Learning by H.E.A.R.T. Challenge

For this week's Learning by H.E.A.R.T. Challenge, I chose a time management strategy called the Pomodoro technique. This week's to-do list seems never-ending so I am going to put this technique to work and will get back to you next week to let you know it went. One thing I was wondering is if there is any specific reason why you should take a longer break between every 4 pomodoros?

Pomodoro technique. Source: Learning by HEART

Tech Tip: Known Profile

For this week's Tech Tip I created a Known Profile, which you can view at this link.

I made my avatar an image of a turtle for two reasons:

1. This is the theme of my storybook. 
2. I am known as a turtle by many of my friends because they think I move slowly... and I do but I like to live this way. 

Sea Turtle. Source: Scuba Tom.

Week 11 Reading Diary: The Churning of the Ocean

For this week’s reading guide I am going to study a variety sources in order to learn more about the god Vishnu. Kurma is Vishnu’s turtle avatar who happens to be the main character of my storybook.

I started out my research on Vishnu by watching Vishnu’s Secret, the 6th video in the series 7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art by Devdutt Pattanaik. The main idea of Vishnu’s Secret is that detached engagement brings order.

Next, I read the guide to The Churning of the Ocean, which provides the story behind Vishnu’s avatar Kurma. As the story goes, Durvasa received a floral garland from an apsara, which is some kind of feminine spirit similar to an angel. Durvasa gifts this garland to Indra, king of gods. Indra then gives the garland to his elephant Airavata who tramples it (see Indra and Airavata in the image below). Known for his short temper, Durvasa is enraged by Indra and Airavata’s lack of reverence for the ethereal garland and dispels the strength of the gods. This causes the natural world to grow weak.

Indra on his mythological white elephant, Airavata. Source: Wikipedia. 

The natural world is occupied by both devtas, or gods, and asuras, or demons. Because Durvasa has taken away much of the gods’ strength, the asuras are able to take control of the natural world. Amrita, the nectar of immortality, makes the devtas immortal and comes from the “ocean of milk.” Likewise, Sanjivani Vidya allows the asuras to wake the dead. This makes their powers equal but opposite – thus, detached engagement brings order. Vishnu and the devtas repair the world by churning the “ocean of milk,” but Mount Mandara begins to sink. Vishnu turns into his turtle avatar Kurma, who becomes the base of the mountain on which the world sits.

Tech Tip: Embed Pinterest Pin

One of my favorite ways to use Pinterest is for recipes. I also really love tea and so does India. So I decided to combine these interests and share with you a recipe for an Indian ginger cardamom chai tea. As if this tea couldn't sound any more delicious, ginger and chai are two of my favorite things. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!

Week 10 Review

This weekend I traveled down to Houston to watch the Sooners play in the Final Four basketball tournament. Unfortunately, it didn't go so well but it was still a fun little trip with my family and friends! Here is a picture of me and my friends at the Final Four game in Houston:

Me and my friends at the Final Four game in Houston

What really caught my eye on this week's announcements was the free massages that are being given today from 9:00am to 1:00pm in the Graduate Student Life Center. I might just have to try to stop by there.

Week 10 Reading Diary: Sita Sings the Blues

In Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues, I loved this movie which was accompanied by Annette Hanshaw’s beautiful songs including Moanin’ Low, Here We Are, and Mean To Me. I guess I didn't realize that Sita was actually going to be singing the blues! Annette Hanshaw's music adds so much to this film. This movie is based on The Ramayana of Valmiki. I was so impressed with this film. One part I loved was at the beginning when the images of hearts were played quickly. I assumed the god with many heads that kept reappearing in the introduction was the Hindu god Brahma.

Hindu god Brahma. Source: Pinterest.

I thought it was humorous that the main characters of this movie lived in what looked like the same place as Full House was set. Next, I enjoyed the dialogue that explained the story of the Ramayana. It was full of character, which made it easier to watch and understand. I was a bit in shock when Dasharatha’s wife, Kaikeyi, said, “Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. I guess I just wasn’t expecting that from what looks like a children’s cartoon. I have discussed the symbolism associated with lotus flowers before. This flower really interests me because it just seems so powerful! Just look at the image of Brahma above who holds a lotus flower. It was very interesting when Surpanakha tempts her brother Ravana by comparing Sita's skin, eyes, hands, and breasts to lotuses. From that point on, Ravana is determined to make Sita his. 

I quickly began to see the parallels between Rama and Sita and the characters from San Francisco, where both men in the couples must travel far away while the women wait for them. 

Week 10 Reading Diary: Tales from Old India retold by Rouse

For this week’s reading diary I chose to read The Giant Crab and Other Tales from Old India retold by W. H. D. Rouse. I was looking to learn more about Buddhist legends and ended up choosing this reading of Buddhist jataka tales because the summary caught my attention, which read, "This is a fun collection of Jataka tales, with some delightful illustrations too. I was not disappointed by my selection and would highly recommend this book if it sounds like s

omething you may be interested in too. This creative retelling of stories by Rouse is exactly what we are supposed to be practicing in the course Epics of India.

My favorite part about this book was Rouse’s retelling of The Turtle Who Couldn’t Stop Talking which I also retold in my storybook, Kurma and Karma, in the section called Boarding School. Rouse called his version The Talkative Tortoise. I especially enjoyed The Talkative Tortoise because I got to hear yet another perspective on this old tale. One thing that was different about Rouse’s version was that the fish were annoyed with this chatty turtle and that the birds were actually saving the turtle from this pond where he was unwanted.

The story of The Giant Crab was very entertaining. First of all, Rouse used beautiful descriptions and the story had great flow. Next, he made it funny by making this monster of a giant crab into a “great flirt”. It was quite humorous that this crab had scared of everyone and so no longer had anybody to flirt with. I would love to read the original version of this story. Here is an image of the elephant who finally killed this monstrous crab:

Elephant Crushing the Giant Crab. Source: Gutenberg.com