Tantra – The Serpentine Ascent – Part II

There is a common notion that Tantra deals with Sex & the term denoted for this in the New Age is Sacred Sexuality.

The Union of Nature ( Prakriti ) & Intelligence ( Purusha ) is the base of all Indian Philosophy. ' The entire Universe is nothing but He & She" said Aurobindo. It is a continuum of Conscioussness-Force. The Universe is regarded as a Union of Nature and Her Lord.

All Nature is a wide enamoured pause
Hoping for Her lord to touch, to clasp, to be!

On the breast of the static Absolute ( Purusha ), She sports as dynamic Time !

His breast He offers for Her Cosmic Dance
Over our lives which are the shivering theatre !

With such a philosophical background, Tantra becomes a formidable Art to protray Cosmic Union. Sex is the union of male and female & Tantra represents the Union of the male and female components of the Ultimate.

Kala in Sanskrit means Time and Kali is She who is of the nature of Time Eternal. Everything is created by Time, preserved by Time and destroyed by Time and it She who is the Sole Doer.

"He who forces Time will be pushed back by Time
He who yields to Time will find Time on his side"

Life is regarded as the unfolding of the Self at six different levels of consciousness known as Chakras in the magnificent Tantric Model. In mundane people the unfolding takes place only at the first three chakras which represent procreation, metabolism & speech; the higher three chakras remain latent. The awakening of the higher chakras results in the unfolding and fulfillment of Life Divine. When the Kundalini, the Serpentine Power inherent in humans, rises from the Root Chakra ( Muladhara ) to the Crown Chakra ( Sahasrara ), man achieves Cosmic Consciousness.

The Spirit shall take up the human play
The earthly life become the Life Divine!

Ancient Tantric treatises give priority to the Fivefold Worship ( The Pancha Makara Pooja ), the Five Great M's which are to be worshipped.

Madyam Mamsam cha Meenam cha
Mudra Maidhunameva Cha
Eka Pancha Makarasyur
Naranam Moksha Dayaka

Madyam _ Wine

Mamsam - Flesh

Meenam - Fish

Mudra - A Yogic Pose

Maidhuna - Copulation

Madyam is Wine and there is a saying in Latin " In Vino Veritas " ( There is

truth in Wine ).

Bacchus' blessings are a treasure

And drinking is the soldier's pleasure !

Alcohol, taken in small quantities is the exciter of the "Yes"

function in man. It can make man one with Truth.

Mudra is a Yogic Pose. Yoga is derived from the word Yuj which means to unite.

Meena means fishes. Mamsa means flesh. Traditionally, in other systems whichare considered divine like Yoga, non veg food is eschewed. But not so in Tantra.

Maidhuna is Copulation. Sex was considered as Lust in puritan philosophies. But not so in Tantra. "Sex is spiritual, it is something that comes out of the depths of your being " says Dr Maxwell Maltz, founder of Psycho- Cybernetics.

These 5 Ms are the five elements which are used by Tantra for Cosmic Union.

The Symbolic Meaning behind the Five Great M's

It is to be noted that Mamsam ( Flesh ) is symbolic. The Sanksrit Soham means ' I am He '. Mamsa means the same Mam ( I am ) and Sah is He.

The Wine referred to here is the Wine of Bliss. The Copulation referred here is the Divine Copulation.

No doubt sex is the microcosmic representation of Cosmic Union. In this sense Tantra becomes Sacred and divine. It is the Sacred Art & hence the holiest of all Holy Sciences !

Vedic Astrology is another manifestation of Tantra. The knowledge of the planets and the constellations is esoteric and Tantra is the main affiliate of Astrology. Celestial transit influences produce mundane effects which can be unveiled by Mundane Astrology

Tantra and Vedanta are sister sciences. One deals with Sat ( the Absolute
aspect of Being ) & the other with Chit, which is both absolutely relative
and relatively absolute.

It is said that She is the representative of Absolute Knowledge ( Brahma Jnana) and She sports in the garden of the Upanishads !

Thou exist as prosperity in the houses of the righteous

As mental tension galore in the houses of the profane !

In the Seers as Intelligence, as Morality & Ethics in the good

Infinite are Thy works and Grace, O Mother Divine!

Ten Times Guilty – Book Review

Brenda Hill?s passion for the world of writing and her experiences as an editor, proofreader and educator have definitely worked exceptionally well together to develop her book - Ten Times Guilty. This suspense thriller is truly an outstanding novel. I do not mean to sound clich? when I say that I had difficulty setting aside this review project. In fact, for two days I had forgotten about lunch entirely!

Sergeant Reese and his partner, Captain Cooper, are on the case of a serial rapist and stalker. Tracy Micheals, a young single mother from a neglected childhood, is struggling to make a better life when she is brutally assaulted and terrorized by a stalker. Sergeant Reese suspects Tracy?s attacker is the same man he is hunting for ? but so far, none of the surviving victims are willing to break through their terror and help the police bring the mad-man in. Tracy knows in her heart that Reese is the only one who can save her life and lovable Suzy Banning is the one person who can save her mind. But does she dare to let them help her?

The author displays her skill right from the first few sentences, which really grabbed hold of me, dragged me into the story and would not let me go. The novel has incredible insight to the daily troubles that rape victims endure. From medical procedures and healing ? both physically and mentally ? all were well done without being too technical. Historical and present-day societal views of rape are discussed with clarity and understanding. I loved how she portrayed the support systems and enjoyed following along with the police who chased clues along the trail. The level of suspense was consistent throughout the book and each character?s inner battles were clearly portrayed. Brenda Hill certainly deserves to sit among the ranks of best-selling writers like Nora Roberts (Carolina Moon), William Diehl (Thai Horse) and Trevanian (Shibumi)!

ISBN#: 142410089
Author: Brenda Hill
Publisher: Publish America

Adventure at Jeffs Page

All these and many more interesting books are made available at Jeffs page which offers a variety of books to download that are fit to all people, that is, books fit for students and also elder people. At this page, people acquire knowledge at different levels for instance; one can learn on how to write an e-book. This is great because Jeffs page offers variety of knowledge to different individuals which really expand their minds in terms of academic.

At Jeffs page, you find that it is very easy to download books for reading online as compared to other websites which claim to offer book downloads. We find many short stories download in these pages and people interested in short stories find a pleasure at jeffs page. We also find that it is easy to read the books online since the website is not complicated at all since everything is as clear as possible and one enjoys a conducive place to undertake studies from. Parents are advised to encourage their children to undertake studies online especially through Jeffs page where they can access many books of their desire and expertise. This helps in developing the reading skills of many children and thus finds no difficulties as they continue with their studies in school.

Short stories found at Jeffs page are not only interesting but also educative. Students find that after reading many stories their minds broaden and thus they are in a position to think widely. At Jeffs page, many students are attracted to short stories which are very educative in terms of morals. We find that many children have lacked good morals simply because they do not get access to online books that teach about good behaviour and also educate on how to relate with others in the society. It has been noted that those students who access online books especially short stories have their behaviour positively transformed since many short stories are educative. Jeffs page does not contain books written using abusive terms that can change a child's attitude towards others but only contains educative message.

The only way to ensure that children get access to online reading is by availing the necessary internet devices at your home. As a responsible and a caring parent, you are supposed to afford internet at home for the children to access short stories online and build up their reading skills accordingly. The children will appreciate since they will get access to Jeffs page which is a home of short stories and they can download online non-fiction books to increase their reading skills. This should be encouraged in every home where both parents and children are focused in the line of academic.

What Is An Ipod

What is an iPod? Who are you, my mother? Well, it?s a reasonable enough question. Chances are that you are probably aware that it?s an iPod is a little gadget that your grandson wants for his birthday and that its costs a lot of money and what wrong with this transistor radio anyway? What?s wrong? Everything.

You want to know what is an iPod? It?s a product created by Apple. Depending on which version you have its possibilities for functionality are seeming to approach limitless. Lets assume that you?re going to pick up the new 5th generation for the grandkid, because if he?s like most kids nowadays, he?s probably rude, disrespectful and ungrateful?unless he gets exactly what he wants; which is a 5th generation iPod.

When he opens it up and starts it up he?ll be looking at the possibility of storing up to 15,000 songs, and oddly enough he will too. He?ll be able to load his iPod up with 25,000 crystal clear color photos. His new best friend has the capacity to store up to 150 hours videos or movies that all have the same quality as the photos. And he can roam the mean streets of your quiet town for 20 hours before this thing runs out of batteries.

So aside from everything that should have tempted you to buy the kid one long ago, excellent quality, great capacity, podcast possibilities, etc; you?ve got every reason in the world to push aside your concerns. The new iPods are smaller, lighter, and have more options than one could reasonably want. The new 5th generation iPod does so many things that you won?t be asking what is an iPod, but what isn?t an iPod.

New Book Takes New Look At Newborns’ Gift Of Life

A new book points out that many scientists and clinicians are concentrating their energies on umbilical cord-derived stem cells from healthy babies. Recent research shows human umbilical cord stem cell therapy (hUCSCT) can help many conditions.

"Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy: The Gift of Healing from Healthy Newborns" by David Steenblock, M.S., D.O, and Anthony G. Payne, Ph.D. (Basic Health Publications, $24.95) explores this medical frontier, including current research, descriptions of how various conditions respond and the personal stories of many patients. The Steenblock Research Institute is at the forefront of the groundbreaking umbilical cord stem therapy research. Researchers indicate improvements with:

� Cerebral palsy

� Traumatic brain injury

� Diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy and other eye conditions

� Stroke and other circulatory problems

� Multiple sclerosis

� Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In the book, Drs. Steenblock and Payne describe how scientists retrieve stem cells, expand their numbers and apply them to patients. The doctors explain what happens after a stem-cell treatment and what makes treatments more effective.

A question-and-answer section tackles such frequently asked questions as: is the treatment safe, how quick are the results, what is the cost, what are the pre- and post-treatments, does insurance cover the costs, what are side effects, what is the current status of FDA approval for stem cell treatments and why is this type of therapy permitted in some countries but not others.

There is increasing evidence, the authors report, that relates aging and disease to lack of normal stem cell growth and repair. A new area of study, they explain, is dedicated to exploring the ability to mobilize one's own stem cells to help a body repair itself. Additionally, there are scientifically validated ways of ensuring that stem cells are not compromised in terms of function or ability to mobilize in response to injury or disease.

Is Issac Asimov the Father of Science Fiction?

When it comes to science fiction, one question is often asked:Isaac-Asimov.Isaac-Asimov- does he deserve the credit as "father" of Science fiction? The answer to that question has caused many debates in the past. Some of those who answer this question in the affirmative do so for a variety of reasons, including Asimov's impressive list of works. Those who answer in the negative, often do so as a matter of historical reference.
It is hard to argue against the premise that Issac Asimov was one of the founding fathers of modern science fiction. When died at the age of 70, he had published an estimated 370 books and stories. This is impressive and no one can debate that fact. Just as impressive is his life story which begins with his birth in Petrovichi, Russia in 1920 and continued throughout his lifetime.
One of the main reasons Asimov was so well loved as writer was his background in science. He knew what he was writing about, even when his knowledge was used in works of fiction. He was educated in biochemistry, kinetics, enzymology and photochemistry to name of a few of the disciplines he knew. His work ethic also helped him to achieve such prominence. He normally wrote a full eight hours a day and would write for weeks on end in order to finish a project.
There is also another question that often causes debate: In terms of science fiction novels - the Best selling novels equals the best? This is yet another of those questions that can be answered in different ways, depending on how you look at the question.
It is no secret that Issac Asimov had many best selling novels. Some of these novels are still as loved today as they were years ago when they first came out. But the same can be said of other writers as well. For instance, Jules Vern is considered by many to be one of the pioneers of science fiction, just as Asimov is considered. In terms of best selling novels, Vern was extremely popular in his day and age and his works continue to be read and cherished even in this modern time. To answer the question of whether being best selling equates to being the best, truly depends on how a person looks at it.
One of the more unique distinctions of Asimov is that while he was born Jewish, he did not believe in God or the supernatural. He was, by all accounts, a humanist. In his mind, the forces of good and evil did not reside in heaven or hell but rather within mankind itself. This deep feeling that humans were responsible for their own plight (as well as achievements) is shown throughout much of published work. Much of his work concentrates on how humans (and other intelligent beings) act and react to problems that they themselves have created.
In addition to novels, Asimov is also known a short story writer. One of his best known short stories is "Nightfall". For those new to Asimov, this would be a great place to begin as the story delves into many of the issues that his longer works focus upon.
So, to answer the question: Isaac Asimov - does he deserve the credit as "father" of Science fiction? Well, some say yes and some say no. You decide for yourself.

Scott Turow – Author Biographies

Scott Turow was born on April 12, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from New Trier High School, he attended Amherst College where he graduated in 1970. He won a scholarship to attend Stanford College Writing Center where he graduated in 1975. He attended Harvard Law School from 1975 to 1978.
Scott says that he knew he wanted to be a writer from the time he was 17 years old. He said he decided to write and practice law when he realized that he wasn't going to support himself as a writer. During his first year at Harvard, he was commissioned to write a book about his experiences as a first year law student. The outcome is "One L", published in 1977.
Scott Turow married Annette, a painter in 1971. They have three children, but divorced in 2008. From 1978 to 1986, Scott was an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago where he prosecuted several high profile cases.
Besides his books, Scott has published many articles including reviews and a treatise on why he does not believe in the death penalty. In 2003 his book, "Ultimate Punishment: A Lawyer's Reflection on Dealing with the Death Penalty", was published.
Scott Turow is a partner in a large national law firm, Sonnenshein, Nath and Rosenthal. He has worked pro bono cases especially for those wrongfully convicted, as in the case of Alejandro Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez was accused and convicted of the murder of a young girl. He spent 11 years on death row before Mr. Turow won his release in 1996. Scott says that at one time he was death penalty agnostic, but no more.
Scott Turow was appointed, by then Governor Ryan, to the Commission of Capital Punishment and Reform. He is a trustee at Amherst College and was the Author's Guild for a year and still serves on the board of directors. He also served on the United States Senate Nominations Commission.Scott has practiced law part time since 1986. He says he writes in the morning and becomes a lawyer in the afternoon. He claims that he still has billable hours every day.
Most of Scott Turow's books are legal thrillers. An exemption is "Ordinary Heroes." Scott says that "Ordinary Heroes" is a book that he had wanted to write since he was 17 years old. This book centers on fathers and sons, WWII and hidden pasts. Scott says his own family fabricated their far three of Scott Turow's books have been made into movies: Presumed Innocent in 1990, The Burden of Proof in 1992 and Reversible Errors in 2004.
Times magazine once touted Scott Turow as "The Bard of the Litigious Age." The Los Angeles Times says, "No one writes better mystery suspense novels than Scott Turow."
Scott Turow Novels:
Presumed Innocent (1987)The Burden of Proof (1990)Pleading Guilty (1993)The Laws of Our Fathers (1996)Personal Injuries (1999)Reversible Errors (2002)Ordinary Heroes (2005)Limitations (2006)
Nonfiction:One L (1977)Ultimate Punishment: A Layer's Reflection on Dealing with the Death Penalty (2003)

How to Write Humorously – Learning From Charles Dickens

In 'A Tale Of Two Cities', Dickens had distributed the humour among various pockets: the way he described the characters, the manners that the lords of the land followed in France, and the narrative technique in which he had no competitor. While describing the human tragedies and follies of common men, he had endeavoured to infuse funniness through the comedy of manners. But he had not tried to soften the bitterness of truth that the ongoing revolution was supposed to hold.A�
Charles DickensA�had courage to be an innovator. Standing against all the contemporary writers, he had chosen the subject like poverty in 'Oliver Twist'.A�A�He obeyed his inner voice-his sincere service to the world in he lived.A�A�Again, even if being the writer of neat fiction, he chose history as background for his novelA�'A Tale of Two Cities'. The writer of 'Domby and Sons' and 'Martin Chuzzlewit' preferred to narrate rigid truth of the history without reservations, without making compromises. And the result is before our eyes.
He chose theme of history because it contained the hardest challenges the people had faced; he chose it because the larger portion of the people had at last responded to the wildest behaviour shown to them throughout the years. Every drop of blood spilled on the street of Paris, every drop of the sweat fallen on the farms of feudal France, melted into each other and became the blade of the Guillotine. And then everything flew from the power of that Guillotine. Dickens picked up that theme; honoured it in its right perspective; and dealt with it with his masterly skill.A�
While reading Dickens, humour would not fail in helping our strains to disappear. It would make our mind lighter. Had Dickens not been a writer and the humorist as he was, he would have become a social activist. Such were the subjects he chose for his writings. 'A Tale of Two Cities', a novel that runs overloaded with the hard facts of an ongoing revolution, it contains salient stock of wits and irony. Though the thematic compulsions restrained Dickens to become outright humorist; he fully counterbalanced it while caricaturing some of the characters.A�A�
If we look at the novel from a different angle, then a war or a revolution is the greatest satire itself. The mankind has never learnt a lesson from the past. We go on slaughtering each other without realising the futility of our actions. Perhaps that was the biggest message this novel should have delivered.A� A�'A Tale of Two Cities' is the masterpiece novel. It would shine like a gem on a bookshelf.

The Art of War For Writers – Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics, and Exercises by James Scott Bell

"The Art Of War For Writers: fiction writing strategies, tactics, and exercises" by James Scott Bell is an enlightening, informative, motivating, and practical little gem of a book for anyone who wants to successfully start and finish a publishable novel. I'm a fan of Sun Tzu, and I'm working on selling my first novel, so I was immediately drawn to this book when I saw the title. It was much better than I even anticipated. Bell's advice is solid and this book contains the essential elements needed to be victorious as a writer.
The wisdom comes in seventy-seven short chapters divided into three main parts: Reconnaissance, Tactics, and Strategy. Under reconnaissance, you find suggestions such as being aware of what the successful writing life is like, put heart into everything you write, and finish your novel. The tactics in part two include testing your premise to prove it worthy, utilizing the Q Factor as a strategic weapon for motivation at just the right time, and whether to outline or not to outline. The third part, Strategy, focuses more on the business of writing, such as goals, networks, when to get an agent and when not to, and promoting your book. I also really liked the chapters on rejections and criticism, something all writers experience as I'm currently learning first hand.
Bell uses quotes from Sun Tzu in places throughout the text, but he also quotes many authors, agents, and editors. There are tons of examples contained in the short chapters, and it's a book I know I'll be turning to again and again to assist me with my writing. I'll look to it for both for practical strategies and suggestions, and for motivation. One of the most important things Bell stresses in various places is to continue to write. He provides quotes from various authors on how they design their typical writing days, but the bottom line is that every writer must be disciplined to hit the keyboard. The final word is encouraging and motivational and I'm sure I'll read this chapter more than any other. The final words must be remembered and kept on the forefront of all writers, "Keep fighting. Keep writing."
If you are inspiring to write fiction, I highly recommend "The Art of War For Writers" by James Scott Bell. It is a great addition to any author's bookshelf, and one that you will turn to again and again as you navigate and pursue victory in the publishing industry.

Thrilling Romance Novels Review

Scott Nicholson writes Liquid Fear, a novel about a man who wakes up with a murdered woman in his motel with only a bottle of pills as a clue to what might have happened. It takes on the mystery of a pharmacy conspiracy that occurred years before and left one of them dead and the rest with acute memory loss. Now, the experiments continue and to keep off dangerous side effects such as phobias and dangerous impulses, they must take pills every four hours, but the pills have run out and the people are cracking beneath the pressure. The story surrounds the struggle of these characters to figure out what to do when the pills have run out and their inhibitions are no longer in their own hold.
Nancy C. Johnson writes Her Last Letter, is about a pair of three sisters, one of which died and left a letter saying that one of her sister's husbands murdered her, as they were involved in intimate relations. Now, it is up to the two living sisters to determine which of their husbands was the killer and which of the ones had the relationship with the sister. Both men are wealthy with mysterious backgrounds and are suspects causing a whirlwind of mistrust and suspicion in the lives of these two women. For danger and suspense, this is a novel to read.
J.R. Rain writes Moon Dance, a novel about a female vampire who has children and a husband and became a vampire only six years ago when she was attacked. While trying to carry on her business, she also has to deal with her husband's dislike of her vampire form and the strain that her cold body puts on their love life. Luckily, she finds a new love later on and manages to overcome her obstacles. Heather Killough-Walden writes A Big Bad Wolf Romance: The Spell. This book is about a young witch who dreams of werewolves, one being a murderer and the other being a man with a dark past who seeks revenge upon a warlock who once took his brother from him. Drawn to each other, this is a story of magical romance that follows the journey of two people whose paths cross and they are unable to do anything to stop the connection between them. The third installment in a series, you could try reading The Strip and The Heat, as well, for a more comprehensive look on the books.
Lori Foster writes When You Dare, a book about a professional mercenary who believes that persona lives should never mix in business. But when a lovely woman asks him to track down a man who had kidnapped her, he can't resist her beauty and is tempted to mix pleasure with business. Molly, however, is in a mission and cannot think of anything but who among her father or old fianc?� might have been the one that kidnapped her. For a book that is filled with passion and crime, as well as the intensity of some dark, shady business, this is the novel to read.