Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part C

Reading Notes:

• ·      The sages told tales of men and women who suffered and made self- sacrifices, undergoing long exiles and preformed things to attain great wisdom and win favor from the gods.
• ·      The exiles traveled north and found palaces of crystal and gold.
• ·      Beautiful decorations and wildlife all around.
• ·      Kubera gave Yudhishthira lots of words of wisdom and counseled him through the pain and suffering.
• ·      The exiles kept wondering and finally they beheld the bright car of Indran and hey worshipped Matali. 
• ·      God promised Yud that he would reign over all men.
• ·      They all returned together to Kamyaka and ended up receiving the full knowledge of Deluge.

Golden Palace

Story: The Twelve Long Years

Storytelling: The Twelve Long Years

It was a long, hard battle that the small town of Bend was unable to win. As much as the Bendites held their own, they were simply out numbered. Because of this loss they were forced to go and live off the land in the middle of Willamette forest. The Bendites were lead by a young leader that goes by the name of Christian. He was a great leader and took the blame for the loss of his town and decided he was going to do everything in his power to keep his people alive for them to reestablish a home. He wandered and wandered and finally gave up and decided to pray to God and ask for some sort of help. Once he asked and gave it up to him food was brought to him left and right. Him and his people were fed more than enough food at all times and in with that food they gave ten percent of it back to God as gratitude for keeping them safe and alive. There were a few close calls where bears and mountain lions were involved but no matter what happened he always kept them safe.

            They made it six years and had lived successfully through anything and everything. During the seventh year many people became sick and it became hard to continue living and trusting in God.  People started blaming Him for the deaths of their people and they stopped trusting and believing in Him. It was Christians job to keep that faith going and to make sure the others did to. He declared a law that the people who refused to believe would be left and kicked out of their community. Many people got left behind, which was hard for Christian because he had worked so hard to keep the community together. After exiling several individuals Christian and the remaining people had to keep the community running smoothly. Shortly after Christian took this stand the lord blessed him with even more protection and food and the promise that one day they will have their town back.

            Christian and his towns people kept up the faith and continued living in the land for another five years. Once five years hit Christian had a dream where the Lord told him to gather his things and go back to the town of Bend. He was so nervous and afraid that he ignored the dream for a few nights until it happened again. Finally he decided, because God had delivered thus far, they were going to start the trek out of the forest and see if they could take their land over again. People thought he was crazy but they followed and trusted that he knew what was best.

            When they got back they walked in very hesitant but they trusted the Lord was watching over them. When they had searched the whole are they were shocked to find out that there were no signs of another community and they were free to move back in. They instantly started to rejoice and thank the Lord that he had delivered them through those long, hard twelve years.

Authors Note: 

I decided that something had to have happened during those long twelve years talked about in the novel so I wanted to expand on it and make it my own. I had the idea and I just kind of ran with it. I had no idea that I was going to through in the religious aspect until it kind of just happened. There was not much about the twelve years in the original it just stated that they were in the forest and it lasted twelve years.   

Here is the link for the reading for Mahabharata Online: Public Domain Edition 

Willamette National Forest

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part 2

The Battle Begins:

• ·      Yudhisthira accepted their defeat and decided to wander towards the forest.
• ·      He spoke about how their kingdom is lost and how they will live in the forest off the land.
• ·      He also warned them about wild animals and them seeking their prey.
• ·      He was advised to call out to the sun god for help.
• ·      He responded and provided a copper pot full of food.
• ·      They were able to live off of the land for 12 years.
• ·      They collected food as well during their loving and they set aside food for the holy men.
• ·      They kept up with their rituals and devotions as if they hadn’t left.
• ·      They were promised that their lost kingdom would be restored because of their good faith.
• ·      They wandered and slept in nice places. They also had abundant fruits and flowers.
• ·      They did suffer though, from rain, streams, Draupadi would swoon causing everyone to faint and be tired.
• ·      Bhima would always carry them all back under his arms.

Life in the Forest 

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part 1

Kunti and her son:

Kunti and Surya's Son

• ·      King pandu became a monarch and married two wives.
• ·      One was named Kunti and the other Madri (who was his favorite).
• ·      Kunti was born of a nymph so she came from celestial origin.
• ·      She was adopted to a family in the mountains.
• ·      She was religious.
• ·      She came to the palace and made him food at any time and she kindled the sacred fire in the sacrificial chamber at all times.
• ·      After her devotion the king gave her the power ro comel the love of celestial beings.
• ·      She called out to Surya (god of the sun) and she eventually gave birth to their son. This was all in secret.
• ·      The child had the eyes of a lion and the shoulders of a bull.
• ·      She put the baby in a basket and sent it down the river in shame and sorrow.
• ·      She blessed him and whoever adopted him.
• ·      The child stayed alive on this long journey through 5 different countries.
• ·      Radha and Adhiratha were married but could not bare a son.
• ·      Radha was at the river bank and she found the basket.
• ·      She cried out thanking the gods that they heard her prayers.
• ·      The son then was adopted by them and became a strong and mighty bowman.

Reading Notes Part C

Part C:

32) It talks about Vali, Ramas brother, beign attacked by an enemy and driving that enemy into a deep hole.

He then requires a guard named Sugriva to guard the hole for a whole year until the enemy came out.

It was believed that Cali had been attacked and killed and would never returned.

When he destroyed his enemy he returned to the hole but he couldn’t because the guard filled the whole up with dirt.

Finally when out he assumed his brother filled it up rather than the guard. HE assumed he wanted to keep him as a prisoner.

Vali took Sugrives wife out of spite.

Rama suggested that Sugriva challenge Vali to a battle in honor of his wife.

 

Public Domain Ramayana 

Reading Notes Part B

Part B:

33-34: The Golden Deer and The Chase

33) Maricha became the shape of a very beautiful deer. Lots of detail on what the deer looked like and lots of beautiful comparisons on what it looked like.

Sita spotted him first and told Rama to come see the beauty.

Rama then told himself he had to get this beautiful deer for her.

He spent a long day hunting and praying the deer would cross his path.

He saw a ton of different animals but not the deer.

34) He chased the deer a long way away and finally he shot an arrow straight through its heart.

Once shot Maricha sprang out of the deer and laid there crying out for Sita and then he died.

Sita questions if ramas brother has lost compassion for his brother.

Finally Lakshmana agreed to go check on Rama

Sita stated she would kill herself by many different ways if Rama was dead. 

Public Domain Ramayana 

Feedback Thoughts

Thoughts on getting feedback:
 I read "5 Tips for Taking Feedback Like a Champ" and "Overcoming the Fear of Feedback" both had lots of information. Here are some important notes that I think could be useful.
- Uncomfortableness is normal and healthy so don't avoid it.
-Having growth areas means you haven't tapped out your potential.
- Find the positivity in the deficiency.
-React in a helpful way.
-We react to negative stimuli faster then positive.
-Creating habits.

Thoughts on giving feedback:
I read "Be a Mirror" and "Presence, Not Praise" They also both had very good points but here are just a few I really enjoyed.
- Be specific.
- Focus on what they are doing.
- Focus on the processes.
- Make sure it can transfer .
- Take yourself out of the feedback.
- Praise them when they do something really difficult.
- Being present.

Feedback 

Storytelling Week 3: The Wedding

It was finally the day, the day that everyone, from the royalty of far off countries to the homeless families in Central Park, had been waiting for. It was the day of what seemed to be the biggest wedding in the 21^st century. Both Raymond and Sandy were getting ready on opposite towers of the Four Seasons, while everyone was flooding in dropping off all of the presents and admiring the extravagant decorations. They got everything they could possibly need from fine china and diamonds, to flower arrangements and letters of congratulations. They both were too excited to focus on the presents. All they could focus on was that happy moment when they would be named husband and wife. Of course they knew they did not need all of these gifts but the public and their family and friends insisted on them. These people have always been in the spotlight and everyone had longed to see them together. This relationship had been in the works for years and it was finally happening. It took countless amounts of time preparing and getting everything perfect for their special day. Both the bride and groom could feel the clock ticking down to the time when the bride would make it down the aisle.

 Finally the clock struck five in the afternoon and the doors flung open to reveal the blushing bride. The groom waited for her, tearing up, as she took the long walk down the aisle. He waited at the bottom of the stairs to help escort her up to the altar. They both stared at each other as the vows began, soaking in this moment neither of them ever wanted to forget. The groom was told to cherish her all the days they lived and he said I do. The bride was asked similar vows and she promised to keep every single one. After their vows the whole room gathered in prayer to bless the couple on a long lasting marriage. The priest gave his blessing and he announced them man and wife. As soon as this took place the groom took his bride in his arms and placed a delegate yet passionate kiss on her pink lips.

 It did not take long for the music to fill the air and for the party to start. The reception hall was even more beautiful then where the ceremony took place. There was food of every origin, flowers from every country, and music playing from all around the world. Every guest felt like the reception was catered to their personal cultures, which caused guests to have the best time. The bride and groom said their hellos and gave their thanks but shortly after the music started to be blasted the groom took his bride away for the evening so they could celebrate their night on an intimate level. Even though the bride and groom had left, the town kept the party going. The whole town partied for a long time because they knew this was going to be the start of something great.

Author's Notes:

 I tried to make it a modern-day wedding day where the groom and bride are both big figures in America. I tried to describe the feelings and the emotions throughout the story. Even towards the end I tried to show the love and the eagerness to start their life together by leaving early. The inspiration for this story was Rama and Sita's wedding. I think it was a dream wedding where everyone seemed to be rooting for this couple. They had the perfect day and what seemed to be a perfect relationship. I wanted to portray that in a modern day wedding.  I think every girl can relate to wanting a big wedding and having that fairy-tale day. I think this will hopefully make an interesting and relatable piece that isn’t too hard for the readers to follow. I think taking a story like Rama and Sita's and making it relatable makes reading these stories more enjoyable and exciting. Overall I am happy with how this piece turned out and how it transformed from Rama and Sita's story, to a rough draft, and finally to this one I created. I also think it is a good story to expand on if I decide to do that in the future sometime. I hope everyone enjoys it and can relate to something throughout the piece.

Bibliography: Ramayana (Public Domain Edition), Romesh Dutt, 1899

The Royal Wedding