by Yannaki
May 9, 2013 in Mysteries, People, Quotes, Spirituality, Video
~ Magnificent words by multi-instrumentalist, composer, artist and peacelover – “Chris Spheeris” -
A true inspiration – words of truth that radiate within our inner being – “We Are All Connected” ~
by Yannaki
February 13, 2013 in Music, People
Exactly 60 days after his death, sitar legend Pandit Ravi Shankar received the Lifetime Achievement Grammy award, which was jointly accepted by his daughters, sitarist Anoushka Shankar and singer-songwriter Norah Jones.
Pt Ravi Shankar also won the Best World Music Album award for The Living Room Sessions Part 1, beating daughter Anoushka who was nominated in the same category for her album Traveller.
Anoushka and Norah attended the pre-Grammy ceremony at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre to accept the awards for their father, who passed away on December 11, 2012 at the age of 92. “We know he was very excited to be receiving this award. We really miss him. He lived and breathed music. he was tapping out rhythms on the breakfast table and making me do five over seven… I am still trying to get it. We are very happy to accept the award for him,” said nine-time Grammy winner Norah, 33.
“It was 60 days ago today that he passed away. It’s kind of difficult to be standing up here, like Norah said, I am thrilled that he knew about this award before he passed away at least. But I wish we weren’t standing up here for him,” said Anoushka, 31, who has accompanied her father at concerts all around the world.
“I want to say thanks to my mom… He did his last performance just a few weeks before he died and I believe she was the reason he was able to be as healthy and strong as he was. I am eternally grateful to her for that. “My father always said that music could create world peace because it had the potential to raise the consciousness of people… When I watched him play what moved me was this incredible meditative state where he could take people,” she added.
Anoushka signed off with an anecdote about how Pt Ravi Shankar once forgot his Grammy at a friends place and couldn’t find it. His wife Sukanya called up the Recording Academy to find out if they could make a copy and was asked which one she wanted a copy of.
“She said ‘What do you mean which Grammy?’. It turns out he had won two and just didn’t know it. That was the kind of musician he was. He went on to win a third, and today he gets this incredible honour. Music was the be all and end all of his life and I am very grateful to the Academy for recognising that,” she said.
Three-time Grammy winner Pt Ravi Shankar is credited with introducing Indian classical music to the West. He was a profound influence on The Beatles, The Byrds and numerous other rock artists.
Pt Ravi Shankar, along with George Harrison, organised the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, which paved the way for many other fundraising charity concerts.
by Coralina
January 12, 2013 in People, Quotes, Spirituality
Sharing the beautiful wisdom of Johannes/Sevaji ~ Divinely with love ~ Coralina ~
The Radius of Your Divine Light
Sages, gurus, yogis, and many religions throughout the ages have spoken about the existence of the soul within each human being. You may not have seen or felt this soul within you, or you may only sense it in an abstract way, or you may even deem the concept of the soul as utterly irrational. In any case, the concept of the soul serves as a means to deepen the inquiry into your own consciousness, for reflection and contemplation lead to expanded awareness. Eventually, if you penetrate deep enough into this inquiry, there is a point where you consciousness crosses over a threshold and peeks into the realm of the infinite.
Until you have crossed this threshold, you as a finite being may not know your soul on the conscious level but nonetheless your soul knows you for it is you and contains you just as the universe contains all things.
Some of you may have had glimpses that this spark exists when your heart felt illumined with love and at peace with joy. Some of you may have felt that this spark has long since burned out, but know that just as a candle can be extinguished by the blowing wind it can be relit again by the light of another flame. So it is when you feel your light has become dim or darkened or smothered completely by the sorrows of the world. By seeking, listening and hearing the highest truths your connection to the Divine can be reestablished and your inner light illumined once again.
I can think of no better way to spend the few days we have on this earth than helping each other for we all share the same conditions: moments of joy, moments of sadness, and myriad emotions in between. We are all seeking more moments of joy, more moments of contentment, more moments of inspiration, more moments of passion, and more moments of love so let us give these simple gifts to each other.
More often than not when you smile at someone, a friend, a stranger, a smile is given back. When we give anger, hatred and violence, do we not get the same in return? When we give others love do we not receive it in return? Would you rather have love or hate, cruelty or kindness, happiness or sadness? Know that whatever you8 give will come back to you. This is the law of Karma.
It is so simple yet so overlooked this ability we have to subtly change the world around us, even if it is only a radius of a few feet. But imagine if your presence changed for the better the world world around you – even if it was just a few feet radius…everywhere you went. Imagine if your smile, your kind words, your warm heart, your radiance, the divine light of your soul subtly uplifted and healed all those you encountered. The miracle is that they do and you can have this effect if you truly desire it.
Blessings,
Johannes ~ Sevaji
by admin
January 7, 2013 in Conspiracies, Ecology, Economy, Food, Health, Human rights, People, Places, Politics, Self-help, Spirituality, Video, World news
by Coralina
December 12, 2012 in Music, People, Spirituality
Indian music legend Ravi Shankar, the man former Beatle George Harrison hailed as “the godfather of world music,” died Tuesday night in San Diego’s Scripps Memorial Hospital.. He was 92 and had been a resident of Encinitas, a suburb north of San Diego, since 1992.
According to a statement issued Tuesday night by the Ravi Shankar Foundation, last Thursday he underwent heart-valve replacement surgery, which – while successful – he was unable to recover from, his family said in a statement.
Shankar’s death comes just six days after he earned his most recent Grammy Award nomination for Best World Music Album, a category in which his daughter and protégé, Anoushka, 31, is also nominated. His other singer-songwriter daughter, Norah Jones, is a multiple Grammy Award-winner in her own right. Anoushka and her mother, Sukanya Shankar, were at Ravi Shankar’s bedside when he died Tuesday night.
“It is with heavy hearts we write to inform you that Pandit Ravi Shankar, husband, father, and musical soul, passed away today,” said a family statement. “We were at his side when he passed away.”
The office of India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also confirmed the death, calling Shankar a “national treasure.”
by admin
by Yannaki
October 6, 2012 in Economy, Human rights, People, Places, Politics, Video, World news
Video translation: (both in Sicilian & Italian)
“‘nnipinnenza – Isula sugnu, e Isula vogghju ristari” – Independence – An island, I am – An island I want to remain”(Sic.)
“Dal 1945, al giorni nostri – un solo grido” – Since 1945, to our present day – one single cry” (Ital.)
The Austerity crisis – spreading beyond Sicily to the rest of South Italy and other locations -
Most likely this news will eventually spread to the mass media in the times to come – but i wanted to share some world news that has been making headlines overseas….and is something that I have been watching closely since it began and affects me deeply as it is a part of my heritage, as one of part Sicilian descent -
Since as long as i can remember, the little island of Sicily, a nation-island in the heart of the Mediterranean – has been plagued for many centuries under oppression from foreign rule – lending it to its unique and distinctive culture, as well as its very own history (which could fill an entire book on its own) and its own language (La Lingua Sicula) – from the ancient Greeks, to the Sarecens, Arabs, and Normans – each civilization has left its mark on the island…..and overtime has shaped a culture and a people that are at once, passionate of their own identity and together – with strong roots and blood….it is not uncommon for many to claim “Sicilian” ethnicity, instead of “Italian” — and in fact….are indeed a distinct ethnic group (closely related in many ways to the “Maltese” in the South – Malta is considered, “the mirror of Sicily’s past”) -
It is no wonder why, for so many times over….the Sicilian people continue to fight arduously for an island that has essentially belonged to every civilization that has passed through it except for its own native inhabitants – an island that is, since the “Risorgimento” era of Giuseppe Garibaldi (the unification of modern Italy) – and officially since 1945…has become a region of Italy, an autonomous region….But as some come to know….Sicily has never been exactly Italy…..the flavors of North Africa and Greece still echoes in in the Sicilian air……and still to this day – That has always remained…..pumping in the hearts of “Li Siculi” ~
Right now – there is a very significant political and cultural revolution going on in present-day Sicily….that has sent waves of uprising across the island…..which recently has even begun to spread beyond Sicily itself, into South Italy and into the very heart of the Italian govt. itself, “Rome”
The Sicilian uprising, in short, began last January. - as the Italian govt (w/ president Giorgio Napoletano and controversial Prime Minister, Mario Monti) – decided to place pressure on Sicily’s own economy by rising prices on its exports (primarily its petrol, which makes up almost half of Sicily’s economy…and much of it is taken from Sicily to much of the profit, North of Italy) – and raise the price of gas to excessive levels…..(as part of the overall sovereign debt crisis in Europe) — Already striken by long-term widespread poverty for many many years…..taking it as a direct insult, the Sicilian people decided that “enough was enough” – and took matters into its own hands, which began the revolt against the Italian state, dubbed, “The New Sicilian Vespers 2012″
Named after the Sicilian Vespers, which was a major rebellion that took place against French Angevin rule in the 13th century…..the people of Sicily took it to the streets and for five days, essentially blocked all the major ports and roads (esp. in Messina…considered the entry point into Sicily) – a major political organization, called…“Shock Force” – organized the “Pitchforks Movement” – “Il Movimento dei Forconi” – which represented all the poor sheepherders and farmer unions…..and protested against the unfair rise in costs – As each day went by, more local support came from trucker unions and even including the fishing industry….small businesses….as well as school students…..local citizens, learning about what was going on….angrily protested alongside – Which then continued well beyond the 5-day blockade into what is going on currently ~
Evoking its long history of past oppression under foreign rule….Sicilian outrage began to cry throughout the island…..as continued poverty and homelessness increased…..blaming the Italian state for its, “failed promises and political lies” – and essentially treating the island unfairly as a “colony” of sorts….failing to fully instate the “Sicilian Statute” which was promised to Sicily when it became a part of Italy under the Italian constitution in 1945…..hence, the continuing poverty and prejudice that exists today -
(In short, The special “Sicilian Statute” – grants Sicily, full autonomy and its benefits of a self-ruled government and economy within Italy…as well as equal fairness towards Sicilians under the eyes of the govt)
Shouts of “Per lo Statuto” (for the statute) started to ring through the streets as things became more heated…..focusing on not just politics, but on the very core identity of the Sicilian people…..Since 1945, waves of independence movements have emerged, most most notably the M.I.S. (Movimento Indipendentista Siciliano) – and once again, calls for independence from Italy have become more stronger and passionate than ever…..As marching protests spread across the entire island, from the capital of Palermo, to Catania in the East, the 2nd largest city…..raising the flag of Sicily, the ancient “Trinacria” – the three-legged ancient symbol – and wearing the “Red and Yellow” (the Sicilian colors) – with pride…..and shouting, in Sicilian, “vogghjamu ‘nnipinnenza! – Nuatri Semmu Siculi ‘nzemmula pi sempri” (We want independence! We are Sicilians together forever)
Thankfully, much of the protests….although full of passion and earnest determination….have been peaceful….but it is only a matter of time before, things start to churn and burn ~ (in the past month or so….people started fighting back against police, sent by the Italian state, from evicting them from their homes…unable to pay the rising costs in living as well….forcing residents to live in more homeless and poverty….violence against the police has sprung….with people getting injured, to some self-immolating themselves as a last resort)
Going on currently:
With local Sicilian presidential elections coming up in the next 2 weeks (yes, they do have their own president) – things have begun to heat up…..as the people of Sicily decide on their future – many want a change….from the old….into the the new — so it will be very interesting to see what will happen! (One of the candidates is Mariano Ferro, who strongly supports the spirit of the Trinacria and the liberation of its people…..)
– Ahead of the elections, I just learned that even school students….just yesterday….protested in the streets, about 5,000 students in Palermo, burning their school I.D’s in unison while shouting cries against Italian prime minister Monti’s austerity cuts also affecting school tuition fees……
http://www.demotix.com/news/1502669/5000-students-palermo-set-fire-their-voting-cards-protest#media-1502612
Also, with the Austerity cuts continuing, the situation is also beginning to spread beyond Sicily’s borders (the hardest hit area) – into the also poverty-stricken Southern Italy and some places in the North (such as Turin) — students there also protesting against the exorbitant fee increases….
Will be watching this closely as things progress…..but It’s quite sad though….that what is going on in my ancestral island….isnt being given much attention in the news or major humanitarian organizations…..(it is difficult, in fact, to find all this information i’ve shared) – I feel it’s a situation that must not be ignored and should be known to others……by raising awareness and educating others ~
May the undying spirit live strong……”Trinacria” -
“One of the protests from Catania”
The unofficial Sicilian National Anthem – “L’innu Nazzjunali ra Sicilia” (translated into Italian subtitles)
by Coralina
September 8, 2012 in Music, People, Spirituality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-qWgNgWDe4&feature=related
From the footnotes of this video – “Les Paul talks about Django Reinhardt and shows a Selmer guitar that he says was given to him by Django. This is possibly the guitar that Charles Delaunay took to America for Django in 1946 but was damaged in transit.
Les Paul helped Naguine and Babik Reinhardt when they were virtually pennyless after Django died. It has been claimed that this Selmer was given to Les by Naguine after Django died but if he (Django) really did own this model, it does not show any signs of having been played. Selmer No. 503 was the guitar Django used during the last few years of his life and that is in a museum in France.”
by Coralina
August 5, 2012 in People, Quotes, Spirituality
Sending abundant birthday blessings to Johannes/Sevaji in celebration of your birth ~ Such an unlifting soul to so many ~
As Buddha says – Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened ~
Sorry I cannot join your birthday celebration tomorrow on the 6th so I send you an early Happy Birthday here ~
Divinely with love ~ Coralina ~
by Maria Elena
May 19, 2012 in People, Self-help, Spirituality
Enlightening words by Sevaji (Johannes Linstead)
The Human Paradox
The heart, in its openness to receive, unburdened by the paradoxes of the mind, awakens to a higher truth, a higher wisdom, a higher compassion and a higher love…and love is never a paradox.
Polarities and contrasts exist throughout the universe, and in fact, existence could not be without opposites. We have day and night, hot and cold, masculine and feminine, hard and soft, and so on. We call them opposites, but in reality they are complimentaries. That which is hard now was once soft and will become soft again in time. Night subtly transforms into day. Even our moods flow into one another: hate arises within us for a time but soon it subsides leaving us available to merge into the energy of love. The moment we are born, is the moment we start dying. Within life is death and with every death is a new life, an new beginning. Everything in the material universe transitions and transforms over time, and though it may seem contradictory, it creates a balance, though we may find it hard to grasp intellectually.
But as human beings we have the uniques ability to create paradoxes where none need exist. We all want to be loved, yet sometimes we give hate. This is a paradox. We all want to be happy yet we sabotage our happiness by engaging in foolish things. This is a paradox. We all want to be beautiful, yet we sometimes say the most ugly words. We all want to be forgiven, yet we will not forgive those who have offended us. These are all paradoxes generated by human ignorance, insecurity, and ego. We are capable of such radiance and grace, such divine love and compassion yet we sabotage our happiness out of delusion and self-importance. It is important that we recognize this in ourselves for these are the weeds that need to be uprooted.
We constantly move between so many emotional and physical states, like happy and sad, healthy and ill, and this is natural if the cause is beyond our control and not caused by egoic states. It is normal to miss a loved one when they pass on, and it is normal for the body to react if we eat food that is spoiled. It is the unhealthy reactions, especially those of the emotional kind, that determine if we are acting literally sanely or insanely to a situation.
Though we have polarities and opposites as humans and as part of existence, I think we can all agree that we prefer certain states. We don’t want people yelling us; we prefer they treat us with respect. We don’t want earthquakes; we want the earth to stay where it is. This ever-changing evolution is the nature of matter and of life. But it gives rise to uncertainty and uncertainty gives rise to stress and stress makes one reactive.
Have you observed someone you deeply respect and admire? What was it about them that you respected? Perhaps it was their consistency. Dysfunctional people are those who swing wildly between emotions, often going to the extreme of emotions. But the people that you respect are probably very consistent in being positive, happy, trustworthy, and kind. They do not fluctuate and erupt with a short temper and harsh words. Their words are sweet, encouraging and uplifting and you know you can always count on them. Thus, they have narrowed the gap between the paradoxes.
We are both material and immaterial, substance and spirit. As we move deeper into our spiritual path we deepen the connection to Spirit, and thus the universal consciousness, or call it Christ consciousness, Buddha consciousness, Krishna consciousness, etc. Spirit is not of matter; it is etheric and thus not subject to the laws of nature. And this is where the beauty lies! That by aligning the consciousness with the spirit we have access to the divine, to purity of universal consciousness that cannot misguide us. In this state the human paradoxes that bounds the physical existence subside and the “flor del loto divino” – the divine lotus flower of the heart – opens. The heart, in its openness to receive, unburdened by the paradoxes of the mind, awakens to a higher truth, a higher wisdom, a higher compassion and a higher love…and love is never a paradox.
Blessings,
Johannes ~ Sevaji
