How the sun looks when you take pictures at the same place and time every week for a year…….
This “8” pattern is the result of earth’s 23.5 degree tilt and its slightly elliptical orbit…..this phenomenon is called ANALEMMA. The phenomenon was first photographed in Hungary .
First Photographed in Hungary
Bangalore : 10th November 2017
In a historic decision by the Division Bench of Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka consisting of Justice Mr. B.S. Patil and Justice Mrs. B. V.
Nagarathna, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been directed to ensure that Ward Committees constituted on 31st October 2017 in all the 198 wards of the city should meet by end of November in accordance with Section13-H of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976. The Court further directed that during this first meeting each and every Ward Committee shall prepare a ward level plan to “ensure proper solid waste management and
sanitation work in the ward and finalise location of new public sanitation
units” as per Sec 13 (I) (i) of the Act. These plans will be consolidated
into an Action Taken Report (ATR) by BBMP and placed on its website, and a
report of progress will be produced in Court prior to the next date of
hearing i.e. 8th December 2017.
The direction assumes critical importance at a time when governance and
management of large metropolitan centres such as Bangalore are in a
perpetual state of crisis. This is a direct consequence of the lack of
decentralization and devolution of power that guarantees direct public
participation in civic matters as per the Constitutional 74th Amendment
(Nagarpalika) Act, 1992. This critical reform initiated 25 years ago with the aim of improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in civic administration has been delayed for
one or the other reason. Comprehending the entire situation and the
prevailing crisis, the High Court issued these directions in response to a
submission made by Mr. Leo F. Saldanha of Environment Support Group in WP
46523/2012 (Environment Support Group & Ors v. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara
Palike & Ors) connected with WP 24739/2012 and other Public Interest Litigations that are
being heard by the Court since July 2012 in tacking the solid waste
management crises).
In an unprecedented initiative, the Court also directed BBMP to prepare a
booklet consisting of all High Court directives, as also specific
provisions of Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Karnataka
Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 relating to Ward Committee functioning,
and reach that to every Ward Committee within 10 days. The Committees would
then be assisted by BBMP in developing a Ward Level Waste Management Plan
based on micro-plans developed by BBMP, the prevailing reality and inputs
from the public.
The High Court in earlier orders has made Ward Committees responsible to manage waste within their ward limits. In fact in directions issued in November 2012, that Court had held there is no solution to the garbage crisis unless each and every ward would segregate waste at source and manage waste produced within the ward by establishing two wet waste and one dry waste processing centres. This was to ensure that waste would not travel tens of miles to be dumped in quarries or landfills causing havoc in the lives of thousands of villagers,
who are unfortunate victims of the city’s waste.
Mr. Sarfaraz Khan, Jt. Commissioner (SWM and Health) of BBMP submitted that
maximum efforts were invested to ensure segregation and management of waste
at source. However, only 40% of waste segregation has been achieved. While
efforts are on to ensure maximum management of waste by segregation at
source, interim measures demand waste need to be taken to quarries. This is
also because eight waste processing sites that have been established at the
cost of Rs. 450 crores have not been functioning optimally due to various
reasons, including local resistance.
Earlier, Mr. Ajesh Kumar, Counsel for petitioners in WP 24739/2012, brought
to the attention of the Court that several progressive directions issued
for managing solid waste have not been complied with. These directions
require segregation of waste at source and its management in local areas.
As a result, accumulated mixed waste was being dumped in quarry pits in and
around the city resulting in massive environmental and health impacts on
local village communities.
Mrs. Kathyayini Chamaraj of CIVIC Bangalore, who is an impleading applicant
in the PILs, argued that the Ward Committees currently set up have not been
constituted as per the law. The Court felt that such legal objections could
be raised independently. But the Ward Committees now set up must begin
functioning immediately
Press Release Issued by Namrata Kabra, Mallesh K. R. and Harsh Vardhan Bhati
Environment Support Group
No one noticed
When the sparrows left
It was just another
smoggy winter morning
People drove their cars
dropped their children off
At air conditioned schools
Where they learned
Pollution is a bad thing
It was just another
smoggy winter morning
And stuck on flyovers
No one noticed
That they spent more time on roads
Than with family and friends
So the city of traders
Traded its sparrows,
for SUVs
And children’s lungs
for Diwali firecrackers
Pollution was good for business
And as a million bonfires
lit up in Punjab and Haryana
Delhi bought air purifiers,
masks, cough syrup
and tweeted in anger
But it all started
On a smoggy winter morning
When the last sparrow left
No one noticed,
As that ever useful smog
Hid us from our conscience
-Author Unknown
Weaken a bad habit by avoiding everything that occasioned it or stimulated it, without concentrating upon it in your zeal to avoid it. Then divert your mind to some good habit and steadily cultivate it until it becomes a dependable part of you.
– Paramahansa Yogananda
Daan Roosegaarde and his team of experts have created the world’s largest smog vacuum cleaner. The 7-meter (23 feet) tall SMOG FREE TOWER uses patented positive ionisation technology to produce smog free air in public spaces, allowing people to breathe and experience clean air for free. It is equipped with environment-friendly technology, cleans 30.000 m3 per hour and uses no more electricity than a water boiler (1170 watts). The SMOG FREE TOWER provides a local solution for clean air such as in parks. The effect of the Smog Free Tower has been validated by the results compiled by the Eindhoven University of Technology.
https://ideas.ted.com/this-tower-sucks-up-smog-and-turns-it-into-diamonds/
Watch this video which explains all
I asked the leaf whether it was frightened because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling.
The leaf told me, “No. During the whole spring and summer I was completely alive. I worked hard to help nourish the tree, and now much of me is in the tree. I am not limited by this form. I am also the whole tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continueto nourish the tree. So I don’t worry at all. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon.’”
That day there was a wind blowing and, after a while, I saw the leaf leave the branch and float down to the soil, dancing joyfully, because as it floated it saw itself already there in the tree. It was so happy.
I bowed my head, knowing that I have a lot to learn from the leaf.
–Thich Nhat Hanh
Demonic verily are the worlds which are enveloped in blinding
darkness. And to them go, after death, those who harm their inner selves.
Isha UpanishadIn the Bhagavad-Gita says Lord Krishna that the self
is the friend of the self and the self also is the enemy of the
self. In the same scripture we also come across a detailed
description of the demonic qualities. Those who harm
their inner selves are those who engage in wicked actions and
harmful qualities. This verse is a continuation of the same argument on karma that started in the first verse. Do we realize how much harm we do to ourselves each day by our actions and thoughts and what opportunities we fritter away in search of things that actually do not help us in our spiritual progress?
“If you are angry or in pain, separate yourself from anger and pain and watch them. Externalization is the first step to liberation.”
Nisargidatta Maharaj
Introspection
If you find that every day you are becoming either
touchy, finicky, or gossipy, then you know that you
are going backward. The best test is to analyze your-
self and find out whether you are happier today than
you were yesterday. If you feel that you are happier
today, then you are progressing; and this feeling of
happiness must continue.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons
“The real does not die, the unreal never lived. Set your mind right and all will be right. When you know that the world is one, that humanity is one, you will act accordingly. But first of all you must attend to the way you feel, think and live. Unless there is order in yourself, there can be no order in the world.”
Nisargidatta Maharaj
Introspection
You know when you are doing wrong. Your whole
being tells you, and that feeling is God’s voice. If you
do not listen to Him, then He is quiet; but when you
spiritually waken again He will guide you. He sees
your good and your evil thoughts and actions, but
whatever you do, you are His child just the same.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons
The Guru
When one has found his guru there should be
unconditional devotion to him, because he is the vehicle
of God. The guru’s sole purpose is to bring the disciple
to Self-realization; the love a guru receives from a
devotee is given by the guru to God.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Sayings of Yogananda”
It is because God wants you that I am here with
you, calling you to come Home, where my Beloved
is, where Christ and Krishna, and Babaji, Lahiri
Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswarji, and the other saints are.
“Come,” the Lord is saying, “they are all rejoicing in
Me. No worldly joys–the taste of food, the beauty of
flowers, the passing pleasure of earthly love–can
compare with the divine joys of My home.”
There is only one Reality. It is He. Forget every-
thing else.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Sayings of Paramahansa
Yogananda”
O my Guru! If all the gods are wroth, and yet
thou art satisfied with me, I am safe in the fortress
of thy pleasure. And if all the gods protect me by the
parapets of their blessings, and yet I receive not thy
benediction, I am an orphan, left to pine spiritually
in the ruins of thy displeasure.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Whispers from Eternity
Devotee: How can I obtain Guru’s Grace?
Ramana Maharishi: Grace is the Self. That also is not to be acquired; you only need to know that it exists.
The sun is brightness only. It does not see darkness. Yet you speak of darkness fleeing on the sun’s approach.
So also the devotee’s ignorance, like the phantom of darkness, vanishes at the look of the Guru. You are
surrounded by sunlight; yet if you want to see the sun, you must turn in its direction and look at it. So also Grace is found by the proper approach you make, though it is here and now.
Obedience to the guru is necessary for attunement
with his wisdom. It is not slavery to follow the wishes
of a God-realized guru, because his wish gives
independence and freedom. A true guru is the servant
of God, carrying out His plan for your liberation.
Realize this, and you will always obey, until you find
perfect freedom in Spirit.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Self-Realization Magazine”
Patience
Do not look for a spiritual flower every day. Sow
the seed, water it with prayer and right endeavor.
When it sprouts, take care of the plant, pulling out the
weeds of doubt, indecision, and indifference that may
spring up around it. Some morning you will suddenly
behold your long-awaited spiritual flower of Realization.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, in a “Para-gram”
No known comparison exists in the three worlds for a true guru. If the philosopher’s stone be assumed as truly such, it can only turn iron into gold, not into another philosopher’s stone. The venerated teacher, on the other hand, creates equality with himself in the disciple, who takes refuge at his feet. The guru is therefore peerless, nay transcendental.”
– Adi Shankaracharya
Patience
Your are your own enemy and you don’t know it.
You don’t learn to sit quietly. You don’t learn to give
time to God. And you are impatient and expect to attain
heaven all at once. You cannot get it by reading books
or by listening to sermons or by doing charitable works.
You can get it only by giving your time to Him in deep
meditation.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
Patience
Let us forget the sorrows of the past and make up
our minds not to dwell on them in the New Year.
With determination and unflinching will, let us renew
our lives, our good habits, and our successes. If the
last year has been hopelessly bad, the New Year must
be hopefully good.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Self-Realization Magazine”
The Guru
In the beginning of one’s spiritual search, it is
wise to compare various spiritual paths and teachers.
But when you find the real guru destined for you,
the one whose teachings can lead you to the Divine
Goal, then restless searching should cease. A spiritually
thirsty person should not go on indefinitely seeking
new wells; rather he should go to the best well and
drink daily of it’s living waters.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons
When tilling the ground for the cultivation of crops,
one needs patience to destroy all useless weeds and
to wait, even though the ground then appears barren,
until the hidden good seeds sprout into plants. It
requires still more patience to clear the field of
consciousness that is overgrown with weeds of useless
attachments to sense pleasures, which are very difficult
to uproot. Yet when the field of consciousness is
cleared, and sown with seeds of good qualities, plants
of noble activities sprout forth, yielding abundantly
the fruits of real happiness. Above all, have patience
to seek communion with God through deep meditation
and to become acquainted with your indestructible
soul, hidden within your perishable earthly body.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, in a “Para-gram”
O Christ, take possession of my heart and mind!
Be thou reborn in me as love for all men. May thy
consciousness which is in every atom manifest in me
as unconditional loyalty to Guru and the Great Ones,
and to thee, O Blessed Jesus, and to the Supreme who
is the Father of all.
–Paramhansa Yogananda, “Self-Realization Magazine”
Those who renounce life truly, in fact, enjoy life better than those
who do not, because the true sanyasis are not troubled by the fear
of loss or the possibility of gain. They accept their lot, what
comes to them without struggle and seeking and remain indifferent to what does not come to them or what has departed from them.
–Isha Upanishad (Translation and Commentary by Jayaram V)
Renunciation is not negation of life. It is not some morose and
lifeless experience. We should not renounce life because of despair
or depression arising out of our fears, frustration or personal
failures. True renunciation arises out of intense longing for the
divine, out of a state of mind in which attachment with the Divine
alone makes sense and out of a sense of freedom and fearlessness
that stem from unflinching faith in God and His supreme will.
–Isha Upanishad (Translation and Commentary by Jayaram V)
Life has to be enjoyed, but without seeking, without coveting, and
without struggling to get things done or get things for oneself. It
is the renunciation of seeking and of desiring things which
constitute the central feature of a life of true renunciation.
–Isha Upanishad (Translation and Commentary by Jayaram V)