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Home , Buddhi, Karma, Karma yoga, Kundalini, Kundalini Yoga, Maya (religion)

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-11, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Samadhi Is the Ultimate State of Realization of

S. Mothilal Nehru1 & Dr. M. Jothilakshmi2 1Ph.D Research Scholar, Vision for , Bharathiar University. 2Guide, Asst. Professor, Department of Tamil, Bishop Heber College, Trichirappalli.

Abstract: The Astanga of Pathanjali provides Universe, realization of Truth are all the same. The methods of achieving by practicing the entire Universe can be analyzed into four yoga stage by stage. Only few of the aspirants they principles; they are (1) Truth; (2) ; (3) move to Samadhi stage and others have not Mass; and (4) . Yoga is an achieved for various obvious reasons. Astanga or appropriate method of life which will cleanse one ’s Yoga is a text that covers many of the impurities and enable him to reach the goal aspects of life, beginning with a code of conduct of Self Realization. Ramana Maharishi also urged and ending with the goal of yoga, a vision of one ?s people who came to him to practice self-enquiry. true Self. Yoga isn? t only about postures, or He directed people to look inward rather than , it is a way of life, or . In this seeking outside themselves for Realization. influencing scripture there are eight steps to awakening or enlightenment through yoga. These KEYWORDS: eight astanga or limbs of yoga are: , ,Vanity,Introspection,,Neutralizati , , , , on,Moralization &Miserliness. dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi. Samadhi is the ultimate state of self-realization, or union INTRODUCTION with the source. It is a state of being totally aware Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is a text that covers of the present moment; a one-pointedness of mind. many aspects of life, beginning with a code of Vethathiri Maharishi is the exponent of the system conduct and ending with the goal of yoga, a vision of Simplified Yoga which is the sure way of one?s true Self. The Pantajali?sYoga Sutras is to lasting peace and real happiness. He has also probably the most authoritative text on yoga. It rediscovered the Simplified Kayakalpa Yoga given defines yoga as a focusing of the attention to out by the of South many centuries whatever object is being contemplated to the ago. Objective -Yoga for human excellence are exclusion of all others. Yoga isn?t only about disease-free life, to achieve peace and perfection in postures, or meditation, it is a way of life, or life, he patterned the simplified exercise. He religion. In this influencing scripture there are eight popularized the simplified Kundalini meditation steps to awakening or enlightenment through yoga. and synthesized Kayakalpa Yoga exercise for These eight astanga or limbs of yoga are: yamas, modern life. His system has four practical methods niyamas, asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, besides the simplified exercise and special exercise dhyana, and samadhi. called Kayakalpa exercise for rejuvenating the life The yamas consist of lessons in moral and force. These are Meditation, Introspection, social conduct in our environment. Sublimation, Perfection. For which the The focuses on attitudes towards ourselves: introspection practice starts. Think of self, Find compromising, cleanliness, serenity, devotion, and the drawbacks / Goodness within self, Find a plan . In the asanas, one focuses on posture to eradicate the drawbacks, Practice and adopt to practice, positioning the body while incorporating lead the life as per plan. The introspection also the breath to achieve a greater awareness in the helps to analyze the thoughts, neutralization of mind. Pranayama, or the restraint and control of the anger, moralization of , eradication of breath, helps with concentration, energizing and worries and realization of self as who am I?. By balancing of the mind and body. Pratyahara is the this introspection, one can convert the following six relaxation of the senses, where no distractions temperaments – Greediness, Anger, Miserliness, actually activate the mind. Dharana, or Lust, Vanity & Vengeance. REALIZATION OF concentration, is the ability to direct the mind SELF AS WHO AM I: Self Realization is the toward a chosen object and focus in on it alone. perfection of the sixth sense and it is the peak of Dhyana, or meditation, is the ability to develop wisdom. Self Realization, actualization of the focused interactions with what we seek to

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-11, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in understand. Lastly, but most importantly, Samadhi the appearance the 'counterpart sign' is the ultimate state of Self-realization, or union (patibhaganimitta). with the Source. • Absorption concentration (appanasamadhi): The total immersion of the mind on its SAMADHI: meditation of object and stabilization of all Home → → Concentration, Meditation, four jhanas. → Samadhi: The Ideologically the -tradition stresses Height of Divine Consciousness. and sudden insight, but in the actual practice prajna and samadhi, or sudden insight and gradual SAMADHI: In , , , Sik cultivation, are paired to each other. hism, Merkabah, , & yogic Patañjali's Yoga sutras schools refers to a state of meditative consciousness. It is a meditative absorption or Samadhi is the main subject of the eight , attained by the practice limb of the Yoga Sutras called Samadhi-pada. They of dhyāna. In samadhi the mind becomes still. It is resemble the Buddhist jhanas. According to David a state of being totally aware of the present Gordon White, the language of the Yoga Sutras is moment; a one-pointedness of mind. In Buddhism, often closer to "Buddhist Hybrid , the it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Sanskrit of the early Buddhist scriptures, Eightfold Path.In the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, it is than to the classical Sanskrit of other Hindu the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga scriptures." According to Karel Werner, Patanjali's Sūtras of Patañjali. system is unthinkable without Buddhism. As far as Definition: its terminology goes there is much in the Yoga • Sarbacker: Samādhi is meditative absorption, Sutras that reminds us of Buddhist formulations attained by the practice of dhyana. from the Pāli Canon and even more so from the and • Shankman: an abiding in which mind from Sautrantika." writes that becomes very still but does not merge with the Patanjali was influenced by the success of object of attention, and is thus able to observe the Buddhist monastic system to formulate his own and gain insight into the changing of matrix for the version of thought he considered experience. orthodox. However, it is also to be noted that the Buddhism: The term 'Samadhi' derives from the Yoga , especially the fourth segment of root sam-a-dha, which means 'to collect' or 'bring Pada, contains several polemical verses together', and thus it is often translated as critical of Buddhism, particularly the Vijnanavada 'concentration' or 'unification of mind'. In the early school of . , samadhi is also associated with the Samadhi is oneness with the object of term (calm abiding). In the suttas, samadhi meditation. There is no distinction between act of is defined as one-pointedness of mind meditation and the object of meditation. Samadhi is (Cittass'ekaggatā). Buddhagosa defines samadhi as of two kinds, with and without support of an "the centering of consciousness and consciousness object of meditation: concomitants evenly and rightly on a single • object...the state in of which consciousness Samprajnata Samādhi, also called savikalpa and its concomitants remain evenly and rightly on a samādhi and Sabija Samādhi, meditation with single object, undistracted and unscattered" support of an object. (Vism.84-85; PP.85). Samprajata samadhi is associated with deliberation, reflection, bliss, and I-am-ness. The texts mention four kinds of The first two, deliberation and reflection, form samadhi: the basis of the various types of samapatti: • Momentary concentration (khanikasamadhi): • Savitarka, "deliberative": The is A mental stabilization which arises concentrated upon a gross object of during vipassana. meditation, an object with a manifest • Preliminary concentration appearance that is perceptible to our (parikammasamadhi): Arises out of the senses, such as a flame of a lamp, the tip meditator's initial attempts to focus on a of the nose, or the image of a meditation object. . Conceptualization (vikalpa) still • Access concentration (upacarasamadhi): takes place, in the form of , the Arises when the are word and the of the object of suppressed, when jhana is present, and with meditation. When the deliberation is ended this is called nirvitaka samādhi.

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-11, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

• Savichara, "reflective": the citta is In the word is used to refer to an concentrated upon a subtle object of action that one uses to remember and fix one's meditation, which is not perceptible to mind and on . The Sri Granth the senses, but arrived at through Sahibinforms: inference, ]such as the senses, the process • "Remember in meditation the Almighty Lord, of cognition, the mind, the I-am-ness, the every moment and every instant; meditate on , the inner-breath (), in the celestial peace of Samadhi." the nadis, the intellect ().[ The • "I am attached to God in celestial Samadhi." stilling of reflection is called nirvichara • "The most worthy Samadhi is to keep the samapatti. consciousness stable and focused on Him." • Sananda Samadhi, ananda, "bliss": The Sikh inform their followers: this state emphasizes the still subtler • "Some remain absorbed in Samadhi, their state of bliss in meditation; minds fixed lovingly on the One Lord; they • Sasmita: the citta is concentrated reflect only on the Word of the Shabad." upon the sense or feeling of "I-am- YOGA/ LIFE: Yoga is a generic term for the ness". physical, mental and spiritual practices or • Asamprajnata Samādhi, also called Nirvikalpa disciplines which originated in ancient India with a Samadhi and Nirbija Samadhi: meditation to attain a state of permanent peace. without an object, which leads to knowledge Generally put, Yoga is a disciplined method of or consciousness, the subtlest utilized for attaining a goal. Yoga is used to unite element. Kundalini with . As the name suggests, the ultimate aim of practicing Yoga is to create a According to Whicher, Patanjali's own view seems balance between the body and the mind and to to be that nirvicara-samadhi is the highest form of attain self-enlightenment. There by creating a cognitive ecstacy. union between a person’s own consciousness and : According to ‘Taimni’, dharana, the universal consciousness. Some of the most dhyana a samādhi form a graded series: Samadhi. often practiced types of yoga are , When the can: (1) sustain focus on the Gnana Yoga, Yoga, , Tantric pratyaya for an extended period of time, and (2) Yoga, and . Human life minimize his or her self-consciousness during the functions in the union of Self(the individual), the practice, then dhyana transforms into samadhi. In Society and the . this fashion then, the yogi becomes fused with the pratyaya. Patanjali compares this to placing a KARMA YOGA: transparent jewel on a colored surface: the jewel takes on the color of the surface. Similarly, in samadhi, the consciousness of the yogi fuses with the object of thought, the pratyaya. The pratyaya is like the colored surface, and the yogi's consciousness is like the transparent jewel. samadhi: distinguished between ‘ kevala nirvikalpa samādhi and sahaja nirvikalpa samādhi’: ‘Sahaja samadhi’ is a state in which a silent level within the subject is maintained along with (simultaneously with) the full use of the human faculties. ‘Kevala nirvikalpa samādhi’ is temporary, whereas sahaja nirvikalpa samadhi is a continuous state throughout daily activity. This state seems inherently more complex than samadhi, since it involves several aspects of life, namely external activity, internal quietude, and the relation between them. It also seems to be a more advanced state, since it comes after the mastering of samadhi. Sahaja is one of the four keywords of the along with Svecchachara, Sama, and Samarasa. Sahaja meditation and was prevalent in Tantric traditions common to Hinduism and Buddhism in as early as the 8th–9th centuries.

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-11, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

"Karma" means action of man with will. Action Therefore one's actions should be disciplined and includes three different functions of man viz, deed, one's thoughts should be streamlined so that they speech and thought. may produce only good results such as pleasure, harmony, satisfaction, health and peace for oneself Man is a combination of four and for others at present and for the . Karma phenomena: Body, Mind, Life -force (soul and Yoga is a system of life utilizing the full potential Bio-magnetism. The life-force is basically a minute of the body and mind with understanding and energy-particle with speedy, self-rotative, whirling awareness for a happy, prosperous and peaceful motion. The continuous whirling motion of the life. particles of the life-force radiates a spreading Goal Is Self - Realization wave. The sum total of such waves intensified The purpose of the birth of man is to sufficiently in the body is bio-magnetism. Mind is develop his Consciousness to its own super-state the peripheral functioning state of Consciousness and to identify Self with the, Universal Being. Man which is naturally seated in the life-force particles. has three impurities within him. They are Ego, Imprints of and Illusion (, Kanma and The physical body is a structure of a respectively, in Sanskrit). During the systematic arrangement of cells with polarity. By development of his Consciousness, he has to the five functions of a wave (i.e.) Clash, Reflection, simultaneously dissipate these three impurities. Refraction, Penetration, and Interaction these five Through Realization of Self by inner travel, a results are produced. These are Pressure, Sound, psychic practice, he can get rid of Ego by Light, Smell and Taste. These imprints become a absorbing Self into the Supreme Being. By a record for a long period of time. This imprinting virtuous way of life and imprinting only good will evoke the same thought or urge of action in deeds he can get rid of the imprints of sins. When others by the flow and inter- connection of the Ego and sins are erased, wisdom will automatically magnetic wave. So whatever an action may be, it shine forth and Illusion. (Maya) is cleared. Karma affects all the parts of the body, life-force, mind, Yoga is an appropriate method of life which will the persons around and the Universal field. In any cleanse one of the impurities and enable him to action, the motive, efficiency, Place, time and reach the goal of Self Realization. object of contact are all involved. Accordingly the Every man is to live with body, materials and result will be pain or pleasure to self and others, at society. Karma Yoga helps him in three ways: present or in future, to the body or mind. (1) To better enjoy all sensual pleasures and derive full satisfaction; (2) In becoming capable of helping others to enjoy material and spiritual life; and (3) By postponing and withstand ageing until he reaches the goal of life or the time he wishes to die. Karma Yoga is a complete system to fulfill all the needs of man and mankind. Karma Yoga will maintain harmony between body and life, life and mind, individual and society and Nature and Will. Ultimately it will result in happiness, peace and satisfaction in life.

A Karma Yogi does every action with full understanding and awareness of the above- described facts of Nature, with an awareness of maintaining harmony in all angles and all relations of life. So, one movement of the body or one thought in the mind could be such as to be an asset for man and mankind for a long period of time.

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-11, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

3. Lack of understanding of our relationship with Nature Through his revelatory and revolutionary concepts of Magnetism - Universal and Bio, and their connection with the Unified Force on the one hand and living beings and the inanimate on the other, Maharishi has brought out an astonishingly powerful and yet a simple, practical system of unleashing the hidden potentials of human beings in their physical body, mind, brain, life energy, Genetic Centre and Consciousness. The system consists of: 1. Simplified Physical Exercises based on bio- magnetism Work is worship of the Lord. Karma Yoga is 2.Kayakalpa Yoga the Yoga of selfless action, without agency and 3.Meditation expectation of fruits. Karma Yoga removes the 4 Introspection techniques: Highly effective impurities of the mind. It is a potent purifier of the techniques of Analysis of thought, Streamlining of heart. Karma Yoga prepares the mind for the Desires, Neutralization of Anger, eradication reception of Divine Light, , and of worries etc. are taught which are essential for a Divine Knowledge. See God in every face. Behold happy and progressive life. the Lord in all creatures. Share what you have with 4.Understanding the secrets of nature: In others. Serve the and sages. Serve the sick. higher level courses, deeper understanding of self, Serve the poor. Serve your parents. Serve your society and Nature are given so that one is able to motherland. Serve humanity in general. Scrutinize lead a life of wisdom. Subjects such as Who Am I?, always your inner motives. Destroy selfish Study of evolution of universe and living beings, motives. Work without egoism. Watch for State of life before birth and after death, the opportunities for service. Never miss even a single purpose and of life, and its opportunity. Cultivate amiable, loving, social benefits, Plans for peace are discussed in nature, generosity, catholic nature. Kill selfishness. great detail to provide a thorough and broad based Control the senses, practice self-restraint, tolerance, understanding of self, society and nature which sympathy and . These are the qualifications equip one to lead a life of prosperity, and of a Karma Yogi. Atman is actionless, Akarta, . Nishkriya. Practise your Svadhanna, your Varnashrama unselfishly, without egoism. INTROSPECTION You will attain purification of heart. Knowledge of Introspection means examining one's own will dawn in your heart. self. Man's life is along three angles: (1) Nature; (2) Self and (3) Society. For a successful and happy VETHATHIRIAN SIMPLIFIED KUNDALINI life, one has to understand the nature of the three YOGA aspects. Introspection is a necessary practice for Maharishi has formulated a complete this enlightenment. In the SKY (Simplified science of living for the betterment of mankind: a Kundalini Yoga) system practiced and taught by five-fold path for the individual and a 14-fold many Light of Life Society Directors, Introspection virtuous path (Vethathirium) for entire mankind. is classified into five subjects:1) Analysis of For this, Thought;2) Moralization of ;3) he has systematized a science of living through:1.P Neutralization of Anger;4) Eradication of Worries; hysical exercises,2.KayaKalpa Yoga,3.Simplified and 5) Self -Realization or "Who Am l?" Kundalini Yoga meditation, 4. Introspection and Self-realization. REALIZATION OF SELF: Maharishi turned his spiritual searchlight on to Self -Realization is the perfection of the sixth see why, man, gifted by Nature so abundantly, sense and it is the peak of wisdom. should bring about such tragedies to self, society Self -Realization, actualization of the Universe, and nature. He found that the fundamental causes realization of Truth are all the same. The entire for human misery are: Universe can be analyzed into four principles; they 1. Lack of understanding of self are (1) Truth; (2) Energy; (3) Mass; and (4) 2. Lack of understanding of our relationships with Consciousness. one another

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-11, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

TRUTH, PEACE, HARMONY Maharishi makes us understand that we are at an evolutionary stage of the Supreme Being- the Space-and through practical teaching methods makes us understand the oneness running through the entire universe and beyond. The realization of this oneness is liberation. Only a liberated person can understand the scriptures, which say: • My father and I are one—The • Form is emptiness; emptiness is form—Buddhism • Brahmasmi (I am Brahman)—

Only such a person would be able to imbibe in himself the of the Buddhist, the of the Jain, the service to humanity of the Muslim and the love and tolerance of (1) TRUTH: Truth is the static State around the the Hindu. When this comprehensive knowledge created universe, Truth is called by many names spreads among people, harmony and peace in including the primordial State, Universal Being, society will be enhanced through every individual's Space, Vacuum, and understanding of the and functions of the . This is the basic phenomenon from microcosm and the macrocosm. which all the movements start. Self-enquiry: (2) Energy: Energy is the moving state of the static Ramana Maharishi urged people who State. It is a minute particle with self-rotative came to him to practice self-enquiry. He directed action; actually it is just a wave of the static people to look inward rather than seeking outside Being.Because of its self rotative action it spans a themselves for Realization: "The true volume or area and hence it is called a particle. resides in your Heart as your true Self. This is who (3) Mass: Mass is only the association of such I truly am". Ramana's teachings about self-enquiry energy-particles. have been classified as the Path of Knowledge (4) Consciousess : Consciousness is the function of ( marga) among the Indian schools of the Universal Being, understanding, feeling, thought. calculating and enjoying its own beauties and Questioning "Who am I?" values through the living beings and man. Enquiry in the form 'Who am I' alone is When this understanding comes, whatever the principal means. To make the mind subside, you see, everything is a part and parcel of Nature. there is no adequate means other than self-enquiry. Oneness in multiplicity and. unity among diversity If controlled by other means, mind will remain as if are very clearly realized. This enlightenment will subsided, but will rise again". The Source of blossom as brotherhood among mankind. Man will Aham- (I-thought) is verily the Heart as the understand the needs and feelings of other living undifferentiated Light of Pure Consciousness, into beings and lead a life with the three , which the reflected light of the mind is completely ] Morality, Duty and . absorbed When a man realizes himself, he realizes Nan Yar? the value of everyone on the Earth. And to respect His earliest teachings are documented in the needs, aspirations and ambitions of others and the book Nan Yar? (Who am I?), in which he to restrict and moralize one's own activities in life elaborates on the "I" and Self-enquiry: become part of his Being. That is why we have to • "Of all the thoughts that rise in the mind, stress that the above said three virtues are the thought 'I' is the first thought." imperative. • "The mind will subside only by means of Nature is the Totality and man is a the enquiry 'Who am I?'. The thought fraction, Nature has taken the shape of man to 'Who am I?', destroying all other thoughts, develop the Consciousness from fraction to will itself finally be destroyed like the Totality. All are having the same aims, the same stick used for stirring the funeral pyre." inner urge and the same potentiality within. So • "The place where even the slightest trace everyone has to understand the aims of birth and of the 'I' does not exist, alone is Self." help one another and at the same time avoid • "The Self itself is God." creating pains and miseries. In this kind of Bhakti realization, realist ion of Truth, actualization of the Although he advocated self-enquiry as the Universe and realization of Self are completed. fastest means to realisation, he also recommended the path of bhakti and self-surrender (to one's deity

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-11, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in or guru) either concurrently or as an adequate 4. Simplified Kundalini Yoga, alternative, which would ultimately converge with Dr.Kasibhatta.Satyamurty,(2013),pp.10,23 the path of self-enquiry. ,27,35&58. 5. Yoga for Human Excellence Book of CONCLUSION M.A/MSc.,Degree,(Tamil) Yogiraj Vethathiri Maharishi (2009), 180, When one comes to this stage, that is the Gandhiji Road, Erode, India, Vethathiri perfection of knowledge, the liberation of the Self Publications Paper-I ,pp.09,25 & 74. from all unnecessary bondages. There is the peace, 6. Yoga for Human Excellence Book of there is the happiness, there is the Bliss. In addition M.A/MSc.,Degree,(Tamil) Yogiraj to Meditation and Introspection practices, simple Vethathiri Maharishi physical exercises also are prescribed in Simplified (2009),180,Gandhiji Road, Erode, India, Kundalini Yoga to keep the blood, heat and air in Vethathiri Publications Paper- the body regular in their flow. So for making some II,pp.21,187,207,215,233 & 243. control over all these, the one and only possible 7. Yoga for Human Excellence Book of way is through Yoga, especially the methods and M.A/MSc.,Degree,(Tamil) Yogiraj principles of Swami Vethathiri Maharishi, where Vethathiri Maharishi (2009), 180, everyone can get proper manners and good dignity. Gandhiji Road, Erode, India, Vethathiri . Ramana Maharishi aurged people who came to Publications Paper-VIII,pp.09,67 & 75 him to practice self-enquiry. He directed people to 8. Stephen, M. (2008). Introspection. look inward rather than seeking outside themselves http://www.trunity.net/LightofLifeSociety/ for Realization. Zen-tradition stresses prajna view and sudden insight, but in the actual practice prajna and samādhi, or sudden insight and gradual cultivation, are paired to each other. Eradication of Imprints through Realization of Self by inner travel, a psychic practice, he can get rid of Ego by absorbing Self into the Supreme Being. By a virtuous way of life and imprinting only good deeds he can get rid of the imprints of sins. When Ego and sins are erased, wisdom will automatically shine forth and Illusion. (Maya) is cleared. Karma Yoga is an appropriate method of life which will cleanse one of the impurities and enable him to reach the goal of Self Realization with the Vethathrian Introspecion and Kaya , we understand and differentiate the real meaning of what is life. In samadhi the mind becomes still. Samadhi is the ultimate state of self-realization, or union with the source. It is a state of being totally aware of the present moment; a one-pointedness of mind. REFERENCE 1. “Holistic Unity” – Karma Yoga, Yogiraj Vethathiri Maharishi (1986), Thiruvanmiyur, Madras, India, Vethathiri Publications, pp.43. 2. Stephen, M. (2008). Karma Yoga. Retrieved from http://www.trunity.net/LightofLifeSociety/ view/article/51cbe9ee7896bb431f68223c 3. Yoga for modern age Yogiraj Vethathiri Maharishi (1986), Thiruvanmiyur, Madras, India, Vethathiri Publications, (1997) pp34

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