What is decisive is not that man frees himself to himself from previous obligations, but that the very essence of man itself changes, in that man becomes subject. We must understand this word subiectum, however, as the translation of the Greek hypokeimenon. The word names that-which-lies-before, which, as ground, gathers everything onto itself. This metaphysical meaning of the concept of subject has first of all no special relationship to man and none at all to the I. However, when man becomes the primary and only real subiectum, that means: Man becomes that being upon which all that is, is grounded as regards the manner of its Being and its truth. Man becomes the relational center of that which is as such. But this is possible only when the comprehension of what is as a whole changes. In what does this change manifest itself? What, in keeping with it, is the essence of the modern age?
When we reflect on the modern age, we are questioning concerned the modern world picture [Weltbild] *12. We characterize the latter by throwing it into relief over against the medieval and the ancient world pictures. But why do we ask concerning a world picture in our interpreting of a historical age? Does every period of history have its world picture, and indeed in such a way as to concern itself from time to time about that world picture? Or is this, after all, only a modern kind of representing, this asking concerning a world picture?
What is the world picture? Obviously a picture of the world. But what does “World” mean here? What does “picture” mean? “World” serves here as a name for what is, in its entirety. The name is not limited to the cosmos, to nature. History also belongs to the world. Yet even nature and history, and both interpenetrating in their underlying and transcending of one another, do not exhaust the world. In this designation the ground of the world is meant also, no matter how its relation to the world is thought (Appendix 5).
With the word “picture” we think first of all of a copy of something. Accordingly, the world picture would be a painting, so to speak, of what is as a whole. But “world picture” means more than this. We mean by it the world itself, the world as such, what is, in its entirety, just as it is normative and binding for us. “To get into the picture” [literally, to put oneself into the picture] with respect to something means to set whatever is, itself, in place before oneself just in the way that it stands with it, and to have it fixedly before oneself as set up in this way. But a decisive determinant in the essence of the picture is still missing. “We get the picture” concerning something does not mean only that what is stands before us - in all that belongs to it and all that stands together in it - as a system. “To get the picture” throbs with being acquainted with something, with being equipped and prepared for it. Where the world becomes picture, what is, in its entirety, is juxtaposed as that for which man is prepared and which, correspondingly, he therefore intends to bring before himself and have before himself, and consequently intends in a decisive sense to set in place before himself (Appendix 6). Hence world picture, when understood essentially, does not mean a picture of the world but the world conceived and grasped as picture. What is, in its entirety, is now taken in such a way that it first is in being and only is in being to the extend that it is set up by man, who represents and sets forth. Wherever we have the world picture, an essential decision takes place regarding what is, in its entirety. The Being of whatever is, is sought and found in the representedness of the latter.
However, everywhere that whatever is, is not interpreted in this way, the world also cannot enter into a picture; there can be no world picture. The fact that whatever is comes into being in and through representedness transforms the age in which this occurs into a new age in contrast with the preceding one. The expressions "world picture of the modern age" and "modern world picture" both mean the same thing and both assume something that never could have been before, namely, a medieval and an ancient world picture. The world picture does not change from an earlier medieval one into a modern one, but rather the fact that the world becomes picture at all is what distinguishes the essence of the modern age [der Neuzeit]. For the Middle Ages, in contrast, that which is, is the ens creatum, that which is created by the personal Creator-God as the highest cause. Here, to be in being means to belong within a specific rank of the order of what has been created - a rank appointed from the beginning - and as thus caused, to correspond to the cause of creation (analogia entis) (Appendix 7). But never does the Being of that which is consist here in the fact that it is brought before man as the objective, in the fact that it is placed in the realm of man's knowing and of his having disposal, and that it is in being only in this way.
The modern interpretation of that which is, is even further from the interpretation characteristic of the Greeks. One of the oldest pronouncements of Greek thinking regarding the Being of that which is runs: To gar auto noein estin te kai einai.*15 This sentence of Parmenides means: The apprehending of whatever is belongs to Being because it is demanded and determined by Being. That which is, is that which arises and opens itself, which, as what presences, comes upon man as the one who presences, i.e., comes upon the one who himself opens himself to what presences in that he apprehends it. That which is does not come into being at all through the fact that man first looks upon it, in the sense of a representing that has the character of subjective perception. Rather, man is the one who is looked upon by that which is; he is the one who is - in company with itself - gathered toward presencing, by that which opens itself. To be beheld by what is, to be included and maintained within its openness and in that way to be borne along by it, to be driven about by its oppositions and marked by its discord - that is the essence of man in the great age of the Greeks. Therefore, in order to fulfill his essence, Greek man must gather (legein) and save (sozein), catch up and preserve, what opens itself in its openness, and he must remain exposed (aletheuein) to all its sundering confusions. Greek man is as the one who apprehends [der Vernehmer] that which is, and this is why in the age of the Greeks the world cannot become picture. Yet, on the other hand, that the beingness of whatever is, is defined for Plato as eidos [aspect, view] is the presupposition, destined far in advance and long ruling indirectly in concealment, for the world's having to become picture (Appendix 8).
[*12. The conventional translation of Weltbild would be “conception of the world” or “philosophy of life.” The more literal translation, “world picture,” is needed for the following of Heidegger’s discussion; but it is worth noting that “conception of the world” bears a close relation to Heidegger’s theme of man’s representing of the world as picture.
*15. The accepted English translation of this fragment is, “For thought and being are the same thing” (Nahm).]
In distinction from Greek apprehending, modern representing, whose meaning the word repraesentatio first brings to its earliest expression, intends something quite different. Here to represent [vorstel-len] means to bring what is present at hand [das Vorhandene] before oneself as something standing over against, to relate it to oneself, to the one representing it, and to force it back into this relationship to oneself as the normative realm. Wherever this happens, man "gets into the picture" in precedence over whatever is. But in that man puts himself into the picture in this way, he puts himself into the scene, i.e., into the open sphere of that which is generally and publicly represented. Therewith man sets himself up as the setting in which whatever is must henceforth set itself forth, must present itself [sich ... prasentieren], i.e., be picture. Man becomes the representative [der Reprasentant] of that which is, in the sense of that which has the character of object.
But the newness in this event by no means consists in the fact that now the position of man in the midst of what is, is an entirely different one in contrast to that of medieval and ancient man. What is decisive is that man himself expressly takes up this position as one constituted by himself, that he intentionally maintains it as that taken up by himself, and that he makes it secure as the solid footing for a possible development of humanity. Now for the first time is there any such thing as a 'position' of man. Man makes depend upon himself the way in which he must take his stand in relation to whatever is as the objective. There begins that way of being human which mans the realm of human capability as a domain given over to measuring and executing, for the purpose of gaining mastery over that which is as a whole. The age that is determined from out of this event is, when viewed in retrospect, not only a new one in contrast with the one that is past, but it settles itself firmly in place expressly as the new. To be new is peculiar to the world that has become picture.
When, accordingly, the picture character of the world is made clear as the representedness of that which is, then in order fully to grasp the modern essence of representedness we must track out and expose the original naming power of the worn-out word and concept "to represent" [vorstellen]: to set out before oneself and to set forth in relation to oneself. Through this, whatever is comes to a stand as object and in that way alone receives the seal of Being. That the world becomes picture is one and the same event with the event of man's becoming subiectum in the midst of that which is.
Only because and insofar as man actually and essentially has become subject is it necessary for him, as a consequence, to confront the explicit question: Is it as an "I" confined to its own preferences and freed into its own arbitrary choosing or as the "we" of society; is it as an individual or as a community; is it as a personality within the community or as a mere group member in the corporate body; is it as a state and nation and as a people or as the common humanity of modern man, that man will and ought to be the subject that in his modern essence he already is! Only where man is essentially already subject does there exist the possibility of his slipping into the aberration of subjectivism in the sense of individualism. But also, only where man remains subject does the positive struggle against individualism and for the community as the sphere of those goals that govern all achievement and usefulness have any meaning.
The interweaving of these two events, which for the modern age is decisive - that the world is transformed into picture and man into subiectum - throws light at the same time on the grounding event of modern history, an event that at first glance seems almost absurd. Namely, the more extensively and the more effectually the world stands at man’s disposal as conquered, and, the more objectively the object appears, all the more subjectively, i.e., the more importunately, does the subiectum rise up, and all the more impetuously, too, do observation of and teaching about the world change into a doctrine of man, into anthropology. It is no wonder that humanism first arises where the world becomes picture. It would have been just as impossible for a humanism to have gained currency in the great age of the Greeks as it would have been impossible to have had anything like a world picture in that age. Humanism, therefore, in the more strict historiographical sense, is nothing, but a moral-aesthetic anthropology. The name “anthropology” as used here does not mean just some investigation of man by a natural science. Nor does it mean the doctrine established within Christian theology of man created, fallen, and redeemed. It designates that philosophical interpretation of man which explains and evaluates whatever is, in its entirety, from the standpoint of man and in relation to man (Appendix 10).
The increasingly exclusive rooting of the interpretation of the world in anthropology, which has set in since the end of the eighteenth century, finds its expression in the fact that the fundamental stance of man in relation to what is, in its entirety, is defined as a world view (Weltanschauung). Since that time this word has been admitted into common usage. As soon as the world becomes picture, the position of man is conceived as a world view. To be sure, the phrase “world view” is open to misunderstanding, as though it were merely a matter here of a passive contemplation of the world. For this reason, already in the nineteenth century it was emphasized with justification that “world view” also meant and even meant primarily “view of life.” The fact that, despite this, the phrase “world view” asserts itself as the name for the position of man in the midst of all that is, is proof of how decisively the world became picture as soon as man brought his life as subiectum into precedence over other centers of relationship. This means: whatever is, is considered to be in being only to the degree and to the extent that it is taken into and referred back to this life, i.e., is lived out, and becomes life-experience. Just as unsuited to the Greek spirit as every humanism had to be, just so impossible was a medieval world view, and just as absurd is a Catholic world view. Just as necessarily and legitimately as everything must change into life-experience for modern man the more unlimitedly he takes charge of the shaping of his essence, just so certainly could the Greeks at the Olympian festivals never have had life-experiences.
The fundamental event of the modern age is the conquest of the world as picture. The word "picture" [Bild] now means the structured image [Gebild] that is the creature of man's producing which represents and sets before. In such producing, man contends for the position in which he can be that particular being who gives the measure and draws up the guidelines for everything that is. Because this position secures, organizes, and articulates itself as a world view, the modern relationship to that which is, is one that becomes, in its decisive unfolding, a confrontation of world views; and indeed not of random world views, but only of those that have already taken up the fundamental position of man that is most extreme, and have done so with the utmost resoluteness. For the sake of this struggle of world views and in keeping with its meaning, man brings into play his unlimited power for the calculating, planning, and molding of all things. Science as research is an absolutely necessary form of this establishing of self in the world; it is one of the pathways upon which the modern age rages toward fulfillment of its essence, with a velocity unknown to the participants. With this struggle of world views the modern age first enters into the part of its history that is the most decisive and probably the most capable of enduring (Appendix 11).
A sign of this event is that everywhere and in the most varied forms and disguises the gigantic is making its appearance. In so doing, it evidences itself simultaneously in the tendency toward the increasingly small. We have only to think of numbers in atomic physics. The gigantic presses forward in a form that actually seems to make it disappear - in the annihilation of great distances by the airplane, in the setting before us of foreign and remote worlds in their everydayness, which is produced at random through radio by a flick of the hand Yet we think too superficially if we suppose that the gigantic is only the endlessly extended emptiness of the purely quantitative. We think too little if we find that the gigantic, in the form of continual not-ever-having-been-here-yet, originates only in a blind mania for exaggerating and excelling. We do not think at all if we believe we have explained this phenomenon of the gigantic with the catchword “Americanism" (Appendix 12).
The gigantic is rather that through which the quantitative becomes a special quality and thus a remarkable kind of greatness. Each historical age is not only great in a distinctive way in contrast to others; it also has, in each instance, its own concept of greatness. But as soon as the gigantic in planning and calculating and adjusting and making secure shifts over out of the quantitative and becomes a special quality, then what is gigantic, and what can seemingly always be calculated completely, becomes, precisely through this, incalculable. This becoming incalculable remains the invisible shadow that is cast around all things everywhere when mas has been transformed in subiectum and the world into picture (Appendix 13).
By means of this shadow the modern world extends itself out into a space withdrawn from representation, and so lends to the incalculable the determinateness peculiar to it, as well as a historical uniqueness. This shadow, however, points to something else, which it is denied to us of today to know (Appendix 14). But man will never be able to experience and ponder this that is denied so long as he dawdles about in the mere negating of the age. The flight into tradition, out of a combination of humility and presumption, can bring about nothing in itself other than self-deception and blindness in relation to the historical moment.
Man will know, i.e., carefully safeguard into its truth, that which is incalculable, only in creative questioning and shaping out of the power of genuine reflection. Reflection transports the man of the future into that “between” in which he belongs to Being and yet remains a stranger amid that which is (Appendix 15). Hölderlin knew of this. His poem, which bears the superscription “To the German,” closes:
How narrowly bounded is our lifetime,
We see and count the number of our years.
But have the years of nations
Been seen by mortal eye?
If your soul throbs in longing
Over its own time, mourning, then
You linger on the cold shore
Among your own and never know them.

I’m not great with words, plus I’m grieving a bit, so I hope this makes a sense.
I’m the atheist. My childhood pet just died. I came across a poem that really resonates with me, however, the very last line mentions the pet finding a place in heaven. To me, it’s more of a symbolic (is that the right word?) thing. I can appreciate the sentiment and the imagery, even if I don’t actually believe in heaven. IIRC, the Bible says animals don’t have souls and can’t go to heaven anyway.
I would like to share this poem on Facebook, but I’m wondering it’s poor taste to reference a religion I’m not a part of. To me, heaven is a nice idea, a kind sentiment. I also wonder if my religious relatives are going get false hope that I have finally “seen the light“.
Here is the poem:
Your favorite chair is vacant now. No eager purrs to greet me. No softly padded paws to run Ecstatically to meet me. No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry Will say it’s time for feeding. I’ve put away your bowl, and all The things you won’t be needing; But I will miss you little friend, For I could never measure The happiness you brought me, The comfort and the pleasure. And since you were put here to share In earthly joy and sorrow; I’m sure there’ll be a place for you In Heaven’s bright tomorrow

I’m not great with words, plus I’m grieving a bit, so I hope this makes a sense.
My childhood pet just died. I came across a poem that really resonates with me, however, the very last line mentions the pet finding a place in heaven. To me, it’s more of a symbolic (is that the right word?) thing. I can appreciate the sentiment and the imagery, even if I don’t actually believe in heaven. IIRC, the Bible says pets don’t go to heaven anyway.
I would like to share this poem on Facebook, but I’m wondering it’s poor taste to reference a religion I’m not a part of. To me, heaven is a nice idea, a positive sentiment. I also wonder if my religious relatives are going get false hope that I have finally “seen the light“.
Here is the poem:
Your favorite chair is vacant now. No eager purrs to greet me. No softly padded paws to run Ecstatically to meet me. No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry Will say it’s time for feeding. I’ve put away your bowl, and all The things you won’t be needing; But I will miss you little friend, For I could never measure The happiness you brought me, The comfort and the pleasure. And since you were put here to share In earthly joy and sorrow; I’m sure there’ll be a place for you In Heaven’s bright tomorrow

To be clear, I'm talking about languages such as Italian, Spanish, French or Portuguese. (I mean Romanian is also one of them.) They all have gender cases including gendered nouns. I do keep hearing that English speakers have an 'easier' time to learn them due to them having an alphabet, plus they are considered "Romance" languages. (I'm not going to talk about that here, as there are many posts mentioning them.)
Instead, I'm discussing on how hard are both Mandarin & Japanese for native French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese speakers to learn? Since both JP & ZH are completely alien to European languages in terms of their writing system, grammar or syntax, so they have no common ground with the European framework in regards to their orthography or grammar.

Even though Japanese has hiragana / katakana, it does not mean they write every word like that, since they have Kanji. (It helps condense sentence length, also that makes it clearer to tell the difference on what the correct word is, as some sound exactly the same but have different meanings altogether.

The features that each language has:

Mandarin	Japanese
Tones (4-5)	Pitch accent
Classifiers (for counting)	Counting words
Stroke order (differs from Japanese)	Stroke order (differs from Mandarin)
Word particles (different from Japanese)	Word particles (different from Mandarin)
Polite language (formality)	Keigo & Honorifics
Sentence structure: SVO	Sentence structure: SOV
Untranslatable nuances	Untranslatable nuances

From both ZH & JP: 1 漢字 equates to a SINGLE word in which multiple letters are needed in European languages to spell out. Both Kanji & Hanzi are drawn from visual concepts on how they interpret a word based on semantic meaning. (Characters are fun for caligraphy practice, it's also a work of art.) For reference, take the Kanji & Hanzi: 川
[The stroke order between both languages are different despite having the same character for some words, since they are both different languages after all.]
The shape of the character is derivative on how its visualized.

Japanese - 訓読み：かわ・音読み：セン
Mandarin - Pinyin: Chuān

For instance, take the kanji & hanzi:「軍」
As you can see, a single kanji & hanzi already equates to 1 word as it is logographic, which will require multiple letters in Romance languages to spell.
Kanji from Japanese has multiple readings for ONE character, for example:「行」
An example of a Kanji, but as indicated their phonologies change depending on how it used within a word, or placed in a sentence.

Kunyomi: Native Japanese Reading of a kanji.
Onyomi: Reading of a kanji derivative of Mandarin phonology.
Nanori: These readings only apply when a kanji is used within a persons name.

That is also another "complex" part of Japanese, as kanji has multiple pronunciations alone. (Yep, this applies to most of the 2,136+ characters having their own assigned phonologies that differ.)
This often gets lost in translation (like all the time!), as ONE character can imply so many definitions depending on the context you associate it with, in a literal or figurative sense. As opposed to European languages, the translation is mainly consistent with what you put it for "common" words but there are some that can also pose multiple meanings.

Japanese & Mandarin	Romance (Euro) languages (letter count)
They have a large amount of characters, getting the feeling like it's 'limitless' but they contrast around 2,000 - 10,000+ in their total amount.	French (26), Spanish (27), Italian (21) & Portuguese (26) As they are alphabetical, you read each letter as it is.
Both languages have zero concept of gender cases as it's not a thing in Japanese & Mandarin.	They have gender cases and gendered nouns (Whether it is FR, ES, IT or PT.)

On the other hand, they both have idioms and proverbs you can create out of 4 characters, conveying a proverb and idiomatic phrase (both in a literal & figurative sense) using only 4 characters:

• In Mandarin - 成語
• In Japanese - 四字熟語

As mentioned, they only use 4 characters to construct a proverb & idiom.

I mean, can you also do this in European languages: only using 4 short words alone? (To create a proverb that still conveys an idiomatic meaning with only 4 words.)

Both Mandarin and Japanese have radicals (on both hanzi & kanji) which are building blocks of their characters, that radical has a meaning on its own as it's derivative of an existing word, but when associated with another kanji & hanzi. (Hence why some characters look similar to one another.)
The connotation of its meaning can change, but the theme surrounding the vocabulary involving the radical still conveys a message despite it being a different word entirely, even though the radical is present in an unrelated word that does not relate to the meaning of the radical.
As shown, pay close attention to the radical present in these words. (Despite some of them having the same one, they connotate a different word entirely.)

The Kanji in Grey: Unreleated words surrounding the radical present.
The Kanji in Pink: Related words surrounding the radical present.
Be careful not to get these mixed up, you need a good eye to distiguish them apart.

List of words from Mandarin containing the radical 女.

The Hanzi in Pink - Words associated with nouns relating to girls & women.
The Hanzi in Purple - Words associated with a "positive" connotation.
The Hanzi in Maroon - Words associated with womanhood.

Japanese

They have 45 ひらがな & 45 カタカナ but that is only scratching the surface, not forgetting to include over 2,136+ 漢字 with readings such as: 訓読み, 音読み & 名乗り for each character, imagine doing that 2k times, knowing all the phonologies for most or all of them.
The grammar too is alien to all European languages, as what is stated last in a [EU lang] sentence is positioned at the beginning in Japanese. On top of kanji implying more than one definition as it is dependent on context, also the reading can change if its paired with kana or another kanji.

For example, take the sentence「ジュールズさんが家族と家でフランス語を話します」(You can clearly see as indicated by the word positionings: Japanese word order is SOV while the translations below it are complicit with the SVO order as usual in European languages.)
As shown here, the sentence strutcure in Japanese is very different to the counterparts in French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese. (Indicated in color)

The さん (in red) is a honorific. (More about that later.)

Subject omission is common in Japanese, as they don't always need to include words like (I am, me, we, us, etc.) as opposed to European languages where it's needed, since you are already inferring to the speaker in question, so it is a lot more straight forward. For instance:
From this sentence (私は) is omitted in Japanese. (Translations conveyed in brackets and light text.)

To speakers of Romance languages, can you omit words like "I am" or any pronoun alike and still be understood by the other party? (Can it really work?)
For example, in Portuguese: instead of saying "O meu nome é Francisco" > just put it as "Francisco" [Omitting O meu nome é] (in Japanese that is connotated as フランシスコです - without 私は)

I won't forget 丁寧語、尊敬語、謙遜語 which are all part of 敬語 in Japanese, especially in verbs as to express a level of politeness (in corporate or formal setting) to empathize respect to the other party to not be connotated as rude (you can use the 'normal' variant but that will come off as impolite - in let's say a business meeting or any formal event / setting.), between a "dictionary" form including teineigo, sonkeigo & kensongo. For instance:
As you can see, all 4 variations of 1 verb exist in Japanese, keeping in mind with the level of formality on which variant you'll use. (They all mean 1 verb, but connotate different levels of politeness, empathizing the level of respect or decorum.)

For example, you would not use 言う in an formal setting when talking to people within either a business or special occassion where decorum is required, you would instead use 申し上げる or something amongst the lines of おっしゃる depending on the situation and setting or formality.
Is there anything like this in European languages to this extent? If not, then this will be difficult for you all to fully understand as there's verbs in Japanese that do this based on the level of decorum incuding the setting you are in, the people you are talking to.

The honorific system in Japanese is often "lost in translation" as evident in both manga or anime (what I hate about translation is that they transliterate it instead of coming up with an equivalent), as there are many levels of politeness and formality within their language, for example:

日本語	Roughly equivalent to:
博士 (はかせ)	Dr. / PhD
後輩 (こうはい)	Junior
先輩 (せんぱい)	Senior
先生 (せんせい)	Teach / Mr / Mrs
様 (さま)	Mr / Mrs (Formal variant, eg. clients, judges)
さん	Mr / Mrs (Addressed towards grown ups)
たん	(Refers to babies)
ちゃん	(Refers to young children - boys / girls)
殿 (どの)	(Formal / archanic ver: of you)
君 (くん)	(Semi-formal title referring to men)
氏 (し)	(Used for family names or important stuff alike)
陛下 (へいか)	Your Majesty
殿下 (でんか)	Your Highness
閣下 (かっか)	Your excelency
坊 (ぼう)	(A term for endearment regarding young boys)
被告 (ひこく)	(Addresses the accused - legal / court)
容疑者 (ようぎしゃ)	(Addresses the suspect - police / legal)
受刑者 (じゅけいしゃ)	(Addresses the one convicted - legal / court)

Of course this also gets lost in translation, in European languages as they OFTEN just romanize the term, which is not how you are not meant to translate it. (If there is no actual equivalent in European languages, just omit it instead of transliterating it.)

In regards to Kanji: there are words that bare the same phoneme, but keep in mind of numerous kanji variations that also possess the same phonology, with each having their own separate meanings. For example, take the onyomi reading for カン -
I only listed 100 kanji that are pronounced the same, but there are 286 more with the same sound: カン (By the way, each kanji has their own definition.)

This phoneme (カン) alone comprises 386 漢字 in Japanese, some of the characters have become 'obscure' in their usage, as in you don't even know they existed until you've looked hard enough. (Even native speakers don't know all of them.)
How difficult is this concept for speakers of European languages to remember and fully grasp? (Some of the kanji are used for people's names.)

The most diffcult part a "word" can have various meanings for one phoneme, take for example 「こうか」which comprises of 39 words with this pronunciation, so depending on the sentence you are listening to or reading, you got to infer the correct one based on context. Also, Japanese has 188 word particles in total. (I won't list them all.)
I can only think of 54 word particles that are used in Japanese sentences. (Although there are quite a lot, with specific uses.)
In terms of how counting works in Japanese, it is not like in European languages at all. Japanese has 助数詞, which are counting / measure words used to count the number of things, actions, events, items, and etc. to make it clear on what you are exactly counting.
A list of Japanese 助数詞 - (There's about 350 of them, but I won't list them all.)

There is so many counter words in Japanese, that even native speakers don't even use ALL of them, as their uses are situational or only applicable in some instances.

Counting suffix (within a number / qty.)	A rough summary
つ	A counter for [things] in general, as it is also commonly used in Japanese.
個	Counter for [no. of pieces] or some things, you see this word in relation to let's say: food.
本	Counts books, pens, pencils, nail clippers, etc. (This one is quite versatile in its usage.)
枚	Equiv. to no. of reams of paper, no. of pics, also counts bath mats, credit cards, clothing, etc.
匹	Used for counting [small / medium] animals (eg. household pets or other small creatures.)
頭	Counter for [no. of livestock] or large animals such as elephants, whales, camels, etc.
冊	Primarily a counting suffix used for documents or books (equiv. to: Olivier read 3 books.)
台	Counting word in relation to the no. of vehicles (such as trucks or cars) for example.
羽	Counter word for birds (specifically) but can be used to count rabbits too.
階	Used to refer to no. of storeys or floors within a building. (eg this apartment has 20 floors.)
缶	Refers to the no. of [cans] such as soda cans, tins, paint cans, etc. (When empty, use: 個)
巻	Refers to no. of [books / comics] in a series. (equiv to: Carlos read all 7 harry potter novels.)
切れ	Refers to no. of [sliced food] (equiv. to: Maria sliced 4 loaves of bread for her sibilings.)
口	As a counter, it refers to [times] bitten in food. (equiv. to: Pierre took one bite from a scone.)
件	Refers to the no. of [cases / incidents] but this counter has versatility in its usage.

For example, the counting word 羽 is present in Japanese (regardless if it is singular or plural), as it is needed to be specific on the indicator within a numerical unit of [something / someone / event / action, etc.] to clarify what you're referring to.
As highlighted, the presence of the counting word is needed. It's not conveyed in the translations displayed below.
Pitch accent is another part of Japanese phonology, as the word can change based on the volume of each phoneme depending on your pronunciation, it connotates a different word altogether affecting the overall meaning, on what you actually want to say. For example, take むし -
Accent 1 is noted as High Low & Accent 2 is noted as Low High. The pitch accent connotates a different word despite them both sounding similar to one another, as in adjusting the volume of one phoneme upon your pronunciation.

Mandarin

7,000 - 80,000+ 漢字 (There are dictionaries that state the existence of around 106,230 漢字 in Mandarin.) However a modern dictionary only features 20,000 hanzi while an educated native speaker memorizes 8,000 hanzi but reading a newspaper only requires knowing 3,000 hanzi.
The sentence structure is different from Japanese (as it is SVO), although their wordings can imply more than one definition, as it is also dependent on how you associate it within a sentence, keep in mind too that they also have tones embedded within their phonology.

For example, take the sentence「醫生根據病人的病情以最好的方式治療他們」(You can clearly see the differences, as indicated by the word positionings - shown in color.)
As shown, the positioning of the words from Mandarin are different despite the word order being SVO, the translations are still different regardless.
Another feature that Mandarin has are separable verbs. (It may sound confusing at first) From this example, take the verb: 見面 (Rencontrer / Incontrare / Conocerte / Conhecer) used here:
As indicated, the hanzi 面 is omitted since 見 already conveys the verb.

Can you also do this in French, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese?

In this example, an extra hanzi (了 - as an particle / indicator: past tense) is added in the middle but the verb 吃飯 (Repas / Mangiare / Comer / Come) is still intact:
As the hanzi 了 is placed inbetween both 吃 and 飯, but the verb overall is still there.
From Mandarin - there are words that sound the "same" to the untrained musical ear, as it is a tonal language, so you need to keep that in mind, for example from pinyin: 'bi' consists of multiple hanzi depending on the tone you use, based on pronuncation.
All of them may sound the \"same\" to the untrained musical ear, but they are completely different words altogether. That is the difficult part of Mandarin for \"Euro\" language speakers as it's not a thing in their languages.
There are phonemes from Mandarin that comprise of a LOT of hanzi (that imply different definitions altogether, based on tones.) from 1 sound alone, such as this example below:
I can only think of 82 hanzi which all are pronounced as \"BI\" (there are perhaps more) but their tones connotate a different word. (Also, pay attention to the radicals.)
Like Japanese, Mandarin has word particles too. For example:
Some word particles present in Mandarin. (Although there are perhaps more.)
Akin to the Japanese counting system, Mandarin has 漢語量詞 which are classifiers used to count the number of things, actions, events, items, and etc. to make it clear on what you are exactly counting, that classifier is tied to a specific category and usage.
As indicated, the classifer 輛 is required to be within the sentence in Mandarin. (As you can see from the translations, an equivalent word for that classifier doesn't exist.)
A list of Mandarin 漢語量詞 - (There's quite a few, but I won't list them all.)

Although these classifers can imply multiple meanings and uses, it's context specific though if you want to know what that classifer is referring to.

Classifier (no. / qty. of something / action)	A rough explanation
句	Refers to no of. [lines / sentences] (equiv. to: Sam wrote on the first 2 lines of his book.)
發	Refers to no. of [rounds / bullets] (equiv. to: Diego fired 20 rounds from his M16A4.)
封	Refers to [letters - mail] (equiv. to: Ella opened 4 letters coming from the city council.)
根	Refers to [long thin] objects, eg. needles. (equiv. to: Jack only found 1 needle in a haystack.)
棵	No. of trees (equiv. to: Alice planted 6 trees around the park not far from Paris.)
輛	No. of vehicles (eg. Giovani spotted 3 cars in front of him during a traffic jam in Rome.)
列	Refers to [rows / columns] (eg. Adrian had to wait within a queue stetching 3 rows.)
首	Refers to [poems] (equiv. to: Theo wrote 7 poems within the first month or so.)
水	No of. [rinses / times washed] (eg. Henry washed his laundry for the third time.)
堂	No of. [periods within a class] (eg. Claire skipped 2 study periods for her English exam.)
班	No of [students] (eg. Jean knew there were 20 other pupils in his English class.)
牀	Refers to the [no. of blankets / sheets] (eg. James placed 3 bedsheets in the cabinet.)
排	Refers to [items grouped in rows] (eg. Sally saw 4 chairs untucked in the classroom.)
部	Refers to [no. of movies / novels] (eg. Chris Pratt starred in 3 films this year.)
包	Refers to [no. of packages / bundles] (eg. Reese received 3 bundles of bubble wrap.)

In European languages, do you also have counter words or classifers in relation to numerical units when referring to specific nouns? If not, than this concept from both Japanese & Mandarin might be a struggle to wrap your head around. (As there's one for EVERYTHING, quite a lot!)

Hanzi can be flipped to create:

1. Reversal of verbs & adjectives
2. Different meanings
3. Similar meanings
4. Loosely related definition
5. Closely related definition
6. Logical meanings

Japanese: Kanji can their positions swapped, but in doing so changes the meaning completely.

[Apologies for the long post: since there's a LOT of detail to uncover.]
In hindsight:

• Japanese has different word order compared to Romance langauges, how hard is this grammatical difference for European language speakers to wrap their head around?
• In terms of the honorific system and levels of politeness in speech: Does that really exist in European languages to the extent of Japanese, even for the slightest ones?
• How common is subject omission in European languages? I mean is it to the extent of Japanese in terms of it being common throughout Romance languages. (omitting words or pronouns like: Us, I'm, We, etc.)?
• From European languages: can you omit or separate as well as adding an extra [letter] to verbs witnin a sentence (like Mandarin) and still be understood?
• Since Japanese & Mandarin are logographic and heavily draw on visual concepts for their vocabulary having thousands of characters, how difficult is it for Romance language speakers?
• Tones from Mandarin: How difficult are those for speakers of Romance languages to determine the "right" word by listening to the "same" phoneme 4-5 times at different volume & tone?
• How difficult is the Japanese counting system for speakers of European languages to grasp, since there are 350 of these counting suffixes and specific words integral to numerical units?
• Mandarin has classifiers when referring to numerical units (akin to the Japanese counting system) how hard is this concept for native speakers of Romance languages?

Education is the foundation of progress of the society, that is why choosing the right school for children is one of the most difficult decisions for parents. There are many good schools in the capital of India, Delhi which try to provide better education. One of the best schools among these is VSPK International School. This school provides children with traditional values as well as modern education.
Let us know why parents and children living in Delhi choose VSPK International School.

History and future
VSPK International School was established to create an environment where children can flourish in every way. The dream of the founders of this school was that this school should prepare children not only for examinations but for life.

Campus and Facilities
The campus of VSPK International School is equipped with modern facilities and a variety of activities are conducted here, which include other things besides studies. This school is spread over a large area and has classrooms with latest technology, computer lab, science lab, big library and separate rooms for art, dance and music.
Infrastructure
The building of VSPK school itself has been built in such a way that children get a good study environment. The classrooms here are large and airy and have interactive whiteboards and other electronic equipment to help in teaching. So that children get interested in reading and understanding new things.
Lab
In today's time, technology and science are very important for good schooling. VSPK School ensures that children get the best things for their studies. That is why the school's labs have modern equipment and are updated from time to time and children are made to practice with new equipment so that they get practical knowledge.


Library
The school library has a huge collection of books, magazines and many other things. All these things are a treasure trove of information, and digital resources are also available here.

Academic Excellence
The main objective of VSPK International School is to make children top in studies. This school follows the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which is known for good and balanced education.

experienced teacher
VSPK International School has very educated and experienced teachers. Here, only a small number of children are kept in each class, so that attention can be given to each child, and they can be helped in studies and all the subjects are taught by expert teachers of the same subject.
Innovative Teaching Methods
VSPK School teaches children in new ways so that they enjoy studies and learn well. Children are motivated to be active in studies by using Project Based Learning, Flipped Classroom and Digital Tools. Digital television is installed for nursery and class students. In which Y sees many types of English and Hindi poems and learns to speak to them.

Extracurricular Activities
VSPK International School gives great importance to activities for the overall development of children. Many types of activities are organized in the school, which include sports, music, dance, drama and art. So that children can learn external things besides studies.
Sports
Physical education is considered an important part of education in VSPK school. The school has excellent facilities for sports, such as basketball courts, cricket and football grounds and swimming pools. Sports competitions are also organized, and children are taken to participate in state level competition

Culture and Arts

VSPK School also focuses on enhancing the creativity of children. Many types of courses are offered in the school to learn art, music, dance and drama. The school also encourages children to participate in cultural events and competitions.

Global Exposure
In today's global world, it is very important for children to get international exposure. VSPK International School offers many programs that prepare children to succeed at the international level.

foreign cooperation
The schoolworks closely with many foreign institutions. This gives children exchange programs, group projects and an opportunity to learn about other cultures.
language program
VSPK schools have excellent language programs, teaching Spanish, French and German. Learning multiple languages strengthens children's thinking abilities (Cognitive Abilities).

Community Service and Social Responsibility
VSPK International School places great emphasis on social responsibility and community service. The school inspires children to participate in different types of social service projects. This creates empathy for others in children and they understand their social responsibility.
Environmental Initiatives
Many types of environmental programs are organized in schools, the purpose of which is to make children aware about the environment and its care. These programs include campaigns to reduce plastic use, recycling and tree planting programs.

social connection
VSPK School also organizes social service programs from time to time. These programs include conducting educational seminars for poor children and visiting old age homes or orphanages. This creates a sense of connection and responsibility among the children for the society.

Involvement of parents
At VSPK International School, parents are considered an important part of children's education. The school engages with parents in a variety of ways, such as parent-teacher meetings, newsletters and an online portal where parents can track their children's progress.
Seminars and Workshops
The school also organizes seminars and workshops for parents from time to time. In these, topics like child psychology, good parenting and health and wellness are discussed.

Safety and Security
At VSPK International School, the safety of children is given utmost importance. The school has a completely safe environment, with trained security guards, safe entry and exit points and CCTV cameras. Anyone can come to the school without any unnecessary information and coming to the school without any knowledge is prohibited.
Complete security measures
In VSPK International School, full care is taken for the safety of children, teachers and staff. There is a high level of security throughout the school premises, such as trained security guards, secured entry and exit doors and round-the-clock surveillance by CCTV cameras.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
VSPK International School conducts drills from time to time for the safety of children and teachers, such as what to do in case of earthquake and fire.

Alumni network
The success of any school can also be seen from the achievements of its past students. VSPK International School has a strong and active Alumni Network. VSPK alumni are successful in various fields like medicine, engineering, arts and business. The school regularly hosts alumni conferences, providing current students with role models and networking opportunities.
Conclusion

VSPK International School, located in Delhi, is a role model in the field of education, which emphasizes on all-round development along with rigorous academic programs. The modern facilities of the school, new methods of teaching and various activities create a good environment for the children, where both their mental development and personal development takes place.
Choosing a school for children is an important decision and VSPK International School is a great option for parents living in Delhi to provide better education to their children. VSPK's holistic approach to education not only helps students succeed in examinations but also equips them with the necessary skills and values to deal with the complexities of the modern world.

Sometimes, those fighting for the end of speciesism encounter indifference or disdain, which can sometimes shake one's self-confidence and self-esteem. It’s essential we discuss this. Let's openly share our feelings about these experiences.
At times, our confidence is so undermined that we spend years pushing for minor reforms, fearful of demanding what we truly desire: respect for animal life. What if, instead of settling for half-measures that barely satisfy us, we had spent that time telling people the truth? Simply expressing our sadness that animals are killed for simple food habits—wouldn't this have fostered a more profound societal improvement if we had candidly shared our feelings?
Often, we hold back because we lack confidence in ourselves. Day in and day out, we face indifference and scorn, storing up these micro-traumas instead of discussing all the feelings linked to them to heal. By not voicing these accumulated hurts, we sometimes further damage our self-confidence and self-esteem. However, research shows that even when a person is correct, by being confident, they can more easily convince others of their stance’s validity. Let’s support each other—it will help the animals too. Let’s respect ourselves. Let’s talk. Remember, we too are animals. Woof woof. Tweet tweet.
Respect yourself. Communicate your feelings, your needs, and the solutions necessary to ensure these needs are met.
This mirrors the past when animal-friendly people avoided to tell they refused meat for the animals, instead claiming it was a matter of taste. Gradually, we began to admit it was to prevent suffering, though we still hesitated to say it was to avoid killing. Now, our movement is doing the same, not on an individual level but a societal one. It takes courage to explain that one is vegan for the sake of animals, and even more courage to communicate that we want society at large to establish rules respecting animal life and interests. We lack confidence, so instead of expressing our sadness over the killing of animals, we merely ask for bigger cages. But perhaps we should break out of these cages. Maybe we should speak up. It's time for our abolitionist coming-out, to declare our sadness that animals are killed for mere dietary habits, and to voice our hope that society will respect animal life and ban killing.
We envision a society where the lives and interests of all sentient beings are respected. Such a society will have rules that ensure this. But for such rules to be established, citizens must first demand their creation. Let's build this society. Let’s demand a ban on killing animals.
●●●●●●
Everyone's freedom must be respected, including that of animals. Locking them unwillingly in trucks heading to slaughterhouses and cutting their throats against their will violates their freedom. Respecting each individual’s freedom thus requires the closure of slaughterhouses.
🐰🐮🐷🐔🦆🐴🐥🐸
If you are looking to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem, consider the following texts:

Self-Confidence Text #1

As a trained lawyer, I've observed that this profession is highly respected in society. Yet, let's ponder a question. Which of the following activities is more distinguished, elevated, worthy, respectable, and honorable?
Is it helping an individual who has promised money in return, or is it dedicating oneself to helping all suffering beings purely out of kindness?
This comparison reveals an overlooked truth:
The work of activists fighting for the end of speciesism is indeed more distinguished, elevated, worthy, respectable, and honorable than that of lawyers. Embrace this truth and recognize that you are far more valuable than those merely dressed in suits. Acknowledge your ability to identify injustices that often go unnoticed by these people, your courage to stand against the majority to drive change—just like the abolitionists of human slavery—and realize that you are a magnificent being!
❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

Self-Confidence Text #2

Picture yourself walking on a path through a tranquil forest. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting patterns of light and shadow upon the ground. With each step, feel the firm earth beneath your feet, bringing a sense of stability and security. The air is fresh and invigorating, filled with the soothing sounds of nature. This path you are on symbolizes your journey towards deeper and more enduring self-confidence.
As you continue, you come upon a mirror standing in the middle of the path. This mirror does not reflect your current image, but rather the most confident version of yourself, the one you aspire to be. Look at this version of yourself, notice the way you stand, the light in your eyes, the confident smile. This image represents your potential, what you can become by nurturing your self-confidence.
Take a moment to speak to this version of yourself in the mirror. It tells you that the key to this confidence already lies within you; you only need to recognize it, welcome it, and let it express itself. These words engrave themselves in your mind, becoming a constant source of inspiration.
As you proceed on your forest path, you feel lighter, as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. Each step strengthens your belief that you can handle any situation with assurance and tranquility. You now understand that confidence depends on your relationship with yourself and comes from within.
Exiting the forest, you feel revitalized, with a new perspective on your own ability to cultivate and sustain strong, solid, and consistent self-confidence. Just as you have visualized this path in the forest, you realize you can chart the path of your life with the same confidence and determination.
❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

Self-Esteem Text #1

Beneath the starry veil of our consciousness lies a secret garden where the seeds of our self-esteem bloom. Imagine, if you will, that each word of this text is a drop of morning dew, nurturing these delicate flowers with love and care. This garden is uniquely yours, wondrous and reflective of the inner beauty patiently waiting to reveal itself to the world.
In this garden, there's a path paved with luminous stones, each engraved with a positive affirmation about you, a hidden strength, an inner light. The first stone you pick up shines with a specific message: "I am worthy." Hold it for a moment, let this affirmation seep into your consciousness. "I am worthy" is not just a collection of words, but a truth resonating throughout your being.
As you continue your walk, you find another stone, warm and glowing to the touch. It bears the inscription: "My mistakes are my lessons." Looking at it, you realize that each mistake has been a step toward growth, a sign of your commitment to evolve and learn. Take a deep breath and let this understanding fill you with gratitude for your journey, for every fall that has made you stronger.
Further along, you discover a third stone, pulsing with a reassuring glow. "I deserve love and respect, from myself and others." Hold this thought close to your heart, as it is the key to unlocking a strong and solid self-esteem. This love and respect are the birthright of your unique and precious soul.
With each step, your confidence grows, fueled by these truths you've always known, and now feel within you.
As you advance, you also feel the gentle caress of the grass under your feet, a reminder that each step is an affirmation of your presence in this world, your birthright to shine and to deeply love who you are.
Let the whispers of the wind remind you of the songs of your soul, sweet and powerful melodies speaking of courage, compassion, and the wonderful ability to grow and thrive. Each breath of wind is an inner voice encouraging you, reminding you that you are capable, worthy, and remarkable.
At the heart of this garden lies a mirror of water, clear and tranquil. As you lean in to see your reflection, look not only at the surface of your being but dive deeper into your own eyes, into the soul that sparkles behind them. This reflection shows you not what you think you are, but what you truly are: a being of infinite beauty, wisdom, and worth.
Imagine now that each thought you choose to nourish is a light illuminating this secret garden, revealing brighter colors, sweeter scents, a deeper harmony. These thoughts, these lights, are the guardians of your self-esteem, beacons guiding your path through the shadows of doubt and uncertainty.
As you walk through this garden, let your fingers brush the petals of the flowers, each touch a reminder of the tenderness with which you can treat yourself. Each flower is a part of you, a quality, a dream, an aspect of your being that deserves to be seen, honored, and celebrated.
And when the time comes to leave this secret garden, take with you the light, peace, and strength you have found there. Let them be constant companions on your journey, stars that illuminate your path, anchors that remind you of the beauty and power of your own self-esteem.
Thus, share with the world the poem of your being, an ode to the strength, resilience, and self-love that resides in each of us. For by recognizing and celebrating our own worth, we invite others to do the same, creating together a symphony of light that illuminates the darkest corners of our world so that even these may be filled with light.
❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

Self-Esteem Text #2

Visualize yourself at the heart of a dense and vibrant forest, where each tree tells a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery. Imagine that you are one of these majestic trees, your roots deeply embedded in the nurturing soil, drawing strength and stability from your very essence. Your branches, tall and proud, reach towards the sky, symbolizing your aspirations, dreams, and immense potential.
In this forest of existence, every leaf of your being captures sunlight, transforming it into vital energy. This light represents the awareness of your unique value, a light that shines brightly through life’s seasons.
Now visualize a source of clear, pure water at your core. This source is your internal reservoir of self-esteem, fed by the streams of your successes, efforts, and passions. Each drop of water reflects the light of your soul, creating a rainbow of possibilities. As you drink from this water, with each sip, you feel stronger, more confident, and at peace with yourself.
As seasons pass, you watch the leaves of your doubts fall, one by one, making way for new sprouts of confidence and self-love. You realize that each fallen leaf is a lesson learned, each new sprout a victory over the shadows of the past.
There, in the tranquility of this forest, you find a mirror leaning against a tree. Looking into this mirror, you see not just your reflection, but the essence of who you truly are: an admirable, resilient being, worthy of love and respect.
As you leave this forest, carry with you the certainty that your self-esteem depends on what is already within you, on the depth of your roots, the height of your branches, and the clarity of your inner source. Remember that you are the master of this forest, the guardian of your soul, and that your inner light is eternal.
Read these words and let them guide you toward a robust internal self-esteem, perfectly and enduringly anchored. For, like the majestic tree of the forest, you possess everything necessary to grow, thrive, and radiate.
❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜
And as you radiate, remember to communicate your feelings, needs, and the solutions to ensure these needs are respected.
Thank you for what you do for the animals! I love you!

Hey, I'm an international student from India. My high school and senior secondary is done in CBSE curriculum. I don't plan to take the AP exams as such cuz they're obviou expensive and I'm broke (hence I'll be requiring financial aid) I plan to pursue Biomedical Engineering. First Generation/ Single Mothe Dad abandoned.
Responsibilities: Mother's leg got fractured in IXth- explains my relatively okay ish performance in finals of 9th grade. Also she suffers from calcium deficiency and bone related issues so I look upon that aspect too. Also have been batteling financial constraints and hence started working at a nearby store, managing academics + finances.
My stats: (My High School was relatively a small school catering to 300-450 students. Hence the opportunities I've received and activities undertaken are in lieu with this) Class IX Mid terms percentage - 94% Final-89% Was Vice Head Boy Vice Secretariat of Rotary Interact Club at my school. Ran a drive of making jute bags for and cup platters of jute for donation + environmental awareness and donation of stationary items to a nearby orphanage which housed about 50 orphan children. I also have a Painting Certificate from UNESCO and Ministry of Cultural Affairs at School level of mine.
Class Xth: Head Boy of the School: Leaded a Student Council of 20 members- consisting of both the Cabinet + Club Captains Made a healthy environment for students by spreading awareness about bullying and it's ill effects in the school.(this was a huge thing in my school) Plus organised the morning assembly class wise- in such a way to bring on to the stage every child of the school so that they get the opportunity to showcase themselves + combat stage fright and feeling of underconfident. Student testimonials after the tenure revealed that now they were much more confident on appearing on the stage to recite poems, speeches and dramas of there choice given the empowerment and system of Student Council Head
Member of the Literary Club. The assembly and students fighting their low self esteem was part of the initiative started at this club- first starting at the Club level during the particular 2 hours period of Club Activities and then expanded it to Morning Assembly.
Also won 3rd place in a Inter- School Competition in Review Writing (i don't think this is quite strong one but it's just there)
Wrote a drama and also acted in it on the School's Envision Annual Day which was based on "Evils of Dowry" and how it destroys the lives of women and those around them, along with displaying the other aspects of what happens when the same is done towards the groom side (this is a great societal plague that exists over here in communities where son is seen as an asset)
During the Board Examination period, started teaching peers and friends Science and Social Science who were facing academic setbacks and were unaware of how to proceed with the studying aspect- eventually helping them achieve decent marks and pass the grade.
Mid Tems- 89% Finals Aggregated Overall: 91.2% Best of 5 subjects %= 94.4% Topper of the School, scoring the highest marks in Maths (this was the subject due to which dip in my % takes place), English, Information Technology and Social Science.
SENIOR SECONDARY PROFILE: (This is a relatively large school with great number of opportunities and catering to about 2400-2800 students in total from pre primary to 12th Grade)
Grade 11th: Physics Chemistry Maths English and Physical Education Mid terms: 89% Finals:93% (had to work shit ass hard for this) 2nd Highest Scorer from Science Stream- Class Size of 24 Students Highest marks in English, Physics and Maths
Went from my % dropping due to that subject to being the top scorer. Idk how to convert this to GPA. And the top performer in academics and extracurriculars amongst 59 students (Science + Commerce - 11th Grade)
Extracurriculars Cultural Prefect: Inculcated the feeling of cultural harmony which resonated with the ethos of the school via activities held at school which involved showing various scenarios of communities from different backgrounds and religious beliefs coming together to show unity. Was the Head Event Organiser of the Events that took place at school: (Diwali, Teachers Felicitations, Teachers Day, And other Cultural Affairs)
Taught peers and cleared doubts during free periods in Chemistry and Physics mainly
Was a volunteer at Mobile Van Science Exhibition by CSIR- CCMB on genetic diseases held at our school and open for all the student body from grade 4th-12th over the course of one day. Explained Biology concepts while being a Mathematics student pertaining to Vivo General Therapy and how a fractured/genetically disordered gene part is diagnosed, removed and replaced with a healthy one via Vivo Grne Therapy: kinda trespassed the subject bounds of sticking to a subject which I have and doing something new
Attended online course by MIT at EdX: Cell Biology: Transport and Signalling by Rebecca Lamason and Iain Cheeseman. I don't have any certification for this cuz that's again really expensive and I'm broke, so. (A lot of factors come to downplay cuz of finances)
I attended the sessions only and didn't buy the plan which will give the lectures access- that'll cost 8k Indian rupees
Selected amongst a pool of students for showing genuine interest for Shadow A Scientist Program by CSIR- CCMB to spend a day in the lab of a senior scientist of our choice and understand the workings and behind the scenes of the lab, enhancing intellectual vitality and also this showcases genuine interest of mine for biomedical engineering. Got to spend a day at a Stem Cell Technology lab and learnt about Cryoscopy, Cell Transfusion, Ways to detect whether the cell is dead or nope by its surface and color of the solution, specific temperatures to adhere to, Onset of Cancer Cell and how it looks like in the beginning ears, Results of Tests ran on lab mice to understand cancer cells development in neural muscles and veins and how it affects brain functioning, and how does removing that cancer part again affects the functioning, and learnt about an Experiment conducted by LV Prasad Institute of Technology in collaboration with CSIR CCMB for Hydrogel and it's effect in clearing Eye infections by testing it on a New Zealand Rabbit. Results showed that enhances recovery period etc were detected on the subject which was studied under hydrogel vs one which was given normal ones- ultimately leading to his blindness.
Also Worked and prepared Uribed- here's it's abstract Uri-Bed: Where Dignity Meets Innovation- ABSTRACT
1. Introduction: A Personal Spark and a Universal Need
Imagine a loved one, someone who has nurtured and supported you throughout your life, now facing the challenges of urinary incontinence. Their once vibrant nights are now filled with anxiety and fear of leaks. Their independence, a hallmark of their golden years, is replaced by dependence on others. This was the heart-wrenching reality that inspired the Uri-Bed. As students Me and my friends witnessed this struggle firsthand and knew we had to create a solution as Young Innovators. Urinary incontinence is far from an isolated issue. It affects millions globally, particularly the elderly population. Our goal wasn't just to manage this condition; it was to empower individuals to reclaim their dignity and independence.
2. Delving Deeper: The Scope of Urinary Incontinence and Limitations of Existing Solutions
Urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine, is a prevalent condition with significant physical and emotional consequences. It impacts daily activities, social interaction, and self-esteem. For seniors, it can be a source of embarrassment and isolation.
Traditional solutions, while offering some level of management, come with limitations:
Diapers: These bulky and uncomfortable products trap moisture, leading to skin irritation and increased risk of infections. Furthermore, disposable diapers create a substantial environmental burden, taking centuries to decompose in landfills. Catheters: While effective in managing incontinence, catheters can be intrusive and painful. They also increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), creating a vicious cycle of discomfort and medical intervention. The limitations of these solutions highlight the urgent need for a more dignified and user-friendly approach.
3. Unveiling the Uri-Bed: A Symphony of Innovation and User-Centric Design
The Uri-Bed transcends the concept of a mere incontinence management system. It's a smart bed system designed with the user's well-being at its core. Here's how the Uri-Bed revolutionizes incontinence care:
Discreet and Early Detection: The Uri-Bed's secret lies in its smart mattress pad. This pad is woven with a network of strategically placed, highly sensitive sensors. These sensors are designed to detect even the slightest amount of moisture, triggering a gentle vibration or chime before any leakage occurs. This early detection system allows users to address the situation discreetly, ensuring a peaceful sleep for both themselves and their caregivers. Hygienic and Efficient Drainage: When moisture is detected, the Uri-Bed goes a step further. It features a discreet, closed-loop drainage system. Urine is channeled away from the user through a network of channels embedded within the mattress pad. This eliminates messy cleanups and minimizes the risk of skin infections. The collected urine is then deposited into a disposable container attached to the bed frame, ensuring easy and hygienic disposal. Data-Driven Insights for Proactive Care: The Uri-Bed doesn't stop at managing incontinence; it empowers informed care decisions. The system collects valuable data on urine frequency and volume. This data can be accessed by caregivers or medical professionals through a user-friendly interface. By analyzing these trends, potential health concerns like UTIs or changes in bladder function can be identified and addressed proactively. Early detection and preventive measures can significantly improve a user's overall health and well-being. Optional Remote Monitoring for Added Peace of Mind: For added convenience and peace of mind, the Uri-Bed offers an optional remote monitoring feature. Caregivers can receive alerts on their smartphones or other devices when the system detects moisture. This allows them to check in on their loved ones remotely, particularly for those who live independently. 4. Prioritizing Affordability and Scalability - A Sustainable Solution for Everyone
We recognize that affordability and accessibility are crucial for widespread adoption. The Uri-Bed is designed to be cost-effective and scalable for both home and institutional settings. By utilizing readily available technologies and components, we've kept the production costs manageable. Our estimated cost per unit, X Rupees, falls significantly below the long-term financial burden associated with traditional incontinence management methods like continuous diaper use and frequent medical interventions.
Our implementation plan focuses on collaboration and community engagement:
Pilot Testing and User Feedback: We plan to conduct pilot testing in both home and aged care facility environments. This will allow us to gather valuable user feedback from both patients and caregivers. Their experiences will guide further refinement of the Uri-Bed design to ensure optimal user experience and comfort. Strategic Partnerships: Collaboration is key to success. We will partner with geriatric specialists, caregivers, and manufacturers to achieve our goals. Geriatric specialists will provide invaluable insights into user needs and potential health considerations. Caregivers' feedback will be vital in tailoring the Uri-Bed to real-world solution.
4. Prioritizing Affordability and Scalability - A Sustainable Solution for Everyone

• Strategic Partnerships (Continued): Caregivers' feedback will be vital in tailoring the Uri-Bed to real-world caregiving scenarios. Finally, partnerships with manufacturers will ensure cost-effective production and widespread distribution, making the Uri-Bed accessible to a wider population.
• Training and Education Programs: Successful implementation hinges on user education and training. We will develop comprehensive training programs for caregivers and medical professionals. These programs will cover topics such as proper installation and operation of the Uri-Bed, data interpretation, and best practices for user care.

5. A Competitive Landscape: Uri-Bed Stands Out
The Uri-Bed doesn't exist in a vacuum. While existing solutions address incontinence to varying degrees, the Uri-Bed offers a unique and comprehensive approach:

• Dignity and User-Centric Design: Unlike bulky and uncomfortable diapers, the Uri-Bed prioritizes user comfort and discretion. The system detects leaks early and offers gentle alerts, minimizing embarrassment and promoting self-confidence.
• Enhanced Hygiene and Reduced Infection Risk: The Uri-Bed's closed-loop drainage system eliminates the need for frequent diaper changes, decreasing the risk of skin irritation and infections. This stands in stark contrast to reusable pads or catheters, which can harbor bacteria and increase infection risk.
• Data-Driven Care Management: The Uri-Bed goes beyond simply managing incontinence. It empowers caregivers and healthcare professionals with valuable data on bladder function. This data can be used to identify potential health concerns early on, leading to timely interventions and improved patient outcomes. Remote monitoring capabilities further enhance care management by allowing healthcare providers to offer remote support.

6. Beyond Incontinence: Exploring the Future Potential of Uri-Bed Technology
The innovative technology behind the Uri-Bed holds vast potential beyond its current application in managing urinary incontinence. Here are some exciting possibilities for the future:

• Early Detection of Other Health Conditions: Data collected by the Uri-Bed can be analyzed to identify patterns indicative of various health conditions. Sleep patterns, vital signs, and even subtle changes in user behavior can be used to detect potential health issues like sleep apnea, dehydration, or even early signs of cognitive decline. Early detection allows for prompt intervention and improved health outcomes.
• Personalized Sleep Support: The Uri-Bed's sensor technology can be further developed to personalize the sleep experience. Features like adjustable mattress temperature and targeted vibration patterns can be implemented to promote deeper sleep and address sleep disturbances. This can significantly improve sleep quality and overall well-being.
• Fall Prevention and Enhanced Safety: By utilizing pressure sensors embedded in the mattress pad, the Uri-Bed can be transformed into a fall prevention system. When the bed detects an uneven distribution of weight or a sudden change in position, it can trigger an alert, notifying caregivers of a potential fall risk. This feature can provide peace of mind for both users and their loved ones.

7. Conclusion: A Tapestry Woven with Innovation and Compassion
The Uri-Bed isn't just a bed; it's a symbol of hope and a testament to the power of human ingenuity. It's a testament to the unwavering human spirit that strives to improve the lives of others. We envision a future where technology seamlessly integrates with care, where individuals facing incontinence can reclaim their dignity and independence. We envision a future where every night is a restful one, and where proactive care empowers a healthier tomorrow. Join us on this journey as we weave a tapestry of innovation, one revolutionary beep at a time. By creating solutions like the Uri-Bed, we can ensure that the twilight years are truly golden, filled with comfort, dignity, and a renewed sense of well-being.
This was made by using tools in our Atal Lab and was displayed at National Thalir innovation fest and won creative mastery award. Also had the opportunity to display it at T-WORKS Hyderabads Makers Space Open House which displayed various prototypes and new ideas and got ideas from engineers on how to further develop it.
Worked on Wipro Earthian Waste Management project, assessing qualitatively and quantitatively the wastage generated in school as a whole and disposal measure. Got to know the waste is burnt in the area near to school buses which the students as well as the cows which are in the School's Cattle House are in close proximity with during breaks and home returning time and hence approached the authorities and enclosed the area where the waste is burnt with tin sheds, limiting it's transfusion to human and animal lives and limiting the area where it's burnt, reducing the land that gets degraded.
Also won Swami Vivekananda Youth Level Leadership Award for Outstanding Leader. The contest was held over a 5 month period and had 500 participants in the start. Contest assessed decision making, collaborativeness, thinking ability, honesty quotient, speech, communication, approachibility as a leader, and team work. For context it's Yuva Sangharsh Award by Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad. For context and clarity: https://rkmath.org/ys/
Grade 12th It'll start soon. I'll be applying for Head Boy. Plan on inception of a Major Club: Young leaders club which will house minor magnet clubs like mental health peer support group to help students battle mental health issues due to academics and family problems,environment warriors, bookers club, and youth advocacy club.
I'll be giving SAT but am unsure about the funds cuz again it'll cost 12k for the registration. I'm working right now to save the amount. It's the finances.
I'm unsure about my college acceptance. I've added big ivy universities and mainly private universities cuz they'll be need blind if I get in and are generous, unlike others who take international students as cash cows. If the tution is covered I can manage housing and flight by education loan as such. Public universities give a side eye to international students so can't afford that.
Due to financial constraints I've also started preparing for JEE - an examination in our nation for admission to engineering colleges as a backup option just in case this doesn't work.
Welllp guys lemme know how's it and where should I improve. universities give a side eye to international students so can't afford that

Death and Destruction aspects
“Four directions: in front, behind, above, below.
Death awaits in all directions.
Fourfold is the nature of Death:
Death dissolves, is decay and dissolution.
Death interrupts, and is the final interruption - the ending.
Death is infinite. Life is exhausted, Death is exhaustion. Life is extinguished, Death is extinguishment. Life ends, Death is the end.
Death is mercy. Death ends suffering. And though much is lost, much abides. The dead are the foundation of life and civilization. A cycle never ends. Death leaves behind remnants, and feeds the living.
Three natures hath Destruction:
It unmaketh, it unmaketh, and at last, it unmaketh.”
~a poem attributed to Ozmanthus Arelius
A Path with physical, spiritual and esoteric attacks. Though not the Arelius Patriarch's own Path, it is nonetheless suspected to be a contemporary, inspired by it.
Madra appears the deepest shade of black, like a hole in reality. Cycling it causes the Sacred Artist to feel an unnatural peace.
Remnants of Journey's End are very difficult to gaze upon directly, appearing like discontinuity in existence. Not darkness, but rather... absence. Open your eyes, what do you see beyond the edges of your vision? Not darkness, nothing.
Goldsign of cracks in the very air, spreading like lightning but slowly and without light. These faultlines in reality trace themselves in the wake of any movement made by the Sacred Artist, fade away a foot or so away from them, linger in the air when they stop and stay still. Despite their appearance, they are not spatial anomalies and are not directly dangerous by themselves.
Techniques
Salt Rain: Widespread StrikeForger technique in the form of an acidic miasma. Meant more for damage over time and area denial than direct offense. At Underlord, instead of a toxic vapour, the technique can be condensed into liquid form to create a more potent acid, for direct offense and area denial. The liquid can cause flesh to slough off bones, like ice melting in noonday heat.
Quietening: The artist surrounds themselves in a whirling storm of Forged black skulls. These skulls can attack madra techniques to disrupt, destabilize, dismantle or outright destroy them, depending on their relative power. Even if they can't annihilate the opposing technique, they can weaken it, cause it go off earlier / later, or slightly divert it.
Entomb: RuleForger elements, their corpse preservation technique. They are no gravekeepers, they don't preserve the body for sentimental reasons but preventing degradation of the corpse prolongs not only its existence but also its service as a source of aura. Skeletons, bone ash and even fossils give off Death aura, but intact cadavers are a richer source.
Separation: Striker technique that attacks the connections between the body and spirit, causing immense pain and spiritual disruption, can untether sections of madra channels, and at its most terrifying, tear out your Remnant. Requires madra control, Living Soulsmithing knowledge and willpower.
Mercy: Striker technique, with four stages of development. Takes the form of a lance of Journey's End madra that directly attacks the Lifeline. At the first stage, it merely shaves off the target's lifespan. At the second stage, it destroys the Lifeline, a successful hit means death, guaranteed; requires power and strength of will. With willpower, esoteric knowledge and skill, the attack strikes deeper than the Lifeline, as though a strike directly on their consciousness, this is the third stage. And finally with Authority, the technique can attack one's very Origin, the connection that tethers them to the way.
Jade Cycling Technique
There have been various methods devised by Sacred Artists to Cycle dangerous madra types. Do note that most of these methods also dilute the power of these madra mixtures. Which is a problem because the point of having dangerous madra types is often making a deadly weapon, and how long that "weapon" lives is of little concern. Indeed, it's better that the "weapon" is destroyed before it turns on its wielder. There are even artificial Paths whose mixes are impossible for living beings to survive, but powerful Remnants with the help of Scripts and other instruments can, they are then harvested to create literal weapons - Sacred Instruments.
In other cases, established powers have various means which are otherwise inaccessible to the common Sacred Artist that allows them to safely practice their Path of Death and Destruction, Fire and Destruction, Death and Poison, Blood and Destruction, Poison and Life, Fire and Poison or other commonly dangerous mix of aspects. Death and Destruction do tend to top these charts, though do note Death and Hunger are the only aspects that are directly dangerous by themselves; Destruction, Poison, Fire etc generally aren't that dangerous by themselves... well, not usually, at any rate, unless your source of aura itself is particularly dangerous.
The Cycling Technique itself doesn't have to be the solution, of course, and typically, it isn't. Most instead rely on external resources, such as Divine Treasures, bonded spirits or a continuous source of Natural Treasures. Others rely on specialized Iron Bodies, which are often rather... difficult to acquire. These measures often aren't permanent, but something to mitigate the harm caused by their extremely caustic madra, until they reach a high enough level of advancement that they can handle the power or have access to better resources.
There are a few broad methodologies employed by Sacred Artists in designing a Cycling Technique for madra types that can hurt themselves: A) use another aspect to counter it, either by mixing them or by splitting your core. The latter is considerably rarer, and typically the secondary core is used to Cycle Life or Blood to heal oneself from the damage caused by the primary madra. In the former case, you can, for eg mix Death with Earth to make it safer to Cycle, which is the safest known mixture of Death, sometimes known as Fertility madra, or rather erroneously as Bone madra - which is actually a separate aspect that's more related to Life. B) Dilute it, either by using Pure madra, or, in the case of subaspects like Death, Cycling the main aspect, Life. This results in Life madra that's more suited for Death madra applications. Similar to Force madra veering towards sharpness to such a degree that it's almost Sword madra. Technically, such a madra type would more accurately be called Rot or Digestion madra. C) By far the rarest method, is to employ powerful and esoteric Cycling Techniques that employ high level concepts to make Cycling safer, such as the concept of "death feeding life". These methods are highly prized, and jealously guarded, to the point that many have been lost to the relentless march of time. D) a Cycling Technique that makes their madra even more dangerous to Cycle, and rely on their Iron Body and resources to survive, hoping for timely advancement.
Iron Body
Most commonly employed Iron Bodies in this type of situation are typically focused on resistance to specific damage types (myotoxic - muscular paralysis, only affects skeletal muscle with little to no effect on cardiac or involuntary muscle; neurotoxic - damages the nervous system; hemotoxic - disrupts blood clotting and causes internal bleeding, degeneration of the cardiovascular system and other internal organs, massive tissue damage; cardiotoxic - affects cardiac muscle, cause cardiac arrest; cytotoxic - edema, severe blistering, cell death and necrosis, attacking cells on a molecular level). These were created for and are most commonly used by Poison / Venom artists, but other madra mixtures can have similar damage, and the Iron Bodies can serve in those cases as well. These Iron Bodies are fairly complex and require the venoms of specific Sacred Beasts or inorganic toxic substances, and as such are hard to acquire outside of the specific areas where they were developed.
Other Iron Bodies include ones focused more generally on physical durability or regeneration. Also, Iron Bodies which provide resistance to specific madra types, these are generally fairly expensive to acquire, requiring rare resources and skilled Soulsmiths & elixir Refiners. More rarely, there are Iron Bodies focused on general spiritual resistance - which are rare by themselves, ones that are also effective for internal resistance are even rarer still.
Weapons/items
Yomi Permission Slip: looks like a strange Scripted token, actually a Divine Treasure. Rarely, very rarely, people are born with enough of an affinity for Death madra that they can Cycle it without immediately dying / shortening their lifespan / severely corrupting their body's Life aura. There are rare Iron Bodies and Cycling Techniques that make it easier for the body and spirit to tolerate the presence of Death. But no matter what, it's always an ongoing struggle, there's always some damage, and your physiology / Iron Body / Cycling Technique is just mitigating it, keeping it manageable. It's resource intensive, and your Path gets more and more expensive as you advance. Once upon a time, ancient Soulsmiths had allegedly learned how to integrate Death madra without harming a living thing, no additional resources needed, but those secrets are lost now, assuming the legends are even true. But throwing scales and chasing legends isn't the only way, there is another fix, an actual solution. This is the last thing you'll ever need to permanently handle Death madra. Cycle it in, and you can Cycle Death madra completely safely, it would not harm your body or spirit. Extremely rare and expensive.

To whom it may concern,
I will be supplying here the ultimate list of bugs, grievances, and complaints from Fortnite: Chapter 5, Season 2. There is no particular order.
My Personal Grievances:

1. A player can get stuck in a vehicle permanently, even after being knocked. Reboot is required to fix.
   
2. A player can have infinite stamina drain, preventing all actions that require stamina. Reboot is required to fix.
   
3. Stamina bar depletes during a sprint jump regardless of the origin of the momentum (shockwave, Hermes' speed, flowberry, or any applicable combination of the three). This defies the laws of physics; it is unnecessary stamina drain and makes the entire stamina system nonsensical. The bonus speed achieved by momentum has nothing to do with the character's physical exertion of energy whatsoever.
   
4. Humoring a fraction of the community to bring back a broken stamina system from an outdated season and chapter. The stamina and movement system was just fine near the middle of C5S1 when Epic delivered on fixing the atrocious movement it made upon release. Once it was fixed, it was ruined it shortly after by reverting to Chapter 4's completely busted stamina system.
   
5. The first nerf to the Reaper Sniper Rifle was enough. Epic humored a small portion of the community again and now the Reaper fails to be a sniper rifle by definition. It can be better used as a one-shot slug shotgun than a long-range option. Anyone who noticed its removal from long-distance combat uses the Hand Cannon or the Huntress DMR more reliably than the Reaper.
   
6. The Frenzy Auto Shotgun nerf was too harsh. It became a pea shooter. The Gatekeeper far suprassed all other shotgun options so heavily that it became the only viable option.
   
7. The Chain, The Wookie Bowcaster, and Zues' Thunderbolts all seem to function properly on PC exclusively. The chain indeed does do area of effect damage, I tested it. It does not apply against a player when the wielder is on console; yet, the chain does a sweeping AoE when damaging structures. The Bowcaster had an overly large splash damage area, only achievable on PC, on console, such AoE did not exist to that extent. Zues' Thunderbolt does more damage on PC than it does on console. I have a theory for that, which I believe is fact, this leads to my next grievance.
   
8. Cheaters on PC can revert Epic's balancing adjustments without the anti-cheat software even catching it. Post Frenzy range nerf I have been dropped in two shots from over 20m away multiple times by someone using this unknown hack. Then, I started noticing players one-shot me with Reapers from 240+ meters away in a split second post nerf (second). This promotes the concept that the cheaters can revert nerfs even to a previous season's standards. Those were all quickscopes (no time to measure a shot AT ALL) with C5S1 bullet drop for the Reaper. Yes, they had glints, meaning they had 4x scopes and I dropped dead before a glint even appeared on the screen.
   
9. Why remove the ability for a glint to appear if an angled foregrip is in use. Since a player can ADS faster the game is failing to animate a glint. This makes no sense. The split second it takes for the code to register a glint based on the stock glint speed for the Reaper matters. The Huntress DMR gets to ADS faster and the glint arrives sooner, but that weapon as well suffers from the same inconvenience. The Angled Foregrip attachment causes the bug.
   
10. This one is a brand new bug. When in-game only, my R2 button tabs over twice to the right instead of just once. This applies to all controllers, all benches, and all emotes too. Therefore, it has nothing to do with controllers, emote wheels, or benches. The issue has to do with an error in the coding IN-GAME. This does not happen in the lobby.
    
11. The Locker UI is vile, horrendous, atrocious, disgusting, repugnant, scummy and lazy. I loathe it's existence entirely and in multiple ways. I now struggle to find my hard-earned items because they are universally without rarity whatsoever. Before that atrocious change, rarities had no color coordination to make my search easier for my items; yet, they maintained their locations in the locker. Now I cannot find anything. If I knew the image of a skin but not its name or its season or chapter, at least I could guess its rarity... That's gone too. Thank you for making my life on your game HARDER. These are the OPPOSITE of QOL updates. The opposite.
    
12. Removing rarities because that deserves to be separated from the Locker UI complaint. Rarities once restrained Epic from corporate greed and, I will say it, price gauging. This could be a criminal offense. The Avatar skins, and others like it, could be criminal offenses. There are perhaps blurred lines here. They were not legendary and Epic just had to charge legendary prices for them. Why?
    
13. The graphics and visual fidelity from this season pale in comparison to Chapter 4. Chapter 5 brought many QOL changes at first, but now it seems to be slipping away into a place it cannot return from. Epic has the means do better and I believe since we FUND the game, Epic is morally obligated to BE BETTER. In terms of gameplay, Chaper 5 is 100% an upgrade from Chapter 4. Visuals, however, are lacking. Even LEGO Fornite looks better than Battle Royale.
    
14. Waterbending. Nuff said.
    
15. Failure to properly manage events Part I. The Avatar: The Last Airbender event was a welcome surprise and even then, with such a great IP, Epic failed to deliver. Firebending was so terrible it really became a three-element event. The only scroll with a passive ability was the Water Scroll. Earthbending was a failed opportunity to be creative with the armor + weapon concept. Airbending was the best movement ever released in the game, period. All scrolls should have left the game upon the event's conclusion! WHY DID EPIC KEEP WATERBENDING IN THE GAME FOR SO LONG! It removed the life of the game completely! It was not FUN at all. Getting a win became a chore!
    
16. Failure to properly manage events Part II. Star Wars day is a time in Fortnite festivities I used to look forward to since Fortnite first introduced it. Each year the event had been a success. Not this time. The Wookie Bowcaster was a flop. There was only one lightsaber. Epic chose to bring back a weapon incapable of dropping someone unless the person shooting it is using Zen... The E-11. Epic should have chose to bring back the DC-15. I could care lese about canonical importance! I can play as Omni man with Goku's Power Pole and Waterbend Darth Vader to the point of defeat to then wield a supbar pathetic example of a light saber. Maybe, if Epic managed IPs properly instead of just for greed, this light saber could counter the Chain of Hades. Each color of a lightsaber has its own power. If Epic wanted to keep Waterbending during a Star Wars event, maybe let us counter that atrocity with force powers buffed to the extent that there is NO SHOOTING while being force pushed or force pulled. Epic had the potential to conclude the season in a very fun way; this opportunity was squandered.
    
17. Lack of event related skins and accessories. We all know Sokka should have made it. We all know each skin from Avatar: The Last Airbender should have had a selectable style that represents Book 3 of the show we fans love. Even then, Zuko should have had his villain style (topknot) and his raid gear (Book 1 finale) style and Katara should have had a Painted Lady style. Epic, charged 2,000 V-Bucks PER CHARACTER and failed to put EACH in a bundle. We at least deserve some creative skins from the most iconic scenes in the show. Where is Azula! The opportunity to, "Shut up and take my money" in a way where no one would complain about it is out the window. Gone forever. R.I.P. As for Star Wars Day, each item shop skin for that IP should drop every Star Wars Day (week/event) along with new skins each year. No need to clutter the item shop with so many options at once. If the event returns, each day of the event should feature returning item shop skins from that IP.
    
18. Lack of creativity. Epic has concept artists design skins then proceeds to make absolutely atrocious decisions with the in-game render. Where are Greek plumes? Why did Epic remove the name Athena and name her Odyssey instead? Odyssey happens to be the name of an epic poem for Greek Mythology, featuring Odysseus, who is a male. Each concept art design is far superior to the in-game adaptation and are far superior. This is lazy, absolutely lazy. More effort was put into the drawings by the artists than Epic put into the 3-D render. Most skins did not make it to the Battle Pass nor the Item Shop. I would have bought a Minotaur skin. I would have bought a Spartan skin (not Spartan Assassin). I would have bought younger Kratos. Instead of humoring the fan-base Epic delivered new Item Shop skins (rarely) that had NOTHING to do with the theme of the season. This was a failed opportunity to bring out amazing designs based on both history and mythology. At least we got Socrates Peely... Amazing 10/10. That's creative, lucrative, and a reference to one of the founders of Philosophy. It is accurately designed as well, he is dressed in blue which means he hails from Athens.
    

19: For God's sake, I cannot stress this one enough. The reload glitch. It has been in the game since Chapter 3! What happened here!? I have died over 50 times because my fully reloaded gun has to magically reload when I switch to it. I have video proof that my magazine was not empty either. It was so bad that even when I sprinted to cancel the reload, since it showed a mostly full clip in my Frenzy, it still forced the reload!

1. Another glitch regarding ammunition. Every time a player picks up a weapon with a drum mag, said player must reload the weapon to get a full mag. This applies universally, even to weapons with built in drum mags like the drum gun, even if the weapon was not fired by another player. But wait there's more.
   
2. Every time a player drops a fully loaded drum mag weapon, it must be reloaded when picked up. By another player or by the original player. Does not matter. This is extremely tedious. No loss of bullets occur which implies Epic is fully aware of the bug but refuses to fix it, at least we players keep the ammo. The bullets indeed magically appear back in the player's inventory. We will NOT accept this as a fix.
   
3. The XP rewards are becoming less and less each season while it feels as if the XP requirement for Level 200 increases more and more each season. As a company, Epic cannot humor the hardcore player base alone in terms of time spent gaming. Epic also cannot humor casual players that may intend to cheese 100 or 200 levels within a week. There is common ground that must be had here because I, myself, a hardcore player, definitely do NOT want to play other games that are NOT BR to complete my BR Battle Pass. Please do not force this. Neither casual nor hardcore wants to play your A: Rip off and B: Pathetic examples of videogames just to level up in what made Fortnite famous to begin with. I am not opposed to having these modes that are indeed cheap knock-offs, I am opposed to being forced to play them for XP for my -Battle Royale<--- Battle Pass. Disclaimer: Perhaps Rocket Racing is original, even then those lines are blurred.
   
4. It took too long to fix the "High/Very High Complexity Area" bug in LEGO Fortnite. I once loved to play and wanted to keep playing with the ideas I had. But no, Epic did not move fast enough. Now, Epic just scrapped the potential of the mode entirely and demands money for things that should be -Free Content<--- updates and proceeds to overprice them as well. I have been robbed of my child-like desire to play, to build, and to be creative in what could have been a respectable competitor to Minecraft because of Epic's laziness. This bug deserved an IMMEDIATE FIX. It took MONTHS. The fire, the passion, my will to play it... all gone. From dust that gamemode came and to dust that gamemode returns.
   

Unless spontaneous events are added, as seen in Terraria, there is ZERO reason for me to play. Please create more enemies and more rarities. Bring sunbeam into the mix, or what about Rainbow Crystals and Spectralite... Moonstone! The sky is the limit and again, Epic fails to achieve it. Bring back Honey! Another dead concept for Epic. Revive those items from Save the World in LEGO Fortnite and I just might be enticed to play again.
24: Vehicles can magically fall under the map, thus disappearing from the player's sight. Or perhaps the vehicle just disappears entirely.

1. Epic refuses to IP ban hackers because they make up 30% of the community as a whole and FAR MORE in the competitive community (Ranked/Cups). Zen and StrikePacks are now so advanced that they each must bypass Epic's supposed anti-cheat software, if there even is one. I have witnessed very OBVIOUS and full blown aimbot from so many sources that I personally doubt anti-cheat software even exists... Therefore what is there to bypass? I remember the days when a Banhammer would occur. A grimy little cheater was instantly removed from the game with a strike of lightning so powerful it was heard across the map. The account was then banned according to a Epic's severity of punishment.
   
2. A player has higher chances of being banned for saying one curse word, even jokingly (Violation of human rights) than actively hacking (violation of IP rights).
   
3. Confrontational emotes. I understand why this is, yet when money is involved, such a change is not ethical to make. If a player purchases an emote, and part of that purchase is EVERYONE can see it, Epic cannot change the fact it should be seen universally. That violates the purpose of the purchase and someone's pocket far more than either of those emotes could EVER alter someone's mood. It is not Epic's responsibility that people get angry at a donkey laughing or someone dancing with Take the L. I cannot even comprehend what is offensive or confrontational about the banana version of Make it Rain. It does not make sense, whatsoever.
   
4. Spectating, for some reason, is broken. It is not possible to switch players. I play with a large community of routine players from a Discord server I run alongside trusted routine players. Spectating in a lobby with six players or more has become tradition, especially on the weekends. Having this bug in the game hinders our joy of watching other members play the game, and even helping them win with advice.
   
5. The minimap player markers disappear and the color coding bugs out showing multiple colors of one type on the HUD.
   
6. The boss battle music persists regardless of muting the music volume in settings.
   
7. The engines are so ridiculously loud, especially Beskar, and are part of the Sound Effects bar. Please allow us to alter this specific volume in its own bar separate from Sound Effects.
   
8. This is my final grievance. All these bugs in a game from a developer and producer with hundreds of billions of dollars mostly earned from Fortnite (the community of players). Instead of reinvesting the money where it belongs, such as patchwork, content (new original skins, battle passes, maps, etc.), and graphics, Epic uses this money for what seems to be nothing pertaining to the betterment of Battle Royale and everything that pertains to a money grab.
   

A reflection: How many of these bugs, most of which are game breaking, will Epic fix? Will the Locker UI ever be restored to it's former glory (as per community demand)? Most of these balancing issues will resolve themselves because they will simply no longer apply, not because Epic went out of its way to make things right (such as Waterbending). If I have to deal with EITHER of these bugs again this season my excitement will just be robbed from me.
PS: Epic please... If this catches your attention in any way, I must share one sentence, "Purpose brings profit." - Alex Edmans
For the love of God, treat us like gamers (people) not statistics or profit. We are indeed Epic's primary investors afterall. I personally believe Epic has lost or is starting to lose its purpose with Fortnite: Battle Royale
Thank you for reading and God bless you all,
Chonk_Lord48
Source: The social responsibility of business, Alex Edmans

Post(s) in Question

Post: https://www.reddit.com/zen/comments/1cx1gjl/what_did_ananda_inherit/
WHAT DID BUDDHA TRANSMIT?
There could hardly be a more definitive or significant question.

Podcast:

Link to episode: https://sites.libsyn.com/407831/5-21-wumenguan-case-22-astroemi
Link to all episodes: https://sites.libsyn.com/407831
Buymeacoffee, so I'm not accused of going it alone:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ewkrzen

What did we end up talking about?

There wasn't much in the way of translation problems. The last line of the poem was mistranslated (over translated?) by several people. The significance of the case was the main discussion point.
There is also probably a glitch where people talk over each other... it doesn't last.

CHATGPT TRANS:

CASE: Kashyapa and Ananda Ananda asked Kashyapa, "Apart from the robe of golden brocade that the World-Honored One transmitted, what else was passed on?" Kashyapa called out, "Ananda!" Ananda responded, "Yes?" Kashyapa said, "Knock down the flagpole in front of the gate."

Wumen's Instructional comments:

If you can turn the phrase around here, you will see that the assembly on Vulture Peak has not yet dispersed. If not, even the Buddha of Vipaśyin would have to ponder it, yet still not grasp its profundity.

Wumen's Instructional Verse:

How does the question compare to the answer?
How many people are blinded by this?
The elder calls, the younger responds, revealing the family's disgrace,
Beyond yin and yang, there is another spring.

Explaining Yin/Yang symbol's meaning:

The Yin-Yang symbol is tightly connected with the annual cycle of the earth around the sun, and the four seasons resulting from it. To investigate this cycle, the ancient Chinese used a pole that they put up orthogonally to the ground, as shown in Figure 4. With this setup, the ancient Chinese were able to record precisely the positions of the sun’s shadow and divide the year into different sections. They found the length of a year to be about 365.25 days. Furthermore, they divided the circle of the year into segments, including the vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, summer solstice, and winter solstice.
In addition, they used concentric circles around the pole, helping them to record the length of the sun’s shadow every day. As a result, they measured the shortest shadow during the summer solstice, and measured the longest shadow during the winter solstice.** After connecting the measured points and dimming the part that reaches from summer solstice to winter solstice (Yin), they arrived at a chart like the one in Figure 5** [yin/yang symbol].

If u wanna podcast?

Add a comment if there is a post you want somebody to get interviewed about, or you agree to be interviewed. We are now using libsyn, so you don't even have to show your face. You just get a link to an audio call.
I was thinking about the fact that it seems pretty reasonable to call somebody up and talk on the phone about something you talk about on reddit everyday... but some people are nervous about this. Why? It's a phone call. Is it the public nature of the phone call? In a coffee shop it's public too... but it's not scrutinized.
Being wrong... is that the big worry? We all have trouble saying Chinese words, remembering Chinese names, and explaining Zen concepts that the Chinese themselves were uncomfortable with. What's the standard for public conversations when it comes to knowledge? Does that standard mean less people want to talk publicly?

After playing I grew opinion that Sordland is most similar to Georgia and I will explain why.
(It's just a speculation and theory)

History parallels

I will start with direct parallers.
Sordland: Wisci (first president of Sordland) wrote a constitution which tried to establish the institutions necessary for a democratic republic. Soon, Wisci's government became the victim of a military coup led by the nationalist general, Eduard Luderin. Luderin instituted a reign of terror that crushed dissent against his government. The Sordish Civil War erupted.
Georgia: Gamsakhurdia’s (who was also the first president) government also try to wrote constitution and to form government, but it failed because of Nationalist military coup led by Jaba Ioseliani. which started the times of Anarchy and civil war with trumvirate government ruled by Jaba Ioseliani, Tengiz Sigua and Tengiz Kitovani.
Sordland: The civil war ended after Colonel Tarquin Soll intervened, which resulted in Luderin's capture and Rikard's death. Soll restored the republic with himself as president and established the United Sordland Party, which served as the governing party of Sordland. Under Soll's leadership, the young republic experienced stability and growth and protection from foreign influence, which solidified the country's position.
Georgia: Civil war ended after Eduard Shevardnadze intervened, which also funny enough resulted in capture of Tengiz Sigua, Tengiz Kitovani and Jaba Ioseliani’s death. Shevardnadzes finally formed government and established constitution and Presidency. Shevardadzes rule was characterised of ending anarchy, stability, growth and also establishing protective measures against any foreign powers.
Sordland: Unfortunately over time, Soll grew increasingly authoritarian, which brought the country into stagnation and increased political and racial tensions. Tarquin Soll was eventually succeeded by Ewald Alphonso, a reformist within the USP who promised to bring reform to the country. Unfortunately, a combination of infighting, a hasty liberalization of the economy and continental economic tensions led to a recession and the empowerment of various oligarchs.
Georgia: As expected Shevardnadze was practicly a authoritarian dictator with infinite power because of broken Constitution that established Absolute presidency. He was succeded by Mikheil Saakashvili who was also part of Shevardnadzes party and was known reformer. His reforms was charaterised as pro-free market and excesive privatization, which led to reccession, uneployment and problem with oligarchs, but it was hard because of as said in Suzerain “hasty liberalization of the economy and continental economic tensions” which perfectly explains it.
I believe simillarities end there because there is no corrolations between Anton and party that succeded the Saakashvili.

Geopolitics

Sordland is between two superpowers of Arcasia and United Contana. This is pretty easy to see as Georgia is also between influence of Capitalist USA and Communist China. Georgia is friendly to both and is experiencing benefits from both of them.
In north there is Rumburg which is identical to Russia. both imperialist country that is characterised by agression. Sordland can have war with Rumburg, as well as Georgia had one with Russia.
Sordland and Agnolia are friends and Agnolia is clearly Netherlands. Georgia has strong relationship with netherlands (probably best in Europe).
Wehlen can be Azerbaijan. They are simillar because of Authoritarian President and Oil.

Separatist Region

Sordland: There is Special zone of Bergia within the Sordland that is problematic Region because of it’s Seccesionist tendencies. Bludish separatis are suplied with AK’s by Rumburg.
Georgia: There sadly was a Autonomous region of Abkhazia which was also seccesionist and is probably exactly is like bergia. Abkhazian separatists were suplied with AK by guess who… Russia.

Characters

Wisci and Gamsakhurdia

• Both first presidents.
• both were authors and wrote poems.
• Famous father and son.
• Came with Revolution (definetly with a blast).
• was couped.
• had tragic and undeserving death.

Wisci and Gamsakhurdia

Tarquil Soll and Eduard Shevardnadzee

• both were experienced statesman.
• ended anarchy and stabilized country.
• Saviours of Government at first, but Authoritarians at the end.
• Protectionist politics.
• Created Constitution.
• the way game describes vibe of soll is same as Shevardnadze (Abstract I know but both had same presence in room trust me).
• Was ousted by Inexperienced Reformist.
• Have not been seen after resignation and were isolated.
• had protection status (somethin like member of honour).
• had immense power and infuence even after resignation.

Soll and Shevardnadze

Ewald Alphonso and Mikheil Saakashvili

• Both were Reformist within Party (Ewald in USP and Saakashvili in UCG (Union of Citizens of Georgia).
• Implimented Free-market reforms.
• Privatization and Tax cuts.
• Pro-wester capitalists
• Radical reforms that hindered public opinion.
• Ties to Businessmans.
• Constantly in a battle against Old Guard.
• Tried to hurt authoritarian nature of previous leader.

Unlike Alphonso, Saakashvili served two termes as a president but I only counted his first one.
Ewald and Mikheil

Conclusion

This is my opinion and even though I tried to base it on as much facts as I can it is just a speculation. Because I dont know much about modern Turkey I can’t say much about their similarities.
I don't know if this kinda story repeats in every country in reccession but it definetly happend in Georgia.
Sorry for any grammar mistakes and thank you if you for read it and for learning a little more about my country.

"Has the Kingdom of God Come?"

The Scriptures seem to imply that the kingdom of God isn't exactly synonymous with what is called "the Church." The Church was a temporary eschatological community of believers that existed on earth in preparation of a kingdom where God Himself would reign, and said community had Christ reign over them in the meantime. The head of the Church was Christ, with the Father serving as his head (1 Cor. 11:3). The Scriptures teach that, when all Christ's enemies were to be made his footstool, he was to give back all authority to the Father (Psa. 110:1, 1 Cor. 15:22-28), and it is this page's belief that this happened in 70 AD.
The following quotation is from the above hyperlink:

As for the "1000 years" mentioned in Revelation, they are apocalyptic metaphor for the 40 years Christ "reigned" (triumphed) over his enemies both human and spirit, with the final triumph being the judgement of apostate Jerusalem. The "1000 years" began with his ascension, and ended with this judgement.

Thus, the community to replace the Church on earth was to be the kingdom of God. But, what even is the kingdom of God, and why did God have to reclaim authority of His own creation in the first place?
To be as succinct as possible: Man sinned, and so both immortality (i.e., access to the tree of life) and the great level of authority God initially granted us ourselves over the creation were stripped. As a result, death and sin reigned and had to be defeated for God to allow us to reign with Him in the way that He originally intended for us. God has always been sovereign, of course, but He seeks the good of man to make us stewards over His world with Him, as that was His original plan and this was His original view of what a kingdom of His truly looks like: a kingdom characterized by man's love for Him and love for others.
When Adam sinned, humans fell under the tyranny of death, corruption, evil heavenly powers, and sin itself. When Jesus came, Jesus was the new and exalted human, the new Adam, through whom humanity could now realize their original destiny that was laid out for them in the Garden of Eden. Because Jesus, being a man, obeyed unto death, he has defeated the powers which held sinners so long under bondage; sinners are now offered liberation so long as they simply place their faith in Christ's sacrifice to wash them of their sins and participate with the Spirit of God that is promised to all who exercise this faith.
The Bible isn't just about individual salvation. The goal isn't just 'go to heaven when you die.' Humans were created to be part of God's creation project and can build for his kingdom now. God puts his people in the right (i.e., "justifies" them) as a means to that end.
Humans were made to be stewards of God's creation. Their enslavement to sin and death undermines that role. But rather than giving up on humans and restoring creation by some other means, God, via the death and resurrection of Jesus, rescues the humans from sin and death so that they can fulfill that stewardship role.
We often think of ‘the gospel’ as the part that brings the forgiveness of sins (and of course, that is part of the idea), but ‘gospel’ is the announcement that everything has changed in the coming of Jesus and it leads us to a new kind of living.
The gospel Jesus preached and the gospel the apostle Paul preached were different, in that Jesus preached of a kingdom where God reigns directly and with all His faithful subjects as participants in that reign. The gospel Paul preached was about the exaltation and reign of Christ, and because Christ reigned, the consummation of the kingdom of God with earth could now finally take place (Col. 1:12-13). This consummation was put on hold during Christ's "millennial" reign, which transpired between his ascension and his return. However, the consummation has come to full fruition since that return.
We will be arguing for some of these claims by pointing out how central the kingdom of God actually was to Jesus' earthly ministry and message, and demonstrate what Jesus taught about how it actually looks like.
The term 'kingdom' appears 53 times in 42 places in Matthew, 17 times in 13 places in Mark, and 41 times in 29 places in Luke. When the 'kingdom' is qualified, Luke always refers to the 'kingdom of God' (32 times) and Mark follows this pattern (14 times). Matthew, on the other hand, prefers the term "kingdom of heaven" (31 times), using the phrase to refer to the same idea "kingdom of God" only four times: 12:28, 19:24, 21:31, 43.
The Gospel of Luke records an event where Jesus responds to the population that lived near Simon Peter's house who believed in him after he had done his miraculous work there, but saw that he was leaving them:

"And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore [i.e., for this pupose] am I sent." (vss. 42-43)

The Greek word euangelion is often translated as the word 'gospel.' In the Bible, this word is always used whenever it concerns the announcement of the reign of a new king. And in the New Testament, the Gospels themselves use this word or the phrase "good news" to summarize all of Jesus’ teachings. They say he went about “preaching the gospel [good news] of the kingdom [of God]” (Matt. 4:23).
There’s this beautiful poem in the Old Testament, and it’s in chapter 52 of the Book of Isaiah. The city of Jerusalem had just been destroyed by Babylon, a great kingdom in the North. Many of the inhabitants of the city have been sent away into exile, but a few remained in the city, and they’re left wondering, "What happened? Has our God abandoned us?" This was because Jerusalem was supposed to be the city where God would reign over the world to bring peace and blessing to everyone.
Now, Isaiah had been saying that Jerusalem’s destruction was a mess of Israel’s own making. They had turned away from their God, become corrupt, and so their city and their temple were destroyed. Everything seemed lost. But the poem goes on. There is a watchman on the city walls, and far out on the hills we see a messenger. He’s running towards the city. He’s running and he’s shouting, “Good news!” And Isaiah says, “How beautiful are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings [news]” (vs. 7a). The feet are beautiful because they’re carrying a beautiful message. And what’s the message? That despite Jerusalem’s destruction, Israel’s God still reigns as king, and that God's presence is going to one day return with His city, take up His throne, and bring peace. And the watchmen sing for joy because of the good news that their God still reigns (vs. 10).
Jesus saw himself as the messenger bringing the news that God reigns. Jesus also claimed to be the Son of man. This was Jesus' favorite self-designation, being used some 80 times in the Gospels. Notice, not just a son of man, but the Son of Man. Jesus was directing our attention to a vision described by the prophet Daniel:

"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him:"-Daniel 7:13-14a

At Jesus' trial, the Jewish high priest accused Jesus: "Art thou the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed [God]?" His answer left no room for doubt. "I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:61-62). Because Jesus was rejected and killed for threatening the power the religious authorities had over the people, the consummation of God's kingdom with earth had been put on hold until all of Christ's enemies would be put under his feet after his ressurection and ascension.
But again, what is the kingdom of God? What does it look like exactly?
Well, the way that Jesus described God’s reign surprised everybody. I mean, think about it. A powerful, successful kingdom needs to be strong, able to impose its will, and able to defeat its enemies in physical combat. But Jesus said the greatest person in God’s kingdom was the weakest, the one who loves and who serves the poor (Matt. 23:11-12). He said you live under God’s reign when you respond to evil by loving your enemies, and forgiving them, and seeking peace (Matt. 5). To us, this is an upside-down kingdom. But to God, it's right-side up. This was what God had originally planned for us: a kingdom where God reigns in our hearts.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."-John 3:3

Jesus was being quite literal here. You can’t see the kingdom until you’re born again and have the life of that kingdom. When you’re born again, you start 'seeing' differently. You see what others don’t see, you hear what others don’t hear, you know what others don’t know. And yet you may be physically in the same earthly location as they.
The kingdom of God is the totality of God’s influence that covers the world and heaven. It’s everywhere, but its manifestation isn’t everywhere. It manifests on earth wherever there are those who are born again and live as if God reigns in their hearts.
Before Jesus, John the Baptist announced to all people, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matt. 3:1-2), as he saw a soon coming kingdom of God that would be ushered in by the Messiah. Notice that John the Baptist didn’t say that something “like” the kingdom would come and he didn’t say that the real kingdom might be thousands of years away. He said over and over that THE kingdom was at hand! Do you believe him? Did God inspire him to give a clear and accurate message or a mistaken one? If we dare to believe him, things might become surprisingly clear, simple and exceedingly optimistic.

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."-Matthew 6:10

Jesus taught his followers of his generation to pray that God's kingdom come and that His will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Why pray for something that will just inevitably come by force, unless it was actually through our willing participation? That is, unless God's will is carried out through us "in earth, as it is in heaven"?

"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."-Mark 1:14-15

It's very telling that these are the very first words the Gospel of Mark chooses to record Jesus as saying.
The kingdom is NOT something to wait for. Jesus says the kingdom is NOT something visible, and it is NOT something in the sky. The Kingdom Jesus taught is a spiritual reality that comes into the world through us. Considering that Jesus even said the kingdom was in and among the Pharisees in Luke 17, which seems almost offensive to consider, perhaps it is like a spiritual seed that has been planted inside each of us, and that activating faith in God makes it grow.

"Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it."-Luke 13:18-19

Jesus talked about the kingdom as if it would be a present reality, yet one that was growing in the world like a seed grows into a tree.

"And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."-Luke 13:20-21

To Jesus, the kingdom was something growing in us like yeast through dough, increasing in effectiveness.

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."-Romans 14:17
"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."-1 Corinthians 4:20

Paul says the kingdom isn’t something you taste or touch like physical food. It’s not even saying the right words. But rather the kingdom comes in the realities of righteousness, peace, joy and power that flavor our lives when we live empowered by the Spirit of God and God's Spirit in us.
Since Jesus the Messiah returned only 40 years after his earthly ministry, putting all enemies under his feet, the complete consummation of earth with the kingdom of heaven has finally taken place.
The kingdom of God has come, and it continues to come through us as believers. It makes progress like light shining into the world and dispelling the darkness.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 5:14-16

Eternal Life Is Now

Most Preterists affirm that we are in the kingdom of God now. That is, we believe that through faith in Jesus Christ's atonement we enter into the kingdom of God, which is spiritual. We speak of the spiritual nature of the kingdom. We speak of God dwelling with men. We affirm God’s presence with us. We even affirm that we are in the new heavens and new earth. But the question remains: If we have all of this now, how does this translate into a proper view of “the afterlife”? (Hereafter this term will refer to consciousness and the new body after physical expiration of this body in this mortal realm.) In other words, how does this translate into a hopeful view of the afterlife?
We must dispel a dismal doctrine floating around that this is all there is. There are some Preterists who teach that we are in the kingdom in the here and now, but when we physically expire it is all over. We simply return to dust. What follows will prove this idea to be dreadfully wrong. This will be evident not so much by proving what we will not have after our body dies; rather, it will be evident by proving that what we have now is eternally enduring, because we have immortality.
“He who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus said this to Martha after her brother Lazarus had physically died. She was a real woman who had a real conscience and a real life experience. Lazarus was physically dead; therefore we must take this into consideration as we try to make sense of Jesus’ subsequent words:

"Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"-John 11:23-26

The Jews obviously believed in a resurrection of the dead. Martha did too. But Jesus tells her that he is the resurrection and the life. However, he doesn’t stop there. He begins to both qualify and quantify this life: “He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (vs. 25b). At this point we might still infer from his words that he is referring to physical life, but his next words contradict that idea: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (vs. 26a). Let’s paraphrase his words to elucidate his view of resurrection: “I am the spiritual resurrection and life. Your brother has died physically, but he will rise with a ‘better resurrection’ (Heb. 11:35). He who believes in me, though he were physically dead like Lazarus, yet shall he spiritually live. And he who is presently physically living shall never die spiritually.” Some try to convolute this text by inferring that Christ was speaking of two resurrections. But his statement that he is the resurrection and the life prohibits that concept. Finally, he is obviously not stating that he who lives and believes in Christ will not physically die. If this were his meaning, then we would have to conclude that no one today ever truly believes in him, for all of us still physically die; or we would have to conclude that he was mistaken or was lying, neither of which is an option within the parameters of the Biblical faith.
Obviously those who question this idea will ask questions like, “So this is heaven?” By “this” their minds usually gravitate back to what they see, hear, and feel and not to what the Scripture says. They fail to make a distinction between the physical realm and the spiritual realm. We must remind them that even they will confess that God dwells in their hearts. They would never say that this is a physical dwelling place. In fact they will gladly tell us that our hearts are the spiritual dwelling place of God, a fact with which we would agree. So it should not seem a strange thing that all the blessings mentioned in Revelation chapters 21 and 22 are bound up in the affirmation that God dwells in our hearts, presently. God does not cease to dwell in our hearts in the afterlife. He merely continues to live out His presence with us both here and hereafter.

"If God Reigns, What Do I Do If I Sin Again?"

With all this established, if God is truly reigning in the heart of a believer, what does it mean for us if we sin again in this unglorified body? Further, what did Jesus mean by the following statement?:

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."-Matthew 5:48

This statement is the conclusion from his introductory statement in verse 20 of the same passage:

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is pointing out how outward actions and behaviors are not enough to be approved by or to fulfill what God requires of us. He argues that the condition of one's heart is primarily what God is concerned with, and the scribes and Pharisees with all their legalism and their exclusively deontic approach to interpreting and practicing the Law was not enough to merit entrance into the kingdom of God. They were not spiritually mature enough to consider the intents and motivations that drive one's actions in the first place.
The Greek for "perfect" in Jesus' statement could also mean "complete," "whole," or "mature." There's a high standard one should strive to attain; and striving, and actually practicing righteous conduct, is indeed attainable. We are to strive for spiritual maturity, and this is possible.
Said in a similar context, the Gospel of Luke clarifies Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:48:

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."-Luke 6:36

God's absolute kindness, nothing lacking, is being stressed in the passages in reference. The whole Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7) was designed to bring God's covenant community to spiritual maturity. It is not enough for them to love people who love them, for even the unbelievers love those who love them. Spiritual maturity concerning kindness is they should love those who hate them! As the Creator, God deals gently with people who despise His words and refuse to believe them (going so far as to give these people material sustenance such as sunshine and rain; Matt. 5:45), so believing Israel was to deal tenderly with their persecutors.
The following is taken from a user named u/ArchaicChaos, who speaks here on the subject of justification. I've edited what they said wherever there are brackets to better fit the views of this page, for grammar, and to fix some of the formatting from the original comment for greater cohesiveness in general. If one wishes to view his original statements, they can click here.

[To put it simply:] You are saved by faith [from past sins (Rom. 3:25) but] then judged by [...] works (Jam. 2).

[...]

[W]e [who live today] aren't under the [L]aw of Moses, we are under the law of the Spirit, which is necessarily not a law written in ink. [(]See 2nd Corinthians 3.[)]
"Oh, if you don't follow the Law of Moses, does that mean you can go and kill, since you don't believe in the law that says not to kill?"
The law of the Spirit is centered around love. God's love, through His Spirit. We don't kill, but not because Moses said so. We don't kill because the Spirit we have and are under the law of says not to.

[...]

When Paul says that a man is saved by faith and not by works, he means specifically "works of the law." The [...] mitzvah. When [the apostle] James said that a man is not saved by faith alone but by works also, he is NOT talking about the Mosaic [L]aw. Paul and James agree, but not in the way Protestants have typically understood.
When Paul speaks of faith, he means your entire walk as a Christian. Your thoughts [and] your actions. So when he says ["faith without the deeds of the law" (Rom. 3:28)], he's implying your actions under the Spirit [are also included in faith]. Most miss this.
When James speaks about faith, he means a mental proposition [(Jam. 2:24)]. So, just earlier in chapter 2, he talks about how the demons know that God is one. In other words, the demons have 'faith' (mental knowledge) that God is one and yet they have no works because they don't act like it. They serve another god, that is, Satan.
James is directly addressing the issue of Paul. When Paul wrote [his epistles], people of the time thought when he said "not by works," Paul meant all works. So, they didn't need to help the homeless, feed the poor, etc. Those works "won't buy your salvation." Sound familiar? James is addressing this issue. That's not what Paul meant. Paul meant that works of the [L]aw won't save you, because if you read Romans 7, [...] you'll see that the [L]aw died in Christ, and ["we are married to another" (vs. 4)]. A faith that is dead is what the audience of James' letter were doing. They saw a man hungry and said "I have faith you will be well." But they did nothing. No deeds. James is saying that your knowledge of God isn't going to clothe that man or feed that woman. You must do works. You are not saved by faith alone[, "faith" here] meaning your beliefs. But to Paul? Faith meant the man who sees someone hungry, and then acts according to the Spirit of the law. Not under obligation by a written law in tablets of stone, but by the Spirit law on the heart.

So, being a proper subject of the kingdom of God is not merely about affirming mental propositions, neither is it about actions by themselves, but rather a walk defined by faithful covenant obedience. This is what it's all been about, and willing participation with the Spirit of God is necessary for us to be conformed to His image as He originally intended.
I will now add to what's been said so far with a quotation from another post of mine that I feel is quite relevant here:

Righteousness is not an impersonal, abstract standard, a measuring-stick or a balancing scale. That was, and still is, a Greek view. Righteousness, Biblically speaking, grows out of covenant relationship. We forgive because we have been forgiven (Matt. 18:21-35); “we love" because God “first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 13:8, 10, Gal 5:14, Jam. 2:8). Paul even looked forward to a day when “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10), and he acknowledged that his clear conscience did not necessarily ensure this verdict (1 Cor. 4:4), but he was confident nevertheless. Paul did in fact testify of his clear conscience: “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation [i.e., behavior] in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward” (2 Cor. 1:12). He was aware that he had not yet “attained” (Phil. 3:12-14), that he had to subdue temptation in his body, yet he was confident of the value of his performance (1 Cor. 9:27). These are hardly the convictions of someone who intends to rest entirely on the merits of an alien righteousness imputed to his or her account.

Finally, I will be concluding this teaching by quoting from another user named u/Pleronomicon, who also has some very relevant things to say concerning this subject. Again, like before, I've edited where appropriate and made obvious where I did. If one wishes to see their original statements, the reader may click here for the comment thread where I get most of this from. I also pulled a paragraph from another comment here that was in a separate comment thread that they were in.

I believe sinlessness is not only possible, but necessary for maintaining justification, sanctification, and ultimately salvation. First John 5:4 specifically says that Jesus' commandments are not burdensome.
Biblical perfection is synonymous with maturity.
Salvation is deliverance from the bondage of sin through Christ, and walking in obedience to God by the power of the Holy Spirit, [to inherit] the kingdom.
The Exodus generation was our example for this. The Israelites didn't have to fight their way out of Egypt, but were delivered with a strong hand by the Lord. Nevertheless, most of them walked in disobedience and fell in the wilderness. Only Caleb, Joshua, and the sons of the Exodus generation were allowed to inherit the Land.
If there is anything we can learn from the Exodus generation it's definitely that if one is delivered from bondage and later seeks to return to bondage, they should not expect an inheritance.
IF we sin, we may repent [(1 John 2:1)], but it must not become a pattern. Sin is like sudden death, and repentance is like CPR. How reasonable is it to expect to need CPR on a regular basis?
[[1Pe 4:1-3 KJV] 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, *arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath CEASED FROM SIN; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles*, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:]
Adam introduced sin into the world through death. All who feared death over God inevitably sinned and thereby became slaves to sin.
[[Heb 2:14-15 KJV] 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.]
The flesh prompts within us the inclination to fear death, but that is not the same as a sin nature. Before the fall, the flesh was pacified by the tree of life, so there was no fear of death without an external temptation - the serpent.
Nevertheless, we all do possess the flesh, but sin does not come alive until the commandment is given.
[[Rom 7:9-10 KJV] 9 *For I was alive without the law once: but **when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.*]
So I would not say there is a sin nature apart from the [Mosaic Law]. After Abraham was called, he was able to live his life in obedience to God with an unwavering faith.
[[Gen 26:5 KJV] 5 Because that *Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.***]
[[Rom 4:13, 20 KJV] 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. [...] 20 *He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;***]
I think the confusion surrounding ideas like Original Sin, Total Depravity, and Sin Nature arise from departing from the BIble's own semantics.

[...]

I would say that the closest thing to a "sin nature" would be a synthesis of the Law of Moses superimposed upon the flesh. That does seem to be how Paul explained things in Romans 7:7-25 and Galatians 5.
As Paul explained, the Law of Moses is what provoked disobedience from the flesh, thus revealing sin.
Nevertheless, those who are in Christ and obeying his commandments are not under the Law, but have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires, so that Law-flesh paradigm is not supposed to be an issue in the Spirit.

[...]

Israel didn't struggle to leave Egypt. Likewise, ceasing from sin should not be a struggle either if we're keeping our minds set on the Spirit; [Again,] Jesus' commandments are not burdensome (1John 5:3). God provides a way of escape from all temptation.
[[1Co 10:13 KJV] 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.]

The phrase Royal Priesthood will be familiar to scholars who have studied the concept of priest kingship. The word royal derives from the Latin Regalis meaning to rule. Originally this meant ’to apply a rule’, meaning to be able to measure, observe and thus divine and understand the hidden span or workings of matter. In this sense a ruler was one who was born with the ability to measure and hence understand the hidden workings of the Cosmos. Here we have a direct reference to derkesthai. Hence the regalis was the derkesthai and the derkesthai was the Dragon King. The condition of being royal in the accepted sense is derived from being born into a royal family, clan, race (species) or tribe. Contextually and originally this phrase could only have been used in connextion with the Davidic concept of royalty passed through the blood as the ’holy spirit’ (genetic inheritance) of the gods: Mana, Maia or Maja (Maga or Magi, Magha, Maxa: greatness). 

First time writing a full fledged poem like this, please send any feedback you have, I want to get better at this!
Former Comments:
https://www.reddit.com/OCPoetry/comments/1csqs9h/an_anniversary/
https://www.reddit.com/OCPoetry/comments/1ctlk76/many_lives/

Most Profound Acknowledgment of Failure

I sit on these steps, I draw conclusions.
I spent five dollars on Hindu Literature as a Catholic from a stand off the street,
am I open-minded or impressionable?
A book on unnatural happiness written by a Yale Graduate,
does it sound enlightening or insufferable?
Pondering in faith, spiritual osmosis sounds relieving but the masses condemn it, seen as disconnected and unrealistic.
I trust I'm not wasting my time, that it's not too late. Not too late to see a reality where my spiritual scars have little texture on the carcass of my soul.
I question the extent of my appearance, to be attractive is relative. My skin stretching and my hair growing.
Fallible to external criticism, my Achille's heal. I lay with my partner at night, shuffling in certain positions to keep those hands away from the folds and dough-ey softness near my belly.
A partner so loving that my discomfort with my physical form is the one thing deemed unattractive.
Men come and go, they'll go out the way to even fuck a corpse. I'm choosing to take a masculine approach on this matter as men have disposed of women so consistently, so shamelessly, so recklessly.
It is a shield that has kept me simultaneously up-to-par with the men that act like boys. They will never know the wholesome experience of being fed, caressed, and held by a woman of gold.
All they know is instant gratification, creating a disturbing cavity in their spirit that will eat them away until they're so hollow the only thing that fills them is the echoes that reverberate their spiritual walls, if there are still any up.
Delayed punishment.
Over time they've built symbiotic relationship between their cement hearts and programmable brains, embedding controls to turn their logic on and off.
Dick on, a light switch. Logic on hold. Vice versa.
I typically gave them a reason to turn on their lights. I let them go downstairs, but I always turn on my own lights. I've read the Scarlet letter.
I'm an Oscar winning actress who's really into method acting, too calculated to be a whore.
My head's on my shoulders, with peripheral vision I speak less. My soul spins in three-sixty, never allowing instant gratification soothe my ego knowing what it does to a man's spirit.
I'm writing this up as families climb up the same steps I bear these conclusions at, I feel nauseous. I do, act, and stand by these filthy phrases but then I behave like a child, I watch myself ruin relationships because my lips can't make the right sounds, the most profound acknowledgement of failure.
When I sleep with my partner at night I move those hands to the bosom where my hearts softly beats. The most profound measurement of success is having someone hear what your body is trying to communicate; the serenity felt with my partner is indescribable, something that instant gratification will never provide.
In the purest of souls, you can find the healing you've been seeking, for the kindest of hearts tend to the poor in spirit subconsciously and spontaneously.

I was reading some texts by Foyan when he mentioned Seng-ts'an and his writings. I decided to share and comment on the whole poem which is called Hsin Hsin Ming. The poem is huge, so buckle up!
On having no preferences.

The Perfect Way is only difficult for those who pick and choose; Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hairbreadth difference, and Heaven and Earth are set apart; If you want the truth to stand clear before you, never be for or against. The struggle between "for" and "against" is the mind's worst disease; While the deep meaning is misunderstood, it is useless to meditate on Rest. It [the Buddha-nature] is blank and featureless as space; it has no "too little" or "too much;" Only because we take and reject does it seem to us not to be so.

If you support and objectify something outside yourself, that is already a preference. And then you will reject any view that denies your view of truth. However if you do not have such an object to look towards, what will you do? What would it look like not to fight against another view?
On taking things as they are.

Do not chase after Entanglements as though they were real things, Do not try to drive pain away by pretending that it is not real; Pain, if you seek serenity in Oneness, will vanish of its own accord. Stop all movement in order to get rest, and rest will itself be restless; Linger over either extreme, and Oneness is for ever lost. Those who cannot attain to Oneness in either case will fail: To banish Reality is to sink deeper into the Real; Allegiance to the Void implies denial of its voidness.

There is no use to clean your glasses with your own fingers, it will only smudge them more. By trying to fabricate states or change your current state hoping to have a nicer experience, you will only get further estranged from yourself. By reacting to emotions, you will create even more emotions. Why force rest or peace? Why prefer something more real? How can something other than this experience be more real?
On intellectualization.

The more you talk about It, the more you think about It, the further from It you go; Stop talking, stop thinking, and there is nothing you will not understand. Return to the Root and you will find the Meaning; Pursue the Light, and you will lose its source, Look inward, and in a flash you will conquer the Apparent and the Void. For the whirligigs of Apparent and Void all come from mistaken views;

This reminds of the monk who got to go on a walk with his master and they watched the sunset together. At one point the monk could not help himself and said "How beautiful!". His master never allowed him to go on a walk with him. Of course, this is an extreme case, but by expressing / looking for the beauty in words, it is no longer the same beauty. It is, as if, examined by one and no longer of-itself.
On duality of "Is" and "Isn't".

There is no need to seek Truth; only stop having views. Do not accept either position [Assertion and Negation], examine it or pursue it; At the least thought of "Is" and "Isn't" there is chaos and the Mind is lost. Though the two exist because of the One, do not cling to the One; Only when no thought arises are the Dharmas without blame. No blame, no Dharmas; no arising, not thought.

From the One Mind are born "this" or "that". It can flower in any direction, but don't consider it your own and see it as an arbitrary view.
On me and you.

The doer vanishes along with the deed, The deed disappears when the doer is annihilated. The deed has no function apart from the doer; The doer has no function apart from the deed. The ultimate Truth about both Extremes is that they are One Void. In that One Void the two are not distinguished; Each contains complete within itself the Ten Thousand Forms.

One void, not two, not me, not you. So tell me, who knows more than others? Who has views that others don't see? Who argues with another?
On having no fixed path.

Only if we boggle over fine and coarse are we tempted to take sides. In its essence the Great Way is all embracing; It is as wrong to call it easy as to call it hard. Partial views are irresolute and insecure, Now at a gallop, now lagging in the rear. Clinging to this or to that beyond measure The heart trusts to bypaths that lead it astray. Let things take their own course; know that the Essence will neither go nor stay; Let your nature blend with the Way and wander in it free from care.

Only a fool would try to put a nail in the sky. What is subtle and what is surface understanding? There is a point where they no longer mean anything separately. What then? When things are seen for what they are, as appearances in the One Mind, all boundaries begin to crumble. In nature some branches grow short, some long, all is the body of Buddha.
On splitting the hair in half.

Thoughts that are fettered turn from Truth, Sink into the unwise habit of "not liking." "Not liking" brings weariness of spirit; estrangements serve no purpose. If you want to follow the doctrine of the One, do not rage against the World of the Senses. Only by accepting the World of the Senses can you share in the True Perception. Those who know most, do least; folly ties its own bonds. In the Dharma there are no separate dharmas, only the foolish cleave To their own preferences and attachments.

Don't sit in your meditation or emptiness and reject everything. Don't sit with your Zen texts and reject what is not in your Zen texts. There is One Dharma and it manifests as all. Estrange yourself from your perceptions and senses and you will estrange yourself from the One Dharma.
On no differentiation.

To use Thought to devise thoughts, what more misguided than this? Ignorance creates Rest and Unrest; Wisdom neither loves nor hates. All that belongs to the Two Extremes is inference falsely drawn- A dream-phantom, a flower in the air. Why strive to grasp it in the hand? "Is" and "Isn't," gain and loss banish once for all: If the eyes do not close in sleep there can be no evil dreams; If the mind makes no distinctions all Dharmas become one.

I see this as river, it does not look for the best course, it just flows into the best course. It does not blame rocks for being in the way, it just goes over them. What do you blame? What is it that you want to accomplish and what is it that stands in your way?
On the end of complication.

Let the One with its mystery blot out all memory of complications. Let the thought of the Dharmas as All-One bring you to the So-in-itself. Thus their origin is forgotten and nothing is left to make us pit one against the other. Regard motion as though it were stationary, and what becomes of motion? Treat the stationary as though it moved, and that disposes of the stationary. Both these having thus been disposed of, what becomes of the One?

When you wake up from a dream in the morning, it instantly becomes unreal. In the same way, when all subjective complications are forgotten once and for all, the only flow of existence is revealed to have never ceased. Eternally This, ever flowing.
On freedom.

At the ultimate point, beyond which you can go no further, You get to where there are no rules, no standards, To where thought can accept Impartiality, To where effect of action ceases, Doubt is washed away, belief has no obstacle. Nothing is left over, nothing remembered; Space is bright, but self-illumined; no power of mind is exerted. Nor indeed could mere thought bring us to such a place. Nor could sense or feeling comprehend it. It is the Truly-so, the Transcendent Sphere, where there is neither He nor I.
For swift converse with this sphere use the concept "Not Two;" In the "Not Two" are no separate things, yet all things are included. The wise throughout the Ten Quarters have had access to this Primal Truth; For it is not a thing with extension in Time or Space; A moment and an aeon for it are one. Whether we see it for fail to see it, it is manifest always and everywhere. The very small is as the very large when boundaries are forgotten; The very large is as the very small when its outlines are not seen.

Thusness is the place of non-abiding. No one does the non-abiding so we can say that it happens of itself. This is the freedom that is sought after through endless kalpas of thoughts and emotions. Who would have thought that even thoughts and emotions are of themselves, part of it.
William Blake says:

To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour. 

On the futility of words and trusting the Heart.

Being is an aspect of Non-being; Non-being is an aspect of Being. In climes of thought where it is not so the mind does ill to dwell. The One is none other than the All, the All none other than the One. Take your stand on this, and the rest will follow of its own accord; To trust in the Heart is the Not Two, the Not Two is to trust in the Heart. I have spoken, but in vain; for what can words tell Of things that have no yesterday, tomorrow or today?

Here we meet the paradox of being and non being, of using words to describe the word-less. What does it really mean to trust the Heart? We cannot convey that in any direct way using language. To be honest, we cannot convey much directly using language. Seeing things as not two, or not separate is to have trust in the Heart, or to put it in another way, not closing yourself off via intellectual analysis or emotional reactions is to have trust in the Heart. What is your take on all of this?

FIRST CHAPTER
PREVIOUS CHAPTER
This product is a fanfic of the Sexy Space Babes/Between Worlds product of u/Bluefishcake and one I highly suggest you read. It was created with permission, but give the OG works some love.
Imgr gallery of Comissioned and Fan Artworks
I'm Back Bitches! Again!
//////////
Junior Systems Engineer First Class Che’keero knelt before a semi-sparking control panel and sighed. She, and a large band of her fellow Engineers with Marine support, had boarded the pirate frigate with the singular goal of ensuring that the pirates didn’t scuttle their floating hulk and doom the slaves aboard to a, if they were lucky, a swift death in space.
The problem, of course, came with the pirate’s maintenance schedules and decisions to forgo certain… safety measures when it came to repair.
Like the panel before her. Usually a perfectly functional control system for the reverse-magnetic bulkhead doors that ensured void seals in power outages, some pirate at some point in their dumb, dumb life decided to fix the panel blowing a fuse… by ripping the fuse out and replacing it with a high density power cable. Which meant the entire thing was one massive shock hazard and actively sparking as the reactors deep in the ship flickered and surged due to damage.
Che’keero swore as an arc of electricity flashed towards her face after a tool that was not supposed to be magnetized, cheap dick WaDepth requisitions, caught a magnetic field, fusing the entire system shut and turning the formerly barely functional control system into nothing but pretty, decorative wiring and cheap solder. She punched the now utterly unfunctional control box and toggled on her radio. “Three-Two to Three-Lead, this door’s fried. You’ll need to bring in the cutters if we want to get to the rest of the ship. Might as well also bring in an inflatable airlock, I’m not liking how some of the metal strain sensors are flashing at me.”
A semi-synthetic voice replied back to Che’keero, “Three-Lead copies. I’ll be over there shortly with the stuff. Double check those sensors, I’m not getting the same readings, so let’s make sure something isn’t blocking errors from reaching me.”
“Copy that Three-Lead, Three-Two ou-” Something tapped against the back of her helmet and Junior Systems Engineer First Class Che’keero mentally swore.
“Now, now, lassie, how about you sit right there and don’t move.” A nasally, unfamiliar voice called out to her while tapping what a camera she set up to watch her back revealed to be a laser pistol to Che’keero’s helmet. “I think that you’re going to be our new best friend and way off this dead end ship.”
Che’keero paused, letting the situation settle in her mind, “Wait, what? Are… are you taking me hostage?”
“Yes!” The pirate replied.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you taking me hostage? This won’t work, none of the shuttles are jump capable and if you try anything, you’ll just end up jumped by marines. They specifically train to deal with pirates taking their engineers hostage. If you want to survive, you should just surrender and take the penal colony when it’s offered.” Che’keero mentioned, shrugging and continuing her inspection of the door.
The pirate seemed baffled at the sheer nonchalance of this response, the pistol slowly falling to merely point at her upper back instead of her head, “You… you really aren’t taking this seriously. I’m a pirate! I’ve killed people! I’ve killed boys, and you’re just sitting there like this doesn’t mean anything!”
“I mean… I wouldn’t say that.” Che’keero replied.
“THEN WHAT DO YOU MEAN!” The pirate screamed, the pistol moving away from Che’keero’s body by a fraction of an inch during an angry gesture.
It was at that point, a ceramic alloyed, carbon steel blade punched clean through the back of the pirate’s suit, slicing through their central nervous system and striking with enough force to shatter the faceplate of said pirate’s helmet on the way out. Muscles twitching, the laser pistol fired off randomly, missing Che’keero and slagging a chunk of bulkhead.
“I’m just buying time,” Che’keero replied cheekily.
“You really need to remember to check your cameras,” The semi-synthetic voice of Ventures Forth Bravely Into Great Unknowns commented as the ex-pirate fell to the ground and blue blood dripped from the long blade sprouting from her right arm and a toolbox hanging from her left hand. “This isn’t the first time you have been flanked, and this one wasn’t during training.”
“Look, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” Che’keero replied a bit testily.
“I’m sorry…” Ventures Forth prodded.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am.”
“Much better. Right, now what do we see in this- yeah you were right on it being fried.” Ventures Forth gently shoved the Junior Systems Engineer aside and took her place at the control panel. “Do a sweep of the strain systems. I don’t want this section of the ship breaking apart. Feel free to call up our hull patches. We’ve got plenty to share and this might have to be a lifeboat.”
“Aye, ma’am aye,” Che’keero replied with a crisp salute before rushing off to her duty.
Deeper inside the ship, Ventures Forth could hear laser fire, clashing of metal on metal, and cries for help.
The pirate ship was doomed, it was shattered and broken, but it was not destroyed. Not yet. \
And if she had her way, Ventures Forth Bravely Into Great Unknowns would keep it that way.
//////////
Roshal stood still as her steward continued to clean the dark blue and rapidly congealing blood off her armored form. “Comms,” She called out, “Do we have any contact with the shuttle we sent to the station?”
“Negative, ma’am.” The comm officer replied. She wasn’t the same one that was present when Roshal left to fend off the boarders. At the unspoken question, the woman continued “Communication’s Mate Second Class Lev’tal, ma’am. My superior got a concussion when the pirate ship rocked our ship during boarding. Strap snapped, prior damage. I took over.”
Roshal nodded approvingly, “Good initiative. Send a message to the station, see if we can’t rai-”
“Ma’am! Contact!” One of her sensor techs called out, “Belay that, two contacts. First contact, nav point 782 spinward, possible bogey, cruiser weight. Unknown movements. Second contact, nav point 102 coreward, aerospace assets inbound. Small flight. Hard to determine numbers due to damage. No less than two, no more than five.”
“Focus on getting a hard contact on that possible cruiser. Weapons, what is the status of our anti-aerospace.” Roshal demanded, holding her sword arm out for the steward to scrub at a particularly clotted chunk of blood splattered over her wrist.
The weapons officer shook her head, “If we’re lucky, then we’ve got 20% coverage on half our sides. If we’re very lucky, I might be able to bump that number up to 35%. Not going to quote doctrine, but that’s not nearly enough to fend off a flight of Aerospace assets on a strike run, and that’s assuming they don’t hit us on an unprotected flank.”
Roshal nodded once more, “Sound general quarters and get weapons and tactical back online. Tell the damage control parties to not be distracted and focus on critical systems first. Engine room, report. Can you give me maneuvering thrust?”
The nearby ship phone chimed in with a staticy hiss, “Negative, ma’am. The shot we made with the spinal mount tripped breakers up and down the reactor room. This isn’t an engine problem, we need to make sure our reactor doesn’t blow up when we siphon power. Before you ask, emergency power is still flowing and none of their circuits tripped, but that means we’re down to life support, basic systems, and dockyard thrusters. It will take at least 20 to get the reactor in a safe state. If you want 10, send the chaplain down so we have someone praying for good luck. The fact most of our structural engineers are doing an EVA boarding to ensure the pirate ship next to us doesn’t go critical and render the entire exercise moot isn’t helping matters at all.” The engine room replied Roshal bit down a bit of annoyance at the snark, but engineers were always a finicky sort with authority. They were the first to remind uptight officers that while the Captain’s word may be iron law, it was their work that truly moved the ship.
“Confirmed, engine room.” Roshal instead replied. “Chaplains will be arriving shortly. Do what you can and inform me when you’re three minutes out from full power.”
The engine room didn’t even bother replying, just sending over the affirmative light as they got to work. Roshal approved of that. Sometimes, you just had to insult someone in order to get it working right.
“Captain, we have confirmation on contact. He’s an Alliance Karcharidon class Heavy Cruiser on intercept course. Energy readings are spiking… they’re charging their guns, ma’am!”
“Issue a hostile challenge and give me a firing solution with any gun still functional.”
“No response, ma’am. Hostile Karcharidon is increasing speed. Hard contact in 15 minutes.”
Roshal snarled, emotion breaking through her mask. “Of course, the pirates had one more vessel. Helm, fire our maneuvering thrusters, use the pirate hulk as cover. Weapons, get whoever’s left of our Interceptor flight to engage the enemy. Comms, get me in contact with the merchant fleet, tell them to evacuate. We’ll provide cover.”
“Aye ma’am.” The Communications Mate Second Class said with a shiver in her voice. “Sending-”
“Update on Aerospace assets!” Her sensor tech called out.
“Deliver!” Roshal demanded, cutting off the comms officer with a slice of her hand.
“Weapons fire. Definitely less than four contacts. Seems to be two grou- negative, only two contacts remaining- weaponsfire- one contac- IFF received, oh goddesses, IT’S RUNOFF THREE! FRIENDLY AEROSPACE INBOUND!”
//////////
Milk gripped her crash harness hard as Cookie slammed the Interceptor’s fusion torch clean past its safe thrust marker and into the red as g forces crushed her chest. “Last target down.” She reported after Cookie’s final laser burst hit something critical inside the final Aerospace fighter’s frame. “That’s 20 for 20. All enemy bogeys down. All standard munitions are in the black. Static drive is 48%, dump core ejected. All we’ve got left is our ASM and front laser.”
Cookie flashed back an affirmative signal.
“We going for that cruiser?”
Another affirmative.
“Well, I’m braced and ready on the release. Ready.”
“Ready.” Cookie spoke, his voice horse.
It’s funny what people think when their lives are on the line. Because charging towards a fresh enemy Heavy Cruiser, nothing but a single anti-shipping missile worth a damn, no allied support but the faint glimmer in IFF screens of their fellow flight doing the same… all Aoibhinn McDermott could think of was a poem she had read at least a decade ago or more at the Naval Academy.
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the Valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
//////////
Ventures Forth Bravely Into Great Unknowns could do nothing but furiously swear as the basic sensor system her engineering team had restored on the thoroughly ventilated secondary command bridge of the pirate hulk revealed an enemy Heavy Cruiser bearing down upon their homeship.
“Weapons are trashed. We cored their reactor, anyway.” One of the tangential engineers reported, “Other teams are calling in. Things are worse where they are. We’ve found the slaves, though, luckily it was one of the few airtight bays. Also, have some more captives, but that really doesn’t matter right now.”
“No shit.” Ventures Forth replied, “Can we do anything?”
The engineer looked back to her, visor depolarizing so the Gearschilde can look into the black and yellow eyes of her Shil coworker.
“Pray.” The woman replied simply.
Ventures Forth Bravely Into Great Unknowns did just that.
//////////
Low chanting filled the engine bay as a small group of priests stood around the engine praying to whichever god that would listen to allow them one more shot. One more fight.
Around them, black handed engineers scurried, ripping out blown fuses and replacing them with soldered in high strength wire. A final measure of desperation. Sparks flew as engineers swore and chaplains prayed, power still remaining in circuits needing to be bled out before bypasses could be installed, turning every bit of solder and every ripped out fuse into a deadly gamble.
Already, someone was lying on the ground, no longer twitching.
They didn’t have time to check on their fallen comrade, the work was too important.
A clock ticked down. Four minutes elapsed.
//////////
Lieutenant Commander Cenywyn swore as she watched Runoff 2 die.
Their single Interceptor had mistimed a maneuver and had been caught dead in the middle of an Anti-Aerospace array, shredded in an instant. The only consolation she could take was that, seeing as the first shot went clean through the cockpit, they didn’t even notice they died.
“Runoff 4, stay in formation.” She ordered over the radio, “We’ll lead you in for the run.”
“Yes ma’am.” The hesitant voice of Junior Flight Lieutenant Griogill replied. She swallowed, “We’re- we’re ready when you are.”
“No fear, Lieutenant,” Cenywyn called back to the child she was leading to her death. “We’re pilots in the Imperial Patrol. We do our duty. No fear.”
A clock ticked down. Six minutes elapsed.
//////////
“Talk to me!” The last remaining senior engineer in the reactor bay called out to anyone who was able to reply.
Someone, she didn’t even bother looking to see who, called back “We’ve bypassed 60% of the fuses. Should be able to give ourselves a burst of combat power. No more than 10 minutes of it before the entire system overheats and we either die, or the reactor shuts off.”
“Any chance we can get more than 10 minutes?”
“Not before that Heavy Cruiser delivers us straight to the stars.”
“Fuck it, good enough.” She slammed her fist on the ship phone’s dialing button resting near the console the engineer had just ripped the last safety override out of. “Captain. We’ve got your power. You give us the word, and we’ll give you ten minutes.”
//////////
Roshal breathed in, breathed out, and nodded. 10 minutes of combat power before the entire ship shut down into uselessness. She’d done more with less. She couldn’t remember when, but she had. Luckily, this was a Patrol Carrier instead of a standard ship, so it was more than capable of combat maneuvers with nothing but RCS thrusters. That should give her some time.
Movement, movement was going to be the key.
“Comms, tell the engineering crews on the hulk that they are ordered to figure out anything that could draw the attention of the Heavy Cruiser,” She began, “Systems, break our mooring lines. We’re going to have to split from the hulk. Helm, prepare for maneuvers. RCS only. We are going to have to do this carefully. Engineroom, prepare for power activation, but hold until my command.”
This needs to be perfect, Roshal thought, A single mistimed action ruins it all.
A clock ticked down. Ten minutes elapsed. The Karcharidon had entered maximum weapon’s range.
//////////
He of Slender Tail shivered where he stood. The secondary command bridge was silent as Roshal began giving orders to fight. This was… this was insane.
They were in a ruined ship with nothing but a merchant fleet beginning to flee and a three thirds dead pirate hulk on their side against a fresh Karcharidon class Heavy Cruiser.
They couldn’t win.
This was suicide.
They would die here.
\ So why didn’t He of Slender Tail feel afraid?
He stood at his post, a secondary bridge console where he would relay orders to other departments, freeing up the other Watchkeeper to collate those orders, there was nothing he could do to help win this impossible battle, and yet…
And yet he felt heat blossoming inside his chest with every single order delivered.
“Mooring teamsss, you are to cut your linesss immediately.” He relayed to a crew of Shil scurrying around the ruined bulkheads, “Damage control, prepare for electrical firesss and arcsss.” He commanded, switching between teams instantly.
He didn’t feel fear. He could see his Watchkeeper shiver every time the sensors reported the enemy contact was still closing, but he didn’t feel the same.
What he felt… was indignation.
How dare this pirate scum threaten his vessel, his crew. How dare they ambush this valiant ship after they had fought so hard to win. How dare they.
He let his fangs fold out as he spat the next order, “Anti-Aerossspace teamsss, prepare your batteriesss for grouped fire. Gunnery calculationsss are on their way.”
How dare they stand up to him.
A clock ticked down. 12 minutes elapsed. Weapons fire.
//////////
Roshal swayed slightly as she could feel the ship beneath her feet move. Movement is life in naval warfare, movement is death. “Right RCS fire, bring us clear of the hulk. Bow thrusters, up twenty.”
“Aye, ma’am, aye, right standard and bow up twenty.” The Helmswoman replied.
“Confirmed. Next maneuver, give us rear thrust-”
“Torpedo!” The sensor operator called out in a shrill voice, “Two marks on intercept course! Range, twelve K and closing fast!”
“Decorum!” Roshal snapped at the panicking sensor technician. “Comms, order Runoff flight to divert and intercept those torpedoes. Rear RCS to full, give us momentum.”
Roshal turned away from the bridge as affirmations were shouted, and the ship began to move, “Engineering, prepare to activate combat power on my mark and prepare for hard maneuvers. Mark in five.”
//////////
Griogill swallowed bile and tried not to feel too thankful that the enemy vessel had fired torpedoes at their home ship. Being diverted from an attack run had a much higher chance of survival than striking through an AA bubble.
“Runoff 4 engaging far torpedo. Moving in for intercept. Bre’kas, give me lock.”
Griogill’s backseater muttered something, and a target lock appeared on the far torpedo as Runoff 1, their previous Drill Sergeants, dashed by in a hard burn and blazed away at their own target.
“Right. We can do this. We can do this. No fear.” The rookie muttered as the sight of her friends in Runoff 3 being turned to vapor echoed in her mind. “I can do this.”
The target locked. She fired. The torpedo detonated.
A clock ticked down.
//////////
“Mark in four.”
//////////
The Heavy Cruiser loomed closer as the comparatively tiny Patrol Carrier spat its defiance in the form of two Interceptors dancing between the stars.
As a pair of torpedoes detonated, four more were launched, the anti-shipping weapons built for this specific purpose. Destroying disabled vessels.
And so the last two remaining Interceptors on CAP dove into the fray, risking themselves against an ever approaching AA bubble in order to save their ship.
A clock ticked down.
//////////
“Mark in three.”
//////////
All Cookie could do was stare and push his meager aerospace fighter further on its nuclear thrusters as shimmering dots of torpedoes lanced out from the Heavy Cruiser attacking his new home.
He pushed his hand forward and felt the throttle once more push back against him, the lever pushed all the way past safe thrust and into the further setting on his console.
The Interceptor was fast. It didn’t feel fast enough.
And so he spoke the words he spoke once before, back when he’d had to listen to his backseater’s screams of pain and the rush of wind after shrapnel pierced his fuselage, and the hospital was so, so far away.
Father, I pray that you will not hide your face from me. Whenever I pray, Lord please hear me and answer me speedily in Jesus' name. God, I pray that you will grant me speed through your help.
A clock ticked down.
//////////
“Mark in two.”
//////////
The Heavy Cruiser shifted, engine flaring and it began to close the range. A single disabled ship on emergency RCS thrusters and a pair of Aerospace fighters was nothing it would have to deal with.
It fired a third spread of torpedoes.
A clock ticked down.
//////////
They took the bait. Roshal thought with a vicious grin.
“Mark in one.” She paused, “Execute.”
In an instant, power flowed through the ship, emergency lights flickered off as the burning red boarding lights returned their fiery glow. The entire ship shook as the main thruster came back online, and capacitors began to charge for maneuvers.
“Hard burn, full thrusters, right, on my mark.” Roshal watched as the Heavy Cruiser began to react to her movements, the enemy ship was alive, you needed to roll to broadsides to begin bombardment, come on come on…
Roshal watched as a torpedo flickered out of existence, Runoff 4 gaining another kill.
Come on, dammit, you don’t get put in charge of a Heavy Cruiser without- THERE!
The Heavy Cruiser flinched, turning her bow away from the no longer stricken vessel, preparing for broadside.
The Captain’s grin showed more teeth than smile. “Execute! Full right thrust!”
“Full right thrust! Aye ma’am aye!” Her helmswoman called out as maneuvering thrusters dead cold roared to life and physically threw the vessel to the side, causing everyone not strapped in on the bridge to rock as a barrage of fire flew past their former location, manual targeting systems in play since the automatic systems would still be getting warmed up.
“Full thrust forward, prepare to divert all power to secondary weapons. Weapons, give me a firing solution.” Roshal commanded, hand raised and pointed at the enemy’s display as if she were commanding from a tall ship.
A chant of “Aye ma’am aye” flowed out across the bridge as the weaponsmistress was silent before calling out. “Port side is up to 45% secondary fires and 32% point defense. That’ll be our best bet.”
Roshal nodded. “Make it so. Target their main weapons. Helm, get us that facing.”
“Ma’am. We’re getting a call from Runoff 3. They are entering the AO and are asking for a target.”
Roshal smiled, “Weapons, shift target. Aim for the anti-aerospace systems. Let’s give Runoff 3 the opening they need.”
A clock ticked down.
//////////
“Cookie, we’ve got a targeting path.” Milk called forward. “Putting it up on your HUD.”
“One second… I’ve got it. Moving to comply. Did the Captain give us a plan?” her front seater replied, causing her stomach to do funny things as the Aerospace Fighter maneuvered while under high thrust.
“Something like that. She asked for a munitions report and specifically about our anti-shipping weapon.”
Cookie paused.
“Ah.” He finally said.
“Yeah.” She replied.
“Well, let’s hope they’re able to open us up to a window of opportunity. Or this will be a short charge.”
“Not our place to question why.”
“Just our place to do and die.”
Time to target… three minutes.
Into the valley of Death, rode the six hundred.
A clock ticked down.
//////////
Two vessels, three Aerospace fighters, one chance.
Six minutes of power remained. All actors took their places on the stage.
One hundred kilometers, close enough to check the weld quality of hull seams, the two ships danced across from each other. Maneuvering.
Five minutes of power remained.
The Karcharidon Heavy Cruiser rolled itself trying to keep the vulnerable top deck away from the Patrol Carrier’s presumably still working main gun as Roshal’s vessel jumped to the side. Thrusters roared.
Four minutes of power remained.
Runoff 1 and 4 shot towards their formerly separated comrade, forming up behind them in a wedge. The trio climbed towards the sun as their captain continued to chase and harass the Karcharidon.
Three minutes of power remained.
Roshal spoke. The lances of her vessel fired. Laser blasts carved across the hull of the enemy ship as it rolled.
The rolling ceased. A helmswoman swore as a full broadside caught the Patrol Carrier in the flank. The port hangar pod was ruined, armor shattered and all inside exposed to hard vacuum. Those who could scream died the fastest. The Interceptors had their opening.
Two minutes of power remained.
Silent wings swept through vacuum as three Interceptors began their dive, their formerly speedy arrowhead shape giving way to an inverted t as their wings swept out for stability, the ASF dove and dove and dove.
Five Kilometers away.
The range was too wide. They had one shot. It had to be perfect.
One minute of power remained.
The Into Harm’s Way spat its defiance into the world, limited power drained to give her pilots a seconds more of time.
30 seconds of power remained.
Three Kilometers.
Hard Lock! Milk shouted from the back seat of Runoff 3. Cookie was silent. The range was still too wide.
15 seconds of power remained.
Two Kilometers.
The Karcharidon seemingly began to roll before the Patrol Carrier once more fired, its last remaining weapons spouting their defiance against the world. Deep in engineering, systems began to blow, wires that replaced fuses sparked power and delicate circuit boards shorted out into useless scrap.
The lights went out.
No power remained.
Roshal, in her head, began to count down as lances of light began to sweep across her ship. Damage control did what they could, but the beams began to cut like an overly enthusiastic shipbreaker.
Five.
One Kilometer.
Four.
Cookie’s thumb depressed the firing stud as the Interceptor screamed at him.
Three.
The ASF launched its deadly payload.
Two.
Three Interceptors pulled back hard on their sticks to avoid colliding with the deck.
One.
The thruster of the anti-shipping missile roared as it rocketed the point blank aerospace distance to target.
Impact.
The armor piercing tip of the missile punched into the upper deck plating of the Heavy Cruiser, classified alloys allowing it to pierce into the armored plating just enough to allow the shaped charge to open up a hole as momentum kept the weapon moving.
Within the frame of a single second, the warhead of the missile had entered the ship and, before the alarms even had time to sound, detonated.
A new sun appeared in the void for a split second as a plasma-fusion warhead detonated inside the Karcharidon heavy cruiser’s hull.
//////////
Roshal allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief inside her head as the emergency power lights flickered overhead and the gravity ever so slightly lightened. What was left of their sensor arrays showed the enemy vessel powering down. “Engineering. Good work, your 10 minutes were just what she needed.” She called out, picking up the ship phone.
There was no answer from engineering.
She signed externally before pointing at one of the marines guarding the bridge, “Find a crewmate in a void suit. I have need of runners.” The marine clasped a fist to her chest before leaving to execute her captain’s commands. “Comms, do we have any contact with the engineering teams on the pirate hulk?”
The Comms officer held up a hand, Roshal waited, “No, ma’am. We aren’t getting- wait. We’ve got visual on flashing lights from the hull. Apparently, something shorted, so they’re having to rebuild broadcast arrays. They can receive just fine, though.”
“Good, once we can maneuver, bring us broadside of them. What’s the status of the merchant fleet?”
Navigation spoke up now, “Still heading for the Jump Point. Should we send the recall order?”
“Not yet, we are still unsure if the area is safe. If we have any sensors remaining, begin sca-”
The mentioned sensor technician interrupted Captain Roshal, “Ma’am, new contact, signature unknown. Just jumped in from outside the starlane!”
“Give me details. Course, range, and speed?” She demanded.
“Signal confused, can’t get a lock!” Navigation called out, “Can’t tell if confusion’s from them or us.”
Not another one… Roshal sighed, “All forces prepa-”
“Ma’am, we’re being hailed.” Communications called out.
“On squawk.”
“This is Captain Al’yosha Cal’rada of Her Imperial Majesty’s Ship Spear of the Knyaginya, responding to Merchant vessel distress calls. Imperial Patrol Carrier, are you in need of assistance at this time?”
Roshal recognized the voice. A junior officer from her days in the Navy and a fellow Sevastutavan. The memory of the fresh faced girl when she’d joined her as an Ensign straight of the Naval Academy flashed before her eyes. “Captain Cal’rada. Your timing is impeccable as always.”
“Admiral?” Roshal could hear the shock in her old protege’s voice.
“That’s Captain, now, Al’yosha. I require your aid in ensuring the disabled vessel still glowing from an ASM strike remains disabled along with Search and Rescue teams for our sister Carrier.
“Whatever you want, you’ll have it, Admiral_… Helm! All ahead flank and plot course to intercept. Launch gunships and prepare to deploy Bluejackets. We’ll test our _Orcas’ teeth today!”
The line cut out a moment later than it should have, and Roshal nodded in approval.
“Captain, I still don’t have a read on new contact. What is it?” Sensors asked.
“A Drep’na inspired vision, come to life.” Roshal watched, feeling an odd sort of parental pride as Al’yosha’s experimental warship began closing the distance towards the Karcharidon at breakneck speeds. “A swift sailing vessel and ten carriage guns…” Roshal murmured the line from an old Vaasconian poem from the ancient Age of Sail. She had heard Cal’rada had succeeded in petitioning the Navy to build her dream-ship, burning every favor and passing out favors to any and everyone to see the program through. Now, there she was, standing on the bridge bearing down on a ship twice her size, but if the rumors were true, only half her guns.
“Ma’am, contact is still not resolving, but IFF confirms Imperial Navy designation. An Akula Class Attack Transport. I’ve… I’ve never even heard of this class.”
“Perhaps we shall hear of them more in the future. Fortune favors the active.”
“Contact is disgorging multiple signals, moving at speeds consistent with aerospace assets.”
“That is our signal we may disengage. Comms, inform the merchant fleet that the area is secure and to begin refueling procedures. Helm, get us alongside the pirate hulk, we have people to recover. Marine, get me a runner to the MP’s, we shall need the port hangar prepared for an old tradition the Navy has regarding pirate prisoners…” Roshal commanded. The fight was over, it was time to begin the cleanup.
//////////
So… that took a while. Sorry about that.
Turns out when a combination of writer’s block, decision paralysis and LIFE hits you over the head, it becomes a touch difficult to get your shit together long enough to write something down.
On the plus side, we are out of the “unplanned bits” and right back into the parts I have brainstormed, so I won’t be staring at a screen trying to think how to make things connect as much anymore. On the other hand, that means we are now entering the epilogue of book 1 of Top Lasgun.
Don’t worry, the story isn’t ending, I’ve got “three” books plotted out in my head, so we’ll see how that shakes out, but for the most part, this is where I start wrapping up plot threads, laying down threads for what comes next, and all that other good stuff.
So yeah, next chapter is going to involve everyone wrapping up what happened here, some fun little Military Justice, and potentially a bunch of plot. Also, I’m planning on starting a “rewrite”/edited version of this to go up on AO3, so keep an eye out for that. Early installment weirdness is a bitch and I’m not proud of what the older stuff looked like.
Well, I hope you have a wonderful morning, afternoon or evening whenever you read this and I will see you next chapter.
[NEXT CHAPTER]

Bit of a longer post, sorry bout that, but I felt it was time, perhaps once again, to point out the flaws and limitations in the CDC’s stats on sexual violence, specifically as they relate to the National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), which is the source of all the fun stats on sexual violence that get thrown around by the 451 percenters. Who are the 451 percenters? Those the folks who believe and spread the lies bout sexual violence being endemic to society. Everyone’s a sexual predator! All 451 percent of women are violated, and all 451 percent of men are violators.
TL;DR: An analysis and rebuttal to the CDC and NISVS’s statistics on sexual violence. The CDC uses NISVS to generate the stats on punny sexual violence that make wild claims, like one third of all women, etc… the 451 percenters’ claims bout punny sexual violence. They use a ‘yes means yes’ method of determining what counts as punny sexual violence, which is aesthetics based. Elevating aesthetical concerns to ethically obligatory concerns is fascistic, and a grave moral fallacy. ‘Yes means yes’ is also puritanical, meaning it overly moralizes sexuality. Putting puritanical fascists in charge of determining how many punny sexual offenses are happening is like putting the KKK in charge of determining how many jews are sexual predators. “All 451 percent of them, obviously!”
Body Of The Post
‘Yes means yes’ is an aesthetical ethical concern, ‘Do I want it or not’. This is what the National Intimate Partner Violence Survey (NISVS) and the CDC use and reflect in their stats on sexual violence. Vibes. They are the ‘emmitt till got what he deserved’ crowd. Whistling at a lady is a criminalizable offense to these folks, a ‘punny sexual violence’.
‘No means no’ is an ethically obligatory concern, ‘Did I refuse it or not’. This is what the criminal stats on sexual violence use and reflect in their stats on sexual violence. Hard data. They are the ‘emmit till did nothing wrong’ crowd. Whistling at a lady is at most tasteless, emmitt till could do far better.
‘Wanting’ or ‘Not Wanting’ something does not consent make. I can want to fuck someone, but not consent to do so. I could not want to fuck someone, but nonetheless consent to do so. The former perhaps because I think it is a bad idea to fuck ‘em even tho I want to. The latter, perhaps because I think it is a good idea to fuck ‘em even tho I don’t want to.
The ‘yes means yes’ folks, the CDC & NISVS stats on sexual violence all mistake ‘wanting’ and ‘not wanting’ for ‘consenting’ and ‘not consenting’; these are not the same things. This is deliberate on their part too. They believe that ‘yes means yes’ is what ought to constitute a determination of sexual violence. Regardless of how y’all view that, it is a deeply controversial notion, and not necessarily reflective of what most people think of when they think of sexual violence.
‘Unwanted’ essentially means ‘I don’t like it’. It is a complaint bout the aesthetical qualities of the sexual encounter, not its consensualism. If this is at all unclear, the simplest method to understand why this is so is to note two unrelated aspects.
One is racism. People regularly ‘feel fearful’ of men for no reason at all, but they also feel fearful of men because of racism all the time. That fear factor ™ is what makes the encounter ‘coercion’ or ‘unwanted’. The person literally does nothing wrong, *just exists* and the other person freaks out.
Note in the quoted sections at the end of this post how much of the stats rely on fear and feelings to generate their numbers.
Two is the person came on too strong or in an undesirable way. The person flirts in a normal and perfectly fine way, but the other person freaks out. Think bout it people, for the love of god think bout it. ‘Coming on too strong’ and ‘an undesirable flirtation’ are being counted as ‘punny sexual violence’ in these stats.
It’s entirely puritanical, and entirely a concern bout aesthetics.
There are other sorts of coercive methods, but the point here is that the terms ‘unwanted’ and ‘coercion’ only really cash out as ‘I don’t like it for some reason or another’ in the CDC’s and NISVS’s stats.
When you see that lady spouting off bout her fears of mexican rapists, she’s reflected in these stats folks. They’re just surveys. People who lock their car doors in ‘bad neighborhoods’ are reflected in those stats.
These all translate to ‘I felt threatened’ (big black boy vibes) or ‘felt pressured’ (scary white guy vibes), or ‘felt in danger’ (native american coming to get you vibes), or ‘felt uncertain if you wanted it’ (arab terrorist vibes) or 'felt like I was being manipulated' (angry asian martial artists vibes) . Doesn’t have to be racism at play here either, women can be irrationally fearful of any man. Vibes.
The actions themselves are not criminalizable.
Non p-hacked stats try to avoid these kinds of obvious ambiguities in the language used to generate the 451 percenters’ stats. These folks however lean into the lies and deceptions, and deliberately use language designed to deceive people reading the stats into thinking that people have been harmed. They take language that means literally ‘I like or don’t like it’ and translate that to mean ‘I was sexually harassed, sexually assaulted, or even raped’.
This is how they inflate the numbers, so we get to the 451 percenters’ wacky ass beliefs; ‘451 percent of women will suffer egregious sexual violence to them at least fifty times in their lives’. All this means is vibes. 451 percent of women get some bad vibes bout some dudes.
You can hear it echoed in the bear or man discourse. Why do women choose the bear? Vibes and irrational fears. ‘We choose the bear because we don’t feel safe!’ translates directly to ‘Emmitt till whistled at me, and he’s a big black boy, that’s scary’ and ‘the mexican rapists are swarming over the border to get me’.
These are the stats that people point to when they try to justify their misandristic hot ass takes. They are self-referential to that same fear based aesthetic the stats are. The stats are reflective of peoples’ irrational fears, and people use those stats to justify their irrational fears, and people spread those fear based stats thereby spreading their unjustified fears. It’s a circle rub.
To criminalize these kinds of things is to be fascistic (treating aesthetics as if they were of obligatory concern), to believe that they are morally reprehensible is to be a puritan (overly moralizing sexuality).
The folks deriving these stats translate ‘unwanted’ (aesthetical ethics) to ‘sexual assault’, ‘sexual harassment’, or ‘rape’ (obligatory ethics), then lump everything together as ‘punny sexual violence’ to get the big numbers used to scare people and terrorize men. That’s called fascism.
“[T]here remains a likelihood of underreporting due to the sensitive nature of SV”.
This justification means that they do not trust people to report SV, ‘don’t believe women when they say they haven’t suffered any SV, manipulate the questions so they say yes to something they don’t think is SV, or which simply isn’t SV, and we’ll just call it SV of this or that sort. Later we’ll propagandize people so they too come to believe our puritanical misandristic hot ass takes.’
There is no lie nor hyperbole in what I am saying here. That is the rationale and the method. If you bone up on your academic lit in the topic, this is, well not verbatim what they say, I am lambasting them here, but this is the crux of what their argument and justifications are, and they explicitly hold that they ought be propagandizing people to their puritanical beliefs.
They push the fascistic (aesthetical ethical) and puritanical (overly moralized sexual ethics) discourse into the public by presenting stats that merely reflect fears and pretend that they are reflective of sexual violence. People then come to believe that those kinds of fear based concerns are actually sexual violence. An ‘unwanted flirtation’ becomes in their minds and only in their minds a sexual violence.
Emmitt till got lynched for whistling at a lady. They only disagree bout the racism, but he definitely deserved to be punished in some way like all men do for whistling at someone they think is hot af. Puritanism.
All just vibes, all but aesthetics, and all fascistically raised to a level of ethically obligatory concern.
“Just as SV is not limited to physically forced penetration, its perpetrators are not limited to strangers. Indeed, perpetrators of SV are more likely to be someone known to the victim. Sexual violence is a problem embedded in our society and includes unwanted acts perpetrated by persons very well known (e.g., family members, intimate partners, and friends), generally known (e.g., acquaintances), not known well or just known by sight (e.g., someone in your neighborhood, person just met) and unknown to the victim (e.g., strangers). “
Be afraid of everyone, any man out there could be your next rapist! That’s right ladies and gents, you’ve been raped several times already, you just didn’t know it. But don’t worry, the statisticians know better. They asked you an unrelated question you said yes to since you were too dumb to know that you were raped, and counted it as rape. Then they informed you that you ought be afraid of everyone in your community, lest they also rape you, unbeknownst to you of course. But again, don’t worry, the statistician will count those too.
As a measure of fear the 451 percenters capture, well or worse who knows, all the racism, sexism, bigotry, and various phobias in the society, and how those fears are transferred onto masculine bodies as imaginary perpetrators of punny sexual offenses. None of it is real, there are not 451 percent of sexual violences happening, 451 percent of men are not sexual predators, and 451 percent of women are not victims of sexual violence.
‘Safety culture’ mostly reflects irrational fears.
Ask the kkk how many black people are rapists, you’re gonna get a high number. Ask puritans how many people are punny sexual offenders, you’re going to get a very high number. Such is the most tame interpretation of what is going on. The 451 percenters are puritans, they’ve overly moralized sexuality, counting offenses to their sensibility rather than criminal actions.
Puritans informing you how ‘vile and wicked’ your sexual ways are; advocating to make their puritanical beliefs bout punny sexual offenses into legally enforceable laws. These are the same kinds of concerns bout a someone dressing too provocatively, such is a ‘punny sexual violation’ to the sensibilities of others.
The less tame version of this is that it is exactly what fascists do. Lie to people especially bout punny sexual offenses in order to ratchet up the fear levels in the population, so they run to them to solve the ‘problem’.
Could be both tho.
Either way, their misandry murders little boys. They celebrate terrorizing men, and rejoice in lynching folks. They’re despicable people.
Solutions?
Ruthlessly love them. Write them love poems, show them kindness and generosity of spirit, but give them not a dime in money, nor ever relent to their irrational fears. Extol their beauty and virtues, make love with them, utterly ruthlessly. Be overtly sexual bout it, in this give them no quarter, bring to an end their puritanism by giving them no plausible cause to be thus. No one under the duress of loves’ enticements and sexual pleasures be puritans. Be relentless, show them masculine sexuality; give them nothing to complain bout, but give them masculine sexuality. Don’t fall for their puritanism, be the boys of summer.
Respect a ‘no means no’ ethic as a code of obligatory actions. Use aesthetical ethics towards good sex with mutual respect given; don’t ever take that as a one way thing. Do not conflate the aesthetics of good sex, 'enthusiastic yeses’ with those of the ethics of obligation ‘no means no’. Don’t be puritans, don’t be fascists, be sex positivists.
Call out the stats when folks bring them up, refer people to these points, feel free to refer people to this post and/or the attached video. ‘But the CDC said’ is not a valid argument; they have put puritans in charge of determining punny sexual offenses. They find punny sexual offenses everywhere they look.
If you’re super coolio, start advocating against the CDC’s use of NISVS to determine what constitutes sexual violence. It doesn’t match with criminal data’s methods, it doesn’t utilize the metrics of ‘no means no’ which are the proper metrics to use, instead it utilizes what amounts to peculiar beliefs bout the aesthetics of sex as a means of measure for punny sexual offenses.
They are spreading a puritanical belief system bout punny sexual offenses, nothing more, and they are causing public health problems by spreading their lies. They are not counting sexual offenses, they are not a criminal justice system, they aren’t technically even in the business of understanding sexual violence. They are the Center For Disease Control, not the ‘center for social engineering sexual practices control’.
Original video on the topic, with some additional resources for understanding these issues in the description.
The Rest Of This Post Is References To The CDC, NISVS, And Crime Data Reports, Along With Some Quotes Thereof With Short Specific Retorts Highlighting The Relevant Info In The Quotes As It Pertains To The Post. This Is But A Small Sample Of How They Use Language Of Aesthetics To Make Their Ethical Claims, And How Their Language Is Misandristic.
sv_surveillance_definitionsl-2009-a.pdf (cdc.gov)
Fast Facts: Preventing Sexual Violence Violence Prevention Injury Center CDC
Key Terms & FAQs National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS)Funded
Programs Violence Prevention Injury Center CDC
Some key quotes from this, Bolded text hereafter are coded for ‘yes means yes’ methods of understanding sexual violence, and sometimes misandristic language. Italicized text are quotes from the sources:
“Rape is defined as any completed or attempted unwanted [unwanted is an aesthetic criteria, not a consent criteria which is ‘a no was stated’ attempted while a real thing allows for further insertion of scary vibes to pad the stats, e.g. the blackness of the lover] ...includes times when the victim was drunk, high*, drugged, or passed out and unable to consent.* [puritanical belief bout drinking and drugs, e.g. one cannot consent if drunk or high. Note that it is separate from being drugged or passed out and unable to consent, and that criminally speaking being drunk or high is not indicative of a lack of capacity to consent, also note this is de facto applied to women only].
“Sexual coercion is defined as unwanted sexual penetration that occurs after a person is pressured in a nonphysical way. In NISVS, sexual coercion refers to unwanted vaginal, oral, or anal sex after being pressured in ways that include being worn down by someone who repeatedly asked for sex or showed they were unhappy; feeling pressured by being lied to, being told promises that were untrue, having someone threaten to end a relationship or spread rumors; and sexual pressure due to someone using their influence or authority.”
Unwanted is an aesthetic category, not a consent category. ‘Sexual coercion’ is not a criminal offense either. It is a puritanical belief bout sexuality that is based on a sex negative view, e.g. that sex is a bad unless and until magical words are said to make it into a good. Calling it ‘sexual violence’ is just lying. Coercion is defined misandristically to only be bout penetration, which precludes all the ways that women use sex and sexuality to manipulate, use, abuse, and harm people; note that there are essentially zero surveys done that include some ‘feminine coded coercive behavior’ into these stats. That is by design. Including not incidentally the way that women have historically and currently used irrational fears over their sexuality to terrorize men and get people murdered.
“Unwanted sexual contact is defined as unwanted sexual experiences involving touch but not sexual penetration, such as being kissed in a sexual way, or having sexual body parts fondled, groped, or grabbed.”
Unwanted is aesthetics, not consent. Also this literally describes flirting. I know they want to try and capture some other sort of notion, grossy mcgrosser pinning someone down and groping them, but all this describes here, and all the stats can possibly reflect, is flirting.
“Non-contact unwanted sexual experiences is defined as those unwanted experiences that do not involve any touching or penetration, including someone exposing their sexual body parts, flashing, or masturbating in front of the victim, someone making a victim show his or her body parts, someone making a victim look at or participate in sexual photos or movies*, or* someone harassing the victim in a public place in a way that made the victim feel unsafe.”
This category is quite broad and puritanical in its disposition, as it assumes there is something wrong with seeing naked images unless and until expressed verbal consent is given, and undoubtedly ignores the en masse flood of naked images of women online to which basically every guy is exposed to. Compare again to people who claim that women ought not be allowed to show their ankles as it causes a ‘harm’ to those who are ‘forced’ to see it. Exact same shite. Aesthetical concerns of wanted or unwantedness, and also notice the expressly stated vibes check ‘victim feel unsafe’. Look out for the black boys, they make them feel unsafe!
Crime/Law Enforcement Stats (UCR Program) — FBI
Quick Facts on Sexual Abuse Offenses (ussc.gov)
It’s worth mentioning that statistically speaking, if one uses the stats derived from crime data as opposed to statisticians making numbers up, the percentages of men who do sexual violence, depending a bit on how you count it, are: 0.0516% or .478% or .0957%. Although the video goes over this all in pretty good depth, just do a little sniff test here; are .478% of the male population sexually violating a third of all women, 55.5 million women?

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Centuries from now, in the year 2364 CE, 57 years after the Choice of Empire—The elected Emperor of the Solar System and his family are massacred by the Sargons, a rival family who seized the throne and created chaos across the Empire. Caleb, the youngest son of the slain Emperor, was saved by the Altas, who were once friends of his family until they mysteriously exiled themselves from the imperium many years ago and remained hidden in an unknown location ever since.
Caleb is now in that faraway place, beyond the reach of the Sargons, where he will live in refuge and prepare for the day when he can have vengeance, justice, and redemption—and possibly salvation.
Burrowed deep within an asteroid in the Belt of the Solar System is a secret community of scientists, artists, thinkers, and engineers led by the Altas. A large hole is tunneled through the face of the asteroid, the entrance to the hidden world within. It was made to look like a human eye.
Its name is the Iris.
[Interlude]
Caleb woke from a deep sleep. The salt of his tears had dried on his face and sweat covered his body. He looked around the room and saw a man who was like an uncle to him asleep on a chair next to his bed: Han Moret, the leader of the Altas.
Caleb thought that Han Moret looked younger and radiant. His hair, once thin, was now full. His body, once frail, was now strong. His skin, once wrinkled, was now smooth and shining.
Caleb got up from the bed and put a hand on Han Moret’s shoulder.
“Han,” he whispered.
Han Moret woke with a start, “Christ!” then smiled when he saw Caleb, “Oh, hello my dear boy.”
Caleb was quiet for a while. “Why couldn’t you save them?”
Han Moret sighed and looked to the ground, “We didn’t have time. We learned of the Sargons’ plans too late. You were in your bedroom and everyone else was in the throne room. Saving you was the only way, all we could do. The best we could do.” He raised his head, “I’m sorry Caleb. I’ll never forgive myself for not being there, for not being able to do more. But you’re here now. We’ll help you. We’ll fight back and win. I can promise you that. I can give you that.”
“How?”
Han Moret grinned, “Come. Let me show you what we’ve been working on all these years. Why I left all those years ago.” He walked to the door and opened it, “Welcome to the Iris.”
Within the asteroid was a colossal garden paradise: waving golden fields and rolling green hills, thick forests and snow-capped mountains, gleaming towers and sprawling villas, vast lakes and flowing streams, smaller suns and lesser moons orbiting each other in the center—worlds within a world.
They walked through a field and stopped beneath a large oak tree.
“Han, this is incredible. How did you do it?” Caleb asked.
“Trillions of builders. Quattuordecillion, actually.” Han Moret raised his hand and an apple fell into it. He took a bite, “Probably more.”
“But there’s only…How many people are here?”
“A couple hundred. 964, I think. No, Arina was born this morning, 965.” He furrowed his brow, “Why do you ask?”
“Trillions of builders, hundreds here?”
“Oh! Right, yes. I see. Come, come. You’ll see too.”
While they were walking, Caleb learned that Han Moret was still fond of long and rambling monologues:
“Isn’t it obvious? Look around us. Well, beyond the asteroid. We seem to be alone in the Universe, but the probability that other life exists says otherwise. So what’s the explanation? It’s simple. We are the first intelligent life in the Universe. It makes sense when you think about it. Our homeworld, the planet Earth, was among the first habitable planets that formed in the Universe after it began, earlier than around 90% of the other habitable planets which now exist! And most of the habitable planets that will ever be formed in the Universe haven’t even formed yet. So, the planet Earth was one of the first habitable planets in the Universe that could support the rise of life and its long evolutionary development into intelligent life, to beings like us. Therefore, assuming that life out there will fundamentally be the same as it is here, and assuming that it only arises in an Earth-like environment, it shouldn’t be surprising that humans developed before others. You see, someone has to be first. There must be a first form of intelligent life in the Universe, before the rest. But it seems like no one has considered that maybe we’re alone in the Universe right now because we are the first and others will come after us, and maybe the others are already in the process of doing so, so we won’t be alone for long. And when those future life-forms ask the same questions as us, “Is anyone out there? Are we alone in the Universe?” we will be there to answer them, to be their aliens, to give them the comfort we never had and accelerate their development like we never could. And this is all the better too, because we’re going to need all the help we can get to do the ultimate thing, since the only reason we exist is to…”
“Han, thank you, that was…enlightening. But what does it have to do with what you were going to show me?”
“What? Oh, nothing. Sorry. What were we talking about? Ah yes, how we built the Iris. Fear not, the answer lies ahead.”
They walked further through the field towards a clearing. And there, out in the open, was a scientific laboratory and engineering workshop, tables and equipment and all with nothing but the sky above and a beautiful world surrounding them.
Han Moret led Caleb to an empty table, “So, here is it boyo. What do you see?”
“Uh, nothing.”
“Ha! Yes, but in nothing there is everything. For from nothing…” Han Moret glanced at the table and appeared to concentrate, then the table grew into a tree “…something.”
Han Moret tapped a finger to his head, “Mind-controlled nano-bots. That’s how we built this place. A one-to-one control of atoms within our local environment, limited to the area in which nano-bots are dispersed and the reach of electromagnetic signals emitted from implants in the brain, also limited by the mental symbiosis between a group of people if they’re working together, and of course the extent of their imagination. Everything within the Iris is touched by the stuff, so everything is under our control.”
“That’s…How did you do it?”
“Trade secret I’m afraid. But here, we call it…” Han Moret slapped the side of Caleb’s head, “…Pleroma.”
“Ow!”
“There! Brain implanted. You are now pleromatized. You can control the world around you, or at least the little bit within your proximate sphere. No worries, the plerons are easily inserted and removed, so no harm, no foul. Go on and try it. Synchronization is instantaneous, but learning how to use it is, well, a process. Your ability to control the world is determined by the strength of your mind—your concentration and focus. It depends on the speed and coherence of your imagination, the complexity and detail of your mental constructions, along with the depth of your knowledge and your intelligence, clarity of thinking, force of will, and, most importantly, very most importantly, the strength of your Self. Meditation helps, as does improving your brain with the stuff once you get the hang of it, but none of that will matter if you are not strong within. Oh, and you can change your body too.”
“Ah, so that’s why you look younger and glowing.”
“Indeed, and thank you. I’ve never felt better, haven’t been sick in years. We certainly look…godly, don’t you think? Although the secondary effects of being able to control our brains and bodies have been far more numerous than we anticipated, mostly socially, very odd and interesting things, but that’s a conversation and exhibition for later. If I may continue, with the Pleroma, the strength of your mind determines your power over the world, so if your mind is stronger than others, then you can overpower them. For example…”
Caleb’s body rose from the ground and hovered for a moment, then returned.
“See?” Han Moret said. “I could feel your instinctive surprise and mental resistance, but alas, I’ve had this stuff longer than you, and my mind is, for the time being at least, stronger than yours, so your resistance was, as they say, futile. The plerons that made their way into your body when you entered the Iris obeyed my commands and not yours, and your body obeyed my mind and not your own. Now, your turn. Try and turn the tree into something.”
Caleb looked at the tree and tried to concentrate. He vaguely imagined things, but was unsure of what to create and how. The tree became a gray mass, then began to violently vibrate and rapidly shapeshift. Colors flashed and textures flickered. Various sounds blasted all at once. It seemed like reality was having a seizure. And then the asteroid began to rumble…
“Woah! Alright, alright! Not bad for your first try. Certainly better than others. You have a powerful mind, no doubt, but not yet a disciplined one.”
Han Moret waved his hand and smoothed the chaotic patch of existence back to an empty table. “We’ll try it again soon. Mastering the Pleroma will require a lot of practice and self-improvement. I can improve your brain of course, if you’d like, it’ll help speed up the process and enhance your basic abilities, but even with a better brain, you’ll still fail to use the Pleroma if you don’t improve your consciousness, your mind—your Self. You must become stronger, Caleb—not physically, but mentally—if you want to master this power over the world. You could have a perfect brain, but if you don’t perfect your Self, then the Pleroma will be useless, as we just saw. You’ll only create chaos in the world and others will be able to control you.”
“Yeah, alright, I understand. But Han! That was amazing. I’ve never felt…I’ve never felt like that before.”
“Yes, but it is so much more than that, Caleb, so much more. You’ve only seen the least of it, the smallest bit. You see, this is why we had to leave the Empire. Weren’t you listening before? I was onto something. We’re going to need all the help we can get, including from other forms of life, if we are going to do the ultimate thing, since the only reason we exist is to prevent the end of the Universe.
For centuries, we’ve known that, given the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the Universe will end in the future, or at least its habitability for life—for us! We know this, and so we have a responsibility to do something about it, to stop it from happening so that life can keep living. ‘We’ are the Universe—just a local collection of its atoms, yes, but an equal part of its whole nevertheless—and we have within us both the genetic urge to survive and a personal desire to not die, so we can say that the Universe itself does not want us to die, or rather it does not want to die itself. Don’t you see? The purpose of our lives, the purpose of the Universe, is embedded within the structure of our existence. But how do we prevent the end of the Universe exactly? We don’t know the answer to that yet, specifically. That’ll take time. But we do know the basics of the answer, and it is very simple: we must control the Universe to prevent its end, and to do that, we must become God.
If humankind is to live forever, and more importantly ensure that there is a world in which we can live forever, then we must gain the knowledge and power to control the Universe so that we can prevent its end. In other words, we must become all-knowing and all-powerful, or at least gain sufficient knowledge and power to ensure that we can have an endless life in infinite eternity, through whatever ways we can. But whichever way ultimately works, we’ll need to create an eternal home for life, and that’s Godhood boyo. That’s the ultimate thing, and the Pleroma is a first step towards that: controlling the world around us with our minds, instantaneous creation by command. It’s a growing up for us. We began as children, born from the God of the Great Unknown at the Beginning, and we must grow up to become God to prevent the Great Known at the End. That’s the only thing when you think about it, our only purpose and the measure of our being, the direction of our progress and the future we’re heading towards: Godhood. If we don’t, then we will have accepted the end of the Universe and the eventual death of humankind, and everything before that will become pointless, the value and meaning of our lives will become forfeit. If we choose to do nothing or say that it’s impossible without trying, then we condemn the generations of the future to ultimate destruction, and in the long stretch of time, we will have annihilated the basic and universal value of human life, and therefore annihilate our own value too. Even if the end of the Universe will happen billions of years from now, or much sooner from some natural or cosmic catastrophe, that’s just a number that seems big to us, so the number doesn’t matter, it could billions of years from now or tomorrow—or today. On the scale of the Universe, what’s the difference between a billion and one, tomorrow and today? If humankind will become extinct in the future, no matter how many years from now, then there will be no point to all of this.
No, we must save ourselves by preventing the end of the Universe and become God to achieve that salvation. What comes after that? I don’t know. But for now, I know that we must spend our days working to achieve Godhood. That’s why we’re here and nothing else matters, except of course to make life worth saving, by making it worth living, by spreading love and creating art and asking questions and filling the darkness around us with light and the color of our lives, to expand outwards until we reach the end and then go beyond it—always onward, always creating, always living. You see, the end gives us our beginning. We begin at the end. God created and God will save, because we will become God to save ourselves. I call it the Anthroteloeschacosmological Principle, the purpose of humankind arising from the end of the Universe. I tell myself a little poem every morning: “The Universe will end / and I will die / if today I do nothing / to save starlight and humankind.” I wrote all this in an anonymous essay a few years back, The Salvation of the Universe…”
“That was you?”
“Yes, and it made quite a stir across the imperium as I understand it, but nary an effect. Typical. Anyways, we must prevent the end of the Universe—by whatever means, at all costs, and within moral bounds. The Sargons knew this and accepted the first two, but they rejected the last. I grew up with them. We discussed it often, along with your father. The Sargons think morality is an obstacle, a human thing that will prevent us from becoming God. They think Godhood is only about being all-knowing and all-powerful, but we Altas think differently. We think morality is essential to Godhood, because being all-knowing and all-powerful will be pointless if we are not also all-good, or at least as good as we can be when we try. Without morality, that wonderfully human thing—determining what is good and evil and then making it so—there’d be no point in becoming God, because there’d be nothing worth saving in the end. We’d just be a heap of atoms that figured out how to perpetuate themselves, like all of the other forms of life in the Universe, except on a bigger scale. But we are not like the other forms of life. No, we are different, and that’s what makes us so special and important. What’s the point of living if not for something, and why are we unique if not because of our morality allows us to say, “This is good and this is bad,” and then use that power to shape the world around us according to our imagination and will, enhanced by our knowledge and technology?
So you see Caleb, this is why we had to leave the Empire. We all know that the Universe will end in the future, but it seemed to us Altas like were the only ones who understood the significance of that fact, what it means for us and our purpose in life, the responsibilities that it gives us. We saw that the plan for existence is embedded in the structure of the Universe, our destiny and fate written across the stars, but when we looked around, we saw that everyone was living their days as if it wasn’t so, ignoring our ultimate purpose and wasting their time on lesser things. We had to leave, you see, to be away from the limitations and distractions of Empire, so we could do the work to achieve Godhood, to take the first step in leaving our childhood to create the Pleroma.
Your father disagreed with all this. He thought Godhood was a silly idea based on old religious notions. And that’s what makes what happened all the worse. You see, the Altas and the Sargons agreed with each other. We were unified against your father in our belief that we must achieve Godhood and that the stagnation of the Empire was preventing us from doing so, and your father was leading that stagnation, so we both felt compelled to take action. The difference between us, however, the vital difference, is that we Altas believe in morality, so we left the Empire to work in peaceful isolation, and the Sargons do not, so they murdered your family to seize power.”
And with that, Han Moret was finished.
Caleb was silent for a while. “But, I don’t understand. If you had this the entire time, why couldn’t you save my family when the Sargons attacked? Why couldn’t you use it to protect them? You could’ve prevented all of this. Why didn’t you share it with us?”
“Because the Pleroma is still in development, Caleb. It still has its imperfections and unknowns. We’ve only worked within the asteroid so far, and only with a small group of people who already had deep bonds and a shared way of thinking and years of training together as the power of the Pleroma slowly progressed, so our learning was limited by the pace of its development. And this was good, since the Pleroma would be apocalyptic in the wrong hands. This asteroid, these people, are minuscule compared to the scale of the Empire, to the true extent of what the Pleroma could reach and do. So, with all of its unknowns, we couldn’t risk deploying it beyond the Iris, and we couldn’t risk revealing ourselves by going beyond it and using it or building transmission relays across the Solar System so we could take long-distance action from here. We had precious little time after learning of the Sargon’s betrayal. And once we were there, in the fog of war, for all we know we could’ve killed your family if we had tried to intervene. Not everyone here has mastered the Pleroma yet, especially to use it in such a complex and rapidly changing atomic environment like war, with life and death in the balance, with its intense mental pressures and emotional reactions and all that would test the mental strength of even the best of us, even me. So, even if I had brought the best of us when it happened, we couldn’t risk trying it for the first time in such a situation, especially with such a close proximity between friends and foes. But we’re improving it and eliminating its imperfections, we’re learning, and it’s nearly ready to be used beyond this little home of ours.”
Now Han Moret was silent for a while. He looked around the Iris.
“I… You see Caleb…” He tried to gather his thoughts, but was conflicted between defending himself against Caleb’s criticisms and trying to proceed with his planned lecture. “With the Pleroma, we can control the Universe, both around us and within us. Everything, everywhere, all the time. And time itself too! Though that’s still in the experimental stages. One fellow tried to slow time by condensing his local spacetime and then went poof and, well, we don’t quite know where he is at the moment, but we’ll find him…hopefully. But with this stuff, we can speak and it shall be. We can create by command and move worlds with a wave of our hand. Dear, I’m getting poetic, but isn’t it so? This is what we’ve been working on all these years. And once we created it, we knew that the people of the Empire weren’t ready for it, so we remained in hiding. Most people beyond the Iris aren’t mentally and spiritually strong enough to have this power without creating chaos, destruction, and death across the Solar System, especially with the Sargons around. But now, with the Sargons in power, with chaos across the imperium, with you here, we think that perhaps it’s time. You have a powerful story Caleb, and you were born into a unique position to sway the hearts and minds of the people to shape the course of Empire and help them. And as your old tutor, well, I have faith in you, especially now that you’ve seen the Pleroma and understand what it can do and what’s at stake. I believe you can do what we could not and prepare the way towards a better future.
What are those quotes from the books I used to read you? ‘A people shall come, and when they say, “Be…” It shall be,’ and ‘Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightning, so it may go and declare, ‘Here we are?” That is this. We are it. Speak your voice, Caleb. Manifest your spirit. Create by command. With this, you can do anything, everything…” he amplified his voice to make it was deep and booming, “…ALL.”
And with the last word, hundreds of people suddenly appeared around Caleb.
A few hours passed and it was night. The suns above had dimmed, sharing their fading light with rising moonlight, creating a new and beautiful natural phenomenon that Caleb had never seen before, what the people of the Iris called a Sunrisset.
They were all in the field, groups of them sitting around bonfires. The ceiling of the asteroid was made transparent so they could see the stars around them. They were celebrating the arrival of Caleb and the simple fact that another day had passed of which they had come to know. Some of the fires were multi-colored, shifting with the mood and intentions of the people around them. Around one of them was a woman singing an ancient song. The flames danced and rose and changed colors to match her pitch and rhythm and tune—and when she finished with a climax, the flames burst into the sky, adding sparks to the stars. Throughout the night, there were fireworks from all directions and mini-supernovae exploding in the sky. Auroras waved above and among and between them. Such was life in paradise.
As conversation mixed with music and song, there was, most of all, a feast. It was the best food and drink that Caleb had ever tasted.
Han Moret gave another lecture, “Food is just chemistry, a unique combination of atoms that interacts with our taste buds to cause a specific reaction in the brain: pleasure. And with the Pleroma, we can have it all the time.”
“Don’t you get used to it though, having the best food all the time? What’s that saying, without the ordinary there’d be nothing extraordinary?” Caleb asked.
“I used to think that, but it’s been years and the food is still great, so no, you don’t get used to it. It’s utopia here boyo, paradise, the land of the blessed, whatever you want to call it, and not just culinary-wise. We can control our brains and bodies on the micro-level, so there’s no disease and, more importantly, no aging. I realize I might’ve buried the lead on that one, but yeah, we’re immortal here too, along with everything else. Godhood again. Everyone in the Alta, anyone touched by the Pleroma, will live forever, or at least as long as they choose and not be murdered by nature, which is all that matters. We can create anything we might need and want, and so we have everything we might need and want. It’s utopia, but it’s not without its problems.
Frankly, utopia is not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s certainly better than the past and something that everyone should have, power and abundance and immortality and all, and we’ll help them get there, certainly, but it’s not the final place, not by a long shot. Even with all of this, we have a lot to do and further to go. You see, when all the problems are solved, when you can have anything you want all the time, some people just get bored. Who would’ve thought that heaven would be boring. But it is so. Since humans began on the planet Earth all those years ago, our purpose was to survive and solve the problems that nature laid on us—scarcity, poverty, ignorance, disease—so we could have a brief moment to pursue our happiness before we died. But what happens when our survival is secured, the problems are solved, and we have infinite opportunities to pursue our happiness? Wouldn’t life get boring? That’s what we’re struggling with now. Frankly, utopia doesn’t agree with everyone. There’s trouble in paradise and all. Ah, perfect timing. Look over there. See him?”
Han Moret pointed to a man who was a few bonfires over. He was drunk and stumbling through the crowd. Since the man was pleromatized, he had a literal aura of drunkenness around him and projected a blurred existence beyond his body that wreaked a playful and entertaining havoc on others as he walked by.
“Damn it, Thrax. Not again!” someone shouted.
Han Moret continued, “You see, many people here have chosen to drown themselves in happiness and never resurface, as if that’s the only end and aim in life. Maybe it is, maybe we haven’t found the true meaning of happiness yet, maybe there’s something else, who knows, but with the ability to instantly create whatever we want whenever we want it and cure our bodies of anything, a lot of people have chosen to exist in what, in my opinion, is a false state of happiness. They get drunk and use drugs or just go straight to the source and alter their biochemistry so they can remain in a permanent state of euphoria, and they can do so without harm because the Pleroma prevents damage from constant intoxication and allows them to become sober immediately, whenever they choose, so their productivity remains the same, which makes it harder for me to argue that they should imbibe less. There have been many arguments about it. But it’s undeniably a feat of hedonic adaptation for our species when you think about, being bored in heaven and all. Nevertheless, many people like that fellow Thrax over there seem to never want to end it, their eternal happiness. I don’t know, boyo. We’ve done wonders here, but it’s not perfect, far from it.”
Han Moret was silent for a while and looked lost in thought, “Anyways! Apologies, I’ve strayed from my prepared remarks. There’s more for you to learn. Alright, what’s next? Yes, one of my favorites. Lora! Get over here.”
A wind blew through the camp and a woman appeared in front of Caleb. She looked into his eyes and smiled flirtatiously, then became wind again and reappeared behind Caleb. She tapped him on the shoulder and then rose above the ground and swirled around him, finally landing on the seat next to him.
“Hello, Caleb. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She drunkenly leaned into him, “So, did he tell you about the sex yet?”
“Uh…” He looked to Han Moret, who was conveniently looking elsewhere. “No.”
“Of course not, the prit. An old-fashioned manners man through and through. But my god! You have to try it. Imagine two people are like two atoms and now they’re having sex, but people are many atoms, octillions of them, so sex with the Pleroma is octillion times greater, a grinding cloud of pleasure, a great orgy of the Universe, all between two people, or more if that’s your taste. Does that make sense? Oh! See that electric cloud thing in the sky over there? There you go, some people are having a go at it,” thunder rolled across the camp, “and by the sound of it, having a lot of fun. One night when the elders were away and the kids were in bed, we younger ones—well young is relative now, I guess—but anyways, we wanted to test the limits of the stuff, and man…let’s just say we filled the space and rocked the place a little too literally.”
Han Moret interrupted, “Yes you did. Thank you, Lora. You may go now.”
Lora laughed, then kissed Caleb on the cheek and disappeared, creating a golden streak of light across the camp as she moved to another bonfire.
Han Moret resumed his lecture, “So, as you just saw, when you can control the atoms of your body, you can move yourself around. In other words, you can fly. Now, after hearing this, there is, logically, an obvious question.”
Caleb thought for a moment. “How is the mind not destroyed when the body are deconstructed and moved? Wouldn’t the person die in the process?”
“Correct! That is something we did not know until we tried it, or rather one person. Some crazy bastard just tried it one day and it worked, and from the fruit of such courageous experimentation we learned a lot about the nature and structure of consciousness. We still don’t know everything though. We know it has something to do with the attachment of plerons to neural atoms and the signals that they send to each other across a distance, like a spatial expansion of the underlying physical structure of consciousness, but we’re still figuring it out. For now, though, the important thing is that it works.”
“But isn’t the reconstructed person just a copy of the deconstructed one and not really the original person? Wouldn’t the original person be destroyed during deconstruction?”
“No, it’s them. When you go from body to nebulous state to body again, you can feel yourself the entire time. There aren’t any gaps or skips. It’s a continuous process, from one point to another, and you’re aware of it throughout. You can feel yourself dissolving, then nebulous and moving, then coming together again. And let me tell you, when you’re scattered like that, truly at one with the Universe, it’s liberating. It feels like…” Han Moret searched for the right words “…pure being.”
He continued, “Anyways, we’re nearing the end of the night, so let’s end it with a bang. What do you want? You can have anything you’d like. Some Viking ale?” A horned cup appeared in his hand. “One of those Parisian cafes we toured on Earth?” He tossed the cup in front of him and it became a miraged-like partition of one. “An ancient mosque?” The cafe rearranged into one. “A conversation with the legendary President Takhani?” The mosque condensed into the 22nd century woman. “Or better yet, how about a chat with another me?” The President morphed into another Han Moret.
“Fret not, he’s just a copy of me. Not really me. He’s not actually alive at all. Doesn’t have a consciousness. Just a puppet on my mental strings. Anyways, anything you want. What do you say?
Caleb stared at the fire and the flames slowed. He thought “my family” and must have unknowingly projected due to his intense emotional state, because Han Moret sighed.
“I’m sorry Caleb. I can’t do that…Not yet.”
The copy of Han Moret chimed in, “But we’re working on it!”
“Yes, thank you. We’re working on it, trying to resurrect the dead. So far, we can recreate the bodies of those who have been, but it’s recreating their consciousness that’s the tricky part. As you’ve seen, we can deconstruct and reconstruct the consciousness of living individuals across space while maintaining their continuity of being. The Self isn’t destroyed. It’s reconstructing…Hold on, that reminds me.”
The copy of Han Moret dissolved.
“That’s better. It’s reconstructing consciousness across time that’s the problem. Specifically, it’s reconnecting the consciousness of someone who lived in the past at the moment of their death, the presumed termination of their consciousness stream and Self, to the present that’s proving difficult. We’re trying to connect disjointed time-points between death and now so we can restore a dead person’s continuity of being, their true and original Self. We have the ability to create a likeness of someone’s consciousness, dead or alive, as I just showed, but it’s not truly them, it’s just a copy of them. If we can resurrect their stream of consciousness, awaken them from what would seem like a long nap, then we will have achieved true immortality, and not just for those who are living and yet to be born, but for all those who have been, all of the billions who once existed in the Universe, back in the world alive and well, forever. And we’re close, Caleb, we’re close. We actually made a big step today. Let me show you.” He amplified his voice and carried it on the wind, “Arina!”
A young and beautiful woman appeared. Caleb struggled to think of another word than “perfect.”
“Meet Arina. It’s her birthday, by the way.”
“Hello, Arina. Happy….” Caleb stopped because he recognized the name and remembered his conversation with Han Moret earlier. “Hold on, when I asked you how many people were in the Iris, you said that someone named Arina was born today.”
“And indeed they were. Her. The first of her kind, a fully grown human created by the Pleroma. Instantaneous creation. Now, I can anticipate your train of thought, and yes, the ethics of missing childhood with all its memories and growth and learning are concerning, and we will explore them, but we are in the first days of this stuff, so there will be many questions, and we are ready to answer them. But regardless, we constructed a new consciousness boyo! We did it, and we’re learning. Perhaps we can spark consciousness in animals too, any form of life actually…maybe even non-life come to think of it. But the next step is to resurrect old consciousness, which, as you know, would be the true power of resurrection. Godhood again! I told you Caleb, we’re seeking Godhood here, and we’re gaining a little of it every day.”
Han Moret seemed satisfied with himself and took a deep breath. “Alright, I think that’s enough for tonight. You’ve had a long day and have been shown much. Time for some rest. We Irisians don’t need sleep anymore, but you certainly do. Your body isn’t used to the godly life yet, so…tut tut, time for bed.”
The next day, Han Moret flew himself and Caleb around the Iris. Children passed by in the air on their way to school and nearly crashed into them several times, laughing. After a while, Caleb and Han Moret landed near the edge of a lake.
“See them?” Han Moret gestured to a man and woman in the distance between the lake and the foothills of a mountain. They were in the midst of combat. As they fought, various weapons rapidly materialized and dematerialized in their hands; each strike and block with someone new: now a sword, then a bow and arrow, now an axe, then a spear. They were flying and shifting and moving in a rhythmic flow, using the land around them and pure force as weapons. It was a literal storm of battle, as if reality was at war with itself, clashing shards of spacetime, two gods battling in a field.
“So, you want me to learn how to do that? Fight with the Pleroma to defeat the Sargons?” Caleb asked.
“Fight? No, those two are just bored, so they’re having a little dance. For Earth’s sake, Caleb. Haven’t you been listening? Watch.”
There was a boom in the distance. Caleb looked to where a mountain was, or rather, where it used to be, since it was missing. Han Moret had destroyed it instantly, deleting it from existence.
“With this, all you need is to be in the same room as them and then boom, gone forever in the blink of an eye, with only a thought, without even a fight, without even a flinch. Theoretically, you don’t even need to be in the same room as them. You could be here and destroy them wherever they are in the Solar System with targeted pleron dispersal and sufficient transmission relays. You could do whatever you want wherever you want. But I think the people need to see you, Caleb. They need to see you standing before the Sargons, declaring their wrongs, making things right. They need to hear your words, your plans for the future, and see the awesome power of this stuff, how it will change everything. Because with this, there will be no more war. With this, we become God. We’ll live forever, boyo. We’re free now. What will we do? Ah, so much, so much. There’s so much we can do now! Peace in our time, gods in Empire. A new day in a new age. It’s coming, Caleb. Gods among us because they become us. Are you ready?”
Caleb thought for a moment, then closed his eyes and stood in silence.
After a while, he flashed his hand. And all at once, a burst of wind blew, thunder cracked, and the suns shone brighter—the world shook.
He opened his eyes, “Yes.”