Vivekananda Kendra Nardep Newsletter 2011

7/28/2019 Vivekananda Kendra Nardep Newsletter 2011

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Echoes of EcoSustainable Development In this issue:

Sustainable Development

VK-nardep Water management-I

The Happenings I

The Happenings-II

Know Sustainable Technology Four-Based Approach to Life

Visions of Wisdom

The bridge to cross non-compassion is by giving and

sharing.The bridge to cross anger is bycultivation of tranquility of mind

or absence of hatred.

Absence of sincerity should beconquered by cultivation ofsincerity and attention.

Falsehood should be conqueredby Truth.

Sama Veda

The Bridge to Freedom

August , 2011 Vivekananda Kendra- nardep Newsletter Vol:3 No:6

Service to humanity is the highest form of worship Swami Vivekananda

The kind of society we are living in iswhat you might call a remedialsociety. We concentrate more efforton trying to put things right after theyhave gone wrong, than on makingthem go right in the first place. Itreminds me of the story of the manwho lived at a bridge over a river,and spent a lot of time saving dogsfrom drowning as they floated past. Ifhe had realised that at the nextbridge upstream another man wasthrowing the dogs in, he could havestopped him. That would have savedhim a lot of trouble and the dogs a lotof suffering. An important thing toremember as we face up to theeconomic and social problems thatconfront us is that, as a rule, it will bemore effective to deal with upstreamcauses than with their downstream

effects.

Health is a good example of theremedial approach.Our HealthMinistry is primarily a sicknessministry, and our Health Ministersare primarily sickness ministers.They cannot do very much to createa healthier society. That depends onthings like employment andunemployment, food and farming,transport, planning and housing,which are other ministers

responsibilities. Law and order isanother example.

We employ huge numbers of people,and spend vast amounts of money,on police, prisons, law courts,probation services and otherresponses to criminal and disorderlybehaviour after the event. We giveless attention to how we might createa less divided, more inclusive societyin which there will be less criminal,disorderly and antisocial behaviour.

Or take the environment. As theBrundtland World Commission onEnvironment and Development saidin its report Our Common Futureover ten years ago (now twentyyears have passed) environmentalmanagement practices have focusedlargely upon after-the-fact repair ofdamage: reforestation, reclaimingdesert lands, rebuilding urban

environments, restoring naturalhabitats, and rehabilitating wildlands. It is now beginning to berealised that a more upstreamapproach is needed. It is called

sustainable development. There

is a system here that has to bechanged. The need is for systemicchange, not just for disconnectedchanges in one part of the economicsystem or another.

[From Liverpool First E.F.

Schumacher Lecture in 1998 byJames Robertson an alternativeeconomist.]


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Water Conservation activities

Conserving Ground Water: Reviving the

Traditional system with community

participation-I

This month

Green Health Home at VivekanandaPuram functioned for 8 days andtreated 201 patients.

Echoes of Eco - Newsletter, Vivekananda Kendra nardep, August 2011 Vol. 3 No: 6

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, andnot those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved byscience. Charles Darwin

VK-nardep started its tryst with waterconservation and managementprogrammes in the Southern districtsof Tamil Nadu and also in one of theworst drought hit districts of the state Ramanathapuram district.

The work in these areas include:creating awareness regarding thetraditional water harvesting structuresthat have been neglected and creatingsocial infrastructure so as to sustain

the management of the revivedtraditional structures.

Neglected tanks and Ooranis havebecome ruined and at some placessources of pollution due to stagnationand contamination. Today they havebeen changed into functionally vibrantwater harvesting structures.

There has been regular maintenancework that has been carried out by thesocial infrastructure that came up due

to the work of Vivekananda Kendra NARDEP. Today there has beenimprovement in the ground waterrecharge in the areas where VK-NARDEP has worked. The ArtificialRecharging of tube wells also hasmade a tremendous impact on thewater scarce areas chosen byVivekananda Kendra.

At the arid district of RamanathapuramVK-NARDEP took up Ooranisrenovation work in the villages.

Direction and Development

Done with DST core

support

240 hand pumps in the area have beenbenefited by the raising of groundwaterlevel which in turn is due to its rechargingby the Ooranis renovation.

Krishnankoil tank of Anandancanal (Pechparai system) wasrenovated by VK-NARDEP. Thistank is part of a temple complexmore than seven hundred yearsold.

It is also part of a larger irrigation systemwhich also recharges two consecutivetanks.

Renovation of KanyakumariTheppakulam by VK-NARDEPbrought it alive after a period oftwenty five years.

Renovation of Chakarakulamanother tank with legendary famealso at Kanyakumari.

How does this legacy continue now? We

will see that in the next issue of thenewsletter.

We can no longer guideour countries and ourcorporations because weno longer know what

development is. We nolonger know how todistinguish progress fromfailure...we are now aspecies without a vision.We cannot act togetherbecause we no longerknow our goal.-Dr. Gerald Barney(Physicist)


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Echoes of Eco - Newsletter, Vivekananda Kendra nardep, August 2011 Vol.3 No: 6

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptiveresolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.

-Mahatma Gandhi

Shri.G.Vasudeo attended the Working Group meeting onIndira Awas Yojana for 12

thFive year plan conducted by

Ministry of Rural Development, R.H.Division, Govt. ofIndia at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi on the 1

stof this

month.

An exposure visit of 24 farmers to Gramodaya Park, on13

th, was organised by Dept. of Dairy Development,

Thachottukavu, Nemom Block, Kerala. Resource Personwas Dr.P.Kamalasanan Pillai.

This month Networking

Phyto Remediation of Grey Water Treatment studentsof W.C.C observing the beautiful plants which absorbheav metals

Training programmes on Grey Water Treatment(with DST core support) were conducted for thefollowing colleges:

Pioneer Kumaraswami College, Nagercoilon 3

rdwith 29 students.

Women Christian College, Nagercoil on5

thwith 40 students.

Noorul Islam College of Arts and Science,Kumarankoil on 11

thwith 49 students

PKC College students learning Vermi compost along with

Grey Water Treatment Technology at VK-nardep

Noorul Islam College students learning the Grey WaterTreatment process with the help of Canna indica plant doneat Vivekananda Kendra b VK-narde

Tested water from 14 wells in Kanyakumari Dist programme of Central Ground Water Board, Chennai.

Murugan Kundram traditional rain water harvestingstructure renovation work is continuing and nearing theend.

Water and Sanitation

District Collector, Smt.S.Madhumathi, IAS, released the DVD(English and Tamil) on Shakti Surabhi Bio-methnation plant.Shri.A.Sankar, Asst.General Manager, NABARD,Kanyakumari Dist. received the first copy. The project wasfunded by NABARD under Rural Innovation Fund (RIF)

programme.


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Our evolution in the ignorance...must lead inevitably towards evolution in the knowledge, a self-revelation of the Divinity in things. Sri Aurobindo

National Workshop on GreenTechnologies was organized by theDepartment of Civil Engineering, ofK.S.Rangasamy College of Technology,Tiruchengode, Namakkal Dist. The

event was held on 20

th

of August andShri.V.Ramakrishnan Read a paper onShakti Surabhi Engery Plant in yourBackyard. 200 participants attendedthe programme.

Happenings: This month for SustainableAgriculture

Workshop on Vermi Compost Technologywas held for 40 students of Zoology Dept.of Women Christian College, Nagercoil atthe J.C.Bose Nursery, atVivekanandapuram on the 5

thof this

month. Shri.S.Rajamony was the resourceperson.

Workshop on Organic farming was heldat the Technology Resource Center ofVivekananda Kendra nardep, Kalluvilai on20

th. 13 participants studied the

technology. Smt.S.Premalatha was the

resource person.

Sis.V.Saraswathi attended the Dist.Mission Committee meeting, conducted byDept. of Horticulture, Govt. of Tamilnadu atthe Collectorate Campus, Nagercoil on22

ndof August.

Workshop on Organic Farming: Participantshave a look at the Azolla beds and learnt the

technology in a hands on training session.

Media and Events

Traditional healers meet on Visha vaidyapractices was held at Gandigram, Dindigulby Gandigram Trust on the 3

rdof this month.

Dr.V.Ganapathy gave the talk and 72persons attended and benefited.

High Potency Compost technology wasexdplained to 200 members of KalanjiumThozhilagam Ltd., on 9

thof August Dhan

Foundation, Madurai organized theprogramme. Dr.V.Ganapathy was theresource person.

Dr.V.Ganapathy gave a guest lecture atSt.Xaviers College, Palayamkottai on 28

th

August. South Indian Traditional VaidyarsFederation organized the programme. Thetopic for lecture was Use of Ethnomedicines in Varma practices. 110participants attended the lecture.

Happenings: This month for Holistic

Medicine

Mamallapuram the famous tourist place today generateselectricity from organic waste: 100 Cu.m. Bio-Methanationplant constructed by VK-nardep. The plant is managed byHand in Hand an NGO which also does the social

engineering for running the plant through communitysu ort.


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``


Both the good and the pleasant approach a man. The wise man, pondering over them, discriminates.The wise chooses the good in preference to the pleasant. The simple-minded, for the sake of worldlywell-being, prefers the pleasant.- Katha Upanisahd

How to feed the future humanity?How to make development sustainable?

Some of the best publications on the subject for layman and

professionals alike are from VK-nardep.Contact: The Secretary, Vivekananda Kendra-NARDEP

Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari-629702Tamil Nadu

Phone: 04652-246296 Email:[email protected]

This month Shakthi Surabhi

This month training programme on Bio-methanationplant (supported by DST, New Delhi) was conductedat TRC, Kalluvilai on 27

th.Er. Ramakrishnan was the

resource person. 25 persons attended.

Follow-up camp on Kitchen Waste (Shakti Surabhi)Biogas Plant sponsored by NABARD, Chennai TRC,Kalluvilai was also held on 27

thof this month. 24

persons attended Shri.Kadiresan guided the

participants.

Individual qualities forHolistic citizen

1. Non-violence or love Ahisma

2. Truth Satyagraha3. Fearlessness Saravatra

Bhaya Varjana4. Self-organisation or self rule

Swaraj Self regulation meansself-knowledge and taking

responsibility.5. Non-stealing Asteya. Part of

this is Non-consumerism Asangraha. This requires

ecological humility; realizingthat waste is a sin against

nature and that natures cycleshould be followed. It is about

having enough.

6. Sacred Sex Brahmacharya7. Physical work - Sharirashram

8. Avoidance of bad taste Aswada.

9. Respect for all religions Sarava Dharma Samanatva10. Self economy or Local

economy Swadeshidecentralisation.

11. Respect for all beings Sparsha

-Mahatma Gandhi

25 cum Bio-Methanation Plant at Lucas TVS, (Pondicherry)under construction by VK-NARDEP.


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Echoes of Eco - Newsletter, Vivekananda Kendra nardep, April 2009 Vol. I No: 2

A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of

great value.Isaac Asimov


Four-Based

Approach to Peace

Peace Pilgrim

Four Preparations1. Assume right attitude towardlife: Stop being an escapist or asurface-liver as these attitudes canonly cause in-harmony in your life.Face life squarely and get downbelow the froth of its surface todiscover its verities and realities.Solve the problems that life setsbefore you, and you will find thatsolving them contributes to yourinner growth. Helping to solvecollective problems contributes alsoto your growth, and these problemsshould never be avoided.

2. Live good beliefs: The lawsgoverning human conduct apply asrigidly as the law of gravity.Obedience to these laws pushes ustoward harmony; disobediencepushes us toward in-harmony. Sincemany of these laws are alreadycommon belief, you can begin byputting into practice all the goodthings you believe. No life can be inharmony unless belief and practiceare in harmony.

3. Find your place in the LifePattern: You have a part in thescheme of things. What that part isyou can know only from withinyourself. You can seek it in receptivesilence. You can begin to live inaccordance with it by doing all thegood things you are motivatedtoward and giving these thingspriority in your life over all thesuperficial things that customarilyoccupy human lives.

Four Purifications

1. Purification of the bodily temple:

Are you free from all bad habits? Inyour diet do you stress the vital foods -the fruits, whole grains, vegetablesand nuts? Do you get to bed early andget enough sleep? Do you get plentyof fresh air, sunshine, exercise, andcontact with nature? If you can answer"Yes" to all of these questions, youhave gone a long way towardpurification of the bodily temple.

2. Purification of the thoughts: It isnot enough to do right things and say

right things. You must also think rightthings. Positive thoughts can bepowerful influences for good. Negativethoughts can make you physically ill.Be sure there is no un-peacefulsituation between yourself and anyother human being, for only when youhave ceased to harbor unkindthoughts can you attain innerharmony.

3. Purification of the desires: Sinceyou are here to get yourself into

harmony with the laws that governhuman conduct and with your part inthe scheme of things, your desiresshould be focused in this direction.

4. Purification of motives: Obviouslyyour motive should never be greed orself-seeking, or the wish for self-glorification, you shouldn't even havethe selfish motive of attaining innerpeace for yourself. To be of service toyour fellow humans must be yourmotive before your life can come intoharmony.

Four Relinquishments1. Relinquishment of self-will: Youhave, or it's as though you have, twoselves: the lower self that usuallygoverns you selfishly, and the higherself which stands ready to use yougloriously. You must subordinate thelower self by refraining from doing thenot-good things you are motivatedtoward, not suppressing them buttransforming them so that the higherself can take over your life.

2. Relinquishment of the feelingof separateness: All of us, all overthe world, are cells in the body ofhumanity. You are not separatefrom your fellow humans, and youcannot find harmony for yourselfalone. You can only find harmonywhen you realize the oneness of alland work for the good of all.

3. Relinquishment of allattachments: Only when you have

relinquished all attachments canyou be really free. Material thingsare here for use, and anything youcannot relinquish when it hasoutlived its usefulness possessesyou. You can only live in harmonywith your fellow humans if you haveno feeling that you possess them,and therefore do not try to run theirlives.

4. Relinquishment of all negativefeelings: Work on relinquishingnegative feelings. If you live in thepresent moment, which is really theonly moment you have to live, youwill be less apt to worry. If yourealize that those who do meanthings are psychologically ill, yourfeelings of anger will turn to feelingsof pity. If you recognize that all ofyour inner hurts are caused by yourown wrong actions or your ownwrong reactions or your own wronginaction, then you will stop hurtingyourself.

She walked all her life forpeace and she walked with nopossessions


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Schrdinge

Vivekananda Kendra nardep, Kanyakumari-629702 Phone:91-4652-246296www.vknardep.org

One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touchedour human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vitalelement for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.

-Carl Jung

The Eastern mystics repeatedlyinsist on the fact that the ultimatereality can never be an object of

reasoning or of demonstrableknowledge. The firm basis ofknowledge on experience inEastern mysticism suggests aparallel to the firm basis ofscientific knowledge onexperiment. This parallel is furtherenforced by the nature of themystical experience. It is describedin the Eastern traditions as a directinsight which lies outside the realmof the intellect and is obtained bywatching rather than thinking; by

looking inside oneself; byobservation. A mysticalexperience, therefore, is not anymore unique than a modernexperiment in physics. On theother hand, it is not lesssophisticated either, although itssophistication is of a very differentcategory. The complexity andefficiency of the physicist'stechnical apparatus is matched, ifnot surpassed, by that of themystic's consciousness - both

physical and spiritual - in deepmeditation. The scientists and themystics, then, have developedhighly sophisticated methods ofobserving nature.

Our feelings play a very importantpart in directing all of our thoughtsand actions. In us, there is a river of

feelings, in which every drop of wateris a different feeling, and each feelingrelies on all the others for itsexistence. To observe it, we just siton the bank of the river and identifyeach feeling as it surfaces, flows by,and disappears. There are threesorts of feelings--pleasant,unpleasant, and neutral. When wehave an unpleasant feeling, we maywant to chase it away. But it is moreeffective to return to our consciousbreathing and just observe it,

identifying it silently to ourselves:"Breathing in, I know there is anunpleasant feeling in me. Breathingout, I know there is an unpleasantfeeling in me." Calling a feeling by itsname, such as "anger," "sorrow,""joy," or "happiness," helps usidentify it clearly and recognize itmore deeply.If we face ourunpleasant feelings with care,affection, and nonviolence, we cantransform them into the kind ofenergy that is healthy and has the

capacity to nourish us. By the workof mindful observation, ourunpleasant feelings can illuminate somuch for us, offering us insight andunderstanding into ourselves andsociet .

Thinking Feeling Knowing

- Fritjof CapraPhysicist

The monkey in the tree feelshungry, and then the urge arises totake a fruit or a nut. Action comes

first, and then the idea that you hadbetter store it up. To put it indifferent words, does action comefirst, or the actor? Is there an actorwithout action? Do you understand?This is what we are always askingourselves: Who is it that sees? Whois the watcher? Is the thinker apartfrom his thoughts, the observerapart from the observed, theexperience apart from theexperience, the actor apart from theaction? But if you really examine the

process, very carefully, closely andintelligently, you will see that there isalways action first, and that actionwith an end in view creates theactor. If you think very clearly andwithout prejudice, withoutconformity, without trying toconvince somebody, without an endin view, in that very thinking there isno thinker, there is only the thinking.It is only when you seek an end inyour thinking that you becomeimportant, and not thought. Perhaps

some of you have observed this. If the thinker comes first, then thethinker is more important thanthought, and all the philosophies,

- Thich Nhat HanMonk

J.KrishnamurtiSeer

Vivekananda Kendra Nardep Newsletter 2011

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