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A yazidi woman who survived abuse from ISIS and rescued from Gaza, arrived at Germany on on Tuesday, February 18. https://www.voanews.com/a/yazidi-woman-enslaved-by-islamic-state-relocates-to-germany-months-after-rescue/7979829.html The UN, European parliament, Swiss and German parliaments have recognized the ISIS crimes against the Yazidis as genocide. https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/12/swiss-parliament-recognizes-isis-crimes-against-yazidis-as-genocide/

There is more to life than increasing its speed. ~ Mahatma Gandhi A mind that is fast is sick. A mind that is slow is sound. A mind that is still is divine.” ~ Meher Baba “All negative thoughts – anger, fear, passion,compulsive craving -- tend to be fast. If we could see the mind when it is caught in such thoughts, we would really see it racing. But positive thoughts like love, patience, tenderness, compassion, and understanding are slow - not turbulent, rushing brooks of thinking, so to speak but broad rivers that are calm, clear, and deep.” ~ Eknath Easwaran When we go slower, we are more patient and when we are more patient we have a choice in how we respond. ~ Eknath Easwaran An unhurried mind brings the capacity to make wise choices every day - choices of how we use our time, of where we place our resources and our love. I am not just talking about avoiding the rat race, but about a life full of an artistic beauty - a life that has almost vanished from modern civilization, but is quite within the reach of everyone. ~ Eknath Easwaran “As meditation deepens, compulsions, cravings, and fits of emotions begin to lose their power to dictate our behavior. We see clearly that choices are possible: we can say yes, or we can say no.― Eknath Easwaran

Mod is an excellent administrator but to call him spiritually advanced or enlightened is hyperbole. Under him, India has become the fastest growing major economy in the world, the fourth largest economy and the fourth strongest military power on earth. However , he lacks the statemanship , diplomatic skils and oratory of former prime minister Nehru who were the co-founders of NAM and had attemted to position NAM as a buffer zone between the western and Soviet bloc, so as to prevent the likelihood of a nuclear war that could wipe out both sides in mutually assured destruction. Nehru could have mediated successfully the current crisis of Russia-Ukraine war and ensured that Russia and NATO would be bound to pledges and treaties of non-aggression and non-expansion respectively.

Insightful article on Buddhist perspective on nihilism.. https://buddhaweekly.com/buddhism-has-nothing-to-do-with-nihilism-and-everything-to-do-with-experiencing-why-emptiness-and-nothingness-are-poor-translations-of-shunyata/

Ethical conduct in the form of right speech, right livelihood and right effort are considered to be vital practices leading to enlightenment in Buddhism or Buddhahood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path https://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-buddhism/about-buddhism/buddha-s-basic-message/a-full-buddhist-life-the-eightfold-path/the-three-trainings Ethical conduct is also emphasized in the religious philosophies of Hinduism, Jainism and Sufism for attaining enlightenment. This itself is a refutation of the nihilist and existentialist premise that life is meaningless and all values and virtues are but abstract mental contrivances without any relevance of their own.

This happened in later times when the caste system became regimented and rigid. Drone was partial to his disciple Arjuna and did not want a superior warrior Eklavya in comparison. And yes, Drona was a teacher of martial arts, and is not considered a sage or saint for that matter. He ended up fighting against Krishna and Arjuna in the Mahabharatha war later on. Guru Ravi Das who lived in the sixteenth century was an enlightened sage who belonged to the lower castes and had a spiritual guru in Ramananda who belonged to the Brahmin caste. Ravi das himself had disciples belonging to the upper castes like Mirabai.

Not so. Caste system in India is a feudal system similar to that in Europe, Japan and Korea. (Even now, European aristocrats tend to keep themselves distinct from the commoners and marry among themselves as a rule.) The caste system has no sanction in the Vedas, the original Hindu scriptures which preaches the equality and fraternity of all human beings. Majority of the Vedic sages came from the lower economic groups . The Vedic sage, Satyakama Jabala, who composed portions of the Vedas, was the illegitimate son of a prostitute. He was taken as a disciple by his Guru on account of his character and honesty which the Guru perceived as signs of merit even though he was of illegitimate lineage. The caste system came up later on as a social system in order to preserve, consolidate and develop knowledge systems of each profession. Universities were not wide-spread in ancient times, and it was easier for the father to teach his sons and nephews the technical details of his profession. This enabled a certain specialisation of disciplines. For example, mathematics as in the numeral system, zero and basic mathematics used around the world commonly were developed in India. I am not an advocate of the caste system as it is obviously obsolete in today's world, but it had its relevance in ancient times as a practical system. In todays world however, you can choose any profession, and the best universities in the world teaching that course by virtue of enhanced transportation and logistics.

Ukraine is neither a member of G7 or G20 , and Zhelensky has objected to being ignored in recent G20 summits. However, it can be a member of BRICS and use the opportunity to improve diplomatic relations with Russia to the point of peace and friendship, and also better relatons with the Global South and improve its economy in the process.

The Brazilian government announced that the next BRICS summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025. https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2025/01/03/brazil-takes-over-the-brics-presidency-and-will-host-the-bloc-s-summit-in-rio/ In 2024, the BRICS countries overtook the G7 countries in terms of GDP share and now accounts for over 46 % of the world population.

The scientists of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, India have discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn size with a mass of 78.5 Earth masses and a radius of 6.41 Earth radii in a wide binary system. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indian-researchers-discover-new-exoplanet-toi-6038a-b-heres-all-about-it/articleshow/118295180.cms?from=mdr

'An unclean environment, if not cleaned, leads to a situation where one starts accepting circumstances. On the contrary, if one cleans up dirt in the surroundings he gets energised and then does not resign himself to existing adverse circumstances.' ~ Mahatma Gandhi This saying by Mahatma Gandhi highlights how the simple act of cleaning or sweeping can be an exercise in increasing the positivity quotient in oneself and reducing negativity and indolent passivity. As per Hinduism and Buddhism, the mind tends towards negativity and unconsciousness, so it takes day to day austerities or exercises to make it positive,strong and anchored in present moment awareness. Krishna also highlights the observance of cleanliness as an austerity in the Bhagavad Gita (BG 17.14). These austerities helps to bring auspiciousness and attract positivity into our lives. We tend to attract what is there within us, so it is important to ensure we are in a state of positivity ourselves by austerities or spiritual exercises to attract positive events and circumstances.

A short but insightful article by Vernon Howard on spiritual exercise....

How can we gauge whether we are unaware or unconscious at any moment ? A simple toolkit by Vernon Howard to gauge our state of consciousness at any given point of time, and apply course correction if needed . https://archive.mail-list.com/secretsoflife/message/20021118.064550.be4dbaf9.en.html

A summarized teaching of Dharma by Phakchok Rinpoche... https://tzal.org/quotes-by-phakchok-rinpoche/

Spiritual teacher Joan Tollifson had similarly spoken on the correlation between capitalim-consumerism and addictive behavior...

Insightful speech by Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje on the necessity of regulating our desires for environmental protection. https://kagyuoffice.org/buddhism-and-the-environment-living-in-harmony-with-the-planet/

An interesting excerpt on nihilism as per Buddhism, that I read recently... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism

Balakishore of Brahmakumaris expounds on the necessity for synergy between Principle, Context and Practice for optimal results. This also enables elimination of misunderstandings and conflicts between various groups leading to promotion of universal harmony. https://balakishore.in/articles/principle-context-practice/

Teachings of Sri Avinash... https://www.sriavinash.org/teachings-from-the-master/

Sri Avinash on his journey from a Vietnamese refugee child to being an enlightened sage.. https://www.sriavinash.org/sri-avinash/awakening-and-mission/#PAGE-3

To let go of desires you have to follow a certain code of conduct. This is the manure by which the rose of love will blossom. ~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Love is a state of mind where self interests are removed. The mind dwells in its natural state of sat-chit-ananda - existence, consciousness, bliss. Love is not created; it is a mental state which develops by living a disciplined life and developing positive qualities. Human ego is very attracted to negative qualities, so it needs much austerity to develop positive qualities. ~ Baba Hari Dass Love is connected to virtues. Virtues create love within the self and within others. When virtues reduce, the quality of love is also reduced. When all virtues are present, there is complete and pure love. ~ Dadi Janki, Brahmakumaris

A free pdf book by Sister Aruna Ladva of the Brahmakumaris (Certified Negotiator in Conflict Resolution) on Conflict Resolution and its management. https://www.itstimetomeditate.org/book/conflict-resolution-free-download/ https://arunaladvaitstime.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/aruna_conflictres_2014.pdf The Brahmakumaris have received seven UN Peace Messenger Awards for their services around the world in the interests of global peace and harmony.

Higher prana levels equate to high joy and bliss levels as per Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. https://wisdomfromsrisriravishankar.blogspot.com/2010/01/ I had created a thread on prana by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar earlier...

The Pope has also similarly asked for the restoration of dialogue between the two warring parties. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8en1jn3n5o

The Dalai Lama has sought the restoration of dialogue to establish peace in Ukraine. https://www.dalailama.com/news/2022/hope-for-dialogue-to-restore-pease-in-ukraine The two world wars of the previous century which started in europe on the basis of military alliances killed more than a hundred million people and injured much more. Proper global leadership could have preempted such wars and conflicts , but unfortunately they were allowed to grow in size and scale reaching critical mass levels due to lack of the same. The third world war based on nuclear weapons can eliminate total nations and continents. World civilization will be regressed back to a few centuries till normality prevails again. Even the present situation has resulted in economic recession and hardship for the masses while the rich and powerful are insulated from it. Massive destruction of life and property happened in europe in the last two world wars and it is important to ensure that a culture of peace and nonviolence is created in europe to check the momentum of the past periods of brutality and violence which is threatening to reveal itself again. So it is important to rein in aggressive instincts and allow rationality and non-emotivity to develop so as to prevent worse case scenarios and ensure that best case scenarios are allowed to emerge instead. As Abraham Lincoln stated, 'Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?' Hence communication channels should be kept open with space for dialogue to resolve all disagreements. Global leadership not partial to any military alliances are the need of the hour to exercise sound judgement with respect to solutions that may bring peace and global progress in its wake.