What is Presence?

Presence arises when your essential nature -Awareness, awakens to itself in this moment. Awareness is beyond space and time, beyond life and death. It is omnipresent- everywhere and nowhere, it is the formless dimension from which all things arise. When you are present, you let go of past and future. You surrender to the moment. There is no resistance to what is. Being present is not only about being aware of what is happening on the level of form, it is being aware of the very space in which all forms come and go.

Most people have had moments when they recognized Presence, even if they didn’t call it that. Have you ever had the experience of watching a sunset? The world became still and all thoughts disappeared as you sat in awe of the beauty unfolding before you. Or perhaps you have had the experience of running a race, skiing or riding your bike and suddenly you entered “The Zone” where you were one with everything, and your movements were effortless. Or when looking into the eyes of a newborn baby or your beloved, have you ever felt yourself melting into them until all sense of separation dissolved and you experienced Oneness?  In all these situations, Presence emerged as you became liberated from identification with the thinking mind and surrendered into the direct experience of The Now.

For most people, Presence is something that is rare and fleeting. Instead of living in the Now, they listen to the incessant barrage of thoughts of the “thinking mind.” It constantly creates a story- judging, evaluating, and labeling as it fixates on a remembered past or an imagined future. The cost of living in thoughts of past and future is missing out on of the only thing that is truly real- Life itself, the Present Moment. How can you awaken from this delusional dream of identification with mind and discover the clarity and peace of present-moment awareness?

True Meditation  

There are many forms of meditation that involve controlling the mind, trying to force it to be quiet. If you have ever tried to meditate, you may have experienced the mind resisting this agenda of control. Adyashanti, a self-realized master, observed during his 15 years of Zen meditation that he, too, was often at war with his mind. When he recognized the futility of battling with the mind, he developed a powerful new approach he calls “True Meditation.”

True Meditation is based on the understanding that Presence is your natural state. In essence, you are spacious Awareness. Awareness resists nothing and accepts everything-thoughts, emotions, sense perceptions, events, as they arise. True Meditation, honors this open receptivity. You learn to accept everything going on around you and within you exactly as it is in this moment. You do not reject anything that arises because the mind has a different idea about what meditation should look or feel like.  Nor do you utilize any technique to create some kind of preconceived meditative state. There is no manipulation necessary. By aligning with your essential nature through the unconditional acceptance of what is, spiritual wakefulness is arrived upon naturally.

Another aspect of True Meditation is meditative self-inquiry. Meditative self-inquiry is the introduction of a powerful spiritual question that resonates within you in such a way that it “points” to the Truth of who you are. It is not a question that serves to stimulate the mind, instead it draws the attention into a realm beyond thought, where the mind is bypassed and you, as Pure Consciousness, behold Ultimate Truth. A couple of powerful questions to begin with are, “What am I?” or “Who is the meditator?”

3 Steps to Inner Peace  

Presence is your true nature. Yet today, most people live lost in the mind’s story of a separate “me,” defined by past and future- both are unreal and exist only in the head. These 3 steps can be very helpful in shifting from identification with the mind into present-moment awareness.

First, notice when you are caught in a mind-stream of incessant thoughts, creating a story about past and future, and losing touch with what is real- the Present Moment.    

Second, remain open and allow a relaxed, unconditional acceptance of what is, both internally and externally, in each moment.  

Third, use self-inquiry to deepen the emerging Presence. Possible inquiries include, “What am I?”, “What never changes?”, “Who or what tells me I am not free?”

As you catch glimpses the your “True Self” during meditation sessions and recognize you are not being separate from the world “out there,” you will begin to notice this awareness spilling over into your life as a whole. You begin to realize that the world of form- physical forms, thought forms, energy forms, emotional forms, is ultimately an elaborate dream being dreamt by the eternal One Consciousness that you are. Suddenly, the world loses the scary, heavy quality it had when it was understood to be an absolute reality. You begin to live from a place of inner peace and tranquility.

As the vagina starts to lose elasticity, sex becomes less pleasurable for women. Not only does this occur, but women just feel less comfortable with their bodies in general. When the vagina is loose, a woman just doesn’t feel like a real woman anymore. A sense of her sexuality has been taken and it leaves her feeling like she is missing something. If you feel this way, then you need to make a change.

You want to know what it is going to take to make your vagina tight. You want to regain that part of your sexuality again and you want to have a much hotter sex life. You want sex to feel like it used to and you want to reap all of the benefits from it. More importantly, you want to feel pleasure and you want to have better orgasms. It’s time you did that tonight.

To make your vagina tight, you have to work those muscles deep within the vaginal walls. You can do this in a number of different ways but masturbation can help you the most. Pleasing yourself can actually help to tighten up those muscles. Women who orgasm frequently have very strong PC muscles, and they are able to receive pleasure in the best way possible. If you are looking to strengthen your muscles, then this may help you.

For a treatment that is a bit more discreet, performing an exercise known as Kegels can help you tremendously. This is a great way to work those PC muscles when you don’t have the time to please yourself. You can perform these exercises anywhere and at anytime. No one will ever know what you are doing, and you can keep working towards strengthening the muscles. With this exercise, you should start off slow and gradually work your way up to performing many sets and repetitions today. With time, you can rebuild and make a huge difference with your body.

With strong PC muscles, sex will feel a whole lot different. It will feel better and it will be far more enjoyable. You will love the way it feels and your spouse will feel the same way. Finally, the two of you can rekindle your sex life and get back on track to having much hotter sex.

You can make your sex life off the charts again and you can regain that missing piece of your sexuality. It’s time that you started working towards this goal today so you can get that much closer to having unreal, life shattering orgasms once again.

Spending time in Vegas gave me an opportunity, yet again, to experience the power of the almighty dollar.

But it’s not the gambling I’m referring to. Although the din of the slots, cries of anguish at the craps games and cool stares from packed blackjack tables are something to behold.

No, it’s the Vegas thirst for electrical power that gets me thinking. Massive voltage travels from the grid into the various mini cities on the Strip — like the new Palazzo resort hotel, which with the Venetian has about 8,000 rooms. That energy flows into the MGM Grand, Caesar’s Palace, the Flamingo and all the rest. Just the air conditioning bill would crush a third-world country. Toss in the rest of the operations, high-definition billboards and lighting that can be seen from the space shuttle, and it’s enough to keep Nevada Power Co. one of the most stable and profitable investments of all time.

But imagine this: What if Vegas went big for alternative energy and energy efficiency? It’s a risk, sure. But where else can you bet on a Wizard of Oz slot, get beer delivered and take a leak just 10 paces away? Vegas thrives on risk.

And while energy efficiency retrofits have proved their value, renewables still have a way to go. For instance, Forbes’ Devon Swezey predicts a clean tech crash. “The reason is simple,” Swezey writes. “Clean energy is still much more expensive and less reliable than coal or gas.”

And the economy bites, subsidies are dying and public sector budgets look like a two-egg breakfast left overnight outside in the hall at the Paris. So what?

That’s really not what’s driving the industry right now. For instance, go outside on the Strip in Vegas and breathe the air. Accompanying the constant stale stench of fried food, ambiance of public urination, sweat and other gross stuff is a good dose of pollution. That isn’t fresh air. And it isn’t just Vegas.

The truth is the air is nasty in most big cities. Sure, beautiful Fresno has some of the worst. I was introduced to asthma here. Nothing like it, especially on a long run. Might as well get punched in the face. There’s a cost to that. Coal and gas may be cheap per kilowatt, but that energy becomes very costly just multiplied by 100 million people trouping into pharmacies for treatment of allergy-related ailments.

And then there’s the whole carbon debate. Fox News may try to sidestep the issue, but it’s pretty clear we’ve got a serious problem.

“Here is the truth: The Earth is round; Saddam Hussein did not attack us on 9/11; Elvis is dead; Obama was born in the United States; and the climate crisis is real. It is time to act,” says Al Gore in a piece for Rolling Stone.

I tend to believe it. And I’m not the only one.

Tom Daykin of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal writes about Fritz Kreiss and Catherine McQueen, whose 19-room Green Leaf Inn in rural Delavan, Wisc. uses a wind turbine, geothermal energy and solar power to produce a nonexistent carbon footprint.

And tax and audit company KPMG LLP has announced it leveraged a 22 percent carbon reduction in overall operations over three years. That’s KPMG, hardly a tree-hugging hippy, and its pursuing a plan to improve the environmental performance of its business.

I collected a relatively long list, but I’ll keep this rant somewhat short.

So where else but Vegas would clean energy be better showcased? A silly town in the desert nobody thought would be successful. Heck, if that were the case, it really would’ve dried up during this “recession.” But no, the World Series of Poker was a huge success this year, and people flocked despite unreal dinner prices.

So dress that next casino hotel resort with solar panels, tap some geothermal and go LED crazy. Yeah, in Vegas baby.

Humorous Interpretation performers have a list of go-to characters, complete with stance and voice. There is The Matriarch, Sassy Teen, Emo Kid, The Jock, English Gentleman/woman, Geek, Old Man, and so on. For those one-liner characters, or the ones who are strictly there for outrageous comedic relief, a stock character might make an appearance for a quick laugh. It’s a cheap laugh, but one that usually works nonetheless. These stock characters, or stereotypes (yes, these are stereotypes as they are based on a generalization of a group), are familiar. And there is comfort in the familiar. Audiences know that character. People can instantly relate, see the joke, and thus make it easier for a performer to turn a character with minimal exposure into a laugh.

Though, in this politically correct world stock characters can become frowned upon rather quickly if pushed too far. There is risk in having a gay character be flamboyant and very Jack from Will & Grace. To avoid turning a laugh into a grimace there are a few general stock character rules:

1. Don’t overstock. A Humorous Interpretation with nothing but stereotypes is dull. Audiences know these characters; they see them every day on television and in movies. Not only does this over stereotype use bore your audience, it also displays how unoriginal you are with interpretation. In an event entitled Humorous Interpretation it might be wise to prominently market your interpretation skills by, perhaps, actually doing some?

2. Know the limits. A stock character can swiftly transform into a harsh stereotype if the joke is taken too far. Exaggeration works in comedy and is one of the prominent features, but using a stereotype’s gesture/vocalization to an extreme is non-funny. How California-bubbly of a voice are you going to add to that Cheerleader who flips her hair WAY to much and spells out words? Seriously. It is like watching a guy tell a joke he thinks is HILARIOUS, and laugh wildly about it in an annoying way, when it really is not. Just stop. The joke is dead.

3. SUBSTANCE!!! A stock character for a minor role is okay and can be a riot if done tactfully. A lead role as a blatant stereotype, unless the script deems so, might not work. Comedy is funny because of the crazy shenanigans characters get into and the over-the-top performances. HOWEVER, there needs to be some reflection of reality, otherwise there is no merit to your work. Comedy is meant to teach life lessons in an embellished manner. How can audiences connect and learn from a Humorous Interpretation when the characters are so distant and unreal?

4. Familiarity. Stock characters/stereotypes are images and voices and caricatures the audience has seen before. Ergo, your Humorous Interpretation can easily become boring if the character has no real flair. To properly use a stock character you need to give all your energy and sell it. Try adding different quirks as stated/interpreted from the script as well to add some originality. HI performers must be creative and energetic to win the audience.

Creating categories and labeling groups is unavoidable. Stock characters have been in existence since the Ancient Greeks created theatre (who can forget Theophrastus’ character of The Unpleasant Man?). Back then, easily recognizable characters–through dress, mask, and stance–were necessary so the audience knew the persona and could learn the moral to the Drama without complication. Thousands of years later and humans still need to generalize and create an image of a group. People relate to the generalization yet can distance themselves just enough to give comfort that they are “not that person.” This fine balance is what helps allow for some connection and catharsis to ensue. Break the bubble of comfort and people find the generalization tasteless. Knowing that, stereotypes/stock characters can become mean and mindless when lacking heart and if pushed beyond boundaries. Always be mindful of the stock character you use and ask “is this too far?”

“Self-confidence is a super power. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening.”

One must remember this quote whenever they find themselves in a situation that feels tougher than ever. The only person who can ever get you out of it is you and your belief in yourself.

Confidence is important in today’s world more than ever because the competition is on an all-time high and the only person who is going to stand by you and get you through it is you.

However, what are some habits that keep you from being the best version of yourself? We all read enough about how to build confidence and how to motivate others. But, what are some traits that keep you from achieving your best potential?

Let’s find out.

1. Constant comparison with others: Nobody’s journey is the same as yours and not everyone has the same personal or professional goals like you. Your only real parameter of growth is how far have you come at a personal level.

   As long as you strive to be a better and more aware version of yourself every day, you are on the right track.

2. Taking failure to heart: If success was to come easy, it wouldn’t feel like a victory. If everything was to be served on a platter, you wouldn’t enjoy it, not every minute would feel like something you should cherish.

   Failures are important and they tell you that your life is yet to bring you the best of experiences and achievements. You can wake up every day wanting more opportunities to learn and challenges to face. Learn from your failures and do better.

3. Surrounding yourself with superficial people: Keeping your circle small is okay. It’s okay to keep to yourself and not have someone to go for Saturday night parties with. It’s okay to not have every colleague invite you to all sorts of galas because not everyone in each room will want the best for you.

   Instead of surrounding yourself with people who will fill you up with negative vibrations and a sense of self-doubt, surround yourself with people who do not wish to compete with you or demotivate you. These are the people who will be cheering for you from the front row seat, showing off your every move and telling you how proud they are of you.

4. Pitying yourself: Self-pity is one of the worst things you can put yourself through. Yes, people have it better and yes, some people have it worse. But your journey is different and no, bad things do not happen only to you.

   Create your reality and learn to believe in yourself. Make the best of every opportunity and if it doesn’t work out, do not live the rest of your life doubting your every move. Instead, figure out what you could’ve done better and experiment more. Nothing lasts forever so you mustn’t continue feeling like the hardships will never end for you.

5. Constantly overthinking: Stop convincing yourself that your work is subpar and stop creating unreal scenarios in your head. You will not get fired for printing the wrong sheet or highlighting the word wrong. Even if you have messed up on a larger scale, a good mentor will always tell you it’s alright and tell you what you could have done better.

   What’s the worst that’ll happen? You’ll get fired. It’s a tough world but it’s also one with booming opportunities. You might not end up doing what you love immediately but with the right mindset and ambition, everything is achievable. That is all you need to convince your mind of. Everything else can be dealt with.

So now, put on that suit you bought and remind yourself that you are ready to take over the world. Quit the practices that make you feel less confident and take away the belief that you need to have in yourself. Communication Skills

Uganda…the Pearl of Africa

Uganda…the Heart of Africa

These are two of the many names given to this small and incredible country in the middle of Africa that we are now going to explore with the words of Ivan D’Ambrosio.

Uganda is a country unbelievably green, unspoiled, friendly and magic.

Uganda contains half of Africa’s bird species, thousand of butterflies’ varieties with a multitude of colour and shape. There are lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, chimpanzees and the most marvellous of all animals: the Mountain Gorilla.

Everywhere one looks there is a panoramic scene: Rwenzori mountains, are not called by chance ”the mountains of the moon” for their beauty is truly ethereal , Murchison Falls, is a true natural wonder, Bujagali, where the Nile starts its 6 months journey to the Mediterranean sea.

Uganda is covered by amazing lakes; lake Bunyonyi, an enchanted place out of time, where traditional canoes are the only transport and secluded islands have boundless nature and small rural communities.

The cultural diversity here is impressive. Over 30 ethnic groups with 30 languages are commonly spoken all with there own culture and traditions.

A journey in Uganda is an emotional exploration into the heart of Africa, a magical experience, where everything from the smallest animal to each person is entwined together, part of the rhythm of Nature with her cycles, her harmony and balance.

Imagine now that you are the explorer of this adventure.

Your flight has just landed. After a long queue at the custom desk, your guide is waiting for you.

In the dust and chaos of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Most of the roads, even in the town centre, are un-surfaced. People are at every corner, either selling something or just standing there, appearing to do nothing understandably logical. But after only 10 kilometres from Kampala, here it is: Africa’s kingdom.

The vegetation is gorgeous, everything is almost unreal. There are hundreds of small markets on the road, mini local communities, banana plantations, birds….

The variety of landscape in Uganda is impressive. In just a few kilometres, you can move from savannah, mountain forest to rain forest.

And it is exactly in this rain forest, that Semuliki National Park unfolds an incredible display of vegetation and where very unexpected hot springs are found with their unique colours forming a display in the mist of boiling water.

Uganda is the land of the rivers, lakes and waterfalls, as 30% of its landmass is covered by fresh water

Among the many lakes, lake Mutanda provides the most stunning views of water, mountains and nature. Lake Buyonyi gives the chance for an exploration in a traditional canoe to meet the locals who will dance and show happily their simple daily life. Lake Bunyonui is also the centre for a project of production of Artemesia, a natural remedy to cure malaria, which remains the major cause of death in Africa. Lake Bisina is a remote and unknown lake, covered in algae and water lilies, a truly magical place. Lake Albert will offer the chance to see the rare and fascinating shoebill, a bird that only exists here. Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, with over 80 islands forming the complex of the Ssese Islands, which offers a way to relax on a white sandy beach away from the noise of crowded tourist places.

Lake Victoria, is also the place of the source of the Nile, Bujagali falls and the world famous and most exciting water rafting experience anyone can have. It does not matter if it is your first time or your hundredth. One big wave down the grade 5 rapids (the highest you can do!) and you will be off the boat, a bigger wave and the boat will be up-side-down. There is no escape!

On a boat to the source of the Nile people can mentally review the steps of the explorers of the past.

“Doctor Livingstone, I presume?”

“Yes”, said he, with a kind smile, lifting his cap slightly.

This is the very same conversation which took place in 1871 between Dr. Livingstone and Henry Stanley, two of the great explorers of East Africa during the second half of the 19th century.

The source of Nile is also the place for quad bike tours inside remote local villages to meet the locals and of course thousands of children that will greet your passage with a constant sound of “Jambo muzumgu” (Hello white person, in Swahili).

The modern activities of rafting and quad bike, mix perfectly with the oldest traditions. A local traditional doctor will tell about the origin of the universe and the causes of disease and show his rituals and sacred places. Mere superstition?

Traditional African Medicine is not just pure magic and certainly is not dying. About two thirds of the African population commonly use these remedies and they are now at the centre of international attention to recognise their therapeutic effect

Traditional African Medicine is at the very base of our roots and it is a vibrant mixture of real medical knowledge, great understanding of the human nature, and thousands of years of culture with its complex spirituality.

Among the many populations, the predominant are Bantu speaking groups, who are also the most modernised. But your attention will go to more traditional groups, like the Karamajong and the Batwa Forest people.

Towards the North-East you will encounter the Karamajong, they are a group of Nilotic origin whom are directly connected to the Masai of Kenya and Tanzania. They are among the few people in Africa who still use traditional clothes, still build their houses and villages as they were doing probably 5 century ago, they still retain the real African spirit with a very strong tribal identification. Entering one of their villages, which is extremely poor but full of pride and spending time with these people gives a profound sense of respect for their culture and heritage.

Moving west, towards the borders with Congo and Rwanda, you will encounter the Batwa Forest People, they are part of the ethnic group commonly called pygmies, but this is not a name they like. They like to be called just forest people. Into the forest they will show you a little of their incredible culture, probably the oldest culture in our world still in existence, possibly 10,000 years old. This way of life is quickly disappearing from progressive deforestation mismanaged conservation projects and politics, where the Batwa are not part of.

Other populations and other activities. In the Toro kingdom, one of the 4 kingdoms of the republic of Uganda, it is possible to meet representatives of the royal family and discover how they make perfumes and tools for the kings. At the same time you will meet the simple people who will show you how they make pans out of used parts of bicycles, how they brew local banana beer and how they perform their traditional dances.

Everywhere you can watch people performing their daily activities: the farmer and his cows with huge horns; people making bricks from simple soil; people at night who capture grasshoppers, that will be fried and sold; people cutting trees with tools that you cannot believe; people extracting oil from palm seeds, the old lady making marvellous terracotta pots with nothing but soil and her hands; the family who invites you for dinner… everything is a unique experience forgotten by us, the Muzungu, hundred years ago.

The Present and past in Uganda are all mixed together. Close to the very tiny Kumi town, an old guide will show you Nyero Rock Paintings. Old, mysterious paintings that clearly resemble European Neolithic forms of art. You cannot avoid thinking how modern and old still coexist here, with your guide, wearing old trousers, showing you the ancient paintings, and with his mobile phone in his pocket. There is no contrast or contradiction, all looks normal.

In the land of the fresh water, water falls contribute to the grandeur of nature in Uganda

.

Sipi falls are a series of three falls one above the other, in the middle of a thick mountain forest, densely inhabited by friendly local communities. It is impossible not to stop and stare at the rainbows forming regularly with the sunshine at the bottom of the falls.

Murchison Fall shows the magnificence and power of water. The beauty and strength of this unstoppable mass of water makes people hold their breath and contemplate. And the majestic sound of the water falling, will give you a sense of inner silence

Murchison Falls National Park is also the land where typical African animals can be seen in there natural environment . Buffaloes, elephants, giraffes roam all around this vast park. Many species of antelopes, smaller animals too shy to pose for a picture, hyenas, warthogs… It is an explosion of life. Plants, trees and animals, all there, all in perfect balance with Nature.

Even the terrible crocodiles here, at the meeting point of the Victoria and Albert Nile, seem in complete harmony with the stunning green and lively rivers and the complex ecosystem made up of hippos, birds of any kind, antelope and elephants.

There are no rhinos left in Uganda, one of the many consequences of the Amin’s dictatorships that ended at the beginning of the 80.

The times of Amin are one of the very unfortunate chapters of African recent history. Uganda, only now is recovering from the profound destruction caused in those years.

Clearly, the damage caused by Amin is not the only problem Uganda faces today: in certain areas, towards the border with Sudan, there are still situations of atrocity and violence, like the child-soldiers and the attacks of rebels at times even against humanitarian missions.

But the biggest problem of Uganda today, is not war or poverty, but corruption that does not allow the nation to progress and makes it increasingly dependent on international support.

Anyway, there are signals of hope that, if not too soon, at least sometime in the future, will help this country to shine. Among the many small and large initiatives, the Rhino Fund is reintroducing both black and white rhinos in Uganda. Paying a visit to the centre will allow you to understand more about the African ecosystem… and seeing the rhinos only a few metres from you in an open environment is a really exciting encounter.

Going towards South-West, Kibale National Park is the home of one of the highest concentration of primates in the world. The main attraction for a tourist is certainly trekking into the forest in search for chimpanzees. After a few hours of walking you will be 10 metres away from them. They will be cleaning each other relaxing, looking curiously, while you do not stop taking shots with your digital camera, What are they really thinking as you pretend to hide behind a tree and taking pictures at them?

Queen Elizabeth is another famous national park, known worldwide to be one of the only two areas inhabited by tree climbing lions.

It is a very strange and emotional sight. Lions are literally on the tree, above the car. One jump and they probably would get you. But nature is made of respect and rhythms. Lions climb trees when it is too hot, to have a chance to rest and refresh and when they already had their food. In nature predators do not kill if there is no a reason. A lion would not kill its pray, if he was not in need of food. A great lesson that humans have clearly forgotten.

And after watching all the other African animals, there is still one animal to encounter. Many people from all over the world come to Uganda only for this reason. It is the single most emotional, extraordinary, almost mystical experience in Africa: the Mountain Gorillas. It is impossible to describe it in words. You are left without speech at being in the presence of the gorillas and you will wonder more than once who is more human between us and them. Mountain Gorillas are a critically endangered species because of mankind. You will learn to appreciate their fragile eco-system and their way of life. Looking in their eyes, so incredibly human, of a humanity that we often lose in our daily lives. You will sit in the ground for a second, thinking who is really in the right place in this world, you or them?

And still thinking about the gorillas, to end a journey in the heart of Africa, deep in contact with the power of nature, you will climb Nyirangongo, an active volcano named in local language “the mother of the bad spirits” because with its regular eruptions, destroyed in the past and will destroy again and again in the future. One more reminder for mankind: we can destroy our environment, but at the end of all, nature will have the final word.

Climbing up to the summit is an exhausting experience, but when you have reached the summit there will be no memory about tiredness, cold and thirst. All your attention will be captured, to admire this primordial display of power: the boiling fires beneath you, these incredible columns of smoke, red lava and destruction.

Your journey in Uganda is over. The smiles of people who own nothing but their happiness, the look of a gorilla so perfectly part of his nature, the power and destruction of falling waters and boiling fires will have taught you a final lesson. Passing time, progress, wealth and the stress… this is our life, but, what can their meaning be here in this land in the heart of Africa?

Uganda, land of eyes – Rita De Santis

Eyes of children

who wait

for a sustainable future

without hunger

or guns

Eyes of children

who demand

the right

to exist

without begging

for rubbish.

Eyes of women

who wait

for their pregnancy knowing,

wrapped in the colour

of their cloths

bright, almost holy.

Eyes of men

alert

who are afraid

who even smile

at times.

Eyes of animals

who listen

to the rustling

of the ambush.

Eyes of gorillas

that retain

the conservation

of a species,

and a distant

sadness

of violated

lands.

Eyes of the green

eyes of the water

in Uganda

the world

is an ocean of eyes

It is our responsibility

not to take away

from those eyes

the dream

of a better world.

Acknowledgements

ZedAway ([http://zedaway.com;] info@zedaway.com) the tour operator that offers tours in the nature and culture of Africa

Nalubale Rafting

Inns of Uganda

Kin Initiative

Ngamba Island

Wild Frontiers

Rhino Fund

All Terrain Adventures

Hornbill Camp

Semuliki Lodge

Ndali Lodge

Chimps camp semuliki

Forest People Programme and Chris Kidd

Donna Spencer

But the biggest thanks goes to the local communities who taught us something of their thousand-years old cultures, who danced and sang for us and who sometimes made us smile for their behaviour so relaxed and distant from our daily life always under stress.

And the final and most sincere thanks goes to all the mountain gorillas, species on the edge of extinction because of mankind, whose look, so incredibly human, of a humanity that we men often have lost, let us think who we are and what we are doing on this planet.

Jiva: is the Sat-Cit-Anada-principle qualified (seemingly possess the qualities of the conditioning) as the microcosmic conditioning; by the individual gross, subtle and causal bodies and thus Sat-Cit-Anada-principle seemingly appears to possess the limitations.

Atman: is the substratum of Jiva. Atman, also ‘Self’ is unaffected by the conditioning. Atman can also be described as Sat-Cit-Anada principle from the perspective of Jiva.

Isvara: is the Sat-Cit-Anada-principle qualified as unlimited macrocosmic conditioning by the cosmic gross, subtle and causal bodies.

Brahman: is the substratum of the macrocosmic conditioning of Isvara. Brahman can also be described as Sat-Cit-Anada principle from the perspective of Isvara.

The differences between Jiva and Isvara

• Jiva has limited knowledge vs. Isvara has boundless knowledge

• Jiva is limited by time & space vs. Isvara is all-pervading & eternal

• Jiva strives for Liberation vs. Isvara free of bondage and therefore no need to strive for Liberation

• Isvara is the entire controller of cosmos and Jiva

• Isvara presents and controls maya vs. Jiva is deluded by maya and is ignorant of its own nature

• Isvara dispenses fruits of Jiva’s actions and Isvara is detached from his actions because of self-knowledge, which is his nature. Vs. Jiva, being ignorant of Self-knowledge is conditioned by the gross, subtle and causal bodies and assumed he is the doer and also the sense of enjoyer ship, causing bondage.

• Alpa-sakthiman of limited power vs. Sarva shaktiman -all powerful

• Jiva is Lorded over vs. Isvara is Lord

• Jiva is deluded by maya vs. Isvara is the wielder of Maya and remains unaffected

• Jiva experience both bondage & liberation vs. Isvara is devoid of bondage & liberation

Is the difference between Jiva and Isvara illusory?

The Jiva and Isvara are one and the same. They appear to be different due to the microcosmic conditioning of the Sat-cit-ananda by the individual gross, subtle and causal bodies which is Jiva and the macrocosmic conditioning of the Sat-cit-ananda by the cosmic gross, subtle and causal bodies.

Vedas present a variety of examples to emphasize the importance of the concept of ONE appearing as many. First is the wave in the ocean. Even though each wave appears to be different, they cannot exist without the water in the ocean. The cause ‘water’ alone is nithya- Real and the form of water is mithya -unreal.

Another example is of gold as the basis for different types of jewelry like bangles, bracelets, chain, anklets etc. None of these would exist without the base metal, gold.

Electricity is another example often used, though not perceivable powers all equipment. Without that power, which is the cause, none of the electrical equipment would function, may it be a fan, light bulb, oven, toaster or a refrigerator.

Another popular one is the clay and pots. The pot, mug, plate, jug which are all different when the form is seen but they’re all the same when we see the basic item with which they all are made of, which is clay. Similarly, all forms and names in this universe appear different (whether it is an ant, elephant, a human or a plant!) but the substratum is the same which the Isvara (Existence, Consciousness, bliss).

Clay is the cause for all those items; so also Existence is alone is the cause of all forms in this universe. Existence alone IS. Everything else is the manifestation from that source.

Clay and water, the cause can have independent existence; exist by themselves. The effects are merely the forms and names, categorized as amithya, unreal and illusory.

So also, the entire cosmos, which appears in various forms & shapes, due to micro and macrocosmic conditioning is but illusory and is the manifestation of the ONE supreme existence, which is Sat-Cit-Ananda principle. When we falsify these conditioning, one will understand that there is no distinct difference between Jiva and Isvara, what remains is the Sat-Cit-Ananda principle (Existence) alone.

Therefore it is the One that appears as many is nothing but maya, illusion.

Do you want to know how to make a woman orgasm? Men concentrate a lot on their sex techniques and sexual positions, but they forget that women do not reach an orgasm in the same way as men. To give a woman the greatest orgasm of all time, you need to tease her and leave her quivering with desire. A lot of women will fake an orgasm to end sex because men often imitate moves from pornography and make love like a chaotic jackhammer. Here are some sex tips on how to really make a woman orgasm.

For starters, add foreplay! Foreplay is about teasing the girl. The physical sensations of a woman’s body double when you keep teasing her by making her wait a little bit. Instead of jumping into sex, work on sensually touching her. A good sex tip is to kiss or touch everything BUT her key erogenous zones. For example, slide your fingers along her inner thighs, kiss around her breasts, blow hot air on her nipples, or kiss her neck but not her lips. This creates a sexual frenzy of anticipation that will have her quivering with desire. Doing this makes her wet and prepares her to be able to orgasm. In fact, you can make some women orgasm by doing this alone. To be sure, you do want to occasionally give her some direct pleasure. For example, after kissing up her inner thighs and around her breasts, you may decide to start fingering her a little. This rewards her so that, the next time you create anticipation, her pleasure becomes twice as strong. Try to keep her on her toes by teasing her and giving her what she wants.

Once you’ve started sex, you can tease her with your penis. A lot of men just ram it in quickly and forget that they have other options such as entering her slowly and deeply. This insight is especially helpful since it can be tiring to give women rough sex. So if you need a break or want to have her beg you for more sex, try to get her lubricated by withholding your penis a little bit. Instead, rub your penis against the lip of her clitoris for a little bit without inserting it. Another sex tip to have her quivering with desire is to slide your penis slightly in, move it around to get her wet, and then make her wait ten seconds before entering. You can even go so far as counting out loud to make her feel it more! When you finally enter fully, it will feel like the greatest sex of all time to her because you have built up her excitement level so high.

Finally, during sex, switch between behaving aggressively and sensually. Women like affection, but they may also enjoy hard sex. Because of this, it can help to mix in elements of both. Many men just do one or the other and become monotonous. There are a lot of ways to combine them. To begin with, alternate between dominant and sensual positions. For instance, you can pull her hair while entering her hard from behind, and then you can switch to a slower pace, look into her eyes, and trace your fingers along the curves of her body. Sometimes switching speeds in the same position can create the same effect. If you get tired of hard sex, just letting your penis rest deep inside her can feel immensely pleasurable to her. Another sex technique that will have her begging for sex is to add dominant and sensual elements together. For example, while you are banging her doggy style, you can whisper how amazing it feels to be inside her or how sexy she is to you. Likewise, talking dirty to her while you are doing foreplay spikes up her anticipation so that she loves sex with you even more.

Follow these sex tips. You will not only give her several more orgasms, but you will be her greatest sex partner of all time!

Annavaram is the shrine to Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy. Now the popularity and importance of the temple is second to Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh. Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy is considered to be very powerful in fulfilling the wishes of the devotees and Lord Satyanarayana Swamy’s Vratam (worship) is done by the newlywed couples, during House Warming and during many other ceremonies.

This is a wish-fulfillment temple: “Anna” means whatever you say or you desire and “Varam” means boon, hence whatever you desire will be given as boon by the Deity. So, Annavaram is a place where one´s desire or wished gets fulfilled. There is another theory as per the puranas, the presiding Deity of this place blesses the devotees with Ananya Varam (Countless Boon), that´s why the place is called Annavaram.

Two testimonials related to the legend of Annavaram:

A born-crippled man of 30 years from West Bengal was taken to the Aanavaram temple and he visited the temple for 11 days. He returned to Burdwan after a couple of weeks sans any sign of being handicapped.

A brain-tumor patient didn’t have to undergo the critical surgery after his visit to the temple.

The skeptics may call the above-mentioned episodes as fake or unreal, but remember, FAKE and FAITH are same. What you Fake today may become your Faith tomorrow!!

Coming back to Annavaram temple, it’s the second most important temple after Tirupati. One thing must be considered. It’s not for nothing, a place of worship assumes such fame and recognition. There must be something to buttress the point.

Collingwood wrote in his book, ‘ The Faith of the faithfuls’: ‘Any place cannot become religiously and divinely important. Even if it becomes, its popularity may wane if the devotees don’t get mental and spiritual solace from that particular spot.’

Applying this observation of Collingwood, one must say Annavaram has been able to sustain its religious and spiritual myth for a sustained period of time to be considered second to Tirupathi in widespread fame.

Following are interesting tit-bits associated with the temple, devotees need to check Annavaram Temple timings before visiting the temple:

There are several other attractions within the temple premises like:

On the North Side of the Compound of the Temple, a Sun Dial was constructed in 1943 in the month of July showing the Indian Standard time within the easy Calculation by everybody. It is similar to the JantarMantar found in Delhi. The Sundial is one the attractive architecture of South India which was calculated and constructed by Brahma Sri Pidaparthi Krishna Murthy Sastry, Rajahmundry, during the time of Sri Raja Inuganti Venkata Raja Gopal Rama Surya Prakasa Rayanam Bahadhur; one of the Founders (Second Dynasty).

A Mandapam has also been constructed to provide space to conduct one thousand Satyanarayana Vratams at a time.

There is a Veda Pathshala attached to the temple where free boarding and lodging is provided to the Brahmin students admitted there. Religious discussions are arranged during Kalyanam days and other important festival days at this place.

Sanskrit is a must for those studying at Veda Pathshala. In fact, the only conversational language among the students is Sanskrit based on Panini’s Ashtadhyayi and Siddhantkaumudi, two standard grammar books to learn Sanskrit.

Significance of the temple: ‘Vrishkam annam neti abhavam’ (One visit to the temple will enable you to have the eternal blessings of getting food and sustenance. Anna also means food and ‘one will never have the scarcity of food’)

Dakshinamurthy stotram, a famous ode, is full of gems of Advaitic principles. Each verse is a glittering gem.

I was very fascinated by this stotram the very first time I heard the commentary on this stotram about three years ago. The tenth shloka is the climax. It is the phala shruti – talks of the benefits of chanting this stotram which is simply incredible!

Bhajagovindam is another popular stotram that Sri Adi Shankaracharya wrote. Through the Bhajagovindam stotram, Sri Adi Shankaracharya exhorted us to go beyond the glamour of this world and get over our worldly attachments as this world is not permanent and everything here is constantly changing and that in itself is the basis for calling it unreal.  To do this, he is advocating “atma vicharana”, reflecting on the atman. It is this sadhana of atma vicharana, a spiritual exercise on the reflection on the soul, that is expounded in Dakshinamurthy stotram. It is the Stotra Raja, the King of  Stotras.

The first three shlokas talk about this world being an illusion.

The fourth through sixth shlokas talk about the jiva, the embodied being and Ishwara, the supreme Lord, being same.

Seventh shloka talks about the atman, the soul being nityam, eternal. The world that is anatman, that is not the soul, is anityam, impermanent and ephemeral.

Eighth shloka talks about how this atman got associated with the anatman which is the real cause of this disease of attachment and delusion.

Ninth shloka gives the remedy for this disease.

Tenth shloka is the phala shruti – talks about the results you get from chanting this stotram. It gives the experience of self-realization and the sarvaatma bhavam, realizing the presence of the atman, one’s Self, everywhere. This is attained through bhumikas, in stages.

The process involved in this atma vicharana is

1. Shravanam – listening to the scriptures

2. Mananam – Reflecting on that which is heard.

3. Nididhyasanam – Reflecting more and getting rid of any doubts and getting established in the understanding of what is heard.

4. Atma saakshaatkaaram – experiencing the truth of what was heard through Self-realization.

Sri Shankaracharya’s works are divided into three categories according to the three types of listeners:

1. The prasthana trayam, consisting of the commentaries on the triple cannon of our scriptures – Brahma Sutras, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita – is most suitable for the uttamadhikaris, the most competent, who are the best type of listeners. They grasp the concepts at the very first hearing.

2. Prakarana bhashyas or commentaries such as Upadesha Sahasri for madhyamaadhikaris who are of average competence.. The madhyamaadhikaaris need to reflect a few times more than the uttamaadhikaaris to grasp the concept.

3. Stotras for the mandhaadhikaaris, the dull witted, who need to hear the teachings repeatedly, over and over and reflect on it many times to understand it.

His stotras range from ekashloki – meaning one shloka or verse – to sahasra shloki, a hundred shlokas. Dakshinamurthy shloka is also called dasha shloki, a stotram of ten verses. It is the crown jewel of all stotras. It has the potency of 10,000 homeopathy pills. All the principles of Advaita that he discussed in his commentaries are included in this stotra. Sureshwaracharya, his close and dear disciple wrote a commentary on his commentary which is called “kartika”. He also wrote a book called “Manasollaasam”, which means that which pleases the heart, based on this Dakshina murthy stotram. This tells you how important this stotram is.

Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s purpose in writing this stotram is to bring out the experience of sarvaatma bhavam, seeing everywhere, everything as the atman .

Vishwam darpana drsyamaana nagari tulyam nijaantargatam

Pashyannatmani maayayaa bahirivodbhutam yatha nidrayayaa

Yah saakshaat kurute prabodha samaye svaatmaaneva adwayam

Tasmai Sri Guru murtaye nama idam Sri Dakshina murthaye

The meaning of the above verse is that the world is reflected in the mirror of the Self like a whole town is reflected in a mirror. On taking a glance into the Self, the world is really found within. It appears outside just as a whole world appears in your dream by the power of maya shakti, a magical power . However on awakening from the dream, it is found that the Self alone remains – one without a second. Similarly on self realization, it is found that this world is but an illusion and the Self alone is real. Salutations to you, that Guru who is also this Sri Dakshina murthy!

The last line is the refrain “Tasmai Sri Guru murtaye nama idam Sri Dakshina murthaye”.

Who is this Dakshinamurthi? People usually say Dakshinamurthy is another form of Lord Shiva. It is okay to say that, if you simply want to view it from the dvaitic point of view, but when you consider it from the advaitic point of view, you have to understand it from the ardhanairshwara tattva point of view.

Shiva is really consciousness. Consciousness divided itself into the dakshina bhaga, the right part and the vama bhaga, the left part.

In spiritual analysis things are understood in two ways.

1. Vaachyaartham – literal meaning of the sentence.

2. Laakshaanikaartham – the indicative meaning.

So in this case vaachyaartham or literal meaning is dakshina or right. The indicative meaning is that the right side is capable or competent, independent” and therefore, it is male form. It is also of the nature of knowledge. That is the true nature of atman. It is self made and self-evident.

Consciousness divided itself into the vama bhaga, left side. Vamatiti vaama means that which is pushed out. This is how the Tantrics define this word.

That creative power which flows out of knowledge is kriya shakti and is called vaama. This creation resulting from the flow of this creative power is called vibhuti. This vibhuti is not swatah siddham, self established but is present within knowledge which is the true nature of consciousness or Shiva. So when we talk of this innate knowledge we are also including its creative power. That is why it is sufficient to simply say Dakshinamurti stotram. What is important to remember here is that the right half is knowledge and his left half is kriya shakti, power of creation. This is the indicative or laakshaanaardhika meaning for Dakshina murthy.

We said atman is consciousness. The one who understands this atma jnanam, knlowledge of the Self and also experiences it in his own life is equal to a Guru. And so, that Dakshina murthy is also a Guru. And the disciple who does shravanam, mananam and nididhyasanam also reaches the stature of the Guru. So here that embodiment of Guru is also the disciple as indicated by the word “tasmai” in tasmai Sri Guru murtaye. In terms of their chaitanya rupam, their consciousness, the disciple, Guru and Ishwara are all one and the same essence or tattva and this is what is meant by sarvatma bhavam, the feeling of oneness. Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s intention is for us to appreciate and experience this sarvatma bhavam which is the phala shruti, the fruit of chanting this stotra.

The shloka starts with the word, Vishwam. What is this vishwam, Universe? It is this world consisting of the moving and unmoving beings, animate and inanimate beings and consists of the whole universe including the various galaxies, black holes and this external world of things which is of vastu rupam- in the form of a thing, as well as the internal world of thoughts and feelings which is of bhava rupam – in the form of feeling.

Question arises as to why Adi Shankaracharya is talking about this universe when we have come to talk about moksha or liberation.

There are only three things that concern man philosophically speaking: Jagat, Jiva and Ishwara which are explained below.

1. This external world that we see daily is the Jagat.

2. Ishwara the supreme Lord is one of whom we think of as existing beyond and above this external world.

3. And Jiva or beings like ourselves who seem to be struggling between these two material and immaterial existence, Jagat and Ishwara.

We can only explore into the unknown through the known and it is this world that we see concretely that is the known. So we take up the subject of this world first.

When we are solving a problem of the unknown we have to take the known factor into the equation and for that we are taking the world into consideration here. What is this world is the question.

In this verse, he is saying that this vishwam, Universe is like the image of a town in a mirror. “Pashyannatmani” – when you look into the mirror of your atman, nijantargatam – it is really hidden there. Bahihi iva udbhutam, it appears outside, maayayaa – by the power of maya, yathaa nidrayaa- just like the world appears in the dream.

So here we have the example of an image in the mirror which we need to understand and the second example is the dream state.

Bimbam is the image outside the mirror that is reflected in the mirror.

Pratibimbam is the reflection of that image.

A mirror can reflect all the objects that come into its range but the objects that exist out of this range can exist and not be reflected in the mirror but not so with the mirror of the atman. If it is not reflected then it does not exist because it cannot by itself say it exists. It is only prameyam – atman is the pramanam, proof. Atman is jnanam – everything else is jneyam that which is perceived by atman – without pramanam there is no jneyam. So ultimately both jnanam and jneyam are one and the same. To know that, is ‘jnana gamyam’, the goal of knowledge.

Bahirivodbhutam – In the dream the world appears as if from somewhere. Where did it appear from? It appeared from within your own mind. This prapancham, world,  is antargata, hidden, in the atman, the Self. The image we see out in the world is reflected in the mirror of the atman. In this case we are saying that the image of the outside world, bimbam that is reflected in the atman is not real but the reflected image in the atman, pratibimbam is real. If the image of the world outside is not real then where is it? We are saying that the actual world, the bimbam is antargatam in the atman. It is hidden inside the atman. So both the bimbam, image and the pratibimbam, the reflected image is in the atman and the world we see outside is only apparent and is an illusion. Therefore, both the real and unreal images are antargatam in the atman.

What is antargatam is in vasana rupam as an unmanifest impression. This esoteric meaning is further elaborated taking the example of sleep and the dream state. In the dream state we witness a whole panaromic view of a city, experience both joy and sorrow, etc. and when we wake up it is all gone and then we realize that all that we saw in the dream was unreal and we alone remain and that is what is meant by swaatmaaneva adwayam. Atman alone is and the dream world never was but was only apparent for that short period of time. The waking state is similar but only a longer dream. When we awaken to this dawn of knowledge, we realize that atman alone is and there is no other – adwayam, no two. The whole world of the universe including the moon, stars, city and various things we see in the backdrop of the inner sky, is seen in the ‘mirror’ of our atman. On awakening the witness alone remains.

In conclusion, this stotra begins with the word ‘vishwam’ meaning the world. In Vishnu Sahasranama also the stotra starts with the word Vishwam. The import being that we should look at this vishwam as Vishnu and not Vishnu as Vishwam.

When you analyze this stotram beginning with the word Vishwam, and reflect on it, you should be able to have a glimpse into that vishwa rupam which is nirakara, formless and infinite, that Arjuna had in Chapter 11 of the Bh. Gita. What is this Vishwa rupam? It is his manifestation of the Universe that is his own body. It is his karyam, work and he is the ‘karana’, cause. So this vishwam is his karya karanam, cause and effect. He is the karya as well as the karanam and yet beyond it and not subject to cause and effect.

That is what is stated in the Lalita Sahasranama in the 862nd mantra:

Kaarya kaarana nirmuktaayai namaha!

In order to have this vishwa rupa darshanam, we need the jnana chakshu, the inner eye of understanding, right attitude, humility and thirst to see it. I am not saying, “God give me that vishwa rupa darshanam.” Just empty your heart so that he can come and sit in your heart lotus and grant you that jnana chakshu.

We are so used to seeing God in a limited form of an idol and never think of Him in His infinite form. We are busy worshipping Him in a limited form of an idol and distracted by the ritualistic actions that we do so mechanically that we do not give attention to anything else.

When Arjuna saw Lord Krishna in his Vishwa rupam, Universal form in his mind, he started trembling. Why? Although he was overjoyed, he was also scared by His infinity and the mystery of it all. And that mystery will always exist. So all we can do is develop an attitude of devotion and surrender ourselves to the greater power. As we keep dwelling on that Vishwarupam we should experience this joy continuously as stated in Lalita Sahasranama (365th mantra),

“Swaatmaananda lavibhuta Brahmadyaananda santatihi”.

Only a fraction of the bliss of Devi’s atman, the Supreme Consciousness, is experienced by Brahma and others successively.

It is only aparokshaanubhuti, personal experience that will give us the ability to appreciate the Brahmaatmaikya bhavam, oneness of the atman and Brahman; drishti of sarvaatma bhaavam,  the view that atman is everywhere in everyone and everything.

Yathaa bhaavas tathaa bhavati! As you think so shall you become!

When we expand our awareness of our limited consciousness that identifies only with our body, to include the whole universe, we become Brahman – Supreme Divine Consciousness!

Hari Om Tat Sat!

Jill Bolte Taylor describes her experience of Nirvana in this video, which correlates very well with the right and left half of the consciousness described in this article: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/22