Part 2

Those who missed Part 1 here it is https://t.co/myV2RhzsxJ 1/n

As per hindu mythology, depending on whether you follow Vishnu puranam or Bhagavath Geetha, there are 7 Worlds (Lokams) above the Earth (including Earth) and 7 below (excluding Earth) 1/n

The Seven Worlds above the Earth are Bhur loka (Earth), Bhuvar Loka, Svar Loka, Mahar Loka, Jana Loka, Tapa Loka and Satya Loka.

The Seven Worlds below the Earth are Atala Loka, Sutala Loka, Vithala Loka, TalaTala Loka, Mahatala Loka, Rasatala Loka, Patala Loka. 2/n

I am not going deep into descriptions about these 14 lokams.

Depending on which puranam you follow, there could be minor changes in the nomenclature. 3/n

But what is striking is the similarity between the various layers of atmosphere above us and the lokams(there could be a mismatch of a number here or there - it is the concept that is important). 4/n

If you analyze the atmosphere above us, we see

Earth, Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere.

These layers almost match with the concept of Lokams above us in the puranas!!! 5/n

Since Farming is the hot topic now, let us go back in time.

Many know that India was fighting against insufficient food grain production in 1950s.

The irrigation dams were being constructed, but the farmers were still following a monocrop policy that was rainfed. 1/n

The productivity per acre was very low

The threat of famine loomed.

We were dependent on US for feeding our people.

2/n

We always talk of the right man at the right place.

For Indians, that person arrived on the scene by mid 1960s.

The farmers did not have a clue as to how to exploit the benefits of better irrigation to improve agricultural production. 3/n

In their midst walked in Dr.Norman Borlaug, an American, who had done considerable work in the famished Mexico amongst the peasants with considerable success.

Would he be the Saviour? 4/n

One of the problems the wheat farmers of North India faced was that the plants were long which meant it could not support the weight of the wheat at the head, leading to the plant slanting and finally falling off.

The wastage due to this was phenomenal 5/n

Leaders must inspire. It is essential that a leader performs exceptionally well at a personal level. But that alone is inadequate. He should create synergy and lift his team to a higher plane. 1/n

Take Modi. He ticks all the boxes. Not easy to take a Country of 1.38 Billion people with you

On the Cricket Field Virat Kohli performs exceptionally well at a personal level. But does he inspire his team to perform at a higher level? I have serious doubts. 2/n

Rahul Gandhi neither performs at any level not does he create synergy and lift Congressmen. They are resigned to their fate all the time.

I had an exceptional Regional Manager who was brilliant in his work, and guided and motivated us. One would die for him. 3/n

I was once taking classes in 8th floor when I overheard a conversation between two of my students. One was chiding the other for showing undue respect to me. 4/n

Second student told him that "If Sir asked me to jump from this floor, I shall do so unhesitatingly, knowing that he would not ask me if he had not taken enough precautions in the first place".

It was one of the greatest moment of my life as a Teacher 5/n

I furnished a list of items to a newly wed couple (South Indian) who are setting up their home in B'lore. This list is indicative & should serve as a ready reckoner just so that they wont have to scratch their head thinking what is needed. Additions/deletions will be there 1/n

Sofa Set - 2+1+1 - Go for Wooden one with Cushion. They last longer and the cushion can be changed later. The rexine stuffed sofas look great but dont last more than 3 years. Most of the time they use very cheap wood inside, as they are covered. 2/n

A glass topped wooden teapoy that matches with the sofa set.

Cot - Instead of a Double Cot, suggest go for 2 Single Cots and join them together. This way one gets more space, and it is easy to clean under the Cots. 3/n

Go for matching orthopaedic mattresses. They support the back. Go for slightly harder ones

4 Pillows

At this stage guest cot is not required

2 Seater Dining Table with 2 Chairs should suffice and saves space

4 Plastic/ Deck Chairs that can be stacked 4/n

Refrigerator - Invest in at least a 270 litre - 300 litre as Fridge lasts long. Go for 2 door but ensure to buy one that has a smaller freezer. Frost Free with a higher Star Rating - 5 or above. Look for 7 years warranty for compressor. Buy a good brand 5/n

This is not an original anecdote. But is thought provoking neverthless.

A young woman went to her mother, told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. 1/n

She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her wise mother did not say anything but led her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on the stove. 2/n

And the pots were brought to boil. In the first pot she put a carrot, in the second she carefully dropped an egg, and in the last she put a spoon of ground coffee beans. She let them boil for a while, without saying a word. 3/n

After twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She stained both the pots containing carrot and egg, which she placed on separate bowls. She poured the pot that contained the coffee powder and water into a third bowl. 4/n

Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

Her mother asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break its shell. 5/n

Recently heard the podcast by @sikhyaent on Saravana Bhavan founder P Rajagopal, who stalked the young daughter of an employee & had her husband killed. Observations: the podcast's title ('Dosa King') glorifies PR, the script trivialises his crime, calling it a mere "scandal"

It refers to the whole stalking and murder episode as something that led to Rajagopal's "fall" - i.e a story of crime against a woman is turned into a story about the impact of the said crime on its perpetrator, not its victim.

It refers to the stalking victim as a fit antagonist for the protagonist Rajagopal, as Rajagopal's nemesis. But the point is, she set out to be neither. She didn't make him part of her life story. He forcibly, violently disrupted her life.

The podcast ends by telling us how Rajagopal's employees and friends and many others abuse the woman he stalked, for pursuing the case of her husband's murder and bringing Rajagopal to justice. It also tells us that some admire her. And it "asks us to decide" where we stand

I find it disturbing that a story of a powerful man feeling entitled to ruin a woman's life & trying to get away with murder, is turned into a story of HIS "rise, popularity, and fall".

LOL at the uptick in followers.

Fair Warning: I believe that Cultural American Patriotic Churchianity (CAPC for short - aka White Evangelicalism/Christian Nationalism) has caused more damage to the body of Christ and the credibility of the church than CRT ever has or will.

It's been a systemic problem since the founding of the country (indeed, before the founding of the country) and has contributed to the church being complicit in chattel slavery, Jim Crow, cointelpro, redlining and a host of other things the Bible condemns as sin.

The conflation of Christianity with Americanism since the founding of the country has left too many actual believers confusing love of country and culture with biblical Christianity (thus, in their minds, to fight against conservative political culture is also to fight against

what they think is biblical Christianity). It's part of what makes it okay to minimize the sins of men like Dabney while extolling his ability as a theologian in other areas, or minimizing it as him being 'a man of his time'. It also allows you to have an atheist speak at your

Christian conference while condemning your brother who holds different political views than you, but professes the same faith you do.

On the other side of the issue, the phrase 'black lives matter' is true because of the Imago Dei. Debate your momma about it if you disagree.