Educational Youtube

The conventional way to learn new materials is either enroll into a course or read a book. However these are no more the only options that we have nowadays.

Actually the previous two methods have certainly their advantages such as getting some sort of certification after the completion of the course and this gives you credibility that you really know what you claim to know. As for reading a book it is still a handy and convenient way since you can take it with you while travelling in the train, plane or even on the beach. Note that even with these features books are being challenged by technology with the advent of IPad.

However, there are disadvantages related to those methods. Course involves displacement to a certain location on a certain date at a certain hour. For working people this is not always easy to do and even when done they might not be in shape to fully assimilate the explanation especially after having a bad day. On the other hand, books also require some energy to read and assimilate. In addition, if the content needs to be practiced there will be switching from reading to practicing and vice-versa.

Luckily, this seems to be changed by Youtube! Until recently I used Youtube to watch some funny movies. But the other day I had the idea to search for a technology related subject and I was surprised to see tens of videos to that topic.
When running few of them I realized how efficient this method is. The explanations are directly backed by a demonstration, so the viewer won’t lose focus switching from book to computer. When, in doubt or you miss something you can repeat the clip as much as you need. You can pause to have some rest and resume later. In short you have all the advantages that you don’t have when you take a real life course. Plus it is totally FREE.

This reminds me of the open-source model, where people spend considerable amount of time and efforts to build software only to give it away for free. Same thing seems to happen in here; people are doing a series of learning videos and put them on YouTube for free. Surely they expect to get something in return by becoming well known in the domain they are talking about, but nevertheless the public is profiting from this model to get free learning and educational stuff.

Could we see in the future students logging to their Youtube class?! Nobody knows for sure, but one thing is certain; technology is reaching every aspect of the human life.

Source: http://ziadsalloum.blogspot.com/2010/08/educational-youtube.html

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What is Sacrifice?

In Sri MadBhagvad Gita, chapter four the concept of Sacrifice has been explained. It says every creature is meant to do some sacrifice and unconsciously we do it all the time. However we are never aware what we renounce. All creations are made of five elements Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Sky.

When we want to attain a certain desire we sacrifice to procure them. Fire is an essential element that is present in all our senses and sense organs, physically and metaphysically. Hence in literal or metaphorical sense fire is termed to be the divine sacrificial tool. As it would burn all into ashes which then sublimes to the rest of four elements.

For instance: Married couples to attain sensual pleasure sacrifice at times their pleasing sights, habits, sounds and peace.” Karma Yogis” or Eucharist’s oblation to achieve some material success are all basic instances.

Similarly to attain self realization some sacrifice all their material pleasures to the fire of Knowledge. The elaboration goes to what we are meant to do , why the term of ultimate truth comes up while it is only self realization of yourself that your physical presence is only their to do prescribed actions of nature, no matter what you desire there is nothing you will take with you. At the end of it all you will get what you deserved.

Detachment is a sacrifice. Some practice celibacy as sacrifice. However what we do not realize is even if we are doing are regular activities, at some point we all sacrifice something which was required for attainment of the goal or certain pursuit.

When Krishna asks Arjuna to stand up, leave all material thoughts to fire and fight is a simple manifestation of what we need to do in our daily life. Instead of being belittle, attached unnecessarily to certain attributes, if nature prescribes a sacrifice of them to move ahead, do not ponder. Only react.

To brief, we should not step back and think otherwise if we are on a certain track for it to be good or bad, at the end we only react to nature’s action. There is nothing that we do on our own. Nobody owns you. Your presence came alone and will leave alone. Your biological parents only reacted to natural science of reproduction. They do not own you.

Once we reach the stage where we have sacrificed all for eternal knowledge, the fire turns all our sins to ashes. Valmiki, who wrote Ramayana, was a miscreant however once he chose to indulge in route to transcendental knowledge all his sins were washed away.

The other revelation in this chapter is the explanation of Braham’s reincarnation from time to time whenever there is some unrighteousness prevalent. It is not necessary that it has to be an avatar or physical being, it could be anything. Even a flood is nature’s force to wipe out the physical beings that are no longer required and have been taking too much from nature without sacrificing anything.

We blame the wars however it too is a cosmic force that made people stand and fight. The way we are going, we are ruling out sacrifice and only taking as much as we can from nature. And it is science that if you do not give something as an action you will never get a reaction and your physical presence hence is not required. Hence there would be a point when we all will perish. It could be anything, nature’s wrath to nuclear holocaust.

Hence sacrifice is nothing however it is surrender in a certain manner to nature. It is a gradual process and even if we go through the Gita several times, the realization of the true essence comes only with prescribed time. With each action we break away from one incarceration. Once we reach where we oblate attachment, the rest of the sacrifices will flow without any thought or emotions. The knowledge of being you will come to you once you follow nature’s course and surrender. When the true knowledge will evince, it will give you a state of absolute bliss and pleasure. You will be nothing; will want nothing however will be afloat profound happiness where love and happiness will only be your rest of the state for eternity

Source: http://childrenofsea.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-is-sacrifice.html

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