A person with gratitude is meritorious and an ungrateful person is a sinner. Throughout your life, never forget even a small help that someone has rendered to you. Remember that you are who you are because someone helped you in the past. The wordParopakara (helping others) is a combination of three terms –Para + Upa + Kara. Para = Atma; Upa = Near and Kara = action. The objective of your meritorious deeds must be to progress nearer to God. The same Divine (Atma) is present in you and everyone. Do not perform noble deeds with the feeling that you are doing charity. Real Paropakara is to act with faith and do meritorious acts to serve the Divine in others, without entertaining feelings of division and difference. Understand clearly that physically harming or injuring others is not the only sin, but seeing others as different from the Divine within you is also sin. You may be different individuals in bodies, but the Lord within is One.
My intent and focus has always been the same: Telling our story through words and photos. Instagram is my youngest social platform, as I resisted following the craze for what felt to me like a long time. Interestingly enough, it’s because of my Instagram account that our lives changed overnight.
Social media has had a positive influence on my life in so many ways, beginning long before my photos of Theo and Beau went viral.
Three months after we moved to New York City, my 2-year-old landed us in the emergency room with a severe allergic reaction to pistachios. Without any family, friends or neighbors to call, my husband stayed home with our youngest while I literally ran my wheezing, hive-covered baby through the rain to the NYU ER. Over the seven hours that Jack and I spent in that sterile, packed little curtained-off corner while he received round after round of steroids and oxygen, I turned to Twitter and found that I wasn’t, in fact, alone. There was a community of mothers and fathers there to virtually hold my hand, sharing their experiences and advice with me. Mostly they assured me that it was OK to be scared, but that my baby would also be OK. That was the first time I realized that this community is so much more than a bunch of strangers behind computer screens — this is a lifeline. These are my friends.
This incredible group of socially conscious and connected peers would prove immeasurably valuable over the next five years, but never more so than when my instagram photos went viral last November.
We adopted Theo from the Santa Cruz SPCA in late November of last year. He was 7 weeks young when we brought him home with us, and I’m quite sure he was sharing the nerves and anticipation that we were feeling.
Theo found the most comfort in my son Beau, and they immediately bonded as buddies, partners in crime, and even as brothers. He began napping with Beau, who wasn’t quite 2, the day after he came to live with us. I shared my delight with my husband via text first, then on Instagram.
They napped together day after day, and after a few naps I realized this wasn’t going to change anytime soon — so I gave them their own hashtag, and wrote about their lovely little ritual on my blog. The Huffington Post published an article about them next day, and by that night I had a slew of new followers and a deluge of media requests. Realizing what was happening without really registering it consciously, I stayed up for two nights fielding requests and handling agent emails and talk show inquiries. The local news crews were on our doorstep that weekend, and we even went to San Francisco in the middle of the night to film Fox & Friends. Good Morning America set up shop in our living room one evening the following week, and we started appearing in print all over the world.
Everyone said that I had “hit the lottery” and told me to enjoy my five minutes of fame. I couldn’t connect with that whatsoever, because in the midst of all of that attention, my baby’s face was appearing all over the world and my anxiety was eating me alive. It was mostly positive, though of course with the rapid attention and millions of eyeballs came the naysayers and Internet grumps. I’ve dealt with my share of negativity from strangers on the Internet, but those instances pale in comparison to the hundreds of emails and thousands of supportive comments from people all over the world.
I’ve heard stories of love and loss and how the photos of Theo and Beau bring peace and reassurance and hope to all kinds of people in all different situations. Above all else, this has been the largest bounty. The amount of love we’ve received in many different forms and several different languages has left me forever humbled.
My commitment to using social media for good had also presented itself in the most obvious way: turning the attention to our local Santa Cruz SPCA. We’ve raised over $10,000 towards their goal of building a new facility, and with a portion of the proceeds from my book going toward it as well, I’m confident they’ll meet that goal. Philanthropy has always been my anchor, and it’s kept me grounded throughout this experience.
The past five months have been some of the most intense of my entire life. I’ve rapidly learned all about Internet property, copyright and trademarks, and more broadly, the infinite arms of the Internet — how vast that span is and yet how wildly unhinged it can be, too.
In my most frantic and dire moments of stress, my online community was there for me again. Far from the emergency room, yet feeling stranded all the same, I received unsolicited emails and notes of advice and support from some of the most successful and knowledgeable pioneers in this business: women and men whom I am hugely proud to call my friends. I battened down the hatches by hiring a team of heroes: lawyers, agents, publicists, a rock star to handle my sponsorship opportunities, and even a babysitter and a house cleaner. What was once a loosely run online lifestyle journal is now a full-time commitment, and I still get to be at home with my kids fulfilling my number one goal and priority of raising my children.
This means that I’m taking conference calls at the playgrounds, Little League games, and even my obstetrician’s waiting room. I may be enjoying far fewer morning trips to the beach than originally planned upon our move to Santa Cruz, but I’m earning a living of my own and am able to help support my family as well as climb the ladder of dental school debt.
I’m incredibly proud to announce that Naptime with Theo and Beau is now available for pre-order. I am also incredibly thrilled to release the very first video that I’ve been working on with Anna Mayer, which was shot soon after we brought Theo home. It’s been a wonderful journey, and it’s apparent that our story is only beginning.
The new drug, EBC-46, is a compound extracted from the fruit of the Blushwood tree which is found in north Queensland rainforests.
THE BLUSHWOOD TREE
EBC-46 is a compound extracted from the fruit of the Blushwood.
The tree which is found in north Queensland rainforests.
Scientists at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute found a single injection of the drug EBC-46 led to rapid breakdown of tumours in a range of human tumour models.
The study, published in the journal PLOS One, was led by Dr Glen Boyle.
He says the findings suggest the drug could be effective in human patients.
‘We were able to achieve very strong results injecting EBC-46 directly into melanoma models, as well as cancers of the head, neck and colon,’ Dr Boyle said.
‘In most cases the single injection treatment caused the loss of viability of cancer cells within four hours, and ultimately destroyed the tumours.’
Dr Boyle says EBC-46 works in part by triggering a cellular response which effectively cuts off the blood supply to the tumour.
‘In more than 70 per cent of pre-clinical cases, the response and cure was long-term and enduring, with very little relapse over a period of 12 months.’
EBC-46 is a compound extracted from the fruit of the Blushwood tree which is found in north Queensland rainforests.
EBC-46 was discovered by the Queensland biotechnology company EcoBiotics.
The drug is being developed as a human and veterinary pharmaceutical through EcoBiotics’ subsidiary company QBiotics.
North Queensland Australia, near the reserve Wujal wujal, where the fruit is found. Researchers found it could be effective at treating cancers in humans.
The experimental drug has been used by practising veterinarians to successfully destroy or shrink tumours in pets – including dogs, cats and horses.
QBiotics is currently undertaking formal veterinary clinical trials with EBC-46 in Australia and the USA.
A final regulatory approval is still required for a human Phase I clinical trial.
Dr Boyle says QIMR Berghofer is keen to pursue further research to determine if EBC-46 could be made more effective.
‘We must stress at this point that EBC-46 will only be trialled in the short-term for tumours which can be accessed by direct injection or topical application,’ Dr Boyle said.
‘There is no evidence to suggest EBC-46 would be effective against metastatic cancers.’
The pre-clinical trials at QIMR Berghofer have been largely funded by QBiotics with additional support from the NHMRC.
India’s maiden spacecraft to Mars—Mangalyaan—has send another image of the Red Planet, captured by the camera on board.
Full disc image of Mars, taken by the Mars Orbiter, from an altitude of 66,543 km. (ISRO)
“Another full disc image of Mars, taken by the Mars Color Camera, from an altitude of 66,543 km. Dark region towards south of the cloud formation is Elysium – the second largest volcanic province on Mars,” the facebook page of Isro Mars Orbiter said on Tuesday.
The spacecraft had beamed its first photos of Mars’ crater-marked surface a day after India successfully put the probe into the red planet’s orbit.
Just after that Isro had uploaded the regional dust storm activities over northern hemisphere of Mars – captured by Mars Color Camera.The image was taken from an altitude of 74500 km from the surface of Mars.
India joined an exclusive global club of deep space explorers on September 24 when the indigenously-made spacecraft successfully slipped into the orbit around Mars after a 10-month journey on a relatively shoe-string budget.
Duryodhana symbolises one who has wicked thoughts. His minister was Dushasana. Dushasana represents one who promulgates bad laws. The combination of these two led to the growth of greed. On account of unrestricted growth of greed (lobha), Kauravas were totally destroyed. On another occasion Lord Krishna said, Arjuna means a person whose heart is pure and immaculate. Lord Krishna clarified to Arjuna in the battlefield, “Destiny is all powerful. Justice always wins. Selfishness will end in ruin. This is the law of the Universe (Yuga Dharma). He further explained to Arjuna that greed of Kauravas will cause them ruin.” Kauravas were not prepared to give their rightful share to the Pandavas. They wanted to keep everything to themselves, including what belongs to others. This selfishness is called greed
Just as every day you engage in exercise and consume tonics, calculating the intake of calories and vitamins, and paying meticulous attention to the nutritional value of the food, pay attention also to the intake of impressions into the mind – whether they debilitate or strengthen, whether they add to the power of resistance of the mind against the viruses of greed, envy, hatred, pride, malice, etc. Have a meal of good acts of service, divine thoughts, and drink the premarasa (juice of Love), so that they may be washed down, and digested well. Then you can be shining in mental health, happiness and wholesomeness.
Days after The New York Times published an offensive cartoon mocking India’s successful Mars mission, the leading US daily today apologised following readers’ complaints.
The cartoon showed a farmer with a cow knocking at the door of a room marked ‘Elite Space Club’ where two men sit reading a newspaper on India’s feat. On September 24, India made history by successfully placing its spacecraft in orbit around Mars, becoming the first country in the world to succeed in such an inter-planetary mission in the maiden attempt itself.
At just USD 74 million, the mission less than the estimated 100 million USD budget of the sci-fi blockbuster “Gravity”. Only the US, Russia and Europe have previously sent missions to Mars.
Andrew Rosenthal, editorial page editor of the New York Times, wrote in a Facebook post that a “large number of readers” had complained about the cartoon. “The intent of the cartoonist, Heng Kim Song, was to highlight how space exploration is no longer the exclusive domain of rich, Western countries,” Rosenthal said.
“Mr Heng, who is based in Singapore, uses images and text – often in a provocative way – to make observations about international affairs. We apologise to readers who were offended by the choice of images in this cartoon.” Rosenthal said Heng “was in no way trying to impugn India, its government or its citizens”.
“We appreciate that readers have shared their feedback, which we welcome,” he said.
After India’s successful arrival at the Red Planet with the low-cost Mars Orbiter Mission(MOM), US space agency NASA has lauded it. “It was an impressive engineering feat, and we welcome India to the family of nations studying another facet of the Red Planet. We look forward to MOM adding to the knowledge the international community is gathering with the other spacecraft at Mars,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said.
அம்பத்தூரில் வசித்த கம்பெனி தொழிலாளி ஒருவர். அவர் மனைவி ஒரு நோயாளி.அவருக்குப் பிறந்த பிள்ளைகளோ பொறுப்பு இல்லாமல் தறுதலையாக அலைந்தார்கள். இப்படி சிரமங்களையே சந்தித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த அவருக்கு நண்பர் ஒருவர். மகானின் பக்தர்.
“கருணைக் கடலாக இருக்கும் காஞ்சி மகானிடம் ஒரு தடவை சென்று தரிசித்தபின் அவரது ஆசியைப் பெற்றுக்கொண்டு வா… உன் சிரமங்கள் எல்லாம் காற்றோடு போய்விடும்”- என்று யோசனை சொன்னார்.
அப்போதிலிருந்து அவரது மனதில் “காஞ்சி மகானைப் பார்க்க வேண்டும்” என்கிற எண்ணம் வேர் விட ஆரம்பித்தது.
தொழில் சம்பந்தமாக அவர் வெளியூர் செல்லும்போது காஞ்சி வழியாகப் போகும் சந்தர்ப்பம் வரவே,காஞ்சியில் இறங்கி யாரிடமோ வழிகேட்டு வரும்போதுதான் அவரது
மனதில் அந்த எண்ணம் தோன்றியது.
“உலகோர் போற்றிப் புகழும் நிலையில் பக்தர்கள் கூட்டம் தரிசனத்துக்காக நிற்க, பரிவாரங்களுடன் அமர்ந்திருக்கும் இந்த சாமியாரைத் தான் எப்படிப் பார்ப்பது” என்கிற
எண்ணத்துடன் இவர் அந்த குறிப்பிட்ட இடத்தை நோக்கிச் சென்று கொண்டு இருந்தார். இவர் எதிர்பார்த்த மாதிரி ஆடம்பரங்களோ..ஆரவாரமோ ஏதும் தென்படவில்லை.
“அந்த சாமியார் வேறு எங்கோ போய்விட்டார் போலிருக்கிறது” என்று இவர் நினைத்துக் கொண்டார். தனக்கு விடிவுகாலம் பிறக்க அவரிடம் ஆசி பெறலாம் என்று வந்த அவரது
கடுகளவு ஆசையும் மறையத் தொடங்கியது.
யாரிடம் போய்க்கேட்பது? ஆள் அரவமே இல்லையே என்று அவரது கண்கள் தேடியபோது,ஒரு பெரியவர் மட்டும் அவரது கண்களில் தென்பட்டார்.
வந்தவர் அவரிடம் கேட்டார்.
“இங்கே ஒரு சன்யாசி இருக்காராமே…அவர் எங்கே போயிருக்கார்?”
“அவரையா பார்க்க வந்தேள்? யார் சொல்லி அனுப்பினா?”
இந்தக் கேள்வியும் அவரது அமைதியான முகபாவமும் வந்தவரின் உள்ளத்தில் நம்பிக்கையை ஏற்படுத்தின. அதனால் வந்தவர் தனது குடும்ப சூழ்நிலையையும் தற்போது
ஏற்பட்டுள்ள வறுமையான சூழ்நிலையையும் சொல்லி, தன் நண்பர் ஒருவர் இங்கே இருக்கும் சாமியாரைப் பார்த்து ஆசிகள் வாங்கச் சொன்னார் என்றார்.
“அவர் கிட்டே சிரமங்களைச் சொன்னா தீர்வு கிடைக்குமா என்ன?” கேள்வி பிறந்தது.அவருக்கு
வந்தவரோ, ‘இந்த வயதான கிழவர் தன்னிடம் ஏன் இப்படி ஒரு கேள்வியைக் கேட்கிறார்’ என்று நினைத்தார்.
வயதான பெரியவர் தொடர்ந்தார். “சிரமம்..சிரமம்னு சொல்றியே..அதை ஏன் நீ படறதா நினைக்கிறே..அந்தப் பாரம் உன்னோடது இல்லையின்னு நீ நினைச்சிட்டா மனம் லேசாயிடுமே…”
இது எப்படி சாத்தியம் என்று வந்தவருக்கு மனதில் சந்தேகம்.
“அது எப்படி சுவாமி? நான்தானே அத்தனை கஷ்டங்களையும் தாங்கிக்க வேண்டிருக்கு..என் கஷ்டங்களை வேறு யார் சுமப்பா?”
வயதான பெரியவர் சிரித்தபடியே சொன்னார். “இப்போ ஊருக்குப் போறோம்னு வையுங்க..உங்களோட பெட்டி,மூட்டை முடிச்சு எல்லா பாரத்தையும் சுமந்துண்டு
போய்த்தானே ஆகணும்? அப்ப என்ன பண்றோம்? யாராவது கூலியாள் கிட்டே குடுத்து சுமக்கச் சொல்றோம் இல்லையா? அது போலத்தான் நாம படற சிரமங்களை
நம்மது இல்லே,பகவான் பார்த்துப்பான்னு பூரண சரணாகதி அடைஞ்சுட்டா நமக்கு எந்த பாதிப்பும் வராது..”
இதைக் கேட்ட அம்பத்தூர்காரருக்கு கொஞ்சம் மனத்தெளிவு ஏற்பட்டது போல் இருந்தது.
அவர் வயதான பெரியவரைப் பார்த்து, “பெரியவரே இப்ப எனக்கு கொஞ்சம் மனசு லேசானது போல இருக்கு.என்பாரம் உன்னோடதுன்னு பகவான்கிட்டே சொல்லிடறது நல்லதுதான்..நீங்கள் சொல்ற மாதிரி இந்த சாமியார் கிட்ட வந்து என் பாரங்களை இறக்கி வெச்சுட்டுப் போகலாமுன்னு வந்தா, இங்கே அவரைப் பார்க்க முடியல்லே..
எனக்கு உடனே மெட்ராஸ் போயாகணும்…காத்திருந்து அவரைப் பார்க்க முடியாது.எனக்கு இன்னமும் நல்ல காலம் வரலே போலத் தோணுது. ஆனா உங்களாண்டை பேசினதுனாலே மனசுக்குக் கொஞ்சம் இதமாக இருக்கு…ஆமா நீங்க யாரு? இதே ஊரா?”என்று கேட்டார்.
வயதான பெரியவர் முகத்தில் சிரிப்பு. “என்னை இங்கே சங்கராச்சார்யார்னு சொல்லுவா” என்று சொன்னதும் அம்பத்தூர்காரருக்கு இன்ப அதிர்ச்சி.
வியப்போடு அந்த எளிமையின் உருவத்தைப் பார்த்தவண்ணம் ஒன்றுமே தோன்றாமல்…மலைத்து நின்றார்.
அதுவரை அந்த மனித தெய்வத்திடம் அஞ்ஞானமாகப் பேசிக் கொண்டிருந்தவர் சற்றே திரும்பிப் பார்க்க, அந்தத் தவமுனிவரைத் தரிசிக்க ஒரு பெருங்கூட்டமே காத்திருந்தது.
இத்தனை நேரம் ஒரு மாபெரும் மகானிடம் சர்வ சாதாரணமாகப் பேசி, அவரிடம் யோசனைகள் பெற்றதை எண்ணி அந்தப் பக்தர் வியந்தார்.
“நமஸ்காரம் பண்ணிக்கிறேன்” என்ற பக்தரை சட்டையை கழற்றும்படி சொன்னார் மகான். தான் பூணூல் அணியாததால் சட்டையைக் கழற்ற அந்தப்பக்தர் யோசிக்க, மடத்து
சிப்பந்தி ஒருவரிடம் சொல்லி அவரை உள்ளே அழைத்துக் கொண்டுபோய் பூணூல் அணிவிக்கச் செய்து ஆசிர்வதித்தார் மகான்.
யாருக்குமே கிட்டாத மாபெரும் பாக்கியம் அவருக்குக் கிடைத்தது. தொடர்ந்து அவரது இன்னல்கள் யாவும் பனிபோல் விலகின…..
