An Interview with Ven. Palden Gyatso

"If I was to list the methods of torture used on me it would be endless... My biggest fear was losing compassion for my torturers. You are receiving the anger and hatred and exchanging it with your love and compassion to that ignorant person who is torturing you... Whatever I learned (as a monk) I put into practice during my severe torture." Born in 1933 and a fully ordained Buddhist monk, Palden Gyatso was first arrested after the 1959 Tibetan uprising, brutally tortured during 33 years of imprisonment. He remained steadfast in following his Buddhist teachings, released in 1992 he now lives in Dharamsala, India... he would never give up his religious beliefs nor his country Tibet.

Homeless Man’s Honest Deed Rewarded with $16K Donation, and Counting

A homeless man in Kansas City, Mo., made national headlines more than a week ago when he returned a valuable platinum and diamond engagement ring accidentally dropped into his cup of change by a woman offering some extra cash. Now, hundreds of donors have contributed more than $16,000 to a page on GiveForward.com to help Billy Ray Harris get his life back on track. The man's rewards don't stop with financial help -- the media story helped him connect with a brother in Lubbock, Texas, he hasn't seen in nearly 30 years.

KCTV first did a story on the unintended donation Feb. 9. Sarah Darling had put her engagement ring in her change purse because it was bothering her finger. A chance encounter with Harris on the street led Darling to give the man her loose change. It was only a day later that she realized her engagement ring was missing. When she came back to Harris on the same street, he still had the ring and gave it back to her.

The New York Daily News reveals when the woman and her husband returned, they gave the homeless man all the cash she had on her -- around $40 to $60. Then Bill Krejci, who is a web designer, was inspired by some media outlets' websites where people asked how they could help. Enter GiveForward.com.

For the next 90 days, anyone can donate money for Harris. The homeless man cited his reverend grandfather, who raised him since he was 6 months old, as the reason for his character trait that returned the ring to the woman. Individual donations from as little as $5 up to $500 have poured into GiveForward.com for Harris.

One comment from the Young family, who donated $250, said, "This story was on CNN and it was touching that someone with so little was so thoughtful and understanding. ... This was a unique opportunity to celebrate a good news story and act of kindness." The CNN piece was on Soledad O'Brien's show Monday.

The goal was the raise $1,000 for Harris in three months. Instead, more than $16,000 has been given to the cause in just a few days.

Krejci posts updates on the donation website. The most recent one, dated Wednesday, called all of the donors "awesome... over the past few days." Further, the web designer states he'll be having lunch with Harris in the next few days. Also, the homeless man is staying with a guy who helps run sound for a band. Krejci calls the amount of donations "unreal."

So what will happen to Harris now? MyFoxLubbock.com reports Edwin Harris, Billy Ray's older brother, wants his sibling to come home to Lubbock, Texas. The brothers lost touch and have tried to find each other over the past 27 years. When the older brother saw Billy Ray's story on the Internet, he got in touch and the two talked for 45 minutes. Edwin Harris hopes to bring his brother back to Texas in mid-March.

KCTV reveals Robin Harris, the men's sister, lives in Wichita Falls, Texas. She also saw the national story and got in touch with her homeless brother thanks to Betsy Webster, the original television reporter who broke the story.

Billy Ray Harris hesitates to come home because he doesn't want to be a burden to his family. Perhaps more than $16,000 will help change his mind.

http://news.yahoo.com/homeless-man-honest-deed-rewarded-16k-donation-counting-172200491.html

Chocolate banana milkshake

Ingredients:

1/2 Hershey kisses

3 bananas

3 scoops of ice cream

1 tablespoon of margarine

3 cups of milk

1 cup of ice

Methods: 

1. Melt chocolate chips with margarine

2.. Put in bananas in pot which is melting on stove

3. When melted, put in blender with crushed ice, blend well

4. Add ice cream and blend again

5. Cool in refrigerator for at least an hour

6. Add milk

7. Add unmelted chocolate chips for topping

8. Ready to serve

9. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Made by Andrew, Jennifer, and Mai

Salsa and tortillas

Ingredients:

1 tomato

1/4 red bell pepper

1/4 avocado

1 hot pepper

1/4 lime

Sugar

Salt

Black pepper

Methods:

1. Dice tomato, bell pepper, avocado

2. Mince the hot pepper

3. Juice the lime in the bowl

4. Mix tomato, bell pepper, hot pepper, avocado in the bowl

5. Add sugar, salt, black pepper to taste

6. Served with tortillas

7. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Made by Jennifer

Sweet and sour seitan

This is a quick and delicious way for your meal. Though it is not that healthy since it is fried, but you should try it once in a while.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Vital Wheat Gluten
• 1/2 cup water
• Oil to fry

Ingredients for sauce:

• 2 table spoons vinegar
• 2 table spoons brown organic sugar
• 2 table spoons Kikkoman soy sauce
• 1/2  teaspoon minced hot pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger

Methods:

1. In a big bowl, add water, sprinkle vital wheat gluten to mix well. Form gluten into a roll.  Let it rest for 15 minutes.

2. While waiting for the gluten to be ready, mix the sauce until well blended.

3. Slice the gluten length wise then cut into strings.

4. Deep fry gluten in medium heat, when gluten puffs up, turn over to fry evenly until golden brown.

5. When finish frying, pour out all oil from the pot (I used the pot to fry). Add sauce to the pot, bring to a boil, add fried gluten, cook in medium heat, mix well until no more liquid.

6. Served with rice.

Happy vegan cooking .

Mai