Improvements

I love the idea of the themed reading units. It was kind of difficult to narrow down what to do my storybook over because there were so many options available. I think the themed units for the Indian Epics class would be very beneficial for those who want to do a storybook since they would already have a taste of what the different types of stories were like.

I didn't use the story planning option this semester but wish that I would have. I think it would have been beneficial to use with my storybook and perhaps made coming up with each page a bit easier. Also, receiving feedback on the story planning ideas would help to make the pages better the first time around.

Wikipedia Trails From Perfection to The Vaisnavism

Source:Wikimedia
Vishnu to Krishna

11.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfection

I talked about perfection being an issue of mine in my growth mindset post, so I decided to look it up on Wikipedia. The definition is broadly, a state of completeness and flwalessness. They are sometimes kindred concepts and in many subjects, such as math and ethics to name a couple. There is a paradox they say, “the greatest perfection is imperfection” because that would mean there is no room to improve. In the middle ages they claimed that the world was created in six days because it was a perfect number.

22.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God

God, in monotheism – not what we have studied, is one supreme being or object of faith. He is the ultimate creator and sustainer of life. Even though there is a trinity in Christianity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; they all represent one God. So it is believed that other theists, such as Hindus, no matter how many gods they worship all represent one God. I guess that kind of is how Narayan would be seen.

33.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existence_of_God

So what about the existence of God? Arguments exist for all reasons, logical, empirical, subjective. Plato and Aristotle began Western discussions. Scientists try to follow the scientific method. Catholics say that God is “the natural light of human reason.” It lists the existence for absolute truth as something outside of Western thought. Which, according to what I learned the other day, Hindus do not need logic. Absolute truth sounds like logic to me. But I also found another branch of Hinduism, Vaisnavism.

44.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism

Vaisnavism is the belief by Hindus that Vishnu is the supreme lord. Which as I learned is an Avatar of Narayan. There are also branches of this Vaisnavism called Bhagavatism and Krishnaism due to the avatars told in the Hindu epics. Vishnuism is because of the Puranic texts.  

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Famous Last Words:Don't Wait Until The Last Minute

Ha! Stress, that is this week. Definitely, should have been doing the extra credit throughout the semester, but I have had a hell of a lot of life situations hit me all at once over the past few weeks.

Reading this week was super easy, and thus made the last storytelling post easy also. I really enjoyed the Epified Hindu Calendar Art videos.

Someone's storybook had used some asterisks to split up times of day in the page. So, I showed the best compliment by copying that. I updated my storybook with those changes and FINISHED the final story. Hallelujah!

My Handsom Son
Personal Photo
Taken by His Proud Mom

No exciting events attended on campus since I live in Broken Arrow, but I am officially feeling old.

My son started his first job last Tuesday and went to his Junior prom on Saturday night. Which by the way, he sent me a text on Monday afternoon to tell me he decided to go even though I had tried to talk him into it a month ago. It is quite a pain in the butt to rent a tuxedo less than a week before an event so keep that in mind for when you have children.

My other classes... Microeconomics sucks because I dislike the subject with a passion, but knowing it is almost over is satisfaction enough. I think this is because it is hard for me to understand the concepts online and if you read my Growth Mindset post you already heard my soapbox about online classes. My major classes are going well though. Database Design assignments have all been perfect scores, only a few quizzes have been less than perfect. This week I have to write my final paper for Community Health Information and create a powerpoint presentation about the "interesting" facts I found. I chose the topic of sex ed in public schools, which really it is the lack of because of so many states relying on abstinence-only based programs. Having a 16-year-old son and a daughter in middle school, it is important to me for a complete education(which I have given to my son after finding out what he was "taught" in his classes), but my paper has to be unbiased so wish me luck on this one.

Week 14 Review

So I did read through all of the posts for last week but the one that I chose is pretty recent because it made me literally laugh out loud. If anyone pays attention to the time I make my posts, you can see why it humored me the most. I had to refrain from typing this into a Google search.

Onto a side note, the Whinery Ranch expedition looked like something that would have been fun. Kids, get your college done when you're young. Live on or near campus, don't be stuck taking only online classes unless it is your last resort. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet new people, have new experiences, and live life to the fullest. I hope my children have learned from me that this is not the best way to "do" college. College should be a time of growth and learning (not just academics) in your life, not a chore to knock off of your to-do list.

Daily Post Link for Image Source

Growth Mindset Meme Thoughts

Source:4/23/17 Blog by Laura Gibbs

I chose this meme because this is one of the biggest struggles I have in life in general. I associate this with perfection. I always want my "stuff" to be perfect before I show it to anyone else. It doesn't matter if it's a presentation in front of a training class, an assignment, final paper, dinner for husband and children, hell - even this post! I think the need for perfection is a lack of confidence. So, it is extremely difficult to "just do it!" Hey, at least I haven't projected this onto my children. I encourage them to try new things and to "just do it!" Mistakes happen but that is how you learn and improve. It is always easier to give the medicine than to actually take it though. : ) This is something I will take to heart and try to work on for myself.

Source Blog Post

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

Well, with all the crazy flooding and rainy weather happening lately I decided to add a weather widget to my blog. It was super easy and here are the Instructions on how to add your own.

Storytelling Week 14 : The Awakening of Narayan

Hindu deities who arrive with Narayan's awakening.

Ananta and Adi Sesha were sister serpents who were the masters of time. One was known as the primal and the other as the endless. So together they were the beginning and the end but never stopping.

They would glide around the ocean of milk with Narayan as he napped in their embrace. If he was napping, the world was silent. The ocean was calm; their job was easy. They had no worries.

When Narayan awoke, however, many things would happen. He would change so that he could be with his people and creatures of the world. He would become Vishnu, protector, and guardian of the world.

He did not need the care and protection of Adi and Ananta, but they were still needed for the world. Since they were the masters of time without them, time did not exist.

Adi and Ananta never knew when Narayan would wake. They only knew that the day the sea started to churn, his eyes would open.

They did not have much to do once Narayan was awake, but they had much more entertainment.Narayan, as Vishnu, would bring many creatures into the world with his awakening.

The goddess of wealth and his consort, Lakshmi would appear first. Sometimes she would be there as the cosmic cow, Go-Mata. They much preferred to see her as Lakshmi, but both were the same soul.

Brahma would sprout from a lotus flower as if he was giving birth to Vishnu. His job was to organize the world as Narayan sees fit at that time. 

Shiva is the one who can destroy the world when he closes his eyes. His mind refreshed from the cycle of sleep and ready to try again will step forth with his family, eyes open wide.

Parvati, Shiva’s wife and goddess of love and devotion, will be brought forth along with their two sons. She will be there to spread her love across the world. 

Ganesha, with the elephant head and exceptional intellectual capacity and his six-headed brother, Kartikeya with his great physical capabilities will be able to solve anything together.

Garuda, the cosmic hawk and a natural predator of serpents is brought forth as he is the protector of Narayan in Vishnu’s form. The cosmic hawk has a heavy responsibility which Adi and Ananta respect him for doing. They do not fear this hawk.

Hanuman the monkey will be brought forth. Hanuman is also known as sankat-mochan or the trouble-shooter. He too is a protector of Vishnu in his many avatar forms in the world. When he is present Adi and Ananta know that Narayan will be safe because when troubles are created, he will help find solutions.

The dueling musicians will be there to sing their praise to Narayan’s awakening. The horse-faced Tumburu, playing his lute will entice everyone to enjoy the new world, while Narad plays his lute, envious of Tumburu’s skill. This possessiveness and envy will ignite the troubles that Hanuman will help to squelch one day.

Author’s Note:

I based this from Chapter two of “7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art” retold as a video book by Epified on YouTube. This chapter is about Hindu beliefs of creationism. As we have learned throughout this course, Hindus do not believe in one life. This chapter describes an image that is a symbol of their beliefs about the cycle of life. Adi and Ananta are two different names that the serpent is referred to but I decided to make them siblings since the serpent has multiple heads. I chose the same image so that you could see the characters as I described them in my story.

Bibliography:

7 Secrets Hindu Calendar Art by Devdutt Pattanaik - Chapter 2 Narayan's Secret retold by Epified

Image Source

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

I received a notification via email that an assignment was graded in another class but there was no way to see the score or read my feedback. So I decided to try out the Canvas mobile app. I also have the D2L mobile app installed so I didn't expect to get much satisfaction from the Canvas app, but hoped I could at least view my score. Wow! I was surprised. It was easy and quick to install without any problems. The mobile app is very versatile and I love that I can color code my classes. I could access all areas of Canvas extremely easy including the feedback from my instructor on dropbox assignments. I honestly like the mobile app more than I like Canvas on my internet browser. I highly recommend it.

Reading Notes : Pattanaik's Calendar Art: Part B (Narayan) by Epified TV

Epified introduces 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art by Devdutt Pattanaik as a Video Book

Hindus believe in rebirth, death is only a comma.

Hindus believe in rebirth unlike Greeks(conquer) Muslims(surrender) and Christians(save), so when Narayan(God) sleeps, the world doesn’t exist. When he wakes it is reborn.

Ocean of milk which is what everything comes from – Ocean of Possibility, Just a glob of matter waiting to be formed***so much science even though it isn’t

Narayan is on a serpent – Sesha the only thing leftover after everything is destroyed(time) ***Adi Sesha The Primal Remainder or Ananta Sesha The Endless Remainder

Story of two serpents Adi and Ananta

Narayan is an observer and when he sleeps he doesn’t observe – another way the world doesn’t exist

My world vs the world, even now when we sleep our world exists but we don’t experience it so my world doesn’t exist

Totally the chicken and the egg

Lakshmi is Narayan’s consort, she is goddess of wealth and cosmic cow – Go-Mata

When Narayan is awake he is Vishnu – protector, guardian, preserver

This tells the story of Narad and Tumburu who want to win Lakshmi(when she is an avatar on earth) as a prize, and ask Vishnu for help. He helps, but because he actually loves her for the right reasons, she always chooses him.

Creation is subjective realization.

Banyan trees are immortal along with souls

Hindu idea of God is that God is ALL things, in and outside of them, he is she, he and she are also it, animate and inanimate, all things are God. Human, subhuman, superhuman. God is formless and expressed through all forms. Everything we see is God, all we sense is God, God is within us and around us. God is all there is. We can be God too but because of our limitations, egos, science, need to understand instead of just believe.

Bhagavad Gita says that if we break free by living life, struggle with rules, moralities, and ethics that the world subscribes to with the knowledge that death is not the end. We will be reborn to try again.

Hindus have no sense of urgency or a need to be a hero because of their cyclical belief of life and death. The discovery of the observer- the one who creates the world – is the purpose of life.

Bibliography

7 Secrets Hindu Calendar Art - Chapter 2 Narayan's Secret by Epified

Image Source

Reading Notes : Pattanaik's Calendar Art: Part A (Ganesha) by Epified TV

Epified introduces 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art by Devdutt Pattanaik as a Video Book

Hinduism requires both a male and female for creation
Source:Web

I like that in Hinduism it is compared to Christianity instead of a singular idea, there are gods and goddesses that fit into a jigsaw puzzle called God.

My world versus “the world” question is food for thought. Subjective versus objective is important.

In the Hindu world, God is not a singular entity or masculine.

Shiva and Parvati (wife) are equals(Gods), their children, Ganesha and Kartikeya are lesser(gods). Shiva is the destroyer and God because if he closes his eyes the world ceases to be. Parvati embodies all emotions. Makes me think that females are depicted as emotional and males as being strength(this is in all cultures I have read about thus far).

Ganesha, Kartikeya, or any divine god worshiped alone, can then be considered a God in that place.

Brahma created Vedas by transmitting them to Rishi, Vyas, but in Hinduism man cannot exist without woman, not even the gods. The transmission itself is the Veda-Mata goddess.

Life is incomplete without 4 goals – Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha…Kama are the pleasurable pursuits.

For Hindus, it is okay to worship a man who has transformed earth into paradise. They are not just considered a saint like in Christianity, but an earthly manifestation of god.

Parrot and Lotus associated with Kama, Hindu cupid.

Bahuachara goddess of many behaviors, tolerant of hijras, those who seek gender fulfillment(Male Indian transgenders). They live outside society, castrate themselves and pray to her. Stories say she once turned a woman into a man so she could marry another woman since they had been betrothed without knowing that they were both females. Hindus believe in reincarnation so they pray to Bahuachara for their next life to be a complete man or woman.

They even have universal goddesses – Annapurna the kitchen goddess to stave off the fear of starvation which is a fear for everyone.

Parvati wanted kids, but Shiva didn’t. She breathed life into a doll of turmeric paste she washed off of herself. Shiva once cut its head off when he wouldn’t let him in the house. Shiva then replaced the head with the immortal head of the elephant of the rain god Indra’s elephant making Ganesha. Thus making a union of Shiva and Parvati and showing the struggle and balance possible between life and family. 

Bibliography

Epified introduces 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art by Devdutt Pattanaik as a Video Book

Image Source

Wikipedia Trail

Snakes and Ladders
Author - NoMan
Source - Wikimedia Commons

I want to play this game!

Snakes and Ladders Snakes and Ladders was a board game in India. The game Chutes and Ladders originated from this game. Snakes and Ladders were based on virtues and vices, virtues being the ladders, vices being the snakes. Apparently, Chutes and Ladders had morals in the game, but I do not ever remember learning anything like that when I played it as a kid or with my children over a decade ago. I think Snakes and Ladders would have been much more interesting to play.

Midnight's Children Midnight’s Children was a book that was written in 1981 by Samuel Rushdie. It was about the transition of India from ownership by Britain to their own country. The characters were children. If the children were born on the day that India was emancipated, they had special powers. The book won many awards but also caused a lot of controversies.

Sanjay Ghandi Sanjay Ghandi was an Indian politician. His mother filed a lawsuit against the author of Midnight’s children because she felt falsely accused. He originally did not plan on becoming a politician, but instead wanted to be an automotive engineer. He even had an apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce. As he became more entwined in politics his automotive career took a backseat.

Maruti 800 The Maruti 800 was the first affordable car for people in India. It was about five feet tall, five feet wide, and almost 11 feet long. The gas tank was only 7.4 gallons and it could seat five people. It was manufactured from 1983 to 2014 but is only the second longest production car in India. Suzuki was the company that built it even though it was originally offered to Volkswagen so that it could be modeled after the beetle. Instead, it was modeled after the Suzuki Fronte.

That's a small car!
Photo by Krishna Kumar Mishra
Wikipedia

Tech Tip Week 12

Hey all, I tried out something new on one of my pages in my storybook. As you know, Google Sites has some limitations on changing some pretty basic things like the color of the font. I decided to work around this. I saved the image I found and added the text I wanted for the title in Microsoft's Paint program. I uploaded that new image into my Google drive and selected it as my background image.

Voila'! Click the link to see. Why The Dice What do you think?

Reading Notes Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems by Henry Hart Milman: Books VI-XI

My thoughts on a Representation of Damayanti sending her children away.

Book VI

The gods depart Bhima’s daughter and new son-in-law happy and cross paths with Kali and Dwapara together. Those are the names of the third and fourth ages of the world when bad stuff was integrated into man. When Indra asks Kali where he is going, his response is to marry Damayanti. He is given the bad news. Knowing Kali is upset, he points out that since Damayanti chose a mortal in the presence of gods, any harm brought to him would bring great doom to the person who tried to hurt Nala. They reiterate why Nala is worthy of being protected and their marriage sanctioned by them(back to first book about how he is a good king who studies vedas and treats everyone good, etc.) ***Nala is in essence equal in actions to the gods who guard the earth which is why he is noble and good and worth endowment from the gods.  Another warning, a curse placed upon Nala would be reversed back onto the person who tried to place it on him and be sent to hell. Then the gods exited. Kali tells Dwapara he can work around it by taking over Nala’s body with the assistance of dice enchanted by Dwapara.

Book VII

Kali and Dwapara silently haunt the palace of Nala waiting for an opportunity to take over Nala. It takes 12 years. Nala prayed with feet partially washed, which is unholy and allowed Kali to enter his body and take over his soul. In Nala he called for Nala’s brother, Pushkara, and asked to play dice. Dwapara enchanted the dice and Nala began to play. His city and people came to watch his strange behavior and ask him to stop but he did not. Damayanti asks Nala to stop but he ignores her. She tells the charioteer it is not Nala.

Book VIII

Damayanti asks her maiden Vrihatsena to go assemble the council to have them tell Nala what he has lost of the kingdom and what is left in hopes to bring him to his senses. It doesn’t work. So she asks her maiden to go to the charioteer Varshneya. She asks Varshneya to take her children to her father’s kingdom and told him he could go wherever afterwards. He went to Rituparna and serviced the king after taking their children to their grandparent’s palace.

Book IX

Nala has now lost everything. Pushkara wants to wager one last roll, Damayanti. Nala stops there, strips down to a vest and walks away. Damayanti follows him wearing one garment. Three days later and Pushkara threatens the kingdom that whosoever helps Nala will be killed. They left and lived on roots and fruits until Nala found three birds. He caught them with his vest but they flew away laughing. The birds spoke saying they were the dice and their job was complete; he was naked and left with nothing. Nala was embarrassed and felt bad for Damayanti. He told her all the different paths on the road which would take her to various kingdoms including her father’s so she did not have to live with him in this sorry state since she didn’t deserve it.

Damayanti replied in sorrow saying that she couldn’t bare to think of him alone worrying without her. She was there to help him through his hard times. Nala disagrees and says that he should be scolded and if he were in her place he would probably do just that. She says that he would only leave her if he was half of himself. If he keeps suggesting she go to her dad’s then they both should go.

Book X

Nala says no way, he is too embarrassed because their kingdom is mighty and he had a mighty kingdom once too until this big screwup. They shared her garment and went roaming pretty much starving because of what they could eat. They lay down to go to sleep. Nala mulls over everything he lost and whether or not to leave Damayanti. If he doesn’t leave she deals  with distress and shame, if he leaves she might go home to daddy. Under Kali’s influence still he leaves after cutting the garment in half but he travels back to her. He goes back and forth though, his love able to bring him back until Kali finally takes his mind over enough so he leaves the cabin.

Book XI

Damayanti wakes up and cries out for Nala. She asks where he is and why he left her all alone breaking his promise to stay by her side when she never broke hers. Why won’t he make her feel better by showing himself? Then she says she won’t feel sorry for herself, but just for him since he is alone. She looked everywhere yelling that whoever the evil one is who possessed him shall get what’s coming to them. She gets caught by a snake who is killed by a hunter. She gave him her story while he gave her the up-down. She figured it out and wishes him dead out loud. It happened.  

Bibliography

Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems

Image Source