Likewise the faith of someone, is what makes him take the actions he takes and the rights of everyone must be respected, so long as the faith or culture of a people does not contradict the socio laws, the environmental laws, the political and it does not deny other people of their rights to justice, equity, fundamental human rights in general. But if the faith of a person propels him to act in a way that negates the rights of others, then should be called to mind what needs to be done concerning that person’s action. And if it is evident that the person’s action is rooted in his believe system, then what can politics do to bring a change to a believe system other than influence it to a change and expunge those gray areas causing people to take wrong actions, instead of make stubborn laws and pronouncement through politics to deny a people their faith and culture, using illegality to bring about legality all in the name of political interventions.

A person can choose to have a change of believe system if he sees a greater light but it would surely be totally wrong that a state should begin to act in a way that favors a section of the state with a believe system or culture the state considers acceptable to it while dealing harshly with others that are contrary. When political leaders begin to make people’s faith what needs to be legislated about or what they must direct how its pendulum swings, then there await ahead a deep crisis that would bring about blood birth.

The global leaders today seem to be missing it and going the way of King Uzziah in the bible in 2Chronicles 26:16-21 who mixed politics and religion and did not let his faith be his personal affair with God but sought to have control over what happens on the pulpit and eventually will dictate to the people which god to serve. In as much as value system, culture, faith has what it takes to change politics, politics on the other hand does not have that power to change value system, faith or culture but can only influence it. But if politics insists because it has all the power to change value system, culture, faith; it should thread carefully by seeking the consent of the people else it destroys everything by its overzealousness.

I am therefore happy that a man as President Barrack Obama who had been trained and prepared by God is in charge in the White House today, who knows to separate his faith from conflicting with people’s rights. My advice to those leaders in and around the world who blatantly favor one faith over the other, one culture over the other be it in America and around the globe should thread carefully and learn from this Modern Nigeria state with her religious and ethnic conflicts; for they have veered on that route. And I must at this stage make the Nigerian situation a case study for the world leaders. Almost all of the ethnic and religious crises in Nigeria today are political. It is the political actors who crept in a long time ago into religion for political gains along with the religious leaders who sold their soul for the gain of riches and had left the pulpit to the control and dictates of the politicians. These politicians therefore, easily brainwash the followers with whatever lies they feel will fulfill their personal desires and since the people are highly religious and ignorant, they can go even as far as killing people and bombing places around the world since they have been made to believe it is all pleasing to God. At first nothing was wrong with their faith, but now it has been infiltrated. All these therefore become a tool in the hand of the politicians to perpetuate their evils against their opponents.

I salute President Barrack Obama for declining to stop a Mosque from being situated by the WTC; this is the mark of a true leader who knows that he is a leader of all and not a section of the state, tribe or faith. A leader of a heterogeneous society in our today’s world is not just one of one faith and not of the other. Neither is he of one culture and not of the other nor is politics for one faith and not for the other or of one culture and not the other. But personal greed, emotions, pride, superiority complex and sentiments move global leaders to act the way they do today; therefore the perpetuation of the Middle East crisis which I believe could be well managed but I guess we have come to live in such a time as this in our world to live with and manage whatever comes our way.

I am Kissinger Akugue, a Nigerian based here in Lagos Nigeria. I am a Poet, a Screenplay Writer and I have a desire to go into politics and probably contest for an election. I am also into the business of Phone Repair Services. I believe in a world based on the principle of justice and equity. Kissinger Akugue http://www.akuguekissinger.blogspot.com http://feeds.feedburner.com/HouseOfPoetry

In addition to the tribalism that shaped this martial art, the area in which Silat developed also frequently fell prey to invasion from outside forces. China, Japan, and even the Dutch invaded Indonesia and the surrounding areas. Silat practitioners learned to defend themselves against these outside forces but also learned from them. Silat also derived much from the immigration of the Chinese. Silat practitioners learned and adapted the arts the Chinese brought with them. Consequently, Silat includes its own version of Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and other martial arts forms.

There are many different forms of Silat. Some Silat forms are completely focused on surviving dangerous situations. Others are more cultural in nature. There are forms of Silat which are used as sports. These sporting types of Silat do not make use of the more deadly features of the art. While participants might enjoy a good competition with other people in the village, they didn’t want to break their arm or kill them. Another cultural form of Silat is used as a ritual challenge for the groom at the wedding. These types of Silat do not often include techniques which would be useful in combat. Instead they are very flashy and enjoyable to watch.

However, the combat side of Silat is very deadly. The environment in which Silat developed did not allow for artists to have a sense of fair play. In a life and death situation, attackers were not going to follow any rules and Silat practitioners couldn’t afford to either. Consequently, Silat focuses on techniques that would bring an opponent down quickly. Bone break strikes are common as well as joint manipulation strikes and pressure point strikes. Silat also developed techniques for dealing with multiple attackers. Practitioners needed to be able to bring one attacker down quickly and then quickly disengage so as to be able to deal with other attackers immediately.

Silat training can take on a number of different forms depending on the school where it is being taught. Some schools teach Silat in much the same format as the teaching in a Chinese or Japanese martial arts school. Others use a conceptual style of teaching and still others focus more on sparring.

Because of the constant need for practicality, Silat also tends to be very adaptable. If something proved to be useful and worthwhile, it was quickly made use of by Silat artists. In the same way, if something wasn’t useful, Silat quickly discarded this. This adaptability can be seen today in that Silat teachers often instruct students in firearm retention and counter firearm techniques as well as in the use of more traditional weapons such as knives or clubs.

Richard Clear is a master practitioner of Pentjak Silat and has been studying martial arts for over 30 years in both the United States and Asia. Read his blog at http://www.clearsilat.com

What and who are the 5 Dhyani Buddhas?

The 5 Dhyani Buddhas are celestial Buddhas visualised during meditation, and considered to be great healers of the mind and soul. They are not historical figures, like Gautama (Sakyamuni) Buddha, but transcendent beings who symbolise universal divine principles or forces.

(1) Akshobhya

Akshobhya is regarded as the second Dhyani Buddha by the Nepalese Buddhists. He originates from the blue syllable HUM. He sits in the Vajraparyanka pose and his right hand is in the Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) Mudra, calling the earth for witness (Sakyamuni usually adopts the same pose). He represents the primordial cosmic element of Vijnana (consciousness). His left hand rests in his lap, while the right rests on his right knee with the tips of the middle fingers touching the ground with the palm facing inwards. His vehicle is a pair of elephants, and his symbol is the vajra (thunderbolt). His female counterpart is Locana.

(2) Amitabha Buddha (Jap. Amida)

Amitabha is the most ancient buddha among the Dhyani Buddhas. He is said to reside in the Sukhabati heaven in peaceful meditation. He is red, originating from the red syllable HRIH. He represents the cosmic element of Sanjna (name). His vehicle is a peacock. He sits in the full-lotus posture, right leg over left, with his palms folded face up, the right on top of the left, on his lap in Samadhi Mudra. His female counterpart is Pandara. Amitabha denotes ‘boundless light’ or the incomprehensible.

(3) Amoghashiddhi Buddha

Amoghashiddhi is the fifth Dhyani Buddha. He sits in the full-lotus posture, left leg over right, with his left hand open, palm facing upwards, on his lap, and the right in the Abhaya Mudra. He represents the cosmic element of Samskara (conformation). His colour is green and his symbol is the viswa vajra or double thunderbolt. He is the embodiment of the rainy season. His vehicle is Garuda.

(4) Ratna Sambhav Buddha

Ratna Sambhav is regarded as the third Dhyani Buddha. His symbol is the jewel and his hands are in the Varada (gift-bestowing) Mudra. He represents the cosmic element of Vedana (sensation). His colour is yellow. His female counterpart is Mamaki.

(5) Vairochana Buddha (Jap. Dainichi Nyorai)

Vairochana is regarded as the first Dhyani Buddha by the Nepalese Buddhists. He represents the cosmic element of Rupa (form). His colour is white, and his two hands are held against the chest with the tips of the thumbs and forefingers of each hand united, in the Dharmachakra (preaching) Mudra. His female counterpart is Vajradhatviswari.

________________________________________

FAQ – OTHER BUDDHAS

What is Bhaisajya Buddha? (Jap. Yakushi Nyorai)

Bhaisajya (known as the medicine or healing Buddha) is said to dispense spiritual medicine when properly worshipped. He wears a monastic robe and is seated with legs crossed. His left hand, lying on his lap in the meditation mudra, usually holds a medicine bowl, while the right hand, in the charity mudra, holds either a branch with fruit, or the fruit alone, of myrobalam, a medicinal plant found in India.

What is Hotei? (also known as Budai, or The Laughing Buddha)

The Japanese name for the Chinese Zen Master Poe-Tai Hoshang (10th to 11th Century). Fat, grotesque and lovable, he symbolises the state of detached bliss which belongs to those who realise their Buddha Nature, or the Buddha within. He is loved the world over and worshipped by many as the God of Good Fortune (he is also regarded by some as a form of Maitreya).

What is Sakyamuni Buddha?

Gautama Buddha is believed to have had 550 incarnations. To distinguish him from all other Buddhas, he is known as Sakyamuni (sage of the Sakya Clan). He was born in 563 BC in Lumbini, Nepal, the son of King Suddhodana and Queen Mayadevi. He attained enlightenment after 6 years of meditation and fasting. He died aged 80 in Kushinagara. Usually shown seated in padmasana (lotus posture) with right hand in Bhumisparsha (earth-touching) Mudra. Sometimes shown standing with right hand in Abhaya (protecting) Mudra.

This article was submitted on behalf of Zazen, who own the copyright in the article originally posted at http://www.dharma-store.com/faq-buddha-pg-12.html.

Wellington Farnleys wrote this article on behalf of http://www.dharma-store.com/buddhist-hindu-statues-c-10.html

There are truly a plethora of options when it comes to decorating the tree. Generally, you will get the best results if you choose a theme and adorn the tree accordingly, carrying similar design elements throughout the home. Traditional ornaments made from pewter, brass, wood and glass are always a tasteful addition. Many families take great pride in ornaments hand made by their children. Additionally, making ornaments can make a great holiday tradition and keep the kids occupied! There are still other traditions that use gingerbread men and candy canes to decorate a tree, although they are best used as short-term decoration. It is always a good idea not to overdo it, after all this is the holiday season.

After the tree, you still have the rest of the house. Wreathes on doors and candle lights in the windows can make for a lovely sight. Or maybe you’re more the dancing Santa in the doorway kind of family. No matter what your choice, remember to have fun and enjoy time with your family because that is the real meaning of the holidays.

Garland and ribbons offer a more subdued seasonal decoration when compared to lights and candles. Vintage children’s toys also make an excellent addition, and can be dressed in costume to reflect the theme of the home. Another favorite for children of all ages is the hanging of stockings on the mantle. Traditionally filled with fruit and small baubles by parents on Christmas morning., stockings make a great way to show and appreciate each family member’s individuality, as well as the perfect place to put the batteries for that remote control car!

Naturally, seasonal decorating must include some religious elements; after all, it is a spiritual holiday. A classic nativity scene, star or cross a top the tree, all can be incorporated into the home decor and solidify a seamless holiday theme. These elements seem more tasteful when approached with a less is more attitude. Remember, this is a wonderful time for all people, and not focus on our differences.

Let’s not forget everyone’s favorite holiday decorations, food! Sugar cookies baked in the shape of Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, and bowls full of candy are all great additions to the seasonal decorations of any home. Many families have traditions of children baking cookies or some other treat (often inedible), and are a source of rich traditions as well as many embarrassing stories to be retold at future holiday gatherings. If the children in your family are too young to cook, decorating cookies or cupcakes also makes for a fun, imaginative activity.

There are far too many holiday decorating ideas to cover here, but hopefully you’ve gotten some good ideas, and are on your way to a beautifully decorated home this holiday season. With all the options and excitement surrounding the holiday season, and the fevered pitch decorating can reach, we must be careful not to lose focus of the things that really matter, family, friends, and fun. If you keep these three things in perspective, I am certain you will have a wonderful holiday season!

Sylvia Stevens is a Charlotte NC home decoration expert and home staging professional specializing in Charlotte seasonal decoration and holiday decoration.

Just try and imagine a Hollywood bedroom scene (literally – a scene in a bedroom …) from the 1950s where the Monroe or Mansfield is wearing a floppy tee with a picture of a teddy bear holding a flower. It just doesn’t work, does it? The nightgowns of yesteryear were sensual, light and ornamental, full of poise, character and femininity. And why worry about it being a little revealing when there’s always the dressing gown to throw on when the postman knocks for a signature?

There’s no doubt about it, the nightdress is an item of clothing that really deserves to make a comeback. It’s the epitome of nocturnal style, with lashings of glamour and an undeniable hint of mystery. It comes from an age when such things mattered, an age forgotten in our era of dressing down and being relentlessly informal or cutesy. Who authorised this transition? There’s no doubt that a cotton smock can be stitched together in a fraction of the time and at a tiny cost, but are we sacrificing something important for this benefit? Let’s not forget that a good nightdress’s lifespan can be measured in years, while a cotton nightshirt’s life is measured in washes.

So the campaign to rehabilitate the glamour of ladies’ nightdress fashion starts here. You might be lucky enough to find a mainstream retailer willing to take the plunge and start stocking authentic nightdresses, but your best bet is probably to visit a specialist vintage clothing supplier, of which there are some fine examples online – as well as some cities’ fashion quarters. As soon as you set eyes on these examples of fine, delicate tailoring, you’ll want to slip into one and lounge around your home or curl up in bed with a good book. The silks, satins, laces and chiffons on offer will transport you to a world of glamour, glitz and breakfast at the Ritz.

Sure, keep your floppy tee shirt and cotton trousers for the chilly winter nights and when you’re doing your make up. Just think about bringing these iconic pieces of deeply sensual women’s wear in from the cold and give them a place in your wardrobe and in your bedroom. You can go online right now and order yourself a classic nightdress and consign your old slouchy self to the bottom drawer. All you’ll need to worry about is what to be wearing when the postman knocks with your special package.

Nigel Cooper created this review on behalf of Rokit, suppliers of vintage womens nightdresses and vintage lingerie items.

Another key feature of the fretted nature of the guitar is that chords can easily be made that sound true and harmonious, rather like a piano. This makes the guitar ideal for both rhythmic backing music and slow, emotional chords broken down into their distinct plucked notes.

The guitar’s ancestry is quite mysterious, with influences as far afield as India, the Middle East and northern Africa playing their part, but what is clear is that the instrument is related to the lute and the sitar, as well as younger relatives the mandolins, balalaikas, ukuleles and various cousins such as banjos. In the western mind, however, the guitar is most readily associated historically with Spain, whose charged flamenco music is enjoyed to this day.

In the 1950s, however, a revolution in guitaring happened that still shows few signs of abating. It was, of course, rock’n'roll, helped by the development of the electric guitar. As soon as the world saw Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochrane, Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly strumming their stuff, and as it happened to coincide with a new-found optimism after the dreary and crippling years of war and austerity, a scene was started that would lead to a whole new music industry. The original rock’n'roll bands developed direct from blues and folk acts whose bassist would play a large, cumbersome double bass, so the development of the electric bass, an octave lower than the guitar and with only four strings, was inevitable – and with drums and vocals, it completed the classic rock line up.

Rock’n'roll would later fracture into dozens of exciting styles of music including the dizzy psychedelic sounds of the sixties; the grinding, energetic heavy metal sound; punk; indie; prog rock; protest songs; and all but the most hardcore electronic music acts would feature at least some guitar in their repertoire. Jazz and blues, not surprisingly, made excellent use of the electric guitar, too, generating new movements in those older genres. With the popularity of the electric axe came a new-found respect for the acoustic guitar; pop musicians who had learnt to play on the easier electric guitar found new expression on its elder sibling, and folk artists such as Bob Dylan made their names playing acoustic.

This is not to say that classical guitar music has faded away; far from it. The best classically trained guitarists are just as renowned crowd-pullers as are the virtuosos of violin, piano and voice and the instrument retains its important position among high-brow music aficionados. And it’s hard to imagine it going away any time soon.

Harry Griffiths penned this article about guitars for Chappell of Bond Street which is a famous London music store and worldwide supplier of sheet music.

Sometimes when you pick a tree, you’ll want to get a pre-cut tree because they’re the easiest route. Sometimes you’ll also find a good selection of trees which are already cut. Note that you only have to pay for the tree and pack it into your vehicle and take it home with this method, but sometimes you’ll end up with a dried out flaky tree that is a fire hazard. Try to avoid these trees. If you end up having to get a pre-cut tree, it’s important to keep this in mind.

There is an advantage to artificial trees in that they have fewer safety issues. They are also quite simple when it comes to setting up and taking them down. They can be reused for years. They don’t need lots of decoration either, especially the fiber-optic ones. You may choose to decorate anyway, just to bring about Christmas cheer in your home.

Ultimately, you may end up just cutting your own tree at Christmas time, so that you can get a fresh one. Also, fresh trees are less of a fire hazard. The ones that are cut fresh also have less needle loss. Even the synthetic trees often end up losing tons of needles. Sometimes you might need to get someone to help you cut the tree to appropriate proportions.

When choosing the pre-cut tree method, get a fresh and full tree with little damage or dryness. Make sure the tree isn’t suffering from loss of needles, and isn’t dried out or brown in too many places. If it is, it’s probably old. Note as well that older trees lose more sap. Stickiness from this sap can get on your furniture and floor, as well as the presents you are giving at Christmastime.

Make sure that you ultimately pick a tree which gives you the options of family fun, an easy and convenient setup, and is easy to pick up and take down. Don’t make the Christmas tree selection process into a big hassle that ends up detracting from your Christmas.

If picking out a tree together is part of your Christmas ritual, you probably don’t want to use an artificial tree. However, if you care more about the decorating part of Christmas tree time than you do about the tree itself, you might be fine with an artificial tree.

Check out this Scrapbooking products and these Karen Foster Stickers

Birthdays are one of the most privileged days of one individual. At this day, you can do what you want (well, almost) and have all the attention to yourself without question. Usually connected to the natal or birth date of a person and has religious connotations. Although, many religions celebrate birthdays in different ways but some do oppose the festivity. Origins of birthdays was claimed to hail from European traditions. In the old age, persons who are celebrating their birth day are appealing to evil spirits and the visit from friends and family can prevent unwanted misfortune or accidents suffered by the celebrant.

Anniversaries are celebrations of commemoration for any formal, personal, historical, or social milestones for most people. Wedding, death, independence, and many other reasons for annual remembrance vary from country to country depending on the culture or national traditions. The origins are almost native and local in history.

Christmas Day has been celebrated for hundreds of years without being mandatory in some places. Although it is Christian in origin, the season of giving and sharing has been slowly adopted by other religion all over the world as a period of love and peace. Even in the strictest places of other religious majority like Islam, have their own Christmas Day to celebrate.

New Year’s day has been celebrated in different calendar dates depending on the cultural preference of the people. Most of the world has been using the Julian calendar in January 1st of every incoming new year. Although many other religions have different dates of celebrations, they have their own new year’s day version in festivals or events.

Valentine’s day has been regarded as a universal day for love themes. The origins of this day spawned from the Roman social tradition of pairing up young eligible couples in a social event. The ladies are placed in a box with drawn numbers corresponding to your gents in the area. They are considered paired or coupled for the festival of a Roman goddess and for the whole year. This tradition generally encourages life reproduction among young adults. In this light, it also explains why Valentine’s day is considered to be rooted on romantic and martial love.

These are just some of the renowned celebrations that any parts of the world know and celebrate about. The assurance that all celebrations have a rich history or origins is comforting to know since it tells about certain periods of the earth calendar and the evolution of cultural traditions. Although life can be full of celebrations and it is only a matter of perspective on how you will be able to observe and believe in the joy they bring.

Ronald Fisackerly is a writer for Skylighter which sells Champagne bottle sparklers , Ice fountains and Bottle sparkler as well as a variety of other items.

Sky diving, bungee jumping, hiking, scuba diving, snowboarding and many other extreme sports and thrills are packaged with hotel tours to keep the younger generation get attracted to their packages. Touring service providers also happen to enjoy the benefits of the flux of bookings from the hotel tours and packages affiliations. Meanwhile, vacationers also enjoy thrilling experiences without having to exert too much effort in locating service providers in the vacation destination they prefer. Everyone is in a winning situation that could only mean healthy and beneficial partnerships.

Educational vacation packages are quite saleable to the student population especially for those that are into historical sites and grand museums. Most of these vacationers enjoy their holidays during their semester breaks or summer vacations when their classes are required to tour in some of the most noted historical destinations like Greece, Italy, Asia, and many other countries. These vacationers enjoy student discounts and packages while learning about history and culture from different places.

Snow resorts also appeal to most of the sunny state residents who want to explore a destination covered with snow all year round. Most ski resorts bundle their vacation packages with snow extreme sports and day tours as well to make the guest stay more interesting and challenging. Lodges with the right room accommodations also happen to be the most favorite destinations for honeymoon holidays.

Summer vacation packages have never been toppled down in the top rankings as one of the favorite choices of most Western vacationers. This is due to the fact that sunny beaches or tropical paradise are not local to the four-season regions of the Western worlds. Having a warm sunny day at the beach with coupled water sports is one of the fast selling vacation holidays in the leisure industry.

Safari adventures did not lose their appeal to some of the modern adventurers of today. The exotic animals of Africa continue to amaze crowds that have only seen these creatures in educational channels or educational printed media. The many activities usually located in the Southern part of Africa are patronized by vacationers like outdoor camping, safari day tours, hiking protected parks and feeding some of the more docile animals in the regions.

Picking out your holidays in a year can be varied to keep yourself from boring vacations. Always try something new or fun to do so that your days of total relaxation cannot be so taxing and be wise in finding package deals with some of the online bookings accessible.

Ronald Fisackerly is a writer for Skylighter which sells Champagne bottle sparklers , Ice fountains and Bottle service sparklers as well as a variety of other items.

Gift-giving around this time of the year dates back from ancient Rome. Back then people used to give each other presents on New Year’s, but they were symbolic gifts, often consisting of vegetables in the honor of fertility goddess Strenia. However, what is more like our idea of gift giving today dates back from Victorian times. During that time, the tradition became much more festive and socially significant. One of the practices was that each family member was assigned a color, then brought to a room filled with a yarn web. Each of them had to follow their own color through the web to discover the gift. Another custom was to gather around a big bowl full of grain, where they had hidden very small presents. Each would take a fullspoon of grain, and whatever present they discovered was theirs to keep.

By the end of the nineteenth century, commercialization had already begun to wither away the idea of the symbolic, non-materialistic gift giving in lots of countries around the world. Much of the merriment and excitement had been replaced by a short exchange of colorful boxes. But it does not have to be that way. There are people around the globe for whom gift sharing is still exciting. In Brazil, for example, presents are hidden outside and kids have to search for them. Of course, it’s warm there and they don’t have to worry about snow.

Though the complaints that Christmas has become highly commercialized do have a point, you may still choose not to give in to consumerism and make an effort to make it special. Traditionally, gift sharing on Christmas was a symbol of kindness and carried a lot of significance. Why not bring a few of these traditions to your home?

One reason why many people find gift giving so stressful is because of those few days before Christmas when you have to shop around for presents through all of the over-crowded, noisy and increasingly expensive shops. But it doesn’t need to be like that at all. Just remembering to think about it a few weeks in advance could make a huge change. It gives you enough time to plan, and you can enjoy the Christmas spirit earlier and without all the stress. You have enough time to step outside of the box and find alternatives to the common worn-out ideas. One tip for next year is to start working on your list much earlier, maybe even in the summer. When you hear your dad complaining that his fishing reel broke during the summer holiday, put it on the list: a new fishing rode could possibly make a great Christmas present.

In addition, shopping for presents can be completely hassle-free if you pass brick-and-mortar stores and shop online instead. The offer is often much wider than what you could find find in the traditional shops you had time to go to. It is also easier to not get carried away and stick to your planned budget. Using a comparison shopping engine instead of a regular Internet shop is a better idea. Netishop is a very good resource for that, as it has products from many online shops and gives you the chance to find the best deals and prices. You can find almost anything you can think of there, from toys and books to DVD players.

One more random thing about gift giving on Christmas: everyone knows the Twelve Days of Christmas song. But did you ever ask yourself how much all of those things in the song would cost? Someone made an estimation back in 2006, and the total was $18,920.59.

Mike Neder is a prestigious Internet Marketing Consultant with a lot of experience both working with large businesses and start-ups. Netishop is one of the Internet businesses he built, and it has a very good selection of Christmas gifts to choose from.