391 LESSON 01 10 2011
Donapaka Sutta King Pasenadi Goes on a Diet
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SN 3.13
PTS: S i 81
CDB i 176
Donapaka Sutta: King Pasenadi Goes on a Diet
translated from the Pali by
Andrew Olendzki
Alternate translation: Walshe
Once when the Buddha was living at Savatthi,
King Pasenadi of Kosala ate a whole bucketful of food, and then approached the
Buddha, engorged and panting, and sat down to one side. The Buddha, discerning
that King Pasenadi was engorged and panting, took the occasion to utter this
verse:
When a person is constantly mindful, And knows when enough food
has been taken, All their afflictions become more slender — They age more
gradually, protecting their lives.
Now at that time the brahman youth Sudassana
was standing nearby, and King Pasenadi of Kosala addressed him: “Come now,
my dear Sudassana, and having thoroughly mastered this verse in the presence of
the Buddha, recite it whenever food is brought to me. And I will set up for you
a permanent offering of a hundred kahaapanas every day.” “So
be it, your majesty,” the brahman youth Sudassana replied to the king.
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala gradually settled
down to [eating] no more than a cup-full of rice. At a later time, when his
body had become quite slim, King Pasenadi stroked his limbs with his hand and
took the occasion to utter this utterance:
Indeed the Buddha has shown me Compassion in two different ways:
For my welfare right here and now, and also for in the future.
Translator’s note
Who would have thought weight-loss could be so
easy! In this brief exchange the Buddha is suggesting that over-eating is the
root of obesity, which hastens the aging process and threatens one’s life, and
that this only occurs when mindfulness is weak or absent. If we eat slowly and
with a great deal of attention, it can more easily become apparent (if we are
truthful with ourselves) when an adequate amount of food has been consumed.
Interestingly, he seems to be saying that wisdom will provide what is needed to
refrain from further eating, rather than the modern conventional view that it
requires will-power or self restraint.
Always one to play on words, the Buddha says
that all our afflictions (literally, all our unpleasant feelings), and not just
our bodies, will “become more slender.” Perhaps this is what Pasenadi
is referring to when he says the Buddha’s teaching has not only helped him slim
down his body (the immediate benefit), but the general increase of mindfulness
and diminishing of greed will help with all aspects of the spiritual life (and
thus with his rebirth in the future).
The commentary to this text informs us that
the king did not engage Sudassana to utter the verse throughout the entire
meal, but only once he had started eating. The idea is not to cultivate an
aversion to food, for food itself is not an evil. As with so much else in the
Buddha’s teaching, it is a matter of understanding cause and effect, and of
using food skillfully as a tool for awakening rather than allowing oneself to
be caught by the latent tendencies of attachment, aversion and confusion that
might be evoked by our relationship to food.
Notice the language of the last line of the
Buddha’s verse. The word for life (aayu) is the same one as in the
Indian medical tradition of Ayurveda (=knowledge of life), and is regarded as
something that can be squandered or carefully guarded. When approached with
care, the preservation of life also slows down the aging process. The image is
not one of conquering illness or death (for this comes only from full
awakening), but of treating the precious resource of one’s own vitality with
wisdom.
DOB 550 Unraveling Logic in Buddhist Texts I - 1 credit
Delivery Mode: Residential
Course Description:
This course prepares
students to understand the logical arguments found in classic
Buddhist texts and oral
teachings, focusing on applying the principles of logic and
Tibetan-style debate. It
offers a methodical training in the underlying structure of debate
as found in texts,
building on skills acquired in Clear Thinking class. We will formulate
reasonings and track a
debate in a text. Of the three types of reasons, the emphasis will
be on understanding
reasons of nature.
Prerequisites: DOB 501, DOB 502
390 LESSON 30 09 2011
Anuradha
Sutta: To Anuradha
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Mind and its World IV: Vaibhāshika and Sautrāntika Philosophical
Traditions
Chief
Electoral Office asked BSP to identify Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to take up Special
Campaign for Roll Revision process on 9th, 16th and 23rd
October, 2011 under the aegis of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). On these Special
campaign dates, the BLO will go through the voters rolls with BLAs of BSP of
the State and identify correction etc. Now we must select One agent per booth
of 44,497 for the purpose and submit to Kar.BSO HO to hand over the same to CEO
Karnataka.
feedbackeci@gmail.com
ceokarnataka@gmail.com, karnatakabsp@yahoo.com,bspkar1891@rediffmail.comRespected
Sir,
Sub:whether voters are automatically added to the rolls
when they reach legal voting age or not?
“Superintendence, direction and control of the electoral rolls, and for
the conduct of, all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every
State and of elections to the offices of President and Vice-President held under this constitution1***shall be
vested in a Commission (referred to in this Constitution as the Election
Commission).”
In some countries, including most developed
countries, registration is the responsibility of the government, either local
or national.
Even in countries where registration is the individual’s responsibility, many
reformers, seeking to maximize voter turnout, have pushed for wider
availability of the required forms.
Same day registration is also known as Election Day Registration. Nine states in the US do not require advance registration,
instead allowing voters to register when they arrive at the polls or, in the
case of North Dakota, eliminating the registration step altogether. Five of
these states rank highest in the nation in voter turnout.
Laws requiring individual voters to register,
as opposed to having the government register people automatically, have a
strong correlation
with lower numbers of people turning out to vote
where voting is voluntary. This lower turnout is especially concentrated among
low-income voters and young voters — i.e., those least likely to vote no matter
what the registration requirements.[1]
Because of this, such laws are often controversial. Some advocate for their
abolition, while others argue that the laws should be reformed, for instance: allowing
voters to register on the day of the election. This tactic, called Election Day Registration,
has been adopted by several U.S. states:
Connecticut,
Idaho,
Iowa, Maine,
Minnesota,
Montana,
New Hampshire,
Wisconsin
and Wyoming.
I wish to know in India whether voters are automatically added to the rolls when they reach
legal voting age or not?
Your Early reply is solicited
With Kind Regards,
Your’s Sincerly
J.Chandrasekharan
SN
22.86
PTS:
S
iii 116
CDB
i 936
Anuradha
Sutta: To Anuradha
translated
from the Pali by
Thanissaro
Bhikkhu
Alternate
translation: Walshe
This
sutta is identical to SN 44.2.
I have
heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Vesali,
in the Great Wood, at the Hall of the Gabled Pavilion. At
that time Ven. Anuradha was staying not far from the
Blessed One in a wilderness hut.
Then a
large number of wandering sectarians went to Ven. Anuradha and on arrival
exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings
& courtesies, they sat to one side. As they were sitting there, they said
to Ven. Anuradha, “Friend Anuradha, the Tathagata — the supreme man, the
superlative man, attainer of the superlative attainment — being described, is
described with [one of] these four positions: The Tathagata exists after death,
does not exist after death, both does & does not exist after death, neither
exists nor does not exist after death.”
When
this was said, Ven. Anuradha said to the wandering sectarians, “Friends,
the Tathagata — the supreme man, the superlative man, attainer of the
superlative attainment — being described, is described otherwise than with
these four positions: The Tathagata exists after death, does not exist after
death, both does & does not exist after death, neither exists nor does not
exist after death.”
When
this was said, the wandering sectarians said to Ven. Anuradha, “This monk
is either a newcomer, not long gone forth, or else an elder who is foolish
& inexperienced.” So the wandering sectarians, addressing Ven.
Anuradha as they would a newcomer or a fool, got up from their seats and left.
Then
not long after the wandering sectarians had left, this thought occurred to Ven.
Anuradha: “If I am questioned again by those wandering sectarians, how
will I answer in such a way that will I speak in line with what the Blessed One
has said, will not misrepresent the Blessed One with what is unfactual, will
answer in line with the Dhamma, so that no one whose thinking is in line with
the Dhamma will have grounds for criticizing me?”
Then
Ven. Anuradha went to the Blessed One and on arrival, having bowed down to the
Blessed One, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed
One: “Just now I was staying not far from the Blessed One in a wilderness
hut. Then a large number of wandering sectarians came and… said to me,
‘Friend Anuradha, the Tathagata — the supreme man, the superlative man, attainer
of the superlative attainment — being described, is described with [one of]
these four positions: The Tathagata exists after death, does not exist after
death, both does & does not exist after death, neither exists nor does not
exist after death.’
“When
this was said, I said to them, ‘Friends, the Tathagata — the supreme man, the
superlative man, attainer of the superlative attainment — being described, is
described otherwise than with these four positions: The Tathagata exists after
death, does not exist after death, both does & does not exist after death,
neither exists nor does not exist after death.’
“When
this was said, the wandering sectarians said to me, ‘This monk is either a
newcomer, not long gone forth, or else an elder who is foolish & inexperienced.’
So, addressing me as they would a newcomer or a fool, they got up from their
seats and left.
“Then
not long after the wandering sectarians had left, this thought occurred to me:
‘If I am questioned again by those wandering sectarians, how will I answer in
such a way that will I speak in line with what the Blessed One has said, will
not misrepresent the Blessed One with what is unfactual, will answer in line
with the Dhamma, and no one whose thinking is in line with the Dhamma will have
grounds for criticizing me?’”
“What
do you think, Anuradha: Is form constant or inconstant?”
“Inconstant,
lord.”
“And
is that which is inconstant easeful or stressful?”
“Stressful,
lord.”
“And
is it proper to regard what is inconstant, stressful, subject to change as:
‘This is mine. This is my self. This is what I am’?”
“No,
lord.”
“Is
feeling constant or inconstant?”
“Inconstant,
lord.”…
“Is
perception constant or inconstant?”
“Inconstant,
lord.”…
“Are
fabrications constant or inconstant?”
“Inconstant,
lord.”…
“Is
consciousness constant or inconstant?
“Inconstant,
lord.”
“And
is that which is inconstant easeful or stressful?”
“Stressful,
lord.”
“And
is it proper to regard what is inconstant, stressful, subject to change as:
‘This is mine. This is my self. This is what I am’?”
“No,
lord.”
“What
do you think, Anuradha: Do you regard form as the Tathagata?”
“No,
lord.”
“Do
you regard feeling as the Tathagata?”
“No,
lord.”
“Do
you regard perception as the Tathagata?”
“No,
lord.”
“Do
you regard fabrications as the Tathagata?”
“No,
lord.”
“Do
you regard consciousness as the Tathagata?”
“No,
lord.”
“What
do you think, Anuradha: Do you regard the Tathagata as being in form?…
Elsewhere than form?… In feeling?… Elsewhere than feeling?… In
perception?… Elsewhere than perception?… In fabrications?… Elsewhere than
fabrications?… In consciousness?… Elsewhere than consciousness?”
“No,
lord.”
“What
do you think: Do you regard the Tathagata as
form-feeling-perception-fabrications-consciousness?”
“No,
lord.”
“Do
you regard the Tathagata as that which is without form, without feeling,
without perception, without fabrications, without consciousness?”
“No,
lord.”
“And
so, Anuradha — when you can’t pin down the Tathagata as a truth or reality even
in the present life — is it proper for you to declare, ‘Friends, the Tathagata
— the supreme man, the superlative man, attainer of the superlative attainment
— being described, is described otherwise than with these four positions: The
Tathagata exists after death, does not exist after death, both does & does
not exist after death, neither exists nor does not exist after death’?”
“No,
lord.”
“Very
good, Anuradha. Very good. Both formerly & now, it is only
stress that I describe, and the cessation of stress.”
See also:
The suttas in the Avyakata
Samyutta.
DOB 530 Mind and
its World IV: Vaibhāshika and Sautrāntika Philosophical
Traditions - 2 credits
Delivery
Mode: Residential & Online
Course
Description:
This
course is a systematic study of the foundational schools of Buddhist
philosophy.
Vaibhāshika
and Sautrāntika tenets are valued for their presentation of a contemplative
world-view
of radical impermanence, without needing to postulate neither a personal
identity
nor any principle of divine creation. Only momentary entities are able to
perform
functions;
since concepts are not able to perform functions like their referent objects,
they
are
nominally classified as “permanent” and relegated to the realm of
near non-existence.
Prerequisites:
DOB 501, DOB 502
1.1.2
Foundation Curriculum: Logic
Prabuddhanagar,
Panchsheel Nagar, Bhimnagar : UP gets three new districts
On the first day of her statewide tour, Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday
announced the creation of three more districts — Prabuddhanagar, Panchsheel
Nagar and Bhimnagar — and reiterated her old demand for dividing Uttar Pradesh
into smaller states.
Prabuddhanagar comprises
Muzaffarnagar’s Shamli and Kairana tehsils, and Panchsheel Nagar consists of Ghaziabad’s Hapur, Garhmukteshwar and
Dhaulana tehsils.
Carved out of Moradabad district, Bhimnagar
includes Sambhal, Chandausi and Gunnaur tehsils. After these additions, UP will
have 75 districts.
She also announced her government’s decision to upgrade Dhaulana as a new
tehsil.
The Chief Minister began her state-wide tour by visiting Shamli in
Muzaffarnagar, Hapur in Ghaziabad and Sambhal in Moradabad and announced her
decision to make these places the headquarters of the newly created districts.
She said there would be no change in the name of Hapur town.
Mayawati also used the opportunity to play her old card, demanding division of
Uttar Pradesh into three separate states — Pashchimanchal, Purvanchal and
Bundelkhand.
The Chief Minister had earlier written letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
demanding creation of three separate states.
She told the gathering at all three places that she has always favoured the
creation of three separate states by dividing the state and underlined the need
for the reconstitution of Uttar Pradesh for this purpose.
The CM said the creation of separate states is the Centre’s domain, adding both
the Congress and BJP did not take any step in this regard during their tenures.
Reiterating her demand for reservation to Muslims and poor among upper castes
as well as inclusion of Jats in the central list of other backward classes,
Mayawati said she favoured an increase in the quota of OBCs and SCs. She also
demanded reservation for these communities in the judiciary and private
sectors.
Justifying her decision to create smaller districts, she said: “The idea of
smaller units was propagated by leaders like Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Jyotirao
Phule.”
She also said smaller administrative units help maintain law and order, besides
ensuring development.
Mayawati said she took the decision after she surveyed the state of development
in all existing 72 districts of the state.
“It was found that the Ghaziabad district was far too big for administrative
efficiency. The rural areas of Hapur were not benefiting in terms of
development, so this decision has been taken.” She said the move would allow
the Ghaziabad Development Authority to concentrate on a smaller area, mostly
urban and industrial.
Coming down hard on the central government, the Chief Minister said the Centre
had not been cooperating with the BSP’s efforts to develop Uttar Pradesh.
“We asked for a economic package of Rs 8,000 crore in 2007 but that request was
turned down. In spite of that, the state government has carried out a lot of
development activities.”
Mayawati also inspected police stations and tehsil offices. “During her visit
to the Hapur police station, she expressed her unhappiness for not keeping the
premises clean,” a government statement said.
The statement said the CM took a serious view of the absence of mobile numbers
of complainants in the tehsil register. At Shambhal and Shamli, she reviewed
the implementation of various government schemes.
Insiders said the CM has started giving special focus to western UP where the
BSP is facing trouble in the wake of land acquisition. “Her decision to upgrade
Shambhal as Bhimnagar district would help her woo Muslim voters. This is a
politically right decision before the 2012 Assembly elections,” a source in the
BSP said.
Sources in the government said she would visit Kanpur, Auraiya and Ramabai
Nagar on September 30.
Hapur residents were elated. Harish Yadav, who was part of the Hapur Sangharsh
Samiti, said, “We have been making this demand for a separate district since
1976. Now that it has come true, maybe the region will get some attention. It
has been ignored for far too long.”
New DMs in new districts
The state government on Wednesday posted District Magistrates in the three
newly created districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Pragyan Ram Mishra has been posted as DM of Bhimnagar, Ajay Kumar Singh is DM
of Prabuddhanagar and Saurabh Babu has been made the DM of Panchsheel Nagar.
The government has also transferred three other IAS officers. Nitishwar Kumar
has been made Managing Director of Madhyanchal Vidyut Board, Raj Shekhar is DM
of Jalaun and Sunita Chaturvedi is DM of Balrampur.
With
Regards
Sandip Patil
Mumbai, 8149645674
The chief minister Mayawati on Monday suspended one more BSP MLA Haji
Yaqoob Quereshi from the party. Quereshi, who represented Meerut assembly segment, has been charged with anti-party activities. As a part of cleansing exercise the chief minister has so far suspended one dozen MLAs from the party.Mayawati has issued instructions to the party leaders that Quereshi
should not be allowed to attend any party programme. Quereshi, who had won on the symbol of United Democratic Front (UDF) in 2007, had merged his party in the BSP on June 3, 2007.Announcing his suspension from the party, state unit chief Swami
Prasad Maurya said Quereshi, because of his objectionable statements had been controversial right from the beginning.However the axe has now fallen on him for his comments against the
The BSP has so far taken action against a dozen MLAs for their
The chief minister had also denied BSP ticket to MLA from Hastinapur
Yogendra Verma on Sunday.The suspended MLAs are Shekhar Tiwari, who is in jail in connection
with murder of an engineer in Auraiyya, Anand Sen also in jail in a murder case, Purshottan Naresh Dwevidi, (in jail) charged with raping a girl in Banda, Farid Mahfooz Kidwai, Krishna Kumar Singh alias Satish Verma (both left party to join SP), Awadhpal Yadav suspended after Lokayukta report, Bhagwan Sharma alias Guddu Pandit accused of his criminal activities, Dashrath Prasad Chauhan and Ashok Singh Chandel also accused of his criminal activities. There are possibilities of action against some more BSP MLAs. Kidwai has now been expelled from the membership of the House under anti-defectionMaurya said the BSP had full respect for all religions. He said the
BSP had taken serious note of statement of Quereshi against the community. As a part of continued crackdown on Dhananjay Singh, the government has also withdrawn Y category security to him. The government had provided 11 constables for his security. Now he hasSingh said he had been provided Y category on the recommendation of
In her letter on Monday, Mayawati demanded an increase in the existing
quota of 27 per cent for OBCs and then urged him to accommodate Muslims and Jats in it.Besides, she has also suggested an increase in the existing quota for
Mayawati favoured reservation for Jats and Muslims within the OBC
quota in accordance with their population, but only after an increase in the existing quota.In her letter, Mayawati also reiterated her demand for giving
reservation to the poor among the upper castes.Elaborating on the need to write another letter to the Prime Minister,
Referring to the Sachar Committee’s reports, she underlined the need
She also reminded the PM of her earlier demands like reservation for
According to government statement, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Poor condition of highways in UP:
Maya sends letter to PM
Ashish Tripathi, TNN | Sep 27, 2011, 08.17PM IST
LUCKNOW: UP chief minister Mayawati has shot off two letters to prime minister Manmohan Singh. While the first one is to draw the attention of Singh towards the poor conditions of national highways passing through UP, the other one is about short supply of fertilisers.
A DVD with footage of pot holed roads has been attached with the letter to make prime minister have an idea of reality. So far, Mayawati has written six letters to the prime minister in last one week. The four letters earlier were on providing reservations to Muslims, Jats, the poor among the upper caste and implementing quota in private sector.
In the first letter, Mayawati has informed the prime minister that the conditions of the highways have turned from bad to worse following heavy rains during the monsoon. Interestingly, in first of its kind endeavour, the chief minister has also attached a DVD having footage of pathetic condition of the national highways (93, 119, 74, 72A, 73,
76, 76E, 75E, 7, 19, 232, 91A, 92 and 97) passing through UP.
Mayawati has requested prime minister to pay immediate attention towards the problem because bad condition of roads is also leading to loss of human life due to accidents. The condition of the roads, she said, is also affecting the development of the state. She has reminded the prime minister of the letter written by the UP government to the
Union minister of national highways and transport, regarding release of funds for repair of national highways. As many as 43 national highways pass through UP. The total length of the highways is 6681 km, of which 3178 km comes under the state public works department.
Mayawati has also reminded the prime minister that Rs 900 crore were sanctioned for the repair and construction of national highways in the financial year 2010-11. However, only Rs 50.50 have been released so far. Further, she said for the financial year 2011-12, Rs 737 crore were earmarked. However, money has not been released despite the fact
that the state government has sent an estimate of Rs 683.64 crore for renovation of highways. “After seeing the DVD you will come to know about the reality and the urgency required to tackle the situation,”she has stated in the letter.
The second letter is about inadequate supply of fertilisers to UP. In her letter, Mayawati has said that UP government has requested for 67 lakh metric tonne of fertilisers (40 lakh metric tonne of urea, 12 lakh metric tonne of DAP, 0.50 lakh metric tonne of MAP, 1 lakh metric tonne of DAP light, 8.50 lakh metric tonne of NPK, 2,50 lakh metric
tonne of MOP and 2.50 lakh metric tonne of SSP) from the Central government. However, the Centre has provided only 53.15 lakh metric tonne of fertilisers (33 lakh metric tonne of urea, 9.15 lak metric tonne DAP, six lakh metric tonne NPK, 2,50 lakh metric tonne MOP and 2.50 lakh metric tonne of SSP) so far.
Mayawati has also reminded the prime minister that UP was awarded best performing state for bumper crops in 2010-11 financial year. The BSP government took a number of measures, including better electricity supply, availability of seeds and fertilisers and better procurement for increasing income of the farmers, to boost agriculture production
in the state. In order to sustain high productivity, state government will have to provide good quality fertilisers to the farmers. However, despite several requests, the Central government is not cooperating with the state government, Mayawati has complained in the letter.
Interestingly, after coming to power Maya has written over 100 letters to PM on different issues demanding funds for development of the state. However, none of her demands have been met by the Congress led UPA government. The recent letters are being seen as chief minister’s attempt to show people in the election year that highways are in bad
shape because of the Congress led UPA government. The move also aims to take out the sting from the Congress allegations on lack of development in the state under Maya rule. This is the fifth letter of Mayawati to Singh in last one week.
Mayawati to launch election
campaign
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: September 28, 2011 12:13 IST
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati will launch her election campaign for the 2012 Assembly elections today.
The state government is expected to announce three new districts to be carved out of Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad and Moradabad. Shamli, Hapur
and Sambhal also may get district status.
The Chief Minister is also likely to begin her state-wide tour from today to collect feedback about the development works and law and
order situation in the state.
Maya to sell development plank in
UP
Age Corespondent
New Delhi
UP chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati is gearing up for the 2012 state Assembly elections and is seeking to sell the development plank in the western UP region to consolidate non-jat voters in favour of her party.
Ms Mayawati will be setting off on a whirlwind tour of the western UP to impress upon the people benefits of three new districts in the
region. The BSP supremo is scheduled to visit Hapur, Shaymli and Sambhal, all three new districts, on Wednesday to drive home the point
that the government would be much nearer to them than earlier.
The BSP had won a large number of Assembly seats from the western UP in the 2007 Assembly elections by winning support
of the SC/STs and Muslims.
“The BSP is banking on the core support base (SC/STs) in the region. The state government under the leadership of Ms Mayawati has taken
several initiatives to make administrative responsive to the needs of the people along with setting up a dedicated police set up specifically for the region,” said a BSP functionary.
The party leaders said that the BSP supremo would be reaching out to people in the region more frequently.