Ajay0

Excellent point. Lets not forget that Socrates was persecuted and poisoned to death by a democratic government on the ludicrous charges that he was corrupting the youth with his ideas emphasizing logic and critical thinking. The quality of a democratic government depends on the quality of the populace and its leaders characterized by high levels of education and proper judgement. If knowledge and judgement is lacking, a dictatorship having the same will triumph over a democracy lacking the same. Noam Chomsky had also stated the dangers of plutocratic entities acting clandestinely behind the scenes and manipulating government policies to suit their interests even if it goes against public interests. The elected politicians have to serve the capitalists servilely as it is their money that bankrolled their expensive election campaigns.

An enlightened person cannot do evil things. As his vasanas or psychological karmic impressions are extinguished by spiritual exercises, there are no strong desires in the form of cravings and aversions. All crimes such as rape, murder, robbery can be linked to vices like lust, hatred, greed, which are all but strong desires in the form of cravings and aversions at the core. In Hinduism they are known as raag-dvesh. Since the psychological impressions that lead to strong desires, cravings/aversions are totally eliminated, there is no psychological tendency to commit vices or crimes. In fact, the company of the enlightened can greatly reduce such psychological tendencies in a vicious person such as a serial killer. The serial killer Angulimala was reformed in the company of the Buddha. Yes, higher states of consciousness also results in virtuous conduct and behavior, and vice versa. There is an insightful saying by Swami Satchidananda of Integral Yoga in this regard... Rajini Menon is a modern female enlightened sage who attained enlightenment solely by adhering to virtuous conduct and following her conscience. I had created a thread on her here...

New research paper claims unless demand for resources is reduced, many other innovations are just a sticking plaster. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/13/human-behavioural-crisis-at-root-of-climate-breakdown-say-scientists https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00368504231201372

Yes, Xenoglossy as in being suddenly able to speak, write or understand a foreign language that they could not have acquired by natural means is a sign of past life memories from past lives in other countries or regions. Such incidents have been mentioned in the Bible and similar Christian accounts in the Middle Ages, often described as 'miracles' due to lack of coherent explanations for the same.

Interview with Dr. Brian Weiss by Wisdom Magazine... https://wisdom-magazine.com/Article.aspx/478/

Thanks for the input. I think you mean to say long fasts are not compatible with Type 2 diabetics. There are medical articles that states that intermittent fasting may reverse type 2 diabetes. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/type-2-diabetes-intermittent-fasting-could-reverse-the-condition https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2022/intermittent-fasting-may-reverse-type-2-diabetes

Being in a constant state of awareness is what is known as enlightenment or Buddhahood or Nirvikalpa Samadhi in yogic parlance. If you are in agreement with this, then there are such enlightened masters, even in the west. Gangaji, Amoda Ma Jeevan, Leonard Jacobson, Adyashanti, Robert Adams, Jac O' Keeffe, Dr. Frederick Lenz, Dr. Jean Klein, Francis Lucille, Gary Webers, Franklin Merrell-Wolff , Eckhart Tolle and so on are a few that comes to mind.

It is said that high prana levels automatically translate to feeling good about oneself, good health as well as being naturally mindful effortlessly. Prana is natural life-energy which is known as chi in chinese and ki in japanese. If I am feeling bad, that would mean my prana levels are low. So I would try to raise them by meditation, exposing myself to mild morning sunlight (solar prana), walking barefoot (soil prana) , being in open high wind areas (wind prana) , taking bath in natural ponds and lakes and sea (water prana), sitting under old trees and receiving their prana. There are many ways to gain prana, and these are some of them. These can increase prana levels and uplift the mood. The beach is said to be a source of high prana levels, so going to the beach is a good way to feel good in short span of time.

Biden is his own worst enemy for getting re-elected. I think he should set aside for a younger but matured and reasonable candidate with a good background in problem solving and administrative skills.

ISRO successfully deploys magnetometer boom on board Aditya-L1 spacecraft. https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-aditya-l1-mission-launch-date-update-isro-successfully-deploys-magnetometer-boom-on-board-aditya-l1-spacecraft-chandrayaan-3-273660

The African Union is working on initiating peace measures in conflict-ridden Sudan. https://theconversation.com/the-african-union-is-working-on-peace-in-sudan-expert-explains-why-its-in-everyones-interests-221044

Article on Nigar Shaji, the Indian lady who was the Mission Director who lead the complex scientific mission of putting India’s first solar observatory Aditya-L1 at Langrang point L1 https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2024/01/06/who-is-nigar-shaji-the-woman-behind-aditya-l-1-mission.html

Both the US and Europe are also exposing themselves to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Europe had seen a stream of endless wars, especially the two world wars which originated in Europe in the last century, and it appears that sheer momentum of the past is forcing it to more bloodshed and deaths compulsively. The US as a nation is just two centuries old, but is already on the verge of annihilation due to their dysfunctional leadership. It is sad that the Russians found a hawkish, immature leader in Putin, instead of progressive statesmen leaders like Peter the Great or Gorbachev. Russian culture and civilization is among the best in Europe, and has a lot to offer the world. Hopefully, sanity and wisdom will prevail and peace is restored through diplomacy and constructive dialogue .

As per Forbes, India along with China was the richest nations on earth in the sixteenth century. The Indian ocean is the only ocean named after a living nation and ancient civilization due to the heavy commerical traffic that took place there for world nations seeking to trade with India. Both the America's were discovered by sailors desperately seeking a new trade route with India. Unfortunately under exploitative western colonialism in the last two centuries which wrecked its domestic economy and rural industries, and promotion of foreign goods at expense of local ones, India has descended from being the world's richest nation to one of the poorest on earth. After independence , it has lifted off again slowly and steadily and is the fastest growing economy in the world at the moment, minting billionaires and millionaires each day, and has replaced the UK as the fifth largest economy in the world. It is now forecast to becoming the biggest economy a few decades from now at its present growth rate, replacing the U.S. as well. https://time.com/6297539/how-india-economy-will-surpass-us/ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/india-largest-economy-2052/articleshow/105576942.cms https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/india-to-overtake-us-worlds-second-largest-economy-goldman-sachs-report-2404721-2023-07-11 So , 'comparative poverty', that you have perceived in India is man-made, artificially induced and showcases the dangers of exploitative colonialism and unethical capitalist framework which focusses on profits at all costs.

India is an ancient civilization which cannot be compared to western civilizations which are of recent origin, except for the Greek. With engineering marvels such as the Kumbalgarh fort which has the second longest wall in the world after the Great wall of china, the ancient Ajanta caves with elaborate paintings and sculptures and monasteries carved from rock, entire temples with intricate architecture carved out of mountains such as the Ellora Kailasa Temple, the world's largest sundial Jantar Mantar in Jaipur built in sixteenth century, the Mundeshwari temple built in 625 CE which is 608 feet tall, the Iron Pillar in Delhi which has not rusted for milleniums, the Agrasen ki baoli which is a 14th-century stepwell created to combat drought, Chand Baori Stepwell built in the tenth century AD which is still one of the deepest stepwells in the world, the huge granite temples of southern India bult in the tenth century AD, the large and circular Bairat Temple build in third century BCE, the rock-cut Barabar caves with elaborate interiors in third century BCE , the elaborate sewage and drainage systems of Mohenjodaro five thousand years old are examples of India's ancient and medieval engineering marvels. You can find similar ancient engineering structures only in Egypt, Aztec temples in Mexico and Mayan temples in Mesoamerica, China , Greece, Rome-Italy, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan . The ancient epics of Ramayana and Mahabharatha also dwells on huge palaces and forts built during those times. It was because of such engineering skills, India was able to develop and maintain its ancient civilization and population to the present day.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has been appointed by the African Union to head mediation talks between Somalia and Ethiopia to prevent the outbreak of conflict. https://www.africanews.com/2024/01/19/nigerian-ex-president-sent-to-mediate-ethiopia-somalia-tensions/

Insightful article by the Brahmakumaris on developing one's intuition. https://www.brahmakumaris.com/soul-sustenance/practice-listening-to-your-intuition/

You might find this article on perfectionism by enlightened sage Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, useful in developing a proper perspective. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/drop-feverishness-perfection-keep-enthusiasm-ravi-shankar

Going through some of Anthony's sayings from his books, I found some which were in sync with the above incident... https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/231944.Lawrence_Anthony?page=1

I recently came across an interesting story of a South African conservationist named Lawrence Anthony. He was known for his conservatory work amongst elephants. It is said that just after Lawrence's death in his house, a group of elephants marched their way to his house for 12 hours, and hung around for two days before making their way to the bush. https://protectallwildlifeblog.com/2021/08/01/when-the-elephants-came-to-mourn-the-elephant-whisperer/ Imho, I think , considering this case study, animals are somehow capable of intuiting the state of close friends and responding accordingly.

Mexico had bested the Americans when it came to showing tangible proof of alien life on earth. It is possible that there were American ufologists who had similar proofs but were derailed from showcasing their findings by deep state entities. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/mummified-alien-bodies-presented-again-in-mexico-with-new-evidences/articleshow/105094109.cms?from=mdr Hopefully, the Mexican presentations will now propel other such presentations around the world, even if the American government and scientists in the payroll or control of the deep state will keep claiming them to be hoaxes.

I have seen some videos of Mosab Hassan Yousef, also known as the 'green prince' and a son of the founding leaders of Hamas. He is anti-hamas for its terrorist stand and inclined to liberalism, rationalism and democracy in the middle east. His explanation and analysis of the crisis in the Middle East is incisively logical and crystal clear . He appears to be a well-educated and intelligent man who had utilised the learning resources available to him in his travels around the world, which enabled him to think outside the box and figure out the bigger picture. Similalry other Palestinian youngsters should similarly educate themselves, think critically and be self-aware, so that they will not end as unconscious puppets of the dysfunctional and regressive Hamas leadership.

The Indian Catholic bishops’ media institute in New Delhi, India, has celebrated “Rakshabandhan” (bond of protection), the festival of siblings with a group of Brahma Kumaris. https://mattersindia.com/2023/08/church-media-institute-celebrates-festival-of-siblings-with-brahma-kumaris/ Rakshabandhan is a popular Hindu rite or ceremony where sisters of all ages tie a talisman or amulet called the rakhi around the wrists of their brothers. The rakhi is also tied by women and girls to boys and men who are not blood relatives, cutting across lines of class and religion, accepting them as brothers and to foster social harmony and cohesion. The above event is an example wherein the ceremonies and festivals in a religion can be used to initiate inter-faith harmony and brotherhood, mutual understanding and social well-being.

Elephants forcibly trained to paint to attract tourists is not artistic excellence or creativity, imho. It does showcase their cerebral abilities, but I am not sure they are enjoying the process.

Insightful article by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on asanas and the mental stability it brings... https://www.artofliving.org/nl-en/yoga/patanjali-yogasutra/knowledge-sheet-84 This advice have helped me a lot, and upon experiencing mental agitation or confusion due to proliferation of mental stimuli or thoughts-emotions, I used to sit down in the lotus position or padmasana, and found my mind becoming more stable and calmer effortlessly and pretty quick. This helped me to calm the mind, bring mental clarity and sort out any issues at hand better. I also find sitting in padmasana more useful for meditation and contemplaton than sitting in a chair or sofa. Other techniques that help in this regard are observation of the breath and trataka.