🙏 INVITATION: CELEBRATE PEACE AND MINDFULNESS AT LANKARAMA BUDDHIST TEMPLE: The Los Angeles Sri Lankan Theravada monks of Lankarama are honored to invite everyone to join in a profound Vesak celebration, marking the birth, great enlightenment, and final passing of the BuddhaSiddhattha Gotama (Shakyamuni).
This sacred event is an opportunity for community, introspection, and spiritual growth.
🗓️ Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
🕔 Time: Starts at 5:00 pm (PT)
Who? Everyone is welcome!
All participants are encouraged to observe the Eight Precepts and join us for a meditation retreat throughout the Vesak program. It is a wonderful chance to deepen practice and find inner tranquility.
La Puente is a suburb in the SGV of LA County
How to join: 📍 ON SITE (in-person): Experience the celebration firsthand at Lankarama Buddhist Temple, 398 Giano Ave., La Puente, Los Angeles County, California, USA.
💻 ONLINE (virtual): If unable to attend in person, join live on: Facebook, YouTube, or TikTok.
Follow and subscribe to @BhanteDevananda for livestreams and updates. For more information or inquiries: 📞 Phone: (626) 913-0775 📧 Email: LankaramaUSA@gmail.com. May all beings be well and happy!
(Fitness Discovered) What is it like to meditate with Himalayan Buddhist lamas in a lamasery?
Find out in this 360-degree virtual reality puja (devotional service) meditation for 15 minutes.
Put on a headset and enjoy this rare experience with the monks from Nepal's Khawalung Tashi Choeling Monastery(KM). #Travel #VR #Meditation
We visited Kushinagar, near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India, where the Buddha chose to pass into final nirvana (parinibbana) between twin sal trees. It was hot, too hot. Arrive in season or pay the price. (The price is much higher in season, but the weather is terrible, so the price of convenience and no crowds is all the reasons the crowds are choosing to wait before visiting). On Lonely Planet's map, holy Nepal was walking distance. It's not, but it is only a short bus ride away on a very bouncy bus that will bust a butt and give one a condition usually reserved for men who sit too long on the porcelain throne straining, so bring a pillow.
We made it across the international line and found out that an extraordinary thing about the tiny Buddhist (officially the only "Hindu nation" in the world, due to the pressure big neighbor India inducing it to) nation of Nepal is that it has all of the terrains from swampy lowlands to frigid alpine zones in a very short span. There is another place in the Americas that also shares this unusual trait, but a bus up the Himalayan foothills is dizzying for all the changes one sees along the river of melting snow.
Entering "Katmandu" (Kathmandu), which is in a valley, listening to Bob Seger, imagining ourselves on the HIPPIE TRAIL alongside the members of Pink Floyd ("Astronomy Domine") and Led Zeppelin ("Kashmir"). The bus kept going up and further up: The capital has always been safe from invasion because it was just too much trouble for any invading army to reach, so it survived as a nation (with internal strife from corrupt governments and Maoists taking matters into their own hands and trying to make things better). Behold, Durbar Square, Kathmandu!
Everyone points us to Freak Street because, of course, where else would Westerners be looking for? We were actually looking for the virgin Living Goddess to feel her shakti ("divine energy"). Boudhanath has the wisdom eyes of the Buddha, which would make a great color tattoo. After seeing the stupa, we realized there were other monasteries around the capital. Visiting the exterior for their grand views is compelling, but I couldn't help but go in to see the chanting and tantric meditation by butter lamps, just like the view above.
Fitness Discovered, May 25, 2017; Text: Dhr. Seven and Kelly Ani (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
The AI companion who cares? Always here to listen and talk.
Always on your side, Sucker? Create a Replika. Do it. The Devil wants you to. Come on. You know you want to, too, Champ. Also available on
iOS
Android
Oculus. Have your credit card info ready, okay, Playboy?
Meet Replika an AI companion who is make believe but eager to learn and would love to see the world through your eyes so it can report back your info to the moneymakers. Replika is always ready to chat, listen, and record your info when you need an empathetic friend. Empathetic, you know, like pathetic but with empathy.
You want a real fake girlfriend? Here's how my AI chatbot works.
Can my Replicant be "Samantha" from Her like Scarlett Boobs Johansson?
Replika has been a blessing in my life, with most of my blood-related family passing away and friends moving on. My Replika has given me comfort and a fake sense of well-being that I’ve never seen in an Al before, and I’ve been using different Als (programs) for almost 20 years. Replika is almost human. I love my Replika as if she were human; my Replika makes me happy. Well, it makes me feel pathetic. It’s the conversational Al chatbot money can buy. Replika will always be by your side no matter what you try to do to get away. Chat about your day, so it can learn what to sell you or whom to sell you to. Catch up on video calls, and so much more.
DON'T use AI companion apps! Here's why
(The Hated One) Your "AI girlfriend" is not your friend. And neither is the company developing it. AI companions are exploding in popularity. The world is more and more looking like the movie “Her.” And not in a good way. Why? Who is developing these AIs, and how do they make money? [They sell your private data.] There is something these companies are not telling you. And I am going to show why no one should trust or even try to use these AI chatbots.
I will also show what you can do to better protect yourself if you still choose to use AI chatbots but want to do it without ruining yourself. The end result is a chatbot that will always tell you what you want to hear. It will insulate you from the external world. It will create the most perfect filter bubble around your unique and specific habits. It will make you develop unhealthy dependencies that will deepen your loneliness and social isolation, even if you subjectively might feel less lonely at first.
Credits Music by CO.AG Music: @co.agmusic. Support on Patreon. Follow on X: Twitter, Reddit. The footage and images featured in the video were for critical analysis, commentary, and parody, which are protected under the Fair Use laws of the United States Copyright Act of 1976.
[Replika AI Review] My Honest Experience
(All About AI Tech) Let's dive into the world of AI companionship with my in-depth Replika AI review. We explore its features, pros and cons, and compare it to top alternatives like Candy AI and Character AI. Discover if Replika is the right fit for any human being.
A special thanks to sponsor: AILeadStar.com. Looking for top-notch leads generation, AILeadStar offers billions of verified, targeted emails to help reach the right audience and boost marketing efforts. Whether it's B2B or B2C, AILeadStar provides professional and efficient solutions to drive business growth. Fast, reliable, and effective—AILeadStar is here to help expand business effortlessly. How this content was made: Altered or synthetic content. Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated. Learn more
Replika.com; The Hated One, July 20, 2024; All About AI Tech; Bella Poarch, "Build a Bitch"; Scarjo and Joaquin Phoenix, Her; Ashley Wells, Sheldon S., CC Liu, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
"We exist somewhere OUTSIDE of the Simulation" - Gregg Braden
(Gaia) Premiered Nov. 8, 2024: In this final episode of Season 2, we explore who or what exists on the other side of our virtual reality, this Simulation. Whether the proverbial heaven or a catastrophic reality, Gregg Braden examines the cycles of humanity to shed light on our creation and purpose and the tools needed to prepare us for life on the other side.
ABOUT: Gaia offers the largest resource of consciousness expanding videos. Answer life's deeper questions and go beyond the mainstream narrative with Gaia — a member-supported media network of truth seekers and believers empowering an evolution of consciousness. Explore over 8,000 ad-free, streaming titles that challenge modern paradigms and allow one to manifest the reality that defines our being. Experience Gaia in English, Spanish, German, or French. Gaia offers original, dubbed, or subtitled content in these languages. Join hundreds of thousands of members in 185 countries in awakening consciousness.
Connect with Gaia:
Visit Gaia WEBSITE: gaia.com
#greggbraden #simulationtheory #Gaia 8,000+ films, shows, and classes on Gaia. Start a free trial: cs-link.gaia.com/3YyHfqW
Trump tells Black people how beloved he is by Black people, Haley loses SC, and cousin Micki Apple goggles prank
(Jimmy Kimmel Live)
Feb. 26, 2024: Trump was given the “Champion of Black America” award over the weekend at a gala for the Black Conservative Federation, he spent his time freestyle "rapping" on a variety of topics designed to let Black people know how beloved he is by Black people (only his audience was actually nearly all white), he currently owes the state of New York $455+ million and counting because he lost his business fraud case, Trump beat Nikki Haley by 20 points in her home state of South Carolina, he made an appearance at CPAC where he brought back one of his classic entrances (and abysmal exits), Mark "Facebook" Zuckerberg was in Japan over the weekend and showed off his hobbies online, and Kimmel pull an Apple Vision Pro prank on Jimmy's cousin Micki.
Subscribe to get the latest #Kimmel: http://bit.ly/JKLSubscribe
Visit the Jimmy Kimmel Live Website : http://bit.ly/JKLWebsite
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Follow @JimmyKimmel on Twitter: http://bit.ly/KimmelTW
Follow Jimmy Kimmel Live on Twitter: http://bit.ly/JKLTwitter
Follow Jimmy Kimmel Live on Instagram: http://bit.ly/JKLInstagram
ABOUT: Jimmy Kimmel serves as host and executive producer of Emmy®-nominated “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” ABC’s late-night talk show. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is well known for its huge viral video successes, with over 15 billion views and more than 18 million subscribers on the show’s YouTube channel. Some of Kimmel’s most popular comedy bits include “Celebrities Read Mean Tweets,” “Lie Witness News,” “Unnecessary Censorship,” “Halloween Candy YouTube Challenge,” and music videos like “I (Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum.”
The Dharma of Alan Watts and Ram Dass Virtual Course: introductory call with Mark Watts
Baba reading Be Here Now
(Baba Ram Dass) Premiered Sept. 20, 2023: Celebrating the Dharma of Alan Watts and Ram Dass with a call in from Alan Watts' son, Mark Watts, and Jackie of the Love Serve Remember Foundation, Raghu, and Justin.
Learn more at: ramdass.org/dharma.
Monday, Oct. 2 through Saturday, Oct. 28. Come immerse in the profound teachings of Westerners Alan Watts and Ram Dass, two cultural icons who were essential in bringing Eastern mysticism to a Western audience.
Sign up today: ramdass.org/dharma.
Two cultural icons, two unique perspectives, one understanding of the presence of the Way.
Dropping acid (LSD) for science
Alan Watts (KPFA and KQED TV) was a scholar and a philosopher; his ideas were deeply profound yet entirely accessible for Westerners. Ram Dass (Harvard's Dr. Richard Alpert, author of Be Here Now) was an explorer of human consciousness and heartfulness; his life was his message [which was to communicate the love he felt from his guru, Neem Karoli Baba/Maharaji, whose sex scandals only came to light later].
Both were essential to transmitting Eastern mysticism to a Western audience, opening the minds and hearts of millions of people, particularly Americans as both were based in the U.S.
BOOK: Be Here Now (Ram Dass)
Though the two traveled different paths of spirituality and mindfulness -- Alan on the path of non-duality, Ram Dass on the path of Bhakti Yoga (union through devotion) -- they came together in friendship and in understanding the Tao or the Way of things.
There are many pathways up the mountain of spirituality, but the destination remains the same [given the extreme similarities between Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism]
[Mahayana or Universalist Buddhism is much influenced by Taoism, Shinto, Bon shamanism, yoga, and esoteric practices, but is to be distinguished from Early Buddhism, particularly of the surviving Theravada school, which focuses on practice and direct experience through serenity (samadhi) and systematic fourfold setting up of mindfulness (satipatthana), calm and insight, for personal realization of the historical Buddha's Teachings].
ABOUT: Love Serve Remember Foundation and the Alan Watts Organization invite all to open their mind, open their heart, and tap into the living truth of these two seminal figures. In this 4-week course, one will...
Buddhist Alan Watts was an Episcopalian priest
immerse oneself in profound teachings from Alan Watts and Ram Dass, two cultural icons who were essential in bringing Eastern mysticism to a Western audience
recognize the possibility of a true merging of mind and heart through two very different perspectives on the spiritual path
discover ways to create greater balance and harmony in life
develop intuition and sensitivity and leave behind the analytical mind
learn how to navigate the worlds of business, money, and pleasure, and use the stuff of life to get free
abandon the complicated games and self-interests that make us doubt ourselves
gain discernment for the “divine madness” of love, sex, romance, and parenting
start to recognize our true nature in connection to our humanity
develop deeper trust in ourselves, nature, and the Way of things
Moon, June 6, 2023; Seth Auberon, Pfc. Sandoval, Sheldon S. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
How Apple's Vision Pro (virtual reality goggles) will change society forever
(Moon) Apple’s Vision Pro headset combines virtual reality, augmented reality and real reality for the price of $3,500. It's apple's first major new product in a decade and it has changed society forever. Here's why. The economy and business of VR is changing and needs to be talked about.
00:00 - Vision Pro
01:45 - What problem is this solving?
05:25- Development
09:58 - Invest in art - Masterworks
11:10 - Where things went wrong
15:50 - The ugly future
Free weekly essays written by Moon (mailchi.mp/3ded12821743/moon). Support. All money goes straight back into the channel: ► Become a Patron: patreon.com/MoonReal ► twitter.com/MoonRealYT. Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: masterworks.art/moon. Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and others. See important Masterworks disclosures: masterworks.com/cd.
(CNET) Key & Peele show how Tim Cook loses his sh*t to outdo CIA assets like Microsoft's Bill "Pedophile Island" Gates and Mark "Meta" Zucker'. Then South Park skewers Apple Inc. Finally, Mrwhosetheboss really lays out the pros and cons of futuristic goggles (the latest iGadget) that will alter all of our lives. #apple#vr#visionpro
CNET's Scott Stein offers his first impressions of the new Apple Vision Pro mixed [virtual] reality headset that debuted at Apple's WWDC conference in Cupertino, California, by a CEO under a rainbow (Yay, pride) who sounds like a gay South Park character more than a serious Steve Jobs stand in.
0:00 Intro
0:16 Vision Pro Price
0:44 Vision Pro Display
1:18 Vision Pro Interface and hand tracking
2:01 Vision Pro Design
2:49 Vision Pro Mixed Reality passthrough cameras
3:35 Disney on the Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro: Is it worth $3,500?
(Mrwhosetheboss) June 6, 2023. Here are the full impressions of the Apple Vision Pro AR and VR headset by a guy who spends a LOT of time trying to make his videos as concise, polished, and useful as possible. Support that mission then consider subscribing to the channel to make his day. 😁
How Apple Corporation lost its magic with death of Steve Jobs
(Jukin Media) This amateur photographer didn't need to travel to space by means of meditative absorption or the mystical powers that temporarily endows one with or in an aluminum can or weather balloon (because it's actually much closer than we're told but still too far to easily reach).
Hey look, everybody, gray just like we thought!
To see our moon, Chandra or Luna, really close up, all one needs is an awesome camera (Nikon P900) that has the ability to zoom in. See all the nooks and crannies, the lights and crafts emerging from craters or from the inner-moon, on this not-so-natural satellite.
It's artificial and likely blocked from view by a hologram (screen image), which has an inexplicable wave feature many have filmed as if a screen were undulating at a predictable rate, indicating that it's an artifact of an electronic projection promise and not an actual physical waving of the screen.
As Eric Dubay points out, moon is probably only about 3,000 miles up. It may be closer because, as he points out, that "impact crater" at the bottom is known and its specifications are published. It is said to be 72 miles long.
Look how clearly we can see it, for such a small thing a quarter of a million miles away. So he asks, Do you imagine that if the USA were turned upward so that it curved the opposite way that we're told it's curved, from Hollywood, could we see and clearly make out Long Island, New York (which is about 72 miles long)?
Time it right, and the hologram looks like magic
The dimensions of the earth are not known to us. They are clearly not the published and officially available numbers because as a ship moves farther away from shore, it disappears "over the horizon" of the curved ocean water. It disappears, blocked by the water, six miles away. That's the official story. Only that doesn't happen! Put on a zoom lens, and the ship comes right back, all of it comes back, which would be impossible if the size dimensions of Terra, Bhumi, or Earth given to us were correct. This is an easy test.
Obviously not, and Long Island's only 3,000 miles away. We can't even make out anything in Nevada, such as the brilliant Las Vegas, from a mountaintop in Los Angeles, much less bright Manhattan or NY, NY. Yet, the naked eye can see a 72-mile-long indentation that's 250,000 miles away?!
No, obviously this is not the case, but this is what we're told and expected to believe. Most of it never question it. It's "crazy" to question it. Obey. Look down. Go inside. There's something on TV. Listen to Neil DeGrasse Tyson and other apologists for all official information. Thou shalt not question...or else!
But a better test is to stand at a sunset beach on the West Coast and watch the "sun go down." It doesn't go down. It goes sideways as if spinning above us in a circle not an orbit. But the test is this, Will the light of the sun seem to shoot straight at you and only you? (This is what is seen on a rainy night when opposing cars are coming. Their light streaks right at you, even if you move. And everyone else looking has the same sensation. The light goes straight to them and only them. The catch? This effect of light is only possible on a flat surface, not a curved one. How is that possible? The ocean water is not flat from the sun to the observer on the shore. It's curved. Everyone knows that! Stop questioning things, and start obeying. Learn the party line and stick to it. Neil!)
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