Author: blogger

Are We The Makers Of Our Destiny

The concept of destiny has fascinated humans since time immemorial. Is our success predestined? Or is it in our hands? Most modern thought has deemed that our endeavor alone determines our success. But with competition intensifying, changes accelerating and many unpredictable and uncontrollable factors determining results in today’s complex world, many people are re-examining this belief.

For example, a brilliant student, despite diligent studies, gets average marks, whereas a mediocre student, with last-minute cramming, gets high grades. Why? Are we just unwitting players in a cosmic lottery, with chance as the supreme arbiter? Or are results handed down by destiny, under the sanction of a just God? Some people recoil at the very mention of destiny. They fear that lazy people may opportunistically argue, “As the result is predestined, why work hard?” and so become irresponsible and fatalistic.

However knowledge of destiny does not justify fatalism because the Mahabharata clarifies, “Destiny determines the results of our actions, not our actions themselves.”

The Vedic texts explain that these two ideologies, karmavada (endeavor, karma, alone determines success) and daivavada (destiny, daiva, alone determines success) are the two extremes of the pendulum of human imagination.

In reality, success requires both endeavor and destiny. For example, in agriculture, a good harvest requires both diligent ploughing and timely rains. Ploughing represents endeavor and rains signify destiny. Despite ploughing, no harvest can result, if there are no rains. Similarly sometimes, despite our best efforts, we may fail, due to adverse destiny. When people are uninformed about the role of destiny in determining results, failures make them feel hopeless, “I am worthless and cannot do anything well”, even when they have the potential to perform in the future.

Consequently today many of our brothers and sisters are unfortunately and needlessly suffering from mental problems like inferiority complex, low self-esteem, depression and self-pity.

Lord Krishna gives us hope in the Bhagavad-gita by pointing out that though we don’t determine the result, we do play a significant role. Going back to the farmer analogy, the farmer must plough the field for favorable rainfall to produce crops. Similarly we must endeavor for destiny to produce results. Hence the Gita urges us to perform our God-given duty without attachment.

We need detachment because our material happiness and distress in this life are predestined by our own karma from past lives. We cannot change them no matter how hard we work. But by doing our present duties industriously and honestly, we can get our destined happiness. Also we can make for ourselves a bright future destiny, even if our present is bleak.

Moreover, even at present, destiny limits only our material happiness, not our spiritual happiness. All of us have equal and complete opportunity to awaken our dormant love for God and experience oceanic happiness thereof. This supreme fulfillment is available at our tongue tips, just by the chanting of the Holy Names of God, Krishna.

In the spiritual world the Absolute is always absolute; the name, form, quality and pastimes of the Absolute are all as good as the Absolute Himself. As such, one is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself an eternal servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. One who chants in that spirit, without offenses, is certainly elevated to the platform of understanding that the holy name and the Personality of Godhead are identical.

To associate with the holy name and chant the holy name is to associate with the Personality of Godhead directly. Whatever instruments we need to chant names of God are already provided, no one has to purchase a tongue. We also have ears with which to hear the sound that the tongue vibrates.

Therefore we have all the instruments we need with us — a tongue and ears. We only have to chant Hare Krsna and use our ears to hear this vibration, and all perfection will be there for us. No inimical destiny can obstruct us in achieving divine bliss; rather when we take one step towards God, He takes a thousand steps towards us. Even a little spiritual dynamism brings enormous returns. And as we are intrinsically spiritual beings and as our lasting satisfaction comes from spiritual devotion, we can rejoice in knowing that our real happiness is not destined, but is in our own hands.

Hence intelligent people are cautious to not let over-endeavor for flickering material aggrandizement deprive them of the time and energy to strive for lasting spiritual enlightenment.

Let us therefore do our best (materially and spiritually) and leave the rest (to God faithfully).

Briquetting Of Biomass – Create Bio Briquettes From Agriculture Waste

Briquette fuel produced from briquetting of biomass is fairly good substitute for coal, lignite, firewood. Fuel from biomass briquetting is the process of converting low bulk density biomass into high density and energy concentrated bio briquettes. Compared to fire wood or loose biomass, bio briquette gives much higher boiler efficiency because of low moisture and higher density.
* Biomass Briquettes coal is cheaper than usual coal.
* Oil, coal or lignite, once used, cannot be replaced.
* High sulfur content of oil and coal, when burnt, pollutes the environment. There is no sulfur in biomass Briquettes coal.
* Biomass briquettes have a higher practical thermal value and much lower ash content (2-10% as compared to 20-40% in coal).
* There is no fly ash when burning briquettes fuel.
* Briquettes fuel has consistent quality, has high burning efficiency, and is ideally sized for complete combustion.
* Combustion is more uniform compared to coal and boiler response to changes in steam requirements is faster due to higher quantity of volatile matter in briquettes.
* Briquettes are usually produced near the consumption centers and supplies do not depend on erratic transport from long distances.
The composition of the Briquettes biomass varies by area due to the availability of raw materials. The raw materials are gathered and compressed into briquetting machines in order to burn longer and make transportation of the goods easier. Compared to fossil fuels, the biomass briquettes produce low net total greenhouse gas emissions because the materials used are already a part of the carbon cycle.
Briquettes in India helps processing of the material in pieces of geometrically regular and uniform in each case form, almost same mass. Biomass Briquette manufacturers create additional raw materials of fine materials whose use is inefficient and inconvenient as well as recycled waste.
This can be prevented by using biomass briquettes for electricity generation instead of other energy sources. A renewable resource can be replaced as needed without hurting the planet or the inhabitants. Biomass in India is now used by many companies as it is environment friendly. Briquetting machine price can also be high. The fixed costs with creating those products are high because of the brand-new undeveloped technologies that concentrate on the extraction, production and storage within the fuel.

Importance of agriculture

There is certainly no doubt about the fact that civilization not only in the United Kingdom but in fact all around the world started with agriculture. After our ancestors started focusing on agriculture for their livelihood and earning, human society as a whole was changed afterwards forever without any measure of speculations for sure.

As a result of agriculture, villages as well as towns developed along with an overall better understanding of art, science as well as knowledge which continued to improve since then with every passing day.

Even, now, the 21st century with all the technological developments and advancements all around the globe cannot deny the importance of agriculture. Given below are few important points which will help you better understand the importance of agriculture and farming:

a. In the current hi-tech age of globalization and developments in all fields of life, people still rely on agricultural products in a variety of ways such as nutrition, source of energy, fiber and so on.

b. Another highly significant point as far as the importance of agriculture is concerned is that it is a major economic driver. It is equally important for individual livelihood, poverty eradication as well as overall growth of the state. According to a survey, it contributes between 40 to 80% of the gross development product of majority of the countries located in the continent of Africa.

c. Moreover, one cannot also deny the fact that agriculture also contributes a great deal towards a healthy biosphere.

d. Real food security can only be ensured with the help of agriculture even in today’s modern world without any question.

The above mentioned points are few of the many factors that clearly indicate the importance of agriculture even in the current age of developments and advancements. In case, you still need to know more regarding the importance of agriculture, then UK Business Directory is surely one such platform where you can get awareness regarding any issue and can further broaden up your horizon for sure.

The Most Famous Gifts In History

History is full of great gifts, gifts that have stood the test of time and have become legendary through our history. They are the gifts that are known by name, gifts matched not only in their legendary status but also size and originality.

What would you consider to be the two greatest gifts in history? Do mythological gifts count? Do real gifts count? In terms of real gifts, there are two that come first.

Statue of Liberty

As far as gifts go, this may be the biggest in history. To mark the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the French presented this statue to the United States as a gift of friendship. The Americans built the base for the statue, while the statue itself was constructed by the French under the guidance of Frederic Bartholdi.

The trojan Horse

Some gifts seem like gifts, but are in fact, traps. That was the case during the Trojan War when the Greeks built a horse and filled it with Greek warriors before putting it in front of the gates. It was customary in ancient times for a defeated general to surrender his horse, so the symbolic gift of the horse seemed to trojans to be a notice of surrender from the Greeks. The trap worked and the Trojans were defeated because of one of the most cunning military ploys in history.

In terms of mythological or fictional gifts, you can’t beat these two:

Fire

According to Greek mythology, we can thank one god for the gift of fire – Prometheus. Prometheus, who also gave humanity writing, mathematics, agriculture, and medicine, stole fire from Zeus and gave it to humanity. For his betrayal of Zeus, Prometheus was chained to a rock where an eagle came every day to rip out his liver, which grew back every time.

The Gift of the Magi

In this book written in 1906, Jim and Della Dillingham Young are a couple in love, but who can barely afford their apartment. For Christmas, Della buys Jim a chain for his prized pocket watch given to him by his father. She pays for it by cutting off her long hair and selling it to make a wig. Unknown to her, Jim sells his pocket watch to buy her a beautiful set of combs so she can comb her long hair.

The moral in that story, written by William Porter, is that sometimes material possessions are not the greatest gift you can get, and sometimes unselfish love is the greatest of all gifts.

Los Angeles, Ca – Agriculture & Forestry

Agriculture and forestry are two critical industries in Los Angeles, CA. Though it is the second-largest city in the U.S., LA was actually formerly known as the ‘breadbasket’ for the region. As industrialization grew, this focus waned and the city is currently 28th in agricultural production, with a gross production value of $278 million in 2005. In terms of forestry, the Angeles National Forest gives local residents a chance to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities.

The Citybook.com online business directory details the many industry-related businesses in the agricultural and forestry areas at http://www.citybook.com/california/los-angeles/agriculture-forestry/agriculture-forestry-19-60101-627-0-60101.htm. Subject sections include commercial fishing, hydroponics, timber and logging, and wildlife services, among others.

All of those activities are available to those to visit the aforementioned national park. Fun activities like hunting and trail walking are great for youngsters, most who of whom have grown up with their faces plastered to a TV screen. Instilling an appreciation for the beauty of nature in the young is the first step to preserving the environment, as perhaps some will carry forward that feeling into adulthood.

In addition, fishing, in particular is a great way to build patience in young people. One does not order a fish to bite on the hook, like one can instantly conjure up ready food at a fast food restaurant. It can take hours of remaining still and quiet to catch a really good fish that later will adorn the dinner table. One can find out more about such agricultural and forestry activities in Los Angeles at http://www.citybook.com/california/los-angeles/agriculture-forestry/commercial-fishing-fisheries-5199-61250-627-0-60101.htm.

Hunting/trapping is another agricultural-related skill that park visitors can engage in. Though some are not happy about animals being killed with guns, in essence it is the same activity as fishing. Besides, millions of cattle are harvested each year to feed the ravenous American appetite for hamburgers. A list of agricultural consultants who can provide additional information on all of this can be found at http://www.citybook.com/california/los-angeles/agriculture-forestry/agricultural-consultants-5189-1124-627-52142-60101.htm.

Perhaps the biggest reason to visit the park is the opportunity to camp there. It is a unique experience to sleep with a ceiling of green trees and an open sky. With so many oxygen-cleaning plants around, it allows for the delivery of fresh air to lungs that are starving for it. In fact, it is sometimes hard to get back to city life and the attendant issues of fog and smog, especially in the Los Angeles area.

Plentiful recreation trails provide another source of enjoyment in nature. If one is lucky, forest dwellers such as foxes, deer and groundhogs can be viewed in their natural habitats. Known collectively as wildlife, the many species can be studied through the Los Angeles Wildlife Services, listed at http://www.citybook.com/california/los-angeles/agriculture-forestry/wildlife-services-5204-61256-627-55924-60101.htm.

Two major industries, timber and logging, also have a connection to agriculture and forestry. Though they are not without controversy millions across the nation enjoy the benefits of having finely cut wood available for a multitude of home-related building projects. If some trees need to be eliminated in order to make such products available, few would argue about the ethics involved in cutting down a natural resource.

Though agriculture and forestry are not the first things that come to mind when thinking of Los Angeles, both are critical pieces of the city and states character, and discerning residents do not neglect to take advantage of them.