Of course, this isn't entirely uncommon. The American yoga celebrity guru, Rodney Yee, got in trouble for similar situations. Sadly, this all occurred even as he'd written an article with his wife on how yoga was keeping his marriage strong.

Many Codes of Conduct for different yoga alliances and associations address this situation. It's strange because I feel really betrayed when I hear about such things- Even without having been or even personally known a student who has fallen into such a situation.

This additional article mentions Yee's situation as well . . . More importantly, it brings up the yamas and their extreme relevance: Compromising positions

In my opinion, you're not a yoga instructor if you are not keeping in harmony with the whole philosophy. You can master all the moves, but if your true emphasis is not to achieve unity between all parts of yourself and the universe, then that isn't enough to be considered a guru.

Immediately after the bomb blasts the different gods started arriving to claim the souls to add to their already swollen kitties, what with the earthquake in China and the Cyclone in Myanmar. However there were certain disagreements between the holy entities about the souls to be claimed which lead to arguments.

Eyewitnesses claim that the Jehovah, the Jewish God arrived first. This claim can be corroborated as there were no Palestinian suicide attacks that day in Israel, thus Jehovah would have been free. However He had to go back empty handed as there were no Jews killed, say bystanders, grumbling about being disturbed for no reason.

Yama, Allah and Jesus arrived soon after and got to work sorting out the souls. Disagreements arose between Yama and Allah when it came to the soul of a gentleman named Munaf Patel with each claiming him for his own kitty. Allah kept on pointing out the fact that his first name was Munaf and Yama that his last name was Patel. However Jesus had the last laugh when it turned out that a missionary had converted Patel to Christianity a few days back.

“It’s a tough job this,” said Jesus, beaming from ear to ear, “but it’s gotta be done,” while looking out for crosses on people’s necks.

Yama was extremely busy with his load being the highest.”Yes, I agree with Mr. Christ there. It’s a tough job but after millions of years you do get used to. But the jobs keep on changing; it’s never static. Earlier we never used to touch the souls of Dalits. Now they have 22.5% of the space reserved for them in Heaven,” said the Hindu God of death who claims to be a great follower of Gandhi.”His method was the best - Non-violence, which means less loss of life which in turn means less work for me.”

Allah on the other hand was using a superman like X-ray vision to look for circumcisions.”It speeds up the job,” He said.”It’s too much of a bother to look for IDs, really. With what’s happening in Iraq and Afghanistan I can hardly afford to waste time.”

The Devil arrived on the scene too, but a little late.”Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins and since I am the Devil I have to be sinful you know,” explained Lucifer.”Oh, call me Lucy, no need to be so formal now,” he laughed.

”I have more souls than all of them combined, “grinned Lucifer, err, Lucy, pointing to Allah, Yama and Jesus,” and nowadays I’m doing record business. I’ve never had it this good since the holocaust”

“This business has its ups and downs,” reminisces the Devil.”People die a lot later than they used to earlier, but there are the odd bright sparks. For example I almost couldn’t believe my luck when terrorists attacked parliament. Imagine all those evil politicos, all mine, “said ‘Lucy’ with a typical Amrish Puri/Gabbar singh laugh.”Sigh! But it was not to be, and so I have to be satisfied with these measly pickings at terrorist bombings.”

This post has been plagiarised from something I wrote after the Jaipur blasts. With the frequency with which blasts occur in our country, I really can't come up with something new all the time.

Fransız video oyunu geliştiricisi ve yayıncısı olan Ubisoft, resmi olarak bir korsan dosya yayınladı. Ubisoft, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 [RSV2] adlı oyununu Direct2Drive aracılığı ile de satarak, satın alanlar tarafından oyunun doğrudan indirilmesini sağlıyordu. Böylece oyunu indirenler, sıkıntısız bir şekilde CD/DVD olmadan oyunu oynayabiliyorlardı. 1.02 yamasını yayınlayarak ilk sürüme yeni oyun modları eklendi. Ancak oyunun açılması sırasında geçekleşen bazı sıkıntılar nedeni ile yeni bir yama yayınladı. Oyundaki sorunları düzelten 1.03 yaması, bu defa daha da büyük bir soruna neden oldu.

1.03 yamasını yükleyen oyuncular, bu defa oyuna başlamadan önce "Lütfen oyuna ait CD/DVD'yi yerleştirin" uyarısı ile karşılaştılar. Oyunu Direct2Drive aracılığı ile indirdikleri için ellerinde fiziksel CD/DVD olmayan oyuncuların zor durumda kalmaları nedeni ile bu defa Ubisoft çok ilginç ve belki de şimdiye kadar rastlanmamış bir çözüm sundu.

Normalde
bu durum yazılım korsanları için bir engel değil elbette. CD kontrolünü
çalıştırılabilir dosyadan kaldırarak bu sorunu da ortadan
kaldırıyorlar. İşte Ubisoft'un yaptığı da bu. Korsan oyun yayınlayan
bir grup olan RELOADED grubunun, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (RSV2) için tam da bu işlemi yaparak yayınladığı çalıştırılabilir dosyayı, Ubisoft elemanlarından biri “R6Vegas2_fix.zip” adıyla Ubisoft'un resmi forumunda yayınladı. Ancak bu uyanık elemanın foyası, Fileforums.com kullanıcıları tarafından ortaya çıkarıldı. Yayınlanan düzeltme, korsan grup Reloaded'in yayınlamış olduğu düzeltmeyi içeriyordu.

Oyuna
ait orijinal DVD'si olan kullanıcılar, 1.03 yama ile sorunsuz
oynayabiliyorlar. Direct2Drive aracılığı ile oyunu indiren kişiler de,
Reloaded tarafından yayınlanan düzeltme ile oyuna girebiliyorlar.

The modern world  has a misconception that yoga is all about the above mentioned!!! Alas it is not so.

There are various streams or branches in yoga. They are :

• Ashtanga yoga ( Raja yoga)

• Hatha yoga

• Karma yoga

• Bhakthi yoga

• Jnana yoga

• Kundalini yoga

• Mantra yoga  etc.,

What the modern world is speaking of yoga is all a part of RAJA YOGA.

ASHTANGA YOGA (RAJA YOGA)

In sanskrit Ashta means eight and Anga stands for limb or a part. Thus the word ashtanga is union of ashta and anga.

There are 8 aspects or limbs in this stream of yoga:

1. Yamaa
2. Niyama
3. Aasana
4. Pranayama
5. Prathyahara
6. Dharana
7. Dhyana
8. Samadhi

According to this stream the yogic practice should begin with YAMAS, they are 5 SELF RESTRAINTS

• ahimsa-nonviolence

• sathya-truth

• astheya-nonstealing

• brahmacharya- sexual abstinence

• aparigraha-abstaining from worldly possessions

Yamas are also known as "universal vows".

Then comes the 2nd limb NIYAMAS,the fixed observances.

They are:

• shoucha-cleanliness
• santhosha -contentment
• tapas-austerity
• swaadhyaaya-self study
• ishwara pranidhana-surrender to the supreme lord.

The above mentioned yamas and niyamas are according to MAHARSHI PATHANJALI,but HATHA YOGA has its own sets of yamas and niyamas.

Then starts the third limb ASANA, which is present world's preferance.

Unfortunately the modern world is directly starting its sadhana (practice) with asana the 3rd limb.

I don't say it's absolutely wrong!! Because for the therapeutic purpose , asanas and pranayamas are given importance as they are producing desired physiological effects in various systems of the body.

If the saadhaka (practitioner) wants yoga as his/her lifestyle, better they start with yamas and niyamas and climb to next steps.

IMPORTANCE OF YAMAS AND NIYAMAS

As their clear meaning is given above i need not repeat them.

The modern world has taken our youth as well the children far away from these morals (yamas and niyamas). Nowadays the intensity of crimes,lack of humanity are at peak levels. Respect for the elders is the talk of past decades, thus to inculcate good qualities, these universal vows and observances are  must for the youth in India as well the world.

And in the context of MENTAL HEALTH  anybody's agonies or stress can be driven away through the practice of yamas and niyamas.

One of the things that makes these principles fertile is the breadth of their application. Here's an application to Personal Yoga Practice itself:

Above all, practice with Ahimsa, Non-violence:

practice is about self-observation, Svadyaya.

Notice your feeling, your breath, your body with kind attention

Respond with compassion and encouragement.

Be fierce in your commitment to being present. (tapas)

Be as clear in your estimation of your ability and need as you can be (satya)

Notice what bolsters your energy, intention and presence: cultivate this. (brahmacharya)

Don’t push past your limits: there is nothing you don’t have that you need. This includes yoga pose J (aparigraha)

Balance your practice in the context of other things: don’t steal time for practice from places you are responsible & don’t steal yoga time for places you are not. (asteya)

Make your actions intentional, focus on being present for your practice (saucha)

Allow yourself to feel the full measure of pleasure from what you’re giving to yourself (samtosha)

There’s nowhere to get to, no goal to attain. Set your foundations, follow through, evolve and let go! (Ishvara Pranidanani)

This was several eons ago, before he had a makeover of sorts from Shiva, who gave him a gory countenance, which would make people shudder to see him.

There is an interesting anecdote behind this.

Long ago when Yama was sent to be the God of Death, he did not render his duties properly. He was flirting with the women in Devaloka and on earth. Nobody was dying on earth and the earth was unable to bear the burden anymore. So Shiva called Yama to Kailash. When he arrived Shiva asked him “Yama, I heard that nobody is scared of you on earth?”

“Yes, my Lord,” he said.

“You also seem to attract women a lot,” he added.

“No, my Lord, it is the women….”Yama said shamefacedly.

Shiva knew that Yama was attracting women due to his good looks and changed his looks with a gory countenance. Then he told Yama to look at his reflection in the pond nearby. When Yama looked in the pond he was shocked beyond belief at the face staring at him from the water. He came running back to Shiva and said “Lord there is a fiery looking character staring at me from the water. He has dark looks, big teeth and big moustache and looks very scary. Who is he?”

Shiva laughed heartily at this and said “It is your own reflection!”

Yama was saddened beyond belief. He asked Shiva “Is there a way to get back my earlier countenance,” he cried.

Shiva just smiled in answer and went back to his penance.

He looked at Shiva for a while and decided there was no point in waiting for his reply.

He went looking for Brahma in Sathyaloka. But Brahma was busy writing something in a palm leaf manuscript. Yama looked at Brahma who had himself lost one head out of his five and thought “What is the point asking him about my plight?” and he left without meeting Brahma.

He goes to meet Vishnu in Vaikunta. But Vishnu was seriously discussing something with wife Lakshmi, so Yama unwilling to disturb them, leaves without meeting Vishnu.

He returns to earth and travels south. He reaches the foothills of a mountain and is attracted by its serenity. He goes on a rigorous penance, to Vishnu. Years rolled by. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu appears before him. Seeing Vishnu in front of him Yama falls at his feet and respectfully asks “Can you recognize me Oh Lord?”

Vishnu says “I know everything that happened Yama. But it is all of your own doing. If you had not forgotten your duties, this situation wouldn’t have risen.

“Forgive me Lord, You have to help me out of this,” he prayed.

Vishnu felt sorry for Yama’s plight. “I will make your unsightly horns go away. Instead you will have a bull which will be your vehicle from now on,” he said.

Not satisfied with his appearance, Yama said “Can’t you change the appearance of my teeth which look so scary?”

“Yama, when you went to Sathyaloka to meet Brahma, you offended him by not meeting him, so Brahma cursed you to have this gory appearance for life and I am unable to help you,” said Vishnu.

People will get scared by your appearance and it will help in your profession of bringing death.

Convinced that nothing or nobody could change his fate, Yama, accepts his fate and returns to earth. Before that, he asks Vishnu to reside near him in Azhagar Kovil for people to propitiate him. Vishnu agrees and resides there. Lakshmi arrived one day looking for Vishnu and Yama asks her also to reside by the side of Vishnu. She also agrees. This place is known as Kallazhagar temple. Since Vishnu attracts people with his good looks, he is also known as Sunderraja Perumal and the place also came to be known as Azhagar Kovil. It is believed that Yama visits this temple to this day to propitiate Vishnu.

(Azhagar Kovil is near Tiruchirappalli)

Rating:

Coming of age as a courtesan, Xishi excels in the erotic arts. But when Corum Midarri becomes her new owner, the relationship will test the limits of her gifts. Corum is the Prince of Ice now and not the sensitive boy she knew. If he succumbs to the temptations of her human touch, their love will defy every convention his kind holds dear. If he doesn’t, his uncontrollable sexual needs might drive both insane. Summary from emmaholly.com

Commentary: I was almost not going to review this because it was such a non-event in my reading line-up... just look at that cover! The cover basically tells you everything you need to know about this book.

I'm not going to say the sex scenes were badly written, but nothing really happened for me. I didn't feel the chemistry. Some parts just seemed so outrageous that I couldn't focus on the actual story because all I could think of was "he has an extra appendage on his penis?! What the hell?!?!?!"

I have to give the author kudos for an interesting idea. Her "demon" world seems to be built on a lot of Ancient Chinese culture. Places had names like "Thousand Plum Blossom Street" and "Tea House of Lovely Chrysanthemums" and things like that. Corum's teacher's name was Master Ping.

Not a horrible way to waste a half-hour. Don't buy it though.

# 2 As discussed at the ID project on Wed June 18, Mara is the mythical or metaphorical being who tempts Buddha away from his direct experience of reality by taking one of four forms - and Yama, god of Death, is the fourth. The idea we can escape death is a major form of ignorance, I guess.

And the confluence of the killer tomatoes and Yama made me think of just how pervasive fear of death is. It's in the shopping cart, in fact.

In the past weeks, there's been a scary spate of illnesses -- and even deaths -- from tomato-borne salmonella poisoning. No news organization has referenced the aforesaid movie in relation to the problem. (This shows a remarkable amount of good taste on the part of news organizations.) But, actually, some tomatoes will kill you.

The news folk have certainly been out raising the alarm. One reporter jammed a microphone in a friend's face at the Green Market in Union Square on Thursday, asking: "So, i see you bought some tomatoes. Why did you buy them? Wjy did you buy them here?" [subtext: aren't you AFRAID of those tomatoes?!?"]

People are afraid, and with good cause, of getting salmonella. They don't want to eat contaminated food, or food that makes them sick, either immediately or down the road aways. This is all sensible and good.

But the level of hysteria and minute attention paid to food in upper middle class America is obscene. Yes, obscene. We have more than enough food and choice. Malnutrition isn't gonna kill us. Eating isn't gonna kill us. But if you read the New York Times science and health section too often, you might not believe that. From "I heard you should eat walnuts and tofu." "I heard soy screws with your hormones." "I heard salmon is good for the heart." "I heard farm-raised salmon has antibiotics in it." "Milk helps you lose weight." to "I lost 20 pounds when I cut out dairy," countless studies and counterstudies and observations and recommendations about fiber, coffee, blueberries, meat, soy, and more that evince a bizarre preoccupation with maintaining health and eating right.

Surrounded by more and better food than anyone in the world, we're terrified of it.

Because we are afraid of death. We think if we can just hit the right combo, the right lottery ticket of numbers of fat grams, carbs, and protein, that we can WIN. Win the game. If eating meat kills you, then not eating meat . . . give you eternal life? Longer life, better life, MORE life. Cuz all we want to do is play that game with Yama and WIN. And no one ever has.

If we are alive, we will be dead. Yup. No matter what we eat. Or don't eat.

My favorite news story ever about this was New York magazine's October 06 investigation of the cult of the Extreme Calorie Restrictors. The author, Julian Dibbell, wrote:

"Calorie Restriction, a diet whose central, radical premise is that the less you eat, the longer you’ll live. . . . a lifetime lived as close to the brink of starvation as your body can stand, in exchange for the promise of a life span longer than any human has ever known. . . .

It isn’t hard to see the diet’s appeal to a certain very familiar New York type: You’re skinnier than any social X-ray, you’re practicing a regimen as extreme and as grueling as any yogi’s, and you’ve got some impressive medical science on your side. For someone attracted to control, accomplishment, and power, this is the life."

By the end of the article, the Calorie Restrictors are talking to Julian about " 'actuarial escape velocity,' a transhumanist term for that moment in the acceleration of biomedical progress when, for every year you live, technology adds another year or more to your maximum life span. . . ." and the author recalls, "the casual yet total confidence with which Don and Michael had discussed their prospects for eternal life on Earth."

By starving, ye will gain eternal life. Somewhere Yama's laughing his ass off.

Me, I'm gonna go look for that tray of cookies Eva posted here a few days ago, in her blog pointing out that imminent death can make people want to eat more. Eat more, eat less. Yama's still laughing.

What if all the thinking, all the words, ideas aren't our minds? What if they're the covering over our minds? Don't get me wrong - they're great tools. But what's overseeing the job site? They're not the tools you'll need if you're looking for your true self or for a steady place to stand.

Science tells us our minds are decentralized in the body. Yoga helps us settle into our heart, where wisdom and intelligence reside. Of course when we talk about heart in yoga, we're not just talking about the juicy pumping muscle to the left of center in our ribcages. There are a lot of bits housed around there - chemoreceptors, baraoreceptors, lungs, thymus, arteries, lymph nodes, spine, circulating blood and air, esophagus, diaphragm. When we bring our attention to this area, when we just feel what comes up, we are contacting the heart of yoga. Our yoga.

Bringing ease to the muscles and joints around this area can be the beginning or development of this process. This is where many of us Western Yogis start, with asana. Maybe a little breathing practice. Then we might start calling that pranayama. Maybe we meditate for stress reduction. Somewhere along the way we realize these pesky emotions are less pesky, the aches are less achey, the mind is less muddled.

"The heart is the resting place of the pranas, the senses and the mind. It's your true self, which is identified with intelligence and which finds repose in the space within your heart." ~Nikhilananada's Intro to The Principal Upanishads

So then we explore pratyahara - sense withdrawal. But then, where do the senses go? Niky above, says to the space within your heart, your true self. Makes some sense - it's quieter there than the head or stomach. The feelings come up, but maybe we're in a place where we can uncouple them enough from the words and judgments to just let them be a bit.

Now we're practicing saucha in our hearts. Saucha - cleanliness, purity. We don't often think of it in regard to our hearts, but after we've gotten glimpses of the Love that lives there, it makes sense not to store our crap on the porch. If we keep the windows clean maybe it will shine more brightly. The Sanskrit word for this place - Anahata - can be translated "unstruck". "The space within your heart  is omnipresent and unchanging." (~Chhandogya Upanishad ) Always with us, always available for us to touch and feel is a place that is unstruck by the blows of life, unmoved by the compliments and criticisms, the lost jobs and the awards. It is always what it is. We are always who we are. Sometimes we just cover it up with judgments, which are really old experiences in new clothes. Film on our windows.

Maybe this is the impetus to poke our noses into the pesky ethical side of yoga.  But if you've been cleaning your windows all by yourself, and someone gives you a step ladder and an extension for your sponge, you'll be pretty glad to pay attention. And they're pretty simple, deceptively so. Love, Truth, Conserve your energy, Be quiet, Be fierce, Stay Open, Be present, Learn you're not in control, Study your experience, Respect Others' Boundaries. But Wow! try to practice 'em all at once! That'll give any college Ethics Professor a run for her money.

So you keep coming back to the place of quiet stillness to which your mat has become the doorway. "The heart is the hub of all sacred places; go there and roam." ~Bhagavan Nityananda