Why do honest individuals seem to have such bad luck?

 An approach to life's most urgent challenges that is both scientific and Vedic!

Every time, this science about the truth of karma—the cycle of good and bad reactions—astonishes us. Every action we take has a corresponding reaction that occurs either immediately or in the future.     

This science can be explained with the help of an example. When a farmer harvests a field, he or she finds that some of the grains are of good quality while others are not. When the farmer gets low-quality grains, he puts them in the grain silo, where they settle in the pit's bottom. The farmer returns good grade grains to the grain silo the next season if there are any.

When the farmer opens the bottom lid, however, he finds that he is receiving the poor-quality grains from the previous season, followed by the good-quality grains from this season. This is due to the fact that the lower-quality grains from the previous season have accumulated towards the bottom of the pit, where they will emerge first, followed by the higher-quality grains.

Similarly, we can see that in this world, we experience happiness and misery, which may be described by karma principles. There are rules that regulate how this cosmic manifestation operates, just as there are rules that govern how a state or country operates. We haven't witnessed anyone's deeds in an eternity, so claiming that a nice person is having bad emotions for no apparent reason, or vice versa, is unjust. We must understand that we are eternal beings with a soul that reincarnates as a result of our activities in this mortal world.

Re-incarnation, Out-of-body experiences, near-death experiences, and past-life recollections have been accepted as actual truths by science, and many people around the world have experienced and believe in these phenomena.

Karma has three meanings: activity that creates a reaction that helps us develop in the future, reaction to that material activity, and acts that follow the scriptures. The Bible is seen as a legal document that provides direction for living our lives, or as a life guideline. The manual of life, i.e. the Scriptures, advises us on how to set up and use the device, just as a television manual instructs us on how to set up and use the device. Whyshould we put our faith in the Bible? It's possible that it's only a mental construct with no scientific basis. We can see, however, that Scriptures provide evidence for many things—for example, the science of Embryology was explained thousands of years ago in Vedic texts, the predictions of various incarnations such as Lord Buddha and other rulers such as Emperor Chandragupta are explicitly given in the scriptures, Ayurveda and the purity of Cow dung, and many other concepts that Science has recently discovered were mentioned in the scriptures thousands of years ago.

As a result, we must seek a trustworthy source in order to receive real knowledge. For example, if someone wants to be a Doctor or a Lawyer, he chooses an acceptable institution of Law or Medicine, acquires knowledge from authorised books and recognised teachers, sits for the exam, gains some practical experience, and is finally accredited as a Professional. Similarly, if we wish to learn about the Absolute Truth, which cannot be defined or conceived by our existing limited senses, we must look for legitimate sources or lines of disciplic succession who can pass on the full knowledge.

As a result, the sensible question of where we might have this true comprehension of the soul arises.

The Bhagavad-Gita is the most well-known scripture on self-realization and how to live a perfect life. Great leaders, philosophers, scientists, university professors, theologians, and others use this old Vedic literature to overcome their ignorance-based difficulties.

The soul passes into a new body at death, as mentioned in Chapter 2, Verse 13, when a person matures from boyhood to youth to old age, and a sober person is not confounded by this shift. A gross body made up of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether, as well as a subtle body made up of Mind, Intelligence, and False Ego, are described in the Bhagavad-gita. Above these two lies the soul, which is impenetrable and unbreakable to these forces. It is everlasting, unchanging, and through the symptom of consciousness, it supports the entire material body. The growth of divine traits, which are the most critical necessities of our contemporary world scenario, is one of the benefits of having this vast information. Pleasure, satisfaction, happiness, peace, and love are qualities that emerge in a person with these divine properties and spiritual inclinations. This leads to global brotherhood, which can only be realised if we acknowledge and accept the fact that underlying every skin colour, race, and religion is a soul that is unique and linked to God's one holy source. Knowledge of the Soul also helps with keeping a positive outlook on life and dealing with worries, grief, fear, sadness, distress, and negative thoughts. Because divine knowledge may be utilised to cut the ropes of ignorance, this naturally solves the problem of becoming imprisoned in the cycle of acts and reactions.

As a result, in order to better our existence, we should make every effort to delve further into this transcendental science of life's secrets.

https://www.theindiansun.com.au/2021/01/04/why-bad-things-happen-to-good-people/

 

 

Are COVID-19 vaccines effective against the Delta variant?

Australia is having a major challenge with the Delta variant of concern right now. And it’s understandable some people are feeling uncertain about getting a COVID-19 vaccine when available.

Dr. S.S. Vasan, COVID-19 project leader at CSIRO, answers some common questions about the Delta variant and vaccine effectiveness. Last year, Dr. Vasan led the preclinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine at our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Vasan has been closely monitoring new variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and researching whether vaccines will work against them. In conversation with Dr. Vasan.

■ What is a SARS-CoV-2 variant?

Simply put, when the virus changes from its original genetic makeup, we call it a variant.

To detect variants, we compare the virus genomes against the original or reference isolate called ‘Wuhan-Hu-1’ and see what’s changed.

Even a single mutation technically makes it a ‘variant’. Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 need to make copies of themselves in order to survive. When they make those copies, sometimes the copies might have errors. Imagine using a photocopier to make a copy of a copy of a copy and so on. Eventually, some letters might look a little different where the ink has smudged, or part of the copy is missing, or new letters have even been added in somehow.

Because mutations are especially frequent for RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2, we’re looking at tens of thousands of variants. But most of them are not concerning—only a handful are currently of interest or concern (more on this below).

■ How much more contagious is Delta than previous SARS-CoV-2 variants?

The Delta variant of concern is the most important to date.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is increasing evidence of greater transmissibility and secondary attack rate (disease spreading to those close to the person who’s infected).

The Delta variant has spread to at least 135 countries, including Australia.

■ And what is Delta Plus?

Some Delta isolates have a mutation called K417N, which is also present in the Beta and Gamma variants of concern. Some media outlets have dubbed this ‘Delta Plus’. Scientists are studying this mutation’s impact on vaccines and antibody therapies.

■ Is Delta more deadly?

The WHO says this variant of concern has an increased risk of hospitalization. This is unsurprising because increased transmissibility could go hand-in-hand with case severity until most of the world’s population is vaccinated.

A study from February to June in Canada, yet to be peer-reviewed, compared non-variants of concern with Delta. It found people infected with the Delta variant were:

§  105% more likely to be hospitalized

§  241% more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit

§  121% more likely to die from the disease.

For the other three variants of concern, these values were 52%, 89% and 51% respectively. This shows the Delta is the most problematic variant of concern to date.

■ Does Delta affect younger people more?

We’re starting to see this, but comprehensive evidence will take time.

One of the largest studies of its kind in India, yet to be peer-reviewed, showed that mortality increased by almost 40% in the second wave. This was particularly in the younger patients of age less than 45 years.

It’s especially sad to see media reports of younger people in Australia dying of COVID-19. This is why vaccinations are so important to protect our entire population.

■ Are the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines effective against the Delta variant?

Yes, both vaccines are effective against the Delta variant. A peer-reviewed study in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that after two doses:

A pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 85.3 to 90.1% effective against symptomatic disease caused by Delta

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is 61.3 to 71.8% effective against symptomatic disease caused by Delta

If you get infected after you’re vaccinated, it is likely to be mild rather than severe disease. Therefore, vaccination is absolutely worth it – both to protect yourself and to reduce transmission to our family and community.

■ If you’re waiting for your second dose, will your first vaccine provide any protection against Delta?

Absolutely! The New England Journal of Medicine paper reported 25.2 to 35.7% effectiveness after one dose of either vaccine against the Delta variant.

So even one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca will give you some protection against Delta. And set you on the path to getting even better protection from your second dose.

■ Do variants happen in populations where the disease is spreading fast?

The more a virus is able to replicate and spread in a population, the greater the likelihood of mutations of consequence. Where the environment permits highly transmissible variants, we also expect disease severity to go up.

But if we halt transmission, we can suppress the spread of variants. This is why vaccinations and lockdowns are an essential part of pandemic response. They drive transmission down and drive the virus evolution towards less severe disease outcomes.

“We don’t yet have a SARS-CoV-2 variant of high consequence that significantly reduces the effectiveness of prevention or medical countermeasures. Hopefully, most people will be vaccinated before we face that situation. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is one of the best protections we currently have”

■ What is a ‘variant of concern’ and a ‘variant of interest’?

National ‘concern about a variant’ of SARS-CoV-2 is often justified. But that doesn’t necessarily make it a ‘variant of concern’ to the WHO and the rest of the world.

The definitions we use in Australia are consistent with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the WHO.

§  Definition of ‘variant of interest’ (sometimes called a ‘variant under investigation)

§  Changes to receptor binding (the way the virus attaches to cells)

§  Reduced antibody neutralization

§  Reduced efficacy of treatments

§  Potential diagnostic impact

§  A predicted increase in transmissibility or disease severity.

§  These four variants—Eta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda—are of interest. This is one step below concern.

§  A ‘variant of concern’ has a greater impact across all these measures:

§  Changes to receptor binding, often targeted by vaccines

§  Significantly reduced antibody neutralization

§  Reduced vaccine or treatment effectiveness

§  Diagnostic detection failures

§  Evidence of increased transmissibility and more severe disease (in terms of hospitalizations or deaths).

Out of tens of thousands of variants, only four are currently of concern to the WHO: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.

There is one step higher than a variant of concern—called a ‘variant of high consequence’. Thankfully, we don’t yet have one for SARS-CoV-2.

■ Will we need booster shots to keep up with the variants? If so, how soon?

Research is ongoing on this topic, called ‘vaccine matching’. If we take both doses of either vaccine, we should be okay for at least a year, based on neutralization efficacy studies to date.

New guidelines will emerge based on how the virus evolves, and how the vaccines are performing.

 

■ What about other variants of concern—do the vaccines work against those too?

Some variants like the D614G (dubbed the G-strain) attract a lot of media attention. But they don’t necessarily affect vaccines, as my team was the first to demonstrate last year.

Others like Beta affect many first-generation vaccines. There are also newer vaccines, such as the Indian Institute of Science’s warm vaccine Mynvax, which withstood all four variants of concern in our laboratory tests.

So we do have positive news. We don’t yet have a SARS-CoV-2 a variant of high consequence that significantly reduces the effectiveness of prevention or medical countermeasures.

Hopefully, most people will be vaccinated before we face that situation. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is one of the best protections we currently have.

But you’ll be safe knowing the vaccines available in Australia are effective at protecting against severe disease from the Delta variant.

Indian food – SpiceOut | Indian restaurants in Australia

The Indian Sun - The Best Indian Food In Indian Restaurants In Australia, Melbourne, Sydney

The Indian Sun provides comprehensive coverage of Indian cuisine and restaurants in Australia, including Melbourne and Sydney. The Indian Sun invites you to sample delectable Indian cuisine at Australia's greatest Indian restaurants in Melbourne and Sydney. The best Indian food is served in Indian restaurants in Australia, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.

Anjum Anand, award-winning food writer and chef, offers Diwali advice.

Diwali is the time of year when award-winning cuisine writer and chef Anjum Anand celebrates, cooks a feast, and shares it with her family and friends. Anand grew up in London and has worked at a variety of unique restaurants around the world, including Café Spice in New York, the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, and the Park Royal Hotel's Indian restaurant in New Delhi, enjoys excellent and fashionable food that is easy to prepare at home. In an exclusive interview with The Indian Sun, Anand said that this year's celebrations will be low-key due of COVID-19. However, she believes that this should not discourage anyone from continuing the festive tradition of cooking and eating with loved ones at home. Anand discusses Diwali in this video, as well as some dishes and ideas for a great Diwali feast.

What does the festival of Diwali mean to you?

Diwali is the Hindu New Year, and after the year we've all had, I believe we should all take advantage of this opportunity to wish for a brighter year ahead. We spring clean our homes in the weeks leading up to Diwali and adorn them with flowers, coloured powders, and candles to welcome Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and success, into our homes and lives. We prepare a feast for friends and family every year. We may not be able to invite them over this year, but we will celebrate, cook, and share, especially with those who do not have family. It's a happy occasion as well as a chance to reflect and plan for the coming year.

What are your plans for the vacation and what will be on the menu?

Because we live in the United Kingdom, we are unable to see friends and family outside the house this year. As a result, this Diwali will be considerably more low-key for us. We can celebrate this year by eating delicious cuisine and spending quality time with immediate relatives (within the household), as well as focusing on bringing in prosperity and happiness for the coming year (which is especially important this year).

Giving something sweet to your friends and family is considered good luck during all Indian festivals, so my family and I always buy a lot of Indian mithai (small self-contained desserts) and Indian sweets the day before Diwali, or in the morning, in the hopes of being able to drop some on the doorsteps of some of our close friends and family.

This year, what Diwali food recipes do you recommend?

Our Diwali table is always vegetarian, and we make every effort to make it unique by using a variety of flavours, textures, and colours. There is always a large bowl of lentils, which provide the meal's protein, as well as a range of vegetables prepared in various ways—some stir-fried with spices, others cooked in sauces—as well as greens, crunchy bits, and meatier bits, such as mushrooms. Indians are always proud of their vegetarian meals, and you won't miss the meat.

Here are a few of my suggestions:

•             Potato cakes with chickpea chaat from TST.

•             Classic Rice Kheer

•             Crispy Lentil Fritters

•             Egg and Chickpea Biryani

What are some simple cooking tips for those who aren't experts?

Make assured you have a fantastic recipe to follow.

Before you begin cooking, make sure you have all of your items ready, diced, and weighed.

Try to prepare foods ahead of time as much as possible—a biryani, for example, benefits from time, so it may be something you make in the days leading up to Diwali;

Invite others to help—I always include my family in the preparation of our Diwali dinner. Also, enquire about your friends' and family's tested recipes.

Also, if you can, consider shortcuts, such as using The Spice Tailor products—biryanis take a long time to prepare, but with ours, you can have something on the table in a matter of minutes.

Also, please see my menu for this year below.