CULTURE FOUR

The Dynamo

by Karan Wadhera

The Dynamo is a very interesting object, which I am sure is a big factor in many of your lives today. The Dynamo is the system of electricity from which all your electronic appliances work. My book discussed the reasons for how the Dynamo changed the world. It talked about how in the middle ages, electricity was an unknown factor of the world's society, and how in those times, paper was a new thing. You were elegant if you used paper. As time went on, paper became something that everyone had, and electricity had started to come about. Benjamin [Franklin] first tested electricity, by using a kite during a thunderstorm. He recognized that forces from the earth's air, atmosphere and water could cause electricity. Other scientists started fiddling with water mills, and finally detected way of creating a system of electricity. Soon, the basics of the world changed over one man, flying his kite on a rainy night.

Editors Note: This essay highlights an invention which has been used in India -

A Generator called The Dynamo.

Indian Food

by Niyati Mehta

Indian food is one of the most exotic types of food on earth. Anyone who has tried food from any part of India would agree.

Indian food is usually very spicy and hot. They use many different spices in their food such as: coriander, cloves, hardar, saffron, jeeru, and hing. These all have a special purpose for each type of food there is.

A typical Indian dish includes flat bread called roti or chapati, dal, a type of soup, shakh, any cooked and spiced vegetable, and bhat, rice. This kind of dish would be found anywhere, but each region with its own taste.

About one-third of India's population is vegetarian and two-thirds is non-vegetarian. But this doesn't make anyone different. We still all eat a lot of the same types of food, whether we are Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, or Jain.

I am now going to describe each of the different types of food to you.

The North: There are more meat eaters in the north than vegetable eaters. Tandooris are baked here as well as popular vegetable dish called paneer, which is small cubes of cheese cooked with a gravy mixed with potatoes, peas, or spinach.

The South: Most southern Indians aren't vegetarian. Here you will find seafood, biryani, idli, and dosa. Idli and dosa are foods made from a dough of ground rice and urad dal. Sambar is a soup that is usually served with these dishes.

The East: The people of the east eat a lot of fish, mixed with other things and simmered in yogurt or mustard sauce. These people also eat a type of food called momos (steamed or fried chicken and pork dumplings) and also thumpa (a hearty noodle soup).

The West: The people of the west are mostly either pure vegetarians or pure non-vegetarians. People eat different foods here from dhansak (rich lentil gravy with mutton pieces), vegetables, herbs and spices, to ladva (sweetened balls of fried dough and butter).

Here is a recipe on making Indian ice-cream:

You will need 1 can (1 1/4 cups) of condensed milk

1 small can (3/4 cup) of evaporated milk

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup of almonds

1/2 cup mangoes, blueberries, kiwi, strawberries, peaches

or any other fruit of your choice.

Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend well. If you are using blueberries you may want to stir them in at the end. Pour mixture into shallow plastic dish with a lid. Freeze until ice cream is solid. Cut into slices and serve. You can also pour the mixture into ice cube trays if you prefer to eat them like popsicles. Cover the trays with plastic wrap and insert popsicle sticks by poking holes through the wrap when the ice cream has begun to harden.C4B

Buddha and his Doctrines of Truth and Love

by Sonal Malpani

"Happy is he who has overcome all selfishness, attained peace, and found truth."

"The truth is noble and sweet; the truth can deliver you from evil. There is no savior in the world except the truth."

"Have confidence in the truth, although you may not be able to comprehend it, although you may suppose its sweetness to be bitter, although you may shrink from it at first. Trust in the truth."

"Truth alone abideth forever."

"A man that stands alone, having decided to obey the truth may be weak and slip back into his old ways. Therefore stand ye together, assist one another, and strengthen one's efforts."

"Spread the truth and preach the doctrine in all quarters of the world, so that in the end all living creatures will be citizens of the Kingdom of Righteousness."

"Let the ties of love that bind you to the son, whom you lost, embrace with equal kindness all your fellow beings, and you will receive in his place a greater one than Siddhartha; you will receive Buddha, the teacher of truth, the preacher or righteousness, and the peace of Nirvana will enter your heart."

"That which is most needed is a loving heart."

"The first meditation is the meditation of love, in which you must so adjust you heart, that you long for the weal and welfare of all beings, including the happiness of your enemies."

"Search with sincerity and persevere in your search. In the end you will find the truth."

C4B

Guru Nanak on Love and Truth

by Anjali Midha

Guru Nanak was born in 1469 A.D. in the the month of Vaisakh (mid-April to mid-May), in Punjab. He was "one of the most outstanding figures of the Middle-ages when India was passing through great social, political, and spiritual crisis."

LOVE:

"They who love not, know not the taste of God for if one be a guest in an empty house, he shall return as empty as he came."

"In the cage of Love, the parrot (mind) utters the words of Love, and it pecks at the Truth and sucks Nectar! And, when it's away, it comes not back again."

"There is but one Devotion and one Love (of God), but without being tinged with His fear, love is an illusion."

"As one starves, one loses taste of the tongue, and in love with the Other, one grieves immensely."

"The collyrium of (God's) fear to thy eyes, and deck thyself with His love. Then alone art thou the true Bride when though lovest thy Lord."

TRUTH:

"Truth is above everything: but higher still is the living of truth."

"The truth alone saves us, yeah, the Truth alone."

"True in the beginning, True in the primeval age, True He is, and True He shall be."

"When one meets with the True One, Truth is revealed to one and one merges in Truth."

"True He is and Truth it is that He loves."

"True and Thy worlds, True Thy universes. True are Thy regions, True the forms thou creates. True are Thy doings, True all Thy thoughts. True is Thy command, True is Thy court. True is Thy will, True is Thy utterance. True is Thy grace, True is Thy sign. Myriads call Thee Light and Truth. In Thee, the True One, is all power, all majesty. True is Thy Praise, True Thy commendations. O True King, True, True is all Thy play."

"True, O Lord, art Thy alone who has manifested Thyself in all as Truth."

True is the Lord's Court, unaccountable is He, the cosmic Person, and True is His standard and His Writ runs over all."

"True are Thy worlds, True Thy universes."

"The Lord's Name is Truth."

"True is one's society, true is the abode, true is the home, true is one's food and true is one's love, if one leans on the True name.

"We know the Truth, when we love the Truth."

C4B

Sri Krishna: Truth and Love

by Maya Dubey

Sri Krishna was one of the greatest philosophers of all time. His teachings have been handed down from generations to generations of Indians. Sri Krishna's teachings can be found in the Geeta. Sri Krishna is the most popular and the most adored of all he Avatars. Here are some of Sri Krishna's teaching on Truth and Love.

1. "Blessed is human birth; even the dwellers in heaven desire this birth; for true knowledge and pure love may be attained only by a human being."

2. "Acquire that (knowledge) through prostration, inquiry and service. The wise who are knowers of the truth will instruct you in the wisdom."

3. "And know the Kshetrajna (embodied self) in all the bodies (kshetras) to be Myself, " Bharata. The knowledge of the Kshetra and the Kshetrajna is, in my opinion, true knowledge."

4. "Unanswering devotion to Me through the yoga of non-separation, resorting to solitude and aversion for company, always being devoted to spiritual knowledge, perception of the aim of the knowledge of Truth- all this is declared to be knowledge and all that is contrary to this is ignorance."

5. "He who sees that actions are in every way performs only by Prakriti (Nature) and likewise sees Self as the non-doer alone sees in truth."

The following is some of the things that Sri Krishna has said about Truth and Love. The last piece of advice and the one I most agree with is:

"Truth as many aspects. Infinite truth has infinite expressions. Through the sages speak in diverse ways, they express the one and the same truth."

C4B

Sri Ramakrishna and Sami Vivekanand

by Sonia Deshmukh

On Wednesday, February 18, 1836, Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) was born in Kamarpukar. He was first known as Gadadhar, and he wanted to see a vision of god since he was a child. Neglecting his studies, he sat with pilgrims and wandering monks, and played religious dramas with his young friends. He also taught many of his own teachings to Swami Vivekanand (Naren), who was born on January 12, 1863. Swami Vivekanand had a vision in his early childhood, and Master Ramakrishna assured him that this vision was a sure sign of his great divine past and inherent habit of meditation and samadhi.

Sri Ramakrishna taught Swami Vivekanand that love is of three varieties: unselfishness (Samarta), mutual (Samanjasa) and selfish (Sadharana). Unselfish love is what most people admire the most out of three. The lover here seeks only the welfare of the beloved. The second most important love is, mutual love in which the lover desired not only happiness of his beloved, but has an eye to his own happiness also. Sri Ramakrishna regarded selfish love as the most unforgivable misdeed. This is when a man only fulfills his needs, and fails to help the beloved.

He also taught Swami Vivekanand that one must have truth if they wish to see god. For example, the story of the man who was about to cross the sea from Ceylon to India. Vibhishana said to him: "Tie this thing in a corner of your wearing-cloth and you will cross the sea safely. You will be able to walk on the water. But be sure not to examine it, or you will sink". While the man was walking easily on the water of the sea, he thought, "What is this wonderful thing Vibhishana has given me, that I can walk even on the water?" He untied the knot and found only a leaf with the name of Rama on it. "Oh, just this!" he thought, and he instantly drowned. Sri Ramakrishna told Swami Vivekanand that because this man lied, he suffered. He said this is also true if one wants to see God. If a man is not truthful to god, then he will never see him.

Together, they began preaching that truth and love must intertwine if one longed to see the almighty god. They taught one can develop divine love through restlessness. For example, the restlessness a child might feel for his mothers. If a man could weep like that for god, he will be able to see God. Sri Ramakrishna's preaching came to a halt when he came down with an illness. After he died from this illness, Swami Vivekananf continued to preach truth and love.C4B

Classical Dances of India

Bharat Natyam by Anjali Midha

Bharat Natyam originated in the state of Tamil Nadu (South India), around Kanchipuram and Tanjore. It was organized approximately 1800 years ago in the book of "Natya Shastra". As for music, some of the more well known dances were based on ragas Bhairavi, Kalyani and Kambhodi. While an orchestra contributes the music, a vocalist will supply the "rhythmic syllables". These dances are commonly performed solo by women, and combine pure dance (Nritta) with expressive dance (Nritya) styles. Bharat Natyam is composed of three basic elements: standing position, movement of legs and feet, and hand gestures. While this is still one of the several Classical Dances of India, it is one of the most expressive and beautiful styles to perform and to dance.

Kathak by Sonal Malpani

Kathak, also known as Braj Raas, is one of the several great forms of Indian classical dance. It originated in the Natya Shastra, or 2nd century A.D. Its place of origin lies in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajesthan, centering around the Mathura-Vrindavan area. Originally, he dance was performed by groups of people known as Kathakaras, or story tellers.

This form of dance usually begins with an innovation to Lord Ganesha. The dance consists of several elements; Thata, Amad, Sangeet, Paran, and Tarana. Kathak is especially noted for its intricate footwork. The highlight of the dance is the Tahai, a spinning movement in one spot at great speed. Men and women alike perform this dance.

Lyrical compositions such as the Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal, and Kavitas are used to accompany the dance. They are sung in several languages, among the Brij Bhasa, Hindi, and Urdu. They are usually based on the Krishna Lilas.

Notable masters of Kathak include Prakashji and Thakur Prasad, who established Kathak in its present form. One of the foremost dancers of Kathak today is Birju Maharaj.

Odissi by Sonia Deshmukh

The Odissi dance originated in the state of Orissa centering around Puri and Bhubaneshwar. It was most popular between the 6th and 7th C. AD. It is closely associated with the Jaganath temple, which was served by Maharis or temple dancers. Odissi is often danced to the music of the Gita Govinda. The masters of Odissi include Prataprudra Dev, Pottanaik and Kelucharan Mohaputra. In addition, songs of barbs like Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanji and Gopal Krishna are also interpreted.

Movements are distinctly different from other dance forms of India. While the Bharatha Natyam dancer bends the waist and the knees, the Odissi dancer bends the hips and sways the torso in curves and flexions known as the tribhangi (triple bend) and atibhangi (semi-circular bend) from the torso downwards. This makes the dance lyrical and sensuous when compared to Bharata Natyam, which is more devotional in spirit. A complete performance comprises several stages: Patra Prabesh (entrance of the dancer), Bhumi Pranam (invocation to Mother Earth), Vignaraj Puja nine invocation to deities), Batu Nritya (dance to worship Shiva) and the Ishta Deva Bandana, which is usually danced to the music of the Gita Govinda.

C4C

THE FIVE ATTRIBUTES OF JAINISM

Introduction by Neha Vagadia

Non-violence, truthfulness, non-lustfulness, non-stealing, non-possessiveness: these are five principles that have fitted religions all around the world. Most religions around the world, in fact, base their principles on these five attributes. Jainism is a classical example of this. They believe that this five-fold method helps to constrain one's physical activity. You become empowered or reach enlightenment by making your behavior completely perfect, which entails drawing a way from the exterior world and attaining bliss. But for our purposes, we must examine whether we should expand these principles beyond religion, and humanity. Should we try these five attributed daily in our lives, today, right now?

Well, the students in culture 4C have looked at just that, and have presented their individual thoughts on these five worldly attributes. Each student has a keen insight on how to pursue their separate attributes. And each has to determine what he or she thinks is fit. They have presented in each article with a description of their attribute, as well as, with a commentary on whether it is applicable to society today. That is in fact, the most important to us today because if we do not look at these five attributes in a modern setting, then our thoughts are fruitless. For example, let us take nonviolence: Non-Violence, which is presented to us by Bharat Ramamurti, shows us that we must be non-violent in humanity, but not the extent of Jainism. Truth, as presented by Hemant Joshi shows that even though truth is hard to follow we must still keep it as a principle in the religions of the world. Nithya Raman, who gives her ideas on non-lustfulness, tells us that we must follow this vital principle even today or the absence of it will lead to many problems. Vivek Vimal does the same in his article about non-stealing; he shows us once again that the absence of this principle will lead to devastation while the following of it could be very fruitful. Then finally, Naresh Thacker presents his ideas on non-possessiveness telling us that we should apply this attribute by being satisfied with what we have.

So, it is my feeling that these five attributes should be follows in humanity as best as we can. While we cannot be perfect, we must at least try. Therefore, in conclusion, I would like to present these articles to you and let you think about them in the light of our views.

Non-Violence by Bharat Ramamurti

I disagree with this virtue to a certain extent. I believe that people should practice non-violence, but not to the extreme that Jainism carries to. Jainism preaches that every creature should be treated without violence, from mosquitoes to elephants. Jains believe it is sinful if someone steps on an ant or swats a mosquito. I think this is too restricting and is too extreme. I think non-violence is important, in the way Mahatma Gandhi practiced it, but not the way Jains think. Non-violence in the way that Jains wish to practice it is too extreme and to over-limiting. I feel that everyone has the right to step on an ant or spider by mistake, or swat a mosquito if it annoys you.

The second way non-violence could be, and in my opinion, should be interpreted in the way that famous leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. used to. It should be used as a replacement for violence. For instance, I think of non-violence as walking away from a fight or not retaliating when someone does something mean to you, not as not harming any creature, down to the lowliest insect. I think that every Jain has at one time in their life killed a living creature. Therefore, every Jain has broken one of the five virtues of their religion. I think that if everyone in a religion has broken one of the biggest virtues, than the virtue is certainly too extreme and too unfair. It is for these reasons that I disagree, to a certain extent, with this virtue.

THE FIVE ATTRIBUTES OF JAINISM by Culture 4C (continued)

Truth by Hemant Joshi

Truth is one of the most important attributes of a Jain. Moreover, it is one of the most important attributes of any person, no matter what their religion is. Truth is what divides right from wrong. If you are not truthful, you are not only hurting others, but also hurting yourself, because you will think that lying is easier and more effective than telling the truth.

Though lying is an infraction of one of the most important rules many people do it anyway. But they find themselves just creating a whole "Web of Lies," just to support that first little lie. That is why people should not lie in the first place, because it will lead to a whole string of lies which won't end until you have been caught.

Today, lying is almost routine, and some people do it without a thought. Lying is happening as regularly as it ever will, although many people would beg differ. Lying covers such a broad spectrum that anything from "No, I can't spare a quarter," when they actually can, to "No, I did not kill that person," when they actually did.

Even though truthfulness is very important, it is almost impossible to enforce. Almost everybody has lied at least once in their lives, be it a small lie or a large lie. If a Jain follows all of the rules, they can become Jinas. But I seriously doubt that anybody, not just a Jain, can live their life without ever telling a lie. Although I think that this rule cannot be enforced, I don't disagree with the rule entirely. The idea itself is one that every religion has, or should have, as the Jain religion does.

Non-Lustfulness by Nithya Raman

Non-lustfulness is one of the attributes of a Jain. It means that one should always look at members of the other sex as brothers or sisters, not objects of desire.

It is an important attribute because lust often leads to violence. For want of someone else's body rules have been body rules haves been broken, and wars have been fought such as one great war; the Ramayana. Because Ravana desired Sita, who was already married, thousands of lives were wasted in the effort to get her back. Lust also leads to emotions being uncontrolled. Uncontrolled emotions can only cause a loss of reason. Under the force of this lust, people can be blind to all other things, and thus, commit sins which they regret later.

Non-lustfulness is an important attribute to be followed even today. Looking at the newspapers, one can see so many sex-related crimes. Child pornography, rape, and murders all lead back to lust. Being without desire would stop so much of the crime today that it's amazing. Sex and the want of it has become a big part of our lives today. We see it on television, in advertisements, at school, and at work. We live in a society in the United States that almost fuels sex-related crimes. That is why non-lustfulness is extremely important to be followed in todays society.

THE FIVE ATTRIBUTES OF JAINISM by Culture 4C (continued)

Non-Stealing by Vivek Vimal

Non-stealing is a very crucial part of a Jain's life. No-stealing in one of the five major attributes of a Jain. To cause grief, or to hurt someone is a significant sin to a Jain. Thus, if you steal you are causing grief. Which in return, breaks all of the beliefs of a Jain. The sin of stealing is present everywhere. Stealing has cause many immoralities. Some common examples are when Sita was kidnapped by Ravana (which led to an extensive war), common jewelry stealing, and old age territorial disputes. These all are very familiar examples of how stealing lead to devastation. Stealing has now become common for some people in their everyday life. Even in a simple action of stealing a pencil shows that stealing has sneaked itself into our lives. Soon the action of stealing becomes a habit, and it initiated into regular daily life. Thus, non-stealing was put as one of the five virtues. The five virtues stand as caution signs, and detour signs. If one of these virtues are broken, then the result can be hazardous.

In conclusion if non-stealing is followed correctly, then the results will be very fruitful. Stealing does lead to many tragedies.

Non-Possessiveness by Naresh Thacker

Not wanting things is a good quality all people should have. If people want something too much, they often obtain it through evil ways. For example, they might steal it or trick someone into stealing it for them. Also, people usually went something that they don't need. People who really need stuff are usually poor people in need of food or shelter, not rich people who think they needs toys or games. Usually people who want things are never satisfied. If you give someone a basketball because they tell you they really need it, the next day they'll probably want a basketball hoop too. It is best to be satisfied with what you've got.