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Monday, February 20, 2017
SIGNIFICANCE OF BHEESHMA EKADASI AND SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA
Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama was revealed to the World by Bheeshma Pitamaha (Great son of King Shanthanu & Ganga Devi, Dearest Deciple of Parashurama, Brihaspati and many great sages) in the month of Magha masa, according to lunar calendar, on the 11th day of waxing moon, that is sukla paksha Ekadasi which comes exactly after 2 months of Githopadesa by Lord Sri Krishna. That is the reason, it is known as Bheeshma Ekadasi, in honor of Bheeshma, who is also an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Krishna.Bheeshma Ekadasi is very auspicious day as it is the when the world received the greatest of all stotras - Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram. This powerful stotram was revealed to the Pandavas (& the world) by their great grandsire Sri Bheeshmacharya, when he was on the bed of arrows nearing his death, after the conclusion of the Mahabharatha war
Lord Sri Krishna knew that the most eligible person to talk about the ultimate truth would be Bheeshma was ready to leave his mortal body. So, Lord Sri Krishna took Pandavas to Bheeshma was a great Man of Principles, Great Ideals, Action and Sacrifice. He has mastered the whole Dharma Shastra and practiced it strictly every bit throughout his life. Even the Lord of Death, Yamaraj feared to approach Bheeshma without his permission.Dharmaraja requested Bheeshma & asked him to tell them the greatest of the secrets that made him so great and that he thinks is the best that can liberate all beings from the cycle of births and deaths and lead them to planes of highest Happiness, Bliss & the Supreme Lord. That was when Bheeshma, after having obtained the boon from Lord Sri Krishna to be able to speak in clear voice and memorize his past deeds reveals the essence of all that he learnt from a number of sages who had the vision of Lord in different forms. Bheeshma has accumulated much knowledge from all the sages, Gurus and great men whom he had a good fortune of meeting in his long life span. He himself was also a great scholar, and being an ardent devotee to the Lord Sri Krishna added benefit for him, because of which knowledge by itself will also dawn upon them effortlessly. With all this knowledge and experience and with the Blessings of the Lord he recited this most beautiful, powerful core essence of all the mantras – Sri Vishnu Sahastranama. Bheeshma revealed Sri Vishnu Sahastranama to Pandavas on Magha Suddha Ekadasi day in presence of Lord Krishna, showing Him and telling them that He is Lord of all Lords and praying Him with all 1000 names is all one can ever do to become more dear to Him which itself leads to salvation.
Sri Vishnu Sahastranama is very beautiful, poetic and very melodious too and really easy to recite and learn and easy to practice in daily life. Being the quintessence of all the Mantras, Vedas and Shastras, Sri Vishnu Sahastranama Stotra acts as a very powerful Shield against all evils, odds and obstacles and at the same time also gives much needed protection, solace, blesses one with prosperity and success. Thus achieving every desired thing in life it also leads one easily towards the Lord realization and gives Moksha. All that one needs to do is just listen, chant, read or teach Sri Vishnu Sahastranama regularly, daily or as often as possible. The greatness of Sri Vishnu Sahastranama is beyond description. Reciting it regularly or even listening to it is itself a great thing that empowers one with the strength to overcome all kinds of difficulties.
It is Perception...
In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent — without exception — forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days earlier, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged over $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
Are we able to recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
Enjoy life NOW . . . it has an expiry date!
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness...”Dr.Martin L King.
The idea of force is based on mechanics; Newtonian physics, such as billiard balls knocking each other along. It gives rise to the belief that we need force, and need to be stronger than others. Resonance is more about energy and waves.
Waves don’t push each other along.
They blend and form new resonant. patterns." ~ Peter Aziz
The immeasurable power of resonance, being invisible, can be overlooked. Just reflect on the difference your personal energy and state of being makes in your life, on those around you too, and the types of choices you make even.
It's also the principle of Oneness. EVERYTHING is energy.
The work of the late Dr Masaru Emoto also showed the influence of energy in visible form by the shapes water molecules took in response to the resonance of thoughts, feelings, prayers, words, music, and so on.
In times of crisis, chaos and uncertainty, you might feel all over the place, understandably!
Honour and process your feelings wherever you're at. Doing so allows you to be more intimate with yourself, to release and transform energy, and be more present, open and vulnerable, all of which are also doorways to love.
Accept and be present with yourself ~ just as you are ~ right now.
You relax in an *aeroplane* though you do not know the *pilot*,
You relax in a *ship* though you do not know the *captain*,
You relax in the *train* without knowing the *motorman*,
You relax in the *bus* not knowing the *driver*,
why don't you relax in your life while you know that *God is its controller*?
Trust your God !
VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM:
When the child is young, his home is his or her whole world.
But when he or she grows up and steps out, he realises that he belongs to a bigger place.
In this way, starting with nationalism, one eventually progresses to internationalism.
There should not exist a feeling that one nation is superior to other nations.
We should realise that it is our duty to offer our service to the entire world.
The length and breadth of the world is ours because we are realised that we have a source which is all pervading, which is omnipresent, and because we would like to be an emanation of this source.
This should bring out the universal feeling of inseparable oneness.
This is not only practicable, but in the course of time, inevitable.
We are all related to each other and also to the entire world by our consciousness, which pervades the entire universe.
This is the meaning of VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM.
*"Our Journey Together is so Short"*
A young lady sat in a bus. At the next stop a loud and grumpy old lady came and sat by her. She squeezed into the seat and bumped her with her numerous bags.
The person sitting on the other side of the young lady got upset, asked her why she did not speak up and say something.
The young lady responded with a smile:
"It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant, the journey together is so short. I get off at the next stop."
This response deserves to be written in golden letters:
*"It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant, our journey together is so short"*
If each one of us realized that our time here is so short; that to darken it with quarrels, futile arguments, not forgiving others, discontentment and a fault finding attitude would be a waste of time and energy.
Did someone break your heart? *Be calm, the journey is so short.*
Did someone betray, bully, cheat or humiliate you? *Be calm, forgive, the journey is so short.*
Whatever troubles anyone brings us, let us remember that *our journey together is so short.*
No one knows the duration of this journey. No one knows when their stop will come. *Our journey together is so short.*
Let us cherish friends and family. Let us be respectful, kind and forgiving to each other. Let us be filled with gratitude and gladness.
If I have ever hurt you, I ask for your forgiveness. If you have ever hurt me, you already have my forgiveness.
After all, *Our Journey Together is so Short!*
Thank God for everything.
Six things a Hindu can do while speaking or writing in English.
Never refer to scriptures of our Gods as Idols or Statues or Images
Use the terms Moorthi or Vigraha.
If words like Guru and Mantra can be mainstream, why not Moorthi or Vigraha?
2) Don't use that meaningless term RIP when someone dies. Use Om Shanti or #sadgati instead.
3) Don't refer to Ganesh and Hanuman as 'elephant god and monkey god' respectively. Simply write Shree Ganesh and Shree Hanuman.
4) When you write/talk about the destruction of Hindu temples by bigoted Islamic rulers, don't call them 'foreign invaders'. They had names. Use them.
5) Never ever give weak justifications of Moorthi pooja like 'oh, it is just a symbol'. And yeah, don't EVER call it 'idol worship'. It is a derogatory term coined by Abrahamanic faiths that have decided 'Idol Worship' is a crime. Why should WE be defensive about it?
6. Never use the term Mythology for our historic Ramayana Mahabaratha.
Mythology is introduced by some british who want to prove us, our history Ramayana and MahaBaratha is false and part of myth.
We got our historical evidence from birth to wars and everything related to these places. Please use words puranas sastharas for our history, but not the british word mythology.
Even many british devotees dont agree with Mythology for Indian history.
Remember, the world respects only those who respect themselves!
A coffin maker was on his way to deliver one of his coffins one night when his car broke down. Trying not to be late, he put the coffin on his head and began heading to his destination.
Some policemen saw him and wanted to make some easy money off him (bribe) so they asked him
"Hey, what are you carrying and where are you going"?
The man replied
(You will love the answer)
.
.
.
.
.
"I did not like where I was buried so I am relocating" . . . . . . . .
The policemen Fainted..!
Zero / 0 ;
Is the symbol of Vairaagya, we have to lead the worldly life with a detached way,
not giving too much importance to this materialistic life.
And number Nine 9
Is the symbol of giving up the ARUSHADVARGAS such as;
KAMA PREMA, KRODHAMADA MOHA MATSARA and EESHANATRAYA - they are the desire of Women,
the desire of Wealth and the desire of Acquiring Property land etc.
In Kannnada they say it as ;
HENNU HONNU MANNU.
We have to be away from all these desires and embrace the formula of worshipping Sri Hari
Sri Vayu Sri Gurugalu with NAVAIDHABHAKTI.
This Nine is the symbol of Divinity of worshipping our Shri Hari
NAVAVIDHABHAKTI:
SHRAVANAM, KEERTANAM,PAADASEVANAM,
DHYANAM,SAKHYAM.ATMANIVEDANAM,
This is the Confidence that Parents should be able to instill in their Children..
Worth Reading....
In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son
and looked him in the eye. “Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you.” They hugged and the boy ran off to school.
Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties.
Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris. Other parents were standing around crying.
Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble. He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then grabbed another one.
One of the parents looking on asked, “What are you doing?” “Digging for my son,” Samuel answered. The man then said, “You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable,” and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.
Samuel set his jaw and kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a fire-fighter tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble. Samuel looked at him and said, “Won’t you help me?” The fire-fighter left and Samuel kept digging.
All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging. Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins. But, Samuel just kept working. He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. “Help! Help!” Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again. Then he heard a muffled voice, “Papa?”
Samuel began to dig furiously. Finally he could see his son. “Come on out, son!” he said with relief. “No,” Armand said. “Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me.” Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared. Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, “I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!”
Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.
Friends, whether trapped by fallen debris or ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles, we are never cut off from our Source.
Faith n Trust are our connection to the Source.
It's a PRIVILEGE being a parent, ENJOY each moment of it.
It's a RESPONSIBILITY being a parent, DO YOUR BEST.
Happy
being a PARENT!
May you be blessed in abundance always and in all ways.
Neither we can hug ourself nor we can cry on our own shoulder.
Life is all about living for one another,
so live with those who love us the most.
Relations cannot be Understood by the Language of Money...
Because, Some Investments Never Give Profit But They Make us rich..!!!
HAPPY MORNING
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL...!!!
Below are letters that children have written to God. 
Dear God;
THE POINTER
The Zen teacher's dog loved his evening romp with his master.
The dog would bound ahead to fetch a stick, then ran back, wag his tail, and wait for the next game.
One evening, the teacher invited the brightest student to join him,.
A boy so intelligent that he became troubled by the contradictions in Buddhist doctrine.
"You must understand." Said the teacher.
"That words are only guideposts.
Never let the words or symbols get in the way of truth."
Here, I'll show you.
With that, the teacher called his happy dog.
"Fetch me the moon." he said to his dog and pointed to the moon.
"Where is my dog looking?" asked the teacher.
"He's looking at your finger."
"Exactly, Don't be like my dog.
Don't confuse the pointing finger with the thing, that is being pointed at.
Most of our Spiritual words are only guideposts.
"Every man fights his way through other man's words to find his own truth."
A lovely story for today. Following post.. Beautiful..do read..
IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER !
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller.
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost.'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.
Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.
They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size....they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ...'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral:-
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Today I wish you all a day of ordinary miracles ~
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...
An unexpected phone call from an old friend....
Green stoplights on your way to work....
The fastest line at the grocery store....
A good sing-along song on the radio..
Your keys found right where you left them.
Share this with people you'll never forget.
I just did...
If you don't share it with anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles in Life when they occur.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE
LIVED!
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you." Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching)
"An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field."
Niels Bohr just Characterise people by their actions, and you will never be fooled by their words.
Our shadow is actually at the core of our being, which we cannot get rid of and will never succeed in taming.
Conflict
General Meaning:-
Conflict arises when a person is convinced that he or she is entitled to something and then meets with opposition.
In such cases, the wiser choice is not to push things to the bitter end, because knocking heads only perpetuates bad will.
Creative solutions that meet others halfway are more valuable and longer lasting than victories achieved through force.
Conflicts in which one party is not sincere inevitably lead to subterfuge and distortions.
In such situations, those of strong character keep a clear head, protect their own integrity and look out for their own interests, even while seeking compromise.
Often this means finding a fair-minded mediator who can help settle matters.
So in such times of conflict and turmoil, new ventures and new initiatives are to be avoided.
Just Loved these lines
Written by
Sophia Loren (Actress)...
" When I got enough confidence, the stage was gone…..
When I was sure of Losing, I won…….
When I needed People the most, they Left me…….
When I learnt to dry my Tears, I found a shoulder to Cry on……
When I mastered the Skill of Hating, Someone started Loving me from the core of the Heart……
And, while waiting for Light for Hours when I fell asleep, the Sun came out…..
That’s LIFE!!
No matter what you Plan, you never know what Life has Planned for you……
Success introduces you to the World……. But Failure introduces the World to you……. ……
Always be Happy!!
Often when we lose Hope
and think this is the end…
Life smiles and says,
“Relax Sweetheart; It’s just a Bend, not the End..!"
Endurance:-
General Meaning;
Endurance is fostered when inner constancy is coupled with external flexibility.
Long-distance runners must adapt readily to changing conditions, while maintaining an inner determination and strength of purpose.
Two trees growing near each other adapt to enhance each other's survival.
A strong image of durability is a stable marriage of intimate partners striking a dynamic balance between involvement in the outside world and nourishment in the home.
True endurance is not based on rigidity, for endurance implies movement, not immobilization.
Only by adapting to change can we stay in the race; but only by deepening our sense of purpose can we develop the fortitude to win it.
Continuity is achieved through movement, not by keeping still.
That which has ceased to grow is close to death.
How did Michael Jordan help lead his team to win six NBA championships?
It was a surprise to find out that when Michael joined the NBA, he was celebrated only as a high-flying dunker, making a mere 17 percent of his three-point shots!
And early on in his career, the Chicago Bulls were consistently knocked off in the playoffs because of their apparent lack of teamwork.
So what did Michael have to do, as a leader, to convert winning games into winning championships?
The answer is: he had to consistently adjust his game in order to adapt to the changing seasons, strategies, and opponents.
Turns out, constant adaptation was the only way to remain successful and dominant.
So are you directing your time and energy to the right areas of your life?
Are you focusing on changes that will propel you beyond good...to Greatness?
Do you want to just reach the finish line in life, or would you rather strive for the winner's circle?
Decide and chose wisely.
What is the world truly in need of ?
What are the young people of today cautious to ask or seek?
Where does one find a genuine Guru in today's world of sycophants and masqueraders by the dozen?
My years in the spiritual sabbatical have besides opening my eyes , also revealed unto me some truths.
True spiritual teachers are like empty vessels that are filled with nothing.
Through them, we can experience the limitless, untouched ocean of love that can be found in all things.
Through them, we can also become conscious of whatever is blocking our ability to experience light. Whether it be the past wounds, mental attachments or egotistical desires, these blocks become the next part of one's Soul work.
In other words, a true teacher’s job is to serve as a mirror, until we’re able to realize that the light within them is also the light within us.
In the end, it’s true that the best Teacher is within us, that our ultimate guide is our own Souls.
The truth is that we are only ever trapped by our own desires and attachments (and what we’re expecting from our teachers).
If we truly seek liberation, then all teachers are vehicles of learning in one way or another.
In my experience, you can tell that you’ve found your teacher when you feel an immediate strong and intense link of love for their teachings.
Your heart will feel open and elevated when reading this person’s words or sitting in their presence.
I’ve seen a man’s eyes fill with tears out of nowhere for no reason other than the sight of a book’s cover.
How do we know if these feelings are sincere?
How do we know that we’re not just being charmed or given a false sense of security?
The Sufi tradition has a wonderful approach where the disciples are allowed to test their Sheikhs (teachers).
Abū-Sa’īd Abul-Khayr was a poet and Sufi mystic who was one of the first to describe the qualities to look for as proof in a true teacher.
There are at least ten characteristics:-
There are at least ten characteristics:-
1)He/she must have embodied the spiritual message to be able to have disciples.
2)He/she must have traveled the mystic path himself to be able to show the way.
3)He/she must have become refined and educated in order to be an educator.
4)He/she must be generous and devoid of self-importance so that he/she can sacrifice wealth on behalf of the disciple.
5)He/she must have no hand in the disciple’s wealth so that he/she is not tempted to use it for himself/herself.
6)Whenever he/she can give advice through a sign, he/she will not use direct expression.
7)Whenever he/she can educate through kindness, he/she will not use violence and harshness.
8)Whatever he / she orders, he/she has first accomplished.
9)Whatever he / she forbids the disciple, he/she has abstained from himself / herself.
10)He/she will not abandon the students for the sake of the world
These characteristics are a starting point to help us distinguish between power / greed / status hungry “teachers” and genuine vehicles of Spirit that contribute toward our collective evolution.
Unlike other teachers, spiritual guides are faced with the most difficult teaching of all: to teach others the way of ego surrender into divine truth.
Ultimately, the teacher is a ferryman or the boats man , who takes you from the shores of your ego to the shores of Divine Union.
Ultimately, no one can give us self-realization.
We must find it ourselves.
An outer teacher can only reveal the real teacher hidden within us.
Even the false teachers we come across on the way help us to learn the value of developing our own sense of discrimination and judgment.
So avoid being cross or angry in case you have met or come across a false teacher and wasted your time or precious resources.
For they have only helped you in understanding better.
Finding a true teacher, deep down, is about discovering how sincere we are on our spiritual quest, for honest seekers understand that the outer world is only a catalyst for bringing us closer to the truth that is already hidden within us.
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