Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Happy birthday Mark Zuckerberg

Happy birthday Mark Zuckerberg: 29 interesting facts about him






LinkedIn: Happy-birthday-mark-zuckerberg
1. Type @[4:0] in a Facebook comment, and Mark Zuckerberg's name will appear.
2. You can't block Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook. Go to http://www.facebook.com/zuck and try for yourself.
3. As a teenager Mark was an aethist.
4. Mark's father Edward Zuckerberg enrolled Mark in a graduate computer course at a nearby college. When his father accompanied Mark to the college at the first class, the instructor looked at Edward and said, pointing to Mark, "You can't bring him to the classroom with you." Edward informed the instructor that his son Mark was the student.
5. Mark and his sisters loved to play pranks. Once, Mark and his sister Randi pulled a prank on New Year's Eve of 1999 that was memorable for Mark Zuckerberg. During that time, everyone was upset about Y2K, which was the theory that a bug in a computer data programming would ruin many of the computerised systems of the world when the year turned to 2000. Mark knew that that his parents were apprehensive about Y2K, so he, with his sister, waited until exactly midnight and then shut down the power in their house so as to make his parents think the fears about Y2K had actually come true.
6. Mark, along with his classmate, at Phillips Exeter Academy wrote a music program called Synapse. The program used artificial intelligence to analyse a user's music listenting habits and used that information to recommend other music.
7. The program got a lot of favourable reviews that both AOL and Microsoft showed interest in buying it for around $1 million. Also, they wanted to hire Mark to develop it, but he would have to drop out of school, so he refused.
8. He joined a Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi. At a party one Friday night, Mark met Priscilla Chan, a Chinese American from Boston. They would later begin dating. Priscilla Chan later expressed her first impressions of Zuckerberg : "He was this nerdy guy who was just a little bit out there."
9. To be able to communicate with his girlfriend Priscilla Chan's family members, Zuckerberg started to learn Chinese in 2010.
10. At the beginning of the sophomore year, Mark developed Course Match, the program that enabled students/users to decide what college courses they wanted to opt for based on what other students at their school were choosing.
11. He also invented Facemash, a program that was created with the purpose of finding out who was the most attractive person on campus. However, this was more like the pranks he used to play as a child.
12. The domain name Facemash.com, the predecessor to Facebook that Zuckerberg built in 2003, was sold in 2010 for $30201.
13. In 2009 Mark Zuckerberg wore a tie for the entire year as a symbol of how serious and important the year was following the recession that began in 2008.
14. In 2011, Zuckerberg turned vegetarian and said he would only eat meat of animals that he killed himself.
15. Zuckerberg's first car was a Subaru Forester SUV.
16. Mark Zuckerberg is also on Twitter as @finkd where he has over 150,000 followers but has posted only 19 tweets in the last three and a half years.
17. Blue is Mark Zuckerberg's favourite colour, as evident from Facebook's design.
18. By the time he turned 13, he had already created a basic computer network for his family dubbed "Zucknet," which allowed the computers in the family and his father's dental offfice to send messages to each other by pinging.
19. Zuckerberg has also created a few computer games. Once, he developed a computer version of the game Monopoly based on his middle school and a version of the game Risk based on the Roman empire.
20. Zuckerberg's pet dog Beast is a Puli, a type of Hungarian Sheepdog.
21. Zuckerberg placed a big whiteboard in the hallway of his dormitory suite. Mark would use it to brainstorm with symbols and codes for software. In the words of one of his roommates, Dustin Moskovitz: "He really loved that whiteboard. He awlays wanted to draw out his ideas, even when that didn't necessarily make them clearer."
22. Mark Zuckerberg's interest in programming developed when his parents gifted him the book C++ for Dummies.
23. Mark Zuckerberg has about 50 patents in his name. The first of which was issued in November 2004 for the technology behind the Synapse Media Player.
24. The number of people on who have Mark Zuckerberg on their Google+ circles is a fraction of the number of users who have subscribed to his status updates on Facebook.
25. His favourite musicians include Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, Shakira and Rihanna.
26. His favourite quotations: "Fortune favours the bold," by Virgil, Aeneid X.284; "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up," by Pablo Picasso; "Make things as simple as possible but no simpler," by Albert Einstein.
27. There are conflicting viewpoints about Zuckerberg's years at Harvard University. The movie The Social Network portrays him as both a genius and as someone who was always socially handicapped, and desperate to find a way into the social elite at Harward. However, Zuckerberg rebuffs those claims saying he never wanted to be part of the social clubs at Harvard and never used his computer skills to impress women around him.
28. Mark's interest in computer programming was quite visible at the very early age. By the time he was in middle school, he was already using computers and writing software for them.
29. Eduardo Saverin, one of the four co-founders of Facebook had provided the $1000 seed capital to start Facebook.

Monday, May 13, 2013

37 cosas que quizas no sabias

Los canguros

Los ingleses le preguntaron el nombre de este animal a un indigena australiano, él contestó "Kan-Guh-Ru", que le dio origen a "kangaroo", nombre en inglés del animal. Pero "Kan-Guh-Ru" significa "No le entiendo"

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/475685_640px.jpg?1291912863]


El sexo en la antigua Inglaterra

Para tener sexo en la antigua Inglaterra había que pedirle permiso al Rey, quien lo autirzaba a través de una placa que decía "Fornication Under Consent of the King" (F.U.C.K.), lo cual le dio el origen a la palabra.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474944_640px.jpg?1291912863]


La palabra OK

Durante la guerra de secesión, cuando regresaban las tropas a sus cuarteles sin tener ninguna baja, ponían en una gran pizarra "0 Killed" (cero muertos). De ahí proviene la expresión "O.K." para decir que todo esta bien.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474945_640px.jpg?1291912863]


La verdad

Los antiguos romanos cuando tenían que decir la verdad en un juicio, en vez de jurar sobre la Biblia como en la actualidad, lo hacían apretándose los testículos con la mano derecha. De esta antigua costumbre procede la palabra testificar.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749754_640px.jpg?1291912863]


La voz femenina

La voz femenina provoca agotamiento en el cerebro masculino. Según el profesor Michael Hunter, de la Universidad de Sheffield (Gran Bretaña), el tono de la voz femenina posee sonidos más complejos que la masculina, por eso toma toda el área auditiva del cerebro masculino, mientras que la voz del hombre sólo ocupa el área subtalámica. De aquí que en muchas ocasiones las mujeres se quejen de que los hambres no las escuchan, ya que lo que hacen es "desconectar" por una razón puramente fisiológica.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749729_640px.jpg?1291912863]


Las matemáticas

Multiplicando 111.111.111 x 111.111.111 se obtiene 12.345.678.987.654.321.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474890_640px.jpg?1291912863]


Las estatuas


Si una estatua en el parque de una persona a caballo tiene dos patas en el aire, la persona murió en combate, si el caballo tiene una de las patas frontales en el aire, la persona murió de heridas recibidas en combate, si el caballo tiene las cuatro patas en el suelo, la persona murió de causas naturales.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474891_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Yucatán, México

Nuevamente un conquistador (esta vez español) entendió mal. Al preguntarle a un indigena del lugar como se llamaba aquella zona, el indigena contestó "Yucatán", o en castellano: "No soy de aquí".

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/475686_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Los diestros

Viven 9 años más que los zurdos.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474896_640px.jpg?1291912863]

La Coca Cola

El color de esta bebida fue, en un principo, verde.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474866_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Miguel de Cervantes y William Shakespeare

Considerados los mejores escritores en su respectivas lenguas, murieron el mismo día 23 de abril de 1616.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474941_640px.jpg?1291912863]

La risa
15 risas al día es el promedio de una persona normal.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474938_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch
Es el nombre de un pueblo en Gales. La traducción en castellano (proporcionada por Cromx) es "Iglesia de Santa María en el hueco de un avellano blanco cercano a un rápido remolino y a la iglesia de San Tysilio de la cueva roja".

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/475687_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Las cucarachas
Si se les corta la cabeza, mueren recién al noveno día, pero de hambre.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474937_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Estornudar
Es imposible hacerlo con los ojos abiertos.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474895_640px.jpg?1291912863]

La Memoria
Hay gente que no puede olvidar, se han descrito casos de personas capaces de recordar casi cualquier dato o acontecimiento con sólo experimentarlo una vez. Son casos de memoria prodigiosa que suelen suponer una tragedia para el que los padece. Olvidar es necesario para que nuestra mente evolucione.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749720_640px.jpg?1291912863]

El pato
Su graznido no hace eco, nadie sabe la razón.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474869_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Los mosquitos
Tienen dientes.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474939_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Los elefantes
Son los únicos animales que no pueden saltar.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474897_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Thomas Alva Edison
Le temía a la oscuridad.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474940_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Las vacas
No pueden subir escaleras, pero si pueden bajarlas

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474867_640px.jpg?1291912863]

El olvido
La hormona denominada corticosterona, que se segrega en momentos de ansiedad, es la responsable de la repentina pérdida de memoria. Esta hormona bloquea la recuperación de información hasta una hora después de ceder la situación de tensión. Esto explicaría, por ejemplo, que algunos estudiantes se queden en blanco en los exámenes. Al serenarse, el cerebro recupera los datos.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749722_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Los cementerios
Cementerio significa dormitorio en griego antiguo.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474943_640px.jpg?1291912863]

El juego de las cartas
Cada rey de las cartas representa a un gran rey de la historia:

- Espadas: El rey David.
- Tréboles: Alejandro Magno.
- Corazones: Carlomagno.
- Diamantes: Julio César.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474889_640px.jpg?1291912863]

La distancia entre la Tierra y el Sol
Es igual a la multiplicación de la altura de la piramide de Giza por 1.000.000.000 (149.400.000 Km.).

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474942_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Pepe
En los conventos, durante la lectura de las Sagradas Escrituras al referirse a San José, decían siempre "Pater Putatibus" y por simplificar "P.P.". Así nació el llamar "Pepe" a los José.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474946_640px.jpg?1291912863]

American Airlines
Ahorró 40.000 dólares en 1987 al eliminar una aceituna de cada plato de comida que servía en la primera clase.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474888_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Las carreteras
Por ley, una milla de cada cinco son rectas en las carreteras estadounidenses. Lo hacen por si algún avión necesita aterrizar de emergencia o en caso de guerra.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474892_640px.jpg?1291912863]

El codo
Aunque muchos lo intentan, ninguno lo logra. Chuparse el codo es imposible para los seres humanos

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474865_640px.jpg?1291912863]


El cerebro
El cerebro pesa un promedio de 1.380 gramos en el hombre y 1.250 en la mujer. Contiene unos 100.000 millones de neuronas, cifra aproximada al de las estrellas de nuestra galaxia. Y sus casi 100 trillones de interconexiones en serie y en paralelo proporcionan la base física que permite el funcionamiento cerebral.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749723_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Los maestros Farkir
Un verdadero maestro Farkir puede hacer cosas mucho más espectaculares que soportar los pinchazos tendido sobre su cama de clavos, aunque parezcan menos espectaculares. Puede, por ejemplo, hacer que la mitad de la palma de su mano se caliente diez grados más que la otra parte, puede detener su corazón durante un tiempo determinado, o puede reducir sus constantes vitales al mínimo entrando en un estado parecido al de la hibernación de algunos animales.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749726_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Un oso
En 1849, un oso fue acusado de sembrar el terror entre los habitantes de una localidad alemana y llevado a los tribunales por ello.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/475688_640px.jpg?1291912863]

El pentágono
Tiene el doble de baños de los necesarios, pues en la época de su construcción, las leyes exigían un baño diferente para negros y blancos.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474894_640px.jpg?1291912863]

La amnesia
Hay varios tipos de amnesia, la amnesia retrógrada es la más rara aunque la más cinematográfica, en ella el afectado no recuerda su vida antes de la lesión. En cambio, en la amnesia anterógrada, la más común y grave, el enfermo recuerda su pasado pero no logra aprender nada nuevo.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749724_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Territorio salvaje
El 28% del territorio de África está poblado por salvajes. Norteamérica tiene 38%.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474868_640px.jpg?1291912863]

El cerebro de los gorilas
El cerebro de los humanos es el que posee más pliegues de todos los seres vivos, por eso si lo desplegáramos mediría aproximadamente 2 metros, mientras que el de un gorila, llega pesar casi lo mismo, al desplegarlo sólo mide una cuarta parte que el del hombre.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749728_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Hospitales psiquiátricos
El primer hospital psiquiátrico de la historia se construyó en Bagdad en el año 792.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749727_640px.jpg?1291912863]

Los jeeps
Su nombre viene de la abreviación del ejército americano a General Purpose Vehicle, o sea "G.P." pronunciado en inglés.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/474893_640px.jpg?1291912863]

El Sistema de Lugares
En el año 500 a. C. el poeta griego Simónides de Ceos ideó el "sistema de lugares" para recordar la situación de unos comensales. Simónides estaba en el banquete cuando se ausentó brevemente, salvándose así de morir aplastado por el derrumbe del techo; y fue el único en poder reconocer los destrozados cuerpos de dichos comensales al recordar los lugares donde estaban sentados.

[http://st-listas.20minutos.es/images/2008-08/38437/749725_640px.jpg?1291912863]








__________ Información de ESET Smart Security, versión de la base de firmas de virus 8327 (20130513) __________

ESET Smart Security ha comprobado este mensaje.

http://www.eset.com



__________ Información de ESET Smart Security, versión de la base de firmas de virus 8327 (20130513) __________

ESET Smart Security ha comprobado este mensaje.

http://www.eset.com

Monday, April 15, 2013

Receta de Julio Ramon Ribeyro en 10 pasos








DIEZ PASOS
I. El cuento debe contar una historia. No hay cuento sin historia. El cuento se ha hecho para que el lector a su vez pueda contarlo.
II. La historia del cuento puede ser real o inventada. Si es real, debe parecer inventada y si es inventada, real.
III. El cuento debe ser de preferencia breve, de modo que pueda leerse de un tirón.
IV. La historia contada por el cuento debe entretener, conmover, intrigar o sorprender, si todo ello junto, mejor. Si no logra ninguno de estos efectos, no existe como cuento.
V. El estilo del cuento debe ser directo, sencillo, sin ornamentos ni digresiones. Dejemos eso para la poesía o la novela.
VI. El cuento debe solo mostrar, no enseñar. De otro modo sería una moraleja.
VII. El cuento admite todas las técnicas: diálogo, monólogo, narración pura y simple, epístola, informe, collage de textos ajenos, etc., siempre y cuando la historia no se diluya y pueda el lector reducirla a su expresión oral.
VIII. El cuento debe partir de situaciones en las que el o los personajes viven un conflicto que los obliga a tomar una decisión que pone en juego su destino.
IX. En el cuento no debe haber tiempos muertos ni sobrar nada. Cada palabra es absolutamente imprescindible.
X. El cuento debe conducir necesaria e inexorablemente a un solo desenlace, por sorpresivo que sea. Si el lector no acepta el desenlace es que el cuento ha fallado

Monday, April 01, 2013

YOGA ADDENDA



    1. Sadasiva Brahman

    Sri Sadasiva Brahman, a reputed Yogi, lived in Nerur, near Karur, in Trichinopolly district, some one
    hundred and twenty years ago. He was the author of ‘Atma Vilas’, ‘Brahma Sutras’ and various other works. Once he was in Samadhi. The floods in the Cauveri river covered him up with mud. For some months his body remained buried underneath the earth. The agriculturists tilled the land and injured the head of the Yogi. Some blood oozed out. They were quite astonished. They dug out the earth. Sadasiva Brahman got up from his Samadhi and walked away. Once some rude people came with sticks to beat him. They raised their hands, but they were not able to move them. They remained like statues. At some other time he entered the Zenana of a Nawab quite naked while he was roaming about as an Avadhuta. The Nawab got enraged and cut off his hand with a big knife. Sadasiva Brahman went away with a laugh. The Nawab thought that the man should be a great Sage. He took the maimed hand and followed the Sage. On the third day the Nawab said: “O my Lord! I cut off your hand due to my foolishness. Kindly forgive me.” Sadasiva simply touched the cut portion with the other hand. There was a new hand. Sadasiva forgave the Nawab and blessed him.

    2. Jnanadev

    Sri Jnanadev is also known as Jnaneswar. He was the greatest Yogin the world has ever produced. He was born in Alandi, 7 miles from Poona. His Samadhi is there even now. If anybody reads the Gita written by him by the side of the Samadhi all the doubts are cleared. He is regarded as an Avatara of Lord Krishna. When he was a boy he simply touched a buffalo. It repeated the Vedas. He ha
    d full control over the elements. When there was no vessel to prepare food, his sister prepared bread on his back. He entered Samadhi while alive at the age of 22. He drew up all the Prana to the Brahmarandhra and gave up the physical body. When he was a boy of 14 years, he began to write commentary on Gita. His commentary on Gita is considered one of the best. In a big assembly of Sanskrit Pandits in Benares, he was selected President.

    3. Trilinga Swami

    Sri Trilinga Swami of Benares, born in Andhra Desa, lived some fifty years ago. He lived for 280 years. He made his Tapas in Manasarovar (Tibet). Once Ramakrishna Paramahamsa also saw him at Benares. He brought some money to Benares when he first came in for Tapas. He opened a milk-shop and distributed milk free to poor persons, Sadhus and Sannyasins. He used to live underneath the Ganga water even for six months continuously. He used to sleep in Kashi Visvanath’s Temple keeping his feet over the Sivalinga. Once he caught hold of the sword of the Governor and threw it into the Ganges. When the Governor demanded it back, he dived into the water and brought back two swords and the Governor was unable to find out his own sword. Some mischief-makers poured some lime-water in his mouth. He at once pumped it out through the anus by Sang Pachar Kriya.

    4. Gorakhnath


    Sri Gorakhnath was a great Yogi like Sri Jnanadev of Alandi. In Chandragiri village on the banks of the Godavari, there was a Brahmin named Suraj. His wife’s name was Sarasvati. They had no children. Yogi Matsyendranath went for Bhiksha in the house of Suraj. Sarasvati entertained the Yogi with good food, with Sraddha. She wept before him for not having a child. Yogi Matsyendranath gave her a pinch of holy ash with blessings for a child. Some time later, she had a son. Matsyendranath came back to Sarasvati and took the boy with him when he was twelve years of age. He sent the boy to Badrinarayan for doing Tapas. Apsaras and other Devatas came to molest him. He stood firm and tided over all temptations. He got tremendous Siddhis. Matsyendranath also imparted all his powers and Vidyas to the boy, his disciple, Gorakhnath.
    Sri Gorakhnath in his 12th year went to Badrinarayan and performed Tapas for 12 long years, living on air alone. Gorakhnath had tremendous Yogic powers. When his Guru Matsyendranath entered the dead body of a Raja (Parakaya Pravesh) to obey the orders of Sri Hanuman to produce an offspring for a certain Rani, Gorakhnath assumed the form of a lady through his Yogic powers and entered the inner apartments of the palace (Kamarupa Siddhi). At some other instance he made a toy child out of clay and gave this as a play-mate for the children of a certain village. He converted a portion of a mountain into gold and reconverted it to its former condition. He passed urine on a rock. It became gold. Once in a Kumbhamela on the banks of the Godavari, he gave food to all by spreading only leaves but offered different rich meals to the liking of everyone. In the same Mela he slowly reduced himself in bulk and assumed the form of a mosquito (Anima Siddhi). Through his own Yogic power he burnt himself to ashes and again assumed his original form. He did Akasagamanam (walking in the sky). In this way he performed many Siddhis. Raja Bhartrihari was his disciple.

    5. Swami Krishna Ashram

    Swami Krishna Ashram is a living saint at Daroli village, 14 miles below Gangotri, the origin of the Ganges. He has been living there for the last eight years in an absolutely nude state, in an icy region, where an ordinary man may require a woollen sweater, a Gothma and half a dozen blankets. He was a Siva Bhakta. He threw away all his Puja-vessels, went to Varanasi, took Sannyasa and lived there for a year. Then he went to Hardwar, threw off the Danda and became an Avadhuta. He was in Uttarkashi also. When sharp, big flies were biting his body, when blood was emerging profusely, he would never disturb the flies. Such was his power of endurance. Once in the Kshetra an arrogant servant insulted him for not bringing any vessel for Dhal and poured very hot Dhal on his hands. Swami Krishna Ashram drank the Dhal though his lips and hands were scalded. There is another Swami by name Bhuma Ashram, living at Daroli in a nude state. He is a friend of Krishna Ashram.
    Titiksha, the power of endurance, is an essential attribute of all Sadhakas. This is one of the sixfold virtues of Sadhana Chatushtaya. Read Slokas 14 and l5 of the Gita, chapter II. You will understand the importance of this virtue, Titiksha.

    6. Yogi Bhusunda

    Yogi Bhusunda is one of the Chiranjivis amongst the Yogins. He was the master in the science of Pranayama. It is said that a big nest, like a mountain, was built by him on the southern branch of the Kalpa Vriksha, situated at the northern summit of the Mahameru. Bhusunda lived in this nest. He was a Trikala Jnani. He could sit in Samadhi for any length of time. He was desireless. He had obtained supreme Santi and Jnana. He was there enjoying the bliss of his own Self and he is still there being a Chiranjivi. He had the full knowledge of the five Dharanas. He had rendered himself proof against the five elements by practising the five methods of concentration. It is said that when all the twelve Adityas scorch the world with their burning rays, he would, through his Apas Dharana, reach up the Akasa. When fierce gales arise splintering up the rocks to pieces, he would be in the Akasa through Agni Dharana. When the world together with the Mahameru would be under water, he would float on them through Vayu Dharana.

    7. Tirumula Nayanar

    Tirumula Nayanar was a great Yogi in Kailas. He had all the 8 major Siddhis through the grace of Nandi, the Vahana of Lord Siva. He was a friend of Agastya Muni. He came from Kailas and stayed in Varanasi. Then he went to Chidambaram and Tiruvavaduturai and other places near Madras. He worshipped Lord Siva in the temple at Tiruvavaduturai and stayed there for some time. Once he went to a garden on the banks of the river Cauveri. There he saw the dead body of a caretaker of a herd of cows. He noticed that all the cows surrounded the dead body of the cowherd and were crying bitterly. This touched the heart of Tirumular. He pitied the cows very much. He left his body in a certain place and entered the dead body of the cowherd. He looked after the cows throughout the day and sent them back to their respective houses. The wife of the cowherd, who was not aware of the death of her husband, invited Tirumular who was wearing the physical body of her husband. Tirumular refused. He wanted to enter his own body. When he searched for his body, it was not found in the original place. Then he thought it was all the grace of Lord Siva. Then with the body of the cowherd, he went to Avaduturai and sat underneath an Asvattha tree on the western side of the temple and wrote a valuable book called “Tirumantram” in Tamil. It is a book of 3000 verses which contain the essence of the Vedas.

    8. Mansoor

    Mansoor was a Sufist Brahma-Jnani. He lived in Persia, some four hundred years ago. He was repeating always “Anal-haq! Anal-haq!” This corresponds to “Soham” or “Aham Brahma Asmi” of the Vedantins. People reported to the Badshah that Mansoor was an atheist (Kafir) and that he was always uttering “Anal-haq.” The Badshah was quite enraged. He ordered that Mansoor must be cut into pieces. His orders were obeyed. Even then the pieces of flesh were uttering “Anal-haq.” He felt no pain as he was a full-blown Samadhi Jnani and as he had full identification with Brahman. He was above body-consciousness. Then they put the pieces of flesh and bones in the fire and reduced them into ashes. Even then the ashes uttered “Anal-haq.” During his life-time he performed many miracles. Even Jnanis can do miracles if they desire and if they find it necessary for the occasion. Sadasiva Brahman and other Jnanis did wonders. Remember the lives of great men daily. You will advance in the spiritual path.

    9. Milarepa

    Milarepa was one who had been profoundly impressed from his youth by the transient and impermanent nature of all conditions of worldly existence and by the sufferings and wretchedness in which he saw all beings immersed. To him existence seemed like a huge furnace where all living creatures were roasting. With such piercing sorrow did this fill his heart that he was unable to feel even any of the celestial felicity enjoyed by Brahma and Indra in their heavens, much less of the earthly joys and delights afforded by a life of worldly greatness.
    On the other hand, he was so captivated by the vision of immaculate purity, by the chaste beauty in the description of the state of perfect freedom and omniscience associated with the attainment of Nirvana, that he cared not even though he might lose his very life in the search on which he had set out, endowed as he was with full faith, keen intellect and a heart overflowing with all-pervading love and sympathy to all.
    Having obtained transcendental knowledge in the control of the ethereal and spiritual nature of the mind, he was enabled to furnish demonstration thereof by flying through the sky, by walking, resting and sleeping on the air. Likewise he was able to produce flames of fire and springs of water from his body and to transform his body at will into any object desired, thereby convincing unbelievers and turning them towards religious pursuits.
    He was perfect in the practice of the four stages of meditation and thus he was able to project his subtle body so as to be present as the presiding Yogi in twenty-four holy places where gods and angels assemble, like clouds for spiritual communion.
    He was able to dominate gods and elementals and make them carry out his commands instantaneously, in the fulfilment of all duties. He was a perfect adept in supernatural powers. He was able to transverse and visit all the innumerable sacred paradises and heavens of the Buddhas, where by virtue of his all-absorbing acts of unsurpassed devotion the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas presiding therein favoured him with discourses on Dharma and listened to his in return, so that he sanctified the heaven-worlds by his visits and sojourns there.

    10. Napoleon Bonaparte

    Napoleon Bonaparte was a man of great concentration. His success was all due to the power of concentration. He suffered from various diseases as epileptic fits, Brady cardia, etc. But for these maladies, he would have proved still more powerful. He could sleep at any time he liked. He would snore
     the very moment he retired to bed. He would get up at the very second of the appointed time. This is a kind of Siddhi. He had no Vikshepa or shilly-shallying. He had the highly developed Ekagrata of a Yogi. He could draw, as it were, any single thought from the brain pigeon-hole, dwell on it as long as he liked and could shove it back when finished. He would sleep very soundly at night amidst busy war, would never worry a bit at night. This was all due to his power of concentration. Concentration can do anything. Without concentration of mind nothing can be achieved.
    Messrs. Gladstone and Balfour had a great deal of concentration of mind. The very moment they retired to bed, they would get sleep. Mark the word “very moment”. They would never toss about for 15 or 20 minutes in the bed as in the case of the worldly persons. Think how difficult it is to enter into deep sleep the very moment you lie down. They had perfect control over sleep. They could also get up from bed at any time they wished without any alarm time-piece. Sleeping and getting up at the appointed second is only an example to show the power of concentration to a certain degree. There are people who, after a day’s hard work, can sleep the very moment they go to bed; but they cannot get up at the appointed time. This is only an example on a very ordinary thing. People of concentration can work wonders and miracles.

    11. Teachings Of Kabir

    Once Kabir tied a stout pig to the front post in the verandah of his house. An orthodox Brahmin Pundit came to Kabir’s house for discussing a philosophical problem. He saw the pig in front of the house. He was much upset, irritated and annoyed. He asked Kabir:—“Dear Sir, how is it you have tied a nasty animal that eats the excreta of human beings, very close to your house. You have no Achara. You are a dirty man. You do not know the Shastras. You are ignorant”. Kabir replied:—“O Shastriji, you are more dirty than myself. I have tied the pig to the front post outside my house, whereas you have tied the pig to the mind”. The Brahmin was very much vexed and went away without telling a word. Man changa katorie me ganga: “If the mind is pure, you will find the Ganges in the cup”. Purification of mind is of paramount importance. Without this nothing can be achieved in the spiritual path.

    12. A Sham Latin Scholar

    A certain man went to a Latin teacher to learn Latin. He stayed with the teacher for a week. He noticed that most of the words ended in ‘o’. He thought that he must add the letter ‘o’ to the end of each word. He knew English well. He told the teacher that he knew Latin and with the permission of the teacher, he went back to his native place. He reached his house and tapped the door uttering these words:—“O, dear-o, wife-o, open-o, door-o”. He thought this was all Latin.
    There are very many scholars in Yoga and Vedanta also similar to the learned Latin scholar, above narrated. They stay for a few days in Ram Ashram Library or with some Sadhus, learn the names Kundalini, Mula Chakra, Nadi, Pranayama, Maya, or Pratibimbavada and move from place to place. Yoga and Vedanta are philosophies that are to be studied under a Guru with great interest for a period of 12 years. Then only one can master the subjects. Yoga and Vedanta should not be used as a means for livelihood. After learning a few words in Yoga and Vedanta, one should not go about and mix with the worldly people. Attaining perfection in Yoga requires a long practical experience under a perfect guide.

    13. Story Of An Aspirant

    An aspirant went to a Mahant of Gorakhnath Panth. Gorakhnath-followers are those who wear either big black celluloid or glass earrings. The Mahant bored the aspirant’s ears, inserted big earrings and gave him a beautiful name also, Yogi Ishvarananda. He remained in the Ashram for three months. He did not get any spiritual progress. He thought to himself:—“This is not the proper path. Let me try another path.” He left the Ashram immediately, wandered through thick jungles, came across a Fakir and implored for initiation. The Fakir circumcised, gave him a Mantra and asked him to have a long beard. This also did not satisfy him. Now look at the pitiable condition of this poor aspirant. The ulcers in the ears had not healed up properly. He had considerable pain through septic inflammation. There was profuse discharge of pus. He had already a disturbed state of mind and this state of affairs augmented his mental worries. He seriously reflected that this was not the way of seeking the Guru. He made a strong determination that he must not roam about, must stick firmly to one solitary place and must perform there Tapas with constant prayers to God. He selected a place and performed Tapas with all sincerity. This purified him and made him fit for higher steps. After a period of two years, a Guru appeared before him, initiated him into deep mysteries of Yoga. Present-day aspirants also are running like this from place to place in search of a Guru. It is of no use. They should purify themselves for a Yogic life. By chance, even if they come in contact with an Avatara, they will not be benefited much if they have not a strong foundation for a Yogic life.

    14. Other Yogins

    The yogi by means of various practices establishes a conscious control over the organs and functions of the body. He moulds his body like steel. One Swami in London had a demonstration of stopping his heart before the King. Many able physicians were present on the occasion and examined him. Desabandhu in 1926 stopped the radial and temporal pulses on both sides at will and stopped the beatings of the heart also for a short time. He showed a demonstration in the Bombay Medical Union. In Maharajah Ranjit Singh’s Court in Lahore, Hatha Yogi Hari Das who buried himself underneath the ground for forty days after tightly closing his nose, mouth, ears and eyes with wax came back alive. The Mohammedan Yogi, Gunangudi Mastan, was buried in Madras. Some Yogins fly in the air. This is due to Khechari Mudra.
    Yogi Pratap was in the posture of doing Viparitakarani Mudra. He asked the onlookers to cover his head with clay on all sides. He remained in that position for full 2 hours. Paul Deussen, the German traveller, personally witnessed this in Varanasi. Sri Swami Vishuddhananda of Varanasi once gave life to a dead sparrow. Nothing is impossible for a real Yogi.


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

EN EL VACIO NO HAY NADA?

Fuente: http://www.quo.es/ciencia/astronomia/la_nada_no_esta_vacia
"La naturaleza aborrece el vacío”. Esta máxima, que surgió por primera vez en la filosofía griega hace unos 2.500 años, sigue planteando un debate entre científicos y filósofos. El concepto de un vacío real, aparte de inducir una sensación inquietante, a mucha gente le parece ridículo, e incluso estúpido. Si dos cuerpos están separados por la nada, ¿no estarían en contacto? ¿Cómo puede el “vacío” mantener las cosas apartadas, o tener propiedades como tamaño y límites?
Mientras seguimos peleando con estas ideas, nuestro concepto del vacío ha evolucionado. El espacio vacío es más rico que la mera ausencia de cosas, y desempeña un papel indispensable en gran parte de la física moderna. Incluso entre los antiguos griegos, el vacío dividía lealtades.

Líneas de pensamineto

-  Parménides en el siglo V a. C. y hoy más comúnmente asociada con Aristóteles, sostiene que el espacio vacío está en realidad relleno de un medio invisible.
-  Los postuladores de la teoría atómica rival, entre ellos Leucipo y Demócrito, discrepaban. Según su punto de vista, el cosmos consistía en un vacío ilimitado poblado por pequeñas e indestructibles partículas, o átomos, que se agrupaban en diferentes combinaciones para formar objetos materiales.

-  Tanto Newton como Aristóteles creían que el espacio entre los cuerpos tenía que estar relleno de un medio, si bien uno de una clase inusual. Debía ser invisible, pero tampoco producía fricción, ya que la Tierra lo atraviesa en su camino alrededor del Sol sin encontrar resistencia alguna.
-  Newton apelaba a este medio como marco para sus leyes del movimiento. Estas predecían, por ejemplo, que un planeta rotatorio como la Tierra experimentaría una fuerza centrífuga que lo haría hincharse en el Ecuador.

-  Leibniz, no estaba de acuerdo. Mantenía que todo movimiento, incluida la rotación, solo podía juzgarse con relación a otros cuerpos del Universo; por ejemplo, a las distantes estrellas. Según Leibniz, si las estrellas se desvanecieran, también lo haría la fuerza; no era necesario un medio entre objeto y estrellas.
-  Mach discutió fuertemente la postura de Leibniz y propuso que las fuerzas centrífugas y sus relativos efectos mecánicos estaban causados por la acción gravitatoria de la materia distante del Universo.

-  Einstein se vio fuertemente influido por las ideas de Mach al formular su teoría de la relatividad, y le contrarió comprobar que, de hecho, el principio de Mach no se infería de ella. Por ejemplo, de la teoría de Einstein se deduce que un agujero negro rotatorio tendría el Ecuador hinchado aunque no existiera ningún otro objeto.
Surgimiento de la Mecánica Cuántica

-  Hace más o menos una década, surgió de la teoría de la mecánica cuántica. A nivel atómico, la impecable previsibilidad del universo clásico newtoniano se rompió para ser reemplazada por un conjunto de reglas alternativas extrañas. Una partícula como, por ejemplo, un electrón, no se mueve de A a B siguiendo una trayectoria precisa y definida. En un momento, su posición y movimiento serán, hasta cierto punto, inciertos.
Y lo que es cierto para un electrón lo es también para todas las entidades físicas, incluidos los campos. Por ejemplo: ¿cuánta energía reside en una caja vacía de un tamaño determinado?

Los rápidos cálculos que se hacen en base a la teoría cuántica llevan a una conclusión aparentemente sin sentido: no hay límite. El vacío no está vacío. De hecho, contiene una cantidad infinita de energía.

Así que el concepto moderno del vacío es el fermento de la actividad de un campo cuántico, con ondas que surgen al azar aquí y allá. En mecánica cuántica, las ondas también tienen características de partículas, de modo que el vacío cuántico se describe a menudo como un mar de partículas de vida breve; fotones para el campo electromagnético, gravitones para el campo gravitatorio, y así sucesivamente, que surgen de ninguna parte y que desaparecen de nuevo.

Un vacío lleno de energía y presión

Einstein había predicho que el espacio vacío tendría un efecto antigravitatorio semejante ya en 1917, antes de la mecánica cuántica. No podía poner un número a la intensidad de esa fuerza, y más tarde abandonó la idea. Pero no se fue del todo. Cálculos realizados a vuelapluma hoy día sugieren que la presión del vacío cuántico debería ser, de hecho, negativa en un espacio con la geometría de nuestro universo.
Y para asegurarlo, hace 15 años se empezaron a acumular pruebas procedentes de las observaciones de supernovas lejanas: una inmensa fuerza antigravitatoria causa que el universo se expanda cada vez más deprisa. El invisible vacío cuántico, “éter”, supuesto responsable de ello al menos parcialmente, se ha redenominado recientemente “energía oscura”.
La noción de que el espacio es un mero vacío sin propiedades físicas ya no se sostiene. Puede que la naturaleza aborrezca el vacío absoluto, pero le gusta el vacío cuántico con sus peculiaridades. Y no es un juego de palabras. Según funcione la energía oscura, el Universo seguirá expandiéndose en una huida frenética que culmine en un vacío oscuro en el que la materia y la radiación se diluyan a niveles infinitesimales, o quizá colapse sobre sí mismo en un “big crunch”. El destino del Universo parece que depende de las propiedades del vacío.

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El próximo mes me nivelo (Julio Ramón Ribeyro, 1969)

El próximo mes me nivelo El próximo mes me nivelo (no se publicó como un libro individual,  fue publicado en 1972  como parte del  segundo t...