Acting Maha Brahma

 Acting Maha Brahma

I have changed (Practice Metta Meditation) a lot and have become an environmentalist and no mosquitoes at all now.

I breed Guppy Fish to control this menace and I have beautiful collection of them in addition to some exotic water plants and lilies.

 The real Maha Brahma is on an eons holiday and the present Acting Maha is a yesteryear paraya (stray) dog, whom I knew as a street dog.

My dog who passed away has joined him as a underdog (not in cricket parlance) and is my divine angle!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

I had two bad nights in which I kept up all night doing some bizarre routines of editing a long text file into print form, downloading, burning iso images and testing them, blogging and making PowerPoint type of presentation with Google's free TripWoW.
 

I had a good night sleep yesterday and woke with a nice dream.

I thought Maha Brahma would be happy to here it, since the dream was related to heaven itself.

I was fed up with living on this planet with so much mosquitoes and very warm weather and sleeping only a brief period at night (reason for my keeping up at night is to thrash mosquitoes and send them to heaven instantaneously with my blessings).

They are crushed with rapid alternative and reciprocal movements of my hands closing together in symphony with mosquito music beating down my ears and the mosquitoes are not spared a moment of thought (thought block) of their own (when they die) and when they wake up, really reborn, they are there in heaven with Acting Maha, fanning the senior Devas with hand held fans (instead of beating drums like on earth).

The Dream
I decided to vacate my post on earth and made an early entry to heaven,with the message in a long electronic PHP form.

I made sure, I entered every cage, like when you fill the USA Visa forms, similar to our elderly politicians who wish to be born in America instead of heaven.

They call America the heaven on earth and only the most corrupt politicians that curry favour America, including Indians organizing IPL Cricket are allowed (Not Qaddafi Type) Visa to America and reborn again, there.

In my case, I made sure I did not leave any gaps fearing anybody who enter the data into the computer might add unnecessary but REAL details that might prevent my qualification for entry to heaven.

Then I saw Maha himself going through the form personally because it was recognized as my personal writing by Maha.
 

However, he was not happy for not leaving any room inside and between cages where he can make some corrections, entries, if he so desires and put his stamp of approval.
 This was very unusual for me unlike e-forms in the web where they make it compulsory for almost all the entries to be filled so that search engines can put you in  some form of commercial category to market web goods and services at lib.

I was asking and making a big fuss why do I have to make entries in e-forms (like pension claims) and Maha put his hand on my shoulder and said, you are trying to be very clever aren't you?

With the press of his hand I felt very heavy shock and woke up.

Sadly, I was not in heaven but on my bed.

But I had a very pleasant sense of some ease and happiness that even in my dream I was speaking to the all almighty the Maha and not to a political big wig or a Sri-Lankan cricket selector who is a decider cum political leader who invites a yesteryear cricketer out of his skeleton cupboard to represent at Kingston Oval having looked at his previous record book on political affiliations.

Of course one gets a ticket to London and return on Cricket Board expenses.

Maha was bit puzzled.

He thought, I really wanted to join him in a hurry and deprive him some good dreams from earth.

Equally he was concerned I was pulling a fast one to get some facilitator for rear entry like our old politicians and national thinkers who are almost demented but want to secure a National List MP Post.

Did you really dream this?

Of course, I replied.

Do you know how the leave is granted in heaven?

Not a slightest bit of idea, Sir.

Then he calmed down a lot and said, this was a good dream and it is futuristic and does not apply to you.

I was relieved.

Why were you concerned about leaving gaps in the e-form?

It is like this.

In heaven we grant leave to all applicants irrespective of their need.

But one has to leave a little space as a grace, offering me some administrative work space which is mandatory.

You have to mention the date of commencement only and not the date of return.

In our case what is important is the date of return.

Not the date of commencement, Sir.

We tend to fall sick for no reason, if the leave is not granted and if the date of return is not entered, then there is  a bigger problem.

It is not like that in heaven since we leave the date of return cage empty, I can just put a date at random when things demand and automatically the server sends an email alert with nice music to wake up the angels on leave on the right day.

By doing this I never have the problem of everybody applying for leave.

Or I see.

Do they sleep on holidays and do you go to other heavens for vacation?

I suppose they do so, but they easily get bored when on leave and want to come back and activate their inborn desires and pastimes like listening to music, bit of gossiping about earth and it's politics and interpreting dreams like what I am doing, now.

Did your boss real Maha leave an empty space?

No.

My goodness.

That is why I am stuck here as Acting Maha Brahma!

I do not have a space to make an entry and call him back even if I wanted to.

So this new regulation to leave and empty space, is one of my own creations to call back whenever I need somebody.

Yes, that was why I was bit worried and thought you are trying a fast one to get to grips with administration here even before coming here.

It is like our U.G.C Chairman putting a backdated regulation for his own survival.

Can I put an entry without empty spaces.

I will let you do that since now you know my devises but do not tell other gods and angles.

OK,OK.

Dream Interpretation.

The interpretation is very simple because it relates mostly to Sri-Lanka.

In future when the future presidents want some things for himself he calls the guy /girls to the president house and give them a sumptuous meal.

Then he gets you to sign some blank papers undated and make you to leave gaps in the entry form.

For example you have a Tourist Hotel which is very popular at the beach side.

He comes there for a holiday and become interested in the property.

He invites you to his house for a drink and get all the papers ready for a 10 year rolling lease period.

So that is the end of the property, I guess.

Yes, especially if the guy or girl rub shoulders at a re-election or of the ruling party.

The problem is he will do this to the entire registered population  with in one year of election.

Only one census is enough and he will own the entire length and breath of the country.

How big is the country then?

The sea has advanced almost to Kandy and all the population is now in the hills and population is 100 times now.

If they do not sign what happens?.

They are loaded and sent as refugees to India by boat and India has 100,000 times more people than now and their sea has advanced almost to foothills of Himalaya.

There is no room for someone to lie down and all are standing upright and one out of thousand get a chance to lie down once a year for a holiday break for 10 to 15 minutes.

The humans have mutated a lot and have very strong legs and very long tapering hands to reach even trees (or for begging) and hang on for few minutes a day to give the legs a break and that also has to be done in turns and there is a token that handshake like a tablet (Like in ethernet and railway) that pass around from hand to hand and one can keep it only for few minutes lest you get a teaser shock with a laser satellite on orbit.
One takes the table in one hand and reach a branch of a tree and let go the tablet before the tracer shock is given.

What about the toilets.

There is no problem, there is an automatic suction tube that sucks urine and scat separately even when one does not have the urge to go and they are used for new form of energy and water is recycled for reuse.

This is similar to the space technology developed in the shuttle.

What about the air one breaths.

One has to open an insurance policy, the moment one is born for air safety (security) and it is controlled by the Government in power and the President himself is in charge.

Process is similar to water and electricity bills but more expensive and the cleaning plants  for air are connected to the same tube that suck out all excreta but with a different and safe viaduct for (breathing) air.

Free air is polluted and one cannot breath it.

I do not think you should worry about these little things you will be gone many moons before this happens. 
Where to?

I am not suppose to tell you when you are still a human.

OK; 
See you soon.

Dark Side of Sports– Money, Power, Politics– All About Business: Games Aren’t Just Games Any More

 Reproduction

Dark Side of Sports– Money, Power, Politics– All About Business: Games Aren’t Just Games Any More

by Bizshifts-Trends
Sports used to be simple. Go to games. Play games. Have fun. Be entertained. Now it’s so much more. Every level of sports-- from your local youth leagues straight up to the pros-- it's all become big business that generates big money and big influence... The theme driving the ethics of sports is 'win-at-all-costs' and 'profit-at-all-costs'... On Capitol Hill, sports businesses blatantly wield its power to get what it wants, and often succeeds. In the justice system, sports figures are, perhaps more than ever, at center of criminal investigations because they once felt invincible but no more... Sports is big business worldwide, according to research; the global sports market is valued over one trillion dollars, including; teams, players, merchandise, arenas, apparel, betting, e-sports, sports medicine, sports education and training, kids sports, sports television, sports media, special events, fantasy games, sports videos, sports equipment... and, it's expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3%...
Nearly in every part of the world sports heroes are discussed around the dinner table... In the Olympic world, sports help give nations credibility and also can spark international conflict. For good and bad, the sports world is bigger and more powerful than ever, with athletes wielding more and more influence over culture, politics... But behind the million-dollar publicists, watered-down personas, fancy shoe commercials... athletes are still just men and women. Men and women who won the genetic lottery, for sure, but they often have deep, dark sides and the money to keep those dark sides under wraps...
In the article Dark Side of Sport by Dominic Hobson writes: Sport is war - it's about the loss, as well as the gain... Sport is war minus the shooting... Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It's bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence... It's rich in triumphalism, disdain and pride, in the love of power and of domination. Sport has something in common with war... It's zero-sum: What one gains, the other loses. Of course, some find in sport a positive sum-- an aesthetic pleasure akin to great art or literature...
The pleasure of effort is rewarded, the mastery of a skill, the exhilaration of speed, the thrill of danger averted, the union of mind and body, and the unity of body and nature. It can be beautiful to watch another human being run fast, or jump high, or bowl quickly, or strike a ball exquisitely. If sport really was improving the moral character of the players, it would not be necessary to equip officials with sophisticated video technology to check they are not cheating. But even he/she prefers an ugly victory to a beautiful defeat. What Douglas MacArthur said of war is as true of sport; there is no substitute for victory...
In sport, it's 'points', not the poetry, that count. No one remembers, as sports people are apt to remind each other, how they won. This is why the sports-field is as much a moral vacuum as a battlefield. The fist-shaking at the net, goal-mouth celebrations-- these are ugly metaphorical equivalents of mutilating slain enemies in battle. The character-building quality of sport is contradicted every time players take to field of play.
All too often, sporting contests feature some combination of spitting, sledging, swearing, shouting, fist-pumping, glaring, grunting, grass-kissing, badge-tugging, or outright violence... Sport does not build character: At best, it betrays it. At worst, it corrupts it. It's not just the players who are corrupted: So are spectators. Hence, it's easy to observe that modern democracy has rediscovered what emperors knew millennia ago: grotesque entertainments ensure quiescence of the populace. According to Hugh McIlvanney; sports is fantastic metaphor for life...
In the article Politicization of Sports and Sportization of Politics by Yves Smith writes: Sport has its own dynamic and its own identity. It's one of dominant global institutions, fully commercialized and professionalized. According to Ivan Ergic: it's one of last domains in which macho-culture and its relation to militarism, is still present. No wonder women’s sports are not accepted on same level as men's’: most women that do participate become masculinized so as to compete at the same level as men... This only shows how militant the industry of sports actually is...
According to Ivan Ergic: most sports fans come from the working class. Completely passivised, they watch the contests sitting in front of their televisions they don’t even go to the stadiums anymore. We live in a world of hyper commercialization and this is visible in sports as well. The fact that the working class is becoming passivised is problematic as it diverts attention from important life issues. The fan movement is the only movement in the world that doesn’t have a collective institution, or a body governing it. The divisions that this creates clearly shows that sports tend to segment different classes...
People construct their identities around their sports clubs as these are historically local clubs, which breed local patriotism. As symbolic representatives of a region, the connection that people feel to them is understandable. The issue with this is that it results in diverting attention from more existential issues. Fans protest energetically against corruption in a club, or a club going bankrupted, but protest much less about losing jobs or inequity in the local factory...
Nationalism is one of the most profiting mechanisms of reorienting people towards issues related to their identities. It's an ideology that de-politicizes peoples in a certain way, as its focus on identity blurs all other social and political issues... The World Cup, Olympics, etc. are events supposedly meant to unite people. At the same time they intensify national sentiments and national identities, which again diverts attention from the real issues. People should unite in common aim of fighting political, economic and ecological issues... yet instead they focus on small narcissistic differences between-- different teams or nations, on who wins, or who doesn’t... identifying themselves with the teams in a common-- 'we' have lost or 'we' have won, this 'we' being the team and the nation at the same time...

Cricket and Emotions

Cricket and Emotions

I watched the Cricket World Cup without any emotions.

That is also because I had nothing else to do on this particular Sunday.

This is the only (having been a cricket fanatic from Childhood) time I did not blog or made any predictions about Ceylonese team or any other team.

I wished if Ireland was there in the preliminaries but it was a tight schedule and as usual weather spoiling few games.

I did not watch any other games.

I just used to look at the results of the other matches past midnight when I was browsing the emails (which I finish in less than an hour).

When I looked at the BBC live report and the expression written down by commentators (former players included) and spectators, I wonder how many of them had near enough heart attack.

I remember long time ago one player I knew (hockey player) had a heart attack when Ceylon Team lost in a cricket game.

I mode my a resolution I will watch the game without much a do.

Just another game. Well I am not playing, anyway. I won’t go for betting, too. 

 

I sometime think live coverage spoils the game, if somebody really loves the game buy a ticket and go in person to the cricket ground.

Mind you cricket is the only game an Asian can go.

If an Asian (my time in UK) go to a football game, one is almost trampled to death.

I used to hide in a coffee shop or bookshop when these guys (spectators) come out after a football match.

That was the reason, I was never interested in football.

I got a kick when Argentina beat them in 1980s.

I was in UK, then.

The sports have become a sort of mania.

I do not want to be a part of it. 

I practice equanimity (neutral) instead. 

Mind you I lived for short time in both countries and ordinary British and New Zealand guys are simple and ordinary except during matches of Football or Cricket.

I used to play snooker or billiard and I loved billiards.

One need meditative attention to play this game and always made a point to beat white guys. 

Some of them ask where the hell you learned this game. 

I say Ceylon. 

Where the hell is Ceylon, the response. 

Playing billiards help me to graduate into meditation in later life. 

I am slowly approaching equanimity. 

World Cup was an example.

Fact or Fiction?

Fact or Fiction?

I enjoyed reading more than writing.

My writing was a later development, starting with some blog activity and on a private web page (not on public domain) to save printed paper.

Entry to public domain was a later development and most of my time was spent on learning Linux without a Guru.

I am more of a computer fanatic interested in the Linux more than Windows.

Only fiction, I read with interest was God Father.

I consider reading fiction a waste of time but hit the films on the first day, if the film is based on some form of factual incidents.

More of forensic interest of the type of Colombo cases.

Kennedy assassination,The Day of The Jackal, French Connection. Italian Job and later Space Odyssey and Alien connections (fictional Paul) were few of my interests.

Dog stories (Heavenly Dog and many more) are of course on top of the list.

To me landing on the moon (man not physical objects) was a fiction more than a reality.

Going through Van Allen belt to me was a mystery.

The rocket that powered (numerous failures) and the technology they destroyed after landing on moon on first attempt and needing another 45 years or more for another moon landing are not only hearsay but are probing questions.

Please watch the films Operation Avalanche and Something went wrong on the Way to the Moon.

I am happy that I am not an American citizen.

If I was and if I tried to investigate any of the above, I would have been eliminated by the CIA, just like many others.

How many lies they concocted on Kennedy Assassination?

The bigger the better it was my understanding!

The context here in this piece is Mafia and Drugs.

Mafia and Drugs go to the previous century (18^th) but proper investigation was commenced only recently.

That was also by President Richard Nixon.
  
Why?

In this country politicians are waking up to it, after very long slumber.

That is also around elections and after the election they give political cover (protect dealers) to the bigwigs.

Drug Enforcement Administration

he Drug Enforcement Administration was established on July 1, 1973, by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, signed by President Richard Nixon on July 28.It proposed the creation of a single federal agency to enforce the federal drug laws as well as consolidate and coordinate the government's drug control activities. Congress accepted the proposal, as they were concerned with the growing availability of drugs. As a result, the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE); approximately 600 Special Agents of the Bureau of Customs, Customs Agency Service, and other federal offices merged to create the DEA.

Ecstasy Universality

The list below is a method for a young writer who gets into a thought block when looking for a novelty topic.

Just list any thing that comes into your mind moment one gets up.

The list here is for my memory failure for a topic I am going to right based on a lovely dream.

I forget where I had kept my pen or the night torch (a serious disability)!

Ecstasy Universality

1. Somanassa-Domanassa Principle

 

Happy and Unhappy Principle based on Buddhist Jhana

2. Conspiracy Principle

3. Wedding and Funerals

4. 5Ds

Death

Disease

Disability

Doubt

Divorce

Debt

Dog

Donations

Dumb-Our Politicians

 

Dreams

5. Election Year 

? How many conspiracy theories

There are many for every leading party.

6. Just like Side Effects of 3 drugs

Three for each but 1for each for interactions

12 in total

7. No mosquitoes for one solid week

Obsessed with breeding Guppy Fish and Water Plants, including water lilies.

8. Good Sleep and in Somanassa Mood

9. How to make a pass word

Book

4x2Paper

3xDPepper

xxDPeppermint

10.My backache

How to manage?

 

11. Meditation 

I have already done a book.

I want the Election Commissioner to Resign!

I want the Election Commissioner to Resign!

I want the Election Commissioner to Resign!

But there is a caveat, here.

Within six weeks of his resignation, he should declare that he is running for the post of presidency.

With much effort a “Third Force” was developed under Reverend Sobitha and it petered out since guys and girls who were behind this “Forum” gave up the “Strategy” for posts like governers, ambassadors, advisers and the lot.

Jayadeva Uyangoda and Prof.Wijesuriya who were left with carrying forward the above political agenda has not found a guy yet.

This is my novelty for them to work on.

The next time, the post of presidency is a titular post and we do not want anybody with past, present or future political party affiliation to hold this post for at least 10 years, till the democracy is restored to its 1960s pristine form.

We do not want the current PM, Opposition Leader or the President to become the next PM ( or their sons or daughters to become inheritors to ruin the democracy further).

This proposal will upset the apple cart of all three current political parties including J.V.P (a spent force of 40 odd years).

My estimate is that, next time round, we won’t be able to find a guy or girl to command 50% of the total vote and a second count becomes mandatory.

If the Mahinda Deshapriya at worst gets 35% (my belief he can get 50% and we can work hard for his success) most of the second vote will be cast in his favour by party addicts (they won’t give to an alternative party by default).

I have a belief that the J.V.P. strategy of spoiling the soup can be best avoided by above move. 

 

Mahinda Deshapriya should not worry about his successor and the “Third Force” will rejuvenate and look after the “Civil Service” without political interference. 

This is food for thought for all Ceylonese and I waited till the “World Cup” elimination to pen this.

Please forward this with improvements to the strategy.

Once election is declared, I will go into hibernation!

Psychedelic Drugs

Psychedelic Drugs

Under previous regime this industry was promoted actively.
With the bizarre coalition government they are still active.
If your children are poor in their studies either in schools or universities, it is worthwhile checking their habits including alcohol.
 Below I have given how hashish effects one's memory

Psychedelic Drugs

Hashish is a potent form of marijuana extracted from cannabis plants.
Short term effects
The short term effects of hashish use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch); difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Long term effects
People who smoke marijuana often have the same respiratory problems as cigarette smokers. These individuals may have daily cough and sputum, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. They are also at greater risk of getting lung infections such as pneumonia. Marijuana contains some of the same, and sometimes even more, of the cancer causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
Effects on Learning and Social Behavior
Marijuana or hashish affects memory, judgment and perception. Learning and attention skills are impaired among people who use hashish heavily. Longitudinal research on marijuana use among young people below college age indicates those who use marijuana have lower achievement than the non users, more acceptance of deviant behavior, more delinquent behavior and aggression, greater rebelliousness, poorer relationships with parents, and more associations with delinquent and drug using friends.
Effects on Pregnancy
Any drug of abuse can affect a mother's health during pregnancy. Some studies have found that babies born to mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy were smaller than those born to mothers who did not use the drug.
A nursing mother who uses marijuana passes some of the byproducts to the baby in her breast milk. Research indicates that the use of marijuana by a mother during the first month of breast feeding can impair the infant's motor development.
Addictive Potential
A drug is becoming addictive, if it causes compulsive, uncontrollable drug craving, seeking, and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences. While not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, when a user begins to seek out and take the drug compulsively, that person is said to be dependent or addicted to the drug.

The biggest danger is going for harder drugs like heroin.
 
Manna Mushroom
Manna (Hebrew) or al-Mann wa al-Salwa (Arabic),is an edible substance according to the Bible and the Quran. It is believed that, god provided this substance to the Israelites during their travels in the desert.
Manna is from Heaven, according to the Bible, but the inherent identification of manna as naturalistic is historic.
In the Mishnah, manna is treated as a natural but unique substance, "created during the twilight of the sixth day of Creation" and ensured to be clean, before it arrives, by the sweeping of the ground by a northern wind and subsequent rains.
According to classical rabbinical literature, manna was ground in a heavenly mill for the use of the righteous, but some of it was allocated to the wicked and left for them to grind themselves.

There are many types of mushrooms used from China to Middle east to Mexico with various and potent psychedelic constituents.

Addictions
Humans had been using addictive and stimulant drugs probably from prehistoric times.
They included tea to, coffee to, psychedelic drugs.

Careful examination of the practices in the monasteries both in the East and West, provide ample evidence to support the use of psychoactive drugs, if not habitually but in secretive ceremonies.

They were kept out of reach of the laypersons.

It is even postulated that discovery of divine spirit and religious teachings originated under the influence of these mood elevating psychedelic drugs.

They are kept away from layperson so that the divine incarnation was for only a few selected individuals in the hierarchy of the religious institutions.

Even the Red Indians and natives of the South America had used various preparations obtained from plants.

But the discovery of these methods and plants in the last century and their extraction in concentrated form changed the secretive habits to the public domain.

LSD was a case in point in nineteen sixties but the ban on LSD did not stop the discovery or the use of cocaine and heroin. In fact, the use has been gradually increasing and drug cartels started emerging all over the world.
It is controlled by the underworld and no government in the East or West was able to stop this trend.

My own views are strong and against their use, even in minute quantities. The simple reason is that the user is not satisfied with the milder form and their tendency is to go for stronger and more addictive ingredients.

That is the nature of the affliction called addiction.

If they have been used in monasteries or by so called gurus or ascetics, in my pervasive view is, it defeats the very intent of meditation practice or mental culture.

Reproduction
Please note that I have not Facts Checked of the Contents below written by Lindsey Metrus.
Many moons ago I tried (getting a sample was difficult) this bacterial fungi symbiotic natural production factory but gave up after three sub-cultures.
It had more alcohol than I preferred (mind you I used enjoy alcohol, then but not now) and maintaining a healthy cultures in a tropical country is humanly impossible (this is true of priming Wine making in hot climates)!

How to Make Kombucha at Home and Brew Your Own Probiotics

We're well aware of kombucha's healthful properties—namely its ability to aid digestion and relieve bloating—but its benefits go well beyond the stomach. The probiotic-packed drink "is loaded with antioxidants that aid in the decline of cellular destruction and it contains acetic acid which helps to fight off bacteria like candida yeast," explains Lauren Manzo, an adult primary care geriatric nurse practitioner who brews her own kombucha at home.

She says kombucha could even aid in heart disease—though more research is needed on the subject—and could help diabetics to lower glucose levels, especially if they replace soda with kombucha. Because incorporating kombucha into your daily diet can come with a steep price tag if you drink the store-bought variety, we had Manzo give her tried-and-true pointers on how to make kombucha at home.

For starters, you must have the right equipment. "I recommend glass containers only," says Manzo. "I use gallon-size glass jars from World Market," but she says that mason jars are fine too. Next, she recommends a measuring cup for sugar, a pot to boil the tea, a measuring glass, and glass jars to brew the SCOBY (an acronym for "symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast," says Manzo, or essentially the source of the probiotic properties of your homemade kombucha)

"Sterilization and cleanliness are key," notes Manzo. "I boil water and pour it in all utensils for kombucha brewing to sterilize and let it cool to room temp." Cleanliness also matters for cleanup and storage between uses. "If you don't use the SCOBY for a while, it is recommended to keep it in some starter tea at room temperature," she advises. "I cover with a coffee filter and rubber band."

Besides saving money by avoiding added sugars, brewing your own kombucha at home allows you to experiment with new flavors and varieties. Manzo says she adds extra ingredients to her kombucha for flavor but warns to "never add flavors to the glass that contains the SCOBY." Instead, she sometimes does a second ferment by pouring kombucha into separate smaller glass jars and adding some blueberries or ginger for extra flavor. Keep scrolling for a step-by-step guide for how to make kombucha at home.

 

1. Boil water and then steep the tea bags for about five to 10 minutes, depending on how strong you want the brew to be. Then add sugar.
 

2. In a separate container, add the SCOBY to the starter liquid. You can use equal parts distilled white vinegar as a substitute if you don't yet have a starter, or even plain kombucha. Manzo recommends GT Enlightened Organic Raw Kombucha Original.
 

3. Once the tea is room-temperature, pour it into the container with the SCOBY and starter liquid. Manzo underscores that it is very important to let the tea cool to room temperature before adding it in with the SCOBY and starter liquid, as high temperatures will kill the SCOBY.
 

4. Cover the jar with a tight-weave towel or coffee filter, and secure with a rubber band.
 

5. Let the mixture sit undisturbed out of direct sunlight at 68° to 85° for seven to 30 days, or to taste. Manzo recommends tasting it after day seven but ideally letting it sit for two weeks. She notes that winter months will require longer brew times.
 

6. Pour kombucha off the top of the jar, retaining the SCOBY and liquid from the bottom of the jar to use as starter tea for the next batch.

What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Kombucha

By

Lindsey Metrus

Updated 04/04/19

Kombucha has long been a player in the wellness world, dating back to Chinese culture in 200 BC, as reported by Forbes. For those unfamiliar, it's a beverage that generally begins with green or black tea which is then fermented with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (also referred to as SCOBY). The name is said to be derived from Dr. Kombu, a Korean physician who presented the drink to Emperor Ingyō of Japan to help cure his ailments. (Back then it was much more savory and made with mushrooms—not the sweet commercial variations we drink today.) As a testament to its large concentration of B vitamins, Japanese samurai warriors allegedly carried the tea in their wineskins to energize them for battle.

Fast-forward to several centuries later, and kombucha's popularity skyrocketed worldwide, with figureheads even claiming it had the ability to address serious diseases like AIDS and cancer. Of course, such claims have not been proven. Despite the validity of these large assertions, there are several chemical compounds found in kombucha that make the case for it being a nutritious, "functional" beverage. These are all dependent on the individual fermentation times of the brews, the temperature at which they're manufactured, and their sugar content, among other factors, but generally speaking, you'll likely find several B vitamins, detoxifying glucuronic acid, and antioxidant-rich polyphenols, all adding to the allure of the beverage.

We visited the HQ of Bear's Fruit, a Brooklyn-based kombucha company, where co-founder Amy Driscoll chatted with us about the benefits of this popular carbonated beverage. Driscoll poured through stacks of research (though truth be told, more studies need to be done) and put together 10 scientifically-backed benefits of kombucha to validate its thousands of years of existence. Her words, below.

1. Anti-Aging

"As we age, our skin cells deteriorate, causing the skin to lose its elasticity, sag, and wrinkle. Kombucha tea contains powerful antioxidants called EGCGs which are 20 times better at attacking the free radicals that break down your cells than vitamin C, which studies have shown is associated with better skin and notable decreases in skin wrinkling."

2. Wards off Chronic Disease

"As mentioned before, kombucha contains EGCGs as well as theaflavin, two powerful antioxidants that help our body defend against dangerous free radicals, which have been linked to cancer and other chronic diseases that account for a major portion of deaths today. For instance, one randomized controlled study on heart disease found that drinking black tea for 12 weeks significantly decreased triglyceride values by 36%, reduced blood sugar levels by 18%, and lowered the LDL/HDL plasma ratio by 17%.
Also, another study following 74,961 people over 10 years found that those who drank four or more cups of black tea per day had a 32% lower risk of stroke than those who did not drink tea." [Ed. note: You'll have to ensure the kombucha you're drinking was brewed with black tea, as some are made with other variations.]

3. Boosts Immunity

"Kombucha has three times more vitamin C than an orange (151 milligrams per 100 milliliters of kombucha compared with an orange's 51.1 milligrams)."

4. Better Skin, Hair, and Nails

"Kombucha has a ton of B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, and B12, to be specific), which are essential for maintaining and producing new, healthy cells. Drinking this 'vitamin B cocktail' found in kombucha helps your skin glow and strengthens your hair and nails."

5. Kills Harmful Bacteria

"Kombucha tea has been proven to have natural antimicrobial properties thanks to the fermentation process. The good bacteria (probiotics) and acetic acids in kombucha help your body kill the bad bacteria we’re exposed to on a daily basis.

"Kombucha inhibits the growth and spread of dangerous and toxic microorganisms such as salmonella, E. coli, and listeria.

"Beyond the potential pitfalls of foodborne illness from questionable takeout, the pH level in kombucha can also kill strep throat and other icky germs you pick up while riding the subway to work."

6. Weight Loss

"Kombucha contains a boatload of probiotics and acetic acid. Both have been scientifically proven to aid weight loss:

"Probiotics reduce the number of calories you absorb from food and affect hormones and proteins related to appetite, fat storage, and obesity by upping your healthy gut bacteria count.

"Acetic acid has been proven to curb hunger, reduce bloating, and reduce overall body weight by preventing your body from processing food into fat."

7. Better Digestion

"The healthy gut bacteria found in kombucha improves digestion and prevents oh-so-fun bathroom issues like diarrhea.

"One important note here: Kombucha is a naturally carbonated beverage. Too much carbonation can actually reverse the anti-bloating benefits you get from the probiotics, making you feel gassier and generally meh. How much is too much? If opening a kombucha bottle is similar to popping a bottle of champagne, then that’s too much (even if it is more fun, sorry!). Bear’s Fruit is only lightly carbonated for a crisp taste without the unpleasant side effects."

8. Helps the Body Detoxify

"The glucuronic acid in kombucha binds to toxins, which allows the kidneys and liver to push them out faster. Toxins can be anything from one too many tequilas (we’ve all been there) or harmful carcinogens and pollution we’re exposed to on a daily basis. In fact, studies have shown drinking kombucha regularly reduces liver toxicity caused by dangerous chemicals by 70% in some cases."

9. Improves Memory

"Kombucha contains vitamin B9 (also known as folic acid), which has been known to help with memory recall and fight against neurodegenerative conditions in the brain including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and epileptic seizures."

10. Aids Vitamin-Deficient Diets

"Is MeatlessMonday your thing every day of the week? You may want to pick up some Bear’s Fruit to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency, which has been linked to anemia and fatigue. Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in red meat and other animal products but is key for physiological maintenance including red blood cell production and aiding with memory and learning. The good news is kombucha naturally contains approximately 100 times the amount of vitamin B12 found in lamb.

Ecstasy

One should read this along with Nature Care

Ecstasy

 

This idea is not mine.

One of my friends.

He enjoys a good hard drink.

I met him once in front of a liqueur joint and I invited him for a drink.

Sadly for him it was closed, a Poya Day.

My plan was to try weaning him off.

 

Asked him;

Why he loves a drink?

 

He was well versed with Dhamma than me and he point blankly said, even hard meditators are addictive to what is called meditative ecstasy and one can achieve ecstasy much easier with alcohol.

 

Then I said even hard drugs give this feeling of ecstasy.

Then he said they are addictive.

I retorted even alcohol is addictive.

 

I could never wean him off but he made me to analyze this feeling of ecstasy in there main themes.

 

1. Number one, the hard drugs and alcohol. 

Even MKUltra was established to find a ecstasy drug (LSD was the outcome) but later diverted to remote viewing and training political assassins.

 

2. Number two are the modern meditators.

 

3. Number three are the extreme sports, like marathon, mountaineering and even tennis.

The looking forward for a state of ecstasy by winning the titles drive them.

I looked at the Jhana states in Abidhamma and the goal in early stages of meditation is achieving Piti (rapture) and Sukha (Joy).

 

But in higher states of Jhana one should drop the addiction to Piti and Sukha.

 

The ultimate goal is equanimity which is very hard state to achieve.