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a Siddha Yogi from New York, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Florida, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Givataim, Israel
a Siddha Yogi from South Carolina, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A sevite in the SYDA Foundation Content Department
a Siddha Yogi from California, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Washington, USA
Lots of love and gratitude,
a Siddha Yogi from Pune, India
a Siddha Yogi from Alaska, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Chennai, India
a Siddha Yogi from Toulouse, France
With love,
a Siddha Yogi from Cologne, Germany
a Siddha Yogi from California, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Melbourne, Australia
a Siddha Yogi from Texas, USA
an eight-year-old Siddha Yogi in Shree Muktananda Ashram
a Siddha Yogi from Melbourne, Australia
a Siddha Yogi from Deggendorf, Germany
Thank you, Gurumayiji,
a student in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, India
With love,
a Siddha Yogi from Hinwil, Switzerland
a Siddha Yogi from Sydney, Australia
a Siddha Yogi from Missouri, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Milan, Italy
a Siddha Yogi from Maryland, USA
With gratitude,
a Siddha Yogi from New York
With great love and gratitude,
a Siddha Yogi from Massachusetts, USA
a Siddha Yogi from New York, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Singapore
a Siddha Yogi from Montreal, Canada
a Siddha Yogi from New York, USA
a Siddha Yogi from Italy
a Siddha Yogi from Gurgaon, India
a Siddha Yogi from Paris, France
a Siddha Yogi from the United Kingdom
a Siddha Yogi from Illinois, USA
When reading the recent story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu from Gurumayi, I was touched by the sweetness of the sage Uddalaka and the beauty of nature in his Ashram–as beautiful as it is at Shree Muktananda's Ashram and Gurudev Siddha Peeth. Even in writing those words, my heart and my soul are touched in gratitude for being in this sacred path. Tears come to my eyes.
Recently, I was contemplating, ''why should I take the Intensive '' because I took all of them since I received shaktipat in 1985, at least one each year. My mind was telling me, ''you don't have to take it. You know almost by heart the content of it and you just have to sit and meditate more regularly, in that way you will receive all the grace you need to continue your sadhana.''
When I read the story again, I took notice of Shvetaketu's pride and arrogance. This time I could see the parallel between his attitude and mine. From the deepest part of my heart I felt the longing of being seated in the meditation hall, at my Guru's feet during the Intensive, experiencing at another level ''I am That.''
Thank you so very much Gurumayi for this profound story. I know that I am at a turning point in my sadhana. I can stay stagnant in my sadhana or I can take the Intensive and dive deeply into it with humility in the silence of my heart. I am imbibing a part of the title of the Intensive ''…Go there and roam.''
With much love and gratitude,
a Siddha Yogi from Montreal
These stories are so wonderful! No words can express the feelings. When the forest was so quiet upon the father and son's return, it made me realize that even nature respected their plight. It was actually a spiritually solemn occasion. Nature understood what was happening. A lesson for us!
I love reading everyone's shares. I learn tremendously from their insights. As a result, I'm now paying more attention as I read, and I try to discern the teachings. I can "see" more. Otherwise it would pass me by.
Blessings to all,
a Siddha Yogi from California, USA
Reading and rereading the story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu, I am profoundly moved, deeply humbled, filled with admiration: there is so much faith and trust between father and son, I can hear the true "call " of the true Guru.
Thank you, Baba; thank you, Gurumayi; thank you, Bade Baba, as your divine satsang around the globe gives us hope.
I apreciated so much Shvetaketu's story.
It has clear guidance about the qualities I should embody as a disciple in order to receive what the Guru has to teach me:
Longing for the Truth
Eagerness to learn
A golden mind
An open heart
And to remain still at the Guru's feet.
As I sit in my meditation room, or at any time during the day, I have this thought: "Remain still at your Guru's feet." Immediately I am alert and quiet in a silent space. I know that I can receive the Guru's guidance anywhere on earth if I stay in this space.
I would like to express my deep gratitude and love to Gurumayi, who guides me on the inner path in such a sweet and compassionate way.
Thanks a lot to all the sevites who make our website so supportive for my sadhana. May I remain still at my Guru's feet forever.
a Siddha Yogi from Annecy le Vieux, France
At the end of this story a beautiful photo of a galaxy is to be seen and it reminds me of a dream that I had during a stay in Shree Muktananda Ashram years ago.
In that dream Gurumayi is giving darshan. The moment I stand in front of her she touches my arm and in that exact moment I hear her with a very firm voice say, "I have got so much more to give," and I can see the universe opening up in front of me – just like the galaxy picture at the end of the story. It is a breathtaking view! In that moment I woke up.
The message for me has been and still is to have firm dedication to my sadhana and to allow myself to have faith in the possibility of reaching the goal – there is so much more that Gurumayi has to give, always. Shvetaketu does become enlightened in the end.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for being our living master. Thank you, SYDA Foundation Website sevites, for daily supporting our sadhana. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and insights. Reading them is like having satsang together.
a Siddha Yogi from Germany
I want to share a lovely synchronicity. This week on the Siddha Yoga path website I have been studying Gurumayi's wonderful telling of the classic story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu from the ancient Vedantic scriptures. And I just learned that today, September 20, 2012, is the Indian celebration of Rishipanchami, a day to remember and express our gratitude for the great Indian sages who have given us the Vedas and other scriptures.
Rishipanchami is especially dedicated to the Sapta Rishis the seven sages known as the patriarchs of the Vedas: Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadhvaja, Vishvamitra, Gauthama, Jamadagni, and Vashishta.
Sapta Rishi is also the Indian name for the constellation of stars known in the West as the Big Dipper.
Isn't it perfect that in this week of Rishipanchami Gurumayi is reminding us of the timeless teachings of these great sages? Thank you, Gurumayi!
a sevite in Shree Muktananda Ashram
I am inspired by Shvetaketu's qualities of discipleship in this story and awed by the power of the Guru's sankalpa. Shvetaketu leaves, returns, leaves, and returns again, all in response to his teachers' instruction. Regardless of his personal qualities, or level or phase of learning, he is constant in his respect for and trust in his teachers. He trusts and accepts the instruction they give him. He applies himself to the practices and teachings offered. By his responsiveness to his Guru's guidance and by his diligent application, Shvetaketu cultivates the capacity to experience the truth of his Guru's words.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for your grace and guidance. Thank you for you.
a Siddha Yogi from Hawaii, USA
In nature, humility and harmony exist whenever there is abundance, just as trees laden with fruit arch over and clouds with water shower rain. Similarly, humility arises with the knowledge of the Self.
While there is a possibility of arrogance that comes with the attainment of the scriptural knowledge (just like with gaining any professional degree or entitlements), there is no such possibility with the attainment of the knowledge of the Self. They are mutually exclusive.
For knowledge of the Self requires one to be humble, to be deserving, and the knowledge itself is humbling.
a Siddha Yogi from Ohio, USA
Thank you for this beautiful teaching story of humility, the love of the Guru, and the courage and longing of a disciple. Contemplating this story, I think of Baba's life. How he studied with many teachers and how these great teachers ultimately led him to his Guru, Bhagavan Nityananda. I feel an upwelling of profound love, awe, and intense gratitude when I think of Baba finding Bade Baba and his experience, from his book Play of Conciousness, of his divya diksha and the amazing grace and blessings that followed and continue today through Gurumayi's, grace to us.
With love,
a Siddha Yogi from Colorado, USA
The detailed description of Uddalaka's Ashram was an absolute joy to read and visualize. Never have I read a text that so adequately described my experience of the Siddha Yoga Ashram in India, Gurudev Siddha Peeth. When I first laid eyes on the grandeur of the Ashram grounds, my experience of being a human being was transported to that of being a saint who had earned the merit to abide in such a paradise. Just as the story detailed, Gurumayi's Ashram in Ganeshpuri is the most exquisitely beautiful shakti peeth, an abode of spiritual power whose natural beauty invokes devotion and sublime peace. As in Uddalaka's Ashram, Gurudev Siddha Peeth is pervaded with gentle breezes that offer the fragrant scent of flowers with each and every breath. The Guru's love is so palpable and sweet in this paradise. The Ashram images that were created in the story of Uddalaka and Shevetaketu have filled me with a strong re-connection to our mother Ashram in India. The beautiful images of the ashram campus dance delightfully in my meditation.
Thank you, beloved Gurumayi, for this boon to my sadhana. It is my prayer, that every Siddha Yoga devotee experiences the power, the beauty, the grandeur, and the grace of Gurudev Siddha Peeth.
a Siddha Yogi from Georgia, USA
Yesterday morning when I turned my computer on at work, I saw that a new story had been posted. I eagerly anticipated entering this new story during my lunch break. It took great discipline to wait!
As I "turned each page," my heart melted and warm tears fell on my cheeks. I was so moved by the compassion of the great Guru Uddalaka to his son and disciple and moved by the receptiveness of Shvetaketu.
I was moved by my own heart's longing to sit near my teacher—to have the direct experience of my own true nature. I recognised that this has been my experience of being in a Shaktipat Intensive. In the Intensive, I experience myself sitting with the Siddha Yoga Gurus and tasting the sweetness of my own true nature. I'm so grateful we have a most beautiful, powerful, sublime Intensive coming up in October.
I was also moved by the Guru's compassion and the way Uddalaka melted his son's arrogance and pride. Not by pointing his son's arrogance out to him but by his soft eyes, his melodious and gentle voice, and by asking him if he had learnt That.
I've experienced the power of my Guru's compassion melting my ignorance or pride through being in her company either in person or through prayer, or meditation, or engaging with the Siddha Yoga teachings.
From reading and contemplating this beautiful story of the Guru-disciple relationship, of mumukshutva, and of initiation, my heart feels softer and more open. I hear my Guru speaking to me, to all of us, with the same compassion and question.
Thank you so much for this beautiful story, Gurumayi!
With love and gratitude,
a Siddha Yogi from Perth, Australia
What hit me about this story was how important timing is; a person may be right next to his/her Guru, but only when the timing is right, when the person has gone through a process, will he/she be open to receive the highest Knowledge and understand its significance.
a Siddha Yogi from Toronto, Canada
I was struck while reading the story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu how much Shree Muktananda Ashram resembles the Ashram in the story. The beauty and stillness of the forests and the magnificence of Lake Nityananda come to mind. It is like the gurukula of ancient days has been created right in upstate New York! We have also been blessed to "sit down near a teacher" right from the screens of our computers.
Thank you to the sevites at the SYDA Foundation for creating this amazing learning tool for us to engage with every day.
With love,
a Siddha Yogi from California, USA
Thank you SO much for the sweet and profound story of Shvetaketu! As I embark upon a teaching career at a university, I am often feeling pressure to "know it all," or to "fake it till you make it." I recognize through this beautiful story that the most perfect sort of knowledge I can offer my students is humility, and to maintain that attitude throughout my life as an academic is the absolute key to my success.
With great respect, as I pranam,
a Siddha Yogi from Kentucky, USA
What struck me immediately in the story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu was how rapidly and thoroughly the crust of arrogance and ego was pierced by the power of love. Love appeared this time in the form of a relentless longing, mumukshutva.
Reading the story, I became quiet. Still. The flow of thoughts settled, they simply dissolved as one phrase from the story, humility was the doorway to receiving That, kept flowing inside me as a silent echo. It was as though my Guru, Gurumayi, had revealed the golden key to That. Humility is the doorway.
Then, when thoughts did start to ripple softly, I returned to the chapter on "Humility" in Gurumayi's book My Lord Loves a Pure Heart. My being experienced a renewed commitment to study and engage with the chapter once again in a fresh new light. I am deeply touched by the sage Uddalaka's compassion and gentleness. Although Shvetaketu demonstrated arrogant behavior, the sage was utterly compassionate and had such a gentle way to bring his disciple back. Above all, so unfathomable was the compassion with which the Guru imparted his own inner state to his disciple. The Guru is compassion incarnate.
I carry with me these nuggets from this story:
It is my great, divine fortune to have a living Siddha Guru in my life. Thank you, Gurumayi. Thank you, Baba. Thank you, Bade Baba.
A Gurukula student from Gurudev Siddha Peeth, Ganeshpuri, India
I offered seva doing web production for this story. I was doing research to find a manuscript that we could use as one of the design elements for the story. While I was conducting the research, the moment in the story in which Shvetaketu returns to his father's Ashram with a transformed attitude—the attitude of discipleship—kept reverberating in my mind. Shvetaketu had become open to receiving the great teaching from his Guru. I tried to keep the same openness in my awareness during the research.
As I was looking through the digital library of the Muktabodha Indological Research Institute, which has hundreds, if not thousands, of Sanskrit texts, I remained open to finding what I was looking for. After a while I found exactly what was needed! All during the research, I was amazed that I had access to such an immense collection of Indian scriptures and texts. If this digital library didn't exist I would never have found EXACTLY what we needed.
Thank you Gurumayi for showing us the wisdom of the scriptural tradition of India, thank you for keeping it so alive.
Con amor,
a Siddha Yogi from Mexico
I love this story. It reminds me of how much time we spend trying to attain what we already have!
a Siddha Yogi from Virginia, USA
I live 300 kilometers away from the nearest Siddha Yoga centre. Reading Gurumayi's stories and the experiences and shares of devotees online, I feel blessed to be part of the online sangham. It feels so vibrant to be here!
Nasruddin's story gave me two insights, diametrically opposite.
The first one was to value whatever has been loyal and selfless in serving you as you achieve your day-to-day goals. Do not set it aside in fits of despair. Look within; perhaps the fault lies with you. At times, you need a jeweller to tell you the value of the gem you have.
The second insight was when you decide to part with your attachments, do it with a complete consent of your heart, only after a lot of contemplation. Do not thereafter fall prey to the opinions of the world and get ensnared in them once again. We are so influenced by what the world / community / environment which we live in, thinks about our actions that we tend to look at ourselves only through their prism.
a Siddha Yogi from Wellington, India
I was struck by how Nasruddin made a firm decision to sell his donkey, which was no longer meeting his needs, but then became so intoxicated by the empty praise of the auctioneer that he completely lost touch with reality and bought the donkey back. The donkey didn't change or improve; it was merely the auctioneer's words, which were aimed at making a profit, that changed.
The story shows me to use discrimination with situations or thoughts that question a strong commitment I have made in my life. It also teaches me to be mindful of the many ways that I can allow myself to be led off the path, both from my own mind and from the influence of those around me.
I check the donkey story responses daily and I find that my initial limited perspective and understanding of the story continues to expand. I only saw Nasruddin's foolishness and the way he let the matrika shakti make him dance. Now I see there can be many other interpretations. Thank you all. It is great to have your satsang in this way.
a Siddha Yogi from Nebraska, USA
When I read the story "Sheik Naruddin and His Donkey," the words "the donkey stopped listening" stood out for me. My understanding is that the donkey represents something that does not serve us anymore.
Nasruddin tried to revive it but could not; so he thought, I will let go of this and try something fresh, more vitalising. But at the marketplace he was overcome with doubts and listened to the "selling" instead of listening to himself. Hence he went home with the same donkey that did not serve him anymore.
with love.
a Siddha Yogi from Shanghai, China
I love Nasruddin stories and laughed, as I always do, at his odd choices. Then I thought about what the story was teaching me. I realised that there are qualities and truths that I seem to lose touch with in myself, that I "take to market" and try to buy from the outer world. I had to acknowledge how much energy and time and worry—how many gold pieces—I spend buying approval, for example, from those around me; when all the while God dwells within me as me!
Thank you for these wonderful, playful, and instructive stories.
a Siddha Yogi from Melbourne, Australia
It is truly amazing to see the different perspectives through the shares. It made me pause and see what my mind was doing as I was reading the shares. I noticed as I read the shares that my mind was going back and forth between right and wrong; it was trying to label the perspective. Then it tried to pause and understand each perspective and then realized that every perspective is unique in itself. I was amazed to see how the mind works: it wants to jump to conclusions. And then after reading all the shares, I wanted to discover my understanding of the story. What does the story hold for me?
Seeing the process that happened with my mind, it came to me that a wavering, an unsteady mind will always get swayed by or influenced by outside things and want to jump to conclusions immediately—just like Nasruddin got swayed listening to the praises of his own donkey. A steady mind will always be able to pause and reflect on various aspects like "Oh! What happened to my loyal donkey? Why did it stop responding all of a sudden? Let me find out." Or "Yes, the auctioneer is praising the donkey, but I've known this donkey for years. It has been very loyal; however it is not serving any purpose to me. Would it be wise to spend money on the same donkey?" Whatever the decision, only a steady mind will be able to pause, reflect, and choose "What should I do in this situation?" I understood the importance of having a steady mind, and the necessity in every situation to pause, reflect, and only then act.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for this story. Thank you for all the shares. Thank you to the website team!
a Gurukula student in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, Ganeshpuri, India
One of the things I have contemplated quite a bit this year is the importance of knowing which things in our life don't help us and the great freedom and, ultimately, joy that comes from being willing to let them go. It's not so much about being negative toward those things but recognizing that they (the situation, job, relationship, activity, or whatever) may in fact be keeping us away from something else that would benefit us far more. We actually pay a price by keeping it in our life. It can be very difficult to walk away from something when other people are talking it up, and we often doubt ourselves when we see somebody else wanting the thing we decided we didn't want.
Nasruddin forgot what he knew about the donkey and thought he was buying the donkey described. When he gets home, the donkey is still not going to do any work, and Nasruddin is going to be very disappointed. If he had taken the money for the donkey and bought another donkey that would do some work, he would have been much happier—not just in the end but in the near future. The happiness he is getting from purchasing his old worn-out but much-hyped donkey will last for only the trip home.
The same type of deception works in reverse, too. We can know that something is good for us but hear so many people saying negative things about it that we forget its value and end up assimilating those negative comments. We have to pay attention to what we know.
Thank you for giving us these stories to contemplate and for all of the wonderful content on the website this summer. It has been a very joyful experience to be connected in this way.
With much love,
a Siddha Yogi from Washington, USA
From opposite sides of the country, a fellow Siddha Yoga student and I were sharing our thoughts on the Sheik Nasruddin story by phone, and we discovered that our insights were identical. Sheik Nasruddin's donkey served his purposes well. That is, until the donkey stopped listening. At that point, it made sense to sell the donkey. But at the market, Nasruddin came under the spell of the auctioneer's marketing skills and ended up going home with the very same donkey in tow. The donkey's expression in the last frame suggests he has no more intention of listening now than he did before—and that rope looks a lot like attachment. This story reminds both of us to stand firm against the ego's hard-selling tactics in our decision to let go of something (such as a limiting tendency or belief) that no longer serves us.
a Siddha Yogi from Arizona, USA
I like to think that while Nasruddin is learning to appreciate what he has, the donkey is learning to appreciate what he is. It wasn't quite the same donkey that Nasruddin took home with him. It was a donkey who once again remembered his own great qualities.
a Siddha Yogi from Wisconsin, USA
I love the way Nasruddin stories creep up on me. At first I am thinking, "How absurd!" Then I sit with it. Okay. I only value myself when acknowledged from outside. Through sadhana this is slowly changing. Gratitude to Guru, path, practices, and to myself for persevering.
With love,
a Siddha Yogi from New South Wales, Australia
This story, like other Nasruddin stories, is funny because he is so easily duped by his own mind. We have been so fortunate to receive the knowledge and practices to strengthen the mind, to make it clear and sound, and to know when it needs to be tuned. For this, I am truly grateful to Gurumayi.
a Siddha Yogi from Maryland, USA
From my point of view, the mind buys whatever is for sale in the market, especially when nice words are involved. This is what publicity is all about. A good salesman can make you buy your own old, worn-out donkey! This story made me think about the many things, ideas, trends, and philosophies I've bought like Nasuddin did, even if they had no use or value at all. And sometimes, at my own cost! Discernment is required when we go shopping, not only in the mall but in the entire world.
a Siddha Yogi from Mexico
It is so interesting to read everyone's interpretation. My understanding is that we need to use discrimination in assessing value and not fall subject to external values. This teaching seemed in line with the story about the Guru's cat and Gurumayi's talk "Be Practical, Be Grateful." On the other hand, I appreciate the importance of valuing what we already have. Today, I realized that I have to value whatever it is I have to offer in life before (on a practical level) I can receive value in exchange. For too long, I was expecting it to work the other way around.
Thank you for all the abundant blessings we are receiving via the website. I continue to be amazed by the infinite love of Guru's grace and how we are being supported, uplifted, and united in the cradle of that love.
a Siddha Yogi from Connecticut, USA
Nasruddin forgot all the original, true reasons for selling the donkey and got so mesmerized by the auctioneer´s words—which apparently were qualities the donkey used to have to the extreme—that he even forgot that it was his own donkey.
Like Nasruddin, when acting on impulse and without discrimination, I have been deceived many times by the constructs (tricks) of advertisers and marketing strategies, which are not always true.
This website is a magnificent global study circle. Thank you, Gurumayi.
a Siddha Yogi from Mexico City, Mexico
The more I thought about the story, the more I felt that sometimes we unwittingly play the donkey—why did it suddenly stop listening? When we are the donkey, we can lose sight of our own worth when denigrated by someone else. Then, we are also Sheik Nasruddin, whose belief in the donkey's worth escalated because of someone else's opinion, again losing sight of what is of real value. I had a lot of fun imagining the two scenarios that are so familiar in real life, and I laugh out loud at the drawing of the donkey that seems to be reveling in his own bliss. Wait, does the picture depict the scene before or after the sale? A simple story that has many meanings—like life. Thank you, Gurumayi!
a Siddha Yogi from Hong Kong
After contemplating this story, I had the insight that the only value something has is the value you give it. Once I understood this, I was drawn inward, and each breath and moment became divine.
Thank you!
One of the things this story illustrates for me is the power of self-deception—Nasruddin convinced himself that he made a good bargain when in fact he was buying something that he himself was selling; he was paying for something he already owned. This tale cautions me to be vigilant and not let my own mind trick me into believing my most ridiculous actions are wise.
a Siddha Yogi from Pennsylvania, USA
The story of Sheik Nasruddin made me think about how many times we keep with us things, ideas, or even relationships we don´t need. We do it because we react to what society thinks is important and because we ignore our own wisdom. To keep the things, ideas, or relationships that have completed their cycle in our life makes us lose time, energy, and even money.
I am loving our online satsangs! Thank you, Gurumayi-ji, for these stories. It has propelled us to contemplate and share.
Every time I open the Siddha Yoga path website homepage, I am captured by the tangible illustrations. Many thanks to our fellow Siddha Yogi artists.
To me this story exemplifies how our world is made of our beliefs.
While outer situations remain unchanged, we can be unhappy and miserable or be exalted and proud, by believing differently.
This story is fun and yet, on a more serious note, it teaches us to use our common sense and sound judgment. If we use these qualities, we can form our own opinions and stand by them regardless of what someone else may be telling us. Thank you.
a Siddha Yogi from Russia
Thank you for this splendid story.
Nasruddin easily forgot that his loyal donkey had served him for a long time. Even to the point that he was ready to make a business of his deserving friend.
It's a human condition, how people treat their loved ones in difficult times.
Luckily, by means of grace, Nasruddin finally found the golden opportunity to take care of his priceless donkey.
a Siddha Yogi from Thun, Switzerland
What comes up for me as I read this wonderful, mysterious, and amusing story about Sheik Nasruddin is the profound teaching that has been given to us over and over again as we walk the Siddha Yoga path: The world is as you see it.
With gratitude for your continuing guidance, Gurumayi.
a Siddha Yogi from Massachusetts, USA
The story demonstrates for me how we seem only to value what we have inside and our own self-worth when it is acknowledged and approved of by an outside source. Isn't this interesting?
The donkey was a blessing in Nasruddin's life.
But perhaps Nasruddin was taking his donkey for granted.
He didn't truly appreciate the donkey.
At the market, the value of his donkey appreciated before his very eyes.
Nasruddin then recognized the value of his donkey, and he appreciated him.
The story reminded me to appreciate blessings in my life.
I truly, immensely enjoy when Gurumayi tells stories. Generally, I feel stories speak to the "child" in all of us. For me personally, when the story unfolds, I feel awe and mystery: like I remember feeling as a child. Stories were always fun because even a simple story seems to have a deeper meaning. The fun part is figuring out the other meaning.
Nasruddin and His Donkey is a story about appreciating what you have. When we have something for a long time we may feel "tired of it". Maybe what is tired is not the object but the perception. Sometimes a new or fresh experience changes our perception, and therefore helps us appreciate what we have. Stepping outside the ordinary or normal routine (like Nasruddin taking the donkey to the market), created a fresh perspective. This can also be a metaphor for meditation. When we meditate we can take a step out of our normal functioning and observe things differently. This fresh perspective can sometimes instill a sense of gratitude among other positive benefits.
a Siddha Yogi from New York, USA
I'm fascinated by the different interpretations of this wonderful and mysterious story. My wife and I read it late Sunday night and shared our experiences.
I thought that the story was about listening to your inner voice and not being swayed by other people's opinions.
My wife's take was that Nasruddin had become mired in negativity from his close association with the donkey over so many years and so he could only see his donkey's faults. When he took the donkey to the market and he saw how other people valued it he returned to his senses and fell in love with the donkey again—a great message for close friends and partners.
I like my wife's story better. It's inspiring that my friends and my partner can help me have a higher vision of the world.
Much love,
a Siddha Yogi from Vancouver, Canada
This morning when I opened the Siddha Yoga path website I was worried about going back to work and of all my daily activities. Then I looked at the smiling face of the donkey and all of a sudden an inner smile arose inside my heart! He is smiling at our human condition! So thankful for this funny story!
a Siddha Yogi from Rome, Italy
I've always delighted in this story's fun portrayal of the bewildering power of the Matrika Shakti to create a world out of nothing, even a world contrary to what I know to be true.
After the first story was posted on the Siddha Yoga path website, a visiting sevite in Shree Muktananda Ashram asked Gurumayi, "Will there be Sheik Nasruddin stories?"
Gurumayi said, "Yes!"
Sevites in the SYDA Foundation Website Department
When I reflected on Eknath's story, the quality of pure intention and total absorption, stood out for me—where there is only one goal: to give oneself completely to the task on hand. I reflected on my experiences of being absorbed completely in giving my best and the instant reward I received, whether at seva, at work, or with family. My focus was only on giving, without settling for anything short of the best outcome and without any agenda for me, and that is when I met with success.
I know it is an inherent quality I possess and with constant connection through the spiritual practices and teachings, I can allow it to manifest more and more.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for the new initiative of teaching us through the website, which serves as a study forum with the global community.
With love,
a Siddha Yogi from New Delhi, India
While the opportunity to perform Guruseva is a big fortune in one's lifetime, performing seva with utmost sincerity is a sadhana, leading to Self-realization. Making a choice of this uncompromising attitude toward seva is svadharma.
In that story, Eknath had such devotion for his guru that he was able to accomplish seva with 100% focus.
When you have this kind of focus on seva, your mind gets stronger and steadier, and you are ready to receive the full grace of the Guru to attain the ultimate goal.
Thank you Gurumayi, for giving us tools to contemplate the Siddha Yoga teachings.
a Siddha Yogi from France
Thank you, fellow Siddha Yoga students for sharing your profound insights. To add to the global pool of wisdom, here are my thoughts.
Firstly, Eknath would have had the utmost respect for his Guru Janardan Swami. To me this quality underpins many that have been beautifully mentioned by other students. Likewise Janardan Swami showed utmost respect to Eknath in return.
What I love the most is the cycle of giving and receiving. Eknath gave everything of himself to find the Guru's paise. The Guru fully received his offering and in return offered everything to Eknath, which Eknath received fully. Thus the cycle was completed.
When I was contemplating the story of Eknath, a new dimension of the story was revealed to me. It is when one longs for perfection in every single action, knowing it as a Guruseva, the ultimate perfection comes seeking you. It is what Eknath received from his Guru.
Thank you Gurumayi for this beautiful insight.
With love,
a Siddha Yogi from Pune, India
I understood that Eknath's love and gratitude for his Guru was so great that whatever he did was completely suffused with devotion and bliss. His longing was the most important thing in his life and it was totally natural for his search to be fulfilled. He had met the perfect Master whose grace gave him everything he needed to get the job done.
Years ago in Shree Muktananda Ashram, I was doing seva as a cashier in the bookstore. One evening, I was checking money in a small room covered with a dark red carpet.
"One cent is missing! " I said to another cashier who was standing nearby.
He answered, "It's only one cent."
The story of Eknath came into my mind and with faith, perseverance, and determination I kept looking for it. Soon after, I found the coin like a brilliant light on the carpet and also found joy in my heart.
The first time I visited Gurudev Siddha Peeth, I was amazed by the attention to detail that was given to everything in the Ashram. The seva I offered was in the Ashram kitchen, and the sevites would focus on the quality of each grain of rice before it was added to the pots for cooking. The story of Eknath reminded me of the teaching I learned there. Time spent in service to the Guru is never too small and is never wasted. Thank you beloved Gurumayi for the glance of your wisdom and love.
a Siddha Yogi from Georgia, USA
What was Eknath's attitude while he was spending the night looking, searching for the paisa?
Did he worry because he couldn't find it? Was he thinking, what will my friends say tomorrow if I don't find the paisa? Why didn't he say, ohh, just one small paisa, why should I bother; I'd better go to sleep?
How did he keep his mind quiet, concentrated on only the paisa during the entire night?
My answer is that he was searching for the knowledge of the Self, and in that moment the missing paisa was knowledge for him, the knowledge he was looking for.
In my life there are plenty of missing paisas, plenty of opportunities to receive the knowledge of the Truth, here and now.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for this beautiful story.
Eknath understands that everything associated with the Guru is alive with the Guru's mysterious and transforming power. Even something that appears to have no tangible value at all (a glance, word, gesture, or paisa) can be a vehicle for the highest attainment, if it is looked at with the right understanding. If we think a penny is just a worthless penny, we receive nothing. It is our awareness of the true value of what we are encountering, combined with gratitude and self-effort, that opens the channels for grace.
Living and working in the world, I find that grace pours through even the smallest things when they are treated with care and love, as if they belonged to Gurumayi.
Thank you for this opportunity for contemplation!
Eknath, taking full responsibility for the seva, never stops offering his love and devotion without expectation of reward for himself. His only focus is serving his Guru. When we focus the mind, heart, and consciousness on service to the Guru, all our actions become seva—small or big, all actions are service. Reading the story brings me great joy and reminds me of the real purpose of seva and the grace of the Guru.
Eknath knew it was his dharma to find that coin. He lost himself in accomplishing it without worrying about how valuable this action was, or was not, to others. In the end, he felt completely happy for accomplishing his duty for his Guru. And not just that—he received an invaluable gift without asking for it.
The story taught me that we must be careful with every single thing that is in the
Guru´s Ashram and with every single act we perform there. It also taught me that to give ourselves up to seva brings us closer to our final goal.
Thank you.
When I read the inspiring story of Eknath I thought that the lesson was: only when a disciple can be diligent and trustworthy in caring for the smallest of things, finding the Guru's paisa, can he be trusted with the greatest of things, Self-realization. Eknath showed he could be trusted and was ready to hold the greatest gift of his Guru and so it was given. How wonderful to be reminded of this powerful teaching again. Thank you, Gurumayi.
I am struck by the enthusiasm of Eknath to balance the books. He is so diligent. He succeeded. He gained a reward for his perseverance. In his devotion was the seed of his enlightenment.
Reading this story I was struck by how Eknath's unflinching devotion to his Guru, his distress of losing the paisa, and his unbridled joy when he did find it came so alive for me. Reading about Eknath this time, I felt that I was reading about someone very present, a flesh and blood person, who had immense love for his Guru and a deep and abiding longing to know God...so much so that he wouldn't rest until his longing was fulfilled. I sensed that Eknath saw and treated the Guru's money as Janardan Swami himself, and this identification was so complete that his Guru knew that Eknath was ready to receive the highest wisdom.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for telling us this timeless story and for enlivening it with your grace, your divine intention. I see now that the story of Eknath Maharaj and Janardan Swami is not a remote and far away story. It is our story that we are walking right now on the Siddha Yoga path.
With heartfelt gratitude,
a Siddha Yogi from California, USA
I offer seva researching images for the Siddha Yoga path website. In reading this wonderful telling of the story of Eknath, and looking for images that would reflect the light of Eknath's profound realization, I was reminded of the deep reservoir of wisdom that India has given to the world. I am so grateful to Gurumayi for bringing the experience of this eternal wisdom to us all.
a Siddha Yogi from New Zealand
Dear Ones,
At first I just didn't understand "The Guru's Cat" story. I thought how silly they were to tie up another cat. Then my mind started—Were they right? Should you do that?—and I lost sight of my original thought. So, I thought I would see how other devotees interpreted the story. Suddenly, like a lightning bolt tears ran down my face. I got it !
The question now is, how many cats have I tied to the pole?
Thank you so much for your insights.
a Siddha Yogi from New South Wales,Australia
I feel the Guru's words are so powerful that they keep resonating within me long after I read the story. For me, the cat's story is a powerful reminder of being practical and always going to the essence of why things are done in a particular way, even when we are going about tasks that we consider sacred, such as spiritual practice. It is a reminder to always be alert and in the present moment, as opposed to being dogmatic or doing things in a particular way because they have always been done that way.
Many thanks to everyone involved in posting this story with the beautiful illustrations on the Siddha Yoga path website. It is inspiring and delightful!
With much love,
a Siddha Yogi from Toronto, Canada
I immediately loved this story. I chuckled and felt that the lesson Gurumayi gives is for me. How often have I made a habit of something that has outlasted its purpose! How often do I not refresh my practice to the point that it becomes dry? Thank you, Gurumayi, for this gentle reminder to do my part in keeping my practice, life, and sadhana ever new by staying aware of the opportunities to share and give of myself. This opportunity goes from the smile I might offer a stranger to the seva that will be so much better done if I offer just a little more focus and attention to the task. Each moment I am fully alive I can again be blessed.
a Siddha Yogi from Virginia, USA
When we are faced with a problematic situation, we seek a solution. But when the problem goes away, we don't need to re-create the problem—even if we have a perfect solution or have gotten accustomed to it.
a Siddha Yogi from Ohio, USA
The story tells me many things, one of which is that it is necessary to investigate the meaning of the Guru's teaching in each situation. And it is necessary to contemplate in each situation which of the numerous wonderful teachings of the Guru is useful for solving a problem or for understanding the deeper truth of a situation or the deeper truth about me and my inner Self.
Gurumayi, thank you for telling us this story and thank you for your guidance.
a Siddha Yogi from Vienna, Austria
For me, it comes down to this: a practice should not be performed in a dry way, mechanically following a command. The Guru's commands, teachings, and practices should always be studied and performed through the heart. In this way, a command becomes an inner experience, and the love of the heart will bring forth true understanding.
How complicated we can make the simplest things! What a relief it is to know that I offer my very best when I respond to the needs of the moment with intelligence and practicality!
Thank-you for all the great conversations this story will continue to generate, with my children and at the Siddha Yoga meditation center. And thank you for the clarity it gives me to speak up when things don't seem to make sense.
With great love,
a Siddha Yogi from Boston, USA
I asked myself, What exactly was the Guru's teaching? Did the teaching say that there has to be a cat tied to a post whenever there is a chanting or meditation session?
The cat was living in the Ashram. He was very cute, and everyone gave lot of love to him. But he was creating an obstacle to the students of the Ashram in their spiritual practice, which is the main purpose of the Ashram.
To me the real teaching is inherent in the Guru's act. By tying the cat to the post, the Guru shows how to deal with the situation when you have a cat that creates a disturbance to your main purpose. The story shows how to take beneficial steps that will support both the students and also the health and life of the cat, because the cat cannot be left alone either.
Moreover if we realize that there has been a problem once, when there was a cat in the Ashram, why should we choose to go the market to buy another problem?
a student in Gurudev Siddha Peeth, Ganeshpuri, India
For me this story is about contemplation and going deeper.
Yes, there is a practical teaching: if something or someone disturbs when we are doing our practices, we can and must do something about it. And once it's "under control," move on.
We can either recreate something that we thought was the right way without thinking or going deeper than "it's always been done like that" (even if there is no purpose at all any more), or we can pause, contemplate, take the essence and move on to another level.
I offer my gratitude for these words of Gurumayi.
Yes, I've heard the story, and it's great to be "refreshed" about this teaching. I realize it has always come to me when I'm faced with a "but we've always done it this way" situation. It has given me the courage to be practical and act accordingly.
The artwork is precious and whimsical! I love cats and the little cat in the picture seems to be doing seva very patiently and without attachment or aversion. Another lesson for me!
Love and blessings and thank you!
When I was reading this story, I thought that since the cat's behavior was an obstacle to the regular practices of the Ashram that's why the Guru took the decision of tying the cat in a room. But when, after the Guru's samadhi, the cat died, there was no need to buy a new cat and tie it up because the obstacle to their practices was gone. But due to their lack of understanding, the disciples could not know the reason the Guru had tied up that cat. They didn't try to contemplate this but instead took action in the name of "Guru's command."
After reading this story, I was reminded of the talk that Gurumayi gave recently: "Be Practical, Be Grateful." We must contemplate first on Gurumayi's words before putting them into implementation because when the Guru speaks, our understanding is incomplete until we contemplate on it. After contemplation, we not only get clear understanding but it becomes easier to implement that teaching.
a Siddha Yogi from Mumbai, India
I actually have a cat similar to "The Guru's Cat." He's a big, fluffy, lovable guy. My practice is to meditate every morning. However, if I sit to meditate before my cat gets fed, I will get a swift swat on the arm (claws and all) just when I'm about to settle in.
So, we have come to a very practical arrangement in the mornings: first my cat gets fed, then I sit to meditate.
I'm taking Gurumayi's message of practicality, which was also emphasized in her talk during Bade Baba's Punyatithi, as a command. I will hold this message front and center as I step through the demands of my day.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for sharing your words, stories, and pictures with us through the website!
My heart soared and I felt my entire being melt into a smile at the story of "The Guru's Cat," retold now on a website that many can access. I heard the story about two decades ago when I first began to offer seva in the SYDA Foundation. That story became one of my bench marks, especially as it related to the practical and physical aspects of a Siddha Yoga meditation center. The story showed me how to honor the path and understand guidelines. Over all these years I have used the Guru's Cat story during clarifying discussions. Even just recently I used it as an example.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for the story, for shining such a beautiful, clear, loving, and humorous light so that there are no shadows.
Here is my 3 year old daughter's share about the story:
When the teacher teaches us anything we need to listen and act carefully. If something disturbs us while we are learning, put it aside for some time. That way we can concentrate in the class and later can play.
Thank you Gurumayi for giving the practical example to young kids and to us by the stories.
Blue is my daughter's favorite color and she likes the art work very much.
a Siddha Yogi from Pune, India
From the story I understand that in each and every action I have to use my "viveka".
a Siddha Yogi from India
I love this powerful story! I've heard it before and it is wonderful how the same story, retold and re-heard with new ears, reveals new understanding and wisdom. This time the story reminded me of how important it is for me to know and understand why I do what I do—especially in my Siddha Yoga practice. It reminds me how valuable it is for me to know the Siddha Yoga traditions and culture so that I am not merely doing things automatically or mindlessly or because "I always do it that way..." It's wise to know the practical reasons and purpose for things because it brings greater consciousness to whatever I'm doing.
Thank you, Gurumayi, for telling it again. And thank you, Dionisio, for your lovely illustrations.
I offered seva creating the artwork for the story "The Guru's Cat." As I was working on this project I felt an easy flow. The image of Gurumayi smiling as she was telling the story was very present in my mind.
Knowing that my skills and talent are in service to the Siddha Yoga path creates a tenderness in my heart, a deep sense of gratitude and I also feel inspired to keep myself healthy and sharp to continue to offer my best to Gurumayi and The SYDA Foundation.
Mil gracias, Gurumayi.
a Siddha Yogi from Mexico
I love Gurumayi's story, "The Guru's Cat." I offered seva helping to prepare the text for posting on the Siddha Yoga path website. I have heard this story many times over the years, but this time I read it with fresh eyes. I saw that this playful story is another way that Gurumayi is giving the teaching to be practical, and I realized that being practical is a way to honor God.
I am really inspired by this teaching story ["The Value of Human Birth"]. I have found that it echoes various themes within Gurumayi's talk Be Practical, Be Grateful, which opened up a whole new chasm of understanding for me. I am realizing that in order for this human birth to be priceless, I need to be "a face" for the "sacred place" of this heart, body, mind, and soul. I see that this sacred responsibility requires whole-hearted participation in and commitment to all the varying dimensions of my life.
As I practice serving at this new level of accountability and integrity, there is a heightened rasa. I feel joy and I feel an empowerment that could perhaps be called freedom. How ironic that embracing responsibility leads to freedom! Therein, perhaps, lies the gift of this human birth—priceless, indeed!
Many thanks to Gurumayi, and also to the SYDA Foundation, for making this wealth of learning and sharing so available for us.
a Siddha Yogi from Surrey, England
Thank you for posting this story on the website. I am reminded of all the incredible
life-changing experiences of the Self I have had throughout my life. I am reminded of how beautiful, uplifting, and precious my life is. The way I spend time here on earth is precious. I want to make every moment precious. I need to remember again and again everything I have received and all that I have to give. Thank you!
Thank you for this beautiful teaching and a reminder to me that my life is indeed precious! I closed my eyes and Baba's words sprang up within me—"Bow to yourself, honor yourself, God dwells within you as you." I visualized my body becoming a beautiful temple; and in the center I saw the flame of love, peace, and contentment. This experience can only happen in a human life.
a Siddha Yogi from Nairobi, Kenya
Yesterday I celebrated my birthday. Some of my friends came to chant Shri Rudram as part of the celebration. Before chanting we all shared. Maybe since the occasion was a birthday, each of us spoke about the significance of having a human body to walk the earth. One of my friends is about to give birth, and the other two friends are new parents of a two-month-old baby. We were grateful for the good fortune of having this good company and that we could honor each other. We were grateful that we have received and practiced, and continue to receive and practice, the Siddha Yoga teachings. We were grateful that we pursue the highest goal of a human birth—that we seek to become established in the awareness of the Self.
Now, visiting the webpage, I see we are all very connected and I am grateful for this beautiful way of receiving the teachings. I am grateful for this website, which is also such good company.
Today was one of those days when everything felt like hard work and I didn't feel in the "flow." As I sat thinking about my day, I clicked on to the story by Baba: "The Value of Human Birth." It immediately brought forth feelings of self-worth, acceptance, love, and deep appreciation for the preciousness of my own life, and profound gratitude for the guidance to the real Truth this story generated within me. Thank you.
a Siddha Yogi from Melbourne, Australia
The Value of Human Birth, what a wonderful story! I taught third grade in a very impoverished inner-city school. The children saw so much in their short life that taught them that a human life was not valuable. As much as I could, through my actions and words, I taught them that they were special, that their life had value, that every life has value. And each day I remind myself, as Gurumayi has taught me, that I am precious to God. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.
With Love,
a Siddha Yogi from New Hampshire, USA


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A Christmas decoration in the shape of a bauble. Cake is vanilla with strawberry jam filling, buttercream and fondant decoration topped with sparkling sugars, luster dust and non-periels. These cakes have been donated to charity for Christmas lunch...
CakeCentral.com is the world's largest cake community for cake decorating professionals and enthusiasts.
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Courtesy of Art McIrvin, organizing committee member
The Federal Way Community Center hosted the second annual Miles for Meso Washington Memorial 5K Run/Walk on the Fourth of July.
The event was organized by Pat Dyhrman, Diana Stewart and Pat Hatley — three women who lost their husbands to mesothelioma, a non-curable cancer caused by the exposure to asbestos. Dick Dyhrman was a geologist for the Weyerhaeuser Company. Bud Hatley was a coach and athletic director for the Federal Way School District. Bob Stewart was a teacher and coach at Federal Way High School.
The run was a tribute to them and all of the other Washington residents who have suffered from this disease.
The event raised over $13,000 for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. Federal Way's mayor, Skip Priest, welcomed the 300 participants to the city following the raising of the American flag by Dick Dyhrman's Boy Scout Troop 174 from Puyallup. The runners were also greeted by Erin Maas, the operations manager for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. A children's fun run preceded the start of the 5-kilometer run.
The course through Celebration Park, the BPA Trail, and the streets around the Community Center and City Hall was closely monitored by course volunteers and the Federal Way Amateur Radio Club.
After the run, a pancake breakfast was provided while the participants awaited the awards and raffle drawings. The overall winner was Mason Fletcher with a time of 17:18. Mason was last year's fastest runner as well. The top female finisher was Mollee Huisinga, who ran the course in 20:21. Comments from participants were "well organized," "we had a good time" and "we'll be back next year."
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Cultural Commentary
The flu, cellphone cancer, and radical Islam
Category: Cultural Commentary Written by Jim Denison
Second, mobile phone use apparently doesn't raise the risk of cancer in children and teenagers. Researchers in Switzerland and Scandanavia have determined that regular cellphone users are no more likely to be diagnosed with brain tumors than nonusers. Since my sons are never without their cellphones and can text faster than I can talk, this is good news.
Now to the frightening news. By now you may have heard about the Muslim American Army private who was arrested yesterday near Fort Hood. This is the nation's largest military installation and scene of the 2009 shooting tragedy which left 13 people dead. Authorities in Killeen, Texas have now averted another such attack.
Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo refused to deploy to Afghanistan and later went AWOL. After he bought several items from a local gun shop, a suspicious dealer alerted police. They arrested Abdo and found in his hotel room and backpack enough materials to make two bombs. Abdo then told investigators that he wanted to attack fellow soldiers at the military base.
If only technology could change radical Islam. Militant Muslims are convinced that the West has been attacking Islam since the Crusades and especially by supporting Israel. Since the Qur'an requires Muslims to defend Islam, they think they are defending their faith by attacking us. Because we live in a democracy where citizens elect our leaders and support our military, they view us as complicit in this attack and consider us their enemy.
Surveys indicate that only seven percent of the Muslim world agrees with these convictions, but out of a global Islamic population of 1.6 billion, that's 112 million people who believe that killing Americans is required by their faith. As we saw in Fort Hood yesterday, it only takes one to threaten many.
What difference does faith make in this conflict? I once heard Rick Warren say, "Stop asking God to bless what you're doing, and ask him to help you do what he is blessing." He is blessing today a global spiritual awakening in the Islamic world, as more Muslims than ever before are making Jesus their Lord. And he is blessing those who pray for this movement, who support Muslim background believers, and who pray for this awakening to come to their church and nation.
As Moses was leading two million Hebrews into their future, the Lord promised him, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14). Today he makes the same promise to you.
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3/8 The forgotten shortstop
Most of the talk in camp has been about smooth young shortstop Starlin Castro. Don't forget Darwin Barney. Last season, Barney, 24, batted .317 at Double-A Tennessee and then hit .264 at Triple-A Iowa. He was the Smokies' leadoff man, batting .382 in the No. 1 spot.
The discussion on who will backup Ryan Theriot on the big league team started when Andres Blanco sprained his right knee Saturday. He will be sidelined 10-14 days.
"If we needed a backup infielder," Lou Piniella said, "it would be more Barney than it would be Castro. The organization wants Castro playing [every day] and rightfully so. That's what's good for him and good for the Cubs."
Barney has been the forgotten shortstop.
"You kind of expect that when a guy like Starlin, who has the hype and has the talent that he does, he's going to come in and get a lot of innings," Barney said Monday. "My job is to go out there and go about my business and try to get better every day.
"[Castro's] a good dude," Barney said. "We chat here and there. There's no animosity between us. Things are going to fall into place."
That's the perfect attitude for all of the Cubs' Minor League players to have. Somehow, these things have a way of working themselves out.
"If the Cubs need me and they call me at a certain time, I'll be ready," Barney said. "If Castro is the guy who will play that position, then that's what will happen. All I can do is focus on my own game and what I'm doing and what I can possibly do to help this team. Whether it's this year or next year, who knows?"
— Carrie Muskat


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Currently there are three Gourmet Pizza locations serving the Kitchener / Waterloo area in Southern Ontario, Canada serving the Best Dressed Pizza in Town, winning best pizza and sub awards year after year.
within Limited Area (Subject to a min. order after 4PM)
Open Late, 7 days a week, Fri/Sat until 4AM, Mon - Thur until 3AM
We now offer Wireless Interac/Debit On Delivery! This is hands down the best pizza in town! Try it for yourself...


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SILVER CREEK - Car shopping is always a difficult task, and doing so for the police department is no different.
The Silver Creek Village Board discussed which vehicle on state bid would be best to purchase for the police department at its workshop meeting Monday.
Silver Creek Police Chief Timothy Roche submitted information on four different vehicles on state bid: a Ford Explorer, a Ford Tahoe, a Dodge Charger and a Dodge Expedition.
There are funds budgeted in this year's police budget for a vehicle purchase to replace one of the Dodge Chargers coming off warranty.
Trustee Andrew Volk suggested looking at the Chevy Impalas, which are used by the Sheriff's Department, but Roche was quick to say he does not think a front-wheel drive vehicle would be good for the village.
Trustee Anna Frederickson was full of indecision as the board discussed the different prices on state bid for the vehicles.
"Let's schedule a special meeting, we can't make a split-second decision, options need to be weighed," Mayor Kurt Lindstrom said.
Trustee Amy Romanik disagreed, however. She said that after having the information for more than a week and the deadline approaching on Feb. 16, the board should be prepared to make a decision.
After a brief discussion about two-wheel or four-wheel drive, gas mileage and price differences, Roche said he would like time to go over the options with the board.
"I'd love to sit down and discuss these with you and show you the pros and cons of all of them. I don't think we do this justice by just flipping through this tonight, just pointing out the differences," Roche said.
In the end, board members were asked to go through the packets again, write down pros and cons, and a special meeting was scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. in the village hall.
In other business:
In the board's workshop Lindstrom said the school and town have not moved forward to approve the highway building as tax exempt is because the school is still waiting on a signed form. Village Attorney Andrew Kehrer said he would get to the bottom of it this week, as the deadline draws close.
The board tabled the one bid from Mike Gorka for $982.64 for a 1995 ambulance. The board accepted the bid for $5,908 for siding for the Gazebo in the Park from Vinyl Outfitters.
The board heard complaints from residents of 67 Hanover St. about water drainage problems. Water/Sewer Supervisor Herm Griewisch and Streets Supervisor Ralph Crawford told them the only solution would be to replace the drainage line on Lafayette Street which would cost thousands of dollars. The board said they would look into the cost.
The board created a capital reserve account for STOP DWI and allocated $2,972 to the account.
The board will hold its next regular meeting on Feb. 21, instead of Feb. 20, in honor of Presidents Day.
Comments on this article may be sent to firstname.lastname@example.com


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Parents and other family members of persons with intellectual disabilities are invited to a Special Needs Planning seminar offered by The Arc Foundation on Thursday, March 27, 7-8:30 pm at The Arc offices, 319 West Washington Ave. in Washington.
In this seminar, attendees will learn how to balance their present and future needs with those of their loved ones with disabilities; discuss steps to create and implement personal care, financial, and legal plans for their loved ones; discover sources of government benefits; and learn the role of special needs trusts, including their interaction with Supplemental Social Security Income (and Medicaid.) Katherine Ingrassia, a special needs planning attorney with Courter, Kobert & Cohen, will lead this session.
Financial advisor Robyn Jensen of Edward Jones Investments, Hackettstown, will discuss options family members may consider to maximize their financial assets for the benefit of themselves and their loved ones with disabilities and how utilize those in making a charitable gift to The Arc Foundation.
Attendees also will receive a free workbook created just for this presentation. This workbook also will be made available to anyone who is not able to attend the March 27 seminar.
The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, contact foundation director Kevin M. Guyette at 908-689-7525, ext. 212 or: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Two New Orleans firefighters were injured early Friday morning when a blazing two-story St. Claude duplex collapsed into the street where they were standing. Both firefighters were treated and released by Friday afternoon, said Capt. Edwin Holmes Jr., a spokesman for the New Orleans Fire Department.
One of the firefighters was burned on his foot, right shoulder and lower back; the other was burned on his left hand and the right side of his face, Holmes said.
The two men were among 45 firefighters dispatched to a two-alarm fire that engulfed two duplexes on the corner of Marais and Congress streets. The fire -- which originated at 3601-3603 Marais St. before spreading to 1200-1202 Congress St. -- was first reported at 5:36 a.m., Holmes said.
All four dwellings were vacant at the time of the fire, Holmes said.
The house at 3601-3603 Marais St. collapsed, sending flaming materials into the street where firefighters were standing.
The fire was reported under control at 6:28 a.m., Holmes said.
Holmes said there was no word on the possible cause of the fire, or any estimates of the potential cost of the fire's damage.


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AMHERST – University of Massachusetts basketball coach Derek Kellogg doesn't have a lot of time to address what went wrong in Thursday's 73-62 loss to Butler.
With the regular-season finale at Rhode Island set to tip at 2 p.m. Saturday, Kellogg said his goal was to say what he needed to say in the locker room Thursday night, then move on as quickly as possible.
"If we had another day in between, I think we could do a little bit more to kind of go over that," Kellogg said. "Right now, this time of year, it's really about pushing ahead and getting ready for the next game at hand."
The problem against Butler was nothing new – the Minutemen were pounded into submission on the defensive glass, allowing the Bulldogs to rack up 17 offensive rebounds.
"(What I said after the game) was just along the lines of, 'If you want to win big games or do something here, we cant get outrebounded by 17 against anybody. That's completely unacceptable,'" Kellogg said. "That's been an Achilles heel in the games we've lost."
One thing Kellogg said he wouldn't do is drastically change his style to try to wash off any lingering stink from Thursday.
"I'm going to be who I am. If that means being positive, that's great; if that means not being so positive, that's fine," Kellogg said. "I'm not going to change."
Based on the Minutemen's 81-53 thrashing of Rhode Island Feb. 6 at the Mullins Center, there is no reason to.
The Rams shot 23 percent in a performance coach Danny Hurley called the worst he'd seen in 16 years.
But Kellogg said UMass understands it didn't catch the Rams on their best day.
"They didn't shoot the ball well at all last time," Kellogg said. "Most teams, or every team in our league, has had a night or two when they don't play well. You can chalk it up as one of those."
The Minutemen still have to worry about Xavier Munford, who is third in the Atlantic 10 at 17.3 points per game, along with what Kellogg anticipates will be a hungrier squad on the boards.
"We'll have to play through some physical contact because I think they're going to come after us a little more than the last time," Kellogg said.
One thing Kellogg isn't particularly worried about is seeding in Thursday's A-10 Championship. The Minutemen can reach as high as sixth or fall as low as tenth depending on weekend results.
"The reality of it is, I'm not sure how much the seeding matters," Kellogg said. "At this point, anyone who is in the 12 can win it. When I'm looking at it, there's not really a game that I'd rather play or not play."
He also downplayed the importance of momentum heading into the four-day event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
"Many teams have won tournaments losing games before, and many teams have won losing games before," Kellogg said. "The one positive is that we have won four or five games in a row at one point during the season. At least we know we're capable of doing that. I think some teams that haven't done that all year, it's tough to fathom why you would do that differently now."
Instead, Kellogg said he is just focusing on the routine of preparing for one final game – regardless of what happened Thursday.
"We're going to go through our stuff and their stuff, have a nice meal and get ready for a big game (Saturday)," Kellogg said.


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Don't let it get away!
Keep track of the stocks that matter to you.
Help yourself with the Fool's FREE and easy new watchlist service today.
You're forgiven if you never heard of A123 Systems (Nasdaq: AONE ) before. The battery fabricator is still a mere pup, working in an industry where economies of scale add up very quickly. Until order volumes pick up in earnest, A123's gross margin is negative. Conservative investors can go elsewhere -- this is more of a stock for the Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Hidden Gems crowds.
In the just-reported second quarter, A123 saw sales bubbling up from $19.7 million last year to $22.6 million this time around. Given the early stages of this business, and the wild swings in each of its reportable segments, the jump could just as well have gone in the opposite direction. Lumpy sales are a fact of life on these small scales. Net losses added up to $34.2 million -- yes, the loss was bigger than total revenues -- or $0.33 per share, which was tougher than the $21.9 million loss seen a year ago.
So how about those economies of scale? A123 is building out its manufacturing capacity something fierce, hoping to have as much as 1,000 megawatt-hours of annual battery-making capacity online by the end of 2011. For those keeping score at home, that would be enough to support more than $650 million in annual revenue, and it's a drastic improvement from current run rates. That's the kind of scale the company needs in order to turn a profit.
There is a lot of competition in the rechargeable battery space, chiefly from Panasonic (NYSE: PC ) which is spending more than $4.6 billion to take control of market leader Sanyo. But as the only pure-play battery specialist positioned at the crossroads of electric/hybrid vehicles and smart power grid projects, I can see A123 growing into those much larger breeches. Management sees "market opportunity that is expected to grow to tens of billions of dollars annually over the next several years," and it wouldn't take much of a slice out of that enormous pizza to get the good times rolling for A123.
Automotive partners already include Chrysler, BMW (OTC BB: BAMXF.PK), and Navistar (NYSE: NAV ) , while energy grid customers include AES (NYSE: AES ) and a Californian subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX ) . Ramp up the manufacturing capacity, and I'm sure that new customers will come.
Electric power is the new little black dress, and unless A123 burns through its entire cash hoard before getting to the big time, this should be a market-beating winner over the next four to six years. There's more than $400 million left on the balance sheet, and the cash burn isn't all that horrific anymore. I'm putting my CAPS rating where my mouth is, and rating A123 a long-term market crusher in CAPS. Feel free to join me, whether you agree wholeheartedly or think I'm insane.


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See also 9.4: Virtual machines
There is a certain number of applications, both open-source and commercial, that will allow Windows applications to run under MEPIS Linux 7.0. They are referred to as emulators, meaning that they duplicate the functions of Windows on a Linux platform. Many MS Office applications, games and other programs can be run using an emulator with varying degrees of success ranging from near-native speed and functionality to only basic performance.
Wine is the primary open-source Windows emulator for MEPIS Linux 7.0. It is a kind of compatibility layer for running Windows programs, but does not require Microsoft Windows® to run the applications.
DOSBox creates a DOS-like environment intended for running MS-DOS-based programs, especially computer games.
CrossOver Office allows you to install many popular Windows productivity applications, plugins and games in Linux, without needing a Microsoft Operating System license. Supports Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint (up to 2003) particularly well.
Cedega is designed to run DirectX and OpenGL games from the Microsoft Windows Platform under Linux. Popular games such as Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Battlefield 2142, World of WarCraft, Madden 2007 and Civilization IV can be played on MEPIS Linux 7.0 with this application.


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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Laker track and field teams both put together top-four performances at the 2013 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday (Mar. 9), as they both finished fourth in the final team standings after the final day of competition.
The women's team had won the last two indoor crowns, but fell just short in an attempt for the three-peat, while the men had one of their best finishes in school history.
To read the full recap, please visit GVSULakers.com.


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Eagler Clubs:
Established in 1970, the club provides support for Ashland University's 19 NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports, which include 9 men's sports of baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, swimming, and wrestling, and 10 women's sports of basketball, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, tennis, and golf.
The Eagler Club recognizes those individuals who contribute time and money to assist the University in maintaining the growth and quality of the athletic department.
Maintaining an outstanding NCAA Division II athletic program is a challenge but through the annual support of Eagler Club gifts, Ashland University is better positioned to maintain and enhance its men's and women's programs.
For more information:
Contact AU Development | firstname.lastname@example.com | 419-289-5620
Varsity Walk:
Established in 1992, Varsity Walk is a unique and meaningful way to permanently recognize or memorialize varsity athletes, coaches, cheerleaders, equipment managers, trainers and all those who have helped contribute to Ashland's rich athletic tradition.
Reserve your brick in the Varsity Walk today by contactig AU Development:
Contact AU Development | email@example.com | 419-289-5620
Gridiron Club:
Established in 2006, the Ashland University Gridiron Club supports the Ashland University Football Program. The Gridiron Club is comprised of former Eagle players, alumni, coaches and friends of the University who share a common interest in advancing the football program.
For more information, visit the Gridiron Club webpage.


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Congratulations to the Dauphin County Public Library's 100 year anniversary.
When my sister and I were children we lived eight blocks north of Front and Walnut Streets. And we loved the library. Our mother walked us down Front Street every Saturday morning for the children's story hour. We sat in the circular window seat with the story teller standing in front of us facing the river.
We met lots of friends, listened to stories, told stories, borrowed books, played games and laughed and had fun. We always enjoyed the beautiful walk along the river and the wonderful library.
This was a special treat back in the 1930s.
ARIETTA FALK, Lower Allen Twp.


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July, 2006 Monthly News Archives | Pennsylvania Arts and Events -
|Ashley Zywusko / PennLive.com
Listen to songs from the album 'Perpetual Limbo'.
• Denied • Fly Away • Turn You Down • Drama QueenBACKGROUND
With their last collaboration dating back to 2001, Julian Fist is bringing hard rock back to Harrisburg stages. Two singles, "Fly Away" and "Denied," from Pushing Audio Platinum made it on regional and indy stations. The band is also working on a new album. The band will be performing extensively around the area and promise to rock out this next chapter of their career.MEMBERS
• Mitch Taylor- vocals, guitar • Scott Michajluk- guitar, vocals • Troy Lehman- bass • Kyle Taylor- drums, vocalsUPCOMING SHOWS
• July 21 Gullifty's Underground New Cumberland, PA • July 29 Susquehanna Valley Harley Davidson Harrisburg, PA • July 29 Farm Fest Pine Grove, PAON THE WEB
|Ashley Zywusko / PennLive.com Click here for Freedom Fest photos
|Ashley Zywusko / PennLive.com Click here for more Freedom Fest photos


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HILLSIDE — An Irvington man who sped off to elude police shortly after midnight is in jail after he crashed his car on Morris Avenue in Union and into a Salem Avenue home. Police allegedly found a machine gun, ammunition, a face mask and cocaine in the car.
Hillside Police gave the following account of the arrest of Elisha Richardson, 30, on Oct. 17.
Police began looking for a burgundy 2003 Nissan 350Z at about 1 a.m. on Oct. 17 after learning that the car had been seen speeding the wrong way on Conklin Avenue toward Liberty Avenue.
Officer Jesse Gregorio spotted the car driving with its lights off at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Long Avenue and signaled the driver to stop. Instead, Richardson sped south on Liberty with Gregorio in pursuit.
Gregorio gave up the chase at the Union border near Conant Street and Liberty Avenue due to the "extreme recklessness" of Richardson's driving and notified Union Police.
Minutes later, Union Police reported that the 350Z had crashed into the center median and a traffic sign at the intersection of Morris and Adams avenues.
Richardson got out of the car and began to run, but was immediately caught by police.
Police found three clear glass vials of suspected cocaine, a Cobray M11 9mm machine gun on a sling with an extended magazine containing 26 rounds of ammunition, a black face mask and $143 in cash bundled together in a way consistent with the sale of drugs.
Hillside police traffic investigators later determined that Richardson had lost control of the Nissan and crashed into a home on Salem Avenue after Gregorio had stopped chasing him.
Richardson is charged with two counts of eluding, unlawful possession of a machine gun, possession of a weapon by a person not authorized to have one, possession of cocaine, possession of a high-capacity firearm magazine, resisting arrest and numerous motor vehicle summonses.
He is being held on a total of $175,000 bail at the Union County Jail.


text: Fair Wage Adjuncts: Wage & Benefit Disparities In Higher Education By Nick Frost • Sep 25, 2013 Earlham College / Flickr Listen Listening... / 36:00 The story of Margaret Mary Vojtko, an adjunct professor at Duquesne University has gone viral and it's sparked a debate about fair compensation for adjuncts. Dan Kovalick, senior associate general counsel of the United Steelworkers (the union currently seeking to organize adjunct instructors at Duquesne) who wrote the op-ed piece believes that the adjuncts should have an increase in pay and should be entitled to benefits. Kovalick argues that, with heads of Universities making six-figure salaries and in some cases millions of dollars, teachers should be able to get an increase in compensation. He also points out that parents of students, are spending tens of thousands of dollars on their child's tuition and seeing that their child's teachers are not making a livable wage.


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The Zone: athletes' experience of peak performance
Athletes' experiences of being 'in the zone' were the subject of a video installation displayed at the 2012 Annual Conference of the Society's Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section in London in April. The Zone, a 10-minute film, uses athletes' own descriptions of being in a state of peak performance, voiced by actors and set against imaginative footage of sports' venues such as gyms, running tracks and swimming pools. It is the result of a collaboration between Victoria Tischler, a Chartered Psychologist from Nottingham, and David Bickerstaff from Atomictv.
"If I let go of everything — my thoughts, my words, my feelings, my fears, everything — my body can do anything and my mind becomes completely and utterly still."
The words of real athletes have been used in a compelling new art installation video that offers an insight into the almost transcendental mental state they achieve which allows them to perform at the peak of their physical powers.
Commissioned by Dr Tischler, it is based on research data involving the universities of Nottingham, Bath and Exeter examining how athletes achieve absolute focus.
Dr Tischler's research expertise lies in exploring the relationship between mental states and the creative processes and the use of the arts and humanities to improve mental health and wellbeing. She is also interested in public engagement with research, particularly using art as a vehicle for communicating complex scientific concepts to a general audience.
She said: "I thought the phenomenon of 'the zone' was interesting from a psychological perspective and having seen the data I thought it was poetic and could be presented in a visually engaging way. This has the potential for public engagement, for example, in explaining psychological phenomena to lay people and in motivating people to exercise.
"Qualitative data represents in-depth textual and visual information gathered from individuals to facilitate understanding of subjective experience and process. The aim was to make psychological data available to a wider public and, with the 2012 Olympics fast approaching, sport was an obvious subject to choose.
"The ideas for the film were collaborative and developed between the artist and myself over a series of discussions. I particularly wanted to capture the rhythmic, hypnotic and subliminal nature of the experience of being 'in the zone'."
Dr Tischler played an instrumental part in getting the film from research project to screen — she worked on the development of ideas for the visual representation of the research data, selected film locations — some of which were based at The University of Nottingham — co-writing the script and assisted with filming and editing.
The film will be shown at other venues to coincide with Olympic preparations and events. You can also watch it The Zone on Atomictv's website.


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The ACADEMIC SWISS CAUCASUS NET (ASCN) is a programme aimed at promoting the social sciences and humanities in the South Caucasus. Those involved in the programme believe that their participation encourages constructive debate on society, which in turn contributes to the region's transformation process. The programme's different activities foster the emergence of a new generation of talented scholars in the South Caucasus. Promising junior researchers receive support through research projects, capacity-building trainings and scholarships. The programme emphasises the advancement of individuals. Emphasis is also placed on international networking, thus promoting sustained cooperation among scholars based in the South Caucasus and those based in Switzerland.
The ASCN programme is coordinated and operated by the Interfaculty Institute for Central and Eastern Europe (IICEE) at the University of Fribourg. It is supported by GEBERT RÜF STIFTUNG.
Initially, the programme focused primarily on Georgia. It was then extended to include Armenia in 2011.
The ASCN programme will come to an end in December 2016.
The ASCN programme will come to an end in December 2016.
ASCN Final Conference (18-19 November 2016)
This final ASCN conference invites our project partners to come together and to discuss – for the last time in the context of the ASCN programme – the results of their research projects and to present the future direction of their research.
For further details please click here.
ASCN Alumni Network
ASCN launched its Alumni Network in December 2014 to further enhance cooperation among beneficiaries of the ASCN programme.
For more information please click here.


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Lee Hamilton, director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University and Congressman for 34 years, writes regularly about Congress and what individuals can do to make our representative democracy work better. Here's his latest effort:
One of my earliest memories of Lyndon Johnson, who was elected in a landslide in 1964, is of a president cautioning against partisan chest-thumping.
Johnson used to love meeting with freshman members of Congress, and after taking office we Democrats who'd been elected that same year had every expectation that he would allow us to bask at the expense of our Republican colleagues. He didn't. "I'm an American first," he told us.
"And I'm a Democrat second."
It was a bracing affirmation that the good of the country comes first, even if it runs counter to the interests of one's political party. I can't help thinking of it today, in an era when deep, seemingly unbridgeable differences divide Democrats and Republicans, and when these divisions are being stoked by the current presidential campaign.
It has been apparent almost since the beginning that our nation's welfare rides on how well political leaders balance the needs of the country against their partisan goals. In 1796, preparing to step down from the presidency, George Washington devoted much of his farewell address to this question, and to the destructiveness of what he called "the fury of party spirit."
Many national leaders since have likewise signaled a bedrock belief in the importance of working together to bridge differences because the nation's welfare demanded it.
Now, we're not going to abolish parties, and we shouldn't. They help us organize our political choices, define and advocate issues, and make sense of elections.
But if we're not careful, they can be carried to such an extreme that they divide government, when what we need is unity of government. We need it in foreign affairs, where the more united we are as a nation, the stronger we are. And we need it in domestic policy, where excessive partisanship agitates the people, creates animosities among them, leads to distrust within Congress, and short-circuits our ability to resolve the problems. If you doubt any of this, just look around.
Our differences are important; they are part of who we are as a nation.
But if we want to overcome our challenges and preserve our greatness, unity is indispensable. The great work of our democracy, as it has been for over 200 years, is learning how to reconcile the two.


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"The greatness of human personality begins at the hour of birth"
~ Maria Montessori
The Western Pennsylvania Montessori School delivers programs for ages 20 months to 6 years of age.
Our program includes the following:
At the age of twenty months children are enrolled in the toddler program which meets three mornings a week from September through early June.
At the age of three, children are enrolled in the three-year program which meets five days a week in morning, afternoon, or all day classes from September through June.
During the Kindergarten year, children are offered a special enriched program. For three days a week the children attend school for a full day in addition to their regular 3 year program.
More about our programs >>>
What Differentiates WPMS?
Our focus is a program based on self-directed, non-competitive activities that will help our children develop good self-images and the confidence to face challenges and change with a positive attitude.
WPMS is the first and oldest Montessori School in our region and as such we have perfected the delivery of the Montessori Method to the age groups we serve.
Parent involvement is encouraged and fostered through year-long opportunities to participate in the classroom, attend fun events, and volunteer in various ways around the school.


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Cates Family Farm, a grass-based beef farm in the driftless region of southwest Wisconsin has been honored with this year's Leopold Conservation Award.
Kim and Dick Cates, who operate the farm, were named as award winners at the Nov. 13 meeting of the policy board for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, on which Dick Cates serves as vice chairman.
He is also known to many as the head of the University of Wisconsin's School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers on the Madison campus. Kim Cates is a former aide to Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl.
The Leopold Conservation Award is given by the Sand County Foundation and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation to honor landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of their land and natural resources.
The Sand County Foundation also offers similar programs with various partner organizations in other states based on the recognition that what happens on private lands also affects the general public.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, who honed his conservation ethic in Wisconsin and the upper Midwest, the award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation.
"This award honors leaders who love the land and that really captures the heart and soul of the Cates family," said Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Ben Brancel.
"We've worked with both Kim and Dick and they have a glorious enthusiasm for protecting the resources and they've shared that with others through all kinds of venues."
"This has meaning beyond words. We stand on the shoulders of giants," said Dick Cates. "My whole life I've been aware of and inspired to be part of agriculture in Wisconsin."
Dick's brothers John and Bob and sister-in-law Linda were also present for the ceremony, and all were overcome with emotion as their family farm was honored.
"This is the proudest moment of my agricultural career," Dick Cates said with deep emotion.
The farm, near Spring Green in Iowa County, includes 700 acres of managed grazing land and 200 acres of managed forests. Dick Cates said he was happy several of his brothers could be at the ceremony because they have all helped plant trees, cut trails and work on the farm over the years.
His brother, Bob Cates, is a physician in Brodhead and owns part of the land. John, an attorney, has helped with contracts for the farm. Another brother David is in Montana and a sister Chris lives in Kentucky. "They have all supported our efforts," said Dick Cates.
His parents lived in Madison when their children were young, Cates told Wisconsin State Farmer but their father bought this farm in Iowa County in 1967 so his children could experience what it was like to do hard work and play out in the country. Their father had been raised on a farm in Maine and came to Madison to earn a law degree.
Experience farm life
He wanted his four sons and daughter to experience farm life in addition to their suburban life in Madison.
Of all his siblings it was Dick who took to agriculture and stayed with the farm. He and his wife Kim at one time grazed 800 head of cattle on 700 acres of grass. These days they raise a couple hundred head of cattle each year for the grass-fed market.
Some of that production helps beginning farmers sell products through his value chain, he said. The meat from Angus and Jersey steers is marketed under the Cates Family Farm label to grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias and households around southern Wisconsin and in the Chicago area.
Since 1987, the Cates have worked to make the family farm more environmentally sound and profitable. They adopted rotational grazing practices and created a managed grazing system that includes sub-divided paddock fencing and stream crossings for livestock.
They encouraged the revitalization of a native oak savannah and care for Lowery Creek, a trout stream that runs through the grazing acreage.
"I keep having to pinch myself," Cates said. "I'm just so overwhelmed by the entire experience and we feel there are so many wonderful family farm producers in Wisconsin who are equally deserving.
"We're proud to be able to carry the torch for so many others."
The Cates family is the fourth winner of the Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin. It's an honor that comes with a $10,000 prize and Cates said his family plans to use that money to help beginning farmers and conservation efforts as well as local school projects related to conservation and agriculture.
Excellent representative
The Cates farm was nominated for the award by the Iowa County Land Conservation Department and Iowa County UW-Extension and Cates said none of their farm progress would have been possible without these partners.
"The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is pleased to sponsor this important award and to recognize Dick and Kim Cates as this year's recipients," said Jim Holte, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation president.
"Cates Family Farm is an excellent representative of the farmers across Wisconsin who care for their land and natural resources through proper conservation."
The award is intended to inspire other landowners and provide a forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders.
In his influential 1949 book, "A Sand County Almanac" Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called "an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity."
The Cates will officially receive the 2013 Leopold Conservation Award Dec. 8 at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting in Wisconsin Dells. The award includes a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold and the check for $10,000.
This year's other finalists for the award were Katie and Hans Breitenmoser Jr. of Merrill, Jack and Pat Herricks of Cashton and David and Angelita Heidel of Random Lake.
The Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin is made possible through support from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Alliant Energy Foundation, American Transmission Company (ATC), Rural Mutual Insurance Company, UW-Extension, We Energies Foundation, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.
For more information visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
In a video presentation before the Cates were named, last year's Wisconsin winner Jim Hebbe said "winning that award was like winning the Nobel Peace prize."
The Sand County Foundation, a private, non-profit conservation group, presents Leopold Conservation Awards in California, Colorado, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The foundation works with private landowners because the majority of the nation's fish, wildlife, and natural resources are found on private lands.
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Looking for slightly used computrainer preferably with new Computrainer software already loaded etc.
Please email with any offers firstname.lastname@example.com
Hi Lance, I have a brand new, never used, still in the box Computrainer that has been collecting dust for the last few months. It is the 2012 model so doesn't have the latest upload....make me an offer and it could be yours.


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A former tennis star being investigated by police, according to a report out of Florida.
According to a report from the Palm Beach Post, former tennis star Jennifer Capriati is being investigated by police on allegations of battery and stalking, involving an alleged incident involving her ex-boyfriend.
Capriati, 36, has not been arrested, according to the Palm Beach Post report.
Read the Palm Beach Post report HERE.


text: I Have a Family History of Breast CancerLisa Porter's life has been touched by breast cancer since the age of 11 when her mother died of the disease, then 15 years ago her sister Christine died. She, along with several members of her entire family carry a gene that has a link to breast cancer. NBC's Candice Lee shares this women's incredible story.Lisa Porter's first brush with breast cancer came at the age of 11 when her mother died of the disease, then 15 years ago her sister Christine died too and it became clear to Lisa that after three other family members were diagnosed with breast cancer she could be next."At that time I did not know about genetic testing or the gene or anything like that, so it just brought back everything from when my mother had passed away."I Wanted to Know If I Was at RiskLisa, a mother of two young boys, began genetic testing at Riverside Hospital. Genetic counselors spend time with patients mapping their family history of cancer. The blood tests can take about two weeks to come back - an agonizing time for patients. Lisa tested positive for the BRCA2 gene in 2008, as did her older sister Joann and her brother. This has left her with two options, do nothing and wait or preventative measures like surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes."I was done having children and I didn't have a problem with that at all and then they discussed having a bilateral mastectomy."My Choices Weren't Easy, But I'm A SurvivorLisa went ahead with both surgeries. Five to 10 percent of all breast cancers are hereditary and when a parent has the BRCA 1 or BRCA2 gene there is a 50/50 chance it is passed on to a child. The test gave Lisa a little peace of mind that she will live to raise her sons. More Stories All Patient Stories Laura's Story Breast Cancer Anne's Story Breast Cancer Alvin's Story Pancreatic Cancer Cheryl's Story Pancreatic Cancer Joe's Story Colon Cancer Paul's Story Kidney Cancer