'How an elephant changed my life' 26 July 2011Last updated at 00:44 By Swaminathan Natarajan BBC Tamil Usually only men are trained to take the job of a mahout A young Finnish woman is intent on pursuing a career as an elephant rider - or mahout - after spending time working with the animals in India. Laura Puukko, 25, says that in December she will complete her homeopathy studies in Finland before embarking on her new career. Her unusual career choice was made after a life-changing trip to the southern Indian state of Kerala last year. "When I first saw an elephant in Kumli in Kerala, I fell in love with it," she says. "I just asked whether I could stay there. 'Very ambitious' Laura says she first started by walking alongside elephants and then helped others who fed them. Usually, a mahout starts as a boy when he is assigned an elephant early in its life. "Soon I became very ambitious. Ms Puukko hopes that her training in homeopathy will help her in her work with elephants She made another trip to India this summer.
What is My Life About? It's the First Day of Summer! Shall We Offer Flowers? Today is the summer solstice, the first day of summer. To celebrate this day, which is the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern hemisphere, we would like to share the poem, "Shall We Offer Flowers?" by Andrew Schelling. Bitter buffaloberrydevil’s club, tangled dogtoothnarrowleaf arrowheadWhat are the lineages of life?ground water, radiant heat—listen, they form the underlying beatof the watershed,gifts with no motive the way of the ancientsskyrocket chicory bluestemfew-flowered shooting starIndian pipeall the paradise you need’s outside your doorthe medicine Buddha wears a lapis lazuli headdressfeathers & turquoise beadscan you give thanks with a pinch ofbear tobacco? —Andrew Schelling To hear Andrew Schelling read his poem aloud, click here. Image via ecstaticist (flickr)
Real freedom | Meditationguru Photo credit: kudumomo This moment, you are reading this post and THIS is the most precious moment in your life because YOU ARE ALIVE, this moment is the reality and this moment is the truth. I believe you are AWARE and you are feeling your PRESENCE. THIS is life. Everything else is just thought and imagination. Thinking and imagination is the root of all evil and sorrow. This is what enlightenment is. You don’t need to go through all meditation and practicing virtue. I’m living it since last 15 years without getting bored or suffering so can you. You can not suffer if you live moment to moment but if you live in ‘time’, if you live in the ‘past or future’, if you live in your ‘personal story’ then there is no way out from endless suffering. All your wealth, power, success, achievements, love affairs, relationships and marriages are root of your suffering. And the shortest possible way to freedom is to AWAKE… HERE and NOW! Nobody can help you and there is no technique! It’s NOW or never!
Urasenke: Activities The London Branch of the Urasenke Foundation is open to all who have an interest in Chado, The Way of Tea. It is our aim to disseminate the Way of Tea in the United Kingdom through lectures, demonstrations, training and Tea gatherings. For those who are interested in learning more about this important part of Japanese culture and to experience at first hand its special values, participation in the activities of the Branch are possible at several levels. For those who are totally new to the Way of Tea. An introduction to the Way of Tea is given on the first and third Fridays of each month at the 'Waei-an' Tea room in the Urasenke Gallery of the British Museum (5th floor). This is an opportunity to experience the spirit of the Way of Tea free of charge so please come along. home : we are : activities : calendar : members : find us : contact us
Guru Kaur - The Lady with the White Turban - Guru Kaur's Website and Personal Blog A Unique Personal Development Course and Private Online Community for Women ~ Be the Woman You were Born to Be... Living The Wheel of The Year home page Paintings from the Heart ~~ Galleries by Roslyne Sophia Breillat "Throughout all early and indigenous cultures, the female spirit was honoured for her divine creative power and her spiraling transformations of birth, death and renewal"… from Spirit of Earth ~ The Way of the Goddess These images emanate the ancient primal mystery resting within the heart and womb of every contemporary woman… Embodying the inherent wildness of the female essence, each one tells a unique story within a rich profusion of vibrant joy, glowing colour and intricate detail… Embracing woman’s innate union with Mother Earth’s loving wisdom, they are a mythical offering that touches the spirit and opens the heart… Click on individual images to reveal larger image with accompanying poem… Each painting is created with mixed media on canvas... Prints and original paintings are for sale... Click on each individual image to reveal larger image with accompanying poem… Each painting is created with mixed media on aquarelle… Prints and original paintings are for sale...
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