(Adapted from Sensei Kuki's Facebook events link: http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=292382027007&mid=1c8a548G3d857d5eG14eabc6G7)
The Silent Health Retreat
The simplest yardstick to know whether you are living the life of a warrior is how you answer the question, “Do I have time for myself?” If you have all the time in the world to do business and fulfill all your worldly desires, but have no time to develop your mind-body health, you are leading the life of an ordinary man. The ordinary man is one who is lives and dies without knowing why. If training your mind–body does not come in the top three priorities in your life, you are leading an ordinary man’s life.
So make the best use of your time and learn the science of health and liberation. Reflect on these truths:
• Life is fragile; death can come at any moment.
• Health is fragile; illness can afflict me any moment.
• Why must I train the body when its final fate is cremation or burial?
The purpose of the training for a warrior was to experience freedom from negative mental qualities such as greed, anger and delusion. To free ourselves from suffering caused by these negativities, we need to meditate. One must have a strong body so that one can meditate diligently.
The Silent Health Retreat is focused on our health and well being. To experience the laws of nature within and without, silence is a great tool, which we shall use at the retreat. It will help us to sharpen our awareness and observe the reality within the framework of the body.
This science of training, Kukikan, is the most simplified process where no more short-cuts are possible. No intellectual gymnastics. No visualizations. No verbalization. Instead, in Kukikan, the student has to exert pure effort.
Kukikan is the pointer to The Middle Path, which is what the warrior follows. All the enlightened ones have prescribed the middle path.
The middle path is dynamic in nature, constantly changing. It is not fixed. It is treacherous and needs constant non-judgmental awareness. Breath is the bridge which connects the mind and body. For a warrior, the final frontier is training the mind by using the body as a tool and the breath as a bridge. This is the essence of Kukikan training.
Since it is your own time and life you can choose how to make best use of the retreat. Your experiential wisdom will be directly proportional to your own effort and commitment.
At the retreat you will provided with nutritious food and basic amenities. Living the life of a renunciate will help you to understand and overcome your attachments. This silent health retreat is aimed at the process of mind-body training, where practice meets theory. Considering the extreme time constraints for most people, three days will give a glimpse of this training process.
For a profile of Sensei Kuki visit: www.kukikan.com
Contact: Sensei Kuki - 093724-79576
Eligibility: BASIC FITNESS AND MUST BE IN TRAINING MODE OF ANY KIND FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS. FINAL DECISION ABOUT ADMISSION TO THE RETREAT WILL BE TAKEN BY SENSEI KUKI
Venue: Madhyama marg Retreat and Training Centre,
behind Tanaji School, near Kondhanpur village, 7 kms from Shivapur Phata (opposite Hotel Muktangan, 10 minutes drive from Katraj Ghat on Pune-Bangalore Highway), Kondhanpur, Pune.
[About 30 kms from Deccan gymkhana.]
PMT bus No. 292 from Swargate to Kodhanpur every 20-30 minutes.
Start Time: Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 4:00pm
End Time: Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 2:00pm
Location: Shivapur, Near Pune
Fees: Rs. 3500 per person. (Excluding your travel) [To be paid in advance at the time of registration]. Individuals who cannot afford but have the inclination and eligibility may call Sensei Kuki for exemption of fees. Fees once paid will not be refunded, compensated or transferred.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Amazon Associates Program for Blogger and Blogspot
Amazon and Blogger have formed a partnership enabling Blogger.com bloggers to monetize their blogs with Amazon ads.
Here are the details:
Today we are excited to announce Amazon Associates for Blogger, a direct integration between Amazon Associates and Blogger. This new collaboration enables Bloggers to monetize their content by adding relevant Amazon products to their blog posts without interrupting the blog editing process. Amazon Associates for Blogger is available now available here on Associates Central. (https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/blogger?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe%5F1130%5F13930380) Amazon Associates who don’t have a Google Blogger account can set up a free Blogger account with their Associates ID and start earning right away.
The new tool allows Bloggers to add links and images to their blog posts in just 2 easy steps:
1.Bloggers highlight the relevant text and the Amazon Product Finder will search Amazon’s millions of products and recommend the ones that are most closely associated with the text.
2.Bloggers can then insert a link or image to that product which includes their Associates ID, enabling them to earn up to 15% in referral fees from Amazon.
Bloggers will also be able to show dynamic content in their blog sidebar using a new set of integrated Sidebar gadgets, such as gadgets for MP3 clips from the Amazon DRM-free music store, an Amazon Deals gadget, and an Amazon Search box.
Also as part of this new integration, Bloggers who don’t have a free Amazon Associates account can create one directly within Blogger so tell your friends that use Blogger how they can start earning with Amazon Associates today.
Please tell us what you think of our new Amazon Associates for Blogger feature using hashtag ‘#AMZN4BLGR’ on Twitter or contact us via the contact form. We want to hear from you!
Sincerely, The Amazon Associates Program
Here are the details:
Today we are excited to announce Amazon Associates for Blogger, a direct integration between Amazon Associates and Blogger. This new collaboration enables Bloggers to monetize their content by adding relevant Amazon products to their blog posts without interrupting the blog editing process. Amazon Associates for Blogger is available now available here on Associates Central. (https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/blogger?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe%5F1130%5F13930380) Amazon Associates who don’t have a Google Blogger account can set up a free Blogger account with their Associates ID and start earning right away.
The new tool allows Bloggers to add links and images to their blog posts in just 2 easy steps:
1.Bloggers highlight the relevant text and the Amazon Product Finder will search Amazon’s millions of products and recommend the ones that are most closely associated with the text.
2.Bloggers can then insert a link or image to that product which includes their Associates ID, enabling them to earn up to 15% in referral fees from Amazon.
Bloggers will also be able to show dynamic content in their blog sidebar using a new set of integrated Sidebar gadgets, such as gadgets for MP3 clips from the Amazon DRM-free music store, an Amazon Deals gadget, and an Amazon Search box.
Also as part of this new integration, Bloggers who don’t have a free Amazon Associates account can create one directly within Blogger so tell your friends that use Blogger how they can start earning with Amazon Associates today.
Please tell us what you think of our new Amazon Associates for Blogger feature using hashtag ‘#AMZN4BLGR’ on Twitter or contact us via the contact form. We want to hear from you!
Sincerely, The Amazon Associates Program
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Advanced Certificate Course In The RTI Act -- 29-30 January 2010
Information is Power
Unearthing corruption cases, finding out the current status of potholes, tracking the status of jobs in government departments and exposing political interference in transfers are but a few instances where the Right To Information Act 2005 has played a major role. Within the first year of implementation of the RTI Act between October 2005 and December 2006, 1.24 lakh applications were received of which 1.13 lakh were disposed of. At the Centre, till March 2006, 24,436 applications were received and 21,049 disposed of.
The largest number of applications received in Maharashtra is against municipal corporations and councils, and the Education, Home and Revenue departments -- the highest being the Urban Development department which received 23,552 applications!
A recent review has revealed that the maximum advantage of the RTI has been taken by the middle class, mainly employees of the public and private sectors.
You Can Too!!
Open Space, Pune in collaboration with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi, brings to Pune’s citizens an Advanced Certificate Course in the Right to Information Act 2005.
The two-day advanced course will benefit citizens pursuing RTI applications and help organisations and groups in integrating the use of RTI in their rights-based advocacy on social justice issues. The course will be facilitated by RTI activists and experts using interactive methods like presentations, exercises and case studies.
Registration for the course begins 12th January 2010 onwards on a first come first served basis. Forms available at Open Space between 11am. and 4pm. Last date for registration is 23rd January 2010.
Course Fees Rs.250/- (in cash only) (all inclusive) to be paid at the CCDS-Open Space office on time of registration. Fees once paid shall not be refunded for any reason whatsoever.
Number of seats
The course will admit only 30 participants on a first-come-first-served basis.
CCDS – Open Space, 301, Kanchanjunga building, Kanchan Lane, Near Krishna Dining Hall, Off Law College Road, Pune
Dates: January 29th and 30th 2010
Course timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Open Space is a youth and citizens’ forum that promotes debate, discussion and citizens’ action for social justice, human rights, sustainable development and accountable governance.
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is an independent, non-partisan, international non-governmental organisation mandated to ensure the practical realisation of human rights in the countries of the Commonwealth.
The course will be facilitated by
Mr. Venkatesh Nayak – Programme Coordinator, Access to Information Programme, CHRI, New Delhi.
Ms. Navaz Kotwal - Programme Coordinator, Access to Justice Programme, CHRI, New Delhi.
Ms. Vinita Deshmukh – Senior journalist, RTI activist and Editor, Intelligent Pune.
For more information on the course log on to www.openspaceindia.org or call Rakesh Ganguli on 9921090931
For further information on any of these programs call Openspace at 25457371
Open Space encourages debate and action on rights, justice and sustainable development.
Open Space is an initiative of the Centre for Communication & Development Studies (CCDS) aimed at strengthening civil society and mobilising citizen’s action.
Unearthing corruption cases, finding out the current status of potholes, tracking the status of jobs in government departments and exposing political interference in transfers are but a few instances where the Right To Information Act 2005 has played a major role. Within the first year of implementation of the RTI Act between October 2005 and December 2006, 1.24 lakh applications were received of which 1.13 lakh were disposed of. At the Centre, till March 2006, 24,436 applications were received and 21,049 disposed of.
The largest number of applications received in Maharashtra is against municipal corporations and councils, and the Education, Home and Revenue departments -- the highest being the Urban Development department which received 23,552 applications!
A recent review has revealed that the maximum advantage of the RTI has been taken by the middle class, mainly employees of the public and private sectors.
You Can Too!!
Open Space, Pune in collaboration with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi, brings to Pune’s citizens an Advanced Certificate Course in the Right to Information Act 2005.
The two-day advanced course will benefit citizens pursuing RTI applications and help organisations and groups in integrating the use of RTI in their rights-based advocacy on social justice issues. The course will be facilitated by RTI activists and experts using interactive methods like presentations, exercises and case studies.
Registration for the course begins 12th January 2010 onwards on a first come first served basis. Forms available at Open Space between 11am. and 4pm. Last date for registration is 23rd January 2010.
Course Fees Rs.250/- (in cash only) (all inclusive) to be paid at the CCDS-Open Space office on time of registration. Fees once paid shall not be refunded for any reason whatsoever.
Number of seats
The course will admit only 30 participants on a first-come-first-served basis.
CCDS – Open Space, 301, Kanchanjunga building, Kanchan Lane, Near Krishna Dining Hall, Off Law College Road, Pune
Dates: January 29th and 30th 2010
Course timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Open Space is a youth and citizens’ forum that promotes debate, discussion and citizens’ action for social justice, human rights, sustainable development and accountable governance.
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative is an independent, non-partisan, international non-governmental organisation mandated to ensure the practical realisation of human rights in the countries of the Commonwealth.
The course will be facilitated by
Mr. Venkatesh Nayak – Programme Coordinator, Access to Information Programme, CHRI, New Delhi.
Ms. Navaz Kotwal - Programme Coordinator, Access to Justice Programme, CHRI, New Delhi.
Ms. Vinita Deshmukh – Senior journalist, RTI activist and Editor, Intelligent Pune.
For more information on the course log on to www.openspaceindia.org or call Rakesh Ganguli on 9921090931
For further information on any of these programs call Openspace at 25457371
Open Space encourages debate and action on rights, justice and sustainable development.
Open Space is an initiative of the Centre for Communication & Development Studies (CCDS) aimed at strengthening civil society and mobilising citizen’s action.
100 stories for Haiti - Submissions needed for fundraising e-book
Most of you will have heard about the recent earthquake on Haiti and the terrible devastation it has wreaked.
As a direct response to the tragedy, Greg McQueen, an author from the UK based in Denmark, has decided to produce an e-book called 100 Stories for Haiti. All profits from sales will go to the Red Cross relief operation on Haiti.
Greg is inviting submissions of short stories (which must be upbeat and positive) for possible inclusion in the e-book. He is also seeking experienced people to join the editorial team choosing the 100 stories and editing them for publication.
Stories of up to 1000 words must be submitted in the body of an email by next Monday, 25 January 2010. For full details of how and where to submit your work, please see the guidelines on Greg's blog.
Greg needs short story submissions, editors and sub-editors. If you've got a few hours spare to help it would be much appreciated.
If you want to send a short story, please follow these guidelines:
- No more than 1,000 words
- Stories themed around hope and no stories containing graphic violence, death or destruction
- Send all stories in the body text of an email to 100storiesforhaiti@gmail.com. Stories sent as attachments will not be opened.
- Stories must be received by Monday 25 January 2010
For more details, contact Greg McQueen at 100storiesforhaiti@gmail.com
As a direct response to the tragedy, Greg McQueen, an author from the UK based in Denmark, has decided to produce an e-book called 100 Stories for Haiti. All profits from sales will go to the Red Cross relief operation on Haiti.
Greg is inviting submissions of short stories (which must be upbeat and positive) for possible inclusion in the e-book. He is also seeking experienced people to join the editorial team choosing the 100 stories and editing them for publication.
Stories of up to 1000 words must be submitted in the body of an email by next Monday, 25 January 2010. For full details of how and where to submit your work, please see the guidelines on Greg's blog.
Greg needs short story submissions, editors and sub-editors. If you've got a few hours spare to help it would be much appreciated.
If you want to send a short story, please follow these guidelines:
- No more than 1,000 words
- Stories themed around hope and no stories containing graphic violence, death or destruction
- Send all stories in the body text of an email to 100storiesforhaiti@gmail.com. Stories sent as attachments will not be opened.
- Stories must be received by Monday 25 January 2010
For more details, contact Greg McQueen at 100storiesforhaiti@gmail.com
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Best Way to Handle Criticism
Whenever anyone criticizes you, focus all your energy into listening.
Don’t try to defend yourself
Don’t try to justify yourself
Don’t counterattack.
Listen in silence until the critic has finished.
Then reflect on the criticism.
Is it truthful?
If it is, accept it.
Don’t blame yourself or get depressed.
Everyone makes mistakes.
It's the price you pay for living.
Resolve not to repeat the mistake and put it behind it.
If possible, remedy your mistake.
Apologize. Make amends.
Is the criticism unjustified?
Then you need not blame yourself.
Examine the best way to resolve the situation.
Whether the criticism is right or wrong, don’t allow it to disturb the peace of your mind.
If your mind is calm, you will not hurt yourself or others.
Don’t try to defend yourself
Don’t try to justify yourself
Don’t counterattack.
Listen in silence until the critic has finished.
Then reflect on the criticism.
Is it truthful?
If it is, accept it.
Don’t blame yourself or get depressed.
Everyone makes mistakes.
It's the price you pay for living.
Resolve not to repeat the mistake and put it behind it.
If possible, remedy your mistake.
Apologize. Make amends.
Is the criticism unjustified?
Then you need not blame yourself.
Examine the best way to resolve the situation.
Whether the criticism is right or wrong, don’t allow it to disturb the peace of your mind.
If your mind is calm, you will not hurt yourself or others.
Purpose of this blog: Post daily
One of my resolutions for 2010 is to post daily on my blog.
If I fail to post one day, I will post two posts the next day.
And so on.
Today is the fourth day of the year, and no posts so far.
So I have to post four times today.
Simple resolution.
Just post daily.
The quality of the post does not matter.
There is no minimum or maximum number of words required in each post.
I can blog about anything.
The only rule is to post daily.
The only other rule is that there are no rules.
Just post a blog daily and get it out of the way.
This blog is one of the ways to beat two mental barriers: SAFE and PERFECT
SAFE never starts and PERFECT never finishes.
So says Holly Lisle.
I have started this post and now I am completing it.
One small victory.
The first in 2010.
The first of many.
If I fail to post one day, I will post two posts the next day.
And so on.
Today is the fourth day of the year, and no posts so far.
So I have to post four times today.
Simple resolution.
Just post daily.
The quality of the post does not matter.
There is no minimum or maximum number of words required in each post.
I can blog about anything.
The only rule is to post daily.
The only other rule is that there are no rules.
Just post a blog daily and get it out of the way.
This blog is one of the ways to beat two mental barriers: SAFE and PERFECT
SAFE never starts and PERFECT never finishes.
So says Holly Lisle.
I have started this post and now I am completing it.
One small victory.
The first in 2010.
The first of many.
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