoted in GLE)
HIS AVATARA AND EARLY DAYS
Ilaya Perumal was born to Kesava Perumal Somayaji Dikhsitar and Kanthimathi Ammal at Sriperumpudur. Just as Sage Vasishta on seeing the brilliance in the face of the child named him as Lakshmana saying "Lakshmano Lakshmi Sampannaha", Periya Thiru malai Nambi struck by the Tejas of the child, named him after Lakshmana as Ilaya Perumal. (PPM) aka Ilayalwar.
There is a sloka in Yadhavaachala Mahatmyam which says:
Ananthah Prathamam Roopam Lakshmanascha Tathah Parah |
Balabadram Thritheeyasthu Kalou Kaschit Bhavishyathi ||
(meaning) It is the same who was Adhisesha first, Lakshmana after and Balarama in the third who is born as Sri Ramanuja in the Kali yuga. This Kaschit is taken by our Poorva Acharyas as referring to Ramanuja (PPM)
HIS BIRTH: (CHITRAI- TIRUVADHIRAI)
His date of birth is placed differently by different authorities.As per PPM, he was born in Kaliyuga year 4119 which corresponds to1017 AD. PPM fixes even the exact date as 13th April 1017 AD, interms of English Calendar.
PRA, though notes the year as 4118 Kali , maintains the year as 1017 AD only and gives additional information that the Rasi was Karkataka and the time of birth was exactly at noon.
VAC, MKS and MSR also agree on the year 1017. PTA gives a few more details like the Yogam being Ayushman, Karanam being Bhadra, Gotra being Harita, Saakha being Yajus, Sutra being Apasthambha and Sect being Vadama ( Vide p.45 of GLE).
PPM and ATA mention the year as Pingala, month Chitrai and the constellation Tiruvadirai. PPM adds that it was a Sukla Paksha Panchami, a Friday.
It will be for the Research minded scholars to piece together all these details to arrive at the correct date, time etc.
Vriddha Padma Purana presages his incarnation thus:-
" Long, long afterwards, the Lord himself will come down on earth as a Tridanda Sannyasin, to restore the good law. At that time heretics and men of perverted intellects will confuse the minds of the people. Aasuric Saastraas, based upon fallacious arguments and various schools of thought, very attractive and almost indistinguishable from the Vedanta, will turn away mens' hearts from Vishnu and cause them to forget His glory. That glorious incarnation will, through the good fortune of the Lord's devotees, come down upon earth, to explain and amplify the teachings of the great Sage Baadaraayana and the divine singer of the Gita. The holy one would compose a Bhaashya on the Vyaasa Sutras, to save men from the confusion and despair caused by spurious doctrines and lead them to the True faith" ( Vide p.44 of GLE)
While still a boy , he lost his father and was living with his mother at Kanchipuram under the protection of one 'Tiruk kachi Nambi' This Nambi was believed to converse and was on 'speaking terms' with Lord Varadaraja in the Archa form.
EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF SRI RAMANUJA
(1) Within 16 years of age, he had mastered all the Vedas and Sastras. At age 17, he married Rakshakaambaal ( Tanjammal, in Tamil) (PPM)
(2) Ilaya Perumal was placed under the Advaitic Sannyasi called YADAVA PRAKASA at Tirupput kuzhi for training in Advaita Purva Paksha Sastra of Vedanta. Once during this period, Alavandar who desired nominating Ilaya Perumal to succeed himself visited Tirupput kuzhi, met with him but had no opportunity to speak to him and had to return to Srirangam.
Very many occasions arose when the Saivite Guru clashed with Ilaya Perumal when the Guru misinterpreted Vedantic statements. Ilaya Perumal fearlessly pointed out the errors in the Guru's interpretations and corrected him. This enraged the Guru. Fearing that one day, Ilaya Perumal would demolish Advaita philosophy, he plotted to kill Ilaya Perumal by drowning him in Ganga while on a pilgrimage tour of the country with his disciples.
Learning of the design through one Govinda, another disciple who was also related to him, Ilaya Perumal slipped out into the forest at dead of night. Miraculously, an aged hunter couple appeared and guided him. As Ilaya Perumal who was in a trance, opened his eyes, he found himself at the outskirts of Kanchipuram and the couple had disappeared. He realized that it was Lord Varadaraja and Perundevi Thayar who had come in the guise of the hunter couple. He stayed at Kanchi for a while to assist Tiruk Kachi Nambi in his daily chores of service to Lord Varadaraja.
(3) News came that Alavandar was very sick and he desired to meet with Ilaya Perumal. Just as Tirukkachi Nambi and Alavandar arrived, they saw the funeral procession of Alavandar. During the last rites, they noticed that three fingers of Alavandar remained folded signifying three of his last unfulfilled wishes. As Ilaya Perumal swore
( i ) that he would write a commentary on Veda Vyasa's Brahma Sutra ( ii ) that he would perpetuate the memory of Vyasa and Parasara and ( iii ) that he would strive to propagate Visishtadvaita on the lines of the 4000 holy collects of Alwars, the fingers unfolded one by one automatically and stretched out to normal position signifying that these were his last wishes. Since he could not meet with Alavandar, he returned to Kanchi without even going into the temple at Srirangam (PPM)
(4) Tirukkachi Nambi obtained from Lord Varadaraja the famous ' Six Words ' and passed them on to Ilayalwar. The six words provided the guidelines for Ilayalwar to follow. They were:-
( i ) that Lord Narayana is the Paramatma. (ii ) that the individual souls were different from Paramatma. (iii) that Prapatti is the means to attain salvation. (iv) that the last remembrance of the Lord on the part of the departing soul was not necessary. (v) that Moksha can be obtained only on laying off the mortal coils (Videha Mukti) & (vi) that Ilaya Perumal should take refuge at the feet of Periya Nambi.
Accordingly, he met with Periya Nambi at Madurantakam , where under the shade of Vakula tree Periya Nambi performed Pancha Samskara to him. As he was initiated into the esoteric of Dvaya Mantra at Madurantakam, the place came to be known as "Dvayam Vilaindha Tiruppathi" (PPM) Both returned to Srirangam and did Kalakshepams on Brahma Sutra etc. for sometime. It was at this time that Lord Ranganatha called him "Nammudaiyavar" (He is ours).(PPM)
(5) Ilaya Perumals was not a happy married life. His wife never understood either his greatness nor appreciated his catholicity and always acted on her own wavelength and there was no compatibility as between them. Several instances are cited wherein the lady ensconced in her own in her own pet ideas of being holy or otherwise showed scant respect to Bhagavatas and this greatly annoyed Ilayalwar. When he was about 30 years of age, Ilayalwar took Sannyas with the name of 'Ramanuja Muni'. He was the king among Sannyasis. Hence, he is called ' Yati Rajar'- a honorific invested by Lord Devaathi Rajan.
(6) The seat of Acharya at Srirangam was lying vacant without a successor to take over. He was prevailed upon to assume charge. But, before doing so, he wanted to equip himself with the secrets of the three great Mantras. For this purpose, he approached one " Tiruk Koshtiyur Nambi" who made him come several times before actually instructing him. He cautioned Ramanuja that he should not give out the secrets to all and sundry and if he did so, he would go to hell.
Immediately on receiving the instructions, Ramanuja climbed up to the top of the steeple of the temple and proclaimed to the large gathering of his disciples assembled there the purport of the instruction.
The popular belief that he gave out the Mantras is not correct; What he actually gave out was that he had found out the way to attain Moksha through the three great Mantras and invited those who sincerely wished to follow him and get initiated. Also, he did not advise all and sundry as assumed by some. By the time of this episode, he had already gathered a huge following of disciples who congregated at the main entrance to the temple and he was thus addressing his own disciples (as explained in a separate posting in this series). This is another less known fact about the well known Acharya Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi was so enraged and demanded an explanation. Ramanuja replied that he did not give out the secrets and even if he had transgressed the specific warning of the Guru, only he himself would go to hell but the multitude of humanity that listened to his clarion ' wake - up' call would be saved spiritually. The Guru was overwhelmed by this reply . Embracing Ramanuja appreciating his broad mindedness, he called him 'Emperumanar'- " O! My lord" and declared that Srivaishnavism would thenceforward be known as " Ramanuja Darsanam"- ' the light of Ramanuja'
(7) Yadava prakasa, his old Guru had by then returned to Kanchi, became Ramanuja's disciple assuming the name of 'Govinda Yogi'
(8) Ramanuja used to go round the streets for his Biksha. An evil minded fellow had mixed poison in the biksha. His wife while serving the biksha fell at Ramanujas feet with tears in her eyes. Ramanuja understood that there was something wrong. When the Sishyas sorted out the biksha for cooking, they found out that poison was mixed with it. Ramanuja went on a fast with a view to cleanse the mind of the evil-doer. On hearing this, Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi rushed all the way to Srirangam. When Ramanuja heard of the coming of his Guru, he rushed to the banks of River Kaveri to receive him. It was the height of summer. Ramanuja ran towards him in the hot Sun to receive him and fell at his feet on the burning sands on the banks of river Kaveri. Nambi did not ask him to get up. Such was his Acharya Bhakti. At that time , Kidambi Aachaan, who was nearby told Nambi " Your action (in not asking Ramanuja to get up) is worse than the poison mixed in the bikshai". Such was the Acharya bhakti of Ramanujas Sishya !(Like master, like pupil !). Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi exclaimed, " After all, now I can cast off my physical body since I have found one who would take the greatest care of Ramanuja"
(9) Ramanuja traveled throughout the country spreading the message of Visishtadvaita. Once a votary of the ' illusion theory' Yagna Murthi by name confronted him for 16 days in endless arguments and counter arguments. Finally, he accepted defeat and became a disciple of Ramanuja assuming the name of 'Arulala Perumal Emperumanar' and wrote 'Gnana Saram and Prameya Saram'.
(10) One of the most important disciples who was totally devoted to Ramanuja was Kuresan also known as ' Kurattalwan'. Once, Kuresan participated in the shradda ceremony performed for his mother by the famous Tiruvarangathu Amudanar. This Amudanar was in charge of the Srirangam temple. When Amudanar inquired what Kuresan desired as reward for his participation, Kuresan replied that the administration of the temple should be handed over to Ramanuja. Amudanar, who had already known the greatness of Ramanuja was only too glad to hand over the key to Ramanuja. It is this Tiruvarangattu Amudanar who subsequently wrote the Ramanuja Noorrantadhi of 108 verses which was included in the holy collects to make up the total of 4,000.
(11) After Mastering the Bodhaayana Vritti of Sage Vyaasa, he wrote several works like Vedanta Sangraham explaining the various viewpoints of Sankara, Yadhava, Bhaskara and others, Vedanta Deepam, Geetha Bashyam etc.
(12) During Panguni Uttram, he did Prapatti before the Divya Dhampathi in Serthi and submitted his famous Gadhyatrayam (comprising Saranagathi Gadhyam, Sriranga Gadhyam and Sri Vaikunta Gadhyam ),
(13) Later, he wrote a Grantha called Nityam detailing the Tiruvaradhana Kramam
(14) While he was on his Sancharam, it is believed that the Lord himself appeared before him at Tiruk Kurum Kudi as a Srivaishnava got Samasrayanam from Udaiyavar (PPM)
(15) When he visited Saraswati Peetam, Goddess Saraswati was so impressed with his commentary on Brahma Sutram that she named it "Sri Bhashyam" and conferred on him the title of "Bhashyakaarar". It must be noted that while the other commentaries are known by the names of their authors like 'Sankara Bashyam' written by Aadhi Sankara, the commentary of Ramanuja is always referred to with the venerable honorific 'Sri' denoting its unsurpassed quality and clarity and known as ' Sri Bashyam' (PPM)
(16) When he visited Tirumala, a miracle happened. Some argued that the Lord of Tirumalai was Saiva param. It is surprising that such a claim should have arisen about the Lord who had been worshipped as Lord Vishnu by all the Alwars and Acharyas besides Elango Adigal and other Tamil Pulavars for several centuries. This was because the Lord had earlier entrusted His insignia to a King called Tondamaan. (SAA p.57-58). The Lord desired to take back from Tondamaan, these insignia viz., Sankhu, Tiruvaazhi, Soolam, Damarukam etc. They were placed in the Sannidhi the previous night. And, when the doors were opened the next morning, the Lord gave Darshan adorning all his insignia (PPM). Ramanuja was hailed as " Appanukku Sangaazhi Alittha Perumaal" Poet Arunagiri himself sang clearing all doubts in this regard saying "Ulageenra Pachai umaiyanan, Vada Venkadathil Uraibhavan, Uyar Sanga Chakra kara Thalan"
(17) Ramanuja "was the greatest synoptic thinker which the world ever produced to systematize Visishtadvaitic philosophy, faithfully interpreting the ancient knowledge in tune with the letter and spirit of the text in the light of revelation and experience tested by stern logic"- [- Hon'ble Justice K.S.Krishnaswami Iyengar of the High Court of Judicture, Madras in his foreword to Desika Prabahandam( P.31) published by Lifco Associates, Madras- 3rd Edition, 1982. ]
(18) His magnum opus is his wonderful commentary on Vedavyasa's Brahma Sutram and a simpler commentary thereon called Vedanta Saram. Kuresan was very helpful in publishing his works. Thus, he fulfilled his FIRST PROMISE to Alavandar. It is this Kuresan (aka) Sri Vatsanka Misra who wrote the famous Pancha Sthava consisting of Athi Maanusha Sthava, Sri Sthava, Varadaraja Sthava, Vaikunta Sthava and Sundarabaahu Sthava.
(19) He asked Kuresan to name his two sons after Veda Vyasa and Parasara and thus fulfilled his SECOND PROMISE to Alavandar. It was this Parasara Bhattar who subsequently wrote the famous commentary on Vishnu Sahasra Nama as ordained by Ramanuja.
(20) Another disciple of Ramanuja was Pillaan. Once, when Ramanuja was alone mentally reciting a particular hymn of Tiruvoimozhi, Pillaan entered his room and inquired if he was meditating on a particular hymn. And, it was indeed the one Ramanuja was actually meditating on!. Ramanuja decided that Pillaan was the person best suited to write a commentary on Tiruvoimozhi. As ordered, he wrote the famous 'AARAAYIRAPPADI' (the commentary known as the 6000 Padi also known as Bhagavad Vishayam) and called Pillaan as 'Tirukkurugai Piraan" after the name of Nammalwar. He was also known as Kurugesar and Braathru Thozhappar. Thus, he fulfilled his THIRD PROMISE to Alavandar. He was one of the Sri Bhashya ubhaya Simhasana Adhipathis.(PPM)
(21) Kulothunga Chola was a staunch devotee of Siva. He commanded Ramanuja to come to his court with a view to enlisting his support to establish the superiority of Siva over all other deities. (including Vishnu ). If the support was not forthcoming, the king was planning to kill Ramanuja. Sensing the danger, Kuresa went to the court disguised as Ramanuja along with another disciple called Periya Nambi. The king ordered him to sign a document to the effect that 'Siva is the greatest'. Kuresa added that ' Sivam was no doubt great but Dronam was greater than Sivam'- both expressions referring to units of measurement. The enraged king ordered both of them to be blinded when he came to know that he was Kuresa who was impersonating Ramanuja. Periya Nambi was tortured to death while Kuresa survived. Kuresa, though he himself was blinded, was happy that he had saved Ramanuja. It is this Kulothunga who is reported to have thrown away the idol of Govindaraja in the sea. Ramanuja recovered it and had it installed at Tirupati.
(22) While on an itinerary, Ramanuja noticed an officer of state, by name Danur daasa, a hunter by birth was over -concerned and over- protective about the beauty of his wife who was walking along on the hot sands on the banks of the river Kaveri. Ramanuja offered to show him something more beautiful than his wife and took him to the proximity of the image of Lord Ranganatha. Danur daasa was enraptured by the charm of the Lord and became a disciple of Ramanuja assuming the name of ' Uranga Villi Daasar'. Ramanuja never entertained any caste distinctions and was conferring his benedictions even on the lowliest of the lowly whom he called 'Tiruk Kulattar'.
(23) Ramanuja went to Tiru narayana puram in search of white clay paste used for applying caste marks by Vaishnavites. The idol of the temple there had been taken away by the muslim invaders and was being used at play as a doll by the muslim princess in Delhi. Ramanuja went to Delhi and when he endearingly called ' Come on! My dear child 'Selva Pillaiye Vaarum', the idol miraculously came onto his lap. Ramanuja reinstalled it in the temple.
(24) Once some kids were playing on the road pretending to construct a temple, installing an idol of the Lord, offering fruits and flowers etc all the time using the dust on the road for the purpose. They offered some mud as prasadam to Ramanuja who was passing along , he received it with due respect. He remembered in this connection the words of Poigai Alwar who said that the Lord took whatever name and form his sincere devotees wished and in the instant case though the kids were only playing, they sincerely believed in what they were doing.
(25) Another disciple of Ramanuja was Vaduga Nambi who put the sandals of his Guru along with those of the Lord. When questioned, he replied that the Acharya's sandals were for him as holy as those of the Lord. When Lord Ranganatha was coming on his rounds on the streets of Srirangam, Vaduga Nambi remarked that the eyes that had seen the charm in the eyes of Ramanuja would not be able to appreciate the beauty of the eyes of even the Lord.-'En Amudinai Kanda Kangal Marronrinai Kaanaave.' Such was his devotion to his Acharya.
(26) Ramanuja arranged to make a lifelike idol of himself and embracing it invested it with his powers and had it installed in Tirumalai at Tirupati. The only temple consecrated in Tirumalai , other than that of Lord Venkateswara, is that of Ramanuja.(SAA p.58) The Archa moorthi of Ramanuja known as "Thaan Ugantha Tirumeni" was installed in Tirunarayanapuram.
(27) Once, when he visited Tondanoor in Hoysala State, he happened to meet a Jain king called Devarayan. His daughter was possessed by a demon and none could get rid of her predicament. When Ramanuja's SriPaada Theertham ( water consecrated by association with his feet) was sprinkled on her,she was cured of the devil. The King pleaded to be accepted as Ramanujas Sishya. Ramanuja accepted and named him "Vishnu Vardhana".
(28) Ramanuja nominated 74 Acharyas to succeed him. It is he who instituted the 13 day "iyal Goshti in Srirangam. (PPM)
HIS ASCENT TO PARAMAPADAM
With his head on the lap of Embar and his feet on the lap of Vaduga Nambi, Ramanuja breathed his last in 1137 AD listening to the recitation of the Divya Prabandam.
Born in PINGALA year, he left for his heavenly abode also in PINGALA year that followed 120 years from the year of his Avatara. Thus, he lived TWO full cycles of Tamil years after his birth
PLV places the date in Saaka era 1009, Pingala, in the month of Magha, the 10 th day of Sukla Paksha under the constellation of Tiruvadirai and at noon ( as in the time of his birth).
TKG notes that Lord Ranganatha and Periya Piraatti bathed and purified themselves as relatives do.
PRA avers that he died on a Saturday
VAC places the date as 4238 Kali yuga which corresponds to 1137 AD.
PTA, however, states that he lived for 128 years and died in the year Durmati in the month of Vaisaka.
Again, Research scholars may fin ways to piece together all these information to arrive at the correct date.
His physical body is preserved even today in a sitting posture in the Sannidhi (Sanctum Sanctorum) dedicated to him on the southwest corner on the fifth round within the Srirangam temple as ordered by Lord Ranganatha himself.
The whole world is aghast at the feat of preservation of the mummies of Egypt and the body of St. .Xavier in Goa in India and make so much fuss about them.
Even some Srivaishnavas are not aware that here in Srirangam. their holiest place hailed as ' Bhuloka Vaikuntam' ( Heaven on Earth) lies preserved the body of Sri Ramanuja in all its pristine state unostentatiously, without any fanfare or publicity and without using any of the chemical preservatives employed by the Egyptian and Goan models.
Swami Desika in Sloka 10 of his Yathiraja Saptadhi pays obeisance to Bhagavad Ramanuja thus before proceeding with his eulogy.
Pranaamam Lakshmana Munih Prathi Grihnaathu Maamakam |
Prasaadhayathi yat Sookthih Svadheena Pathikaam Sruthim ||
(meaning) I beseech Sri Ramanuja whose Srisookthis claimed the acclaim of the Lord and adorned the Upanishads to kindly accept my Pranams. There is another famous Sloka which says :-
Thasmai Ramaanujaaryaaya Namah Parama Yoginae |
Yah Sruthi Smrithi Sutraanaam Antharjvaramaso Samathaa ||
(meaning) I bow to that Sri Ramanuja, the great Yogi who became the very soul of Vedas, Upanishads and other Sutras.
Through a selfless act of courage, the beautiful and strong-willed Belle is confined to the castle of a terrible Beast. Always the epitome of grace, Belle is enchanting in her golden silk gown and brings hope for a curse Prince who did not have love in his heart. And in a tale as old as time, Belle and Beast each learn acceptance, understanding and the meaning of true love.
Romantic curls swept back, revealing golden gemstone earrings. Off-shoulder embroidered bodice and opera length gloves,
Satin gown with subtle ornate print, embroidered gemstones, luxe shirring and gathering, plus lace underskirt.
Handsome velvety coat with golden embroidery, piped trim and golden buttons. Matching printed waistcoat.
from Disney Store Europe
Part Three of Ariel’s Defence done for my friends.
Anna is playful and fun, but rarely is her selflessness fully recognised. At heart, she is a caregiver, from fearlessly heading off to find Elsa and save the kingdom, to protecting her sister at all costs. She never thinks twice about helping someone in need. She may be the ‘little’ sister, but she’s a leader, driven by her caring and protective nature.
Ariel~