Ostrich can kick powerfully to kill a lion

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

Yes, the idiomatic use of "ostrich hiding its head in the sand" is based on an untrue myth; ostriches do not bury their heads to escape danger. The saying refers to the act of ignoring a problem, and its origin comes from the false belief that ostriches do this when threatened. In reality, ostriches either flee, lie flat to blend in, or turn their eggs in the shallow nests they dig. 

• The myth's origin: The misconception likely arose from a combination of ostrich behaviors observed from a distance.
  • Lying low: When sensing danger, an ostrich will often lie flat on the ground with its neck outstretched to camouflage itself, which can look like its head is buried in the sand.
  • Turning eggs: Ostriches dig holes in the ground for their eggs and frequently put their heads into the nest to turn them. This action can be mistaken for burying their heads in the sand.
• The reality: Ostriches are fast runners and have keen eyesight, which they use to detect and flee from predators. If they cannot escape, they have other defense mechanisms, such as kicking powerfully enough to kill a lion.
• The idiom's meaning: Despite being based on a false premise, the idiom "to have one's head in the sand" or "to bury one's head in the sand" is widely used to mean a person who is deliberately ignoring a problem or refusing to deal with an unpleasant situation. 

-GoogleAI

https://www.google.com/search?q=whether+idiomatic+use+of+Ostrich+hiding+head+in+sand+untrue&oq

Yes, the sentiment of the Odia proverb about a cat stealthily drinking milk with its eyes closed, thinking no one sees it, occurs in English culture and thought, though not as a direct, widely-used proverb. The core meaning is about a person who commits a misdeed secretly, but their actions are obvious to others, and they foolishly believe their actions are unobserved. 

The closest common English expressions with a similar meaning would be:

• "Thinking they've pulled a fast one" (informal), meaning they believe they have successfully deceived someone when they haven't.
• The general concept is related to "self-deception" or a naive attempt to hide something obvious.
• One might also describe the person's actions as being as obvious as a "bull in a china shop" if the misdeed is clumsy, or simply state, "Everyone can see what you're doing". 

The Odia proverb uses a specific, vivid image of the cat's self-deception as a metaphor for human foolishness, a concept that is universally understood.

-GoogleAI

https://www.google.com/search?q=Is+Odia+proverb+cat+stealthily+drinking+milk+with+eyes+closed+occurs+in+English&oq

On board a ship on an ocean voyage

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

It's fascinating that three of the most important developments in Indian science happened not in a laboratory or lecture hall, but in the most unlikely of places, on board a ship on an ocean voyage.

The first was in 1893, on a voyage from Yokohama to Vancouver,  when Swami Vivekananda met Jamsetji Tata & inspired him to create an institute that merged the humanism of the east with the science and Technology of the west.  That's how the Indian Institute of Science started.

In 1930,  Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar won a scholarship to study at Cambridge & while aboard the ship to England did the bulk of the work on the Chandrashekhar Limit for stars,  for which he would later be awarded a Nobel Prize. This was, amazingly, before his 20th birthday.

And in 1921, 9 years earlier,  CV Raman, returning home   from Oxford on a sea voyage was dazzled by the deep blue of the Mediterranean  and decided to study the scattering of Light. The 'Raman Effect' won him a Nobel Prize in 1930.

Raman was so confident of getting the Nobel Prize after missing out in 1928 and 1929 that he booked his ocean voyage tickets to Sweden months before he knew he had won.

137th birth anniversary of CV Raman today.

Perhaps this may help iisc.ac.in/wp-content/upl…

https://x.com/joybhattacharj/status/1986652319501722055?t=2b9j77ronFm09ql5EXjHyA&s=19

The aesthetic and the transcendent are inseparable

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

No. Sri Aurobindo's inclination towards poetry did not interfere in building his metaphysical system; rather, his poetry and philosophy were deeply intertwined and mutually supportive. He viewed poetry as a potent means of expressing the very spiritual experiences and truths that formed the basis of his philosophical writings. 

Key aspects of this relationship include:

• Integrated Vision: Sri Aurobindo's philosophy (expounded in prose works like The Life Divine) and his poetry (culminating in the epic Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol) both arose from his yogic and mystical experiences. His system, known as Integral Yoga, sought to bridge the material and the spiritual, and art/poetry were considered crucial components of this integral life.
• Poetry as "Mantra of the Real": He developed a theory of "overhead poetry," where the goal was to access higher planes of consciousness and express spiritual reality directly through the power of words, rhythm, and style. He believed that such poetry could serve as a powerful aid to the change of consciousness he envisioned for humanity.
• Expression of the Inexpressible: For Sri Aurobindo, poetry could convey experiences and insights that often transcended the limitations of purely intellectual philosophical prose. It could evoke an inner vision and stimulate the reader's own spiritual experience, making the abstract metaphysical concepts more accessible and real.
• Complementary Forms: His major prose works laid out the logical and intellectual framework of his philosophy, while his poetry provided a more intuitive and aesthetic expression of the same truths. The two forms worked in concert to provide a comprehensive understanding of his vision. 

In essence, his poetic inclination was not a distraction but a vital and integral part of his life's work, enabling a richer and more complete expression of his metaphysical system.

- GoogleAI 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Did+Sri+Aurobindo%27s+inclination+towards+poetry+interfered+in+building+a+robust+metaphysical+system

It is a subject of scholarly discussion whether the aesthetic beauty and unique style of Sri Aurobindo's poetry can sometimes overshadow his profound philosophical and theoretical contributions. 

Nuances of the Reception

• A "New Kind of Poetry": Sri Aurobindo's magnum opus, the epic poem Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, is considered a unique kind of mystic poetry that requires "a new extension of consciousness and aesthesis to appreciate". Critics and readers whose sensibilities are forged in traditional Western critical traditions may find it challenging to appreciate the full scope of his poetic vision, which is deeply rooted in Indian spiritual thought.
• Inseparable Theory and Practice: Scholars argue that a proper estimate of his poetry is only possible on the basis of his poetics and poetic theory. His theoretical works, such as The Future Poetry and The Life Divine, explain the very principles that he applied in his creative writing. The aesthetic and the transcendent are inseparable in his work.
• Dual Role: Sri Aurobindo was a philosopher, yogi, and poet simultaneously, and his extensive literary contributions cover diverse genres. Some early critics, like George Sampson, did refer to him as "more famous as an exponent of Indian nationalism than as a poet," indicating a potential for one aspect to be emphasized over another depending on the context or the reader's focus.
• Integral Vision: His work aims for an "integral spiritual evolution," where philosophy (vision of Reality) and poetry (creative expression of that vision) are harmonized. His aesthetic philosophy places great emphasis on beauty as an embodiment of divine harmony, which is a key part of his overall theory of existence. 

Ultimately, the issue seems less about a general public "falling prey" to beauty and more about the challenge for some critics and readers to approach his work with the necessary framework to appreciate both its profound aesthetic and epochal theoretical dimensions simultaneously. 

- GoogleAI

https://www.google.com/search?q=Is+it+true+that+people+fall+prey+to+the+aesthetic+beauty+of+Sri+Aurobindo%27s+poetry+and+tend+to+neglect+his+epochal+contributions+to+Theory&client

Leisure as a valuable and necessary component of life

 ["How much is enough?" is a philosophical and economic question about finding personal satisfaction beyond the accumulation of wealth and material possessions, rather than a single numerical answer. The concept of "enough" involves defining one's needs for survival, thriving, and pursuing the "good life," which includes things like meaningful leisure, strong relationships, and activities aligned with personal values. 

Key Ideas from the Books and Discussions:

Wealth vs. The Good Life: The authors of How Much Is Enough?: Money and the Good Life argue that wealth is a means to an end, not the end itself, and that the modern pursuit of endless wealth has led us away from a truly good life. 

Personal Values: What constitutes "enough" is unique to each individual and depends on their personal definition of happiness and what they need to live a fulfilling life. 

Beyond Materialism: The concept of enough moves beyond simply acquiring material possessions to encompass other important aspects of well-being, such as meaningful work, fulfilling leisure, and contributing to the good life for others. 

Leisure Time: Reducing work hours can create opportunities for fulfilling activities, but people must also overcome societal pressure to be constantly productive and embrace leisure as a valuable and necessary component of life. 

Individual Journey: The "enough point" for you is different from anyone else's, and the focus should be on your own journey and satisfaction rather than comparing your situation to others. 

Questions to Consider for Your Own "Enough":

What makes you happy? Identify whether material things, people, or activities bring you the most joy. 

What do you need to thrive? Think about the tools, resources, or conditions necessary to be successful and passionate about your work and life. 

What does a comfortable life look like? Consider what you need to survive and live well, without being miserable. 

Is this for you or for others? Ask yourself if your pursuit of "enough" is genuinely for your own satisfaction or a response to external pressures and expectations.] - GoogleAI

[According to Leo Tolstoy's short story, the amount of land a man needs is six feet of space for his grave. The story follows a peasant named Pahom who dies from exhaustion while trying to acquire as much land as he can walk in a day, ultimately proving that his boundless greed led to his destruction. 

Pahom's tragic quest: The story's protagonist, Pahom, believes that having more land will solve all his problems and free him from temptation. 

The Devil's test: He makes a deal with the Bashkirs to claim all the land he can walk around in a single day, with the catch that he must return to his starting point by sunset. 

The final outcome: Driven by greed, Pahom pushes himself too hard and dies of exhaustion just as he reaches the finish line. 

The final answer: His servant buries him in a grave that is only six feet long, which is the amount of land he truly needed in the end.] - GoogleAI

Savitri Era 2005 - 2025

  Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

Savitri Era Learning Forum
Truths are hidden in patterns - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra Sri Aurobindo SAVITRI Book II Canto IV 52:23 Sri Aurobindo SAVITRI Book II Canto IV. No views · 6 minutes ago ...more. g...

Savitri Era Open Forum
One can think of it as temple property - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra Proposed handover of Auroville farm land for IIT-M campus reignites sustainability debate 2 days ago — Auroville resident...

Savitri Era
Sri Aurobindo was not planted by the Missionaries - Collated X posts in original by Tusar Nath Mohapatra Savitri Era: Eagles, Dolphins, Daffodils, and Bilwamangala savitriera.blogspot.com/2025/07/eagles… ...

Marketime
Tocqueville foresees a slow death of freedom - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra The nature of dictatorship evolves with time, much like crime. While violent physical crimes have largely been replaced...

Plain & Simple
Mohan Mistry passed away - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra - Savitri Era Learning Forum Words do dance in the writings of Sri Aurobindo - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatr...

Feel Philosophy
Marc Edmund Jones and Sri Aurobindo - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra I like this as an interesting thought but am not sure how I would recognize a "radical intuition" in myself as opposed ...

Aurora Mirabilis
Mohan had a very intimate inner relationship with The Mother - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra [On the auspicious night of Gurupurnima, Shri Mohanbhai Mistry, a senior Sadhak and loving singer of devotional Bhajans...

Savitri Era Party
Keep remembering The Mother even if mechanically - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra Lecture series on Sri Aurobindo's Synthesis of Yoga (by Ranganath), pp 139-141 45:56 Lecture series on Sri Aurobindo's S...

Savitri Era Political Action
Ascent of sacrifice moves forward towards Progress - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra Savitri Class with Shilpa (by Narad) - Book 2, Canto 2 - Pg (113-114) 29:33 Savitri Class with Shilpa (by Narad) - Book 2...

Savitri Era Religious Fraternity
Perfecting oneself for evolutionary journey - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra SAILC India – Sri Aurobindo Integral Life Center Sri Aurobindo Integral Life Center is the source of inspiration and lea...

the Orchid and the rOse
Activities that encourage absorption like getting lost in a book - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra Part 1 - A New Dawn Series Dialogues | Our Upcoming Film ‘Sri Aurobindo: A Call to New India’ 1:31 ANewDawnSeriesDialogu...

Rainbow & the Other
Writing an essay forces to question and think - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra About Savitri: The Mother's Commentary | B1C3-12 The Soul as Witness and King_upd 5:08 From January 1968 till August 197...

Evergreen Essays
Complex web of political forces have moulded West Bengal - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra Savitri Study with Narad (82) - Book 7, Canto 2 - Pg (479-480) 31:25 Savitri Study with Narad (82) - Book 7, Canto 2 - Pg...

Because Thou Art
Art and technology - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra 'Homage to the Mother' An art exhibition inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s writings is on display at Savitri Bhavan, Aurovill...

VIP VAK
Yoga in science, power, and poetry - Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra 1:00:04 Sri Aurobindo by Prof Binu Mukherjee, Mar 2014 YouTube · Vedanta Society of Toronto 22 Apr 2019 47:31 Plenary Ses...

Musepaper
One hundred Hindi songs - vi - One hundred Hindi songs - vi 100501 Parbat ke is paar 100502 Megha re megha re 100503 Dulhe ka sehra 100504 100505 100506 100507 100508 10050...

Tusar Nath Mohapatra
My original contributions to understanding Sri Aurobindo - My original contributions to understanding or interpreting Sri Aurobindo can be summarised under a number of heads: 1) Against Hindutva, Mythology, & Astr...

Activities that encourage absorption like getting lost in a book

 Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra

Part 1 - A New Dawn Series Dialogues | Our Upcoming Film ‘Sri Aurobindo: A Call to New India’

1:31

ANewDawnSeriesDialogues #Ft.Manoj #SriAurobindo #FiveDreams #India2025 #SpiritualRevolution #ANewDawnSeries.

Sri Aurobindo and Our Culture – Within and Beyond | Dr. Anju Khanna

38:56

Going briefly over the life of Sri Aurobindo as lived for us to see, Dr. Anju Khanna saw in it the blueprint for self-culture for spiritual seekers.

Activist Authors, Duty-Bound Arjuna, and Selfless Action in Early Indian

GV Pai - Mythologizing in South Asian Traditions: Myth, Gender …, 2025

… 63 He sought refuge in Pondicherry where he began to devote himself to the development of" integral" yoga. After meeting Bharati, Aurobindo read the Rg Veda (Skt.," The Knowledge of Verses") with the writer who, in return, translated Tamil devotional …

[PDF] DEENDAYAL UPADHYAYA'S CONTRIBUTION FOR BUILDING OF MODERN BHARAT: AN ANALYSIS

M SINGH, D RAJ

… concept of ‘Integral Humanism’has … ‘Integral Humanism’which lays emphasis on decentralization. So, it becomes important to analyse the ideas and thought of Deendayal Upadhyaya. This research paper is highlighting the contemporary …

[PDF] Misappropriation of Indian Knowledge Resources by the West: A Study of Select Works by Rajiv Malhotra

J Batra

… Wilber 1, Wilber 2, and so on in his so-called Integral Theory, hijacking the levels marked by Sri Aurobindo. It may be mentioned here that when Malhotra organized a conference on Integral Consciousness in America, Wilber claimed monopoly on the …

[PDF] HINDUISM IN THE WESTERN CONTEXT AND THE EMERGENCE OF HINDU-INSPIRED RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS

FI Popa - SCIENTIFIC BOARD

… In reality, the two communications constitute an integral part of the seven-step initiation program in this form of meditation. If the first … of devotional love (bhakti-yoga) prevails over the other two paths: the path of wisdom (jnana-yoga) and the path of …

Waging War in Wild Wild Country: Regulating Sex and Nation in Osho's Rajneeshpuram

D Dimitrova - Mythologizing in South Asian Traditions: Myth, Gender …, 2025

… In 1974, with the help of his first secretary Ma Yoga (Laxmi Thakarsi Kuruwa), he successfully raised the funds to develop an ashram (… When the Bhagwan’s first secretary Ma Yoga Laxmi failed to secure land for a new ashram in India, the …

Digital Nomads as Catalysts for Change: Enhancing Ethical Travel and Sustainability in Indian Tourism

MD Wani, SN Baba, SA Shah, ZA Dada - Transforming Remote Work and Tourism in …, 2025

… Additionally, digital nomads tend to engage in local activities like yoga retreats, cultural experiences, and adventure tourism, further … In places like Rishikesh, many digital nomads participate in yoga retreats and workshops, providing them …

[PDF] Holistic Approach in Education to Promote Critical Thinking and Creativity

NN Barorah, VE Ika, SWN Kadek - The New Educational Review, 2025

… Physical well-being is promoted through activities like sports, yoga, and outdoor learning. Physical education is integral, enhancing focus, reducing stress, and supporting overall health as part of holistic development. …

[HTML] Jarjums Connections: Connecting Aboriginal Culture With Yoga in Early Childhood Education and Care Services—A Partnership Story

A Bonnefin, N Levett, R Lyons, A Joseph, S Smith… - Health Promotion Journal of …, 2025

… The principles of yoga and its philosophies merging with Aboriginal culture have been complementary, and this synergy was harnessed to … benefits of yoga are apparent, and research in this area continues to emerge [14]. The principles and …

Yoga Education and Life Skills

A Chattopadhyay, MTK Gayen, MC Sardar - 2025

… suggesting that yogic practices were integral to early societies. The earliest textual references to yoga are found in the Vedas, the sacred … In this discourse, Krishna explains the three primary paths of yoga-Karma Yoga (the yoga of selfless …

[PDF] THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

M Manuel - 2025

In this literature review, I move from my broad theoretical framework of critical theory to specific studies using art-based pedagogies and critical literacies. Then, I identify relevant and current research that informs and defends the design and intention of …

The Māyā of Things: South Asian Reflections on Social Theory and the Magic of Humanism

JS Alter - Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 2025

… The study of religion and magic, broadly defined, has been integral to the formulation of modern social thought in the western humanistic … This is analogous to the way in which our elusive sense of the body’s permanence is the means by … The focus is on the power of illusion, as understood in terms of Sāṃkhyn semiosis, to question the implicit anthropocentrism of disenchanted humanism. A perspective of disabled, magical interdependence is derived from Ishvara Krishna’s natural philosophy to suggest that a socioecological interpretation of Sāṃkhya provides a perspective of critical, inclusive holism that may be understood in terms of embodied imperfections and the material semiotic interdependency of organisms, as against their independence and idealistic freedom.

[PDF] Sudhanshu Mishra

R Malviya

We are pleased to welcome you to the boo" Women's Health: A Comprehensive Guide to Common Health Issues in Women". This boo is an outcome of a sustained effort that provides researchers with a thorough resource that can equip them to ma …

Peak Experiences Matter

D Leonard, TR Brooks - Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2025

This framework ranges from everyday activities that encourage absorption, like practicing yoga or getting lost in a book, to profound, … , devoid of the personal growth and spiritual dimensions that have been integral to their traditional use. The …

Peak and mystical experiences can be seen as states of consciousness that exist on a spectrum of varying intensity and duration. They are often described as moments of profound joy, ecstasy, and awe that involve feelings of noetic quality, decreased self-salience, and heightened interconnectedness. The renewed interest in psychedelics as a potential tool for therapeutic intervention has been driven by early observations on the role of peak experiences in promoting well-being and healing. Numerous studies have shown a direct correlation between the strength of peak and mystical experiences and positive, long-lasting psychological outcomes achieved with psychedelic psychotherapy across a range of mental health conditions, including depression, cancer-related distress, and substance use disorders.

The mechanisms underlying this effect involve complex neurobiological changes, particularly in brain regions associated with self-referential processing and consciousness. However, the potential medicalization of psychedelic-assisted therapy raises critical questions about the ability to commodify these transformative states. This prompts a reevaluation of the important role of peak and mystical experiences in psychedelic therapy and underscores their importance in achieving the therapeutic benefits attained through this emerging approach. As a result, further exploration of non-pharmacological means of inducing profound states for therapeutic benefit is warranted.

[HTML] Chapter Thirteen–The Thirst for Wholeness Beyond Repair: Healing Across Dimensions

A Lanier - Ancestral Wisdom, 2025

… No one had looked at her healing through an integral lens. No one viewed, much less addressed, the complex layers of trauma’s impact … We allowed time for Carla to assimilate and metabolize this healing, much like time in savasana pose settles a …

[HTML] Intensity of Hatha yoga training for older adults

M Grabara - Scientific Reports, 2025

… Physical yoga (hatha yoga) is an increasingly popular form of PA among people of all ages, including the elderly 6,7 . It serves as an … Trends for 2025, yoga can be considered an integral component of fitness programs for older adults. Additionally …

[PDF] Mindful yoga for depression

N Vollbehr

… When an activity is more than just exercise: A scoping review of facilitators and barriers for yoga participation. International Review of … Yoga of awareness program for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors: Results from a …

[PDF] A Glimpse of Ayurveda: Unearthing the Forgotten History and Enduring Principles of Indian Traditional Medicine

S VEERAKANNAN

… Homeopathy has been practiced in India for over a century and is now an integral component of the Indian traditional medicine landscape. … The Asanas (postures) of Yoga are applied in various clinical and non-clinical settings to address a range of …

[PDF] LINGUISTIC AND COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVES ON MEDITATION: THE ROLE OF ORIENTAL TECHNIQUES IN LANGUAGE PROCESSING AND STRESS …

CD Popescu, C Opariuc-Dan - SCIENTIFIC BOARD

This paper examines the impact of Eastern meditation techniques, including mindfulness, yoga, Qigong, transcendental meditation, and breathing exercises, on cognitive functions and stress reduction. The paper focuses on the neuroplastic …

[PDF] Somatic Meditation and the Embodied Mind: A Neuropsychological Review

D Ray

… Ray is also a lifelong practitioner of yoga and meditation. … Thus, guidance is not merely a crutch but an integral component, providing external regulation (voice, pacing) that synergizes with internal efforts, potentially amplifying mechanisms like …

Philosophical Wisdom Meets Psychology: Exploring the Bhagavad Gītā and Psychological Capital Constructs

D Akartuna, P Menon - Journal of Dharma Studies, 2025

… This distribution suggests that while all four components are integral to PsyCap, efficacy, and hope are especially prominent in shaping an … Let that be known as the state called by the name of yoga - a state of severance from the contact with pain …

[PDF] International Journal of Pharmateutical Sciences and Research Vol 16 (1)

I IJPSR - International Journal of Pharmateutical Sciences and …, 2025

… Fermented foods have been an integral part of Indian cuisine for centuries and are known for their diverse flavors and health benefits. These foods undergo fermentation by beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast, which not …

[PDF] How incarcerated women experience sport in prison: A systematic review of qualitative studies

J Müller, M Norman, R Meek, M Mutz - International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 2025

Previous sociological research on sport in prisons has primarily focused on the male prison population. Against this background, this article deals with sport in women's prisons and analyzes qualitative studies published in English and German since the …