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Jean King and Laura Pejsa, Minnesota Evaluation Studies Institute (MESI), here, with broad smiles on our faces. We are the proud coaches who are wrapping up this week of posts written by our creative student consultants about ways to evaluate a conference (using exit surveys of Ignite sessions, network visualizing, Twitter, and video clips). Progressive educators long ago documented the value of experiential learning–"learning by doing"–and our experiences during this year's AEA conference again provide support for the idea as a means of teaching evaluation. Thoughts about how to use a conference setting to engage evaluation students follow.
Hot Tips:
- Create an evaluation team. Our experience at MESI confirms the value of having students collaborate on projects. Not only do they learn how to do evaluation tasks, but they also learn how to collaborate, an important skill set for evaluators, regardless of their eventual practice.
- Encourage innovation. Our charge was to think broadly about conference evaluation. At our first meeting, students brainstormed many possible ways to collect data at the conference, no holds barred, the more creative, the better. As we sought to be "cutting edge," technology played a role in each of the four methods selected.
- Make assignments and hold people accountable. Social psychology explains the merit of interdependence when working on a task. We divided into four work groups, each of which operated independently, touching base with us as needed. Work groups knew they were responsible for putting their process together and being ready at the conference. As coaches, we did not micromanage.
- Make the process fun. University of Minnesota students take evaluation seriously, but their conference evaluation work generated a great deal of laughter. In one sense it was high-stakes evaluation work (we knew people would use the results), but without the pressure of a full-scale program evaluation.
Lessons Learned:
- Students can learn the evaluation process by collecting data at a conference or other event. Unlike programs, short-term events offer an evaluation venue with multiple data-collection opportunities and fewer complexities than a full-scale educational or social program.
- A week-long conference offers numerous opportunities to engage in creative data collection. It is a comparatively low-stakes operation since most conference organizers opt for the traditional post-conference "happiness" survey, and any data gathered systematically will likely be of value.
- Innovative data collection can generate conversation at an evaluation conference. Many people interacted with the students as they collected data. Most were willing to engage in the process.
- Minnesota evaluation students really are above average. Garrison Keillor made this observation about Minnesota's children in general, but this work provided additional positive evidence.
We're learning all this week from the University of Minnesota Innovative Evaluation Team from Evaluation 2012. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to email@example.com. aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluator.


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* Your list is public by default.
Alternative Titles
English: Ronin Warriors
Synonyms: Armor Legend Samurai Troopers, Samurai Warriors
Japanese: 鎧伝サムライトルーパー
Type: TV
Episodes: 39
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 30, 1988 to Mar 4, 1989
Premiered: Spring 1988
Broadcast: Unknown
Producers: None found, add some
Licensors: Bandai Entertainment, Discotek Media
Studios: Sunrise
Source: Unknown
Duration: 23 min. per ep.
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Score: 7.081 (scored by 74357,435 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #33102
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #3994
Members: 15,131
Favorites: 166

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Little Caesars is offering basketball fans a chance to score with a free lunch at participating Little Caesars stores. If any #16-seeded team beats a #1-seeded team in a crazy, unexpected victory in the games played on Thursday, March 15 or Friday, March 16 of the 2018 men's college basketball tournament, Little Caesars will give away one free HOT-N-READY® Lunch Combo to every family that comes into a participating store between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (local time) on April 2, 2018 and mentions this offer at the check-out counter in accordance with the offer terms and conditions referenced below.
"If a crazy thing happens and there's an upset, it'll be a big score for pizza lovers," said Ed Gleich, senior vice president of global marketing, Little Caesars. "And, if the number-one teams prevail, fans can still catch a great deal at Little Caesars with our high quality, HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo for just $5. Either way, customers win!"
Available at participating restaurants nationwide, the Little Caesars $5 HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo includes a satisfying portion of four Detroit-style DEEP!DEEP!™ Dish pizza slices and a 20-ounce Pepsi product, all served during participating hours . No calling, waiting or online ordering necessary. Customers simply go to their Little Caesars store, and fresh pizzas are ready to carry out.
Offer Details:
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- To qualify, you must place your order no later than 1:00 p.m. (local time). If you place your order after 1:00 p.m. local time, even if you were in line at 1:00 p.m. (local time), the offer will have expired and will not be fulfilled.
- Limited to one (1) HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo per family (defined as parents, children, siblings, and spouse).
- Valid only on Monday, April 2, 2018 between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (local time), while supplies last, and only at participating stores in the 50 United States and D.C.
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- Little Caesars and the free HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo promotion are neither affiliated nor associated in any way with any collegiate basketball team, league or association.
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Curbing your enthusiasm for overeatingJune 11, 2019
Like old photographs, memories fade over timeApril 05, 2019
About Author
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text:
Aralaguppe is a small village in the Tiptur taluk. Aralaguppe is considered the 'museum of temples.' The Kalleswara and Chennakeshava temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu respectively are main attractions. They are built by Nolambas and Hoysalas respectively.
Chennakeshava Temple, Aralaguppe
Kalleshwara Temple, Aralaguppe
Kalleshwara temple is a pre-Hoysala structure. Its mukhamantapa ceiling, is considered the most beautiful sculpture found in the State. The extraordinary ceiling of the mukhamantapa, with the Nolambas style portrayal of Umasahita (Shiva and Parvati together) at the central panel, is a stark contrast with the otherwise ordinary interior.


text:
Who Am I to Hinder God? - A Lectionary Reflection for Easter 5C (Acts 11)
Acts 11:1-18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
11 Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
Who am I to hinder God? If God says something or someone is clean, then who am I to say the opposite? Of course, we do hinder God. We stand in the way of God's vision for the world. God opens doors and we slam them shut. God opens up the table to those who are not of our community and we set up fences. Despite this intransigence, sometimes God gets our attention, and we discover a different path—one that brings blessings rather than curses, healing rather than wounds.
Peter had a vision. It had to do with appropriate dietary concerns. In this vision, which is first described in Acts 10, Peter is on the roof praying. It's near lunchtime. He's probably hungry. A sheet is lowered from the heavens. It's filled with food items that he is prohibited from partaking. He hears the command to "kill and eat." Peter responds, with deep piety, "no, I can't eat these things. They're unclean. Nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth." The response from heaven is clear and concise, though it is repeated three times (just to make sure Peter gets the point): "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." Then there was a knock at the door.
When it comes to dietary restrictions, there's nothing wrong with them. Judaism has them. Islam has them. So do other religious traditions. They often serve as boundary markers, helping define a community's existence. Christianity may not have many food restrictions (if any), but we have our ways of defining ourselves. But what if God wishes to open things up a bit. Are we ready for it? Of course, the stories of Acts 10 and 11 aren't really about eating shellfish, crustaceans, and reptiles. I don't know whether Peter added lobster to his menu, but he was soon to learn a more important lesson that had to do with those whom God was ready to welcome into the realm of God and on what basis.
That vision led to Peter going to the home of Cornelius, a Roman soldier and a Gentile. He had connected the dots between the vision and the knock on the door and went with the three representatives of Cornelius while taking along with him six of his own companions. When he arrives at the home of Cornelius, Peter preaches. As he is preaching, the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius and his household, as demonstrated by the sign of speaking in tongues, just as occurred on the day of Pentecost. Since this enduement of the Spirit occurs while Peter is preaching, what is Peter going to do? He does the only thing he could do; he baptizes them and welcomes them into the church. You can read the full story in Acts 10.
The story we read in Acts 11 is a summary report of the events that took place in Joppa and then at the home of Cornelius. Peter recounts the story that begins in Joppa, where Peter was residing after the church was scattered by Paul's persecution of the church. Not everyone fled Jerusalem, which remains headquarters. Peter is summoned back to Jerusalem so he can explain himself. More specifically, it is the circumcision party that is demanding answers. On whose authority had he gone to the home of Cornelius? Why did he baptize them? It's not that they opposed Gentiles joining the community, but there were hoops to be jumped through before you get to baptism. That is, you have to be made clean before you get the final seal of approval (baptism), and that included affirming Jewish dietary rules and the circumcision of males, at least that seems to be the case here. These questions shouldn't surprise Peter since he needed a sign from heaven before he traveled to Cornelius' home. This story serves as a reminder that up to this point, the church remained a sect of Judaism that followed the teachings of Jesus. There were, of course, the Samaritans, but they were essentially estranged members of the family. They were more easily accepted. Now that Peter had gone to Cornelius' house and baptized them, another boundary marker was being crossed.
So, Peter recounts the story of his vision and the encounter with Cornelius. He makes the point that he remembered the word of the Lord: "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." In this case, Cornelius and his household had been baptized with the Holy Spirit, and so the water was simply a confirmation of what God had already done. With that, Peter's response was simple: "who was I that I could hinder God?" How do you respond to that? If God is for it, then how can you be against it? Gary Charles takes note of this question, writing:
That question assumes that God is at work in the world to bring about God's purposes. Though religious tradition plays an essential role, it does not restrict God from building upon and even moving beyond tradition. Another key assumption in the question is that God is still at work, and God's purpose often extends far beyond the horizon of longstanding tradition. [Joel B. Green, Thomas G. Long, Luke A. Powery & Cynthia L. Rigby. Connections: A Lectionary Commentary forPreaching and Worship: 2 (Kindle Locations 7895-7897). Presbyterian Publishing. Kindle Edition.]
If God is still at work and is able and willing to go beyond tradition, then who are we to hinder that work? Of course, we can't go willy-nilly throwing off traditions just for the sake of throwing off traditions. It takes discernment, itself a gift of the Spirit, to know when to hold them or fold them. The Spirit bore witness in this case by providing a sign that demonstrated to Peter that he could baptize them, and apparently, from the accusations against him, he ate with them as well. If he ate with them, then he ate what they ate. Everything was now clean.
There is a piece of the puzzle that can be easily missed, but which is important. Peter notes that "these six brothers also accompanied me." Peter didn't go to Cornelius' house alone. He took six companions. The folks in Jerusalem didn't have to take his word alone. He had confirmation, maybe not of the vision, but of the actions on the part of the Holy Spirit. They could bear witness to the fact that the Holy Spirit fell on the household of Cornelius. They observed the filling of the people with the Spirit, which included speaking in tongues, just as on the day of Pentecost. They could back up Peter's story, just in case members of the Jerusalem community had their doubts about Peter's veracity.
So, where is God showing offering visions of a new way of being the church? What boundaries are being crossed by the Spirit? Women have looked to this story as evidence that cultural mores that limited their place in the church have been set aside. More recently those of us who have come to a realization that the barriers to inclusion of LGBTQ persons need to be lifted have found encouragement from this set of stories. If the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives, who are we who are straight to get in the way of God? Who else might be standing on the outside of our communities, that God would want us to embrace?
In the case of the critics of Peter's actions, according to Luke, they were brought to silence. After all, who was he to hinder God? With that, the critics had no response, as it was clear that God had welcomed these Gentiles (and those who followed) into the fold. With this understanding, they all rejoiced.
Picture Attribution: ngelico, fra, ca. 1400-1455. Peter Preaching - [Lectionary selection, Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C], from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=47861 [retrieved May 12, 2019]. Original source: http://www.yorckproject.de.


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Our Aura deluxe director dining chairs are made with Karri Gum F.S.C timber inlay on the arms and a padded sling back and seat.
Combined with the Aura table featuring picture frame timber tops in F.S.C Karri Gum timber and rust proof powdercoated aluminium.
- Seats 6 people
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- 2 years warranty


text:
Non-Financial Recognition
The Most Effective of Rewards?
For today's organisations, the problem of how to motivate staff effectively is becoming an increasingly important issue. However, despite over 50 years of organisational research that demonstrates that employees are motivated by more than money alone, many organisations continue to rely solely on financial rewards.
It is perhaps understandable for organisations to make simplistic assumptions about the ability of financial rewards to influence employee motivation. Financial rewards are important as a mechanism to aid recruit and retain talent, and as a means of providing tangible recognition of effort or contribution. And after all, people generally want more money, don't they?
Yet, the consequence of such an assumption has been to over-emphasise the importance of financial reward. As this paper illustrates, there are a whole host of alternative motivators that can act to influence employee behaviour and enhance employee motivation.


text:
True Buddha School Net
Grand Master Lu
TBS Lineage
Dharma Talk
Dharma Talk
2009 Grand Master Dharma Teachings
Mahamayuri Vidyarajni Sadhana
2009-09-05 Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple, Redmond, WA
Dharma Discourse Transmitted by
Living Buddha Lian-sheng
after the Autumn Amitabha Buddha Ceremony, at Seattle Leizang Temple on September 5, 2009
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Translated by: TBTT
Translated by Alice Yang, Edited by Jason Yu, Proofread by Renée Cordsen
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Let us pay homage to Reverend Liaoming, His Eminence Sakya Zhengkong Lama, His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, and Vajra Master Thubten Dargye. Homage to the Triple Jewels of the shrine. Homage to Mahamayuri Vidyarajni. Shimu, fellow vajra masters, senior reverends, reverends, dharma instructors, dharma assistants, honored guests, fellow school disciples, and those school disciples joining us through the internet. May all be blessed with auspiciousness.
The dharma empowerment we are transmitting today is the Mahamayuri Vidyarajni sadhana (Mahamayuri sadhana). Before [inviting the buddhas] with incense for the ceremony, while Master Lianning and I were being welcomed by the ceremonial procession, I saw the entire shrine immersed in a sea of magnificent illumination [audience applause]. Mahamayuri, the ceremonial deity, had already descended upon the shrine.
It is now almost five o'clock. If I do what Master Lianning requested and teach what he requested, you would probably have to sit here from now until tomorrow morning. So instead of that, you can just listen to what I can teach today. I cannot possibly finish answering or fulfilling Master Lianning's overloaded requests. Therefore, you will learn as much as I can teach within the time constraints.
Before the discourse, let's first pray to Mahamayuri to bless the success of our dharma transmission. Next, we pray to Reverend Liaoming and Master Pufang, from whom I learned the Mahamayuri sadhana, to bless that the dharma ceremony will be complete. All masters of True Buddha School (TBS) hereby sincerely pray for an impeccable dharma dissemination. Basically, the Mahamayuri sadhana is derived from yogic union sadhanas, but we have amended the recitation part, so we should adapt it to the modified TBS version. We will begin the sadhana with the great homage, and then recite the fourfold refuge, which means taking refuge in the guru, the buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. In recitation, the fourfold refuge is as follows: "Namo guru bei, namo buddha ye, namo dharma ye, namo sangha ye.?However, the fourfold refuge of this specific sadhana is unique in its own. The first refuge is still "namo guru bei,?which is to take refuge in the transmission
root guru
. The second one is to take refuge in the buddha, recited as "take refuge in Mahamayuri Vidyarajni,?the third is to take refuge in the dharma, "take refuge in the Mahamayuri Sutra,?and the fourth is to take refuge in the sangha, "take refuge in the retinue of the Mahamayuri Assembly.?This recitation is different. One is all, all is one.
How could Mahamayuri be so capable of transforming fixed karma? Master Lianning learned about the deity's power in sutras. As a general rule of thumb, fixed karma cannot be removed, not even buddhas can change fixed karma. Then, how could Mahamayuri be able to transform fixed karma? If I didn't know the answer, I would be stumped by Master Lianning's question. Fortunately, I am somewhat familiar with the origin of Mahamayuri.
Let me explain to you: Mahamayuri is the "nisyandakaya.?What is a nisyandakaya? A nisyandakaya is an identical embodiment. For example, I am
Sheng-yen Lu
and I don't have a nisyandakaya. A nisyandakaya would mean that there is another
Sheng-yen Lu
, who would have the same power as I do. As for Mahavairocana Buddha, he is also known as the Great Sun Buddha, highly revered due to his attainment of the thirteenth bhumi. In addition, he is also the highest ranking Buddha among the Five Dhyani Buddhas. Displaying identical prowess is the transformation of his nisyandakaya - Mahamayuri.
Furthermore, Mahamayuri is the nirmanakaya of Amitabha Buddha. The Western Paradise is manifested by Amitabha Buddha; thus, parrots, peacocks, jivajiras, kalavinkas [in the Western Paradise] are manifested by Amitabha Buddha as well. Mahamayuri is considered the nirmanakaya of Amitabha Buddha, because peacocks are residents of the Western Paradise. Therefore, Mahamayuri has the same power as Amitabha Buddha. It is known that Amitabha Buddha is capable of delivering those with karmic hindrances to the Western Paradise, so he can change fixed karma. If you have fixed karma, but you pray wholeheartedly to Mahamayuri, that is equivalent to praying wholeheartedly to Mahavairocana Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. A person who prays wholeheartedly to Amitabha Buddha can be reborn in the Western Paradise. Isn't that transforming karma? This demonstrates the transcendental power of Mahamayuri.
Mahamayuri is also a sambhogakaya. In a previous life, Shakyamuni Buddha reincarnated as the Peacock King. As a result, Mahamayuri is regarded as the sambhogakaya of Shakyamuni Buddha. The Peacock King is identified as an embodiment of Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, attained buddhahood in the saha world. His power is boundless. To sum it all up, Mahamayuri is the embodiment of three buddhas: the nisyandakaya of Mahavairocana Buddha, the nirmanakaya of Amitabha Buddha, and the sambhogakaya of Shakyamuni Buddha. If you attain yogic union with Mahamayuri, you will also be in union with the three buddhas. The combined force of their inconceivable power can definitely transform fixed karma. A buddha cannot transform fixed karma. One buddha cannot do it, but many buddhas can [audience applause].
For example, there's the story of Maudgalyayana saving his mother. Maudgalyayana possessed great transcendental powers and went to the hungry ghost realm to save his mother. He used his powers to create food to feed his mother, but as soon as the food came near her mouth, it would immediately turn into fire, so it wasn't possible for her to eat. After exhausting all means, Maudgalyayana turned to Shakyamuni Buddha for help and the Buddha said that there was a way to save his mother. The Ullambana Sutra relates that Maudgalyayana convened all holy laymen, along with the holy sangha, and with their combined power, Maudgalyayana was able to rescue his mother from the hungry ghost realm. Just like today, if one vajra master's power is insufficient, we have over seventy vajra masters here today. With the combined blessing power accumulated from all of these masters chanting mantras and sutras, we could swiftly deliver a person to the Western Paradise. That is the power of the holy sangha. Mahamayuri embodies power from all buddhas, so she is capable of transforming fixed karma.
The fourfold refuge that we recite is as follows: take refuge in the
root guru
who transmits the dharma, take refuge in Mahamayuri Vidyarajni, take refuge in the Mahamayuri Sutra, and take refuge in the Retinue of the Mahamayuri Assembly. Instead of taking refuge in the sangha, we take refuge in the Retinue of the Mahamayuri Assembly. As Master Lianning has said, Mahamayuri is guarded by many entourages and attendants. You should set up the shrine with a mandala of the Mahamayuri Assembly: at the top are the Seven Buddhas, from Kasyapa Buddha to Shakyamuni Buddha; just below the Seven Buddhas is the future Buddha, Maitreya Bodhisattva. Next comes all pratyeka-buddhas, then the four sravakas ?these are Shakyamuni Buddha's four great disciples. Last, surround the main deity Mahamayuri with the Eight Heavenly Gods, the Twenty-Eight Yaksas and all constellations, including the Nine Luminaries and the Twelve Zodiacs. Draw this thangka from top to bottom as instructed, and you will have created a mandala of the Mahamayuri Assembly.
However, if we setup the shrine as described above, you will have to take down your shrine and set up a new one because your whole shrine will become Mahamayuri's shrine. Then, how do we enshrine Mahamayuri? You can simply write the deities?names. You can just write them down: the Seven Buddhas, Maitreya Bodhisattva, pratyeka-buddhas, sravakas, the Eight Heavenly Gods, the Twenty-Eight Yaksas, the Nine Luminaries, and the Twelve Zodiacs. Write the Seven Buddhas on the top, write the Twelve Zodiacs on the bottom, and then write rest of the retinue around Mahamayuri. Mahamayuri can be represented as a thangka, or a statue, or even one peacock feather in the middle. The simplest method is to buy and stick one peacock feather in the center, and write the retinue on the red paper - the Seven Buddhas, Maitreya Bodhisattva, pratyeka-buddhas, sravakas, the Eight Heavenly Gods, the Twenty-Eight Yaksas, the Nine Luminaries, and the Twelve Zodiacs. These are Mahamayuri's entourage, some of whom have attained the nisyandakaya, nirmanakaya, and sambhogakaya of Mahamayuri. That is how we set up the shrine [audience applause].
Next, you must foster bodhicitta before cultivating the Mahamayuri sadhana, which is necessary for any sadhana anyway. With bodhicitta, or a heart of benevolence, compassion, joy, and equanimity, you would bring happiness to others, happily alleviate others?pain, and sacrifice anything and everything willingly. After fostering bodhicitta, you proceed to give offerings. What kinds of offerings? An external offering is quite familiar to us, because we have been doing it regularly. An internal offering is more secretive, which is an offering of body, speech, and mind. What is a dharma offering then? That is an offering of Buddha-nature. You transform your Buddha-nature to Mahamayuri by being in yogic union with Mahamayuri, in which state your body, speech, and mind are indistinguishable from that of Mahamayuri. That is the Buddha-nature offering. The Buddha-nature offering is very powerful, but you cannot make any mistakes with it at all. That is the Buddha-nature offering.
I have explained the external offering, the internal offering, and the Buddha-nature offering. We have performed the great homage, fourfold refuge, fostering bodhicitta, mandala offering, and then we continue to the visualization, as guided by the TBS sadhana. Master Lianning has previously asked how to form the mudra. First, our [two hands] form the internal handclasp mudra, and then the two pinky fingers cross each other [in the official Mahamayuri sadhana, the thumbs and pinky fingers should just touch each other], and the two thumbs cross each other, as if our hands have turned into a peacock. Our thumbs form the head, while the pinky fingers are the tail, and the middle [of our hands] is the body of the peacock. There is another external handclasp mudra for Mahamayuri. That is [
Grand Master
forms the mudra] the peacock's head, feather, and body. The external handclasp mudra is used to practice the flying sadhana. These are Mahamayuri's wings, flapping wings to show she is flying. That is the Mahamayuri Flying Mudra. Okay, I have taught two mudras.
After forming the mudra, you can start visualizing emptiness. The Emptiness Mantra is "Om, si-ba-wa, su-da, sa-er-wa, da-er-ma, si-ba-wa, su-do-hang.?Visualize emptiness as you recite the Emptiness mantra. Visualize a circle and recite the Emptiness Mantra once; emptiness can be pictured as a circle. First, the seed syllable YU emerges from the emptiness, symbolizing the appearance of the peacock. Alternatively, you can visualize the peacock feathers appearing first, and from among the feathers emerges the seed syllable YU, which resembles a peacock. The seed syllable YU then transforms into a peacock. Next, we visualize the seed syllable BAM, which looks kind of like a circle and a dot, a symbol of a bird. In the middle of the peacock and peacock feathers, the white seed syllable BAM appears and transforms into a lotus flower. Lastly, the seed syllable MO, which is a little bit like the Chinese character for mouth, transforms into Mahamayuri. YU is the peacock, BAM is the lotus flower, and MO is Mahamayuri. The lotus flower is white, the peacock is golden, and Mahamayuri is a mix of gold and white. Mahamayuri also wears the Five-Buddha Crown, like
Grand Master
is wearing now.
The four-armed Mahamayuri, from whom we receive transmission, holds a white lotus flower in her first right hand, and in the second right hand she holds a red bijapura. In her first left hand, she holds a yellow auspicious fruit, and the second left hand she holds a peacock feather. The peacock feather is dark in color, dark blue, dark grey, sometimes blue or black, or sometimes multicolored. The first right hand holds a lotus flower, the second right hand holds a bijapura, the first left hand holds an auspicious fruit, and a peacock feather in the second left hand. Each implement is characterized with different colors and functions: lotus flower for pacification, bijapura for harmonization, auspicious fruit for enhancement, and the peacock feather is for subjugation, all serve different purposes respectively.
After visualizing Mahamayuri, there is a peacock, and a lotus flower, you can recite "Om, ah, hum?to beseech blessings from the three beams of light [white, red, and blue]. Upon receiving blessings from the three lights, "Om, ah, hum?[
Grand Master
recites again], Mahamayuri will empower you and merge into you; you will also merge into Mahamayuri and become Mahamayuri. This is the Ruwo (deity entering oneself) Woru Visualization (one entering deity), a process of uniting and transforming. After visualizing the Blessing of Three Lights and before practicing the Ruwo-Woru Visualization for uniting and transforming, you should recite the Mahamayuri Mantra. Right before entering the samadhi of Ruwo-Woru, you should recite the mantra. We can recite the short version of the Mahamayuri Mantra: "Om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha.?"Mo?signifies Mahamayuri, "yu-li?is the peacock, "ge-la-di?is great dharma power, and "so-ha?is accomplishment. "Om?is interpreted as the consciousness of the universe, as well as the accomplishment of Mahamayuri's great transcendental power [audience applause]. The mantra we just learned is the shortest version.
There is also another version not seen on any sutra: "Om, di-ka, la-la, so-ha.?Di-ka is something Indonesian students would be very familiar with. Sa-du, du-wa, di-ka [audience laugh and applause]. Di-ka is three. "Om, di-ka, la-la, so-ha.?There is this short mantra, which is also Mahamayuri's mantra. That is odd! How come Mahamayuri became di-ka [di-ka sounds like a pig's leg in Taiwanese] [
Grand Master
laughs]. In the past, I memorized "sa-du, du-wa, di-ka?[1, 2, 3 in Indonesian] [
Grand Master
laughs]. It is Di-Ka, not di-ka [pig's leg in Taiwanese]. "Om, di-ka, la-la, so-ha?is also a short version of the Mahamayuri Mantra. Either one of the two versions is acceptable. You should do the visualization and recite the mantra before entering samadhi.
What is samadhi? Samadhi is uniting or merging into one. Ruwo-Woru is to merge into one. Mahamayuri merges into me, and I become Mahamayuri, that is merge into one. When I enter into Mahamayuri's heart, that is "Woru.?What's about transformation? You can quickly transform into the samadhi of Mahamayuri.
What is the essence of Vajrayana? The essence lies in merging into one and transformation. I have mentioned before, when Manjushri Bodhisattva enters the heart of Lord Yama, Manjushri Bodhisattva becomes Yamantaka. When Amitabha Buddha enters the heart and samadhi of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Amitabha Buddha becomes Thousand-eyed, Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva; when Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva enters the body of a horse, in the animal realm, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva becomes Hayagriva. These accounts illustrate uniting and transformation. The power of uniting is to become one, whereas that of transformation is to become many. Manjushri Bodhisattva only has two hands, but after merging into Lord Yama and transforming into Yamantaka, his hands are multiplied. The outcome of transformation augments his power, empowering him to be a heruka.
The practice of merging into one in Vajrayana enables one to become a buddha or a bodhisattva, whereas the practice of transformation is evolving into myriads of deities and acquiring more power. In a nutshell, Ruwo-Woru is uniting and transformation. Vajrayana notes that "entering?is to enter into my body, "dwelling?is to dwell in my body, and "merging?is to merge the two bodies into one. You have to clearly understand the concept of "entering, dwelling, and merging.?Entering samadhi is when you enter the samadhi of a specific deity. You are now entering Mahamayuri's samadhi: Mahamayuri becoming you, you becoming Mahamayuri. After exiting from samadhi, you should praise Mahamayuri with "the Mahamayuri Praise?below:
Lord Buddha, the great compassionate one,
Your dharmakaya is endowed with the tranquility of nirvana.
Your power and abilities are boundless,
And all of your merits and virtues are perfect.
This verse is to praise Mahamayuri. Since Shakyamuni Buddha has great compassion, he once reincarnated as the Peacock King. His dharmakaya is endowed with the tranquility of nirvana. When he exerts his great power and abilities, he accomplished all merits and virtues.
After praising Mahamayuri, you should repentant. You should repent for your wrongdoings in the past and apologize for the mistakes you have made. What is the significance of repentance? Without repentance, you cannot purify and remove your karmic hindrances. You have to repent and promise not to repeat the same mistakes. So you recite the Vajrasattva Mantra (also known as the Hundred Syllable Mantra), repent for your transgressions, and dedicate the merits as below:
May our country be secure and strong,
May my body and mind be at peace,
May everything transform into the Buddha-field.
The Buddha-dharma is boundless.
The Mahamayuri sadhana can be cultivated for major or minor purposes. In Japan, the Mahamayuri Mandala is worshipped as a means to pray for national peace. The Mahamayuri sadhana can also be utilized to resolve minor issues, such as the swine flu, H1N1 [audience applause]. I will elaborate later. I didn't fabricate the healing power, it was written in the Mahamayuri Sutra. The Mahamayuri sadhana can be cultivated to cure all kinds of sicknesses. . Yesterday was Friday [
Grand Master
pauses], today is Saturday, and tomorrow is Sunday [
Grand Master
and audience laugh]. As you get older, you'll forget what day it was yesterday. Yesterday was Friday. I worked on spiritual consultation from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, for three hours. Many of my students are sick. I am glad that you came today! When you attain yogic union with Mahamayuri, your illness will be cured. I will transmit the illness-removing practice later on. After the dedication, you should perform the great homage. I have just finished talking about a complete session of the Mahamayuri sadhana: the four preliminary practices, great homage, fourfold refuge, engender bodhicitta, mandala offering, visualizing Mahamayuri with three lights, reciting mantra, entering samadhi, exiting samadhi, Mahamayuri Praise, repentance, Vajrasattva Mantra, dedication, and then the great homage, that's the Mahamayuri sadhana. I will hand over the procedure to Master Lianning and the True Buddha Foundation. They will note down the details of the sadhana from A to K [audience laugh]. Let them do it. Just now Master Lianning gave me homework, so now I'm giving him homework [
Grand Master
and audience laugh]. Anyways, you should write out the sadhana procedures [audience applause].
I will first teach the earthquake suppression practice. Everyone is afraid of earthquakes. Indonesia just experienced an earthquake, so you [Indonesian students] should diligently cultivate it after returning home. Mahamayuri is fully capable of suppressing earthquakes. You should allocate an area in front of the Mahamayuri shrine in your [main] shrine, and then acquire "soil from the four directions,?soil from the east, south, west, and north. For example, we live in Washington state, what are our four directions? From the west, dig up a "catty?of soil ["catty?is a unit of weight used in various countries of Southeast Asia; in China it is equal to 500 grams, whereas in Taiwan it is about 600 grams] from the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean; from the east, dig up a "catty?of soil from Spokane; from the south, do the same in the vicinity of the Oakland Bridge in Oakland. We don't care about Vancouver [audience laugh], we only need to go to the border to dig up a "catty?of soil. There you have gathered "soil from the four directions.?In front of Mahamayuri, stick four peacock feathers in the soil you have collected. If you are a Mahamayuri practitioner, and have already achieved union with Mahamayuri, you should be able to perceive the presence of Mahamayuri. You can then recite the mantra 10,000 times. "Om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?until you have reached 10,000 times. Then, you will return the "soil from the four directions,?back to where you got it from. You have to mark down where you dug up the soil from [audience laugh]. You can stick a piece of bamboo in the area where you dug up the soil, and then you can return the soil. Send the western soil back to the west, eastern soil back to Spokane, southern soil back to the bridge and, lastly, the northern soil back to the Canadian border. After sending the soil back home, earthquakes will be suppressed in Washington state [audience applause].
Remember! There is one very important point to note. If you return the soil from the east to the west, put the soil from the west in the east, put the soil from the south in the north, and put the soil from the north in the south, then an earthquake will occur! Another point, if you are careless and only return some of the soil to where you got them from, that will also cause an earthquake! If you take a "catty?of soil, you should return a "catty?of soil. You must weigh it precisely. Take a "catty?of soil, return a "catty?of soil. This is the earthquake suppression practice.
You have heard about the 8-8 flood and mudslides in Taiwan [the disastrous Typhoon Morakot that flooded Taiwan on August 8, 2009]. Wow! Xiaolin Village was totally buried underneath the mudslides. We have one TBS student and his family who lived in that village. The mudslides surged down and demolished the whole village. While the roof was shaking, our students were snoring deep in their sleep. I am not sure if I snore or not because I sleep alone. However, I know that Shimu does snore [
Grand Master
and audience laugh]! The sound of her snore is very gentle and soft. Once, Master Lianhuo and I traveled to Japan because we were invited there, but I rushed out with my blanket in the middle of night. I was sleeping in the same room with Master Lianhuo, and in the middle of the night, I rushed out in my underwear [
Grand Master
and audience laugh]. I carried my blanket to sleep in another room. It was a horrible experience [
Grand Master
and audience laugh].
When the mudslides started, our student's family was asleep. The next day, he woke up and looked out from the window. How come his neighbors had all disappeared?! His house was the only one left. That is the benefit of taking refuge in
Grand Master
. The raging mudslides from the mountains behind his house managed to create enough force to push his house up and then the mudslide continued on its path. His neighbors were all buried by the mudslides, but his house floated upon the mudslide. I was so stunned that his house was able to float, and he was still snoring! When he woke up in the morning, rubbing his eyes, he looked out the window. Oh! What happened to all the houses? Only his was left! That is the protection for TBS students provided by our dharma protectors [audience applause].
Do you clearly understand the earthquake suppression practice I just talked about? I hope so. I visited Taiwan and lived there for three and a half years - during my retreat. I am Taiwanese, and I really missed the sound of typhoons blowing through. I really missed it. I should have experienced at least one typhoon during the three and a half years, right? In general, typhoons frequent Taiwan about ten times in a year, or sometimes even up to twenty times. Some pass by Taiwan, some don't. A typhoon is called a hurricane in America. During the course of my retreat, typhoons always managed to change directions away from Taiwan [audience applause]. Once, an officer working in customs at the airport found and matched the dates when I entered and exited Taiwan with the typhoon history, and proved that during that time there was not one typhoon in Taiwan [audience applause]. Why did the typhoons turn away? By forming the Mahamayuri mudra, and having achieved union with Mahamayuri, you can face the typhoon with the peacock feathers and chant the Mahamayuri Mantra 10,000 times [to turn the typhoon away]. You are probably thinking, "Wouldn't the typhoon have already come and gone by the time you finished chanting the mantra 10,000 times [
Grand Master
laughs]? It's not like that. You should chant the mantra 10,000 times during regular times, and when the time comes, chant "Om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?and command the typhoon to detour. Use the peacock feathers to face the typhoon, and as long as you have united with Mahamayuri, Mahamayuri's power will awaken and the typhoon will change course, and then turn toward Japan [audience laugh]. We also have two masters in Japan, Master Lianhua Jingxiang and Master Lianchang, esteemed as the Yellow Padmakumara. If they also recite the same mantra, and have also learned this sadhana, they might turn the typhoon back to Taiwan [
Grand Master
and audience laugh], then we will have a dharma duel. See, where can the typhoon go? Let's ask the typhoons to turn back to Guam, but Dharma Brother Hantao lives there. What if he also unites with Mahamayuri and forms the same mudra, he can turn the typhoon towards Saipan! So the typhoon can settle in Saipan. You can apply this method to change the directions of typhoons, or demand the receding of floodwaters. If you want to use this for fire, chant the Mahamayuri Mantra 10,000 times, form the Mahamayuri mudra, face the fire and say, "commanding the fire to quickly extinguish.?Then there will be pouring rain from the sky, or the wind will blow the fire towards somewhere else, and the fire will be gone [audience applause].
The big fire in California still has not been put out yet. After chanting the mantra 10,000 times, the fire might have died it by itself [
Grand Master
and audience laugh]. You should complete 10,000 times on normal days. Then, you can perform the ritual by forming the mudra. The peacock feathers function as a subjugation mudra to recede water, put out fires, turn away typhoons, and suppress earthquakes. This is the Mahamayuri union recitation practice and how it can be used.
Is there a method to counter the financial crisis? You may be thinking, "What about the money I owe??During the financial crisis, a man called his friend in Taiwan, "Buddy! Could you loan me $500,000 US dollars? I lost all of my money in this financial crisis.?The friend heard that he wanted $500,000 dollars and answered, "Speak more clearly, I can't understand what you're saying?[audience laugh]. "I need to borrow $500,000! I was devastated by the financial crisis. I'm totally broke. I need to borrow $500,000 from you for re-investment. Do you get it? $500,000! $500,000!?"I still can't hear you clearly. Can you speak more clearly???500,000!?"I can't hear you clearly!?Finally, the Taiwanese operator interrupted, "I heard it quite clearly.?Then the friend in Taiwan responded, "Since you heard him clearly, you loan him the money!?[
Grand Master
and audience laugh.] The Taiwanese friend never clearly heard the message.
So, what do you do in this case? There's a solution. I will transmit the enrichment practice. The purpose of auspicious fruits is to enhance your wealth. We will use oranges to represent the auspicious fruits. You should offer oranges to Mahamayuri as well as recite the mantra 100,000 times. That is 90,000 times more than the subjugation practice. Money is hard to earn [audience laugh]! [
Grand Master
feigns complaining] "The enrichment practice requires chanting the mantra 100,000 times! The subjugation of disasters only requires 10,000 times. This is 90,000 more mantra recitations.
Typhoons can ruin [our lives] in just three or four days, and then they will go away. Water causes damage at most for one week, and fire lasts for a few days. However, the impact of the financial crisis could linger for a several years. You certainly have to recite at least ten times more to make 100,000 mantras. Therefore, if you would like to enhance your wealth, one should offer oranges, and complete 100,000 recitations of the Mahamayuri Mantra. Then, you should eat the oranges you offered, and visualize the orange peels transforming into millions of US dollars, with Benjamin Franklin's portrait on the bills. All of them become bills with Benjamin Franklin on them, covering the entire sky and carpeting the whole ground. Then, you should put the orange peels under your bed - fortune will then ring your door bell. That is the enrichment practice [audience applause]. Remember to recite 100,000 times.
There is also the practice of harmonization. A student named Xiaoming had a crush on a classmate in school. He wrote her a note, "If you love me, then please pass the note back to me. If you don't want to be friends with me, then just throw the note out the window.?After the girl read it, she folded it, passed it back, and it got back to him. He thought, "Wow, that's fantastic! I wrote that if she would like to be friends, be a couple, then pass it back to me, and she did!?He immediately opened the note and it said, "The window's stuck shut.?[
Grand Master
and audience laugh.] Ah, the window could not be opened. Then, he has to practice the harmonization practice [audience laugh]. The harmonization practice also requires chanting the mantra 100,000 times. Ah, chasing after women isn't easy [audience laugh]. I was surprised at how an old student in France, Lianhua Bochang, could so easily win the heart of such a pretty lady [audience laugh and applause]. Did you know that it was due to
Grand Master
's blessing?
Grand Master
blessed Lianhua Bochang. I cannot bless myself, so I may as well bless Lianhua Bochang [audience laugh]. He married a very pretty woman! Amitabha! Shakyamuni! Amitabha is not around, leaving Padmakumara moaning and groaning [
Grand Master
and audience laugh]. Recite the mantra 100,000 times.
What is a bijapura? For a bijapura, we will use a pomegranate. The pomegranate has two tops, whereas regular fruits only have one. The pomegranate is red in color with slightly protruding tops. For this practice, you should offer pomegranates and fulfill the 100,000 recitations. Then, you will eat all of the seeds, save the peels, visualize the girl you like, hold the peels dearly to your chest and then she will run into your arms [audience laugh]. No, that is not what I meant. You should put the peels under your bed as well. After all, you cannot possibly carry the peels around every day, right? Putting the peels underneath your bed will enchant her to come to you. Lianhua Bochang did you ask [for a wife]?
Grand Master
blessed and fulfilled your wish. Did you cultivate the pomegranate practice [audience laugh]? You must have recited the Kurukulla or Ragaraja Mantra, and that's why it was so effective. Mahamayuri also has the same power. 100,000 times! Whether men like women, or women like men, you can all chant the mantra. Let's duke it out [audience laugh]! I will recite the mantra 100,000 times, you will do the same, and if I chant it 200,000 times [audience laugh], I would win! Let's have a dharma duel.
We sometimes perform the bardo deliverance and recite the mantra for the deceased [in the Seattle Temple,] because the deceased depends on merits of sutras to be delivered. If you feel some yin or negative energy afterwards, as if some souls have followed you home, then it must be because you have offended them. Later on, you are unable to drink, eat, or sleep. Your complexion becomes dark, and slowly you become tired, thin, and have no energy. You don't want to do anything. You become lethargic and depressed as if you are suffering from depression. What should you do? The Mahamayuri sadhana includes a practice of Purification of Body and Mind. Write the three seed syllables, MO, YU, BAM - the Sanskrit seed syllables are MA, YU, and VAM. Write these three seed syllables [on paper], and burn them into ashes. You then mix the ashes with water. After drinking the mixed water, your body and mind will be purified and pacified. No more depression. Depression is gone. Gone [audience applause]. The practice of Purification of Body and Mind is very effective. The practice
Grand Master
is transmitting is genuine, not something fake. It isn't a joke. If you have attained yogic union, as long as you recite the mantra and perform the ritual, you will receive spiritual responses. This practice is a genuine practice, not a fraudulent one.
I am not like someone who claims to sell specially trained police dogs on the internet, claiming that the dogs were trained by the police force. Someone then bought a dog from him. But, when he received his order, he discovered that the dog was a regular dog. He wrote letters to and called the seller, "You ripped me off! You said that you're selling police dogs, but you sold me a regular dog.?The seller replied, "On the surface, it does not look like a police dog, but it is indeed a police dog. It is an undercover police dog.?[
Grand Master
and audience laugh.] It was definitely a scam. Swindlers are rampant in Taiwan and they are also spread out around the world. You all have to be careful. They are selling fake items, but what
Grand Master
sells is authentic [audience applause]. A police dog is a police dog, I will not sell you an undercover plainclothes police dog [audience applause].
There is also an exorcism practice. If your home has any ghosts, you can use a vajra scepter to expel them, but it should be a three-pronged vajra scepter, not a five-pronged one. Japan has them. Shingon Buddhism uses three-pronged vajras and the ones they use are open three-pronged vajras, not the closed ones. This is [
Grand Master
holds up a vajra] a closed five-pronged vajra. In Japan they use the open five-pronged vajra, while in Tibetan Buddhism they use closed-pronged vajras. Get an open three-pronged vajra, and put it on your Mahamayuri shrine. While facing the three-pronged vajra, chant the Mahamayuri Mantra and direct your chanting towards it. "Om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?"om, mo-yu-li, ge-la-di, so-ha,?for three consecutive nights. You should recite from 11pm until sunrise, staying up for the entire night [audience murmurs in surprise]. You may sleep during the day time, and recite the mantra from 11pm until the next morning for three consecutive nights. The vajra will be effective after three nights. If you enshrine the vajra scepter in the house of someone that's haunted by ghosts, then all the ghosts or monsters will run away from it. That is the exorcism practice.
I have mentioned the illness-removing practice because many people are sick. Illness is difficult to deal with. One man suffered from a skin disease and sought out help from me, I asked him how long he's had this problem, and he replied, "twenty years.?For twenty years he has tried all kinds of remedies and medicine, seen all kinds of specialists in dermatology for his skin problem. Unfortunately, the results were disappointing. You could try the illness-removing practice by reciting the mantra 600,000 times [audience is shocked]. That should be sufficient. Get white sandalwood and grind it into powder, mix it well with honey and knead the mixture into pills. After making the pills, put them in front of your Mahamayuri shrine, and chant the Mahamayuri Mantra 600,000 times towards these pills. For this person whose skin disease can't be cured, having seen all kinds of dermatologists, applied all sorts of topical medicine - medicine applied to the skin - and taken all kinds of medicine, give him one of the pills to ingest and take his regular medicine and it will work [audience applause]. According to the Mahamayuri Sutra, it can heal hundreds of types of diseases, and this isn't limited to skin diseases, but any kind of disease or sickness. However, this method may violate medical laws. If you tell other people that this pill can cure anything, and you accept people's money, this violates medical laws, so be careful!
A blend of white sandalwood and honey is edible. Sandalwood has a soothing effect, and honey is edible. After kneading them into pills and blessing them with mantras, you can keep those pills for yourself, or give them to others as gifts. Giving them away is fine, but you should not accept money from others for it. If you charge people, you will be in danger of violating medical laws. You must be mindful of legal issues, because those pills could be used for medical purposes. However, you can simply give those pills to others for soothing reasons because they are edible anyway. Those pills are empowered because of the mantras. Our pills are only blended with two ingredients, unlike the Tibetan pills, which are mixed with varieties of unknown herbal medicines. Milarepa used powdered rust from his rusty hoe [for pills]. He also used the powder of gold, silver, copper, iron, and combinations of all sorts of herbal medicines. He blessed the nectar pills with mantras. I have received many boxes of pills from high Tibetan lamas when they visited me. Those pills were packaged in boxes, covered with red cloth, and knotted with five-colored threads. Pills and pills, boxes and boxes. I have lost track of how long they have been just sitting there collecting dust. I am afraid of eating them [
Grand Master
laughs]. Those long-ignored, old pills may have been made from the rust of Milarepa's rusty hoe. What if these pills contain heavy metals, I will be doomed if I eat them and lose my memory.
We only use white sandalwood and honey. Sandalwood has a calming effect and honey is edible. After kneading them into pills, you should recite the mantra 600,000 times. According to the Mahamayuri Sutra, the pills can eliminate illnesses, so this is the illness-removing practice. Many people suffer from osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, chronic illnesses, and even now there are no medicines that can cure them. Why don't you try this practice?
Reciting the Mahamayuri Mantra facilitates yogic union with Mahamayuri, as the mantra is able to unveil your Buddha-nature. The physical body is not very advantageous. What is really beneficial to us is the revelation of our Buddha-nature. It is critical to unite with Mahamayuri and reveal your Buddha-nature. Upon reciting the Mahamayuri Mantra 600,000 times, you will definitely be reborn in the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds [audience applause]. This the most important thing! In Japanese Shingon Buddhism, the prime purpose of the Mahamayuri shrine is to protect their country; their National Peace Ceremony also reveres Mahamayuri as the main deity. Mahamayuri sadhanas can also be utilized for small-scale purposes such as curing diseases or [for large-scale purposes, like] revealing your Buddha-nature. Those are very important. As long as you cultivate as instructed, unite with Mahamayuri, and chant the mantra, your wishes will be fulfilled.
One man went mountain climbing, he exhausted all his energy and he was starving. He was also lost. As he wandered around, he tripped over a magical lamp. A genie appeared and said, "These days, people are very busy, and so am I [audience laugh]. Don't bother me too much. I will not grant you three wishes, instead I will give you one wish. What do you want??He was starving and lost in the mountains. He was so hungry that he was out of strength and was near death, so he said, "I want a wife? The genie replied, "You're about to starve to death and you want a wife? Fine, as you wish.?The genie conjured up a beautify lady for him, and immediately vanished into air without hearing another word. The man actually didn't manage to finish his sentence. He wanted to say "I want a wife…cake?[audience laugh]. He didn't utter out the word "cake?before the genie left. Times have changed, you have to hurry up and talk faster. "I want a wife cake,?which is a famous and tasty pastry in Taiwan. After you eat the cake, you will be full. Then, you would have energy to leave the mountain. To the man's surprise, the genie replied, "I'm too busy. As you wish, a wife for you.?Then he disappeared before the man said the last word "cake.?He ended up starving to death.
The Mahamayuri Sadhana
Grand Master
transmitted today is to feed you with the wife cake [audience applause]. I promise that you will not be hungry afterwards. You will experience a sense of contentment. As long as you unite with Mahamayuri, your rituals will be effective.
Grand Master
's sadhana is not as troublesome as the Tibetan sadhanas, which sometimes require seven to eights of recitation for only one sutra, or seven hours to invoke one deity. In addition, you also have to call upon the Seven Buddhas, Maitreya, pratyekas, sravakas, Eight Heavenly Gods, Twenty-Eight Yaksas, Nine Luminaries and Twelve Zodiacs. Then, you can start to recite the Mahamayuri Sutra. Finally, you can set up the shrine and invoke the retinue to descend and confer the empowerment. By that time, it will already be too late.
In summary, the sadhanas in our True Buddha School, like the recitation sadhana, are especially fast, and they are effective [audience applause]. I will give each of you a wife cake and you'll be full, and you will be energized. Everyone can cultivate, so everyone's disease can be cured and [everyone's] wishes will be granted. Take
Grand Master
as an example, while I lived in seclusion for three and a half years in Taiwan, typhoons all turned away. I entered Taiwan after the arrival of Typhoon Xiangshen. During the three and a half years of my retreat, there were no typhoons. Why? I'd better stop. I may end up eating my own words later on. What if I meet typhoons next time I go back, I will be dead [
Grand Master
and audience laugh]. Okay.
Om Mani Padme Hum [audience applause]
True Buddha School Net Copyright © 1995-2008 All Rights Resered.


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Old is Now New Again
With all our recent projects in Capitol Hill and on Pike/Pine we've been talking a lot about our historic renovation work. The Doyle Building is one of our favorites. We even had our offices there for years. Here it is today (shot from my mobile so apologies for the quality), with a modern highrise to...read more


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A company in San Francisco providing security and domain services for millions of the most prominent sites on the internet reveals its security secret, the secure encryption is generated by a wall of 100 lava lamps!
Finally a use for lava lamps? Cloudflare protects around 10% of http & https requests on the net today, Cloudflare was one of the first companies to provide free SSL so our browser sessions are encrypted and free from prying eyes.
I love this as is it is genius, think about it. A lava lamp is completely random, coding cannot be completely random generating numbers as the code requires a system to mimic or simulate chaos. Generating completely random encryption numbers at a huge scale like this requires a completely random system, enter the Lava Lamp!
The best encryption contains a truly unique / random key so it is more difficult to crack / hack. Cloudflare records its wall of lava lamps constantly and translates that video information in to unique cryptographic keys.
Just think the padlock in the top left of your browser address bar could of been generated by a lava lamp!
Have a look at the video (click the image below) for a glimpse in to this, I thought this was pretty innovative and wanted to share!
Time to dig out my lava lamps……


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wikiHow is a "wiki," similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time.
This article has been viewed 54,215 times.
Resetting your Samsung Galaxy S will wipe all personal data and restore the device back to its original factory settings, which can help correct any software problems your phone may be experiencing. A master reset can be performed using either the Galaxy S menu options, or by using the hardware keys on the device itself.
Method 1 of 4:
Resetting the Galaxy S
Method 1 of 4:
1Tap on "Menu" from the Home screen of your Samsung Galaxy S.
2Tap on "Settings."
3Scroll to and select "Privacy."
4Tap on "Factory data reset."
- Place a checkmark next to "Back up my data" if you want Google to back up and sync your Contacts, Calendar, Apps, and other data to your Google account.
5Tap on "Reset phone."
6Tap on "Erase everything." Your Galaxy S device will reset, and automatically reboot after it restores the original factory settings.[1] X Research sourceAdvertisement
Method 2 of 4:
Resetting the Galaxy S2
Method 2 of 4:
1Tap on "Menu" from the Home screen of your Samsung Galaxy S2.
2Tap on "Settings."
3Scroll to and select "Back up and reset."
4Tap on "Factory data reset."
5Tap on "Reset device."
6Tap on "Delete all." Your Galaxy S2 will reset and automatically restart after the original factory settings have been restored.[2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
Method 3 of 4:
Resetting the Galaxy S3 and S4
Method 3 of 4:
1Tap on "Menu" from the Home screen of your Samsung Galaxy S3 or S4.
2Tap on "Settings."
3Tap on the tab labeled "Accounts."
4Tap on "Back up and reset."
5Tap on "Factory data reset."
- Place a checkmark next to "Back up my data" if you want Google to back up and sync your Calendar, Photos, Contacts, and all other personal data to your Google account.
6Tap on "Reset device."
7Tap on "Delete all." Your Samsung Galaxy device will automatically reset and restart after restoring the original factory settings.[3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
Method 4 of 4:
Resetting Using the Hardware Keys
Method 4 of 4:
1Power off your Samsung Galaxy S.
2Press and hold down the Home, Power, and Volume Up buttons on your device all at the same time.
3Release the Power key as soon as you feel the device begin to vibrate, while continuing to hold down the Home and Volume Up buttons.
4Release the Volume Up and Home keys when the Android System Recovery menu displays on-screen.
5Use the Volume Down key to highlight "wipe data / factory reset."
6Press the Power button to make your selection.
7Use the Volume Down key to highlight "delete all user data."
8Press the Power button to select the option. Your Samsung Galaxy S will begin to reset and restore the original factory settings.
9Press the Power button when "Reboot system now" displays on-screen. Your phone will automatically restart and be ready for use.[4] X Research sourceAdvertisement
Community Q&A
QuestionWhen I try to do a factory reset I am prompted for a password. What should I do if I have forgotten it?Community AnswerTry completely turning off the device, then holding the home button and the power button for about 20-60 seconds. If that doesn't work, try pressing the power and volume down button for about 20-60 seconds. If it works, navigate using the volume keys towards the factory reset option and press the power button. It will not prompt you for a code. Wait for a reset and do not be nervous.
QuestionAre there any applications I can use to reset my phone?Community AnswerNot really, the best and easiest way would probably be to use one of the methods above.
Ask a Question
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Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.Submit
- Reset your device using the hardware key steps outlined in Method Four of this article if you are unable to access menu options due to certain malfunctions, such as an unresponsive touch screen.
- Re-download any apps you had previously paid for and downloaded from Google Play on any other Android device while logged in with the same Google account originally used to download the applications.
- Reset your Galaxy S when you are recycling, donating, or selling your device to another user. A reset will help prevent any third parties from accessing your personal, private data.
- A master reset will erase all your personal data and settings from your Galaxy S. Make sure you back up any data you want saved to either your SD card, Google account, computer, or a third-party cloud storage application prior to resetting your device.Thanks!
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Local sacred art exhibit explores 'a sense of the divine'
"Seeing God," a juried exhibit of sacred art, opened Jan. 28 at the Benedictine Center at St. Paul's Monastery in Maplewood.
According to the center, the exhibit "features the works of local artists whose creative process captures a sense of the divine when seeing the world."
The 37 artworks featured meet three criteria: They're rooted in themes drawn from religious traditions, Scripture, nature, the human journey and an interpretation of the mystery of life; they show how art reveals a deeper sense of wonder; and they are appropriate for an environment that daily meets the Benedictine sisters who live at the monastery and their guests.
The exhibit is free and on view daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through March 6. Visit http://www.stpaulsmonastery.org for more information.
Category: Faith and Culture


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Here's a directory of immigration attorneys located throughout the United States.
If you need to do more in-depth research you can use our Law Firm Comparison Chart to see which firms we have researched that might best suit your needs.
|Alcaraz Tocchini
Alcaraz Tocchini LLP is an immigration law firm focused on United States immigration and consular law. We help individuals and families who are foreign nationals find the best way to gain legal status to live and work in the United States. We also help U.S. employers who want to obtain legal status for their foreign national employees.Our clients range from high-tech companies in the software and telecommunications sectors, to management consulting firms, and to hotels and resorts seeking seasonal labor. Our clients are located throughout the United States and the world. Because immigration law is federal in nature, our firm is able to provide U.S. business immigration services to clients located anywhere in the United States and around the world.
If you would like to submit your firm to this directory simply fill out the form here.
Powered by Business Directory for Wordpress
Orange County Immigration Attorney
Muay Thai Training in Udon Thani Thailand
Imported Beers and Ales Thailand


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Why Choose Us
A Social Enterprise
We provide an affordable and accessible service for employees. We work resolve difference positively around health at work. We consider any need for reasonable adjustments.
Listening and Understanding
Every case is different. We listen first in order to understand the
issues from your perspective.
The essence of reasonable adjustments is to work collaboratively. We will help you find individual solutions specific to the needs of both employee and employer.
Legal & Trade Unions Representatives
Do you need help identifying reasonable adjustments for your employees?
We at RA-CIC recognise the challenge for employers in constructively and lawfully supporting employees whose health condition impacts on their ability to perform their roles. It is not always straightforward determining if employees are eligible to request reasonable...
Does the Equality Act apply to you?
You have a long-term health condition: this might have visible effects or cause hidden impairments. It might be something you have had for a long time or may have developed more recently. Your health condition may be fairly static, or your symptoms and ability to...


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Candy corns are quite possibly the best part about Halloween. Of course, it's cute to see the kids dressing up, blah, blah, blah, but it is really, really awesome to swing by the kitchen counter and grab a big ol' handful of candy corn that's just out there for the taking.
You'll Need:
- A chick feeder base
- Clean mason jar
- Candy corns
- Funnel
Wash the chick feeder in hot soapy water. Dry completely.
Funnel candy corn into the mason jar, leaving enough head space to easily screw on the base of the chick feeder.
Screw on the base, while the jar is still upright. Then, flip it over and boom! instant sugar buzz.
Here's to loving the simple things in life,
~ Mavis
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.


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Software Platform
SensorInsight Internet of Things Platform
SensorInsight is a Software as a Service (SaaS) Platform, built for anytime, anywhere connectivity. When an object can represent itself digitally, it can be monitored and controlled from anywhere. This connectivity means more data gathered form more places, with more ways to increase efficiency, innovate in product development, increase asset utilization, enhance the customer experience, streamline the supply chain, and improve safety and security.
IntegrationCombine All of your Data into One Place
VisualizationView your Assets on Desktop or Mobile in Real Time
AnalyticsGet Big Picture Insights
Integration and Data Validation
SensorInsight solutions work out of the box to help you view and understand the data that is collected. But to get the full picture of your environment, legacy systems and external systems need to be added so side by side comparisions and analysis can be done. SensorInsight Integrate is a big data collection engine designed from the ground up to connect, monitor, and transform if necessary to ensure you see your whole environment. Rea-time data on each of your assets or external systems can be pumped into the platform allowing you to gather large volumes of cross-domain data in a scalable and secure manner.
SensorInsight Integrate helps to monitor your deployed sensors and systems and validate the data being received. Our secure platform will validate and provide initial transformation to ensure the quality of data being received.
One API to Rule them All
Need direct access to your data? SensorInsight Integrate provides a complete API for accessing your data directly as it comes from our sensors and gateways. We can push data to many of the available IoT systems that are available on the market, or our integration team can develop adaptors for your unique system requirements.
Getting the Right Visualization
Whether it is a Vineyard with soil and weather sensors, a manufacturing plant monitoring vibration and power, or a Smarter City keeping a check on local Air Quality, our platform is designed to provide a specialized look and feel for your industry. Industry specific events and business rules help you understand your data in the context of your environment. User roles help to ensure that everyone on your team gets the information they need within the security rules that you define.
Our advanced web interface is designed to provide an intuitive environment that is common to any device and lends itself to quick customization.
Analytics of IoT sensor data in a core service of SensorInsight. This includes the ability to connect our API to embedded and partner services such as Deep Neural Networks or IBM Watson Cloud cognitive services. In addition, we provide a notification and alert component, a robust rules engine
- Analyze and visualize data in near real-time as it enters the systems. Receive alerts based on pre-defined business rules for quick responses to potential issues.
- Visualize and compare cross-domain data sets and KPIs from across different systems. Forecast future trends and needs with advanced analytics.


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Hundreds of Tibetans gathered in the courtyard of Tsuklagkhang, the main temple in Dharamsala, northern India to celebrate and mark the 56th Tibetan Democracy Day on September 2.
Mr. Mukut Mithi, Rajya Sabha Member and Former Chief Minister of Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and Dr. Arun Kumar, MP of Indian Parliament were among the attendees as the chief guest and special guest of the event, where they shared their support towards the Tibetan cause.
Dr. Lobsang Sangay, head of the Central Tibetan Administration and Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of Tibetan Parliment in Exile read out the official statement of the Kashag (cabinet) and Parliament on the 56th Democracy Day.
The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts based in Dharamsala and students from Tibetan schools performed cultural songs and dances in celebration of the day.


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Iowa City should support neighborhood schools
I am writing to endorse the letters to the Iowa City Press-Citizen that have been written in opposition to the closing of Hoover Elementary School. I'm not writing to add facts to their arguments, but rather to reinforce the point that neighborhoods are lost when their schools are closed — a point so eloquently presented in a letter by Karen McDonald on May 22. Well-run communities need to take efficiency into account in their administration, but they should not be governed by efficiency alone.
I'm aware that Iowa City is not Chicago, and that the issues facing our school system are not those with which Chicago must contend. But when I read the following paragraph from "There Goes the Neighborhood School," by Jennifer C. Berkshire, in the December issue of "The Progressive" about the Chicago system, I thought of ours: "When the city of Chicago shuttered some fifty neighborhood schools last year, officials used antiseptic-sounding words like 'underperformance' and 'underutilization.' But visit neighborhoods that bore the brunt of the closings, as I did recently, and you'll hear that the battle over the city's schools is about something much larger: the future of the city itself and who gets to live here."
By opposing the closing of Iowa City's neighborhood schools, one is supporting the future of Iowa City as a community. It is therefore important that we ask those responsible for shaping this future for a clear description of their visions for Iowa City as a healthy community. It will then be the responsibility of the citizens to vote for candidates on the basis of these stated visions, and not be misled by "antiseptic sounding words."
Barbara Buss
Iowa City


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Most solos and small firm lawyers today operate their practices by adopting or adapting practices that they learned from their previous firm. New attorneys hanging up their shingles make things up as they go along and then correct improper practices once they discover (the hard way) that they have holes in their system—or that they have no system at all. But running a law practice the "way it's always been done" will produce results in the future no different than those in the past. These results are often no growth or slow growth, unpredictable times of stress for owners and employees, cash-flow challenges, and frequent and unpredictable emergencies.
April 02, 2019
Reinventing Client Selection and Case Management
Frank T. Lockwood
Premium Content For:
- Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division


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I bought the Fatshark FPV kit for my first quadcopter,
and I am feeding power to the FPV power supply from a stand alone 3s balance lead connector that is attached to my PDB. I am currently using 3s LiPos, and I am wondering if I upgrade to 4s LiPos, do I need a new 4s balance lead connector to replace the 3s one I have attached to my PDB or will it run OK with the 3s connector.
Thanks! -Mason


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All reviews
Read independant reviews, consumer experiences, feedback and complaints right here! Get to know the best shop place your (online) order. Everybody together now decides which shops are worthy and which aren't!
Are you one of those people that liked to be dressed in the latest fashion? Then you might be looking for the best shop to provide you with some new apparel. So where can you go? One company that wishes to provide you with a new outfit or even a whole new wardrobe is UrbanExcess. But what quality long sleeve shirts will they sell? Will their worker jackets and waterproof coats really protect you from the rain? Will it take long for their delivery service to send you your boxer shorts? And what kind of customer service will this shop provide if you need their help? The best and perhaps only judges on these matters are the customers that have shopped at UrbanExcess before. Take a look at their reviews to understand what kind of clothing shop UrbanExcess really is. Their comments, ratings, experiences, remarks and opinions can help you to decide if UrbanExcess sells your kind of fashion.
UrbanExcess is a company that offers clothes. They call themselves an "online retailer and purveyor of fine merchandise". They want to provide you with the latest trends. In their shop, you can find apparel such as chinos, long sleeve shirts, worker jackets, knitwear, bomber jackets, t0shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, casual trousers, coats, jeans, waterproof coats, swimwear, casual jackets, outerwear, tops and bottoms. So whether you are looking for some shirts and shirts for hot summer weather or a pair or warm pants and jackets to keep you warm in winter, UrbanExcess might have what you are looking for. There is also an ample supply of footwear such as slides, trainers, women's footwear, shoes and boots. Their accessories section contains hats, caps, gloves, hair grooming supplies, glasses, backpacks, canvas belts, straw hats, newsboy caps, cases, holdalls, wallets, jewellery, sunglasses, covers, laptop bags, baseball caps, leather belts and so on. And they offer some homeware such as kitchenware, candles, soft furnishing, grooming supplies and bedding. Their collection consists of brands such as Buddy, Fred Perry Reissues, Hudson, Adidas, Cape Heights, Barbour, Fulton, Human Scales, Happy Socks, Clarks Originals, Dr Martens, Filling Pieces, Good Worth and many others.
A video featuring some clothes from UrbanExcess.
You can order the shirts, socks, backpacks and other fashion items via UrbanExcess' s website. The shop has a delivery service that offers to send the product right to your home. UrbanExcess also has a customer service in case you need some help, advice or assistance.
Do you already own a bomber jacket, long sleeve shirt or other fashion accessories from UrbanExcess? If that's the case, we would like for you to tell us more about this shop. How comfortable are their sweatshirts? Was it easy to order one of their waterproof jackets or trucker jackets? Did you have to wait long for your casual trousers to arrive? And how friendly and helpful is UrbanExcess's customer service, in your opinion? Please write a review and tell us all about your personal UrbanExcess experience sp potential customers will have a better idea of what shopping at UrbanExcess entails.
Would you wear clothes from UrbanExcess? Read customer reviews about their bomber jackets, casual trousers, t-shirts, waterproof jackets & straw hats
Read independant reviews, consumer experiences, feedback and complaints right here! Get to know the best shop place your (online) order. Everybody together now decides which shops are worthy and which aren't!
I mostly buy my clothes from here, and its super easy and hassle free


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You are here
Antarctica Viewer
Interactive Web Map for the Rapid Antarctica Ice Drilling (RAID) project
This web-based data viewer and tool incorporates a large number of datasets for Antarctica that will be useful for the Rapid Antarctica Ice Drilling (RAID) project headed up by Professor John Goodge, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The tool was shared and released at a recent science planning meeting in support of the RAID project and it is being used by the US research community involved with RAID site selection in Antarctica. This tool will be accessed through the RAID project website and is an important part of the website development and enhancement. Amanda Huber and Steve Graham in the Geospatial Analysis Center worked on the project.
Visit the Geospatial Analysis Center website.


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The Water Knowledge Action Programme (KAP Water) receives international praise. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently published a report titled 'Transformation of Public Value: Cities as the playground for the future'. The report points to KAP Water as an innovative example: a model of an innovative systemic approach. Andrew Segrave, a researcher at KWR, who is co-initiator and coordinator of KAP Water, is pleased with the report. 'It is a recognition of the way in which we are attempting to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.'
Facilitating knowledge sharing
Realising transitions through knowledge: that is the objective of the Water Knowledge Action Programme, an independent platform where managers, decision-makers, scientists and practice innovators from Water Authorities, water utilities, municipalities and energy utilities gather together. KAP Water facilitates knowledge sharing and unlocks knowledge for these organisations. Through knowledge development and valorisation, KAP Water has since 2017 been actively taking advantage of connection opportunities between the policy areas of Water, Energy and Circularity.
Collaborating on a sustainable city
The central question for KAP Water is how city managers, residents and researchers can work together on sustainable and resilient cities that are prepared for the future. By means of what municipalities often call 'co-creation', KAP Water permits the input of knowledge at an early stage of the process. Co-creation is about the integration of policy areas and KAP Water adds knowledge co-creation to the process. 'Researchers are involved in a city's design process from the very outset,' says Andrew Segrave. 'Knowledge is developed over the course of the process, with researchers providing support to developers. Conversely, during the conceptual phase, designers can more easily access the knowledge that is available via the platform.'
Renewing the system
Knowledge is therefore not only used by designers, but also by city managers, companies and even citizens. KAP Water brings the new way of working to different practice locations, be they in a new neighbourhood under construction, or in the heart of the city, or in the polder. 'The main objective of these initiatives is to create circular, smart, sustainable and resilient neighbourhoods, where the residents can enjoy a high quality of life,' says Segrave. 'This involves the personal sharing of knowledge, for instance through Knowledge Workplaces or through blogs. We don't publish long scientific papers, but are primarily focused on the application of the knowledge. We therefore also work on the renewal of the scientific system: knowledge development that breaks through the traditional role barriers between researchers and practice innovators.' This involves trial and error. 'We are also still learning how a platform of this type works the best'
Knowledge Workplace
Learning was also central on the occasion of the Learn, Connect and Inspire Knowledge Workplace, which was held on 11 March and organised by KAP Water. A Knowledge Workplace facilitates the exchange of knowledge between scientists and decision-makers. It is therefore not a meeting with a keynote speaker, but an opportunity to learn from each other through all kinds of cross-connections, both at the level of subject areas and of functions.
The gathering on 11 March took place in the context of the Dutch Water Authority elections. The Knowledge Workplace offers no definitive answers to the questions of managers and decision-makers, but it does provide them with information that they can use to make their choices. KAP Water also develops knowledge to determine which questions are decisive and which are not: distinguishing central issues from marginal ones. Segrave gives an example of a decisive question. 'Is the purpose of a water utility simply to supply drinking water, or is a broadening of its core task desirable and, if so, under what conditions? As decision-makers answer these fundamental questions, then other questions also become clearer – for instance about the management of heat networks for heating homes. It is not up to scientists to determine whether this should be done, because they offer no normative answers. Otherwise the legitimacy of the input of researchers into design processes would be problematic. They simply share their knowledge and define the policy options – and the associated pros and cons. Managers can then use the blocks they're offered to build their programmes.'
Recognition by the OECD
KAP Water's innovative manner of collaborating is recognised by the OECD. The organisation is a partnership of 36 countries, which studies and coordinates social and economic policy worldwide. In 2018, the OECD conducted research into innovative examples of collaborations between government, science and practice, and how they succeed in creating public value for city residents. The organisation studied seven innovative examples of transitions in the public sector worldwide, including the Water Knowledge Action Programme. In the study's recently published report, the OECD points to KAP Water as a model of innovative collaboration.
KAP Water makes knowledge concrete
To quote the report: 'In a context in evolution, where roles and responsibilities of public authorities, utility and stakeholders at large are changing, the whole water governance system needs to keep up with these changes. The programme aims to stimulate a dialogue between policy and science so to modernise water governance, within a systemic approach vis a vis the highly localised and temporary experience of experiments and pilots. The KAP supports the transition to a more sustainable and resilient city by building and improving knowledge and integrating it into concrete actions and projects. The KAP has shown that knowledge can feed the co-creation processes that lead to innovation in the city, improving the quality of the solutions generated.' The report further notes that this presents researchers, policy-makers and stakeholders with challenges – for example: How can the bottom-up participation (citizens) be safeguarded? How can we create the conditions that foster innovation? And how should we develop a research agenda? What helps, according to the report, is that the collaboration within KAP Water prevents the development of a segregated approach.
Who is involved?
A variety of water-related organisations are associated with the Water Knowledge Action Programme: the Amstel, Gooi and Vecht, Aa and Maas, and De Dommel Water Authorities, Waternet, WML, Brabant Water, the Province of North-Holland, the municipality of Helmond, and KWR. For the water utilities, KAP Water is associated with the Water in the Circular Economy (WiCE) programme. The network also includes several universities, including University of Amsterdam, TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Wageningen and VU Amsterdam.


text: When visiting the Hawaiian Islands I spend my time in Kauai. Kauai is knows as the garden state for a reason. It is home to seven state parks. In my opinion the most beautiful is Na Pali state park which is situated along the Northeast side of Kauai. There are two ways to access the Na Pali coast. Hike the 11 mile Kalalau Valley Trail or charter a boat. However you decide to get there, the trip is well work it to see this secluded coastal region of Kauai.