Flickr Photos
Need for Detachment
November 29, 2007 — suriyodayamDetachment (Vairagya) is the sine quo non for renunciation as engagement with the world leads to attachment by fuelling desires. Spiritual practices are designed to wean a spiritual seeker away from sensory attractions and hence for one who has attained self-control it makes no difference if he does not renounce the world formally (Sanyasa). If one renounces family life to pursue the spiritual path without developing total detachment his renunciation will only be an outer mark.
In his discourse, Sri B.Sundar Kumar said it was not incumbent on everyone to renounce the world to pursue the spiritual path. In fact, scriptural texts are replete with examples of great devotees who realized God as householders.
The Bhagavata Purana relates the life of King Priyavrata, the elder son of Swayambhuva Manu, to show that a devotee can stay attuned to the spiritual goal amidst family life. When he was called upon by his father to rule the kingdom, the prince, who had with the blessing of Sage Narada developed unalloyed devotion to God, was on the verge of undertaking a vow of total contemplation on the Lord.
Being a dutiful son he accepted his father’s word though he was not interested in power and pelf, which he knew were deterrents to the spiritual path. In order to promote creation, Brahma, the creator, came down to the world to counsel Priyavrata to accept the kingdom and to propagate his lineage. Brahma advised, “He who is keen to subdue the six foes (to spiritual pursuit) should in the first instance strive to conquer them while remaining at home; for he alone who has ensconced himself in a stronghold is able to overcome even powerful enemies. When these (internal) foes grow weak, the wise man may roam about at will.”
Priyavrata accepted his advice and ruled the world righteously; he married the divine architect Viswakarma’s daughter and begot 10 sons and a daughter. He had three more sons by another wife. Such an emperor, who was blessed with all that a man could ask for, remembered his earlier resolve one day and handing over the reins of his kingdom to his sons followed the path of renunciation.
Courtesy: Religion, The Hindu, Madurai, November 6, 2007
Need for Detachment
November 29, 2007 — suriyodayamDetachment (Vairagya) is the sine quo non for renunciation as engagement with the world leads to attachment by fuelling desires. Spiritual practices are designed to wean a spiritual seeker away from sensory attractions and hence for one who has attained self-control it makes no difference if he does not renounce the world formally (Sanyasa). If one renounces family life to pursue the spiritual path without developing total detachment his renunciation will only be an outer mark.
In his discourse, Sri B.Sundar Kumar said it was not incumbent on everyone to renounce the world to pursue the spiritual path. In fact, scriptural texts are replete with examples of great devotees who realized God as householders.
The Bhagavata Purana relates the life of King Priyavrata, the elder son of Swayambhuva Manu, to show that a devotee can stay attuned to the spiritual goal amidst family life. When he was called upon by his father to rule the kingdom, the prince, who had with the blessing of Sage Narada developed unalloyed devotion to God, was on the verge of undertaking a vow of total contemplation on the Lord.
Being a dutiful son he accepted his father’s word though he was not interested in power and pelf, which he knew were deterrents to the spiritual path. In order to promote creation, Brahma, the creator, came down to the world to counsel Priyavrata to accept the kingdom and to propagate his lineage. Brahma advised, “He who is keen to subdue the six foes (to spiritual pursuit) should in the first instance strive to conquer them while remaining at home; for he alone who has ensconced himself in a stronghold is able to overcome even powerful enemies. When these (internal) foes grow weak, the wise man may roam about at will.”
Priyavrata accepted his advice and ruled the world righteously; he married the divine architect Viswakarma’s daughter and begot 10 sons and a daughter. He had three more sons by another wife. Such an emperor, who was blessed with all that a man could ask for, remembered his earlier resolve one day and handing over the reins of his kingdom to his sons followed the path of renunciation.
Courtesy: Religion, The Hindu, Madurai, November 6, 2007
What Could Make Your Library World Class – R.Krishnamoorthy
November 29, 2007 — suriyodayamIndian institutions have to take giant strides to make libraries the sought-after knowledge centre for research, according to S.Raghavan, Senior Faculty of Electronics and Communications Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi.
Only a handful libraries in elite institutions qualify for the world class categorisation. Before according digital status or considering libraries as world class, there are quite a few factors to be kept in mind, says Dr.Raghavan, citing the observations he made during his recent stay at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) as visiting scholar.
They are: Book drop in boxes; Photocopying and printing facilities in every floor (self operation with smart cards); good number of high-tech computer terminals; automatic issue and full RFID (Radio Frequency Identification); a fool-proof unmanned exit gate; a dedicated floor for music library; individual and presentation rooms; typewriters; silent zones; and appealing furniture.
The user-friendly CSUN Library in spacious setttings, for instance, contains 1.4 million volume collections with three million microforms. The library provides extensive electronic databases, full-text journals and books and services through its web presence. It also contains an automated storage and retrieval system which houses 700,000 volumes. Few of the databases are Lexis Nexis database, Thomson Gale database and Chicano database.
Its Music and Media wing holds a collection of printed music scores and books and sound recordings on CDs, audio cassettes and laptops. Besides books on music, over 9,100 music tapes and DVDs for faculty or classroom use are kept in this area. Listening and viewing facilities are available for a variety of media.
Three new state of the art microfilm and microfiche self-service, digital laser printers are available in the Microform room. Viewing carrels are available for individual study, and a group viewing room provides preview and discussion space. Students also could bring their own videotapes, DVDs, audio tapes, CDs or slides for viewing or listening. The library has access to over 28,000 full-text electronic journal, magazine or newspaper titles from the databases to which the library subscribes.
Photocopying, printing and scanning services are available on all the four floors of the library. This is a boon to researchers. Most visitors utilize a value-added debit card. In addition, coin-operated machines are also available. Colour photocopying, facsimile services, drop-off photocopy services, and colour scanning including scanning with paper print, scanning to file, transparency page creation, and colour printing are available.
The library has three large rooms namely Presentation room that a seating capacity of 200, built-in sound with microphone, a video projector and built-in screen. There is also a conference room with conference tables and a built-in screen. Administration conference room has in addition to the above facilities, a smart board.
Quiet zones are available wherein study rooms are built. Group study rooms with white boards are open to the users. Two manual typewriters for patron use are located in one floor. Pay phones and ‘campus only’ phones are at the disposal of the users.
Courtesy: R.Krishnamoorthy, The Hindu, Madurai, November 5, 2007
What Could Make Your Library World Class – R.Krishnamoorthy
November 29, 2007 — suriyodayamIndian institutions have to take giant strides to make libraries the sought-after knowledge centre for research, according to S.Raghavan, Senior Faculty of Electronics and Communications Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi.
Only a handful libraries in elite institutions qualify for the world class categorisation. Before according digital status or considering libraries as world class, there are quite a few factors to be kept in mind, says Dr.Raghavan, citing the observations he made during his recent stay at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) as visiting scholar.
They are: Book drop in boxes; Photocopying and printing facilities in every floor (self operation with smart cards); good number of high-tech computer terminals; automatic issue and full RFID (Radio Frequency Identification); a fool-proof unmanned exit gate; a dedicated floor for music library; individual and presentation rooms; typewriters; silent zones; and appealing furniture.
The user-friendly CSUN Library in spacious setttings, for instance, contains 1.4 million volume collections with three million microforms. The library provides extensive electronic databases, full-text journals and books and services through its web presence. It also contains an automated storage and retrieval system which houses 700,000 volumes. Few of the databases are Lexis Nexis database, Thomson Gale database and Chicano database.
Its Music and Media wing holds a collection of printed music scores and books and sound recordings on CDs, audio cassettes and laptops. Besides books on music, over 9,100 music tapes and DVDs for faculty or classroom use are kept in this area. Listening and viewing facilities are available for a variety of media.
Three new state of the art microfilm and microfiche self-service, digital laser printers are available in the Microform room. Viewing carrels are available for individual study, and a group viewing room provides preview and discussion space. Students also could bring their own videotapes, DVDs, audio tapes, CDs or slides for viewing or listening. The library has access to over 28,000 full-text electronic journal, magazine or newspaper titles from the databases to which the library subscribes.
Photocopying, printing and scanning services are available on all the four floors of the library. This is a boon to researchers. Most visitors utilize a value-added debit card. In addition, coin-operated machines are also available. Colour photocopying, facsimile services, drop-off photocopy services, and colour scanning including scanning with paper print, scanning to file, transparency page creation, and colour printing are available.
The library has three large rooms namely Presentation room that a seating capacity of 200, built-in sound with microphone, a video projector and built-in screen. There is also a conference room with conference tables and a built-in screen. Administration conference room has in addition to the above facilities, a smart board.
Quiet zones are available wherein study rooms are built. Group study rooms with white boards are open to the users. Two manual typewriters for patron use are located in one floor. Pay phones and ‘campus only’ phones are at the disposal of the users.
Courtesy: R.Krishnamoorthy, The Hindu, Madurai, November 5, 2007
All Those Books Online, More to Come! – AP
November 29, 2007 — suriyodayamMajor digital library project led by Indian-origin Professor surpasses initial goal of books
Pittsburgh: Nearly a decade ago, computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University embarked on a project with an astonishingly lofty goal: digitise the published works of humankind and make them freely available online.
The architects of the Universal Library project said on Tuesday they had surpassed their latest target, having scanned more than 1.5 million books and are continuing to scan thousands more daily. Most of the books scanned are in the Chinese language.
“Anyone who can get on the Internet now has access to a collection of books the size of a large university library,” said Raj Reddy, a Professor of Computer Science and Robotics at the university who led the project.
Much of the recent work in the Million Book Project has been carried out by workers at scanning centres in India and China, helped by $3.5 million in seed funding from the U.S.National Science Foundation and in-kind contributions from computer hardware and software makers.
The U.S., China and India each have contributed $10 million to the project, undertaken with partners at China’s Zhejiang University, the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, and Egypt’s Library at Alexandria.
At least half the books are out of copyright or scanned with the permission of copyright holders. Excerpts of copyright-protected works are available, though the organisers expect complete texts to become available eventually.
Other Projects
The project is not the first of its kind. Online search engine operator Google and software giant Microsoft have begun similar endeavours, though Carnegie Mellon representatives say theirs is the largest university-based digital library of free books and that its purpose is non-commercial.
It is a step toward the creation of an online library that would make traditionally published books available to all, said Professor Reddy. “The economic barriers to the distribution of knowledge are falling,” he said in a statement – AP
Courtesy: AP and The Hindu, Madurai, November 29, 2007
All Those Books Online, More to Come! – AP
November 29, 2007 — suriyodayamMajor digital library project led by Indian-origin Professor surpasses initial goal of books
Pittsburgh: Nearly a decade ago, computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University embarked on a project with an astonishingly lofty goal: digitise the published works of humankind and make them freely available online.
The architects of the Universal Library project said on Tuesday they had surpassed their latest target, having scanned more than 1.5 million books and are continuing to scan thousands more daily. Most of the books scanned are in the Chinese language.
“Anyone who can get on the Internet now has access to a collection of books the size of a large university library,” said Raj Reddy, a Professor of Computer Science and Robotics at the university who led the project.
Much of the recent work in the Million Book Project has been carried out by workers at scanning centres in India and China, helped by $3.5 million in seed funding from the U.S.National Science Foundation and in-kind contributions from computer hardware and software makers.
The U.S., China and India each have contributed $10 million to the project, undertaken with partners at China’s Zhejiang University, the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, and Egypt’s Library at Alexandria.
At least half the books are out of copyright or scanned with the permission of copyright holders. Excerpts of copyright-protected works are available, though the organisers expect complete texts to become available eventually.
Other Projects
The project is not the first of its kind. Online search engine operator Google and software giant Microsoft have begun similar endeavours, though Carnegie Mellon representatives say theirs is the largest university-based digital library of free books and that its purpose is non-commercial.
It is a step toward the creation of an online library that would make traditionally published books available to all, said Professor Reddy. “The economic barriers to the distribution of knowledge are falling,” he said in a statement – AP
Courtesy: AP and The Hindu, Madurai, November 29, 2007
Memorable Quotes-10:
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamFrom your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other. But when books are opened you discover you have wings – Helen Hayes
A Thought for Today-137: November 8, 2007
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamThe man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds – Mark Twain
A Thought for Today-136: November 7, 2007
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamIf you restore confidence in the hearts of people, they can work wonders – Napoleon
A Thought for Today-135: November 6, 2007
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamA sincere, balance and kind attitude towards ourselves as well as others is the key to happiness and success in life’s all avenues – Janos Selye
A Thought for Today-135: November 6, 2007
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamA sincere, balance and kind attitude towards ourselves as well as others is the key to happiness and success in life’s all avenues – Janos Selye
A Thought for Today-134: November 5, 2007
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamThe fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions – Chanakya
Gems-1:
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamReligion is like a medicine. You have to ingest it to combat the illness – The Dalai Lama
Gems-1:
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamReligion is like a medicine. You have to ingest it to combat the illness – The Dalai Lama
Little Nuggets-67:
November 28, 2007 — suriyodayamThere are a lot of things happening that shows us that this, right now, is a time to love – Stevie Wonder
Health News-4: "World Diabetes Day: November 14"
November 15, 2007 — suriyodayamFrom International Diabetes Federation’s Website:
Diabetes is a silent killer that kills one person every ten seconds.
Diabetes is a global problem with devastating human, social and economic impact. Today more than 245 million people worldwide are living with diabetes and by 2025, this total is expected to increase to over 380 million people. Each year another 7 million people develop diabetes.
Diabetes is a growing epidemic threatening to overwhelm global healthcare services, wipe out some indigenous populations and undermine economies worldwide, especially in developing countries.Each year more than 3.8 million people die from diabetes-related causes, one death every 10 seconds.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is a worldwide alliance of over 200 diabetes associations in more than 160 countries, who have come together to enhance the lives of people with diabetes everywhere. For over 50 years, IDF has been at the vanguard of global diabetes advocacy. The Federation is committed to raising global awareness of diabetes, promoting appropriate diabetes care and prevention, and encouraging activities towards finding a cure for the different types of diabetes. It is the mission of IDF to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide.
From Wikipedia:
World Diabetes Day is a day of awareness for diabetes. It was developed by the International Diabetes Federation in 1991 as a way to increase people’s knowledge about diabetes, and help prevent the disease. World Diabetes Day is held on November 14.
Grateful thanks to: International Diabetes Federation and Wikipedia.
Suriyodayam's Weblog 