Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan Sukhay-For The Gaun of The Many and For The Welfare of The Many
Government sensitive towards the quality of mid-day-meal scheme
Lucknow : October 24, 2007 The U.P. Chief Minister Km. Mayawati has requested the Union Government to change the system of serving meals under the mid-day-heal scheme of the Central Government as the meals at present were being prepared with the use of sub-standard quality of food grains and oils etc. Such meals when served adversely affected the health of the children, she added. She hoped that the Union Government would seriously consider the request of the State Government with immediate effect. Km. Mayawati disclosing the suggestions made by the State Government in press conference held at the 5-Kalidas Marg, said that after making a review of the mid-day-meal scheme, she found that the shape of the scheme was defective and it was essential to bring out a change in the system of the scheme. In a letter addressed and sent to the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Minister has said that in the implementation of the mid-day-meal scheme, the cases of the use of sub-standard food grains and oils have come to light causing sickness to the children and adversely affecting their health. On enquiry, it was revealed that such incidents occurred due to implementing system of the scheme. The Chief Minister said that she has suggested that pre-cooked and frozen food should be served to the children who could be served after heating or permission should be granted for serving fruits etc. In the present system, the food grain was supplied by Food Corporation of India, an agency of the Government of India, while oil was being purchased of local level. Km. Mayawati said that she has also requested in the letter that since the poor quality of oil was causing problems in the mid-day-meal scheme, therefore the Central agencies should also supply packaged quality edible oil instead of its local purchase, so that the children could be provided quality and nutritive food. She said that if Supreme Court’s permission was required in it, then, it should be done at the earliest. The C.M. said that until the Central Government did not accept these suggestions, the State Government has taken some important measures in the interest of the children. She said that the C.D.O. and the BSA have been made responsible for the successful implementation of this scheme at the district level. The purchase of loose oil and ghee has been banned and the State Government has directed the officers to initiate strict action against the culprits. Km. Mayawati said that all the officers of the districts have been directed to inspect mid-day-meal twice in a week. Besides, directives have been issued to form parents’- teachers’ association to check the quality of the food. The C.M. expressed the hope that the Centre would take the suggestions of the State Government seriously. This would ensure quality nutritive food for a large number of children. ******
C.M. directs district administration for proper medical treatment of ill children
Lucknow : October 24, 2007 Taking stern action on the incident occurred in Moradabad district under Mid-Day-Meal scheme, in which 150 children became ill, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Km. Mayawati has directed suspension of district BSA, Assistant BSA and SDI with immediate effect, besides the immediate arrest of concerning Gram Pradhan Mrs. Neeta Rani, wife of Mr. Babu Ram. The Chief Minister has given strong directives for ensuring quality in Mid-Day-Meal scheme at a press conference held here today at her official residence. She said that stern action would be taken against the guilty persons on the complaints received regarding the adulteration and poor quality in this scheme. The Chief Minister has warned to all the officers affiliated with Mid-Day-Meal scheme that strict action would be taken against them, if the complaints were found. It may be recalled, that the concerning Gram Pradhan had made curd available to the children from his own home for Mid-Day-Meal. On getting the news about the illness of the children, the district magistrate, SP (Rural Area) and Chief Medical Officer rushed to the spot and enquired about the health of the children, besides making proper arrangements for their treatment. The seriously ill 35 children have been admitted in district hospital and two medical teams were requisitioned for their treatment. The CMO and other doctors are keeping a check on children’s health. All children are safe and they are out of danger. According to the reports 150 children became ill after eating Kadhi, rice and curd in a school at Shah Alampur and Chaudharpur block of district Moradabad. Giving information about the incident, district magistrate Moradabad, Mr. Amit Kumar Ghosh said that the Principal of the school Mr. Naubat Singh had been suspended with immediate effect for slackness and carelessness. Action was being taken against the Siksha Mitra, besides making the enquiries about the incident. He said that directives regarding tasting of the meal before its distribution were not being followed and a teacher Mr. Rajveer Singh also became ill after taking the meal, who had also been admitted to the hospital. All the officers of district administration rushed to the spot immediately, D.M. said adding that arrangements had been made for ambulance and medicines. Poor quality food articles were provided to the children according to the first hand information, he added. ******
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Life term for Amarmani Samajwadi Party MLA, wife in Madhumita murder case
Staff Correspondent
DEHRA DUN: A special court here on Wednesday sentenced the former Uttar Pradesh Minister and now MLA, Amarmani Tripathi, and his wife Madhumani to life imprisonment in the Madhumita Shukla murder case.
The pregnant poetess was murdered in her flat in the Paper Mill Colony in Lucknow on May 9, 2003.
Madhumita was having an affair with Amarmani and his wife objected to it.
District and Sessions Judge V.B. Rai awarded one-year additional imprisonment to the Samajwadi Party MLA for the wrongful confinement of and threats to Anuj Mishra, who was forced to claim, in the aftermath of the murder, that he was married to Madhumita.
Amarmani’s cousin Rohit Chaturvedi and contract killer Santosh Rai were also sentenced to life.
Fifth accused acquitted
But the court acquitted the fifth accused Prakash Pandey for want of evidence.
Reading out the 400-page judgment in the jam-packed courtroom, the judge imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on each of the convicts.
CBI stand
Amarmani refused to comment on the verdict, but his counsel said he would challenge the order in the High Court.
Central Bureau of Investigation counsel said the agency would consider appealing against the acquittal of Pandey after going through the judgment.
Dawood aide shot dead in encounter
Special Correspondent
LUCKNOW: A joint team of the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh police and Lucknow district police on Wednesday gunned down an alleged henchman of international mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, Noor Baksh alias “Noora”, while he made an attempt to escape.
Noora, who had been lodged in the Lucknow District Jail, was being taken to court when four motorcycle-borne accomplices attacked the police escort vehicles on the Jail Road.
Noora attempted to escape and in an ensuing encounter with the police he was killed, according to a Home Department spokesman. The others escaped. Noora was a Pakistani national and hailed from Baluchistan province. The Home Department described him as a sharpshooter of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. Noora had seven criminal cases pending against him.
Noora was arrested by the STF on October 5, 2000 and was alleged to have been the mastermind behind the attack on mafia don Chhota Rajan in Bangkok. Noora, however, escaped from police custody on May 15, 2001 near Naini in Allahabad, where he was being taken for trial. He was re-arrested on May 19, 2001 in a fake passport case. He again escaped on October 18, 2005 from a running train in Madhya Pradesh while being brought from Bangalore. Noora was re-arrested on November 24, 2005 and was lodged in the Lucknow jail.
Dawood aide Noora gunned down
Special Correspondent
| He made a ‘bid to escape from police custody’ |
His accomplices allegedly attacked the police
He had escaped from custody twice earlier
Top police officers at the site where Noora was gunned down on Wednesday
LUCKNOW: A joint team of the Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh Police and Lucknow district police on Wednesday gunned down an alleged henchman of international mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, Noor Baksh alias “Noora”, purportedly while he was trying to escape.
The hardcore criminal, who was lodged in Lucknow District Jail, was being taken to court for a hearing in the afternoon when four motorcycle-borne accomplices allegedly attacked the police escort vehicles on Jail Road.
Noora, who was being escorted in a police jeep, made an attempt to escape but was killed in the encounter with the police, it was stated. The others escaped.
A State Home Department spokesman said Noora was a Pakistani national belonging to Baluchistan province of the neighbouring country. He described the deceased as a sharpshooter of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.
Son of a retired bus driver, Noora had seven criminal cases pending against him.
He was arrested by the STF on October 5, 2000, and was allegedly the mastermind behind the attack on mafia don Chhota Rajan in Bangkok. Noora escaped from police custody on May 15, 2001, near Naini in Allahabad where he was being taken for trial. He was re-arrested on May 19, 2001, in a fake passport case but managed to escape again on October 18, 2005, from a running train in Madhya Pradesh while being brought from Bangalore. He was re-arrested on November 24, 2005, and lodged in Lucknow Jail.
The Home Department said Noora was involved in anti-national activities in Kolkata.
His brothers were also allegedly involved in the fake passport business and he had made several trips abroad on a fake passport.
Mid-day meal scheme defective: Mayawati
Special Correspondent
| The U.P. Chief Minister writes to the Prime Minister |
Children have fallen ill after taking the meal
Government bans procurement of loose edible oil
LUCKNOW: Attributing the cases of school children falling ill after eating food served under the Mid-day meal scheme to defects in the programme, Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bring about a qualitative change in the scheme.
Ms. Mayawati said the current system of serving meals was defective as sub-standard food grains cooked in poor quality edible oil were being served to the children.
Cases of children falling ill after consuming the food served under the Central Government scheme have been reported recently from Uttar Pradesh, particularly Amethi in Sultanpur district and Unnao.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister has suggested that pre-cooked and frozen food be served to the beneficiaries which can be eaten after heating.
She also suggested that permission be granted by the Union Government for serving fruits to the children.
The Chief Minister said while food grain was supplied by the Food Corporation of India, edible oil was bought from local dealers. Stating that the poor quality of the cooking medium was at the root of the problem, she said packaged edible oil should be supplied by the Central agencies.
She said in her letter that if Supreme Court permission is required then it should be done at the earliest.
Even as the Chief Minister wrote to the Prime Minister and waited for the Union Government’s response, she banned procurement of loose edible oil and ghee from the market.
The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata
removed {greed}
To Cunda
[Cunda the smith:]
“I ask the sage of abundant discernment, awakened, lord of the Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata, free of craving, supreme among two-legged beings, best of charioteers: “How many contemplatives are there in the world? Please tell me.”
[The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata:]
“Four contemplatives, Cunda. There isn’t a fifth. Being asked face-to-face, I’ll explain: the Victor of the path, the practioner of the path, one who lives by the path, & one who corrupts the path.”
[Cunda:]
“Whom do the Awakened call the Victor of the path [&] one who is an unequalled practioner of the path? Tell me the one who lives by the path, and explain to me one who corrupts the path.”
[The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata:]
“He’s crossed over perplexity, his arrow removed, delighting in Unbinding, free of greed, the leader of the world with its devas: one like this the Awakened call the Victor of the path. He here knows the foremost as foremost, who right here shows & analyzes the Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata, that sage, a cutter-of-doubt unperturbed: he’s called the second of True Follower of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata, the practioner of the path. Mindful, restrained, he lives by the well-taught Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata-principles, path, associating with principles without blame: he’s called the third of True Follower of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata, one who lives by the path. Creating a counterfeit of those with good practices, self-asserting, a corrupter of families, intrusive, deceitful, unrestrained, chaff, going around in disguise: he’s one who corrupts the path. Any householder, having ferreted these out — a discerning disciple of those who are noble — knowing they aren’t all the same, seeing this, his conviction’s not harmed. For how could the corrupt with the un- corrupt, the impure with the pure, be put on a par?”
Archery Skills
At Savatthi. As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: “Where, lord, should a gift be given?”
“Wherever the mind feels confidence, great king.”
“But a gift given where, lord, bears great fruit?”
“This [question] is one thing, great king — ‘Where should a gift be given?’ — while this — ‘A gift given where bears great fruit?’ — is something else entirely. What is given to a virtuous person — rather than to an unvirtuous one — bears great fruit. In that case, great king, I will ask you a counter-question. Answer as you see fit.
“What do you think, great king? There is the case where you have a war at hand, a battle imminent. A noble-warrior youth would come along — untrained, unpracticed, undisciplined, undrilled, fearful, terrified, cowardly, quick to flee. Would you take him on? Would you have any use for a man like that?”
“No, lord, I wouldn’t take him on. I wouldn’t have any use for a man like that.”
“Then a brahman youth… a merchant youth… a laborer youth would come along — untrained, unpracticed, undisciplined, undrilled, fearful, terrified, cowardly, quick to flee. Would you take him on? Would you have any use for a man like that?”
“No, lord, I wouldn’t take him on. I wouldn’t have any use for a man like that.”
“Now, what do you think, great king? There is the case where you have a war at hand, a battle imminent. A noble-warrior youth would come along — trained, practiced, disciplined, drilled, fearless, unterrified, not cowardly, not quick to flee. Would you take him on? Would you have any use for a man like that?”
“Yes, lord, I would take him on. I would have use for a man like that.”
“Then a brahman youth… a merchant youth… a laborer youth would come along — trained, practiced, disciplined, drilled, fearless, unterrified, not cowardly, not quick to flee. Would you take him on? Would you have any use for a man like that?”
“Yes, lord, I would take him on. I would have use for a man like that.”
“In the same way, great king. When someone has gone forth from the home life into homelessness — no matter from what clan — and he has abandoned five factors and is endowed with five, what is given to him bears great fruit.
“And which five factors has he abandoned? He has abandoned sensual desire… ill will… sloth & drowsiness… restlessness & anxiety… uncertainty. These are the five factors he has abandoned. And with which five factors is he endowed? He is endowed with the aggregate of virtue of one beyond training… the aggregate of concentration of one beyond training… the aggregate of discernment of one beyond training… the aggregate of release of one beyond training… the aggregate of knowledge & vision of release of one beyond training. These are the five factors with which he is endowed.
“What is given to one who has abandoned five factors and is endowed with five factors in this way bears great fruit.”
That is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Practioner, said further:
As a king intent on battle would hire a youth in whom there are archery skills, persistence, & strength, and not, on the basis of birth, a coward; so, too, you should honor a person of noble conduct, wise, in whom are established composure & patience, even though his birth may be lowly. Let donors build pleasant hermitages and there invite the learned to stay. Let them make reservoirs in dry forests and walking paths where it’s rough Let them, with a clear, calm awareness, give food, drink, snacks, clothing, & lodgings to those who’ve become straightforward. Just as a hundred-peaked, lightning-garlanded, thundering cloud, raining on the fertile earth, fills the plateaus & gullies, even so a person of conviction & learning, wise, having stored up provisions, satisfies wayfarers with food & drink. Delighting in distributing alms, ‘Give to them! Give!’ he says. That is his thunder, like a raining cloud’s. That shower of merit, abundant, rains back on the one who gives.
Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata
The Forest of the Senses
The world with its never-ending ways goes on and on. If we try to understand it all, it leads us only to chaos and confusion. However, if we contemplate the world clearly, then true wisdom will arise. The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata Himself was one who was well-versed in the ways of the world. He had great ability to influence and lead because of His abundance of worldly knowledge. Through the transformation of his worldly mundane wisdom, He penetrated and attained to supermundane wisdom, making Him a truly superior being.
So, if we work with this Teaching, turning it inwards for contemplation, we will attain to an understanding on an entirely new level. When we see an object, there is no object. When we hear a sound, the is no sound. In smelling, we can say that there is no smell. All of the senses are manifest, but they are void of anything stable. They are just sensations that arise and then pass away.
If we understand according to this reality, then the senses cease to be substantial. They are just sensations which come and go. In Truth there isn’t any “thing.” If there isn’t any “thing,” then there is no “we” and no “they.” If there is no “we” as a person, then there is nothing belonging to “us.” It’s in this way that suffering is extinguished. There isn’t anybody to acquire suffering, so who is it who suffers?
When suffering arises, we attach to the suffering and thereby must really suffer. In the same way, when happiness arises, we attach to the happiness and consequently experience pleasure. Attachment to these feelings gives rise to the concept of “self” or “ego” and thoughts of “we” and “they” continually manifest. Nah!! Here is where it all begins and then carries us around in its never-ending cycle.
So, we come to practice meditation and live according to the Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata. We leave our homes to come and live in the forest and absorb the peace of mind it gives us. We have fled in order to contend with ourselves and not through fear or escapism. But people who come and live in the forest become attached to living in it; just as people who live in the city become attached to the city. They lose their way in the forest and they lose their way in the city.
The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata praised living in the forest because the physical and mental solitude that it gives us is conducive to the practice for liberation. However, He didn’t want us to become dependent upon living in the forest or get stuck in its peace and tranquillity. We come to practice in order for wisdom to arise. Here in the forest we can sow and cultivate the seeds of wisdom. Living amongst chaos and turmoil these seeds have difficulty in growing, but once we have learned to live in the forest, we can return and contend with the city and all the stimulation of the senses that it brings us. Learning to live in the forest means to allow wisdom to grow and develop. We can then apply this wisdom no matter where we go.
When our senses are stimulated, we become agitated and the senses become our antagonists. They antagonize us because we are still foolish and don’t have the wisdom to deal with them. In reality they are our teachers, but, because of our ignorance, we don’t see it that way. When we lived in the city we never thought that our senses could teach us anything. As long as true wisdom has not yet manifested, we continue to see the senses and their objects as enemies. Once true wisdom arises, they are no longer our enemies but become the doorway to insight and clear understanding.
A good example is the wild chickens here in the forest. We all know how much they are afraid of humans. However, since I have lived here in the forest I have been able to teach them and learn from them as well. At one time I began throwing out rice for them to eat. At first they were very frightened and wouldn’t go near the rice. However, after a long time they got used to it and even began to expect it. You see, there is something to be learned here — they originally thought that there was danger in the rice, that the rice was an enemy. In truth there was no danger in the rice, but they didn’t know that the rice was food and so were afraid. When they finally saw for themselves that there was nothing to fear, they could come and eat without any danger.
The chickens learn naturally in this way. Living here in the forest we learn in a similar way. Formerly we thought that our senses were a problem, and because of our ignorance in the proper use of them, they caused us a lot trouble. However, by experience in practice we learn to see them in accordance with Truth. We learn to make use of them just as the chickens could use the rice. Then they are no longer opposed to us and problems disappear.
As long as we think, investigate and understand wrongly, these things will oppose us. But as soon as we begin to investigate properly, that which we experience will bring us to wisdom and clear understanding, just as the chickens came to their understanding. In this way, we can say that they practiced “Vipassana.” They know in accordance with Truth, it’s their insight.
In our practice, we have our senses as tools which, when rightly used, enable us to become awakened to the Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata. This is something which all meditator should contemplate. When we don’t see this clearly, we remain in perpetual conflict.
So, as we live in the quietude of the forest, we continue to develop subtle feelings and prepare the ground for cultivating wisdom. Don’t think that when you have gained some peace of mind living here in the quiet forest that that’s enough. Don’t settle for just that! Remember that we have to cultivate and grow the seeds of wisdom.
As wisdom matures and we begin to understand in accordance with the Truth, we will no longer be dragged up and down. Usually, if we have a pleasant mood, we behave one way; and if we have an unpleasant mood, we are another way. We like something and we are up; we dislike something and we are down. In this way we are still in conflict with enemies. When these things no longer oppose us, they become stabilized and balance out. There are no longer ups and downs or highs and lows. We understand these things of the world and know that that’s just the way it is. It’s just “worldly dhamma.”
“Worldly Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata” changes to become the “Path”. “Worldly Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata” has eight ways; the “Path” has eight ways. Wherever “worldly Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata” exists, the “Path” is to be found also. When we live with clarity, all of our worldly experience becomes the practicing of the “Eightfold Path.” Without clarity, “worldly Doctrine-True Practice of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata ” predominates and we are turned away from the “Path.” When Right Understanding arises, liberation from suffering lies right here before us. You will not find liberation by running around looking elsewhere!
So don’t be in a hurry and try to push or rush your practice. Do your meditation gently and gradually step by step. In regard to peacefulness, if you want to become peaceful, then accept it; if you don’t become peaceful, then accept that also. That’s the nature of the mind. We must find our own practice and persistently keep at it.
Perhaps wisdom does not arise! I used to think, about my practice, that when there is no wisdom, I could force myself to have it. But it didn’t work, things remained the same. Then, after careful consideration, I saw that to contemplate things that we don’t have cannot be done. So what’s the best thing to do? It’s better just to practice with equanimity. If there is nothing to cause us concern, then there’s nothing to remedy. If there’s no problem, then we don’t have to try to solve it. When there is a problem, that’s when you must solve it, right there! There’s no need to go searching for anything special, just live normally. But know what your mind is! Live mindfully and clearly comprehending. Let wisdom be your guide; don’t live indulging in your moods. Be heedful and alert! If there is nothing, that’s fine; when something arises, then investigate and contemplate it.
Spiritual Community of The Followers of The Path Shown by The Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata
What is Theravada doctrine and discipline?
Theravada (pronounced — more or less — “terra-VAH-dah”), the “Doctrine of the Elders,” is the school of doctrine and discipline that draws its scriptural inspiration from the Tipitaka, or Pali canon, which scholars generally agree contains the earliest surviving record of the Blessed,Noble,Awakened One-The Tathagata’s teachings.1 For many centuries, Theravada has been the predominant religion of continental Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar/Burma, Cambodia, and Laos) and Sri Lanka. Today Theravada Buddhists number well over 100 million worldwide.2 In recent decades Theravada has begun to take root in the West.