CELEBRATING MAGICAL HOUDIN’S BIRTHDAY!

Posted by Editorial Team | Dec 6, 2016 | Mind Matters | 0  |     

Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, the father of modern magic and the inspiration to perhaps every magician born after him, was a French magician who hobnobbed with the greatest men of his time, including French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. On his birthday today, we bring you some interesting facts about his magical and glorious life.

• The legendary magician was born as the son of Prosper Robert, a famous French watchmaker, and was meant to follow in his father’s footsteps, until an accidental purchase of a book on magic, titled Scientific Amusements piqued his interest in the world of magic.

• Since the book only mentioned about magic tricks and did not teach one how to perform those tricks, the French lad sought education in the art from a local magician named Maous and paid him ten francs for it!

• In 1865, when Napoleon’s Second French Empire was faced with a mob of wizards in Algeria and witch-hunting had gone out of fashion, they called upon the services of Robert-Houdin, who had by then become Europe’s greatest and most powerful magician. His magic tricks such as ‘Light and Heavy Chest’ stupefied even the smartest of them and they ran from their tent, afraid of his ‘sorcery’. Later on, the Algerian wizards gifted him with an illuminated manuscript and also pledged their loyalty to the French Empire.

• The famed conjurer Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weiss, named himself after his biggest source of inspiration, Robert-Houdin! The name ‘Harry’ however was derived from his childhood nickname ‘Ehrie’.

• Funnily, the surname ‘Houdin’ by which Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin became so popular was not his own. It was his wife Cecile-Églantine Houdin’s maiden name, which he hyphenated and added to his own name. Talk about gender equality in the nineteenth century!

• Robert-Houdin made conjuring a classical and fashionable art by choosing to perform at parties and theatres, unlike his predecessors and contemporaries who would perform at fairs and marketplaces. Robert-Houdin shaped the very foundations of magic and gave it a high status in the society through his innovations and vision.

• Every modern magician who wins your hearts with his skilled abilities and polished style of conjuring coupled with his suave appearance in top hat and tail-coats is certainly imitating Robert-Houdin, whose smart appearance and clever style helped him dazzle his audience across Europe as well as the rest of the world.

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HOW SWAMI VIVEKANANDA TOOK AMERICA BY STORM

Posted by Editorial Team | Dec 6, 2016 | Mind Matters | 0  |     

Born into a wealthy and privileged family, young Narendranath Dutta had always been a curious child, who wished to know everything he could about his surroundings. This bright chap turned into a fine young philosopher and became known to the world as Swami Vivekananda, the man who introduced Hinduism, Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and left the American crowd spellbound in 1893 with his captivating and compelling speech, which began as follows, “Sisters and brothers of America …” Today, we list some of the most inspiring sayings quoted by the eminent Indian scholar and monk and hope you gain some deep philosophical and psychological insights.

• Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached.
• Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
• Our duty is to encourage everyone in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.
• When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical or
  mental state.
• Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin; to say that you are weak, or others are weak.
• You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you,none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.
• The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.
• Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.
• In a conflict between the heart and the brain, follow your heart.
• The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.

WANT TO INCREASE YOUR LIFESPAN? EAT JAPANESE FOOD!

Posted by Editorial Team | Dec 6, 2016 | Daily Bread | 0  |   

Food in Japan holds a lot of importance and immense cultural value. For a long time, Japanese cuisine was most famous for sushi, but fortunately the rest of the world is now discovering other Japanese delicacies such as chilled soba (thin buckwheat noodles), onigiri (rice balls, usually served with vegetables or fish), Takikomi gohan (seafood and vegetables), to name a few. Japanese cuisine is known for its extremely healthy preparations, which is a major factor for the longevity and relatively disease-free lifestyle of the Japanese.

• Rice plays a major role in Japanese cuisine. Almost every food preparation revolves around rice, which is highly valued in Japan. Since harvesting rice is a labour-intensive task, its importance is taught to each person in Japan since a young age. Delicacies like onigiri, kayu (rice porridge), mochi (rice cakes), sekihan (rice with red beans), senbei (rice crackers), chazuke (rice with green tea, often served with fish) and the famous alcoholic drink of Japan, sake (rice wine).

• While we complain about the fattening ingredients that goes into our favourite noodles or spaghetti, the Japanese found a way to circumvent that problem long ago. They enjoy their noodles in the form of soba (buckwheat noodles) or udon (wheat flour noodles), which is highly nutritious and absolutely yummy. These noodles are usually served chilled with sauces, vegetables, meats and may be accompanied with a raw egg or other topping of your choice.

• Soy beans find a significant place in Japanese food culture. Soy sauce is the most widely used garnish in Japanese cuisine. Soy is also relished in the form of tofu (cottage cheese made from soy milk), natto and edamame, it is a huge source of essential vitamins, minerals, protein and carbohydrates.

• Besides the above foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat and green tea too contribute to the healthy diet of the long-living Japanese. A typical Japanese meal can be considered complete with a simple meal of rice, vegetables and/ or seafood.

• The Japanese cook their food only as much as is needed. Most of their dishes are boiled, seared and even eaten raw if possible. This ensures that all or most of the nutrients within the food are retained and not lost through excessive cooking or frying. Also, the seasoning is minimal, which allows one to enjoy the natural and inherent taste of the food ingredients. Frying is rare; the dish may be pan seared or wok tossed in a little oil, but never deep fried.

• Although Japanese food consists of several courses, the serving sizes are kept small so that one does not over eat. The Japanese are known to practise moderation and adhere to the ‘80% full rule’, which ensures that they stop eating once their stomach is 80% full.

• Presentation is key to Japanese cuisine. Before serving, the food is arranged so cleverly and carefully on the plate that even the simplest preparation turns into a work of art in Japan!

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