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Matt Damon Calls PETA About Attending Bullfight, Wants the Fights Banned
The recent news and photos of Matt Damon attending a bullfight in Mexico were bound to get a response from PETA and animal advocates. Animal lovers and Matt Damon fans, rejoice – it turns out the actor didn't like what he saw at the event and is voicing his support of a bullfighting ban.
When PETA contacted Damon, the actor called the organization back himself to explain. According to the Daily Mail, Damon said he attended the bullfight with friends and his belief that the events should be banned has only gotten stronger.
PETA's Jane Dollinger said, "We wrote to Matt Damon as soon as pictures of him at a Mexican bullfight surfaced – and within 24 hours, he personally telephoned PETA Vice President Lisa Lange to correct the false impression that he had given. Matt said that he went to the bullfight believing that bullfights should be stopped but felt that he should see the cruelty for himself while he was in Mexico. He said that seeing with his own eyes what these tormented animals go through only reinforced an already strongly held belief that bullfights should be relegated to the history books."
Good news! Dollinger said, "He also said that he was upset to think that his attendance was in any way construed to be an endorsement of such a barbaric activity." Okay, so he had us worried there for a minute, but it sounds like the guy behind Water.org's work to get people safe drinking water is also sticking up for animals.


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Yom Kippur just passed yesterday and Moshe Rabbeinu was successful in his plea to Hashem to forgive us for the terrible mistake we made by serving the Golden Calf- Eigel HaZahav. Moshe Rabbeinu gathers all of B'nei Yisroel to instruct them on the building of the Mishkan.Q- Why does Moshe Rabbeinu have to assemble the people together for this?
A#1- The construction of the Mishkan was open for all to participate in. (Interesting to note, that only the children were not interrupted from learning Torah to build the Mikdash, since the world's existence relies on the Torah learned by children!)STORY:
A#2- B'nei Yisroel are one unit. We are many individuals who comprise that unit. The command of the Mishkan's construction (which will bring Hashem's presence in this world) is given when we realize that Hashem (who is the epitome of one-and no other besides Him) will not live amongst His nation if they aren't unified. Now we see that the Mishkan is given to a nation who is bound together as one solid rope, attached to Hashem.
Even though we pushed Hashem out of our lives (during that short time we foolishly thought that Eigel was the way to serve Hashem), Hashem accepted our T'shuvah and will return to us. Through the construction of the Mishkan, Hashem will have a place in the lower world (this world we live in) to live in. The Mishkan was the way we felt Hashem's 'Shechina' (Presence) with us. When we sanctify ourselves, we become a miniature Mishkan for Hashem to live in. Are our neshamot (souls) any less holy than the wood, copper, silver & gold used for the Mishkan? Hashem lives in every Jewish soul that is attached to Him.
When Rav Menachem Mendel from Kotzk (the Kotzker Rebbe) was a child, he was asked by his father's friend; "Menachem Mendel, where does G-d live?" The young child snapped back with the response; "Wherever you let Him!"LESSON:
Hashem lives within the soul of everyone who lets Him in. We treat ourselves with respect since we know that our neshamot are part of Hashem. We dress respectfully, speak respectfully, act respectfully, and think of thought that will bring Hashem closer into our lives. Our lives are meaningful since we have an infinite amount of opportunities to bring G-dliness into our lives. We cry over the destruction of the Bait HaMikdash, yet we can be that structure who carries within, the presence of Hashem.For example;
Moshe Rabbeinu introduces the construction of the Mishkan by telling us that we work for 6 days and on the Shabbos, we rest from that work. There were 39 creative actions done to build the Mishkan, its vessels and the clothes of the Kohanim. These are the 39 action which cannot be done on the holy Shabbos. Even an action that wasn't done for the Mishkan's construction, but the outcome of the action would be the same as one of those 39, is also prohibited.
For the purpose of making bread (for the 'Lechem HaPonim'), grain was planted. Not only is planting prohibited on Shabbos, but watering plants is also prohibited. Although planting & watering are different actions, their outcome is the same (causes growth).
(for the Lechem HaPonim)
Is there any deeper connection between the Mishkan & Shabbos, to prohibit those actions needed to construct the Mishkan, on Shabbos?STORY:
As we learned, Hashem wanted a place in this world to house His presence. The universe would have been that place, had Adam & Chava not eaten from the Eitz HaDaat (tree of knowledge). After they did that Cheit (transgression), Hashem's presence was confined and reserved for the next world. The holy Shabbos is an opportunity to enter that world, for a delightful 24 hour period. The Mishkan is creating that home of Hashem in a specific space, as Shabbos is creating that home of Hashem in a specific time. The work done to create the Mishkan is for the purpose of creating a "Shabbos" in a specific location (the Mishkan). On Shabbos, we have our Mishkan. Those 39 creative actions for the construction of the Mishkan, have no place during the Shabbos.
The love that a Jew has towards Hashem, is expressed through the actions done for Him. Just as the love between people is expressed through actions done for the other person. Hashem wanted Moshe Rabbeinu to warn B'nei Yisroel to keep Shabbos since through their love for Hashem, as expressed through the building of the Mishkan, they might continue their work and disregard Shabbos.
The Torah warns us that a person who is warned by witnesses not to violate the Shabbos, but disregards the warning and publicly disgraces Hashem's Shabbos, can be put to death. This only held true when the Bait HaMikdash stood and we had a Sanhedrin.
The Torah singles out the prohibition of having a fire lit on Shabbos. What's different about this melachoh? Lighting a fire is the MELACHO which differentiates between the prohibitions on Shabbos & those on Yom Tov. All the melachot that are prohibited on Shabbos, are prohibited on Yom Tov, except for cooking (fire). We are permitted to cook food on Yom Tov using a fire that was lit beforehand. On Shabbos, we are allowed to leave a fire on and the food can be cooking throughout Shabbos (assuming it was partially cooked beforehand). There have been Jews throughout history who have rejected the 'Torah SheBa'al Peh' (Oral Torah) and took the law of 'not having fire on Shabbos' literally. They sat in darkness on Shabbos (symbolically, they were in darkness the rest of the days too) and didn't leave food on the fire to be warm. We want to show how vital the Torah SheBa'al Peh is, so we leave cholent on the fire to eat on Shabbos morning. We know that light is very important on Shabbos. The rabbis taught us to have the lights left on throughout the Shabbos. The lights that are lit for the holy Shabbos, are symbols of the harmony that must exist between husband and wife. On a simple level, we understand how a dark house can cause accidents. Accidents lead people to nervousness and anger.
The prohibition of having a fire in the home on Shabbos, can be understood figuratively. Fire represents anger. The Torah is warning us to avoid anger on Shabbos. If there have been any tension in relationships over the week, before Shabbos is the time to resolve it.
One of the great Chassidic rebbes was accustomed to asking forgiveness from his helpers around the house. He would then cry and beg forgiveness from his wife if he (G-d forbid) pained her in any way. When Shabbos entered, there was no trace of anger in his home.LESSON:
Shabbos is when the family spends a lot of time together. There are lots of opportunities to become angry. Let's work on keeping our cool, during the warm Shabbos atmosphere. Moshe Rabbeinu offered the opportunity to contribute to the Mishkan's construction, to everyone. This communal effort rectified the communal effort made to create the Eigel HaZahav. The enthusiasm was so great, Moshe Rabbeinu had to send word to stop making more materials. Why didn't he simply tell them to stop bringing more materials? Moshe Rabbeinu was concerned for the people who already made items needed at one point for the Mishkan. Had he told them not to bring them, they would have felt bad that their work was for nothing. This way, whoever already made something, could bring it and everyone else knew not to start any new projects.LESSON:
From Moshe Rabbeinu, we learn the importance of accepting the efforts of people even if the outcome of their efforts aren't needed. No person enjoys the feeling of having done something for no reason.STORY:
The Kovno Rav, Rav Yitzchok Elchonon Spector, was the Poseik HaDor (halachic authority of the generation) in the early 1900's. He was speaking with someone, when there was a knock on the door. A student came in to tell Rav Yitzchok Elchonon of the great news; An older man finally got engaged. The Rav was thrilled to hear the great news and thanked the boy who told him. A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door and someone else told the Rav the same news. The Rav was once again thrilled and thanked the news bearer. A few moments later, the same occurrence repeated itself. Finally, the man in Rav Spector's home asked the rave "Rebbe, the same news was told to you four times over, yet each time you heard it, you reacted as if it was the first time!?"LESSON:
Rav Yitzchok Elchonon answered; "They come to tell me the news for they know I will be happy to hear it. This makes them happy so it's worth their efforts. If I don't act surprised to hear the news, their efforts would have been in vane. I would have deprived them of their joy."
It's really wild to imagine that the person in charge of the construction of the Mishkan was all of 13 years old. This special boy was B'tzalel, the son of Uri, who was the son of Chur. Hashem gave him the understanding of the secrets behind the vessels. Hey! Why do we need to know the name of his grandfather?
Chur was Miriam's son. He was the one (along with Aharon) who held up Moshe Rabbeinu's hands during the war with Amaleik. He also was the one who protested the making of the Eigel HaZahav. He was killed for his efforts. The Mishkan is going to bring the 'Shechina' (presence) of Hashem back to the nation, after it departed as a result of the Cheit HaEigel. Now the legacy of Chur lives on through his grandson, B'tzalel.
That which a person gives his life for, will be cherished by the person's descendants. Did B'tzalel do all the work? No! So why does he get the credit?LESSON:
The person who really gives of himself for something, gets the credit for that thing.© 1998 by R' Matis Friedman, H.A.F.T.R.
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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The Harkleroad family went into the jewelry business 30 years ago and it's still going strong. Its 30 year anniversary is Wednesday, November 30th and a portion of that days sales go to benefit the UGA Shellfish Research Lab.
Here are the details:
Harkleroad 30th Anniversary Celebration
Wednesday, November 30th 10am to 8pm
7300 Abercorn Street in Savannah
5-8 pm: Hors d'oeuvres
7:30 pm: drawings for $1000 gift certificate, a pearl necklace, a Daniel Wellington watch and more


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From the June 24, 2007, New York Times:
They'll Break the Bad News on 9/11
By FRANK RICH
BY this late date we should know the fix is in when the White House's top factotums fan out on the Sunday morning talk shows singing the same lyrics, often verbatim, from the same hymnal of spin. The pattern was set way back on Sept. 8, 2002, when in simultaneous appearances three cabinet members and the vice president warned darkly of Saddam's aluminum tubes. "We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud," said Condi Rice, in a scripted line. The hard sell of the war in Iraq — the hyping of a (fictional) nuclear threat to America — had officially begun.
An interesting article from the Sunday Washington Post:
In Finland's Footsteps
If We're So Rich and Smart, Why Aren't We More Like Them?
By Robert G. Kaiser
Sunday, August 7, 2005
Life in Finland, one of the world's best functioning welfare states and least known success stories…
From the June 22, 2007, New York Times:
Open Wide and Say 'Shame'
By A. O. SCOTT
It has become a journalistic cliché and therefore an inevitable part of the prerelease discussion of "Sicko" to refer to Michael Moore as a controversial, polarizing figure. While that description is not necessarily wrong, it strikes me as self-fulfilling (since the controversy usually originates in media reports on how controversial Mr. Moore is) and trivial. Any filmmaker, politically outspoken or not, whose work is worth discussing will be argued about. But in Mr. Moore's case the arguments are more often about him than about the subjects of his movies.


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Music files added to your account must be in MP3 format. To add music to your account, click on the menu icon at the top right corner of your control panel and select Files and then click on Music.
Choose the option for Add files to select your music.
Your uploaded music will now appear within Your Music Library below.
Now you can navigate to the page of your website that you want to play the music on, and select from the list of Your Music you have loaded. Music can be played on gallery pages in the Portfolio Sites and Site Builder.
If the music you want to load to your site is a file type other than an MP3 or larger than 4MB you have the option to use a free converter to optimize your files for use on the web. You can find this under the area for Files and Music or by clicking the link below:
Click here to go to a FREE music optimizer/converter website and download it from there.
Download and install the program, called Switch, then open Switch.
Note: You do not need to install any of the optional products Switch offers in the installation process.
Within Switch, set the Output Folder to your Desktop, or to a folder of your choice.
In Switch - click on the Add File(s) button to locate your music file.
Convert your music file within Switch using the following settings:
Under "Encoder Options" use Constant Bitrate and set it to 32(kbps), then from the Channel Encoding Mode drop-down menu, select "Mono" for best results.
Make sure the Output format is ".mp3" and click the Convert button, and once the conversion process is complete your file will be placed in the output destination you selected.
Return to the Files > Music area of your PhotoBiz account. Click on the Add Files button and locate the music file you just converted using Switch to load it to your account.
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Stars Beneath Your Bed: The Surprising Story of DustSaturday, August 27th, 2005
This nonfiction book weaves together stars, sunsets, comets, meteors, dust, dinosaurs, daily activities and even, in a small way, Martin Luther King. Read this book and think big about very small things. Learn how bits of all of us and all that we do help create the colors of the sunset. (more…)


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Today Jordan Davis would have been 19 years old. He was killed in 2012 by a man who was "in fear of his life."
Davis had been in a red SUV with three of his friends at a gas station. They were bumping their music. It obviously bothered another patron at the gas station. His name is Michael Dunn. Dunn got OUT of his car and approached the SUV. Some words were exchanged over the volume of their music. Dunn claims the kids brandished a gun.
Instead of leaving the gas station. He goes back to his vehicle, grabs his shotgun, and unloads 9 (a clip) rounds into the SUV, killing Jordan Davis.
He (Dunn) was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting a firearm. But the jury of 4 white women, 4 white men, 1 Asian woman, 2 black women and 1 Hispanic man couldn't come to a consensus on whether he was guilty of first degree murder.
Whether we agree or disagree on the evidence. Whether we give this man a pass for DRIVING 175 miles back home and not calling the police after the shooting, whether we agree that their music was obnoxious or too loud.. one thing we can all agree on is… he could have driven away as he did AFTER the shooting.
R.I.P Jordan Davis.
The reason I posted this as my BHM moment is because, sadly, this is part of our history. All too often are our black children killed. All you have to do is look at history. Lynched for looking, whistling, talking to a white woman. No one remembers them and let's them fade in the dark. We will not forget them anymore.


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Easily Building or making your own guitar
Make a guitar that you will never be able to buy for anything like the investment that you make in time and parts.
I started to build guitars back in about 2006 and my very first guitar was a stratocaster style guitar that seemed to be the killer guitar I wanted to make. Unfortunately for a thousand reasons it was not quite what I really wanted. Sure, it was almost as good as anything I could afford to buy from leading brands at the time and cost me a lot less to make myself. And that started me thinking that I could actually make a world class guitar with the help of a few companies components and my own efforts.
Indeed, I continued and have now made a number of Stratocaster style guitars and Telecasters because they are relatively easy to make and if you are careful you can achieve results that you would never believe you could and save a fortune.
Now before we continue I do want to get a couple of things out of the way. Firstly, my guitars are all made from Fender parts to professional standards, or fully authorized Fender parts and that in my opinion makes them basically the same as a Fender guitar with Fenders same design, at least the same quality but often higher and a lot of time invested on my part, probably more time than even Fender put in to a guitar build. My guitars are NOT counterfeit, or inferior products but are guitars with parts that Fender themselves have authorized.
Secondly, I have little or no time for views like 'you're not building that guitar' or 'you're just an assembler' or any other rubbish that some minority on the internet seem to think is befitting to these type of guitars. My view is you don't 'assemble' a house, and neither do you 'assemble' these guitars, there is a definite skill in building them as anyone who has succeeded in making one will tell you. I do not make guitars for other people so please don't ask. If you are stuck then maybe I can give you some advice or pointers for free, but that's as far as my involvement goes, because my videos are extremely intensive and cover every aspect (near enough) of building one of these guitars.
I don't waste my time rubbing down bodies, filling them and finishing them, that is not particularly easy without expensive equipment and with ordinary gear your results will look cr*p at best. Let the luthiers of this world do that and you stick to what makes a perfect result for you as I do here.
Warmoth Parts
I have used Warmoth parts generally for two very good reasons. Firstly, they are all fully Fender Authorized parts made to an exceptionally high standard so are an exceptionally good basis to build a guitar from. Secondly, the quality of those parts is second to none. Warmoth usually use high quality woods even on the lower cost bodies and if you buy a custom made one I can tell you that if you request for example swamp ash to be 'light' then it really is. To date I have only had one issue with them and that was for something they basically won't include on a guitar body as a modification so I could hardly accuse them of not supplying quality. This is a company I recommend and while they are not the cheapest around there is very good reasoning why I use Warmoth myself.
Genuine Fender Parts
On most of my guitar builds I decided very early on to use genuine Fender parts (USA parts!) very early on in my building experiences. If you buy low cost parts you will be stacking up problems later down in the build for one reason or another. For example, a Fender Japanese guitar tremolo might 'look' the same and often the quality is there, but did you know that the tremolo arm from a regular USA Stratocaster will not fit because it uses a different thickness for the metal used and also a different thread. Basically it will never fit. But there are thousands of other examples I could give that show trouble at the OK coral later so be very selective on guitar parts. You lose the price, you lose the quality and/or the exact design. I have seen it over and over again. One reason I use genuine Fender necks mainly from stripped Fender guitars as some others are not quite what you might want. You cannot get any more genuine than that.
Third Party Parts For Guitar
Obviously unless you just want to ape making a Stratocaster that looks like a regular Fender guitar then you might well want to use some other parts. A good example might be the pickups which can change the way the guitar sounds dramatically. I often use Fender custom shop pickups, but also use: David White pickups (no longer available), Joe Barden Pickups that are far nicer than the Fender equivalents and some Dimarzio and Seymour Duncan's that offer a different tone than regular Fender pickups. I've also used custom switching solutions for the wiring and even the odd third party bridge if it improved dramatically the results I achieve. Remember my goal is the build the 'perfect' and best guitar in the world... it's a feat that could take me (and you) a lifetime of work and then maybe never achieve.
From here I have a few sub pages that talk about particular guitar bodies, Fender parts, wiring solutions and guitar pickups. Remember these are just my own choices and are available from the top menu above when published.
However, below are the complete series of videos that I have created for instructions of how to build your guitar just like I did and you will see the results in each video as I actually do it all. There was no pre preparation for the camera or anything like that, I just turned on for each section and recorded it and that's the best way in any instruction video - do things for real. So, come on, choose the guitar style you want from those video builds below, watch it and hey presto you are all set to go and build your own. If you don't find the answer exactly to your query on the first guitar build then check the next one out because the answers are all there.
Please note that these 'how to build your guitar' pages are currently being updated and updates will be posted on the news page.
Best Fender Stratocaster in the world: Part 1 (Brownie)
Best Fender stratocaster in the world: Part 2 (Brownie)
Best fender stratocaster in the world: Played
The building of 'Blue': Part 1
The building of 'Blue': Part 2
The building of 'Blue': Part 3
The 'Blue' guitar being played
My Spalted Maple Korina Stratocaster build
The Korina Stratocaster being played
The Telecaster V1: Part 1
The Telecaster V1: Part 2
The Telecaster V1: Part 3
This is Glenn Proudfoot playing the Telecaster V1 that I made above. You really should check him out, he's a great player but shows you how to play some quite amazing guitar.
A Stratocaster style guitar with special switching
A special custom designed Telecaster V2: Part 1
A special custom designed Telecaster V2: Part 2
There is another Telecaster in this series being made presently that matches the 'Blue' stratocaster to make a pair of guitars. This telecaster will also have innovation and high quality components throughout and if you want to make a telecaster style guitar then this is one to watch also. My best advice about making a guitar? Take your time! there is no race to the finishing line.
Updates to this page will appear on the news page over time.


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6-Day Nature & Adventure Programme Outdoor Camping for School students
India's leading institution for outdoor education, the Hanifl Centre is located at an altitude of 7000 ft, is ideally placed to provide a facility through which students and visiting faculty can learn about the Himalaya, develop their skills and knowledge in outdoor and environmental education.
The Centre strives to make the best use of its unique location by providing a variety of educational and environmentally conscious programmes through treks, service projects, organic farming, language classes, etc. The centre also contributes to the sustainable development of the region by engendering an appreciation and understanding of the Himalayan environment in future leaders from around the world.
This is a more intensive introduction to being in the outdoors and includes sessions on LNT principles, ropes, knots, tent pitching, staying warm & dry, camp cleanliness, exposure to organic farming, and indoor climbing in Woodstock's gymnasium, compass-based games, longer treks and a cleanup drive. In addition, there are classroom sessions on the geography of the western Himalaya, introduction to flora-fauna, environmental issues affecting this area and films on wildlife conservation.
Course Duration: 6 Days at Hanifl Centre & Woodstock School Campus
Participant Limit: Min 15 - Max 30
The Hanifl Centre is a very well designed campus that offers a safe and healthy learning environment. In addition it provides home comfort for upto 40 students and teachers. The campus has security 24×7 with access to Woodstock School's Health Centre, ambulance service and nearby Landour Community Hospital.
Some of the outdoor learning experiences for students include:
- Creating awareness of Himalayan Biodiversity.
- Recognizing flora and fauna of this area.
- Learning about the people and culture.
- Learning about mountain agriculture and its challenges.
- Appreciating the beauty of the Himalaya.
- Importance of its conservation, with hands-on work at the Jabarkhet Nature Reserve.
- Learning outdoor living skills.
- Learning climbing skills.
- Teamwork and team building exercises.
- Climate change and its challenges.
- Design and perform labs that could be graded (for IB schools).
- Utilize Jabarkhet Nature Reserve as part of the school Group 4 project (for IB schools).
Module Length: 6 Days
Day 1 - Arrival & welcome at Hanifl Centre; introduction to outdoor living skills; introduction to local geography; camp activities.
DAY 2 - Introduction to flora-fauna, nature walks, organic farming and discussions on conservation.
Day 3 - Indoor climbing and service project.
Day 4 - Day hike with village visit and talk on agriculture.
Day 5 - Indoor climbing and service project
Day 6 - Reflection and programme evaluation.
Field Trips:
- Areas around Hanifl Centre & Woodstock School, Mussoorie
- Jabarkhet Nature Reserve, Mussoorie
- Forests & Villages near Landour, Mussoorie
Hanifl Centre for Outdoor Education and Environmental Study is an outreach of Woodstock School - Celebrating over 164 years in the Himalaya. Since its inception, Hanifl Centre has attracted institutions from India and around the world for environmental education and outdoor learning experiences in the Himalaya.
Packing List Ideal for Courses at Hanifl Centre
Mentioned below are the inclusions of the course, along with a broad list of basic items we recommend all participants should carry. You can always create your own packing list based on your personal needs and medical requirements.
- Sun hat (Cotton or nylon)
- Sun glasses (Preferably with an anchor)
- Sun protection (1 bottle of lotion)
- Water bottle 2 bottles of 1 litre capacity (cola bottles work well, but insure that they do not leak)
- Wrist watch (is a must for the WFA part)
- Head lamp/ flashlight (Preferably a headlamp as it leaves your hands free to work. Please bring extra batteries)
- Toilet articles (Toothbrush, toothpaste, etc)
- Pocket knife (optional, fixed blade or locking preferred)
- Personal medications (if any)
- Lip balm/ chapstick (optional)
- Camera (optional or phone-cam)
- Stationary items like notebook and pencils
- Any other personal gear (Please note you will be carrying all your gear by yourself)
- Comfortable and athletic clothing
- Wool gloves (1 pair, as thick as available in the market)
- Warm Jacket (1 jacket is sufficient)
- Warm shirts & pants for camp (1 each is sufficient)
- Long john top also known as thermal underwear, preferably wool to be worn as first layer.
- Long john bottoms (preferably wool to be worn as first layer)
- Hiking shorts/ pants (1-2 changes)
- Hiking shirt preferably with a long sleeve
- Underwear (2-3 changes)
- Wool socks : 2 pairs; preferably thick wool socks.
- Nylon socks : 2-3 pairs; of the type you wear daily to be worn under the wool socks to prevent blisters
- Sturdy hiking boots : preferably all leather upper as it provides better ankle support. If you do not own a pair yet, it is advisable that you buy one as soon as possible & wear it often so that they are well broken. This will help prevent blisters.
- Lightweight tennis shoes/sandals : For wearing in camp. (footwear should be closed toed, no flip-flops)
- Expert guides/mentors. Experienced and internationally certified faculty
- Transportation for activities during the course
- Forest permits for hikes and camping (if outside Woodstock campus)
- Safe secure travel & stay during the course activities
- Medical Emergency Support (Landour Community Centre - LCH)
- Climbing Gear - All climbing gear is provided by Hanifl Centre. These includes different types of ropes, harnesses, helmets, slings, tapes, different types of carabiners, mittens, descenders, ascenders, etc. Our Climbing wall is state-of-the-art and is fully equipped with climbing paraphernalia and safety equipment.
- Camping Gear - Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks, gaiters. If required, liners bags for sleeping bags & backpacks, cup, bowl & spoon, rain poncho, rain pants & rain jackets, stoves, fuel & fuel bottles, cooking utensils, rations, trail food, trowels, water purification, first aid kits, etc will be provided.
Please Note:
- - In case of damage or loss of any gear item, the participant shall be liable to pay for the cost.
- - All gear is washed and properly checked before issue.
- - You are welcome to bring and use your own gear as well.
- - The list above is exhaustive but not all inclusive. You can customize the list to best suit your needs.


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Search & Read
ShiningWorld Reader
The Firefly Stage
Johannes: Dear James, I attended your satsangs in Tiruvannamalai this year and also came to your workshop in Berlin this spring. I haven't felt the need to contact you so far since all of my questions tend to have been answered by reading your book or watching the DVDs. There is, however, something that I would really appreciate your advice on.
I was reading your commentary on Adyashanti and the subtle but important glitch in his teaching that you pinpointed whereby the jiva is seen as looking for the realisation (i.e. the experience) of Oneness, which is looking from the inside out, instead of looking as awareness. This really helped me, as I see that this is what has happened gradually as I returned to everyday life after I first had this breakthrough of seeing as awareness two years ago in Tiru. Everything just flipped around, as if for the first time I was able to see from outside of the matrix.
I find that being busy with everyday life work, relationships, etc. tends to pull me back into seeing from the perspective of the jiva and there is at the same time a frustration that I am again caught in this. Then when I sit in meditation I can often quite easily flick things around and see as awareness so that the jiva is no longer who I am identified as. I understand that the jiva exists within awareness and that this isn't a duality. I also understand that this makes it possible to act and be in the world and that it isn't necessary to become an Advaita zombie, negating the ego and feigning only to be pure awareness. I enjoy being in this world, this life, this body… at least, most of the time. The struggle is that even though, admittedly often, with the need of a practice, I can flick things around once I realise that I am caught again in ego-identification, it still seems to me like I am caught up in a duality. I can sit as awareness and this tiny fly speck of ego is there within an infinite ocean but once I get up from my cushion and start to work, deal with the daily life, etc., I somehow lose this. So it isn't (to borrow Adyashanti's term) an "abiding" awareness but kind of flip-flops between. I understand intellectually that it should be possible to abide as awareness and still act and be in the world but somehow I don't get it. As soon as I start thinking, doing, working, relating – it flicks back again to the inside looking out, or I even forget that there is an "out" that I am looking out towards!
I'm hoping that you can point out to me where I am misunderstanding the teachings or give me some feedback about whether this is something that in time and with further practice can be dissolved.
With gratitude for all that you have given me and others through your dedication to these amazing teachings.
~ Johannes
Sundari: Hello, Johannes. Thank you for your email, it is nice to hear from you. I am replying on behalf of James as he has just had bypass surgery and he is in hospital. He is recovering nicely but it will be a while before he is able to resume writing.
Adyashanti's teachings are on the whole pretty good but he still lacks clarity on the distinction between knowledge and experience. Unless one has very keen discrimination, one can swallow the ignorance which is very finely hidden alongside the knowledge.
Yours is the problem of self-actualisation, and we focus on this issue a great deal because this is where all the teaching in Vedanta takes place. As awareness there is nothing to understand or assimilate because nothing ever happened. However, as the jiva living in the apparent reality – which may not be real but which definitely exists because it can be experienced – self-realisation needs to translate into the life of the jiva or it is not moksa.
Your problem is a common one among sincere seekers. Below is an excerpt from an article I wrote in conjunction with James on the very important topic of the identity between Isvara and the jiva. I have attached the whole article to this email.
Self-Knowledge, Self-Realisation, Self-Actualisation and Moksa
Moksa is discriminating awareness from the objects appearing in it. Understanding the Isvara-jiva-jagat identity (aikyam) is of paramount importance because the gunas are Isvara, meaning the environment, which includes the jiva. It is important to not only to discriminate the self from the objects but to actualise what it means to be self-realised in the apparent reality. This is because self-realisation is not moksa. Hear that again.
• What is Self-Realisation?
Self-realisation is an experiential term and means that one has understood that one's true nature is awareness. However, self-realisation is an experience. It is therefore not real in the light of Vedanta's definition of what constitutes reality as "that which is always present and never changes." Meaning you can lose your self-realisation if the knowledge "I am awareness" is not firm.
• What is Self-Actualisation?
To be self-actualized means (1) that one has fully discriminated the self from the objects appearing in it (the dharma field, one's conditioning) and (2) that that knowledge has (a) rendered the vasanas non- binding and (b) destroyed one's sense of doership. Moksa is discriminating the self from the not-self. Through discrimination, the jiva, the individual under the spell of self ignorance, understands that it is actually the self, limitless awareness, and not the person it thinks it is. Moksa is for the jiva because the self is already free. This knowledge allows the jiva to live free in this apparent reality. This means that the jiva is not bound by his or her conditioning.
End of excerpt.
To understand the common identity between Isvara and the jiva one first needs to understand both. Please read the article I have attached.
To add to this, here is further explanation of what constitutes the jiva. Until self-knowledge is actualised, the self-realised jiva will experience what we call the "firefly" stage: self-knowledge will be intermittent. The self-realised jiva will vacillate between being identified with being the ego trying to experience awareness and knowing it IS awareness apparently experiencing the ego.
Definition of Jiva
The definition of jiva is awareness with a subtle body. Jiva is a principle, a tattva, not a specific person. It is actually pure awareness, paramatma.
There are three jivas. There is the jiva who thinks it is a person. This jiva is often called the "doer." There is the jiva who knows about awareness. This jiva is often called a "self-realised" jiva. And finally, there is the jiva that knows it IS awareness. This is the jivanmukta, the self no longer under the spell of ignorance, or the "self-actualised" jiva.
Jiva also manifests as three little jivas according to the state that it experiences:
1. As viswa, the waking state entity. In this state its mind is totally extroverted. It is hypnotised by duality. It chases and consumes experiences. Viswa appears in two forms: (a) free of identification with objects (a jivanmukta) or (b) as a doer (karta), or person, identified with objects (a samsari). Both a jivanmukta, a liberated person, and a samsari, a bound person, have a common identity as awareness.
2. As taijasa, the "shining one," awareness with a subtle body, illumining the dream state. The subtle body is turned inwards facing the causal body, the vasanas. The experiences it has are just experiences of the vasanas. Jiva is not present in the dream state in the same way that it is present in the waking state.
In the waking state jiva identifies with the doer, so the doer is not seen as an object. It is thought to be the subject. In the dream state there is also identification but the doer/ego can also appear as an object illumined by taijasa, awareness reflected on the subtle body; in the dream you can see the waker going about its business, walking, talking, eating, etc. The doer/ego is a dream doer/ego similar in some respects to viswa but with unique powers. These powers are inherent in the dream state and do not belong to taijasa although in normal dreams it identifies with them. The doer/ego and the events appearing in the dream are just waking state events that have become vasanas that outpicturing as dream events.
3. As the sleeper, prajna, in the deep sleep state. Prajna means "almost enlightened." It is almost enlightened because it experiences the limitlessness and bliss of awareness but lacks knowledge of what it is experiencing because the intellect is not present in deep sleep.
The subtle body disappears in deep sleep state as does the microcosmic causal body (personal subconscious). The personal subconscious belongs to the jiva and produces the jiva's karma. The deep sleep state is defined as a state with no mental activity. It is the same for everyone because the personal subconscious is subsumed into Isvara, the macrocosmic causal body. Deep sleep is the presence tamoguna alone. Rajas and sattva are dormant. There is no sense of individuality (ahamkara) in this state because the subtle body of the individual is not there to be conditioned; the ahamkara belongs to the subtle body. (The macrocosmic causal body, another name for Isvara, is the deep sleep state.
Although the nature of both the jiva and Isvara is awareness, both the jiva and Isvara are inconstant factors with reference to awareness. Jiva is inconstant because it changes from state to state and because self-knowledge removes the notion that it is a limited entity, revealing its nature to be pure awareness. Isvara in the role of Creator is inconstant because logic and scripture – which is just science – informs us that it disappears at the end of the creation cycle; whatever is created will be destroyed. Isvara in the role of Creator is eternal with reference to the jiva but not with reference to pure awareness, paramatman, the constant factor.
The dream state has two aspects: waking dream and sleep dream. It is called the pratibasika state, the subjective state of reality. It is jiva's creation (sristi). It is not created directly by Isvara but is responsible for an individual jiva's interpretation of reality. In the dream state (whether the jiva is awake or asleep) vasanas influence how reality is interpreted by the jiva. Isvara provides the raw material for the interpretation but not the interpretation itself. Ultimately, it is all Isvara but to get to that understanding – which is tantamount to moksa – the jiva has to understand what it is responsible for and Isvara's role in jiva's creations, i.e. projections, so that it can be free of both itself and Isvara.
The individual jivas and what they experience is called the dharma field (Isvara) because it is a field of laws. It is not under the jiva's control but understanding its nature leads to self-knowledge because it clarifies the relative responsibilities of the jiva and Isvara. A jiva that faces Isvara without fear and total transparency (jivanmukta) is liberated here and hereafter. The jivanmukta understands that although its nature is awareness, the subtle body belongs to Isvara, which means the jiva's conditioning belongs to Isvara, because the gunas are Isvara. Therefore it cannot be the doer. Hence the importance of karma yoga. You will not negate the doer without karma yoga and you will not fully understand the importance of karma yoga or render the binding vasanas non-binding unless you understand Isvara.
A jivanmukta worships Isvara even though it knows that as awareness Isvara has a dependent reality on awareness because love is the nature of the self. He or she is totally relaxed having understood that Isvara is awareness in the role of Creator taking care of the total. Non-dual vision means that you see everything as non-different from you, even though you know that you are not what you see. Furthermore, it means that you fully understand the three jivas and their respective states. The three jivas and their respective states are known to only be appearances (mithya) in you.
This means that enlightened or not, Isvara srsti, or the dharma field, still apparently exists. The jivanmukta automatically follows dharma because it understands that the dharma field is a field of natural laws that the jiva is subject to, enlightened or not. It is very important to understand that non-duality is not opposed to duality; duality is a superimposition onto non-duality and not real, meaning not always present and always changing. Duality is only apparently real and Vedanta says it has an apparent existence because it can be experienced. When you know that your true nature is awareness and therefore always present and never changing, you can enjoy duality for what it is because you know that YOU are the joy in it. You then see the apparent reality like a mirage: you would not try to drink the water even though you can see it and it appears real. So you can love and touch and enjoy everything without shame or guilt because you know it is all you. You would not harm anything or anyone for the same reason and you will follow dharma because you want to experience peace of mind, which is the true nature of the mind.
I hope this helps.
~ Om and prem, Sundari


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The time is now for us to prioritize ending the epidemic of gun violence in our nation. Since Newtown, more and more of the American people are speaking out against gun violence and calling for change. President Barack Obama issued executive recommendations that will narrow the loophole that allows private sales to occur without a background check. The administration is requesting additional resources for ATF to process Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) licenses and will require mandatory reporting of lost and stolen firearms. The VPC strongly supports these actions, as they will reduce easy access to firearms, a major contributor to gun violence. We thank all the advocates that have come together to make the President's unprecedented action possible.
It will take new, smarter laws to stem the tide of gun violence in our nation. The Violence Policy Center just released a report this week showing that states with higher levels of gun ownership and weaker gun laws have higher rates of gun deaths. California now has a new Gun Violence Restraining Order law, which will provide families and law enforcement an important tool to remove firearms in potentially dangerous situations. For more information on the new law, please click here and to access California Judicial Council forms, please click here. L.A. City has also taken steps to reduce gun violence by recently passing ordinances requiring the safe storage of firearms and banning the possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines.
In addition to policy changes, we also need to work together to change our culture. To effectively reduce firearm violence in our communities, we need to educate those in our circles on the risks of possessing firearms and how to store guns safely. We need to ask if they have a gun in their home. Though heavily politicized, gun violence is not a political issue; it is a public health epidemic that is impacting every community. We need champions in the public sphere who will take a stand on this issue. We need to call out media and entertainment that glorifies gun violence, particularly when targeted to young children whose brains are still developing. We need to lift up strategies such as gang intervention and youth development that set our youth on a path to success instead of violence and crime. We need to support individuals and families in domestic violence situations, and those affected by mental illness. We need to know that the majority of gun deaths are suicides, and support those who lack hope and are contemplating taking their own lives.
We all have a role to play. To get involved, please join our L.A. Gun Violence Prevention Network here: http://www.vpcgla.org/l-a-gun-


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Just when it started to look as if the pirate trend had sailed its course and that old Jolly Roger was disappearing over the horizon line, the Aardman Animations ship fires off starboard-blasting clay cannonballs of hilarity from its gun ports, scoring a direct hit on our funny bones. Breezy, colorful, and overflowing with jokes for viewers of all ages,...read more
Just when it started to look as if the pirate trend had sailed its course and that old Jolly Roger was disappearing over the horizon line, the Aardman Animations ship fires off starboard-blasting clay cannonballs of hilarity from its gun ports, scoring a direct hit on our funny bones. Breezy, colorful, and overflowing with jokes for viewers of all ages, The Pirates! Band of Misfits is yet another winner from the studio that gave us Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, and, most recently, Arthur Christmas.
Try as he might, the Pirate Captain (voice of Hugh Grant) just isn't taken seriously as a plunderer. But that might change if he could only manage to win the Pirate of the Year competition. As the event gets under way, he makes it his mission to leave dreaded foes Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) sinking in his wake. But when the Pirate Captain hijacks a ship carrying Charles Darwin (David Tennant) on a nature expedition, he makes a startling discovery about his loyal "parrot" Polly that sends him on an adventure into the heart of London, where a major science competition is being held. Later, just as it appears as if the Pirate Captain's dream is finally within reach, the vengeful Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton) discovers his true identity. A monarch with an intense hatred of pirates, she offers to spare the Pirate Captain's neck for a price. And though at first her offer seems fair, it isn't long before the amiable marauder realizes that in his quest to be the best, he's put his favorite pet in grave danger. Now, in order to rescue Polly, the Pirate Captain will have to take on Queen Victoria herself. Fortunately he won't have to go it alone, because his loyal crew will be battling right alongside him, even if it means taking a long walk off the queen's plank as punishment.
Invention has been the cornerstone of Aardman Animations since the very beginning, and that spirit is still alive and well in The Pirates! Band of Misfits. With studio veteran Peter Lord at the helm, this lively adventure sails just as smoothly when the Pirate Captain and his crew are traipsing though the London fog as it does when they're seeking ships to pillage on the high seas. A rousing introduction to the Pirate Captain's opponents and a comedic series of blundered hijackings early on get the action off to a rousing start before a trip to Darwin's house leads to a chase that stays true to the style and energy of Aardman's best work. Meanwhile, a rapid-fire succession of sight gags, surprise cameos, clever quips, and winning characters will have the kids laughing as their parents catch the jokes that fly over their heads. And the gentle moral about remaining true to yourself in the face of temptation comes through in the actions of the characters rather than clunky exposition, ensuring that the story never slows down in the race to its energetic nautical climax.
As usual for Aardman, the detail devoted to character design makes Pirates! eye candy of the highest order, and elaborate, computer-generated backdrops give the film a distinctive texture that mirrors the studio's clay-based tradition while also providing a vibrant splash of color that really brings the story to life. And the same could be said for the exceptionally talented cast as well. Grant instills the good-natured Pirate Captain with just enough of a rugged edge to make him alternately dashing and endearing, while Tennant, Staunton, and Brendan Gleeson stand out as, respectively, the smitten Darwin, the villainous queen, and the ever-loyal Pirate With Gout. So hop aboard and get ready for a good time, because The Pirates! Band of Misfits is cinematic booty that shines like gold.
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I'm here, listening. I've had experience in life with a house full of people. I've run a business or two and gone to college, all while managing a home and nine children. It's life. It's beautiful and it can be messy too. Sometimes all we need is to get the story out of ourselves and then things become more clear.
Depending on the day, it might take me a bit to get a response back to you.
If you have a pressing question you might consider posting it on the Facebook page. Then you can get responses from lots of folks that are probably facing similar challenges! We're all in this together.
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