Medley

Just seven days of meditation and mind-body techniques triggered dramatic shifts in brain function, immunity, and metabolism. The changes were so profound they resembled psychedelic experiences—achieved naturally through focused mental practice. 

 Marly Winckler – Brazil

Marly Winckler

Climbing the stairway that leads to Pythagoras’ Cave on the island of Samos is no simple task. The ascent is steep, long, demanding — and perhaps precisely for that reason, deeply symbolic.

Deepa Padhi – India

The author embraced by a beautiful girl, the future of India

In my article below readers will come across the word  Jalachatra, which comes from the Odia language, though its roots originate from Sanskrit. I want to explain what it is and the need of it. Jala means water and Chhatra means shade.

Summer in Odisha (Eastern part of India) is extremely hot and humid, particularly the months of April and May. Average May temperatures in Odisha typically range from daily lows of 26°C to 29°C to daily highs of 37°C to 43°C, with heatwave peaks frequently soaring up to 45°C. Monsoon starts in June. This year our TOS, Odisha had started a Jalachatra, a shade for keeping cool water, buttermilk, lassi, biscuits for free distribution near the City's Main Government Hospital .The purpose is to help the poor  patients coming  all the way from far off villages to the hospital accompanied by their small children and attendants. Besides, the pedestrians and traffic police are also being  benefited. It started on April 14 and May 14, was the last day. Old clothes in good condition  are also displayed and distributed there.

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Compiled by Jan Nicolaas Kind – Brazil  

Amsterdam has banned public advertisements for meat and fossil fuel products. This means there will be no ads for burgers, chicken nuggets, petrol cars, and airlines in Amsterdam's streets, train stations, and other public places. The ban is to help move Amsterdam towards its target of being carbon neutral by 2050. One aim is for local residents to halve how much meat they eat. The city is the world's first capital to take such action. Environmentalist Hannah Prins said the ban on meat advertising is similar to the one on cigarette products. The number of smokers went down because of that. Ms Prins said it was "weird" that people were once allowed to smoke in public. 

Immersive dreams may help sleep feel deeper and more restorative, even as the brain stays active. The more vivid the dream, the deeper people felt they had slept. Credit: Shutterstock

Feeling like you had "a good night's sleep" depends on more than just how long you slept. It also reflects how deeply and continuously you believe you slept. Scientists still do not fully understand what happens in the brain to create this sense of deep, refreshing rest.

Andrew Rooke – Australia

The vast majority of Americans – 91% - now own a smartphone of some kind up from 38% in 2010 [PEW Research Centre]. This is probably much the same in Australia and most Western countries. According to reports in a Bank of America survey conducted in 2016, 96% of millennials aged 18 to 24 years said smartphones are very important to them with 93% of them suggesting that smartphones are more relevant than toothbrushes and deodorant! The research also revealed out that this generation checks his or her smartphone every 6.5 minutes!

Can meditation apps  really reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia?

Meditation apps are transforming mindfulness by making it more accessible, measurable, and personalized. However, their long-term success depends on solving the problem of user drop-off.

Do you have a meditation app on your smartphone, computer or wearable device? Well, you're not alone.