kayamobato? mass feeding

Kaya Mo Ba To? radio program , DZRM,1278 khz today (January 8, 2006) distributed packed snacks and toys to about 100 children of the 320 families at the temporary relief center at Area 3, Baranggay Escopa, Project 4 in Quezon City.

Last Friday, the Pasig City Bhukti of Ananda Marga conducted mass feeding to the same evacuees whose houses have been razed by fire the day after Christmas.

The Kapaligiran Segment of the local radio program discussed the request for assistance of a radio listener, a certain Mr. Rafael Teodoro, who is planning to construct a Caring Home for Disabled Aged persons in his 1000 square meter farm lot at Tanay, Rizal.

Intended occupants and beneficiaries of this humanitarian project are 300 members of a foundation named Resources for the Blind, Inc. Mr. Raffy Teodoro, a former CEO of a well-known multinational firm, is himself physically disabled.

The request of Raffy Teodoro is the second instance when a radio listener communicated to this blogger/radio program host their response to avail of free architectural design services being offered by Kaya Mo Ba 'To radio program.

As you may recall, the first listener, Cecilio Rahon, wanted to construct an energy-efficient house and needed assistance on how the house of this OFW can be designed to make it energy-efficient. Initial drawings of a typical house adapted to the use of passive cooling system has been shown in the December 3, 2005 Kayamobato-online blog entry. More drawings on other methods of attaining an energy-efficient house will be featured on my next blogs.

Incidentally, I am inclined to recommend the adaption of the same energy-efficiency details in the Caring Home for Disabled Aged Persons project of Mr. Rafael Teodoro.

the relevance of ARCHITECTURE WEEK

How can architects help prospective homeowners?

I am referring to prospective homeowner like Cecilio E. Rahon, Jr. an OFW who wrote me while he was onboard M/V Georgios S of Bright Maritime Corporation asking for assistance. Quoting in part his e-mail ," Your position as dean of the college of architecture is quite formidable parang nakakahiya yatang magtanong but you sound very friendly on the radio".

Let me explain this. Second MateCecilio Rahon is a listener to KAYAMOBATO-ONLINE, a weekly 30 minute radio program simulcast over three Voice of America (VOA) shortwave bands: 11.730 mhz/11.890 mhz/15.190mhz using the facilities of Radio Pilipinas OFW station and heard every Saturday morning by our kabayan dollar earners in the Middle East, some parts of India and South East Asia, some parts of Europe and United States.

Cecilio was onboard their ship docked at Johor Port,Malaysia leaving for Amsterdam when he sent his e-mail to my address, rlpunzalan@yahoo.com.

The letter continues," Do you know any website or person that I can ask regarding building an energy efficient house? What are the things to consider? I am totally clueless and I need information. I bought a lot in Laoag City and there is where I plan to build it." The letter ended explaining that he will still be onboard for a month and that he will send me an e-mail for more information about his request for assistance as soon as he gets to an internet shop at his port of destination.

A status report on the request of Cecilio Rahon:

1. This blogger and KAYAMOBATO-ONLINE program host has aired over the radio program, both on the OFW program and a local program ( a 1- hour Kaya Mo Ba To? radio broadcast over DZRM AM 1278 khz, 2-3 pm every Sunday also produced and hosted by me) that I have a good news for our kabayan Cecilio.

I announced several times that, "considering your very good intentions of building an energy efficient house to be typical need and of far-reaching significance to all homeowners in the country, the United Architects of the Philippines, through its Green Architecture Movement has accepted the challenge to provide assistance to Cecilio in designing your house according to your wish of having it energy-efficient. This blog spot and the radio program will run a series of informative segment, among other regular segments , featuring the progress of actions being undertaken in response to Cecilio's request and to deal with it as a work-in -progress. Cecilio by now must have started monitoring the progress.

2. Cecilio, I want you to understand that there are several ways of materialising your concept of an energy-efficient house. A basic design approach in constructing an energy- efficient house is described as follows:

BUILDING ENVELOPE ( Kabalutan ng Bahay o Gusali)

Ang init ng araw ay pumapasok at lumilisan sa kabahayan sa pamamagitan ng bubong, pader, mga bintana, at sahig o kasahigan. Ang lahat na naturang elemento ay tinatawag na building envelope. Ang Envelope Design o Disenyo ng Kabalutan ng bahay o gusali ay ang kabuuan ng hugis ng bahay at sangkap na materiales ay ang kabuuang sistema upang magdulot ng maginhawang pakiramdam sa mga naninirahan at makatipid sa enerhiya.


GENERAL BUILDING PRINCIPLES ( Mga Panuntunan sa Desenyo ng Bahay )

Ibaba ang init sa loob ng bahay sa araw(daytime) sa pamamagitan ng wastong envelope design.

Ang kabuuang desenyo ay dapat makapag-palamig sa temperatura sa loob ng bahay sa pamamagitan ng maaliwalas na daloy ng malamig na hangin na buhat sa labas .

Ang mga elemento ng passive cooling (Fig.A and Fig.B) ay ang sumusunod:

- Ang natural na bentilasion ay mangyayari kung maiiwasan ang mga sagabal sa pagpasok ng
sariwang hangin galing sa labas.

- Wastong dami at sukat ng bintana

- Wastong uri ng bubungan

- Wastong gamit ng insulasyon sa bubong at dingding at pader ng bahay

- Wastong pag-plano ng lugar para sa pang-araw na gawain at pang-gabing mahimbing na pag- tulog

- Pag-gamit ng wastong kulay para sa bubong. (Light colors are recommended for roof and
walls to reflect more solar radiation and reduce heat gain.)

- Pag-gamit ng bentilador ( electric fan o ceiling fan) sa panahon na walang natural na daloy ng
hangin o breeze.

Fig.A Design of unobstructed ventilation path

Fig.B Detail of Roof Vent/Skylight

We shall print in the next blogspots the progress of Cecilio Rahon's energy-efficient house as I receive the design output from the UAP Green Architecture Movement. You know Cecilio I have even challenged our senior architecture students in the College of Architecture of the University of Pangasinan to conduct research work on the subject design problem.

This year, Architecture Week is celebrated on December 3 to 10. I would like to think that by our action ( I refer to all Pilipino architects ) of reaching out to other kababayan homeowners and even in partial compliance to render professional service without expecting renumeration from a prospective kabayan homeowner like Cecilio Rahon, Jr. who was very honest in asking assistance (he admitted he was clueless) for the design of his energy efficient house, all Pinoy architects will look at every week of the year as an opportunity to celebrate the significance of Architecture Week.

Microvitum

Are there entities smaller than atoms or electrons or protons? Are there objects subtler than ectoplasm?

Answers to these questions articulated by P.R. Sarkar, the Renaissance Man profounder and spiritual master of Ananda Marga open new insights and offer penetrating "kaya mo ba ito?" challenge for further research work to present day scientists and scholars.

In a book published by Ananda Marga Publications, P.R.Sarkar ( also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti) gave a discourse on MICROVITUM- THE MYSTERIOUS EMANATION OF COSMIC FACTOR.

The discourse on MICROVITUM explains that there are entities which comes in the realm of both physicality and psychic expressions which are smaller or subtler than atoms or electrons or protons, and in the psychic realm they may be subtler than ectoplasm. For such objects or for such entities P.R. Sarkar use the term microvitum.

This microvita are not of protoplasmic order and as such they have got little to do with with carbon-molecules or carbon atoms, which are treated as the initial points or initial stage of life in this universe.

So far as the physicality is concerned, the position of these microvita is just between ectoplasm and electron. But they are neither ectoplasm nor electron. According to P.R. Sarkar, it is a human wont that whatever we know regaradding any subject or any object, when we know that it exists but its characteristics or other particulars are not known to us, we say it is "mysterious". So regarding this microvita, we may say they are mysterious.

That is why I used the term "Microvitum, the mysterious emanation of Cosmic Factor." They are not of protoplasmic order and hence the question of their protozoic structure or metazoic structure does not arise. They are something mysterious.

Microvita classified - P.R. Sarkar explains the three categories of microvita which are :

A) Those coming within the scope of microscope.

B) Those not coming within the scope of perception but coming within the scope of perception as a result of their actional vibrations.

C) Those not coming within the scope of common perception but coming within the scope of a special type of perception which is actually the reflection of conception within the periphery of perception. And such perception , that special type of perception, may be felt or realized by persons having highly developed minds, having spiritually oriented minds.

Regarding these microvita of cruder order which may come within the scope of microscope, people give them the name 'virus'. They say ,"This disease is of virus origin." But virus is a vague term. The better term will be mcrovitum, and not virus.

Mobility of Microvita- According to P.R. Sarkar, microvita move througout the entire universe, from one celestial body to another. They move everywhere crossing the boundaries of nebulae, piercing through milkyways, galaxies, stars, satelites, planets and meteors. Like other psychic and psycho-phyusical beings, they have also got basic characteristics- such as existing , dying and multiplying. They move unbarred, without caring for the atmospheric condition or barometric reading.

How do they move?
( to be continued )

TANTRIC MEDITATION AND VEGETARIANISM

In the discussion on meditation, a healthy body is a must.

To keep a healthy body proper food and asanas are obviously twin subjects that cannot be ignored. Practitioners of tantra yoga adheres to vegetarianism as a key ingredient in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Below are some of many arguments to support vegetarianism :

1) Is it natural for humans to eat meat?

Human beings are natural non-carnivores. His or her digestive system evolving for over a million years living on fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables manifest a slow digestion of vegetables and fruits shown by having bowels 12 times the length of the human body.

Human digestive system, the structures of jaw and tooth and bodily function are distinct from that of carnivorous animals.

The bowels of carnivores is shorter, only 3 times the length of the body, for faster expulsion of putrerfactive bacteria from decomposing flesh; stomachs with ten times as much hydrochloric acid as non -carnivorous animals, to digest fibrous tissues and bones.

2) What are the dangers in eating meat?

Before and during the agony of being slaughtered the biochemistry of the terrified animal undergoes changes as it struggles and hang on fighting for dear life.

Toxic by-products and large quantities of adrenalin are forced throughout the body, thus poisoning the entire carcass, leaving toxic wastes in the blood and tissues.

The fats of animal flesh such as cholesterol line the walls of blood vessels of the non-vegetarian, and as the meat-eater gets older, the openings of his vessels get smaller and smaller.

Pressure on the heart increases often resulting to heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke.

It is interesting to note that these diseases are not prevalent in countries where meat consumption is low. Among the most notorious wastes that meat-eaters store in the body are urea and uric acid. Beefsteak contains 14 grams of uric acid per pound.

An American doctor analyzed the urine of meat-eaters and vegetarians and found that the kidneys of meat-eaters have to do three times the amount of work to eliminate poisonous nitrogen compounds in meat than do the kidneys of vegetarians. When people are young, they are usually able to bear this extra burden so that no evidence of injury or disease appears; but as the kidneys age and become worn out prematurely, they become less efficient resulting to kidney disease.

When kidneys can no longer handle the excessively heavy load of a meat-eating diet, the unexcreted uric acid is deposited throughout the body. There it is abssorbed by the muscles like a sponge soaking up water and later it can harden and form crystals.

When this happens in the joints, the painful condition of gout, arthritis, rheumatism result; when the uric acid collects in the nerves, neurithis and sciatica occur. Many doctors are advising patients suffering from these diseases to stop eating meat completely or reduce intake drastically.

3) Is it right to kill animals?

P.R. Sarkar, the Renaissance Man and a profounder of vegetarianism, teaches:

"As far as possible articles of food are to be selected from amongst the sets of items where the development of consciousness is comparatively littlle, i.e. if vegetables are available, animals should not be slaughtered. Secondly, under any circumstances before killing any animals having developed or undeveloped consciousness, it is to be considered whether it is possible to live in a healthy body without taking such lives."

4) The politics of hunger.

Meat is the most uneconomical and inefficient food we can eat.

In order to produce meat vast track of land is used to grow cattle feed. The cattle consumes about ten times more protein and calories than they return in form of their meat. In other words, 90% "goes down the drain."

Adding the expenses of cattle feed to the other costs of cattle raising, the cost of meat protein comes to about twenty times the cost of plant protein.

Instead of wasting land for meat production these land could be used far more productively if utilized to plant grains, beans and legumes for direct human consumption. The following data taken from "What's Wrong with Eating Meat, " an Ananda Marga Publication, lists more economic reasons why vegetarianism is gaining ground as an alternative lifestyle :

- If we conserve our grain supply and gave it to the poor and malnourished, instead of to the cattle, we could easily feed all of the chronically underfed people of the world.

- If we ate half as much meat, we could relese enough food to feed the entire " developing world."

- Recent studies by nutritionists have shown that reducing meat production by just 10 % would relese enough grain to feed 60 million people.

- The shocking and tragic truth is that 80-90% of all grain grown in America is used to feed meat animals.

- Twenty years ago, the average American ate 50 pounds of meat annually. Because of America's "fixation on meat" , most eat twice the daily recommended protein allowance. Learning the real facts behind the "food shortage" is fundamental to an understanding of how we can properly utilize the world's resources.

Clearly the decision whether to eat meat or not is a personal one but based on the arguments against it; it is rather difficult to find a case in favor of meat-eating. (Unless of course, where it is absolutely necessary for physical reasons.)

tantric meditation, continued

ASANAS: RESTORING NORMAL FUNCTIONING OF GLANDS

The human mind carries with it the seed of desire, a momentum which it must express. To express this momentum it adopts vrttis or ways of expression of mind or expression of sentiments.

The brain cannot work directly to perform its function of creating messages through the nerves without passing through sub-stations called glands. The glands secrete various hormonal substances which in turn affect the complex operation of the organs of the body.

Thus the seed of the vrtti is in the brain, but its first expression is in the glands.

There is mental restlessness because of the distracting effects of the vrttis which seeks expression through the organs of hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. Since the vrttis are created by the glands, one can regulate the expression of the vrttis and therefore balance the mind by regulating the glandular secretion.

The yogic postures or asanas is the yogic system that makes the glands function efficiently. These bodily postures, held motionless for a prescribed period of time, puts pressure on selected glands thus balancing their secretion.

Asanas also prevents diseases and keep the youthful flexibility of the human body. As prescribed posture dispose one troublesome vrtti after another as the glandular dysfunctions are cured, the mind gradually becomes peaceful and focused.

In Ananda Marga, personal sets of asanas are prescribed by competent acharyas (teachers). Readers should not to take the risk of practicing asanas unless guided by Ananda Marga teachers.

For inquiries call telephone number 436-2946. Text your questions to 0919-734-9704. Ananda Marga acharyas will always be ready to help without any renumeration.

There are a few simple asanas that are good to start with. Three postures are described as follows:

1. Snake Posture: Lie down on your chest. Supporting the weight on the palms, raise the chest, directing your head backward, Look at the ceiling. Breathe in while rising, and after having risen, hold your breath for eight seconds. Come down to original position while breathing out. Practice eight times.

2. Half-Tortoise or Long Bowing Posture : Kneel down and holding the palms together, extend the arms upward keeping them close to the ears. then bend forward in a posture of bowing down, touching the floor with the tip of the nose and the forehead. the buttocks must continue to touch the heels. While bending down breathe out and stay in a state of complete exhalation for eight seconds then rise up, beathing in. Practice eight times.

3. Yogamudra Posture: Sit in crossed legged position. Pass both hands backward and grip the left wrist with the right hand. Then bring the forehead and the nose into contact with the floor, breathing out during the process. Maintain this position for eight seconds and rise up, breathing in. Practice eight times.

Asanas, like other disciplines require the observance of certain basic guidelines as follows:

1. Before practicing asanas it is best to take a bath which is ended cool, or if in shortage of time, cool down the heated areas of the body i.e. feet, knees, elbows hands, face neck, top of head with cool water. A special procedure has been designed for this , known as "half bath," which can easily be demonstrated.

2. Asanas should not be practiced in the open air because it may result in sudden exposure leading to a cold. While practicing asanas indoors one should be sure, though to have fresh air, preferably with open windows. No smoke should be allowed to enter the room.

3. One should wear tight fitting underwear to protect the organs during asanas. For male a special underwear called "lungota" is recommended.

4. Practice asanas on a blanket or a mat. Do not do asanas on bare ground, because you may catch a cold, and some secretions which come from the body while practicing asanas may be destroyed.

5. Breathing should flow freely through the left or both nostrils. (Left and right nostrils alternate their dominance in regular intervals and correspond with respectively subtler and cruder energy flows. Asanas should be done when subtler energies are flowing.) One may open the left nostril by lying on the right side with the head cushioned on arm and elbow, and breathing regularly for a few minutes.

6. Take sentient food . Follow a vegetarian diet.

7. Asanas should not be done on a full stomach and only after a minimum of 2 1/2 to 3 hours after a full meal.

8. After completing the asanas, massage of the entire body should be done.

9. After massage, remain in "corpse posture" for at least 2 minutes: Lie back on the floor and to prevent chill, cover the body up to the neck with a blanket. Relax completely keeping the arm spread away from the chest and legs comfortably apart. Imagine that your body has become totally inert, like a corpse. Remain for a few minutes.

10. After corpse pose, do not come in contact with water for at least ten minutes, and do not take food until after 30 minutes.

11. If it is necessary to go outdoors after practicing asanas and body temperature has not come down to a normal level, or if there is any difference between the room temperature and the outdoor temperature, you must cover your body when going out. If possible inhale a deep breath inside the room and exhale it after coming outside. In that way there will be no chance of catching cold.

12. One should not practice any free-hand exercise, running or sports after asanas.

13. There are no restrictions of nostril or diet for the following asanas: Lotus posture, siddha posture, half siddha posture, crossed leg sitting posture, brave posture, long bowing posture, Yoga posture, and cobra posture.

14. During mentruation, pregnancy and within one month of delivery, women should not practice asanas at all, except the postures for meditation.

(NEXT BLOG : MEDITATION AND MANTRA)

TANTRIC MEDITATION: IN AID OF UNIFICATION

Tantra was introduced by Lord Shiva 7000 years ago as a system of spiritual practice. According to Tantra, all it takes to qualify to practice this process of unification with the Supreme Consciousness is : One must have a human body. Human beings are potentially divine and has the capacity to tread the path of spirituality leading to complete unfoldment of the latent divinity.

The scientific system of Tantric practice scores the spiritual aspirants according to receptivity and competence in complying to the Tantric course syllabi. Taking the condition of the psychic elevation of the mass to be at its very low scale, Lord Shiva used to urge them not to get lost in the mere theoretical speculations.

After Lord Shiva, the practice and propagation of Tantra fell into the hands of the unworthy. As a result Tantra came to be identified with sorcery, black magic and of occult powers. The practices of vidya tantra are introversal and ideative as it seeks to overcome the lower propensities by raising the kundalini (the latent divinity in man seated at the lowest cakra) upward to the higher plexus in the spinal column of the human anatomy.

Raising the kundalini results to progressive expansion of the psyche and the concommitant subjugation of the propensities. Avidya tantra is mainly focused in acquisition of occult powers while vidya tantra is solely aimed at unification (yoga) of the unit- consciousness with the cosmic- consciousness.

Sri P.R. Sarcar, the profounder of the present Tantric meditation technique, re-engineered the the ancient vidya tantra into its modern -day applicability but not without the co-existence of the negative influences of the avidya tantric forces of the millenium age maintaining an age old villain's role.

The state of unification (yoga) must be the goal of all spiritual practice. Yoga is derived from the root Yuj + Ghain which denotes the state of unification rather than addition. Yoga refers to a state in which the microscosmic -consciousness merges completly in the macro-cosmic consciousness.

The scientific step -by- step process of attaining unification starts with proper care of the human body. By sentient food and asanas ( innercises intended to keep glands in proper condition) the body is placed in complete preparedness to receive the flow of the spiritual energy that will pass through the body cells. For this , body cells are to be perfected by sentient food. Food has 3 classifications.

Static food is bad for both body and mind. Mutative food is good for the body but may or may not be good for the mind. Sentient food is good for both body and mind. Static food makes the mind inert and stimulates the baser propensities. Mutative food excites the physiological system and makes the mind unsteady.

Spiritual practice makes the mind subtle. A subtle mind requires a subtle body in order to function. Hence, the necessity of sentient food. In a healthy body there is psycho-physical parallelism. The importance of yogic postures (asanas) can not be overstated.

A healthy body and healthy mind makes glands and sub glands of the body function normally. Glands secret hormones into the blood stream. Over-secretion or under secretion of the hormons are caused by dysfunction of glands. Glands have direct effect on the body as well as onthe propensities (vrtiis). Yogic postures restore the normal functioning of the glands thereby promoting a healthy mind.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

P.R.SARKAR : THE RENAISSANCE MAN

The history 0f human society has recorded transition periods, inevitable junctures and cross-roads. Man-made as they were these trying times caused tremendous dents on the mortal frames of humanity.

The indicators are unmistakable symptoms such as decadence of values, disintegration and anarchy in the individual and corporate life, corruption, immorality, hypocrisy, rule of muscle strength and savagery.

Violence becomes ritual and almost a way of life. Dogma and superstition has taken hostage of intellect and reason. Forces of evil flourish and the proponents of righteousness perish. It is in these times of social exigencies that witness the advent of the Messiah, the Saviour. As dispeller of darkness He carries a torch in his right hand to illuminate the way out of the blinding darkness, to save the creation from the imminent ruin and guide them unto the goal of the reign of Good over the Evil.

The advent of P.R. Sarkar (Shrii Shrii Ananda Murtii) is the much awaited event in the life of planet Earth.

From his early childhood in Bihar, India, where he was born in 1921, P.R. Sarkar has been attracting others by his deep love for humanity and guiding them along the path of self-realization. Adjusting the ancient science of Tantra Yoga to meet the needs of this age, he developed a scientific and rational philosophy and a system of practical disciplines for physical, mental and spiritual development. Recognizing him as a spiritually realized Master, his followers called him "Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji" which means " He who attracts others as the embodiment of bliss," or simply " Baba" (Father).

Those who followed his teachings found their lives transformed as they overcame the weakness and the negative tendencies of the mind and experienced a deep peace and bliss within. Inspired by his selfless example, they turned their energies to serving the society and elevating the oppressed.

In 1955, while still leading a normal family life as a railway official, P.R.Sarkar formed the organization Ananda Marga ("The Path of Bliss,"), and began training missionary monks and nuns to spread his teachings of "self-realization and service to humanity" all over India and later throughout the world. Reflecting the broadness of his universal vision, Ananda Marga has become a multi-faceted organization with different branches dedicated to the upliftment of humanity through education, relief, welfare, the arts, ecology, intellectual renaissance, women's emancipation, and humanistic economy.

For the collective welfare of the entire society, he propounded the theory of PROUT (Progressive Utilizaion Theory), which stands for the maximum utilization and rational distribution of all the resources and potentialities of the world - physical, mental and spiritual
and the creation of new, humanistic social order of harmony and justice for all.

P.R. Sarkar established AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team), an international organization for the development cooperation and disaster relief. AMURT is a part of a global network spread over 160 countries. Development cooperation means to provide all people with the basic necessities of life. Within the area of development work, P.R.Sarkar introduced the concept of the All-Round Service (ARS) Project. He selected a few poverty stricken and disaster -prone areas where there would be a need to provide the fundamental necessities of life on an on-going basis . Accordingly, the ARS Projects provide food, clothes, medical care and education on regular basis to the people in these areas.

(To be continued)