Art of asking questions

For the same query asked to the same person, you may sometimes expect two different answers. A number of times these answers depends upon how you are asking the question, ie your way of asking.

You can get the desired answers from your clients, your boss and your manager, once you learn the art of asking questions.

Let's walk through the short story below which may explain this better.

Jack and Max are walking from religious service. Jack wonders whether it would be all right to smoke while praying.

Max replies, "Why don't you ask the Priest?"

So Jack goes up to the Priest and asks, "Father, may I smoke while I pray ?"

The Priest replies, "No, my son, you may not! That's utter disrespect to our religion."

Jack goes back to his friend and tells him what the good Priest told him.

Max says, "I'm not surprised. You asked the wrong question. Let me try."

And so Max goes up to the Priest and asks, "Father, may I pray while I smoke ?"

To which the Priest eagerly replies, "By all means, my son. By all means. You can always pray whenever you want to."


I hope you might have understood,

how different ways of asking may result in different answers.

The Penrose Stairs

A Penrose Stairs is a two-dimensional depiction of a staircase in which the stairs make four 90-degree turns as they ascend or descend yet form a continuous loop, so that a person could climb them forever and never get any higher.




This is clearly impossible in three dimensions; the two-dimensional figure shown above achieves this paradox by distorting perspective. Penrose Stairs is the first impossible object ever made.

For long time, this stair was a mystery for me, but later I came to know, it was just a graphical trick.

Climbing on Penrose Stairs :

Many says that chasing for Victory is just like climbing on Penrose Stairs,



But then I remember the famous saying of Louis L'Amour that "Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more".

Believe that there are no Penrose Stairs in your life, hard work may not always get you to the top, but it will get you pretty near.

Sad demise of the Great Spritual Leader Acharya Mahapragya

Jai Jinendra,

Acharya Shri Mahapragya (91), the Tenth Acharya, head of Jain Swetembar Terapanth group, passed away at Sardarshahar in Churu district at 2.52 pm on Sunday 9^th May 2010. His last rites would take place at Sardarshahar at 3 pm on Monday 10^th May 2010.

He was in the city in connection with "chaturmas" festival to be held next month. The news of the demise of the Acharya send waves of shock in the entire Jain Samaj and hundreds of his disciples and followers left for Sardarshahar to attend his funeral.

Acharya Shri Mahapragya (14 June 1920 - 9 May 2010) was the tenth Acharya, supreme head of Jain Swetembar Terapanth group. He promoted nonviolence and lead the Ahimsa Yatra movement. He also formulated the Preksha Dhyan movement in the 1970's. Along with his concept of sending learned Samanas and Samanis, (laypersons with advanced vows) abroad to promote the ideals of Jainism, Preksha Dhyan brought a large number of people close to Jainism.

Acharya promoted non-violence and led the Ahimsa Yatra movement. He had travelled more than 100,000 km on foot covering more than 10,000 villages reaching out to masses, spreading the message of harmony and peace. Walking across the length and breadth of India from Kutch in Gujarat to Kolkata and from Punjab to Kanyakumari, Acharya Shri had travelled on foot under the leadership of Acharya Tulsi, his predecessor. During these travels, he addressed thousands of public meetings.

Anuvrat Anushasta Yugpradhan Acharya Shri Mahapragya is the only name in this era whose multidimensional personality and enormous contribution for the educational, social and religious cause can never be over emphasised. He has enlightened the whole world by his profound knowledge intuitive insight and wisdom.

Acharya Mahapragya has indeed provided new dimensions to the religious and intellectual fields and has emerged as a highly venerable saint. His name is the Symbolism of Spirituality of the Twentieth Century. He is known for his style for tracing the beginning of a thought process and then finding solutions for it. His extraordinary talent has presented Science and Spiritualism as synonymous to each other. This completely New Theory in the religious field has provided many new dimensions to the field of Religion. Humility, kindness, wisdom, courtesy, patience and universal friendship are only some of his noble virtues.

He had been adorned with the following Titles:

• The 10th Acharya of Terapanth Sect
• Anuvrat Anushasta
• Yugpradhan
• Lokmanya Maharishi
• Ambassador of Peace
• Indra Gandhi National Unity Award
• Brahmarishi
• Mahatma
• Dharma Chakravarti
• National Communal Harmony Award
• Mother Teresa Peace Award
• Doctor of Literature

One is deeply sorry to hear of the same demise of Acharya Shri Mahapragya, at Sardarshaher. He was truly ecumenical in his approach and one of the most learned Jain seers in the world. I bow in obeisance to his memory and offer my condolences to the entire Jain Sangh. Even though Acharya Shri's work will remain with us, the perfume of his presence has gone.

Gurudev Acharya Mahapragyaji Last Darshan and related images are available online on:

http://www.preksha.com/mahapragyaji

To read Condolence / Obituary Page, please go to:
http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=72310

The Brazen bull

From 5th Century to 15th, we call it the Middle Ages. These 100 years are also remembered as the most violent eras in human history. Human minds in periods were awarded for it's ghoulish inventiveness that gave rise to a plethora of torture methods.



The Brazen Bull was among one such torture methods that was used during this time for criminal punishment. Many sick mind people have given their lives to invent such cruel torturing devices.

Do you dare to read ahead how victims were tortured using Brazen Bull, ok then go ahead.

The metal bull : Brazen Bull was a hollow brass statue crafted to resemble a real bull. Victims we­re placed inside, usually with their tongues cut out first. The door was shut, sealing them in.

The agony : Fires would then be lit around the bull. As the victim succumbed to the searing heat inside, he would thrash about and scream in agony. The movements and sounds, muted by the bull's mass, made the apparatus appear alive, the sounds inside like those of a real bull.





The entertainment : This effect created additional amusement for the audience, and served the added benefit of distancing them from the brutality of the torture, since they couldn't directly see the victim.

The man behind : Legend has it that this device was invented by a Greek named Perillus (Perilaus in some sources) for a tyrant named Phalaris of Agrigentum. Expecting a handsome reward for his creativity, Perillus instead became the first person placed inside the Brazen Bull.