Austin Mayor Steve Adler commended Austinites this week for their work in physical distancing and cutting daily interactions by 50%. New models from UT Austin suggest well need to cut those interactions even more to 90% to keep our health care system from being overloaded.

Adler joined KUTs Jimmy Maas for All Things Considered to talk about getting those interactions down and slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity.

KUT: [Modeling] numbers recommend we cut our daily interactions by 90 percent. How do we reach that number without some sort of enforcement? And what would that enforcement look like?

Austin Mayor Steve Adler: We've successfully gotten to a 50 percent decrease in physical interactions, which has put us in a better place than we would have been. But in order for us to prevent our system from being overloaded, we have to keep going and get to 90 percent. But it's not something we're going to be able to achieve through enforcement. There's not enough people or enough ways to enforce it, really. And it's going to come down to whether or not it's something that our community wants to do. It's going to be a question of just how much as a community - recognizing that that's the collection of individual actions - how motivated we are to save several thousand lives.

KUT: So enforcement, it's more of a social enforcement, if anything?

Adler: Really at this level, it is that kind of social enforcement. It's personal responsibility. It's people going to sleep at night and thinking through the day and counting how many physical interactions they had over the course of the day and trying to drive that number down as low as we can get it. But there are people all over this city doing things all over the city. And it's going to be impossible for us to police it.

We are planning and building contingencies for what we're going to have to do as a city if we can't achieve those levels - in terms of having greater supplies and greater places for people to be, making sure that we can build to a surge in need for hospital beds or equipment. That said, the best and most effective thing we can do and the only thing that can ultimately get us to the place where we just don't lose very many people is if there is an individually based but collective desire to police our own actions.

KUT: On those numbers: we have a relatively low count of cases here in the Austin area. The worry by some is that that number could be artificially low because of testing or the lack thereof. How many tests do we have and how many tests have we been able to complete locally?

Adler: I don't have that number offhand, but I will tell you that I am virtually certain that there is greater spread of the virus than our numbers reflect. We started taking action earlier based on that belief and also the belief that sooner or later it was going to start spreading from person to person because we knew those things would happen as they are now happening.

We started taking actions before people died. And as of today [Friday], we now have our first death. So we're working on the assumption that it is spreading in the community. Its a virus. That's what viruses do. This virus is going to spread as well. The only question is how fast does it spread, and how quickly does it come upon us? And that's what we can control.

KUT: When you and other city leaders made that call to cancel South by Southwest - not just one of the first big cancelations here, but really one of the first mass gathering cancelations I think in the U.S. - you did so because you did not want to have an epicenter here. Now, when you look at New York, New Orleans and other cities that are in the middle of an outbreak that may have pre-dated that decision by a few weeks - are you worried that despite all of this, all of what we're doing, the stay at home orders, the lost jobs, et cetera, that it might not be enough?

Adler: I'm happy we acted when we did and when I made that decision with respect to South By it was quite the outlier. Clearly not the outlier now. But yes, I do have a concern about whether what we're doing - whether it's going to be enough or not. I can only make sure that we do everything that we can do. And that means that we point out to the community the information that would be necessary for it, for our community, to drive the numbers down and to spread out this peak, if that's something that we are motivated to do. But it's also planning for execution of what happens in our city if we are unable to do that and our hospitals don't have the capacity to be able to handle the people that are getting sick.

KUT: Mr. Mayor, anything that we've left off here that you'd like to get out to the public before we say goodbye?

Adler: Well, just a reminder that there's great hope I think and self-empowerment in knowing that at this point where we are right now, because we acted early enough to get to 50 percent decrease in physical interactions, we get to decide what our next six to eight to 12 weeks are going to be like.

And I would urge everybody to stay at home as much as they can; only go out when it's essential or critical. Its OK to go out and exercise and jog. Best to do it yourself or with someone in your family. And we police ourselves and remind our neighbors if they seem to be forgetting, maybe this is something that we can do. We're in this together.

This post was updated March 28 with the addition of the interview transcript.

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Saving 'Several Thousand Lives' Will Come Down To How Motivated Austinites Are, Adler Says - KUT

Cathy Trevino, managing broker of Side, draws inspiration for her career from her personal experience as a first-time homebuyer when she was in her final year of college. The native Houstonian became intrigued with the real estate process right from the start, so much so that she sought the advice of her agent following her purchase. Casting doubts and fears aside, she took a leap of faith and got licensed.

Now, 23 years later, she remains deeply passionate about local real estate and enjoys being fully immersed in the real estate community. She currently serves as a regional vice president and vice chair for the Houston Association of REALTORS, and is a board director for the National Association of REALTORS.

Here, Trevino tells RISMedia what shes learned along the way.

Whats the most important thing youve learned in your career?Cathy Trevino: Be bold in the choices you make, and dont be afraid of doing something out of fear that you might regret it later. Instill confidence in yourself. Gather new experiences and meet new people. You never know where your next move will take you, so its important to put yourself out there.

Its also vital to be kind and treat everyone with the same level of respect. Every single person has value, and you never know what youll learn from them. This has proven to be true with many of my customers who I sold homes to years agoIm selling homes to their children today. Such everlasting relationships arent always easy to cultivate, but they show that kindness and effort go a long way.

How has this motivated you to make a difference?CT: As a female leader, I want to motivate young girls and show them that if you work hard, you can make it to the top, regardless of gender. Id share the same advice with my own four boys: Ensure you have a good work ethic, put your heart into everything you do and always give your absolute best.

The real estate industry is challenging to navigate, and its even harder for women because theyre often looked at differently, but that doesnt mean its an impossible feat. Ive crossed paths with many mothers and wives who are leaders in the community and are able to strike a balance between their careers and personal lives. This is far easier to achieve when women support other women, providing them with the help and encouragement to achieve their goals.

Why is it so important to make a difference in the gender-equality movement?CT: A lot of young girls dont think they have what it takes to achieve their goals or the confidence in themselves to pursue them. This could not be further from the truth. I want to let all the young girls out there know that if I did it, they can, too. When I was younger, I doubted myself a lot and never wouldve imagined that Id be a woman in a leadership position at such an innovative company like Side. Growing up, my family struggled financially, and I just wanted to work hard so I could help my family out. My hard work, determination and positive attitude throughout my career did not go unnoticed, and I worked my way up over the years.

What needs to be done to address the biggest challenges women face in the industry?CT: The biggest challenge women face is a lack of confidence in themselves, which often holds them back from going after the things they want, like applying for positions theyre qualified for. Women must first realize how much theyre capable of and be confident enough to put themselves out there. It may not always be comfortable, but it will definitely be rewarding.

Always volunteer, give back to the community and learn your industrythis is a great way to extend your knowledge, expand your network, grow personally and professionally, and build the confidence you need.

What advice can you provide to women looking to make an impact in real estate?CT: Always support the women around you, because it will go a long way. Step out of your comfort zone and encourage other women to do the same. One of my close friends who I was working with for a long time was recruited by a different firm, and she was terrified to make the jump because she was uncertain of what would lie ahead. Even though I knew that would mean losing a valued colleague, I also knew that it was a great opportunity for her. I told her she had to do what was right for her and her family.

I wouldnt be where I am today if I didnt take chances. Dont not do something because youre scared; you might fall on your face, but youll learn. If you want to make an impact, be encouraging and spread awareness on all the opportunities out there for women to learn from, even if they fail.

Do you know someone who is making strides toward the advancement of women leadership in the real estate industry? Contactldominguez@rismedia.comto learn more about our Women in Real Estate series.

Liz Dominguez is RISMedias senior editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at ldominguez@rismedia.com.

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Women in Real Estate: Instilling Confidence in Yourself and Motivating Others - RisMedia.com

Amid the lockdowns and general clusterf*** state of the world outside, most of us find that now, more than ever, we need a break to indulge our hobbies and distractions. Maybe you've already played your guitar to death and you're looking for other ways to satiate your six-stringed passion?

Whether youre working from home, your school is cancelled, or youre on the frontline and in need of a chance to switch-off, our list is full of fine literary distractions for guitar players, whether you choose to pick up a hard copy, listen to the audiobook or download one to your eReader.

From entertaining six-string history, to motivational manuals and, of course, the essential tomes that deal in drugs, debauchery and deals-gone-bad, youre bound to find something that informs, entertains or inspires you

There are no truly exhaustive histories of the electric guitar, so much of its early history is based on anecdote or flawed documentation, but Play It Loud takes a decent stab at weaving together the complex web of social, technical, racial and musical histories that have spun out of this glorified plank with strings. It spans the artists and the gear and even includes a foreword by Carlos Santana. Buy/download Play It Loud

Recently dramatised to great success via Netflix, the Cres collective autobiography is quite literally warts n all. It is, at points, a disgusting, detailed and definitely-NSFW breakdown of the history, idiotic debauchery and major malfunctions of the group. However, it also stands as a testament to music and Mick Mars' guitar playing as a vehicle out of some fairly heinous situations, some of which were not of their own creation Buy/download The Dirt

If your playing has plateaued and youre looking for something that goes deeper than the next tab or chord chart, Zen Guitar could be your bible. This is a far more holistic approach to guitar tuition than your usual cheat sheets and song collections, offering chapters on concepts like spirit and discipline and analyzing common mental missteps. Philosophy disguised as a guitar manual. Buy/download Zen Guitar

Like all the best autobiographies, Life eschews attempts at balance and considerations of continuing relationships (most notably, with Jagger) in favour of candour, mud-slinging and the kind of writing (courtesy of James Fox) that straps you to the front of the rollercoaster for the duration of the ride. The anecdote about Charlie Watts response to Jagger summoning his drummer at 3am is worth the price of admission alone. Buy/download Life

Saul Hudsons life story was interesting even before he crossed paths with Axl Rose: he grew up in 70s Hollywood with Joni Mitchell as a neighbor, his mum was a costume designer to John Lennon and David Bowie and he had a stint as a sponsored BMX rider. Like The Dirt, it does not skimp on the shocking and salacious stuff, or the rock bottom moments and it also covers a wealth of post-GnR adventures that prove essential reading. Buy/download Slash with Anthony Bozza

Widely hailed as one of the finest critical breakdowns of The Beatles back catalogue, Revolution In The Head runs through the Fab Fours releases in chronological order, piecing back together the cultural fabric they tore to shreds in the process. An ambitious, well-researched and near-academic (yet not dull!) masterwork. But dont take our word for it: Noel Gallagher described it as f**king amazing. Buy/download Revolution In The Head

The Slits guitarist re-wrote the somewhat staid rock bio rule book with the acclaimed Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. A key figure in the UK punk revolution Albertine and band pushed harder than any of their males peers and were usually received even less favorably by establishment forces. The result here is an inspiring document of an uncompromising, fearless approach to life and music making. Buy/download Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys

If Morrisseys recent antics have left you questioning your love of The Smiths, perhaps Marrs biography will allow you to quench that thirst without lining Stevens pockets in the process. Marrs tales of growing in Manchester and the music, mindset, people and places that shaped his still-innovative approach to the guitar and songwriting are essential reading for any indie kid. Buy/download Set the Boy Free

While Brownstein is best known for both her six-string savvy in Sleater-Kinney and for Portlandia, the sketch show she developed and starred in with Fred Armisen, she is also a brilliant writer (a career that predated the band). Her biography has been hailed for its disarming honesty, wit and poignant reflections on her search for identity and meaning through the music she loves and makes. Buy/download Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl: A Memoir

R. Crumbs 80s music trading card sets Heroes of the Blues, Early Jazz Greats, and Pioneers of Country Music are collected here in a stunning, full-color book. Each icon (not limited to guitar greats, but including the likes of Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, Blind Willie McTell and Skip James) is featured with an R. Crumb portrait and bio. Its widely available on Kindle, but if you can track down a hardcover copy, youll find it comes complete with a CD compilation, handpicked by Crumb. Buy/download R. Crumbs Heroes Of Jazz, Blues and Country

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018)

Kobo Rakuten Forma e-book...

Kindle Oasis | Now with...

Amazon Kindle Oasis (2019)

Kobo Libra H20 eReader, 7...

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Apple iPad 9.7 128GB (2017)

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10 biographies, motivational manuals and killer guitar books to read during lockdown - Guitar World

Editors note. This article was written by our dear friend Alex Hollings for and published at Sandboxx. SOFREP old-timers will find another familiar face in the piece.

When it comes to motivation, Navy SEALs have plenty to spare, but we know one guy that could even make some SEALs look lazy.

Earning your place among the U.S. Navys elite SEAL teams, gathering intelligence for your nations security as a CIA officer, or serving as a fire officer for a professional fire department would each be enough to fill most lives, but not for our friend Frumentariushes done all three, and you can call him Fru, for short.

We caught up with Fru recently to talk about motivation, and how young service members can follow in his accomplished footsteps. Of course, Frumentarius isnt his real name, but its not a throw-away pseudonym either. After a career in covert special operations and another in covert intelligence gathering, hes learned the value in keeping his identity at arms reach when it comes to engaging with the public.

Ive known Fru for a few years now, and can personally attest that the guy practices what he preaches. Keeping your body in good working condition through three of the most physically demanding careers out there is nothing to scoff at, but its not his physical fitness that sets Fru apart from the pack; in a lot of ways, its his mindset.

I wanted to know what advice Fru had for young service members just beginning their careers in uniform, and like youd expect from aSEAL, a spy, or a firefighter; he didnt disappoint.

Just enjoy the experience as something youll miss when its over. Always work hard at everything you do so that you become a go-to guy or girl when somebody needs something done.

Dont get too jaded, but cultivate a sardonic sense of humor and learn to laugh at the sometimes-absurd nature of military life and war. Treat your family as your number one priority throughout so that you have a good support system at home. Have fun because it will be over before you know it!

Of course, military service isnt all good days, especially if you want to become a SEAL,Ranger,Green Beret, or any other member of Americas Special Operations units. In order to be successful, youve got to learn how to keep your head in the game and stay motivated. I asked Fru what he does when hes working through exhaustion or high loads of stress.

Those are the times when you need to be the most motivated No one enjoys those times, and a true leader (in the sense of someone worth following or emulating) thrives in those difficult moments.

Embrace the pain and stress and exhaustion and tell yourself those are the moments that make your own life exemplary they are what make it stand out. They are what in many ways will define your service. Youll tell the stories of those hard times for decades afterwards. Make them count and be the hero of your own story.

But evenNavy SEALslike to have a good time, and Fru is quick to point out that, while exhaustion and stress are par for the course, its still probably one of the coolest jobs on the planet.

Most people are aware of the camaraderie, the high-speed equipment/gear, the missions/operations, and all of that. They may not be aware that SEALs get paid to work out every single day, to dive and parachute, and to generally do fun stuff as part of the job. There are some sucky parts too, but for the most part, SEALs are paid to do stuff they love to do.

Eventually, Fru left the SEALs to go to work for the CIA. While these two jobs may complement one another, being a SEAL didnt guarantee him a spot in Americas most secretive intelligence service. Just like earning his SEAL Trident, Frumentarius had to start from scratch and prove he could hang in the very different world (and culture) that is The Agency. As Fru is the first to tell you, even SEALs cant rest on their laurels.

I had an academic background in international affairs that made it an appealing move for me. After getting to the Agency, I then tried to remember that I was in a different culture than the SEALs.

Some things I brought over with me, in terms of attitude and drive, but other things I had to leave behind (most of the military culture). I ultimately made the transition successfully by working as hard as I could to be an effective CIA officer, knowing that my time in the SEALs was not something I could rest on. I had to earn my way at the CIA like everyone else.

I asked Fru what his best tips are for current service members that want to pursue a career in an elite intelligence outfit like the CIA.

Get a degree in a foreign language, economics, chem/bio/nuke, or international affairs/politics. If you can be proficient in a hard language (Chinese, Russian, Arabic, etc), even better.

Just like being in the SEALs, working for the CIA has its benefits. For Fru, some of the coolest parts of serving in that capacity was getting to see the big picture, and playing a role in how it unfolded. Even so, a job with unique benefits also comes with unique challenges.

CIA officers have to be choosy in their chosen targets of collection because CIA officers are supposed to acquire intelligence unobtainable through all other means. Thats the real challenge.

Fru has since left the CIA behind as well, opting to switch to a different sort of service life that allows him to maintain a more regular lifestyle: that of a professional firefighter. Just like his previous gigs, saving lives and putting out fires can be extremely physically taxing. So I wanted to know how Fru had managed to stay so fit, active, and injury-free throughout all of his various roles.

A commitment to self-care physically, mentally, emotionally, health-wise is paramount. You have to commit to eating somewhat healthy, taking care of your body through aerobic exercise, weight training, and stretching, and taking care of your emotional/psychological needs. That means finding something healthy that works as an outlet for you (shooting, slinging weights, running, reading, playing guitar, painting, whatever). You have to keep yourself on an even keel as best as you can because all of those jobs have immense stresses. Theyll occasionally overwhelm you, and you have to just reset yourself and continue to carry on.

The rest is here:
Bulletproof Motivation: Tips from a Navy SEAL, CIA Officer, and Firefighter - SOFREP

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) They hear your cheers Vancouver and are thanking you.

Vancouver Coastal Health workers are showing their gratitude on social media for the round of applause they get each night.

Health care workers wearing goggles and masks are pictured holding signs saying, Hey Vancouver!! We hear your cheers every night at 7 p.m. and we thank you. You keep us motivated + inspired. Thanks for staying home. Love, VGH Emergency Dept.'

Each night at 7 p.m. applause rings out around the city to show support for all the front line workers battling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

And its not just Vancouver, communities around the world have been using the hashtag#clapfordoctorson Twitter and Instagram to spread the word about similar events happening elsewhere. Fraser Health has also been showing their love back to cities like Abbotsford and Chilliwack on Twitter.

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, public health officials have called for as much physical distancing as possible.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar

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You keep us motivated: health care workers thank Vancouver for nightly round of applause - CityNews Vancouver

LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As California goes through its coronavirus crisis, progress towards development of permanent housing options for the homeless becomes an ever more apparent public health and safety priority.

In Los Angeles, an important model for PSH is making its way through the planning process and is due for approval and construction start over the next six-month period.

Enlightenment Plaza will be a place where the formerly homeless can find an environment designed to provide the best support for their recovery and reintegration into the main stream of American life at a pace that they can control.

Located in an area which will not intrude into surrounding neighborhoods, but will nevertheless be within a transit intensive zone.

Anchored by its proximity to the metro red line station at Beverly and Vermont, Enlightenment Plaza will complement the existing facilities that have been developed by path in the same area, with 330 additional units of PSH, with places for veterans, and other homeless men and women who have experienced chronic homelessness.

The development is planned to encompass four to five phases of development over the next three years which will focus on delivery of on-site services and a variety of entrepreneurial activities designed to bring the tenants back into mainstream America, with emphasis on the "social contract" concepts of the Enlightenment theorists that are still of such basic value and currency today.

By building a complex of sufficient size, the project development team, comprised of the Pacific Companies, Flexible PSH Solutions and Killefer/Flamang (KFA) Architects, has been able to design a gated community which will provide the desired place of refuge for the tenants while taking advantage of shared facilities and modular technology designed to hold the cost per unit at the $450,000+/- level, or roughly $200,000 below the norm for recent scattered site PSHdevelopments.

The development will have the added advantage of displacing a long time on-street camping enclave which has symbolized the problems of the homeless in the area over the past four to five years.

Stay tuned for progress reports on this model development.

For more information on the development team, visit PSH Solutions, the Pacific Companies or KFA Architects.

If you are a supporter, let the city council and/or mayor know by visiting http://www.lacity.org for their contact information.

Contact: John Molloy, CEO Flexible PSH Solutions, Inc. 2102 Century Park Lane, Ste. 413 Los Angeles, CA 90067 (323) 7363469

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Flexible PSH Solutions: Enlightenment Plaza -- A Model For The Provision Of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) For The (Formerly) Homeless -...

I had a friend read my tarot cards in college once, and its something Ill never forget. Performing some ritual Ill probably never understand, she told a tale of love and lossone that ultimately came to be: Within a month, I had met my future husband and lost my father.

I remember being in awe and fearful of the cards after that, like my relatively unremarkable, pretty much standard life stuff was happening. I knew better than to think something can predict the future, but, still, the thought of how it all unfolded could send a shiver up my spine.

Spiritually, theres credibility to why people love visiting their psychics for weekly readings, whether or not tarot cards are the medium of choice. These meetings can give someone guidance, give them hope, something to hold onto. But as I read more about the practice of tarot card reading, its actually pretty cool, and theres nothing paranormal about it at all.

The cards arent meant for predicting the future, I am learning, rather, theyre a toolwith which we can navigate our lives, all 78 in a deck showing the lessons we must learn to be our ultimate bests. Its like holding up a mirror to yourself so that you can access your subconscious mind, says a statement on biddytarot.com, a website I never once envisioned myself visiting (dont put me down for psychic abilities).

Its from this website that I am learning what each card represents, and Im finding that theyre an excellent representation of our hopes and dreams, and yet another talisman for when times are toughlike now. Its almost as if they should be preserved in gold, our dearest to be worn close to our hearts.

Good thing someone did that.

Designer Sofia Ajram, who notably creates pieces with an air of mysticism under her brand Sofia Zakia, brings us the Tarot Cards collection, a line of 19 individual cards in 14k yellow gold (the paper cards are available on the jewelers websitetoo).

My personal favoriteand one that many can likely relate to at the momentis the Nine of Cups, said to encourage wish fulfillment and comfort, signifying contentment, satisfaction, and gratitude when in its upright position. (If the card were to be drawn in reversed position, it signifies inner happiness, materialism, dissatisfaction, and indulgence, in case you were wondering.)

But there are plenty of others to suit your innermost necessities. Theres the Moon, representing fear, anxiety, subconscious, and intuition, encouraging celestial dreams and a the trust of ones instincts. The Magician, a key to awakening a spiritual determination, to inspire action. Fulfillment encourages success and harmony, the Lovers, a conquest of pure love and fortune. Um, I think I might genuinely be interested in learning a lot more about tarot cards now.

As we spend more time at home, probably stressing, definitely yearning for new things to do, some might find that getting in touch with themselves provides a comfort through the unknown. I love that this collection is an unexpected (at least to me) catalyst for that. It probably helps that its beautifully made, engraved, and hand-oxidized, lending an old-world look to a remarkably old concept (the oldest surviving tarot cards are reportedly from the mid-15th century). The designs from this collection combine original drawings from the jeweler with classical tarot decks by Jean Francois Alliette and Brian Williams.

Its important to note that while Sofia Zakia is still accepting orders through its website and via its stockists, all pending and future orders are at the mercy of the current lockdown in its home city of Montreal (as is the case with many jewelers around the world). For more information, visit sofiazakia.com.

Top: Moon tarot card pendant in 14k yellow gold, $520

Originally posted here:
The Tarot Card Collection by Sofia Zakia for Inner Enlightenment - JCK

Update: Fahkumram is now available to download on PS4, Xbox One and PC in Tekken 7 as part of the game's third season pass. He can also be purchased separately for $5.99 while his new stage 'Cave of Enlightenment' can be purchased for $2.99. Original story follows.

Fahkumram will become available as a DLC fighter in Tekken 7 tomorrow, March 24. He's the final challenger that's part of the Season Pass 3 package. For $24.99, players will gain access to Zafina, Leroy, Ganryu, and the frame data display along with Fahkumram and the Cave of Enlightenment stage.

Before his releases, there are a few things that might be worth understanding. Perhaps most importantly, how exactly do you pronounce his name?

Based on the trailer, it should sound like "Fa-kum-rom." It almost sounds like the word "fulcrum" with "rom" added at the end. You'll want to be careful pronouncing this fighter's name correctly as it could come across as an insult to someone's relative if misheard or misspoken... as the meme suggests.

Like Sagat from the Street Fighter series, Fahkumram is a very tall fighter (7'5) who hails from Thailand. As a result, he is a practitioner of the Muay Thai fighting style.

The word "fahkumram" is actually Thai for "roaring sky." It's essentially another word for "thunder."

Fahkumram's motivation in Tekken 7 is his unnamed wife and daughter. He's supposedly not a fan of cheating, corrupt officials, criminals, being incarcerated, and (ironically) lightning.

In preparation for Fahkumram's release, the version 3.30 is providing some balance adjustments to the game.

Click images for larger versions

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Fahkumram and new Cave of Enlightenment stage now available in Tekken 7 - EventHubs

This world is full of strange people whose thinking, personality and habits are very different from normal people. Such people remain in seclusion and seldom come into limelight. One such person is The Dalai Lama who has been the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism and traditionally has been responsible for the governing of Tibet, until the Chinese government took control in 1959, and then the Dalai Lama had to flee from Tibet and take refuge in Dharmasala, in the north of India. In Sanskrit word guru means a spiritual teacher, and Dalai means Ocean. Put together, the title of Dalai Lama literally means Ocean of Teaching implying that a teacher spiritually is as deep as the ocean. The Dalai Lama belongs to the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, which is the largest and most influential tradition in Tibet.

He is the epitome of a selfless individual, often stating that he is a simple Buddhist monk. He has authored or co-authored more than 110 books, ranging from philosophical to inspirational to ethical subjects. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and their greatest advocate for a free Tibet. Buddhists seek to reach a state of nirvana, following the path of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who went on a quest for enlightenment around the sixth century BC. He had no belief in a personal god. Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent and that change is the rule of life. He serves as the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the people of Tibet. He was born on July 6, 1935 and is presently 81 years of age.

The Dalai Lama has a long held special interest in science, particularly science of the mind. In 1987, he helped found the Mind & Life Institute, a foundation dedicated to alleviate suffering and promoting peace by integrating science with the traditions of contemplative wisdom and thinking. He has created personal connections with many scientists, and has encouraged the scientific exploration of Buddhist meditation. These measures won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his work in advocating nonviolent means to liberate Tibet from China, and for his contribution in improving environmental issues. He shared this award with Mikhail Gorbachev. His hobbies include meditating, gardening, and collecting and repairing watches.

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he said With the ever growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play reminding us of our basic humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. According to him, both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment.

He was born on July 6, 1935 and serves as the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the people of Tibet.

Each Dalai Lama is a manifestation of the Bodhisattva (Buddha) of Compassion, who are believed to have postponed their nirvana and chosen to be rebirthed in the service of humanity. This Dalai Lama is the 74th manifestation of Bodhisattva, the enlightened Buddha of compassion who serves as the 14th the spiritual leader of the people of Tibet. The present Dalai Lama serves as the 14th Dalai Lama who was born on July 6, 1935.

Each Dalai Lama is a manifestation of the Buddha of Compassion, who are believed to have postponed their nirvana and chosen to be rebirthed in the service of humanity. This Dalai Lama is the 74th manifestation of Bodhisattva, the enlightened Buddha of compassion.

Known for his charisma and charm, the Dalai Lama is an outspoken international advocate for a variety of issues, a major being his environmental concern. He writes and speaks extensively about the need for a caring attitude toward the environment, the intricate interrelationship between humans and the earth, and the importance of respect for the earths living things.

The Dalai Lama believes in peaceful religious coexistence and thinks that the worlds religions should have harmonious relationships with each other and engage in meaningful interfaith dialogue. The Dalai Lama is fascinated by science and has stated that if he had not become a monk, he would have become an engineer.

The Dalai Lama is fascinated by science and has stated that if he had not become a monk, he would have become an engineer

Known for his charisma and charm, the Dalai Lama is an outspoken international advocate for a variety of issues, a major one being his environmental concern. He writes and speaks extensively about the need for a caring attitude toward the environment, the intricate interrelationship between humans and the earth, and the importance of respect for the earths living things.

He believes that everyone should have a joyful life. The Dalai Lama is considered a living Buddha of compassion, a reincarnation of the bodhisattva, who renounced Nirvana in order to help mankind.

The Dalai Lama, being Tibets spiritual and political leader of its Bhuddists has all through his life strived to make Tibet an independent and democratic state from China. But China has always resisted him and his followers attempts to invent and practice a religion of their own for fear that one day, he may become a threat to China and its ideology. Thus he and his ranks were attacked by Chinese troops in 1959 which led him and his followers to flee Tibet and go in exile to India. These days The Dalai Lame is living a life of exile in Dharamsala, in the northern India where they established an alternative government. Since then, the Dalai Lama has made numerous attempts in the hope of establishing an autonomous Tibetan state within the Peoples Republic of China. However, the Chinese government has shown no signs of moving toward peace and reconciliation with Tibet. For his peaceful attempts to co-exist with China he conducted hundreds of conferences, lectures and workshops worldwide, as part of his humanitarian efforts. He was thus awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. In December 2008, the Dalai Lama announced his semi-retirement after having gallstone surgery.

Buddhism was created in the sixth century, BCE, with the birth of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, making it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Originating in India, the religion spread throughout most of eastern and southern Asia. Buddhism came to Tibet in the 8th century, CE. Unlike other religions that are centered on a supreme being, Buddhism is centered on four basic truths: Life is not perfect; people remain unsatisfied due to their pursuit for perfection. People must realize there is a better way to achieve fulfillment; and that is possible only by living ones life through wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline, which is the only goal to reach enlightenment.

The Dalai Lama is fascinated by science and has stated that if he had not become a monk, he would have become an engineer.

If the Dalai Lama is such an enlightened being, then what is the meaning of life for him? When asked on his website what is the purpose of his life to him the Dalai Lamas response was, to be happy.

Thus, Buddhists believe life is a continual journey of experience and discovery and not divided between life and the afterlife. On May 29, 2011 the Dalai Lama signed a document formally transferring his temporal authority to the democratically elected leader in Tibet. In so doing he formally put an end to the 368-year old tradition of the Dalai Lamas functioning as both the spiritual and temporal head of Tibet.In 2011, the 14th Dalai Lama insinuated that he may at the age of 90, decide whether the line of Dalai Lamas would continue as before.

The present Dalai Lama due to his charismatic personality, and his varied interests in world peace and environmental issues and his world-wide lectures in all the famous universities of the world, has made him a very affable and popular personality despite his hermit-like life in India.

In a May 2013 Harris Poll, the Dalai Lama outranked even President Obama in popularity by 13 percent.

The writer is a former member of the Provincial Civil Service, and an author of Moments in Silence

Continued here:
The king without kingdom - Daily Times

In a press conference yesterday about the coronavirus, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo used notably religious language. He observed (at 33 minutes) that healthcare workers are doing Gods work of caring for people. Was he mistaken in saying so? You might well think so from watching the Cosmos series on Fox and the National Geographic channels.

Episodes 5 and 6 of this newseason of the program, with Neil deGrasse Tyson, aired on Monday. See here for commentary from Evolution News on episode 6. Going a little out of order, here are my thoughts on episode 5, entitled The Cosmic Connectome. This episode gives the impression that ancient medicine, with few exceptions such as the Greek physician Hippocrates and his followers, consisted merely of ritualistic appeasement of the gods. Reliable medicine triumphed only as science conquered religion. Wrong impression! Lets get this right.

In their introduction to the history of medicine, Essential Readings in Medicine and Religion (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2017), Gary Ferngren and Ekaterina Lomperis write: Healing in the ancient world took a variety of forms, some secular and some religious or magical. Here is their summary of the causal repertoire of ancient medicine (both before and after Hippocrates) in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hebrew, Greek, Roman, and early Christian texts:

Disease was generally attributed to four kinds of causation. In the first, it was said to be caused by gods or divinities and was often considered to be retributive, that is, inflicted in response to an act that had aroused the displeasure of a god or divine force. In the second type, disease was attributed to demons (minor deities or malevolent spirits).In the third, it was said to be caused by the magic of magicians or sorcerers. Finally, disease was seen to be the result of natural causes that could be observed, for example, in wounds and broken bones. While in some societies one or another model of disease causation was dominant, in most ancient cultures all four were seen as potential causes, and a proper diagnosis was necessary to determine which type was the cause and what kind of treatment would be effective in each instance.

Religion and science-based medicine have continued to interact in modern times, up through the current COVID-19 pandemic. Like Governor Cuomo, many people today still see religion and medicine as operating in harmony. They practice social distancing (echoing Old Testament leprosy protocol), accept medical ventilator assistance (if available), and pray. See neurosurgeon Michael Egnors comments, Why Prayer Is Wise During a Pandemic, at Mind Matters.

Prior to the public hospitals created by ancient Christians, very few ancient people had access to physicians. Early Christians proclaimed and practiced the harmony of faith (prayer, not pagan magic) and medical technology. Much of the subsequent humanitarian expansion of medicine, especially for the poor, was inspired and funded by Christianity. Many hospital names still reflect this religious heritage.

Although few medical practices prior to about two hundred years ago significantly resulted in healing, this was not due to religious hindrances to medical progress. Rather, biomedical science, needed to dramatically improve medical practice, took a long time for humanity to discover. This largely occurred in the modern Western world. The Judeo-Christian tradition proved to be a supportive context for such discoveries. See my video that deals with this subject, Three Big Ways Christianity Supported the Rise of Modern Science.

So Cosmos host Neil Tyson is wrong to say that the hallmark of modern science and enlightened medicine is the belief that nothing happens without a natural cause. That is a narrow philosophical belief that is out of touch with the cultural roots of modern science. Discovery of the cause-and-effect structure of the natural world has been best fostered in cultures committed to a belief in a supernatural creator who made a world with discoverable natural laws and discernible natural histories.

Despite Tysons many misguided criticisms of theistic religion, his own materialistic faith is granted a privileged, but undeserved, authority in Cosmos 3.0. Much of the rest of episode 5 is devoted to celebrating the emergence of consciousness from material processes, even though there is no good explanation for how this could have happened by a series of unguided physical events. Echoing Carl Sagan, Tyson defines the universe as everything that ever was, is, or will be. This is a statement of faith. Science, in principle, could not derive such a conclusion.

Finally, Tyson conveys religious awe when he concludes the episode with the hopeful anticipation that, after sharing our digitized brain contents with alien superintelligence, humanity will experience the ultimate realization of emergence, a cosmos interconnected by thoughts and dreams. Salvation by technology! This is an oblique expression of the extraterrestrial enlightenment myth that I debunk in my book Unbelievable. See also, Unbelievable: The Myth of Alien Enlightenment. Be on the lookout for more of this muddled naturalistic Nirvana in the remaining episodes of Cosmos.

Editors note: Find further reviews and commentary on the third season of Cosmos, Possible Worlds, here:

Image credit: Galen and Hippocrates, two ancient physicians, depicted in a fresco from Anagni Cathedral in Italy, by Nina Aldin Thune via Wikimedia Commons.

Link:
Medicine, Religion, and Cosmos Was Andrew Cuomo Wrong to Invoke God? - Discovery Institute