Boom!!! Just like that…we are way into our first introduction of another “ism” in our games…and if you drop the donuts, two of them right away (Buddha and Shiva). And, if you are like most who took Alissa’s advice (and who wouldn’t take Alissa’s advice???), you stockpiled a bunch of daily tasks and wrapping paper, to allow you to play a bunch of “Re-Gifting” games as soon as the currency changed. So, you are already way ahead of the calendar I am going to share.
No? You didn’t listen to Alissa? You are starting fresh? Well…perhaps this is YOUR first lesson in dharma!
The numbers for Act II are pretty simple…and really aren’t any different from Act I…but the prizes…oh, the prizes…are so much better! Especially if you like a bunch of religions of all sorts coming to your town to fight the aliens. And who doesn’t like that?? It’s as if we got “Independence Day” and “The Greatest Story Every Told” all rolled into one…and then Buddha and Shiva showed up for good measure!
Let’s take a look…and do our best to understand dharma!
So yes…dharma is a word…and not just the name of a lame sitcom character from a show in the 1990s, which ironically starred someone who is an avowed Scientologist (I know!! Who thought Wookiee would be right about that?).
Dharma – dɑːrmə, ˈdʌr-/[8], [dʱəɾmə] ( listen); Sanskrit: धर्म, translit. dharma, Pali: धम्म, translit. dhamma, translit. dhamma) is a key concept with multiple meanings in the Indian religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. There is no single word translation for dharma in Western languages.
In Hinduism, dharma signifies behaviours that are considered to be in accord with rta, the order that makes life and universe possible, and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and ‘‘right way of living’’.
In Buddhism dharma means “cosmic law and order”, but is also applied to the teachings of the Buddha. In Buddhist philosophy, dhamma/dharma is also the term for “phenomena,” Dharma in Jainism refers to the teachings of tirthankara and the body of doctrine pertaining to the purification and moral transformation of human beings. For Sikhs, the word dharm means the path of righteousness and proper religious practice.
PHEW!! So who knew that one word could have so many meanings?? Kind of like the word, “righteous.” Right?
Anyway…you will soon realize that in Act II, the dharma of the game, isn’t so much “striving to get it all,” but more, “wiping out the aliens in a systematic, methodical way as to allow us to celebrate the power of many religions.” As with Act I, you will get the chance to tap your own way! No need for an “every 4 hour” login- which should allow you to actually ENJOY the Holiday break, no matter how you celebrate the season.
Here are the calendars. As I said, if you played the start smart, you are already well into Day 2, or maybe even Day 3. But, no worries…the pace is EAsy, and the Prizes are Great!
ATTENTION!!! A reader caught a mistake, that has been corrected! Dr. Hibbert and Kwanza are indeed 9,400…not 8,200 as previously listed!
CLICK TO ENLARGE GRAPHICS
And here is the Digital Version for the “Non-Gregorian” types (which may be a religion in and to itself!).
I think the graphic above pretty much tells you who is going to win this battle…
So, back to dharma…
If we are trying to become enlightened in the game of TSTO (and life), perhaps the real answer is to find your own pace, with your own sense of accomplishment, that doesn’t blow up the REAL life that you are living. Right?
Apparently, the aliens understand the addictive nature of padular devices…
Unbrainulizer…HA! I had to read that slowly to get it…but then again, I was staring at my padular device at the time!
The math?
Pretty much the same as the last Act. You are going to get at least 960 of the 
The key isn’t really to getting it all…it is enjoying the journey, and then appreciating the rewards as they come. As JC (those who know Jesus well call him JC) said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
That could also be construed as, “what good is it to tap your brains out for digital baubles, if your life ends up sucking because of it?” Or something like that.
For this reason, this update may be one of the best ever…and I say that as someone who has not been particularly thrilled with MOST of the updates this year. I am stoked…thankful…and looking forward to the dharma that can bring on the karma, that may shape how we enjoy TSTO in coming lives (as every update is like a rebirth, and a chance to get it right…right?).
Man. I need some coffee. All of this deep religious philosophy has my head spinning. Bring on Santa! Bring on Jesus! Bring on the Dude with six arms! I love them all!