Podcasts about Varanasi

H.A. & Pagans Indicted While Black Outlaws Party — Open Biker TalkGood morning friends. Today on Black Dragon Biker TV, we're covering a wide range of developing stories that highlight just how broad the biker world really is — from indictments and court cases to awareness, accountability, and prevention.We begin in Canada, where Hells Angels clubhouse owners in Surrey are pushing back against allegations of illegal activity. The B.C. government is seeking to seize a property allegedly linked to criminal enterprise, while the owner insists they knew nothing of any wrongdoing. We'll talk about civil forfeiture, burden of proof, and how these cases are increasingly being handled.Next, we head stateside.A violent daytime melee on Sunrise Highway in Suffolk County involving Pagans MC and Hells Angels has left multiple victims with life-threatening injuries. Prosecutors say five men used weapons during the clash, and those men have now been indicted. We'll discuss what's been reported, what charges mean, and how public incidents change the legal landscape.From there, we shift continents.A deadly Chinese manjha (glass-coated kite string) incident caught on camera in Varanasi, India, shows a biker narrowly escaping death when the string catches his neck, leaving a severe shoulder injury. We'll talk about the dangers of manjha, why it continues to be a threat, and what riders worldwide should know.We'll also highlight a positive development:Bikers Against Predators strikes again. An Indiana group's investigation has led to the arrest of a Baxter County man charged with sexual solicitation of minors. We'll discuss how these groups operate, why they're controversial to some, and why they continue to get results.And finally, a reminder that danger isn't always criminal:A navigation app led a biker straight into a 15-foot open well, raising serious questions about over-reliance on GPS and rider awareness.No hype.No sugarcoating.Just real conversation.This is one of those shows where:• Indictments get unpacked• Enforcement tactics get examined• Safety issues get highlighted• And the set talks to the set Call in. Drop comments. Join the discussion.Join Black Dragon, Lavish T. Williams, and Logic as we break it all down. Watch on: Black Dragon Biker TV – /blackdragonbikertv Lavish T. Williams – /@lavishtwilliams Keep It Logical – /keepitlogicalBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dragon-s-lair-motorcycle-chaos--3267493/support.Sponsor the channel by signing up for our channel memberships. You can also support us by signing up for our podcast channel membership for $9.99 per month, where 100% of the membership price goes directly to us at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-.... Follow us on:Instagram: BlackDragonBikerTV TikTok: BlackDragonBikertv Twitter: jbunchiiFacebook: BlackDragonBikerBuy Black Dragon Merchandise, Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts Books: https://blackdragonsgear.comDonate to our cause:Cashapp: $BikerPrezPayPal: jbunchii Zelle: jbunchii@aol.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BlackDragonNPSubscribe to our new discord server https://discord.gg/dshaTSTSubscribe to our online news magazine www.bikerliberty.comGet 20% off Gothic biker rings by using my special discount code: blackdragon go to http://gthic.com?aff=147Join my News Letter to get the latest in MC protocol, biker club content, and my best picks for every day carry. https://johns-newsletter-43af29.beehi... Get my Audio Book Prospect's Bible an Audible: https://adbl.co/3OBsfl5Help us get to 30,000 subscribers on www.instagram.com/BlackDragonBikerTV on Instagram. Thank you!We at Black Dragon Biker TV are dedicated to bringing you the latest news, updates, and analysis from the world of bikers and motorcycle clubs. Our content is created for news reporting, commentary, and discussion purposes. Under Section 107 of the Copyright

What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn; Google's agentic shopping, and powering Apple's Siri; ChatGPT Ads; and Claude CoWork. Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [MoonShots with Tony Robbins]; and three trends for authors with me and Orna Ross [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; plus, Bones of the Deep, Business for Authors, and Indie Author Lab. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. What is the Shadow? The ‘creative wound' and the Shadow in writing The Shadow in traditional publishing The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author The Shadow in work The Shadow in money You can find Writing the Shadow in all formats on all stores, as well as special edition, workbook and bundles at www.TheCreativePenn.com/shadowbook Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words The following chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn. Introduction. What is the Shadow? “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” —C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul We all have a Shadow side and it is the work of a lifetime to recognise what lies within and spin that base material into gold. Think of it as a seedling in a little pot that you're given when you're young. It's a bit misshapen and weird, not something you would display in your living room, so you place it in a dark corner of the basement. You don't look at it for years. You almost forget about it. Then one day you notice tendrils of something wild poking up through the floorboards. They're ugly and don't fit with your Scandi-minimalist interior design. You chop the tendrils away and pour weedkiller on what's left, trying to hide the fact that they were ever there. But the creeping stems keep coming. At some point, you know you have to go down there and face the wild thing your seedling has become. When you eventually pluck up enough courage to go down into the basement, you discover that the plant has wound its roots deep into the foundations of your home. Its vines weave in and out of the cracks in the walls, and it has beautiful flowers and strange fruit. It holds your world together. Perhaps you don't need to destroy the wild tendrils. Perhaps you can let them wind up into the light and allow their rich beauty to weave through your home. It will change the look you have so carefully cultivated, but maybe that's just what the place needs. The Shadow in psychology Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology. He described the Shadow as an unconscious aspect of the human personality, those parts of us that don't match up to what is expected of us by family and society, or to our own ideals. The Shadow is not necessarily evil or illegal or immoral, although of course it can be. It's also not necessarily caused by trauma, abuse, or any other severely damaging event, although again, it can be. It depends on the individual. What is in your Shadow is based on your life and your experiences, as well as your culture and society, so it will be different for everyone. Psychologist Connie Zweig, in The Inner Work of Age, explains, “The Shadow is that part of us that lies beneath or behind the light of awareness. It contains our rejected, unacceptable traits and feelings. It contains our hidden gifts and talents that have remained unexpressed or unlived. As Jung put it, the essence of the Shadow is pure gold.” To further illustrate the concept, Robert Bly, in A Little Book on the Human Shadow,uses the following metaphor: “When we are young, we carry behind us an invisible bag, into which we stuff any feelings, thoughts, or behaviours that bring disapproval or loss of love—anger, tears, neediness, laziness. By the time we go to school, our bags are already a mile long. In high school, our peer groups pressure us to stuff the bags with even more—individuality, sexuality, spontaneity, different opinions. We spend our life until we're twenty deciding which parts of ourselves to put into the bag and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.” As authors, we can use what's in the ‘bag' to enrich our writing — but only if we can access it. My intention with this book is to help you venture into your Shadow and bring some of what's hidden into the light and into your words. I'll reveal aspects of my Shadow in these pages but ultimately, this book is about you. Your Shadow is unique. There may be elements we share, but much will be different. Each chapter has questions for you to consider that may help you explore at least the edges of your Shadow, but it's not easy. As Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” But take heart, Creative. You don't need courage when things are easy. You need it when you know what you face will be difficult, but you do it anyway. We are authors. We know how to do hard things. We turn ideas into books. We manifest thoughts into ink on paper. We change lives with our writing. First, our own, then other people's. It's worth the effort to delve into Shadow, so I hope you will join me on the journey. The creative wound and the Shadow in writing “Whatever pain you can't get rid of, make it your creative offering.” —Susan Cain, Bittersweet  The more we long for something, the more extreme our desire, the more likely it is to have a Shadow side. For those of us who love books, the author life may well be a long-held dream and thus, it is filled with Shadow. Books have long been objects of desire, power, and authority. They hold a mythic status in our lives. We escaped into stories as children; we studied books at school and college; we read them now for escape and entertainment, education and inspiration. We collect beautiful books to put on our shelves. We go to them for solace and answers to the deepest questions of life. Writers are similarly held in high esteem. They shape culture, win literary prizes, give important speeches, and are quoted in the mainstream media. Their books are on the shelves in libraries and bookstores. Writers are revered, held up as rare, talented creatures made separate from us by their brilliance and insight. For bibliophile children, books were everything and to write one was a cherished dream. To become an author? Well, that would mean we might be someone special, someone worthy. Perhaps when you were young, you thought the dream of being a writer was possible — then you told someone about it. That's probably when you heard the first criticism of such a ridiculous idea, the first laughter, the first dismissal. So you abandoned the dream, pushed the idea of being a writer into the Shadow, and got on with your life. Or if it wasn't then, it came later, when you actually put pen to paper and someone — a parent, teacher, partner, or friend, perhaps even a literary agent or publisher, someone whose opinion you valued — told you it was worthless. Here are some things you might have heard: Writing is a hobby. Get a real job. You're not good enough. You don't have any writing talent. You don't have enough education. You don't know what you're doing. Your writing is derivative / unoriginal / boring / useless / doesn't make sense. The genre you write in is dead / worthless / unacceptable / morally wrong / frivolous / useless.  Who do you think you are? No one would want to read what you write. You can't even use proper grammar, so how could you write a whole book? You're wasting your time. You'll never make it as a writer. You shouldn't write those things (or even think about those things). Why don't you write something nice? Insert other derogatory comment here! Mark Pierce describes the effect of this experience in his book The Creative Wound, which “occurs when an event, or someone's actions or words, pierce you, causing a kind of rift in your soul. A comment—even offhand and unintentional—is enough to cause one.” He goes on to say that such words can inflict “damage to the core of who we are as creators. It is an attack on our artistic identity, resulting in us believing that whatever we make is somehow tainted or invalid, because shame has convinced us there is something intrinsically tainted or invalid about ourselves.” As adults, we might brush off such wounds, belittling them as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We might even find ourselves saying the same words to other people. After all, it's easier to criticise than to create. But if you picture your younger self, bright eyed as you lose yourself in your favourite book, perhaps you might catch a glimpse of what you longed for before your dreams were dashed on the rocks of other people's reality. As Mark Pierce goes on to say, “A Creative Wound has the power to delay our pursuits—sometimes for years—and it can even derail our lives completely… Anything that makes us feel ashamed of ourselves or our work can render us incapable of the self-expression we yearn for.” This is certainly what happened to me, and it took decades to unwind. Your creative wounds will differ to mine but perhaps my experience will help you explore your own. To be clear, your Shadow may not reside in elements of horror as mine do, but hopefully you can use my example to consider where your creative wounds might lie. “You shouldn't write things like that.” It happened at secondary school around 1986 or 1987, so I would have been around eleven or twelve years old. English was one of my favourite subjects and the room we had our lessons in looked out onto a vibrant garden. I loved going to that class because it was all about books, and they were always my favourite things. One day, we were asked to write a story. I can't remember the specifics of what the teacher asked us to write, but I fictionalised a recurring nightmare. I stood in a dark room. On one side, my mum and my brother, Rod, were tied up next to a cauldron of boiling oil, ready to be thrown in. On the other side, my dad and my little sister, Lucy, were threatened with decapitation by men with machetes. I had to choose who would die. I always woke up, my heart pounding, before I had to choose. Looking back now, it clearly represented an internal conflict about having to pick sides between the two halves of my family. Not an unexpected issue from a child of divorce. Perhaps these days, I might have been sent to the school counsellor, but it was the eighties and I don't think we even had such a thing. Even so, the meaning of the story isn't the point. It was the reaction to it that left scars. “You shouldn't write things like that,” my teacher said, and I still remember her look of disappointment, even disgust. Certainly judgment. She said my writing was too dark. It wasn't a proper story. It wasn't appropriate for the class. As if horrible things never happened in stories — or in life. As if literature could not include dark tales. As if the only acceptable writing was the kind she approved of. We were taught The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that year, which says a lot about the type of writing considered appropriate. Or perhaps the issue stemmed from the school motto, “So hateth she derknesse,” from Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women: “For fear of night, so she hates the darkness.” I had won a scholarship to a private girls' school, and their mission was to turn us all into proper young ladies. Horror was never on the curriculum. Perhaps if my teacher had encouraged me to write my darkness back then, my nightmares would have dissolved on the page. Perhaps if we had studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or H.P. Lovecraft stories, or Bram Stoker's Dracula, I could have embraced the darker side of literature earlier in my life. My need to push darker thoughts into my Shadow was compounded by my (wonderful) mum's best intentions. We were brought up on the principles of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and she tried to shield me and my brother from anything harmful or horrible. We weren't allowed to watch TV much, and even the British school drama Grange Hill was deemed inappropriate. So much of what I've achieved is because my mum instilled in me a “can do” attitude that anything is possible. I'm so grateful to her for that. (I love you, Mum!) But all that happy positivity, my desire to please her, to be a good girl, to make my teachers proud, and to be acceptable to society, meant that I pushed my darker thoughts into Shadow. They were inappropriate. They were taboo. They must be repressed, kept secret, and I must be outwardly happy and positive at all times. You cannot hold back the darkness “The night is dark and full of terrors.” —George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords It turned out that horror was on the curriculum, much of it in the form of educational films we watched during lessons. In English Literature, we watched Romeo drink poison and Juliet stab herself in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. In Religious Studies, we watched Jesus beaten, tortured, and crucified in The Greatest Story Ever Told, and learned of the variety of gruesome ways that Christian saints were martyred. In Classical Civilisation, we watched gladiators slaughter each other in Spartacus. In Sex Education at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the mid-'80s, we were told of the many ways we could get infected and die. In History, we studied the Holocaust with images of skeletal bodies thrown into mass graves, medical experiments on humans, and grainy videos of marching soldiers giving the Nazi salute. One of my first overseas school field trips was to the World War I battlegrounds of Flanders Fields in Belgium, where we studied the inhuman conditions of the trenches, walked through mass graves, and read war poetry by candlelight. As John McCrae wrote: We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Did the teachers not realise how deeply a sensitive teenager might feel the darkness of that place? Or have I always been unusual in that places of blood echo deep inside me? And the horrors kept coming. We lived in Bristol, England back then and I learned at school how the city had been part of the slave trade, its wealth built on the backs of people stolen from their homes, sold, and worked to death in the colonies. I had been at school for a year in Malawi, Africa and imagined the Black people I knew drowning, being beaten, and dying on those ships. In my teenage years, the news was filled with ethnic cleansing, mass rape, and massacres during the Balkan wars, and images of bodies hacked apart during the Rwandan genocide. Evil committed by humans against other humans was not a historical aberration. I'm lucky and I certainly acknowledge my privilege. Nothing terrible or horrifying has happened to me — but bad things certainly happen to others. I wasn't bullied or abused. I wasn't raped or beaten or tortured. But you don't have to go through things to be afraid of them, and for your imagination to conjure the possibility of them. My mum doesn't read my fiction now as it gives her nightmares (Sorry, Mum!). I know she worries that somehow she's responsible for my darkness, but I've had a safe and (mostly) happy life, for which I'm truly grateful. But the world is not an entirely safe and happy place, and for a sensitive child with a vivid imagination, the world is dark and scary. It can be brutal and violent, and bad things happen, even to good people. No parent can shield their child from the reality of the world. They can only help them do their best to live in it, develop resilience, and find ways to deal with whatever comes. Story has always been a way that humans have used to learn how to live and deal with difficult times. The best authors, the ones that readers adore and can't get enough of, write their darkness into story to channel their experience, and help others who fear the same. In an interview on writing the Shadow on The Creative Penn Podcast, Michaelbrent Collings shared how he incorporated a personally devastating experience into his writing:  “My wife and I lost a child years back, and that became the root of one of my most terrifying books, Apparition. It's not terrifying because it's the greatest book of all time, but just the concept that there's this thing out there… like a demon, and it consumes the blood and fear of the children, and then it withdraws and consumes the madness of the parents… I wrote that in large measure as a way of working through what I was experiencing.” I've learned much from Michaelbrent. I've read many of his (excellent) books and he's been on my podcast multiple times talking about his depression and mental health issues, as well as difficulties in his author career. Writing darkness is not in Michaelbrent's Shadow and only he can say what lies there for him. But from his example, and from that of other authors, I too learned how to write my Shadow into my books. Twenty-three years after that English lesson, in November 2009, I did NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, and wrote five thousand words of what eventually became Stone of Fire, my first novel. In the initial chapter, I burned a nun alive on the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River. I had watched the bodies burn by night on pyres from a boat bobbing in the current a few years before, and the image was still crystal clear in my mind. The only way to deal with how it made me feel about death was to write about it — and since then, I've never stopped writing. Returning to the nightmare from my school days, I've never had to choose between the two halves of my family, but the threat of losing them remains a theme in my fiction. In my ARKANE thriller series, Morgan Sierra will do anything to save her sister and her niece. Their safety drives her to continue to fight against evil. Our deepest fears emerge in our writing, and that's the safest place for them. I wish I'd been taught how to turn my nightmares into words back at school, but at least now I've learned to write my Shadow onto the page. I wish the same for you. The Shadow in traditional publishing If becoming an author is your dream, then publishing a book is deeply entwined with that. But as Mark Pierce says in The Creative Wound, “We feel pain the most where it matters the most… Desire highlights whatever we consider to be truly significant.” There is a lot of desire around publishing for those of us who love books! It can give you: Validation that your writing is good enough Status and credibility Acceptance by an industry held in esteem  The potential of financial reward and critical acclaim Support from a team of professionals who know how to make fantastic books A sense of belonging to an elite community Pride in achieving a long-held goal, resulting in a confidence boost and self-esteem Although not guaranteed, traditional publishing can give you all these things and more, but as with everything, there is a potential Shadow side. Denying it risks the potential of being disillusioned, disappointed, and even damaged. But remember, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Preparation can help you avoid potential issues and help you feel less alone if you encounter them. The myth of success… and the reality of experience There is a pervasive myth of success in the traditional publishing industry, perpetuated by media reporting on brand name and breakout authors, those few outliers whose experience is almost impossible to replicate. Because of such examples, many new traditionally published authors think that their first book will hit the top of the bestseller charts or win an award, as well as make them a million dollars — or at least a big chunk of cash. They will be able to leave their job, write in a beautiful house overlooking the ocean, and swan around the world attending conferences, while writing more bestselling books. It will be a charmed life. But that is not the reality. Perhaps it never was. Even so, the life of a traditionally published author represents a mythic career with the truth hidden behind a veil of obscurity. In April 2023, The Bookseller in the UK reported that “more than half of authors (54%) responding to a survey on their experiences of publishing their debut book have said the process negatively affected their mental health. Though views were mixed, just 22%… described a positive experience overall… Among the majority who said they had a negative experience of debut publication, anxiety, stress, depression and ‘lowered' self-esteem were cited, with lack of support, guidance or clear and professional communication from their publisher among the factors that contributed.” Many authors who have negative experiences around publishing will push them into the Shadow with denial or self-blame, preferring to keep the dream alive. They won't talk about things in public as this may negatively affect their careers, but private discussions are often held in the corners of writing conferences or social media groups online. Some of the issues are as follows: Repeated rejection by agents and publishers may lead to the author thinking they are not good enough as a writer, which can lead to feeling unworthy as a person. If an author gets a deal, the amount of advance and the name and status of the publisher compared to others create a hierarchy that impacts self-esteem. A deal for a book may be much lower than an author might have been expecting, with low or no advance, and the resulting experience with the publisher beneath expectations. The launch process may be disappointing, and the book may appear without fanfare, with few sales and no bestseller chart position. In The Bookseller report, one author described her launch day as “a total wasteland… You have expectations about what publication day will be like, but in reality, nothing really happens.” The book may receive negative reviews by critics or readers or more publicly on social media, which can make an author feel attacked. The book might not sell as well as expected, and the author may feel like it's their fault. Commercial success can sometimes feel tied to self-worth and an author can't help but compare their sales to others, with resulting embarrassment or shame. The communication from the publisher may be less than expected. One author in The Bookseller report said, “I was shocked by the lack of clarity and shared information and the cynicism that underlies the superficial charm of this industry.” There is often more of a focus on debut authors in publishing houses, so those who have been writing and publishing in the midlist for years can feel ignored and undervalued. In The Bookseller report, 48 percent of authors reported “their publisher supported them for less than a year,” with one saying, “I got no support and felt like a commodity, like the team had moved on completely to the next book.” If an author is not successful enough, the next deal may be lower than the last, less effort is made with marketing, and they may be let go. In The Bookseller report, “six authors—debut and otherwise—cited being dropped by their publisher, some with no explanation.” Even if everything goes well and an author is considered successful by others, they may experience imposter syndrome, feeling like a fraud when speaking at conferences or doing book signings. And the list goes on … All these things can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and embarrassment; loss of status in the eyes of peers; and a sense of failure if a publishing career is not successful enough. The author feels like it's their fault, like they weren't good enough — although, of course, the reality is that the conditions were not right at the time. A failure of a book is not a failure of the person, but it can certainly feel like it! When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Despite all the potential negatives of traditional publishing, if you know what could happen, you can mitigate them. You can prepare yourself for various scenarios and protect yourself from potential fall-out. It's clear from The Bookseller report that too many authors have unrealistic expectations of the industry. But publishers are businesses, not charities. It's not their job to make you feel good as an author. It's their job to sell books and pay you. The best thing they can do is to continue to be a viable business so they can keep putting books on the shelves and keep paying authors, staff, and company shareholders. When you license your creative work to a publisher, you're giving up control of your intellectual property in exchange for money and status. Bring your fears and issues out of the Shadow, acknowledge them, and deal with them early, so they do not get pushed down and re-emerge later in blame and bitterness. Educate yourself on the business of publishing. Be clear on what you want to achieve with any deal. Empower yourself as an author, take responsibility for your career, and you will have a much better experience. The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author Self-publishing, or being an independent (indie) author, can be a fantastic, pro-active choice for getting your book into the world. Holding your first book in your hand and saying “I made this” is pretty exciting, and even after more than forty books, I still get excited about seeing ideas in my head turn into a physical product in the world. Self-publishing can give an author: Creative control over what to write, editorial and cover design choices, when and how often to publish, and how to market Empowerment over your author career and the ability to make choices that impact success without asking for permission Ownership and control of intellectual property assets, resulting in increased opportunity around licensing and new markets Independence and the potential for recurring income for the long term Autonomy and flexibility around timelines, publishing options, and the ability to easily pivot into new genres and business models Validation based on positive reader reviews and money earned Personal growth and learning through the acquisition of new skills, resulting in a boost in confidence and self-esteem A sense of belonging to an active and vibrant community of indie authors around the world Being an indie author can give you all this and more, but once again, there is a Shadow side and preparation can help you navigate potential issues. The myth of success… and the reality of experience As with traditional publishing, the indie author world has perpetuated a myth of success in the example of the breakout indie author like E.L. James with Fifty Shades of Grey, Hugh Howey with Wool, or Andy Weir with The Martian. The emphasis on financial success is also fuelled online by authors who share screenshots showing six-figure months or seven-figure years, without sharing marketing costs and other outgoings, or the amount of time spent on the business. Yes, these can inspire some, but it can also make others feel inadequate and potentially lead to bad choices about how to publish and market based on comparison. The indie author world is full of just as much ego and a desire for status and money as traditional publishing. This is not a surprise! Most authors, regardless of publishing choices, are a mix of massive ego and chronic self-doubt. We are human, so the same issues will re-occur. A different publishing method doesn't cure all ills. Some of the issues are as follows: You learn everything you need to know about writing and editing, only to find that you need to learn a whole new set of skills in order to self-publish and market your book. This can take a lot of time and effort you did not expect, and things change all the time so you have to keep learning. Being in control of every aspect of the publishing process, from writing to cover design to marketing, can be overwhelming, leading to indecision, perfectionism, stress, and even burnout as you try to do all the things. You try to find people to help, but building your team is a challenge, and working with others has its own difficulties. People say negative things about self-publishing that may arouse feelings of embarrassment or shame. These might be little niggles, but they needle you, nonetheless. You wonder whether you made the right choice. You struggle with self-doubt and if you go to an event with traditional published authors, you compare yourself to them and feel like an imposter. Are you good enough to be an author if a traditional publisher hasn't chosen you? Is it just vanity to self-publish? Are your books unworthy? Even though you worked with a professional editor, you still get one-star reviews and you hate criticism from readers. You wonder whether you're wasting your time. You might be ripped off by an author services company who promise the world, only to leave you with a pile of printed books in your garage and no way to sell them. When you finally publish your book, it languishes at the bottom of the charts while other authors hit the top of the list over and over, raking in the cash while you are left out of pocket. You don't admit to over-spending on marketing as it makes you ashamed. You resist book marketing and make critical comments about writers who embrace it. You believe that quality rises to the top and if a book is good enough, people will buy it anyway. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when you launch your book and it doesn't sell many copies because nobody knows about it. You try to do what everyone advises, but you still can't make decent money as an author. You're jealous of other authors' success and put it down to them ‘selling out' or writing things you can't or ‘using AI' or ‘using a ghostwriter' or having a specific business model you consider impossible to replicate. And the list goes on… When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Being in control of your books and your author career is a double-edged sword. Traditionally published authors can criticise their publishers or agents or the marketing team or the bookstores or the media, but indie authors have to take responsibility for it all. Sure, we can blame ‘the algorithms' or social media platforms, or criticise other authors for having more experience or more money to invest in marketing, or attribute their success to writing in a more popular genre — but we also know there are always people who do well regardless of the challenges. Once more, we're back to acknowledging and integrating the Shadow side of our choices. We are flawed humans. There will always be good times and bad, and difficulties to offset the high points. This too shall pass, as the old saying goes. I know that being an indie author has plenty of Shadow. I've been doing this since 2008 and despite the hard times, I'm still here. I'm still writing. I'm still publishing. This life is not for everyone, but it's my choice. You must make yours. The Shadow in work You work hard. You make a living. Nothing wrong with that attitude, right? It's what we're taught from an early age and, like so much of life, it's not a problem until it goes to extremes. Not achieving what you want to? Work harder. Can't get ahead? Work harder. Not making a good enough living? Work harder. People who don't work hard are lazy. They don't deserve handouts or benefits. People who don't work hard aren't useful, so they are not valued members of our culture and community. But what about the old or the sick, the mentally ill, or those with disabilities? What about children? What about the unemployed? The under-employed? What about those who are — or will be — displaced by technology, those called “the useless class” by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus? What if we become one of these in the future? Who am I if I cannot work? The Shadow side of my attitude to work became clear when I caught COVID in the summer of 2021. I was the sickest I'd ever been. I spent two weeks in bed unable to even think properly, and six weeks after that, I was barely able to work more than an hour a day before lying in the dark and waiting for my energy to return. I was limited in what I could do for another six months after that. At times, I wondered if I would ever get better. Jonathan kept urging me to be patient and rest. But I don't know how to rest. I know how to work and how to sleep. I can do ‘active rest,' which usually involves walking a long way or traveling somewhere interesting, but those require a stronger mind and body than I had during those months. It struck me that even if I recovered from the virus, I had glimpsed my future self. One day, I will be weak in body and mind. If I'm lucky, that will be many years away and hopefully for a short time before I die — but it will happen. I am an animal. I will die. My body and mind will pass on and I will be no more. Before then I will be weak. Before then, I will be useless. Before then, I will be a burden. I will not be able to work… But who am I if I cannot work? What is the point of me? I can't answer these questions right now, because although I recognise them as part of my Shadow, I've not progressed far enough to have dealt with them entirely. My months of COVID gave me some much-needed empathy for those who cannot work, even if they want to. We need to reframe what work is as a society, and value humans for different things, especially as technology changes what work even means. That starts with each of us. “Illness, affliction of body and soul, can be life-altering. It has the potential to reveal the most fundamental conflict of the human condition: the tension between our infinite, glorious dreams and desires and our limited, vulnerable, decaying physicality.” —Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul The Shadow in money In the Greek myth, King Midas was a wealthy ruler who loved gold above all else. His palace was adorned with golden sculptures and furniture, and he took immense pleasure in his riches. Yet, despite his vast wealth, he yearned for more. After doing a favour for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, Midas was granted a single wish. Intoxicated by greed, he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold — and it was so. At first, it was a lot of fun. Midas turned everything else in his palace to gold, even the trees and stones of his estate. After a morning of turning things to gold, he fancied a spot of lunch. But when he tried to eat, the food and drink turned to gold in his mouth. He became thirsty and hungry — and increasingly desperate. As he sat in despair on his golden throne, his beloved young daughter ran to comfort him. For a moment, he forgot his wish — and as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, she turned into a golden statue, frozen in precious metal. King Midas cried out to the gods to forgive him, to reverse the wish. He renounced his greed and gave away all his wealth, and his daughter was returned to life. The moral of the story: Wealth and greed are bad. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is described as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” He's wealthy but does not share, considering Christmas spending to be frivolous and giving to charity to be worthless. He's saved by a confrontation with his lonely future and becomes a generous man and benefactor of the poor. Wealth is good if you share it with others. The gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: 14-30, tells the parable of the bags of gold, in which a rich man goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold. On his return, the servants who multiplied the gold through their efforts and investments are rewarded, while the one who merely returned the gold with no interest is punished: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Making money is good, making more money is even better. If you can't make any money, you don't deserve to have any. Within the same gospel, in Matthew 19:24, Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, which the man is unable to do. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is bad. Give it all away and you'll go to heaven. With all these contradictory messages, no wonder we're so conflicted about money! How do you think and feel about money? While money is mostly tied to our work, it's far more than just a transactional object for most people. It's loaded with complex symbolism and judgment handed down by family, religion, and culture. You are likely to find elements of Shadow by examining your attitudes around money. Consider which of the following statements resonate with you or write your own. Money stresses me out. I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Some people hoard money, so there is inequality. Rich people are bad and we should take away their wealth and give it to the poor.  I can never make enough money to pay the bills, or to give my family what I want to provide. Money doesn't grow on trees.  It's wasteful to spend money as you might need it later, so I'm frugal and don't spend money unless absolutely necessary. It is better and more ethical to be poor than to be rich. I want more money. I read books and watch TV shows about rich people because I want to live like that. Sometimes I spend too much on things for a glimpse of what that might be like.  I buy lottery tickets and dream of winning all that money.  I'm jealous of people who have money. I want more of it and I resent those who have it. I'm no good with money. I don't like to look at my bank statement or credit card statement. I live off my overdraft and I'm in debt. I will never earn enough to get out of debt and start saving, so I don't think too much about it. I don't know enough about money. Talking about it makes me feel stupid, so I just ignore it. People like me aren't educated about money.  I need to make more money. If I can make lots of money, then people will look up to me. If I make lots of money, I will be secure, nothing can touch me, I will be safe.  I never want to be poor. I would be ashamed to be poor. I will never go on benefits. My net worth is my self worth. Money is good. We have the best standard of living in history because of the increase in wealth over time. Even the richest kings of the past didn't have what many middle-class people have today in terms of access to food, water, technology, healthcare, education, and more. The richest people give the most money to the poor through taxation and charity, as well as through building companies that employ people and invent new things. The very richest give away much of their fortunes. They provide far more benefit to the world than the poor.  I love money. Money loves me. Money comes easily and quickly to me. I attract money in multiple streams of income. It flows to me in so many ways. I spend money. I invest money. I give money. I'm happy and grateful for all that I receive. The Shadow around money for authors in particular Many writers and other creatives have issues around money and wealth. How often have you heard the following, and which do you agree with? You can't make money with your writing. You'll be a poor author in a garret, a starving artist.  You can't write ‘good quality' books and make money. If you make money writing, you're a hack, you're selling out. You are less worthy than someone who writes only for the Muse. Your books are commercial, not artistic. If you spend money on marketing, then your books are clearly not good enough to sell on their own. My agent / publisher / accountant / partner deals with the money side. I like to focus on the creative side of things. My money story Note: This is not financial or investment advice. Please talk to a professional about your situation. I've had money issues over the years — haven't we all! But I have been through a (long) process to bring money out of my Shadow and into the light. There will always be more to discover, but hopefully my money story will help you, or at least give you an opportunity to reflect. Like most people, I didn't grow up with a lot of money. My parents started out as teachers, but later my mum — who I lived with, along with my brother — became a change management consultant, moving to the USA and earning a lot more. I'm grateful that she moved into business because her example changed the way I saw money and provided some valuable lessons. (1) You can change your circumstances by learning more and then applying that to leverage opportunity into a new job or career Mum taught English at a school in Bristol when we moved back from Malawi, Africa, in the mid '80s but I remember how stressful it was for her, and how little money she made. She wanted a better future for us all, so she took a year out to do a master's degree in management. In the same way, when I wanted to change careers and leave consulting to become an author, I spent time and money learning about the writing craft and the business of publishing. I still invest a considerable chunk on continuous learning, as this industry changes all the time. (2) You might have to downsize in order to leap forward The year my mum did her degree, we lived in the attic of another family's house; we ate a lot of one-pot casserole and our treat was having a Yorkie bar on the walk back from the museum. We wore hand-me-down clothes, and I remember one day at school when another girl said I was wearing her dress. I denied it, of course, but there in back of the dress was her name tag. I still remember her name and I can still feel that flush of shame and embarrassment. I was determined to never feel like that again. But what I didn't realize at the time was that I was also learning the power of downsizing. Mum got her degree and then a new job in management in Bristol. She bought a house, and we settled for a few years. I had lots of different jobs as a teenager. My favourite was working in the delicatessen because we got a free lunch made from delicious produce. After I finished A-levels, I went to the University of Oxford, and my mum and brother moved to the USA for further opportunities. I've downsized multiple times over the years, taking a step back in order to take a step forward. The biggest was in 2010 when I decided to leave consulting. Jonathan and I sold our three-bedroom house and investments in Brisbane, Australia, and rented a one-bedroom flat in London, so we could be debt-free and live on less while I built up a new career. It was a decade before we bought another house. (3) Comparison can be deadly: there will always be people with more money than you Oxford was an education in many ways and relevant to this chapter is how much I didn't know about things people with money took for granted. I learned about formal hall and wine pairings, and how to make a perfect gin and tonic. I ate smoked salmon for the first time. I learned how to fit in with people who had a lot more money than I did, and I definitely wanted to have money of my own to play with. (4) Income is not wealth You can earn lots but have nothing to show for it after years of working. I learned this in my first few years of IT consulting after university. I earned a great salary and then went contracting, earning even more money at a daily rate. I had a wonderful time. I traveled, ate and drank and generally made merry, but I always had to go back to the day job when the money ran out. I couldn't work out how I could ever stop this cycle. Then I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, a book I still recommend, especially if you're from a family that values academic over financial education. I learned how to escape the rat race by building and/or accumulating assets that pay even when you're not working. It was a revelation! The ‘poor dad' in the book is a university professor. He knows so much about so many things, but he ends up poor as he did not educate himself about money. The ‘rich dad' has little formal education, but he knows about money and wealth because he learned about it, as we can do at any stage in our lives. (5) Not all investments suit every person, so find the right one for you Once I discovered the world of investing, I read all the books and did courses and in-person events. I joined communities and I up-skilled big time. Of course, I made mistakes and learned lots along the way. I tried property investing and renovated a couple of houses for rental (with more practical partners and skilled contractors). But while I could see that property investing might work for some people, I did not care enough about the details to make it work for me, and it was certainly not passive income. I tried other things. My first husband was a boat skipper and scuba diving instructor, so we started a charter. With the variable costs of fuel, the vagaries of New Zealand weather — and our divorce — it didn't last long! From all these experiments, I learned I wanted to run a business, but it needed to be online and not based on a physical location, physical premises, or other people. That was 2006, around the time that blogging started taking off and it became possible to make a living online. I could see the potential and a year later, the iPhone and the Amazon Kindle launched, which became the basis of my business as an author. (6) Boring, automatic saving and investing works best Between 2007 and 2011, I contracted in Australia, where they have compulsory superannuation contributions, meaning you have to save and invest a percentage of your salary or self-employed income. I'd never done that before, because I didn't understand it. I'd ploughed all my excess income into property or the business instead. But in Australia I didn't notice the money going out because it was automatic. I chose a particular fund and it auto-invested every month. The pot grew pretty fast since I didn't touch it, and years later, it's still growing. I discovered the power of compound interest and time in the market, both of which are super boring. This type of investing is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a slow process of automatically putting money into boring investments and doing that month in, month out, year in, year out, automatically for decades while you get on with your life. I still do this. I earn money as an author entrepreneur and I put a percentage of that into boring investments automatically every month. I also have a small amount which is for fun and higher risk investments, but mostly I'm a conservative, risk-averse investor planning ahead for the future. This is not financial advice, so I'm not giving any specifics. I have a list of recommended money books at www.TheCreativePenn.com/moneybooks if you want to learn more. Learning from the Shadow When I look back, my Shadow side around money eventually drove me to learn more and resulted in a better outcome (so far!). I was ashamed of being poor when I had to wear hand-me-down clothes at school. That drove a fear of not having any money, which partially explains my workaholism. I was embarrassed at Oxford because I didn't know how to behave in certain settings, and I wanted to be like the rich people I saw there. I spent too much money in my early years as a consultant because I wanted to experience a “rich” life and didn't understand saving and investing would lead to better things in the future. I invested too much in the wrong things because I didn't know myself well enough and I was trying to get rich quick so I could leave my job and ‘be happy.' But eventually, I discovered that I could grow my net worth with boring, long-term investments while doing a job I loved as an author entrepreneur. My only regret is that I didn't discover this earlier and put a percentage of my income into investments as soon as I started work. It took several decades to get started, but at least I did (eventually) start. My money story isn't over yet, and I keep learning new things, but hopefully my experience will help you reflect on your own and avoid the issue if it's still in Shadow. These chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn  The post Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Varanasi Ropeway Project: How Facts were Twisted to Target Yogi and Modi | Fact Check

In this episode of Shift with CJ, I step into the guest seat on Dr. Jameel Rizwana Hussain's podcast Let the Soul Speak. Riz is a spiritual and manifestation coach, and together we explore what it really means to “upgrade your human”—going beyond biohacking tools and into purpose, spirituality, and inner fulfillment.We talk about how my journey into health didn't start with supplements or saunas. It started with pain. Growing up obese and being bullied pushed me toward martial arts, then fitness, CrossFit, and physical mastery. From the outside, things looked great—but inside, I felt hollow. That gap led me to search for happiness, peace, and meaning beyond the body.Biohacking gave me the science and language to understand longevity, energy, and performance. But over time, I realized something important: spirituality begins where biohacking ends. Biohacking can optimize sleep, HRV, and physical health, but it can't fill what I call the “eternal hole in the heart.” That's where spirituality comes in.RZ and I revisit a powerful idea we shared years ago: we are not human beings having a spiritual experience—we are spiritual beings having a human experience. This perspective reframes how we approach health, success, and suffering.We also dive into the meaning of my name, Chiranjivi, which in Sanskrit means “eternal” or “one who works toward longevity and well-being.” Once something I resisted, it later felt like a calling. I share my most spiritually transformative experience at the Maha Kumbh Mela and during Mahashivratri in Varanasi, where I experienced deep inner calm, heightened intuition, and a profound connection to Krishna.A key theme throughout the episode is moderation. Extremes—even in wellness—eventually backfire. The middle way, as taught by the Buddha, is what sustains health, clarity, and peace.Looking forward, my mission is to simplify biohacking, make optimization accessible to more people, and personally go much deeper into the spiritual path.Key TakeawaysBiohacking optimizes the body, spirituality fulfills the soul.Physical fitness alone doesn't guarantee inner peace.We are spiritual beings having a human experience.Moderation is the foundation of long-term wellness.Inner anchoring leads to clarity, joy, and fulfillment.5 Things You Can Start Doing TodaySpend time on inner work and find your spiritual anchor.Practice moderation in food, training, work, and habits.Wake up earlier and move your body daily.Connect with people and spend time outdoors.Get sunlight, ground yourself, and prioritize quality sleep.

We speak with, Dr. Anil Kumar Maurya, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Anil is currently a visiting researcher at the department.We discuss recent trends in (Asian) cybercrime and cyberscams and how to deal with them.Links:https://id.univie.ac.at/team/gastforscherinnen/maurya-anil-kumar/https://in.linkedin.com/in/anil-kumar-maurya-483938312

Anil Varanasi is the co-founder and CEO of Meter, which provides full-stack networking infrastructure as a service for businesses. Since founding Meter with his brother Sunil in 2015, Anil has been playing a distinctly long game in one of the most entrenched markets in technology, betting on vertical integration, business model innovation, and a multi-decade time horizon. In this conversation, he unpacks Meter's origin story, from four-plus years of heads-down R&D, and shares how his unconventional approach to planning, management, and pace keeps him excited to run the company for decades. In today's episode, we discuss: Why Anil thinks in 25-year horizons How operating in a monopolistic market shaped Meter's approach Why Meter scrapped a year of OS work during the R&D phase How Meter is rethinking networking's business model Surviving COVID, Apple's M1 transition, and “a thousand bad days” Anil's contrarian views on planning, OKRs, and management How founders can build companies they'll want to run for decades Where to find Anil: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anilcv/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/acv Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast References: ADT: ⁠https://www.adt.com⁠ Alex Honnold: ⁠https://www.alexhonnold.com⁠ Alex Tabarrok: ⁠https://x.com/ATabarrok⁠ ⁠alarm.com⁠: ⁠https://www.alarm.com⁠ Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): ⁠https://a16z.com⁠ Apple: ⁠https://www.apple.com⁠ Bloomberg: ⁠https://www.bloomberg.com⁠ Bryan Caplan: ⁠http://www.bcaplan.com/⁠ Cisco: ⁠https://www.cisco.com⁠ Coca-Cola: ⁠https://www.coca-colacompany.com⁠ George Mason University (GMU): ⁠https://www.gmu.edu⁠ Intel: ⁠https://www.intel.com⁠ Julia Galef: ⁠https://x.com/juliagalef⁠ Martin Casado: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/martincasado/⁠ Meraki: ⁠https://meraki.cisco.com⁠ Meter: ⁠https://www.meter.com⁠ Michela Giorcelli: ⁠https://x.com/M_Giorcelli⁠ Nicholas Bloom: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-bloom-stanford/⁠ Raffaella Sadun: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/raffaella-sadun-3a182225/⁠ Sanjit Biswas: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjitbiswas/⁠ Sunil Varanasi: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunil-varanasi-662a01253/⁠ Tyler Cowen: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-cowen-166718/⁠ Twitch: ⁠https://www.twitch.tv⁠ Timestamps: (01:27) Meter's unusual timeframes (04:06) “We don't do OKRs” (06:32) How to plan without planning (08:31) Track your unhappy customers (11:43) How Meter's journey began (15:02) Dissecting the 2010s SaaS boom (17:06) The networking industry trap (21:44) Meter's first roadblock (22:07) Why Shenzhen accelerated Meter's progress (26:29) The process to get a sales-ready product (31:02) Why you should own the full stack (32:45) The surprising thing you should innovate (35:03) Avoiding the one-trick pony trap (37:39) The secret to finding an excellent market (43:48) How COVID's constraints propelled growth (48:25) Why founders need to know their customers (49:34) Why Meter didn't sell via traditional channels (51:44) You need “seller-market fit” (54:51) The danger of meta-work (56:25) Decoupling management from authority (1:02:17) When the person is the problem (1:05:05) The inherent value of going slowly (1:09:41) Running a company for as long as possible

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Unplanned Adventures in Varanasi: Lost and Found Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-12-09-23-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: कड़कड़ाती सर्दी की सुबह थी।En: It was a bone-chilling winter morning.Hi: वाराणसी की मसालों की बाजार अपनी चिरपरिचित धूमधाम में रंगी हुई थी।En: The spice market of Varanasi was painted with its usual hustle and bustle.Hi: हर कोने से मसालों की तीखी खुशबू उड़ रही थी।En: The sharp aroma of spices wafted through every corner.Hi: छोटे-छोटे गलियों में दुकानदारों की तेज आवाजें गूंज रही थीं।En: The loud voices of shopkeepers echoed in the narrow lanes.Hi: उसी भीड़-भाड़ के बीच, काव्या और रजत, परिवार की शादी के लिए खरीदारी करने आए थे।En: Amidst this crowd, Kavya and Rajat had come to shop for a family wedding.Hi: काव्या के मन में लिस्ट थे - हर छोटी-छोटी चीज़ की सूचि, जिसे खरीदना था।En: Kavya had a list in her mind—a checklist of every little thing they needed to buy.Hi: पर रजत ने उसे आराम से लेने का सुझाव दिया।En: But Rajat suggested she take it easy.Hi: "रिलैक्स, काव्या," उसने मुस्कुराते हुए कहा, जब वह गली में दिखाए गए नृत्य कलाकार की ओर खिंचता चला गया।En: "Relax, Kavya," he said with a smile, as he got drawn towards a street performer dancing in the alley.Hi: काव्या अपने काम में डूबी रही और खरीदारी करती रही।En: Kavya remained engrossed in her task and continued shopping.Hi: अचानक उसने महसूस किया कि रजत कहीं गुम हो गया है।En: Suddenly, she realized Rajat had gone missing.Hi: "रजत!En: "Rajat!Hi: तुम कहां हो?En: Where are you?"Hi: " उसने भीड़ के बीच पुकारा।En: she called out amidst the crowd.Hi: लेकिन कोई जवाब नहीं आया।En: But there was no response.Hi: उसके हाथों में खरीदे गए सामान के थैले थे जो भारी होते जा रहे थे।En: The shopping bags in her hands were becoming heavier and heavier.Hi: वह सोच में पड़ गई।En: She was perplexed.Hi: क्या उसे रजत का इंतज़ार करना चाहिए या अकेले ही खरीदारी पूरी करनी चाहिए?En: Should she wait for Rajat or finish shopping alone?Hi: वह सोच ही रही थी तभी उसने देखा कि एक छोटी बच्ची अपनी माँ को खोजते हुए रो रही है।En: While pondering, she noticed a little girl crying, searching for her mother.Hi: काव्या के मन में कुछ हलचल हुई।En: A stir surged through Kavya's heart.Hi: उसने बच्ची के पास जाकर पूछा, "क्या तुम खो गई हो?En: She approached the girl and asked, "Are you lost?"Hi: " बच्ची ने सिर हिलाया।En: The girl nodded.Hi: काव्या ने उस बच्ची की मदद करने का निर्णय लिया।En: Kavya decided to help her.Hi: बच्ची का हाथ पकड़ कर उसने उसके परिवार को खोजने में उसकी मदद की।En: She held the girl's hand and helped her find her family.Hi: कुछ देर बाद, बच्ची की माँ मिल गई और बच्ची उससे मिलकर बहुत खुश हो गई।En: Soon, the girl's mother was found, and the girl was overjoyed to reunite with her.Hi: वह देख काव्या को एक अजीब सा सुकून मिला।En: Seeing this brought an inexplicable peace to Kavya.Hi: और फिर भीड़ में उसे रजत दिखा—उसकी ओर आता हुआ, मुस्कुराते हुए।En: And then amidst the crowd, she saw Rajat—coming towards her, smiling.Hi: "सॉरी, कहीं और खो गया था," रजत ने हंसते हुए कहा।En: "Sorry, got lost somewhere else," Rajat said, laughing.Hi: "कोई बात नहीं, देखो, मैंने भी कुछ नया अनुभव कर लिया," काव्या ने मुस्कुराते हुए जवाब दिया।En: "No worries, look, I've had a new experience too," Kavya replied with a smile.Hi: इन अनपेक्षित घटनाओं ने काव्या के दिल में एक नई सीख छोड़ी।En: These unexpected events left a new lesson in Kavya's heart.Hi: उसने जाना कि ज़िंदगी में थोड़ी अप्रत्याशिता और दूसरों की मदद का मज़ा भी अलग होता है।En: She realized that a bit of unpredictability and the joy of helping others adds a different flavor to life.Hi: वह यह जान चुकी थी कि ज़िम्मेदारियों के साथ-साथ कुछ मनमर्जी के पल भी जुटाए जा सकते हैं।En: She understood that alongside responsibilities, there can be moments of spontaneity too. Vocabulary Words:bone-chilling: कड़कड़ातीhustle and bustle: धूमधामwafted: उड़ रही थीechoed: गूंज रही थींengrossed: डूबी रहीperplexed: सोच में पड़ गईpondering: सोच ही रही थीstir: हलचलinexplicable: अजीबunpredictability: अप्रत्याशिताspontaneity: मनमर्जीaroma: खुशबूperformer: नृत्य कलाकारheavier: भारीcrying: रो रहीreunite: मिलकरsmiling: मुस्कुरातेdrawn: खिंचताoverjoyed: बहुत खुशlesson: सीखunderstood: जानाresponsibilities: ज़िम्मेदारियोंalongside: साथ-साथchecklist: सूचिunanticipated: अनपेक्षितfinish: पूरी करनाcrowd: भीड़-भाड़narrow lanes: छोटे-छोटे गलियोंshopping bags: थैलेrealized: महसूस किया

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: A Heartfelt Tribute: Priya's Journey to Honor Her Father's Wish Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-12-08-23-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: सर्दियों की बात है।En: It was the time of winter.Hi: वाराणसी की प्राचीन नगरी मकर संक्रांति के पावन अवसर पर श्रद्धालुओं से खचाखच भरी हुई थी।En: The ancient city of Varanasi was bustling with devotees on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti.Hi: गंगा के किनारे जिधर नजर जाती, रंग-बिरंगे कपड़ों में घिरे हुए भक्त दिखते थे।En: Wherever one looked along the banks of the Ganga, there were devotees clad in colorful clothes.Hi: गंगा की पवित्र लहरें ठंडी हवा के साथ ताल से ताल मिलाती थीं।En: The sacred waves of the Ganga were in harmony with the chilly breeze.Hi: प्रिया ने अपने पिता की अंतिम इच्छा पूरी करने की ठान ली थी।En: Priya had resolved to fulfill her father's last wish.Hi: वह ठंड और भीड़ के बावजूद अपने भाई सुमन और चचेरे भाई अर्जुन के साथ गंगा घाट पर पहुंची थी।En: Despite the cold and the crowd, she arrived at the Ganga Ghat with her brother Suman and cousin Arjun.Hi: प्रिया के मन में एक ही धुन थी - अपने पिता की शांति के लिए गंगा में उनके लिए पूजा-अर्चना करना।En: Priya had one goal in her heart - to perform rituals in the Ganga for her father's peace.Hi: अर्जुन से रोमियो की तरह रहता था, लेकिन वह भी इस काम के लिए वहां आया था, क्योंकि वह प्रिया के निर्णय का सम्मान करता था।En: Arjun, who usually behaved like Romeo, was also there for this task because he respected Priya's decision.Hi: सुमन को कोई विशेष लगाव नहीं था, परंतु अपने बहन का साथ देने के लिए वह भी आया था।En: Suman didn't have a particular attachment, but he came along to support his sister.Hi: घाट पर पहुँच कर, प्रिया का मन थोड़ा हिचकिचा गया।En: Upon reaching the ghat, Priya felt a bit hesitant.Hi: भीड़ देखकर उसे चिंता होने लगी कि कहीं वह इस शोर में अपने मन की शांति खो न दे।En: Seeing the crowd made her worry that she might lose her peace of mind amidst the noise.Hi: परंतु यह उसके पिता की अंतिम इच्छा थी, जिसे पूरा करना उसका कर्तव्य था।En: However, it was her father's last wish, which she saw as her duty to fulfill.Hi: चारों ओर हंगामा और शोरगुल था।En: There was commotion and noise all around.Hi: प्रिया ने अर्जुन से मदद मांगी।En: Priya asked Arjun for help.Hi: उसने घाट पर थोड़ी जगह बनाने की विनती की, ताकि वह पवित्र जल में पूजा कर सके।En: She requested him to create a little space on the ghat so she could perform rituals in the holy water.Hi: अर्जुन ने धैर्य और समझदारी से लोगों को थोड़ा जगह देने के लिए कहा।En: Arjun patiently and wisely asked people to make some room.Hi: इस बीच सुमन ने पूजा की सामग्री तैयार की।En: Meanwhile, Suman prepared the materials for the rituals.Hi: जब आखिरकार जगह मिली, प्रिया ने गंगा की ओर मुंह कर अपने पिता के लिए प्रार्थना शुरू की।En: When they finally found a spot, Priya faced the Ganga and began praying for her father.Hi: वह गंगा जल में कुछ पुष्प चढ़ाने लगी।En: She started offering some flowers to the Ganga water.Hi: ठंडी हवा उसके चेहरे पर लगी, और तभी उसे महसूस हुआ कि उसके दिल में एक अजीब सी शांति छा गई।En: The cold wind hit her face, and at that moment, she felt a strange peace envelop her heart.Hi: वह पल सचमुच अविस्मरणीय था।En: That moment was truly unforgettable.Hi: प्रिया ने महसूस किया कि उसे अपने पिता के साथ एक गहरा संबंध मिल गया है।En: Priya felt a deep connection with her father.Hi: उन अराजक स्थितियों में भी उसे उनके आशीर्वाद का अनुभव हुआ।En: Even in those chaotic situations, she felt his blessings.Hi: पूजा समाप्त होने के बाद, तीनों ने वहां से लौटने का निश्चय किया।En: After the rituals concluded, the three decided to head back.Hi: उन सब के मन में असीम शांति और संतोष था।En: They all felt immense peace and contentment.Hi: परिवार और परंपरा के अहसास ने उन्हें और करीब ला दिया था।En: The sense of family and tradition brought them closer.Hi: वाराणसी से वापस लौटते समय, प्रिया को अपने पिता की विरासत का अर्थ समझ में आने लगा।En: On the way back from Varanasi, Priya began to understand the meaning of her father's legacy.Hi: उसने इस अनुभव के माध्यम से सीखा कि परंपराओं का सम्मान करना और आंतरिक संदेह के साथ इनका सामंजस्य करना किस प्रकार संभव है।En: Through this experience, she learned how it is possible to respect traditions and reconcile them with inner doubts.Hi: परिवार के साथ इस यात्रा ने प्रिया के मन में नए जोश के साथ पुनः विश्वास जगा दिया था।En: The journey with her family reignited a new sense of confidence within Priya. Vocabulary Words:ancient: प्राचीनbustling: खचाखच भरी हुईdevotees: श्रद्धालुओंauspicious: पावनoccasion: अवसरsacred: पवित्रharmony: ताल से ताल मिलातीresolved: ठान लियाfulfill: पूरी करनेchilly: ठंडीrituals: पूजा-अर्चनाhesitant: हिचकिचाcommotion: हंगामाholy: पवित्रwisely: समझदारी सेpraying: प्रार्थनाoffering: चढ़ानेstrange: अजीबenvelop: छा गईunforgettable: अविस्मरणीयchaotic: अराजकblessings: आशीर्वादconcluded: समाप्तimmense: असीमcontentment: संतोषlegacy: विरासतtraditions: परंपराओंreconcile: सामंजस्यconfidence: विश्वासchaos: शोरगुल

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Bonds and Ashes: A Family Journey by the Ganga Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-12-03-23-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: गंगा नदी के किनारे, वाराणसी में, सूरज की किरणें सुनहरे रंग में बिखरी हुई थीं।En: On the banks of the Ganga River, in Varanasi, the rays of the sun were scattered in a golden hue.Hi: पतझड़ का मौसम था।En: It was the season of autumn.Hi: गंगा का जल मंदिरों और घाटों के बीच शांति से बह रहा था।En: The waters of the Ganga flowed peacefully between the temples and the ghats.Hi: अनाया, राजीव और तारा एक साथ वहाँ पहुँचे थे।En: Anaya, Rajeev, and Tara had arrived there together.Hi: उन्हें अपनी दादी के अंतिम संस्कार की राख गंगा में बहानी थी।En: They needed to immerse the ashes of their grandmother's last rites into the Ganga.Hi: अनाया वहाँ खड़ी थी, ध्यान से नदी के पानी की ओर देख रही थी।En: Anaya stood there, gazing intently at the river's water.Hi: उसकी आँखों में आंसू थे।En: Tears were in her eyes.Hi: उसकी दादी उसके दिल के बहुत करीब थीं।En: Her grandmother was very close to her heart.Hi: वह जानती थी कि यह पल उसके लिए कितना महत्वपूर्ण था।En: She knew how significant this moment was for her.Hi: राजीव, उसका भाई, उसके पास खड़ा था।En: Rajeev, her brother, stood beside her.Hi: वह जानता था कि उसे अब परिवार की जिम्मेदारी उठानी होगी।En: He understood that he now had to take up the responsibility of the family.Hi: तारा, उनकी चचेरा बहन, हमेशा की तरह उत्साह और समझदारी के साथ उनके साथ थी।En: Tara, their cousin, as always, was with them with enthusiasm and understanding.Hi: अनाया की मन में एक उथल-पुथल चल रही थी।En: There was a turmoil inside Anaya's mind.Hi: क्या यह पूजा उसे शांति देगी?En: Would this ritual give her peace?Hi: क्या यह उसकी दादी के प्रति सही श्रद्धांजलि होगी?En: Would this be the right tribute to her grandmother?Hi: राजीव चाहता था कि वे परंपराओं के अनुसार करें, जबकि तारा का मानना था कि भावनाओं को सबसे पहले रखा जाना चाहिए।En: Rajeev wanted them to follow traditions, while Tara believed that emotions should be prioritized.Hi: आखिरकार, तीनों ने नदी के किनारे की ओर कदम बढ़ाया।En: Finally, the three of them stepped towards the riverbank.Hi: अनाया ने राख का पात्र उठाया।En: Anaya picked up the urn of ashes.Hi: उसके हाथ कांप रहे थे।En: Her hands were trembling.Hi: उसने राजीव और तारा की ओर देखा, दोनों ने उसे साहस दिया।En: She looked at Rajeev and Tara, who both gave her courage.Hi: उसने एक गहरी सांस ली, और धीरे से राख को गंगा के निर्मल जल में बहा दिया।En: She took a deep breath and gently released the ashes into the pure waters of the Ganga.Hi: उसी समय, उसने अपने आंसुओं को भी बहा दिया, अपनी अंदरूनी भावनाओं को छोड़ दिया।En: At that moment, she also let her tears flow, releasing her inner emotions.Hi: नदी के पानी ने उसकी सभी शंकाओं को अपने बहाव में बहा दिया।En: The river's water washed away all her doubts in its flow.Hi: अनाया के चेहरे पर अब एक शांत मुस्कान थी।En: A tranquil smile now adorned Anaya's face.Hi: उसकी दादी की यादें, उसकी शिक्षाएँ, और उसका प्यार सब उसके साथ थे।En: Her grandmother's memories, teachings, and love were all with her.Hi: उसने अपनी दादी के जीवन की खुशियों और दुखों को स्वीकार किया।En: She accepted the joys and sorrows of her grandmother's life.Hi: तीनों भाई-बहन वहाँ बैठकर अपनी दादी के बारे में बातें करने लगे।En: The three siblings sat there, talking about their grandmother.Hi: उन्होंने किस्से सुनाए, हंसी-मजाक किया और अपनी यादों को ताजा किया।En: They shared stories, joked, and refreshed their memories.Hi: सूरज जब आसमान में डूबने लगा, तो वह पल अनाया के दिल में हमेशा के लिए बस गया।En: As the sun began to set in the sky, that moment was etched forever in Anaya's heart.Hi: वह समझ चुकी थी कि उसकी दादी की विरासत न केवल उसकी यादों में बल्कि उसकी आत्मा में भी थी।En: She had realized that her grandmother's legacy was not only in her memories but also in her soul.Hi: गंगा के किनारे उस शाम, अनाया ने न केवल अपने दिल को हल्का महसूस किया बल्कि उसके और राजीव और तारा के बीच का बंधन भी और मजबूत हो गया।En: That evening on the banks of the Ganga, Anaya felt not only her heart lighten but also the bond between her and Rajeev and Tara strengthen.Hi: तीनों ने महसूस किया कि परिवार का प्यार सबसे बड़ी ताकत होती है, जो हर मुश्किल समय में सहारा देता है।En: They all realized that the love of family is the greatest strength, providing support in every difficult time. Vocabulary Words:banks: किनारेscattered: बिखरीhue: रंगautumn: पतझड़temples: मंदिरोंghats: घाटोंimmersed: बहानीintently: ध्यान सेsignificant: महत्वपूर्णresponsibility: जिम्मेदारीenthusiasm: उत्साहturmoil: उथल-पुथलritual: पूजाtribute: श्रद्धांजलिurn: पात्रtrembling: कांप रहेcourage: साहसpure: निर्मलdoubts: शंकाओंtranquil: शांतadorned: सजीteachings: शिक्षाएँsorrows: दुखोंrefreshed: ताजाetched: बस गयाlegacy: विरासतrealized: समझ चुकीlighten: हल्काstrengthen: मजबूतsupport: सहारा

Send us a textVARANASI to the WORLD Reaction! Telugu | Mahesh Babu | Priyanka Chopra | SS Rajamouli | Cinemondo! #varanasi #varanastrailer ##varanasitrailerreaction #ssrajamouli #trailerreaction Kathy and Mark react to Varanasi To the World! Varanasi (stylised as Vāranāsi) is an upcoming Indian Telugu-language action-adventure film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the screenplay with V. Vijayendra Prasad. T the film stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Rajamouli conceived the film as a globetrotting action adventure rooted in Indian cultural themes, drawing inspiration from the structure and emotional tone of classic adventure cinema. #varanasi #varanasitrailer#varanasitrailerreaction #varansitotheworld#ssrajamouli #maheshbabu #priyankachopra#mmkeeravaani#trailer#trailerreaction#globetrotter#globetrottereventSupport the show

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Diwali Magic: Finding Peace at the Ghats of Varanasi Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-11-28-08-38-20-hi Story Transcript:Hi: गंगा किनारे सूर्य की पहली किरणें अपनी गोल्डन आभा बिखेर रही थीं।En: The first rays of the sun were spreading their golden aura along the banks of the Ganga.Hi: वाराणसी घाट अपने भव्य रूप में था, और आज का दिन खास था - दिवाली।En: The Varanasi ghats were in their magnificent form, and today was special - Diwali.Hi: हवा में दीयों की हल्की महक और मंत्रों की ध्वनि गूंज रही थी, पूरा वातावरण एक आस्था और शांति की आभा से भरा हुआ था।En: The air was filled with the mild scent of lamps and the sound of mantras echoing, the entire atmosphere was enveloped with an aura of faith and peace.Hi: मंदिर के पास, एक बैठक में मेहरा बैठी थी।En: Near the temple, Mehra was sitting in a gathering.Hi: वह बीते कुछ महीनों से दिल की बीमारी से परेशान थी, लेकिन इस दिवाली उसने ठान लिया था कि वह घाट पर आएगी।En: She had been troubled by a heart ailment for the past few months, but this Diwali, she had decided that she would come to the ghats.Hi: उसने सुना था कि दिवाली का ये विशिष्ट पर्व आत्मा को नवजीवन देने वाला होता है।En: She had heard that this special festival of Diwali rejuvenates the soul.Hi: उसके दिल में एक आशा की किरण थी कि शायद यहाँ की आध्यात्मिकता उसे कुछ राहत दे सके।En: In her heart, there was a ray of hope that perhaps the spirituality here could offer her some solace.Hi: उसके मित्र, अर्जुन, हमेशा की तरह उसके साथ था।En: Her friend, Arjun, as always, was with her.Hi: अर्जुन जानता था कि मेहरा के भीतर कितनी मुश्किलें छिपी हैं, फिर भी वह चाहता था कि वह हमेशा खुश रहे।En: Arjun knew how many difficulties were hidden within Mehra, yet he wanted her to always stay happy.Hi: उसे अपनी भावनाएं छुपाने का अनुभव था, मगर आज के दिन वह उसे चुपचाप सपोर्ट करता रहा।En: He was experienced in hiding his emotions, but today he quietly supported her.Hi: तभी उसने देखा कि देव, घाट का एक परिचित गाइड, उनकी ओर आ रहा था।En: Just then he saw Dev, a familiar guide from the ghat, approaching them.Hi: "नमस्ते, अर्जुन!En: "Namaste, Arjun!Hi: नमस्ते, मेहरा!En: Namaste, Mehra!Hi: आप दोनों को यहाँ देखकर अच्छा लगा," देव ने मुस्कुराते हुए कहा।En: It's good to see you both here," said Dev with a smile.Hi: वह आध्यात्मिक ज्ञान में गहराई से विश्वास करता था।En: He deeply believed in spiritual knowledge.Hi: अर्जुन ने देव से पूछा, "देव, क्या कोई ऐसा तरीका है कि मेहरा यहाँ की ऊर्जा से अपने लिए शांति और शक्ति प्राप्त कर सके?En: Arjun asked Dev, "Dev, is there any way Mehra can find peace and strength from the energy here?"Hi: "देव ने सर हिलाया और कहा, "अगर आपका विश्वास मजबूत है, तो दिवाली की यह पर्यावरण शारीरिक कष्टों को भुला सकती है।En: Dev nodded and said, "If your faith is strong, then the environment of Diwali can make physical pains fade.Hi: जलाने वाले दीये, पसरी हुई आरती की ध्वनि, ये सब आत्मा के लिए राहत का मार्ग बन सकते हैं।En: The burning lamps, the expansive sound of the arti, all these can pave a path of relief for the soul."Hi: " अचानक, मेहरा के चेहरे पर एक गहरी थकावट छा गई।En: Suddenly, a deep fatigue fell over Mehra's face.Hi: उसका शरीर झुक गया और वह घाट की सीढ़ियों पर बैठ गई।En: Her body slumped, and she sat down on the steps of the ghat.Hi: अर्जुन घबरा गया।En: Arjun became anxious.Hi: "मेहरा!En: "Mehra!Hi: क्या हुआ?En: What happened?"Hi: " उसने कहा, उसकी आवाज किनारे की धीमी धारा से टकरा रही थी।En: he said, his voice meeting the gentle flow of the riverbank.Hi: देव ने तुरंत पहल की, "शांत रहें, अर्जुन।En: Dev quickly took initiative, "Stay calm, Arjun.Hi: उसे बैठने दें और गहरी सांस लेने के लिए कहें।En: Let her sit and tell her to take deep breaths.Hi: मैं कुछ मदद लाता हूँ।En: I'll bring some help."Hi: " कुछ ही पलों में, देव और अर्जुन ने मिलकर मेहरा को आरामदेह स्थिति में लाया।En: In moments, Dev and Arjun together brought Mehra to a comfortable position.Hi: उसी दौरान, दीपक की रोशनी और रंग-बिरंगी आतिशबाजी ने आकाश में अद्भुत चित्र बनाया।En: Meanwhile, the light of the lamps and colorful fireworks created an extraordinary picture in the sky.Hi: हवा में मंत्र और भजन की गूंज ने मेहरा के मन को एक नई दिशा दी।En: The echo of mantras and hymns in the air gave Mehra's mind a new direction.Hi: उसकी आंखें धीरे-धीरे खुलीं और उसने महसूस किया कि उसके भीतर की थोड़ी सी तकलीफ अब शांत हो रही थी।En: Her eyes slowly opened, and she felt that the little bit of distress inside her was now calming.Hi: नीला आकाश एक नई उम्मीद की तरह दिखाई दिया।En: The blue sky appeared like a new hope.Hi: उसकी स्थिति पूरी तरह ठीक नहीं हुई थी, लेकिन उसके चेहरे पर शांति की एक रेखा खिंच गई थी।En: Her condition had not completely recovered, but a line of peace had drawn over her face.Hi: उसने अर्जुन की ओर देखा और मुस्कराई।En: She looked at Arjun and smiled.Hi: अर्जुन समझ चुका था कि उसकी दोस्ती का मूल्य, दिल की भावनाओं से कहीं ज्यादा है।En: Arjun understood that the value of his friendship was more than the feelings of the heart.Hi: दिवाली की ग्लो में, मेहरा और अर्जुन दोनों ने महसूस किया कि जीवन अपनी छोटी-छोटी खुशियों से भरा हुआ है, और उसे महत्ता देना सबसे बड़ी बात है।En: In the glow of Diwali, both Mehra and Arjun realized that life is filled with small joys, and giving them significance is the greatest thing.Hi: घाट पर जीवन की जटिलताएँ भूलकर उन्होंने आध्यात्मिक संबंध का एक नया अनुभव किया।En: Forgetting the complexities of life on the ghat, they experienced a new spiritual connection. Vocabulary Words:rays: किरणेंaura: आभाghats: घाटmagnificent: भव्यmantras: मंत्रोंechoing: गूंज रही थीenveloped: भरा हुआailment: बीमारीrejuvenates: नवजीवन देने वालाspirituality: आध्यात्मिकताsolace: राहतdifficulties: मुश्किलेंexperienced: अनुभव थाemotions: भावनाएंfamiliar: परिचितguide: गाइडspiritual: आध्यात्मिकknowledge: ज्ञानpains: कष्टोंfade: भुला सकती हैexpansive: पसरी हुईinitiative: पहलcomfortable: आरामदेहfireworks: आतिशबाजीextraordinary: अद्भुतhymns: भजनdistress: तकलीफcalming: शांत हो रही थीhope: उम्मीदspiritual connection: आध्यात्मिक संबंध

In this podcast we will be talking about how to deal with suffering in life from the philosophy of the Buddha. Gautama Buddha was a philosopher, a spiritual leader and is credited as the founder of Buddhism.   The teachings of Buddha revolve around Duhkha, which means suffering, and the end of Duhkha, which is regarded as the state of Nirvana.  The philosophy's most essential teaching includes the Three Marks of Existence, which are as follows:  01. Annica which means that life is in a constant flux, we have already made a video on this, the link for this is in the description. 02. Duhkha which means that life is painful and causes suffering, and 03. Anatta which means that the self is always changing After the Buddha gained enlightenment, he traveled to Sarnath in the present-day district of Varanasi, where he met with five monks, he previously practiced with and gave his first sermon, the four noble truths. These four Noble Truths are the foundational tenets of Buddhism, which spark awareness of suffering as the nature of existence, its cause, and how to live without it. In this video we are going to talk about dukha, the second mark of existence, to better understand the suffering that we all go through and how we can use these 4 noble truths to deal with suffering in our modern day life. The four noble truths  are as follows -  01. The truth of Dukha  02. The truth of Samudaya 03. The Truth of Nirodha 04. The truth of Magga I hope you enjoyed listening to this podcast and hope these lessons from Buddha will help you in dealing with changes in your life.  The Buddha was a philosopher, meditator, spiritual teacher, and religious leader who is credited as the founder of Buddhism. He was born as Siddhartha Gautama in India in 566 BC into an aristocratic family and when he was twenty-nine years old, he left the comforts of his home to seek the meaning of the suffering he saw around him. After six years of arduous yogic training, he abandoned the way of self-mortification and instead sat in mindful meditation beneath a bodhi tree. On the full moon of May, with the rising of the morning star, Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, the awakened one. The Buddha wandered the plains of northeastern India for 45 years more, teaching the path or Dharma he had realized in that moment. Around him developed a community of people, drawn from every tribe and caste, devoted to practicing this path. Nowadays, he is worshiped by most Buddhist schools as the enlightened one who has escaped the cycle of birth and rebirth, transcending Karma. Their main teachings focus on their insight into duhkha meaning “suffering” and into Nirvana, which means the end of suffering. 

Sarah Meikle has been travelling around India for more than 25 years and now runs small group tours for those really interested in life and culture in the world's most populous country. As the Director of All India Permit Tours, and visiting cities from Delhi, Kolkata and Varanasi in the north to Kerala in the south, she is well versed with the world famous cuisine in all its forms and regional variations - from street food to top rated restaurants. She joins Kathryn having just returned from a two month trip.

On this edition of On-Screen Live, we're reviewing the very popular new franchise entry, Predator: Badlands; checking in on Tim Robinson's hilarious new Max series, The Chair Company; reacting to the trailers for the new SS Rajamouli film, Varanasi, and the next ‘holiday weirdos' documentary, The Merchants of Joy; and we're also going over the weekend box office and skimming the trades for some Entertainment Newz. On-Screen live will return in December! Get your tickets to our 15th Anniversary show happening December 6th, where we're talking all things Arnold in Total Recall! It's gonna be a gas and we wanna see you there! Click through for tickets now, you don't want to get sold out! Throughout 2025, we'll be donating 100% of our earnings from our merch shop to the Center for Reproductive Rights. So head over and check out all these masterful designs and see what tickles your fancy! Shirts? Phone cases? Canvas prints? We got all that and more! Check it out and kick in for a good cause! Original cover art by Felipe Sobreiro.

Cc Madhya 25.105-221 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/25/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ When we began distributing the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the Western countries, a similar thing happened. In the beginning we were very much disappointed for at least one year because no one came forth to help this movement, but by the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, some young boys joined this movement in 1966. Of course we distributed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's message of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra without bargaining or selling. As a result, this movement has spread all over the world, with the assistance of European and American boys and girls. We therefore pray for all the blessings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu upon all the devotees in the Western world who are spreading this movement. (Cc Madhya 25.170,purport) To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Cc Madhya 223-283 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/25/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ One should understand Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa from the six Gosvāmīs in the paramparā system. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is following as strictly as possible in the footsteps of the Gosvāmīs. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, ei chaya gosāñi yāṅra, mui tāṅra dāsa: “I am the servant of the six Gosvāmīs.” The philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to become the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord. Whoever wants to understand the difficult subject matter of kṛṣṇa-kathā should accept the disciplic succession. If one is somehow or other able to understand Kṛṣṇa, his life is successful. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so 'rjuna. A perfect devotee is able to understand Kṛṣṇa through the disciplic succession, and his entrance into the kingdom of God is thereby certainly opened. When one understands Kṛṣṇa, there is no difficulty in transferring oneself to the spiritual kingdom. (Cc Madhya 25.271,purport) To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #sricaitanyacaritamrita #govardhanreadings #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Cc Madhya 25.1-104 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/25/advanced-view/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Prabhupāda was especially keen on defeating atheistic science. And as you know, I'm keen on that. People aren't very philosophical or very scientific. Even scientists aren't. We've been talking to a few lately.In any case, the people in general just have a base, basic understanding of erroneous scientific theories, and I feel that what would be most helpful for them is to have a way to question those theories and think for themselves. Like you made that presentation about the Big Bang, and the way you presented it was to take people through the history of the theory itself and see how flimsy the evidence is and how it's all held together with rubber bands and Scotch tape and a few pieces of thread found here and there. And when people come to question materialistic scientists and the theories that are accepted a priori these days—for instance, if you read any self-help book, guaranteed, it could be in the first chapter, but at least the second chapter by the third page, somebody is going to say, "As everybody knows, we evolved into this." Some of that concept is going to come in, that we started in a primitive state, or as matter, and now somehow we've evolved into humans, and this is a phenomenon. Whatever they are describing is a result of this evolution, and whatever primal instincts we still have came from a time when we were less evolved. To be able to have a team of young people who are endowed with sattva-guṇa and above-average intelligences and access to sound arguments in order to untie people's attachments to science—not to disparage science outright, but just to take individual points and help people question them so they can open their minds to another epistemology that can guide them in their lives, rather than just accepting what modern science says. I think that Drutakarmā's approach is fantastic, because in Forbidden Archeology, he basically just shows people what's going on behind the curtain in academia: that people cheat all over the place, and they're self-motivated. They try to hold the levers of power through academia and control what information gets out there. You don't have to make anything up. You just have to show that human nature has entered into the academy, and that's what everybody believes in, because that's what gets into the textbooks for lower education, what to speak of higher education. So that's where I think we have to take a systematic approach and bring presentations that are understandable to the common person on the street, where they can take those and then say, "Aha, maybe there is another way." And a lot of scientists are thinking that way nowadays. They're talking about how consciousness can't be measured in the same way that we've thought we could measure the material nature, and to some degree, we can, through controlled experiments, but you can't control consciousness in the same way. So that's one place I think that we could contribute to the conversation that's going on. (0:30:36) (excerpt from the discussion) ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------

#realconversations #handcraft #transparency #India#PeaceCorps #artisans #supplychaiN #photographyCONVERSATIONS WITH CALVIN WE THE SPECIES hosted by CalvinSchwartzMeet SARA OTTO: “Once again, gratitude to the universe forthe connectivity with SARA OTTO.  I liketo think that, after writing three books, teaching at Rutgers, working for therichest Italian in the world for 25 years, and interviewing over 400 peoplearound the world, I'm relatively worldly. (that word again) But not. Sarafilled my senses with a special awe. I didn't know NEST existed.  Wasn't “up” on the intricacies and necessityof supply chains. There are ethical handcraft standards and legions of amazing,handcrafted artisans all over the world. Their work is pure art and needsvisibility and transparency. Sara spoke of how their art and craft make for amore prosperous and beautiful world. I've been down for this. When mygrandchildren were born, we found handmade stuffed animals in South America.But NEST makes it a safer, better journey to market. Sara fascinates with herdepth, passion, and commitment. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in TOGO, workedfor Righteous Babe Records, lived in India for four years, and radiates socialimpact. Our interview. As good as it gets.” Calvinhttps://www.youtube.com/c/ConversationswithCalvinWetheSpecIEs656 Interviews/Videos  9200 SUBSCRIBERSGLOBAL Reach. Earth Life. Amazing People.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE** SARA OTTO; Chief Supply Chain Officer at NEST (connectingpeople, artistry & impact of craft); Peace Corp; Photography; State Univ.of NY: LIVE from BarcelonaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg5q9NvDXlYLINKS:  LinkedIn:Personal - www.linkedin.com/in/sara-otto Business - https://www.linkedin.com/company/nest-inc/Website https://www.buildanest.org/ethical-handcraftBIO:  Sara, Nest'sChief Supply Chain Officer, oversees the strategic partnerships andprogrammatic initiatives of the organization's supply chain-related portfolio.In this role, she drives the strategy, development, and execution of Nest'spioneering Ethical Handcraft Standard and comprehensive methodology program.She leads research initiatives to bring critical visibility and transparency toinformal supply chains. After residing in Varanasi, India, for 4 years, she hasgained a deep understanding of the specific needs and challenges that artisansand handworkers face, enabling her to create sustainable solutions for duediligence in this industry. Before that, Sara was a Small EnterpriseDevelopment Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, assisting micro-enterprises andartisans. Graduating from the State University of New York at Buffalo in ArtsManagement and Marketing, Sara blends her passion for art and business. Hercareer began with Righteous Babe Records, where she worked for 9 years,eventually managing the company's performance and event venue. A dedicatedphotographer and traveler, Sara continues to explore the intersection ofcreativity, entrepreneurship, and social impact in her work and personalpursuits.**WE ARE ALSO ON AUDIOAUDIO “Conversations with Calvin; WE the SpecIEs”ANCHOR https://lnkd.in/g4jcUPqSPOTIFY https://lnkd.in/ghuMFeCAPPLE PODCASTSBREAKER https://lnkd.in/g62StzJGOOGLE PODCASTS https://lnkd.in/gpd3XfMPOCKET CASTS https://pca.st/bmjmzaitRADIO PUBLIC https://lnkd.in/gxueFZw

Sydney-based photographer Sabastian Giunta spent 15 days in India on his first visit to the country, capturing life along the banks of the River Ganga in Varanasi. His journey has now taken shape as a photo exhibition, featured as part of the Head On Photography Festival in Sydney. The exhibition showcases 13 photographs that depict the sacred river, the ghats and the vibrant life along the river. Listen to this podcast featuring the photographer, who says he was most struck by India's spirit of resilience.

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Varanasi's Hidden Past: An Archaeological Diwali Revelation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-10-27-07-38-20-hi Story Transcript:Hi: वराणसी की प्राचीन गलियों में, जहां गंगा की लहरों की शांति और मंदिरों की धुनें गूंजती हैं, उनके बीच एक विशेष अभियान शुरू हो चुका था।En: In the ancient lanes of Varanasi, where the tranquility of the Ganga river's waves and the tunes of temples echo, a special expedition had begun.Hi: इस अभियान का नेतृत्व कर रहे थे अरुण। वे एक योग्य पुरातत्वविद् थे, जो प्राचीन सभ्यताओं के रहस्यों को खोजने के लिए कृतसंकल्प थे।En: Leading this expedition was Arun, a skilled archaeologist determined to unravel the mysteries of ancient civilizations.Hi: उनके साथ थीं कविता, जिन्हें इतिहास से वर्तमान जोड़ने का शौक था, और रिया, जो हाल ही में इस काम में मेघावी होकर शामिल हुई थीं।En: Accompanying him were Kavita, who had a passion for linking history to the present, and Riya, a bright new addition to the team.Hi: शरद ऋतु की इस सुहानी दोपहर में, कच्चे पत्तों की आवाज और मंदिर की घंटियों की गूंज शहर को संगीतमय बना रही थी।En: On this pleasant autumn afternoon, the sound of falling leaves and the chiming of temple bells made the city musical.Hi: आश्विन मास का यह विशेष पर्व, दीपावली, करीब आ चुका था, और उसके साथ ही अभियान से जुड़े समय की सीमा भी।En: The special festival of Diwali in the month of Ashwin was approaching, and with it, so was the deadline for the expedition.Hi: "हमें और मेहनत करनी होगी," अरुण ने अपनी टीम से कहा।En: "We need to work harder," Arun told his team.Hi: दीपावली के आने से उनके पास काम खत्म करने का समय कम होता जा रहा था।En: The arrival of Diwali meant they had less time to complete their work.Hi: उनका विश्वास था कि वे कुछ महत्वपूर्ण खोजने के बेहद करीब हैं।En: He believed they were very close to an important discovery.Hi: कविता ने कुछ पुराने दस्तावेजों और नक्शों के आधार पर एक स्थान की ओर इशारा किया।En: Based on some old documents and maps, Kavita pointed to a location.Hi: "यह जगह महत्वपूर्ण हो सकती है," उसने कहा।En: "This place could be significant," she said.Hi: वह उस क्षेत्र में खुदाई का प्रस्ताव रखती हैं, जहां उसके पुरखों का इतिहास छुपा हो सकता है।En: She proposed excavating in an area where her ancestors' history might be hidden.Hi: लेकिन अरुण की चिंता बढ़ रही थी; समय और वित्तीय दावों के दबाव का सामना कैसे करें।En: However, Arun was growing concerned about how to handle the pressure of time and financial constraints.Hi: बिना किसी को बताए, रिया एक बंद क्षेत्र की ओर खिसकी।En: Without telling anyone, Riya slipped towards a restricted area.Hi: उसकी जिज्ञासा ने उसे वहां खींच लिया, जबकि वह जानती थी कि ऐसा करना नियमों के खिलाफ है।En: Her curiosity led her there, even though she knew it was against the rules.Hi: वह अपने महत्व को साबित करना चाहती थी।En: She wanted to prove her worth.Hi: जैसे-जैसे दीपावली की रात नज़दीक आई, उनकी मेहनत रंग लायी।En: As the night of Diwali drew nearer, their hard work paid off.Hi: खुदाई के दौरान उन्हें एक विशेष कलाकृति मिली।En: During the excavation, they found a special artifact.Hi: यह कृति ऐसी थी, जो संभवतः वाराणसी के इतिहास को नए सिरे से लिख सकती थी।En: This piece could possibly rewrite the history of Varanasi.Hi: परंतु इसकी प्रामाणिकता पर सवाल उठने लगे क्योंकि इसकी बनावट असामान्य थी।En: However, questions arose about its authenticity because of its unusual craftsmanship.Hi: अंततः, जब दीपावली की रोशनी ने पूरे शहर को जगमगा दिया, तो वह कलाकृति प्रामाणिक साबित हुई।En: Ultimately, when the lights of Diwali illuminated the entire city, the artifact was proven to be authentic.Hi: अरुण की मेहनत और विश्वास का परिणाम सफल हुआ, कविता की शोध ने उसके पुश्तैनी जड़ों से उसे फिर जोड़ा, और रिया के रहस्यमय खोज ने इस कलाकृति के लिए आवश्यक संदर्भ प्रदान किया।En: Arun's hard work and trust paid off, Kavita's research reconnected her with her ancestral roots, and Riya's mysterious find provided the crucial context needed for the artifact.Hi: इस सफल खोज ने अरुण को सिखाया कि कभी-कभी सहयोगी प्रयासों और अंतर्दृष्टि से अधिक विश्वास करना चाहिए।En: This successful discovery taught Arun that sometimes trusting collaborative efforts and insights is necessary.Hi: कविता ने अपने अतीत के साथ गहरा संबंध महसूस किया।En: Kavita felt a deep connection with her past.Hi: और रिया को न केवल टीम का सम्मान मिला, बल्कि उसे यह भी एहसास हुआ कि खोज को समझने के लिए संदर्भ की कितनी अहमियत होती है।En: And Riya gained not only the respect of the team but also realized how important context is for understanding discoveries.Hi: तीनों ने मिलकर दीपावली के दीप जलाए, और गंगा के किनारे खड़े होकर अपने प्रयासों की सफलता का उत्सव मनाया।En: Together, they lit the lamps of Diwali and stood by the banks of the Ganga, celebrating the success of their efforts.Hi: वाराणसी की वह रात, इतिहास को नई दिशा देने वाली बन गई।En: That night in Varanasi became one that would steer history in a new direction. Vocabulary Words:ancient: प्राचीनtranquility: शांतिexpedition: अभियानarchaeologist: पुरातत्वविद्unravel: खोजनेmysteries: रहस्योंautumn: शरद ऋतुartifacts: कलाकृतियाँcraftsmanship: बनावटauthenticity: प्रामाणिकताconstraint: दबावchiming: घंटियों की गूंजexcavating: खुदाईcollaborative: सहयोगीcontext: संदर्भilluminated: जगमगा दियाcrucial: महत्वपूर्णheritage: पुश्तैनीinsights: अंतर्दृष्टिcuriosity: जिज्ञासाrestricted: बंदproven: साबितexceptional: विशेषfestival: पर्वsignificant: महत्वपूर्णdiscovery: खोजheritage: पुश्तैनीinsights: अंतर्दृष्टिancestral: पुश्तैनीreconnected: जोड़ा

'The institutional default is not the protection of students and staff, but damage control. You see it play out at SAU, IIT-BHU, RG Kar, and Durgapur. A sexual assault crisis is unfolding, across our higher educational institutions. It is bad enough that our campuses are demonstrably dangerous—as all public and private places in India tend to be. Some of the most prominent and horrifying cases of sexual violence over the last year have been reported from our colleges and universities, including the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata and the IIT-BHU gang-rape in Varanasi.' says ThePrint columnist Karanjeet Kaur----more----Read full article here: https://theprint.in/opinion/indian-universities-follow-the-same-template-on-sexual-assault-cover-up-blame-the-victim/2767603/

In the ancient alleys of Varanasi stands an abandoned photo studio — “Sharma Color Lab.” When a photographer named Amit enters it, he finds a camera that supposedly takes pictures by itself after midnight. Curious, he stays to witness the mystery. But each time the camera clicks, a ghostly figure appears closer in the photograph — until Amit himself disappears, and only the spirit remains. The next morning, a new picture emerges… waiting for its next subject.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Querida comunidad hoy nos sumergimos en las aguas sagradas del Ganges para explorar Varanasi, la ciudad eterna de India. Gracias por estar aquí —¡ya superamos los 1,200 episodios y el millón de escuchas! Es pura magia gracias a ti, y me encanta compartirla.✈️ Recuerda, en mi web www.cesarsar.com propongo algunos viajes conmigo a diferentes lugares del mundo. Vámonos!

Integrative pharmacist Dr. Swathi Varanasi-Diaz says many people eat right and take the “right” remedies but never feel the results because their energy is out of sync with what they're using. Enter Quantum Ayurveda — the future of energy-based wellness that resyncs your energy, allowing your body to respond faster and more effectively to food and nutrients, without needing to load up on a lot of supplements or caffeine to make it through the day.In an interview, Dr. Swathi can share:Why your aura (or body's natural rhythms) actually has a measurable, scientific signature — and how that impacts your health.How the future of energy-based wellness will help you feel the difference faster.Practical, FREE everyday ways to “retune” your body's energy now — no lab coat or crystals required (including: moment, music, breath, nature and stillness).This is a perfect fall wellness segment, especially as we shift seasons - and energy systems start to shirt. Dr. Swathi bio and media samples: https://pitchpublicitynyc.com/experts/swathi-varanasi-diaz-pharm-d/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

We're back to our normal programming and talking points with Jane celebrating the successful launch of her latest collection of paintings with a new perfume the best symolizes it. We also discuss some of the new Balenciaga collection, the magical releases from Sage and Salt, and Jeff decides that maybe you can't wear just any perfume to the bakery. Put on your boots and lets get riding 'cause it's all that, a few movie recs, and The Game.Scents Mentioned in this Episode:Le Dix, Extra, Incense Perfumum, Muscara, No Comment, and Twenty Four Seven by Balenciaga / Cognac Reign and Black Magenta by DS & Durga / Epona by Papillon Perfumes / Ambilux by Marlou /  Portrait of A Lady by Frederic Malle / Rosarine by Dusita / Philtre by Hiram Green / Estate Carnation by Solstice Scents / Patchouli Mania by Essential Parfums / Luna Absolute and Moon Ring by Sage and Salt / Kyoto by Comme des Garçons / Varanasi by Meo Fusciuni / Original Musk by Kiehl's / Rotano by Maison d'Etto / Viole Nere by Meo Fusciuni / Muscs Koublai Khan by Serge Lutens / Fumabat by Couteau de Poche / Signature by Aedes de Venustas / Philtre by Hiram Green / Oud Palao, Tempo, and Volutes by Diptyque / Reve D'ossian by Oriza L Legrand / Fille En Aiguilles by Serge Lutens / 31 Rue Cambon by Chanel /Salome, Anubis, Hera, Bengale Rouge, and Tobacco Rose by Papillon / Chromodoro by Astrophil & Stella / Halfeti by Penhaligons / JHL by AramisThe Game:Jardins d'Armide by Oriza L Legrand / The Cut by Penhaligons / Whip by Le Galion / Vetiver Tonka by Hermes / Dryad by Papillon Perfumes / Nabati by Astrophil & Stella(00:00) - - Intro, Balenciaga, and DS & Durga (09:17) - - Jane Gallops Her Way to Papillon Country (16:42) - - Sage and Salt's New Perfumes (24:10) - - Scents We've Been Wearing (37:22) - - The Game Featured House - Sage and Salt's New Perfume CollectionMovie References:All That Heaven Allows (1955)Fréwaka (2024)Pillow Talk (1959)Shoutouts:Joseph ColbourneMidnight StinksPlease feel free to email us at hello@fragraphilia.com - Send us questions, comments, or recommendations. We can be found on TikTok and Instagram @fragraphilia

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Mysteries of Varanasi: Unraveling the Enigma at the Ghats Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-09-17-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: वराणसी के घाटों पर आई हुई शरद ऋतु की ठंडी हवा के बीच नदियों की लहरें धीरे-धीरे बह रही थीं।En: On the banks of Varanasi's ghats, amidst the chilly winds of autumn, the river's waves were flowing gently.Hi: एक शाम, जब सूरज डूबने को था और घाटों पर दीप जलने लगे थे, वहाँ एक रहस्यमयी पैकेज ने लोगों की जिज्ञासा बढ़ा दी।En: One evening, when the sun was about to set and lamps were being lit on the ghats, a mysterious package piqued the curiosity of the people there.Hi: अरजुन, जिनकी आंखों में हमेशा जिज्ञासा झलकती थी, एक किश्तीवाले थे, जिन्होंने बचपन से ही इन घाटों को जीया था।En: Arjun, whose eyes always reflected curiosity, was a boatman who had lived through these ghats since childhood.Hi: उनके लिए यह नदी केवल जलधारा नहीं थी; यह उनका घर, उनका जीवन थी।En: For him, this river was not just a water stream; it was his home, his life.Hi: मीरा, एक आस्थावान तीर्थयात्री, जो नवदुर्गा के पूजा के लिए वहाँ आई थीं।En: Meera, a devout pilgrim, had come there for the worship of Navdurga.Hi: उनकी आँखों में एक अनोखी चमक थी, जो उनकी आध्यात्मिक खोज को जैवंत करती थी।En: Her eyes had a unique sparkle that vividly reflected her spiritual quest.Hi: साहिल, एक संदेहवादी पत्रकार, जो एक फीचर स्टोरी के अनुसंधान में थे, खुद भी घाटों की भावनाओं में बहे जा रहे थे।En: Sahil, a skeptical journalist researching a feature story, was himself getting swept up in the emotions of the ghats.Hi: घाटों पर नवदुर्गा की उत्सव मनोहरता के बीच, उस दिन एक पैकेज नदी के किनारे दिखा।En: Amidst the festive grandeur of Navdurga, a package appeared on the banks that day.Hi: लोगों के बीच हलचल मच गई।En: It caused a stir among the people.Hi: अरजुन का मन उस पैकेज को देख कर और अधिक जिज्ञासु हो उठा।En: Arjun's curiosity about the package grew stronger.Hi: उन्होंने पैकेज के पीछे की कहानी जानने का निर्णय किया।En: He decided to uncover the story behind it.Hi: इसके लिए, अरजुन ने मीरा और साहिल के साथ मिलकर काम करने का निश्चय किया।En: For this, Arjun resolved to work together with Meera and Sahil.Hi: उनके यह कदम उन सभी के लिए नए अनुभवों से भरा था।En: This step was filled with new experiences for all of them.Hi: मीरा ने अपने आस्था का सहारा लिया, जबकि साहिल ने तथ्य आधारित खोज का सहारा लिया।En: Meera relied on her faith, while Sahil turned to fact-based investigation.Hi: अरजुन ने अपने अनुभव और परिस्थिति की जानकारी से कहानी के धागे को जोड़ने की कोशिश की।En: Arjun tried to weave the story together using his experience and knowledge of the circumstances.Hi: तीनों ने मिलकर जब पैकेज खोला, तो उसमें कुछ रहस्यमयी चिह्न पाए।En: When the three of them opened the package, they found some mysterious symbols inside.Hi: उन चिह्नों ने उन्‍हें प्राचीन काल की एक रस्म की ओर इशारा किया, जो सीधे नवदुर्गा से जुड़ी थी।En: These symbols pointed them towards an ancient ritual directly associated with Navdurga.Hi: इस खोज ने घाटों और उनके संस्कारों के प्रति उन सब का सम्मान और बढ़ा दिया।En: This discovery deepened their respect for the ghats and their traditions.Hi: अंत में, एकता के इस प्रयास ने अरजुन को यह सिखाया कि किसी भी रहस्य की गहराई में झांकने के लिए विविध दृष्टिकोणों की ज़रूरत होती है।En: In the end, this effort of unity taught Arjun that delving into the depths of any mystery requires diverse perspectives.Hi: उन्होेंने सहयोग और विश्वास का महत्व समझा।En: He understood the importance of collaboration and trust.Hi: वह जानते थे कि हर व्यक्ति अपने अनोखे दृष्टिकोण और समझ के साथ इस संसार में एक अनोखी पहचान रखता है।En: He realized that every person holds a unique identity in this world with their distinctive perspective and understanding.Hi: गंगा की शांति, दीपों की झिलमिलाहट और घाटों का अबाध प्रवाह, इन तीनों में नई ऊर्जा और आस्था का संचार करने में सफल रहा।En: The serenity of the Ganga, the flicker of the lamps, and the unbroken flow of the ghats succeeded in infusing new energy and faith into the three of them.Hi: और काशी के घाट, अपनी शाश्वत कहानियों के साथ हर आगंतुक की आत्मा को स्पर्श करते रहे।En: And the ghats of Kashi, with their eternal stories, continued to touch the soul of every visitor. Vocabulary Words:ghats: घाटोंchilly: ठंडीcuriosity: जिज्ञासाmysterious: रहस्यमयीpeeked: झलकतीdevout: आस्थावानpilgrim: तीर्थयात्रीskeptical: संदेहवादीfeature: फीचरstir: हलचलuncover: जाननेresolved: निश्चय कियाcollaboration: सहयोगritual: रस्मflicker: झिलमिलाहटserenity: शांतिinfusing: संचारdiverse: विविधperspectives: दृष्टिकोणोंdistinctive: अनुभवidentity: पहचानsparkle: चमकquest: खोजswept: बहेemotions: भावनाओंgranduer: मनोहरताsymbols: चिह्नancient: प्राचीनrespect: सम्मानunbroken: अबाध

The Globetrottresses Nicole @behindthesecret.bsky.social & Sarah @sarahcarradine.bsky.social bring you Race Across The World season 5 episodes 4, 5 & 6. For Silent Podcasts International. They manage not to fall to their deaths in a ravine on their way to Varanasi, chase the Beatles to Rishikesh, and get rewarded with cake. Watch the show on BBC iPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Integrative pharmacist Dr. Swathi Varanasi-Diaz says many people eat right and take the “right” remedies but never feel the results because their energy is out of sync with what they're using. Enter Quantum Ayurveda — the future of energy-based wellness that resyncs your energy, allowing your body to respond faster and more effectively to food and nutrients, without needing to load up on a lot of supplements or caffeine to make it through the day.In an interview, Dr. Swathi can share:Why your aura (or body's natural rhythms) actually has a measurable, scientific signature — and how that impacts your health.How the future of energy-based wellness will help you feel the difference faster.Practical, FREE everyday ways to “retune” your body's energy now — no lab coat or crystals required (including: moment, music, breath, nature and stillness).This is a perfect fall wellness segment, especially as we shift seasons - and energy systems start to shirt. Dr. Swathi bio and media samples: https://pitchpublicitynyc.com/experts/swathi-varanasi-diaz-pharm-d/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

In the basement of a haunted haveli in Varanasi, dozens of bells hang—yet each night, one falls silent. Legends whisper that every missing tone is a stolen voice, trapped forever in brass. Those who hear the next silence feel their breath turn into that very sound. And once their bell appears on the wall… it never stops waiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com ______Title: Tech Entrepreneur and Author's AI Prediction - The Last Book Written by a Human Interview  | A Conversation with Jeff Burningham | Redefining Society And Technology Podcast With Marco Ciappelli______Guest: Jeff Burningham Tech Entrepreneur. Investor. National Best Selling Author. Explorer of Human Potential. My book #TheLastBookWrittenByAHuman is available now.On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-burningham-15a01a7b/Book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Book-Written-by-a-Human/Jeff-Burningham/9781637634561#:~:text=*%20Why%20the%20development%20of%20AI,in%20the%20age%20of%20AI.Host: Marco CiappelliCo-Founder & CMO @ITSPmagazine | Master Degree in Political Science - Sociology of Communication l Branding & Marketing Advisor | Journalist | Writer | Podcast Host | #Technology #Cybersecurity #Society

The evolution of tattooing has been profoundly shaped by artistic trends and public perception, particularly in recent years. As discussed in the podcast episode featuring one of the world's most prolific and respected tattoo artists, Filip Leu, there has been a significant shift towards realism in tattoo art, which has gained popularity among both artists and clients. Aaron Della Vedova and Filip reflect on their early careers, noting that while there were many skilled tattoo artists, the quality of art varied widely, with a considerable number of less experienced practitioners. Today, however, the standards have risen dramatically, making it increasingly challenging for newcomers to distinguish themselves. In this episode, sponsored by Bishop Tattoo Supply ( https://bishoptattoosupply.com/ ), we dive into Filip's inspiring journey, a groundbreaking figure in the tattoo world known for his large-format body suits. Aaron also shares a personal reflection on how discovering Filip's work transformed his approach to tattooing, shifting from traditional small designs to ambitious, expansive compositions that beautifully adorn the human body. The episode highlights Filip's influence on artists and enthusiasts alike, celebrating his role as a hero in the tattoo community. Additionally, the host discusses the Tattoo Heritage Project, founded by Good Time Charlie, which is dedicated to preserving American tattoo history. Listeners are encouraged to explore the project's initiatives, including a traveling tattoo museum and the newly debuted film "Dare to Dream." Tune in for an episode filled with passion, inspiration, and a deep appreciation for the art of tattooing. Chat Breakdown: 00:01:15 - Tattoo Heritage Project 00:03:06 - Art Techniques and Body Drawing 00:04:06 - Filip Leu's Tattooing Career and Workload 00:07:00 - Tattooing Techniques and Longevity 00:09:15 - Physical Challenges in Tattooing 00:11:25 - Realism in Tattooing and Its Longevity 00:16:02 - Challenges for New Tattoo Artists 00:20:01 - The Meaning and Motivation Behind Tattoos 00:23:16 - Facial Tattoos and Extreme Body Modifications 00:26:08 - Ignorant Style Tattoos and Full Black Arms 00:30:00 - Spiritual and Philosophical Reflections on Tattooing 00:37:00 - Robotics and the Future of Tattooing 00:39:31 - DNA and Human Progress 00:44:01 - Lessons from DMT and Life Reflections 00:54:03 - Life-changing experience in Varanasi. 01:02:30 - Energy exchange in tattooing. 01:21:06 - Tattoo machine technology and preferences. Quotes: "What's the colour that heals the fastest? And I didn't get it right, because the answer is skin." "Tattooing seems to me at this phase as this process of elimination almost. It's like we're spending our whole careers figuring out what we didn't need to do." “The public is steering where tattooing is going." "I was taken aback that I didn't have, until now, The fucking balls to do that to somebody's body, because it's so individual, so distinct, such a statement, artistically speaking." "It's all a way for me to, or a person to say, look at me. I'm a unique individual. I'm not just a number. I'm different." "That's the other side of tattooing, the big fuck you." "What's the point of worrying about shit you can't fucking change or control?" "I refuse to feel guilty for the way I want to waste my life. It's my life to waste." "I guess for each person would have to answer that question. I'm thinking about myself right now and being honest enough to admit a lot of it, I think it's my ego." "I walked out of that afternoon like, oh my god, I'm a meat puppet. I'm a meat bag. Like, wow, this is not permanent." "A very sensitive art student would never have made it. He couldn't survive that environment." "I went back and cried in the hotel that night, told my mom I couldn't go back the next day, because I realized how shit I was." "It's when it goes all wrong, right, it's all pear-shaped, and suddenly you realize just what a fucked up, job it is. It's so hard." "Let go of all these dragons and demons and skulls and samurais and all this shit and let's just get into the beauty of decorating." "You'll fucking blow a line out, like, on a shin bone or something, like, you know, quickly." Stay Connected: Chats & Tatts: Website: http://www.chatsandtatts.com⁠ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatsandtatts  IG: http://www.instagram.com/chatsandtatts Chats & Tatts YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chatsandtatts Connect with Aaron:⁠   Aaron IG:⁠ http://www.instagram.com/aarondellavedova⁠ Guru Tattoo: http://www.Gurutattoo.com Connect with Filip: IG: https://www.instagram.com/filipleu    

Check out BeerBiceps SkillHouse's YouTube 1O1 Course - https://youtube.beerbicepsskillhouse.in/youtube-101Share your guest suggestions hereMail - connect@beerbiceps.comLink - https://forms.gle/aoMHY9EE3Cg3Tqdx9BeerBiceps SkillHouse को Social Media पर Follow करे :-YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-Y36TqZ5MH6N1cWpmsBRQ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/beerbiceps_skillhouseWebsite : https://beerbicepsskillhouse.inFor any other queries EMAIL: support@beerbicepsskillhouse.comIn case of any payment-related issues, kindly write to support@tagmango.comLevel Supermind - Mind Performance App को Download करिए यहाँ से

Janmashtami - Why Krishna descends Varanasi youth Gita 4.8 - Chaitanya Charan by Exploring mindfulness, yoga and spirituality

fWotD Episode 3024: Rani of Jhansi Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Friday, 15 August 2025, is Rani of Jhansi.The Rani of Jhansi (born Manikarnika Tambe; 1828 or 1835 – 18 June 1858), also known as Rani Lakshmibai, was one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The queen consort of the princely state of Jhansi from 1843 to 1853, she assumed its leadership after the outbreak of conflict and fought several battles against the British. Her life and deeds are celebrated in modern India and she remains a potent symbol of Indian nationalism.Born into a Marathi family in Varanasi, Manikarnika Tambe was married to the raja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rao, at a young age, taking the name Rani Lakshmibai. The couple had one son but he died young, and so when Gangadhar Rao was on his deathbed in 1853, he adopted Damodar Rao, a young relative, to be his successor. The British East India Company, the overlord of Jhansi, refused to recognise this succession and annexed Jhansi under the Doctrine of Lapse, ignoring the Rani's vigorous protests to the Governor-General Lord Dalhousie.In May 1857, the Indian troops stationed at Jhansi mutinied and massacred most of the British in the town; the Rani's complicity and participation in these events was and remains contested. She took over rulership of Jhansi and recruited an army to see off incursions from neighbouring states. Although her relations with the British were initially neutral, they decided to treat her as an enemy: Major General Hugh Rose attacked and captured Jhansi in March and April 1858. The Rani escaped the siege on horseback and joined other rebel leaders at Kalpi, where Rose defeated them on 22 May. The rebels fled to Gwalior Fort, where they made their last stand; the Rani died there in battle.After the rebellion, the Rani's name and actions became closely associated with nationalist movements in India. Her legend, influenced by Hindu mythology, became hugely influential because of its universal applicability. She was regarded as a great heroine by the Indian independence movement and remains revered in modern India, although Dalit communities tend to view her negatively. Rani Lakshmibai has been extensively depicted in artwork, cinema, and literature, most notably in the 1930 poem "Jhansi Ki Rani" and Vrindavan Lal Verma's 1946 novel Jhansi ki Rani Lakshmi Bai.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:20 UTC on Friday, 15 August 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Rani of Jhansi on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Ruth.

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Rediscovering Trust: A Rainy Morning in Varanasi Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-07-31-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: वाराणसी के मशहूर मंदिर के प्रांगण में सुबह की धूप मोती की तरह चमक रही थी।En: In the courtyard of the famous temple in Varanasi, the morning sunlight was sparkling like pearls.Hi: चारों तरफ से गंगा की बहती धारा के बीच आस्था का माहौल था।En: All around, amidst the flowing stream of the Ganga, there was an atmosphere of devotion.Hi: अचानक बादल घिर आए और बारिश होने लगी।En: Suddenly, clouds gathered and it started to rain.Hi: बारिश में लोग तीव्रता से छतरियों के नीचे सिमट गए।En: In the rain, people quickly huddled under umbrellas.Hi: मीरा, जो एक सम्मानित महिला थी, मंदिर में पूजा करने गई थी।En: Meera, a respected woman, had gone to the temple to pray.Hi: उसके गले में उसके दादी का आशीर्वाद दिया हुआ नेकलेस था, जो पीढ़ियों से उनके परिवार की विरासत का प्रतीक था।En: Around her neck was a necklace blessed by her grandmother, which symbolized her family's heritage for generations.Hi: परंतु, भीड़ के बीच वह नेकलेस गायब हो गया।En: However, amid the crowd, that necklace disappeared.Hi: मीरा हैरान हो गई।En: Meera was astonished.Hi: उसके दिल ने धड़कना बढ़ा दिया।En: Her heart began to race.Hi: उसने तुरंत अपने दोस्तों आरव और कबीर को यह बात बताई।En: She immediately shared the incident with her friends Aarav and Kabir.Hi: आरव एक सतर्क और दृढ़ युवक था।En: Aarav was a vigilant and determined young man.Hi: वह बचपन से ही मीरा के साथ बड़ा हुआ था और उससे गहरे प्रभावित था।En: He had grown up with Meera since childhood and was deeply influenced by her.Hi: यह मौका आरव के लिए था, उसके दिल की भावनाओं को साबित करने का।En: This was an opportunity for Aarav to prove his feelings for her.Hi: कबीर, जो परम्परागत मान्यताओं पर शक करता था, बावजूद इसके, उसने अपने दोस्तों की मदद करने का निर्णय लिया।En: Kabir, who was skeptical about traditional beliefs, nonetheless decided to help his friends.Hi: मंदिर की भीड़ में आरव ने कबीर से हाथ मिलाया।En: In the crowded temple, Aarav shook hands with Kabir.Hi: कबीर ने उसे सुझाव दिया कि वे हर किसी से उनके इरादों के बारे में पूछें ताकि कोई संदेहास्पद व्यक्ति पहचाना जा सके।En: Kabir suggested that they ask everyone about their intentions so that any suspicious person could be identified.Hi: बारिश तेज हो रही थी।En: The rain was intensifying.Hi: लोग इधर-उधर दौड़ने लगे।En: People began to run here and there.Hi: उस बीच, आरव ने देखा कि एक छोटा बच्चा मंदिर के गलियारे में भाग रहा था।En: Amidst this, Aarav noticed a small child running in the temple corridor.Hi: उसकी गतिविधियाँ संदिग्ध थीं।En: His actions were suspicious.Hi: आरव और कबीर उसके पास गए और उससे पूछताछ की।En: Aarav and Kabir approached him and interrogated him.Hi: बच्चे ने थोड़ी झिझक के बाद माना कि वह और उसके दोस्त खेल-खेल में नेकलेस उठा कर चले गए थे, यह समझते बिना कि उसका महत्व क्या है।En: After a bit of hesitation, the child admitted that he and his friends had picked up the necklace while playing, not understanding its significance.Hi: फिर, आरव, मीरा और कबीर उस बच्चे के साथ उसके दोस्त के पास चले गए।En: Then, Aarav, Meera, and Kabir went with the child to his friend's place.Hi: वहां, वे मुस्कान के साथ नेकलेस पाकर राहत महसूस करने लगे।En: There, they felt relieved upon receiving the necklace with smiles.Hi: मीरा का गुस्सा जल्द ही खुशी में बदल गया।En: Meera's anger soon turned to happiness.Hi: उसने नेकलेस वापस गले में पहना और आरव की ओर देखने लगी।En: She wore the necklace around her neck again and looked at Aarav.Hi: उसकी आँखों में अब आरव के लिए विशेष सम्मान था।En: There was now a special respect for him in her eyes.Hi: यह घटना आरव, मीरा और कबीर के बीच के बंधन को और गहरा कर गई।En: This incident further deepened the bond between Aarav, Meera, and Kabir.Hi: आरव ने आत्मविश्वास पाया और मीरा ने उसकी भावनाओं को समझना शुरु कर दिया।En: Aarav found confidence, and Meera began to understand his feelings.Hi: वहीं, कबीर का मन भी संस्कृति की मान्यताओं के प्रति सम्मान से भर गया।En: Meanwhile, Kabir's mind was also filled with respect for cultural beliefs.Hi: बारिश थम गई थी, लेकिन गंगा की लहरों के साथ बहा मीरा का विश्वास था, जो न केवल उसके नेकलेस को वापस पा चुका था, बल्कि उसके दोस्तों के प्यार और समर्थन को भी।En: The rain had stopped, but along with the waves of the Ganga, Meera's trust flowed, having not only regained her necklace but also her friends' love and support. Vocabulary Words:courtyard: प्रांगणsparkling: चमक रही थीhuddled: सिमट गएastonished: हैरानvigilant: सतर्कdetermined: दृढ़skeptical: शकintentions: इरादोंintensifying: तेज हो रही थीinterrogated: पूछताछhesitation: झिझकadmitted: मानाrelieved: राहतrespect: सम्मानbond: बंधनconfidence: आत्मविश्वासheritage: विरासतamidst: बीचdisappeared: गायबgathered: घिर आएintensifying: तीव्रता सेcorridor: गलियारेsignificance: महत्वdoubtfully: संदेहास्पदintentions: इरादोंhappiness: खुशीadmitted: मानाamid: बीचinterrogated: पूछताछemotions: भावनाओं

Being a pharmacist is exciting–as long as you're willing to try new things. These are wise words from my returning guest on today's podcast, who has been paving the way for integrative pharmacy. Dr. Swathi Varanasi is an award-winning pharmacist passionate about the intersection of personalized medicine, patient outcomes, and innovation. With experience spanning patient care, biotech, research, academia, and consumer product goods, Dr. Swathi has paved the way for healthcare professionals to pursue non-traditional career paths through creating postdoctoral training programs, industry internships, and online educational programs. She co-founded and serves as Chief Scientific Officer of the Life Sciences Division at Element Apothec, and serves as a Principal Investigator at contract research organization, Citruslabs. Dr. Swathi received her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the Medical University of South Carolina and Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Carleton College. She was the first-ever pharmacist in the United States with formal residency training to specialize in integrative medicine and preventative health. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Affairs in biotech and has training in nutrition from Cornell University. Dr. Swathi has served as faculty and guest lectures at colleges and universities across the country. She is an advisor and consultant for a number of for-profit and nonprofit organizations aiming to make the world a healthier place for us to live–and thrive. She has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals and featured in Yahoo, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, Entrepreneur, Forbes Health, and more. In 2023, Dr. Swathi was voted one of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy. Connect with Dr. Swathi via: Email: swathimvaranasi@gmail.com  FB: Doctor Swathi  IG: @drswathivaranasi Linked In:Dr. Swathi Varanasi  Check out our earlier episode here: https://www.marinabuksov.com/s03e03-paving-the-unconventional-path-with-integrative-pharmacist-dr-swathi-varanasi/ 

What if your spine holds the blueprint to your entire spiritual journey? What if every trauma, every breakthrough, every stage of awakening creates a specific energetic pattern that can be read like a map? In this profound conversation, we explore the revolutionary concept that your nervous system's capacity for safety directly determines how far you can travel on the path of consciousness.Meet Dr Alec Verkuilen-Brogan, founder of Geometry of Grace and master practitioner of the transformational arts. With decades of study under traditional teachers from Varanasi, India, Alec has developed the rare ability to read the energetic patterns stored in your spine and translate them into precise spiritual development maps. His work bridges ancient wisdom with modern nervous system science, helping people understand exactly where they are on their awakening journey and what specific work is needed to progress to the next stage.What You'll Discover:Why your spine is actually the most physical expression of the spiritual world – and how this changes everything about how you approach inner workThe shocking truth about why psychedelics create states but not stages – and what you actually need to build lasting spiritual developmentHow to identify your specific "geometry of trauma" – the precise energetic patterns that keep you stuck and exactly where they're stored in your bodyWhy most people can't access bliss even when they desperately want to – and the specific interference patterns that block your natural sensitivity to life's beautyThe safety paradox that determines your spiritual ceiling – how your nervous system's capacity for safety literally controls how much awakening you can handleHow to read the developmental map of consciousness – understanding exactly which stage you're in and what paradigm shift is needed to evolve to the next levelWhy chasing spiritual highs actually keeps you stuck – and how to identify where you're spiritually bypassing your real workThe moment when personal will becomes divine will – recognizing when you've developed enough coherence to trust your desires as cosmic guidanceThis conversation is a masterclass in understanding the precise mechanics of consciousness. If you've ever felt stuck on your path, wondered why some practices don't create lasting change, or sensed a deeper map to awakening no one has shown you, this episode will shift how you approach inner work. Alec reveals the hidden geometry behind spiritual growth and gives you tools to read your energetic blueprint. Your spine holds the records of your soul's journey – it's time to learn how to read them.Connect with Alec:Email contact: geometryofgrace@gmail.comInstagram: @geometryofgraceLegal Disclaimer: The information and opinions discussed in this podcast are for educational and entertainment purposes only. The host and guests are not medical or mental health professionals, and their advice should not be a substitute for seeking professional help. Any action taken based on the information presented is strictly at your own risk. The podcast host and their guests shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by information shared in this podcast. Consult your physician before making any changes to your mental health treatment or lifestyle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is someone I'm lucky enough to have known personally for many years, so getting the chance to interview him today was a real treat. Aastish Taseer is a writer and thinker who straddles many cultures – Indian, American, British – and this cultural journey infuses his writing with refined and penetrative insights. I first met him in India, when I was living in Delhi and he took me under his wing and introduced me around & gave me some great tips on how to navigate this massive city. In the past, I've really appreciated his work and always recommended it, such as his novel “The Way Things Were”, a multi-generational Indian family saga, and his non-fiction work, like “The Twice Born” where he wrote about contemporary challenges to the ancient ways of the Brahmin caste in the holy city of Varanasi in India. When I heard that he had a new book out called “A Return to Self”, where his travels to sacred and remote sites around the world would be viewed through his own complex sense of identity, I could not wait any longer and immediately called him to get an interview.   In our chat today, we dig into some questions surrounding belonging, identity, exploration and exile. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let's get more people listening – and reading!Aatish Taseer's four books were:Survivors in Mexico, Rebecca West (2011)In Light of India, Octavio Paz (1995)A Bend in the River, V. S. Naipaul (1979)My Friends, Hisham Matar (2024)

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Rainy Night Courage: A Tale from Varanasi's Sacred Ghats Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-07-01-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: वाराणसी के घाटों पर गंगा की पवित्र लहरें तटों से टकराकर अपनी अमृतमय ध्वनि से लोगों के मन में श्रद्धा का संचार कर रहीं थीं।En: On the ghats of Varanasi, the holy waves of the Ganga collided with the shores, emanating a divine sound that instilled devotion in people's hearts.Hi: गुरु पूर्णिमा की इस विशेष रात्रि में, हर ओर भक्ति का माहौल था।En: On this special night of Guru Purnima, the atmosphere everywhere was filled with devotion.Hi: बारिश का मौसम अपने साथ मौन और शांति लेकर आया था, जब बारिश की बूंदें घाट की पत्थरीले सीढ़ियों पर टपक रहीं थीं।En: The rainy season had brought along with it silence and peace as raindrops were falling on the stone steps of the ghat.Hi: रोहन, एक स्थानीय गाइड, अपने दो मेहमानों - मीरा और अंजलि को घाटों का महत्व समझा रहा था।En: Rohan, a local guide, was explaining the significance of the ghats to his two guests - Meera and Anjali.Hi: मीरा एक वैज्ञानिक थी जो दुर्लभ पौधों के नमूने इकट्ठा करने आई थी।En: Meera was a scientist who had come to collect rare plant samples.Hi: अंजलि अपने आंतरिक डर को दूर करने की इच्छा लेकर यहाँ आई थी।En: Anjali came with the desire to overcome her inner fears.Hi: घनघोर बारिश के बीच, घाटों की ओर जाते हुए अचानक मीरा चिल्ला उठी।En: Amidst the heavy rain, while heading towards the ghats, suddenly Meera screamed.Hi: किसी ने ध्यान नहीं दिया, पर रोहन ने देखा कि मीरा के पैर पर सांप ने काट लिया था।En: No one paid attention, but Rohan noticed that a snake had bitten Meera's foot.Hi: बारिश और आधी गीली सड़कों के कारण पास के अस्पताल तक पहुंचना मुश्किल हो रहा था।En: Due to the rain and the half-wet roads, reaching the nearest hospital was becoming difficult.Hi: रोहन ने बिना सोचे समझे निर्णय लिया कि वह मदद लाने जाएगा।En: Rohan made a quick decision to go for help without hesitation.Hi: वह त्वरित कदमों से दौड़ पड़ा।En: He ran with swift steps.Hi: उधर अंजलि, जिसका सामना सांपों से होने से भयभीत करती थी, ने अपना डर दूर करते हुए मीरा की देखभाल करने का निश्चय किया।En: Meanwhile, Anjali, who was terrified of encountering snakes, decided to take care of Meera while overcoming her fear.Hi: उसने अपने पास मौजूद प्राथमिक चिकित्सा जानकारियों का उपयोग किया और मीरा को संभालने की कोशिश की।En: She used her available first aid knowledge and tried to manage Meera.Hi: बारिश की हर बूंद के साथ समय की मूल्यता बढ़ रही थी।En: With each drop of rain, the value of time was increasing.Hi: मीरा की हालत बिगड़ने लगी, पर रोहन हार नहीं मानी।En: Meera's condition started deteriorating, but Rohan did not give up.Hi: वह थके हुए शरीर और गीले वस्त्रों के साथ एक स्थानीय चिकित्सक को लेकर वापस आया।En: He returned with a local doctor, despite his tired body and wet clothes.Hi: चिकित्सक ने तुरंत इलाज़ किया और मीरा की स्थिति में सुधार होने लगा।En: The doctor immediately provided treatment, and Meera's condition began to improve.Hi: घाट की सीढ़ियों पर बैठे हुए, तीनों ने राहत की सांस ली।En: Sitting on the steps of the ghat, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.Hi: अंजलि ने पाया कि उसे आत्मविश्वास और साहस मिला था।En: Anjali found that she had gained confidence and courage.Hi: मीरा ने स्थानीय ज्ञान की अहमियत को समझा और रोहन ने एक गाइड के रूप में अपने कर्तव्य पर गर्व महसूस किया।En: Meera understood the importance of local knowledge, and Rohan felt proud of his duty as a guide.Hi: बारिश अब रुक चुकी थी।En: The rain had now stopped.Hi: गंगा की शांत लहरों ने जैसे सबके दिलों में नई आशा भर दी हो।En: The calm waves of the Ganga seemed to fill everyone's hearts with new hope.Hi: तीनों ने घाट पर बैठकर एक-दूसरे के साथ कहानी साझा की और भविष्य की योजनाओं पर बात की।En: The three of them sat on the ghat sharing stories with each other and talked about future plans.Hi: एक साधारण सी रात ने उनके जीवन में स्थायी बदलावा लाकर उन्हें और भी मजबूत बना दिया।En: An ordinary night had brought a lasting change in their lives, making them even stronger. Vocabulary Words:ghats: घाटोंholy: पवित्रcollided: टकराकरemanating: संचारdivine: अमृतमयdevotion: श्रद्धाinstilled: भराsignificance: महत्वsamples: नमूनेscreamed: चिल्लाbite: काटhesitation: बिना सोचे समझेswift: त्वरितterrified: भयभीतovercoming: दूर करनाavailable: मौजूदdeteriorating: बिगड़नेsigh: सांसrelief: राहतcourage: साहसproud: गर्वcalm: शांतwaves: लहरेंconfidence: आत्मविश्वासimportance: अहमियतhopes: आशाlasting: स्थायीknowledge: ज्ञानplans: योजनाओंduty: कर्तव्य

En este episodio conversé con Juliana Aldana, líder en tecnología y producto, que decidió detener su carrera hace unos meses para emprender un viaje interior: migración, yoga, burnout y el Mahakumbh Mela en India, el festival espiritual más grande del mundo.

Garima Arora is the India born chef of the two Michelin star restaurant Gaa in Bangkok, Thailand. She is the only female Indian chef with two Michelin stars. Garima has been working tirelessly to awaken the transformative potential of Indian cuisine both in India and abroad for many years. She developed a non-profit called Food Forward India, that documents, discover and catalogue the diversity and complexity of Indian food and the culture surrounding it, and is also a judge on MasterChef India, one of the most wide-reaching culinary television shows on earth.In our conversation, we speak of how the perception of Indian food has changed since she opened the restaurant. I spent two months in the country when I was 25, traveling on 3rd class trains everywhere, going from the Himalayas in the north to Goa in the south, and the border with Pakistan in the west to Varanasi in the east. Aside of being one of the most impactful periods of my life, I tasted so many things that were new to me and I haven't seen since. Indian food, the cuisine of a massive landscape with hundreds of ecosystems and more people than any other country on the planet, was, for many years, reduced to a handful of curries and breads outside of the country. It's so vast and rich and has been bottled up within India for so long, but suddenly it's starting to spread. This is very much a big moment for Indian food outside of India. Tresind Studio in Dubai was just awarded 3 Michelin stars. Semma in New York was named the best restaurant in the city by The New York Times. And within India there is a lot going on too, not just with fine dining restaurants, but at the street level there is an energy there that is growing by the day. This is a cuisine, sorry not a cuisine, but thousands of them, that have been overlooked for far too long.Aside of trying to juggle parenting with chef life and her early career as a journalist, Garima talks about her work at Gaa. She tells us about the historic Thai house that was moved in pieces to Bangkok and reassembled with the help of a modern architecture firm to create the setting of the restaurant. She tells us how she cooks the Thai fruit durian on a tandoor oven as her main course, which sounds like one of the most delicious things ever.READ MORE at NEW WORLDER.

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Holi's Transformative Hues: A Tale of Spiritual Awakening Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hi/episode/2025-05-26-22-34-02-hi Story Transcript:Hi: गंगा नदी के तट पर, प्राचीन वाराणसी में, होली का त्योहार पूरी रौनक पर था।En: On the banks of the Ganga River, in the ancient city of Varanasi, the festival of Holi was in full swing.Hi: वसंत ऋतु की ठंडी बयार में भक्त जन रंगों में डूबे हुए थे।En: In the cool breeze of spring, the devotees were immersed in colors.Hi: हर ओर गुलाल उड़ रहे थे।En: Gulal was flying in every direction.Hi: आकाश में हर रंग के चिह्न बन गए थे।En: Symbols of every color appeared in the sky.Hi: वहीं गंगा के किनारे पर, एक साधारण से दिखने वाले विद्वान, आरव, ध्यान में बैठे थे।En: There, by the banks of the Ganga, sat a seemingly simple scholar, Aarav, in meditation.Hi: आरव अपनी जिंदगी का अर्थ और गहरे आध्यात्मिक सत्य खोज रहे थे।En: Aarav was searching for the meaning of his life and deeper spiritual truths.Hi: दूसरी ओर थी इशिता, एक प्रतिभावान कलाकार।En: On the other hand, there was Ishita, a talented artist.Hi: इशिता को नई प्रेरणा और स्वतंत्रता की तलाश थी।En: Ishita was in search of new inspiration and freedom.Hi: रंगों के इस उत्सव में, वो अपनी रचनात्मकता को पंख देने को तैयार थी।En: In this festival of colors, she was ready to give wings to her creativity.Hi: समाज की बेड़ियों को चुनौती देना चाहती थी।En: She wanted to challenge the chains of society.Hi: आरव और इशिता का पहली बार इस पवित्र मौके पर मिलना था।En: It was for the first time that Aarav and Ishita were meeting during this sacred occasion.Hi: आरव ने सोचा कि इस रंगीन त्योहार के पवित्र अनुष्ठानों में भाग लेने से उसे अपने आध्यात्मिक लक्ष्य को पा सकने में मदद मिलेगी।En: Aarav thought that by participating in the sacred rituals of this colorful festival, he would be helped in achieving his spiritual goals.Hi: वहीं, इशिता ने खुद को नए अनुभवों के लिए खोला।En: Meanwhile, Ishita opened herself to new experiences.Hi: जब आरव और इशिता का पहली बार सामना हुआ, तो उनके भीतर एक अनकही पहचान जाग उठी।En: When Aarav and Ishita encountered each other for the first time, a silent recognition awoke within them.Hi: जब आरव और इशिता ने होली के रंगों में एक-दूसरे को रंग दिया, तो मानो दोनों के मन का बोझ हल्का हो गया।En: When Aarav and Ishita colored each other in the hues of Holi, it was as if a weight was lifted from their minds.Hi: आसमान में जो रंग बिखर रहे थे, वे उनके भीतर भी फैल गए थे।En: The colors that were spreading in the sky also spread within them.Hi: ऐसा लगा जैसे जीवन की किसी नायाब खुशी को उन्होंने छू लिया हो।En: It felt as if they had touched a rare joy of life.Hi: रंगों की उस बारिश ने उनके अंदर के बंधनों को मिटा दिया।En: The downpour of colors erased the bindings inside them.Hi: इस चकाचौंध भरे अनुभव ने आरव को उसकी किताबों और पुरानी धारणाओं से बाहर निकलने का साहस दिया।En: This dazzling experience gave Aarav the courage to step out of his books and old beliefs.Hi: उसने महसूस किया कि जीवन का अर्थ पन्नों से परे, अनुभवों में छिपा है।En: He realized that the meaning of life lies beyond the pages, hidden in experiences.Hi: इशिता ने तय किया कि यह नया अनुभव उसकी कला में नई दिशा और ऊंचाई देगा।En: Ishita decided that this new experience would give a new direction and height to her art.Hi: उसने अपने जीवन को स्वतंत्रता से जीने का संकल्प लिया।En: She resolved to live her life with freedom.Hi: इस तरह, होली ने आरव और इशिता को उनकी जंजीरों से आजाद किया।En: In this way, Holi liberated Aarav and Ishita from their chains.Hi: आरव ने अनपेक्षित रास्तों को अपनाया, और इशिता ने आजादी की सच्ची परिभाषा को अपनी कला में उतारा।En: Aarav embraced unexpected paths, and Ishita imparted the true definition of freedom in her art.Hi: गंगा की लहरों की तरह, दोनों के जीवन में भी तरंगें उठने लगीं, जो उन्हें आनंद की ओर लेकर गईं।En: Like the waves of the Ganga, waves began to rise in both of their lives, leading them towards bliss.Hi: और वाराणसी के उन पवित्र घाटों पर, होली ने एक नई कहानी लिख दी।En: And on those sacred ghats of Varanasi, Holi penned a new story. Vocabulary Words:banks: तटancient: प्राचीनfestival: त्योहारdevotees: भक्तimmersed: डूबेbreeze: बयारdirection: दिशाseemingly: साधारण सेmeditation: ध्यानtruths: सत्यinspiration: प्रेरणाfreedom: स्वतंत्रताchains: बेड़ियोंrituals: अनुष्ठानोंencountered: सामनाhues: रंगोंsilence: अनकहीrecognition: पहचानdownpour: बारिशbindings: बंधनdazzling: चकाचौंधcourage: साहसembrace: अपनायाwaves: लहरेंbliss: आनंदsacred: पवित्रpen: लिखdevotee: भक्तजनrare: नायाबresolve: संकल्प

Albert Aur Uska Jahaz | Writer Keith Waterhouse | Translated in Hindi by Sudha Arora | Narrator Sushil Suman**Born in 1987 in the village of Dharampur Jarang in Bihar's Vaishali district, Sushil's early education began in his hometown before he moved to the historic city of Varanasi. There, he pursued his BA, MA, and Ph.D. in Hindi literature from Banaras Hindu University, residing in the city's vibrant literary and cultural milieu from 2004 to 2015. Since 2016, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Hindi Department at Koch Bihar Panchanan Burma University in West Bengal.Sushil's fascination with the world of sound traces back to his childhood days, spent listening to BBC's news broadcasts and Vividh Bharti's entertainment programs on the radio. Though traditional radio gradually gave way to digital platforms like YouTube and Spotify in his life, his enduring love for voices and narratives remained constant. Over the years, he has often read his favorite poems among friends, but this marks his first formal foray into storytelling.We're thrilled to have him as part of our collective, and we look forward to hearing the textures of his voice and the stories he chooses to share. Curator: IrfanJoin the Art of Reading:Do you have a passion for reading literature or narrating captivating prose? Here's your chance to shine! I'm thrilled to announce a new collaborative series, Art of Reading, on my podcast channel, Listen with Irfan.If you love bringing stories to life, I'm offering you a platform to showcase your talent.Record a short story of your choice (maximum 8 minutes) and share it with a community of like-minded narrators and listeners. This is a free, non-commercial initiative to connect aspiring narrators, promote storytelling, and build a creative community. No monetization, just pure love for the art of narration.How to Participate:- Choose a short story or piece of prose you're passionate about.- Record it with clear audio using a mobile phone or audio recorder. Do not include your name or the story's title in the recording.- Background music is optional, but avoid copyrighted tracks to prevent hosting issues.- Send your recording via email to ramrotiaaloo@gmail.com or WhatsApp at +91 9818098790.Submission Guidelines- -Submit only MP3 files. - Include:1. Name2. Current City3. Profession4. Brief bio (max 80 words)5. Photograph (if requested after review)  Full credit to the writer and narrator will be given on the Listen with Irfan podcast channel. Cover: IrfanWe respect creative ownership. If you believe this is your work or if appropriate credit hasn't been given, kindly get in touch at ramrotiaaloo@gmail.comBECOME A PATRON : Work on Listen with Irfan takes time, money and hard work to produce. As of now it is being done voluntarily with the family, friends and listeners who came forward for hand holding from its inception.  If you like the Podcasts, admire it, and benefit from its content, please consider awarding us an honorarium to make the future of this Podcast Channel robust and assured.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠यहाँ आपको मिलती हैं वो दुर्लभ आवाज़ें खुद बोलती, गाती और बहस करती। मनोहर श्याम जोशी, कमलेश्वर, कृष्णा सोबती, बी वी कारंत, शमशेर बहादुर सिंह, बलराज साहनी, अज्ञेय, रसूलन बाई, निर्मल वर्मा, मंगलेश डबराल, राजेंद्र यादव, चंद्रकांत देवताले, भवानी प्रसाद मिश्र, इस्मत चुग़ताई, सत्यदेव दुबे, त्रिलोचन, अमरीश पुरी, इब्राहीम अल्क़ाज़ी, मोहन उप्रेती, गोरख पांडेय, नैना देवी, वीरेन डंगवाल, मन्नू भंडारी, भीष्म साहनी, देवकी नंदन पांडे आदि के अलावा अनगिनत भारतीय और विदेशी समकालीन विचारक, कलाकार, लेखक, कवि और सांस्कृतिक लड़ाके। किताबों पर चर्चा के पॉडकास्ट, संगीत, फिल्म रिव्यू और स्ट्रीट रिकॉर्डिंग्स का एकमात्र पॉडकास्ट मंच। Details to support this Podcast Channel Bank Name: State Bank Of IndiaName: SYED MOHD IRFANAccount No:32188719331Branch: State Bank of India, Vaishali Sec 4, GhaziabadIFSC–SBIN0013238UPI/Gpay ID irfan.rstv-2@oksbi

Neale invites Kev to street photograph and adventure with him in Kolkata and Varanasi as he prepares for the next 2026 Photowalk adventure in India, but will he say yes. Also on the show a VERY special offer from our wonderful sponsor Pictime, called 72, plus an invite to come and join us on a special Pictime Zoom show on Wednesday 14th May at 6pm UK time, invite URL below. Questions into the show about lost custom settings, website picture layout nightmares, finding a discreet camera system for shooting unobtrusively, the classic Fujinon lens line-up for the X-system, protecting gear from bangs and knocks in the bag, ChatGPT accuses Neale of stealing Kev's 35mm, a 500mm beast, and battery talk.  THE BIG ZOOM INVITE for 14th March 6pm UK time: https://www.fujicast.co.uk/pictime  Email the show with your questions: click@fujicast.co.uk  Pic Time: https://www.pic-time.com/ - use FUJICAST when creating an account for discount offers to apply For links go to the showpage.

In this episode of Cyrus Says, we sit down with rising MMA star Siddharth Singh, who hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and began his martial arts journey at just 18, transitioning from a strong base in wrestling and boxing. Now training at Soma Fight Club, Bangkok, Siddharth has honed a powerful hybrid style of aggressive striking and technical grappling, under elite international coaches. With an impressive professional record of 8 wins and 2 losses, Siddharth fights in the Welterweight division (77 kg) and has made his mark as a former SFL Welterweight Champion, defending his title twice before stepping into the cage with Brave Combat Federation in 2022, notably facing Algerian contender Malik Bara. Known for his rear-naked chokes and devastating overhand right, he brings a calculated, crowd-pleasing style to every fight. He was named SFL Fighter of the Year in 2021, and his talent has earned him partnerships with Under Armour India and NitroX Sports Nutrition. This fun and insightful conversation also features hilarious takes on emotional strength, patience versus Delhi traffic, charm overload, and sibling rivalries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being a pharmacist is exciting–as long as you're willing to try new things. These are wise words from my returning guest on today's podcast, who has been paving the way for integrative pharmacy. Dr. Swathi Varanasi is an award-winning pharmacist passionate about the intersection of personalized medicine, patient outcomes, and innovation. With experience spanning patient care, biotech, research, academia, and consumer product goods, Dr. Swathi has paved the way for healthcare professionals to pursue non-traditional career paths through creating postdoctoral training programs, industry internships, and online educational programs. She co-founded and serves as Chief Scientific Officer of the Life Sciences Division at Element Apothec, and serves as a Principal Investigator at contract research organization, Citruslabs. Dr. Swathi received her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the Medical University of South Carolina and Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Carleton College. She was the first-ever pharmacist in the United States with formal residency training to specialize in integrative medicine and preventative health. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Affairs in biotech and has training in nutrition from Cornell University. Dr. Swathi has served as faculty and guest lectures at colleges and universities across the country. She is an advisor and consultant for a number of for-profit and nonprofit organizations aiming to make the world a healthier place for us to live–and thrive. She has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals and featured in Yahoo, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, Entrepreneur, Forbes Health, and more. In 2023, Dr. Swathi was voted one of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy. Connect with Dr. Swathi via: Email: swathimvaranasi@gmail.com FB: Doctor Swathi IG: @doctorswathi Linked In:Dr. Swathi Varanasi Check out our earlier episode here: https://www.marinabuksov.com/s03e03-paving-the-unconventional-path-with-integrative-pharmacist-dr-swathi-varanasi/ Visit https://marinabuksov.com for more holistic content. Music from https://www.purple-planet.com. Disclaimer: Statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

What makes it holy to get really stoned? This is an unavoidable question in India, where smoking cannabis is banned but done by dreadlocked devotees. Meanwhile, weed smoothies are frequently drunk at religious festivals.The writer Karan Madhok investigates this paradox – along with many others – in his new book Ananda, subtitled “An Exploration of Cannabis in India”. It also covers lots of other subjects, including cultural history, indigenous medicine, politicised religion, the pleasures of travel and the charms of Varanasi.As we discuss, references to cannabis date back to the Vedas, though the custom of smoking it is relatively recent. Like criminalisation, that came from outsiders – and ironically countries that promoted prohibition, such as the United States, have since been at the forefront of legalisation.Things are now changing in India with commercialised hemp and Ayurvedic remedies, but recreational use is illegal. Our conversation considers the benefits as well as the drawbacks of cannabis consumption, and asks if the bliss to which Ananda refers might be found more sustainably by other means.

Once on the brink of extinction, Varanasi's ancient wooden toy industry has made a spectacular comeback, thanks to the relentless efforts of artisans like Padma Shri awardee Godavari Singh, who passed away earlier this month. His exquisite handcrafted toys not only preserved a centuries-old tradition but also gained national recognition, featuring in the New Delhi tableau during the Republic Day celebrations, where he was honoured for his contributions. In this episode of Padma Pride, we explore how Singh, along with new-age entrepreneurs, steered this centuries-old craft into a flourishing industry. About Padma PridePadma Pride is an inspiring audio series by The Good Sight and Rise Against Hunger India, celebrating Padma Awardees and their extraordinary impact. Every Sunday, webring you the story of a changemaker shaping India's future. (Narration: Shalini Singh, The Good Sight).