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Rudbeckia fulgida Beckstrum.
We have started a blog for Gardeners - The Compost Heap
It is a selection of tips for gardeners and articles on gardening. We also include some selected photos of gardens and flowers.
Articles include:
If you would like to ask a question on economics, you are free to leave a comment on my economics blog. Free Economics Help
I studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University (Lady Margaret Hall) before becoming an economics teacher. I run 2 economics Blogs
- Economics Essays- Longer essays, primarily about UK and US economy.
- Economics Textbooks
- Why Textbooks can be wrong
- Economomics Help - blog topics on a variety of things, including answers to readers questions
I also have a blog on personal finance, mortgages and debt: Finance Blog - Helping to simplify personal finance. Including topics such as Top 10 Financial Products to avoid
- Unfortunately comments do not appear to be working at moment.. This may encourage me to move to my new blog
some links:
Sri Chinmoy
Sunday 14th October,
Many people from different parts of the world, are continuing to arrive in New York in order to pay their final respects and gratitude to Sri Chinmoy.
At a meeting place called "Aspiration Ground", students of Sri Chinmoy are maintaining a continuous 24 hour vigil of prayerful silence and meditation.
There have been many recent Tributes to the life of Sri Chinmoy.
They can be seen at:
- Sri Chinmoy Tributes at Sri Chinmoy.org
- Article in New York Times - requires registration, but is free to view.
- Moving Speech by US congressman, Gary Ackerman, at Sri Chinmoy News
- Selected Tributes from members of the General Public
This is the final scene from a play about Lord Buddha. It was posted on Sri Chinmoy Inspiration group.
THE BUDDHA AND ANANDA (a short play by Sri Chinmoy)
CAST: THE BUDDHA ANANDA, HIS DEAREST DISCIPLE A FEW INTIMATE DISCIPLES
BUDDHA: Ananda, I am now an old man. I am eighty years old. Ananda, for fifty years I have been teaching and preaching. The time has come for me to depart from this world. I am weak. I am an invalid. My whole body is shattered, Ananda. This body can be of no more use here on earth.
ANANDA (shedding tears): No, Master, no. You have to stay with us for quite a long time more. Your very presence is a great blessing to humanity. This Sangha is not yet well-established. This Sangha needs your physical presence.
BUDDHA: Ananda, do you mean to say that the Sangha expects something new from me? Do you mean to say that I have not spoken in clear terms about this Dharma? I have not kept anything hidden from you people. Never have I shown any sign of reticence, nor any indifference. Besides, I never thought that I would have to conduct and manage the Sangha, and that it would always depend on me. So why should I stay? Why should I be involved any longer in the activities of the Sangha? Ananda, from now on be self-sufficient. Have faith in yourself. Lead a spiritual life. You will realise the highest Truth. He who follows the Dharma, he who takes refuge in the Dharma, will alone enter into the world of bliss, and nobody else.
ANANDA: O Lord Buddha, what you say is perfectly true, but our hearts cannot live without you. We need you. We shall eternally need you.
BUDDHA: Ananda, you need me. I need you. Again, the Truth eternal needs us both. The Truth eternal needs me in the world of the Beyond, and the same Truth needs you here on earth. My life has come to an end. All the experiences of the world I offer to the world. Yesterday I ate at Chunda's house. Since then I have been feeling weaker, but I wish to assure you that this weakness is not due to his food. I am suffering, true, but it is not his fault at all. He gave me food with utmost love and devotion. Nobody should blame him when I die. I offer him my deepest blessings. Before I was illumined, before I became the Enlightened One, Sujata's food helped me to live on earth. Her food made it possible for me to meditate. And now Chunda's food is helping me to enter into the highest Nirvana. I see no difference between Sujata's food and Chunda's food. Each has served a special purpose of its own.
Sri Chinmoy
My spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy passed away yesterday, Thursday, 11th October, early in the morning. The cause of death was a heart attack.
His passing was quite unexpected as he had been fully active to the last moments of his life.
Just a couple of week ago, he visited Russia to take part in the opening of a hospital dedicated to his dear friend Raisa Gorbachev.
Sri Chinmoy dedicated his life to serving others and working toward global peace and harmony. He offered a simple message that we could all work for a better future, through our own self-improvement.
We are saddened at the abrupt loss, but, remain deeply enriched by the inspiration and example of Sri Chinmoy's life.
It is also appropriate to remember, the philosophy of Sri Chinmoy regarding death. This is the very last poem published in his most recent poem / prayer book.
“My physical death Is not the end of my life - I am an eternal journey.”
- Sri Chinmoy's final prayer-poem
At a later stage, I shall try to write some more words to express the gratitude and inspiration I have received from Sri Chinmoy in the past 9 years.
Some other pages on the life and death of Sri Chinmoy
- Tributes to the life of Sri Chinmoy
- Obituary at Sri Chinmoy.org
- Sri Chinmoy at the NY Times
- The Death of Sri Chinmoy - reported by NY Daily News
- The Passing of Sri Chinmoy - thoughtful observations by good friend, Shambhu Vineburg at Vineburg Communications
- Sri Chinmoy 1931 - 2007 at Sumangali.org
- Sri Chinmoy's death at Shane Magee.com
- The Man Who Painted Eternity at Sri Chinmoy Art
- Sri Chinmoy dies at Write Spirit
- Some Quotes by Sri Chinmoy
Hope abides; therefore I abide. Countless frustrations have not cowed me. I am still alive, vibrant with life. The black cloud will disappear, The morning sun will appear once again In all its supernal glory. "
Picture: by Tejvan,
(Rock rose: Helianthemum nummularium)
Poems About Hope at Sri Chinmoy Poetry
I have to admit I struggled through my first year of philosophy. I found Descartes dreary and logic perfectly illogical. I was rather pleased when I could drop (Western) philosophy for Politics and Economics.
I appreciate very few Western philosophers, but, I do have great admiration for Socrates. Socrates was unlike many philosophers because for him the aim of philosophy was not to write down great works of intellectual magnificence. Socrates was primarily interested in searching for and living the real meaning of life.
I wrote an article at Pick the Brian about Socrates and the lessons we can learn from his life.
Some Quotes from Socrates
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
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Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.
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By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.
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I decided that it was not wisdom that enabled poets to write their poetry, but a kind of instinct or inspiration, such as you find in seers and prophets who deliver all their sublime messages without knowing in the least what they mean.
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If thou continuest to take delight in idle argumentation thou mayest be qualified to combat with the sophists, but will never know how to live with men.
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Serenity, regularity, absence of vanity, Sincerity, simplicity, veracity, equanimity, Fixity, non-irritability, adaptability, Humility, tenacity, integrity, nobility, magnanimity, charity, generosity, purity.Practise daily these eighteen "ities" You will soon attain immortality.
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The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.
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The unexamined life is not worth living.
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A montage of English rugby tries
Video of the Lion Whisperer. Great Pictures. Note the video has a 5 seconds advert. But, it is worth waiting.
Table in the Green
I'm interested in Zen simplicity at the moment. My room, alas, is far from meeting my aspirations of simplicity and tidiness. I wrote an article "How to Clear Out Your Clutter" at Sri Chinmoy Inspiration no.9 is "Ask Your Mother To Help" - Not so sure about this one, but, they can be very useful for cleaning...
Photo by Kedar Misani, Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries.
Kedar has an extensive gallery of photos, which are worth checking out. I am, of course, very grateful for his permission in using his photos on my different websites.
Great Satire of Over analysis of Shakespeare. This is how I remember studying philosophy.
"The huddled masses yearning to be free...
A new collection of photo albums by Unmesh at Sri Chinmoy Centre Galleries
The Giant Pencil ! - 76 Feet
When I was in New York for Sri Chinmoy's birthday celebrations, I was able to watch an unusual event occur. - The making of the world's largest pencil!. It took 2 weeks to make and we saw it being put together with huge amounts of wood, graphite and even a giant rubber. Ashrita said the most difficult thing was getting a big enough piece of graphite. Apparently the graphite rods they found are used in nuclear power stations.
Ashrita said:
"The pencil was made to honour the extraordinary creativity of Sri Chinmoy, so we wanted to make an extraordinary writing implement."
Sri Chinmoy made a drawing from the pencil, by moving a sheet of paper. The pencil was then lifted up by a crane, towering above the local shops.
The pencil is now destined for a museum in New York.
Video of pencil being made at Sri Chinmoy TV
There is a pencil museum in Kendal
Yovraj Singh hits six sixes in one over from England's Chris Broad. Amazing feat!
Oxford at Night
Some Links
What makes an effective leader?
10 Tips to avoid depression at Sri Chinmoy Inspiration
The Four Minute Mile a historical battle. Article by Shane at All about Running. New blog with running tips from Sri Chinmoy MT
Spent some time in the Lake District Cycled up Kirkstone Pass amongst other things.
Commuting Meditation at Sumangali.org
Finance
Are prices set to Drop - The northern Rock crisis saw alot of traffic about housing market
easy ways to save money I ommitted the easiest way, - which is of course not to have kids.
The only problem with having so many blogs, is that some start to get neglected.
Here's a few interesting links to make up for lack of content.
When Silence is the best philosophy an Article I wrote.
When Sessions Sweet Silent Thought Read by Sir John Gielgud at Priyadarshan.org. Priyadarshan is fast developing some interesting pieces on his site.
Sharani.org Sharani, another friend from the Sri Chinmoy Centre, now has her own blog.
Tejvan.co.uk Tejvan's blog is slowly creeping into action. I hoped Wordpress would be much better blogging software but, you tube videos not working at moment. I'm wondering what to put on that blog
Picture of the week goes to Shane Magee Return of the Zombie , Shane also uses the Ketchup bottle to dramatic effect
