Tuesday 4 April 2000 AD

4 April 2:12PM New Moon in Aries

6 April Sundown
Muharram, the lunar New Year, begins Islamic year 1421

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Mystic Fire Video

A T Mann

Welcome to Universal Quest: a journey for the soul

"In my life, I have always sought to gain just a glimpse of the order that lies hidden in nature. All science requires faith in the inner harmony of the world. Our longing for understanding is eternal."

Albert Einstein, 1937

Dear fellow Questor,

This newsletter is a personal invitation for you to embark on and experience a journey on which we are always traveling, yet rarely do we understand its meaning or have a clear idea of where it is leading us. This never-ending quest can simply be termed "a journey of understanding"... an eternal quest in life. Our mission is to create a home on the Internet for all questing souls seeking knowledge and wisdom, and the means to tuning their individual and collective mind, body and spirit towards a more universal consciousness.

Universal Quest offers a unique and simple model, combining the power of information, wisdom and knowledge with the radical growth of technology and worldwide communications through the Internet and the Web. Universal Quest is seeking your support for an exciting and revolutionary business and life opportunity. We are starting life with this newsletter and in the coming months we plan to launch a unique presence on the Web. We hope you will join us on this adventure and become a part of of this adventure for the human spirit.

Raja Choudhury,
founder

April 1 - 5 : Ancient Egyptian celebration honoring the Neters or Gods, thanking them for maintaining the cosmic order. The festivities pay homage to Hathor (the sky goddess who many scholars believe to be the basis of Aphrodite and Venus), the Ennead (the 9 old Gods), the boat of Ra (maintainer of law and order by sailing across the sky every day in the form of the Sun) and the union of Thoth (Knowledge, mathematics) and the goddess Ma'at (truth). Thoth was inspired by Ma'at to give man the concept of Universal Order being reflected in Civil Order and vice versa. He is one of the pillars of later Masonic ideals.

Study offers "radical change" in genetics and cellular aging
Scientists have long blamed saggy wrinkles and creaky arthritic joints on aging cells that stop dividing often enough to maintain our bodies in their fresh and youthful form. But a new study could turn that theory on its head. Aging cells do continue to divide, according to a study published in this week's issue of Science. The problem is that the older cells have accumulated genetic damage; thus, they turn out flawed cells that eventually contribute to the diseases of aging. The study was conducted by Richard Lerner, M.D. and The Scripps Institute of Research and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego. The researchers believe that these genes may cause Alzheimer's, cataracts, arthritis, breast cancer and other conditions of the kidneys, heart and ovaries. Research continues. (Laura Lane)

Check out this article at the WebMD site for more details

What is Holistic Medicine
"Holism" was a concept developed in the 1920's as an antidote to the reductionism of the sciences. Ironically the term was first used by philosopher Jan Christian Smuts who was also one of the founding fathers of Apartheid in South Africa. Though it has a checkered origin, Holism has emerged as a major force in the practice of medicine today. It is a way for understanding organisms and systems as entities greater than the sum of their parts. Holistic medicine is an approach to the whole person in the context of healing. Holistic practices include humanistic psychotherapy, behavioral psychology, and integrative and oriental medical practices including Acupuncture and Ayurveda. (AT Mann)

Read A T Mann's full article at http://www.universalquest.com/holism.html

A Brief Meditation; God and Buddha

"I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happinessƒ"

The Dalai Lama, 1998 from "The Art of Happiness"

God and Buddha, a dialogue between Deepak Chopra and Robert Thurman
An unusual event was organized a few months ago at the Tibet House in New York. Mystic Fire Video had invited Deepak Chopra (author of How to Know God and the Seven Laws of Success) and Robert Thurman (founder of Tibet House and professor at Columbia University) to discuss God and Buddha. An impressive crowd of New York's most influential seekers had gathered to hear these two leading exponents of Eastern spirituality and mind/body/spirit integration discuss the similarities and differences between Vedantic Hinduism and Buddhism. Mystic Fire Video have just released a video of this discussion and I do reccommend you read our review and watch a preview of the video on-line.

You can read A T Mann's review of this event at http://www.universalquest.com/godbuddha.html

You can watch a preview of or buy the video "God and Buddha" at http://www.mysticfire.com

A Painter and a great Poet this week

Artist of the Week
My choice this week is Gaye Chan, a young artist from Hawai who has shown in the US and Canada. Her art expresses a quest for truth and the meaning behind surfaces. "Both art and people have a superficial surface. The longer you know a work of art, the better you understand it. Same with peoeple."

See Gaye Chan's work at the Next Monet Web site

Ah! Sunflower

"Ah, Sunflower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun,
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done:

Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go."

William Blake

The painting on the right is Blake's "The Ancient of Days". William Blake (b. Nov. 28, 1757, London--d. Aug. 12, 1827, London) was the first of the great English Romantic poets, as well as a painter, engraver and printer.

The Sun's Hearbeat and Chemical-Free Seeds

Mapping the Sun's heartbeat
NASA: Like blood pulsing in an artery, newly discovered currents of gas beat deep inside the Sun, speeding and slackening every 16 months. The solar "heartbeat" throbs in the same region of the Sun suspected of driving the 11-year cycle of solar eruptions. Scientists are hopeful that this pulse can help them unravel the origin and operation of the solar cycle.

Read this story at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast03apr_1m.htm

Chemical-Free Seed Sources
There is much-deserved concern in the US about genetically modified plants and animals, as well as the dangers of Bovine Growth Hormone injections in cattle (which not only stays in the beef, but also in milk, butter and cheese). These chemical interventions in nature affect we humans and also the beneficial and pollinating insects around us. It is important to track down further information about these important issues to see for yourself.

Some websites and organizations that explain the arguments against genetically modified food crops are: The Organic Consumers Organization, www.organicconsumers.org ; The Bio-Democracy Campaign, www.purefood.org ; Consumer Right-to-Know Campaign, www.natural-law.ca/genetic ; Monsanto Watch, www.monsanto.vigil.net ; www.grain.org ; and www.EmpowermentResources.com . (AT Mann)

A premier time for initiating activities - by A T Mann

4 April 2000 2:12PM
New Moon in Aries
A premier time for initiating activities, endeavors and projects. Seeds sown during the last few months may begin to break the surface. Serious business propositions need time and close attention to detail, and attempts at self-definition tend to be idealistic and therefore too abstract.

6 April 2000 2:41 AM
Mars conjunct Jupiter in Taurus
A very creative and enterprising time when the desire for success is catching and everyone is looking for adventures that will benefit them. Tangible ways of grounding energies that could be flying around are worth their weight in gold.

6 April 2000 14:37 PM
Venus enters Aries
Harmony is created by trying to make your desires actual, by wanting to integrate with others rather than dissolve into them. By firming up boundaries with others you ensure that you will be free to create and express your own deepest feelings. You may feel alone but can assert yourself in ways that attract new relationships.

Times when the Moon is Void of Course
The Moon is "void of course" from when it makes its last aspect to another planet in the sign it is in until it enters the next sign. During such times it is believed to be difficult to bring issues to conclusion and not a good time to start anything important.

Monday the 3rd from 3:44 AM until 11:22 AM, Tuesday the 4th from 7:04 PM until the 5th at 3:29 PM, Friday the 7th from 13:24 AM until 5:58 PM, and Sunday the 9th from 9:01 AM to 8:16 PM.

Desktop Yoga and Yoga Schools in the US

Desktop Yoga
Instructor: Ellen Serber
Use these exercises at your desk to help alleviate the strain of working at the computer. These exercises can help prevent and heal Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Repetitive Stress Injuries.

Try this free course at http://www.will-harris.com/yoga

For a comprehensive Guide to Yoga schools in America and internationally try http://www.yogadirectory.com/Teachers_and_Training