Aeolus

King of the winds

Aeolus was the ruler of the winds in Greek mythology.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ August 04, 2010

Confucianism

The ethical system of Confucius, the Chinese philosopher and teacher of ethics (551-479 BCE), emphasizing moral order, the humanity and virtue of China's ancient rulers, and gentlemanly education. Confucius was born Kong Zhong-ni, in the shih (knight) class in the state of Lu about 551 BCE. Most biographical information derives from the Analects, which are the collected sayings of the Master. Confucius aspired to governmental office and there is a tradition he was a minister in the government of Lu for a time. Confucius special goal in life was to restore the culture and tradition of China to the ideal set forth in the time of the Duke of Zhou. He saw himself as transmitting ancient tradition, not innovating new ideas. His efforts were not appreciated and he was consistently rebuffed in attempts to gain more important offices he felt were his due. So Confucius turned to education to achieve his goals setting up a school to train disciples in his ideals. Perhaps because of the trials of his youth, Confucius never turned his back on the common man and no pupil, no matter how poor was turned away from the school. Though he had a full life teaching in Lu and seeing his students gain high public office, by his 50s Confucius became irritated at the lack of progress in moral reform and disillusioned by the lack of public moral leadership in the ruling class. He decided to travel to other states and try and educate other rulers and find a way to put his principles into practice.

While he was well received and offered responsible positions in other states, he never found anyone with the moral commitment to restore the Zhou society. After a decade of wandering, Confucius, now nearly 70, returned to Lu. Outwardly, he felt that he had failed, for no ruler adopted his practices and he had not attained a significant office from which to effect change. Nevertheless, his wanderings as the gathered and trained pupils sowed the seeds of future change, as these disciples would fan out across China to carry his message and transform society. The heart of Confucian scripture has always been the Five Classics. As they finally took shape in a later era, these included: The Classic of History (Shujing), recording the words and actions of the sage-rulers from the ancient, prehistoric Yao period to the early Zhou period; The Classic of Poetry (Shijing), some 300 poems mostly from early Zhou times exemplifying moral virtue and poetic beauty; The Classic of Changes (Yinjing), a book of divination with explanations and commentary explaining the patterns of the universe; The Classic of Rites (Lijing) the detailed account of the rituals and ceremonies of the sage-kings and their meaning and significance, plus philosophical teaching; and The Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu) recording events in Lu 722-481 BCE with commentaries. Apparently a sixth classic, the Classic of Music was lost. The Confucianism path of transformation is based on these texts.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 15, 2010

Bhangra

Bhangra is a lively form of folk music and dance that originates from Punjab. People traditionally performed Bhangra when celebrating the harvest. During Bhangra, people sing Punjabi Boliyaan lyrics, at least one person plays the the dhol drum, and other people may play the flute, dholak drum, or other musical instruments. While Bhangra began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New Year celebrations. Moreover, during the last thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge in popularity worldwide, both in traditional form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae. As Bhangra continues to move into mainstream culture, an understanding of its history and tradition helps to appreciate it. Many people believe that Bhangra originated in the 1400s, however, it may be even older. Primarily men performed Bhangra, while the ladies performed their own fierce, yet elegent, dance called Giddha. The men wore the turbin, lungi (long cloth wrapped around the waist), and kurta (traditional Indian shirt), while the women, when performing Giddha, wore the salvar kameez (a long colorful shirt accompanied with a baggy style bottom piece) accompanied by their bright colored duppattas (cloth wrapped around the neck).

Nowadays, because of Punjabi influence worldwide, people perform Bhangra in all parts of the world at occasions such as weddings, receptions, and parties. Bhangra has evolved from a dance and music only performed in the Punjab region, to a popular style of music and dance that people perform throughout South Asia and many parts of the world.

Bhangra: Jazzy B, Panjabi MC, Gurdas Maan, Miss Pooja, Surjit Bindrakhia, DJ Vix, Daler Mehndi, Sukhshinder Shinda, Lehmber Hussainpuri, Sahotas, Babbu Maan, Bally Sagoo, Amrita Virk, Hans Raj Hans, Gubi Sandhu, Aman Hayer, Kulwinder Dhillon, Hunterz, Indy Sagu, B21, RDB Aka Rhythm Dhol Bass, K.S. Makhan, Bhinda Jatt, Sukhdev Sukha, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Inderjit Nikku, Jasbir Jassi, Heera Group, Sardool Sikander, Kuldip Manak, Harbhajan Shera, Apna Sangeet, Gursewak Mann, Amar Singh Chamkila, Jassi Sidhu, A.S. Kang, Amar Arshi, Parminder Sandhu, Yamla Jatt, and Sukhbir.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ April 01, 2010

Definition Targeting

When someone targets one of your definitions and keeps giving you thumbs down everyday just to be a prick.

Dude someone is definition targeting one of my entries! Fuck! I went through all this trouble to get it approved by those fucking urbandictionary editors and now some asshole is giving me bad ratings.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ August 07, 2010

Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Buddha. Buddha taught that 1) life permates around suffering, 2) humanity suffers because of their desires, 3) to overcome desires, one must obtain nirvana, and 4) to obtain nirvana, one must follow the eight-fold path (Right Views, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration). These are known as the four noble truths. Buddha accepted the concepts of karma and samsara, but rejected the idea of the Brahman and atman. Buddha also taught different understandings of reality and psychology which was based on the idea of anicca; that reality is not permanent and predictable but rather transient and changing. Thus all things flow according to cause and effect. The idea that there is a self, or ego, is an illusion. Buddhism teaches anatman or anatta, No Self. Acting on this illusion of the Self leads to dissatisfaction in existence - Dukkha.

Buddhism teaches that karmic cause and effect leads to the generation of energy, a process called dependent co-arising. The workings of karma cause those energies to coalesce as five bundles of energy called skandhas. The skandhas are: Body (rupa), Perception (jamjna), Feelings (vedana), Inherent Impulses (karmic predispositions, samskaras), Consciousness/Reasoning (vijnana). These are always in flux and disperse at death. Karma causes them to reform as a new existence unless the chain of cause and effect is broken.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ June 01, 2010

Pali

An ancient Indic language used in eary Theravada scripture.

Among early Buddhists Pali was considered linguistically similar to, or even a direct continuation of, the Old Magadhi language. Many Theravada sources refer to the Pali language as "Magadhan" or the "language of Magadha." This identification first appears in the commentaries, and may have been an attempt by Buddhists to associate themselves more closely with the Mauryans. The Buddha taught in Magadha, but the four most important places in his life are all outside of it. It is likely that he taught in several closely related dialects of Middle Indo-Aryan, which had a very high degree of mutual intelligibility.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ September 15, 2010

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion which combines beliefs from Islam and monotheistic Vaishnavite bhakti Hinduism, founded in northern India in the 16th century by the guru Nanak. Nanak spent his off hours singing, praying, and thinking with others from the same monotheistic Vaishnavite or Islamic background as himself. Seeking truth, Nanak reached a crisis at the age of 30. After bathing in a forest stream, Nanak received a vision. He emerged from the forest and annouced what he learned to those who would listen. His message stressed there was one true God, but it was not Vishnu and not Allah, but the Sati Nam, the true name. From that point on, Nanak spent the rest of his life gathering disciples (Sikhs). When Nanak was on his death bed, an arguement broke out over whether he should be buried or cremated (Islamic ritual or Hindu ritual). Nanak said that when he died, Hindu disciples should place flowers on his right and Muslims disciples should place flowers on his left. The flowers that were fresh the next morning could have the body. The morning following his death, the body had disappeared, and all the flowers were fresh. Thus whether originally Hindu or Muslim, to be Sikh places one in a new community of faithful devoted to the One True Name. Sikhism rejects caste distinctions, idolatry, and asceticism and is characterized by belief in a cycle of reincarnation from which humans can free themselves by living righteous lives as active members of society.

Sikhism also teaches that The True Name created Maya, the created world, by his Word. This means the world is real, but only God has ultimate Reality. Maya covers God like a veil. Only spiritual pure minds free of selfishness and desire can pierce the veil and perceive God. Nanak accepted karma and samsara. He also taught that selfish egoism and desire cause humans to make negative choices, accumulating negative karma. The Lord of Death, Yama, uses this to ensnare those separated from God and lost in the world, locking them into the cycle of rebirths. Ethical behavior, the prayerful repetition of the True Name, and focus on God brings control of egoism and desire. When the disciple dies free of karmic guilt, the soul is absorbed into the Sati Nam. The final goal, then, is to attain nirvana, defined as being absorbed into total blissful unity with God like water into water. In total union with God, one is free of samsara, and enjoys bliss forever. The final human guru, Gobind Singh, founded the military order of the Khalsa (The Pure). Initiates in the Khalsa signify it with the five Ks - 1) the kesh: uncut hair on head and chin. The hair is covered by a turban. 2) The kangha: the comb. 3) The kacht or kaccha: short drawers. 4) The kara: the steel bracelet. And 5) the kirpan: the short sword or knife.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ June 01, 2010