View of Buddhism's First Heaven (catumajhrajika akasha deva loka) near Earth space ESA Christer Fuglesang at ISS STS 128 spacewalk (NASA handout 9-5-09/Reuters) |
Female astronaut Liu Yang (Jason Lee/Reuters) |
JIUQUAN (Reuters) - China
is sending its first woman into outer space this weekend, prompting a
surge of national pride as the rising power takes another step toward
putting a space station in orbit within the decade.
Liu Yang, a 33-year-old fighter pilot, will join two other astronauts
aboard the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft when it lifts off from a remote Gobi
Desert launch site on Saturday evening (6:37 pm Beijing time, 6:37
am ET).
They will attempt a crew-controlled docking for the first time with
the uncrewed Tiangong 1 module, which was launched last September as
part of China's exploratory preparations for a space lab. The module is
now orbiting 213 miles (343 km) above Earth.
Rendezvous and docking exercises between the two vessels will be an important hurdle in China's efforts to acquire the technological and logistical skills needed to run a full space lab that can house astronauts for long stretches.
China's aspirations
Last October, China launched a robotic Shenzhou 8 module that
successfully performed a remote-controlled docking
with Tiangong 1 ("Heavenly Palace") in preparation for this
month's crewed mission. Space program spokeswoman Wu Ping told reporters
that Shenzhou 9 would make two dockings with Tiangong 1 -- the first by
remote control, and the second under manual control. More
- VIDEO: Who is the first spacewoman?
- Women in Space: A Gallery of Firsts
- China sending first woman in space
A Great Buddhist in Space
Daw Mya Tin, M.A., Dhammapada 219-220 (What-Buddha-Said.net)
While residing at Isipatana, the Buddha uttered these verses with reference to Nandiya, a rich man from Varanasi. After listening to the Buddha's discourse
on the
benefits of building monastic residences, he built the great monastery at
Isipatana. The building was pinnacled and fully furnished. As soon as the
monastery was offered to the Buddha, a corresponding "mansion" came up for him in Tavatimsa, deva
space world.
One day, Great Moggallana visited that space world and saw the mansion. On his return from Tavatimsa, the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, Great Moggallana asked the Buddha:
One day, Great Moggallana visited that space world and saw the mansion. On his return from Tavatimsa, the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, Great Moggallana asked the Buddha:
"Venerable sir, for those who perform meritorious deeds, do they have mansions and other riches
prepared in the deva realm even as they live in this world?"
The
Buddha replied: "Why do you ask? Have you yourself not seen the mansion and riches awaiting Nandiya in Tavatimsa? The devas await the coming of good and generous
beings the way relatives await the return of one long absent. When good ones die,
they are welcomed joyously in the abodes of the devas." Then he uttered these verses:
One who has long been absent then
returns home safely from a distance
returns home safely from a distance
is welcomed with joy by relatives,
friends, and well-wishers on returning.
friends, and well-wishers on returning.
In the same way, one's good karma
will receive one who has done good
when going from this world to another,
as relatives receive a dear one returning.
will receive one who has done good
when going from this world to another,
as relatives receive a dear one returning.
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