Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. -- Zen Buddhism
It suggests that liberation or awakening doesn’t remove the need for ordinary work—it shifts your perspective on it. The addition of "and liberation. do it again" in your version could imply a cyclical process: finding freedom through the repetition of simple, grounded actions.
Each figure is eyeing or reacting to their own "forbidden" item on the table:
Adam (with Eve behind whispering): ЁЯНО “But what if it's wine though?”
Vedic Priest: ЁЯН╢ “Soma is for the initiated only, bro.”
Shiva (clutching his throat): ☠️ “Just a little poison, she said.”
Asura (reaching out): ✋ “Wait… I can’t sip Amrita?”
Sita (wide-eyed): ЁЯжМ “But look at that glittery deer tho…”
Jain Monk (grimacing): ЁЯзД “Who put garlic on the table?”
Muslim Man: ЁЯРЦ “Is that… pork? Astaghfirullah.”
Jewish Rabbi: ЁЯзАЁЯНЦ “Meat and dairy? Together? Oy vey.”
Hindu Sage: ЁЯей “Tamasic food clouds the mind.”
Forbidden fruits/intoxicants/things across cultures/religions
A simplified, paraphrased and popular Buddha's quote:
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it" - Buddha
Original Source: Kalama Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya (AN 3.65) , part of the Pali Canon (Theravada Buddhist scriptures) (translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi).
"Come, Kalamas. Do not go by oral tradition, by lineage of teaching, by hearsay, by a collection of scriptures, by logical reasoning, by inferential reasoning, by reasoned cogitation, by acceptance of a view after pondering it, by the seeming competence of a speaker, or because you think, 'The ascetic is our teacher.' But when you know for yourselves: 'These things are wholesome; these things are blameless; these things are praised by the wise; these things, if undertaken and practiced, lead to welfare and happiness,' then you should engage in them."
The above astrological prediction and resolution image in Tamil language, reminds me of a practice similar to ancient priests in India. The Catholic Church once commercialized the practice of selling indulgences—documents believed to reduce the temporal punishment for sins. A few centuries ago, this practice was either stopped or became obsolete as people grew more aware. However, in certain parts of the world, similar practices may still persist.
Saturn's transit is currently moving towards prograde motion (forward planetary movement).
"If you look at something from an angle, it appears angled. But even those angles are just structured lines." In Tamil: роХோрогрод்родிро▓் рокாро░்род்родாро▓் роХோрогрооாроХ родெро░ிропுроо். роЕрои்род роХோрогрооுроо் роХோро▓рооாрой роХோроЯுроХро│்родாрой்.
From space, planets follow beautiful circular motions in harmony with nature. Yet, from Earth, their paths appear as zigzag motions, an illusion caused by the difference in vantage points. Saturn, for instance, takes approximately 30 years to orbit the Sun. However, when observed from Earth, it appears to move westward (retrograde) for a few months each year instead of continuing its usual eastward motion.
Ancient astronomy was not merely a fascination for humans—it played a crucial role in helping rulers predict harvest seasons, calendars, and celestial events. This idea of prediction was so significant that it eventually led to the belief that the same celestial patterns could predict human destiny. Ancient astrologers or rishis may have conducted observational experiments thousands of years ago.
Today, with data collection and AI, we could theoretically attempt to predict the fate of 8 billion people on Earth. If the results appear random, it suggests chaotic (Kolam) patterns; if structured, it might indicate a deeper cyclical order (circular patterns).
The Illusion of Gurus and Predictive Beliefs
Despite scientific advancements, many people still fall for so-called spiritual gurus who perform tricks—such as manifesting a lingam from their mouths, something an ordinary person couldn't do. These sleight-of-hand techniques have been exposed through numerous videos, yet millions still believe in these figures as divine beings.
I observe these figures regularly, and they appear both powerful and fragile at the same time—almost like fossils of ancient thought still embedded in modern minds. But the question remains:
Are people's minds fossilized, or have these figures successfully fossilized people's thinking?
It is a highly predictable and profitable business. While scientists may not earn massive wealth by explaining how celestial bodies move in the heavens, these individuals profit greatly from exploiting weak minds. This magician-priest archetype has existed since ancient times—controlling Egyptian courts in the past and continuing their influence even today.
The sign of life is strength and growth. The sign of death is weakness. Whatever is weak, avoid! It is death. If it is strength, go down into hell and get hold of it! There is salvation only for the brave - Vivekananda
The concept of Akshaya Patra from Hindu mythology and Dagda’s Cauldron from Irish mythology are quite similar. Both are legendary vessels that provide endless sustenance, symbolizing abundance and divine generosity
A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within - Will Durant
Tonight, during the lunar eclipse, Rahu (snake head) will attempt to swallow the Moon, but moon will reappear after the eclipse ends. According to Hindu mythology, the Moon originally emerged from the ocean during the great churning (Samudra Manthan) and was adorned on Lord Shiva’s head.
May your heart be light, your days bright, and your year just right! Wishing 2025 filled with peace, happiness, and success.
Lot of festival victories of good over evil in the last couple of months, mostly killings. But not in modern times, during next week election winning leader will not kill the other leader. It was a duel (and gladiators) in the ancient past, but nowadays it is more of a dual/duet, involving collaborative competition between different parties (leaders and voters).
Durga Puja: victory of Maa Durga over Mahishasura/Mysore Arasan/рооைроЪூро░் роЕро░роЪрой்(Tamil).
Diwali: Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura (or Narakasur роиро░роХாроЪுро░рой்). Victory over роЕро░роХ்роХрой்/Arakkan, роЕроЪுро░рой்/Asura, роХாроЯ்роЯுрооிро░ாрог்роЯிроХро│்/Savages.
Dussehra: This is when Ravana and his brothers bites the dust. (рокрод்родு роХро▓ைроХро│ை роЕро▒ிрои்родு роХொрог்роЯро╡рой் or known as рокрод்родு/ten родро▓ைроХро│ை/heads роХொрог்роЯро╡рой். Ra + Vanan = Knowledge of nigh sky /astrology (Night/Ra/ро░ா Sky/Vanan/ро╡ாройрой்). роХுроо்рокроХро░்рогрой் (Kumbakarnan) is a rishi and his brother and it took long time to get him of meditation by various soldiers (or can be alternatively known as he was sleeping). Reminds the Tamil prince Bodhidharma, a fervent meditator, the originator of Chan Buddhism in China, later evolved as Zen in Japan and not much in other places including his native place Tamilnadu. According to legends, Bodhidharma meditated in a cave for nine years, facing a wall in deep and unwavering contemplation. The local rulers and soldiers, amazed by his discipline and dedication, tried various means to draw him out of this meditative state. Perhaps a similar attempt made by Ravana soldiers to get Kumbakarna out meditation (or deep sleep or an alternative story).
Kanda Sashti (or Skanda Shashti): Lord Murugan (or Kartikeya) vanquishes Surapadman, along with other demons like Tarakasura and Simhamukha.
Divinity can provide or divinity can divide, and it is all in human hands.