3i/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and previously as A11pl3Z, is an interstellar object, perhaps just a comet [16][17], discovered by the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) station. It follows an unbound, hyperbolic trajectory past the Sun [5][c]. It will come as close as 1.8 AU (astronomical units, nearly twice the distance of the Sun) from Earth.
Therefore, it poses no threat [18] to Earth unless it is a UFO mothership, vimana, or extraterrestrial technology such as a probe intentionally sent to monitor this sector and region of space. It is the third interstellar object confirmed passing through our Solar System, after 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov [19], hence the prefix "3i." It is not expected to brighten enough to become visible using binoculars or to the naked eye. During solar conjunction on Oct. 21, 2025 [f], it could be observed by the GOES-19 weather satellite [20]. More
Vimānas are flying palaces or chariots described in Hindu texts and Sanskrit epics, which are disdainfully labelled "mythological." The Pushpaka Vimana of Ravana (who took it from Kubera, whereafter Rama returned it) is the most quoted example of a vimana. Vimanas are also mentioned in Jain texts, and Buddhist text contain a whole section on vimanas, talking about the karma that led beings to be reborn in or in possession of a vimana (space platform).
ETYMOLOGY: The Sanskrit/Pali word vimāna (विमान) means "immeasurable" (WQ). Monier Monier-Williams defines vimāna as "a chariot of the gods [the devas], any self-moving aerial car sometimes serving as a seat or throne, sometimes self-moving and carrying its occupant through the air; other descriptions make the Vimana more like a house or palace, and one kind is said to be seven stories high," and quotes the Pushpaka Vimana of Ravana as an example. It may denote any vehicle, especially a bier or a ship as well as a palace of an emperor, especially with seven stories [1]. Nowadays, vimāna, vimān, and bimān all mean "aircraft" in Indian languages. More
Physicist Avi Loeb reveals why Atlas/3i 'comet' might be hostile alien object | RISING+
(The Hill)
Premiered Oct. 30, 2025: Harvard Physics Prof. Avi Loeb joins the show to discuss the recent finding of the interstellar object 3I Atlas. NASA insists it's just a normal comet, but Prof. Loeb believes it's worth discussing the possibility of it being a piece of alien technology. #AviLoeb #3IAtlas #SpaceAliens
"Ashes to ashes, funk to funk me, we know Major Tom's a junkie, strung out on heaven's high, hitting an all-time low," observes almost-Buddhist monk David Bowie (genius.com).
Where did it all begin? It surely wasn't with the Catholic ("Universal") Church, the great appropriator of all sorts of popular spiritual traditions it abrogates to itself with precious little explanation to its fan base.
Buddhism has a "Lent" called the Rains Retreat (Vas or Vassa), with fasting, meditating, studying, and staying at the vihara or temple complex as the monastics go into retreat.
One of Wisdom Quarterly's "Mexican Buddhists," Pfc. Sandoval, also being Catholic, wants a Lenten sacrifice, removing meat like Catholicism (and many other Christian groups, mainly Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Ethiopian) originally called for until Vatican anti-popes like John Paul II watered the tradition down so much as to undermine it. The whole of Lent was originally about abstaining from killing and devouring animals, which is certainly kinder than the million animals killed a day in the USA for consumption with all the harm that does to the environment and climate.
Bless me, Padre, I want to go back to heaven.
Parishioners in the diocese like spectacle, cake (or communion wafers known as prasad in India and in Hinduism), along with all the candlelight, bells, recitations in a holy foreign language, and incense. It appeals to our sense of mystery and wonder.
Like most great spiritual things, India is the source. (Of course, Egypt and ancient Sumer) were replete with spiritual/religious hokum. It's not anything many civilizations were lacking -- except, oddly, one of the greatest, namely, the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC). Excavations have not revealed religious practices or temples, nor has anyone deciphered their pre-Sanskrit writings.
Some mornings I draw my forehead designs, others I just white it all out. Then I hit the pipe.
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The West does asana in place of ashtanga.
The yogic sadhu ("holyman") tradition of spreading ashes all over one's body, with particular attention to designs on the forehead are definitely an ancient Indian custom. Wandering ascetics, not always having access to rivers (to wash away their sins, unskillful karma, or uncleanliness in) resorted to the very smart practice of smearing pyre ash all over themselves.
It is a great cleanser, absorbing oils and lifting dirt. It is then rubbed off like a facemask, revealing clean and rejuvenated skin. Think dry shampoo. Talcum powder became the custom in cold Europe, which needed to stay somewhat clean and not as smelly as the commoners. Cleanliness became close to godliness, which is odd because for so long it was not.
Forehead art -- placing a mark (tilaka) as carefully as applied cosmetic makeup around the bindi or third eye, where Catholics now place a cross -- has been all the rage among holymen for centuries.
Incense ash will do, but pyre (cremation) ashes are more symbolic of being aware of death and accepting of our dust-to-dust journey in samsara (the continued wandering on of cyclical rebirths, which always end in death and redeaths).
It's a drishti(focal point) for darshan(to be seen as being holy), a puja(devotional) practice rededicating ourselves to our religious principles -- virtue and truth and the pursuit of all that is Good and to remind ourselves that life is fleeting.
Buddhism's 13 sane ascetic practices or "austerities"were established to counter the extreme asceticism of some yogis who, as ineffectual "penance" for their sins, would practice extreme self-mortifications that only harmed the body while not purifying the mind/heart, leading away from the spiritual goal of liberation (moksha) rather than toward it.
The Buddha is a Catholic saint. (No, really).
So just as St. Issa/Jesus didtapas (austerities) to purify his mind and heart and exercise his spiritual powers, it is good for use to follow suit.
First things first, it's that time of year to "remove meat" (Latin carnival), to prepare our bodies for Lent to burn away sin (shake off accumulated bad karma) from our spiritual body as a penance, as a sadhana. If Issa/Yshua/Jesus could endure 40 days of not eating, we can surely endure 40 days of indulging in all the great vegan fare now available.
People want to live forever (in heaven), but they won't even stop killing (or paying someone to kill) and devouring animals for even half a season?
Ash Wednesday: a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday (aka Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day) and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence (and sacrificing something we like by abstaining from it) before the rebirth that is Easter. It's the "long dark teatime of the soul" (Douglas Adams), as it were.
Fasting and abstinence
Not killing and not causing to kill, is that so hard? It's like the first commandment. Mercy.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, meditating alone without food -- and loving it.
Many Lent-observing Christian denominations emphasize making a Lenten sacrifice, as well as fasting and abstinence during the season of Lent. This is particularly true on Ash Wednesday.
The First Council of Nicaea spoke of Lent as a period of fasting for 40 days [as a means of mental, physical, and spiritual purification] in advance of Easter.
Whatever the Council's original intent, this 40-day fast came into wide practice throughout the church [38].
While starting a Lenten sacrifice on Ash Wednesday (e.g., giving up porn, masturbating, meat, or cussing, or cellphone use), it is customary to pray for strength to keep it through the whole season of Lent.
All such sacrifices (abstentions) are good tapas (austerities) performed for the sake of self-purification. If nothing else, they bring into sharp relief our bad habits, energy drains, and clear away distractions and deviance from leading the kind of "good life" we'd like to live. It's better if no one tells us what to give up. We know. We ourselves can see. It's just that letting go is so hard because we've built all sorts of supports to our harmful behaviors that have mortared our habits in place. Just do it. Let go. It's only temporary. Pick up the bad habits in 40 days.
Many often wish others a similar blessing: "May God bless your Lenten sacrifice" [39]. In many places, Christians historically abstained from all food for a whole day until the evening, and at sunset, Western Christians traditionally broke the Lenten fast, which is often known as the Black Fast [40, 41].
In the Ethiopian Church, one of the oldest in all of Christianity, eating vegetarian/vegan food was considered fasting, so one is at no risk of starving. A plant-based diet is a cruelty-free, compassionate, and smart choice to survive and thrive spiritually and physically. Just look at yogis.
Bark unto Dust: Recovering the Ancient Buddhist Texts of Gandhāra (UC Berkeley)
Between 1994 and the present, several collections of early Indian Buddhist manuscripts written in the Gāndhārī language and Kharoṣṭhī script have come to light. Significant as the earliest (1st-2nd cent. CE) texts of any type yet to have been discovered in greater South Asia, these texts also provide unparalleled evidence for reconstructing the early history of Buddhist text styles and textual collections.
These early Gāndhārī Buddhist manuscripts are currently being studied and published under the auspices of the Early Buddhist Manuscripts Project (University of Washington).
Following a brief overview of the collections and of certain methodological and text-critical issues that these manuscripts raise, this presentation will explore the practical side of working with such manuscripts, from the initial stages of preservation and reconstruction through the process of formulating an edition, translation, and contextual interpretation.
After setting out the specifics of manuscript work, the discussion will turn to one particular manuscript, a fragment of a polemical, scholastic or Abhidharma text that treats the controversial issue, "everything exists." We will examine, as time permits, its contents, its argument structure, and its significance for the emergence of the scholastic commentarial genre and for our understanding of early Indian Buddhist sectarianism. More>>
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