text:
Tag: tantra
Ilie Cioara
Submitted by witnessing_presence on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 05:30.
Other Names and Nicknames:
Elijah Crow
Enlightened Poet
Traditions:
Main Countries of Activity:
In His/Her Body ("alive"):
Date Left His/Her Body:
Related Gurus:
Meher Baba
Ilie Cioara's description of his enlightenment.
I was 55 years old. One morning, waking up from my sleep, I noticed that, psychologically, I was functioning differently from the night before. The mind had lost its usual turmoil. In a state of serenity I had never felt before, I was functioning in perfect communion with my whole somatic structure.
My surprise was so great that it prevented me from understanding the mysterious phenomenon as I didn't manage to put it into words. I had read, of course, lots of descriptions of Enlightenment, Liberation, but there is a great difference between mere intellectual knowledge and directly experiencing the phenomenon.
Only after a couple of hours I realized what had happened to me, without pursuing this "something" as an ideal to accomplish. I was, to use a simile, in the situation of a man blind from birth, who had just gained his sight after undergoing surgery. Everything around me was as new. I had an overall perspective on things. A silent mind allows the senses to perceive things as they are.
The mind in its totality had become, through silence, an immense mirror in which the outside world was reflected. And the world I was perceiving directly through my senses revealed its own reality to me. My fellow beings, close friends or complete strangers, were being regarded indiscriminately, with a feeling of love I had never felt before.
If any reaction of the mind surfaced, it disappeared immediately in contact with the sparkle of impersonal Attention. A state of quiet and all-encompassing joy characterized me in all circumstances, whether pleasant or painful. My behaviour was that of a simple witness, perfectly aware of what was happening around me, without affecting my all-encompassing state of peace.
The State of Sublime is, of course, difficult to describe, but not impossible to experience by someone who authentically practices awareness. In order to communicate it, a simple and direct language is used, which is not filtered through reason, because the "ego" with its subjective perception is no longer there. To put it this way: the psychological emptiness is the one who lives in the present moment, expresses this encounter into words and still remains present and available to the next moment.
As a result of this direct encounter with the moment, always new and renewing itself, I felt the need, fueled by intuitive impulses, to express "Self-knowing" using verse. It was a natural thing to do. In few words I could encompass and communicate the essence of the experience.
In the first year I wrote 300 poems. Later on, their number reached 1000, of which 600 are accompanied by prose explanations, such as the ones in this book.
I would also like to describe a few effects which, as a result of becoming aware of the reactions of my own thinking process, have completely disappeared, without any other intervention from my mind.
After experiencing this phenomenon, I felt as a broken vessel, from which the following started to disappear: my interest in astral journeying, my religious beliefs, my egoism, desires, fear, envy, pride etc. My awareness remained open all the time, offering me the possibility to pass from the finite dimension into Infinity.
When encountering this extraordinary phenomenon, with the help of a global perspective, I understood the whole human tragedy, caused by the misinterpretation of life in its constant mobility and newness from one moment to the next.
Life cannot be encountered and understood objectively unless we are in a state of complete freedom and serenity of the mind. Life is always new, from one moment to another, and it demands, even forces us to encounter it with a new mind, with a new brain and with new brain cells, which have not been used previously. It is a well known fact, scientists claim that man, during the whole span of his life uses no more than 10-15% of his brain cells and memory potential. As you can see, our psychological possibilities are unlimited.
After these explanations, it will be easier to understand the process of our own conditioning, as well as the phenomenon of breaking the shell of the "ego".
As I had shown previously, life demands that we encounter it directly, without any memory baggage.
How do we lose the memory baggage? Easy, very easy. Here is how:
We encounter the movement of the mind with the flame of total Attention - requested by the aliveness of life in its continuous flow. Without the light and serenity provided by Attention, nothing can be understood in a real way.
In the light of Attention, any reaction of the mind (thought, image, fear, desire), which functions chaotically, obsessively and dominates us, is instantly dissolved. In the psychological void that follows, a new mind appears which expands into Infinity, as a state of Pure Consciousness, pure understanding as well as transformative action.
This simple state of "being" is in itself an action, where the entity who performs the action doesn't exist anymore. The old man, conditioned by his behavioural patterns, loses its authority as the chaotic, uncontrollable reactions dissolve - they are the energies which sustain and fuel the "ego". Only in this way, by a simple encounter with the reactions of the mind and its subsequent demise, the barrier of the "ego" is broken. Through a momentary opening, our real being is revealed - which alone can transform and heal us.
The total Attention without any purpose is the Sacred itself in action. There is, in fact, another type of attention directed by will, which behaves subjectively by limiting itself to one object. By its own nature, this type of attention defines itself as lack of attention.
In the peace of the soul, in the passiveness of the mind, in the psychological emptiness or stillness - who exists nevertheless? When the usual mind is silent, can you notice that, as silence takes over, a new mind appears, which expands into Infinity and defines itself as Pure Consciousness?
Thus we discover that we are a simple "being", "here and now", boundless - one with Infinity. In this simplicity, there are no expectations or purpose, because the "ego" has completely disappeared. This is the Absolute Truth, existent within us and everywhere around us, revealing itself to us when we open the gate, through the humble silence of the mind.
Such realizations, on moments of existence, operate radical transformations which will eventually shatter the fortress of the "ego", whose prisoner you are as long as the mind dominates you and as long as you give psychological importance to the mind.
When this fiction disappears, melting into the Sublime, we experience creative Intelligence, Love, Beauty and Happiness, which direct our behaviour through intuitive impulses.
The Power of Emptiness
The "void" or " psychological emptiness" is a strange
phenomenon,
It appears spontaneously, in the pause between two
thoughts,
As the old thought ends its course and disappears,
Its end is the gate, natural silence ensues.
Insist in being with it, as much as you can,
The mind is completely silent, we are attentive – a clear
consciousness,
All meanings, boundaries disappear – us and the Infinite
are "One";
Practically, we have a new mind – always fresh.
Being in the pause – I become infinite!
It separates two worlds. I leave the limited world
And enter Boundlessness, through total melting;
The whole being is calm – a constant sparkle.
There is no time, no space – just everlasting Eternity;
I move in direct contact with life, in a permanent present.
I am Pure Energy, without motivations,
The simplicity of existence integrates us completely.
We really encounter Life only through this "now",
Free from the old, we are able to embrace the new.
All this beauty vanishes, when another thought appears,
It comes from the knowing mind – an old recording.
Let it play its game, do not oppose any resistance,
Encounter it as it is, without any purpose,
It will certainly disappear, and "emptiness" ensues again,
Another opportunity to encounter it practically.
We find the real meaning of Life through this "void",
It is a boundary line between the two worlds:
On the one side the limited, where the "ego" is the
On the other, the Infinite, where Love is the master.
Emptiness also separates Light from the darkness,
The permanent chaos through struggle, contradictions and
conflicts,
From the harmonious being, equilibrium and joy;
The whole egocentrism perishes, by encountering the
void.
Peace, divine order becomes our nature
It changes our way of being, without effort or will,
Only through this psychological void, we become honest
and humane,
The Purity of the Energy – makes titans out of pigmies .
Let this "psychological emptiness" be your guide,
In everything you encounter on your spiritual path.
If it is not the starting point, we easily get deceived,
Only through emptiness – we become Love!
How could this small shell, which is the human mind, embrace and comprehend the immensity of the ocean of Cosmic Energy?
Nevertheless, this audacious "ego" persistently affirms that he knows what God is, what is creative Love, immortality etc.
More so, it states and even offers solutions to tackling and solving the great problems which challenge humankind.
Yet this "ego" is not aware of one thing: that its own presence creates the whole tragedy and suffering on the entire surface of the Earth. It is the human being's main and only enemy. Its fictitious, chaotic and misleading movement generates and maintains the human misery and suffering.
But when a ray of light, emanated by Pure Consciousness, pierces the limited shell of the mind and exposes its whole fiction, this mind becomes humble and silent.
Enlightenment is a surprise phenomenon, which opens the way to divine greatness for the ordinary man. The phenomenon is accompanied by two profound changes, namely: the crumbling of the "ego" and the transcendence of being from the finite into the infinite world.
This fortunate event is not a product of the knowing mind, nor of imagination, nor of effort or will used to fulfill a purpose or ideal.
No one can offer us enlightenment. No saint, master or teacher can give it to us in any shape, way or form. (…)
Enlightenment is the price of your work on yourself, and the psychological void represents every time the starting point as well as the completion of each action.
Once you have discovered true life, it transforms you, and through it, it transforms the whole humanity, for in the Great Whole – real essence through itself and by itself – everything that exists forms a unique, compact, homogenous mass. The transformation of one part naturally influences the whole.
If man discovered the reality of his own being, any life problem would be solved in the happiest way possible. And the inter-human relations would create a real paradise on this planet. (...)
Perfectly conscious, I see the emptiness of this world directly and my mind becomes silent. I have no choices, not even at the level of understanding of this limited mind. In the silence that ensues, the mystery reveals by itself its secrets to us.
The whole being expands to infinity. A light such as we have never experienced before envelops us and heals us. Out of time and space, we have a pure consciousness - in perfect union with the Supreme Being.
All of these demonstrate that the alive within us is, in its essence, immortal. It has no beginning, no end, it never sleeps, being therefore always awake.
This is the final result of the correct practice of "Self-knowing".
"Self-knowing" is based on the simplicity of listening and watching, both the outside world as well as the inner world - as reactions of the knowing mind. Finally, outer-inner become one single movement.
The flame of Attention is the instrument that accompanies them, as a lucid flash of pure Consciousness, which is characteristic of the reality of our being.
Through this wonderful contact between us and the flow of life, made directly and spontaneously, the knowing mind - as past and future - is completely excluded. Thinking becomes completely mute. The whole mind is in a state of complete passiveness, where we don't expect anything, as a purpose or an ideal projection. The inner order, the psychological harmony from inside our being creates a natural wholeness - body and mind - an unchanging unity, able to have a direct relationship with any life phenomenon.
We can call such a meeting: the state of meditation. It can be realized in any life circumstances - when we are alone as well as, for instance, when we find ourselves among a noisy crowd.
The starting point for meditation is silence - it transcends the whole being into a timeless state.
The peace of the soul - without being desired or forced, as we have shown earlier - provides us with a new mind, integrating us into Eternity on present moments.
In this simple state of "being", there is no center from which we look outwards and no boundaries which set our limits. We are the Infinite in constant movement, unfolding moment to moment.
Through these meetings with ourselves, the egoist structure which imprisons us loses its resistance. Finally, a real crack appears in the shell of the "ego", marking the phenomenon of liberation. At the same time with this fortunate event - which comes as an unexpected surprise, uncaused by desire or imagination - the fragmented energies of the "ego" start to leak and fade away.
From now on the whole being is lead by Intelligence, acting through intuitive impulses.
We must mention that the phenomenon of liberation or Awakening from the tyranny of the personal self is irreversible. It sets us apart from the rest of our fellow beings, by giving us a new outlook on life and a new mentality.
Sooner or later, each inhabitant of this planet Earth will have to experience this fortunate phenomenon. It represents a turning point in the spiral of moral evolution reached by that particular individual.
From that moment on, his personal evolution reaches a faster and faster pace, with massive eliminations of fragmented energies, accumulated since ancient times during our association with matter.
One day, in a moment that no one can foretell, the pure Spark, absolute perfection, will return to the Source of the Sacred, from where it descended millions of years before, in order to experience the duality with physical matter.
Before ending, we need to remind that any advice on spiritual evolution demands that we put it into practice. By practising it correctly, it will create beneficial effects, both on ourselves as well as on the world in general.
A list of books in the original language can be found here
http://iliecioara.blogspot.com/2006/10/minunata-calatorie-spre-adancuril...
http://iliecioara.blogspot.com/2006/10/eternitatea-clipei.html
http://iliecioara.blogspot.com/2006/10/pe-urmele-absolutului.html
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Ilie Cioara - The Silence of the Mind book
Books in original language
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Narayan Dutt Shrimali
Submitted by madan_gautam on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:56.
Ayurved
Paramhans Swami Nikhileswranand
Siddha Yoga
Anandamayi Ma
Other Related Gurus:
Mataji, Gurudev Nanda Kishore Shrimali, Gurudev Kailash Chandra Shrimali, Gurudev Arvind Shrimali
Dr. Narayan Dutt Shrimali specialized in mantra, tantra, astrology, and other ancient Indian sciences. He was a known master of Siddhashram.
From childhood, he was inspired by the ancient Indian sciences such as Mantra and Tantra. His eagerness to learn the ancient sciences made him quit his home and search for masters in the Himalayas.
He wandered in the Himalayas as a Sanyasi. After learning various occult studies such as Mantra, Tantra, Surya Vigyan, Hypnotism, Ayurveda, Palmistry, Alchemy from various sages, he finally had the chance of meeting his Guru Paramhans Swami Sacchidanand in Siddhashram.
At some point, his Guru ordered him to go back to his family life and spread his knowledge to the others. He took up the arduous task of removing the misconceptions of Mantra and Tantra in the society and making the secret knowledge of Mantra, Tantra available to the common man.
He left his body on 3 July 1998.
An account of someone who took dikshaI from Paramhans Swami Nikhileswranand:
LALBABA FROM ROHINI,DELHI-85,HAS TAKEN 'TARA'DIKSHA FROM GURUDEV IN KOHAT ENCLAVE,PITAMPURA,DELHI.I USE TO GO TO GURUDEV AASHRAM IN EVENING AT THE TIME OF AARTI OF GURUDEV,TAKES BLESSINGS BY OFFERING ROSE PETALES ON HIS FEETS,HIS FEETS WERE AS BEAUTIFUL AS GODS FEET.HIS AURA
HE WAS VERY STRONG,IN HIS CONTACT YOU SO CALM &RELAXED.HE WAS A VERY GOOD WRITER,HE HAS WRITTEN SO MANY BOOKS,HIS BOOKS ARE WORTH FOR COLLECTIONS,I HAVE WITH ME 'MANTRA RAHASYA'.KUNDLINI DARPAN,VIRHAD HASTREKHA VIGYAN,TANTRA MANTRA YANTRA,ETC.
HE WAS ALSO CONNECTED WITH KAMROOP KAMAKHYA SHAKTI PEETH,FROM WHERE I AM CONNECTED NOW,THAT PLACE WAS HIS TAPSTHALI IN NIKHLESWRANAND ROOP.HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD TANTRA SAMELAN IN 1964 AT KAMAKHYA.IHAVE CAME IN CONTACT WITH SOME OF HIS OLDEST DICIPLES WHO HAVE TAKEN GURU DIKSHA FROM HIM,THEY SAY THEY STILL TALK TO HIM DAILY EVEN 14 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH.ONE THING I CAN SAY HE WAS THE ACTUAL TANTRA SMRAAT.
Lee Lozowick
Submitted by Ravi on Thu, 10/23/2008 - 09:10.
Bauls
Crazy Wisdom
Bauls of Bengal
USA, France
Ancestor Gurus:
Swami Ramdas
Yogi Ramsuratkumar
Lee Lozowick, born in 1943 was the founder and spiritual teacher of the Hohm Sahaj Mandir, based in Prescott, Arizona.
He is the spiritual son of Sri Yogi Ramsuratkumar of Tiruvannamalai, India who is the enlightenment heir of the great Indian sage Swami (Papa) Ramdas.
In 1975 Lee Lozowick was transformed by an 'event" that occurred upon waking up one morning from a night's sleep. Since then he worked with hundreds of students and disciples in the U.S. and Europe.
He authored fifteen books, including The Alchemy of Love and Sex, Conscious Parentiing, The Only Grace is Loving God and several volumes of poetry written to his Father Yogi Ramsuratkumar which communicate the essence of his teaching.
He considered himself a "Western Baul," related to the itinerant tantric Baul musicians from Bengal, India and he was lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Liars, Gods and Beggars, the blues band Shri and the rock / blues / soul / funk band the Lee Lozowick Project.
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On Lee and Yogi Ramsuratkumar
The Lee Lozowick Project
Hohm Press
Art, Consciousness, and Creativity / Audio Interview
Interview mid-90's
The Alchemy of Transformation
by Lee Lozowick, First Last
A concise and straightforward overview of the principles of traditional spiritual practice. Subjects include: the role of a teacher, the optimum disposition of a student, the function of community in 'self'-liberation and many other topics of use to seekers and serious students alike.
Swami Nigamananda
Submitted by madan_gautam on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 16:16.
jnana
Nalinikanta, Paramahansa Srimat Swami Nigamananda Saraswati Dev, Shree Shree Thakura
Tantra, Bhakti, Vedanta
Nadia district, Bangal (now in Bangladesh)
EARLY LIFE:
Paramahansa Sri Sri Nigamananda Saraswati Deva was born to a virtuous bramhin couple at Qutabpur in Nadia district (now in Bangladesh) in the year 1879. His father Bhuban Mohan Bhattacharya and mother Yogendra Mohini had named him 'Nalinikanta'. As he grew to boyhood, Nalinikanta drew admiration of the people for his extraordinary fearlessness, intelligence and forthrightness. Leadership was natural to him. Nalinikanta was especially dear to his mother.
As the fate would have it the mother of Nalinikanta breathed her last immaturely from a brief illness. At that time, Nalinikanta was pursuing his primary education in his maternal uncle's village Radhakantapur. Her death deeply shocked Nalinikanta as he was very much devoted to his mother. He came to know that just before she breathed her last, his mother had handed over his charges to the 'Jaganmata' the 'Cosmic Mother'. He took the words of her mother to be literally true. As he was desperately in need of a mother, he single-heartedly prayed to the 'Jaganmata' to appear before him.
But alas! He failed to get a glimpse of 'Her' even in his dreams. He lost faith in God thinking that God does not exist, the religious rites and spiritual practices are worthless activities, and all those sadhus, ascetics or renunciates are lazy worthless cheats. His belief in God was shaken to such extent that he turned extremely antagonistic towards everything related to Him. Especially, the sadhus and the wandering ascetics used to face most of his ire. He convinced to himself that 'death' is the 'end' of everything in one's life. Thereafter he decided for himself that - religion to him would be nothing other than 'doing good to the fellow beings', and his duty is to lead a disciplined and virtuous life. During his school days Nalinikanta used to read textbooks that the 'Sun' is a gigantic ball of burning gases and the 'Moon' and the other planets are composed of gross matters such as dust and rocks. He used to feel a pinch in his heart when his fellow countrymen were jeered at as superstitious folks paying obeisance to these insentient planets. Even though he had lost faith in God and religion, he used to wonder how all those ancient Rishis (seers) of his land could go wrong in putting such significance on these heavenly bodies. Later, during his sadhak (spiritual practitioner) life, he was delighted to find that thousands of years before Newton, the ancient Rishis of India knew the science of space and the principles of gravitation. His heart was urging him to spread the knowledge and ideals of those ancient Rishis among his fellow beings.
The death of Yogendramohini Devi created a void in the Bhattacharya household. Nalinikanta being the eldest son in the family had to be married soon to bring a daughter-in-law for the proper management of the household. Hence, at the early age of seventeen, Nalinikanta was married to an extremely beautiful and intelligent girl named Sudhansubala Devi.
Nalinikanta went to study at the Dhaka School of Survey and thereafter took up jobs at various places to earn his livelihood. His independent spirit and forthright attitude was forcing him to frequently change his jobs.
Once, while serving as the supervisor of the Narayanapur estate (Zamindari) Nalinikanta was working late in the night. He suddenly saw the shadowy image of Sudhansubala Devi standing at the table, sullen and silent.
Sudhansubala Devi was supposed to be away at Qutabpur at that time and was not expected to be present at Narayanpur at all. The image appeared there for a few moments only. Nalinikanta felt disturbed and rushed to his village Qutabpur. He came to know that Sudhansubala Devi had expired just an hour before he saw her image at Narayanapur. Since childhood Nalinikanta had a thoughtful disposition. This incidence drew him further inwards. Soon after, he happened to see the shadowy image of Sudhansubala Devi several times in quick succession.
Nalinikanta had thought that death is the ultimate end of an individual. But, now he couldn't wish away the fact that it is not. By now, he was convinced that there must be 'life' after 'death'. He solemnly resolved to get back his beloved wife at any cost. Never before in the history of mankind any bereaved husband had made such a resolution, being so much oblivious of the impossibility of his success.
Nakinikanta became desperate to know all about the subtle phenomena of life and death. Thoughts such as - "What's death? How can I win over death? If death can come inevitably at any time in one's life why am I wasting my time without exploring the secrets of it?" - began to worry him all the time. This inquest took him to the Theosophical Society at Adyar, in Chennai, India. He learnt all the theories and practices that Theosophy could offer and was able to talk to Sudhansu Devi through a medium. But, Nalinikanta could not see her physically. He was not satisfied with the experience at all. Through a discussion with the members of the Society he came to know that the knowledge about the phenomena of 'life and death' was the prerogative of the Hindu Yogis. He spared no time in looking for a true Yogi or Sadhu who could fulfill his desire to meet his dead wife as well as bring contentment to his seeking mind.
While searching for a true yogi, Nalinikanta came across Swami Purnananda, a highly educated renunciate. The Swami explained to him that all female beings are merely a partial manifestation of the 'Mahamaya' or the 'Cosmic Mother'. Hence, it was extremely unwise and ridiculous on his part to run after an insignificant part (his wife) ignoring the whole (the Cosmic Mother). If he could get Mahamaya, he would automatically get his wife and there were sure ways to get Her. Swami Purnananda advised him to look for a 'Sadguru'. Nalinikanta returned to his place of service a changed man. The belief in 'life after death' and 'soul' had turned him into a believer. He was desperately praying God for a chance to meet his destined Sadguru.
One night Nalinikanta saw one Sadhu with a brilliant aura around him in his dream. He woke up to find the Sadhu standing beside his bed in 'reality'. The Sadhu handed out to him a leaf bearing a mantra on it and then disappeared. Nalinikanta was spellbound by the incident. He did not know what to do with the mantra. No sadhu or spiritual teacher, whom he consulted, could decipher the mantra nor could they give him any guidance about what to do with it. At this point of time a crestfallen Nalinikanta received directions in his dream to go to the greatest tantrik guru of that time - Bamakshepa, at the 'Tarapitha' of Birbhum, in West Bengal. Bama was extremely pleased to see the unique 'veeja mantra' (root/source mantra) of Goddess Tara which Nalinikanta had received in his dream, and readily accepted him as his disciple. Within a short span of one month, Nalinikanta was able to master the secrets of the Tantrik ways (tantra sadhana) of attaining spiritual success. As a mark of perfection of his sadhana (spiritual practice), 'Tara' or 'Mahashakti' (the embodiment of cosmic energy) appeared before him in the form of Devi Sudhansubala and granted him the boon that he would be able to see her in that form whenever he would so wish.
But, Nalinikanta became discontent when he was unable to touch that form. Moreover, to his amazement Nalinikanta saw that a brilliant light used to emanate from his body and take the shape of Devi Sudhansubala. He was puzzled. He wanted to know "if 'Mahashakti' originated from him only, then who 'he' is."
Overpowered by a consuming desire to know his 'self', Nalinikanta sought guru Bamakshepa's advice. The latter advised him to attain the knowledge of 'Advaita' from a Vedantic guru. He became a disciple of guru Srimad Swami Satchidananda Saraswati at the holy place of 'Pushkar' in the state of Rajasthan, India. He instantly realized that Swami Satchidananda Saraswati was the sadhu who gave him the 'Tara' mantra in his dream. The swami initiated Nalinikanta into renunciation and according to the principle changed his name to 'Nigamananda', for he was able to comprehend the Vedic (nigama) knowledge (jnana) effortlessly.
On the advice of guru Satchidanda, Nalinikanta went to attain the direct experience of this vedic truths through yoga. Nalinikanta was able to find his yogi guru but with much difficulty and a sustained effort. He met Sumeru Dashji, his yogi guru, in the thick and inaccessible forests near the holy place of 'Parasuram' (in the north-eastern India) under dramatic circumstances. After completing 'yoga sadhana' (practice of yoga) under the masterful guidance of yogiraj Sumeru Dashji, he attained the state of 'Nirbikalpa Samadhi' (non-dual existence/complete identification with the Cosmic Soul or the Parambramha), at once pervading the universe and transcending it. He came back from that blissful state with the realization that he is the 'universal guru' i.e. the 'supreme soul'.
Nalinikanta had begun his spiritual quest with the basic question, "Who am I ?" and with the attainment of 'Nirbikalpa Samadhi' he experienced that 'he' is the universal guru.
But, Nalinikanta was initiated into the mysteries of being in love with 'God' (prema/bhav sadhana) by Gauri Ma', a female sadhu of unique spiritual merits. She taught him how the Supreme Soul is both transcendental
Life after attainment of truth
During the 1907 Kumbha Mela at Allahabad, under the auspices of the then Shankaracharya of Sringery Mutt, the jnaniguru of Nalinikanta Swami Satchidananda Deva conferred the title of 'paramahansa' on him in the presence of leading sadhus and renunciates. The uniqueness about Nigamananda's spiritual accomplishment was that he had explored and perfected tantra, jnana, yoga and prema/bhav, all the four original ways envisaged in Sanatana Dharma (ever new/eternal, and universal spiritual method based on Vedic knowledge) for the attainment of the highest spiritual goal.
Sadguru Swami Sri Sri Nigamananda Saraswati Deva wished every soul to rise to this exulted state of consciousness. Hence, he entered into society to wake up a spiritually inert people.
In the prevailing atmosphere of confusion in ideals and spirituality among his countrymen, he wanted them to rediscover the merits of sanatana dharma. He wrote five books - Bramhacharya Sadhana, Yogiguru, Tantrikguru, Jnaniguru and Premikaguru - which are invaluable for any seeker on the path of spirituality. He edited and published a path breaking and reformist periodical 'Arya Darpana' (one of the earliest periodicals of India). It was widely received as a trend-setting journal on religion and spirituality.
With a view to establishing universal brotherhood he set before himself three objectives, namely, (i) propagation of 'sanatana dharma', (ii) dissemination of 'sat siksha' (right type of education that enables development of integrated personality conducive for spiritual development), and (iii) service to all living beings deeming it as service rendered to the Supreme Being. In his opinion a person having attained 'self knowledge' is the right one to serve mankind in the right manner..
He enjoined upon His devotees — to walk together on the path of spirituality forming Sanghas (spiritual associations), to lead Adarsha Grihastha Jeevan (life of an ideal householder), and to have Bhava Binimaya (commune with each other for mutual exchange of spiritual ideas and experiences), which would enable them to achieve the above mentioned objectives and lead a fulfilled life.
He established the tradition of "Vakta Sammilani" (the annual congregation of devotees and spiritually minded people, for the close interaction between the two types of seekers — the household devotees and the renunciates. Till date, this congregation has been proved to be a spiritually beneficial experience for all.
There was a harmonious blending of highest enlightenment (jnana) and universal love (vakti) in the person of Swamy Nigamananda. Rightly so, his ideological as well as methodological slogan was — " Shankarer Mata" (the Vedantic doctrine of the 8th century spiritual reformist Sri Sri Adi Shankaracharya that Bramha — the Supreme Soul and the individual soul is 'one' and the same, and it is the ultimate truth to be realized by men), and "Gauranger Patha" (the path of devotion adopted by Sri Chaitanya Deva, the fourteenth century avatara of devotion, as the royal road to the spiritual destination i.e. God).
Thakura Sri Sri Nigamananda Deva left his corporal body and attained 'mahasamadhi' (eternal union with the Supreme Soul) through yoga kriya (yogic techniques) on November 29, 1935 in Kolkata. But, his holy presence is still felt and his reassuring voice is still heard in the hour of need by those who have implicit faith in him, for the 'sadguru' is 'immortal'. Rightly, his followers deified Him as their revered and beloved 'thakura' and worshiped Him as their 'Guru' (the supreme preceptor) and 'Ishta' (the personal God) at the same time.
Assam Bangiya Saraswat Math, Kokilamukh
Jan Esmann
Submitted by Esmann on Thu, 08/30/2012 - 20:26.
kashmir saivism
Kundalini Shaktipat
Shaktipat
Kashmir Shaivism, Tantra, Kundalini
Anandi Ma
Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas
Jan Esmann says he was born with an active kundalini. He claims to be self-realized since 1985 and still on the journey.
He gives shaktipat since 1985.
Jan Esmann teaches through shaktipat transmission and also through dialogues.
Location Website:
http://lovebliss.eu
Contact Persons:
jan@lovebliss.eu
Daily Schedule & Opening Hours:
Lovebliss
Lovebliss: The Essence of Self-Realization
by Jan Esmann
The book answers the question what Self-realization is and which stages lie before and beyond. It contributes to the field of such books by focusing on lovebliss and the spiritual energy of the Self (Shakti), rather than simply pure being or the now. It is written solely from experience. Further it contributes by putting the insights of the first two thirds of the book into perspective with new readable translations (from Sanskrit with commentaries) of Yoga-S
Igor Kufayev
Submitted by madan_gautam on Mon, 02/02/2009 - 20:04.
Path of the Heart
Igor Anvar Kufayev, Vamadeva
Yoga, Maharishi Vedic Science, Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism
UK, Uzbekistan
Swami Brahmananda Saraswati
Igor Kufayev was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In his childhood he had many spiritual experiences associated with Kundalini syndrome. Classically trained in art from the age of 12 he attended a private studio of a martial artist and painter Shamil Rakhimov, a place of underground meetings between liberal thinkers, poets and painters. His mentor's tragic death lead to young Igor's decision to become an artist.
Igor received his formal education at the Art College in Tashkent, and after two years of compulsory military service, resumed his studies at the Theater and Art Institute. In 1988 he was accepted as a student of a second year to the Academy of Arts [now Imperial Academy of Arts] in St Petersburg, Russia.
In 1990 he left Russia and moved to Warsaw, Poland. An encounter with art critic Andrzej Matynia lead to Kufayev's first solo exhibition 'Eternal Compromise'. He moved to London in 1991 and became a British Citizen in 1996. In less than a decade Kufayev managed to establish himself as a successful artist, and opened his own studio in 1994 where he held private views of his work annually. He traveled widely visiting major art-fairs around Europe, as well as painting in France and Italy. Despite his relative success, he was deeply disillusioned about the state of art and all its prevalent trends.
An early interest towards spirituality lead to his practice of Yoga, with initiation to Transcendental Meditation, founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Studies diverse spiritual traditions, Indian Philosophy, Sufi, Zen. The turning point came in 2001, when in wake of an advanced yogic technique 'TM-Sidhi Program' he experienced a full and intense ascent of Kundalini Shakti.
On his return to London, Igor abandons his art career due to profound Yogic experiences and continuing long hours of meditation. He also concentrates on reading Vedanta scriptures, while experiencing expanded states of awareness. During this time he has visitations and spontaneous guidance, discovers teachings of Muktananda and tradition of Kashmir Shaiva Masters.
He leads correspondence sharing his insights into Reality with other seekers. Making Sadhana (spiritual practice) the central pillar of his life, around which all other activities revolve; dividing his time between reading, writing and traveling.
He claims that When psychic powers, siddhis, manifested he was able to practice Pranic Healing, successfully treating patients with cancer and chronic conditions. However he realized that without the psyche-physiological transformation of an individual true healing cannot take place. Uprooting the cause of suffering, the ignorance of one's real nature as the Self of all, is now the main purpose of his teaching.
He currently lives in England and Uzbekistan, living with his partner, Amrita Ma Devi, and their two children, girl Ramana and boy Keahnu.
He is offering gatherings and retreats for the seekers of truth worldwide, at the present mainly in North America and Europe.
On the incentives behind right action:
'' ...The scriptures deal with the practical solution to answer the most perplexing dilemma: What is the right conduct for a human being to perform in any given scenario, from environmental to domestic, from the global issues to the family ones. All scriptures have the same structure divided in two parts: the esoteric, ''other-worldly'' (dealing with the actual experience of the divine by means of direct contact) and the exoteric, ''this-worldly'' , emphasizing the need for the obedience, law and order.
It is because, before the actual communion with the divine takes place, the human action will always suffer from the subjective motivation based on partial understanding of any given situation ( in life). So for the majority of the followers the ''this-worldly'' law is an injunction that must be observed in order to keep the harmony. Often (historically) those who fervently tried to observe the ( exoteric) ''right path'' have never felt comfortable with those who had the actual taste of reality and more than often dented the scriptural truth towards the fixed dogma of what they've understood to be the only path to righteous being... ''
''... No amount of ''common sense'', ''a good will'' or ''being responsible'' is enough to act rightly and to perform the right action, because all those notions are always, always individually bound by man-made concepts and however noble in their agenda will always fall short of the action performed in freedom from
the karmic influences. Someone would say the right ''education'' etc, but no amount of knowledge can make man act with pure intention. The history shows that some of them most intelligent and educated beings on the planet have fell victim to the terrible ethical compromises. Take the scientists, Albert Einstein for example, being a genius never the less helped American government to create the atomic bomb knowing well it will be used ( tried ) on people.
The absolute right action is based on one's level of awareness which in turn rests on one's status of being established in the Self. That is the only criteria for the right action. When man acts without longing, freed from the duality of the opposing nature, firmly established in Self-referral state, he/she is fit for the action which always promotes peace, light and evolution...''
On Religion :
'' Religion versus Spirituality? Man-made order versus Natural Law? Body versus Soul? What's more sacred ? What's more important ? What's more profound? The answer is not obvious, even if the answer is both. After all we live in a moment in time, when even the truth betrays itself of three quoters. The Natural Law does not manifests itself fully and that means we live in sin, even if not aware of it. That's why it is called the age of ignorance. The Iron Age, when everything can get rusted, a special insight is needed, a guidance from that level which is beyond the influence of the elements.
When the Natural Law is manifested in its entirety, there is no need for an organized system of believes, there is no need for any spiritual practice, no need for meditation or any other technique to uphold what is out there fully reflecting Absolute. Every cell and every planet is realigned to express the totality. Everything is in the state of equilibrium anyway, gods and humans are drinking soma ( manna ), so what need for any commandments or any togas. Every being is aware of a Being. There is no self other than the Self of all. When that knowledge is lost the harmony is no longer possible ( there is no other ignorance, except for the ignorance of one's real nature ) Prophets and revelations come into the world precisely at those periods, when that knowledge is lost being eclipsed by darkness.
All revelations are in essence the expressions of the Absolute in its desire to restore and uphold the Natural Law. Revelation leads to the establishment of the spiritual teaching and that, if the infested power strong enough, gives birth to a religion. So religions are most sacred and most beautiful gift to the world. All history of the mankind is the history of the spirit taking different shapes over and over again. Religion being shaped by the culture gives rise to civilization. The revelation of One truth speaks through the mother tongue of the prophet, which gives the uniqueness to every religion and superiority to none. Religion and civilization are synonymous. The rise and the fall of religions are the rise and the falls of civilizations. The root of the word ( relio ) stands for re-unite. It is the highest achievement of human endeavor on the collective level and the most cherished human concept.
It is not the religions to be blamed for failing to deliver or for the atrocities committed in the names of their God. How come, that which came into existence to re-unite, is being used to separate? That which came into the world to restore harmony is being used to manipulate the essence of life itself ? It is the loss of the essence with time to be blamed, declares Bhagavad Gita, it is the loss of that element which makes the religion capable to re-unite. Transcendence of all opposites, in the presence of Oneness.
The paradox of life is that spiritual revelation comes from a vertical axis, only to spill into the horizontal plain of existence. The seers are mountain dwellers, while the churches and temples are being build in the valleys. The message from the summit gets distorted, and picked differently at the different levels and altitudes.
Spirituality is a recognized necessity for total freedom. Religion is a discipline of the inherited cultural phenomena distilled into community for the sake of a social order.
We are now living in time of religious decadence, the time of bankruptcy of its theology and ideology and the hypocrisy of the custodians. Until the critical mass is finally shifted, that will be the case and no attempt is going to convert an ignorant christian, muslim or a hindu to recognize the Christ, the Allah, the Shiva deep within one's own heart. Until that heart is filled with enough silence and enough peace.
Yet it is changing and the new wave of Energy is already out and deep within, all one need to do is to have the silence to sense it. It is erected to spill it's seed into the horizontal plane of the world, to fertilize it once again. After all that was the late-motive of christianity itself, with the Cross being the place where the flesh and spirit are reconciled in the paradoxical manner of a cross. ''
from the discourses and forums
Sir John Woodroffe
Submitted by Ravi on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 13:10.
Tantra Maha Vidya
Tantric Shakti
Tantra,Kundalini
John George Woodroffe was the eldest son of James Tisdall Woodroffe, Advocate-General of Bengal and sometime Legal Member of the Government of India, J. P., Kt. of St. Gregory, by his wife Florence, daughter of James Hume. He was born on December 15th 1865 and was educated at Woburn Park School and University College, Oxford, where he took second classes in jurisprudence and the B.C.L. (Bachelor of Civil Law) examinations. He was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1889, and in the following year was enrolled as an advocate of the Calcutta High Court. He was soon made a Fellow of the Calcutta University and appointed Tagore Law Professor. He collaborated with the late Mr. Ameer Ali in a widely used textbook Civil Procedure in British India. He was appointed Standing Counsel to the Government of India in 1902 and two years later was raised to the High Court Bench. He served thereon with competence for eighteen years and in 1915 officiated as Chief Justice. After retiring to this country he was for seven years from 1923, Reader in Indian Law to the University of Oxford. He died on 18th January 1936.
A man of studious and retiring habits, he devoted his leisure from judicial duties in the main to Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy and specialized in the Shakti system to an extent not equalled probably by any other British Orientalist. Both in India and in England, he was induced to speak or lecture on the different aspects of Hindu philosophy, but most hearers and readers found and still find it difficult to follow him in the bewildering mazes of the subject. While the shyness of the absorbed student made him slow to reveal his mind to a casual acquaintance or to care for society, he could talk much and well in congenial company. His books are a never exhausting source of information as to the deepest essentials of Indian philosophy.
His greatest contribution, unsurpassed to this day by any scholar, Eastern or Western, lies in the painstaking and thorough exploration of Tantrik literature and the subsequent publication of about 20 Tantrik Texts after careful and critical editing. Further, he has translated a few important Tantrik Texts adding his own valuable commentaries and illuminating introductions. In this category are:
The Serpent Power
The Great Liberation
Principles of Tantra
Kamakalavilasa
Thirdly, as a result of his long and close study of the scriptures and contacts with great Tantrik Pandits of Bengal, he has written books explaining the philosophy underlying the Tantrik Texts. His monumental works of this class are the
Garland of Letters (Varnamala)
The World as Power
Mahamaya (Cit-Shakti or Power as Consciousness)
Garland of Letters is the clearest and at the same time most authoritative exposition of Mantra Shastra.
The World as Power has five section: Reality, Life, Mind, Matter, Causality and Continuity.
Mahamaya shows that the Universe is a manifestation of the Supreme Shakti - the World Mother - in Her various aspects.
Lastly, he wrote several articles and philosophical journals and delivered lectures on various aspects of Tantra Shastra before learned societies like the Royal Asiatic Society, Vivekananda Society, etc. These Addresses and Essays have been classified and arranged and published under the title
Shakti and Shakta (2 volumes)
Sir John Woodroffe published most of these books under the name of Arthur Avalon. It was under his own name that he published Shakti and Shakta being essays and addresses on the Shakta Tantra Shastra and (in 1922) Garland of Letters being studies in Mantra Shastra.
More info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Woodroffe
Swami Janakananda
Submitted by madan_gautam on Sun, 02/01/2009 - 08:28.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati ---His Guru
Swami Janakananda is a tantric yoga and meditation teacher and a writer. He is the oldest active sannyasin disciple of Swami Satyananda in Europe.[1]
Born 1939 in Copenhagen he was introduced to yoga by his medical doctor as a child and continued to practise as a teenager and while in his twenties.
In 1968 he met his teacher Swami Satyananda Saraswati who initiated him into Kriya Yoga and other advanced tantric practices. For two years he lived with Swami Satyananda in his ashram in Bihar, India, and for several months traveled with him throughout the country.
In 1970 Swami Janakananda returned to Denmark where he founded the Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School. In 1971 Swami Janakananda was one of the first in Europe to teach the full Kriya Yoga sequence of 22 kriyas, during a period of 21 and 33 days of silence [2] and he has done so ever since, twice a year, in retreats at Haa Course Center in Sweden. He was also one of the pioneers in teaching and publicizing the deep relaxation Yoga Nidra[3] [4]. He writes articles for the Magazine Bindu and his book "Yoga, Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life" has been published in seven languages.
Swami Janakananda bases his teaching on a holistic view of yoga where all dimensions of the human being is touched. He stresses non idealism and the importance of active participation in life.
WIKI & Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School Phone: +46 372 550 63 • Fax: +46 372 550 36 Email: haa@yoga.se , Haa Course Center S-340 13 Hamneda Sweden
Chavah Aima
Submitted by debbiemoore on Mon, 05/21/2012 - 15:46.
Kundalini, Tantra, Advaita, Kabbalah
Mahavatar Babaji
Shri Yukteswar Giri
Amma Sri Karunamayi
Zoroaster
Alan Wilson Watts
Jacob Boehme
Mouni Sadhu
Chavah Aima is a spiritual alchemist and yogini. She has mastered mystical and wisdom traditions of the west and the east. For nearly 30 years Chavah has shared the secrets of spiritual awakening, mentoring and teaching individuals and groups the time-honored practices of the yogi's, saints and masters with seekers around the world.
Chavah received initiation into eleven ancient, mystical lineages from the yogi, Prince Hirindra Singh. She has also been initiated into the inner order of the true Rosicrucians, mastering the mysteries of ancient Egypt and inheriting the secret teachings of the Masters Isis and Osiris, and Jesus and Mary Magdalene. She has also received initiatory transmissions in Kundalini Yoga, Tantra and Advaita.
Chavah trained in the Essene spiritual traditions with Reverend Russell Nees, the founder of Optimum Health Institute in Austin, Texas. She is an expert in holistic systems of personal development, mind-body healing and spiritual awakening.
She co-founded Enlightened Life Sanctuary with Prince Hirindra to serve as a universal temple of new consciousness, preserving highly effective methods for healing, self-realization and life mastery from their eastern and western lineages.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chavah-Aima/131281346949838?sk=info
Trust your soul to lead you to the perfect life.
If you do not take your power, others will.
You are free in essence already and all that remains is to free your mind and body.
Surrender is the key that opens to liberation.
There is nothing more powerful than love, gratitude, compassion and trust.
Love more, think less. The only law is love. Do not ask for love; give it. Love is strengthened when we love those who are difficult to love.
There is nothing wrong with the world; the trouble lies in the way you look at it.
Go beyond judgment and observe everything with compassion. Do this in all circumstances, no matter how bad things may look.
The body is the vessel that carries your spirit through life. Plants and herbs are for food and medicine. Move from animal consciousness to higher consciousness by eating a plant-based diet.
Give up reliance on outer authority and have the courage to live from the true authority within you.
Only by becoming nothing do we become something.
Fear is power. Understand that power is present whenever fear arises. Choose to respond to the power, not the fear.
http://www.inspiremetoday.com/archiveDisp.php?type=0&ref=1388
Enlightened Life Temple
Alchemical Yoga
Living Light Regeneration Plan
Enlightened Life on Facebook
Chavah Aima on Facebook
Living Light: The 21-Day Alchemical Regeneration Plan
by Chavah Aima
Create a healthier, slimmer, more youthful body in 21 days with the amazing Living Light plan that blends the high-intensity nutrition and healing powers of a raw food diet with the ancient wisdom of Alchemy. Everything you need to heal and regenerate your body, mind, and soul is explained in Living Light, including buying and preparing raw foods, growing sprouts and grasses, internal cleansing, weekly menu plans, daily schedules, juice fasting, solar healing, alchemical meditation and yoga, and over 100 delicious raw and living food recipes. The secret key to the Living Light plan is Alchemy: the sacred science of self-transformation.
Recommended Audio:
Living Light: Alchemical Meditations for the 21-Day Regeneration Plan
(Audio CD)
Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
Submitted by hrit-padma-1 on Sat, 08/20/2011 - 18:13.
shaktipata
swamij, Dandi Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
Shakti, Yoga, Vedanta, Internal Tantra
India, USA
Swami Rama
Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati was born in 1948 in Ohio, USA, spent most of his youth in Florida, and later lived in several other states, including California, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Texas. His education includes a BS in Management from Florida State University and an MA in Consciousness, with emphasis in Transpersonal Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, in California. He previously worked in advertising, retail store management, counseling and psychiatric social work. He was never married and has no children.
Spontaneously practicing meditation and other yogic practices from early childhood, Swami Jnaneshvara has been a student of the Himalayan Tradition of yoga meditation since 1986 when initiated in meditation by Swami Rama (10 years to the day prior to Swami Rama leaving the body). Several months later he met Pandit Usharbudh Arya, through whom supplemental training was given from time to time during the next few years. Swami Jnaneshvara was given novice monastic initiation in 1990, was ordained as a monk (swami) of the Himalayan tradition and the order of Shankaracharya in 1993 by Swami Rama, and was given one of the highest yogic initiations of direct experience in 1996, with final teachings and instructions being imparted shortly before Swami Rama left the body in November, 1996.
In 1998 and 1999 Swami Jnaneshvara received training, practices and grace from the venerated sage Naga Swami Hanuman Giri at the cave hermitages in the high Himalayas beyond Badrinath and Mana (He left the body in 2002). In 1999, initiation as Dandi Swami (a most honorific swami initiation in the Shankara tradition, in which a Danda, or staff is bestowed) was given at the bank of the Ganges in Haridwar, India by a highly revered Acharya (teacher) of Dandi Swamis, Acharya Dandi Swami Indradev Ashram. In 2000, the sage Vratti Baba of Kalimath, Himalayas passed on his initiatory transmissions at the time of his dropping the body (Vratti Baba was a long time friend and spiritual brother of Swami Rama). Swami Jnaneshvara has also been invited to be initiated as Mahamandaleshwar, said to be one of the highest leadership posts within the swami orders. The invitation has been respectfully declined so as to remain focused on the service work at hand.
In 1994 Swami Rama asked Swami Jnaneshvara to remain in his Rishikesh, India ashram, saying it should be home for intensified practices and teaching. In 1995 Swami Rama said he wanted an ongoing, 12-month per year Residential Program in his ashram, directing Swami Jnaneshvara to teach in that program. The Residential Program was created over ensuing months and emphasized Swami Rama's teachings, with the program itself starting in 1996.
After Swami Rama left the body in 1996, there were intense institutional politics and Swami Jnaneshvara moved out of Swami Rama's Rishikesh ashram in 2001, returning to the US.
In 2007 the trustees of Swami Rama's Rishikesh ashram have started to reorganize the ashram programs. Swami Jnaneshvara has accepted the 2007 invitation of the trustees to be on faculty of the new programs, and has once again started teaching at the ashram.
While Swami Rama named no single successor of the lineage, Swami Jnaneshvara is one of those whom Swami Rama empowered as a conduit of the teachings of this over 5,000 year old tradition. Inspired by the goal of providing the ancient wisdom and practices in what Swami Rama has called the "simplest manner possible," Swami Jnaneshvara provides spiritual counseling and teaches practical aspects of Meditation, Yoga, Vedanta, and internal Tantra from his home base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA, while holding in heart his spiritual home of the Himalayas. As instructed by the Himalayan masters, he teaches from direct experience, teaching orally and by transmission.
Our tradition is a shakti tradition and the bestowing of shakti (shaktipata) occurs along the way in the journey of sadhana, especially as it removes the final barrier leading to the realization of the Self. Although Swami Rama left no single successor and no single possessor of shakti, that shaktipata by (and of) the tradition operates through Swami Jnaneshvara and others. It is grace of formless guru that determines when and under what circumstances that gift of grace comes.
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You cannot observe your trust, you cannot measure your level of belief...
Because wisdom is universal. You can plug into it anytime. It takes some effort, but you can do it. And when you learn the knack of that, things change. When you learn the knack of that, you're going in the right direction. So there are only two choices, there are only two ways to live: You can live by being led by your thoughts—or you can live by you leading your thoughts.
— Swami Premodaya


text:
Military.com Authors
Oriana Pawlyk
Oriana Pawlyk is Military.com's air warfare reporter covering everything from the latest personnel trends, aircraft, investigations, defense technology, to Air Force operations all over the world. Pawlyk is also an active member of the Pentagon Press Association.
She previously covered air campaign operations in the Middle East and Europe, plus uniforms, cyber, Guard and Reserve duties, physical training and technology for Air Force Times. Pawlyk edited the Military Times Early Bird Brief newsletter in 2015, compiling the top national security stories driving the day. Pawlyk attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she received a bachelor's in Journalism and English Literature.
Email: oriana.pawlyk@monster.com
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Opens with a haunting atmosphere of ethereal vocal over resonator guitar and signature bass hook and hand percussion, similar to T Bone Burnett. Strings then enter accompanied by deep vocal drone, almost Tibetan or Indian in nature. Themes are repeated and developed before moving into an uptempo conclusion notable for rich hand percussion and a haunting gypsy violin lead. Exquisite vocals with a signature hook "yodel" on "Aloha" that is captivating.


Effective January 4th, 2012, Edward Claxton will not be taking on new clients. He will no longer be carrying on the practice of law. For the purpose of winding up his practice and transferring ongoing matters, he will be available to current clients at the office.
Notary services and Commissioner of Oaths services will be provided by appointment only.
Lawyers are required by the Rules of Professional Conduct to verify the identity of clients. Please be sure to bring photo identification when attending for an appointment.


First Dog on the Moon is the Walkley award winning political cartoonist for The Guardian Australia. Mr Onthemoon has written and illustrated various books, illustrated numerous others performed live on stage in a number of shows and is currently working on more exciting projects than you can poke a stick at including another book. You can find the books and other excellent things on this very website which you are upon right now reading this.
First Dog on the Moon's Guide to Modern Living used to appear weekly on ABC Radio National on Sunday mornings which was fun.
Mr Onthemoon also currently the Official Cartoonist for the Western Bulldogs AFL Team and you are not.


When designing a handicapped kitchen for a mother in-law suite or even simply for universal design, one of the biggest challenges is the sink. Most sinks feature a base that is as deep as the counter, and that limits wheelchair access. They may also be too tall for wheelchairs, or they could lack a comfortable place for standing when people have limited mobility.
If you are building a mother-in-law apartment to move a family member into your home, then you need a sink that can change along with his or her changing needs. A person who is standing at the sink needs it to be higher, but someone in a wheelchair will need it to be much lower. What happens if your parent is able to walk through the kitchen one day, but relies more heavily on a wheelchair the next?
With an adjustable sink, the height can be altered with the push of a button. The sink is easily raised to accommodate a home health aide who has come in to clean, and it can be lowered again for your family member in a wheelchair. These sinks also feature a recessed cabinet that provides wheelchairs with easier access. The entire system works using flexible hoses and a motor for the counter, so they are stable and secure.
Look for base cabinets with recessed doors. This allows wheelchairs to slide into place under the sink. If the spacing is large enough, your aging parent can even slip part of a walker beneath the sink counter. Another option is to choose floating sinks featuring a large, open space below the counter.
You may prefer a deep sink for washing large pots and pans, but this is not the right choice when you are planning an accessible kitchen. Shallow sink bases are much easier for people with limited mobility to work with. They don't have to bend over to reach items in the bottom of the sink, and they can easily reach the full work area even from a seated position.
In addition to choosing an accessible sink, you also want to look for faucets that are easier to use. Single handles may be easier to adjust than separate knobs, and tap-touch faucets can be operated with just a light touch. You can also choose a motion sensor faucet that is particularly easy to use. Insist on a faucet with a pressure balanced valve to avoid accidental scalding.
Look for a sink that features special drying areas. These raised sections are ideal for air drying vegetables or a few hand washed dishes. They are ideal for people who are only using a few dishes at a time and may not want to run the dishwasher.
When designing a handicapped kitchen in your home, it's important to consider what is needed today and how those needs may change in the future. Adjustable sinks are the ideal choice for their flexibility. Look for shallow cabinets that allow a wheelchair to slide under the sink, and stick with shallow basins that are easy to reach and work with. Even the faucet should be chosen carefully so it is easy to use and will prevent burns from hot water. When you choose a handicapped accessible sink, you are making it easier for your loved one to remain independent.
When Is It Time to Take Your Parents into Your Home?


text:
© 2019 Innovation Station Music
dave@ismusicstudio.com | Ph: (571) 317-0982 | Located minutes from downtown Washington, DC
"See It From Your Side" by Silhouette Cities (2013)
A killer MTV-style video directed by award-winning filmmaker Francisco Campos-Lopez. For some reason, the music was uploaded in mono...but it still rocks!
"The Science of Falling" by Talia Segal (2011)
Who says a lyric video can't say it all? Well, these lyrics won an award in the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest in 2012, so that speaks pretty loudly. Get a cup of coffee, enjoy, rinse, repeat.
"Nearly Broken" by Rachel Levitin (2015)
The title track to Rachel Levitin's debut EP, this song was a co-write with Taylor Carson and Producer Dave Mallen. Video by Don Kim.


text:
Tony Awards Nominations: Fun Facts and Shocking Stats
Which actress has now scored noms in all four acting categories? Who is the oldest nominee this year? And which parts have received Oscar and Tony recognition in the past? THR's awards analyst dug through the record books.
By Scott Feinberg
Scott Feinberg
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Audra McDonald Lady Day - H 2014
The nominations for the 68th annual Tony Awards were announced on Tuesday morning, and The Hollywood Reporter's awards analyst dug through the Tony record books to see how this year's nominees stack up against the nominees of yesteryear. The results are fascinating.
The musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder scored a field-leading 10 nominations. That is as many as any play has ever received, but five fewer than the musical record-holders The Producers (2001) and Billy Elliot (2009). The other highest nomination tallies this year, across the categories: Hedwig and the Angry Inch with eight; After Midnight, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Glass Menagerie and Twelfth Night with seven; and Bullets Over Broadway and The Cripple of Inishmaan with six.
Best actress in a play nominee Audra McDonald (Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill) becomes just the fifth person of either gender to have scored nominations in all four acting categories in which they were eligible (following Boyd Gaines, Raul Esparza, Angela Lansbury and Jan Maxwell). If she wins, she will become the first woman to have won a Tony in all four female acting categories, and she will also move into sole possession of the record for most Tony acting wins (her sixth win would move her out of a tie with Lansbury and Julie Harris).
With the best revival of a play nomination for A Raisin in the Sun, this becomes the seventh consecutive year in which a show produced by Scott Rudin has scored a nomination for either best play, best new musical, best revival of a play or best revival of a play. It also marks Rudin's 27th overall nomination.
At 86 years old, best actress in a play nominee Estelle Parsons (The Velocity of Autumn) is one of the oldest people to ever receive a nomination in any category, but not the oldest ever nominated in even just her own. That distinction belongs to last year's nominee and winner Cicely Tyson (A Trip to Bountiful), who was honored at the age of 88.
Bizarrely, The Glass Menagerie's nominations for best revival of a play, best actress in a play (Cherry Jones), best featured actor in a play (Brian J. Smith) and best featured actress in a play (Celia Keenan-Bolger), plus three others, are the first ever accorded to any production of that revered play.
Five of this year's nominees are nominated for a role for which someone else previously was Tony-nominated: best actor in a musical nominee Ramin Karimloo (Jean Valjean in Les Miserables), preceded by 1987 nominee Colm Wilkinson; best actress in a play nominee LaTanya Richardson (Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun), preceded by 1960 nominee Claudia McNeil and 2004 winner Phylicia Rashad; best featured actress in a play nominee Sophie Okonedo (Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun), preceded by 2004 winner Audra McDonald; best featured actress in a play nominee Aniko Noni Rose (Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun), preceded by 2004 nominee Sanaa Lathan; and best featured actor in a musical Danny Burstein (Herr Schultz in Cabaret), preceded by 1988 nominee Werner Klemperer and 1998 winner Ron Rifkin.
Five of this year's nominees are nominated for parts for which someone else previously received Oscar recognition: Mark Rylance (Richard III) is a best actor in a play nominee for the part of Richard III, for which Laurence Oliver received a best actor Oscar nomination (Richard III, 1953); Karimloo (Les Miserables) is a best actor in a musical nominee for the part of Jean Valjean, for which Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables, 2012) received a best actor Oscar nomination; Andy Karl (Rocky) is a best actor in a musical nominee for the part of Rocky Balboa, for which Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, 1976) received a best actor Oscar nomination; Kelli O'Hara (The Bridges of Madison County) is a best actress in a musical nominee for the part of Francesca, for which Meryl Streep (The Bridges of Madison County, 1995) received a best actress Oscar nomination; and Nick Cordero (Bullets Over Broadway) is a best featured actor in a musical nominee for the part of Cheech, for which Chazz Palminteri (Bullets Over Broadway, 1994) received a best supporting actor nomination.
Best actor in a play nominee Rylance (Richard III) has won in that category on two prior occasions (for Boeing-Boeing in 2008 and for Jerusalem in 2011). If he wins this time, he will break a tie and move into sole possession of the record for most wins in the category, surpassing Alan Bates, Brian Dennehy, Jose Ferrer, Judd Hirsch, James Earl Jones and Fredric March.
Rylance joins an elite group of people who have scored more than one acting nomination in a single year. He is nominated for best actor in a play (Richard III) and best featured actor in a play (Twelfth Night). The two plays for which he is nominated played in repertory before closing back in February.
Plays and musicals often inspire movies that receive Oscar recognition, but this year three movies inspired plays and musicals that received Tony recognition: Aladdin, Bullets Over Broadway and Rocky.
Best actor in a play nominee Tony Shalhoub (Act One) and best featured actor in a musical nominee Danny Burstein (Cabaret) are the only actors nominated in 2014 who were also nominated in 2013. They were both nominated last year for Golden Boy in the category of best featured actor in a play.
Today brings the first nominations for, among others, Woody Allen (Bullets Over Broadway), Reed Birney (Casa Valentina), Paul Chahidi (Casa Valentina), Nick Cordero (Bullets Over Broadway), Bryan Cranston (All the Way), Mary Bridget Davies (A Night with Janis Joplin), Sarah Greene (The Cripple of Inishmaan), James Iglehart (Aladdin), Lena Hall (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Karimloo (Les Miserables), Karl (Rocky), Anika Larsen (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Chris O'Dowd (Of Mice and Men), Okonedo (A Raisin in the Sun), Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Richardson (A Raisin in the Sun), Brian J. Smith (The Glass Menagerie), Jarrod Spector (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Mare Winningham (Casa Valentina) and Lauren Worsham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder).
Best actor in a play nominee Cranston's portrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson in All the Way is the fourth portrayal of an American president recognized with a nomination in the best actor in play category. The others: Ralph Bellamy's Franklin D. Roosevelt in Sunrise at Campobello (1958); Sam Waterston's Abraham Lincoln in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1994); and Frank Langella's Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon (2007). Bellamy and Langella went on to win.
The best play nomination for Casa Valentina marks Harvey Fierstein's first recognition in that category in 31 years. He was previously nominated for Torch Song Trilogy.
Best revival of a play nominee A Raisin in the Sun becomes just the sixth play to be nominated in that category more than once. (It was previously nominated in 2004.)
Best revival of a play nominee The Cripple of Inishmaan and best revival of a musical nominees Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Violet were never previously mounted on the Great White Way, but appear in this category anyway because of a regulation that classifies a show as a revival if it is deemed part of the theatrical canon.
The three best featured actor in a play nominations accorded to Twelfth Night — for Paul Chahidi, Stephen Fry and Rylance — place it in a tie for that category's record with Big River (1985), Kiss Me Kate (2000) and The Producers (2001).
Best actor in a play nominee Shalhoub could become the first actor named Tony to ever win a Tony. Previous Tony nominees named Tony: Shalhoub himself (1992 and 2013), plus Tony Randall (1958), Tony Roberts (1968), Tony Azito (1981), Tony Lo Bianco (1983), Antony Sher (1997) and Tony Sheldon (2011). Three actors were Tony-nominated for playing characters named Tony: Robert Weede (1957), Giorgio Tozzi (1980) and Keith Roberts (2003).
Twitter: @ScottFeinberg
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text:
package models_test

import (
	"net"
	"strings"
	"testing"

	"code.google.com/p/go-uuid/uuid"

	h "github.com/bakins/test-helpers"
	"github.com/mistifyio/mistify-operator-admin/models"
)

var hypervisorJSON = `{
	"id": "ebf3bfd5-9915-4ed1-bcb3-117bb48b155d",
	"mac": "01:23:45:67:89:ab",
	"ip": "192.168.1.20",
	"metadata": {
		"foo": "bar"
	}
}`

func createHypervisor(t *testing.T) *models.Hypervisor {
	r := strings.NewReader(hypervisorJSON)
	hypervisor := &models.Hypervisor{}
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Decode(r))
	return hypervisor
}

func checkHypervisorValues(t *testing.T, hypervisor *models.Hypervisor) {
	h.Equals(t, "ebf3bfd5-9915-4ed1-bcb3-117bb48b155d", hypervisor.ID)
	h.Equals(t, "01:23:45:67:89:ab", hypervisor.MAC.String())
	h.Equals(t, "192.168.1.20", hypervisor.IP.String())
	h.Equals(t, map[string]string{"foo": "bar"}, hypervisor.Metadata)
}

func TestNewHypervisor(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := models.NewHypervisor()
	h.Assert(t, uuid.Parse(hypervisor.ID) != nil, "missing uuid ID")
	h.Assert(t, hypervisor.Metadata != nil, "uninitialized metadata")
}

func TestHypervisorNewID(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := models.NewHypervisor()
	id1 := hypervisor.ID
	hypervisor.NewID()
	h.Assert(t, uuid.Parse(hypervisor.ID) != nil, "missing uuid ID")
	h.Assert(t, id1 != hypervisor.ID, "New ID was not generated")
}

func TestHypervisorUnmarshalJSON(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := &models.Hypervisor{}
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.UnmarshalJSON([]byte(hypervisorJSON)))
	checkHypervisorValues(t, hypervisor)
}

func TestHypervisorDecode(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	checkHypervisorValues(t, hypervisor)
}

func TestHypervisorValidate(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := &models.Hypervisor{}
	var err error

	err = hypervisor.Validate()
	h.Assert(t, errContains(models.ErrNoID, err), "expected ErrNoID")
	h.Assert(t, errContains(models.ErrBadID, err), "expected ErrBadID")
	h.Assert(t, errContains(models.ErrNoMAC, err), "expected ErrNoMAC")
	h.Assert(t, errContains(models.ErrNoIP, err), "expected ErrNoIP")
	h.Assert(t, errContains(models.ErrNilMetadata, err), "expected ErrNilMetadata")

	hypervisor.ID = "foobar"
	err = hypervisor.Validate()
	h.Assert(t, errDoesNotContain(models.ErrNoID, err), "did not expect ErrNoID")
	h.Assert(t, errContains(models.ErrBadID, err), "expected ErrBadID")
	hypervisor.NewID()
	h.Assert(t, errDoesNotContain(models.ErrBadID, hypervisor.Validate()), "did not expect ErrBadID")

	hypervisor.MAC, err = net.ParseMAC("01:23:45:67:89:ab")
	h.Assert(t, errDoesNotContain(models.ErrNoMAC, hypervisor.Validate()), "did not expect ErrNoMac")

	hypervisor.IP = net.ParseIP("192.168.1.1")
	h.Assert(t, errDoesNotContain(models.ErrNoIP, hypervisor.Validate()), "did not expect ErrNoIP")

	hypervisor.Metadata = make(map[string]string)
	err = hypervisor.Validate()
	h.Assert(t, errDoesNotContain(models.ErrNilMetadata, err), "did not expect ErrNilMetadata")

	h.Ok(t, err)
}

func TestHypervisorMarshalJSON(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	_, err := hypervisor.MarshalJSON()
	h.Ok(t, err)
}

func TestHypervisorSave(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Save())
}

func TestHypervisorDelete(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Delete())
}

func TestHypervisorLoad(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Save())

	hypervisor2 := models.NewHypervisor()
	hypervisor2.ID = hypervisor.ID

	h.Ok(t, hypervisor2.Load())
	checkHypervisorValues(t, hypervisor2)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor2.Delete())
}

func TestFetchHypervisor(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Save())

	hypervisor2, err := models.FetchHypervisor("ebf3bfd5-9915-4ed1-bcb3-117bb48b155d")
	h.Ok(t, err)
	checkHypervisorValues(t, hypervisor2)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor2.Delete())
}

func TestListHypervisors(t *testing.T) {
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Save())

	hypervisors, err := models.ListHypervisors()
	h.Ok(t, err)
	h.Equals(t, 1, len(hypervisors))
	checkHypervisorValues(t, hypervisors[0])
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Delete())
}

func TestHypervisorIPRangeRelations(t *testing.T) {
	// Prep
	hypervisor := createHypervisor(t)
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Save())
	iprange := createIPRange(t)
	h.Ok(t, iprange.Save())

	// Add
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.AddIPRange(iprange))

	// Load
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.LoadIPRanges())
	h.Equals(t, 1, len(hypervisor.IPRanges))

	// Remove
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.RemoveIPRange(iprange))
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.LoadIPRanges())
	h.Equals(t, 0, len(hypervisor.IPRanges))

	// Set
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.SetIPRanges([]*models.IPRange{iprange}))
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.LoadIPRanges())
	h.Equals(t, 1, len(hypervisor.IPRanges))

	// Lookup hypervisors by iprange
	hypervisors, err := models.HypervisorsByIPRange(iprange)
	h.Ok(t, err)
	h.Equals(t, 1, len(hypervisors))

	// Clear
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.SetIPRanges(make([]*models.IPRange, 0)))
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.LoadIPRanges())
	h.Equals(t, 0, len(hypervisor.IPRanges))

	// Cleanup
	h.Ok(t, iprange.Delete())
	h.Ok(t, hypervisor.Delete())
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We offer unique and challenging career opportunities in the fascinating precious metals' world. Our business is constantly growing and evolving with new opportunities and we are constantly looking for talented individuals whose diverse backgrounds and professional expertise will help us shape tomorrow's successes around what is most important for us, our clients' satisfaction.
MKS has a unique culture based on its family history, deeply linked to the founder's worldview, which makes it a formidable force in the success in our business.
We believe that a strong culture, where there is a family feel which is extended to employees, is a competitive advantage to superior performance. We work and recruit through our values which are caring, hardworking, loyalty, humility and trust in our people.
In our candidates, we much value skills such as innovation, out of the box thinking, accountability for results, flexibility to adapt to fast changing environments, strong work ethics, mentoring and cooperation.
MKS is looking for the new generation to perpetuate its legacy and to carry on the current success in the future. We regularly open opportunities in trading, back office, IT and other sectors.


Today we said a very sad goodbye to Mrs Ratcliff. We had a special assembly this morning and this afternoon YR said their own farewell with a fabulous tea party in the hall playing Mrs Ratcliff's favourite games, the hokey cokey and the farmer's in his den! She will be very much missed by staff and children.


text:
IT Security Works
Ripple20 TCP/IP flaws and IoT
Networking, Vulnerability
A set of serious network security vulnerabilities collectively known as Ripple20 roiled the IoT landscape when they came to light last week, and the problems they pose for IoT-equipped businesses could be both dangerous and difficult to solve.
Ripple20 was originally discovered by Israel-based security company JSOF in September 2019. It affects a lightweight, proprietary TCP/IP library created by a small company in Ohio called Treck, which has issued a patch for the vulnerabilities. Several of those vulnerabilities would allow for remote-code execution, allowing for data theft, malicious takeovers and more, said the security vendor.
When you're dealing with threats to the TCP/IP stack, you're talking about the fundamental networking core of these devices
That, however, isn't the end of the problem. The TCP/IP library that contains the vulnerabilities has been used in a huge range of connected devices, from medical devices to industrial control systems to printers, and actually delivering and applying the patch is a vast undertaking. JSOF said that "hundreds of millions" of devices could be affected. Many devices don't have the capacity to receive remote patches, and Terry Dunlap, co-founder of security vendor ReFirm Labs, said that there are numerous hurdles to getting patches onto older equipment in particular.
"How many of these devices are sitting in some closet covered with five years of dust that hasn't been touched by human hands?" he said. "When you're dealing with threats to the TCP/IP stack, you're talking about the fundamental networking core of these devices."
Even discovering whether or not a company's networks are affected by the flaws can be a challenge, according to Brian Kime, a senior analyst at Forrester Research.
"Network vulnerability scanners have challenges in detecting flaws in those libraries," he said. "[The flaws aren't] really advertised, sitting there, waiting for a connection to be made from outside."
"It's gonna be tough to fix the actual devices," Kime said. "Bceause it's embedded and because these vendors don't advertise all the software components that go into their devices, [companies] probably won't be able to identify just by looking at the vendor website."
Efforts are already under way to patch affected devices, but it's a mammoth task, involving dozens upon dozens of companies at every level of the supply chain. Business will have to work closely with vendors, their suppliers and on down the chain just to identify their potential exposure to Ripple20.
For those vendors and OEMs with the option, Dunlap suggested that there are alternative options available. Instead of using a proprietary TCP/IP library, companies could make use of one of the numerous open source options available.
"I don't understand what a proprietary stack is going to get you over the open source stack that's already out there," he said.
The silver lining is that there's no indication that it's being exploited in the wild at this point. That may change, as bad actors react to its being made public and develop potential exploits, but they still might have a difficult time taking advantage of Ripple20, according to Dunlap.
Many of the most critical pieces of equipment that could be targeted using these vulnerabilities are not visible to the Internet at large and don't have a direct connection to it. So while an infrastructure attack a la Stuxnet is possible, it would have to be delivered in much the same way – via "sneakernet" and an infected USB stick or another traditional malware delivery technique.
"A lot of these embedded systems that are vulnerable to this aren't public facing," he said. "They might be on an intranet, and if a company was the victim of a sophisticated phishing attack, that could open the door to an intruder."
JSOF's official post on the matter contains additional specifics about what devices might be affected, which could offer a starting point to companies looking to avoid a breach.
IoT networking vulnerability


You're given strings A and B.
where f(A, p) = count of occurrences p into A.
The first line contains T that is the number of tests to follow. The next 2T lines contain strings A and B for each test. The length of A and B will not exceed 200 000. It is guaranteed that the size of input data doesn't exceed 8 MB.
For each test i print "Case #i: x y z" on a separate line where x, y and z are the three numbers to compute.


Who needs sleep or go to work when you have three hot men waiting on your kindle for you?
I loved this book which means I was laughing or crying through most of it.
Josiah just wants to love and to be loved in return. He is the glue that holds them all together.
Mateo has had a hard life. His 'family' making him do things that literally make him sick. He is the protector and would do anything and I do mean anything to protect the ones that he loves.
Tristan hides his emotions from the ones he loves because he thinks they will use his love against him.
Tristan's mom is awesome. Yes she 'broken' like the rest of them but all she wants is for Tristan to be happy no matter what it takes or who it is.
Riley Hart did an amazing job on this first book of the series. I can't wait to read the next one.


The Leaders Studio at Ratliff & Taylor will be bringing two new programs to Pittsburgh in May. Developing Executive Presence and Powerful Presentations will be happening at the RLA Learning Center on May 9 and 10. For more information or to purchase your tickets, please visit our Eventbrite.


St Mary's offers not only a beautiful and traditional setting for your wedding but the context to bring God into the start of your marriage. If you live within the Parish of Redbourn, or live outside the parish but worship there regularly, you can be married at St Mary's. If you live outside the parish, there may be qualifying connections to St Mary's that will allow us to hold your wedding here. These include previous connections, regular worship in the past or family connections. In all cases these should be discussed with the Vicar.
Prior to the ceremony the Vicar will meet with each couple to prepare for the marriage ahead. Normally this will involve three or four meetings and these will address topics to help understand the meaning of marriage. As well as going through the practical arrangements such as music, flowers, readings and hymns we'll also explore what a Christian understanding of marriage is and how this can be lived out to the full. Some of these sessions will be just for you with a member of the clergy so we can focus on your particular arrangements but a few months before you marry, we'll also invite you to wedding preparation alongside some other couples getting married at St Mary's. A couple of days before the big day we'll also have a rehearsal in church so we can have a practice walking up the aisle and saying the vows to alleviate some of those nerves!
We always enjoy weddings here at St Mary's and we'd love to explore this with you if you're thinking about getting married. Please get in touch with us first before booking a reception venue or making any of the other plans, so that we can make sure that the date and time you want is available. We can offer weddings on any day of the week, except Sundays, and we can discuss the best time for the service to suit you and to fit in with the other plans you have for the day.


text:
Home Art & Culture Idyllwild Authors Series may have future seasons
Idyllwild Authors Series may have future seasons
Marshall Smith
Circumstances have changed since Eduardo Santiago, founder of the Idyllwild Authors Series, announced this season, the fifth, would be the last.
Local bibliophiles can now rejoice. Santiago is considering subsequent seasons for a number of reasons. "I was a part timer when that decision was announced," he said. "Now, with Mark's [Mark Davis, Santiago's husband] move to the Hill and his new position at Idyllwild Arts, we'll both be full timers."
Santiago also explained that, as a book coach, one of his authors had just landed a major deal with Random House. "I want to bring her up her," he explained.
But more than any other factor, Santiago stressed the cachet the series has developed with Los Angeles and Southern California-based writers. "There are so many excellent writers that want to come up for the series and others, like Tod Goldberg [the final author of the fifth season], who want to come back."
In a look-back over the last five years, Santiago extolled the levels of excellence and variety of the authors who have been featured in his series: "The Idyllwild Authors Series has featured 45 writers over the last five years. Janet Finch ["White Oleander"] and Cynthia Bond ["Ruby"] were Oprah Book Club selections. Hope Edelman's book "Motherless Daughters" spent 24 weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Quinn Cummings ["Notes from the Underwire: Adventures from my Awkward and Lovely Life"] was an Oscar-nominated actress before becoming an author; Lisa Teasley, Rob Roberge, Toni Ann Johnson, Gary Phillips and Samantha Dunn have won numerous literary awards, and Tod Goldberg, our final author this season ["Gangsterland"] is in the running for the Hammett Prize, the leading award for crime fiction writers. In addition we have featured local authors Duff Brenna, Jill Sikorski, Sabrina Verney, Richard Barker and Ron Singerton.
"And there has not been a one of them who has not been open-hearted, generous, kind, and peculiar. In many ways it mirrors what is so extraordinary about the Idyllwild community."
Another highlight was when Karen Black, 1970 Oscar-nominee for "Five Easy Pieces," turned the tables on Santiago, a lifelong fan, when she interviewed him about his book "Tomorrow They Will Kiss," to close the second season of the series. "I have been in love with her since I was a boy," he remembered. "If she was in a movie, I would see it. That she would come up here was awesome. And she was sick at the time." [Black died in 2013 at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer.]
Reflecting on the future, Santiago said, "If there is a sixth season, it will come back in a different form, maybe once a month like Chris Singer's speaker series. I'd also like to look at possible tie ins – maybe with the Idyllwild Library and with Idyllwild Arts. I'll know more in January about what form it will take.
"I'm so excited to be living in Idyllwild full time. I fit right in, having started the series with no money, just hope - like Idyllwild, that has the same 'can-do' attitude. Somebody here is always making art and I get to make a little art on Sunday afternoon."
For more about Santiago see www.eduardosantiago.com.
Out Loud: Be tough …
Past Tense: July 25, 2013
April ended, but showers continue
Previous articleArtist of the Year exhibits 'Dress: Whispers' at Artspresso
Next articleLast Week in Idyllwild: June 25, 2015
Marshall Smith has been writing for the Town Crier since 2005. His favorite quote is: '"Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not." Robert Kennedy quoting George Bernard Shaw


The CaffiNation: Home of the well caffeinated geek!
I think my paraphrased Bilbo Birthday Speech will say it all.
I have called you all together for a Purpose. Indeed, for Three Purposes! First of all, to tell you that I am immensely fond of you all, and that 535 episodes, 6 years and 7 months is too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits, errr listeners.
Thirdly and finally, I wish to make an ANNOUNCEMENT.
I regret to announce that – though, as I said, 535 episodes is far too short a time to spend among you – this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE!
While I lack the ring to make the exit truly epic I want to be clear, the podcast… is ending. The site will live on, and there will be more video and audio down the road, but as it has been the CaffiNation Podcast is done. It has completed it's 6 years 7 month journey, starting in January of 2006. This is bittersweet, I announced the purchase of my first home, the birth of both of my children. Auto Accidents, sickness, health, laughs and bad jokes.
I wanted to thank people who from day one have been listening, commenting and laughing along. I think the show has been fun, but I also think there are better things down the road.
Today's tunes are an echo of tunes played on Show 50. I missed playing music.
I remember the first episode and now I hear the final installment. Albeit sadly.
I wish you well Paul and thanks for everything.