THE PAIN OF LIFE

 

                                     THE LIFE WITH PAIN AND SORROW

  

                        NOBODY'S LIFE IS ENTIRELY FREE OF PAIN AND SORROW. ISN'T IT A QUESTION OF LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THEM RATHER THAN TRYING TO AVOID THEM?

      

                      THE GREATER PART OF HUMAN PAIN IS UNNECESSARY. IT IS SELF-CREATED AS LONG AS THE UNOBSERVED MIND RUNS YOUR LIFE.

                    THE PAIN THAT YOU CREATE NOW IS ALWAYS SOME FORM OF NONACCEPTANCE, SOME FORM OF UNCONSCIOUS RESISTENCE TO WHAT IS. ON THE LEVEL OF THOUGHT, THE RESISTENCE IS SOME FORM OF JUDGMENT. ON THE EMOTIONAL LEVEL, IT IS SOME FORM OF NEGATIVITY. THE INTENSITY OF THE PAIN DEPENDS ON THE DEGREE OF RESISTENCE TO THE PRESENT MOMENT, AND THIS IN TURN DEPENDS ON HOW STRONGLY YOU ARE IDENTIFIED WITH YOUR MIND. THE MIND ALWAYS SEEKS TO DENY THE NOW AND TO ESCAPE FROM IT. IN OTHER WORDS. THE MORE YOU ARE IDENTIFIED WITH YOUR MIND, THE MORE YOU SUFFER. OR YOU MAY PUT IT LIKE THIS, THE MORE YOU ARE ABLE TO HONOR YOU SUFFER. OR YOU MAY PUT IT LIKE THIS, THE MORE YOU ARE ABLE TO HONOR AND ACCEPT THE NOW, THE MORE YOU ARE FREE OF PAIN, OF SUFFERING - AND FREE OF THE EGOIC MIND.

                WHY DOES THE MIND HABITUALLY DENY OR RESIST THE NOW? BECAUSE IT CANNOT FUNCTION AND REMAIN IN CONTROL WITHOUT TIME, WHICH IS PAST AND FUTURE, SO IT PERCEIVES THE TIMELESS NOW AS THREATENING. TIME AND MIND ARE IN FACT INSEPARABLE.

                   IMAGINE THE EARTH DEVOID OF HUMAN LIFE, INHABITED ONLY BY PLANTS AND ANIMALS. WOULD IT STILL HAVE A PAST AND A FUTURE? COULD WE STILL SPEAK OF TIME IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY? THE QUESTION "WHAT TIME IS IT?". OR WHAT'S THE DATE TODAY? - IF ANYBODY WERE THERE TO ASK IT - WOULD BE QUIET MEANINGLESS. "WHAT TIME?" THEY WOULD ASK, WELL, OF COURSE IT'S NOW. THE TIME IS NOW. WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

                  YES, WE NEED THE MIND AS WELL AS TIME TO FUNTION IN THIS WORLD, BUT THERE COMES A POINT WHERE THEY TAKE OVER OUR LIVES, AND THIS IS WHERE DYSFUNCTION, PAIN AND SORROW SET IN.

                 THE MIND, TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS IN CONTROL, SEEKS CONTINUOSLY TO COVER UP THE PRESENT MOMENT WITH PAST AND FUTURE, AND SO, AS THE VITALITY AND INFINITE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF BEING, WHICH IS INSEPARABLE FROM THE NOW, BECOMES COVERED UP BY TIME, YOUR TRUE NATURE BECOMES OBSCURED BY THE MIND. AN INCREASINGLY HEAVY BURDEN OF TIME HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING IN THE HUMAN MIND. ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE SUFFERING UNDER THIS BURDEN, BUT THEY ALSO KEEP ADDING TO IT EVERY MOMENT WHENEVERTHEY IGNORE OR DENY THAT PRECIOUS MOMENT OR REDUCE IT TO A  MEANS, NEVER IN ACTUALITY. THE ACCUMULATION OF TIME IN TH COLLECTIVE AND INDIVIDUALS HUMAN MIND ALSO HOLDS A VAST AMOUNT OF RESIDUAL PAIN FROM THE PAST.

                IF YOU NO LONGER WANT TO CREATE PAIN FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS, IF YOU NO LONGER WANT TO DO ADD TO THE RESIDUE OF PAST PAIN THAT STILL LIVES ON IN YOU, THEN DON'T CREATE ANY MORE TIME, OR AT LEAST NO MOE THAN IS NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE. HOW TO STOP CREATING TIME? REALIZE DEEPLY THAT THE PRESENT MOMENT IS ALL YOU EVER HAVE. MAKE THE NOW THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF YOUR LIFE. WHEREAS BEFORE YOU DWELT IN TIME AND PAID BRIEF VISITS TO THE NOW, HAVE YOUR DWELLING PLACE IN THE NOW AND PAY BRIEF VISITS TO PAST AND FUTURE WHEN REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE SITUATION. ALWAYS SAY "YES" TO THE PRESENT MOMENT. WHAT COULD BE MORE FUTILE, MORE INSANE, THAN TO CREATE INNER RESISTANCE TO SOMETHING THAT ALREADY? WHAT COULD BE MORE INSNE THAN TO OPPOSITE LIFE ITSELF, WHICH IS NOW AND ALWAYS NOW? SURRENDER TO WHAT IS. SAY "YES" TO LIFE - AND SEE HOW LIFE SUDDENLY STARTS WORKING FOR YOU RATHER THAN AGAINST YOU.

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LOVE AND HATE RELATIONSHIPS

 

                                                                  RELATIONSHIP

                    UNLESS AND UNTIL YOU ACCESS THE CONSCIOUSNESS FREQUENCY OF PRESEMCE, ALL RELATIONSHIPS, AND PARTICULARLY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS, ARE DEEPLY FLAWED AND ULTIMATELY DYSFUNCTIONAL. THEY MAY SEEM PERFECT FOR A WHILE, SUCH AS WHEN YOU ARE "IN LOVE", BUT INVARIABLY THAT APPARENT PERFECTION GETS DISRUPTED AS ARGUMENTS, CONFLICTS, DISSATISFACTION, AND EMOTIONAL OR EVEN PHYSICAL VIOLENCE OCCUR WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. IT SEEMS THAT MOST "LOVE RELATIONSHIP" BECOME LOVE /HATE RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE LONG. LOVE CAN THEN TURN INTO SAVAGE ATTACK, FEELINGS OF HOSTILITY, OR COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL OF AFFECTION AT THE FLICK OF A SWITCH. THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL. THE RELATIONSHIP THEN OSCILLATES SWITCH. THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL. THE RELATIONSHIP THEN OSCILLATES FOR A WHILE, A FEW MONTHS OR A FEW YEARS, BETWEEN THE POLARITIES OF "LOVE" AND HATE, AND IT GIVES YOU AS MUCH PLEASURE AS IT GIVES YOU PAIN. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR COUPLES TO BECOME ADDICTED TO THOSE CYCLES. THEIR DRAMA MAKES THEM FEEL ALIVE. WHEN A BALANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIVE/NEGATIVE POLARITIES IS LOST AND THE NEGATIVE, DESTRUCTIVE CYCLES OCCUR WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY, WHICH TENDS TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER, THEN IT WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE THE RELATIONSHIP FINLLY COLLAPSES.

                       

                        

                 IT MAY APPEAR THAT IF YOU COULD ONLY ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE OR DESTRUCTIVE CYCLES, THEN ALL WOULD BE WELL AND THE RELATIONSHIP WOULD FLOWER BEAUTIFULLY - BUT ALAS, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE. THE POLARITIES ARE MUTUALLY INTERDEPENDENT. YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. THE POSITIVE ALREADY CONTAINS WITHIN ITSELF THE AS YET UNMANIFESTED NEGATIVE. BOTH ARE IN FACT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE SAME DYSFUNCTION. I AM SPEAKING HERE OF WHAT IS COMMONLY CALLED ROMANTIC DYSFUNTION. I AM SPEAKING HERE OF WHAT IS COMMONLY CALLED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP - NOT OF TRUE LOVE, WHICH HAS NO OPPOSITE BECAUSE IT ARISES FROM BEYOND THE MIND. LOVE AS A CONTINUOUS STATE IS AS YET VERY RARE- AS RARE AS CONSCIOUS HUMAN BEINGS. BRIEF AND ELUSIVE GLIMPSES OF LOVE, HOWEVER, ARE POSSIBLE WHENVER THERE IS A GAP IN THE STREAM OF  MIND.

               THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF A RELATIONSHIP IS, OF COURSE, MORE EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS DYSFUNCTIONAL THAN THE POSITIVE ONE. AND IT IS ALSO EASIER TO RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE OF NEGATIVITY IN YOUR PARTNER THAN TO SEE IT IN YOURSELF. IT CAN MANIFEST IN MANY FORMS, POSSESSIVENESS, JEALOUSY, CONTROL, WITHDRAWAL AND UNSPOKEN RESENTMENT, AND NEED TO BE RIGHT, INSENSITIVITY AND SELF-ABSORPTION, EMOTIONAL DEMANDS AND MANIPULATION, THE URGE TO ARGUE, CRITICIZE, JUDGE, BLAME, OR ATTACK, ANGER, UNCONSCIOUS REVENGE FOR PAST PAIN INFLICTED BY A PARENT, RAGE AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

              ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, YOU ARE "IN LOVE" WITH YOUR PARTNER. THIS IS AT FIRST A DEEPLY SATISFYING STATE. YOU FEEL INTENSELY ALIVE. YOUR EXISTENCE HAS SUDDENLY BECOME MEANINGFUL BECAUSE SOMEONE NEEDS YOU, WANTS YOU, AND MAKES YOU FEEL SPECIAL, AND YOU DO THE SAME FOR HIM OR HER. WHEN YOU ARE TOGETHER, YOU FEEL WHOLE. THE FEELING CAN BECOME SO INTENSE THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD FADES INTO INSIGNICANCE.

               HOWEVER, YOU MAY ALSO HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A NEEDINESS AND A CLINGING QUALITY TO THAT INTENSITY. YOU BECOME ADDICTED TO THE OTHER PERSON. HE OR SHE ACTS ON YOU LIKE A DRUG. YOU ARE ON A HIGH WHEN THE DRUG IS AVAILABLE, BUT EVEN THE POSSIBILITY OR THE THOUGHT THAT HE OR SHE MIGHT NO LONGER BE THERE FOR YOU CAN LEAD TO JEALOUSY, POSSESSIVENESS, ATTEMPTS AT MANIPULATION THROUGH EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL, BLAMING AND ACCUSING- FEAR OF LOSS. IF THE OTHER PERSON DOES LEAVE YOU, THIS CAN GIVE RISE TO THE MOST INTENSE HOSTILITY OR THE MOST PROFOUND GRIEF AND DESPAIR.

                IN AN INSTANT, LOVING TENDERNESS CAN TURN INTO A SAVAGE ATTACK OR DREADFUL GRIEF. WHERE IS THE LOVE NOW? CAN LOVE CHANGE INTO ITS OPPOSITE IN AN INSTANT? WAS IT LOVE IN THE FIRST PLACE, OR JUST AN ADDICTIVE GRASPING AND CLINGING?

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SEARCH YOUR WHOLENESS

 

                                               THE POWER OF PRESENCE

                                  MAN AND WOMAN RELATIONSHIPS

                        WHY SHOULD WE BECOME ADDICTED TO ANOTHER PERSON?

                 THE REASON WHY THE ROMANTIC LOVE RELATIONSHIP IS SUCH AN INTENSE AND UNIVERSALLY SOUGHT-AFTER EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT SEEMS TO OFFER LIBERATION FROM A DEEP-SEATED STATE OF FEAR, NEED, LACK, AND INCOMPLETENESS THAT IS PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION IN ITS UNREDEEMED AND UNENLIGHTENED IS PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION IN ITS UNREDEEMED AND UNENLIGHTENED STATE. THERE IS A PHYSICAL AS WELL AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENTION TO THIS STATE.

              ON THE PHYSICAL LEVEL, YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT WHOLE, NOR WILL YOU EVER BE, YOU ARE EITHER A MAN OR WOMAN, WHICH IS TO SAY, ONE-HALF OF THE WHOLE. ON THIS LEVEL, THE LONGING FOR WHOLENESS - THE RETURN TO ONENESS-MANIFESTS AS MALE-FEMALE ATTRACTION, MAN'S NEED FOR A WOMAN, WOMAN'S NEED FOR A MAN. IT IS AN ALMOST IRRESITIBLE URGUE FOR IS A SPIRITUAL ONE, THE LONGING FOR AN END TO DUALITY, A RETURN TO THE STATE OF WHOLENESS. SEXUAL UNION IS THE CLOSEST YOU CAN GET TO THIS STATE ON THE PHYSICAL LEVEL. THIS IS WHY IT IS THED MOST DEEPLY SATISFYING EXPERIENCE THE PHYSICAL REALM CAN OFFER. BUT SEXUAL UNION IS NO MORE THAN A FLEETING GLIMPSE OF WHOLENESS, AN INSTANT OF BLISS. AS LONG AS IT IS UNCONCIOUSLY SOUGHT AS A MEAS OF SALVATION, YOU ARE SEEKING THE END OF DUALITY ON THE LEVEL OF FORM, WHERE IT CANNOT BE FOUND. YOU ARE GIVEN A TANTALIZING GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN, BUT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DWELL THERE, AND FIND YOURSELF AGAIN IN A SEPERATE BODY.

              ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL LEVEL, THED SENSE O LACK INCOMPLETENESS IS, IF ANYTHING, EVEN GREATER THAN ON THE PHYSICAL LEVEL. AS LONG AS YOU ARE IDENTIFIED WITH THE MIND, YOU HAVE AN EXTERNALLY DERIVED SENSE OF SELF. THAT IS TO SAY, YOU GET YOUR SENSE OF WHO ARE YOU FROM THINGS THAT ULTIMATELY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO YOU ARE, YOUR SOCIAL ROLE, POSSESIONS, EXTERNAL APPEARANCE, SUCCESSESS, AND FAILURES, BELIEF SYSTEMS, AND SO ON. THIS FALSE, MIND-MADE SELF, THE EGO, FEELS VULNERABLE, INSECURE, AND IS ALWAYS SEEKING NEW THINGS TO IDENTIFY WITH TO GIVE IS LASTING FULFILLMENT. ITS FEAR REMAINS, ITS SENSE OF LACK AND NEEDINESS REMAINS.

              BUT THEN THAT SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP COMES ALONG. IT SEEMS TO BE THE ANSWER TO ALL THE EGO'S PROBLEMS AND TO MEET ALL ITS NEED. AL LEAST THIS IS HOW IT APPEARS AT FIRST. ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DERIVED YOUR SENSE OF SELF FROM BEFORE, NOW BECOME RELATIVELY INSIGNIFICANT. YOU NOW HAVE A SINGLE FOCAL POINT THAT REPLACES THEM ALL, GIVES MEANING TO YOUR LIFE, AND THROUGH WHICH YOU DEFINITE YOUR IDENTITY, THE PERSON YOU ARE "IN LOVE" WITH. YOU ARE NO LONGER A DISCONNECTED FRAGMENT IN AN UNCARING UNIVERSE, OR SO IT SEEMS. YOUR WORLD NOW HAS A CENTER, THE LOVED ONE. THE FACT THAT THE CENTER IS OUTSIDE YOU AND THAT, THEREFORE, YOU STILL HAVE AN EXTREMELY DERIVED SENSE OF SELF DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER AT FIRST. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT THE UNDERLYING FEELINGS OF INCOMPLETENESS, OF FEAR, LACK AND UNFULFILLMENT SO CHARACTERISTIC OF THE EGOIC STATE ARE NO LONGER THERE-OR ARE THEY? HAVE THEY DISSOLVED, OR DO THEY CONTINUE TO EXIST UNDERNEATH THE HAPPY SURFACE REALITY?

               IF IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS YOU EXPERIENCE BOTH "LOVE" AND THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE-ATTACK, EMOTIONAL VIOLENCE, AND SO ON- THEN IT IS LIKELY THAT YOU ARE CONFUSING EGO ATTACHMENT AND ADDICTIVE CLINGING WITH LOVE. YOU CANNOT LOVE YOUR PARTNER ONE MOMENT AND ATTACK HIM OR HER THE NEXT. TRUE LOVE HAS NO OPPOSITE. IF YOUR "LOVE" HAS AN OPPOSITE, THEN IT IS NOT LOVE BUT A STRONG EGO-NEED FOR A MORE COMPLETE AND DEEPER SENSE OF SELF, A NEED THAT THE OTHER PERSON TEMPORARILY MEETS. IT IS THE EGO'S SUBSTITUTE FOR SALVATION, AND FOR A SHORT TIME IT ALMOST DOES FEEL LIKE SALVATION.

                 BUT THERE COMES A PONT WHEN YOUR PARTNER BEHAVES IN WAYS THAT FAIL TO MEET YOUR NEES, OR RATHER THOSE OF YOUR EGO. THE FEELINGS OF FEAR, PAIN, AND LACT THAT ARE AN INTRINSIC PART OF EGOIC CONSCIOUSNESS BUT HAD BEEN COVERED UP BY THE "LOVE RELATIONSHIP" NOW RESURFACE. JUST AS WITH EVERY OTHER ADDICTION, YOU ARE ON A HIGH WHEN THE DRUG IS AVAILABLE, BUT INVARIABLY THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THE DRUG NO LONGER WORKS FOR YOU. WHEN THOSE PAINFUL FEELINGS REAPPEAR, YOU FEEL THEM EVEN MORE STRONGLY THAN BEFORE, AND WHAT IS MORE, YOU NOW PERCIEVE YOUR PARTNER AS THE CAUSE OF THOSE FEELINGS. THIS MEANS THAT YOU PROJECT THEM OUTWARD AND ATTACK THE OTHER WITH ALL THE SAVAGE VIOLENCE THAT IS PART OF YOUR PAIN. THIS ATTACK MAY AWAKEN THE PARTNER'S OWN PAIN, AND HE OR SHEN MAY COUNTER YOUR ATTACK. AT THIS POINT, THE EGO IS STILL UNCONSCIOUSLY HOPING THAT ITS ATTACK OR ITS ATTEMPTS AT MANIPULATION WILL BE SUFFICIENT PUNISHMENT TO INDUCE YOUR PARTNER TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR, SO THAT IT CAN USE THEM AGAIN AS A COVER-UP FOR YOUR PAIN.

                 EVERY ADDICTION ARISES FROM AN UNCONSCIOUS REFUSAL TO FACE AND MOVE THROUGH YOUR OWN PAIN. EVERY ADDICTION STARTS WITH PAIN AND ENDS WITH PAIN. WHATEVER THE SUBSTANCE YOU ARE ADDICTED TO - ALCOHOL, FOOD, LEGAL OR ILLEGAL DRUGS, OR A PERSON - YOU ARE USING SOMETHING OR SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY TO COVER UP YOUR PAIN. THAT IS WHY, AFTER THE INITIAL EUPHORIA HAS PASSED, THERE IS SO MUCH UNHAPPINESS, SO MUCH PAIN IN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS. THEY DO NOT CAUSE PAIN AND UNHAPPINESS. THEY BRING OUT THE PAIN AND UNHAPPINESS THAT IS ALREADY IN YOU. EVERY ADDICTION DOES THAT. EVERT ADDICTION REACHES A POINT WHERE IT DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU ANYMORE, AND THEN YOU FEEL THE PAIN MORE INTENSELY THAN EVER.

            THIS IS ONE REASON WHY MOST PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM THE PRESENT MOMENT AND ARE SEEKING SOME KIND OF SALVATION IN THE FUTURE. THE FIRST THING THAT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER IF THEY FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION ON THE NOW IS THEIR OWN PAIN, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY FEAR. IF THEY ONLY KNEW HOW EASY IT IS TO ACCESS IN THE NOW THE POWER OF PRESENCE THAT DISSOLVE THE PAST AND ITS PAIN, THE REALITY THAT DISSOLVES THE ILLUSION. IF THEY ONLY KNEW HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO THEIR OWN REALITY, HOW CLOSE TO GOD.

             AVOIDANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID PAIN IS NOT THE ANSWER EITHER. THE PAIN IS THERE ANYWAY. THREE FAILED RELATIONSHIPS IN AS MANY YEARS ARE MORE LIKELY TO FORCE YOU INTO AWAKENING THAN THREE YEARS ON A DESERT ISLAND OR SHUT AWAY IN YOUR ROOM. BUT IF YOU COULD BRING INTENSE PRESENCE INTO YOUR ALONENESS, THAT WOULD WORK FOR YOU TOO.

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PERFORMING THE YAJNA

 

                                                  YAJNA PERFORMING

                     MANY PRELIMINARY STEPS OF A YAJNA ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ONES YOU DO BEFORE YOU START YOUR JAPA. I AM LISTING THOSE STEPS HERE:

                    1. BATHE

                        IF YOU ARE PERFORMING YOUR YAJNA IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR JAPA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A BATH. BUT, IF YOU DID JAPA IN THE MORNING BUT ARE DOING YAJNA IN THE EVENING (OR VICE-VERSA) FOR EXAMPLE YOU WILL HAVE TO BATHE BEFORE MAKING FIRE OFFERINGS.

                   2. PUT ON FRESH CLOTHES

                       ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU ARE DOING IT IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR JAPA, YOU CAN WEAR THE SAME CLOTHES, OTHERWISE, PUT ON FRESH ONES.

                 3. KEEP A SMALL POT OF WATER IN FRONT OF YOU (OR YOUR RIGHT SIDE) FOR PURIFICATION.

                 4. A SMALL CONTAINER WITH GHEE (CLARIFIED BUTTER) WILL BE REQUIRED. YOU CAN ANY SPOON TO MAKE THE OFFERING IN THE FIRE OR IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THE TRADITIONAL WAY, USE A WOODEN SPOON. THE TWO WOODEN SPOONS ARE CALLED SRUKA AND SRUVA THAT ARE USED TO MAKE GHEE OFFERINGS IN FIRE. KEEP YOUR POT OF GHEE TO YOUR RIGHT.
                

               5. KEEP THE POT WITH THE INGREDIENTS (CHARU) FOR FIRE OFFERINGS IN FRONT OF YOU. INGREDIENTS FOR YAJNA VARY FROM SADHANA TO SADHANA. FOR ALL THE SADHANAS LISTED IN THIS BOOK. I'VE SPECIFIED THE INGREDIENTS NEXT TO THEM.

              6. PURIFY THE SURROUNDINGS (PAVITRIKARANA)

                                             

   

              7. SELF-PURIFICATION (ACHAMANA)

              8. WASH YOUR HANDS (HASTA PRAKSHALANA)

              9. LIGHT THE LAMP (IN ADDITION, YOU CAN ALSO LIGHT INCENSE AT THIS LAMP (IN ADDITION, YOU CAN ALSO LIGHT INCENSE AT THIS STAGE IF YOU LIKE, BUT IT'S OPTIONAL.)

            10. INVOKE GANESHA

            11. SHOW THREE HANDLOCKS FOR GANESHA (GANESHA MUDRA)

            12. CHANT THE VEDIC HYMN OF AUSPICIOUSNESS (SVASTIVACHANA)

            13. MEDITATE ON YOUR GURU (GURU DHYANA)

            14. CHANT YOUR GURU MANTRA (GURU MANTRA JAPA)

            15. MEDITATE ON YOUR DEITY (ISHTA DHYANA)

            16. OFFER OBEISANCE TO ALL SIDDHAS    

                    

            17. PLACE YOUR FIREWOOD IN THE FIREPIT AND LIGHT IT. YOU CAN USE THE SAME MANTRA TO LIGHT THIS AS YOU DO FOR LIGHTING A LAMP. YOU CAN LIGHT CAMPHOR OR A WICK DIPPED IN OIL TO IGNITE THE FIRE. SIMPLY PLACE IT ON ONE OF THE WOODEN CHIPS AT THE BASE AND LIGHT I (CAMPHOR OR WICK IN OIL). START ARRANGING FIREWOOD AROUND IT KEEPING SPACE FOR THE AIR TO FLOW.

           18. ONCE THE FIRE STARTS, YOU ARE READY TO MAKE FIRE OFFERINGS. AN IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER IS THAT EVERY OFFERING MADE IN THE FIRE MUST END WITH THE WORD "SVAHA". THE SANSKRIT WORK SVAHA MEANS TO BURN COMPLETELY AND IT IS USED TO BURN ALL OUR AFFLICTIONS. SVAHA IS THE HINDU TRADITION IS THE ENERGY ASPECT OF FIRE. IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THE FIRE OFFERING TO ITS DESTINATION. MAKE THE FOLLOWING OFFERINGS WITH GHEE ALONE. EVERY TIME, YOU SAY "SVAHA" POUR GHEE USING YOUR SPOON (OR WOODEN SPOON). ALL OFFERINGS ARE MADE WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND ONLY.

          19. MAKE THE FOLLOWING OFFERINGS (AHUTI) WITH THE INGREDIENTS (CHARU) OF YAJNA. (NOT GHEE UNLESS THE SOLE INGREDIENT BEING USED IN YAJNA IS GHEE) ALL OFFERINGS ARE ALWAYS MADE WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND IN A YAJNA. THE QUANTITY IN EACH OFFERING IDEALLY SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN A TEASPOON. HOLD IT BETWEEN YOUR THREE FINGERS AND THUMB (KEEPING THE INDEX FINGER AWAY) ANY OFFERINGS AND THUMB (KEEPING THE INDEX FINGER AWAY) ANY OFFERING IN THE FIREPIT SHOULD BE MADE WITH A SENSE OF OFFERING IN THE FIREPIT SHOULD BE MADE WITH A SENSE OF REVERENCE. YOUR PALM SHOULD BE FACING UP WHILE MAKING THE OFFERING.

                20. NOW YOU ARE READY TO MAKE OFFERINGS WITH GAYATRI MANTRA. AN IMPORTANT PRACTICAL ASPECT TO MENTION HERE IS COUNTING. SINCE NOW YOU ARE MAKING OFFERINGS WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE COUNTING WITH BEADS. IN THAT CASE, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICHEVER ONE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.

                 ( A). USE COUNTING BEADS. YOU CAN KEEP LOOSE BEADS OR PEBBLES ON THE SIDE AND MOVE A PEBBLE WITH YOUR LEFT HAND EVERY TIME YOU MAKE AN OFFERING WITH YOUR RIGHT ONE.

                 (B). SIMPLY SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO CHANT YOUR MANTRA USING A TIMER. ADD 20% TIME TO IT CATER FOR SLOW CHANTING AT TIMES. FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE TO MAKE 100 OFFERINGS. IF IT TAKES YOU 10 SECONDS TO CHANT YOUR MANTRA. IT'LL TAKE YOU 1000 SECONDS TO CHANT IT 100 TIMES. ADDING 20% WILL MAKE IT 1200 SECONDS OR 20 MINUTES. WHEN YOU COME TO THIS STEP, SET ASIDE 20 MINUTES TO MAKE FIRE OFFERINGS WITH YOUR MANTRA. IT IS OKAY OF OFFER A BIT MORE THAN REQUIRED SO DON'T BE WORRIED IF YOU ARE OVERDOING IT. THE MAIN THING IS TO NOT DO IT LESS THAN THE MINIMUM NUMBER REQUIRED.

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                     IF AT ANY TIME, YOU FEEL THE FIRE IS EBBING IN THE PIT, POUR MORE GHEE AND /OR PLACE MORE FIREWOOD. WHENEVER YOU POUR MORE GHEE, DO IT WITH YOUR MAIN MANTRA AND DON'T FORGET TO ADD "OM SVAHA" IN THE END.

              21. NOW MAKE THE FOLLOWING FIVE OFFERINGS AGAIN WITH GHEE.

              22. MAKE THE OFFERINGS BY PLACING THE DRY COCONUT (FILLED WITH YAJNA INGREDIENTS AND A BIT OF GHEE) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIREPIT. DO THIS CAREFULLY AS THERE CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD. CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA WHILE YOU DO THE FINAL OFFERING (PURNA-AHUTI).

                

                                     * OM PURNAMADAH PURNAMIDAM PURNAT PURNAMUDACYATE PURNASYA PURNAMADAYA PURNAMEVAVASISYATE

                                    * OM SANTIH SANTIH SANTIH.

                                    

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DEVELOPE SELF CONFIDENCE

         

              ONCE SEEING IS BETTER, THAN A HUNDRED TIMES TELLING

                  THE NERVES THAT LEAD FROM THE EYE TO THE BRAIN ARE MANY TIMES LARGER THAN THOSE LEADING FROM THE EAR, AND SCIENCE TELLS US THAT WE GIVE TWENTY-FIVE TIMES AS MUCH ATTENTION TO EYE SUGGESTIONS AS WE DO TO EAT SUGGESTIONS. 

                 ONE SEEIING, SAYS AN OLD JAPANESE PROVERB, IS BETTER THAN A HUNDRED TIMES TELLING ABOUT.

                  SO, IF YOU WISH TO BE CLEAR, PICTURE, VISUALIZE YOUR IDEAS. THAT WAS THE PLAN OF THE LATE JOHN H.PATTERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE WELL-KNOWN NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY. HE WROTE AN ARTICLE FOR SYSTEM MAGAZINE, OUTLINING THE METHODS HE USED IN SPEAKING TO HIS WORKMEN AND HIS SALES FORCES:

                  I HOLD THAT ONE CANNOT RELY ON SPEECH ALONE TO MAKE HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD OR TO GAIN AND HOLD ATTENTION . A DRAMATIC SUPPLEMENT IS NEEDED. IT IS BETTER TO SUPPLEMENT WHENEVER POSSIBLE WITH PICTURES WHICH SHOW THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG WAY, DIAGRAMS ARE MORE CONVINCING THAN MERE WORDS, AND PICTURES ARE MORE CONVINCING THAN DIAGRAMS. THE IDEAL PRESENTATION OF A SUBJECT IS ONE IN WHICH EVERY SUB DIVISION IS PICTURED AND IN WHICH THE WORDS ARE USED ONLY TO CONNECT THEM. I EARLY FOUND THAN IN DEALING WITH MEN, A PICTURE WAS WORTH MORE THAN ANYTHING I COULD SAY.

             LITTLE GROTESQUE DRAWINGS ARE WONDERFULLY EFFECTIVE... I HAVE A WHOLE SYSTEM OF CARTOONING OR "CHART TALKS". A CIRCLE WITH A DOLLAR MARK MEANS A PIECE OF MONEY. A BAG MARKED WITH A DOLLAR IS A LOT OF MONEY. MANY GOOD EFFECTS CAN BE HAD WITH MOON FACES. DRAW A CIRCLE, PUT IN A FEW DASHES FOR THE EYES, NOSE, MOUTH, AND EARS. TWISTING THESE LINES GIVES THE EXPRESSIONS. THE OUT-OF-DATE MAN HAS THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH DOWN, THE CHIPPER, UP-TO-DATE FELLOW HAS THE CURVES UP. THE DRAWINGS ARE HOMELY, BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE CORTOONISTS ARE NOT THE MEN WHO MAKE THE PRETTIEST PICTURES. THE THING IS TO EXPRESS THE IDEA AND THE CONTRAST.

                 THE BIG BAG AND THE LITTLE BAG OF MONEY, SIDE BY SIDE, ARE THE NATURAL HEADS FOR THE RIGHT WAY AS OPPOSED TO THE WRONG WAY, THE ONE BRINGS MUCH MONEY, THE OTHER LITTLE MONEY. IF YOU SKETCH THESE RAPIDLY AS YOU TALK, THERE IS NO DANGER OF PEOPLE'S LETTING THEIR MINDS WANDER, THEY ARE BOUND TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND THUS TO GO WITH YOU THROUGH THE SUCCESSIVE STAGES TO THE POINT YOU WANT TO MAKE. AND AGAIN, THE FUNNY FIGURES PUT PEOPLE IN GOOD HUMOUR.

                I USED TO EMPLOY AN ATTIST TO HAND AROUND IN THE SHOPS WITH ME AND QUIETLY MAKE SKETCHES OF THINGS THAT WERE NOT BEING DONE RIGHT. THEN THE SKETCH WERE MADE INTO DRAWINGS AND I CALLED THE MEN TOGETHER AND SHOWED THEM EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING. WHEN I HEARD OF THE STEREOPTICON I IMMEDIATELY BOUGHT ONE AND PROJECTED THE DRAWINGS ON THE SCREEN, WHICH OF COURSE, MADE THEM EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ON PAPER. THEN CAME THE MOVING PICTURE. I THINK THAT I HAD ONE OF THE FIRST MACHINES EVER MADE AND NOW WE HAVE A BIG DEPARTMENT WITH MANY MOTION PICTURE FILMS MORE THAN 60,000 COLOURED STEREOPTICON SLIDES.

             NOT EVERY SUBJECT OR OCCASION, OF COURSE, LENDS ITSELF TO EXHIBITS AND DRAWINGS, BUT LET US USE THEM WHEN WE CAN, THEY ATTRACT ATTENTION, STIMULATE INTEREST AND OFTEN MAKE OUR MEANING DOUBLY CLEAR.

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THE ARRAGEMENT OF POTS (PATRASADANA)

 

                                                                 PATRASADANA

                 PATRA MEANS A VESSEL OR A RECEPTACLE AND ASADANA MEANS TO LAY OUT SOMETHING. PATRASADANA IS THE PRECISE PROCESS OF LAYING OUT VARIOUS POTS OR VESSELS USED IN YOUR PUJA. TOGETHER, THEY ARE CALLED PANCHA-PATRA - FIVE VESSELS USED FOR VARIOUS THINGS AND SIXTH IS A SAUCER-LIKE SMALL PLATE YOU USE TO PUT ASIDE YOUR OFFERINGS. THESE ARE USUALLY SMALL POTS, EACH ONE CONTAINING NO MORE THAN 100 ML OF WATER. IN ADDITION TO THIS, A SPOON (ACHAMANI) IS USED TO TAKE WATER FROM THESE POTS AND TO PUT THEM IN THE SAUCER OR YOUR HAND DEPENDING ON THE RITUAL YOU ARE PERFORMING.

                                    1. WATER FOR PURIFICATION (ACHAMANA)

                THIS VESSEL CONTAINS THE WATER YOU USE FOR YOUR CONSUMPTION THROUGHOUT THE PUJAZ. WHEN PERFORMING ACHAMANA, TAKE A BIT OF WATER IN YOUR RIGHT PALM USING THE SPOON. GENERALLY, ACHAMANA IS DONE FOR PURIFICATION AND CAN BE DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT SADHANAS. FOR THE FOUR SADHANAS LISTED IN THIS CHAPTER, I'VE CLEARLY WRITTEN WHEREVER YOU NEED TO PERFORM ACHAMANA. OTHER THAN DRINKING, AT THE BEGINNING OF ANY PUJA, A BIT OF WATER IS TAKEN FROM THIS POT AND SPRINKLED IN THE AIR TO PURIFY THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGIES AROUND YOU.

                                     2. PLAIN WATER FOR OFFERING (ARGHYA)

                 FROM THIS VESSEL, YOU OFFER WATER TO THE DEITY OF THE MANTRA AND HIS/HER COMPANION ENERGIES. WHEN OFFERING ARGHYA, YOU TAKE A BIT OF WATER FROM THE ARGHYA POT AND PUT IT IN THE SMALL SAUCER/PLATE TO COLLECT THIS WATER. YOU CAN USE THE SAME SPOON TO OFFER WATER THAT YOU USED TO OFFE ACHAMANA OR YOU CAN KEEP A SEPERATE SPOON FOR THIS.

                              3. FRAGRANT WATER FOR OFFERING (SUGANDHITA ARGHYA)

                 AS PART OF THE 5,10 OR 16 OFFERINGS, FRAGRANT WATER MAY BE OFFERED FO THE DEITY. IF ANY PARTICULAR SADHANA REQUIRES A SPECIAL KIND OF FRAGRANCE, I'VE LISTED IT THERE. IF NOTHING IS SPECIFIED, YOU CAN MAKE THE WATER FRAGRANT BY KEEPING A FEW PETALS OF A ROSE IN IT. OR BY MIXING IT WITH SANDALWOOD PASTE. YOU CAN ALSO PUT A DROP OF ANY ALL-NATURAL EXTRACT OF ANY FRAGRANT SUBSTANCE LIKE FLOWERS, ETC.

                                            4. WATER FOR LIBATIONS (TARPANA)

                  WATER FROM THIS POT IS USED FOR OFFERING LIBERATIONS TO THE DEITY, OTHER ENERGIES AND ANCESTORS. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO LIBATIONS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE LIBERATION AND YOUR SADHANA, BUT THE SIMPLEST WAY IS TO CHANT THE MANTRA FOR LIBERATION, TAKE A BIT OF WATER USING THE SPOON (YOU CAN USE THE SAME SPOON AS ACHAMANA) AND PUT IT BACK IN THE LIBERATION POT.

                                                5. WATER FOR WASHING (PADYAM)

                EVERY TIME AN ASPIRANT DOES ACHAMANA (DRINK WATER FOR PURIFICATION ) HE'S SUPPOSED TO WASH HIS HANDS. THIS IS DONE USING WATER FROM THIS POT, USUALLY USING A DIFFERENT SPOON AND NOT THE SAME ONE AS FOR ACHAMANA. A BIT OF WATER IS TAKEN IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND THE SPOON IS PUT BACK IN THE POT. BOTH HANDS ARE THEN RUBBED ON YOUR LEFT SIDE USING THIS LITTLE WATER FOR PURIFICATION. WATER FROM THIS POT IS ALSO USED TO OFFER PADYAM TO THE DEITY WHILE MAKING 10 OR 16 OFFERINGS. TAKE A BIT OF WATER FROM THIS POT USING A SPOON AND PUT IT IN THE PLATE NEXT TO YOU.

             THE SIXTH IS A SAUCER. IT'S A LITTLE PLATE USED TO COLLECT WATER. PLEASE SEE THE DIAGRAM BELOW TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTUAL INJUNCTIONS ON HOW TO LAY OT THESE POTS .

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HOW TO MAKE FIRE OFFERINGS (YAJNA)

 

                                                                          YAJNA

                    THE ONE WHO IS THE ESSENCE OF THE THREE LOKAS AND THREE STATES OF  MIND, NATURE AND EXISTENCE, THAT ONE WHO LIGHTS UP OUR PATH AND IS THE ETERNAL FATHER, HIS VERY NATURE IS YAJNA. HE ALONE IS THE ENJOYER OF ALL YAJNAS. HE, THE LORD OF YAJNAS, REPRESENTS THE VEDIC INJUCTIONS OF FIRE OFFERINGS AND ALL LIMBS OF YAJNAS, HE BESTOWS THE REWARDS OF SUCH YAJNA.

                 HE, THE RULER OF YAJNAS, IS THE ONE PERFORMING FIRE OFFERINGS (THROUGH ME FOR, HE'S ONE WITHOUT A SECOND, HE ALONE EXISTS). THE SOLE ENJOYER AND THE ONLY RECIPIENT OF ALL OFFERINGS MADE IN THAT FIREPIT. HE, THE FINAL OFFERING, FULFILLS ALL YAJNAS AND REMAINS THE GREATEST MYTICAL REALIZATION OF A YAJNA. HE'S SUSTENCE (FOOD) AND THE ENJOYER OF SUCH SUSTENANCE.

                  (VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM, 104, 105, OWN TRANSLATION.)

                 IF THERE'S ONE THING WITHOUT WHICH NO RELIGIOUS RITE IS EVER PERFORMED IN SANTANA DHARMA (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HINDU RELIGION), THAT WILL BE THE USE OF FIRE. WHETHER THAT FIRE IS IN THE FORM OF A LAMP OF OFFERINGS IN A FIREPIT OR EVEN LIBRATIONS (ARGHYAM), TO THE GREATEST FIREBALL, THE SUN, OFTEN THE PRESENCE OF FIRE MARKS THE BEGINNING AND END OF LIFE. THE FIRE OF PASSION IS THE SEED OF OUR BODY,  THE IN A MOTHER'S WOMB SUSTAINS US, THE FIRE OF OUR DESIRES PROPELS US, THE FIRE IN OUR BELLIES DEGESTS OUR FOOD, THE FIRE IN OUR BODIES AGES US AND ULTIMATELY, IT IS TO FIRE THAT WE ARE GIVEN AT THE TIME OF CREMATION.

                THEREFORE, A YAJNA NOT ONLY REPRESENTS FIRE OFFERINGS MADE IN A FIREPIT, BUT AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE TOWARDS ALL THINGS THAT GOVERN OUR LIVES. IN SANATANA DHARMA, THERE ARE FIVE TYPES OF YAJNA:

                1. OFFERINGS TO ALL LIVING BEINGS (BHUTA-YAJNA): THIS INVOLVES FEEDING BIRDS AND ANIMALS, PLANTING TREES, WATERING PLANTS AND MINDFUL USAGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

               2.     CHARITY AND MUTUAL RESPECT (MANUSHYA-YAJNA). TO RESPECTFULLY RECEIVE A GUEST, TO RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S SPACE, EXISTENCE AND FREEDOM, TO HELP OTHERS TO THE BEST OF ONE'S ABILITIES IS MANUSHYA-YAJNA.

              3.      OFFERINGS TO OUR ANCESTORS (PITR-YAJNA): THIS INVOLVES DONATING FOOD, MONEY, CLOTHES AND SO ON IN THE MEMORY OF OUR ANCESTORS TO THANK THEM. AFTER ALL, EVEN IF THEY LEFT NO MATERIAL LEGACY FOR SOMEONE, THEIR SEED IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE.

              4.       OFFERINGS TO GODS (DEVA-YAJNA): BY MAKING WATER AND FIRE OFFERINGS, WE PERFORM DEVA-YAJNA. THIS TYPE OF YAJNA ALONG WITH THE ONE BELOW IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS PRESENTLY.

               5.      OFFERING TO THE UNIVERSE (BRAHMA-YAJNA): THIS IS DONE BY CHANTING VEDIC MANTRAS. THEREFORE, IN MANTRA YOGA NO FIRE OFERRINGS ARE MADE WITHOUT ASSOCIATING A MANTRA WITH THEM. FOR ON THE PATH OF MANTRA SADHANA, SOUND (MANIFEST OR SILENCE) IS OUR FIRST CONNECTION WITH THE DIVINE ENERGY.

                   THAT WHICH HELPS US REALIZE THE TRUTH (JNA) OF NOW, THE PRESENT MOMENT (YA), IS YAJNA. OUR LIFE IS A SERIES OF PRESENT MOMENTS.

                 THE YAJNA THAT HAS FIRE OFFERINGS IS ALSO CALLED HOMAM OR AGNIHOTRA. IT CAN BE AS ELABORATE AS EASILY LASTING EIGHT HOURS OR MORE, OR IT CAN BE CONCISE ENOUGH TO BE WRAPPED UP WITHIN  15-20 MINUTES. WHAT KIND OF YAJNA YOU DO DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF YOUR SADHANA. IN THIS CHAPTER, AS FAR AS MANTRA YOGA IS CONCERNED, TO MAKE EFFECTIVE FIRE OFFERINGS, I PRESENT TO YOU THE SHORT BUT SUFFICIENT STEPS OF A YAJNA.

                                  INGREDIENTS REQUIRED FOR FIRE OFFERINGS

•           BRICKS AND SAND IF YOU ARE MAKING YOUR OWN ELEVATED                                 PLATFORM  (VEDI).
•           AN OIL LAMP. INCENSE IS OPTIONAL.
•          GHEE (OR ANY SPECIFIC OIL AS PRESCRIBED IN THE SADHANA)
•          ANY SPOON OR WOODEN SPOONS TO MAKE OFFERINGS OF GHEE.
•          A SMALL WATER POT. (YAJNA INGREDIENTS ARE DIFFERENT FOR VARIOUS SADHANAS. ONCE AGAIN, FOR THE SADHANAS LISTED IN THIS BOOK. I'VE SPECIFIED THE INGREDIENTS.)
•          FIREWOOD (SMALL STICKS USUALLY SUFFICE UNLESS YOU ARE DOING A LARGE YAJNA).
• 
  

                          

•          A DRY COCONUT. THIS IS USED IN THE END TO OFFER THE LAST OBLATION (AHUTI). THE COCONUT IS PUNCTURED (IF IT'S WITH SKIN) OF CUT AT THE TOP (IF IT'S WITHOUT SKIN) AND A BIT OF GHEE AND YAJNA INGREDIENTS ARE PUT IN THAT (THE LID IS PUT BACK ON THE TOP IF IT'S WITHOUT SKIN).
•          A BUCKET OF WATER (I'VE DONE THOUSANDS OF YAJNAS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER NEEDED TO DOUSE THE FIRE. BUT, IF YOU ARE STARTING OUT, YOU MAY WANT TO KEEP A BUCKET OF WATER CLOSE BY IN CASE OF ANY FIRE HAZARD.)

                   A FIREPIT OF 2 FT X 2FT X 2FT OR EVEN 1.5 FT X 1.5 FT X 1.5 FT IS USUALLY ENOUGH. IF YOU CAN'T DIG A PIT OR SOURCE A FIREPIT FROM THE MARKET, YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN PLATFORM, A SLIGHTLY ELEVATED PIECE OF GROUND (VEDI). 

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