text:
Yoga Vashisht or Heaven Found, by Rishi Singh Gherwal, [1930], at sacred-texts.com
QUEEN CHUNDALAI, THE GREAT YOGIN
"O may thou rest thyself in Thy all peaceful Atma * like the King Sikhithwaya who controlled the restless bird called Mind," said Rishi Vashisht to Ram.
Whereupon Ram asked him this, "Tell me, O Guru, who was the King Sikhithwaya, possessor of the peaceful Bliss? Let me learn that Jnana (Wisdom), which is the basis of everything, that it, may arise in me to its .fullest power."
The Rishi Vashisht replied: "King Sikhithwaya was born in the Dwapara Yuga **. Over his people he ruled wisely and well. His justice had no bond by-ways. He had but one purpose—to do good and perform the works of virtue. Master over body and mind, his great joy lay in the happiness of his Subjects.
"Chundalai, his Queenly Consort, born through Tapas (Meditation), to the Queen of
the Sourashtra country was like a peacock in beauty. Her beauty glowed like a jewel in the perfect setting of her sterling virtue.
"This King and Queen lived together in perfect happiness, fulfilling their duties without the slightest difference of opinion. Their youth passed delightfully, united in body and mind, and their days flowed away like water from a broken jar, and middle age hovered over them like clouds on a rainy day. They had tasted the passion fruit of worldly things. In their youth they loved this and desired that, but now materiality fell from them like an worn-out garment: The only desire left was to obtain Adhyatmic-Jnana (wisdom of the self), for this wisdom is the only certain ending of the disease of rebirth.
"Realizing there is no escape from the disease of rebirth, except through Atma-Jnan (self-wisdom), they started toward the attainment of
this goal with minds fixed in true meditation. About them were gathered the Wise and Learned of their time. In this environment of Harmony and Peace, they collected a store of Wisdom, and led a truly spiritual life.
"Queen Chundalai, she of true discernment, having heard and understood well the real significance of the Sastra (Wisdom) taught by the Wise, for the attainment of the Higher spirituality, said to herself—since there exists Atma as I fully realize, why do we use the term "I"? From whence comes this illusion to the mind; to what is it due; how does it arise? The body is not the "I", as the body is visible to us, and is changeable and incomplete in itself. Nor can it designate the organs functioning in the body, nor its moving force Prana. Further, it does not describe the mind which owes its activity to thought. The term Jiva cannot be applied to the "I", as the Jiva is the individual soul. I have learned through this enquiry that Atma-jnana (Wisdom of the self) will never be attained through the senses, but through the Eternal Jnana (Wisdom). I know my Jiva exists through Atmic reality. This Atmic Wisdom become known only by knowing oneself, not through
another. This self-wisdom or self light shines everywhere.
"By divine realization the Queen enjoyed the consciousness of the reality of the Atma self, and discharged her daily duties without desire for their fruits. Longing ceased, and the inclination of her mind toward the pairs of opposites, love and hate, cold and heat. She became the receptacle of Bliss as a result of the control of her mind. Then with the daily Yoga practices, the Queen developed Atmic reality, that true realization, which is a certainty beyond explanation. Only he knows it, who has realized the reality. The beautiful Queen shone with a radiant Spiritual Light.
"The King noted the refulgence of his wife's beauty with great pleasure. He asked his Queen, 'O Beloved One, you are now radiant with such great beauty, it is as if your youth had come back again, or as if you had sipped a divine nectar by which you have attained Eternal Divine beauty. You seem so happy, your mind so blessed with divine peace, that you are perfect in body and mind. Tell me, my Queen, of the wonderous purity which so dazzles me.'
"Queen Chundalai replied: 'Having abandoned and risen above this world which is form but formless, real but without reality, I attained the Mighty One, who is the reality beyond the older age or death. Hence, the radiance in my body, which is but the reflection of the refulgent peace within. I have realized That God which is the essential nature of all; being the atom of atoms; the whole, without creation or destruction. That is why my body is radiant. I have no joy in the object of the senses, yet do I partake of the Bliss and happiness of beauty. Love and hate have both gone from me, and every hour I glory in the attainment of physical beauty and contentment, but the objects my eyes and mind behold awake no response in me, either of joy or sorrow. I have attained the super-consciousness, which is the cause of my Bliss and beauty.'
"Hearing the explanation from his wife, the King without understanding or trying to understand her words, said: 'O Beloved, thou hast given utterance to words which are not befitting thee. Hast thou lost thy mental balance? How is it that thou, living in palaces and in
the luxuries of wealth, should attain the realization of Atma when the greatest of men have cut themselves off from the outward world and have sought the quiet retreats of the Himalaya Mountains, in order to attain that state of Bliss, or Atma?
"'How can a Queen, like you, realize that which can only be realised by the Wise? Thou mayest say that thou hast enjoyed that blessed state, like those who were unable to reach that exalted state, but claimed they had sensed it, intuitionally, within. Tell me, how canst thou realise the Atma within? Thou who art a poor fragile creature, without Wisdom, tossed to and fro by the senses.'
"The Queen was touched by the King's remarks. She pitied the poor King, who had not reached that state in which he could understand or enjoy the Divine Bliss. Still the King and Queen lived together in Peace and Harmony as they had done in the past. The Queen had gained perfect control over her mind and desires. She thought if she were able too develop the power of levitation, then it would be easy to convince her King of her power. For this purpose
she practised Madras in Yoga for the attainment of levitation."
Ram said to the Master: "Please explain how one may attain such psychic power as levitation, etc."
The Master answered: "I am telling you the interesting story of the Queen, and now thou dost ask an explanation of Yoga. However, I will answer thee. By control of Prana (Vital or Life Force), one may attain that power. One who wishes to attain that power should have a balanced diet: should practice Mudras and Postures. Control of the mind is also necessary as well as the study and ceaseless practice of Yoga. One should have the help of a Spiritual Teacher. One should be free from anger, love and hate. Try to understand the nature of Prana (Vital or Life Force) and control its movements, then you can Master the forces of nature, Sidhi (psychic), and attain liberation.
"There is in the midst of the one hundred Nadis (big vein or nerve), one which is called Kundalini, it is within every being from Brahma to worm. It is like a serpent, and is sleeping as the serpent sleeps in the winter. When the Kundalini
power is aroused, it enables one to master the powers of nature. All other Nadis of the body are connected with the Kundalini. The powers of the Kundalini become useful, through the Light of Wisdom. This power, through meditation becomes meditation, through wisdom becomes wisdom, mind through mind, thought through thought, egoism through egoism.
"This greatest of all powers may easily be controlled, if one masters the Prana. The Prana (Vital or life force) always goes upward, the Apana, (or other vital force) always goes downward. These two vital or life forces cause death of the body. If Prana is brought down, and Apana be permitted to rise and mix in the heart, then disease would leave the body, never to return."
Ram again said to the Master: "Please explain how mental disease can be destroyed."
The Master answered: "Diseases which affect the mind are the first and are not the easiest to heal; those which affect the body may be classed as secondary. The desires which affect the mind are primary diseases; we have sunk thus
far by absence of Wisdom, and lack of Mastery over ourselves. We are under the seeming power of delusion. We cannot realise to what extent we arc pulled down by such delusion. The mental disease is similar to the coming of a winter storm. When the power of desires gets hold of one, he then is liable to be guilty of fearful karma (wrong action); this in turn produces bodily disease.
"Bodily disease is also brought on by overeating, living in unhealthy places, association with the wicked, impure desires, evil thoughts, etc. These mental or indirect diseases have a direct effect upon the body.
"Now I will explain how both forms of disease perish, O Ram. The wise say that the mental diseases have two divisions, common and specific, the former affect this body only, but the latter tend to rebirth, also. The common diseases may be banished by correct eating and right thinking.
"When the mind is not in perfect harmony it may affect the blood and produce discord in any portion of the body. Mental discord will produce poison in the blood, and the poison will
affect the nervous system. When the nervous system is affected, then Prana (Vital Force) cannot follow its right path. When Prana does not follow its right path, then it cannot reach all parts of the body as it should, and thus many of the nerves may wither or die. If harmony is established in the mind, all else is easy and simple. When harmony is established in the mind, it will naturally follow, that one will want to do good and read good books pertaining to truth. When peace is established in the mind, then Prana will follow its right course and all disease will vanish.
"The path of Yoga, by which one may master the power of the Kundalini, is through the practise of Pranayama, which causes the power of the Kundalini to arise, and then the holy becomes strong. By Pranayama the movement of Prana and Apana may be controlled; then the Yogin will be able to go up like a bird. The Prana is the cause, and when it is made to go up through the Sushumna, all kinds of psychic powers are attained, such as seeing, hearing and levitation."
Ram again questioned Rishi Vashisht; "How
do such people become light and heavy, seemingly at will, and how do they gain control over the powers of nature?"
The Master replied: "Such powers are mastered only by one who has a consciousness of absolute purity, free from the worldly things. The self is finest of the fine, which is not the Universe, neither its association with it. But through its own thoughts becomes individual soul, and is known by the name Jiva (individual soul). This Jiva mingles with many things in the world, forgets its reality and thinks of the body as being real. When one has the last awakening or illumination and determines to know the Absolute Reality, then the gross and unreal vanish and the real nature comes to light, and is revealed or manifested. Through meditation the psychic powers are awakened and mastered. This is the truth revealed to those who have gained mastery through Yoga.
"Through Yoga means, the Queen mastered the psychic powers, and with it encircled the world, simply to convince her King. No one
knew that the Queen possessed such marvelous power. That was one reason her King did not believe or gain the state of Bliss. For the King was as ignorant of her blessed power, as a child is ignorant of higher education. The King was without peace of mind, so this great Yogin did not try to raise the King to Atmic Wisdom."
Ram then said: "O Master, how can others hope to attain pure Wisdom when the great King failed, when his wife, the great Yogin, tried to help him realise the blessed Wisdom? Speak, O Master, and say which is the right means to attain the goal?"
Rishi Vashisht answered: "Faith in the word of the Guru (Spiritual Teacher) is the way, but discipleship alone is the means of reaching Atmic Wisdom."
Ram said: "If the disciple alone is the means of reaching the Atmic Wisdom, then why should it be necessary to have faith in the word of the Guru?"
The Master explained: "A certain hunter, who lived in the mountains, lost a shell while walking along through the grassy forest; he was greatly worried about the lost shell and
went searching for it. After a long search he came upon a gem shining like a moon. Searching for his shell led to the finding of a precious gem. Such may be the experience of the disciple, in looking for the Guru (Spiritual teacher), he may find true Wisdom. Studying with the Guru will help, but the discipleship is the means of developing Atmic Wisdom.
"The King without true wisdom tried many means of attaining self wisdom, but he was working under illusion, as he thought lie would gain by giving gifts, bathing in Holy Water and observance of religious laws. These did not set him free from his mental suffering. At last he turned to his Queen and said: 'I am giving up everything in this world, but, I have one desire,—to go to the forest and live there a peaceful life, as delusion of wealth or pain do not hunt there. The bliss that is the highest attainable is in the forest; so let me go.'
"The Queen said, 'everything will be ready and ripe at the time, I pray thee do not go?'
"The King said: 'Do not interfere with my plans. You are young, and shalt rule in my place, as it is the wife's duty not to languish at the absence
of her husband, but to protect those who are near her.'
"The King gave an order that the city should be patrolled that night, that every one should remain at home, within the house. That night the King made his way to the forest. After walking for two weeks he reached a spot in the Mandara Hills, which are surrounded by beautiful pools and wild flowers. He made a hut of leaves, a cloth bag for fruit, and a place for meditation. Then he started his practice; the first hour, for religious rites, the second and third, gathering flowers for Gods's worship, fourth, eating fruits; at night, chanting Mantras, thus the King did his tapasa.
"Next morning the Queen found the King had gone to the woods, leaving behind his Kingdom, wealth and Queen. She pitied the poor King, and wanted to know where he had gone, so she levitated and roamed in the sky. She appeared to Sidhas (psychic persons), as beautiful as the shining moon. She saw her husband in the forest, meditated upon what she should do, and reached the conclusion she would not disturb him. She thought it would be better to let him
master himself; so she returned to her palace without letting him see her.
"The Master Yogin issued a proclamation to her people, stating that her husband was away on a secret mission. For eight years she ruled with royal grace of equal justice to all, while the poor King suffered a life of privation and penance in the forest.
"Realizing that the time had come for her to again see her husband, she went forth one night through the air. She alighted on a near by hill, where she saw a decrepit and care worn, old man, whom at first she did not recognize as her husband. But her clear vision soon discovered that it was indeed he, and she cried out with her grief, to see, through dire ignorance, the King bent, groaning in pain. The Queen thought, I have power to confer Atmic Wisdom on him at this moment, but he will reject me as his young wife, so I shall not appear before him in this form. I shall change to another form to accomplish my purpose. As his mind is now ripe for Atmic Wisdom, a single word from me will show him the way to that blessed state, at this time. At this hour a rare opportunity was at
hand. She changed her form from woman to man by the power of Samayan (the Samayan is the highest power of the Raja Yogin), and descended from the sky before the King. The King saw the form of a young Brahman standing in the air before him.
"The King paid due respect to him, and asked him to be seated. The young Brahman returned due respect to Raja Rishi (the King), of true Tapas (prayer, meditation etc.).
"The King said: 'By thy gracious visit I am greatly benefited, as thou art my Guru.'
"The young Brahman replied: 'Who in this world has such great qualities as you possess? May you live long. May your mind be filled with Divine Peace and be free from all delusion of the world.
"'You are performing very high Tapas, as you have given up everything for the sake of liberation. You are performing Tapas as trying, as meeting the point of the sword.'
"The King said: 'Thou being a God, art well aware of my condition. May I ask thy name, and who thou art?'
"The young Brahman replied: 'I am the son of Rishi Narada, whose Atmic Wisdom shines like the sun. At my birth I was taken into the presence of Brahma (God), who paved my way to Atmic Wisdom. As I was His grandson, He named me Kumbha Muni: my mother is Saraswati (Mother of Wisdom). I continually study the Vedas (Book of Holy Wisdom).'
"The King believed every word of the Kumbha Muni. The Muni asked the King: 'What is thy name and what thy origin?'
"The King answered: 'From the pains of this world I came here for peace. My name is Sikhithwaya. I have given up my kingship as my mind was always binding me to the cycle of rebirth. I try my best to free myself from pains, but they are increasing. O Muni, the milk has surely turned to poison.'
"Kumbha Muni then replied: 'O King, without a Guru (Spiritual Teacher), the bliss of Atmic Wisdom is not to be obtained; tapas and mantras are merely a waste of time, O King. He who has not the Atmic Wisdom, but follows his duty of action is the best. Unselfish action will remove the impure desires; doing good
karma will bring about heavenly bliss, and pure desire does not make any fresh karma, but the impure one does. If you know that all is Brahma, then ignorance is destroyed; the impure desires will never arise. If the impure desires are controlled, then old age and death are also controlled, and brings one to the highest state of Brahma.
"'The mind associated with impure desires is ignorance itself, but free from impure desires it is Wisdom itself. If through Wisdom, Soul realizes Reality, then one is free from the chain of rebirth.
"'When all the wise, even Brahma, have said the attainment of Wisdom is the highest bliss, why do you not try to attain it? Why do you not try to find whence came this Universe? Why are you killing time here in ignorance? Why not try to find a Guru and from him learn what is bondage and what, liberation? Go to those who have clear vision over all. They are the embodiment of wisdom. Engage ceaselessly in enquiring, then indeed you will find the real, the reality, which is the means of emancipation.'
"The King cried with joy. 'O Guru, I have learned all this attainment of the way to bliss, and pure wisdom, by thy grace. I have left the company of the wise through ignorance, came to this forest to suffer, but now I am freed from pain, by thy kindness. I believe it is thy duty, as thou art within the forest, to point the way to bliss. Thou art my friend, thou art my Guru, thou art my parent. I shall be steadfast as thy disciple. Please accept me as thy disciple. Lead me in the path you have realized; you are equal to Brahma. Teach me the One-ness that sets people free from all pain, and into the consciousness of blissful truth.'
"The Kumbha Muni said: 'I can teach you if you will concentrate your mind, which has been roaming, from place to place. Without concentration, my word will not be of any help to you.'
"The King promised to believe and concentrate on the words of the Muni. The Muni said: 'First you should have full confidence in my words, as a child has in the words of his father. O King, hear what you will not understand; I will relate again the hidden meaning. In the olden days there was a man of wealth and
great knowledge, but alas, he was without Atmic Wisdom. This man went in search of Chintamuni, a lucky stone that brings anything its owner wishes for. In the days when he was searching to find the lucky stone, which was bright and shining as the moon, the man without understanding passed by the lucky stone. He thought it might be only a common stone, as he could not find the lucky stone in such a short space of time. He thought, I am not pure, and I am only a poor man. So he left the lucky stone beside the road, and went on hunting. After a long search, weary and worn by hardships, a Sidha—a man of psychic powers—saw the poor man looking for the lucky stone. So he thought he would fool the poor, deluded man who had passed by without recognizing the lucky stone. The Sidha threw a piece of glass in front of the man, which, as soon as he saw it, he picked up, thinking surely it must he the lucky stone. He had passed by the real lucky stone and picked up instead the simple ball of glass. He was over-joyed and gave away all his wealth, with the hope that his lucky stone would bring him anything he desired. So he went to the forest, with the hope that he would find happiness there,
as the lucky stone was supposed to bring him anything for which he wished. In the forest he tried to have the lucky stone bring forth the thing he wanted, but it did not bring forth anything, for the reason it was not a lucky stone at all, it was merely a ball of glass. The poor, deluded man brought all the hardships upon himself, suffering alone and without wealth.'
"'I will tell another story about an elephant, that will help you in the understanding of pure Wisdom.
"'In the midst of a forest there lived an elephant, the most gigantic of its kind. A Mahout of the forest followed the elephant and trapped him. His tusks were very long, sharp and dangerous. The Mahout fettered him with chains, and started to bring him to the city, tied to another elephant. This gigantic elephant became mad with pain caused by the chains, as well as the loss of his liberty. With the help of his powerful tusks he shook himself free. The Mahout seated on this elephant became frightened, and fell to the ground. The giant elephant, bewildered by his freedom, passed over the Mahout without hurting him, and raced to the security of the forest. The Mahout getting to his feet,
and alarmed at the loss of his beast of wealth, went after the elephant and found him in the depth of the forest. The Mahout selected a spot where he knew the elephant would pass. Then he dug a trench and covered it with leaves. The elephant after a long time came to the place and fell into the trench. This time the Mahout fastened the elephant more securely. So again, the powerful animal was enslaved.
"'Had this gigantic elephant stepped on the Mahout, whom once he shook from his back and laid prostate upon the ground, he might easily have crushed him or dashed out his brains, then he would not have been captured again and deprived of his precious liberty. Likewise, he who does not think of the result of evil living, and that it would surely bring him to grief.
"The King asked the master: 'Please give the reason why you narrated the story of this Lucky Stone, and the story of the elephant?'
"The Master replied: 'The man who had all wealth and knowledge, without pure Wisdom, went in search of the Lucky Stone. That man is like yourself, for, although you are well versed in knowledge, you have not attained poise and peace of mind. This lesson, I meant to convey,
by telling the story of the Lucky Stone. In order to overcome suffering and hypocrisy and attain true renunciation, you have forsaken your kingdom, wealth, wife and relations, which were the real Lucky Stone, and you came to the forest, which is the stone of glass.
"'The true renunciation was developing in you, little by little, in the midst of your worldly surroundings, but your mind was lead astray by the wrong ideal of renunciation. By delusion your mind was enveloped as by a dark cloud, instead of being illumined, by the clear light of Spiritual understanding. This renunciation of yours is not the renunciation which generates true happiness. With the hopes that you might attain illumination, or the realization of TRUTH—that which is real—you gave up everything that men hold dear. You have lost the Lucky Stone and are holding to the false, the stone of glass.
"'The wise say that those who reject the enjoyment which comes from their daily lives, and the mind which is filled with imaginary things, are self-destructive. By giving up your all, and running to the forest your mind did not attain Divine peace, even when the valuable Lucky Stone
was laid before you. Then what advantage is to be gained by finding the stone of glass?
"'The gigantic elephant, I also applied to you. The two long tusks are discrimination and indifference. Your ignorance is the driver which inflicted suffering upon you, as the elephant was caused to suffer by the driver (the Mahout). The chain and fetters stand for desires. The chain and fetters which bound the elephant will wear out, but the bonds of desire become stronger every day. As the elephant shook itself free from the chains, so you gave up your kingdom. Throwing the Mahout, or driver of the elephant,—stands for overcoming the ignorance by the power of indifference to objects, or the fruits of your work. If we overcome the impure desires, then ignorance and rebirth will be destroyed.
"'To abandon the delusion of wealth, by sheer asceticism, will never dispel the ghost, but if the delusion of wealth is destroyed through discrimination, then the ghost of ignorance will leave forever.
"'At the time you reached this forest your ignorance was laid on the ground before you, but you did not cut its head off with the true renunciation. The great elephant did not kill the
[paragraph continues] Mahout, who was once laid on the ground at his feet. At that time if the elephant had put one foot upon the Mahout, then he would not have been made to fall into the trench, and suffer when he was imprisoned there.
"'But, O King, you have suffered more than the elephant here in the forest. You threw away the Lucky Stone, that, was true renunciation, but why did you not follow the advice of your wife? But you came to this forest and picked up the stone of glass, which was not worth anything.'
"The King declared: 'I have given up my kingdom, my dear wife and all. Is not this true renunciation, O Master?'
"The Master replied: 'True, you have given up your kingdom, your wife and all, but that is not renunciation, as you are a slave to your desires, even now. But by giving up all of them, you will attain the blessed state of Brahma.'
"The King said: 'All right, I will give up this forest and hills, I have no desire for them; now, I have made the true renunciation.'
"The Master again said: 'Giving up this beautiful forest, will not make the true renunciation, as long as you have with you impure desires.
[paragraph continues] When you give them up, then only, will you attain divine joy.'
"The King answered: 'If this is not true renunciation, then, I will give up the rest.'
"So the King threw his garments and all that he had into the fire and presented himself to the Master and said: 'Now, by thy grace, I have freed myself of all things and thoughts that were only bondage, and the seed of the rebirth. By giving up all desires I have set myself free, and attained the true renunciation by thy kindness. What else remains to be done, O Master?'
"The Master replied: 'You have not done any thing. What you call a true renunciation is only vain delusion.'
"The King said: 'While I remain within this body, the five snakes, which are the sense organs remain. Therefore, I shall give them up in your presence.'
"So the King prepared to kill himself.
"The Master stopped him by saying: 'What foolish thing are you trying to do? Is your body holding you from progress? 'What will you gain by giving up your body? To kill or destroy your body is not true renunciation. O
[paragraph continues] King, if you will give up the seed or cause of this body, which is the seed of rebirth, then you will make the true renunciation.'
"The King besought the Master to tell him how he might give up or control the cause, or the seed of the body.
"The Master said: 'The Wise say the mind, with its thoughts, called by many names, is one. The cause is attached to delusive objects. This restless mind forms the Universe and bondage. It is the mind which is the seed of all karma (spiritual cause and effect), and moves this body to and fro, like a tree in the wind. Controlling this mind is true renunciation and Godly Bliss. O King, all other renunciations are not true.
"'After reaching the true renunciation you will be illumined in mind, free from oscillation; then you will recognize your true self with the self of Brahma, and you will be radiant with glory.'
"The King asked: 'What is the cause of the mind? What is its true nature? How should I master it? O Master, enlighten me.'
"The Master answered: 'The true nature of the mind is determined by the desires, as mind
and desires are one. Know, O King, the ideal of the "I" (Ego), which is the house in which exists all qualities of good and evil: this, is the seed of the mind. The first sprout that comes out of this seed is Egoism, and originates without form. Its apperception is by inner experience. This sprout is called Budhi (the reasoning intelligence). From this little shoot the many branches known as thoughts take their origin through differentiation. The thought of the mind, the reason and intelligence, called by different names are really only Egoism. If you try to cut off the branches (thoughts) of the tree of the mind, you will not succeed, as the branches will produce more and more, through desires. But if you cut the root of the tree with the ax of Wisdom, then the branches will die themselves, and the karma that causes the branches (desires) will disappear with them. But to merely cut off the branches, will not harm the tree of the mind. You should cut the root of the tree or through virtuous actions overcome the ideal of the Ego.'
"The King said: 'I am the Nature, that pure absolute consciousness which evolves. preserves, and destroys everything. I do not know the cause
of the "I", which is the nature of Wisdom. I have not been able to find the means which will remove the Egoism, the seed of the treacherous mind. My mind betrayed me as I tried to overthrow this Ego, but it clings to me.'
"The Master said: 'No effect can be found without a cause. So search within to find the cause of the Egoism that is always within you. Answer me, O King.
"The King answered: 'The cause of this impure Egoism is the knowledge of the mind. How have I become mixed with this knowledge? I sink back when the knowledge of objects arise. How am I to arise above the objective world?'
"The Master answered: 'If you tell me the cause of knowledge, then I will give you the means to arise above it.'
"The King then said: 'The existence of the illusory objects of knowledge is produced through mind. If the illusory objects cease to exist, then no knowledge arises. Then the seed of the mind, Egoism will be absorbed.'
"The Master answered: 'As the illusory objects (body etc.) exist so the knowledge, but the illusory objects (body etc.) are unreal. Then what is the basis for knowledge, O King?'
"The King replied: 'Tell me first, O Master, how the body which enjoys all karma, which performs through organs, (hands etc.) can be unreal?'
"The Master answered: 'This body, arising through karma, cannot be the cause, therefore, neither the effect of intelligence, as it is itself illusory or nonexistent. The Egoism and all other illusory objects which arise through the delusion of knowledge are not real. Therefore, all the objects which are not of the nature of cause and effect, are not real, any more than the mistaken conception of the snake in the rope.'
"The King said: 'All are the creation of Brahma, who was alone in the beginning of the Universe. How, then, can you say that Brahma is not the cause of it?'
"The Master answered: 'Prior to the creation, the Parabrahma (Universal soul) alone shone as Truth, which is nondual and quiescent. He alone is without a second, then how can the Brahma be the cause?'
"The King asked: 'Is not Parabrahma (the Universal Soul) the cause?'
"The Master replied: 'Parabrahma (Universal Soul) is the emancipation, the imperishable, birthless, deathless, without beginning and without
end. The non-dual and unspeakable can not be reached by thought. How can Parabrahma (Universal Soul) be the cause which is above the reach, of the mind and thought? How can one be an actor and an audience? As it would be impossible, it must follow that this Universe is not created by any one, nor is self-created. The Supreme Will of the Absolute Consciousness is the Brahma (God), nothing else is the one true Wisdom. All the objects created out of that Wisdom can be said to be none other, than the form of that Wisdom.
"'All is Brahma itself. Realize the one Reality, which will destroy ignorance, never to rise again. There is no other path through which to destroy the delusion of karma, which will surely vanish when ignorance and illusion are destroyed. The Brahmic (Godly) state will be attained, then the mind through all-pervading Wisdom will merge into Paramatma (God), and will never be evolved into new creations by thoughts. That which is called Brahma, through the Atmic Tattva (highest pure wisdom of the self), is none other than the latent aspect of the Universe.'
"The King replied: 'All that you have taught
me is very reasonable. As before creation there was no Creator; so there is really no Universe, there are no objects; illusory things do not really exist according to your clear teaching. I understand the reality of myself and recognize that external objects do not really exist. I have worshipped myself through many substances. Now I realize that all were unreal, through this wise teaching. I have become one without a thought of a second, as one Akasa (Ether) is everywhere.'
"Through the Master's reasoning, the King realized his reality, also, the true discrimination of time and space.
"Mental activity is to understand the Universe, in all its different aspects. They have existed in your mind a long time, but they will depart, leaving only Brahma alone.
"The King was illumined by the Wisdom he attained and was immediately freed from Maya (illusion). He reached the state of Brahma or Brahmic (Divine) state and sank into Samadhi.
"After some hours he awakened from meditation, and the Master asked: 'Are you free from
all passion? Have you enjoyed the Brahmic Bliss? Have you enjoyed the Brahmic seat which is fulness of all wealth? Have you attained Atmic Wisdom? Are you freed from all delusion? Have you met that which is worth meeting? Have you seen the Blessed One that is worthy to be seen?'
"The King replied: 'I have now the eternal peace. I have indeed reached the Brahmic state, which is above all. With thy kind help I have reached the Brahmajnan state, the powerful state of Divine Wisdom. O Master, why was I not able to reach this high state before?'
"The Master answered: 'When mind becomes absolutely at rest and one sees all with impartial eyes, with vision turned inward, with all impurities of the mind gone, then it is easy for the Master to help the disciple, as there is no doubt in the mind of the student.'
"'Doubt is the big stone in the road of divine wisdom. The king attained the wealth of wealth, bliss of bliss, which is the divine wisdom, and the highest good.
"'Master,' said the King, 'Are not the Jivanmukta (bodily emancipated) performing actions through their mind?'
"The Master answered: 'The mind is nothing
without desire; mind and desires bind one to rebirth. If one knows himself (the divine self), there is no fear of rebirth. Truth sets them free. Those Jivanmukta (bodily emancipated) have realized the reality; therefore, their Minds do not generate impure desires, but generate pure desires. With pure desire, you do not create rebirth. The lower mind, or work done under the influence of the lower mind produce cause but the higher mind or work done under the influence of the higher mind does not produce any cause.'
"So the King gave up the idea of doing good for reward, but sought to do good for the sake of good. Give up the idea of going to heaven, then you will shine like the Light of Lights that is in all, and is everywhere,—which really you are. Let the lower mind go, that has a hankering to go from place to place, from earth to sky, and from sky to earth.
"With the control of the lower mind, the rebirth is also controlled,—becomes peaceful, immovable, then you become one with pure Wisdom (motion and non-motion).'
"'O, Master', said the King. 'How am I to attain that state where motion and non-motion is one?'
"The Master replied: 'As the ocean is rippled by the waves, but is still one, so all the Universe is non-dual, is Absolute Consciousness, compelling, drawing intelligence unto itself. The ignorant will not understand the difference, how the Truth and Brahma is the Universe itself,—motion in itself,—this Universe Created by itself. If you realize this outwardly, then the blessed state is yours. This merely reverses the appearance, seen as the real cause, as the rope in the dark appears as a snake.
"'By following pure wisdom, and association with the wise., then the spiritual vision will develop; then only can you truly realize as I have explained to you—this creation and the destruction of the Universe.
"'If you practise according to your will, do your duty conscientiously, then you will not fail to attain the Brahmic state. Does not that do away with all the differences that arise from delusion and ignorance?'
"The Master disappeared, and the King thought to himself,—how can I understand that I am All Peace, All Rest, All Bliss, and Absolute Truth? The King sank into Samadhi, which is above
all pain, misery and the Universe. It is True Peace, and True Silence. The Master resumed the tender form of the Queen, and went through the sky by levitation to her chamber in the palace. There she again graciously ruled over her people three years.
"With her higher mind and power she changed her feminine body for a masculine form, and again visited the King, as she was teaching her King in the form of a Master.
"When she reached the forest where the King was, she found him in a seedless Samadhi. To acquaint him of her arrival she caused the forest to re-echo with her voice. This did not disturb the King, as he was not awakened from the seedless Samadhi. Though she shook him vigorously, he evinced no evidence of her presence.
"'This is truly wonderous', said the Queen, 'he has merged into the seat of Brahma, I will concentrate on his finer body. If I find any residue of truth typifying the seed of intelligence in his heart, I will join my King and live with him joyfully; otherwise, I shall have to give up my feminine form, and myself obtain the Brahmic
[paragraph continues] State, then I will be free from re-birth.'
"The Queen concentrated on the finer form of the King, and found there was still a residue of good qualities in the heart of the King."
Ram asked: "When one's mind has control, and has merged into the inner vision, how can there still be a residue of good or bad qualities in the heart?"
Rishi Vashisht answered: "Like the tree, the branches, flowers, and fruit are all contained in the seed, so the cause of intelligence, like Satwa, always rests in the heart. The Jivanmukta (bodily emancipated) who has controlled his mind, does not die and is nut affected by diseases or pains,—he is living in the world, but above the world, like the Lotus flower that lives in the water, but does not get wet. Even in the heart of the Jivanmukta, the cause of the intelligence, latent in the heart, is like the tree that is in the seed.
"O Ram, the Great Yogin Queen gave up the grosser body of the Master and merged into the finer form of the King, that is, higher consciousness,—without beginning or end. She caused it to vibrate and return to her body, as
a bird to its cage. Again in the Master form, she chanted the Divine Song, which brought the King to consciousness, as the rays of the Sun make the Lotus flower bloom.
"The King saw his dear Guru (Spiritual Teacher) sitting before him. With great joy he praised the Master (Queen).
"The Master said: 'From the day I parted from you my mind did not find blessed peace. Even in the Higher Heavens, there is no joy for me, except with you.'
"The King replied: 'Blessed, Holy God, I have obtained this blessed state by Thy favor, and am freed from all pain and misery. Even the Higher Heavens did not give me the blessed joy that I have from the seedless Samadhi (trance-like meditation). Now I am Master of ail. Blessed Peace is mine. I can roam freely in Heaven and on earth.'
"The Master asked: 'Have you tasted the Brahmic Bliss,—God—like joy, which is above all pleasure and pains? Have you given up all older thoughts from which arise the ideas of, this is mine, and that is thine? Can you hold and equal vision over all? Are you able to do
your daily duty without effort, or being affected by it? Are you free from hate and love? Have you realized your all?'
"The King replied: 'Indeed, I have acquired all the spiritual benefits. I have known all that is worth knowing, have seen all that is worth seeing, there is nothing that I long to see or hear.'
"So the Master (Queen) and the King with great respect for one another, enjoyed great bliss and Divine joy, as one in mind and one in everything. They had destroyed delusion of Maya, (illusion), by the pure Wisdom. They were firm like the Himalayan Mountains, not to be shaken by the rustling winds.
"The Queen in the form of the Master, found by the power of Samyam (highest concentration of the Raja Yogi), that the King's mind was pure and free from all illusion. She also thought, if one is filled with wisdom, shouldn't he enjoy the joy that comes without seeking; or how can it be said he or she had true wisdom? She thought she would interrogate the King further. 'There is a festival in the Higher Heavens to-day,' said the Queen, 'I shall be there, I will return tonight.'
"The Queen discarded her heavy male body, and resumed her own beautiful form. She reached her palace by air, and performed her Queenly duties all day. After sunset she again went forth by levitating her body to the forest where the King was. The Queen resumed her disguise of the Master's form, descended before her husband with dejected mien, long and downcast heart.
The King rising said: 'My Perfect One, my Guru, what has affected you,—you are suffering from pain? What is it? May you overcome it as a person of Wisdom. You are not affected by pain or joy, as the water falling on the duck's back, does not affect her.'
"The Master related the following story: 'The true Jnani who visions all with an equal eye, and sees all in all, will never be a true Jnani as long as he does not use his organs, as long as he possesses a body. Otherwise, that person is an imposter. The ignorant are those who do not perform their karma (actions), but try to avoid them. They will suffer as they are trying to separate the oil from the mustard seed, which is inseparable. As long as the body exists, pains and pleasures remain. They who
try to do away with affections and so forth, are like a man who tries to cut air with a sword. Pain and an impure body always go together. The Brahma has the organs of Karmaendriya (organs of action), and the Jnanendriya (organs of sense), and follows the path which is forever followed by the ignorant and wise, which has moved the concourse with Universal Law.
"'The Wise daily do their duty, as long as they stay in their bodies. They are not affected by performing actions, but the ignorant mind is never at peace, is ever moving and affected by pain and pleasure.
"'The Cause of my pain—it is not pain when told to those we love. This morning I went to the Higher Heavens for the meeting. I went there by air. After the meeting, when coming through the sky to this place, I saw before me the Rishi Divwasa coming through the clouds. I said to him, Thou art ill clad; and I acted like a silly woman whereupon the Rishi cursed me. He said, 'You are acting like a woman, so your form will change to female from now on, every night.' Hearing this I begged for pardon, but
the Rishi disappeared. This is the cause of my distress. I have to change to woman's form every night. I am ashamed.'
"'Do not grieve,' said the King, 'changing your form will not change you from wise to ignorant, only the unwise can be so affected by pain.'
"'The sun is setting,' the Master (Queen) said to the King, 'and the change in me is taking place.'
"The King said: 'you are wise, and you know the true path, so you shall not be affected by the change.' So they retired for the night.
"At dawn the Queen was again the Master; so she was a man by day, and by night a woman.
"'O King, how long, I ask, are we going to live like this? I want to have a husband, but I cannot find one to equal you in the three worlds. You should marry me, without the fear of Heaven or Hell.'
"The King was prepared for her proposal, and made ready for the marriage rites. White silken robes were procured by the power of thought. When the sun set, the marriage ceremony
took place. Every other day the King went into Samadhi (deep meditation), then the Queen would go to her Palace, perform her Queenly duties, and return to the forest before the King awakened from his Samadhi. Thus the time passed away.
"The Queen wanted to enquire into her husband's mind, so one day with power of her Yoga, she created a heaven of illusion in the forest, also an illusory God to appear before the King. When the King saw the God and His Heaven, he asked: 'What good karma have I performed to induce you to visit me?' "I am attracted by your love and purity, and I came to take you to the Higher Heavens. It is fitting for you to leave. The Divine Maidens will wait upon thee, and will always be at your command. O King, you will live there as long as you wish. This place is not good enough for you to live in; Heaven is the place for you, and you will not want to leave it. For that reason I came to take thee."
"The King with a gesture of gentle remonstrance, replied, 'I have known all the pleasure of Heaven. One locality is the same as another
to me. Wherever I am, there is my Heaven and Bliss. Be pleased to return to your throne. I have no desire to go with you.' Hearing this, the Indra (God) disappeared. The Queen felt that the King had attained Master control.
"The Queen decided to try the King further. It chanced that the King was sitting at the Holy Ganges watching the Moon rise. The Queen, with power of thought, created a lover and embraced him. When the King came out of his trance and found his wife in the company of another man, he returned to the river at once, without disturbing his peace of mind. When the Queen went to the King, with embarrassment, she appeared before her husband, ashamed. Without evincing the least sign of anger, he said tenderly: 'Why did you, my dear, leave your lover so soon?—If you wish you may go back to him and gratify your passion.' Thus spoke the king without anger.
"'It is the duty,' said the Queen, 'of a good husband to overlook the faults of his wife, who is ignorant and carried away by her emotions; and I am trusting that you will forgive me.'
"The King replied: 'The sun may rise in the
[paragraph continues] West, but never will anger arise in me. A house may be built in the air, but anger will never arise in me. I have controlled both love and hate.'
"The Queen understood that her husband was really a Master, and had attained the pure Wisdom of Divine Peace.
"'The time has now arrived for me to show myself in my true colors, and let him see me as I really am.' She assumed her Queenly body and appeared before him. The King beheld his Queen, whom he had left at his Kingdom twenty years ago. He could not believe his eyes.
"'How is this. Am I beholding my Queen? Who are you, please speak?'
"The Queen replied: 'Yes, I am your wife, with whom you have lived for nearly one hundred years. You left me at the Palace when you retired to the forest.'
"'So dearest, it was you who came in the guise of Master Kunbhamuni to save me?'
"'It was I who took the form of Master; it was I who gave you Divine Wisdom; it was I who took the Madanika (another woman's form); it was I who tested your Wisdom. Now
go into Samadhi; then you will understand all that has been happening,' said the Queen.
"The King went into Samadhi, the Brahmic or Universal consciousness. In that state he saw all the events and remembered them from the time he vacated his kingdom, to the time of his appearing to his Queen Chundalai in her feminine body. When he came out of his Samadhi, he was blessed with divine peace and joy. With joy he looked upon his wife who was standing before him. He embraced her, who was the embodiment of pure love and grace.
"The King could not find words with which to thank his wife. Later he began to speak: 'Through your great Wisdom you have saved me, who was crying in the darkness from ignorance. Who is there in the Universe to equal thee? You are the Blessed Light, dispelling the fear of the ignorant. How can I repay thee for all that you have done for me? You are on equality with the Divine Mother *:
"'I saw you in despair,' lovingly replied the Queen. 'Your self-imposed penances were destroying your body. That kind of penance is used only by the ignorant. I came to save and lift you from worldly pain. Do not praise me. I but did my duty. Tell me, dear husband, are you free from the world's troubles? Have you reached the divine state which will not be affected by action or thought?'
"'All doubt and desire have vanished from my mind,' said the King. 'I shall never fall through the senses. I have become like Askasa (Ether). I am above pain or pleasure. I have attained the highest Samadhi. There is no joy like the joy of Samadhi. I have reached the highest state; I am the Sun of the Suns; I am the Light of the Lights; I am pure Wisdom; I am the Absolute Consciousness. I realize my Reality, which is none other than THAT (God). My wife, you are my Spiritual Teacher. I worship Thee.'
"'What do you intend to do next,' questioned the Queen?
"'From now on,' answered the King, 'according to thy dictates, I shall perform my duties. I will live in the world, but not of it, like the
[paragraph continues] Lotus flowers which grow in the lake but never get wet.'
"'If Thou art willing to do as I say, then let us go back and reign over our Kingdom, as Jivanmuktas (bodily emancipated).'
"'I will do as you say,' replied her husband.
"The Queen then created an elephant. It was decorated with rubies and other gems. They both mounted the elephant's back, and when they came near the town, with the power of her mind she created an army to escort them into the city. They were received by their people.
"The King and Queen were enthroned, and ruled wisely and well ten thousand years, and then they gave up the bodies and attained emancipation of the Soul.
"O Ram, do you daily karma. Pure wisdom will develop in you. You will reach the Blessed state Which the King and Queen have attained,—Liberation."
Thus spoke the great Rishi Vashisht of Wisdom, to Ram.
MAHABHARATA xii. 293 ff.
"When old and grey, when strength decays,
By foes when crushed, in evil days,
From fortune's heights when downward hurled—
Yes, then let men renounce the world;
But not in days of youth and health,
When crowned with glory, blest with wealth.
Those scripture texts which praise as best
A life ascetic, lone, unblest,
Dragged sadly on in gloomy woods,
And dreary, doleful solitudes,
Are fictions hatched in squalid schools
By needy unbelieving fools,
Which look like truth, but proved, are found
To rest on no substantial ground.
"To savage beasts it is not given
By forest life to merit heaven;
Yet this same life, by hermits led,
Their future bliss ensures, 'tis said! p. 112
"When men no pleasure feel, nor pain,
A state of stupid torpor gain.
They then have reached perfection, rise
To heaven, so say the would-be wise.
But should not trees,—if this be true,—
And boulders, gain perfection too?
For they are calm and torpid, feel
Nor pain nor pleasure, woe nor weal;
They dread no want, they seek no ease,
Like self-tormenting devotees.
"Abandon, then, thy vain design;
By kingly virtues seek to shine.
See how by acts all mortals strive
Their ends to gain, through effort thrive,
Inaction ne'er perfection brings;
From strenuous deeds alone it springs."
Translation by J. Muir. For more, readers should look in the Metrical Translation from Sanskrit writers.
63:* Universal Soul.
63:** Third Age in Brahma. (see pg. 80, 81 Great Masters of the Himalayas).
108:* In India we have a Mother God, not a Father God. We address her Adakali (Divine Mother).
Next: The Great Egoist—Bali


text:
Why Former Ministers Must Pay Back And Concourt Seriously Up Its Speed
By Chief Editor
Columns Why Former Ministers Must Pay Back And Concourt Seriously Up Its Speed
Chief Editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com
By Peter Sinkamba
As the Green Party, we reiterate our support for the Constitutional Court landmark decision on former Ministers to pay back to the State salaries and all other expenses they earned during their illegal stay in office. Much as the decision may appear draconian to affected former Ministers, it is our considered view that in the long run, the decision is absolutely necessary to confront executive impunity.
Who knows? Last time it is former ministers. Next time, it could be MPs, Mayors and Councillors from the ruling party who may refuse to vacate offices when parliament, and councils, are dissolved. They may argue, for example, that the constitution is wrong on dissolution because people need to be represented all the time. With executive impunity, Government of the day could continue paying them salaries up to the Election Day, thereby unduly disadvantaging opponents. We think that there is need to guard against such eventualities, remote they may appear at present, and we believe this landmark Concourt judgment could serve as a deterrent to such executive impunity.
We think that former ministers should just accept reality. They must understand that there is hardly a court decision that is always fair to both parties. Take for instance death sentence. Much as death sentence may appear fair and just to families of the victims of murder, such decisions are rarely perceived fair and just by the convicts and their families.
That said, our point of departure is on sluggishness on the part of the Concourt to resolve disputes. We think that it is fair and just to resolve cases promptly. And that is exactly what Articles 118 and 119 of the Constitution demand.
It took the Concourt four months??up to almost Election Day to render its judgment on former ministers and thereby unduly disadvantaging opposition parties' candidates. I cannot surmise how else the injustice borne by the tax payers, and the opposition parties, can be remedied other than through the Court's landmark decision.
Mind you, no former minister was forced to remain in office. They all had the liberty to either decline the "new appointment" or resign when court action was commenced. The fact that they continued to stay in office, and enjoy the lofty emoluments that go with those offices, implied that were doing so at their own peril.
However, the question that needs to be resolved at present is on the interpretation of the landmark decision in relation to continued stay in office by a minister after a High Court nullifies the election, and declares the seat vacant? Should that person pay back ministerial emoluments if the Concourt upholds the High Court decision? If so, when does the time starts running for paying back??is it from the time they were appointed ministers or for period they continued staying in office after the High Court decisions? This aspect needs to be clarified soonest by the Concourt in unambiguous manner.
The other aspect that needs to be clarified by the Concourt is on the time limit to resolve election disputes, both at High Court and Constitutional Court. Section 106 (10 of the Electoral Process Act of 2016 provides that an election petition shall be tried and determined by the High Court or a tribunal in open court??
(a) in the case of the election of a candidate as a Mayor, council chairperson or Councillor, within 30 days from the date of filing an election petition; and
(b) in the case of the election of a candidate as a Member of Parliament, within 90 days from the date of filing an election petition.
For Mayors, council chairpersons or Councillor, does the 30 day limit also include the appeal period? Or should the appeal period also be limited to 30 days?
In the case of MPs, should the 90 days also include the appeal period? Or should the appeal period also be limited to 90 days?
If the Presidential Petition hearing, which has no appeal, is limited to 14 days, why should the appeal period for MPs, Mayors and Councillors be indefinite after 30 and 90 days of hearings respectively?
In our view, the indefinite appeal period is certainly not desirable. There is absolutely no reasonable justification for an indefinite illegal stay in office.
And in any case, it is irrational for a court to order that the parties refund emoluments if the prolonged illegal stay in office is as a consequence of the delay on the part of the court to conclude the case.
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Lombe (MA) December 13, 2017 At 7:53 pm
Concourt receives no respect from PF Government because they sold out on election petition. PF can never respect them because they know they are weak. If I sleep with a prostitute, my respect for that lady is lost. It doesn't matter if she's appointed as Information Minister or whatever, I just cannot respect her anymore more. If Concourt had guided the nation with impartiality at the time when they played referee, they could have earned respect from both the ruling and opposition Patrys, just like Janny the Zambian FIFA referee has earned respect at the world level. Let them have an introspection and do the right thing in future.
Zambia in the Sun December 13, 2017 At 9:55 pm
I agree with Sinkamba on this one
Tundunyela December 14, 2017 At 4:06 am
What can the looser offer in terms of advise. He will only complaint to suit his loosing style. Election are done and they should just wait 2021 if not 2027
Nash Equilibrium December 14, 2017 At 6:07 am
And you think that attitude will continue to "win you votes"? Think again.
Dr. Makasa Kasonde (Private Citizen) December 14, 2017 At 8:42 am
Deterrent to "executive impunity" is sending the wrong signal for good governance in the country. Impunity is impunity, regardless of judicature, legislature or executive being involved. If you single out executive, then you are taking sides. You are inciting against executive. What about legislature impunity? What about judicature impunity, as we are talking now? Whether former ministers unduly disadvantaged opposition parties' candidates or not is also ridiculous. Petty injustices are not the substance of judicature. Justice is founded on common sense, including prioritization. There is no need to take sand to the beaches or rocks to the mountains. Time for election victory is just that: victory. You lose, you win. You win, you win.
Zambia in the Sun December 14, 2017 At 9:18 am
Impunity is defined as freedom from punishment. The legislature makes laws. This arm of government does not punish unless one breaches the institution's code of conduct or standing orders. For this reason, you can hardly hear of legislature impunity. The judiciary interprets laws. This arm of government does not enforce laws, including punish offenders. Since impunity is about freedom from punishment, and the executive is responsible for who to punish and who not to, it is for this reason that impunity is associated with the executive. Take for instance party cadres, some ruling party cadres do demonstrate without permits. Opposition cadres are harassed and beaten even when the have permits. This is one example of executive impunity
Money man December 15, 2017 At 8:18 am
You are talking rubbish bwana doctor.
Dr. Makasa Kasonde (Private Citizen) December 14, 2017 At 11:56 am
The jurisdiction of any judicature is predetermined by the legislature. The judicature is not above the law. Neither is the legislature above law. Neither is the executive above law. When the judicature goes without punishment despite proof of crossing the boundaries of its jurisdiction, then that is called judicature impunity. Distortions in the judicature lead to miscarriage of justice in the country. Distortions at judicature level may include corruption, bribery, nepotism, delay, excessive lenience, extreme severity, hypocrisy, deficit in integrity, incompetent, pretending, drama, trivialization, exaggeration, etc. It is inconceivable for only one arm of government to be below standard. The arms of government function as sub-systems in one system.
Zakeyo December 14, 2017 At 12:48 pm
Correctly Observed Sir…
@Dr Makasa Kasonde, agreed there could be judicial impunity and legislature impunity too, but neither of the two are are as pervasive as executive impunity. In the case of legislative impunity, I just remember one incidence in the 1990s when the late Speaker Nabulyato contempt of court when he refused to accept a High Court subpoena over legislature imprisonment of Fred Mmeembe, late Bright Mwape and late Lucy Sichone and threatened ZP officers with arrest. I cannot remember any other significant contemptuous or other serious crime committed by parliament with impunity. As for the judicial impunity, I just remember of isolated cases of judges refusing to be subjected to disciplinary charges through Chikopa Tribunal, and using the court system to quash tribunal hearings and thereby…
continued: thereby denying the public from knowing the truth of the allegations against the judges. As for executive impunity, the list is endless
Dr. Makasa Kasonde (Private Citizen) December 14, 2017 At 1:52 pm
Chikopa Tribunal was created precisely because of perceived shortcomings in the judicature of the country. Other tribunals and commissions of inquiry were also established before the Chikopa Tribunal. This proves that the executive arm of government is responsive to public demand for a functional state. Every manifestation of impunity needs to be subjected to public scrutiny. When found to be in serious breach of public trust, lacking in integrity or too incompetent, then the logical thing to do is for the law to take its course. Options may include fines, redeployment, retirement, dismissal or imprisonment. Whether the executive is more vulnerable to impropriety than the judicature, the executive more incompetent than the legislature is subject to debate. My view is capacity building…
CONTD: Whether the executive is more vulnerable to impropriety than the judicature, the executive more incompetent than the legislature is subject to debate. My view is capacity building must cover all government organs.
Ndanje Khakis December 14, 2017 At 1:57 pm
The Judge Chikola Tribunal was instigated by Mmembe and Co to get at some judges.
Those theories are not practical you dull man. Why do you want to portray intelligence and knowledge that you do not have?
This is not negotiable. Let the so called concort serve the judgements to the affected persons so they can start paying. …including Kambwili.
Hold on. There is no need for internationalization here. Certain taxpayers may feel free to approach international jurisdictions, including SADC, AU, Commonwealth of Nations, UN Human Rights Commission, and European Court of Human Rights, until any form of carelessness or irresponsible conduct is dealt with. The I-don't-Care attitude that placed the blame on humble servants instead praising them for their dedication to duty must be stamped out from public service. It remains questionable whether circulars were distributed and then neglected. Were signatures appended to the circulars? What is clear is that a categorical position only emerged in the aftermath. For that reason, it would have been prudent to warn future humble servants to avoid falling in the same obscure trap. Where…
CONTD: It remains questionable whether circulars were distributed and then neglected. Were signatures appended to the circulars? What is clear is that a categorical position only emerged in the aftermath. For that reason, it would have been prudent to warn future humble servants to avoid falling in the same obscure trap. Where ignorance is no excuse, then failure to display public regulations for intended public becomes unlawful trapping of innocent victims.
Patriot Abroad December 14, 2017 At 5:17 pm
PF Ministers will want to obey the law and act as advised.
Mulenga Kanikka December 14, 2017 At 10:03 pm
Ba Feekala ne Feenyo balingile babwesha ulupiya lwa Bomba. Ubulazo zero mani ai!
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There are many different types of relationships we will form throughout our lives. These will involve relationships with peers, friends, acquaintances and ultimately for most of us a life partner. Difficulties in, or even the breakdown of relationships can leave us with feelings of loss, confusion and despair. We can also find the onset of other conditions such as depression or anxiety as a bi-product of the relationship problems. Keep in mind though this can also work the other way round if the depression causes an individual to lose interest and stop investing time and effort in the relationship. Sometimes it can be as difficult for those supporting someone with depression as those experiencing it and in these instances it is easy to see how relationships are negatively affected.
We believe that if you just talk to people and be open about how you are feeling then things won't escalate, however not all people feel comfortable doing this which means sometimes we have to work on the 'cure' rather than the prevention. Talking with an impartial professional who is external to the situation can often give you fresh perspective on your situation and help you to understand how to move forward.


text:
How would this help an everyday person like me? Can't I already look up information on the internet?
It takes time and energy to search through a bunch of different links, and at the end of the day, how do you know you actually got to see the best content?
-Not only will ideas be neatly displayed side-by-side on Needpedia, but the token system allows people to point out myths, fallacies, and falsehoods, and the layer system lets you see what the experts think, (and debate).
What about problems that have no solutions?
They'll continue having no solutions. -But the quality and organization of the discussions that surround them will be increased greatly. -People won't have to start from scratch anymore, they can start by seeing where the conversation left off between all the other people, experts, ideas, and debates.
What if people try to use it to harm people?
Our Terms Of Service agreement prohibits the same kinds of behavior as any other site, and our programmers will provide users with tools to flag malicious content, like any other site.
In fact, some of our features may provide safer alternatives than what a lot of people are using now. -For instance, every time a babysitter uses Craigslist to meet a new client, they're walking into the house of a stranger. When a network does nothing to provide information about the users, its consequences can be fatal. Our tools will offer users a way to network differently than that, interactions people choose to make with other users won't be anonymous, so people won't have to walk into situations blindly. -They'll even be able to see other people's reviews from previous interactions.
What if it gets hacked?
We're not storing any sensitive data at all in the beginning. However security will be in constant discussion on our a site because we are literally building the wiki for all problems and potential solutions, for all (acceptable) places, processes, and theories on Earth. Optimizing things is what we do.
What will the crowdfunding money be used for?
There are well over a dozen programmers who have told us they can create every single feature we want for 4 thousand dollars. From there we will need money for:
-Bandwidth
-More professional media
-Licensing Needpedia as its own 501(c)3 nonprofit
-Promoting the network
-Security testing
-Developing future expansions
-Web-hosting services
-Buying up the web addresses that are similar enough to Needpedia.com for others to potentially scam our users
Plus whatever other expenses inevitably pop up.
Perhaps you noticed the budget doesn't include any wages, that's because we're all volunteers. Not a single dollar we raise goes to anyone on our team.
It's also worth mentioning we've been hearing from programmers who want to volunteer. And if they can make real progress by the time the fundraising is done, then we're going to switch our development strategy. Instead of paying a development team to do everything (then leave once they're done or charge every time we need help), we want to attract more programmers and accelerate development by offering money for the completion of pre-specified tasks. That way we can pay programmers to build the harder parts quickly, while still cultivating a community of programmers who can help maintain the site down the road. -Hopefully achieving the best of both worlds.
How do you plan to sustain this site in the long term?
Instead of selling users data and all the other things sites are doing for money, our goal is to be entirely community funded. -To ensure there will never be a conflict of interest no matter how large or old Needpedia may someday become. We serve the public, that's our bottom line.
How can you offer tax deductible donations when you're not registered on Guidestar as a 501(c)3 nonprofit?
Through our partnership with Media Island International. They're a well established nonprofit based in Olympia Washington that helps individuals and organizations produce media and develop their own pro-social projects. Needpedia itself functions as a development branch for Media Island International, our singular goal being to produce, maintain, and continuously-improve the wiki for all solutions.
When will the wiki be launched?
With the ideal budget, within less than 3 months. Then it goes into testing which shouldn't take more than another two months. Wikis also need awhile for volunteers to build up enough content for them to be useful to everyday people. After all, it's one thing to see you're the first one posting about problems in your city, it's another to find yourself wondering if there's any interesting content on the site at all.
What kind of collaborators are you looking for?
All kinds. Here's a short list of the different tasks we'd like help with. For more information visit the "Collaboration" page in the menu above or send us a message at
Needpedia@gmail.com
(or on Facebook or Twitter).
-Ask other cool organizations you know about if they've heard about what we're doing, and if they might be interested in offering a signal boost, or a tax-deductible donation.
-Ask smart people you know if they'd be interested in this project, word of mouth is powerful and we really could use more collaborators.
-Post relevant content to our social media accounts, and engage people with questions. If you're wondering it, other people probably are too.
-Make Art! Capture it somehow and share it with us.
-Write. Long or short, if you find inspiration to write it there's a good chance we can use it.
-Hop in front of a camera or send us interesting footage we can use. We love having more content to make videos and other things with.
-Program, Needpedia's on Github, feel free to find us there. We're also on Slack, let us know if you'd like an invite.


The Reloop RP-8000 combines modern DJ technology in an advanced turntable. This hybrid high torque turntable does the balancing act between approved direct drive technology and a digital control section for your DJ software. The RP-8000 is able to communicate with any midi compatible DJ software - an additional modular controller is not necessary anymore. Serato Scratch Live mappings are also available with which the worldwide most popular and stable DVS system can be controlled. With the Trax encoder it is possible to scroll through your playlists and comfortably load tracks onto the decks.
The RP8000 is taken into the exclusive "Official Serato Accessory" family, becoming the first ever Serato-supported turntable on the market. Use the RP8000 as part of your DVS set up with seamless plug and play integration allowing for previously unimagined creative possibilities. The MIDI control strip is now fully pre-mapped within Serato DJ 1.6.2, offering all the trigger action you could need thanks to the 4 combinable performance modes - Cue, Loop, Sample and Slicer.
Besides the indestructible and sturdy construction, the turntable does not only cope with the hardest club surroundings, its technical features are as powerful: an ultra powerful, quartz driven direct drive with precise even speed and digital correction emphasizes the Reloop RP-8000's class. The high-resolution pitch (+/- 8%, +/- 16% and +/- 50 %) with a resolution of 0.02% is shown on the LCD and facilitates exact beat matching with long mixes.
Sophisticated and fast turntablism showcases can also be realized without a problem, thanks to the additional start/stop button for vertical positioning and a variable torque from "Classic" to "HiTorque". More variety in the mix: with the reverse button and an adjustable start/stop time from 0.2 to 6 seconds, individual and creative impulses can be set with the RP-8000.
Start-up time/tempo change: less than 0.2 sec.
This item ships from the factory to us in Santa Fe Springs, CA upon your order. Please allow a few extra days for us to ship to you. We believe a quality piece of gear like this is work the wait 😊 Thank You.


text:
Costa Navarino awarded 2020 Clubhouse of the Year
by Olatoye Daniel
The uniquely designed Bay Course clubhouse covers an area of 2000m2 and blends seamlessly into the natural landscape.
Regarded as the Mediterranean's prime, sustainable destination, Costa Navarino is celebrating a new international golf award after the clubhouse on its acclaimed Bay Course was voted 'Clubhouse of the Year 2020' by Golf Inc. magazine.
The striking earth-sheltered building, which has received global attention after being unveiled last summer, took first place in the 'public clubhouse' category of the prestigious annual awards.
The uniquely designed Bay Course clubhouse covers an area of 2,000m2 and blends seamlessly into the natural landscape. Only clearly visible when playing the closing hole, its indoor and outdoor spaces afford stunning vistas across the renowned Robert Trent Jones Jnr-designed golf course to the historic Bay of Navarino, enhancing the Bay Course's positioning among the most scenic golf courses in Europe.
Nuno Sepulveda, director of golf and sports business development at Costa Navarino, said: "We are delighted to have received this award from Golf Inc. magazine. The feedback that we have received from guests has been overwhelming since we opened the clubhouse, the architects have done an incredible job and the view from the upper floor and terrace is truly memorable.
Designed by Athens-based AETER Architects – with interiors by London's MKV Design – the Bay Course clubhouse is aligned with Costa Navarino's sustainable principles to preserve and enhance the local environment. The clubhouse is ideally located in a varied landscape with features that combine a pristine coastline with tree-lined hills, olive groves and sweeping sea views.
Based on the doctrine of bioclimatic architecture it features planted roofs which include a total of 27,500 plants and trees – both around the clubhouse and on its roof – as well as materials and systems that maximise the building's energy efficiency.
You can also read about this UK cheat who sold taken penguins on Facebook shipped off jail
AETER Architects, (Mr. Charry K. Bougadellis, architect), said: "It's a great honour to receive this award, and we're very pleased with the construction and overall execution of this project.
Our favourite part is how the majestic view is spectacularly revealed to the visitors once they enter the interior of the clubhouse. The visitor arrives to the almost ceremonial entry plaza and the building's entrance front functions as a theatrical curtain that conceals the protagonist, which is the landscape itself. Then they enter, and the stunning view unfolds.
The clubhouse's unique design and facilities, which also include an impressive pro shop and Ted's Lounge, offering culinary delights to golfers, further enhance the golf offering at Costa Navarino and the unique experiences for its guests.
One of the world's leading sustainable destinations, Costa Navarino is renowned for its pristine coastal location, outstanding landscape, cultural heritage, luxury hospitality and real estate. A commitment to the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility exist throughout its operation, as well as a desire to promote the entire region of Messinia, while protecting and preserving both its natural beauty and heritage.
And the destination is set to further improve its golf luxury experience with the development of two new 18-hole golf courses which, stretching over 150 hectares at Navarino Hills, are on track for a spring 2022 opening. Complementing the signature layouts at The Dunes Course and The Bay Course, the two courses will boost Costa Navarino's position as one of the world's most environmentally-friendly golf destinations.
Tags: Trending
Olatoye Daniel
ATPCO President and CEO Rolf Purzer announces retirement


"Princess Earth Chan" will begin after the advertisement.
It's not always easy fitting into a new environment, especially when it's a whole different planet. In the Princess Earth Chan dress-up game, a group of princesses have travelled from far-flung planets to see what life is like on Earth. Help them blend in by choosing outfits, hairstyles and makeup that will make them look and feel at home amongst Earthlings. Have fun!


Candidates will need to enter the registration number, date of birth, gender, and verification code for the obtainment of UPSSSC Pravidhik Sahayak Admit Card 2019. The direct download link for the admit card is updated in this article here. The candidates are however recommended to visit the official website for the latest releases & notifications regarding the Uttar Pradesh SSSC Agriculture Technical Assistant Class III Hall Ticket/ Call Letter 2019 uploading.
The UPSSSC Exam Date 2019 for 2059 Agri. Technical Asst. has been announced after the registration window closure. The candidates can check the assigned exam date, test center details, time to report etc. on the UP Technical Assistant Group C Exam Admit Card 2019 as well. Candidates must follow the prescribed schedule given on their e-admit cards.
The Agriculture Technical Asst. is known as Pravidhik Sahayak in the Hindi Language. The Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission has published a recruitment notification for this available post recently. The candidates who have filled the online application against this recruitment will be provided Pravidhik Sahayak Admit Card 2019 only if they are fulfilling the requisite eligibility criteria.
The admit card availability date is out after the application process. The candidates need to make sure they obtain the admit card within the given time frame. The links to download admit card will be removed from the day of examination or before that. A candidate without the admit card won't be considered in appearing the recruitment test.
Selection Process for Agriculture Technical Asst.
There will be 200 Multiple choice questions with 400 Marks.
Each question will be of 02 (Two) Marks.
The Time Duration of the test will be 02 Hours.
There will be a deduction of 01 marks for each wrong answer.
Subjects/Topics for the Written Exam: General Intelligence, General Knowledge, General Science & Arithmetic, General Hindi.
How to download UPSSSC Pravidhik Sahayak 2019 Admit Card?
Visit the UPSSSC website – www.upsssc.gov.in.
Click on the admit card link given for Pravidhik Sahayak 2019 Examination.
Now, Enter the unique application details – Registration No, DOB etc. as mentioned earlier.
Verify your details given in your admit card. Any discrepancy if appears, contact the officials for the correction.
Or Else Print & Download the admit card for the examination purpose.
Candidates will be able to take a hold of the Agriculture Technical Asst. Class 3 Admit Card only if their application status is not rejected and Examination has been Scheduled. So, each one of the candidates must view their application status before they plan to participate in the written test. The link for UPSSSC Pravidhik Sahayak Admit Card 2019 & UPSSSC Official Website is given below.


text:
November/December 2015 Elwood McQuaid
Who Has a Hold on Hope?
Atheists chalked up another win in August when the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) forced the Royster Middle School in Chanute, Kansas, to remove a print of Warner Sallman's famous 1941 painting, Head of Christ. The FFRF claimed the painting, which had hung on a wall by the school entrance for more than half a century, endorsed the establishment of Christianity as an official state religion.
The school superintendent had the painting removed promptly because the atheists threatened the school district with protracted litigation that would have crippled its limited resources, materially affecting the school's ability to provide adequate educational services to the community.
The portrait was brought to the FFRF's attention by a lone disgruntled individual who took a picture of it and forwarded it to the foundation. The fact that almost everyone in the town of 9,200 people and 30 churches approved of the print was inconsequential.
The portrait was hung at the middle school in 1956 in memory of a student, Duane Eastburn, a 14-year-old ninth grader who collapsed in the gymnasium and died there that year. Funds for the portrait reportedly came from the Student Council's small budget, and a small brass plaque on the frame notes that it was placed as a memorial to Duane Eastburn.
A Hopeless Credo
The Chanute, Kansas, incident raises a question that demands an answer, one that could be posed to every God-denying militant in the Western world. If the FFRF were required to place a plaque honoring young Duane, what would it say?
Perhaps it would bear the words of the late Anne Nicol Gaylor: "There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell."
Ms. Gaylor was the principle founder of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and her public life reflected her two passions: atheism and abortion. Among her celebrated lawsuits was Gaylor v. Reagan, contesting then-President Ronald Reagan's declaration of 1983 as "The Year of the Bible."
So what does the FFRF actually offer humanity? To Duane Eastburn and the billions of others who have passed into eternity, the organization and its atheistic fellow travelers would only have been able to say, "We have no hope." Instead of Warner Sallman's depiction of Jesus, which celebrates hope, they could only hang the morbidly hopeless, atheistic message that the here-and-now is all there is.
One wonders why, in a society tolerant of virtually every stripe of deviant behavior and bizarre conduct imaginable, would some people campaign to destroy faith? Faith poses no threat to them. In fact, true believers promote peace, tolerance, and social stability—qualities that built America and the West into the greatest societies the world has ever known.
To take pleasure and a type of perverse satisfaction in forcing the removal of a memorial to a 14-year-old boy seems incomprehensible. Such actions merely confirm the grave ramifications of the contest for the hearts and minds of human beings.
Down-With-Christmas Crusade
This is the peak season for atheists and their ilk to gird for battle. Now is when these self-appointed warriors against God wield their swords wildly, trying to annihilate all evidence of Christian reverence and celebration.
One of their primary centers of activity is the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, where the FFRF maintains a sign declaring the commemoration of Christ's birth a contemptible delusion. The full text of the plaque reads,
At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.
While the FFRF trumpets denial, some of its compatriots turn to mockery. Also posted at the Wisconsin State Capitol is a large poster sponsored by the Atheists, Humanists, and Agnostics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bearing an image of tangled spaghetti, the copy reads as follows: "BEHOLD THE FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER. HE BOILED FOR YOUR SINS! BE TOUCHED BY HIS NOODLY APPENDAGE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!"
The eruptions of anti-God, anti-Christian vitriol that we will witness across America over the coming weeks embody more than a faux intellectual argument over the separation of church and state. They represent an all-encompassing, impassioned aggression aimed not only at the exercise of religion in the public arena, but at every church, Christian organization, and professing Christian believer as well. Above all, they are attacks on Jesus Christ and all He embodies.
No Contest
In reality, the atheists, humanists, and agnostics have little chance of universal success. Despite the fact that many of our "progressive," liberal academic institutions and social revisionists are aquiver with the current fad of godlessness, several factors forecast their downfall:
(1) They are decisively outnumbered. For example, the Freedom From Religion Foundation boasts a membership of "more than 22,500." According to a 2014 Pew Research poll, 70.6 percent of Americans still say they believe in Jesus Christ. That means seven out of every 10 people in the United States (population 321.6 million) in some way identify with Christianity.
(2) They bring a message of despair. They try to convince people that the atheistic life holds hope, promise, and expectation when it really encapsulates the complaint of the ancient heathen: "We go down in death, but we make no return in the morning."
Death without a blessed destiny is not a message of hope but, rather, a grim reminder of a line from William Henley's poem Invictus: "Beyond this place of wrath and tears/Looms but the Horror of the shade."
(3) They are no match for the Lord of lords and the eternal benefits He will surely deliver. When the swaddled Christ Child was placed in a loving Jewish mother's arms more than 2,000 years ago, the world was given a new beginning—one that fulfilled every jot and tittle of what the prophets of old promised.
He was a Child of promise unlike any other. He was destined to be a King—one of quite a different kind. Someday He will return to assume His earthly throne in a literal Millennial Kingdom. Until then, He reigns in the hearts and lives of innumerable believers the world over.
Because Jesus came to Earth and endured the cross, He fulfi lled every hope-sustaining promise enumerated in God's Word to those who believe. And, amazingly, the spiritual treasures He imparts are not restricted to the rich, powerful, and privileged—which is man's way of doing things—but to individuals like you and me.
He promised peace; we have it.
He promised comfort; we have it.
He promised a law of love to live by; we have it.
He promised security; we have it.
He promised His presence, never to leave us; we have it. He promised eternal life; we have it.
He promised a home in heaven; we have it.
Are these things real? Ask the countless millions of believers who have received them in their own lives over the millennia. Inquire of those still streaming to Him and finding new life. They'll tell you in one burst of affirmation. What Christ offers is real for now and forever. His is a story that never grows old.
I was in Jerusalem on Christmas Eve many years ago. I rose extremely early because it was my departure day, and I wanted to be home in time to celebrate Christmas with my family. As I looked out my hotel window, day was breaking over the city. Nothing seemed to be stirring.
To my right, strung from the tower of the YMCA building, was a string of Christmas lights. Far off in the dawning winter sky hung a single bright star. As I stood there, mesmerized by the sight, it was as though time had receded to the morning when God became man, a few miles down the road. And I was thankful.
Within hours, I'd be home, surrounded by a happy family, all living to the full the "joy to the world" of Christmas. And it was all real because Jesus made it real. We love Him, and we love one another with something far beyond the emotion of the moment.
To all the atheists, humanists, and agnostics: We pray for you with genuine compassion for what you are missing now and what you will never know without faith in Jesus Christ after you pass from this life.
Scripture says, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (Jn. 6:37). Christ has never rejected anyone who has come to Him, and I can guarantee He won't start with you.
Elwood McQuaid is the former Executive Director of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry and former editor-in-chief of Israel My Glory magazine. He is an author of multiple books focusing on Israel, prophecy, and Biblical teaching.
From the Editor Nov/Dec 2015
When the Time Was Right
Beyond the Manger
Waiting for His Shout
With Justice for All
Inside View Nov/Dec 2015
Eye on the Middle East Nov/Dec 2015
They Cry in Silence Nov/Dec 2015
Pastor Abedini Still in Prison in Iran
The Roman Effect
No Room at the Kataluma
How to Walk and When to Stand
More Than a Man
He Still Seeks and Saves
Jesus, Zionism, and the Millennial Generation
A Beloved Servant
Liberty, Love, and Life With Christ Part One
Israel in the News Nov/Dec 2015
Apples of Gold Nov/Dec 2015
Christmastime is my favorite time of year. Perhaps it's because I never celebrated Christmas when I was growing up. I was probably 10 before I even learned Jesus was Jewish.
Lorna Simcox
Atheists chalked up another win in August when the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) forced the Royster Middle School in Chanute, Kansas, to remove a print of Warner Sallman's famous 1941 painting...
The Hebrew Scriptures provide inklings of God's special preparations for His Son. Abraham and his descendants were to live in a specifi c place, the "Promised Land" (Gen. 12:1).
Even at this time of year, when we celebrate Jesus' birth, most people don't know who Jesus is. The Bible has much to say about the One who was born in a manger in Bethlehem.
It is not difficult to picture the scene Jesus' disciples witnessed when the resurrected Lord ascended from the surface of the earth, rising higher and higher. Their squinting gaze no doubt focused...
Charles McCracken
Imagine a world where all nations are at peace, and there is no war and no threat of deadly terrorism; all politicians and government officials are honest, trustworthy...


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Birthday celebrations go horribly wrong
A young Chatham family and a pregnant woman narrowly escaped disaster after smoke alarms failed when a deep fat-fryer caught light.
The group were celebrating a friend's birthday in the back garden when the fire broke out in the two-storey terraced house in Ingle Road just before 7pm last night (Wednesday).
The couple were enjoying a barbecue with their three-year-old son and friends, while their eighteen-month-old son slept upstairs.They had forgotten their deep-fat fryer was still switched on in their ground floor kitchen and returned 10 minute later to find the room full of smoke.
The mother and the young boy left the garden with their friends through a nearby alleyway and phoned Kent Fire and Rescue Service, while the father rushed upstairs, grabbed his sleeping toddler and also escaped to safety.
Two fire engines from Medway arrived at the two-storey terraced house within five minutes of receiving the 999 call and were met with dense, black smoke billowing from the front door and kitchen window. They quickly assessed that the kitchen windows had cracked due to the heat and smoke was also venting into a neighbouring property.
Medway Watch Manager, Paul Nash, said: "The fire had developed very quickly, engulfing the kitchen, a small utility area and crept into the lounge and bathroom above.
"We used a positive pressure ventilation fan (PPV) to force air into the house to drive heat, gases and smoke out of the property. Crews wearing breathing apparatus were then able to extinguish the blaze using two hose reels. They worked extremely hard to get this severe fire under control."
The family and a pregnant friend were checked over by ambulance crews as a precaution and the Red Cross provided practical help and emotional support to the family, who are believed to be staying with friends until they can be rehoused.
Paul added: "Sadly this young family have lost virtually everything but had the fire started while they were asleep they may have lost more than their belongings as the smoke alarms in their home were not working.
"It is vital that everyone has working smoke alarms on every floor of their home, they really are the most important piece of safety equipment and never leave cooking unattended."


captured as many as 19 times between April 14, 2017 and April 13, 2018, This helps protect our copyright.
soda in a cup of water."
Sarin gas works like an insecticide on humans!
Sarin gas until it's almost too late. It works like an insecticide.
minutes to deal with it or you're toast.
nerve agents aren't so quick to infiltrate.
chemical weapons and they aren't backing down.
#1: Consider the objective of attackers.
you can deduce that the aim is to decrease morale.
always maintain an awareness of your environment.
and knowing what could happen in a chemical attack.
Syria, and it can happen again anywhere in the world.
that can explode into a building or vehicle near you.
kill or wound civilians in the street.
#3: Understand that most gases are heavier than air.
ground. This is often why it affect young children the most.
anything you can to keep your head up above the vapors.
Prevent gas from getting into the house.
close off windows if they've been blown out by explosions.
#4: Know some chemical weapons are odorless.
you a bit vulnerable as to how to handle the toxins.
package. If you buy online, be sure to know the discard date.
#5: Recognize the symptoms of Sarin gas.
little time to respond to the threat.
suddenly his windpipe opened enough to shout to others nearby.
Don't look up as the gas may fall into your eyes.
seeping into your skin (and leave them outside).
materials into a plastic zip lock bag.
wash of one tablespoon of baking soda in quart of water.
Take a shower as soon as feasible.
for days or weeks after it has been dropped there.
and carbamates or with 2-PAM for organophosphates.
#8: Get an NBC gas mask.
Control (CDC) doesn't recommend getting them.
to allow the proper barrier.
other pandemics; also volcanic ash.
blood gas, choking gas (nerve agent), etc.
#9: Watch an old Civil defense film.
Below is a news reel from 1942 on "What to do in a gas attack"
chemical attack, but still has many relevant ideas in survival.
#10 Get a Decontamination kit.