Ashoka Newmedia

Gangtok lives up to its name meaning the 'superior hills'. It sits comfortably nestled in the lap of the high elevations of the lofty peaks of the Kanchenjunga. The latter is the third highest peak of the Himalayas. The Himalayan town of Gangtok gained importance when the former Sikkimese ruler under the British governance translocated the erstwhile capital from Tumlong to Gangtok in 1894. It was retained as the capital even there after as it grew into the largest city of the Indian state of Sikkim on the parallel lines. Sikkim was amalgamated into the Republic of India in 1947 by signing a treaty between Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then primer minister of India and Chogyal. It was granted the...

China, a nation in East Asia, is home to world's oldest continuous civilizations. With Beijing as its capital, China holds a total geographical area of 9,596,960 sq. km. Its climate is tropical in south to sub-arctic in north. Tianjin, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Harbin and Chengdu are some of the major places of attraction. Han Chinese is the largest ethnic group in China who comprise around 91% of the total population. Zhuang, Manchu, Hui, Miao, Uygur, Yi, Mongolian, Tibetan, Buyi and Korean are some of the other ethnic groups which dominates the area. The Republic of China was formed on 1st January 1912 which leads to the end of Quing Dynasty. Sun Yat-sen, belongs to National...

Ashtanga is a Sanskrit word, which is created by joining two words, ashta and anga. Ashta means eight. Anga is translated as limbs or steps. Ashtanga Yoga refers to the eight aspects of Yoga practice. Yoga is union. Yoga is a tangible method of attaining liberation from suffering and ultimate realization of supreme consciousness. The eight aspects of Yoga practice are Yama(restraints), Niyama(observances), Asana(posture), pranayama(breath control), Pratyahara(withdrawal of the senses), Dharana(concentration), Dhyana(meditation) and Samadhi(absorption). The Yamas are the moral codes, which free the mind and life of a yoga practitioner from undesirable thoughts and feelings resulting from incorrect...

A monk's routine in rural Thailand varied little no matter where he stayed. In the afternoons, I would join the monks at the well near the main hall where we each drew a bucket of cold water for our bath. This bathing area also served as a meeting place where the monks met twice a month to make their brooms for sweeping the paths and to wash and dye their donated robes by boiling them with the orange bark from the jackfruit tree. (We were treated to a hot bath every two weeks!). I would walk back to my hut after the bath and practice meditation for the rest of the evening and usually late into the night. How could I be happier? I had two geckos as companions and my meditation was improving, too. I...

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Qigong ('chee-kung') is slowly but steadily taking the health and fitness world by storm, one gentle graceful move at a time. Just like its eastern practice counterpart, yoga, Qigong encourages mental focus and self-awareness. In fact, it is yoga that has paved the way for mind-body exercises and eastern practices like Qigong to be embraced in the western world. While some forms of yoga can be strenuous, the gentle flowing and easy-to-learn nature of Qigong makes it accessible to all age groups regardless of fitness level. In fact, children, people recovering from injury and those suffering from Alzheimer's disease can benefit from qigong as well. Qigong requires no exercise apparatus, not even a...

Photography is essentially about how we as individuals see things, and then being able to capture that moment in time when we saw something, via the use of a camera. Sure the technical know how of how to operate the camera is important, but the most important thing in image capture is seeing the image in the first place. There is a strong analogy in this regard with artists, who also need to "see" their subject matter before they can copy it onto canvas. Photography, and in particular landscape photography is so dependent upon the photographer's ability to see and visualize the final result before he or she presses the shutter release button. This "seeing" is what really separates a point and shoot...

The religions of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome had all Gods of war, and the ones in the American continent prior to the arrival of Europeans as well as those in Africa had a similar structure. Not only were there Gods of war, but there was also a system that brutally punished those who disobeyed the wishes of the priests. The monotheistic ones that appeared later, largely stopped worshiping the warring Gods, but the priests continued to threaten those who disagreed with them with punishments of all sorts. The punishments were of two kinds. Those received in this life and those delivered in the next. On the one hand, there was the constant threat that poverty, disease, and accident...

However, Tokyo is not the city that can boast its ancient holidays it became the capital only in 19th century and, therefore most of its celebrations appeared later. But what is special about Tokyo is that there are a lot of events here. According to the Japanese hand-book, the Japanese prefecture celebrates about 900 holidays annually. For instance, if you walk along the city on Saturday or Sunday, you are most likely to encounter some street procession. Yet none of the holidays are alike, even though the Shinto celebration scheme is more or less the same. The idea of this religion is rather simple. However, the simplicity of the doctrine is compensated by the complexity, vividness and...

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is revered as a king and also as a god. His office is primarily secular in nature. He is the head of government as well as the spiritual head. He is clearly in charge. The Panchen Lama, by way of contrast, is afforded reverence more as a scholar, spiritual teacher, and spiritual theoretician. There is somewhat of a mentor-student relationship between the two. The Panchen Lama does not automatically become the new Dalai Lama upon the death of the Dalai Lama. Belief in reincarnation is a fundamental tenet of Tibetan Buddhism. Upon the death of the Dalai Lama or of the Panchen Lama, the Elders engage upon a search for a young boy in whom the spirit of the departed...

According to a new study, Scientists have managed to prove what many Indian people have known for centuries; they have demonstrated that meditation is good for the brain. During the study, which was published in the specialist journal PLOS One, researchers discovered that meditative training could produce specific measurable changes in the parts of the brain that are linked to empathy and compassion. In the research into compassion meditation practices, researchers studied 16 Tibetan monks who had each spent many hours cultivating their meditation techniques. The monks underwent a number of functional magnetic resonance imaging brain scans during their meditation sessions, which highlighted any...

Buddhism is usually known for its gentle ways and belief in non-violence in order to solve problems, but occasionally more dramatic displays happen, like Thich Quang Duc - the burning monk. Who was Thich Quang Duc - the burning monk? Duc was born in 1897 in Vietnam, and became a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who lived in the Linh-Mu Pagoda in the town of Hue. He lived in a monastic community from the age of seven up until his death at the age of 67. He practiced a very severe ascetic lifestyle and meditation practice for years - and was considered a bodhisattva at the time of his death, an enlightened one. Thich Quang Duc came into the public eye on June 11, 1963, when he and two other monks drove to a...

Embrace the Ferociously Happy Heart. Open wide the chest,open wide it's cage! Free the Ferociously Happy Heart. Stand with legs wide,stand with a Warrior's strength,stand with a Mountain's solidity. There is NO puzzle of why...just the wonder of what,just the magick of Now! Ultimately, the cloying slave driver of analysiscan NOT be grasped! Take to the skies and flywith the Ferociously Happy Heart! Do NOT compressthe Ferociously Happy Heart. Do NOT seek to contrivethe Ferociously Happy Heart. It is the realitylurking behind the dream. It is the realitydancing being the dream. It is our true nature! Come, let us increase our capacity for Joy! Come, let us increase our capacity for Strength! Come, let...

When I was in Junior High, I wanted to ask a girl named Ginger to go with me to the school dance. Not only was it the first "boy/ girl" dance of the year, for many of us it was the first "boy/girl" dance of our lives. When I finally worked up the courage to ask Ginger, she responded to my invitation with a, "Maybe." I didn't know what to do. I wanted very much to go. Everyone I knew was making plans - whose parents would drive, where they'd go before and after, all the important stuff-- while I, sat with a handful of Ginger's "Maybe." I will forever believe she was waiting for a better offer to come her way. Apparently it did not, because she finally called me to say "Yes." By the time she did...

Moving beyond the restoration of law and order in Lhasa, reporting of Tibetan affairs continue to display stark extremes, one agitating independence and human rights while supporting draconian clamp down and allegations of blaming foreign conspiracy on the other end. The Chinese government has exercised restraint in restoring law and order in Lhasa, just as any sovereign democratic government would. Even the Dalai Lama tried to dissociate himself from the rioters and threatened to resign should violence continued. Footage on scenes of aggressive agitators and rioters are clear testimony that the demonstrations are not innocuous, spontaneous nor peaceful. The display of violence is premeditated...

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and has travelled extensively around the world offering the message of Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama was born in the small Tibetan village of Takster in Northern Tibet. His original name being Tenzin Gyatso. At the age of 2 Tenzin was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama. Thus from an early age the Dalai Lama spent many years studying Tibetan scriptures and he completed a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy by the age of 25. The Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. Lama also means "Guru" or teacher. The Dalai Lama's are...

Every religion has their most sacred teachings - for example, the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity - and one of these is the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism are perhaps the most important teachings within the religion. They are seen multiple times in the sacred texts of Buddhism, known as the Pali Canon - and they are among the truths that Buddha discovered during his journey of enlightenment. These truths are not supposed to be seen as being theoretical or just as ideas to go by, in fact, the Buddha states that the Four Noble Truths are actual, which is why they are called noble. Most Buddhists see the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism as the way to Nirvana...

Welcome to Himachal Pradesh - one of the most beautiful hill stations of India. Come to Himachal Pradesh and explore the most charming region called Kullu Valley. The region of Kullu valley takes you to the two most popular hill stations of north India i.e. Kullu and Manali. Kullu and Manali are hill towns situated in district of Kullu having exceptional beauty of nature. Both hill towns of situated on the banks of River Beas. Nature's abundant beauty is the prime attractions of the region of Kullu valley. And that's the nature beauty that makes it a paradise for honeymooners and other travellers. The region is often called as the Switzerland of India. Kullu Valley (also popularly described as the...

The Himalayan Region has always been an allurement to our Western Civilization. The Himalayan Area is home to Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, and boasts the existence of the Abominable Snowman and the Dalai Lama who is the supreme head of Tibetan Buddhism. During the recent years, the Western world has discovered another gift from this region and the gift is the goji plant. To exactly understand and appreciate the goji plant it is important to know the basic facts regarding this plant and the possible health benefits associated with the plant. Some Goji Facts The goji plant is indigenous to the continent of Asia. To be more precise, it is found in parts of western China and Mongolia as...

Mandala is a term of Hindu origin, used in Buddhism for a geometric pattern that symbolically represents the cosmos, a human perspective of the universe. In many traditions, adepts use Mandala in order to experience higher levels of meditation and spirituality. In the temples of Tibet, monks use colored sand in order to create beautiful and elaborate Mandalas. A Mandala usually consists of an outer Mandala and an inner Mandala. The inner part represents Buddhist symbols or deities. For tantric Buddhists, a Mandala is a tool for meditation. It can take weeks until one will complete the Mandala. It is emblematic that after they have done their best to create them, the monks do not keep the Mandalas...

Indian Painting reflects the glorious culture and heritage of India into incredible variety of colors and styles. Painting in India is a long practiced tradition. This creative form of art inspired generations of artists as their passion or profession. Indian painting has adopted variety of techniques and styles in its journey to the world of arts. The new techniques and innovations have made it more enriched and versatile. Indian paintings are invaluable visual records of history. We can delve deeper into the periods of history through these indelible pieces of arts. Celebrate the true spirit of India with the potpourri of Indian paintings from the house of ethnic paintings. Painting was practiced...

My path to purification began in the home of Shiva the Destroyer - or perhaps it was just his rubbish bin. The shantytown of Darchen at the foot of Mt Kailash in western Tibet is populated with half-naked, red-cheeked children playing in trash heaps. Teahouses running on car battery power, with dirt floors lined with old pillows, serve as bedding for road-weary pilgrims and backpackers before they start on their kora around Asia's most sacred mountain. The word kora means 'pilgrimage circuit', or simply, 'big circle'. It describes the clockwise path followed by devout followers of Buddhism and Hinduism in their effort to attain spiritual absolution for the sin of being alive. Throughout Tibet one...

The first step in the resettlement of tens of thousands of refugees from Bhutan began in Nepal this week. The International Organization for Migration is doing the processing, which could see the refugees ending up in the United States and several other western countries. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi on the first serious progress in one of world's most intractable refugee situations. The arrangement allowing the refugees to emigrate comes nearly two decades after the first wave of ethnic Nepalese was forced out of the Himalayan Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. The breakthrough came in recent days after the top American diplomat concerned with the issue visited Nepal and Bhutan...

London is home to almost countless attractions, from the historical to the modern. There is free admission on many of the top attractions so there is no better place to immerse your self in a rich history and culture. If you are interested in visiting or moving to London there is a list below of 10 attractions that should be at the top of your list. 1) The British Museum. The vast British Museum has exhibitions ranging through the history of mankind from the prehistoric to the modern with collections drawn from across the world. Some of its most famous artifacts include the Rosetta stone, the Portland Vase and sculptures from the Parthenon. 2) Tate Modern. Housed in a former power station beside the...

One of our personal experiences with our deceased friend with whom we related previously would substantiate this principle as described by Swedenborg: We once decided to visit our friend in the heavenly regions. We had some joyful news that we wanted to convey to her--news that she was waiting to hear while she was alive in the physical. Not knowing where she was or able to directly manifest before her, we were escorted by a guide to a lovely garden with a Greek temple in the midst of it. The garden was empty, or so it seemed. But while adjusting our sight, people appeared everywhere. They did not notice us, however. It was as though we did not exist in their eyes. Our escort went into the building...

FINDINGS In this chapter we will consider the four perspectives in greater detail. We will look into the dying process and the nature of life in the higher planes, as seen through the eyes of Western and Eastern occultism. Analysis of the religious concepts anent death, dying and the after-death state will offer us a clearer picture of what is commonly believed by the average person. We will deal with religious concepts not from the perspective of any particular religion, but from an overall, general view. The findings of modern researchers of the paranormal will greatly enhance our comprehension of nature's laws, while Tibetan teachings concerning death will offer us a better insight into the...

Some people prefer to meditate silently without any music but there are others who prefer to meditate with music. Different people like different music to meditate by. Some like to have music playing in the background while they meditate while others like the form of meditation that involves making music to meditate by. Meditation is a simple and easy art and even children can easily practice it. With music to meditate by meditation can be made even more interesting for children. You get a choice of meditation music that is especially meant for children. Whatever form of meditation you choose, it is important to remember that music to meditate by should be simple, calm, soothing and peaceful. It...

Photography is essentially about how we as individuals see things, and then being able to capture that moment in time when we saw something, via the use of a camera. Sure the technical know how of how to operate the camera is important, but the most important thing in image capture is seeing the image in the first place. There is a strong analogy in this regard with artists, who also need to "see" their subject matter before they can copy it onto canvas. Photography, and in particular landscape photography is so dependent upon the photographer's ability to see and visualize the final result before he or she presses the shutter release button. This "seeing" is what really separates a point and shoot...

When you are getting ready to purchase a new home, your realtor may give you some different ones to look at and decide upon. If you're searching in Connecticut (where I am from), you will probably be given homes that have come from the Connecticut Multiple Listing Service or Ct. MLS (every state has at least one mls). There are a few things that you want to be sure and look for and make a note of when you view homes for sale. Here is some more information. Bring A Paper and Pen - You want to bring something so that you can take notes about the different houses that you view, as well as some other important information. This will make it easier to refer to later so that you don't become confused...

Tibet is the referred real Shangri-la, the forbidden land, the roof of the world and the holy land of your innermost desire. Tibet has snowy mountains and grasslands, scattered herds of yak and nomads on the plateau, spectacular monasteries and unsophisticated smiles, tranquil lake and transparent blue sky. These are just a few of the reasons visitors to Tibet often find themselves coming back. The first stop for most Tibet tours is inevitably Lhasa, the capital of Tibet Province. Colorful and historic, the holy city of Lhasa lies in a small valley 3700 meters above sea level. The Potala Palace and Jokhang are the must-see destinations for visitors to Lhasa. Â Potala Palace is the symbol of Tibet...

The news was shocking! The ticket agent at the Shangri-la bus terminal in Zhongdian, Yunnan province was happy to tell me over and over, in both Chinese and English, that yes, foreigners can now travel east through the Tibet Autonomous Region to Lhasa … overland and without a permit! I really couldn't believe what I was hearing, but rather than falling down in rapture, I agonized over taking advantage of this new policy or continuing as planned on my already-paid-for, government-authorized, one-week tour across Kham to Lhasa. Ultimately, it would have been silly for me not to choose the latter. The decade-old Land Cruiser was in surprisingly good condition, having driven through Tibet 99 times...

Astral projection is an occult art that was commonly practiced by ancient mystics. Apollonius of Tyana, Yeheshuah (Jesus Christ) and many other mystics often used the ability in their ministry and work. In centuries past and up to this very day, Wicca, or the tradition of witchcraft, teaches its adherents the secrets of astral projection. The superstition that witches rode on broomsticks to their covens actually stems upon the fact that witches were adepts in the art of astral projection and astral travelling. The art of astral projection was kept secret throughout the centuries until the inception and commencement of parapsychological research in the previous century by reputable and eminent...

Refinancing your home basically replaces your existing mortgage with a new loan. You can choose either a variable or fixed interest rate and the length of your new loan can be up to 30 years. Varying terms and fast approvals make refinancing your California home a smart decision. Refinancing can give you extra money each month due to the potential decrease in your monthly mortgage payments. If you are paying a high rate of interest on your mortgage, then now is the best time to refinance your home in California. California is a great place to own a home. The business community is thriving and the sun swept landscape is breathtaking. Mortgage lenders can generally provide home loans in all states, so...