Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis: The Vampire Chronicles (2016)

From Anne Rice, conjurer of the beloved best sellers Interview with a Vampire and Prince Lestat, an ambitious and exhilarating new novel of utopian vision and power, uniting the ancient worlds and the legends of the Vampire Chronicles.
 
"In my dreams, I saw a city fall into the sea. I heard the cries of thousands. I saw flames that outshone the lamps of heaven. And all the world was shaken . . ." 
--Anne Rice, Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis
 
At the novel's center: the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, hero, leader, inspirer, irresistible force, irrepressible spirit, battling (and ultimately reconciling with) a strange otherworldly form that has somehow taken possession of Lestat's undead body and soul. This ancient and mysterious power and unearthly spirit of vampire lore has all the force, history, and insidious reach of the unknowable Universe.

It is through this spirit, previously considered benign for thousands of vampire years and throughout the Vampire Chronicles, that we come to be told the hypnotic tale of a great sea power of ancient times; a mysterious heaven on earth situated on a boundless continent--and of how and why, and in what manner and with what far-reaching purpose, this force came to build and rule the great legendary empire of centuries ago that thrived in the Atlantic Ocean.

And as we learn of the mighty, far-reaching powers and perfections of this lost kingdom of Atalantaya, the lost realms of Atlantis, we come to understand its secrets, and how and why the vampire Lestat, indeed all the vampires, must reckon so many millennia later with the terrifying force of this ageless, all-powerful Atalantaya spirit.

Now 30th śloka. This is the ending śloka. DVD 7 (1:16:40) साधिभूताधिदैवं मां साधियज्ञं च ये विदुः  । प्रयाणकालेऽपि च मां ते विदुर्युक्तचेतसः  ॥३०॥ sādhibhūtādhidaivaṁ māṁ sādhiyajñaṁ ca ye viduḥ  / prayāṇakāle’pi ca māṁ te viduryuktacetasaḥ  //30//   Those people who understand what is sādhi-bhūta, those people who understand what is sādhi-yajñaṁ, these people, at the time of death, they get entry and are united in Me in the end. But he [Kṛṣṇa] says here, prayāṇakāle, at the time of death, they get entry in Me. Abhinavagupta commentates upon [this that] at the time of death, you should not know that “at the time of death, they get entry in Me.” It is only when they practice this in their lifetime, then at the time of death also they will do the same thing. Kim janmāsevanayā [comm. verse 30], those people who say to people, “what is the use of thinking of Lord Śiva from your birth to death? Why should you not think of Him [only] at the time of death? At the death time, we will think of Him and get mokṣa.” If those people who say this, what shall I tell them? Teṣāṁ tūṣṇīṁ bhāva eva śobhana, to them, I have no words to tell them [except], “what are you barking?” Iti śivam. DVD 7 (1:18:54)  Now the conclusion of this chapter.   स्फुटं भगवतो भक्तिराहिता कल्पमञ्जरी  । साधकेच्छासमुचितां येनाशां परिपूरयेत्  ॥७॥   sphuṭaṁ bhagavato bhaktirāhitā kalpamañjarī  / sādhakecchāsamucitāṁ yenāśāṁ paripūrayet  //7//   ॥ Concluding śloka of 7th chapter ॥ The bhakti, the devotion of Parabhairava, if you have possessed that devotion of Parabhairava, you [should] understand that you have got kalpalata. Kalpalata is that lata, that creeper in heaven; whatever you ask, it gives, it bestows to you. It is called pāri-jāta-mañjarī. In heaven, in a particular heaven, there is pāri-jāta-mañjarī if you go and ask for what you need, and it will be bestowed to you. Whatever you think – if you need money, it will come, if you need anything, it will come. And if you need God consciousness, it will come. It is kalpa mañjarī. And in the same way, the real kalpa mañjarī is devotion towards Bhairava. This is the real, real kalpa mañjarī. It will give you the success of entering in Parabhairava state in the end. Sādhakecchāsamucitāṁ yenāśāṁ paripūrayet, and all [worldly] desires are shunned and [sādhakas] are successfully taken inside the state of Parabhairava in the end. iti śrīmahāmāheśvarācāryavaryarājānakābhinavaguptapāda- viracite śrīmadbhagavadgītārthasaṃgrahe saptamo’dhyāyaḥ 7th chapter is finished. (no transcript for concluding discussion by John, Denise and Shanna Hughes, and George Barselaar about Swamiji’s birthday habit of remaining in Samadhi for hours and the importance of meditation.) PART TWO:   BG audio CD 469a ch 7 (01:25)   साधिभूताधिदैवं मां साधियज्ञं च ये विदुः  । प्रयाणकालेऽपि च मां ते विदुर्युक्तचेतसः  ॥३०॥ sādhibhūtādhidaivaṁ māṁ sādhiyajñaṁ ca ye viduḥ  / prayāṇakāle’pi ca māṁ te viduryuktacetasaḥ  //30//   Those persons who understand me as adhibhūtā, adhidaiva and adhiyajña; those people who understand me as adhibhūtā, adhidaiva and adhiyajña, these three–these three names are attributed to Lord, Lord Śiva: adhibhūtā, adhidaiva and adhiyajña–and those persons who understand me as such, adhibhūtā adhidaiva and adhiyajña (he will define in next chapter, he will define all these, so it is not needed, we don’t need to explain it here), prayāṇakāle’ pi ca māṁ te viduryuktacetasaḥ, at the time of death also they understand Lord Śiva in fullness, they will, necessarily, because their mind is one-pointed, yuktacetasaḥ. ādhyātmikādhibhautikādhidaivikādhiyajñikāni ca mamaiva rūpāntarāṇi  / (comm.) Ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika, ādhidaivika, ādhiyajñika, these four stages of actions. Ādhyātmika, ādhyātmika actions are those who appear in your own body that is ādhyātmika. Ādhidaivika . . . [Ādhyātmika] these are actions in your body. For instance mood change, love, hatred, it is ādhyātmika.  This is ādhyātmika . . . JOACHIM:  This is emotional element especially. SWAMIJI:  Yes, residing in your own body, in your own nature. Sometime you are happy, sometime you are sad, sometime you think that you are God yourself, and sometime you think you are nothing, you have gone, you are mixed in dust, all these things, it is ādhyātmika. Ādhidaivika is that which comes from . . . JOACHIM:  Sensual organs? SWAMIJI:  No. . . . which comes from gods. That is thunders, clouds, rains, earthquakes, fire. ERNIE:  Trees growing, plants? SWAMIJI:  Trees growing, it is adhibhūtā. And this is also my expansion, that too is also my expansion. Ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika and ādhiyajña. Ādhiyajña is that which rises from yajñas, from sacrificial fires, that fruit which comes out from that. Ādhibhūta is that which comes from bhūtas, five elements, five great elements: earth, water, etc. JOACHIM:  Earth, water, fire, air, and ākāśa. SWAMIJI:  Floods, wind, storms, all these things, these actions are called adhibhūta. All these are my expansion; this is my expanded nature everywhere.   Prayāṇa . . . (verse 30), the person, that person, those persons who understand me like that i.e. that, “this is the nature of God consciousness everywhere residing,” prayāṇakāle, in the end when they leave their bodies, māṁ te viduryuktacetasaḥ, they understand me. pralayāṇakāle ca . . . (comm. verse 30) At the time of death . . . nityaṁ bhagavadbhāvitāntaḥkaraṇatvāt . . . (because he has been adopting one-pointedness of God in his lifetime, if he is meditating, if he has been meditating during his lifetime continuously–that is what he says), then, in the end, when he leaves the body, when his consciousness has gone beyond control, beyond his control, at the time when he is in a coma state, he’ll be meditating inside; internally he’ll be meditating. If he meditates during his life period, he will be meditating in that coma state also, at the time when he is going to leave this body, at that time also he will be thinking of God, internally. This is very fine. Prayāṇakāle, at the time of death, nityaṁ bhagavad bhāvita antaḥ karaṇatvāt, because he has bhāvita antaḥ karaṇa, antaḥ karaṇa, his mind is focused in his lifetime towards God only, so, at the time of death also his mind will be focused to him. DENISE:  So the strongest impression in his mind. SWAMIJI:  Yes. māṁjānanti, So they understand me in the end. yato yeṣaṁ janmapūrvameva bhagavattattvaṁ; Because, janma pūrvameva bhagavat tattvaṁ, in the period of their lives, livelihood (livelihood–not), at the time of their living period, when they have adopted the nature of God, when they have meditated upon the nature of God in their living period . . . te ‘ntakāle parameśvaraṁ saṁsmareyuḥ  / . . . those persons will necessarily remember God at the time of death also. But on the contrary . . . ‘kiṁ janmāsevanayā’–iti ye manyante; teṣāṁ tūṣṇīṁbhāva eva śobhana iti śivam  //  (comm. not recited fully) . . . iti ye manyante, those who understand that, “kiṁ janmāsevanayā, why to worry to meditate in [your] lifetime, try to meditate at that very period, at the time of death . . . DENISE:  How can you? SWAMIJI:  . . . be, enjoying in this world for the time being, [and] at the time of death think of Lord!”–those persons who say like this, (this is what he, [Abhinavagupta] says), “kiṁ janmāsevanayā, you should not worry to meditate till the end,”–iti ye manyante; teṣāṁ tūṣṇīṁbhāva eva śobhana, for them I have nothing to say, I have nothing whatsoever to tell them. atra saṁgrahaślokaḥ The conclusion of this. sphuṭaṁ bhagavato bhaktirāhitā kalpamañjarī  /   (concl. Ch 7) The attachment of Lord Śiva, if it is developed day by day in your lifetime, āhitā kalpamañjarī, it becomes kalpamañjarī, it becomes that tree, bestower of all boons, that tree which is existing in heaven. DENISE:  Wish-fulfilling tree. SWAMIJI:  All your desires are fulfilled. sādhakecchāsamucitāṁ yenāśāṁ paripūrayet //  (concl. Ch 7) And samucitāṁ sādhaka icchāṁ, the icchā, the desire of sādhaka, desire of devotee’s of Lord Śiva is fulfilled by that bhakti, by that attachment of Lord. Bas! This is the ending [of this] chapter.

"Changes" Yeah, yeah Changes you asked for Changes you'll get And while you're askin' At least try not to forget The moments we longed for Weren't ours to love for In the middle of the heat time You've come for the last time With me, yeah Changes are comin' and I look for some and I get what I want and Mmm, but not from you I'll find some deservin' Oh, beaut

"Curse Of The Witches" Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? It was 21 years ago mother spoke to me And said the duration of the seed to the root of our family tree Was struck with the curse of the witches Blackened and evil They were then proved and condemned by the Quakers and Puritans 'I thought our branches and sprouts were ever clear, but one leaf is dark' With

"Sit With The Guru" Life's created, automated Yesterday's invalidated Hip mankind on, turn your mind on Sit with the guru (guru, guru) Meditation, ooh High, high where eagles fly Leave today untouched in the sky Stretch out your mind to humanity How many tomorrows can you see? Good life livin', party givin' No one walks who can be driven Blunt the starkness,

"Turd On The Run"

Grabbed hold of your coat tail but it come off in my hand
I reached for your lapel but it weren't sewn on so grand
Begged, promised anything if only you would stay
Well, I lost a lot of love over you

That's right

Fell down to my knees and I hung onto your pants
But you just kept on runnin' while they ripped off in my hands
Diamond rings, Vaseline, you give me disease
Well, I lost a lot of love over you

Oh, baby, that's alright

I boogied in the ballroom, I boogied in the dark
Tie your hands, tie your feet, throw you to the sharks
Make you sweat, make you scream, make you wish you'd never been
I lost a lot of love over you

Ow I did

"Rocks Off"

Oh yeah

I hear you talking when I'm on the street
Your mouth don't move but I can hear you speak

What's the matter with the boy?
He don't come around no more
Is he checking out for sure?
Is he gonna close the door on me?

And I'm always hearing voices on the street
I want to shout, but I can hardly speak

I was making love last night
To a dancer friend of mine
I can't seem to stay in step
'Cause she come ev'ry time that she pirouettes over me

And I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)
I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)

I'm zipping through the days at lightning speed
Plug in, flush out and fire the fuckin' feed

Heading for the overload
Splattered on the nasty road
Kick me like you've kicked before
I can't even feel the pain no more

And I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)
I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)

Feel so hypnotized, can't describe the scene
It's all mesmerized all that inside me

The sunshine bores the daylights out of me
Chasing shadows moonlight mystery

Heading for the overload
Splattered on the dirty road
Kick me like you've kicked before
I can't even feel the pain no more

And I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)
I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)

And I only get my rocks off while I'm dreaming
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)
I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)

And I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeping
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)
(Only get them off, only get them off, only get them off)

"Jig-Saw Puzzle"

There's a tramp sittin' on my doorstep
Tryin' to waste his time
With his methylated sandwich
He's a walking clothesline
And here comes the bishop's daughter
On the other side
And she looks a trifle jealous
She's been an outcast all her life

Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do my jig-saw puzzle
Before it rains anymore

Oh the gangster looks so fright'ning
With his Luger in his hand
But when he gets home to his children
He's a family man
But when it comes to the nitty-gritty
He can shove in his knife
Yes he really looks quite religious
He's been an outlaw all his life

Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jig-saw puzzle
Before it rains anymore

Yes, yes now
Oh, all right

Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jig-saw puzzle
Before it rains anymore

Oh the singer, he looks angry
At being thrown to the lions
And the bass player, he looks nervous
About the girls outside
And the drummer, he's so shattered
Trying to keep up time
And the guitar players look damaged
They've been outcasts all their lives

Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jig-saw puzzle
Before it rains anymore

Oh, there's twenty-thousand grandmas
Wave their hankies in the air
All burning up their pensions
And shouting, "It's not fair!"
There's a regiment of soldiers
Standing looking on
And the queen is bravely shouting,
"What the hell is going on?"

With a blood-curdling "tally-ho"
She charged into the ranks
And blessed all those grandmas who
With their dying breaths screamed, "Thanks!"

Me, I'm just waiting so patiently
With my woman on the floor
We're just trying to do this jig-saw puzzle
Before it rains anymore

"Dear Doctor"

Oh help me, please doctor, I'm damaged
There's a pain where there once was a heart
It's sleeping, it's a-beatin'
Can't you please tear it out, and preserve it
Right there in that jar?

Oh help me, please mama, I'm sick'ning
It's today that's the day of the plunge
Oh the gal I'm to marry
Is a bow-legged sow
I've been soakin' up drink like a sponge

"Don't you worry, get dressed," cried my mother
As she plied me with bourbon so sour
"Pull your socks up, put your suit on
Comb your long hair down
For you will be wed in the hour."

So help me, please doctor, I'm damaged
There's a pain where there once was a heart
I'm sleeping, it's beatin'
Can't you please take it out, and preserve it
Right there in that jar?

yep

Oh help me, please doctor, I'm damaged
There's a pain where there once was a heart
It's sleeping, it's a-beatin'
Can't you please tear it out, and preserve it
Right there in that jar?

I was tremblin', as I put on my jacket
It had creases as sharp as a knife
I put the ring in my pocket
But there was a note
And my heart it jumped into my mouth

It read, "Darlin', I'm sorry to hurt you
But I've no courage to speak to your face
But I'm down in Virginia with your cousin Lou
There'll be no wedding today."

So help me, please doctor, I'm damaged
You can put back my heart in its hole
Oh mama, I'm cryin'
Tears of relief
And my pulse is now under control
Yeah

"The Last Time"

Well I told you once and I told you twice
But you never listen to my advice
You don't try very hard to please me
With what you know it should be easy

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know
Oh no, oh no

Well, I'm sorry girl but I can't stay
Feelin' like I do today
It's too much pain and too much sorrow
Guess I'll feel the same tomorrow

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know
Oh no, oh no

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know
Oh no, oh no

Well I told you once and I told you twice
That someone will have to pay the price
But here's a chance to change your mind
'Cause I'll be gone a long, long time

Well this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don't know
Oh no, oh no

Last time baby
To say no more
Baby I don't know
Well, I don't know
Well, I don't know
I don't know
Well, I don't know
Well, I don't know
Well, I don't know
Well, I don't know
Well, I don't know
Well, I don't know
Well, I don't know

"My Turn To Be Me"

Something about me didn't fit into your perfect world
I bet the bluegrass stained your smile
You should use a darker color when you write on the wall
I haven't read it a thousand times

Maybe if you saw me for a second you would realize
Honey I was trying so hard

To talk, walk, think, stop
Anytime you want me to
Bend all my rules
I used to let you choose
Who you wanted me to be
This time I'm flying free
It's my turn to be me

You liked the face but you had to replace me
Inside I saw the walls of me go down
You can take the girl away from
Cowboy hats and steel guitars
She'll still sing the same old songs

Maybe if you saw me for a second you would realize
Honey I was trying so hard

To talk, walk, think, stop
Anytime you want me to
Bend all my rules
I used to let you choose
Who you wanted me to be
This time I'm flying free
It's my turn to be me

Turned on that radio
Hey that's when I realized
It wasn't our song, it was yours
And in conversation baby I was decoration
Now I deserve a little bit more than

To talk, walk, think, stop
Anytime you want me to
Bend all my rules
I used to let you choose
Who you wanted me to be
This time I'm flying free
It's my turn to be me

It's my turn to be me

BIG WIN just moments ago at the Supreme Court, in the Slaughter Case, confirming Presidential Power in our Country to remove Executive Branch Officers and Agency Appointees, or Representatives, under Article II. This Decision was long sought by United States Presidents, dating all the way back to the 1930s. It is such an Honor to be the sitting President who won this Historic and Unprecedented Ruling, one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen - 1984


I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and cut your hair
And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool ya
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

"I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then..." - Alice in Wonderland

I'm trying to help all of humanity become literate of consciousness postures.