To save Los Angeles' elephants (sutra)

Elephants are especially social and wise animals

L.A. Zoo elephants' whereabouts a mystery amid relocation battle

(ABC7) May 21, 2025: Where are LA's elephants Billy and Tina? The Los Angeles Zoo's two remaining manacled/shackled Asian elephants appear to have been transferred in the dark while demonstrators let their guard down. abc7.com/post/activists...

• UPDATE: The elephants have been secreted away overnight (May 21, 2025) and shipped via truck to the Tulsa Zoo rather than the animal sanctuary anti-animal-cruelty demonstrators were demanding.

LA Zoo elephants Billy and Tina relocated to Tulsa | FOX 11 LA

• Animals in Buddhism
• To herald the coming birth of the Future Buddha, pregnant Queen Maya dreamed that she conceived of Prince Siddhartha when a white double tusker royal elephant entered her side: Queen Maya's Dream
• In Buddhism, elephants get names like Parileyya and Girimekhala, usually after the woods in which they reside.

'Not another zoo': Critics want LA Zoo elephants moved to sanctuary

(TODAY) May 13, 2025: Elephants Billy and Tina, the last two Asian elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo, were set to be relocated to another animal prison at the Tulsa Zoo, but there is pushback from animal-loving demonstrators and critics online alleging, “They will suffer in an inhumane environment.” NBC’s Morgan Chesky reports for TODAY. #elephant #animals #zoo

• 

  A Light to the World — Svetaketu leaves Tusita

  Pārileyyaka Sutta: When the Buddha was staying in a forest near Pārileyya, some meditative monks asked Ananda to take them to him. He did, and the Buddha, reading their thoughts, taught a sutra on the destruction of the cankers (āsavas) by the full realization of the impermanent and impersonal nature of all existence: all things are transient and devoid of any self (S.iii.95ff.) Translation: Pālileyya Sutta translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi (SN 22.81)

Conscious elephants in Buddhism: The Full Moon Honey Offering Festival

Animal karma (deeds) also bear karmic results

The Honey-Offering Festival is a Buddhist religious ceremony that commemorates the service and sustenance provided by animals to the Buddha.

It was during the Buddha's tenth Rains Retreat (Vas or Vassa) in Parileyya Forest.

According to legend, during his retreat to solitude, a wild monkey brought an offering of a honeycomb to give to the Buddha to eat, as an elephant named Parileyya brought fruit and protected the Buddha from fierce animals in the forest.

The 31 Planes of Existence

When the Buddha accepted the gift of the honeycomb, the monkey became so overjoyed that he began to leap from tree to tree, and in his exuberance fell to his death due to his reckless jubilation. However, because of his generous gift, that monkey was immediately reborn on a celestial plane called the World of the Thirty-Three (Tavatimsa), the second of the six heavens in the Sensual Sphere (below many other heavens of the Fine Material Sphere and Immaterial Sphere).

Since these events are believed to have taken place on the day of the full moon, the occasion has come to be commemorated as Madhu Purnima, or “Honey Full Moon.” The festival is observed on the full moon of the tenth lunar month in Theravada Buddhist countries in South and Southeast Asia. More

Conscious elephant karma

The “Four Harmonious Friends,” Bhutan

The Commentaries (e.g., DhA.i.48ff.; iv.26 ff. UdA.250f.; see Thomas, op. cit., 117 n) say that the elephant's name was Pārileyya (also Pārileyyaka) and describe in vivid detail the manner in which the elephant looked after the Buddha, omitting nothing, even to the extent of finding hot water for his bath.

Later, when the Buddha's attendant Ananda came with many others to invite the Buddha to return to Sāvatthi, the elephant Pārileyyaka provided all of them with alms food. The Buddha agreed and returned.

But such was the attachment the elephant had formed toward the Buddha that he died of a broken heart when the Buddha left the forest.

However, as a result of all his good deeds (wholesome karma) toward these enlightened beings, he was immediately reborn as a deva (angel, offspring of the gods) in Tāvatimsa in a golden palace (vimana, mansion) said to be 30 leagues high, where he is now known as Pārileyyaka devaputta.

This elephant is also identified with the elephant in the Bhisa Jātaka (J.iv.314). Source

• Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation) (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Science: How bad could one beer be?

How dangerous could one beer be?

Drinking on the Mediterranean Diet: olive oil

(Howtown) Welcome to HOWTOWN! A small but mighty team of two (Joss Fong and Adam Cole) digs into the evidence behind commonly held "facts" and claims in the news.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:22 Drinking appears beneficial
• 03:54 The first mistake
• 05:00 Hank's Razor
• 07:34 Rethinking drinking
• 08:53 A failed trial
• 10:43 A new genetic tool
• 13:04 How risky is drinking?
• 14:50 How dangerous is alcohol?
  

• ASK HOWTOWN A QUESTION: howtown.co/contact

SELECTED SOURCES

• 

  How much alcohol is healthy and safe to drink?

  1981 Bay Area study pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7258861
• Association between daily alcohol intake and risk of all-cause mortality jamanetwork.com/journals/jama...
• Lancet mega-study of 195 countries thelancet.com/journals/la...
• Kiran Biddinger’s mendelian randomization study of cardiovascular effects jamanetwork.com/journals/jama...
• FULL SOURCE LIST: docs.google.com/document...

Howtown is supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (sloan.org), in association with IMI (theimi.co), and is grateful for the generous support of the Patreon Town Council.*

The two images of televisions marked with an asterisk (*) during the Australia and Canada news montage were generated using MidJourney. To keep Howtown going and get bonus content: Join PATREON: howtown.

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*Patreon Town Council: Bev Fong Chris Wubbels Sean Barrett Mike Purvis Ziver Imren Jim Jon Hewett Albychen Hernando Garcia Vladimir Khalimovskiy Sean Talon Evan Hass Mark Tinker Julian Mayorga L.A. O’Connor Hoang Anh Ky Mikey Limotta Marcos Huerta Joaquim Salles Sam Gaty Verner Sääsk Jason Dunlap Parag Mallick Paul Monaghan Edgar Sutawika.

• Joss Fong, Adam Cole, Howtown, Jan. 10, 2025; Ashley Wells, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Pope's message to Israel on genocide

(DemocracyNow.org) Top U.S. & World Headlines — May 21, 2025

Whose side will Trump take, Bibi's or Gaza's?

(MoneyControl) The American pope is taking a stand against Israel and fellow Chicagoan Dictator Prime Minister Benji Netanyahu, who was recruited and groomed by the CIA to take the leadership role in the new State of Israel, even through scandals and defeats that would have removed any other candidate from still holding the position.

Israeli intelligence has proof that Iran is a danger to us, so we're going to bomb them for their safety. We'll be taking out nuclear production sites, contaminating the area for millions of years.

Trump and the Press: Last Week Tonight

Trump & The Press: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Trump for Emperor, Pope-King, Messiah, Führer

(LastWeekTonight) John Oliver discusses how Pres. Do Jo Trump is attempting to reshape coverage of him in the press, how he’s using his power to threaten American media outlets he doesn’t agree with, why this signals a slide toward authoritarianism for the U.S., and whether or not y'all can also see this twink we’re pretty sure is a ghost. Seriously. We are so scared.

(MEE) Arab trillions for Trump as Israel exterminates Gazans

Subscribe to the #lastweektonight YouTube channel for more almost news as it almost happens, or find us on favorite social media platform we may or may not have discussed at length on the show Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky, Facebook, or just visit the official site for all that other stuff at once: hbo.com/lastweektonight

• John Oliver, Last Week Tonight, May 18, 2025; Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Human-alien hybrids REVEALED (History)

Black Irish beauty, hybrid ET?

Devi ET on stage in Thailand

Meditation in Ireland: accelerated spiritual evolution

Evidence of strange human hybrids revealed | Ancient Aliens

Cheddar Man, blue eyed, dark skinned original inhabitant of the British Isles + ET = Hybrid

.

We are the creators watching your progress.

(HISTORY) May 21, 2025: Let's review the medical and scientific evidence for unusual hybrid (part human/part alien) species. This is an Ancient Aliens compilation from The HISTORY Channel. Watch full episodes and stay up to date on all of favorite shows on The HISTORY Channel website at history.com/schedule. #AncientAliens

• Ancient Aliens, The HISTORY Channel, May 21, 2025; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

The Spiritual or the Material? (Alan Watts)

Is it the 'New Age' yet? What is that?

Hey, Penelope Cruz, take a selfie with me for my company GOOP! - Okay, Gwenyth Paltrow!

• Religion for Breakfast, 2024; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

Diddy killed Michael Jackson, raped me

I ain't goin down w/o bringing down some crabs

UPDATE: Today (May 21) Kid Cudi, who dated Cassie Ventura after P[enis] Diddy did, was scheduled to testify how mafiaso Combs blew up his car to send a threatening message to saving Cassie from a dysfunctional relationship with Mr. Combs. That was postponed so that the court could hear about more of the gay and freaky antics that the Diddy blackmail empire was up to, including guns with serial numbers sanded off, drugs, baby oil, Astroglide, and other errands The Punisher was instructed to procure for the infamous parties or "freak offs."

Kanye: Diddy killed Michael Jackson

Kanye West reveals the activity of crime boss Sean P Diddy Combs

Diddy's gay sex w/Will Smith, Meek, Usher

.

Undercover Brother Will Smith?

[Will Smith is a bisexual or homosexual hypocrite with his beard Jada Pinkett-Smith, bich-slapping comedians (Chris Rock) to overcompensate the way Sean P[enis] Diddy Puff DADDY Combs used to slap him when they were alone together with each other with no one else around, except the people recording the sodomy sessions or what he or his lover Diddy might have called "getting jiggy with it" because "letting Daddy Diddy diddle me" session was too on the nose? And Meek Mill (the alleged romantic partner of lesbian icon Nicki Minaj, aka the possession of "Roman" the demon), too?] The Diddy [diddling] parties or "freak offs" were taped. The Hollywood Illuminati really know how to throw Epstein-style blackmail parties.

• Previous coverage: Diddy done it, says Cassie Ventura (trial)

Diddy GOES nuts as audio of him clapping [sodomizing] Will Smith, Meek Mill is played in court

Diddy threw openly gay parties for Will? (dashboard.astore.pk/curiousera1/diddy-gay-parties)

Was Diddy’s gay affair with Will Smith more a 'father-son' dynamic? Let's ask Gayden Jaden 

.

You're going to let my lifestyle split us, Jada?

(Eiriks) May 18, 2025: Word on the street is: the trial just took a turn nobody saw coming. After weeks of focusing on beaten partner Cassie’s testimony and the infamous “freak-off” allegations, the courtroom suddenly shifted direction — and what came next had everyone stunned. Now, according to several courtroom spectators and leaked summaries online, federal prosecutors have started to present the explicit audio and tapes related to P[enis] Diddy’s alleged homosexual actions with his gay lovers Meek Mill and Will Smith.

Mike Tyson's gay affair with Diddy?

"He seduced me!" Mike Tyson admits having a gay affair with Diddy

► Subscribe to see more from channel 🎵 @eirikssays #diddy #willsmith #pdiddy #daddy #puffdaddy #jadapinkett #polyamory #openmarriage #sodomy #gaysex #queer #hypocrisy #secrets #epstein #ghislane

Jeffrey Epstein, Naomi Campbell, P Diddy

Diddy’s collapse was no accident – Whitney Webb connects the dots!

I'm not gay! Roman is! Roman's Revenge. I mean [my alter ego] is a horny straight male spirit.

.

Keep me and my wife Beyonce out of court, PD!

(Savvy Finance) Was rap music mogul Sean "P Diddy" Combs really brought down by a gay sex scandal alone? Investigative journalist Whitney Webb uncovers what may be the most explosive story behind the spectacle of Diddy’s downfall — a tale involving powerful elites, hidden agendas, and silent forces pulling the strings behind the scenes. This isn’t simply a fall from grace — it’s a coordinated takedown. Let's discover deeper truths the mainstream won’t touch. #WhitneyWebb #DiddyExposed #HiddenForces

PHOTOS: Fabulous reveals what happened at Diddy’s GAY parties

• Eiriks (YouTube), May 18, 2025; Usher's testimony, May 20, 2025; Whitney Webb via Savvy Finance, April 15, 2025; Sheldon S., Seth Auberon, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Wild West as Anglo outlaws encroach

• VIDEO: The days of lawless gun swinging are behind us
• Hidden History (YouTube); Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Forbidden Zones: Wars to hide ET evidence

Ancient Aliens: The Forbidden Zones of the World (S10, E10) | full episode

(HISTORY) May 21, 2025: Due to [mostly American and CIA-funded] warfare, instability, and inaccessibility, there are specific regions of the world that are off-limits to exploration.

See more in Season 10, Episode 10, "The Forbidden Zones." Watch full episodes and stay up to date on all favorite shows on The HISTORY Channel website at history.com/schedule. #AncientAliens

Trump's Big BS Bill and Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman on Jimmy becoming a grandpa, having lunch with Kanye West, and her new Netflix special

(Jimmy Kimmel) May 20, 2025: Sarah Silverman talks about JimJim becoming a gramps, walking her dog with JK, and changing neighbor’s signs, Amanda Knox calling into her podcast asking for advice, having lunch with Kanye "Yeezy" West, her new Netflix comedy special “PostMortem,” her dad’s reaction to her stepmother finding out about her cancer diagnosis, and his hilarious Yelp reviews. #Kimmel

• Jimmy Kimmel announces he has become a grandfather after missing his Monday show
• Sheldon S., Pfc. Sandoval, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Senile Biden dying of cancer (Jon Stewart)

(The Daily Show) Jon Stewart makes mince of CNN and Trump and other hypocrites on TV

Time is an illusion: Power of Now (video)

• Removing 95% of unhappiness, here's how | Eckhart Tolle

Time is an illusion, according to Einstein

Does time really exist? Buddhism’s view on the nature of time

The Time Paradox (social psychology)

(Buddhism Podcast) Buddhism Explained. Time: illusion or reality? This examination of "time" from a Buddhist perspective reveals intriguing parallels with modern science.

From Albert Einstein's pronouncements to the Buddha's wisdom in the Dhammapada [a collection of sayings], the concept of time as a construct is explored.

Dhammapada for Awakening

Quantum physics, with its baffling phenomena like entanglement and the observer effect, challenges [our consensus reality and] conventional understandings of time, mirroring ancient Buddhist insights on the subjective nature of reality.

The neuroscience of time perception is considered, exploring how our brains [thoughts] construct our experience of time's flow.

Buddhist practices like mindfulness meditation are investigated as potential pathways to experiencing the present moment more fully, even transcending the limitations of time.

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:12 - The Mystery of Time: Where Science meets the Buddha's wisdom
• 05:15 - The Grand Illusion
• 11:17 - Time is mind-made
• 17:05 - Quantum Buddhism
• 23:02 - Our Mind: Time's Creator
• 29:02 - Breaking free from time's prison
• 34:44 - Beyond time: The Power of Timeless Presence and the limits of science

Quantum Buddhism: Dancing in Emptiness (Smetham)

The Power of Now: A Guide...

The profound implications of time's illusory nature are considered, ranging from the science of neuroplasticity and memory reconstruction to the Buddhist concept of emptiness (sunyata) [the impersonal nature of all phenomena, particularly the Five Precepts clung to as self].

The intricate relationship between consciousness and time is examined, and practical methods for cultivating timeless awareness [flow states, jhanas or meditative absorptions, singleminded focus that purifies the mind] are offered.

Singleminded focus leads to flow and absorption

This inquiry aims to bridge scientific understanding and spiritual wisdom, offering a fresh perspective on the power of the present moment [like Eckhart Tolle's famous book, The Power of Now] and the potential for liberation from a time-bound existence.

• #time #BuddhismPodcast #Buddhism #Buddhist
• The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life (Audible): Philip Zimbardo, John Boyd, Matthew Josdal, Tantor Audio
• Quantum Buddhism: Dancing in Emptiness: Reality Revealed in the Interface of Quantum Theory and Buddhist Metaphysics (Graham Smetham)
• Buddhism Podcast, Jan. 13, 2025; Dhr. Seven, Pat Macpherson, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

True Nature of Reality (Bhikkhu Bodhi)

Four Elements Meditation

Venerable sir, what is the true nature of existence? American Theravada scholar-monk Bhikkhu Bodhi (Chaung Yen Monastery, Carmel, Upstate New York, BAUS.org) explains from a set of ten lectures called The Buddha's Teaching: As It Is, which he recorded while residing at the Washington DC Buddhist Vihara.

• The Buddha’s Teaching As It Is @ The Open Buddhist University
• Material particles in kalapas (atoms) in Buddhism
• Bhikkhu Bodhi; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly