:: Trioscuri ::

:: Friday, October 25, 2002 ::

The sixth, seventh and eighth avatars are of mortal heroes. In his fourth stage, Vishnu becomes his avatar Buddha, a deified teacher. The last incarnation, or avatar, of Vishnu will be Kalki. With the Kalki avatar, Vishnu reaches the fifth and final state before reaching the supreme state of the One.
:: Niels 7:04 AM [+] ::
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The anmimals are the first part of the life-cycle. The second part is sort of a transit zone. In his fifth incarnation, or avatar, Vishu is born as a dwarf. After which the third stage, or human period begins.
:: Niels 4:43 AM [+] ::
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The lifecycle of Vishnu is well documented by the Epics. He starts out in the life form of a fish. Vishnu then evolves into a tortoise, a boar, and a man-lion. This is in the early Epics and can be seen as the first stage of his life-cycle.
:: Niels 4:39 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.

:: Niels 3:27 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.

He would have been celebrating his 121st birthday today, had he not died in 1973. Google is honouring him with a special logo, he is very famous for his artwork. Who? Pablo Blasco.
:: Niels 2:57 AM [+] ::
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In the Epics, as Kurma told, there were three supreme deities: Brahman, Shiva and Vishnu. Collectively, they are called the Trimutri. Of this trinity, it is Shiva and Vishnu who, in the development of the Epics, play the most important role. Depending on the story it is either Shiva or Vishnu who is the supreme Deity.
:: Niels 2:43 AM [+] ::
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Than another of Vahara's friends spoke. Slowly but clearly he explained that the next set of writings their beliefs were based on were the Epics. These writings are not, like the Upanisads, rules of conduct. They are stories and parables in which the protagonists set the example.
:: Niels 2:08 AM [+] ::
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According to Matsya it was first the Kshatriya caste that was closest to the One, but they lost a dispute to the Brahman.
:: Niels 1:56 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
What to do when you have abdominal pains? Go see a doctor, he knows what's wrong. So did a 75-year old woman in Morocco. She thought she had a tumor, but when doctors surgically removed it, they had somewhat of a surprise.
:: Niels 1:45 AM [+] ::
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Matsya also told Panini that the Upanisads teach that it is not by argument that one can gain knowledge of the One. It is by intuition. And only through intuition one can find immortality and the supreme state of the One.
:: Niels 1:19 AM [+] ::
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Then one of Vahara's friends spoke. It was Matsya. He told Panini that the first writings their beliefs were based on, were the Upanisads. In these writings, said to be more than 108 in number, is stated that whatever exists in this world, is part of the One. And to reach the supreme state, man should not care about material belongings. For the worry about belongings, let you stray from the right path to the One.
:: Niels 4:02 PM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
A new record is set in football history. Deportivo Arabe Unido of Panama won 16-0 over FC Deportivo Jalapa from Nicaragua..
:: Niels 4:38 AM [+] ::
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The universal One, consisting of gods, demons, humans, animals and things, was called Brahmam. This also became the name of the highest caste, the Brahman. The members of this caste were closest to the highest level of pureness in thought and action.
:: Niels 3:48 AM [+] ::
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The end of the unity of the One marked the beginning of the reincarnation cycle. Souls were born into person, or in the worst case animals, and did their best to live a good life. Living in a way according to the spirit of the One resulted in being born into a higher caste, closer to reaching the ulimate level of pureness.
:: Niels 3:40 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
The most important Dutch literary prize, AKO Literatuurprijs [nl] is won by Allard Schröder [nl] for his book De Hydrograaf. Congratulations Allard!
:: Niels 2:47 AM [+] ::
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Vahara told Panini that in the beliefs of the Hindus, everything is part on a greater One. In ancient times, this One was undivided and pure. But this ideal situation came to an end and the One split up. Since then, it was the goal of souls to reach the state of pureness of the One.
:: Niels 12:55 AM [+] ::
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The next day, Panini and Varaha began with a morning stroll through the garden, after which they had breakfast. Vahara had gathered some of his student-colleagues, and together they sat down on a field, just outside the city. Vahara introduced Al-Maisan as Panini and summarised what he was told the evening before. He told his friends that Panini was here to learn about their ways and beliefs.
:: Niels 8:10 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
One of the greatest players [nl] ever thinks it shoud be Raul this year. Who do you think will be World's best footballplayer this year?


:: Niels 7:04 AM [+] ::
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After meditation, Varaha and Al-Maisan went out into the garden. Al-Maisan had introduced himself as Panini, a student of cultures. During his first evening in Mohenjo-daro, he told Varaha about the ways of the Greek, Lydians, Medes and Persians. He told him about their daily life and their beliefs. Varaha was a thankful audience.
:: Niels 6:50 AM [+] ::
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While meditating, Al-Maisan recalled the conversations he had during his walk to Takshashila. He gave them all a place in the drawers of his knowledge. He came to the insight that most religions were based on the same ideas. It was not that the mortal knew that there were gods and deities, it was more that they saw things and experienced events that they could not explain. And if things happen that you cannot explain, then there must be supreme beings that made these things happen. The Gods.
:: Niels 6:08 AM [+] ::
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After the meal, Al-Maisan followed his new friend Varaha to the meditation area. As Varaha explained, meditation was not a form of prayer. It was all about finding inner peace by ordering your thoughts. In the end, the goal of meditation was to gain insight.
:: Niels 4:50 AM [+] ::
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When Al-Maisan and the monk arrived at the monastary, which was named after the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro, they at down and had a meal. It took Al-Maisan by surprise that there was no meat. It surprised him even more that after the meal he felt strong and alive as never before. The monk explained that it takes a lot of body energy to break down meat. The ingredients of their meal were easily taken in by the body, giving energy that was not immediately used.
:: Niels 1:44 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
This year's most prestigious English-language literary prize goes to Canadian writer Yann Martel. The Booker Prize is awarded him for his book The Life of Pi. Congratulations Yann!
:: Niels 1:08 AM [+] ::
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Al-Maisan knew he was in the right place for his quest. Where else than in a monastary could he learn about the beliefs of a people. The monastary in the region at the time, is however not what we understand by the word monasary. In the Indus-valley, the monastary was more of a religion-university. Here students and scholars of the Hindu-religion, the monks, gathered to philosophise, talk, think and teach the ways and variations of Hinduism. In short, the perfect place for Al-Maisan.
:: Niels 12:35 AM [+] ::
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On the last part of his walk to Takshashila he met a monk, also from the Brahman caste. The monk told Al-Maisan of the proper conduct of life, and how it resulted in different castes. When they reached Takshashila, the monk invited Al-Maisan to stay with him in the monastary he lived in. Al-Maisan gladly accepted the invitation.
:: Niels 5:12 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
Imagine that you live in poverty. You work hard, but have no capital. The work you do is for someone else, who takes almost all the profit. You're left with only a few cents, not even enough to feed your family. Than a man comes along and loans you ten dollars. Now you can buy supplies and work for yourself and keep all the profit. Your life suddenly changes. Your capital increases, you pay off your loan, lend more money to invest. Your children do not have to work any longer, but they can go to school. Some may think it's the dream of a madman. Others know it happens.
:: Niels 4:26 AM [+] ::
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From some of the foreign merchants he talked to he heard stories of lands even firther away, where the most beautiful fabrics were made, called silk, by people no larger than three-quarters of a Greek man and a yellowish skin colour. Al-Maisan took notice of these stories, he knew there was still a lot to discover in this world.
:: Niels 4:01 AM [+] ::
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He also noticed that some people, those of other castes, didn't dare talk to him. Others, the ones dressed like him and foreigners, did. In his conversations he discovered he was travelling to Takshashila. This was the main city of the region and an important center of learning and culural development.
:: Niels 3:28 AM [+] ::
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As Al-Maisan walked towards the city, he came to a main road. There were several people travelling the road. Merchants, scholars, priests and commoners. At the side of the road there were several beggars, who were left some coins by the passers-by. Al-Maisan noticed that by the clothes, you could tell to which caste people belonged. He also noticed that the amount of coins given to beggars differed per caste. It were the people that were dressed like him, who gave less than the others.
:: Niels 2:56 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
What to do when in doubt. A pile of laundry waiting to be ironed, your hobby of rock climbing calling and only time to do one. Combine it and you have yourself a new extreme sport.
:: Niels 2:24 AM [+] ::
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When Al-Maisan woke up, he noticed his clothes were replaced by new ones. It were simple, but clean clothes, worthy of the Brahman caste. He put on his new gear and walked off in the direction of the city he saw. It was the city of Takshashila.
:: Niels 1:36 AM [+] ::
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In his sleep, Al-Maisan dreamed of a bear, that told him about a society of castes and strict social rules. The bear spoke of the Brahman, the most pure caste, and of the three other castes Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras. He also dreamed of being reborn, after living a good life, in a higher class. Of course his dream was not an accurate way of discribing the religion he was to encounter, it was a message to prepare him for things to come.
:: Niels 12:42 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
It seems that the world is speeding towards Armageddon. More and more wars are beaking out, terrorist acts are almost daily headlines, wether it is a car bomb or a military invasion. But do we see a spark of hope somewhere? Sometimes I do! And I hope that it is Al-Maisan's work.
:: Niels 10:11 AM [+] ::
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Of course Al-Maisan was a trained swimmer. He had lived in the land of the sons of Poseidon, where he had to swim every day for an hour. Since the sun just went down, Al-Maisan decided to get some sleep. Fivehundred heartbeats after sunset he swam across. On the other bank, he took off his clothes an dried them and himself in the sun.
:: Niels 9:34 AM [+] ::
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:: Niels 2:36 AM [+] ::
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Al-Maisan realised it must have been the bear talking to him, and he answered that he was trying to reach the city in the distance. The bear told him to wait for a fivehundred heartbeats after sunrise, then the river would be at its calmest, long enough to swim across for a trained swimmer. Then the bear wandered off.
:: Niels 2:30 AM [+] ::
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While he was resting, he sensed the presence of another being. He looked around and saw nothing but a bear. It was a big bear, but Al-Maisan somehow knew he was in no danger. He leaned his back against the tree he was resting under and closed his eyes. Then he heard a kind voice asking him wether he was planning on crossing the river. He opened his eyes again, looked around, but still saw nothing but the bear. It smiled at him.

:: Niels 2:11 AM [+] ::
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Crossing the Indus was not easy. It was a wild and broad river, that was hardly navigated. For days Al-Maisan walkd on the riverbanks to find a good spot. He chos to walk in northern direction, until at one point he saw a broadening of the river. It was just downstream from a hairpin-bend in the river, after it came from the mountains into a plain. In the distance he saw the contours of a city. This is the place, Al-Maisan thought. He decided to rest for a while.
:: Niels 3:03 PM [+] ::
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On the other side of the Indus, a whole new world awaited Al-Maisan. From here on, the familiar or related cultures of Greece and Mesopotamia had no more meaining. The world on the other side of the Indus was rumoured to be very large, more than a hundred times the size of the world as the Greeks knew.
:: Niels 11:48 AM [+] ::
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.:Note-On-The-Side:.
One of the things Boris Yeltsin was known for, was his love for liquor. And if you think it probably would have killed him by now, you're wrong.

:: Niels 6:58 AM [+] ::
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From Pasargadae, where Cyrus was burried, he travelled in the direction of the Indus river. He went by foot, disguised as a wanderer again. Allthough in this area he had spent the last 9 years, noone recognised him. And while Cambyses, the son and successor of Cyrus implemented a new style of government, Al-Maisan reached the Hindu-Kush.
:: Niels 4:42 AM [+] ::
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For Al-Maisan the time had come to move on. During his time with he had learned that the belief of the tribes in Mesopotamia did not differ that much from the belief of the Greek. Of course they had different names for the gods, but it all came down to the same sort of religion. He decided to move further east.

:: Niels 2:23 AM [+] ::
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Cyrus was tricked into expanding his empire, which was realised without much resistance of enemies. This was part of the plan, because Cyrus became sloppy. When he wanted to conquer the Massagetes, his time had come. With the help of Castor and Pollux, and the absence of Al-Maisan in battle, the Massagetes accomplished to kill Cyrus. His empire fell to the rule of his son, who, with help of Al-Maisan realise the Pax Persica.

:: Niels 2:13 AM [+] ::
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