“Do not look for the short-comings pf others; do not
discriminate against
others; do not be covetous of others’
possessions; forsake
all negative words” (Sutra on the
Mindfulness and Purification of the Mind [Fague Jingxin Jing])
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON 6
Exercise 1
Translate into English
1. Saddhāya ca viriyena ca Nibbānaṁ labhissati.
One will gain ultimate peace through
faith and
Effort.
2. Taṇhāya nirodena dukkhaṁ nirujjhissati.
Suffering will cease with the
cessation of craving
3. Taṇhāya Jāyati soko taṇhāya Jāyati bhāyaṁ
Sorrow arises from craving, fear arises from craving.
4. Taṇhāya nirodhena natthi soko, Kuto bhāyaṁ?
With the cessation of craving, there is no sorrow,
Whence fear?
5. Paññāya pajā dukkhassantaṁ karissanti.
Mankind will make an end of
suffering through
Wisdom.
6. Lobho doso moho ca dukkhassa mūlāni, alobo
adoso amoho ca sukhassa mūlāni Paṇḍitā ñānena
passanti.
Greed, hatred
and delusion are the root of suff-
Erring, and non-greed, non-hatred
and non-delusion
Are the roots of happiness, thus the
wise one see.
7. Dhammasālāsu samaṇā manussānaṁ Buddha-
Dhammaṁ desanti.
Monks preach the Teachings of the Awakened
One to people in preaching hall.
8. Paṇḍitā vedanānaṁ samudayañca nirodhañca
Passanti.
The wise ones understand the
origin and cessation
of feelings.
9. Samaṇā mettā-karuṇā-muditā-upekkhā bhāvanāyo
Bhāventi.
Monks develop the
meditations on universallove,
compassion, altruistic joy and
equanimity.
10. Buddhassa sāvakā paññāsikkhāya sikkhanti.
The disciples of the Buddha train themselves in the
Teaching of wisdom.
11. Dārakānaṁ ācario mettābhāvanaṁ bhāvessati.
The teacher of the boys cultivate s the meditation
of universal love
12. Samaṇo guhāyaṁ upekkhābhāvanaṁ bhāvessati.
The monk will cultivate the meditation on equani-
mity in the cave.
13. Manussā nāvāya dīpaṁ āgacchissanti.
Men will come to the island on
the ship.
14. Bāle bhāyaṁ uppajjissati na Paṇḍitasmiṁ.
Fear will arise in a ignorant,
not in a wise one.
15. Ahaṁ pāṇātipātamhā veramaṇi sikkhāpadaṁ
Samādiyāmi.
Refraining from killing, this
precept I voluntarily
Undertake.
16. Mayaṁ musāvādā veramaṇi sikkhāpadaṁ
Samādiyāmi.
Refraining
from falsehood this precept we volunta-
Rily
undertake.
FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON BUDDHISM FOR CHILDREN -8
What did Buddha teach?
The Buddha’s teaching is often divided into three parts.
These are the :
Three Signs of Beings
Four Noble Truths
Noble Eightfold Path
The Three Signs of Being
The Three Signs of Being are the ways
that the Buddha used to describe life.
Nothing in life is perfect. ( dukkha) It includes things like being bored and
uncomfortable, and everything which is not satisfactory.
Everything in life - even
solid things such as mountains - is changing, all the time.
(anicca)
There is no soul. (anatta) Instead,
the Buddha taught, what does carry on to the next life is a person’s life force
(Karma). The Karma can be good or bad, depending on how the person lives in
this life.
The Four Noble Truths
What is the First Noble Truth?
Dukkha:Suffering exists: The first truth is that life is suffering i.e. life
includes pain, getting old, disease, and ultimately death. We also endure
psychological suffering like loneliness frustration, boredom, fear,
embarrassment, disappointment and anger.
What is the Second Noble Truth?
Samudaya:There is a cause for suffering. The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving
and the needing to control things. It can take many forms: the desire for
fame; the desire to avoid unpleasant sensations, like fear, anger or
jealousy.
What is the Third Noble Truth?
Nirodha:There is an end to suffering. The third truth is that suffering can be overcome and
happiness can be attained; that true happiness and contentment are possible.
lf let go of our craving and learn to live each day at a time (not dwelling
in the past or the imagined future) then we can become happy and free. We
then have more time and energy to help others. This is Nirvana.
What is the Fourth Noble Truth? Magga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold
Path.
The fourth truth is that the Noble 8-fold Path is the path which leads to the
end of suffering.
What is Dukkha?
Dukkha is suffering.
All existence is “dukkha”; without permanence
and therefore filled with suffering.
The Noble Eight-Fold Path
The Noble
Eight-fold Path focuses the mind on being fully aware of our thoughts and
actions, and developing wisdom by understanding the Four Noble Truths. It is
the way Buddhists should live their lives. The Buddha said that people should
avoid extremes. They should not have or do too much, but neither should they
have or do too little. The ‘Middle
Way‘ is the best.
The path to Enlightenment (nirvana) is through the practice
and development of wisdom, morality and meditation.
Three Qualities
Eightfold Path
Wisdom (panna)
Right View (understanding)
Right Thought
Morality (sila)
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Meditation (samadhi)
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Contemplation (concentration)
A Permanent Online International Seminar on Buddhism and Buddhist Heritage of Jambudvipa, that is, the Great Prabuddha Bharath -2 http://wapedia.mobi/en/Buddhahood#1.
In the Pali commentaries, three kinds of buddha are
mentioned:
Sammasambuddhas attain buddhahood, then decide to teach others
the truth they have discovered. They lead others to awakening by
teaching the Dhamma in a time where it has
been forgotten. Siddhartha Gautama is considered a
sammasambuddha. (See also the List of the 28 Buddhas (all of
whom are sammasambuddhas).)
Paccekabuddhas, sometimes called ’silent Buddhas’ are
similar to sammasambuddhas in that they attain nibbana and acquire many of the same powers as a
sammasambuddha, but are unable to teach what they have discovered.
They are considered second to the sammasambuddhas in spiritual
development. They do ordain others; their admonition is only in
reference to good and proper conduct (abhisamācārikasikkhā). In
some texts, the paccekabuddhas are described as those who
understand the Dhamma through their own efforts, but do not obtain
mastery over the ‘fruits’ (phalesu vasībhāvam).
Savakabuddhas attain nibbana after hearing the teaching of a
sammasambuddha (directly or indirectly). The disciple of a
sammasambuddha is called a savaka
(”hearer” or “follower”) or, once enlightened,
an arahant . These terms have slightly
varied meanings but can all be used to describe the enlightened
disciple. Anubuddha is a rarely used term, but is used by
the Buddha in the Khuddakapatha to refer to those who become Buddhas
after being given instruction. Enlightened disciples attain nirvana
and parinirvana as the two types of Buddha do. Arahant is the term most generally used for them,
though it is also applicable to Buddhas.
In the Pali Canon
itself, the first two are mentioned by the above names, while
numerous examples of the third type occur, without that name. There
is no mention of types of buddhas, though the word buddha does
sometimes appear to be used in a broad sense covering all the
above.
LUCKNOW - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Mayawati Thursday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to keep off “the
internal affairs of the state” after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
demanded a central authority for development of Bundelkhand region.
“Any move to set up a central authority for special development of
an area in a state would tantamount to direct interference in the
internal affairs of the state,” Mayawati wrote in a letter to the prime
minister, according to an official statement.
“Such a step could seriously affect centre-state relations,” she added.
The letter comes after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi led a
delegation of party leaders from this state and met the prime minister,
demanding the creation of an independent central authority for
comprehensive development of the economically backward Bundelkhand
region.
Drawing the prime minister’s attention to the need for a special
economic package for Bundelkhand, Mayawati also pointed out that her
demand for a Rs.80,000 crore package for the region had been ignored by
the central government.
She also argued that Uttar Pradesh cannot be compared to the
northeastern states for which an independent central authority was
created. “Unlike those states, we in Uttar Pradesh have an efficient
and fully functional administrative set-up which can take care of its
affairs,” she wrote in the letter.
“It would therefore be in the fitness of things for the centre to
rise above party lines and release a special package for the
development of Bundelkhand, so that the state government could
undertake the desired development of the region,” she said.
Girl’s School in Uttar Pradesh Reshapes Rural India
29 July 2009
About
half of all women in India are married before the age of 18. But now,
students at an all-girls school in India’s rural state of Uttar Pradesh
are bucking the trend. Sixteen-year-old Krishna Chaudhry is leading the
charge by inspiring her classmates to seek independence through
education.
Krishna Chaudhry
A
new day begins for sixteen-year-old Krishna Chaudhry. The village girl
lives in Anupshahr, Uttar Pradesh - one of India’s poorest states. Half
of the women here are illiterate and the majority is forced into
marriage at age 13. Krishna’s grandparents brought her here after family members threatened to kill her for land when her parents died. Since then, Krishna says she is determined to rewrite her domestic destiny. The precocious teenager races through her chores. An hour later, she is almost unrecognizable. Financial empowment of village girls.
Krishna Chaudhry speaks to her classmates
Half
the day is spent in the classroom, the other busy at work. Students
earns 30 cents a day for making textiles which the school exports
globally.
This
encourages fathers to send their girls to school instead of having them
work all day on the family farm. Krishna says these skills give her a
shot at financial independence. “I
will not let my education go to waste,” Krishna says, “I will stand on
my own two feet and not get married until I get a job for myself.” Krishna’s classmates are following her lead. All of them have refused to marry what they call “uneducated village boys.”
This
has angered many local parents who are having trouble finding local
girls to marry their sons. Some have even staged protests in front of
the school founder Sam Singh’s home. But,
these girls have a mind of their own, says Singh. He adds that
empowering girls like Krishna is the only way you can effectively
change rural India. “Only transformation is going to come is through
the ladies, through the mother. They are the ones in any society who
transforms it,” he said. “I
ask them to go to school and make their own destiny,” Krishna says. “I
try explaining to them that if they don’t go to school the society will
suppress them. I tell them to stand for their own rights and make your
own career and not to leave everything in the hands of the fate,” she
adds. As
for Krishna’s personal inspiration - “that one is easy,” she says.
“Seeing others commit
good deeds, one should exert
the same efforts;
encountering limitations, one should not
imitate them at all
costs. One should always behave as if one
is receiving an
honoured guest” (Vigilance for all
Monastics
[Zimen Jingxun]
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON 5
Exercise 2
5. He will offer umbrellas to
monks and will gain merit.
So samaṇānaṁ chattāni dadissati, puññañca
Labbhissati.
6. We will train ourselves in the
teachings of the
Awakened One.
Mayaṁ Buddhassa Dhammesu sikkhissāma.
LESSON 5
Exercise 3
Compare: 1.Declension
– ending between masculine
And neuter gender
2,Conjunction –
ending between present
And future tense.
LESSON 5
Exercise 3
Compare: 1.Declension
– ending between masculine
and neuter gender
Gender
Generally, a given noun is either
masculine, feminine, or neuter. It will not be masculine in one context, and
feminine in another context. There are some exceptions.
A neuter plural subject may have a
singular verb.There is an exception to the rule requiring that the subject
and verb agree in number. This is it.
A Declension is an inflection pattern
for nouns and adjectives. Verbs are conjugated, nouns are declined.
The 2nd declension is often
introduced first because it is the easiest to learn. Most 2nd declension nouns
are masculine or neuter.
2,Conjunction –
ending between present
and future tense.
Conjunction — A word used to join other words or phrases together into
sentences.
Present tense — The form of language used to refer to an event,
transaction, or occurrence which is happening now (or at the present time), or
an object that currently exists
First-future tense — The first-future tense is that which expresses
what will take place hereafter.
FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON BUDDHISM FOR CHILDREN -6
What is the sacred text (Holy Book) of Buddhists?
The sacred book of
Buddhism is called the Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in Pali). It is also called
the Pali Canon, after the language in which it was first written.
It is written in an ancient Indian language called Pali which
is very close to the language that the Buddha himself spoke. The Tripitaka is a
very large book. The English translation of it takes up nearly forty volumes.
Buddhism is based on Buddha’s teachings. At first these were
passed down by word of mouth and later were complied into two sets of
scripture. One set by Council of Monks of the Theravada school (the Tripitaka)
the other by the Mahayana school ( the Sutras). Both were similar.
Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists generally accept the
Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in Pali) as the Buddhist sacred writings.
The three section of the Tripitaka (three baskets of Wisdom)
are
Vinaya Pitaka (the Discipline
Basket) - A rule book for monks and nuns
There are 227 rules for monks,and more for nuns.
Sutta Pitaka (the Teaching
Basket)- The actual experiences of Buddha
Abhidhamma Pitaka (the Higher
Doctrine Basket)- An explanation on the teaching of Buddha. Most of these
are called Sutras
Parts of the Tripitaka such as the Dhamma-pada and the
Sutta-Nipata are among the most expressive religious books in the world.
Please
find attached herewith an invitation to attend inauguration of the
“Walking Buddha” on the Nagaloka site on 2nd November 2009.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar loved this image of the
Buddha walking in the world to relief people of their suffering. This
image is constructed by a very famous sculptor from Taiwan, who took
more than one year to work on this unique image of the Buddha.
Dhammachari Lokamitra who founded Nagaloka for training people from all
over India in Buddhism and Social action felt that this image will
inspire a lot of people to take message of Babasaheb Ambedkar seriously
about taking the Buddha Dhamma to the masses.
This image will be 56ft tall, the number 56 is
chosen to inscribe the memory of the year of liberation, 1956, from the
hell of caste permanently through this Buddha image.
NEW DELHI - Bucking the global recessionary trends in the media,
India, the world’s most populous democracy, boasts of 74,000 newspapers
- with Uttar Pradesh leading the rest of the country in promoting a
diversity of views.
“More than 74,000 newspapers are registered with the Registrar of
Newspapers for India (RNI),” Minister of State for Information and
Broadcasting Mohan Jatua said in a written reply during question hour
in the Lok Sabha Tuesday.
Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of registered newspapers at
11,789, followed by Delhi with 10,066 and Maharashtra with 9,127,
according to the information given by the minister.
The government is also trying to bridge the “media gap” by
encouraging more newspapers to come up in the northeastern states, the
information and broadcasting ministry said in a separate statement.
The ministry has also relaxed norms for empanelling newspapers published in the northeastern states and the border areas.
This apart, Rs.87.95 crore has been allocated during fiscal 2009-10
for the North East Special Package, the statement said, adding: “An
amount of Rs.37.00 crore is to be provided as grants-in-aid and an
amount of Rs.50.95 crore as loan to Prasar Bharati for improving radio
and television facility in the North East.”
She may not have made it to the prime ministerial chair after the
country’s April-May parliamentary elections. But India’s best known
woman Aboriginal Inhabitant of Jambudviap, that is, the Great Prabuddha Vharath (SC) and Sarvajan leader, Ms Mayawati, chief minister of the country’s
largest state Uttar Pradesh, continues to hog the headlines. She does
so both in and out of parliament. If last week it was a Congress
leader’s remarks against her that held Mayawati in the media limelight,
earlier this week her party MPs did it for her in Parliament.
Members of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) stormed into the well of
parliament’s both houses – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - to nosily
protest against reported downgrading of security cover to the party
supremo.
India has an elaborate government security apparatus. The National
Security Guard (SPG) was set up in 1984 for anti-hijack and
anti-terror operations. It has two wings–the Special Action Group
(SAG), comprising army personnel on deputation, and the Special Rangers
Group (SRG), comprising personnel from the Indo Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP), the Central Industrial Security Force( CISF), the Central
Reserve Police Force(CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF). More
than half of SRG has been diverted to VIP security.
VIP security is subdivided into five tiers — SPG for those at the
top of the heap, followed by the Z-plus, Z, Y and X categories. Z-plus
security is provided by NSG `black cats’ consisting of six personal
security officers, two head constables, 12 constables, one escort and
one pilot vehicle. Thirty politicians like L K Advani, Mayawati,
Narendra Modi and Jayalalithaa are provided this cover. The pyramid
gets wider at the lower level of security — 68 VIPs get Z category
protection, 243 get Y category and 81 X category.
This is in addition to the Special Protection Group (SPG) that is
exclusively meant for providing security to the PM, former PMs and
members of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Interestingly, the SPG budget for
2008-09 is Rs 180 crore, up from Rs 117 crore the previous year, while
the 2008-09 budget for NSG, which is meant to protect over a billion
people from terror, is Rs 158 crore, down from Rs 159 crore the
previous year. It’s not only the SPG and NSG that protect our leaders.
Every state diverts a sizeable number of policemen for VIP security. In
Delhi, where the number of self-important politicians is highest, as
many as 14,200 policemen have been deployed on round-the-clock VIP
security duty.
Even former home minister Shivraj Patil, who one report described
as “facing no threat, not even from a fly”, enjoys elaborate security
that is extended to his family members as well.
There is also another aspect of private security involving the life
and property of captains of industry. Because of thereat to the life
of general public and public property emanating from terrorism, the
general security industry is flourishing in India. It is estimated that
private security in India will become a Rs 50,000 crore ( About 1200
million US dollars) industry by 2012 as corporates have increased
their spending on safeguards after the Mumbai terror strikes. According
to the Association of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(Assocham), corporate houses would raise their security budgets by
35-40 per cent. The private security business, a Rs 22,000 crore
industry now, would touch Rs 50,000 crore as security all of a sudden
has become top priority for Indian Inc. The industry, which has been
growing at 25 per cent over the past 5-7 years, would achieve a growth
rate of 125 per cent by 2012.
Since a lot of industrial expansion, especially in the
infrastructure sector, would take place during the current Five-Year
Plan, the cost of security gadgets that need to be imported will work
out to Rs 20,000 crore in the next two years. Assocham also says the
demand for security gadgets has also increased in educational
institutions, hospitals, shopping malls and business centres.
It is expected that over 200,000 security professionals would be
required in industrial installations in the next few years as no
industrial house henceforth can afford to take security lightly, says
Assocham General Secretary D S Rawat. “Foreign security companies have
also started assessing Indian markets for sale of gadgets,” he said
adding the government should cut import duty on security gadgets by
about 50 per cent.
Untouchability high in Gulbarga, Uttara Kannada Prashanth G N, TNN 28 July 2009, 03:19am IST
BANGALORE: The shocking catalogue of intolerance of dalits — manifested in the form of untouchability — that we carried in these columns on Monday includes two districts in Karnataka: Uttara Kannada and Gulbarga. As borne out in a survey by the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, this decadent practice extends to barring dalits from using public borewells.
Even 60 years after independence, zero untouchability still remains a dream. “It is still the archaic way of life there,’’ S Japhet, director, Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, told TOI.
The old practices of dalits not being employed as priests or allowed to enter temples during common village festivals still persist. Among the most frequent forms of untouchability, dalits have restricted access to public sources of water. Another sore point is a bar on entry into non-dalit homes.
In some areas, dalit homes are located on the border of the village, which is also a predominant form of outcasting. “This is a strong phenomenon in Gulbarga, though it is present in other districts,” Japhet said.
Untouchability has been reported from the villages of Bommanahalli and Varangere in Gulbarga and, to a lesser degree, from the villages of Karki and Morba in Uttara Kannada.
The trends are similar in other parts of the state as well. Some southern districts are, in fact, stronger in their untouchability quotient compared to even Uttara Kannada district.
The sample size could have been increased but for resource constraints. The survey and study was commissioned by the Centre in which Karnataka has been studied in a total of six states, 22 villages and 12 districts across the country.
Untouchability of Scheduled caste people still alive in Indian countryside: report
www.chinaview. cn 2009-07-27 16:26:45
NEW DELHI, July 27 (Xinhua) — Untouchability of Scheduled caste people
is still alive in India’s countryside although fear of law and rising
low caste politicians seem to have curbed its crude manifestations,
said the Times of India electronic edition on Monday.
A government-sponsore d survey by National Law School in Bangalore,
southern India, on the impact of Protection of Civil Rights Act on
untouchability said recently that villages, the den of this decadent
practice, are far from being zero-untouchability zones.
The survey results came from villages of the states of Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West
Bengal, said the report.
As many as 516 of a total of 648 Schedueled Castes people,
surveyed said they were not allowed to enter Hindu temples while 151
said they were not allowed to take out processions of their Hindu
deities, said the report.
Meanwhile, Schedueled Castes participation in social activities has improved,
with 591 invited for wedding feasts. But 29 percent said they had to
wait for others to finish eating before they can eat.
According to the survey, 7 percent of Schedueled Castes said they were barred
from entering main streets of villages while 7 percent said they could
not wear sandals and walk in front of a dominant caste member. Nine
percent said they had to talk with folded hands, according to the
report.
Editor: Anne Tang
Here is an write up by Robert
Clements which may be of your interest.
with metta,
Bhanteji
A NEW RELIGIOUS ORDER…!
The
new American missionary recruits to the Asian countries put down their heads as their leader entered the room.
“You have been chosen,” thundered the leader as the heads looked up
at him with awe, “to go into the countries of Asia and win souls.”
“Amen,” shouted the recruits as they bowed their heads down to the
ground and then looked up at their leader.
“Many
years ago, in leaking ships and in cramped conditions your forefathers went and
converted the heathen of those lands.” “Amen,” said the new
recruits in unison.
“Now
it is your turn to bring them back into our fold again.”
“Amen,”
murmured the new recruits.
“You
will be viewed intially with suspicion and distrust, but as you open your good books
there will be a dramatic change.”
“Amen,”
said the recruits.
“Luckly
for you this good book will be thinner then the one your forefathers had to
carry. But when you finish with the book another one will be ready for you and
another and another and with the book you will capture the hearts of the
heathen.”
“Amen,”
said the new recruits together.
“Remember,”
said the American leader. “that it is to our god that they will finally
have to bend their knees. We do not wnat their heathen pagan gods anymore. You
will have to see that everyone, every single one of them accept the one we
worship.”
“Amen,”
murmured the new recruits.
“You
will be given ample funds to build worship places to house our great god. Build
them well and strong and with pillars that will house underground places of
worship too.”
“Amen,”
said the new recruits.
“You
may now all rise and bow to the all powerful god who is just waiting to convert
the people of the whole Asia. A god who will change their lives and in the
process make our lives sweeter. Rise every one.”
The
new recruits rose and raised their heads reverently as the curtain behind their
leader drew apart. They with their leader knelt and raised their hands in
prayer to the picture of the god they revered and worshipped.”
The
spotlight shone on the single dollar bill that glowedin power and glory from its place centre
stage. The recrutis and their leader remained raised their hands in praise and
supplication.
The
leader voice rang out again.
“This
is the model of the place of worship,” and the spotlight shone on the bank
building.”
“Amen,”
said the new recruits with awe.
“And
here are your good books, use them well to bring those nations to us,”
said the leader as he distributed cheque books to all the recruits
present.”
“Amen,”
said the new missionary recruits as they stuffed their cheque books into their
briefcases and rose to head to their new Asian fields to bring their dollar god
to the poor rupee nations…!
Robert
Clements
clements@vsnl. com
Dear friends,
How come a stained person talk of purity?
RSS, VHP, Shudra Modi, BJP, ABVD are the product of the same
foxy/cunning ideology for 100yeras. Fox will produce foxes only. This
group lacks credibility. How come murderes talk of civility?
Our Budhist watch group must keep pressure on Modi and his clan
that they don’t hijack Budhism and don’t propogate Hindu ideology/
philosophy of Hindu version of karma.They want to gain respectibility.
A dogs tail will always be crooked , can’t be straightened even if you
put it in a straight tube.for 20years.
Our Buddhist country leadership needs to be educated about the
cunningness of this group who may be attempting to contaminate
Budhism.And showing that Buddhism is nothong but a part of Hinduism like
Jainism, Sikhism and other sects in India.
So be on your guard and watch their moves.
When truth is asleep, lies become alive.
Dr.Berwa
On Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 9:39 AM, Jagatheesan Chandrasekharan <sarvajanow@yahoo. co.in> wrote:
Respected Dr.Umakant, Ph.D
It is nothing but “THE
DEVIL QUOTING THE SCRIPT”. Now it is time that the Aboriginal
Inhabitants of Jambudvipa, that is , the Great Prabuddha Bharath
(SC/STs) awake and become alert and start practicing the Dhamma and
also put all efforts is spreading the same.
From: Umakant <uk4in@yahoo. co.in> Subject: [sakya] Re: Attempt to Appropriate Buddhism in Gujarat by RSS, BJP & Narendra Modi
To: sakyagroup@yahoogro ups.com Date: Thursday, 23 July, 2009, 5:18 PM
Dear Friends
Namo Buddha and Jai Bhim! There is a reported
attempt to appropriate Buddhism by the RSS, BJP and Narendra Modi in
Gujarat as it is sponsoring an International Conference on Buddhism at
MS University in Vadodra on 15 and 16 January 2010.
Ignorance about real motives could compel some of
our Buddhist Scholars to help the RSS and BJP gain credibility and we
must remain vigilant in this regard. Pasted below you will find
information about this proposed International Conference. You are
requested to circulate this news in your circle/network and warn our
people not to be misled by such propaganda of the RSS.
With Metta
Umakant, Ph.D
New Delhi
A Permanent Online International Seminar on Buddhism and Buddhist Heritage of Jambudvipa, that is, the Great Prabuddha Bharath
Let all Buddhist individuals, Ambedkarite and Buddhist Internet Groups plan for a permanent online International Seminar on Buddhism and Buddhist Heritage of Jambudvipa, that is, the Great Prabuddha Bharath forthe benefit of our Buddhist country leadership to be educated and give the correct picture about the
cunningness of this group who may be attempting to contaminate
Buddhism.and showing that Buddhism is nothing but a part of Hinduism like
Jainism, Sikhism and other sects in India.The best solution is to practice Dhamma by all of us apart from preaching the same.
http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org and www.buddhismand business.webs.com has already started such activities. Others may also please join and send valuable information on Buddhism and also start as many websites as possible to propagate Buddha and His Dhamma in his own words.
Let us
*CALL FOR PAPERS*
Buddhism,
that propagates the doctrine and practice of *DHAMMACAKHAPAVATANA*, had made wider changes in the
social and cultural scenes in Jambudvipa and of ancient Asia in general, and South Asia
and Southeast Asia in particular.
Let us “learn and practice the art of giving (Dana/Generosity by helping others) for a happy living. “Learn and Practice Sila (Cultivate Morality by observing the Five Precepts) 1. I do not want to be killed by others, so I will not kill others. 2. I do not want my things to be stolen by others, so I will not take waht is not give. 3. I do not want my husband/wfe to be taken away by others, so I will not indulge in such sexual misconduct 4. I dot want others to tell lies or false speach to me, so I will not do the same. 5. I will abstain from the abusive consumption of intoxicants and drugs for I amy be prompted to violate all or any of the abobe precepts.
Let us “learn and practice Bhavana to acquire wisdom through meditation”
The subsequent periods
that witnessed several ups and downs for this religious sect under the
patronage of several rulers. The regions denoted as the present day
political India, in its past that practiced Buddhism, which
flourished ever since the days of
Ashoka, the Mauryan emperor.
Let us propagate the Large number of archaeological evidence in
the form of inscriptions, *stupas*, *chaitya* *grahas*, *viharas*,
sculptures and images from various parts of Prabuddha Bharath stand as a
testimony to the wide spread of Buddhism in Prabuddha Bharath. Accounts of
Chinese travellers, Hiuen-tsang and I-tsing.
Although such a
rich heritage of Buddhism is present in Prabuddha Bharath, many of its attributes
and its wider impact on the society needs to be brought to
limelight. This can only be achieved by situating Prabuddha Bharath in the map of
the Buddhist world. Therefore, the Government of Prabuddha Bharath in
collaboration with all Buddhist Countries organse a permanent online international seminar which will highlight the Buddhist
traditions of Prabuddha Bharath.
Such an online international seminar on Buddhism may aims at:
(i)appreciating the Buddhist past of Prabuddha Bharath through a series of discourses on its archaeology and history,
(ii)highlighting the contributions of Buddhism and its philosophy to the culture and society of Prabuddha Bharath,
(iii)promoting documentation and research on Buddhist materials and places in Prabuddha Bharath, and
(iv)conserving and preserving Buddhist sites and pilgrimage centres in Prabuddha Bharath..
(v) Start pre schools for kids of world class to teach Buddhist moral science. “Catch them Young and Teach them Young”.
(vi) Train people to practice trade and Business - the Buddhist way.Let Buddhists have a wholesome desire to become rich in order to spread Dhamma by building huge Viharas, stupas etc for propagating Buddhism
(vii) Start world class media for the propagation of all the above.
Above all let us put all our efforts to see that BSP captures power at the centre, so that the process of spreading Dhamma will become faster for the welfare and happiness of all in Prabudha and ultimately the the entire Prabuddha Prapanch.
Such an online international seminar will focus on four major themes:
the archaeology and history of Buddhism
the Philosophy of Buddhism
Conserving the Buddhist Heritage and
Developing Buddhist Tourism in Prabuddha Bharath.
Along with the online
International Seminar and scientific deliberations, let us plan to
have philosophical lectures by spiritual leaders and an exhibition of
development of Buddhism in Prabudha Bharath.
The venue of the
seminar, *will be the Internet* which has the unique
fortune of preserving the holy relics of Buddha. The online International
Conference will be on * A Permanent Basis*. The conference will be
followed by field visits and tours to archaeological sites of Buddhist
influence in Prabuddha Bharath.
Let us keep sending our papers/articles based on
any of the aforesaid themesto all the Internet groups.
Let us all find participation in the seminar not only of
academic significance but also will give us an opportunity to put
philosophical, religious as well as tourist flavour.
Let us find out ways and means to meet at all the main Buddhist places like Lumbini, Buddha Gaya, Saranath, Kushinara, Jetavana, Savatti, Nalanda Univeraity etc. that is being orgasnised annulayy by the Mahabodhi Society, Bangalore.
If we all make up our mind, no force on the earthcan stop us from achieving the above goal.
“Always reflect on
one’s own mistakes, but do not remind others of their own mistakes” (Vimalakirti Sutra [ Vimalalkirtintirdesa
Sutra])
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON 5
Exercise 2
I shall not fear the fetters.
Ahaṁ saṁyojanāi na bhāissāmi
I shall go for refuge to the
Awakened One, to the
Sacred teaching, to the Holy Order.
Ahaṁ
Buddhassa, Dhammassa, Saṅgassa
saraṇaṁ
gamissāmi.
The Awakened One’s teachings
will give power to
Mind.
Buddhassa Dhammā cittassa balaṁ
dassati.
The wise disciples of the
Awakened One will protect
The truth by moral conduct.
Buddhassa Paṇḍitā sāvakā silena saccaṁ
Rakkhissanti.
We will not do evil and will
sow merit and will bring
Wealth
Mayaṁ pāpaṁ na
kaissāma, puññañca
vapissāma,
Dhanañca āharissāma.
Men will gain knowledge by the
development of
The mind.
Manussā cittabhāvanāya ñāṇaṁ
labbhissanti.
Yes, the wise do not beg
wealth, they will get
Wealth through the protection of the
Teachings of
the Awakened One.
Āma, Paṇḍitā dhanaṁ na yācenti, te Budhassa
Dhammassa ārakkhanena dhanaṁ
labbhissanti.
The ignorant bring
sufferingthrough killing, the wise
Bring happiness through the Awakened One’s
Teachings.
Bālā pāṇātipātena dukkhaṁ āharanti, Paṇḍitā
Budhassa Dhammaena sukhaṁ āharanti
FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON BUDDHISM FOR CHILDREN -5
What is Enlightenment and Nibbana?
Buddhist believe that there is a cycle of birth, life and
death and rebirth. This goes on and on. They believe that unless someone
gains Awakenment, when they die they will be reborn. If a person can gain Awakenment, they can break out of this cycle.
Breaking out of the cycle is called Nibbana. It is the end of everything that is not perfect. It is
perfect peace, free of suffering.
Meditation
Buddhists try to reach Nibbana by following the Buddha’s
teaching and by meditating. Meditation means training the mind to empty it
all of thoughts. when this happens what is important comes clear.
5 BSP Candidates for Karnataka Pradesh By-election Anounced
On the direction of BSP National President and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Bahen Mayawati Ji and Karnataka in-charge Dr. Ashok Siddharth the following Candidates selected for the coming by-eletion to the 5 Karnataka Assembly Constituencies:
“Witnessing the shortcomings of
others, one should remain silent, but one should always acknowledge one’s own
limitations” (Important sections from the Sutra [Zhu Jing Yao Ji]
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON 5
Exercise No.1
Translate into English:
1. Samaṇo dārakānaṁ phalāni dadissati.
The monk will give fruits to the boys.
2. Dārakā ācariyassa phalāni dessanti.
The boys will give fruits to the teacher.
3. Dārako samaṇānaṁ udakam deti.
The boy give water to the monks.
4. Manussā samaṇānaṁ dānaṁ dessanti.
Men will offer alms to the monks.
5. Samanā manussehi dānaṁ labhissanti.
The monks will receive alms from men.
6. Buddhassa saṁyojanāni natthi.
There are no fetters for the Awahened One.
7. Dārako samaṇassa phalāni āharussati.
The boy will bring fruits to the monk.
8. Samaṇā ācariyamhāñānaṁ labhissanti
Monks will gain
knowledge from the teacher.
9. Samaṇā gāmato araññāni gacchissanti.
Monks will go to the forests from the village.
10. Dosena sukhaṁ na labhati, adosena sukhaṁ
labhati.
One does not get
happiness through hatred, one gets
Happiness through non-hatred.
11. SamaṇāSīlesu sikkhanti ñānaṁ ca
labhatnti, evāṁ
saccaṁ passissanti.
The monks train themselves in the precepts and gain
Knowledge, thus will understand the truth.
12. Bālā Sīlāni na rakkhanti, adhammena ca caranti.
Ignorants do not keep the precepts and conduct
Themselves wrongly.
13. Ñāṇena saccaṁ passissasi, sukhena ca viharassasi.
You will see truth through knowledge, and live with
happiness.
14. Mohena bālo saccaṁ na passati, sukhaṁ ca
Labhati.
The ignorant does not
see the truth through delusion and
Does not gain
happiness.
15.Araññe
samaṇā vasanti, ñānaṁ bhāvanti
ca.
Monks live in the forest and
develop knowledge.
16.PaṇḍitāSīlāni rakkhissanti, puññāni ca
labhissanti.
The wise one will keep the
precepts and acquire
Merits.
17.Buddhassa sāvakassa bhayaṁ natthi.
There is no fear for the
disciple of the Awakened
One.
18.Manussā araññena
vasanti, te bhāyanti
Men do not stay in the forest,
they are afraid.
19.Bālā cetiyāni na pūjenti, ie puññaṁ na
vapenti, evaṁ
amataṁ na labhissanti.
Ignorant do not worship the
shrines, they do not sow
Merit, and thus will not gain
deathlessness.
Araññato samaṇā gāmaṁ āgacchanti.
Monks come to the village from forest.
FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON BUDDHISM FOR CHILDREN -4
Where do Buddhists Worship?
Buddhist worship at home or at a temple. Worshippers may sit
on the floor barefoot facing an image of Buddha and chanting. It is very
important that their feet face away from the image of Buddha. They listen to
monks chanting from religious texts and take part in prayers.
Home
Buddhists will often have a shrine. There will be a statue of
Buddha, candles, and an incense burner.
Temple
Buddhist temples come in many shapes. Perhaps the best known
are the pagodas
of China and Japan. Another
typical Buddhist building is the Stupa (upside down bowl shape). All Buddhist temples contain
an image or a statue of Buddha.
Buddhist worship is called puja. People chant to show their
love for the Buddha. They make offerings of flowers, candles, incense and pure
water at a shrine. People thank Buddha for his teachings.
When Buddhist worship alone they usually meditate and read
from the Buddhist holy books.
Every month. most Buddhists have special religious
days. These are often days when there is a full moon. Many Buddhists go to
temples to worship on these special days.
Ven. Webu Sayadaw (1896 - 1977)
Introduction
Ven. Webu Sayadaw was one of the most highly respected monks of the
last century in Burma. (Sayadaw is a title used for monks. It means
“respected teacher monk.”) He was notable in giving all importance to
diligent practice rather than to scholastic achievement. Webu Sayadaw
was born in the village of Ingyinpin in upper Burma on 17 February
1896. He underwent the usual monk’s training in the Pâli scriptures
from the age of nine, when he became a novice, until he was
twenty-seven. In 1923 (seven years after his ordination), he left the
monastery and spent four years in solitude. He practiced (and later
taught) the technique of Ânâpâna-sati (awareness of the
in-breath and out-breath). He said that by working with this practice
to a very deep level of concentration, one is able to develop vipassanâ (insight) into the essential characteristics of all experience: anicca (impermanence) , anattâ (egolessness) and dukkha
(unsatisfactoriness ). Webu Sayadaw was famous for his unflagging
diligence in meditation and for spending most of his time in solitude.
He was reputed to be an arahant (fully liberated one), and it is said that he never slept.
For the first fifty-seven years of his life, Webu Sayadaw stayed in
upper Burma, dividing his time among three meditation centres in a
small area. After his first trip to Rangoon, at the invitation of Sayagyi U Ba Khin,
in 1953, he included southern Burma in his travels, visiting there to
teach and meditate from time to time. He also went on pilgrimage to
India and Sri Lanka . Webu Sayadaw spent his final days at the
meditation centre in the village where he was born. He passed away on
26 June 1977, at the age of eighty-one.
Dear JC..
Namo Buddha!!
You are doing a wonderful work. .. We need to learn the language of our
Lord… It is a great happiness to hear and Learn Buddha’s teaching in
his own language / words …
When Buddha was asked to teach in Chanda (a dialect / language of
nomads), Buddha denied. He said the teaching of Buddha was established
well in Sakya Niritya, hence it should be learned through Sakya
Nirutya…….
Similarly I agree with you that the Sakyans should earn more money and
build huge viharas/ meditation centers. I too thought similarly when I
visited Mahabodhi Buddha Vihar in Gaya, Bihar.. Buddhists from
different parts of the world have got their own Buddha Viharas or
Centers around the Maha Bodhi Viharas. But there was no center or
vihara built by Sakyans.. … We cannot expect others will build viharas
for us. In our Sakya Foundation meeting in Chennai we discussed similar
things. We decided to have Sakyans’ Dhamma Retreat Centers in every
district, constructed by the local (our own people) people, with
people’s money…..
Prof. P. Muthukumar from Madras Presidency College is willing to give a
huge land near Palani, a beautiful and apt place (farm covered by
mountains) for Dhamma retreat center. We may mobilize funds and build a
Dhamma retreat centre ASAP….
The Sakyan members, especially Dr. Sakya J Mohan, have a long term plan
to run a Sakya Dhamma Magazine. We had published for few months and
could not continue it due to lack of resources. Hope we may soon
publish it again and will continue it without stop… As you suggested
earlier we will have the space for children to learn Dhamma in the
magazine… Already one of our Sakyan brother, Mr. Radhakrishnen has
initiated a Buddha TV in the suburb areas of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. This
covers hundreds of villages and helps villagers to know Dhamma…. But he
needs our support for the Buddhits resources and preachers… ….
Hope the day will come and there will be more and more people to learn
Dhamma as well as Sakya Nirutya and practice the Sakyan’s ancient
culture..
Metta
Sakya
July 2009
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Pariyatti’s July Podcast
The
July Pariyatti podcast is a talk by S.N. Goenka recorded July 24, 2002,
in Ottawa, Canada, at Southam Hall during his tour of North America. Talk followed by Q&A, 69 minutes. This and previous podcasts can be heard or downloaded
here.
Pariyatti Now on Facebook
With
Pariyatti’s new Facebook page it’s easy to share and comment on
favorite books and let others know about Pariyatti’s resources,
including the Daily Words of the Buddha email and Treasures. Find it by going to www. facebook.com/ Pariyatti
Source of the Video
Bruno
Voyer spent some time with the Buddhist Sangha as a young man, and
cherished a dream of again being with the monks who dedicate their life
to Dhamma. After many years of hard work he traveled to meet his
long-time friend, Venerable Jagara, now in Myanmar (Burma).
“Myanmar
was a revelation for me, like finding a hidden treasure. It is the
cradle of the second Sasana, with Dhamma being present almost
everywhere you go, and in the hearts of so many. You can see how a
people and culture can be deeply imbued and transformed by over 2,000
years of strong Dhamma presence,” said Voyer. In Myanmar, he was given
the opportunity to visit places where famous meditators have lived,
learned and taught Dhamma, stay with the present-day Sangha community,
and learn some of the language and culture.
“Every
Dhamma journey to Myanmar has been a transformative experience. I am
forever grateful.” He hopes to bring back other inspiring testimonies
of Dhamma ancestors like the Venerable Webu Sayadaw. Voyer lives in
Montreal, Canada. He began practicing Vipassana in 1982 at age 17, with
S.N. Goenka.
Films and Photographs Now Online of the Venerable Webu Sayadaw, Meditation Master
Rare film footage of the Most Venerable Webu Sayadaw made its way from Myanmar to Pariyatti this year and can be viewed online or downloaded
from our website. Webu Sayadaw (1896-1977) was one of the outstanding
Burmese meditation masters of the last century, believed by many to be
an arhant, a fully liberated
being. He resided at three forest monasteries: in Ingyinbin, the small
village in upper Burma where he was born, and also in nearby Shwebo and
in Kyaukse, south of Mandalay.
In 1941 Sayagyi U Ba Khin was
near Kyaukse and he came to pay his respects. The next day, as U Ba
Khin was departing, Webu Sayadaw exhorted him to begin teaching
Vipassana, saying “Give the Dhamma. Do not wait.” With this strong
urging, he began immediately. (In the 50s S.N. Goenka became Sayagji’s student and studied with him for 14 years before leaving to teach in India.)
For the first 57 years of his life, Webu Sayadaw stayed in upper Burma. In 1953 he accepted an invitation from U Ba Khin to visit the newly established International Meditation
Center in Yangon, making the first of what would become regular visits
to lower Burma to teach and give talks to large audiences. These talks
reveal Webu Sayadaw’s simplicity, wit, patience and humility (the book The Way to Ultimate Calm includes eight discourses and a chapter on the Dhamma relationship between Webu Sayadaw and U Ba Khin).
The film came to Pariyatti via Bruno Voyer. While in Myanmar last January he was introduced to U Myint Than, the nephew of the kapiya (lay assistant) of the late Webu
Sayadaw. U Myint Than was a young boy when he first met Webu Sayadaw. His uncle the kapiya
traveled to various places with Webu Sayadaw, and took many pictures
and some video footage of him, both in Myanmar and when traveling on
pilgrimage to Sri Lanka and India.
Voyer relates: “U Myint
Than invited me to his house to show me the old picture albums, which
contain many photographs of Webu Sayadaw (including one at the
dentist!). Then U Myint Than brought an old reel of film probably
dating from the 50s or 60s. He explained that many years ago his uncle
got the help of a friend at the local Myanmar television station, which
had a 16mm film projector, to convert some of the old film to digital
format. I had seen some footage on VCD (video compact disc) and now
understood where it had come from. Unfortunately, the 16mm film
projector was now broken and so they could not pursue the digital
conversion of the remaining old films. Seeing that such treasures were
at risk of remaining unknown, I told U Myint Than that there must be a
16mm projector in the West, and someone should be able to convert the
rest of the films. He readily thought it a good idea and gave me the
reel he felt was most intact.”
A Pariyatti volunteer and board member was able to arrange the conversion and then post these videos for all to see at www.pariyatti. org>Resources
& Projects> Treasures>Ven. Webu Sayadaw. Additional reels of
film will, we hope, be brought from Myanmar for conversion, and we may
discover new treasures for inspiration.
With good wishes, Pariyatti
Pariyatti
enriches the world by disseminating the words of the Buddha, providing
sustenance for the seeker’s journey and illuminating the meditator’s
path.
P.S. Summer is a good time for reading. See what’s new by visiting the New Titles page at Pariyatti.org>Bookstore.
“I have never claimed to be a universal leader of suffering humanity.
The problem of the untouchables is quite enough for my slender
strength. I do not say that other causes are not equally noble. But
knowing that life is short, one can only serve one cause and I have
never aspired to do more than serve the Untouchables.” Bodhisatta
Babasaheb B.R.Ambedkar
“The basis of my politics lies in the proposition that the Untouchables
are not a sub-division or sub-section of Hindus, and that they are a
separate and distinct element in the national life of India.”
Bodhisatta Babasaheb B.R.Ambedkar
“My social philosophy may be said to be enshrined in three words:
liberty, equality and fraternity. My philosophy has roots in religion
and not in political science. I have derived them from the teachings of
my master, the Buddha.” Bodhisatta Babasaheb B.R.Ambedkar
Sakya Sangha
8/A, Thiyagarayapuram,
Thangal, Thiruvottiyur,
Chennai - 600 019.
Tamil Nadu, India http://www.sakyasangha.org
MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY
‘Preparations for BBMP polls will be completed in a month’
Staff Reporter
Court adjourns petition questioning delay in holding BBMP Council polls
Complete delimitation of wards in a week: court
We need eight weeks to verify voter list: SEC
BANGALORE: The Government on Thursday told the Karnataka High Court
that it would complete all formalities relating to the elections to the
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council within a month from
today.
Advocate-General Ashok Harnahalli made the statement when a Division
Bench, comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice A.S.
Bopanna, was hearing five public interest litigation (PIL) petitions on
the BBMP Council elections.
The Bench had asked the State to come up with a “roadmap” detailing
the steps it would take to hold elections to the BBMP Council.
Mr. Harnahalli said that almost all pre-poll processes were ready
and a draft had been issued calling for objections to reservation of
seats.
He said that though the law permitted the use of electronic voting
machines (EVMs) in the elections, the rules would have to be amended to
permit their use in the local body elections.
He said money had been released to the State Election Commission
(SEC). He said the rotation of seats would be completed in 30 days and
after this, the SEC could take over.
He said several guidelines were issued relating to delimitation of wards.
The SEC said it would be ready to hold elections once it completed
its process. It said it would need eight weeks to complete verification
of voter list and other formalities.
Earlier, the petitioners, former Mayor P.R. Ramesh, former Deputy
Mayor B.V. Putte Gowda and B.K. Venkatesh and P. Subbaiah, assailed the
Government for the delay in holding elections.
While Mr. Putte Gowda wanted the Government to implement the
Kasturirangan report before holding the elections, Mr. Subbaiah, Mr.
Venkatesh and Mr. Ramesh challenged the delimitation process and
pointed several flaws in it.
The Bench dismissed the petition by Mr. Putte Gowda saying that
courts could not give directions to the Government to implement a
report in a particular manner. It partly allowed the other three
petitions and directed the State to complete the process of
delimitation of wards as per the population figures within a week.
The Bench suggested that the population in new wards should be at
least 20,000, while it could be between 24,000 and 30,000 in the old
wards.
The Bench asked the Government to amend the rule relating to the use of EVMs in local body elections.
It also asked the Government to complete the pre-election process
expeditiously and adjourned the main petition relating to delay in
holding elections to August 14.
from Jayant RAMTEKE included below]
Rahul Gandhi – A Fake Progeny of Fake Heroes
All
those people who have forgotten the fight of our forefathers against
Congress and those who are getting lured towards Congress for their
selfish interests are the real enemies of Ambedkarite Movement. If we
want to establish an egalitarian society based on Equality, Freedom ,
Fraternity and Justice, we have to stay away from the Congress, it’s deceitful and dishonest culture and it’s corrupt and fake leadership.
Congress
is a party that changes it’s colours frequently like the Chameleons do.
All the leaders of Congress are also like that. Recently a hybrid
Chameleon called Rahul Gandhi has made an entry to this flock of
Chameleons. In his recent speech in Amethi, this hybrid fawn called
Rahulbaba who is ¼ Muslim, ¼ Hindu Bramhin and ½ Christian, made
utterances which reached a height of bluffing. He said, the funds we
give to Uttar Pradesh government, the UP government spends only on
building statues and doesn’t spend a pai (1/100th of Rupee) for development of poor. This statement of Rahul Gandhi would be a biggest lie of 21st century! The money given to Uttar
Pradesh government or any other state government is not given from
coffers of Rahul Gandhi’s home or from wealth accumulated by his
ancestors. The central government distributes a particular amount of
fund to various state governments as per the directive principles laid
down in Indian Constitution and as per the formula prescribed by the
Planning Commission. Constitution has also laid down rules as to how
these funds from central government and the other income of state
governments should be spent by the respective state governments.
Therefore the way Rahul baba says that he sends money and Mayawati
spends it on statues, is absolutely incorrect. Mayawati has torn apart
a veil of bluffs of Rahul Gandhi by publishing a white paper on the
developmental work undertaken by the BSP government in UP. But the
bramhnical media are continuously and deliberately trying to mislead
people by planting lies and myths. We consider it our foremost duty to
expose these bramhnical lies and myths.
India
has been in direct control of family of Rahul Gandhi for 30 years pre
independence and for 60 years post independence. In pre independence
era, illicit great grandfather of Rahul Gandhi called Mohandas Gandhi
meted out an unpardonable ill-treatment to the Untouchables, Muslims,
Other Backward castes and Adivasi people; and back stabbed them. Every
page of history is full of black patches of deceitful misdemeanors of
Mohandas Gandhi. The person to whom Gandhi passed on the mantle of
power, Jawaharlal Nehru is notorious for his unchastity, adultery and
for his mastery in trickery and hoodwinking. When Nehru’s daughter the
infamous Indira Gandhi got the power at Centre she gave a call for
removal of poverty, a slogan popularly known as “Garibi Hatao”. But in
spite of such popular but deceitful slogans like “Garibi Hatao”, the
poverty in India did not get alleviated. On the contrary widespread
impoverishment and destitution prevailing in India has become a serious
cause of concern for the world community. Mohandas Gandhi, Motilal
Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajeev Gandhi all have
beguiled common Indians. Each of them cumulatively added to miseries
and grief of common people. If we analyse the economic indicators,
according to World Bank estimates, there are 700 Million Indians living
below poverty line. But according to Indian government’s statistical
data there are just 260 million Indians living below poverty line.
According to international analyst there are 550 million illiterates in
India but Indian government claims their number to be 350 millions. Of
the 600 million working population of India, 97 % work in an
unorganized sector. These people have no protection of any labour laws.
The average living age of Indians is 64 years. The infant mortality
rate is 57 out of 1000 children born. The percentage of malnourished
children under age of 5 years is 44 %. According to the world human
development indicators India stands 32nd from
bottom
among the 177 countries. If we compare the educational infrastructure
in India with that of our neighbor China, there are 18, 00, 000 schools
in China where as there are only 9, 00,000 schools in India. There are
900 universities in China where as there are only 362 universities in
India. India lags way behind other countries in terms of industrial
development. The growth rate in China is around 11.4 % whereas this
rate hovers around 6 % in India. Under whose rule all these things have
happened, would Rahul Gandhi answer this question?
After
60 years of independence, a country well endowed by natural resources
is languishing behind as a poor and under developed country. It is only
and only Congress which is responsible for this. Rahul baba who makes
rhetoric about development conveniently gets blind to the fact that
this country is borrowing money from International agencies in order to
fill up the coffers of particular industrialists. By showing 4, 00,996
Cr additional income, Congress tried to artificially jack up India’s
foreign exchange reserves. The same Congress gave 7,
00,000 Cr tax benefits to the industrialists in last 2 years. In the
current year too, Congress government has given tax sops amounting to
65,000 Cr to the industrialists. The bramhnical media doesn’t talk a
single word exposing these evil misdeeds of Congress government. This
leads us to a conclusion that the minority bramhinists are committing
treason by hatching a conspiracy to loot this country for benefit of
their minority ilk at the cost of millions of SC/ST Bahujans.
Rahul
Gandhi who sheds crocodile tears in regard to upliftment of SC/STs does
not utter a single word about the central government’s fraud of
depriving the Scheduled Castes by whopping Rs. 72,000 Cr ($15.16
Billion) that should have been earmarked for them under a scheme of
special component plan. In current year’s budget, the Congress
government has done 18% reduction in the funds meant for the
development of Scheduled Castes. In year 2007-2008
budget there was a provision of Rs. 577.71 Cr for special central grant
meant for Scheduled Castes; this year it has been reduced to Rs. 469
Cr. Under Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram scheme which is a corrupt version
of original scheme of UP government called Dr Ambedkar Gram Vikas
Yojana, just Rs.10 Lacs would be given for the development of villages
with more than 50% population of Schedules Castes. In this year’s
budget, Central government of Congress has not announced any special
schemes for education, health and economic development of Dalits and
Adivasis.
As
per the Planning Commission guidelines, central and state governments
are required to make provision of funds for upliftment of SCs in
proportionate to their % of population. In India SCs population is
16.2%; therefore out of Rs.10, 00,000 Cr government has constitutional
binding to spend Rs. 1, 62,000 Cr for the development of Scheduled
Castes. But the Congress which is carrying forward a legacy of Mohandas
Gandhi of backstabbing SC/STs, has made a provision of just Rs.
15,683.94 Cr for Dalits, which is just 6.43 % of India’s annual budget.
This shows that Rahul Gandhi who talks of development of common man (
Aam Adami) , his mother Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and their
Congress party do not consider Dalits as common people ( aam adami ).
Although it is constitutionally binding on central government to follow
guidelines of Planning Commission laid down in 1978, in regarding
allotment of funds for development ofScheduled
Castes, by not adhering to these constitutional bindings, Congress is
discriminating against Scheduled Castes. Looking at this, it is quite
clear how Congress is misruling country by acting against the
constitution.
Rahul Gandhi and the coterie of people around him who are waiting for him to become PM, are
making noises that there is no development in UP. While doing so they
very cleverly hide the true facts about various developmental
programmes undertaken and budgetary provisions made for various
developmental schemes by BSP government in UP. This year UP government
has made provision of Rs. 19,037 Cr for education. For agriculture
sector the provision made is Rs. 11,064 Cr, for health it is Rs. 6,503
Cr. The BSP government has started 4 engineering college which are
being developed as premier technology institutions like IITs. In these
colleges 75 % seats would be exclusively reserved for Scheduled Caste
Students. In order to achieve economic development of Scheduled castes,
government has decided to reserve 25% of government contracts for the
Scheduled Caste contractors. Mahamaya Balika Vikas Yojana, Savitribai
Phule Balika Shikshan Yojana, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Gram Vikas Yojna,
Manyawar Kanshiram Shahari Vikas Yojana, like these many development
schems in the name of our Bahujan icons have been started and are being
successfully implemented. This is a real pain in the stomach of blind
Congressi Bats who have been till date naming all the developmental
schemes in name of only Gandhis and Nehru. Congress has got paranoid by
the fear that with all this developmental work of BSP government for
Dalit-Bahujans, the non performance of corrupt Congress government at
centre and their other state governments would be exposed. That’s why
they are crying foul that there is no development in UP. To unmask, the
rhetoric of Congress based on lies and myths on lack of development in
UP, it would be appropriate to see the performance of Congress
government in Maharashtra where it has been ruling since last 50 years.
Maharashtra
government has not given any directives till date to waive the tuition
fees of Dalit, Adivasi, VJ(Vimukta Jati) and NT( Nomadic tribes)
students studying in professional educational institutes. Congress
government in Maharashtra has shown on papers that in previous year it
has spent Rs. 292 Cr for building small huts for the Scheduled Castes
and Buddhists living below poverty line.But in reality
not a single hut was built throughout Maharashtra. On paper the
government claims to have spent Rs. 23.60 Cr for distributing land to
landless Dalits, but in reality not even a acre of land was distributed
to Dalits. In Maharashtra thousands of farmers commit suicide in
distress. Large number of children especially in the Adivasi areas die
because of mal-nourishment, in Maharashtra. In terms of crimes
Maharashtra comes next only to Bihar and Orissa. Maharashtra would rank
first in the country in terms of atrocities being committed against the SC/STs and the the way these atrocities are suppressed both by society
and government machinery.
In
light of all above facts and reality it is absolutely clear that
Congress is enemy number 1 of SC/STs in India. The behavior and
character of Congress is deceitful. Congressi culture of spreading lies
and myths in order to befool the common SC/ST-Bahujans is responsible
for the downfall of Indian nation. That is why all through his life Dr
Babasaheb Ambedkar had condemned this anti SC/ST, anti Bahujan
Congress and had warned his followers to stay away from Congress.
Manyawar Kanshiramji had given a call to his cadres to unmask the
immoral, unprincipled Congress, in order to establish equality and self
respect for SC/ST-Bahujans. All those people who have forgotten the
fight of our forefathers against Congress and those who are getting
lured towards Congress for their selfish interests are the real enemies
of Ambedkarite Movement. If we want to establish an egalitarian society
based on Equality, Freedom , Fraternity and Justice, we have to stay
away from the Congress, it’s deceitful and dishonest culture and it’s corrupt and fake leadership.
( This article is translation of editorial written by Editor Sunil Khobragade in the Marathi daily Janatecha Mahanayak on 20th July, 2009. Translated by – Jayant S. Ramteke )
‘Congress is plotting to kill Mayawati’
Deepak Gidwani / DNAWednesday, July 22, 2009 20:39 IST Email
Lucknow: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has alleged that the Congress
is hatching a conspiracy to eliminate Uttar Pradesh chief minister
Mayawati by withdrawing her National Security Guard (NSG)’s Black Cat
commandos.
The media had reported on Wednesday that commandos assigned to
Mayawati were to be withdrawn after a review of threat perception by
the Union home ministry.
Other leaders likely to loseNSG cover are former Uttar Pradesh CM
Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Bihar CM Lalu Yadav, and BJP leader Murli
Manohar Joshi.
Mayawati has been accorded “Z plus” security, which is the highest
category of protection, with additional NSG cover.
“The government is creating circumstances which may lead to her
(Mayawati) murder… this is clearly a Congress conspiracy,” BSP
general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra said in a statement released
here.”The Congress sees Mayawati as a hurdle in its political gameplan
due to the BSP’s growing popularity. So,it is planning to get her
murdered by compromising her security,” he said.
Mishra has written to president Pratibha Patil, prime minister
Manmohan Singh, home minister P Chidambaram and Congress president
Sonia Gandhi in this regard. Mishra said NSG coverwas being provided
“even to a CM who is seen as a threat to public order in the US”,
hinting at Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.
“The Centre has no qualms in giving NSG cover to a leader who incites
communal disharmony,” he said in an oblique reference to former BJP
leader Kalyan Singh.
“Mayawati is on the hit list of international terrorist outfits and
anti-national elements… she also faces threat from criminals against
whom the UP government has taken strict action,” he said.
Namo Buddha and Jai Bhim! There is a reported
attempt to appropriate Buddhism by the RSS, BJP and Narendra Modi in
Gujarat as it is sponsoring an International Conference on Buddhism at
MS University in Vadodra on 15 and 16 January 2010.
Ignorance about real motives could compel some of
our Buddhist Scholars to help the RSS and BJP gain credibility and we
must remain vigilant in this regard. Pasted below you will find
information about this proposed International Conference. You are
requested to circulate this news in your circle/network and warn our
people not to be misled by such propaganda of the RSS.
With Metta
Umakant, Ph.D
New Delhi
*International Seminar on Buddhism and Buddhist Heritage of Gujarat and India* *(January 15 and 16, 2010)*
*CALL FOR PAPERS*
Buddhism,
that propagates the doctrine of *karma*, had made wider changes in the
social and cultural scenes of ancient Asia in general, and South Asia
and Southeast Asia in particular. In India, at its very beginning, its
revolt against the *Brahmanical* supremacy and denial of the complex
*Vedic*rituals made it easily acceptable to the greater population.
The
subsequent periods witnessed several ups and downs for this religious
sect under the patronage of several rulers. The region denoted as the
present day political state of Gujarat, in its past welcomed Buddhism,
which flourished along with Jain and Brahmanical cults ever since the
days of Ashoka, the Mauryan emperor. Large number of archaeological
evidence in the form of inscriptions, *stupas*, *chaitya* *grahas*,
*viharas*, sculptures and images from various parts of Gujarat stand as
a testimony to the wide spread of Buddhism in Gujarat. Accounts of
Chinese travellers, Hiuen-tsang and I-tsing suggest that both
*Hinayana* and *Mahayana* were practiced in Gujarat.
Although
such a rich heritage of Buddhism is present in Gujarat, many of its
attributes and its wider impact on the society of Gujarat needs to be
brought to limelight. This can only be achieved by situating Gujarat in
the map of the Buddhist world. Therefore, the Government of Gujarat in
collaboration with the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,
Vadodara is organising an international seminar which will highlight
the Buddhist traditions of India in general and Gujarat in western
India in particular.
The proposed international seminar on Buddhism aims at:
(i)appreciating the Buddhist past of Gujarat through a series of discourses on its archaeology and history,
(ii)highlighting the contributions of Buddhism and its philosophy to the culture and society of Gujarat,
(iii)promoting documentation and research on Buddhist materials and places in Gujarat, and
(iv)conserving and preserving Buddhist sites and pilgrimage centres in Gujarat..
The international seminar will focus on four major themes:
the archaeology and history of Buddhism
the Philosophy of Buddhism
Conserving the Buddhist Heritage and
Developing Buddhist Tourism in Gujarat.
Along
with the International Seminar and scientific deliberations, we also
plan to have philosophical lectures by spiritual leaders and an
exhibition of development and decline of Buddhism in India and Gujarat.
The
venue of the seminar, *the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda* has
the unique fortune of preserving the holy relics of Buddha. The
International Conference will be on *January 15 and 16, 2010*. The
conference will be followed by field visits and tours to archaeological
sites of Buddhist influence in Gujarat.
You are requested to
send abstract of your papers/articles based on any of the aforesaid
themes so that it can be included in the programme. We will appreciate
if you kindly send the abstract by *July 31, 2009*.
We are sure
that you will find participation in the seminar not only of academic
significance but also will give you an opportunity to put
philosophical, religious as well as tourist flavour.
Financial
support will be given to a limited number of speakers from India and
abroad, however all possible local hospitality will be extended to all
participants by the organisers.
Professor Ramesh Goyal (Convenor) Vice Chancellor The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda Vadodara Email: goyalrk@rediffmail. com
Dr. K. Krishnan (Co-ordinator) Department of Archaeology and Ancient History Faculty of Arts The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda Vadodara Email: krishnan_msu@ yahoo.com
“Cultivate oneself
without examining the good or bad of others and judge not others with word or
thought; then one’s kammas of body, speech, and mind will be purified”
Historical Records
ofthe Dhamma Gem [Lidai Fabao Ji])
COMPREHENSIVE P ĀLI COURSE
LESSON 5
Conjugation of Future Tense
PurisaEkavacanaBahuvacana
Paṭhama Purisaissatiissanti
Majjhima Purisaissatiissatha
Uttama Purisaissāmiissāma
For example: Puja = to worship, offer devotion or gift.
PurisaEkavacanaBahuvacana
Paṭhama PurisaPūjessatiPūjessanti
Majjhima PurisaPūjessasiPūjessatha
Uttama PurisaPūjessāmiPūjessāma
Ahaṁ Pūjessāmi=
I will worship
Mayaṁ Pūjessāma=
We will worship
Tvaṁ Pūjessasi=You
will worship
Tumhe Pūjessatha=
You will worship
So Pūjessati=
He will worship
Te Pūjessanti=
They will worship
Similarly conjugated are:
Bhuj = bhuñjissati, bhuñjissanti = he/they will eat
Khād = Khādissati, Khādissanti = he/they will eat, chew
Labh = labhissati = he will receive, get, gain, acquire etc.
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Chennai caries a board with three script….. (see attcahed file)
Tamil,
English and Pali or the Brami script of Sakya Nirutya….This unique
board has no Devanagari. Generally Central (Indian) government boards
carry Devnagari…..
Good the government is going back to the original script of this land…..
The Brami
script was used for Sakya Nirutya (Pali) by Sakyans in the ancient
India, which was destroyed by both Aryans and Dravidians. The
Dravidians (Tamilians) developed vatteluthu and then slowly developed
their own Tamil/ Telugu/ Kannada/ Malayalam script and Aryans developed
Devanagari in later stage.
The main
reasons the Aryan and Dravidian ruler ignore the ancient script was to
make the ordinary people not learn Dhamma written on the pillers/ walls
/stones….
Today the
Tamils claim that the Brami is Tamil Brami and developed by their
ancestor. This may or may not be TRUE. But our question is why they
left their ancient script and developed new script….
Any way now
this is the time to bring back our ancient script. As the State
Government and Cetral governments spends money to Tamil, Sanskrit and
Hindi, they should spend for Sakya Niritiya (Pali). We need a
institution to study and do research on Pali literature too.
Metta
Sakya
FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON BUDDHISM FOR CHILDREN-3
What are the symbols of Buddhism?
The wheel of life which symbolises the cycle of life,
death and rebirth.
The eight spokes remind people that the Buddha taught about eight ways of
life.
The lotus flower symbolises purity and divine birth.
The lotus flower grows in mud at the bottom of a pool, but rises above the
surface to become a beautiful flower. Buddhist say this is how people should
rise above everything which is dukkha. A flower may be very beautiful and
have a wonderful scent, but it soon withers and dies. This shows that nothing
in life is perfect.
Images of Buddha
Statues of Buddha include lots of symbols. There are 32 symbols in Buddhism
which show that the Buddha was a special person. Any of these symbols can be
used on statues.
For example, the Buddha is often shown with a bump on on the
top of his head. This is a symbol that he had special talents. He is often
seen with a round mark on his forehead, which is his third eye. This is a
symbol to show that he could see things ordinary people cannot see. He may be
shown with curled hair, which is a symbol that he was a very holy man.
Sometimes he has long ears, which is a symbol that he came from an important
family, and also that he could hear things that other people could not.
BANGALORE: As part of the process for conducting elections to the
Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike council, the State Government has
issued guidelines on reservation of wards for Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and women.
Of the 198 wards of the BBMP, the Government has reserved 91 wards,
leaving 107 wards for the general category. One-third representation
has been given to women. The guidelines have been issued based on the
2001 Census figures.
15 wards for SCs
Following this, 12.62 per cent of wards have been reserved for
SC/ST/women, 33.33 per cent have been reserved for backward classes
a/b/ woman and the remaining 54 per cent have been left for
general/woman.
According to the guidelines, 15 wards would be reserved for Schedule
Castes and wards that had the high concentration of Scheduled Castes
would be identified. Eight wards would be reserved for Scheduled Caste
women.
One ward each would be reserved for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Tribes women.
One-third of the 198 wards would be reserved for backward classes of
which 80 per cent of the wards would be reserved for BC –A category and
20 per cent would be reserved for BC-B category. In case, there were
not sufficient numbers of candidates to contest under BC-A category,
then the candidate from BC-B category could contest from those seats.
Similarly, a BC-A category candidate could contest in wards reserved
for BC-B category only when there were no BC-B candidates to contest.
Everyone had to be working in tandem: pliant governments, both here and abroad, and hungry cartels
***
A Few Good Questions
Why did Sierra Leone send a letter demanding that rice be sent through specific Indian companies?
What was the criteria for choosing the 21 countries, since some of them are rice-exporting countries themselves?
Why didn’t the government route the procurement of rice through FCI and transport it through Shipping Corporation of India?
If the rice was allowed to be exported on humanitarian grounds, why was it sold at market rates by private companies?
***
“Prices were much lower than officially quoted ones due to the ban. Most rice was PDS rice sold by AP for Rs 2 a kg.”
—Naresh Goyal, South India Rice Exporters Asscn
“(Naming private companies) is interference in Indian commerce, creating monopoly purchases.”
—Vijay Setia, All India Rice Exporters Asscn
“If this was for humanitarian aid, why didn’t the government use FCI or the Shipping Corporation?”
—Vishnu Kumar, Exporter
“(Sending rice to South Africa) is ironic as they have a constitutional guarantee on right to food.”
—Biraj Patnaik, P’al Advisor, SC food commssr
***
As is usual in such cases,
the Rs 2,500-crore rice export scam of 2008-09 had a rather
innocuous-looking beginning. The Centre had, vide a government
notification in October 2007, banned the export of non-basmati and 25
per cent broken rice, ostensibly to strengthen the nation’s food
security in a time of high inflation and to ensure there was enough
stock in the public distribution system to provide subsidised grain to
those below the poverty line. Experts who feared an impending food
crisis applauded the move.
Few, however, detected the insidious subplot. Since India is a
major exporter, the ban immediately triggered off a steep increase
(from $350 to a peak of $1,000 a metric tonne) in the price of rice in
international markets. Then followed a chain of events in which
guidelines were flouted and rules bypassed by state-owned trading
companies to allow select private rice-exporting companies to export 10
lakh MT of rice despite the ban. They monopolised the market created
for them by friends in the government and walked away with business
worth Rs 2,500 crore while robbing the PDS of valuable rice in a
country where 48 per cent of children below three years are
malnourished. In a detailed investigation, Outlook has unearthed several startling facts about the great rice swindle.
Modus Operandi: Beginning January 2008, some
three months after the government notified the rice export ban, a plan
was in place to help a few exporters bypass the ban and capitalise on
the rising international market prices. How was this done? It was felt
in the government that since the export ban had made rice dearer in
foreign markets, should requests for grain come from poor nations, it
would be released on humanitarian grounds. Twenty-one African nations
approached the ministry of external affairs after this policy was made
public. Their requests were forwarded to the food and public
distribution ministry headed by Sharad Pawar and to the commerce and
industry ministry then headed by Kamal Nath (now minister for road
transport and highways).
The Union commerce ministry would prove critical in the whole
process since it is the nodal agency for all exports and oversees
public sector trading companies such as the State Trading Corporation,
MMTC and PEC. These corporations would later play a major role in
facilitating private companies to take over the “humanitarian exports”
and rake in huge profits. This is how it worked:
The government of a country, say Sierra Leone or Ghana, writes to
the MEA, with a copy to the commerce minister, seeking rice at
“concessional” or “preferential” rates.
Instead of leaving it to the government to select the
supplier, the letter mentions the name of the private Indian company
through which the proposed export must be routed.
The commerce ministry gives its clearance and the
director-general of foreign trade (DGFT) issues a notification
formalising the quantity of rice to be exported by the pre-selected
private rice exporter. This is in contravention of DGFT guidelines that
grain must be exported by a government trading agency. Grain, as per
DGFT guidelines, must be procured and exported through STC, MMTC or
PEC. The procurement must also have been done from more than one state.
The DGFT guidelines thus flouted, the responsibility of
procuring and shipping the rice is handed over to the private company
named in the letters from foreign governments.
The STC, MMTC and PEC relinquish all control over procurement and even the price at which the rice is exported.
What is supposed to be a humanitarian, Third World transaction
is now a straightforward deal between a private Indian party and a
foreign government. The rice is finally sold—this is the clincher—at
prevailing international prices to the needy country. The profit per MT
is between $200 and $250.
In many cases, the letters of credit come from a third
party—a trading company in Switzerland. A fact that naturally throws up
the question: where is the rice going? To its declared destination or
getting diverted to global markets?
Scandal Abroad: The scam would well have gone
unnoticed but for a major scandal in Ghana in West Africa (see box on
Page 36). Earlier this year, the new government under President John
Evans Atta Mills launched an inquiry into the role played by the
previous foreign minister, Akwasi Osei-Adjei, in one such deal. Ghana
had in early 2008 written to the Indian government seeking several
thousand metric tonnes of rice but wanted it only through a Delhi-based
company, Amira Foods (India) Ltd. STC simply cleared the deal in favour
of the company without inviting any tender. A source in the commerce
ministry told Outlook, “The government of Ghana nominated its
ministry of foreign affairs as the buying agency and Amira Foods as the
procurement agency. The price and other commercial terms of the
contract were finalised between the government and their nominated
procurement agency in India.”
In short, not only did Ghana get to choose its own procurement
agency (or vice versa), it also ensured that all its negotiations with
the private rice exporter were kept out of the purview of the Indian
government and its trading companies. Once a convenient price was
arrived at, the rice was simply shipped off. Whether it reached Ghana
or diverted to some other buyer en route is not known since the
government of India had, perhaps deliberately, stepped back from all
negotiations in what was supposed to be a ‘government-to- government’
deal!
When Outlook sent a detailed questionnaire to Amira
Foods, its vice-president, Protik Guha, called up the magazine and
questioned the wisdom of printing a story dealing with a scandal in
Ghana. Guha also wanted to know the source of the story but refused to
comment on specific queries, stating that “our press department would
look into them”. No one has got back to us.
If this deal was shocking, the deal with Sierra Leone was even
more curious. The country sought nearly 40,000 MT of rice on a
preferential payment basis from India in early 2008. But instead of a
letter of credit coming from its government, it came from an
international soft commodities trading company, Novel Commodities, with
their offices in 1227 Carouge, Switzerland. As in the Ghana case,
Sierra Leone also demanded that the rice be shipped through a
Delhi-based rice exporting company, M/s Shivnath Rai Harnarain India
Ltd. Sierra Leone sought another consignment in May ’09 through Amira.
In response to queries from Outlook, PEC Ltd’s chief
finance manager, R.K. Jain, said: “The government of Sierra Leone had
nominated M/s Novel Commodities for financing arrangement and M/s
Shivnath Rai Harnarain for shipment of rice. The price was mutually
fixed between the buyer (Switzerland- based Novel Commodities on behalf
of the government of Sierra Leone) and the seller (M/s Shivnath Rai
Harnarain Ltd).” The rate, Jain states in his written communique, was
$430 per MT for 17,952 MT rice and $470 for another batch of 22,047 MT.
The grain for both Ghana and Sierra Leone was sourced from mills in
Andhra Pradesh which had buffer stocks.
Making a Killing: The prevailing rate for
domestic procurement of non-basmati rice in March 2008, as per the
retail price index of rice ascertained from the director of economic
and statistics of the government of Andhra Pradesh, averaged around
$280 per metric tonne. So if it was sold at $470, it meant a profit of
$190 per metric tonne in this particular instance. If one factors in
fluctuating international market rates, the profit may have been much
higher for other consignments. “In fact, the prices (at which the local
exporter procured rice) were much lower than the officially quoted one
since there was a ban on exports,” says Naresh Goyal, vice president,
South India Rice Exporters Association. “In most cases,” alleges Goyal,
“the rice was PDS rice which the state government sells for Rs 2 a kg.
We believe this was diverted towards exports and never reached its
intended beneficiaries.”
***
India’s ban on export of
non-basmati rice triggered a steep rise in international rice prices,
from $350/MT to a peak of $1,000/MT.
The domestic rate per tonne
for procuring non-basmati rice in March 2008 was $280. It was sold at
$470. The profit per tonne: $190.
The scam would have gone
unnoticed had it not been for a new regime in Ghana inquiring into the
role of a previous foreign minister.
While Ghana says the STC recommended Amira Foods, Indian officials in the commerce ministry say it was the other way round.
The food ministry even
sought the EC’s permission to procure rice to export to Nigeria.
Curiously, Nigeria said it didn’t want the rice.
***
The food ministry even sought the EC’s permission to procure
rice to export to Nigeria. Curiously, Nigeria said it didn’t want the
rice.With the commerce ministry facilitating an export arrangement for
a few chosen private companies, the rice exporters’ lobby began to send
desperate petitions to the government and specifically to minister
Kamal Nath. Vijay Setia, president, All India Rice Exporters
Association, also dashed off a letter to the commerce secretary
pointing out inconsistencies.
According to Setia, many of the 21 countries identified by the MEA
for rice exports had a better per capita income than that of India.
Many also have a long record of institutionalised corruption.
Strangely, even a rice-exporting country like Egypt had been included
in the list! Worse, the letters from these foreign governments seeking
rice quotas came “to our commerce minister (Kamal Nath) mentioning the
names of private companies who must be the suppliers”. This, he says,
“is interference in Indian commerce, creating monopoly purchases and
making three to four companies the beneficiaries, and exploiting rice
millers, farmers and consumers. ”
Chennai-based exporter Vishnu Kumar wants to ask the government
this: “If this was all for humanitarian aid, why didn’t the government
use its own machinery to export rice? It could have used the Food
Corporation of India to procure the rice at reasonable rates and
shipped it off to the African nations through the Shipping Corporation
of India. It could have provided the needy nations supplies at a much
cheaper price. Instead, it allowed a chosen private cartel of companies
to make a killing.”
Meanwhile, in May this year, the government faced a major
embarrassment when the Nigerian government turned down an offer of
1,17,000 MT rice that the DGFT and commerce ministry had allocated. In
fact, the food and public distribution ministry had sought clearance
from the Election Commission just before the general elections to
procure non-basmati rice for export to Nigeria and other nations. So if
there was no request from the African country, why was the offer made?
No one seems to have an answer. Was the so-called requirement on the
basis of which grain was released a fake document? If Nigeria didn’t
want the rice, where was it headed for? Even Mongolia rejected a
similar allocation, say commerce ministry sources.
The Indian government maintains that Nigeria rejected the Indian
allocation because it had just had a bumper crop. If this was the case,
why had Nigeria ‘sought’ 1,17,000 MT rice barely a month before? “Like
all nations, they also make long-term projections. So, Nigeria would
have known that they were headed for a decent crop. Therefore this
issue of seeking Indian rice could be fictitious,” a senior government
official involved in the allocation told Outlook. Since
Nigeria refused, the government has now allotted 26,000 MT to South
Africa. “It is deeply ironic because South Africa has a much better per
capita income than India’s and also has a constitutional guarantee on
the right to food,” says Biraj Patnaik, principal advisor to the
Supreme Court food commissioner.
So why was DGFT not looking into blatant violations of its
guidelines? Veena Bhalla, the joint director-general of foreign trade
who oversaw the notifications, refused to comment; a questionnaire to
R.S. Gujral, the director-general of foreign trade, elicited no
response. The MEA too failed to react.
A few years ago, the Indian government was rocked by allegations
that prominent politicians and business houses had made millions by
selling off oil for food coupons issued to Iraq by the UN. Today,
allegations have surfaced in a foreign country of influential cartels
making huge profits in the name of providing grain on humanitarian
grounds to needy nations. Shouldn’t India show concern rather than turn
a blind eye? And shouldn’t such exports be banned or handled closely by
the government?
“ Do not talk about another’s faults
and do not point
Out the wrong doings of
another. Avoid coarse language
and stinginess” ( Collection of Great Treasures).
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON 4
Exercise 3
Form five Pāli and five English sentences, using
vocabulary
from all previous Pāli lessons in your own
words.
Paṇḍitassa mukhasmiṁ sukhaṁ atthi
There is happiness in the face of a
wise man
Buddhassa cittasmiṁ bhayāni na santi.
There are no fears in the mind of the Buddha.
3.Buddhassa Dhammassa
Sangassa Nibbanaya sukhāya
hitāya saranaṁ gacchāmi.
I go for refuge to the
Buddha, Dhamma, to the teaching, to
The Order for
liberation, for happiness, for welfare.
4.Aham Buddhassa
Dhammato bhāsāmi.
I speak from the
teachings of the Awakened One.
5.Buddho
Lokassa ācariyo.
The Awakened One, the Teacher of the world.
FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON BUDDHISM FOR CHILDREN -2
Why is Siddhartha Gautama so important to Buddhists?
Siddhartha Gautama found the path to Enlightenment. By doing so he was led
from the pain of suffering and rebirth towards the path of Enlightenment and
became known as the Buddha or “awakened one”.
Who was Siddhartha Gautama?
Siddharta
Gautama is known as the Buddha.
He was born around the year 580 BCE in the village of Lumbini
in Nepal.
He was born into a royal family and for many years lived with in the palace
walls away from the sufferings of life; sufferings such as sickness, age, and
death. He did not know what they were.
One day, after growing-up, marrying and having a child,
Siddhartha went outside the royal palace and saw, each for the first time, an
old man, a sick man, and a corpse. He was worried by what he saw. He learned
that sickness, age, and death were the inevitable fate of human beings — a
fate no-one could avoid.
Why did Siddhartha Gautama stop being a prince and
become a Holy Man?
Siddharta had also seen a monk, and he decided this was a
sign that he should leave his protected royal life and live as a homeless
Holy Man.
Siddharta’s travels showed him much more of the the
suffering of the world.
He searched for a way to escape the inevitability of death, old age and pain
first by studying with religious men. This didn’t provide him with an answer.
Press Information Bureau (Chief Minister Information Campus) Information & Public Relations Department, U.P. Death in incident of firing, during army recruitment in Chandauli as unfortunate — Chief Minister Incident completely related to Central Government/Defence Ministry — Mayawati Commissioner’s office to be constructed near D.M. premises in Gonda — Chief Minister Inquiry into arson incident of Joshi’s house by C.B.C.I.D. — Mayawati Lucknow : July 19, 2009 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has termed the death of a person in the incident of army firing, during army recruitment in connection with the irregularities in Chandauli as unfortunate. She said this incident was completely related to Central Government/Defence Ministry. She has directed to Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi and D.I.G. Police to immediately rush to the spot with a view to making normalcy and prevent it from spreading further. The Cabinet Secretary Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh, while talking to media persons at Media Centre here today said that the Chief Minister had directed to officers to control the incident immediately. Additional police force has been posted at the spot and the State Government had ordered magisterial inquiry into the incident. Cabinet Secretary said the C.M. has also directed for writing letters to Union Government and Defence Ministry requesting for maintaining proper coordination with local administration by army officers during army recruitment, so that such types of incident could not be repeated in future. Referring to ongoing strike of lawyers in Gonda, Mr. Singh said that C.M. took stalk of situation that due this strike people and litigants were being affected. Keeping this in view, she had directed Chief Secretary to discuss the matter with Bar Council, Vyapar Mandal, Citizens including all concerning parties and present the report before her. The Chief Secretary after talking with all concerning parties apprised the Chief Minister with his report. The Chief Minister felt that the demand of citizens was appropriate in view of the interest of lawyers, traders and people. The Chief Minister had taken the decision that commissioner’s office should be constructed near district magistrate’s premises, so that the problems of people could be solved easily, Cabinet Secretary said. Mr. Singh also said that Chief Minister had taken the decision today for impartial inquiry by C.B.C.I.D. into arson incident of Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s house, instead of local police. He said that several opposition parties were speaking about partiality into the inquiry of the incident. The Chief Minister had assured all opposition parties that her Government always took action in the cases of law and order in accordance to law rising above from party politics, Mr. Singh added. Cabinet Secretary said that how much the Chief Minister was sensitive regarding law and order, was clear from the fact that Government had not spared even the M.P. and M.L.A.s of ruling party on finding their unlawful acts and legal action had been taken against them. They had also been arrested. Mr. Singh said that Government had taken the decision that stern action would be taken in accordance to law against the antisocial elements involved in the arson incident of the house whether they were related to Congress party, BSP or any other party. Mr. Singh said that the Court of Additional District Judge had fixed the date of July 29, 2009 for hearing by giving interim bail to Smt. Joshi into the case pertaining to derogatory remarks made by her in Moradabad. The Government would take all necessary action in accordance with legal procedure in this case, he added. ****** BSP decided not to disrupt proceedings of Parliament after Mrs. Sonia Gandhi expressed her regret over derogatory remarks made by the President of UPCC against Mayawati Ji Smt. Joshi’s comments unpardonable, legal action initiated against her to continue — Mayawati Lucknow : July 17, 2009 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has said that in view of the regret expressed by the National President of the Congress Mrs. Sonia Gandhi regarding the derogatory remarks uttered by the UPCC President Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, the BSP had decided not to disrupt proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament. She said that Smt. Joshi’s comments were unpardonable, therefore the legal action initiated against her would continue. Ms. Mayawati was addressing a press conference at her 5-Kalidas Marg official residence here today. Referring to July 16 press conference, yesterday she had said that Mrs. Sonia Gandhi had kept mum over the derogatory remarks made by the State President of UPCC on July 15 at Moradabad and she had decided not to condemn it nor she had taken any party level action against Smt. Joshi. It made it clear that Smt. Joshi made defamatory remarks against her on the directives of Congress high command. The Chief Minister said that after her statement Mrs. Sonia Gandhi was yesterday compelled to express her regret and anguish over Smt. Joshi’s reprehensive and derogatory remarks as she was afraid of loosing ground among the dalits. She said that she came to know about it from news agencies and various news channels and from the statement of the spokesman of their party (Congress). Keeping this in view, and in the interest of the people of the country, her party had decided not to disrupt business in both Houses of the Parliament. Ms. Mayawati cautioning Congress party people that they should not take law in their hands to suppress the scornful and cheap act committed by the State President of UPCC. Moreover, they should not try to repeat incidents that occurred in Lucknow, else such elements would be dealt severely under the law. She said that the Congress people by staging demonstration should not think that BSP was a weak party. She said that had she not stopped her party people, then they would have come out on the roads and also held demonstration. The Congressmen would have just run for cover. The Chief Minister said that if her party people had come out on the roads, then the law and order of entire country would have disturbed and President’s rule would have been needed to be imposed all over the country including U.P. She said that keeping in mind the dignity of the Indian Constitution and in the interest of the people of the country, she appealed to her partymen not to indulge in demonstrations. The Congress and its allies should be thankful to the BSP for it. Moreover, she said that it was normal that the political parties expressed their views on various issues, but defamatory statement in place of healthy criticism was not for the good of democratic system. She said that the Congress should especially focus on it.
Ms. Mayawati said that though Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi might get bail for some time like Mr. Varun Gandhi, but this would not lessen the gravity of her misdeed. She said that the law would punish her sooner or later.
The Chief Minister expressed her gratitude to those parties and leaders who condemned inside and outside of the Parliament the derogatory remark of the UPCC Chief on her behalf and also on the behalf of her party. ******
C.M. criticises derogatory remarks of Smt. Rita Bahugun Joshi Sonia’s silence indicates that Smt. Joshi made this comment at the instance of Congress high command — Mayawati
Congress formulated law to assess rape/murder of SC/ST women in rupees — C.M.
Smt. Joshi made derogatory remarks on Gandhi family while she was in other parties — Chief Minister
Lucknow : July 16, 2009
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati, on behalf of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has strongly condemned the derogatory comments made against her by the Chairperson of U.P.C.C. Smt. Rita Bahugun Joshi in Moradabad yesterday. She regretted that the National President of the Congress Smt. Sonia Gandhi kept mum on such a derogatory remark made by Smt. Joshi and did not take any action against her. She said that it indicated that this comment had been made at the instance of the Congress high command.
The Chief Minister was holding a press conference at her official residence here today. She said that the BSP workers of the State as well as all over the country were highly agitated over such a derogatory remark and they had decided to demonstrate against it. Considering the gravity of the situation, she appealed to them not to take law and order in their hands and maintain peace all over the country. She said that because of the derogatory comment made by an irresponsible woman belonging to Congress party, innocent people of the country could have suffered.
Ms. Mayawati said that after assessing the situation, she had reached out to her party workers and supporters and asked them not to indulge in violence/demonstration in this regard and leave this matter to be decided by law. She termed the late night incident of arson/torching of house of the aforesaid woman as unfortunate. She said that the BSP workers should not be linked with this incident as her party men were disciplined and do not believe in bandh, vandalism etc. Therefore, there was every possibility that the Congress men were involved in the incidents that took place in Lucknow, so that the focus could be shifted from the derogatory comments made by the State Congress President.
The Chief Minister said that she wanted to tell National President of Congress that when Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi was not in Congress and she was member of other parties, she had written a book titled ‘Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna’ in 1999, in which she had used bad language for Gandhi family. She said that it was very unfortunate that such a woman had been made President of the State Congress by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. She said that Mrs. Gandhi, because of her political interests, put aside all the defamatory comments made by this woman regarding her own family and because of that this woman now dared to use such objectionable language against the National President of BSP, who happens to be a Dalit woman. She said that it was unpardonable.
The Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh Government had taken very seriously the incident of Lucknow and the report had been lodged regarding this incident on getting the information. An impartial enquiry had also been ordered into this incident. Besides, a derogatory language had been used by Mrs. Rita Bahuguna Joshi. SC/ST Act had been made by the Government of India in the country instead of U.P. Government. The Congress Party Government had valued the cost of rape and murder of SC/ST women under this Act instead of B.S.P. Government in U.P. She said that provision had been made in this Act, that if any incident of rape and murder on SC/ST women took place, then Government would provide compensation in the form of money and this provision had not been made by her but the Government of Congress Party at the Centre. She said that BSP did not agree with this because it had made a deep blow on the self respect of Dalits.
The Chief Minister said that if Congress Party had not suffered from anti-dalit mindset and kept an inferiority complex towards dalits and had adopted the policy of same attitude towards Sarva Samaj people, then besides dalits, it would have made the arrangements of providing compensation on the incidents of injustice and harassment on the women of Sarva Samaj. This has made it clear that Congress party had valued the cost of crimes against SC/ST people in the country. She emphasised that if BSP came to power at the Centre, then the present SC/ST Act would be replaced by a new law which would take care of the women of the ‘Sarva Samaj’ and not only of the dalits. This new Act would give life imprisonment and capital punishment to the criminals, if facts were proved regarding the crimes of harassment, rape and murder of ‘Sarva Samaj’ women.
Ms. Mayawatii said that her government had already issued a government order which had covered the crimes not only against SC/ST women, but the women of Sarva Samaj. It had been ordered that DIG/SSP/SP would personally visit the spot of any atrocity against women and send the report to DGP on the same day after taking necessary action. If it had not been done accordingly, then DGP or senior Government officers would visit the spot and take necessary action, besides providing compensation immediately under SC/ST Act, if the woman belonged to this category. She said this was necessary because State Governments had to follow the SC/ST Act made by the Central Government.
LUCKNOW - Following repeated onslaughts from Congress general
secretary Rahul Gandhi about the poor electricity power supply in the
state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has blamed the central
government for the situation.
Issuing a detailed official note - white paper - in this regard,
Mayawati has claimed that no government other than the one led by the
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has cared to address the energy need of the
state.
The white paper followed Rahul Gandhi’s visit to his parliamentary
constituency Amethi where violent protests were held against erratic
power supply last week.
A copy of the white paper, “Who is responsible for the poor state of power in UP,” has been sent to Gandhi.
Tracing the history of power generation in the state right from 1947
when it stood at just 155 MW to now at 4700 MW, Mayawati has pointed
out that even during her three brief stints in the past, she had
managed to ensure enhancement of power generation despite all odds.
“The gap between the supply and demand of power in UP has continued
to increase simply because none of the non-BSP governments ever cared
to pay attention to the power needs of the state,” the paper reads.
Refuting Gandhi’s charge that Uttar Pradesh was far behind in power
generation, the chief minister said, “The central government-run power
units in UP were generating as much as about 8,700 MW, but the state
gets a paltry 2,700 MW out of it, in accordance with the Gadgil Plan.”
“It was high time that Gadgil Plan was scrapped and Uttar Pradesh was allocated a share in the ratio of its population.”
She also alleged “poor allocation” of coal for the state’s thermal
generators by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the
centre.
The chief minister has listed out a series of new power projects
initiated during her rule under the public-private partnership.
She also claimed that despite the “centre’s non-cooperation, UP would become self-sufficient in power generation by 2012.”
Mayawati has also hit out at the central government for not
allocating even one of the seven new mega thermal power projects of
28,000 MW to be set up in different parts of the country.
“P.P. Lakshman” <pplakshman08@gmail.com>
Lesson 4
In Lesson 3, we talked about the present moment. People generally do
not live in their actions, in the present moment. They live in the past
or in the future.. Though they seem to be doing something now, here,
they live somewhere else in their thoughts, in their imaginary problems
and worries, usually in the memories of the past or desires and
speculations of the future. Therefore they do not live in nor do they
enjoy what they do at the moment. So they are unhappy or disconnected
to the present, with the work at hand, and naturally they cannot give
themselves fully to what they appear to be doing.
Sometimes you see a man in a restaurant reading while eating — a
very common sight. He gives you the impression of a very busy man, with
no time even for eating. You wonder whether he eats or reads. One may
say that he does both. In fact, he does neither, he enjoys neither. He
is strained and disturbed in mind, and he does not enjoy what he does
at the moment, does not live in his life in the present moment, but
unconsciously and foolishly tries to escape from life. (This does not
mean, however, that one should not talk to a friend, while eating).
You cannot escape life however you may try. As long as you live,
whether in a town or in a cave, you have to face it and live it. Real
life is the present moment - not the memories of the past which is dead
and gone, nor the dreams of the future which is not yet born. One who
lives in the present moment lives the real life and is the happiest.
Sakya Foundation Needs Dhamma Preachers and Teachers
Namo Buddha!
You all know
that Sakya Foundation has been initiated many Dhamma and other social
activities in Tamil Nadu including Sakya Hostels in Thiruvallur and
Kanchipuram Districts in Tamil Nadu. At present, our members demand
Dhamma workshops and retreats in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Hence we
have decided to organize regular workshop and retreats every month. For
this we need supports from all Dhamma groups. We have very few monks
and Dhamma preachers in Tamil Nadu. Hence we request all Dhamma
organizations to support by sending Bikkus/Bikkunis and Dhamma
preachers…
Most people think
that possessing wealth gives life
Value; having rank
gives life meaning. But the true meaning
Of life has little to
do with this. A moral life is what is
Most important and
meaningful. There are many examples
Of individual moral
cultivation in the Buddhist scriptures.
“One should love
those who are virtuous and take delight
When others perform
wholesome acts. One should never be
Envious” (Sutra on the Auspicious Conducts
Requested by Ananda Anan Wen Shi Fo Ji Xiong Jing]). The
Sutra on Upasaka Precepts [Upasakasila Sutra] teaches, “Praise
A persons good deeds;
do not point out a person’s faults; speak
Not of that which
brings a person shame. Listen to a person’s
Secrets, but tel no
one else”.
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON 4
Exercise 2
Translate into Pāli
1. Men go and come, the world stands.
Manussā gacchanti ca āgacchanti ca, loko tiṭṭhati.
2. They eat, sleep, walk, and sit.
To bhuñjanti ca sayanti ca, caranti ca nisīdanti
3. You give and take.
Tumhe dadtha ca, ganhatha ca.
4. The monks sits on the chair and teaches the truth.
Samaṇo pīthasmiṁ nisidati Dhammaṁ ca deseti.
5. Men take milk from the city.
Manussā nagaramhā Khīraṁ ādenti.
6. They take the umbrella.
Te chattaṁ ādenti.
7. There is happiness in the face of a wise man
Panditassa mukhasmiṁ sukhaṁ atthi.
8. There is fear in the heart of fools.
Bālānaṁ hadaye bhayaṁ atthi.
9. He gives gift of cloth and milk and wealth.
So vatthassa dānaṁ deti hhirassa ca dhanassa ca.
10. I place lotus flowers at the feet of the Awakened One.
Aham Buddhassa pādesu padumaṁ pupphā ṭhapemi.
Poll panel seeks more time to hold BBMP elections
Special Correspondent
It
cites preparation of voters’ list as reason
Government blamed for the delay in holding BBMP elections
Registration of voters to be done till the last day of filing of nominations
BANGALORE: Elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike are
expected to be further delayed with the State Election Commission on
Monday seeking eight weeks’ time from the Karnataka High Court to hold
the elections to this newly constituted civic body.
The Election Commission has filed an application before the court in
this regard on Monday seeking eight weeks’ time from the day of
notifying delimitation of wards by the government on July 15. Earlier,
the Court had directed both the State Government and the Election
Commission to conduct the BBMP elections before July-end.
Addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Monday, State Election
Commissioner C.R. Chickmath said the Commission could hold elections
soon after eight weeks only if the government completed the reservation
roster for the BBMP wards by then.
Mr. Chickmath blamed the government for the delay in holding BBMP
elections. “The Government has to answer for the delay in holding
elections as it is caused owing to the delay in issue of notification
on delimitation of wards.”
He said the commission has to now undertake re-organisation of
voters and preparation of voters’ list as per the delimitation of wards
which would require about eight weeks time. The Commission had prepared
a time-chart of 12 different exercises to be undertaken before the
holding of elections such as mapping of electoral parts in all the
wards, preparation of GIS maps of parts of wards, training of BBMP
field staff on splitting of voters among re-organised wards etc. This
process is expected to go on till August 31. Sources said that the
commission has given itself a few days’ extra time as reserve time for
any unexpected eventuality.
Voter registration
Mr. Chickmath made it clear that the registration of voters would be
carried out till the last day of filing of nominations by candidates
for the elections and such newly enrolled voters can also exercise
their franchise. Voters’ facilitation centres would be set up in each
of the Assembly constituencies coming under the BBMP jurisdiction to
provide information to voters on the re-organisation of wards. Voters
can also submit applications at these facilitation centres regarding
inclusion and deletion of their names from the voters’ list.
The BBMP Commissioner and Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner had
been told to set up Voters’ helplines in the offices of BBMP, joint
commissioner and Bangalore Urban DC regarding the voters’ list after
the updating of electoral rolls.
The maps regarding the newly drawn boundaries of wards had also been
put on the BBMP website to create awareness among voters about the new
status of wards. A door-to-door visit would be undertaken by the BBMP
officials regarding the process of division of electoral rolls as per
the re-organisation of wards.
He said the BBMP would have an estimated 65 lakh voters. The number
of polling stations would also increase from the earlier 5,800 to
8,000.
As Electronic Voting Machines are being used for the BBMP polls, the
commission had held consultations with the Bharat Electronics Limited
for getting 9,500 EVMs by August 17.
FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON BUDDHISM FOR CHILDREN -1
Buddhism began in northeastern India
and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. The religion is
2,500 years old and is followed by 350 million Buddhists worldwide.
Buddhism is the main religion in many Asian countries. It is a religion about suffering and the need to get rid of it. A key concept of Buddhism is Nibbana, the most Awakened, and blissful state that one can achieve. A state without suffering.
Buddhism is different from many other faiths because it is not centred
on the relationship between humanity and God. Buddhists do not believe
in a personal creator God.
Who is the founder of Buddhism?
The Buddhist tradition is founded on and inspired by the teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama. He was called the Buddha and lived in the 4th or
5th century B.C. in India.
Why is Siddhartha Gautama so important to Buddhists?
Thank
you for sharing the news of Budhism, ” The Best religioun in The World
Award”.It was fascinating to read that the catholics, Muslims and Jews
agreed to it.
It is sad that the nobody from Budha’s homeland gave any comments
to Media, it is not that there were none from Hindus, Sikhs or jains.
The Brahamanism has ruled India so long that ,it can’t create a culture
of rationalism, rather it continue perpetuate conservatism/ orthodoxy/
a backward mindset rather than a progressive thinking enen though the
world as advanced in thinking of its social values.
Never mind, We are greatful to Our Babasaheb who showed us the
path towards Budhism.And each of us, in whatever way, we can, must
contribute to the Dhamma prachar.
Somebody shoulds make a poster of this news and distribute freely
so that younger Indians who never had the exposure to Lord Budha and
His teaching, can explore , even as a part of academic curriculum as
indivuduals if not at mass level.
Subject: Buddhism won “The Best Religion In The World Award”
Very interesting to read this …..
Buddhism won “The Best Religion In The World” award 15 Jul 2009, Tribune de Geneve
The Geneva-based International Coalition for the
Advancement of Religious and Spirituality (ICARUS) has bestowed “The
Best Religion In the World” award this year on the Buddhist Community.
This special award was voted on by an international round table of
more than 200 religious leaders from every part of the spiritual
spectrum. It was fascinating to note that many religious leaders voted
for Buddhism rather than their own religion although Buddhists actually
make up a tiny minority of ICARUS membership. Here are the comments by
four voting members:
Jonna Hult, Director of Research for ICARUS said “It wasn’t a surprise to me that Buddhism won Best Religion
in the World, because we could find literally not one single instance
of a war fought in the name of Buddhism, in contrast to every other
religion that seems to keep a gun in the closet just in case God makes
a mistake. We were hard pressed to even find a Buddhist that had ever
been in an
army. These people practice what they preach to an extent we simply could not document with any other spiritual tradition.”
A
Catholic Priest, Father Ted O’Shaughnessy said from Belfast , “As much
as I love the Catholic Church, it has always bothered me to no end that
we preach love in our scripture yet then claim to know God’s will when
it comes to killing other humans. For that reason, I did have to cast
my vote for the Buddhists.”
A Muslim Cleric Tal Bin Wassad agreed from Pakistan via his
translator. “While I am a devout Muslim, I can see how much anger and
bloodshed is channeled into religious expression rather than dealt with
on a personal level. The Buddhists have that figured out.” Bin Wassad,
the ICARUS voting member for Pakistan ’s Muslim community continued,
“In fact, some of my best friends are Buddhist.”
And Rabbi Shmuel Wasserstein said from Jerusalem, “Of course, I
love Judaism, and I think it’s the greatest religion in the world. But
to be honest, I’ve been practicing Vipassan a meditation every day
before minyan (daily Jewish prayer) since 1993. So I get it.”
However, there was one snag - ICARUS couldn’t find anyone to
give the award to. All the Buddhists they called kept saying they
didn’t want the award.
When asked why the Burmese Buddhist
community refused the award, Buddhist monk Bhante Ghurata Hanta said
from Burma, “We are grateful for the acknowledgement, but we give this
award to all humanity, for Buddha nature lies within each of us.”
Groehlichen went on to say “We’re going to keep calling around until we
find a Buddhist who will accept it. We’ll let you know when we do.”
Always visit:
http://www.upgov.nic.in/
Press Information Bureau (C.M. Information Campus) Information & Public Relations Department, U.P. C.M. orders magisterial enquiry into Amethi incident S.P. Sultanpur transferred and S.O. sent to Police Lines Lucknow: July 15, 2009 Taking serious note of hooliganism of Congress Party workers yesterday for power cut in Amethi, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has ordered for magisterial inquiry into this incident immediately. She has also ordered for the transfer of Sultanpur S.P. for not handling the situation properly and directed to send concerning S.O. to Police lines considering him responsible. Besides, she also directed to remove P.A.C. personnel posted on the spot on the day of incident recruiting it elsewhere. She has strongly criticised the persons who tried to disturb the law and order in Amethi. The Chief Minister said that stern action would be taken against the person found responsible to disturb law and order, whether he was affiliated to any political party or he was government employee. She said that her government knew very well to handle the situation of law and order. Ms. Mayawati said that present Government did not discriminate with any district or area, but Congress and B.J.P. always believed in the politics of discrimination due to vested political interests. She said that State Government never believed that politics should come in the way of development programmes and all decisions of her Government were being taken in transparent and impartial manner. The Chief Minister said that electricity problem was the outcome of earlier Central and State Governments. If Congress Party instead of doing gimmicks and drama had taken the development of the State seriously, then State would not have faced such a poor situation regarding development works and the people would not have forced to come on the streets for issues like power cut after the sixty years of independence. Ms. Mayawati said that Congress Party should ask for apology from the people for ignoring the development of the State and it should also accept that only negligible development took place in the State during its years of misrule and corruption prevailed in its regime. That was why the people of the State were still devoid of basic facilities. The Chief Minister said that her Government had taken several steps to solve the problem of electricity crisis despite its limited resources. The works started by State Government to end electricity crisis would provide results in two years and the people of the State would get rid of the problem of power cut forever, she added. ********* PN-15July,09(Prabhat)(Nain)-CM-Amethi
Chief Minister urges Finance Commission to increase share of states from net receipts of central taxes from existing 30.5 per cent to at least 50 per cent
Finance Commission should stick to Article 280(3) of the Constitution — Chief Minister Norms imposed by Central Government should not be binding: Mayawati
Population in 2001 be made basis of division of financial resources instead of population in 1971 : Mayawati
C.M. asks 13th Finance Commission to recommend Rs. 80,000 crore special package for development of Poorvanchal and Bundelkhand and backward areas
C.M. urges Finance Commission to make recommendation for special allocations to implement reforms in energy sector
Centre asked to arrange more funds for development of important religious places like Mathura, Varanasi, Vindhyachal, Ayodhya, Allahabad etc.
Chief Minister’s meeting with 13th Finance Commission Lucknow : July 15, 2009
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati, in the light of the serious problems faced by the State and also considering its huge requirements, has requested Finance Commission to increase the share of the states from the net receipts of central taxes from existing 30.5 per cent to at least 50 per cent. She said that there was a need to give highest importance to the objective of fulfilment of the actual needs of the states and removal of economic backwardness, while devolving financial resources between the States. She said that the States were facing huge challenges like general administration and development works and considering that the share of the States should be increased. She also requested to sanction Rs. 80,000 crore package recommended by the Samra Committee for drought-stricken Bundelkhand, flood-hit Poorvanchal and also for other backward areas of the State. Besides, considering the power crisis of the State, she also demanded special allotment from the Commission for implementing reforms in the energy sector.
The Chief Minister was holding discussions with the team of 13th Finance Commission led by its Chairman Dr. Vijay Kelkar at her 5- Kalidas Marg official residence here today. The other members of the team included Mr. B.K. Chaturvedi, Dr. Indira Rajaraman, Prof. Atul Sharma, Dr. Sanjiv Mishra and Secretary Mr. Sumit Bose. She said that the guiding principles of the Constitution and basic principle of ‘inclusive growth’ of the 11th Five Year Plan, which have been adopted as ‘Sarvajan Hitai, Sarvajan Sukhai’ by the Uttar Pradesh Government can be translated into reality if highest importance was given to fulfilment of the actual needs of the states and removal of economic backwardness, while deciding about the devolution of financial resources between the States. Referring to schemes like Savitri Bai Phule Shiksha Madad Yojna and Mahamaya Ashirwad Yojna introduced by the State Government for providing education to girls and also to check discrimination against them, the C.M. requested the Commission to provide special assistance for the education and health sector.
The Chief Minister said that ‘Disaster Mitigation Fund’ had been arranged at National, State and District levels to meet the challenges of natural calamities. Considering the necessary capital investment in it, the Central Government should contribute at least 75 per cent in the state level fund. She also requested the Finance Commission to set up a new ‘Disaster Mitigation Fund’ under Disaster Management Act.
Ms. Mayawati said that Central Government’s directive to take 1971 census as a basis for division of financial resources was a departure from reality. She emphasised that the population of U.P. (according to the 2001 census) should be taken into account by the Finance Commission. She said that the implementation of the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission had caused an annual burden of Rs. 6,000 crore on the state exchequer and about Rs. 13,500 crore are to be paid as arrears, which had caused financial imbalance. She said that the 50 per cent of this additional expenditure should be reimbursed by the Central resources.
Drawing the attention of the Commission towards the power crisis faced by the State, the Chief Minister said that the previous governments did not take any decision to ensure fresh investment in the energy sector and owing to it the power crisis deepened further. Besides, the Central Government had not taken any positive action, so far on the State’s request for providing additional power and resources from Central pool to deal with the situation. She said that the present government had prepared a detailed action plan to increase the power generation and improve its transmission and distribution. The work on it is going on at a quick pace. Under this scheme, the current power generation of 6600 M.W. would be enhanced to about 12,000 M.W. by the year 2012. Besides, action has been initiated on projects to create 32,000 M.W. power capacity in next five years and work on three projects would begin in this month itself. She also requested the Finance Commission to make recommendation for special allotment to implement reforms in the energy sector.
The Chief Minister apprised the Commission that there was a need to further expand and improve the quality of the services of education and medical sector for the development of the State. Therefore, the State Government has accorded top priority to both these sectors and necessary resources have been allocated for them. But, considering the limited resources available with the State, the cooperation of the Finance Commission was needed for these sectors. She said that the State Government had demanded a subsidy of Rs. 3,810 crore and Rs. 3,750 crore for education and medical sectors respectively. She also demanded Rs. 706.03 crore financial assistance for the construction of new building of Lucknow Bench of the High Court.
Ms. Mayawati said that a large number of devotees from within the country and from foreign countries visit important religious places like Mathura, Varanasi, Vindhyachal, Ayodhya, Allahabad etc. Though the State Government, for the first time, has sanctioned special amount for the development of these areas, but the Central Government should provide additional funds for the development of all these religious places.
Referring to the efforts made to improve the women literacy rate in the State, the Chief Minister said that the same had improved not less than by two-fold over the national average. Besides, the life expectancy of the people and the child mortality rate of the State had improved more than the national average, but we have to cover distance and for that more funds were required. The Chief Minister said that owing to large scale difference between the responsibilities, works and the rights to arrange resources, responsibility had been assigned to finance commission according to the provision of the Constitution for division and distribution of Central taxes between Federation and the States, but it was a matter of great concern for the States that the role of finance commission was gradually becoming less in this distribution. On the other hand, the ratio of transferring the resources to the States through the Union Ministries and the Planning Commission had been increased. Besides, the amount of centrally sponsored schemes on the subjects of State list was continuously increasing by Central Government according to their convenience. In this way, more and more resources of the State went for fulfilling the State share. As a result, on the one side, the States did not have the availability of resources for the programmes concerning their needs and priorities, while on the other side, the States were forced to make expenditure according to the intention and priority of the Central Government despite its limited resources.
The Chief Minister said that at the time of constituting Finance Commission, the Central Government directive that the Finance Commission would also keep in mind several other necessities of the Central Government including the necessities of expenditure of Central scheme at the time of giving recommendation, was not in accordance of law. She said that it was the responsibility of Central Government to make expenditure under central schemes on the head of central list and concurrent list, but the increasing expenditure of central schemes in the head of state list was not justified central responsibility. She requested to Finance Commission to consider on this serious subject essentially and recommend in this regard to a certain limit, otherwise the Constitutional intention would not be followed regarding Finance Commission. She said that for the transfer of financial resources of the States, the Constitution never thought of planning commission. She said the State Government was of the definite opinion that Finance Commission should give recommendations after examining in the limit of schedule 280 (3) of the Constitution. The norms symbolised otherwise by the Central Government could not be forced, she added. On this occasion, Cabinet Secretary Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh, Chief Secretary Mr. Atul Kumar Gupta, Additional Cabinet Secretary Mr. Vijay Shankar Pandey, IDC Mr. Anup Mishra, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Manjeet Singh, Principal Secretary Home Kunwar Fateh Bahadur, Principal Secretaries to C.M. Mr. Netram, Mr. Shailesh Krishna, Mr. J.N. Chamber, Mr. Ravindra Singh, Secretaries to C.M. Mr. Navneet Sahgal, Mr. Kamran Rizvi and D.G.P. Mr. Vikram Sigh were present, besides other senior officers.
Afterwards, the Cabinet Secretary Mr. Shashank Shekhar Singh while giving information regarding development programmes being run in the State in a meeting of senior officers held at Yojna Bhawan under the Chairmanship of the 13th Finance Commission member Mr. B.K. Chatturvedi, said that the progress of these programmes were hampered due to Lok Sabha elections. But targets of the development would be achieved in a time bound manner. He said that the government had given special emphasis on public-private partnership in development works in the State to ensure partnership of private sector in the process of development. The officers of Finance, Energy, Primary Education, Health and Home departments gave presentations in this meeting, after which Urban and Rural Local Bodies, Panchayati Raj department, representatives of industry associations and political parties also interacted with Finance Commission. **********
Innocent people should not be implicated in false cases Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home review progress of development works of Allahabad district
Lucknow : July 14, 2009
On the directives of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati, the Additional Cabinet Secretary Mr. Vijay Shankar Pandey and Principal Secretary Home Mr. Kunwar Fateh Bahadur visited Allahabad district today and directed the officers to bring constructive change in their functioning and work in an impartial manner. They said that the officers were public servants and they should respect the people. The Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home were reviewing the law and order and progress of development works of the district at the Allahabad Collectorate Auditorium today.
Both the senior officers directed the police officers to register every F.I.R. and ensure immediate action on it. They also directed the district officers to create such atmosphere at the thanas where people could make complaints directly without any fear sans the interference of a middleman. They said that the innocent people should not be implicated in the false cases. The morale of the criminals soared when wrong witnesses were presented in the Courts and they escaped trial easily, the senior officers pointed out.
Both the senior officers directed the S.D.Ms. that they should inspect all the thanas falling within their areas regularly and forward a report to the D.M. They also directed the police officers to visit villages and interior areas.
The Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home, while reviewing the progress of development works, directed all the district level officers to ensure that the benefit of the schemes was delivered to the needy. They also directed that the B.D.O. and other district level officers should visit rural areas and ensure that the eligible persons were selected for the schemes in a transparent manner. Directing the departments like — Education, Health, Rural and Urban Development and P.W.D. to improve their work system, they said that the 70 per cent of the budget was spent by these departments. Therefore, they should remain very cautious. They directed the officers to adhere to the office presence between 10 a.m. to 12 noon in their respective offices and listen to the woes of the people and dispose of their problems in an effective and qualitative manner.
The Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home inspected the development works being carried out at the Ambedkar village Andawan under the Bahadurpur development block of the district. They inspected the progress of Indira Awas, kharanja, drains, latrines, C.C. roads and underground drains. They also held Chaupal at the campus of the primary school of the village and verified the beneficiaries of various schemes. They directed the C.D.O. to verify the BPL, Antyodya and A.P.L. ration card holders and cancel those cards, which were found ineligible. Likewise, they also directed to verify beneficiaries of pension schemes. Both the officers also inspected Jhusi police station and inspected the records of the police station.
The Divisional Commissioner Mr. Umadhar Dwivedi, I.G. Zone Mr. Surya Kumar Shukla, D.M. Mr. Rajiv Agrawal and D.I.G. Mr. Chandra Prakash were present on the occasion. ****** Payment of labour charges under NREGA Scheme should be made through banks or post offices Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home review progress of development works and law and order of Baghpat district On the directives of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati, the Additional Cabinet Secretary Mr. Vijay Shankar Pandey and Principal Secretary Home Mr. Kunwar Fateh Bahadur visited Baghpat district today and directed the officers to bring constructive change in their working and perform their duties in an impartial manner. They said that the officers were public servants and they should respect the people. The Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home were reviewing the law and order and progress of development works of the district at the Baghpat Collectorate Auditorium today. They directed the police officers to register every F.I.R. and ensure immediate action on it. Both the senior officers of the Government directed the district officers to create such atmosphere at the thanas where people could interact directly without any fear sans the interference of a middleman.
The Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home said that the Government intends to provide justice to every affected person and the Tehsil and Thana Diwas were being organised with this purpose only.
Both the senior officers directed the S.D.Ms. that they should inspect all the thanas falling within their areas regularly and forward a report to the D.M. They directed the police officers to visit villages and interior areas as well and asked them to ensure that the harassment of women did not take place at any level and their complaints were attended on priority basis.
The Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home, while reviewing the progress of development works, directed all the district level officers to ensure that the benefit of the schemes was delivered to the needy. They also emphasised the need to maintain transparency in the selection of beneficiaries. They directed the officers to adhere to the office presence between 10 a.m. to 12 noon in their respective offices and listen to the woes of the people and dispose of their problems in an effective and qualitative manner. They said that the employees posted in the rural areas should night stay in their place of posting. They directed the departmental officers to visit rural areas to verify the schemes and ensure timely completion of development works according to the norms. They further directed the officers to make payment of labour charges under NREGA scheme through banks or post offices only.
The Additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary Home inspected the development works being carried out at the Ambedkar village Mehrampur under Khekra Tehsil of the district. Both the officers went around the village and assessed the various development works, besides holding Chaupal at primary school to verify the beneficiaries of various schemes. They ordered the district officers to get the boundary wall of the village pond constructed through NREGA scheme and place the serial numbers on the clean latrines constructed in the village. Both the officers also interacted with the beneficiaries of the Mahamaya Awas Yojna and Janani Suraksha Yojna and directed the chief medical officer (CMO) to ensure wide publicity of Janani Suraksha Yojna. They also inspected Khekra police station and directed the SP to ensure quick auction of vehicles parked in the police station premises.
The D.M. Mr. Mayur Maheswari and S.P. Mr. Deepak Kumar along with other officers were present on the occasion. ******
C.M. Grieved Lucknow: July 12, 2009 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has expressed profound grief over the sudden demise of senior I.A.S. officer Mr. Vinod Vihari Singh Vishven. In a condolence message, Ms. Mayawati said that Mr. Vishven was a hardworking and competent officer and always performed his duties with honesty and dedication. The Chief Minister has conveyed her deep sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family members of the deceased and prayed for peace to the departed soul. It may be recalled that Mr. Vishven, who was currently posted as Principal Secretary Forests, died of cardiac arrest here this morning. He was 54. ****** C.M. invites leaders of political parties to put constructive ideas before Finance Commission Team 13th Finance Commission on 3-day State visit from July 14 Lucknow : July 12, 2009 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has invited leaders of various political parties to put constructive ideas before the members of the team of 13th Finance Commission for economic and social development of the state. She has taken this initiative to plead for more and more share of central taxes and also to get more subsidy amount. It may be recalled that the Central Government would release allocations under these heads on the recommendations of Finance Commission. The Chief Minister requested the representatives of political parties to draw the attention of the members of the 13th Finance Commission that it should not assess State’s allocation on the basis of 1971 census, but on the basis of 2001 census. Ms. Mayawati also said that the representatives of political parties should plead with the Finance Commission that the Central Government should share 50 per cent of the burden caused by the implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. Besides, the share of the State from the actual receipts of the central taxes should be increased to 50 per cent, so that enough financial resources were available for the development of the State. The Chief Minister has also appealed to the representatives of the political parties to press for special packages for the flood-hit eastern U.P. and drought-hit Bundelkhand region. The eastern U.P. faces floods every year. She said that in the current perspective, the subsidy amount, being provided for strengthening the financial condition of the urban and rural local bodies, should be increased considerably. Therefore, the representatives of the political parties should raise these problems before the members of the Planning Commission and request to increase the funds. The Members of the 13th Finance Commission would visit Lucknow between 14 and 16 July. During this visit, they would interact with the representatives of various political parties at Yojna Bhawan on July 15. ******* Central Government should provide remaining Rs. 1012.04 crore to Uttar Pradesh under pre and post-tenth scholarship scheme for backward class students CM writes letter to PM in this connection Lucknow : July 11, 2009 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has requested to provide required amount from the Centre to the State Government for the scholarship of backward class students of the State. In a letter, written to Prime Minister, she said that the amount, which have to made available to the State Government by the Central Government according to guidelines was not being given since last two years. She said that it became clear that Central Government was ignoring 54 per cent backward caste students of the State like ST/ST people. She said that the State Government was providing scholarships of last financial year 2008-09 and current financial year 2009-10 to backward class students from its limited resources. Ms. Mayawati said that State Government was providing scholarships to backward class students according to the guidelines of Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. She said that for pre-tenth and post-tenth scholarship scheme, Govt. of India makes available 50 per cent and 100 per cent money respectively. Scholarships were being distributed to all eligible students by the State Government according to the norms fixed for these schemes. The Chief Minister said that it was a matter of regret that the required amount from the Central Government for these schemes according to the fixed guidelines of Union Government was not being made available to the State Government. She said that under pre-tenth scholarship scheme, an amount of Rs. 470.34 crore had been distributed by the State Government to 1,56,31,500 O.B.C. students in the year of 2008-09, for which State Government had to get Rs. 235.16 crore form Union Government as Central share. But only Rs. 8.95 crore had been made available by the Central Government under this head. Ms. Mayawati said that Rs. 226.21 crore were still to be received from the Central Government under the head of pre-tenth scholarship as Central share. She said that an amount of Rs. 242.21 crore was required for 1,61,00,000 students in the year of 2009-10. In this way, under pretenth scholarship scheme, a sum of Rs. 468.42 crore had to be given to the State Government as the remaining amount of 2008-09 and current financial year 2009-10. The Chief Minister has also written a letter to the Prime Minister drawing his attention towards the post-tenth scholarship scheme for backward class students in the State. She said that under this scheme, the State Government had distributed Rs. 135.88 crore to about 11,84,401 students in the year of 2008-09. She regretted that only Rs. 39.63 crore had been made available to the State Government by Union Government against the distributed amount. She said that Rs. 96.25 crore was due from Govt. of India as Central share and under the fees assistance head Rs. 151.49 crore as financial assistance had been given to the students. Ms. Mayawati said that under post-tenth scholarship scheme including fees assistance head, a sum of Rs. 247.74 crore was still to be made available to the State Government by the Union Government for 2008-09, which had been paid by the State Government by its limited financial resources. She said that about Rs. 139.95 crore as scholarship and Rs. 155.93 crore as fees assistance was required for 12,19,933 students in 2009-10 from Union Government. The Chief Minister said that an amount of Rs. 543.62 crore had to be made available to the State Government under post-tenth scholarship scheme including both financial years. Ms. Mayawati said that Prime Minister should direct the concerning ministry to make available a sum of Rs. 1012.04 crore to the State Government for pre-tenth and post-tenth scholarship scheme for the years of 2008-09 and 2009-10 for backward class students. *********** Orders to hand-over missing Ayodhya case documents to CBI Lucknow : July 10, 2009 The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati said that the State Government had taken seriously the missing of files pertaining to Sri Ram Janam Bhumi—Babri Masjid. She said that State Government had today ordered the Home Department to hand-over the inquiry of this case to C.B.I. The Chief Minister was addressing media persons at her official residence here today. Ms. Mayawati said that in the case of Sri Ram Janam Bhumi—Babri Masjid, the High Court had asked for the seven documents of 1949, which might had been in 23 files. But, the Home Department had the apprehension that the concerning files were with the then Officer On Special Duty, late Subhash Bhan Sadh. Unfortunately, the officer was killed in a train accident, when he was going to appear before the Liberhan Commission in the year of 2000. The Chief Minister said that these 23 files might have gone missing between 1991-2000. She said that during the time of accident BJP Government was ruling in the State. ******
Posting
this excellent , informative and analytical piece of article by Brother
Abhay Dongre for benefit of all those people who are blinded by the
seeds of hatred, ignorance, anger, jealousy and antipathy in their
minds towards the person who saved the Ambedkarite movement from being
swallowed by bramhnical Congress, Sahab Kanshiram - founder of DS-4,
BAMCEF and BSP. As editor of Mahanayak wrote in a recent editorial,
Kanshiram Sahab was that “alamast fakir” who
did not have money to buy a shirt but could run 22 weekly, fortnightly
news papers at a time, trying to take Babasaheb to every Dalit-Bahujan
Bastis and Adivasi Padas, across India.
What BSP and KanshiRam have done for the Untouchables
By Abhay Dongre
“Our
ultimate goal is to become the governing class to rule this country”.
Go and write this goal on the walls of your houses so that every day
you will remember it”. — Dr B. R. Ambedkar
Dear All Jaibhim
It gives me great pleasure and confidence while writing a sequel to my
earlier mail. The conspicuous silence of the learned readers specially
the so called hardcore Maharashtrian Ambedkarites raises serious doubts
in my mind whether we really want to become rulers of this country or
just continue enjoying slavery under the ruling class.
Born
on March 15, 1934 in a humble Raidasi Sikh (dalit) family in Khawaspur
village of Ropar district in Punjab , Kanshi Ram earned his B Sc degree
and joined the Explosive Research and Development Laboratory at Kirkee
near Pune. He protested on the Job because the Management refused to
grant “Holiday” on Ambedkar Jayanti. His contention was when there is a
declared holiday on each and every small festival, Gandhi Jayanti,
Tilak’s Birthday etc etc why not on the birth anniversary of the chief
architect of the Indian Constitution. He took a vow on that day that
“Jab tak main is desh se chutti dene walon ki chuttin nahi kar deta,
main chain se nahin baithunga”. He never rested afterwards.
He
worked initially with the RPI but was disillusioned by its working. He
founded ‘BAMCEF’, the All India Backwards and Minority communities
Employees Federation on dec-06, 1973 , with the aim of organizing the
backward and minority government employees for he knew that a mere
small percentage of scheduled castes cannot make the difference. He
also knew that any movement needs resources like time, money and brain
and the government employees could provide it all. He organized them
with an appeal to “pay back to the society” and many plunged into the
movement with missionary zeal which spread throughout the country
within short period of time. Incidentally many among them were
Maharashtrian Ambedkarites from areas nearby Nagpur who supported
KanshiRam right from the beginning of his Movement.
The
creative genius of KanshiRam can be seen by the names he coined to the
various organizations like ‘BAMCEF’, DS-4( Dalit Shoshit Samaj
Sangharsh Samiti) or the catchy slogans like ” Jiski Jitni Sankhya
Bhari Uski utni Bahagidari”. His idea of Bahujan, a effective and well
thought strategy to organize around 6000 castes in India dominated by
the evil effects of Brahminism since thousands of years can be
attributed as one of the most Pioneering and Novel idea of the
millennium. He set an example of selflessness, sacrifice,
simplicity and devotion in public life.He took a oath to remain a
bachelor and to never visit his village until his mission to free the
oppressed and marginalized India from the clutches of ruling class is
fulfilled. He formed DS-4 in 1981 and within three years transformed it
into a full fledged political party ” BSP” -Bahujan Samaj Party with
Elephant as symbol, on 14th April i.e. Ambedkar’s Birthday with a
slogan ” Vote Hamara Raj Tumhara-Nahin Chalega Nahin Chalega”
Starting
with a very few seats in UP Assembly and Loksabha the BSP formed its
government in Uttar Pradesh, for the fourth time. The most populous
state of India, almost equal to six European nations, the state which
has given maximum Number of Prime Ministers to this country and about
which is said that the road to Parliament i.e. New Delhi passes through
the state of UP has the political heir of KanshiRam, the Iron
Lady-Mayawati as the chief Minister. He spread the awareness about the
evil effects of “Pune Pact” which gave rise to the ” Chamcha Yug”. The
master strategist himself KanshiRam was the most sought politician in
India even when he openly accused the two mainstream political parties,
the congress and BJP as Sapnath and Nagnath. His extraordinary
organizational capabilities and one man command safeguarded the party
from internal splits and also insulated it from outsider horse trading.
Still if somebody left the party his reaction was “Jis kisine BSP
chodin hain ya BSP ke sath Gaddari ki hain, usne kabhin dubara sansad
ya vidhansabha ka muh nahin dekha hain”.
While
Dr Ambedkar wrote ” Who were the shudras”, “What congress and Gandhi
have done to the untouchables” ” Annihilation of Castes” and volumes of
books, KanshiRam translated Ambedkarism into workable philosophy
through appropriate strategies and tactics and built the powerful ‘BSP’
the third largest national political party in India. If KanshiRam was
not born Ambedkarism would have been rotting in the Bookshelves of so
called Ambedkarite Literates, dalit poets, scholars and bunch of high
class babus who after taking the benefit of reservation given by
Ambedkar feel shy of even disclosing their identity of being a
scheduled caste. While the Ambedkarites in Maharashtra stored, read and
wrote tonnes of books on Ambedkar, KanshiRam effectively spread the
idea of Ambedkarism throughout India.
KanshiRam
Said “I will not merely sit quite in anticipation that some day or the
other caste will be annihilated automatically; but as long as the
“caste” is alive, I will continue to use it in the interest of my
society”. He successfully used the caste weapon earlier used by upper
castes in favour of oppressed castes. His idea behind the formation is
ample clear from his observation” What is more important? To become
MLA/MP or to run the movement of Babasaheb? According to me it was
more important to run the movement of Babasaheb than to become MLA/MP.
Therefore I chose to run the movement. For a moment a thought came to
my mind that to run the movement effectively we should make our people
MLAs/MPs. But the important question was which is the party that will
give us MLAs/MPs who will also run the movement of Babasahab. After a
lot of thought I reached to a conclusion that such MLAs/MPs can be
elected only through our own party.”
The Maharashtrian Ambedkarites:
While the people in Maharashtra fought around 25 years to rename a
university in Dr Ambedkar’s Name, the BSP By capturing the power in UP
has formed not just one university but many universities for which the
people from Maharashtra have been fighting for long time like Shahu
Maharaj university at Kanpur, In 1996 Mahatma Phule university and Dr
Babasaheb Ambedkar university. Apart from this it acquired 200 acre
land at Noida for Gautam Buddha Univesity. It created 17 new districts
to fasten the process of development and more importantly to honour our
heroes by giving their names to these newly formed districts. He
said “I have learned a lot from the people from Maharashtra. I have
learned a half lesson for running the Ambedkari movement from Dr
Babasaheb Ambedkar. The other half lesson I have learnt from the Mahars
of Maharashtra. I have learnt from Babasahab how to run the movement.
And from Mahars of Maharashtra I have learned how not to run the
movement. To successfully run any movement it is not only sufficient to
know how to run the movement but also it is necessary to know how not
to run the movement. If you do not know how not to run the movement
then you will never be able to know how to run it”. He
said “Now I consider it my responsibility to empower my people so that
they will not ask for reservations but they will become capable to give
reservations to others. It is easy to understand and say this thing but
it is not easy to make it happen. Who is capable of giving
reservations? Only the ruling class of people can give reservations to
others. Even to enable your own society capable of reaping the benefits
and to protect their interests, you have to become a ruling class.
Therefore we have to prepare ourselves in the direction of becoming a
ruling class in India. We have to become the rulers. It is the solution
on most of our problems”. Today the UP government of BSP is
capable of giving reservations not only to scheduled castes but also to
economically weaker upper castes thereby completely shutting up the
mouths of those talking about economic criteria etc against
reservation.
The
Historic “The new Reservation initiatives” and Public Private
Partnership in which UP government is the first in India to implement
reservation in private sector. A full page Advertisement in all
newspapers was enough to send strong signals to the industry and centre
that the day is not far when everybody has to follow it. Also when
psu’s can be privatized it can also happen vice-versa when BSP comes to
power at centre. While the RPI has been demanding reservation in
private sector since 1974 with no cognizance being given to its demand
and ironically more and more public sector undertakings being
privatized, it continued to share power with congress. This write
up shall be too long to cover all the extraordinary measures taken by
Mayawati in the short span of 10 months. Those ill informed
Ambedkarites accusing her of sacrificing the interests of Scheduled
castes should carefully see the historic decision of creating 1 lakh
jobs for Valmiky Community in each village. A bold decision to refuse
Reliance Retail’s outlets in UP which no other state government could
afford to take is a strong signal to capitalists that nothing can be
allowed which leads to poor becoming more poor and rich becoming more
wealthier. While
in the 1972 Loksabha elections RPI leader Shri Dadasaheb Gaikawad had a
meeting with Mohan Dharia of Congress at Pune for a seat sharing
agreement. The outcome of the meeting was 425:1 i.e. 425 Congress and
RPI-1 “YUTI JHALI”. Today BSP has the power to dictate its terms be it
for any cause and even the first woman president of India could not
have been selected without the support of BSP. Today there is a beeline
of candidates from all castes, religions, sects for BSP tickets and the
presence of its cadres and supporters can be seen right from Kashmir to
Kanyakumari.
The Iron Lady:
The BSP and Movement started by KanshiRam has given to the untouchables
‘Mayawati’ the iron lady, the fourth time CM of India’s most populace
State, the title of most Powerful political leader of the times much
ahead of Sonia Gandhi, L.K.Advani, Vajpaye, Bal Thackrey etc etc. The
full majority government of BSP in UP today has become a model of good
governance and effective leadership working for ‘Sarvajan Hitay and
Sarvajan Sukhay” One has to salute the BSP leadership for its
meticulous mobilization of different castes and religious groups. That
is why 64 Dalits, 54 OBCs, 29 Muslims, 21 Brahmins, 18 Thakurs, even
few Vaishyas have won from BSP ticket. We should be proud of the fact
that we are witness to a historical process in which a political party
led and dominated by the Dalits has come to power on in its own,
without the support of a mainstream party. With complete media, the
Superstars, the capitalists, the industrialists on one side and single
lady with organization and leadership skills on other side, Mayawati
shocked everyone when results of 2007 elections were declared. While
other parties had booklets of Manifesto’s running into pages, BSP had
no Manifesto. Her
firm belief is that a “Samta-Mulak Samaj” (a society based on equality
– politically, socially, and economically) can be established when
there will be “proportionate empowerment. ” International Magazine
from US ‘NewsWeek’ ranked Mayawati among top eight women leaders
worldwide who have reached the top despite all odds. A national daily
in India recently placed Mayawati as the most powerful politician in
India much above Advani and Sonia Gandhi and as everyone knows none of
the newspaper is controlled by BSP nor any it has control over any TV
channel. The BSP is always media averse. Yet there are TV channels,
newspapers surveys ranking her as No-1 or so with many even projecting
her as Prime Minister of India. Even the International Media has taken
the cognizance of the growing power of a lady from an Untouchable
caste. The Critics:
KanshiRam himself never bothered about his critics and as a matter of
fact,all political parties essentially did the same but they feigned
decency and decorum. What they did surreptitiously, KanshiRam did
openly and thus exposed the prevailing double standards in politics. It
is interesting to note the people who accused him of political
opportunism and unreliability repeatedly sought alliances with him even
after his alleged misdemeanor. Those accusing Mayawati of forging an
alliance with Brahmins need to revisit the blueprint of RPI which
Babasaheb himself prepared, the number of Brahmin leaders he worked
with and those who showed willingness to join his political party. “According
to the constitution of RPI the party was not tied to any particular
dogma or ideology such as communism or socialism, Gandhism or any other
ism. The party was prepared to adopt any plan of social and economic
betterment of the people irrespective of its origin and provided it is
consistent with its principles. Its outlook is not purely rational and
modern but also empiricist and academic”. Moreover one can very well
see that it is not the dalits in UP who were touching the feet of
Brahmins, it were the Brahmin MLA’s and leaders who are in a race and
queuing up to touch the feet of Iron Lady.
The Leaders from other Parties:
While the Congress has the largest number of Scheduled Caste leaders at
present right from daughter of Jagjivan Ram miss Meira Kumar, Mata
Prasad, Sushil Kumar Shinde etc, there is Ramvilas Paswan who is always
with any ruling party provided he is made a minister, Bangaroo Laxman
in BJP etc. None of these leaders have been honest enough to address
the problems faced by untouchables.
The grand historic rally
of Mayawati at Shivajipark, Dadar has certainly sent shockwaves across
the untouchable agents of congress who still continue to use
Ambedkarite movement as their source of livelihood.
The Maharashtrian
Ambedkarites wanted the Sun to rise; there is no doubt about that, but
they wished that the Sun should rise after hearing the sound of their
cock. As the Sun rose in Uttar Pradesh, without hearing the voice of
cock from Maharashtra, the people from Maharashtra pretended that there
is no sunrise.
The organisations like “BAMCEF” started by
KanshiRam have also split into various groups. While there seems to be
no reason for BAMCEF to be headed by different leaders to exist when
the original one is still giving direct results. Here again come into
picture the Maharashtrian Ambedkarites who also happen to head the two
main factions of BAMCEF. While one faction organized the statewise
conference in Maharashtra with a topic dedicated to challenge the BSP’s
strategy of forming an alliance with Brahmins the other aims at
creating a pressure group or force which shall come on streets. The
former faced the wrath of a dynamic dalit Beauracrat in Mumbai who
termed them as “Intellectually Bankrupt”. Confusing the already
confused minds? Those questioning Mayawati arrange conferences with
topics as “Belagam hoti Nyayapalika ko Lagam Kaise Lagayi Jain? Don’t
they know that it is the Parliament and the elected representatives who
can stop the judicial activism?
With
every TOM DICK AND HARRY questioning Mayawati, the grassroot BSP and
BAMCEF cadres of KanshiRam and Mayawati are busy preparing for
Mission-2009 when they wish to see Mayawati as the first Dalit Prime
Minister of world’s largest democracy.
One thing is sure that
the BSP, KanshiRam and Mayawati have raised a ray of hope in millions
of suppressed and marginalized sections of the society that there is at
least one party which can make a difference in their lives. Whether the
formula used by BSP is called “Social Engineering or Social
Transformation” , whether the critics call it caste politics which each
and every political party does in India, the dalits in India cannot
afford to miss this historical opportunity. As a journalist from south
rightly pointed “The question is not what Mayawati can do for dalits,
but what dalits can do for themselves when she is around”.
Jaibhim and Regards Abhay Madhukar Dongre.
References: Some information has been taken in verbatim from the articles of the following. I express my acknowledgement to them.
1) KanshiRamji’ s Historic Qulalumpur speech. 2) On the Threshold of Social Democracy-Kumari Mayawati. 3) Mayawati’s Social Engineering or Social Transformation- Dr K.Jamnadas. 4) BSP’s Victory is Democratic Win-Prof Dr Vivek Kumar, JNU. 5) An Enigma Called KanshiRam- Dr Anand Teltumbde. 6) A Mayawi Revolution-Dr Anand Teltumbde. 7) On
Judging Mayawati- ChittiBabu Padavala. 8) Kanshi Ram Expertise in using Caste Weapon
Lucknow:
Continuing the verbal sparring with the Congress, Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Mayawati Saturday hit out at Congress general secretary Rahul
Gandhi for criticising her government and said the Congress should
“first set its own house in order before accusing others”.
Gandhi’s support for state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who was
arrested and sent to judicial custody for her remarks against the chief
minister, has infuriated Mayawati further.
“It would have been better if Rahul had commented on the ‘pavitra’
(holy) book in which Joshi has made disparaging remarks against senior
Congress leaders,” she said.
The book “Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna”, co-authored by Joshi and on the
life of her father who was a chief minister, reportedly has passages
attacking late prime minister Indira Gandhi and other Congress leaders.
Targeting “yuvraj” (prince) Gandhi for criticising the state’s
development, Mayawati said: “After independence, the Congress ruled
Uttar Pradesh for nearly 40 years, but in terms of development we have
done much more than the Congress in our two years.
“In terms of carrying out development in the state, Congress is far
behind than BSP. It is to be noticed that owing to lack of development
in the state, large-scale migration had taken place from Uttar Pradesh
when the Congress ruled the state, as there was no development here.”
While Rahul Gandhi Friday asked his party workers to work for the poor,
Mayawati said: “The Congress in Uttar Pradesh has just failed to work
as per the expectations of the public. Bet it Muslims, Dalits, people
from backward classes or the poor from upper castes… the Congress has
not bothered to work seriously (to improve) their living standards.”
Gandhi had accused the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government of
diverting developmental funds for setting up memorials to Mayawati. She
replied: “I want to ask the Congress leaders whether they have not
built memorials in memory of their leaders.
“The amount spent by BSP government on parks and statues is far less
than that spent on Rajghat in Delhi,” she said, referring to the
memorial for Mahatma Gandhi.
Accusing the Congress of “buying votes” of the poor to win elections,
Mayawati said: “By accepting huge amounts of money (from corporates),
the Congress drafts policies in their favour and then uses the money to
lure poor people.
“The Congress (-led central government) recently hiked petrol and
diesel prices just to recover the money it spent on buying votes.”
Mayawati announced a nationwide campaign against the policies of the Congress-lead central government from July 22.
Commenting on the BSP’s outside support to the Congress-led government,
she said: “We will continue to support the central government, but the
Congress high command should keep a strict vigil on some of its leaders
and others who are spreading false rumours in this regard.”
She indicated Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh and Samajwadi
Party general secretary Amar Singh could be the ones behind the
rumours.
“We gave support to the Congress only to keep the communal forces from
power and also to keep a check on those parties that could blackmail it
in lieu of their support.”
Mayawati blamed the Congress for power shortage in the state and said
efforts were on to solve the crisis. “If all goes well, by 2014 people
in the state will permanently get rid of power cuts.”
BSP
Chief Mayawati has added yet another chapter to her ongoing feud with the
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. Speaking at a media gathering to
outline the progress the BSP has made in the last two years, Mayawati said her
party had done more for Uttar Pradesh than the Congress could ever hope to
accomplish.
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dubbed her
government as “non-operational”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on
Saturday (July 18) hit back accusing the UPA government of being responsible for
the state’s dismal power scenario and released a “white paper” on the
issue.
Answering Rahul’s dig at installation of statues and memorials
by her government, she claimed the money spent for them had not affected
development work and the expenditure for these constructions was just a
“fraction” of what was spent for Raj Ghat, memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, in
Delhi.
On the charge of lack of development specially those levelled
by Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati told reporters in Lucknow that she has asked her
officials to send a copy of a booklet containing details of development works
undertaken by her govenment to all Congress MP’s and MLA’s starting from
“the
prince of Congress”.
“After reading this booklet, Rahul
Gandhi, instead of blaming BSP, would start blaming Congress, though in his
heart”, she said.
The white paper on power titled “Who is
responsible for the poor and dismal power situation in Uttar Pradesh” has
“stated facts proving how Congress and leaders of other parties were taking
recourse in lies to tarnish the image of the state governemnt”, Mayawati
said.
“The white paper would also prove how the neglect by the
previous and present UPA governemnt has led to this acute power problem today,”
Mayawati said.
“We face the charge that industrial houses do not
come to Uttar Pradesh ..who would come when the power situation is so bad?….
but after 2014 when we have enough power indistries would come to the state, she
said and asked Congress not to take the “help of lies for political purposes as
it would not
not go a long way”.
The chief minister claimed her
two-year old government has undertaken more development works than those taken
up by successive Congress governments in the past 40 years and the booklet has a
detailed account of all.
She rejected the allegation that
development funds are being diverted for setting up memorials, statues and parks
saying no work has been halted because of these constructions.
“Moreover, the spendings on these constructions is just a fraction
of the money that has been spent for the memorials on Raj Ghat in Delhi but the
hue and cry by Congress in UP over the subject is just reflective of its double
standards and anti- SC/ST mentality”, she said.
The BSP president
also said it was “continued neglect” of SC/STs, OBCs minorities and the poor
among the upper castes during the long tenure of Congress governemnts both at
the Centre and the state which forced the formation of BSP in 1984.
According to the Previous
Teachings of the Chan Masters
[Chanlin Baoxun], Chan
Master Mingjiao Qusong of the Song
Dynasty once made the
following analogy: If a person is
Compared to the
tyrants Lie, Zhou, Li and You, that person
Would be angry; but
if one is compared to Boyi or Shuqu,
Then one would be happy. Jie and Zhou, harsh
as they were,
Were still the
people’s kings. Then why would one be upset
With this comparison?
On the contrary, Boyi and Shuqi were
Made paupers. Why
would one be happy being compared
To them? The answer
lies in the difference between having
Or not having
morality. It is exactly as the Collective Sutra on
SixPerfections [Liu Du Ji Jing] describes: “I’d
rather hew to
The way and die in
poverty tha be born with wealth and
never do anything
moral.
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON 4
Declension of Neuter Gender (Nouns
ending in a)
VibhattiEkavacanBahuvacana
1. Pathamaaṁā, āni
2. Dutiyāaṁe, āni
3. Tatiyāenaebhi, ehi
4. Catuṭṭhiassa,
ayāānam
5.
Pancamiā, asmā, amhā, toebhi, ehi
6. Chaṭṭhiassaānaṁ
7.
Sattamie, asmiṁ, amhiesu
8. ālapanaaā, āni
For
example: Phala = Fruit
VibhattiEkavacanBahuvacana
PathamaPhalaṁPhalā, Phalāni
DutiyāPhalaṁPhale, Phalāni
TatiyāPhanenaPhalebhi, Phalehi
CatuṭṭhiPhalassa, PhalāyaPhalānaṁ
PancamiPhalā, Phalasmā,Phalebhi,
Phalehi
Phalamha, Phalato
ChaṭṭhiPhalassaPhalānaṁ
SattamiPhale, Phalasmiṁ,Phalesu
Phalamhi
ālapanaPhalaPhalā,
Phalāni
Vocabulary:
The
following words are similarly declines:
Dāna –
gift, offeringUdaka =
water
Samyojana
= fetterRūpa = form,
matter
Dhana =
wealthPuppa =
flower
Susan =
cemeterycitta = mind
Pitha =
chairSila =
moral precept, virtue
Khira =
milkNagara =
city
Cetya =
shrinePuñna =
good, merit
Arañña = forestHadya
= heart
Tina = grassBala = power, force, strength
Chatta = umbrellaSukha = happinessa
Pāpa = evil, demeritSacca
= truth
Bhaya =
fearVattha =
cloth
Paduma =
lotusDukkha =
suffering, pain, misery
Paṇṇa = leafñāṇa = knowledge, wisdom
Ratna =
gemMukha =
face
Cattāi =
fourTapemi =
I place
Tini =
threeEka =
one
Mana =
mindBija = seed
Vācā =
speechDasa = ten
Kāya =
bodyAmata =
deathless
Kamma =
action, deedPanca
= five
Mama =
mySabbadā =
always
Amhākaṁ = ours, to usLokavidū = Knower of the worlds
Nadhu =
honeyKathaṁ = how
UP CM and BSP Supremo Mayawati strikes back, hits out at Rahul baba
Published on Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 21:12
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday hit out at Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for criticising her government and said the Congress should “first set its own house in order before accusing others”.
Gandhi’s support for state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi,
who was arrested and sent to judicial custody for her remarks against
the chief minister, has infuriated Mayawati further. A court on
Saturday released Joshi on interim bail till July 29.
“It would have been better if Rahul had commented on the pavitra (holy) book in which Joshi has made disparaging remarks against senior Congress leaders,” she said.
The book Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna,
co-authored by Joshi and on the life of her father who was a chief
minister, reportedly has passages attacking late prime minister Indira Gandhi and other Congress leaders.
Targeting “yuvraj”
(prince) Gandhi for criticising the state’s development, Mayawati said:
“After independence, the Congress ruled Uttar Pradesh for nearly 40
years, but in terms of development we have done much more than the
Congress in our two years
“In terms of carrying out
development in the state, Congress is far behind than BSP. It is to be
noticed that owing to lack of development in the state, large-scale
migration had taken place from Uttar Pradesh when the Congress ruled
the state, as there was no development here.”
While Rahul Gandhi
Friday asked his party workers to work for the poor, Mayawati said:
“The Congress in Uttar Pradesh has just failed to work as per the
expectations of the public. Bet it Muslims, Dalits, people from
backward classes or the poor from upper castes… the Congress has not
bothered to work seriously (to improve) their living standards.”
Gandhi had accused the Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP) government of diverting developmental funds for setting up
memorials to Mayawati. She replied: “I want to ask the Congress leaders
whether they have not built memorials in memory of their leaders.
“The amount spent by
BSP government on parks and statues is far less than that spent on
Rajghat in Delhi,” she said, referring to the memorial for Mahatma
Gandhi.
Accusing the Congress
of “buying votes” of the poor to win elections, Mayawati said: “By
accepting huge amounts of money (from corporates), the Congress drafts
policies in their favour and then uses the money to lure poor people.
“The Congress (-led
central government) recently hiked petrol and diesel prices just to
recover the money it spent on buying votes.”
Mayawati announced a nationwide campaign against the policies of the Congress-lead central government from July 22.
Commenting on the
BSP’s outside support to the Congress-led government, she said: “We
will continue to support the Central government, but the Congress high
command should keep a strict vigil on some of its leaders and others
who are spreading false rumours in this regard.”
“We gave support to
the Congress only to keep the communal forces from power and also to
keep a check on those parties that could blackmail it in lieu of their
support.”
Mayawati blamed the
Congress for power shortage in the state and said efforts were on to
solve the crisis. “If all goes well, by 2014 people in the state will
permanently get rid of power cuts.”
Mayawati warns Congress
Atiq Khan
Says UPCC chief has to face the consequences for misdemeanour
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday warned the Congress that attempts to disturb the peace or a repeat of the Lucknow-type incident of arson would invite strict action from her government.
The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo also made it clear that the Rita Bahuguna Joshi episode was not over, notwithstanding the regrets expressed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president’s derogatory remarks. The Chief Minister said Ms. Joshi would have to face the consequences for her misdemeanour.
Ms. Joshi could not be condoned for the insulting and despicable remarks, Ms. Mayawati said. She indicated that the cases registered against Ms. Joshi would not be withdrawn and the law would take its course.
Equating the UPCC chief’s case with that of Varun Gandhi’s, the Chief Minister said it was possible that she would be bailed out, but that would not lessen her crime. “She will be punished according to the law of the land,” Ms. Mayawati told journalists here.
In Congress circles, the Chief Minister’s observations is seen as an indication that the State government is preparing to book Ms. Joshi under the National Security Act as in Mr. Gandhi’s case.
Different views
Ms. Mayawati said political parties having different views were an indelible part of democracy. But indecent and incomprehensible remarks were undemocratic. The Congress in particular should take this seriously, she said.
The Chief Minister said had the BSP workers not been stopped by her on Wednesday when Ms. Joshi made the remarks, the entire country would have been brought to a halt and the Congressmen would be running for cover.
A serious law and order situation would have been created in Uttar Pradesh and in the country with the possibility of internal emergency being declared, she said.
July 17, 2009 World Briefing | Asia India: Politician Arrested Over Remark By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A leading politician of the governing Congress Party was arrested Thursday and her house set on fire by activists after critics say she suggested that a rival leader be raped. Ms. Joshi said the women should “throw the money at Mayawati’s face and tell her, ‘You should also be raped, and I will give you 10 million rupees,’ ” about $210,000.
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said on Friday that she
prevented Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers across India from
“reacting violently” to the state Congress chief’s remarks which she felt were
insulting to her as a woman and a Dalit.
“I can assure you that if my party members had come out on the streets
across the country to express their anger against (Rita Bahuguna
Joshi), there would have been anarchy everywhere,” Maywati told
reporters here.
Joshi, the Uttar Pradesh Congress president, was arrested late
Wednesday and jailed for giving a speech against Mayawati and charged
under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act.
The BSP denied its involvement in the arson.
“If I had not restrained my party members from reacting violently to
Joshi’s remarks, the entire country would have been on the boil. The
Congress should be grateful to me for that.
“I can tell you for sure that but for me, the law and order situation
would have worsened to a stage where the central government would have
been compelled to impose President’s Rule in all states,” she said.
Thanking all political parties for condemning Joshi’s remarks,
Mayawati said: “I was surprised that initially Congress president
Sonia Gandhi did not tender an apology. It was only on second
thoughts, after she realised that many MPs had disapproved of Joshi’s
remarks, that Sonia expressed her regret.
“I do not mind healthy criticism but use of un-parliamentary, obscene
and derogatory remarks cannot be condoned,” she said. “It is high time
the Congress party realises that and tells its leaders and workers to
behave.
“Joshi’s act was unpardonable and the law will take its course. Like
Varun Gandhi, she may also get bail but I am sure that sooner or later
she will definitely get punished,” Mayawati added.
19:23 HRS IST
Chandigarh, July 17 (PTI) The National Commission for Scheduled Castes
today refused to comment on the controversy over alleged derogatory
remarks by UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi against Uttar Pradesh
Chief minister Mayawati by saying the matter was subjudice and it
cannot intervene.
“I cannot comment on this issue as the matter is subjudice and we
cannot interfere,” Commission’s chairman Buta Singh told reporters
here when he was asked about what action the Commission can take in
the matter.
Referring to the case involving BKU leader Mahendra Singh Tikait
passing remarks against Mayawati last year, Singh said “In this case
we immediately intervened well before the issue went to court and
asked Tikait to tender an unconditional apology which he did.
UP Congress chief’s remarks against Mayawati spark all-out caste battle Sunita Aron, Hindustan Times
Moradabad, July 17, 2009 First Published: 01:38 IST(17/7/2009) Last Updated: 02:53 IST(17/7/2009)
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s remarks against state chief minister Mayawati on Wednesday evening have ballooned into a major political battle for the SC/ST and Brahmin vote banks.
It took a violent turn within hours when Joshi’s house in Lucknow was set on fire late on Wednesday night.
In the speech at Moradabad, 150 km west of Delhi, Joshi, 60, daughter of former UP chief minister H.N. Bahuguna, said: .. You should throw this money at Mayawati’s face and tell her that if she is raped, I will pay her Rs 1-crore compensation.”
The Congress quickly distanced itself from the comment.
“Whatever happened in UP is very unfortunate. The Congress president has expressed her deep pain and anguish,” said spokesman Janardan Dwivedi. “Joshi could have expressed herself without using the words she did,” he said.
But the uncalled for provocation gave Mayawati, whose core SC/ST vote bank had moved partially to the Congress in the recent Lok Sabha elections, just the opportunity she needed to win some of it back.
She started by having Joshi arrested later on Wednesday night in Ghaziabad for her remarks.
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Thursday, Mayawati used Joshi’s comment to attack Sonia Gandhi.
“The Congress has not taken any action against Joshi. This indicates that what she said was at the instigation of Sonia Gandhi,” Mayawati said.
Mayawati, however, condemned the attack on Joshi’s house. “BSP workers were not involved,” she said, adding Congressmen may have been behind the attack.
Joshi’s fate now hangs in balance, but Sonia will decide after hearing her version of the story.
The Congress president has also reportedly asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal to make a statement on the issue in Parliament. The UP issue, which derailed proceedings on Thursday, is likely to come up again on Friday.
“The Congress stands for the highest standards in public debates… the party regrets the personal element” in Bahuguna Joshi’s remarks on Mayawati, read a carefully drafted press statement issued by the party, which alternated between offence and defence.
It is hoping that its efforts at controlling the damage, along with Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s aggressive wooing of SC/ST, will control the fallout from the UPCC chief’s gaffe.
Meanwhile, a section of UP Congressmen are hoping for a double bonanza. They are counting on sympathy for Joshi among Brahmins (she is one) to hasten the consolidation of the Brahmin vote behind the party. The Brahmin vote is currently split between the Congress, BSP and BJP.
This no-holds barred political battle is expected to get more intense.
Female Indian politician arrested for rape comment By VIJAY JOSHI (AP) – 20 hours ago
NEW DELHI — It was supposed to be the high point of her speech — to applause from her audience, a leading member of India’s ruling Congress Party suggested that a rival leader be raped.
The remark by Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Wednesday drew outrage: within hours her house was burned down by protesters. On Thursday, she was put behind bars for 14 days pending investigations.
Joshi’s comments — targeting Uttar Pradesh state’s chief executive Mayawati who uses only one name — may have been meant to score political points. But it took on casteist color as she was arrested for insulting a person of lower-caste, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in jail, in addition to a minor charge of “insulting a woman’s modesty.”
The charge demonstrates that deep divisions remain entrenched in modern India — on the basis of caste, religion, language and even physical features — even as it tries to claim a high place on the world economic stage.
Joshi, a 60-year-old veteran who belongs to the top Brahmin caste.
“throw the money at Mayawati’s face and tell her ‘you should also be raped, and I will give you 10 million rupees ($210,000),’” she said. The speech was broadcast by several television networks.
Mayawati heads the Bahujan Samaj Party that draws its support from members of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of Jambudvipa, that is the Great Prabuddha Bharath (SC/STs) who for centuries have been treated with disdain and contempt by the upper three castes, but more so by Brahmins.
A historically disadvantaged people, the SC/STs have gained enormous political clout in recent years by banding together during elections and voting along caste lines. The strategy brought Mayawati to power in Uttar Pradesh in May 2007.
Kumari, the social scientist, noted that politicians have increasingly used caste as an easy way to garner votes.
“Politics of caste is being reinforced continuously. It is harming the society by polarizing it, dividing it,” she said.
“It works at counter-purposes in a democratic society. … It is breaking the society from within,” said Kumari, the director of the New Delhi-based Center for Social Research that mostly handles women’s issues.
Mayawati called Joshi’s comments “extremely objectionable and vulgar.”
On Thursday, police arrested five people for allegedly setting fire to Joshi’s house and four cars. Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal said the five were “hoodlums” and not connected to any political party.
Brinda Karat New Delhi, July 16: Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s alleged comments against Mayavati are unacceptable.
Joshi, the Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, has been arrested on the charges of violating a woman’s modesty and under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for comments allegedly made at a public rally in Moradabad yesterday.
Joshi is accused of saying: “ throw the money back at Mayavati’s face. When Mayavati gets raped, I will pay her Rs 1 crore,”
“If she has made the comments she is accused of having made, it is completely unacceptable.
Syeda Hameed, Planning Commission member in charge of women and children, agreed that compensation was no substitute for security. Hameed said.
CPM leader Brinda Karat too said Joshi’s (alleged) remark was unfortunate.
“A woman has made such a comment on a women-sensitive issue. Women leaders should not be making such comments and should be sensitive to the issue of rape,” Karat said.
“We condemn Joshi’s statement.” CPI leader D. Raja said.
By looking to play on the controversial statement from Bahuguna Joshi,
BSP has made the most visible attempt to refurbish its image as a SC/STs
outfit which, insiders feel, had dimmed in the high-pitched
`sarvjan’ slogan post-assembly polls.
The case against Bahuguna Joshi is a perfect way to round off the new
gambit. The bringing to fore of her SC/ST identity and an attack on
Congress’s anti-SC/STs mindset is likely to intensify in coming days
when BSP takes on the lead UPA player.
If Mayawati is reverting to the old slogan and Congress is wary, the
reasons on Thursday were not far to seek.
AICC’s fears were governed by the threat of Mayawati consolidating her
grip on SC/STs just when they saw a hope.
Tikait’s case is significant. Mayawati, when she booked the Jat leader
and virtually sent an army to arrest him, was still enjoying a
honeymoon with voters, less than a year in the CM’s office. She had
aimed to tame Jats in the sensitive Jat-Jatav equations of western UP.
And she did appear successful.
The trouble started when the year leading to the LS polls coincided
with an erosion of faith in her governance. Congress, RLD and SP were
quick to tap the sentiment and dent a social consolidation in BSP’s
favour. Her hopes of `sarvjan’ were dashed.
Now, she is only hoping to consolidate SC/STs. The bar set this time
is low as the target audience is her old supportbase crafted by Kanshi
Ram. It is more likely to be successful but would at best fetch her a
votebase which kept BSP a party of around 90 MLAs, a far cry from the
206 of 2007.
No wonder, with BJP downhill, and upper castes and Muslims restive,
Congress is eager not to take a wrong step. The anxiety to rebuff
Bahuguna Joshi is triggered by the hope it sees from BSP’s new
strategy.
BJP backs BSP boss to spite rival SANJAY K. JHA New Delhi, July 16: The BJP today slammed Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s alleged remarks about Mayavati as an insult to womanhood at a time the party feels threatened by the Congress’s rise in the heartland state.
BJP leader Sushma Swaraj also asked for an apology from Sonia Gandhi for the Uttar Pradesh Congress president’s remarks, which have landed her in jail.
The BJP’s position does not stem from any desire for a tactical alliance with Mayavati. Rather, the party, being gradually pushed out of the frame in Uttar Pradesh owing to the Congress-Bahujan Samaj Party tussle, is worried about the Congress grabbing the main state Opposition’s slot.
The BSP’s decline has been evident over the past few months and the BJP has been dreading that the Congress would be the main beneficiary. All of a sudden, Joshi has provided a spark with the potential to trigger a fresh churning in state politics, allowing the BJP to fish in troubled waters.
“Rita had crossed all limits of political attack against a rival and in the process forgotten the dignity of women,” Sushma, deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha, said.
The BJP stands to gain if the SC/ST and Muslim votes remain divided between the Congress and the BSP, and strengthening Mayavati can be a way of ensuring this split.
Sushma’s party would prefer to have in the fray a stronger regional party with a limited caste vote bank, such as the Samajwadi Party or the BSP, rather than the Congress with its wider social appeal.
By painting Sonia and her colleagues as anti-SC/ST, the BJP also hopes to strengthen itself in states where it is locked in a direct fight with the Congress. Although siding with Mayavati may cost it some upper caste votes, the BJP’s immediate agenda is to prevent the Congress from running over a weakened BSP.
Sonia Gandhi regrets Joshi’s statement against Mayawati
New Delhi, Thu, 16 Jul 2009 ANI
New Delhi, July 16 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi expressed
regret over the remarks made by UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi
against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.
Earlier in the day, Mayawati condemned Gandhi for remaining silent on
the Joshi incident, and said it was shameful that she had not taken
any action against Joshi.
Mayawati also accused that Gandhi of being behind the statement issued
by Joshi against her.
Mayawati said the comments by Joshi were unpardonable and it was wrong
to blame the Bahujan Samaj Party for the attack on Joshi’s house. She
alleged that Congress workers were behind the arson attack. (ANI)
Compensation to SC/ST rape victim as per law: Mayawati
July 16th, 2009 - 8:23 pm ICT by IANS - Lucknow, July 16 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Thursday claimed that the monetary compensation being paid to a SC/ST rape victim was strictly in accordance with the provisions of the SC/ST Act and the amount had been determined by the Congress party when it was in power. Speaking to mediapersons, she said: “Whatever we are paying to SC/ST victims of rape was determined by none other than the Congress party, whose government was responsible for drafting the provisions of the SC/ST Act.”
Mayawati was referring to the remarks made by state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi on the payment of compensation to rape victims belonging to the SC/ST community.
Moradabad: “ I would be ready to offer her a compensation of Rs.1 crore.”
Joshi’s remark infuriated Mayawati.
“Personally, I am not satisfied with the provisions for punishment under the law. Left to me I would recommend nothing short of life imprisonment or death sentence to a rapist, and that too irrespective of caste and creed,” the chief minister pointed out. “If the Congress is so much against the existing provisions, why doesn’t it change the law through suitable amendments or by bringing in a new enactment,” she asked.
Govt to spruce up Ambedkar villages
TNN 15 July 2009, 11:23pm IST
ALLAHABAD: Around 38 Ambedkar villages identified in the year 1995-96
will once again be decked up in addition to the complete coverage
which is to
be provided to the villages identified in the year 2007-08, following
directions from the state government.
Presiding over a review meeting of district officials, the district
magistrate informed that a special drive for settlement of disputes
related to revenue realisation will be undertaken under the
supervision of SDMs and tehsildars.
Taking a serious view of the lapses in lease allotment to ineligible
persons, the SDMs have been directed to personally ensure that the
lease was allotted only to the deserving persons and in cases where
the lease had been obtained by the influential, they should be
cancelled forthwith.
Directions were also issued to carry out a survey of landless villages
and extend the facility of landless insurance scheme. Under the
scheme, it would be incumbent upon the villager to be a BPL (below
poverty line) card holder as the scheme was only meant for the
economically downtrodden sections of the society.
He stated that there was an urgent need of making the Tehsil Diwas
more effective in terms of redressal of grievances of villagers.
Maya resents Sonia’s ’silence’ over Joshi’s slur
Agencies Posted online: Thursday , Jul 16, 2009 at 1829 hrs
New Delhi : BSP supremo Mayawati questioned Congress President Sonia
Gandhi’s “silence” over the UPCC President Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s
alleged derogatory statement against her and alleged that it was done
at the instruction of Congress High Command.
“The most painful thing is that Sonia Gandhi has remained silent over
the issue. She has neither condemned this humiliating, uncivilised and
derogatory statement nor has she taken any action against her at the
party level. This clearly shows that the humiliating statement by
Joshi was made at the instance of Congress High Command,” the UP Chief
Minister said at a press conference adding the comments were “not at
all pardonable”.
Denying that her party workers were involved in the attack on Joshi’s
house in Lucknow, Mayawati said, “there is a doubt of the hand of
Congress itself in the incident”.
The government has ordered an impartial enquiry into the incident, she said.
She also sought to put Congress in the dock over the SC/ST act saying
the provision of compensation for rape and murder victims of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes was made by the Congress government at the
Centre and not the BSP government.
The BSP chief said if her party comes to power at the Centre it would
repeal the existing SC/ST law and will bring a new law which covers
women victims of all sections and ensures stringent punishment like
death sentence or life imprisonment to perpetrators.
Maintaining that her party does not agree with the existing Act’s
provision for monetary compensation, she said that it hurt the
sentiments of SC/STs but added that the states had to follow the
provisions of a central law.
Accusing Congress of having an “anti SC/STs” mentality, the BSP supremo
said, “Had they not be having anti SC/ST smentality and not been a
victim of inferiority complex towards SC/STs, it would have made
similar provision for women of Sarva Samaj (all sections), who face
such crimes as well…”
Referring to a book “Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna” penned by Joshi about
her father, Mayawati said that in her book she had used very strong
terms against Gandhi family and alleged that Sonia Gandhi ignored all
this for “political opportunism” and made her the party chief for UP.
She said that there was strong resentment among BSP workers over her
comments and they wanted to hold protests across the nation but she
intervened to stop them as she did not want public to suffer because
of law and order problems.
Mayawati said Thursday night’s incident at Joshi’s house was done to
divert the attention of the people from her remarks.
Updated on Thursday, July 16, 2009, 15:01 IST
Moradabad: UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who was arrested for
allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati,
was on Thursday remanded in judicial custody .
Joshi, who was arrested last night in Ghaziabad district while she was
on her way to Delhi, was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate K K
Shrivastava who remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days.
She was taken to the district jail. She has been booked under section
153 A (delivering inflammatory speeches) and section 109 of IPC (using
abusive language) besides provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act for making remarks allegedly defamatory to Mayawati.
Officials said the offences registered against her were non-bailable.
In Buddhism, examples
of moral behaviour include: the
Four means of
embracing, six perfections, five precepts, ten
Wholesome conducts,
right understanding and views, giving
charity and forming
good affinities, not bearing old grudges,
modesty and kindness,
protecting the six sense organs,
blessing and giving
joy to the living, repaying the four
kindnesses, widely
proclaiming Dhamma for the benefit
of all sentient
beings, respectfulness and forgiveness,
kindheartedness,
loving words of praise, protecting right
mindfulness,
selflessness, sacrificing oneself for others, and
selflessly working
for others.
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON -3
Excercise 3
Form
five Pāli sentences and five English sentences
using
vocabulary from Pāli Lesson 2 and 3, in your own
words.
1)Buddho
Dhammam deseti
2)Buddhassa
Dhammassa Sangassa Nibbanaya sukhāya
hitāya saranam gacchāmi.
3) Samanā vihārato gāme passanti.
4) Dārākanam ācariyo na pandito hoti.
5) Bālā Buddhassa
Dhammam na passanti.
1) The Awakened One goes to the village
by foot.
2) Men go to the monastery of the monk
by path.
3) Among men are ignorant, there are
wise ones.
4) The teacher of the boys is not wise.
5)For
the Awakened One there is no greed, there
is no hatred, there is no delusion.
Don’t disturb peace, Mayawati warns Congress
Atiq Khan
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday warned the
Congress that attempts to disturb the peace or a repeat of the
Lucknow-type arson would invite strict action from her government.
The Bahujan Samaj Party leader also made it clear that the Rita
Bahuguna Joshi episode was not over, notwithstanding the regrets
expressed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the Pradesh Congress
Committee chief’s derogatory remarks. Ms. Mayawati said Ms. Joshi would
have to face the consequences for her misdemeanour.
Ms. Joshi’s insulting and despicable remarks could not be condoned,
she said and indicated that the cases registered against Ms. Joshi
would not be withdrawn.
Equating the PCC chief’s case with Varun Gandhi’s, Ms. Mayawati said
it was possible that she would be bailed out, but that would not lessen
her crime. “She will be punished according to the law of the land,” Ms.
Mayawati told journalists here.
In Congress circles, the Chief Minister’s observations are seen as
an indication that the State government is preparing to book Dr. Joshi
under the National Security Act as Mr. Gandhi was booked.
The Chief Minister said had the BSP workers not been stopped by her
on Wednesday when Ms. Joshi made the remarks, the entire country would
have been brought to a halt and the Congressmen would have been running
for cover. A serious law and order situation would have been created in
Uttar Pradesh, she said.
State swimming team runs into troubled waters
Special Correspondent
English Channel crossing aborted due to bad timing and alleged apathy
BANGALORE: A team of master swimmers from Karnataka, which attempted
a relay swimming in the English Channel on July 10, returned home after
a traumatic experience. The team’s spokesperson, Nandita Kapoor, a 50 m
and 100 m butterfly national record holder in the Master’s Section,
recounting their bitter experience to The Hindu,
said: “We were lucky to get back home in one piece. We were misled and
let down by the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, which
controls and organises English Channel crossing, an open sea swim over
a distance of 35 km from Dover in England to Calais in France”.
The Karnataka team reached Dover, and on July 6 was ready to
undertake the attempt with two groups of six swimmers each, which
included three women, and dedicate their efforts to world peace.
Clearance
But Channel Federation authorities, according to Ms. Kapoor,
dissuaded them from doing it on July 8 and 9 despite perfect weather
conditions. “They gave the clearance on July 10, when we had a terrible
weather. But we were told by Alliston Streeter, the head of the Channel
Swim Federation, the sea would be choppy for a while and conditions
would improve.”
The swimmers, on that assurance, took the plunge, with disastrous
results. “The tides, which were already six ft. high, became worse.
Giant tidal waves, topping over 10 ft, tossed the swimmers up and down
the sea and one of the girls, Rajani, went under the boat and had to be
rescued. All of us were badly bruised and before there were any
fatalities, we decided to call it off after swimming for eight to 10
km,” Ms. Kapoor said.
The swimmers returned to base in Dover but what hurt them, said Ms.
Kapoor, was the apathy shown by the authorities. “They just dumped us
and left. There were no explanations and apologies and our request for
a second attempt on a suitable day was rejected.”
Their attitude was all the more surprising because Alliston was a
renowned long distance swimmer, who had 43 solo crossing of the
Channel, the swimmers said.
The State swimmers spent Rs.4 lakh for their abortive attempt, which
came after hard toil for over one year under the supervision of noted
coach Sindhia of Sindhia Swim School. “Some of us are so traumatised by
the experience that we don’t want to get into the sea again,” Ms.
Kapoor said.
The team has lodged a strong protest with Channel Swimming
Federation and has sought a refund. “We doubt whether we will get back
our money, but it is a lesson to all of us and the Indian swimming
fraternity who wish to attempt English Channel crossing,” said Ms.
Kapoor.
According to the Book of Rites, “one who has achieved the Way understands what is moral; those who are moral therefore respects the Way. That is why the immoral is not respected and that which is not the Way is incomprehensible”. Zhou Duni saya, “Correct action is the Way, and its harmonious use is called morality”. Buddhism and Confusianism are alike in that they both emphasize a moral life. Confucious never talked about strange phenomenon or spirits; and true Buddhism never praises the spirits of marvels and occult, but rather places emphasis on compassionate morality.
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON – 3
Exercise No.2
Translate into Pāli
The disciple of the Awakened One
travels in the villages
Buddhassa Sāvako gāmesu carati.
Wise monks preach the Truth.
Paṇditā samaṇā Dhammaṁ desenti.
There is no refuge for ignorant.
Bālānaṁ saraṇaṁ natthi.
I speak from the teachings of the
Awakened One.
Aham Buddhassa Dhammato bhāsāmi.
Monks come to the monastery from the
village
Samaṇā gāmasmā vihāraṁ āgacchanti
The path of greed is the way of the
world.
Lobhassa maggo lokassa maggo hoti.
Disciples are giving, teachers are
taking
Sāvakā dadanti, ācariyā ādenti.
Yes. We go to the Awakened One, to
the teaching, to the Order for refuge.
Tvam nisidasi ca bhunjasi, aham
titthāmi ca bhāsāmi.
The Awakened One Stays in the
village and teaches the Truth.
Buddho gāme vasati, Dhammaṁ ca deseti.
Mayawati demands Rs 80,000 crore for backward regions Lucknow, Jul 15 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Mayawati today requested the 13th Finance Commission to
approve a special package of Rs 80,000 crore for Poorvanchal
and other backward regions of the state.
During a meeting with the commission led by its chairman
Vijay Kelkar, Mayawati said while allocating financial
resources to the states, certain points like economic
backwardness and actual requirement of a state should be taken
into consideration.
Referring to the recommendations of Samra Committee, the
Chief Minister requested the commission to approve a special
package of Rs 80,000 crore for Poorvanchal and other backward
regions of the state.
She said implementation of Sixth Pay Commission
recommendations had put an additional burden of Rs 6,000 crore
on the state exchequer and demanded that 50 per cent of the
additional expenditure should be borne by the Centre.
Monetary compensation for victims of rape and murder hurts SC/STs’ Mayawati
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said on Thursday that
if the Bahujan Samaj Party came to power at the Centre, it would repeal
the Scheduled Castes, Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
She said a new Act would be framed for the “sarv samaj,” under which
the punishment for rape and murder would be life imprisonment or death
sentence.
At a press conference here, Ms. Mayawati said her party did not
approve of the monetary compensation for rape and murder victims given
under the SC, ST Act as it hurt the pride of SC/STs. The Act was framed
when the Congress was in power at the Centre. Even the terms for
monetary compensation were mentioned in the Act.
Dr. Joshi was arrested for making derogatory remarks against
Ms.Mayawati.
Congress
and Bahuguna are strong as SC/STs all over India support Congress
party, which gets 27 percent of SC/ST’s votes in the recently held Lok
Sabha election. Take that support out, and Congress will topple like a
house of cards. There is no ideology with Congress, but due to mindless
decisions and misinformed SC/STs Congress, enjoys its power.
The rape remarks should make SC/STs aware what as to what lies in the minds of upper caste people and Congress.
It is time we think carefully about our strengths and weaknesses.
With much metta,
Mangesh
Final notification on BBMP wards issued
Staff Reporter
Names of over 45 wards changed; boundaries of over 30 wards modified
Over 1,500 suggestions received for the draft notification
Yelahanka ward named after Kempe Gowda
BANGALORE: Nearly a month after issuing the draft notification for
the 198 delimited wards of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike
(BBMP), the State Government on Wednesday published the final
notification of the wards.
The number of wards in the final notification remains the same as in
the draft, and the number of wards whose names have changed are over
45. The number of wards in which the areas have either been included or
excluded are over 30. The draft notification, issued by the Urban
Development Department on June 17, was subject to suggestions and
recommendations before June 30. After looking into over 1,500
suggestions, the Urban Development Department finalised the
delimitation.
Now, the due course of action would require State Election Commission to prepare the voters’ list for each ward.
The ward list according to the final notification is as follows. The
earlier names according to the draft notification have been mentioned
in brackets wherever there has been a change in the name.
Plea to quash ordinance increasing number of wards
State, BBMP asked to file their objections
BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday orally indicated that
it would take a tough stand against the State Government if elections
to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were not held by July
31, 2009.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice
V.G. Sabhahit made the observation when it was hearing a public
interest litigation petition by a resident of Bangalore on the
delimitation of BBMP wards.
The petitioner, B.K. Venkatesh, wanted the court to quash a
notification by the State Government modifying the guidelines
prescribing average population to each ward in Bangalore. He also
wanted the ordinance increasing the number of wards from 100 to 198 to
be quashed. He apprehended that the delimitation exercise could be used
as a ploy by the State Government to postpone the elections. He said
the State had issued a notification on June 4, 2009 by which the
guidelines for preparing the wards based on the average population has
been modified. Besides, on June 17 2009, the authorities had also
published a draft of the delimitation process.
An ordinance was issued under the Karnataka Municipal Corporations
Act by which the number of seats have been increased from 100 to 198.
The ordinance was violative of the Constitution and was liable to be
quashed, he said.
The Bench admitted the petition and ordered issue of notices to the
State and other respondents. It also asked both the State and the BBMP
to file their objections. It orally observed that it would initiate suo motu contempt proceedings in case the elections were not held by July 31.
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Therefore the five precepts of Buddhism should be considered the “basic morality” to be observed by every one. The ten wholesome conducts constitute an “enlarged and improved morality” for purifying the human mind and elevating human character. Cause and effect and karmic retribution are the unchanging “morality of good and bad” of this world. The six perfections are the moral basis of the practice of benefiting and awakening oneself and others.
COMPREHENSIVE PALI COURSE
LESSON -3
Exercise – 1
Translate into
English:
Buddho Dhammam deseti.
The Awakened One teaches the Truth.
Samano gāmma gacchati.
The monk goes to the village.
Sāvakesu bālā natthi.
There are no ignorants among the
disciples.
Dārākanam ācariyo na pandito hoti.
The teacher of the boys is not wise.
Buddhassa Sāvakā Dhammam
desenti.
The disciples of the Awakened One
instruct from
The teachings.
Buddho Pādena gāmma
gacchati.
The Awakened One goes to the village
by foot.
Samano vihāro āgacchati.
The monk comes from the monastery.
Dārakassa āchriyo gāme vasati.
The teacher of the boy stays in the
village.
Buddhassa natthi lobo, natthi doso,
natthi moho.
For the Awakened One there is no
greed, there
is no hatred, there is no delusion.
Samanā vihārato gāme passanti.
The monks see the villages from the
monastery.
Manusssā maggena samanassa vihāram āgacchanti.
Men go to the monastery of the monk
by path.
Dārakānam ācariyo vihāre na vasanti.
The teacher of the boys do not live
in the monas-
tery.
Bālā Buddhassa
Dhammam na passanti.
The ingnorant do not understand the
teaching of the
Buddha.
Manussā gāmehi vihāram āgacchanti.
Men come to the monastery from the
villages.
Manussesu atthi bālā atthi panditā.
Among men are ignorant, there are
wise ones.
Dārakassa ācariyo
natthi.
There is no teacher for the boy.
Gāme vihāro atthi.
There is a monastery in the village.
Panditānam moho natthi.
There is no delusion for wise ones.
ācariyo dārakānam Buddhassa Dhammam deseti.
The teacher teaches the Teaching of
the Buddha to
the boys.
Gāmehi dārakā pādena maggato samanehi āgacchanti.
From the villages boys come with the
monks along
The path by foot.
Buddhassa Dhammassa Sangassa
Nibbanaya sukhāya
hitāya saranam gacchāmi.
I go for refuge to the Buddha,
Dhamma, to the teaching, to
The Order for liberation, for
happiness, for welfare.
Understanding Anatta
The anatta doctrine is one of
the most important teachings of Buddha. It is the most distinctive feature
of Dhamma, for as many scholars have recognised, it makes Buddhism different
from all other religions. Scholars write that all other religions accept
the existence of some kind of spiritual, metaphysical, or psychological
entity or agent or being inside and, in some cases, simultaneously outside
of sentient beings. That is, most religions accept the existence of a soul
or self.
Donald Watson writes : “ Of the world’s major religions,
only Buddhism denies or is agnostic about the existence of a soul.”
Another scholar Richard Kennedy writes : “According to
Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, each soul will be judged at the end of
the world…. It is the soul which will determine whether the individual
is punished by hell or rewarded by eternal life in heaven…. Buddhism
teaches that there is no such thing as a soul or true, permanent self.”
The Encyclopedia Americana writes : “ In Buddhism there
is no perduring or surviving self such as the atman. Meditation leads to
the awareness that the idea of self, or atman, is mere illusion.”
In A Dictionary of Comparative Religion, the teaching
of the existence of the soul is traced through every major religion throughout
history : primitive animistic, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Hebrew, Greek religion
in Homeric, Orphic, Pythagorean, and Platonic versions; Hindu, Zoroastrian,
Chinese, Muslim, Japanese, and Christian. But, as the writers state, “ Buddhism,
in its classic form, rejected the concept of atman as the essential,
immortal self….”
Buddhism is divided into two major schools, Theravada
and Mahayana, which have, in some cases, major differences. But both schools
adhere to the anatta doctrine. H. von Glasenapp writes : “ The negation of
an imperishable Atman is the common characteristic of all dogmatic systems and, there is, therefore, no reason to assume
that Buddhist tradition which is in complete agreement on this point has
deviated from the Buddha’s original teaching.”
Although the anatta doctrine is so important, so distinctive,
and supposedly so universally accepted , it is still the most
misunderstood, the most misinterpreted, and the most distorted of all the
teachings of the Buddha.
Some scholars who have written on Buddhism had a great
respect for the Buddha, liked His teachings, revered Him, and honoured
Him, but they could not imagine that such a profound thinker had actually
denied the existence of a soul. Consequently they have tried to find
apparent loopholes in the teachings through which they have tried to insert
the affirmation of atta by the Buddha.
For example, two modern scholars, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy
and I B. Horner in their book, The Living Thoughts of Gotama the Buddha,
have devoted much of the book to the idea that Buddha taught a doctrine
of two selves, the great Self, spelled with an upper case ‘S’ to signify
the spiritual self or soul, and a small self, the personal ego, spelled
with a lower case ‘s’.
They claim that Buddha denied only this personal self
or ego when He spoke of anatta. These scholars base their ideas on mistranslation
of Pali terms, and later in these lectures I will devote considerable time
to analysing the Pali passages which they have mistranslated.
Another scholar John Blofeld, also claims that Buddha
was really teaching a doctrine of two selves, one true Self or Soul, and
one false personal self or ego. Notice in the following quote how he must
clarify that the Zen doctrine of Self or One Mind is not in the reality
the Atman :- The doctrine of Atman has always been the centre of Buddhist
controversy. There is no doubt that Gautama Buddha made it one of the central
points of his teaching, but the interpretations of it are various. The
Theravadins interpret it not only as “no self,” but also as “no Self,”
thereby denying man both an ego and all participation in something of the
nature of Universal Spirit or the One Mind. The Mahayanists accept the
interpretation of “egolessness,” holding that the real “Self” is none other
than that indescribable “non-entity,” the One Mind; something far less
of an “entity” than the Ãtman of the Brahmins.
The “Universal Spirit,” “One Mind,” and “Self” which Blofeld
finds within the anatta doctrine are really an Atman, an atta, of a finer
substance, “less of an entity “ as he says, but nevertheless an Atman. These ideas of atta are therefore in conflict with the anatta doctrine
of the Buddha. Most Mahayanists accept the doctrine
of anatta, but later schools of Mahayana, such as the Chinese Zen of which
Blofeld writes, may have drifted into a soul-like theory.
The controversy over the anatta doctrine seems to be based
on a deep fear of the denial of the existence of a soul. People are often
very attached to their lives, so they like to believe that there exists
something everlasting, eternal, and permanent inside them. When someone
comes along and tells them that there is nothing permanent in them, nothing
by which they will continue eternally such as a soul, they may become frightened. They wonder what will become of them in the future - they have the fear
of extinction.
Buddha understood this, as we can see in the story of
Vacchagotta, who, like many other people, was frightened and confused by
the anatta doctrine. Vacchagotta was an ascetic who once went to the Buddha
to discuss some important matters. He asked the Buddha, “ Is there atta ? ”
Buddha remained silent. Vacchagotta then asked, “ Is there no
atta ” But Buddha again remained silent. After Vacchagotta went away
Buddha explained to Ananda why he had remained silent.
Buddha explained that He knew that Vacchagotta was very
confused in his thinking about atta ( soul ), and that if He were to respond that
there does exist atta, then He would be expounding the eternalist view
the eternal soul theory with which He did not agree. But if He were to
say that atta did not exist, then Vacchagotta might think that He was expounding
the annihilationist view, the view that a person is nothing but a psychophysical
organism which will be completely annihilated at death.
Since this latter view denies kamma, rebirth, and dependent
origination, Buddha did not agree with this.Buddha teaches, in fact, that
people are reborn with patisandhi, “relinking consciousness,” a rebirth
consciousness whichdoes nottransmigrate from the previous existence,
but which comes into existence by means of conditions included in the previous
existences, conditions such as kamma.
Thus a reborn person is not the same as the one who has
died, nor is the reborn person entirely different from the one who has
died. Most importantly no metaphysical entity no soul, and no kind of spiritual
self continues from one existence to another in Buddha’s teaching.
But this teaching was too difficult for Vacchagotta, and
Buddha wanted to wait for a time when Vacchagotta would mature in intellect. Buddha was not a computer who gave automatic answers to every Question. He taught according to the circumstances and temperaments of the people,
for their benefit. As it happened, Vacchagotta advanced spiritually through
Vipassana meditation, which allowed him to realize the suffering, impermanent,
and no-soul nature of all things, and he later became an Arahant. Unfortunately,
this story is used by some scholars to try to prove that Buddha did not
really deny the existence of atta.
Let us now examine the ideas contained in the term atta,
Before Buddha appeared in this world, Brahmanism, which was later to be
called Hinduism, prevailed in India. Brahmanism teaches the doctrine
of the existence of atta (in Sanskrit, atman), which is usually translated
as soul or self. When Buddha appeared, He claimed that there is no atman.
This doctrine was so important that Buddha proclaimed it only five days
after His first sermon, the sermon on the Four Noble Truths.
The five disciples who heard that first sermon became
“streamwinners” (Sotapannas) persons who have attained the first stage
of enlightenment. Five days later, Buddha assembled the five disciples
and taught them the anatta doctrine. By the end of that Sutta, all five
became Arahants, persons who have attained the highest stage of enlightenment.
What is this atta which the Buddha negated ? The word anatta
is a combination of two words : an (< na) and atta. An means not or no,
and atta is usually translated as soul or self ( sometimes with upper case
‘S’ to signify a spiritual entity). But atta has a wide range of meanings,
which we will now examine. These terms are discussed in two famous books
of Hindu scripture, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Many views of
atta are found in the Buddhist Brahmajala Sutta, which I will discuss later.
Atta is the inner core of anything. The inner core of
a tree is the hardest part and thus the core of something can imply permanency.
The core may also imply the best part of something, the part which is the
essence, the part which is pure, real, beautiful, and enduring. The idea
of atta as the core of things is found in the Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka
Upanishads.’
Another implication of atta is that of authority. Authority
is the ability to make others follow orders. If anything is to be called
atta, it must have the power to exercise authority over the nature of things,
as stated in the Kena Upanishad. In addition, atta is not subject to any
other authority : it is the highest authority (sayamvasi) one who is his
own master. It is like a lord or owner (sami). Atta is the lord of ourselves.
It is distinct from ourselves and abides in ourselves.
It is the dweller (nivasi) which is not part of the five
aggregates. Atta is also the agent of action, a doer (karaka) and it is
atta which actually does everything, good or bad.Atta is that by which
we act, that by which we enjoy or suffer In ignorance we identify ourselves
with the body and ego, forgetting that we are really atta.When we do something, it is really at the command of atta,
but we ignorantly believe that we as individuals actually control our lives..
Atta is thus a director and an experiencer.”
Another meaning of atta is that of soul, a spiritual entity
inside of all people. The soul, called atman in Hindu scriptures, is the
individual self, and it is identical with the Universal Self, the Supreme
Being, called Brahman. Atman resides in everyone and in every living
being. Like Brahman, atman is eternal. When the body dies, atman moves
to another body and makes that body its new home.
In this way it moves from one body to another discarding
the worn-out body and taking a new one. Liberation is, according to Hinduism,
the realisation that atman is identical with the Universal Atman or Brahman,
or that the individual atman is part of Brahman’.
Atman is eternal - no one can kill or wound atman. In
the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna, one incarnation of the god Vishnu, has this
in mind when he instructs the great warrior Arjuna, to go into battle.
Arjuna was at first reluctant to go into battle in order to fight against
his own cousins, but Krishna tells him that no weapon can cut atman, no
fire can burn atman. Even if you kill someone, you kill only the body :
“If any man thinks he slays, and if another thinks he
is slain, neither knows the way of truth, The Eternal in man cannot kill ;
the Eternal in man cannot die. He is never born, and he never dies. He
is in Eternity : he is forever more.”
Krishna then urges Arjuna to do his honourable duty as
a member of the warrior caste and go into battle, which Arjuna does. Buddha denied the atman theory According to Buddha, there is nothing we
can call an inner core which is eternal and blissful. There is also nothing
we can call upon to exercise authority over the nature of things. In Buddhism,
there is no doer apart from doing, and no experiencer apart from the experiencing.
There is nothing or no one which is omnipotent because everything is at
the mercy of the constant creation and dissolution of conditioned things.
Buddha taught that there are only five aggregates (khandhas) :
1 Corporeality - Rupa (material process, or form)
2 feelings ;
3 perceptions ;
4 metal formations ; and
5 consciousness.
Less specifically we may say that there are only two groups
of phenomena in this existence : mind and matter, nama and rupa. Apart from
mind and matter there exists nothing whatsoever that we can call atta..
The only thing that exists outside of the realm of nama and rupa is the unconditioned (asankhata) Nibbana, Absolute Truth, but. as I will discuss
later in these lectures, even Nibbana is anatta.
Buddha taught that, for us, there are only the five aggregates.
We are a compound of five aggregates, and after we analyse and observe
them one by one with the deep insight of meditation, we will realise that
there remains nothing : no soul, no self, apart from the aggregates. The
combination of the five aggregates is what we call a person, a being, a
man,
or a woman.
There is nothing apart from the five aggregates - corporeality
feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness - which are
interacting and dependent upon each other.No director, no doer no experiencer,
and no essence can be found.Atta is merely an idea which has no corresponding
reality whatsoever.
In the sutras, we find a story of a very famous ascetic-scholar
named Saccaka. One day he heard that Buddha taught the anatta doctrine.
Since he was a very sharp debater he decided that he would go to the Buddha
and convince Him that the anatta doctrine was wrong. He was very confident ;
he claimed that if he were to debate with a stone pillar, that pillar would
sweat from fear. He claimed that, just as a strong man takes a goat and
flings it around his shoulders, so he would take hold of Gotama and fling
Him around in debate.
Saccaka and his followers went to the Buddha and there
exchanged greetings. He asked Buddha to explain the doctrines He taught.
Buddha replied that He taught anatta. Saccaka countered, “No. There
is atta. The five aggregates are atta.” Buddha replied, “Do you really
think that rupa (corporeality) is atta?” As it happened, Saccaka was very
ugly, and if he said that corporeality was atta, then Buddha could counter,
“Then why don’t you make yourself more handsome!”
Thus Saccaka was forced to say that rupa is not atta.
Here we can see Buddha striking down several characteristics that are attributed
to the atta.If Saccaka had an atta, he could call upon it to exercise
authority and power in order to change his appearance. After all, atta
is identical to Brahman, the supreme ruler the infinite, omnipotent creator
and source of all things, as explained in the Bhagavad Gita.
But, according to Buddha, there exist only the five aggregates,
the five khandhas, and these are not atta because they are subject to the
laws of impermanence, suffering, and no-soul. Rupa (material form) is not
atta ; it is not master and ruler of itself, and it is subject to affliction.
The other khandhas - feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness
- are also subject to the same laws.Saccaka was therefore defeated.
Although it may be easy to understand that rupa
(material form) is not atta, some people may find it difficult to understand
why the other khandhas - feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness
- which we may summarise as simply nama (mind) do not constitute an entity
which can be called atta. After all, many people believe that mind and
soul are identical or interrelated, and they define mind and/or soul as
that part of a person which gives life and consciousness to the physical
body and they further believe that, as such, it is the spiritual and psychological
centre of the person.
But, according to the Buddha, nama is not atta for the
same reasons that rupa is not atta : nama is equally subject to the laws
of impermanence, suffering, and no-soul, as we shall study further when
we analyse the Anatta-lakkhana Sutta in depth. Buddha treats nama and rupa
equally, and they are mutually dependent upon each other :
“Just as a wooden puppet, though unsubstantial, lifeless,
and inactive, may by means of pulling strings be made to move about, stand
up, and appear full of life and activity ; just so are mind and body, as
such, something empty, lifeless and inactive ; but by means of their mutual
working together, this mental and bodily combination may move about, stand
up, and appear full of life and activity.
Furthermore, we must remember that nama-rupa or khandhas
are merely abstract classifications made by the Buddha, and, as such, they
have no real existence as groups. That is, there is never the functioning
of an entire entity or group known as corporeality or feeling or perception
or mental formations or consciousness, but only the functioning of individual
representatives of these groups.
For example, with one unit of consciousness, only one
single kind of feeling can be associated. Two different units of perception
cannot arise at the same moment, and only one kind of consciousness, for
example seeing consciousness, can arise at one time. A smaller or larger
number of mental formations can arise with every state of consciousness.
The groups never arise as a totality ; only constituents
or bits from a certain group can arise depending on conditions. There are
no integrally functioning groups that can be called a self or a mind. Moreover
the single constituents of these apparent groups are all equally subject
to the laws of impermanence, suffering, and no-soul.
Another way to study the Question of why nama is not atta
is simply to go back to the definition of khandhas given by the Buddha
in Samyutta Nikaya XX, 56. Here we will see that the four khandhas, which
can be classified simply as nama (mind) are in no way to be understood
as an abiding mind substance or as anything that can be called atta. Rather,
the khandhas are completely interdependent, and the constituents of each
group condition the arising of the others. There is no self existing, abiding
entity in any part of the following definition, but only constituents which
mutually condition each other and arise only when they interact :
“What, 0 monks, is the corporeality-group ?
The four primary elements and corporeality depending
thereon….
What, 0 monks, is the feeling-group ?
There are six classes of feeling : due to visual impression,
to sound impression, to odour impression, to taste impression, to bodily
impression, and to mind impression….
What, 0 monks, is the perception-group ?
There are six classes of perception : perception of visual
objects, of sounds, of odours. of tastes, of bodily impressions, and of
mental impressions….
What, 0 monks, is the group of mental formations ?
There are six classes of volitional states : with regard
to visual objects, to sounds, to odours, to tastes, to bodily impressions,
and to mind objects….
What, 0 monks, is the consciousness-group ?
There are six classes of consciousness : eye-consciousness,
ear-consciousness. nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness. body-consciousness,
and mind-consciousness.”
Based on the above definitions, it is easy to see that
nothing which can be called atta can be found in the workings of rupa or
nama.Still another way in which the nature of nama and rupa is analysed
is to be found in the Abhidhamma, which is highly recommended for anyone
who wants to understand Dhamma thoroughly.This is the most comprehensive and analytical study of
all phenomena given by the Buddha.Here Buddha analyses nama and rupa into
three groups of absolute realities, which are 89 types of consciousness
(cittas), 52 mental factors (cetasikas), and 28 material properties (rupa).
Here too, there is no abiding mind substance or atta, but only the interdependent
workings of the constituents of these groups.
Mayawati goes all out to impress 13th Finance Commission
July 15th, 2009 - 3:02 pm ICT by IANS - Lucknow, July 15 (IANS) Chief Minister Mayawati is out to impress the 13th Finance Commission whose members are here look into Uttar Pradesh’s financial demands out of the central government’s kitty. Top bureaucrats have been on their toes right from the time Finance Commission chief Vijay Kelkar landed here Tuesday night along with B.K. Chaturvedi, Indra Raja Raman, Atul Sharma, Sanjeev Misra and Soumit Bose.
Apart from ensuring their reception in new Honda City cars, the officials even halted traffic to provide an unhindered clear passage from the airport to the Taj Hotel, causing much inconvenience to other motorists on the city’s main thoroughfare for some time.
Mayawati is leaving no stone unturned to demand her pound of flesh from the Commission.
Apart from renewing her earlier demand for a special development package of Rs.80,000 crores for Uttar Pradesh’s backward regions - Bundelkhand and Purvanchal, she proposes to demand a major debt relief package.
Lowering of rate of interest, both on pending and fresh loans, was stated to be high on her list of demands.
According to a senior bureaucrat of the state finance department, the chief minister proposes to tell the Commission that the central government continues to determine Uttar Pradesh’s share on the basis of the 1971 census though the state’s population has more than doubled since then.
“We are going to be very emphatic on this point as it is the basis of our rightful demand for a greater share out of the central taxes,” said the official, closely associated with the blueprint to be tabled before the Commission over the next two days.
The chairman and members of the commission would also be taken for field visits to Varanasi and Lalitpur districts.
“The idea is to let them have a first hand feel of the plight of the people in these areas,” the official added.
Ambedkar’s legacy Empowerment of castes By Suryakant Waghmore
For Ambedkar, nation-building had to begin from below and the process had to accommodate an understanding of the caste.
The tension of ‘liberal vs communal’ in India is one that confronts us in our daily lives and the one which Dr B R Ambedkar too faced during the crucial years of the nation formation.
It is at times argued that the Constitution of India, though very liberal and secular, turned ‘communal’ due to its emphasis on caste. Ambedkar, despite attaining highest liberal scholarship in economics, political science and law from Columbia University and London School of Economics, insisted on recognising caste and associated inequalities in the Constitution.
One can notice a consistency in Ambedkar’s efforts for carving out a separate political identity for the Scheduled Castes (Depressed Classes, a term used then) since the very beginning of his political innings. One such effort had led to a face-off between Gandhi and Ambedkar. It was when the Simon commission was constituted to carry out further political reforms in 1927.
Ambedkar pursued his stance of demanding political rights of ex-untouchable groups through political representation. He was keen that separate electorates with reserved seats be given to the Scheduled Castes if ‘universal’ franchise is not to be granted. This brought him in direct conflict with the Congress and more specifically Gandhi. It is worth noting here that the Congress had boycotted Simon Commission and had asserted its interest in Purna Swaraj.
Gandhi’s reaction to Ambedkar was also in one way communal as he viewed Ambedkar’s demand as a ploy to divide the untouchables from the Hindus. This political battle was thus partially turned into a religious one – Untouchables vs Hindus due to Gandhi’s intervention. Gandhi went on fast unto death to prevent this division and also claimed that he was the only representative of Scheduled Castes whom he preferred to call ‘harijans’.
Ambedkar dissented such homogenisation of Hindus as this may have lead to non-recognition of untouchablity and the existence of Scheduled Castes as an excluded minority. A compromise was reached between Gandhi and Ambedkar with the signing of Poona Pact in 1932. The compromise being, double number of reserved seats and doing away with the idea of separate electorates.
Ambedkar’s understanding of caste was dubbed as anti-nationalist on various occasions by his elite-caste contemporaries. As Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee too, he did not change his position and introduced reservations as constitutional safeguards for SCs/STs and OBCs. For Ambedkar nation-building had to begin from below and the process had to accommodate a critical understanding of the caste. This was particularly so as Ambedkar recognised the dynamic nature of caste which had the inherent potential to divide and create hierarchies leaving India a country of fractured minorities.
For Ambedkar, a ‘political’ majority was more important than a ‘communal’ majority as he observed, “A political majority is changeable in its class composition. A political majority grows. A communal majority is born. The admission to a political majority is open. The door to a communal majority is closed.” Ambedkar was thus striving to develop a liberal understanding of caste through recognition of caste in the Constitution.
Nation building was seen here as a process based on recognition of caste for social transformation. Unfortunately such recognition had to be forced upon the citizens through the Constitution. Ambedkar had advocated legislative reservations (Article 330 and Article 332) only for ten years. He however recognised that ten years was no good time to undo exclusionary practices of caste that might affect political mobilisations.
Spiritual self
In current times, when all the major political parties use caste innovatively to suit their conservative interests, one wonders how a political majority of Ambedkar’s vision that is not sectarian be formed? Gandhi’s emphasis on ‘spiritual self’ seems to provide some answers here.
Though Gandhi was a strong supporter of ‘varna’ system initially and opposed inter-caste marriages he gradually became ‘a social revolutionist,’ advocating inter-marriages between Brahmins and Scheduled Castes in order to dismantle the entire caste system.
While Ambedkar started his political career with emphasis on politics (representation) and closed it with a spiritual turn by converting to Buddhism, Gandhi began with spiritual (and religious) admixtures and emphasised practice of radical politics towards the end.
Now there seems a need to evolve a liberal understanding of caste in our daily lives for challenging material and non-material inequalities of caste. Non-recognition of caste or caste identities is no good as being caste blind may also mean having blindness of insight.
Consciousness of caste is not synonymous to being casteist, it is rather necessary for reforming caste. This also seems to be a crucial difference between the way race is dealt with in the West and caste is handled in our context. It is to be noted that Black heroes in reel and real life are celebrated in the US, but surprisingly even a critical nationalist like Ambedkar is still despised in India.
(The writer is an assistant professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai)
Mayawati and her vision for Uttar Pradesh
Mayawati
seriously believes that development can be achieved through building
statues. Her decision to erect statues has generated employment for
hundreds. Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula had the same objective when he ordered the building of the Imambara..
The President of Uttar
Pradesh unit of Congress Rita Bahuguna
sent to 14 days judicial custody
The Indian politician Mayawati is at the centre of a fresh political
storm after police were ordered to arrest a political rival for making
derogatory remarks about the controversial SC/STs.
The President of Uttar
Pradesh unit of Congress Rita Bahuguna Joshi has been sent to 14 days judicial
custody after being arrested in Ghaziabad district on Thursday (July 16) for
allegedly making inflammatory remarks against UP Chief Minister Mayawati in
Moradabad district.
Following her arrest early this morning Joshi
was produced at the residence of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Moradabad and
sent to judicial custody in Moradabad jail itself.
Rita Bahuguna
Joshi, suggested “I
say one should throw this money in Maya’s face and tell her ‘If you get
raped, I’ll give you one crore’ [£125,000],” Joshi told an audience in
Moradabad.they should shame Mayawati by offering her more money if she were herself raped.
Mayawati denounced the remarks as “unpardonable” and
her supporters claimed they amounted to incitement to rape the UP chief
minister.
Joshi has now
been booked under section 153 A for (delivering inflammatory speeches), section
109 of IPC (using abusive language), 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act besides SC/ST
Atrocities Prevention Act. Virtually all these sections are non-bailable.
Despite all round protests and angry voices raised from the Congress
central leadership, it is clear Mayawati is determined to make Joshi pay for her
speech.
Joshi has appealed to Congress workers to do a
roadblock and hold protests. But no MLAs, MLCs or senior party functionaries
have been seen at the Congress state headquarters. The state leadership says it
is still waiting for directions from the central leadership before showing any
concrete opposition to the arrest and attack.
“In UP if SC/ST are
raped then officials go there give them Rs 20,000. Is this the value for a SC/ST
lady. If the same thing happens with Mayawati we are ready to give her
conpensation of one crore,” Bahugana had said in Muradabad yesterday (June 16)
when addressing a small gathering.
Following this speech, Joshi
hastily apologised saying she regretted her words.
“I regret what I said in a fit of anger. Then I regret it,” she said. “I am myself a woman and I should
not have spoken these words.
VR1 MEDIA FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON PRECEPTS AND TRADE-35
ON MORALITY THE WAY OF CULTIVATION
Therefor the five precepts of Buddhism should be considered the “basic morality” to be observed by every one. The ten wholesome conducts constitute an “enlarged and improved morality” for purifying the human mind and elevating human character. Cause and effect and karmic retribution are the unchanging “morality of good and bad” of this world. The six perfections are the moral basis of the practice of benefiting and awakening oneself and others.
VR1 MEDIA FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON PRECEPTS AND TRADE-34
ON MORALITY THE WAY OF CULTIVATION
For Buddhism, the five precepts and ten wholesome conducts represent the standard for human morality. They encourage us to “commit no wrongdoings and only practice good deeds” and not infringe on the body, wealth, reputation, or dignity of others. They can completely transform the human mind and provide order to network of human relations for the improvement of society. For Buddhism, practicing the six perfections is the criterion for a moral life. Of the six perfections, upholding the precepts, meditation and prajna - wisdom are considered the “three studies”. They can cure the three poisons - greed, anger, and ignorance - and restrain human selfishness. If a person upholds the precepts, he or she will not be selfish; and without selfishness, greed will not arise.By meditating, a person will not harm others; and without harm, anger will not arise. If a person cultivates prajna - wisdom, he or she will not be ignorant; and without ignorance, stupidity cannot exist. Once greed, anger, and ignorance are eleminated and a person practices giving charity, then a benevlent and compassionate mindwill manifest itself naturally. By practicing patience, it will be possible for a person to perfect a resolute spirit. By practicing diligence, a person will be filled with a fearless strength.
Comprehensive Plāi Course
LESSON 1
ThePāḷi language consists of 41 letters of which 8 are sara (vowels) and 33 are
byanjana (consonants).
Vowels:a, ā, i, ī, u, ū, e, o
Of these
a, i, u are short and ā, i,ū are long;
e, o may be
No.Cetasikasfettersnot fettersnot hindrances1. 1.Moho, (delusion), Derived from Ömuh, to be stupefied, to be deluded. Moha is one of the three roots of evil and is common to all immoral
types of consciousness. It is opposed to paññā - wisdom.
The chief characteristic of moha
is confusion with regard to the nature of an object. Moha clouds one’s
knowledge with regard to Kamma and its consequences and the four Noble Truths.
2. Ahirikam,
(shamelessness), An abstract noun formed of “a”
+ hirika.
He who is not ashamed of doing evil
is ahiriko. The state of such a person is ahirikkam = ahirikam.
One who has hiri recoils from
evil just as a cock’s feather shrinks in front of fire. One who has no hiri,
would commit any evil without the least compunction.
3. Anottappam
(fearlessness), Na + ava +Ötapp,
to be tormented.
Ottappa is fear to do evil,
i.e., fear of the Consequences.
Anottappa is its opposite and
is compared to a moth that is singed by fire. A person who is afraid of fire
would not touch it, but a moth, unaware of the consequences, attracted by fire,
would get burnt. In the same way a person without ottappa would commit
evil andsuffer in states of woe.
4. Uddhaccam,
(restlessness) U = up, above,
+ Ö Dhu, to waver, to shake off.
Uddhutassa bhāvo Uddhuccam =
Uddhaccam - state of throwing up. It is compared to the disturbed state of
a heap of ashes when hit with a stone. It is the unsettled state of mind, and
is opposed to collectedness (vupasama). As one of the five Hindrances it
is the antithesis of sukha, happiness.
In some rare instances uddhacca
is used in the sense of puffed-up state of mind, corresponding to conceit. Here
it is not used in that sense. As a rule uddhacca is differentiated from māna
because both of them are treated as samyojanas (Fetters).
These four, viz., moha, ahirika,
anottappa, uddhacca - that head the list of Immoral cetasikas - are
common to all Immoral types of consciousness.
5. Lobho,
attachment must arise. See Ch. 1,
note 9.Lobha, dosa, and moha are the three roots of
evil. Their opposites are the roots of good.
Lobha, from Ölubh,
to cling, or attach itself, may be rendered by ‘attachment’ or ‘clinging’. Some
scholars prefer ‘greed’. Craving is also used as an equivalent of lobha.
In the case of a desirable object of
sense, there arises, as a rule, clinging or attachment. In the case of an
undesirable object, ordinarily there is aversion.
In Pāli such aversion is termed dosa
or patigha. Dosa is derived from Ödus, to be displeased. Patigha is derived from ‘pati’, against, and Ö‘gha’
(han), to strike, to contact. Ill-will, hatred are also suggested as
equivalents of ‘patigha’.
Moha is derived from Ömuh,
to delude. It is delusion, stupidity, bewilderment. It is ‘moha’ that
clouds an object and blinds the mind. Sometimes ‘moha’ is rendered by
ignorance.
According to Abhidhamma, moha
is common to all evil. Lobha and dosa do not arise alone, but
always in combination with moha. Moha, on the other hand, does arise singly-hence
the designation ‘momūha’, intense delusion.
Diametrically opposed to the above
three roots are the roots of kusala. They not only indicate the absence
of certain evil conditions, but also signify the presence of certain positive
good conditions. Alobha does not merely mean non-attachment, but also
generosity. Adosa does not merely mean non-anger or non-hatred, but also
goodwill, or benevolence, or loving-kindness (mettā). Amoha does not
merely mean non-delusion, but also wisdom or knowledge (ñāna or paññā).
6. Ditthi,
misbelief must arise. This term is derived
from Ö ‘dis’, to see, to perceive. It is usually translated as view, belief,
opinion, etc. When qualified by ’samma’, it means right view or right
belief; when qualified by ‘micchā’, it means wrong view or wrong belief.
Here the term is used without any qualification in the sense of wrong view.
7. Māno,
conceit cannot arise. Derived from Öman, to think.
8. Doso,
(hatred)
9. Issā,
(envy)Derived
from i +Ösu, to be envious, to be jealous.
10. Macchariyam,
(avarice)Maccharassa bhāvo - the
state of an avaricious person.
Commentary gives another
explanation:-
‘Let not this wonder be to others,
but to myself’.
(Mā idam acchariyam aññesam hotu,
mayham’ev hotu).
The chief characteristic of macchariya
is the concealment of one’s prosperity. Contrary to issā, this is
subjective.
Both issā and macchariya
are regarded as the friends of dosa because each of them arises with
it
11. Kukkuccam,
(brooding) Kukatassa bhāvo = kukkuccam
= the state of having done amiss.
According to the commentary evil that
is done is ku + kata, and so is good that is not done. Remorse over the
evil that is done is kukkucca, and so is remorse over the good that is
not done.
It has the characteristic of grieving
over the evil that is done and the good that is not done.
Dhammasangani explains:-
“What is worry?”
“Consciousness of what is lawful
in something that is unlawful, consciousness of what is unlawful in something
that is lawful; consciousness of what is immoral in something that is moral;
consciousness of what is moral in something that is immoral - all this sort of
worry, fidgeting, over-scrupulousness, remorse of conscience, mental
sacrificing - this is what is called worry”.
Kukkucca is one of the five
Hindrances and is used together with uddhacca. It pertains to past
things only.
According to Vinaya, kukkucca
is healthy doubt with regard to rules, and is commended. According to
Abhidhamma, on the contrary, it is repentance which is not commended.
12. Thīnam, Derived from Öthe,
to shrink, + na. Thena = thāna
= thīna.
It is the shrinking state of the mind
like a cock’s feather before fire. It is opposed to viriya. Thīna is explained
as citta - gelaññam, sickness of the mind.
As such it is the antithesis of citta-kammaññatā,
adaptability of the mind, one of thesobhana
cetasikas.
13. Middham,Derived from Ömiddh, to be inactive,
to be inert, to be incapable.
This is the morbid state of the
mental factors.
Both thīna and middha
are always used in conjunction, and are one of the five Hindrances. They are
inhibited by vitakka, initial application, one of the Jhāna factors. Middha,
too, is opposed to viriya. Where there are thīna and middha
there is no viriya.
Middha is explained as the kāya-gelañña,
sickness of the mental body. Here body is not used in the sense of material
form, but is applied to the body of mental factors, viz., vedanā, saññā and
sankhāra (feeling, perception, and the remaining fifty mental factors).
Hence middha is the antithesis of kāya-kammaññatā, adaptability
of mental factors.
Both thīna and middha
are explained in the Dhammasangani as follows:-
“What is stolidity (thīna)?”
“That which is indisposition,
unwieldiness of intellect, adhering and cohering; clinging, cleaving to,
stickiness; stolidity, that is, a stiffening, a rigidity of the intellect -
this is called stolidity.
“What is torpor (middha)?”
“That which is indisposition,
unwieldiness of sense, a shrouding, enveloping, barricading within; torpor that
which is sleep, drowsiness; sleep, slumbering, somnolence this is called
torpor”.
14. Vicikicchā . This is an ethic-religious
term. Commentary gives two interpretations.
(1.) Vici = vicinanto,
seeking, inquiring; - kicch, to tire, to strain, to be vexed. It is
vexation due to perplexed thinking.
(2.) Vi, devoid + cikicchā,
remedy (of knowledge). It means that which is devoid of the remedy of
knowledge.
Both these interpretations indicate a
perplexed or undecided frame of mind. Doubt, perplexity, skepticism, indecision
are used as the closest English equivalents.
Reasoning or investigation for the
sake of understanding the truth is not discouraged in Buddhism. Nor is blind
faith advocated in Buddhism.
[Vicihicchā is the inability to
decide anything definitely that it is as such. Buddhaghosa-Majjhima Nikāya
Commentary.]
Vicikicchā, as a Hindrance,
does not mean doubts with regard to the Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, etc.,
Majjhima Nikāya commentary states -
“it is so called because it is incapable of deciding that it is as
such.”
PIL to include neo-Buddhists in SC/ST category filed in HC
Mayura Janwalkar / DNAMonday, July 13, 2009 2:31 IST
Mumbai: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before the Bombay
High Court has sought the inclusion of neo-Buddhists among Scheduled
Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and accordingly increase the
number of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly seats reserved for
backward classes.
Pointing out that by counting out 6.03% Buddhists in the state, the
registrar general and census commissioner of India (RGCC) and the
director of census operation (DCO), Maharashtra, have acted in a
“blind-folded” manner and have erroneously counted the SC and ST
population of the state to be 10.20%.
The PIL has been filed by Swwapnil Bhingardevay, 39, an industrialist
who belongs to the SC community. Bhingardevay has stated that by
leaving out the 6.03% of the neo-Buddhists, the Centre, state, the
Delimitation Commission, GRCC and the DCO have all denied three Member
of Parliament (MP) seats and 18 Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)
seats to the SC and ST community.
Bhingardevay’ s advocate Pradeep Havnur said that the petition is
likely to be heard by a division bench in the coming week.
Bhingardevay has contended that the current number of reserved MP
seats should be raised from 5 to 8 and MLA seats should be raised from
29 to 47. Calling it a “systematic denial of rights”, he has urged the
court to restrain the government from announcing the date of the
forthcoming assembly elections until neo-Buddhists are also given
recognition as SCs and STs.
He added that if the government continues to hold that the population
of SCs and STs in the state is 10.20% against the actual 16.23%, it
would mean that the government and its agencies “deliberately” do not
want to adhere to the rights provided to SCs and STs in Article 330 of
the Constitution.
The PIL also states that if the neo-Buddhists would have been counted
among the SC, ST population in 2001 census, it would add to 58,38,710
to the existing 98,81,656 population of SCs and STs.
The PIL has also urged the court to direct the concerned authorities
of reserve a seat for backward classes in the Karad constituency which
has SC and ST population of 43,224 instead of Phaltan which has a
greater population of 53,071.
VR1 MEDIA FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON PRECEPTS AND TRADE-33
ON MORALITY THE WAY OF CULTIVATION
In addition, the collection of Great Treasures [Da Bao Ji Jing] advises, “Do not lead others astray; reconcile with who cannot get along with others; study adequately, and avoid double-tongued people”. According to the Sutra of the Buddha of infinite life, “Coarse language harms oneself and others - it is harmful to all. Cultivating and using good language benefits oneself and others - it is mutually beneficial”. The Sutra of Illuminating Light [Chu Yo Jing] states, ” Those who harm others will themself be harmed; those who complain about others will themself be complained about; those who curse others will themself be cursed; those who attack others will themself be attacked”. The Surata Sutra Discoursed by the Buddha [Surataparipiccna Sutra] also asserts, “Deception is the root of all unwholesomeness. Cutting off wholesome deeds results in the accumulation of suffering. How does it profit a person to lie?” Morality is our path of cultivation.
COMPREHENCIVE PALI COURSE
Part-1
Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita
CONTENTS
Part 1 of Comprehensive Pāḷicourse has 25 lessons.
Each lesson
includes a vocabulary of words which are
similarly
conjugated or declined. These exercises are
given on
each lesion.
Preface
Introduction
Pali
Language
Pali
alphabet
Lesson 1Alphabet, parts of speech, Gender,
Numbers, Cases
Lesson 2Declension of Masculine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘a’
Lesson 3Conjugation of verbs – Present Tense
Lesson 4Declension of Neuter Gender
Nouns ending in ‘a’
Lesson 5Conjugation of Verbs future Tense
Lesson 6Declension of Feminine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘a’
Lesson 7Conjugation of verbs Past Tense
Lesson 8Declension of Masculine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘i’
Lesson 9Infinitive
Lesson 10Declension of Masculine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘i’
Consonantal Declension.
Lesson 11Gerund, Active past participle
Lesson 12Declension of Neuter Gender
Nouns ending in ‘i’ and
‘i’
Lesson 13Gerundive, the particle of necessity.
Lesson 14Declension of particle. Sandhi
Lesson 15Declension of Feminine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘i’
Adverbs of time.
Lesson 16Passive Voice.
Declension of pronouns
Adverbs of time.
The mundane and
supermundane.
Lesson 17Declension of Feminine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘i’
Declension of pronouns.
Adverbs of Place.
Parami.
Lesson 18Conjugation (Imperative mood)
Declension of pronouns
in third person
Two Truths.
Lesson 19Declension of Masculine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘u’.
Declension of pronouns.
Adverbs of mode.
Lesson 20Conjugation (operative)
Declension of relative
pronouns.
Adverbs (numerical)
Lesson 21Declension of Masculine Gender
Nouns ending in ‘u’,
Declension of
Interrogative pronouns.
Adverbs of mode(numerical).
Lesson 22Historic Present
Lesson 23Conjugation of past conditional.
Declension of
Demonstrative pronoun.
Adverbs.
Lesson 24Declension of Neuter Gender
Nouns ending in ‘u’
Declension of
Demonstrative pronouns
Lesson 25Gerundial Adverbs.
Glossary of Pali Words.
Preface
The Buddha Vacana Trust is bringing
out the Second
Edition of Comprehensive Pāḷi Course Part I and
Part I. This
work has
been prescribed as the text book of the Pāḷi
language
for students undergoing the course in Pāḷi
language
and literature at Mahabodhi MonasticAcademy
and
Mahabodhi Buddhist Open University Bangalore.
Its publication has fulfilled a long
felt need in the area
of Indological
studies in India.
There are several
Universities
in India
which conduct courses in Pāḷi.
Unfortunately
there is no text book in English medium
which is
both authentic as well as easy to grasp. This
second
edition of the Course has incorporated several
improvements.
- Venerable
Acharya Buddharakkhita
LESSON 1
Exercise 1
Dārakā ganassa magge
Boys on the path of
Village
Buddho Lokassa ācariyo.
The Awakened One, the
Teacher of the world.
Saṅgahassa Samaṇa panditā.
The monks of the Holy
Order, wise ones.
ācayiyanaṁ vihāresu Sāvakā
Disciples in the
monastries of the teachers.
Bālassa dārakā panditā.
The boys of the
ignorant wise ones.
Gāme Sāvakānaṁ vihārā.
The monasteries of the
disciples in the village.
Lobbhassa, Dosassa,
Mohassa maggo bālānaṁ.
For the ignorant the
path of greed, hatred, delusion.
VR1 MEDIA FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON PRECEPTS AND TRADE-32
ON MORALITY THE WAY OF CULTIVATION
What we generally refer to as morality is the conscious attempt to benefit society. By, constrast, immorality is toinfringe upon others and to undermine social order. Buddhism is a religion that places humanity at the centre of everything, and Buddhist moral standards are reason, law, and guidance. For example, “Entering the court, one assists the king with determination and loyalty; at home one assists one’s parents with respect, sincerity, filialness, and loyalty”. It goes on to assert. “If one yearns and strives for good, onewill be able to settle down; if one yearns for and strives to be filial and respectful,one will glorify one’s parents.
COMPREHENCIVE PALI COURSE
INTRODUCTION
The ComprehensivePāḷi Course contains
instructionson all aspects of the
study of Pāḷi language including grammar, compositionand syntax. It is intended for all those who want to learn Pāḷi language, one of the three classical languages of Prabuddha Bharath,
the other two being Sanskrit and Prakrit. Lord Buddha taught in Pāḷi language which is also known as Māgadhi.
Pāḷi was spoken in the
Indo-gangetic plain now covered by Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal
and some parts of Madhya Pradesh. Buddha delivered His messagein Pāḷi, the language which both the elite and the ordinary people could master, so that the spirit of His Dhamma could enrich the minds of all. In this way Pāḷi played a historical rolein a practical manner through centuries and, indeed, it does even today in all the Buddhist countries.
The study
of Pāḷi is not only important but an imperative to have a clear and objective grasp of history of Prabuddha Bharath and linguistics. All over the world it is being studied. Only in Prabuddha Bharath, due to lack of facilities, and, it is regrettable to say, sectarian
bias, the rightful place of Pāḷi has not been restored.
The
Comprehensive Pāḷi Course is intended to introduce the students of Prabuddha Bharath linguistics into
the richheritage of Pāḷi language and
literature. This course is complete by itself. The answers of the lessons givenin the end of the
book.
The course
was prepared in 1954, when I taught at the Pali Post-Graduate Institute at Nalanda. Thereafter it was used to instruct the students undergoing course in Pāḷi studies and Buddhology in Bangalore.
This book
is being considered as the text for students of Pāḷi language at different universities, in Karnataka under the auspicious of Mahabodhi Buddhist Open University and Mahabodhi MonasticAcademy,
Bangalore.
Bangalore, 1995
Venerable
Acharya Buddharakkhita
THE PALI LANGUAGE
Pāḷimeans “Buddha Vacanam”, the word of the Buddha consisting
the texts of the Tipitaka, the sacred Buddhist Canon,containing the original teachings of the
Buddha. Hence we come across
the phrase, “Imaṁ tāva pāliyam, aṭṭhakathāyam pana”which occur in the texts of Tipitaka. In the
commentaries however …”.
In Pāḷi lexicon the definition of Pāḷi is given thus: “Pa-paleti, rakkhati tiPāḷi: since it
preserves the the ‘Buddha Vacana’ in the form of the
sacred texts. It is called Pāḷi.
As to the origin of Pāḷi, Emperor Ashoka has left an evidence in his Bhabhri edict, “Imāni bhanteDhammapaliyāyāni: These,
Venerable Sir, are the texts of the Dhamma.” In
course of time, paliyāyā became Pāḷi, an elliptical form. The home of Pāḷi is Magadha. That is why it is also known as Māgadhi. “Sammāsambuddhene vuttappakāra māgadhiko vohāro
– The Māgadhi medium used by the
Supremely Awakened One.” The Māgadhi language
was the lingua franca of region comprising Bihar, parts ofAssam, Bengal, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and area otherwise called
Gangetic plain, washed and fertilized by two river
systems, Gangaand Yamuna.
The Buddha
purposely did not speak in Chandas, the language of Vedas, also called as Vedic Sanskrit. He spoke in the language of the common people. “Anujānāmi bhikkhave
sakāyaniruttiā Buddhavacanaṁpariyāpunitaṁ - Monks, I instruct that the words
of the Buddha are learnt in the
standard vernacularof the masses.”
It is quiet obvious that had the Buddha given instructions in Vedic
Sanskrit, Buddhism would have become distorted and
turned into another Theistic doctrine beyond the
grasp of common people, accessible only to the elite class.
This is one reason, why Pāḷi is subjected to step-motherly treatment by sanskritists.
In the
interest of Sanskrit, at least classical Sanskrit, which is widely studied today.Pāḷi should be propagated as a sister discipline. This apart, chronologically, Pāḷi is decidedly older than modern classical Sanskrit.
It is hoped
that in the age of science and technologywhen language studies
are becoming more and more objective, Pāḷi should be studied widely as a discipline inseparable from other classical languages of Prabuddha
Bharath.
Alphabet and Pronunciation
Alphabet:
The Pāḷi alphabet consist of 41 letters: 8
sara (vowels), the niggahīta (ṁ),
Adjectives
are treated as nons because they areSimilarly declined.
Genders:
There are 3 genders (linga) in Pāḷi language, viz.,
1.Pullingga=Masculine gender.
2.Itthilinga=Feminine
gender.
3.Napumsakalinga=Neuter
gender.
Nouns
which denote males are masculine and
Those which denote females are
feminine. But qualities and inanimate things are not
necessarily neuter.Therefore, gender in Pāḷi is only a
grammatical distinctionexisting in words.
Numbers:
In Pāḷi there are two numbers (vacana):
1.Ekavacana=Singular
number.
2.Bahuvacana=plural numbers.
Pāḷi does not have dual,
as found in Sanskrit.
This makes Pāḷi simpler.
Cases:
There are 8 cases in Pāḷi:
1. Paṭhamā vibhatti= Nominative case= subject
2. Dutiyā vibhatti=
Accusative case = Object
3.Tatiyā vibhatti=
Instrumental case (prepositions)
=
by, with,through
4. Catuthṭ vibhatti= Dative case= to, far
5. Pancami vibhatti= Ablative
case= from
6. Chaṭṭhī vibhatti= Genitive/possessive case = of
7. Sattamī vibhatti= Locative
case=on, in, at,
Among,
amidst
8. Alapana vibhatti= Vocative case= Oh, etc.
Nouns
are declined according th the genders,Numbers and cases.
LESSON 2
Declension of nouns (Nāma vibhatti)Masculine gender (Noun ending in a)
VibhattiSingularPlural
1. Paṭhamā:0ā
2.
Dutiyā:aṁe
3.Tatiyā:enaebhi,
ehi
4.Catuthṭ:assa, āyaānaṁ
5.Pancami:ā, asmā, amhā, toebhi, ehi
6.Chaṭṭhī;assaānaṁ
7.Sattamī:e, asmiṁ, amhiesu
8.Alapana:aā
For
example:Buddha = The awakened One.
VibhattiSingularPlural
1. Paṭhamā:BuddhoBuddhā
2.
Dutiyā:BuddhaṁBuddhe
3.Tatiyā:Buddhena(by)Buddhebhi, Buddheni
4.Catutthī:Buddhaassa (to)
Buddhāya(for)
5.Pancami:Buddhā,Buddhebhi,Buddheni
Buddhasmā
(from)
Buddhamhā
Buddhato
6.Chaṭṭhī;Buddhassa
(of)Buddhānaṁ
7.Sattamī:Buddhe (on)Buddhesu
Buddhasmiṁ (in)
Buddhamhi
(at)
8.Alapana:Buddha!
(oh)Buddhā
Vocabulary
: The following words are similarly declined:
Buddha =
The Awakened One Paṇḍita = wise One
Dhamma =
The teachings of the Sāvaka =
Disciple
Buddha, TruthLobha = Greed
Sañgha =
Order of the Buddha’sVihāra =
Monastery
Monastic disciplesDosa = Hatred
Samaṇa = MonkPāda = foot
Bāla =
FoolMoha
= Delusion
Dāraka =
BoyAcariya
= Teacher
Gāma =
VillageManussa
= Man
Magga =
PathLoka
= World
CM cracks down on cops, wants security for weaker sections
Express News Service Posted online: Saturday , Jul 11, 2009 at 0214 hrs
Lucknow : Rattled by the spate of atrocities against SC/STs and other criminal activities, Chief Minister Mayawati cracked the whip on Friday by issuing stern directives to the police officers. They have been asked to provide adequate security and justice to the SC/STs, women and the others in the state. Mayawati said three separate orders have been issued by the government to the district police chiefs and DIGs of all the ranges to contain crime against women and SC/STs as well as prevent incidents of caste and communal clashes.
In case of laxity in compliance with the fresh government directives, the police officers will have to face the punishment, she said.
According to Mayawati, the old mindset of caste-based inequality and discrimination was still prevalent in the society and justice remained a far cry for the SCs and STs.
In the event of any incident of atrocity against a Dalit, the DIG, SSP or the SP of the district will have to visit the place of the incident.
The police officers have been directed to furnish an “action taken report” to the DGP and the state government as well.
The government has also directed the district police chiefs to launch a campaign against the criminals and be alert against caste and communal violence cases. She said similar directives as in case of SC and ST will apply here also.
Regarding the incident in Meerut, where the 15-year-old son of a local trader was abducted and later killed, Mayawati said if needed the state government may order an inquiry by the crime branch of the CID into the incident.
Maya to rope in private firms for upkeep of memorials
Express News Service Posted: Jul 11, 2009 at 0202 hrs Lucknow As the various memorials, parks and sthals coming up in the city are nearing completion, the state government has begun to appoint private firms for their maintenance and management. For this purpose, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has invited offers from reputed firms. With a contract of three years, the selected firm will also have to take steps to promote tourism at these memorials.
Offers have been invited for the management of Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal, Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, Baudha Vihar Shanti Upwan, Kanshiram Park, Bhimrao Ambedkar Vihar, Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal and Samta Mulak Chowk.
Firms have been asked to submit their bids by July 25. A pre-bid conference will be organised on July 18 to discuss the scope of work and receive suggestions from the firms having expertise in the management of such memorials.
The government has already formed a society for the maintenance of these memorials and parks. The vice-chairman of LDA is its member secretary. According to an official, the society will also appoint local agencies for sanitation and security of the memorials. “The firm that the LDA is going to appoint will manage these small agencies,” he said.
To be eligible, applicant firms must have at least one official with an MBA, a security superintendent, a sanitation expert, a full-time civil engineer and an electrical engineer.
Within 15 days after its selection, the firm will have to prepare a roadmap for security arrangements for these memorials, cleanliness of the premises and day-to-day maintenance of other utility areas.
The firm will have to prepare a separate plan for visits by VIPs.
It will also have to draft a plan regarding coordination with district administration and local police for maintaining law and order in and around the memorials.
A separate plan will be made for the management and upkeep of library, residential, dinning and meditation facilities being developed at Baudha Vihar Shanti Upwan in Alambagh.
UP says all okay on Noida statue front
The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday claimed that construction in the controversial park at Noida has followed all norms.
The state
government’s assertion comes a day after a Union environment ministry
team said the 33-acre project near Atta Market flyover has flouted
norms by giving a go-by to the mandatory Environmental Impact
Assessment and locating the park near the Okhla bird sanctuary, among
others.
Cabinet Secretary
Shashank Shekhar Singh said late Saturday evening that construction
work in the area is being carried out far from the bird sanctuary’s
boundary and that it will not have any adverse impact on birds in the
sanctuary.
He said the state
government has got a certificate from the Chief Forest Conservator and
the Chief Forest Conservator (Wildlife) in this regard.
Singh admitted
that trees have been felled for the project — the expert team from the
Environment ministry had said as many as 6,000 trees had been felled to
make way for the project — but claimed they were cut without violating
the Tree Conservation Act.
BSP initiative to recruite 35,000 police constable
This initiative need to be appreciated. Police and Bureaucracy need to be liberated from the hands of castism and religious fundamentalism.
UP Special armed force is notorious for its communal colour.
Hope the new recruitment under BSP govt. will bring radical changes to the police.
regi.
Dear Regi,
You can decontaminate a Nuclear plant but you can’t decontaminate a sick hindu mind.
DR.Berwa
Plz Pass this information
Dear Friends,
If
you have come across any bright students coming from poor financial
background who have finished their 10th standard this year (April 2009)
and scored more than 80%, please ask them to contact the NGO-Prerana (supported by Infosys foundation). The
NGO is conducting a written test and those who clear the test will be
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Even if you dont know anyone, please pass on this info, some one might be in need of this help desperately. Thanks & Regards,
Mayawati statue spree to continue
Mayawati has unveiled several statues of herself (Pic: Kumar Prithvi)
India’s Supreme Court has declined to stop the building of statues of the politician Mayawati and her allies.
The
court said it could not intervene unless there was evidence of misuse
of public money on the part of the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh
state.
Ms Mayawati, a low-caste Dalit - formerly “untouchable” - is an icon for India’s 160m low-caste Hindus.
She is accused of self-glorification by her critics. But she accuses her opponents of conspiring against her.
Legal experts say that Friday’s decision is a major relief for Ms Mayawati’s plans to continue major building works.
She is building several statues of herself, her political mentors and elephants- the symbol of her party.
‘No interference’
The
man, lawyer Ravi Kant, who initially filed a petition in the Supreme
Court a fortnight ago accusing Ms Mayawati of wasting public money and
space to build vast statues asked the court to halt the statue
building.
But the judge declined the request saying that the
matter would be heard four weeks from the day the original petition was
filed.
“If a democratically elected government decides to do
something without misappropriating public money, there is little the
courts can do,” Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan said.
“If the
cabinet has approved a project, we think the court should not
interfere,” the court said, refusing to interfere in the ongoing work
for installation of the statues.
Uttar Pradesh is one of India’s most deprived states, with a high crime rate and poor health services.
Ms Mayawati’s spending on statues and memorials has been described as “shameful” by India’s Home Minister P Chidambaram.
In May she unveiled 15 new memorials, including two of herself.
Statues of political leaders are generally put up posthumously, but Ms Mayawati says that belief is outdated.
History in Stone- Ambedkar Park : A Photo Feature
Individuals will pass away soon but the stones
remain for long to tell the history. That is how we today know the
buddhist history. Remember that dogs keep barking and Elephant keeps
moving and a new history is in making.
Brahmin’s envy is dalits pride so go for a ride.
with metta,
Bhanteji
History in Stone- Ambedkar Park : A Photo Feature
(All Photos Courtesy: Luisa Steur)
Poetry in stone
I dreamt of writing OUR history
A dream never come true.
They- the historians- were busy
Blogging and loitering in Facebook pages
(their Orkut profiles stand deleted, reasons best known to them)
Then came her
And she wrote OUR history.
SHE gave us visibility
So now, WE can afford to be ‘invisible’.
Etched in the grandeur of culture
OUR history in stone stands tall.
Burn Shelley’s Ozymandias
It will never tell OUR story
And WE don’t need YOUR Shakespeare, Tagore and Gandhi..
WE have OUR history
WE have our dream!
ALL INDIA SCHEDULED CASTE AND SCHEDULED TRIBE UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ FEDERATION (AISCSTUTF)
Dear Friends, SC ST teachers of colleges and universities
Please join thefederation e group at aiscstutf@googlegro ups.com
and subsequently become part of our federation movement. We intend to
associate and achieve organic unity of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled
Tribe university and college teachers of India, approximately 10,000 at
present, less by 1,00,000 as per constitutional requirements causing
huge intellectual and financial loss to the community. With an
objective of consolidating intellectual resources of the society, we
affirm our belief in the three objectives set by Mahamanav Jotiba
Phule, Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Manyawar Kanshiram for our mission,
1.Annihilation of Caste and Tribal Oppression.
2.Becoming the ruling community by establishing Social Democracy in the country.
3.Organising Enlightened India through Sane and Egalitarian leadership.
BHANTE
PRAJNASHEEL added you as a friend on hi5. We need to confirm that you
know BHANTE PRAJNASHEEL in order for you to be friends on hi5. Click
the button to confirm this request:
VR1 MEDIA FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON PRECEPTS AND TRADE-31
ON MORALITY THE WAY OF CULTIVATION
Morality is something that should be culyivated and is the one thing that sets humans apart from animala. Morality is what ensures that there will be law and order in a nation. If the people of a national loose their moral standards, then government officials will be corrupt, using public office for private gain; businesspeople will steal and deceive; among friends, doubt and jealousy will arise, leading to harma nd slander; among neighours there will be discord, deception, and lying; and society will be rife with foolishness and fallacy. Everywhere there will be people who struggle with oneanother for their own benefit, profiting at the expence of others, and having no sense of shame. This being the case, only with a sense of morality and by leading moral life will society be harmonious, families will be happy, friends keep promises, and will be able to help one another. Doing business not so easy in Bangalore
World
Bank report ranks city 13th among 17 select cities
Starting a business is fastest in Mumbai
and Noida
In Bangalore, 13 procedures have to be completed to register a firm
BANGALORE: Doing business is not so easy in Bangalore and it takes at least 40 days to complete procedures and register a firm.
A World Bank Report on “Doing Business in India -2009” ranked
Bangalore 13th among 17 select cities. Doing business was easier in
Ludhiana, Hyderabad, and Bhubaneswar and these cities respectively
ranked first, second and third.
It was difficult to start the business in Bangalore (13th), Patna (14th), Chennai (15th), Kochi (16th), and Kolkata (17th).
“Starting a business is fastest in Mumbai and Noida, at 30 days, while it takes 41 in Kochi.”
In Bangalore, 13 procedures have to be completed to register a firm
and it takes 40 days while it was 33 days in Hyderabad with 12
procedures.
The number of procedures to formally open a business ranges from 11
to 13, of which eight are national in nature and similar in all cities.
The time required to start a business varied among cities due to
different local practices and different performance levels of the local
branches of national agencies, it said.
In Patna, Kolkata, and Bhubaneswar, entrepreneurs spend less than 40
per cent of income per capita to open a business; for those in
Bangalore (64.7) and Mumbai (70.9), the cost is double because of local
government fees and taxes, the bank said.
The report compared business regulations in the 17 cities, focussing
on local regulations that affect seven stages in the life of a small or
mid-sized domestic enterprise — starting a business, dealing with
construction permits, registering property, paying taxes, trading
across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business.
The selected cities are Ludhiana Mumbai, Hyderabad, Indore,
Bhubaneshwar, Noida, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Patna, New Delhi,
Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Guwahati, Kolkata and Ranchi.
Construction
The process to obtain construction-related permits and clearances
was easiest in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, where 15 procedures
are required, but more cumbersome in Kolkata and Mumbai, where more
than 30 procedures were needed.
Entrepreneurs pay 15 per cent of income per capita in Bangalore to
register under the Shops and Establishments Act, but pay nothing in
Chennai.
Registration
Cities in India do well on the number of procedures required to
register property — on average, only five procedures are needed, the
report said this performance ranked the average Indian city at 47th out
of 181 economies.
The Jaipur city takes least number of days (24) to register a property.
The number of days required for registration of property in
Bangalore is 28 days, Hyderabad 37, Chennai 48 and Bhubaneshwar 126
days, the report said.
The number of procedures required to register the property in
Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, New
Delhi, Noida, Patna, and Ranchi is five while Chennai required highest
number (seven), the report said.
“Reforms that cut red tape, clarify property rights, and streamline
regulatory compliance, can yield big payoff for firms and workers,” the
study said which was conducted in collaboration with the Union Commerce
Ministry and Confederation of Indian Industry.
2020 Project, Training Indian novices in Thailand
From: Ken and Visakha Kawasaki Subject: 2020 Project, Training Indian novices in Thailand To: Date: Thursday, 9 July, 2009, 9:07 PM
Dear Friends, Donors, and Supporters,
Buddhist
Relief Mission has long been interested in the revival of Buddhism in
India, which in recent years has depended greatly on the movement among
the Dalits, the downtrodden castes, which began with the conversion of
Dr. Ambedkar in 1956. One of the main hindrances to the growth of
Buddhism in the land of its birth has been the severe lack of trained
monks. There have been several attempts to establish bhikkhu training
centers and to educate monks abroad, but these programs have not
produced enough monks. A few years ago, a new program was begun. This
program, called 2020, hopes to train as many as 2000 monks in Thailand
by the year 2020. Two groups, totaling about 40 novices have already
Here are
recent photos of the latest batch of novices at Bodhisukha Monastery, Kolkata, before they left for Thailand.
Buddhist
Relief Mission strongly supports this endeavor. We invite all those who
are interested to join our effort. Details are available at:
Obama says court still allows for racial diversity
By MARK SHERMAN
The Associated Press
Thursday, July 2, 2009; 3:25 PM
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama cast this week’s Supreme Court
decision in favor of white firefighters as a narrow case that
nevertheless allows employers and educators to take race into account
in hiring, promotions and admissions.
Obama, a former constitutional law professor, said the court was
“moving the ball” on affirmative action by telling public and private
employers they could not easily discard promotion exams just because
the results left no African-Americans likely to be promoted.
“This was a very narrow case, so it’s hard to gauge where they will
take it,” Obama said in an interview Thursday with The Associated
Press. He did not criticize the court’s ruling, even though the
justices voted 5-4 to reverse a decision that his own high court
nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, endorsed as an appeals court judge.
As a senator, Obama voted against confirming two justices in the
majority in the firefighters case: Chief Justice John Roberts and
Justice Samuel Alito, the two nominees of President George W. Bush.
The president was critical of the clumsy process that New Haven,
Conn., used to administer promotion exams, then tossed them aside
because of the racially skewed results.
He said the city might have prevailed if it “had thought through how
it was going to approach the issue ahead of time and said, ‘We think
merit and highly qualified firefighters are absolutely important. That
doesn’t contradict our desire to make sure that there is diversity in
a city that’s 60 percent black and Hispanic. Let’s design promotion
approaches that reconcile those two things.’”
Instead, Obama said, “I think what people instinctively, probably,
reacted to on that particular case had more to do with the fact that
the people that studied for those tests already had a set of
expectations that were thwarted.”
Critics of racial preferences have argued that Obama’s election
demonstrates that affirmative action is no longer necessary. But the
president noted that “the Supreme Court didn’t close the door to
affirmative action, if properly structured.”
He said such programs have not been nearly as helpful to minorities or
damaging to whites as they have been portrayed.
“Crude quotas” are unnecessary and constitutionally impermissible, he
said. But, “I do think that there are still circumstances in which on
a college admissions or on a hiring decision, taking into account
issues of past discrimination or taking into account issues of
diversity of a workforce or a student body can still be appropriate, “
the president said.
VR1 MEDIA FREE ONLINE TRAINING ON PRECEPTS AND TRADE-30
ON ETHICS THE WAY OF HOME LIFE
A disciple should show respect for his or her teacher in five ways: 1) by attending to him or her properly, 2) by making offerings and respecting him or her, 3) by looking up ti him or her, 4) by following his or her instructions, and 5) by upholding the Dhamma from the teacher and never forgetting it.
A teacher should show respect for his or her disciple in five ways: 1) by teaching according to one’s ability to learn the Dhamma, 2) by instructing the disciple in what he or she has never heard, 3) by explaining and answering his or her questions, 4) by showing one’s friendliness and kindness, and 5) by not being sparing in instruction.
The Confuscious used to say: “The aged will be cared for to the end, the mature will work, the young will be matured, and widowers, widows, the unmarried, and the handicapped will be cared for”. For the layperson observing today’s Buddhism, wisdom should be used in handling the emotions surrounding human relations. The Dhamma is used to purify, beautify, spresd, and add Buddhism to lay life. The aged, midddle-aged and the young should treat one another;because familial relations are interlinked. Fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters are all held together like inseperable links in a chain. Each person must do his or her utmost to love and respect others and strive for harmony. Each person must do his or her utmost to love and respect others and strive for harmony. For only when afamily laughs together will familial relations be happy and harmonious.
Buddhist term is made of 2 terms Buddhi and ist. Buddhi means
intellect and ist means liking. Therefore the term Buddhist means one
who likes to use his/her intellect and not just accept things blindly.
with metta,
Bhanteji
Dear friends,
Greetings from COVA!
Commercialization of, especially,
school education in India is one of the worst outcomes of the
neo-liberal policies of our governments. The government schools
neither address the current demands of society, nor do they match the
glitz of some of the private companies running education factories. The
state and central governments appear to have no intention to alter the
situation.
In Hyderabad, shocked by the exorbitant
hike in fees in private schools this year, even the otherwise-complacen
t middle class took to streets. COVA is spearheading this campaign in
association with a number of parents’ associations. An Open Forum last
week declared that it is high time the autocracy of the private schools
was checked. Two students’ unions called for a ‘bandh’ on two separate
days. COVA is in the process of enlisting the support of major
political parties against gross commercialization of education and for
improvement of government school system.
If the state shows lack of
political will to provide basic services like education and health to
its citizens, you and I have to raise our voice to improve the state of
affairs. Apart from systemic changes, individuals too have their
responsibility and can make a difference to the system. Please spare 10 minutes to read the enclosed attachment.
In solidarity for peace, harmony and social justice,
COVA
Apex court allows razing of Lucknow jail
New Delhi, July 8 (Inditop.com) The Supreme Court Wednesday allowed
the Uttar Pradesh government to raze a 195-acre jail besides the
Ambedkar Park in the heart of Lucknow city for construction of an
ecological park there.
State Advocate General
P.C. Mishra sought to assure the court that the new ecological park
will have neither statues nor memorials of anybody.
Mishra also sought to convince the court that the new jail on the outskirts of Lucknow will be much more spacious.
“A total of 4,660 prisoners can be housed in the new jail, while the old one had just 2,000-odd prisoners,” said Mishra.
The bench gave the order on a lawsuit by the state government
challenging May 14 order of the Allahabad High Court that had denied
permission to demolish the jail.
SAMANWAYA RAUTRAY
Now, 2,000 sq feet replica of Ambedkar Memorial
Lucknow Barely ten days after Chief Minister Mayawati inaugurating the ‘Pratibimb’ alongwith 14 other memorial structures, the 2,000-square feet miniature replica of the Ambedkar Memorial has come up within the complex in Gomti Nagar. Displaying the layout of the memorial on a slanted plywood board, it has replicas of all the structures in the complex and is flanked by the statues of Mayawati and her mentor Kanshiram.
The two temporary statues, made of fibre, will soon be replaced with 24-feet-high bronze ones, each costing Rs 1.5 crore.
The model stands at the end of the 200-metre-long elephant gallery, partly on the land which was incorporated after demolishing the Bhimrao Ambedkar stadium last year.
The Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam has prepared the foundation of Pratibimb, which will have a vast rectangular base, with steps on all four sides leading to the top platform of over 5,000-square feet on which the model has been created.
The base and the steps have been covered with granite slabs. An official associated with the project said: “The main structure of Pratibimb will have a slope in front of it to give support to the display board. After construction, the structure will be covered with pink sandstone.”
According to sources, the replica was ordered when the government decided to inaugurate the projects on July 3. The plan, however, went haywire when Mayawati decided to inaugurate Pratibimb, along with 14 other projects, suddenly on June 25 in the wake of a PIL challenging the installation of her statues.
Memorials open from 10 am to 6 pm From now on, memorials, spots and parks in Lucknow will remain open from 10 am to 6 pm for public view. On Mondays, these will remain closed. Mukesh Kumar Meshram, member secretary of the Memorial, Spot and Institutions Management, Protection and Maintenance Committee, said entry to these places will be free till further orders.
Bramhnical/Manuwadi
propaganda machinery :
The Manuwadi lies manufacturing and distribution
machinery is at it again. I don’t know which school of journalism the
journalists in manuwadi print and electronic media get themselves
trained ( if at all they do ) in journalism. They all have same
straight line of thoughts which lacks imagination and journalistic
accumen. Since last fortnight the manuwadi media is flooded
with articles, news and opinions against the memorials of SC/ST
Bahujan icons constructed by Uttar Pradesh government. All of them just
making one allegation that UP government is wasting public money in
constructing statues and parks at the cost of welfare of people. This
is nothing but concoction of lies by deliberately hiding the real
facts. The Manuwadis allege that Rs. 3000 Cr is being spent on Parks
and Statues. Even if that is true, with an yearly budget of about 1.5
Lac Crores, this amount comes to 2 % of yearly budgetary provisions.
Since the provision for the expenditure on memorials would have been made over years, this expenditure would come to less than 1% of yearly budget.
1 % expenditure to correct the historical wrong and
injustice meted out to SC/ST Bahujan icons by the bramhinwadis/
manuwadis of congress, BJP and SP, and to honour the great
contributions of the SC/ST Bahujan heroes by constructing their
memorials ,is a small price that 85 % of the SC/ST Bahujans of India
are ready to pay happily. As Bahen Mayawati has rightly said , in past, if the bramhinwadi/
manuwadi congress had had given due respect to the SC/ST Bahujan icons
and honoured their revolutionary contributions, Bahen Mayawati would
not have had to do this work herself. Bahen Mayawati has to do what she
is doing, is because the bramhnical/manuwadi congress went on
building memorials/statues , naming roads, educational institutions,
parks, in name of tom dick and harries of nehru, gandhi family,
throughout the country, projecting them as big heroes and forgetting
the real heroes like Mahatma Phule, Ramaswami Periyar, Narayan Guru,
Birsa Munda, Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Savitri Mai Phule, Matoshri
Ramamai Ambedkar and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Would the bramhnical/manuwadi congress let the nation
know as to why it’s government could not provide a land for Samadhi of
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Delhi ?
Would they let the nation know why Chaityabhoomi - Samadhi of
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar could not get an inch more than meagre just 2
Guntas in Mumbai in last 53 years inspite of continuous pleas by the
Ambedkarites ? Would
the bramhnical/manuwadi congress let the nation know how much of prime
land in national capital they have wasted for samadhis of M K Gandhi,
Jawahar Nehru, Rajeev and Sanjay Gandhi, Indira bai, Kamla Nehru, etc.
? With current market price, what is the cost of this prime land in delhi
How much of public money they have squandered on maintenance of these samadhis ?
Did the corrupt congresswalas spent any money from their
ill gotten loot stashed in swiss banks to maintain these samadhis or it
was the money spent from the public exchequer at the cost of welfare of
the poor ?
Just to give idea of great developmental and welfare
work UP government is doing under stewardship of BSP Supremo bahen
Mayawati, following are the various developmental plans of UP
government for year 2009-2010. These facts exposes the concocted lies
being planted by the bramhnical/manuwadi media. Facts of UP Government’s plans in budget for 2009-2010 for Public welfare :
A provision of Rs. 9,400 crore has been made for the
various schemes being implemented for the social security and welfare
of weaker and deprived sections of society, which is 29 per cent more
than the provision made in the last years budget. Mahamaya Garib Balika Ashirvad Yojana has been launched to make the girls self-dependent and develop a positive
thinking in society to their birth, besides encouraging adult
marriages. An amount of Rs. 900 crore has been earmarked in the budget
for 2009-10 for the purpose.
Savitri Bai Phule Balika Shiksha Madad Yojana has been
launched to encourage girl education of the BPL families. An amount of
Rs. 412 crore has been provided in the budget A provision of Rs. 1,704 crore has been made under the
Oldage/ Kisan Pension Scheme to cover all eligible old people above 60
years.
A provision of
Rs. 120 crore has been made in this budget to ease the burden of debt
on poor and unemployed beneficiaries of scheduled castes (SC), whose
loans under several self-employment schemes are more than 10 years old
and are unable to repay them
Rs. 117 crore has been earmarked for providing financial
assistance for the marriage and treatment of girls belonging to poor families.
About 1.37 crore students belonging to SC/ST and General
categories studying in pre-10th and post 10th classes will be benefited
under the Pre-10th and Post 10th Scholarship Scheme. An amount of Rs.
1,193 crore has been earmarked for the purpose
Infrastructure
A provision of Rs. 9,846 crore has been made in the
budget for various schemes under implementation for increasing the
power generation capacity and improving the power supply system. A provision of Rs. 7,657 crore made for roads and bridges in budget for 2009-10 Provision of Rs. 3,609 crore proposed for the construction of
rural roads. Target has been fixed to purchase 2,209 buses in 2009-10.
Provision of Rs. 6,231 crore made in the budget for
irrigation and flood control projects, which is about 14 percent more
than last year. An
amount of Rs. 4,845 crore provided in the budget for housing, drinking
water, sewerage and other urban development programme under urban
infrastructure, which is 27 percent more than the provision made last
year Provision of Rs.
1,250 crore made in the budget for houses to the urban poor free of
cost under Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Shahari Garib Awas Yojana. Target
for construction of one lakh one thousand houses under the scheme An amount of Rs. 200 crore earmarked in the budget for interest free loan to urban bodies for expansion of
infrastructure facilities and development works under Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Nagar Vikas Yojana
Social Infrastructure -
Provision of Rs. 19,037 crore made in the budget for the
education sector, which is 42 percent more than last year At least one Girls High School to be opened in each
development block in partnership with private management in 426
identified development blocks in 2009-10 to provide secondary level
education to girls About
3,000 new primary schools, 710 new junior high schools and 10,000
additional class-rooms will be constructed in 2009-10. Target for construction of boundary walls of 14,000 schools and
electrification of 42,000 schools fixed under Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan Yojana in 2009-10 Provision of Rs. 1,211 crore made in 2009-10 for
Government Degree Colleges, aided and non-government degree colleges,
state universities and other higher education programmes State Quality Assurance Agency will be set up to
evaluate the quality of higher education in Universities and Degree
Colleges Five New Indian Information Technology Institutes are proposed to be set up. Medical and Health : An amount of Rs. 6,503 crore has been made in the budget
for Medical, Health and Family Welfare Schemes, which is 16 percent
more than the last year. Budgetary provisions of Rs. 85 crore made for the construction of PHCs
and Rs. 290 crore for CHCs buildings in 2009-10. A provision of Rs. 1240 crore made in the budget of
2009-10 for Family Welfare Programme, which is 25 percent more than
last year. An amount of
Rs. 1,239 crore provided for Allopathic Medical Colleges, Medical
University and super specialty Medical Institutes. An amount of Rs. 300 crore provided for State’s share
in the National Rural Health Mission, which is 28 percent more than
last year Provision of Rs. 362 crore in the budget for Ayurvedic and Unani hospitals. Provision of Rs. 184 crore made for the construction,
strengthening and up-gradation of Homoeopathic Medical Colleges and
Government Homeopathic Hospitals. Women and Child Development : With the objective of making girls self-dependent,
developing a positive attitude in society on their birth and to promote
adult marriages Mahamaya Garib Balika Ashirwad Yojana has been
launched. Under the scheme a provision of Rs. 150 crore in the
financial year 2008-09 and Rs.900 crore for the financial year 2009-10
has been made. A
provision of Rs. 561 crore has been made under grant scheme for the
education of widows and their children. This will benefit 15 lakh 63
thousand destitute women. Under Integrated Child Development Programme a sum of Rs. 1708 crore has been earmarked Provision of Rs.
1022 crore has been made in the financial year 2009-10 to benefit 2 crore 26 lakh beneficiaries under Supplementary Meal Scheme Rural development : Under Dr. Ambedkar Gram Sabha Vikas Yojana a target of
six lakh for BPL and approximately one lakh individual toilets for APL
has been set for the 3712 Dr. Ambedkar Gram Sabhas selected for the
financial year 2009-10. For other village Panchayats a target of 12.89
lakh toilets for BPL families and 1.29 lakh toilets for APL families
has been fixed. Provision of Rs. 1000 crore proposed for Rural Electrification. Under the Rural Drinking Water scheme, Accelerated Rural
Drinking Water Scheme and Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme are being
implemented. In the year 2009-10 budgetary provision of Rs. 378 crore
for Accelerated Rural Drinking Water Schemes has been proposed. Budgetary provision of Rs. 223 crore has been made for
construction of 2 lakh 85 thousand houses under Indira Awas Yojna Under Dr. Ambedkar Gram Sabha Development Scheme,
budgetary provision of Rs. 1457 crore under special component plan for
saturating all revenue villages of selected 3712 Gram Sabhas with
electricity and link roads. For the Rural Infrastructure Development Schemes funded by Rural
Infrastructure Development Fund, a provision of Rs. 1440 crore made for
2009-10 as against Rs. 750 crores for the year 2008-09. A target of providing employment to 50,000 persons and
generation of 35 lakh man days is fixed which is to be achieved by
increasing fish production to 4.19 lakh tonns with the implementation
of inter regional fisheries development projects in the state. Industrial Development Target of establishing 33000 micro and minor
enterprises, will provide employment opportunities to 1.30 lakh people. Target of providing employment to 30000 weavers by producing 62 crore meter handloom cloth.
Under Mukhya Mantri Gramoodyog Rozgar Scheme, target of
establishing 6500 new village industrial units fixed, which will
provide employment opportunities to 52000 persons
Agriculture and allied activities :
A provision of approximately Rs. 11064 crore year has
been made in this budget for Agriculture and allied activities which is
23 per cent more than the previous year.
Multi Dimensional Farmer Interest Scheme is being
implemented with the objective of making fallow land cultivable. The
project costing Rs. 171 core will treat 1.40 lakh hectares land per
annum and will create 1.10 crore man days. Jayant Ramteke
Mayawati bashes ‘anti-people’ budget Express News Service Posted: Jul 07, 2009 at 0536 hrs
Lucknow Chief Minister Mayawati has dismissed the Union budget as directionless and anti-people, which has disillusioned all sections of society. She said the budget proposals have vindicated her stand that the UPA government stands only for the rich and privileged sections.
Taking particular exception to the Finance Minister’s proposal for tax exemption on benami donations received by charitable trusts, Mayawati said this will encourage generation of black money.
“The budget has not fulfilled the expectations of the poor and weaker sections of the country and the budgetary arrangements suggest that it is loaded in favour of capitalists,” she said.
It is full of relief and concessions for rich people, business and the corporate world. Tax exemption for branded jewellery is one such proposal which will benefit only big businesses and the corporate world.
Criticising the Finance Minister for withdrawing the Fringe Benefit Tax, Mayawati said this was another big concession for the corporate world. Similarly, for the benefit of the business community, commodity trade tax has been abolished.
Low income groups had been given only a notional relief in income tax, while surcharge for tax payers with an annual income of Rs 10 lakh or more has been abolished.
The Finance Minister had ignored the interests of millions of weavers who are mostly from the SC/ST and minority communities. Moreover, instead of providing relief to the handloom sector, the Finance Minister had imposed eight per cent tax on the handloom products. She alleged that this would only benefit big companies manufacturing yarn.
The chief minister also said that with the objective of benefiting a particular business house, the Finance Minister had announced a tax holiday for companies involved in oil and gas exploration and production. Though in his speech, the Finance Minister mentioned electricity in rural areas, he did not announce any specific plan for the electrification of the villages of SC/STs and poor sections, she added.
Show me the money
In the run-up to Budget 2009, there
was a demand to increase the allocation of funds for SC/STs in the
country under the Special Component Plan. Whether these demands have
reached him or not, the Finance Minister promptly submitted a budget
which reduced the SCP allocation for SC/STs by 18 per cent.
Special Central
Assistance to the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan is the single most important
scheme for the SC/STs, and the lion’s share of the budget of the
Ministry for Social Justice is generally set aside and it is used
exclusively for the economic upliftment of SC/STs. What is inexplicable
is that the SCA budget fell from Rs 577.71 crores in 2008-09 to Rs 469
crores in the 2009-10 budget.
Ironically, few
weeks before the budget exercise, the Congress party, in its new found
love for SC/STs, visited and dined with SC/STs in their basties in
Uttar Pradesh. Probably in return, the budget launched a new scheme
called Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) with a gap funding of
just ten lakh rupees per village for a thousand villages. This budget
is pittance to what Uttar Pradesh spends under Ambedkar Gram Vikas
Yojana started in 1991 with more than ten thousand villages, from which
the PMAGY is inspired. The budget set aside this year is a mere Rs 100
crores for PMAGY. While this scheme claims that there are 44,000
villages with more than 50 percent SC population in India, the 2001
census shows only 28,672.
10:45 AMDiscourse
by Venerable Achàrya Buddharakkhita, Founder President, Maha Bodhi Society, Bangalore
11:15 AMSanghadàna
by devotees – alms offering to the monks
12:00noonMeals for devotees
12:30 PM to 2:00 PMChanting
of Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta by monks
2:00 PMDiscussion
on Building Buddhist Community and forming Pancasila Samiti
4:00 to 6:00 PMChanting
of Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta by devotees
6:00 PMBuddha Puja and Deepa Puja
THE
DHAMMACAKKA PAVATTANA SUTTA
Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta
is the first discourse which Lord Buddha delivered at the historic Sage’s
landing Retreat (Isipatana), in modern Sarnath, near Varanasi. This Sutta is the quintessence of
the Dhamma. Therefore it has been specially venerated down the ages throughout
the world. Ancient kings of India
got this sutta inscribed on gold, silver and copper plates and distributed them
widely so that people may design their lives on the Truths enunciated by the
master.
The teaching of the Buddha
represents His Enlightenment experience. He reveals and transmits the light of
His enlightenment through His teachings, so that others too might become enlightened.
Since His teachings are “Skillful Means” Upaya Kosalla, for spreading the message
of enlightenment, the Buddha set in motion the Wheel of Truth (Dhammacakka).
Therefore the Buddha is symbolically represented by two terms Wisdom (panna)
and Compassion (Karuna).
This sutta enunciates the
essence of the Buddha’s fundamental teachings, comprising
1. Two Extreme Path – Anta
2. The Middle path – Majhimà Patipadà
3. The Four Noble Truths – Cattàri Ariya Saccàni
4. The twelve facets of the four-fold Truth –
Dvadasakaranam.
The teachings of Dhammacakka
Pavattana Sutta do not constitute theoretical religious doctrines. They are
profound practical instructions for the solution of all problems and for
spiritual Liberation.
Please come, learn the sutta,
chant it with devotion and gain wisdom and merit.
With lots of metta,
Ananda Bhante
Commemorating the life of Buddha
Staff Reporter
Blood donation camp, book exhibition and procession held
RELIGIOUS
FESTIVAL: Sri Lankan traditional dancers take part in a procession
organised on the occasion of `Buddha Purnima’ by the Chennai centre of
the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri Lanka on Tuesday. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
Chennai: A blood donation camp, an exhibition of Buddhist books, and
a procession were some programmes conducted by the Chennai centre of
the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri Lanka on Tuesday to commemorate the
2551st Vishakha day of the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Lord
Buddha.
The books on display included `Gems of Buddhist Wisdom,’ `A Still
Forest Pool,’ `What the Buddha Taught,’ by Walpola Rahula, `The Way to
Nibbana,’ by Narada Thera, `A Tree in a Forest,’ compiled by Dhamma
Garden and a pictorial biography of Sakya Muni Buddha.
The day’s programme began at 6.30 a.m. with the observation of
Astangi Sila followed by Buddha Pooja, distributing alms to the
bikkhus, lectures on the Dhamma in Singhala and Tamil and a lecture on
the Buddhist way of meditation.
The special Vaishakha procession started from the Dr. Ambedkar
Statue near Nehru Stadium and concluded at the Maha Bodhi Centre,
Egmore.
Centre of activity
Kalawane Mahanama, Monk in-charge of the Chennai Centre of the
Society, said the Chennai centre had around 1,000 members. “Sri Lankans
and others who wish to visit places of the Buddhist pilgrimage in India
and Nepal come through this Centre,” he added. There are over one lakh
people who travel to places connected with Buddha’s life — Kushinagar,
Saranath, Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Sravasthi, Sankassa and Sanchi. A
four-storeyed building to accommodate around 150 people is to be
constructed at the Centre in Egmore, he said.
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Ven. Mahanama Thero Monk In Charge Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka Chennai Centre
NEW DELHI: The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) may wax eloquent
about empowering the downtrodden, but in the last five years it has
denied the
Scheduled Castes (SCs) a whopping Rs.72,500 crore ($15.16 billion)
that should have been earmarked for them under a special scheme.
This has been underlined by voluntary organisation National Campaign
on SC/STsHuman Rights (NCDHR) after a study of India’s budget
documents.
Called the special component plan (SCP), the scheme was a strategy
evolved way back in April 1975, envisaging that every central ministry
must allocate funds from its annual plan for SC/STs according to their
population.
SCs today form 16.2 percent of India’s 1.1 billion population.
Therefore, between 2005 and 2009, the Congress-led government should
have set aside Rs.129,000 crore for SC/STs.But as much as Rs.72,500
crore was not earmarked, the NCDHR has pointed out.
“The figures of allocation are a mute witness to the history of denial
of exclusion. It is not only for the last five years; this trend is
observed for the last 28 years since the inception of the special
component plan in 1979-80,” states the NCDHR.
It points to the allocations in the interim budget of the UPA
government in February.
“Out of 75 ministries and their departments, only 16 have allocated
funds under the SCP. Out of these, nine ministries have allocated
token amounts below five percent. Labour and employment, science &
technology, bio-technology, panchayati raj and textiles are some of
the examples,” says the study.
But the NCDHR concedes that human resource development, social justice
and empowerment, rural development, women and child development and
health ministries did make allocations according to the SC/ST
population.
The SCP came into being in 1979-80 and only Rs.433 crore had been
spent on SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) together in the 30 years
before that.
According to the Planning Commission guidelines, these funds cannot be
diverted for any other purpose.
The ruling Congress and its UPA allies that spoke of the common man in
the run up to elections allocated Rs.15,280 crore for SCs in its
interim budget in February while it should have set aside Rs.34,413
crore for this fiscal, says NCDHR.
“This is even lower than last year’s allocation,” points out the study.
“While the total increase in the plan outlay is 15.74 percent, it is
unacceptable that at this critical time of financial crisis, the
amount for the socially and economically vulnerable sections is
drastically reduced. The amount denied is 55 percent this year!”
As envisaged by the Planning Commission of India, the major objectives
of the SCP are:
* Substantial reduction in poverty;
* Creation of productive assets in favour of SCs to sustain the growth
likely to accrue through development efforts;
* Human resource development of the SCs by providing adequate
educational and health service; and
* Provision of physical and financial security against all types of
exploitation and oppression.
The sacred book of
Siddharta
Published on Sat, Jul 18, 2009 at 21:12
