Istanbul is one of the famous cities in the world, which acts as the heart for historical, cultural and economic development of the country of Turkey. The city holds the pride of being one of the largest cities in the continent of Europe and it is also one of the largest cities in the world with respect to higher population within the limits of the city.

During a survey conducted in the year 2010, it was found that about seven million foreigners visited this city just for tourism purpose and this has made the city to receive the pride name as the European Capital of culture. The city also acts as the tenth most popular tourist destination attracting more and more visitors from other nations.

When you are visiting this city on a luxury trip, do not miss out the opportunity of traveling in the luxury train of Istanbul Orient Express and some of the other attractions to be visited in the city are discussed in the content given below:

Ottoman Empire: A minimum of half-a-day is required for exploring this greatest attraction of Istanbul. Since higher entrance fee is charged, for people, who wish to get full value for the money paid by them as entrance fee, spending a whole day in the empire would be ideal. But, if time forces you to leave the place immediately, do not forget to visit the must-see features of the empire being the innermost courtyard, imperial treasury and the Harem.

Byzantine Wonders: Even if the number of days you are planning to spend in this city is lesser, do not forget to visit the Church of St. Savior in Chora. This church is popular for its intricate wonders and it lodges frescoes and celebrated mosaics that are standing as the great examples for the art of the earlier era.

Grand Bazaar: This is a must to visit place for shopping enthusiasts and at least three hours is required for exploring the content of this shopping arena. There are more than 5000 vendors dealing with different products and some of the city's best purses, handbags and carpets can be acquired only from this place.

Tower of Christ: Galata tower, which was built in 1348, is originally called as tower of Christ. Several decades ago, it was used for housing prisoners of war and during 1960s, the tower was reinstated and nightclub was added. You can get a superior view of the entire conurbation of Istanbul from the 360 ​​degree viewing gallery present in this place.

There are several other attractions as well to explore in the city and enjoy your trip along with your Istanbul Orient express travel.

Everybody has a game or series that they just don't quite quite "get", something they have difficulty deciphering just what the fuss is all about. For me one of those franchises is the PlayStation exclusive first person shooter Killzone and, it seems I'm not alone in that view. I've always admired its universe, packed with striking World War 2 similarities and the powerful representation of a corrupt evil dictatorship lording over a civilization populated entirely by series antagonists the terrifying Helghast adorned in their instantly recognizedisable orange eyed uniforms. Regardless of my passion for the world developers Guerrilla Games had built the heavy trudging gameplay and somewhat stiff shooting mechanics failed to keep me invested for anything more than passing encounters with the series.

With that in mind it's unusual that like many PlayStation Vita owners I find myself eagerly anticipating the latest series entry Killzone: Mercenary. For the first time players will be able to take a full Killzone first person shooter experience on the go complete with a full deep competitive online mode. Killzone isn't the first FPS to come to Vita, the Sony owned Resistance series and Activision's colossal Call of Duty were both previously been released onto the hardware back in 2012 to a tepid response from fans and critics alike; both developed by the same company – Nihilistic Software. Owners of the powerhouse portable are hoping that it's Guerrilla Cambridge's first go at Killzone that will prove to be Vita's FPS savior and buck the genres trend of disappointment on the portable. Sony seems confident in the game as PlayStation Plus subscribers were treated to an open beta of the online multiplayer earlier last week which I've spent some time with.

Allow me to start my impressions by saying how amazed I am that the 4v4 rounds run incredibly smoothly with little to no lag issues, through my time playing I've never seen a player disconnect once in play. The highest praise which I can impart upon Killzone Mercenary is how perfectly it emulates Killzone 3's gameplay; the engine has been ported to the Vita so sublimely it replicates the previous PS3 instalment to such a degree it's like playing a console quality game in the palm of your hand. Even with my qualms over previous entries gameplay I thoroughly enjoyed every round I played. Without a shadow of doubt if the beta is any indication Killzone could very easily be the FPS Vita has been waiting for.

Killzone Mercenary bears a stronger visual and gameplay resemblance to its predecessors than it does to upcoming PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadowfall. Locations accessible by players in the beta are awash with the series traditional war torn brown and gray palette. The controls are much tighter than expected considering the jump to a handheld; There is a slight adjustment period but players should acclimatise fairly quickly after which both aiming and movement feel responsive and precise. Mercenary controls undoubtedly and surprisingly better than any previous portable FPS thanks to the Vita's twin thumb sticks and happily feels as comfortable as playing on a home console like the PS3. Touch screen functionality is present but thankfully uninvasive – most touch inputs are also mapped to a button press allowing players to choose which they prefer. Only the intuitive knife kill inputs require swiping the touch screen, missing these touch QTE's allows enemies to counter or escape the attack adding extra level of skill to actions, whether this will simply become an annoyance however remains to be seen.

As previously stated all beta activity is restricted to one map named Shoreline that draws heavy inspiration from locales of Killzone past, it hasn't yet been announced how many maps will feature in the full retail release. Shoreline is well constructed with blend of sub terrain tunnels, open plan arenas and some strategic high ground for snipers – perfect for the 4v4 matches the multiplayer revolves around. Once the released the game will feature three competitive online modes: Mercenary Warfare, Guerrilla Warfare and Warzone – Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Objectives respectively. For the purpose of beta players are restricted to Warzone only. Within Warzone the two rival factions, ISA and Helghast, face off against one another attempting to fulfill alternatives objectives before their rivals in order to score points.

Warzone matches consist of five rounds featuring four different types of alternating objective. The round kicks off with the first of the five objectives named bounty. In bounty players must face off against each other like a traditional deathmatch, though unlike a traditional deathmach players must also collect the bounty card rivals drop upon their defeat, meaning that sniping won't do much good unless you can swoop in to collect the reward . In addition to collecting defeated foes bounty card if team mates are quick enough they jump to the rescue and save a deceased ally's card before the opposing forces claim the kill. The objective is quick paced and engaging, it sets up the rest of the match perfectly guiding players to work as a team to ensure the successful collection of cards.

Next up on the playlist is hacker, this objective type pops up in list twice as both the second and fourth rounds. In this mode VAN-guard capsules are dropped onto the map, within these capsules are special temporary power ups, players who hack them are randomly assigned a boon, which include but aren't limited to air-to-surface missiles, a personal stealth generator and an arc launcher that zaps foes in close proximity into submission. Claiming the booty within these capsules takes a good amount of teamwork as hacking one requires the hacker to take part in a mini game of matching symbols, whilst doing so they become vulnerable to fire becoming reliant on allies to cover them. The mini game is simple enough to be an intuitive twist on the usual opening animation and timer without becoming a nuisance; additionally rewards skilled players who will be able to claim the prizes with more ease.

Smack in the middle at round three is interrogation. The goal in interrogation is to sneak up on rivals and dispatch them using Mercenary's violent knife attacks. These strikes use the previously mentioned touch screen QTE's making killing a group of foes in quick succession impossible, instead they need to be isolated; picked off one at a time. The round makes for an exciting diversion from the wonderful gun play forcing combatants to switch up tactics to get the drop on foes. This is the lowest scoring round in the stack of challenges as in many games I played combatants continued to simply shoot each other rather than attempting to interrogate with knife kills making point scoring difficult.

After a fourth round consisting of another go at hacker players are treated to a more traditional closing round – body count. With body count the teams are pitted against each other within normal team death match rules, points are awarded to each side whenever a rival combatant is slain by an ally. The mode does not take much more describing than that and is a delightful way to close the mayhem. Since most players seem to play this way 90% of the time it's where the points are made up and losing teams can make miraculous come backs. Overall the Warzone mode is a good laugh and strong indicator of the strength of Killzones gameplay. The final round body count simply makes me excited to play a standard team deathmatch.

Like most online shooting titles every "positive" action awards players with experience, actions like: kills, head shots, picking up ammo and completing objectives etc. Experience in Killzone also doubles as credits, the in game currency used to buy new weapons, armor and items that help tailor your character to your preferred play style. When the game launches actions from the single player will also allow the collection of credits adding a cross mode value to the currency giving player a choice of how they earn. Online the credit approach is a friendly system that allows players to advance along the paths they desire rather than a pre-determined system that locks players out of upgrades depending on their level. Speaking of which.

Although players are assigned ranks and levels in a traditional sense Killzone also features an additional indicator of skill. Remember the bounty cards that need to be collected in the first round of the Warzone? Well these are tailored to represent players skill level combined with their play style. Each card is represented by a card from a traditional deck, players earn a rank from 2 to Ace depending on how much money they earned the previous day, the more credits earned the higher the representation. The suit is awarded depending on which weapons players scored the most kills with the previous day. Collecting the cards earns players awards and gives them incentive to kill as many types of players to collect their cards as possible. Additionally the card is a better indicator of current skill than a level.

In the end the small slice on offer in Killzone Mercenary's beta exudes hope for the title, the fact Sony allowed the game to go to open beta a few weeks before launch should be a strong indicator that they feel confident; with good reason. What's available to play is a well-polished tightly controlled engrossing multiplayer experience littered with a good variety of exciting game modes. The unique bounty card system feels right at home on a portable system where players may not get a chance to play every single day. I was a Killzone fan going to Mercury but it's slick fun gameplay won me over now I'm eagerly awaiting the release. Open Beta is now available for all Vita owners who want to check it out. Check back soon for a full review.

Hair straighteners have become an essential beauty item for many a female across the world in the last decade, but the concept of straightening irons is not a new one. In the 1960’s, women used to painstakingly iron their hair to get that poker straight look, and this trend continued well into the 1970’s before the 1980’s made big, curly hairstyles fashionable. However, the beauty of modern hair straighteners is that they can actually be used for almost any sort of hairstyle – from creating dead straight hair to giving your mop a vintage curl that will make heads turn.

Hair straighteners have been the saviour of many a curly-haired women desperate to maintain some control over the way her hair looks. However, just as many naturally straight-haired women are aching to enjoy the bouncy freedom of ringlets – and modern straightening iron technology lets you create curly or wavy hair just as well as straight hair.

To curl your hair with a hair straightener, section it back with ties and clips and start from the bottom layer of hair on one side of your head. Using a thin straightening iron (no wider than one inch), clamp it at the bottom of a small section and slowly curl it upwards. If this method doesn’t produce the desired effect, try a different tack: spray a small section of hair with flexible hairspray before placing the straightening iron about an inch away from your scalp. Then pull it down towards the end of your hair – the hairspray will make your hair curl up the same way you’d curl a ribbon with a pair of scissors.

You can also use hair straighteners to highlight those aspects of your facial features you want to be noticed more. For instance, if you’ve got distinct cheekbones, straightening your fringe or the top layer of your hair can make your cheekbones even more defined, emphasizing your eyes in the process. Moreover, straightening just the top layer of your hair can be especially beneficial to women with voluminous hair, especially those who fear that straightening irons will cause their hair to lose its bounce. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the feeling of having super sleek hair on top, while your naturally wavy locks will maintain the body of your hairstyle underneath.

If you’re lucky enough to carry off a boy-like short haircut – or if you’re just a boy! – you’ll be able to find a range of super-skinny hair straightening irons that will let you style even the shortest of cowlicks. Many salon professional straightening irons – such as Remington, Andrew Coligne or GHD hair straighteners – can be found in half-inch widths, enabling both men and women keen to exploit a trendy look to do so with ease.

But whatever hairstyle you choose to create for yourself with straightening irons, remember the golden rule of hair straightening: stay safe! Protecting your hair from the intense heat emitted by hair straighteners is essential to maintain the long-term healthiness of your hair. Invest in a good heat-protecting spray and ensure you buy hair straighteners with ceramic coated plates, as these protect your hair from direct contact with the heat.

I have been on the spiritual path since my birth and I have had the blessings of many divine souls and personalities – both living and non-living. Deeply influenced by Hindu gods and after a brief stint with atheism during my college days in the 1970s I discovered Jesus Christ as my personal savior. But soon thereafter I discovered Sri Aurobindo through his writings in the library of St. Catherine. Stephen's College, New Delhi. I also came in touch with the Divine Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry. I regard myself as an exponent of Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga believing in the maxim "All life is Yoga."

In my long journey of ups and downs in life, I also experienced the grace and blessings of Sai Baba of Shirdi. However, the turning point came in 2007 when a friend introduced me to the mantra "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" and asked me to chant it along with determinations about my goals. I did not ask him for the meaning of the mantra and just went on chanting it. Soon I experienced many benefits relating to finances, health and relationships.

My friend told me that Nam Myoho Renge Kyo was revealed by a Japanese Buddhist monk Nichiren Daishonin who lived in the 13th century. Nichiren intensively studied the Buddhist scriptures and came to the conclusion that the Lotus Sutra was the panacea for transforming the people suffering and leading them to the state of absolute happiness. He further affirmed that all human beings possessed the Buddha nature and could attain Buddhahood. Chanting of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, the title of the Lotus Sutra, alone will enable people to attain Buddhahood and have the strength and wisdom to challenge and overcome all challenges. Nichiren established that the practice of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo was capable of awakening our and others' happiness.

Whenever I was under stress or I faced adverse situations in life, I used to chant Myoho Renge Kyo till I saw breakthroughs.

The period between 2012 and 2015 was of intense struggle. I seriously started chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo in mid-2014 and I am happy to say that I became a member of the Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) – the Indian offshoot of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) in January 2015. several sects that are adherents of Nichiren Buddhism — the main being Nichiren Shoshu and the Soka Gakkai.

I have been regularly attending monthly discussion meetings which are held in the districts where members participate in several Gakkai activities, recite Gongyo and chant Daimoku (Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) and share experiences. Guests are welcome to attend these meetings. I regularly read the Goshos — the writings of Nichiren Daishonin. It is rather uncanny that the Goshos written centuries ago have relevance even now. Senior leaders in faith also recommend reading the words of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda available through his large number of books. We regard Mr. Ikeda, now in his eighties, as our Sensei and strive to forge a mentor-disciple relationship based on faith, practice and study. .

I have had several victories including expiation of financial, health and relationship karmas which I have shared in the meetings. What has appealed to me the most is on our human revolution and sharing our faith with others.

Nichiren's Buddhism is a vast subject and I will strive to share my knowledge in subsequent articles.

I was taking a group of people through my This Is The Life workbook when someone said, “It’s all very well to say that faith in Christ is the only requirement for salvation; but what about repentance? The Bible teaches that unless we repent we cannot be saved.”

I responded by asking: “But what is repentance?” The answer came, “It means we need to stop sinning and clean up those areas of our lives which are displeasing to God.” I said, “If we could do that we wouldn’t need a Saviour!”

I think it was Spurgeon who illustrated this by saying that this kind of ‘gospel’ is like saying to someone who is cold and shivering, “Get warm, then you can come and stand around my fire!”

Repentance means to change our mind

Contrary to popular belief the word ‘repent’ doesn’t mean to stop sinning. It is a translation of the Greek word metanoeo, meaning to perceive afterwards or change one’s mind. It is made up of two words: meta = to change; nous = the mind. The idea behind this word is to reconsider, or think differently.

Sin is going our own way instead of God’s way, and thinking it is the correct way. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one, to his own way” (Isa.53:6). So the gospel causes us to see that our way is wrong and to renounce it. It calls us to turn and choose God’s way instead. For some, the ‘way’ they need to repent of is a life of self-centered indulgence, for others it is atheism or some other false belief system, for others it is self-righteousness, i.e. the belief that we can save ourselves by trying to reform our behaviour.

But what is God’s way? It is to believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. There is no salvation outside of him.

The gospel is not a call to us to try to clean up our act so that God will accept us. In fact, it is not about anything we do but is an announcement of what God has already done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

There are approximately 150 verses in the New Testament which tell us that if we believe (verb) or have faith (noun) in Christ alone we will be saved, justified, have eternal life, etc. No other condition is attached. We cannot contribute to this work by our attempts at behavior modification. It is by Christ’s obedience that we made righteous, not ours (see Rom.5:19).

Salvation is not a joint venture. Jesus alone has fulfilled God’s righteousness. God has supplied for us what He demanded from us. There will be no high-fives in heaven! Rather, throughout eternity we will be magnifying His amazing grace, (Eph.1:6,12).

“But if you don’t preach repentance you will encourage Christians to sin?”

This sounds correct, but is it? First, let’s remember that to repent means to change our mind. Those who insist that Christians need to keep on repenting are really saying we need to keep changing our mind. Well, I say, “Make your mind up!” Is your way the right way or is Jesus the right way? Believe God’s record and stick with it! Don’t keep repenting, i.e. changing your mind.

Is repentance God’s answer to sin?

Of course, I understand the concern of those who believe that if we drop ‘repentance’ from our vocabulary, Christians will think that it’s OK to live in sin.

First, let me be very clear that any teaching that says sin is OK is false teaching. Sin is what Jesus died to save us from – not only its penalty but also its power. Grace is not a license to sin; it is the only thing that can empower us against sin, (Rom.5:20; 6:14; Titus 2:11-14). You will never beat sin by resolving to stop doing it (which is what a misinterpretation of the word ‘repent’ implies). Victory over sin is a divine work. It is Christ who began this good work in us who will also complete it.

God’s answer to sinful flesh is not self-righteous flesh. His answer to the flesh is the Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals to us our new creation identity as the righteousness of God in Christ. He says, “This is who you are; so now be who you are! Walk worthy of your calling.” Then He empowers us to put off the deeds which correspond with the old man we were in Adam and to put on the deeds which correspond with the new man we now are in Christ. That’s why the gospel involves a response to each member of the Trinity: repent towards God, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit.

Nothing is more annoying than the constant buzz of flies and mosquito’s on a summers evening when trying to relax in the warm sunshine. The constant irritation of unhygienic flies landing on bare skin, food, drinks or just skimming your face makes life unpleasant. The problem is compounded if like me you have a water feature in close proximity to the patio or decking area where sadly the splash of water is like a call to arms for all of the local squadrons of flying nasties.

In the past I have used chemical means to control pests with varying success but with the recent addition of a family pet and frequent visits from siblings with kids for safety reasons the chemical solutions have had to fall by the wayside and an alternative sought. Thankfully a saviour arrived in the smart but functional Flowtron BK-80D electronic bug killer. Being electronic I was concerned for small fingers and paws but mounted out of reach and sporting no noxious chemicals I am happy this is a pet and kid friendly solution.

Depending on the size of yard Flowtron offer several variants, ranging from the BK-15D offering coverage for up to 1/2 acre, through to the BK-80D that we are reviewing here. In theory the BK-80D will cover up to 1 ½ acres, but whilst my garden is nowhere near this large, the marginal extra outlay over the smaller models was a no brainer.

The unit itself is solidly made from a durable and weatherproof black polycarbonate meaning no maintenance or fading, and comes equipped with two ultraviolet bulbs to attract the bugs. The unit was easy to install especially with the use of the optional secure wall bracket which I placed far enough from the house to be discrete, yet near enough to be effective. I also used the bundled mosquito pheromone pad for added attraction.

So how does it work? Well, admittedly it has only been in place for a little over a month now, but in that time there has been a marked reduction in the number of flies and bugs either buzzing around, or found dead in the conservatory, almost to the point of being none. At “busy” times the fizzing of the flies on the electrified grid can be heard, but the noise is oddly satisfying and a sure sign it is working. Thankfully the ultraviolet light bulbs are not too bright so aren’t a nuisance at night – in all honesty I don’t really notice them now. Running costs are light, a few pennies a day if that, and the cost of replacement bulbs and pheromone pads appears reasonable although I haven’t yet had to purchase either.

In conclusion – a well made and definitely effective solution, safe for kids and pets so all in all a resounding success. If like me you don’t like flies or find them a problem this is a must have piece of kit.

JESUS is what love is all about. He cut through every boundary of stuffy selfish bureaucracy to establish an everlasting way to love on earth.

The King came in Jesus, and the Kingdom came in Jesus. The King came and so did the Kingdom in love.

Jesus was a love so great he healed at the risk of riling the ruling Jews going against their legalistic application of Sabbath. He overturned cultural norms and welcomed children, talked with women, touched lepers, and spent time with the despised. He chastised the ruling classes for their oppression of foreigners, widows, and orphans. He told stories that sent shockwaves through the culture by revealing to the culture how corrupt the culture had become. Ultimately, Jesus was a love so great that he ran with it headlong into crucifixion; the vitriolic pride of the powerful had been piqued. Love often gets the raw end of the deal in this world and in Jesus’ case love got him killed.

His was a love so great it resounded against his prevailing culture. He routinely put others first. He regularly said and did things that none of us would do.

His is the perfect standard of love.

But Jesus’ love – a love so great – compels us to greatly desire to love like he did. We fall short of it even in the doing it, but, as we greatly desire to love like he did, we resolve to continue to keep our love on. And God shows us what we can achieve is a comparative lot.

Love is visibly positive, patiently kind, not ever threatened and non-threatening, embodying faith and hope. It believes for the best and endures when tested.

Love is too high a standard for any human being to meet with consistency, but we strive for it because we love our Saviour.

God is so good! He is so faithful! No one who has ever put their trust in Him has been confounded (Romans 10:11). If you don’t already trust in the Jesus Christ as the Saviour and Lord of your life, there is no better time to do so than today. The days are evil, and the “god of this world” (Satan) is working overtime to deceive the world (including myself) that God does not exist, that there are several ways to God instead of just one, that we need to accept everything that everyone says, etc.

Jesus says in John 8:44 of the Bible that:

“There is no truth in [Satan]. When [Satan] speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Jesus also says:

“The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Satan is working overtime to steal, kill and destroy. This is a concept that we have to come to terms with, if we are ever going to experience the freedom that comes from knowing God, the creator of the universe. Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as the savior and Lord of our life, we have the resources of God at our fingertips. According to Romans 14:17, you will experience:

* Righteousness – being completely guilt free, knowing that you are in right relationship with God and He is smiling down on you from heaven.

* Peace – knowing that “all is well”. God’s got your back, and you no longer have any worries in the world.

* Joy – God is so good (Psalm 34:8) that you literally will have so much joy that you won’t be able to contain yourself as you meditate on His word (the Bible) and God’s continued faithfulness.

Trust me, I am not embellishing the above attributes you will experience if you will believe with all your heart in Jesus. In fact, I encourage you to look in the Bible at the countless testimonies of God’s wonderful goodness to people who have gone before us, and just know that everything in the Bible is still offered to everyone who will take on Jesus Christ as:

* Savior – from sin, the devil, worries, cares, sicknesses, financial distress, etc.

and

* Lord – we are called to no make Him “Lord” by no longer living for ourselves, but for Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:15)

Trust me, GOD IS FAITHFUL!

Now, I’d like to get back to what I initially started talking about at the beginning of this article:

God versus Satan.

Satan is at work, trying to deceive people into thinking that they’re being loving by accepting all of the various, opposing beliefs about who God is. If it is true that Jesus Christ died so that people could experience a relationship with God and abundance of life, do you think that Satan, God’s archenemy, might be doing everything he can to keep people from believing in this truth? A very fitting verse to explain this is found in 2 Corinthians:

“In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

It is true, Satan has blinded the minds of them that believe not so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should not shine unto them. If Satan has blinded my mind or yours, what is the remedy? It says he’s blinded the minds of them that believe not. So we just need to believe. If you make a commitment to believe in Jesus Christ, as I mentioned earlier, you will be set free (John 8:32, John 8:36)!

The Mystical Christ and the Anti-Christ

Christ may be interpreted mythically, historically, or mystically. In metaphysics we come to realize that there is a distinction between Jesus the man, and Christ the Saviour. From a mystical viewpoint Christ represents a certain occult principle within the microcosm. It is actually what is called the “Higher Self,” “Christ Consciousness,” or in psychology, the “superconsciousness.” Certain esoteric teachings know Christ to be the Spiritual Triad within man’s microcosmic being. Concisely, Christ is a part of the spirit within us. The full consciousness or attainment of the awareness of the superconscious mind is the “second-coming,” esoterically interpreted. Did not St. Paul declare that we had to develop the “mind” that was in Christ (Jesus)? And that scriptures say that Christ, the higher mind, knocks at the door of our consciousness and waits for its entry? Those who are unaware of this esoteric precept await for the physical appearance of Christ (the Master Jesus, or Lord Maitreya).

However, from a spiritual viewpoint, it is the Christ that awaits our appearance in the higher levels of consciousness where “he” functions. The spiritual attainment of Christhood is facilitated by certain forms of meditation, spiritual disciplines, service to humanity, and metaphysical study. It has naught to do with the unfoldment of psychic or paranormal powers. We mention this for we have seen how many people, especially those who profess to be paranormals deceive themselves into thinking that they are being spiritual and being of great assistance to humanity when in fact they are causing people to go astray with their many misleading “services” and “wares” that do not trigger the evolutionary impulse within the psyche of their patients or clients but simply prolong their state of mortality and spiritual ignorance. Their work offers only temporal relief, nothing more. Like orthodox allopathic medicine, they deal with symptoms but do not go to the heart of the matter. It is the case of the blind leading the blind. We have often been warned of false prophets in scriptures.

According to prophecies, before the advent of the second-coming of Christ, the Anti-Christ would first make his appearance. However, this too should not be taken at face value. That Christ is a spiritual principle to be found within man is also true of his adversary, however, in saying this we do not repudiate the possibility of any individual leader embodying the attributes and spirit of the Anti-Christ. We know that there are many fallen-angels that are presently on earth and are set on corrupting and destroying humanity.

In Islam, the Anti-Christ is referred to as Dajjal. He is the deceiver, the liar, the corrupter. Certain people believe that Dajjal is generally, some person that would shortly make his appearance in world affairs; others interpret the beings navigating UFOs as the cursed Dajjal. As Christ is to be found within man, so is Dajjal, the Anti-Christ to be found within. Dajjal is actually the human ego, or the false ego, the lower self, the beast whose number is 666. This mysterious number that has puzzled Christians for centuries actually has its roots in Kabbalism. In the Arabic alphabet, for instance, every letter has its numerical value. This is called the “Neptu Huruf Hijaiyah” by Islamic occultists in Indonesia. The Greek and Hebrew alphabets likewise have similar numbering systems whereby each letter also represents a value. Certain words in the Greek language meaning or referring to “ego,” have letters of which when added-up numerically, give the sum of 666. The beast, or the Anti-Christ, or Dajjal, therefore, is purely symbolic. It represents the human ego in its negative expression. We believe our readers understand the implication of this; hence, we will not dwell on this further, except to inquire: Are we expressing the qualities and nature of Dajjal or Christ in our everyday lives?

From the above illustration regarding the advent of Jesus, the Christ, we can see how important it is to keep an open-mind. It is probably wiser to expect the unexpected rather than to expect something that has no existence aside from being in our own fantasies and beliefs. Even our own interpretations, we admit, are controversial and are susceptible to discussion or debate. We may be wrong in details but not in essence–we know what we speakof.

There is nothing absolute in mortal experience. Even the holy ones may change their approach of assistance to humanity in the solving of karmic problems. Their ways are not wholly predictable, just as the ways of humanity may not totally conform to one’s prognostications. There is always the element of free choice that even any individual might not be absolutely certain as to the path he would take when faced with a certain situation where he has to make a decision.

The World-Teacher and Spiritual Directors

It is not known to most people that in the background of the external governments of the world lies a single spiritual government that directs the affairs of planetary evolution. In esoteric teachings, this is the Spiritual Hierarchy of Terra within God’s vast kingdom. We may be skeptical as to the existence of this spiritual government/hierarchy, its purpose, and even of the members composing it; nevertheless, many students of the occult have verified their existence through personal experience.

At the head of this Spiritual Hierarchy is the planetary deity, Sanat Kumara. Directly serving under this deity or King of this planet is the Planetary Buddha, presently held by Gautama; and under this officer, the Cosmic Christ. The latter is the director overseeing the three main departments in the Hierarchy: the “Department of Manu,” the “Department of the World-Teachers,” and the “Department of Civilization,” or the office of the Mahachohan. The three departments in turn direct the activities of the guardians of planetary evolution, the Seven Lords of the Rays. The present World-Teachers are Masters Jesus and Kuthumi. It should be understood that the above titles and offices are not always held by the same entities, and that these beings who hold those offices are often well-known historical saints, prophets, avatars, and saviours.

In association with the Spiritual Hierarchy is the Karmic Board, the members and directors of which are called “Lords of Karma.” The Karmic Lords regulate and dispense karma to every individual, group and nation on this planet. The Spiritual Hierarchy works in cooperation with the Lords of Karma in their many activities. It should be known that the purpose of the Spiritual Hierarchy and the Karmic Board is to assist humanity and all sentient beings to evolve to a higher state of being. What is relevant to our discussion here is that the Cosmic Christ who formerly held the office of World Teacher is the Great Being and Saviour that humanity is waiting for. All of the world’s religions have their source in the department of the World-Teacher, and that divine being who presently holds the post of Cosmic Christ. This entity is the Messiah, Imam Mahdi, Christ, Kalki Avatar, and the Buddha Maitreya expected by religious devotees all over the world. He is generally known as Lord Maitreya, however, this in turn is but a title. His real name is not generally known; some say he goes by the name of “Harjas.” Regarding his identity, Virochana Khalsa in his book, “Tantra of the Beloved,” believes the present holder of the title Lord Maitreya to be none other than the Great Deathless Avatar, Babaji, alias Nagaraj.

Babaji was born some time in the third century AD. As a physical-immortal, he is said to be alive to this very day. One of his gurus is the Rishi Agastya, also said to be deathless, or an immortal. According to history, this Great Seer once visited the Indonesian archipelago. This is the theme of Poerbatjaraka’s book “Agastya di Nusantara (“Agastya in the Indonesian Archipelago).” One of the former theosophical leaders here in Indonesia, R. S. Suyatno, already deceased, believed the real identity of Semar, the “dhanyang,” “Manu,” or guardian of Indonesia to be none other than Rishi Agastya.

Babaji was the one who sent Paramahansa Yogananda to the Occident, earlier this century, to spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga–a yogic science based on certain esoteric teachings to be found in the Bhagavad Gita. This yogic science accelerates soul-evolution by leaps and bounds.

We should mention here that this planet is host to many cosmic visitors of lofty spiritual development. Sathya Sai Baba who resides in India is just one of the many beings who have descended on earth to assist the evolution of humanity. He is one of the Cosmic Avatars and is considered as an incarnation of Vishnu, or even Shiva.

Then what about Ratu Adil and Satria Piningit? They too are members of the Spiritual Hierarchy and the Karmic Board as these appellations suggests. However, let us first deal with the Christ, Lord Maitreya. We should add before continuing that these beings may or may not possess physical bodies. Most of them work from spiritual levels. These beings are spiritually immortal, meaning basically that they possess a continuity of consciousness encompassing the lowest realms of life to the very Throne of God. Wherever they may be they maintain awareness of their identity, their function, and purpose without ever lapsing into the state of unconsciousness, even should they shift planes or dimensions. They work in many ways and in ancient times, these beings were called, “gods.”

Andrew Tomas in his book, “Shamballa: Oasis of Light” narrates of his journey to Tibet and his discussions with certain Lamas. In reply to one of his questions regarding world affairs, one of the senior Lama says: “Maitreya will show the way but it will be up to mankind to tread the road.” Tomas then inquired, “How about the advent of Maitreya?” The Lama solemnly replied: “In the last quarter of the twentieth century mankind must prepare for the coming of the Arhats (Saints), even Maitreya himself, at this crucial period of the world’s history.”

Physically, Maitreya is said to be of Western origin–or at least brought-up in the western culture. Statues depict him sitting as a westerner, in a western pose, with both feet on the floor, instead of the usual “lotus” asana assumed by the many buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Maitreya Buddha, the World Saviour, is associated with the “mythical” land of Shamballa. There are many legends known in Tibet, China, Russia, Ceylon, Burma and many other countries regarding Shamballa. To some Shamballa might represent a city, valley, palace, temple, monastery, or a state of consciousness. James Hilton modeled Shangri-La in his book, “Lost Horizon,” after the legend of Shamballa. Many great souls, warriors or knights of the spirit have their training in this mystical place.

According to the Ageless Wisdom Shamballa is the spiritual retreat of the Lord of the World, or the planetary deity, Sanat Kumara, known by Tibetans as Rigden Jyepo. Occult teachings refer to him as the “Youth of Sixteen Summers.” Shamballa was established 18 million years ago by Sanat Kumara when he came from Venus with other cosmic beings to take charge of earth’s spiritual unfoldment. Shamballa is said to lie over the Gobi desert in the etheric plane; others believe that Shamballa lies physically somewhere in the heart of the Himalayas. Doreal, a student of esotericism, says in his work, “Maitreya, Lord of the World” that Shamballa is believed to cover a vast area, and that it is divided into a Northern and a Southern portion:

“It is divided into two parts. In Southern Shamballa there dwell those beings called masters, adepts, or great Gurus. In Northern Shamballa there dwells the Avatar or new World-Teacher who is to come into the world and that there he has gathered together all of the warriors of Shamballa. That is, all those souls who in past incarnations, have evolved to the place where they are worthy to be the light bearers in the Age (the Aquarian Age) that is to come . . .”

The warriors and knights of Shamballa come armed not with physical swords or armaments, not with physical force; they come with spiritual power in order to conquer the dark forces of the world. Maitreya is said to lead them into Armageddon, the great “Jihad” or spiritual war, riding on his symbolic white steed. The following is a Tibetan prophecy made in 1915:

“It is predicted that the manifestation of Maitreya shall come after the wars. but the final war shall be for the cause of the true teachings (spirituality, in contradistinction to religious dogmas). But each one rising up against Shamballa shall be stricken in all his works. And the waves shall wash away his dwellings. And even a dog shall not answer to his call. Not clouds but lightning shall he see on the final night. And the fiery messenger shall rise up on pillars of Light. Each warrior of Shamballa shall be named the Invincible. The Lord Himself hastens, and his banner is already above the mountains.”

The Historical Christ and His Modern Appearance

Several centuries before the appearance of the Master Jesus and his associate, John, the Baptist–who was the prophet Elijah in a past incarnation–preparations were already underway for the coming of the Cosmic Christ. The Essenes, a mystical brotherhood existing on the western shore of the Dead Sea area during the time of the early Roman empire, was established for the purpose of preparing candidates that would be the earthly parents of the “vehicle” or child that the Christ would overshadow, or function through; and also to prepare the child himself for the vital part that he would play in forming a perfect instrument or channel that would be used by the Christ. The Essenes was a mystical branch of the Great White Brotherhood and they were well known as the “brothers in white,” indicating that they were perhaps, the forerunners of Islamic Sufism. The historians Pliney, Josephus, and Philo mentioned them in their writings, and the famed “Dead Sea Scrolls” have gained the contemporary public’s attention of their former existence. However, it is notable that this mystical sect was not mentioned in the New Testament, except for the various references regarding the men in white who appeared in Jesus’ tomb, and at the time of his Ascension. It is also quite odd that they are not mentioned in Rabbinical literature or in the Talmud.

Being the spiritual guardians and teachers of Jesus (not his original name), the Essenes had a strong influence upon the lad and during his ministry in later years, Jesus taught many of the precepts and tenets of the Essenes. One such teaching is that of angelology or perhaps what Islamic occultists here in Indonesia call “Ilmu Khodam.”

Through certain mystical means and signs that even the Magi recognized, the council of the Essenes chose a young virgin to be the Mother and an aged carpenter to be the Father. It is related in the gospels how the mother was informed of her coming pregnancy by Angel Gabriel. Some occult students believe this Gabriel to be one of the senior brothers of the Essenes, or at least the channel for the lofty being. Angel, from the Greek “angelos” simply means “messenger.” At this time, however, we will not discuss the problem of the “Immaculate Conception” that has so vexed scholars and laymen alike.

Jesus was born to be the vehicle of the Cosmic Christ, or Lord Maitreya, and to assist in the initiating of a spiritual awakening in the inception of the Age of Pisces. The Master Jesus and Lord Maitreya, or the entity that presently holds the title of Cosmic Christ are two different beings. The latter was and still is the Guru of the former.

When the Master Jesus commenced his ministry, Lord Maitreya often took over the body of Jesus to establish physical contact with humanity. This mode of operation was also chosen for the second-coming that would have occurred in the early decades of the 20th century, but somehow failed.

In the early years of the last century, the leaders of the Theosophical Society, Annie Besant, and C.W. Leadbeater were on the lookout for candidates among the young, who would be the vehicle for Lord Maitreya’s second-coming–just as Tibetan Lamas would search for their “tulkus,” or incarnations of Dalai Lamas and other spiritual dignitaries. They discovered one exceptional child of Indian origin: Krishnamurti. They eventually took him and his brother under their wing, educated them and trained the young Krishnamurti for the tasks that he would have to face ahead. Almost every night Leadbeater took him by means of astral travel to his personal Master, and to do certain work in the astral planes. Krishnamurti’s love for his Master and his teachings were immeasurable. It seemed that Krishnamurti’s spiritual preparation was progressing smoothly and only the day was waited in which Lord Maitreya would overshadow Krishnamurti’s body. Then an unfortunate incident occurred. Krishnamurti’s brother became gravely ill. Krishnamurti sought help from his Master and other members of the Spiritual Hierarchy but without a seeming response. His brother eventually passed away and this had a traumatic effect upon his youthful mind. He eventually rejected anything to do with Theosophy, the Masters, and their teachings. He even rejected his role as the vehicle of the Christ and dissolved the Order that was established for the purpose of presenting Lord Maitreya to the world. Although he eventually became a world-teacher in his own right, the holy ones were ever sadden by Krishnamurti’s attitude and actions. They said that Krishnamurti’s teachings presents a lofty goal to people, but at the same time he takes away the ladder through which the goal could be reached.

According to further communications from the Hierarchy, though, Krishnamurti’s refusal to play his part in Maitreya’s emergence had a positive effect. Lord Maitreya decided to appear personally on earth without overshadowing or operating through any single individual.

Ruth Montgomery once wrote an article in the Reader’s Digest, and in it she quotes a prediction made by Jeane Dixon concerning a world-saviour who was supposed to have been born on Feb 5, 1962. Dixon says that:

“Mankind will begin to feel the great force of this man about 1980, and his power will grow mightily until 1999, at which time there will be peace on earth to all men of goodwill.”

Judging by appearances, it seems that this prediction has not been fulfilled. And a 10-year span seems too short for peace to be established worldwide–knowing human-nature. No person is able to establish peace in the world single-handedly. It takes the collective effort and cooperation of humanity.

Perhaps we should consider the phrasing of this prediction for Dixon may have emphasized that peace will descend on earth only to “all men of goodwill.” If the latter is the case then the meaning is clear: that peace in one’s heart is only established when one has a goodwill-attitude. This indicates that there are many who are experiencing peace at this very moment–these are those with goodwill.

As can be reasoned, the Peace-bringer would focus more on the masses than those few who are already living in bliss–only the sick need healing. But could this person that Dixon predicted be the Lord Maitreya, the Imam Mahdi? People could do nothing but wait in lively anticipation in the ensuing years.

[Note: This paper contains images which may be seen as originally published at our website]

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore

His Holiness Shri Prabhu Ashrit Swamiji has combiled this book in Urdu in Nairobi in British East Africa in the year 1929-30. J.Krishna Choudry has translated this book into English.

Gayatri Rahasya means Secret of Gayatri. This is glorified as Mantra Rajam (King of Mantras) by ancient sages.

Anybody who recites Gayatri is being protected by the all powerful deity, Gayatri.

Mahatma Gandhi in his inaugural speech at the opening ceremony of the Tibbia College, Delhi, on the 23 rd February 1921, said that this therapy is altogether devoid of religious sentiment. The man who recites the Gayatri can not fall a prey to illness.

This book consists of thirty five chapters. The Psychic power of Gayatri, Gayatri, the saviour of the Fallen, Wonderful lights, Pure Wealth, The Soul of the Vedas, The Omnipotence of Gayatri, The Glory of Gayatri are some of the chapters in the book.

An interesting conversation between a Mahatama and a devotee explains the power of Gayatri. When the devotee wants some shortcut towards God realization, the Mahatama replies that reciting Gayatri will be the most suitable one for him. The recitation is a sovereign remedy for all the ills.

The Gayatri mantra consists of 24 syllables. The three feet of the Gayatri are made up of eight syllables each. 24 syllables are 24 divisions of knowledge.

The details are explained in a lucid style in the chapter Pranv-The Holy Monosyllable.

What is the Gayatri mantra?

Aum.

Bhur Bhuva Svaha

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi

Dhiyo yonah Prachodayat

The meaning of the mantra is as follows:

Om. We meditate on the adorable and ever pure effulgence of the resplendent Vivifier of the Universe. May THAT supreme Divine Being enlighten our Intellect.

This is a must for all the Gayatri worshippers and those who want to learn the secret of Gayatri Japa or recitation.