Karma Essays - Reincarnation, Shabda, Indian Religions, Free Essays

Karma Essays - Reincarnation, Shabda, Indian Religions, Free Essays Karma What is the relation, if any, of the concept of varna to the concept of karma? Of karma to the doctrine of reincarnation? The concepts of varna and karma are each closely related to the eastern civilization religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Varna and karma go hand in hand with each other to explain themselves, as does karma with the doctrine of reincarnation. The complicated explanation of all of these concepts follows. In order to understand the concept of karma, one must first understand the term varna. An appropriate definition would be the rise of class system, which the Hindus adhere to. An English translation of varna, however, is simply the word color (Noss 87). There are four social classes that break down the class system otherwise known as varna. Beginning with the highest class, there is the Brahmins or priests, followed by the ruling Kshatriyas, the Vaisyas (common people), and finally the Shudras (servants). The Brahmins said that if one was a member of any of the first three classes to be extremely careful to avoid the Shudras (Noss 87). Now that we have somewhat of an understanding of varna, the concept of karma can be more easily explained. Karma simply stated is that the way one lives his or her life now determines destiny or fate. In other words, the consequences of ones actions in this life will determine what they do or become in the next life. Therefore, karma is what made one who he or she is in the present life due to the actions the person portrayed in his or her previous life. Karma is the cause of ones destiny in the future life, and is what caused a person to be who he or she is today. Now we will explain the relationship between varna and karma. Lets imagine the following situation. There are two people living in the Vaisyas class of commoners. One of them does only good deeds, has good thoughts, and portrays an all around good sense of well being. The other person commits crimes, has bad thoughts, and portrays an over all sense of evil or no good. The first person will perhaps become a member of the Kshatriya class, moving up on the wheel of samsara. The other person will most likely become a Shudra in the next life. So, perhaps in their most recent previous lives, the first person was a good person of the Shudra class, and samsara declared that he or she rise in class; and the second person may have been a bad person of the Kshatriya class, therefore he or she declined in class. There are endless possibilities, but the relationship between karma and varna is obvious here. Simply stated, karma determines varna. Next we will look at the doctrine of reincarnation as it relates to karma. Reincarnation is an easier concept to grasp than karma. Reincarnation can be defined as the never-ending time line of life. In other words, we all have been someone or something else before or present life began, and after the present life is over, we will become someone or something else again. Karma is what determines who or what we will become. Karma develops our own fate and destiny for reincarnation. The life one lives now determines what he or she will be reincarnated as. Just as karma determined varna, karma now determines reincarnation. Just incase, these ideas are the true meaning of the after-life, I suppose I shall adhere to good karma so that maybe in my next life I can be a member of the highest class.

Helpful Discussion Questions for The Necklace

Helpful Discussion Questions for 'The Necklace' ​The Necklace is a favorite French short story by  Guy de Maupassant. A tragic piece about vanity, materiality, and pride, its definitely a humbling story that will get rid of any little girl or boys princess complex. Although short, Maupassant packs many themes, symbols, and even a surprise ending into The Necklace. Here are some discussion questions helpful for teachers or anyone looking to talk about the story.   Lets start from the very beginning with the title. By titling his work, The Necklace, Maupassant is immediately notifying readers to pay special attention to this object. What does the necklace symbolize? What theme does the necklace convey?  What other themes exist in the story?   Turning towards the setting, this story takes place in Paris.  Why did Maupassant decide to set this story in Paris? What was the social context of life in Paris at the time, and does it relate to The Necklace? Although Mathilde is at the center of the story, lets consider the other characters as well: Monsier Loisel and Madame Forestier. How do they advance Maupassants ideas? What role do they play in this story? Speaking of characters, do you find the characters likable, or detestable? Does your opinion of the characters change throughout the story? Finally, lets talk about the end. Maupassant is known for springing twist-endings on his readers. Did you think the ending to The Necklace was unexpected? If so, why?   Lets take this discussion beyond just analyzing the story; did you like The Necklace? Would you recommend it to your friends?

Formal recommendation report - android tablets Research Paper

Formal recommendation report - android tablets - Research Paper Example The android tablets are fundamental in the teaching and learning process. Among their basic functions and advantages, include their portability. Android tablets have small sizes and light thus easy to carry and therefore facilitate interactive communication regardless of the location of either a student or a teacher. The size makes the tablets convenient for students to use thus making them fundamental. Additionally, as students of information technology the android tablets epitomize the future of mobile communication. Understanding their operations and specifications is therefore basic to the study of hardware in the class. Such requires a degree of practicality only achievable if the students possessed the devices. The gadgets function as effective mobile phones thus perform all the functions previously performed by mobile phones but also sum up as hand held computers. They are therefore essential in the learning process as students use such in carrying their digital notes thus sus taining the learning process. ... implications of the project Equipment/Activity Price Units Total cost Android tablets $ 550 21 $ 11,550 UPS $ 210 3 $ 630 Teacher training $ 350 2 teachers $ 700 Total project cost $ 12,880 Possible Solutions To address the evident lack of the hand held communication devices in the class is a collective responsibility that must involve all the stakeholders in the facility. Such include the parents, students and the teachers. Additionally, the absence of the devises also portrays an administrative inefficiency thus compelling the inclusion of the administration of the institution in the solution determination process. Among the possible urgent solutions to the problem is to seek the schools resources in availing the devices to the students or compelling the parents to purchase the devices to their children. An effective long-term solution is to institutionalize the creation of a computer lab and equipping it with the fundamental devices for practical classes or compelling every parent to buy such for their children before admission. Knowledge and Interests As an active class member, I have the firsthand experience on the effects of the absence of the android devices. As stated earlier, the devices are fundamental in the learning process, they facilitate practical classes thus making learning a cohesive process in which every class member contributes and learns equally. With such knowledge, it becomes possible to study the prevalence of the lack among the students thus determine a cost effective solution for every student. In devising a solution to the problem, one must consider the cost implications of such solutions vis-a-vis the importance of the devices to the learning process. Preliminary Findings With adequate observation of the prevalence of the lack in the class

Real EstateFinance and Investment Research summary and market report Paper

Real EstateFinance and Investment summary and market report - Research Paper Example This model is quantified using plausible assumptions about rational appraisal behaviour in additional to knowledge of how the appraisal-based indices are constructed. This model can be inverted and applied to reported index returns to recover implied market returns. This alternative Geltner (1993) suggests is useful because the unsecuritized property markets may not be able to produce information on a timely basis and may have returns that can be predicted based on the information gathered from a review of previous research in the area. In accounting for the nature of the appraised-based indices Geltner (1993) indicates that RNI and EAI share a few similarities. However, there are also some differences in their base year; how they carry out their valuation; and the type and geographic location of the properties they value. Geltner (1993) then looks at appraisal smoothing at the disaggregate level. In order to obtain an optimal appraise current market values Geltner (1993) uses what h e describes as a simple Bayesian rule to estimate the property value at each point in time and outlines a â€Å"rational appraisal† model that can be used for that purpose. The model indicates the relationship between property-appraised values and market value. Geltner (1993) also presents a model to define the relationship between the reported index annual return to the underlying market annual return. This Geltner (1993) points out allows for the observation of index returns caused by the three behavioral events previously mentioned. In recovering the underlying market returns from the reported index returns that the closeness of the model the models used in observing behavioral phenomenon was taken as an indication of whether unsecuritized market returns are predictable. Geltner’s (1993) findings are not statistically significant to draw any conclusions. However, the overall impression from the graphs and other statistical data indicates that it may be possible to p redict unsecuritized market returns. Summary Article: Strategies of Focus Opportunity: Trends in Public-Market Commercial Real Estate Penetration from 1998 to 2003 Hess and Liang in their article entitled: â€Å"Strategies of Focus and Opportunity†, which was published in the Pramerica Real Estate Investors Research Report dated August 2004 indicated that during 2003 public real estate investment companies reduced their holdings in apartments and hotel properties in order to benefit from an increase in the demand for those properties. In the mean time they took advantage of the falling values of retail properties while maintaining their holdings in warehouses. This enabled them to strategically position themselves to gain from future increases in the market values for retail properties. Their strategies involved looking at the market for short term gains by buying when prices are at their lowest and selling when prices are approaching their highest point, at a time when inves tors were able to access loans to purchase such properties. These public real estate investment companies, consists of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Real Estate Operating Companies (REOCs) which must be publicly held and traded on one of the major stock exchanges in the US and Canada. Hess and Liang (2004) points out that in 2002 REITs took advantage of

The Role of Human Resources Essay Example for Free

The Role of Human Resources Essay Describe the unique challenges of managing the human resources function for your specific organization As a new Senior Vice-President of Human Resources for Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Inc are presented many challenge because the size of healthcare organization. HCA owns and operates one hundred and sixty nine hospitals, and one hundred and five surgery centers within twenty-five states, including London England furthermore, the organization and its affiliate employee approximately one hundred and ninety thousand people. Therefore, there is a need for a large qualified staff of human-resource individuals. As the Senior Vice-President of Human Resources, one would report to the CEO of the company as well as have a staff of several vice presidents who would handle all the relevant regions and facilities. The human resources department is broken down into sections and there are vice presidents over each of these respective sections that would report to a senior vice-president of HR groups. This includes, * Division offices that oversee the hospitals and surgery centers. * Operations and recruitment. * Employee relations. * Benefits and compensation. * Information system and executive workforce development. * Human resources ITS. * Community relations and foundations. * Organizational leadership and development. Each one of these groups covers all the various human resources functions within the organization. According to Flynn, Mathis and Jackson (2011), â€Å"HR professionals in all segments of the industry will be faced with the challenge of recruiting and retaining the right number of competent employees for their organizations† (p. 11) The organization like many others has the challenge of recruiting and retaining mostly registered nurses, but HCA cannot forget about retaining the employees which a company presently has. There are human-resource departments at each of these hospitals that handle the hospitals and affiliated surgery centers. These HR directors at the hospitals report to the division offices who then report to the respective corporate human resources vice president. Furthermore, the issue of managing changes, such as costs, governmental compliance, diversity, technology and the quality of work life falls under one of the responsibilities of the vice presidents. All of these items must be handled efficiently and effectively at the same time ensuring that company has happy employees. A person also has to ensure that there is a diverse group of employees within the organization, as well as give employees options so that they will have a good balance between work and family. The company had a very different group of employees, and continues to educate their employees through the Cultural Inclusion series that business offer monthly along with a separate group that manages all of employer accreditations and governmental compliance issues that do not fall within the jurisdiction of human resources. Analyze the competencies required for your specific position and determine in which areas you need to develop. Provide specific examples to support your rationale. According to Flynn, Mathis and Jackson, â€Å"the five core competencies that are critical in a high-performing HR leader are strategic contribution, personal credibility, HR delivery, busi ness knowledge and HR technology (Flynn, Mathis, Jackson, 2011) p. 22. Together with these competencies company a human resources must be emotionally, intelligent, connect to proper procedures and behaviors in their jobs, due to the structure and how businesses are set up. People will feel confident that all of these areas are covered and support the organization successfully. The areas that one needs to develop and have a better understanding are the business knowledge aspect also the technology aspect. Since this Corporation is large and has many different departments, it would be beneficial for leader to have a general and basic understanding of how each department works and interacts between one another and know who reports to whom to give a person a well-rounded picture of each group. The technology is changing so much that it would be advantageous to have a good understanding of how new technology can assist in hiring, training and promoting employees within the organization. In the past the company has tended to hire outside of the organization before promoting within however, it is in the process of changing that with the modern system that allows employees to update their education and skills for the human resources group to review. It is also important in a HR position to be able to communicate effectively with all employees from the top to the bottom and to be approachable and make employees feel comfortable coming to talk with others within our department. Finally, mutual respect is a necessity and a requirement to make everything run smoothly. Determine the role you think the company could play in developing you for the opportunity. What would you need the company to do? How does it benefit the company? In preparing some for this position, the company plays a vital role. One way to prepare for this position would be to have a person work his way through the various HR positions. The training would first start with a corporate overview and the functions HR department. Training at the division level would be the next step, how they handle the HR departments of the hospitals, and finally training at the hospital level itself so that staff could understand their positions and what they deal with daily. In this training, one would get a fundamental understanding of what everyone does from the clerks to the directors. As a present manager, it is very important for management to have a grasp on everything that happens under their leadership. Person should have a basic understanding on how to do every aspect of the job, employees have more respect for a leader when they are not afraid to get in the trenches and help out including understanding what they deal with in their respective jobs. For example, the staff wants the manager to appreciate their job and give them reward for their performance. A Human Resources manager would, need to have a bachelor’s degre e, preferably in human resources along with some work experience for this position. Furthermore, for this position, a graduate degree is preferred; one should enroll in the executive development program and have a mentor. If the company does not have a mentoring program, could check with the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. â€Å"The ASHHRA Mentoring Program is designed to create a mentorship community for health care HR professionals to enhance and grown knowledge, skills and abilities to excel in their careers† (ASHHRA Mentoring Program). Moving into this position would involve a series of cross training to prepare for this position within the organization. The company would need to outline a training program that would be approximately two years, and within that time frame, all the various human-resource jobs and managerial duties should be reviewed. One would need to ensure that a person had the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job. Coming from a legal background, training for the labor and employment law section would also be beneficial so that company would have a general knowledge on how employment matters affect the organization when they reach a litigation level. In adequately preparing a self for the role, it would be advantageous to the organization because one would be a well-qualified employee who has understanding of all the areas that fall within arena. Develop a strategic view of human resources that supports your institution’s organizational strategy The strategic plan for the human resources department would incorporate company missions into the organizational mission statement and goals: â€Å"Our organization (HCA) is committed to the care and improvement of human life and strives to deliver high-quality, cost effective healthcare in the communities we serve. With patient first mentality and then the community, the human resources department has to ensure that it recruits competent individuals from hospital employees to the corporate level. The vice presidents who fall under one position would cover the organizational objectives and strategies ensuring that their goals line up and compliment the overall goals. Right now, there is increased focus on recruiting in the registered nurse field due to the shortage of licensed nurses in healthcare. The vice president and group of operations and recruitment deal with the nursing shortage and ensure that business is doing everything possible to get these vacant positions filled so that the patients and communities will not suffer. The organization will pay for any of employees to get their nursing degree along with scholarships for employee children who wish to go into the nursing profession. The vice president of community relations and foundations would ensure that people have a positive presenc e in the communities. Manager oversees projects such as our community day whenever individual work with United Way to serve the community. The company will be sponsoring various events, including performing arts, museums, and school partnerships. Employees will be volunteering in different non-profit agencies. Internal and external assessments and forecasts would be done by the vice president of the human resources information system on both the corporate level and the hospital levels. The development of a Talent Management program helps to guarantee that employer, has the right people in the appropriate jobs. If an employee is not matched up correctly, then that group works on matching them so that they can be relocated to other areas of the company where they will be more beneficial. The vice president of HRIS and his group would be the ones handling these internal and external assessments. A couple of years ago, there were layoffs at the organization in the job, but they were at the corporate level not the hospitals. Some individuals were relocated to other positions due to the Talent Management system, and other people were offered early retirement and others severance packages. The vice presidents of employee relations and the vice president of benefits and compliance would also be involved in the area. They not only want to look within the communities in which company served for employees, but also wants to ensure that person look within the organization to fill positions. These vice presidents would work together to see that the entire employee package is complete and that the employee has everything covered from hours to insurance and stock options. These vice presidents and their groups cover all of employee’s organizations, so they not only have to be concerned with hospital employees. In addition, they have to be concerned with all of our employees, including executive management. According to the American College of Healthcare Executives, â€Å"out of 300 hospitals surveyed, the overall turnover rate for 2010 was 16 percent nationwide† (Modern Healthcare, June 20, 2011, p. 33) Often a company thinks of the employees at the hospitals such as nurses, clinicians, technicians, etc. but doesnt think about the executives that are at the hospital. The company must ensure that they are satisfied employees as well. All the groups of the human resources department work together for the benefit of all employees. There are many things that come into play, such as ensuring a person has competent HR employees who can assist others within the organization. HR wants to recruit the best people it can and to have a diverse workforce within the organization. Once they are recruited, HR wanted them to remain happy and realize that they can have a career and not just a job. Management wants employees to realize that this is an organization where they can grow with the company and that their HR department is pleased to help them do so. Health care HR departments realize the value of healthy employees, and some organizations have even started programs for the employee’s family. â€Å"While most big companies already have employee wellness programs, the newest trend is expanding those efforts to include dependents† (Bloomberg Business Week, January, 21, 2010) If company employees are happy, healthy and their families are the same, business will have a satisfactory employee who will display those duplicate qualities as an employee daily. REFERENCES American College of Healthcare Executives, (2011, February 11) American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration – Mentoring Program. Retrieved from www.ashhra.org Flynn, W., Mathis, R., Jackson, J. (2011). Healthcare human resource management. Mason: Cengage Learning Flynn, W., Mathis, R., Jackson, J. (2011). Healthcare human resource management. (2nd ed). Mason,OH: Thomson South-Western/Cengage. HCA – Hospital Corporation of America: About our Company. Retrieved from http://www.hcahealthcare.com Health Care: Human Resources Targets Your Family. Bloomberg BusinessWeek (2010, January 21). Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_05/b4165067423261.htm Hospital CEO turnover by state. (2011, June 20). Modern Healthcare p. 33

Discover the Intricacies of Agoraphobia Essay examples -- Mental Illne

Among the many diseases in this world, some of the most interesting and least understood are illnesses of the mind. One aliment in particular, Agoraphobia, is of particular interest to me as it affects many of my family members in ways both subtle and drastic, and I cannot help but wonder if I too will fall victim to it. I know from previous knowledge that this particular ailment is a mental one, though I have witnessed it causing drastic physical symptoms, and that it generally involves a fear of leaving home for an open, public place. Through research, I aim to find the cause of agoraphobia, including anything that predisposes one to it, and treatments for it, including both medications and therapy. I would also like to know just how much of this disease is genetic versus learned. In the end, I hope to answer my questions and discover the intricacies of agoraphobia. My research process began like any other, a thousand questions and a blind dive into the unknown. The first step I took was going to the professor recommended database, NCLive, typing in â€Å"agoraphobia,† and seeing what articles resulted from that. From there, I fine tuned the search options, blocking outdated sources and ones that were not peer reviewed, until a reasonable amount of articles remained. I found many of these articles to be useful, though I ultimately I narrowed it down to three because many sources were too narrow to answer more than one of my questions. Medical research papers and regulations were of use to me in particular, as they offered a straightforward answer in regards to what processes are involved in the treatment of agoraphobia. There were of course a few of articles that served to be counterproductive to my research, as the information... ...he assignment itself, I have learned many things about research and intend to employ such new knowledge on my next paper. I will be more aware of my tendencies, and push myself to look at longer sources and to look at all sources more thoroughly because I know this will help me to make an ultimately better research paper. Works Cited Andrew Baillie, et al. "Summary Of Guideline For The Treatment Of Panic Disorder And Agoraphobia." Australasian Psychiatry 11.1 (2003): 29-33. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. Holmes, Joshua. "Space And The Secure Base In Agoraphobia: A Qualitative Survey." Area 40.3 (2008): 375-382. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. Miller, Michael C. "What Is Agoraphobia?." Harvard Mental Health Letter 27.11 (2011): 8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. Pistole, Linda. Personal interview. 2 March 2012.

Nike and Vietnam Essay

Globalization is a phenomenon that has become a fact in today’s business world. Companies, always looking to cut costs and improve productivity, often look overseas to either expand current business operations or to outsource existing business operations. Companies often make the decision to go global with the hopes of taking advantage of more favorable business environments, better technologies, or relationships with suppliers and customers. While these facts are a part of globalization, there are also positive benefits, which range from lower prices to consumers, increased education for individuals within the countries where expansion occurs, and a higher standard of life for the individuals in these countries. While arguments can be made that globalization is a positive or negative force on a country or on the world economy, the debate is not likely to end any time soon. This paper will take a look at the positive impacts of globalization by examining Nike in Vietnam. Nike has long been viewed as the poster child for problems associated with globalization. Many have accused Nike of employing workers in sweatshop like conditions in poorer countries like China, and more recently Vietnam. In addition to the sweatshop claims, people often say that Nike employs child labor, often even claiming that the child labor is forced and takes place in sweatshops. Many of these same people also suggest that Nike has taken jobs from the United States to these countries where there are fewer laws regarding work conditions and wages so that they can pay their employees less in an effort to make a higher profit with no regard to the value of human life. These are just a few of the accusations that people often make against multinational corporations such as Nike, and this list is much longer. While it is true that there have been problems at certain factories that make Nike products, the company has taken aggressive steps to ensure that all of its factories now comply with basic human rights. It is hard to argue that the conditions experienced by workers at factories in Vietnam are not still vastly different from what we experience in the West, but the culture is much different as well. Therefore, what we may view as harsh conditions may not, in fact, be so to the actual employees. What are often unnoticed, or at least is not mentioned, are the positive effects that Nike has brought to countries like Vietnam. As stated previously, many of the benefits of globalization within a company like Nike must be looked at within the context of the culture being examined. A primary example of this would be the pay. While some may argue that a monthly pay of $72 per month is essentially the same as employing slave labor, the employees at the Nike factory in Ho Chi Minh City might say otherwise. As Johan Norbert (2004) notes, the pay of $72 per month is â€Å"almost three times the minimum wage for a state-owned enterprise,† which typically involves endless days in intense heat or rain in rice fields surrounded by water and bugs. In addition to being higher paying than previous jobs, working in a Nike factory also provides a stable source of income. These higher wages have afforded the employees other benefits as well. When the first factories opening in Ho Chi Minh City, the workers had to walk to the factories, but, within a few years, they saw significant improvements to their transportation options. Norberg (2004) also writes, â€Å"After three years, they could afford bicycles †¦ three years later, they could afford scooters [and after eight years], the first workers [could] afford to buy a car. † This is a reality that few people in Ho Chi Minh City experience, with less than 5% of the population owning a car. But perhaps one of the greatest benefits that globalization has brought to Vietnam is the availability to afford higher education. In the past, many children would have been put to work on farms in order for their families to survive, yet â€Å"In ten years, 2. 2 million children have gone from child labour to education† (Norberg, 2004). Millions of children attending school as a result of globalization is a far cry from many of the child labor accusations previously mentioned. Globalization is, and probably will always be, a topic that has very passionate people on both sides of the debate. While arguments both for and against globalization have valid points to make, few people really have really taken the time to look at the direct impact of this ever growing trend. From strictly a consumer standpoint, Nike’s decision to go global and create factories in a variety of countries has led to an increase from under 200 styles to almost 1200 different styles available for purchase (Locke & Siteman, 2007, p. 6). More importantly, though, are the points mentioned above, that employees in countries like Vietnam make almost 3x the wages made in their previous employment. Rarely will you hear that these employees are able to afford items such as cars while the majority of people even within their own city cannot. You will also almost never hear that, despite past abuses of child labor, millions of children have been able to get an education. This is a reality that would not have been possible if their parents were still stuck working in rice fields. This education has the abolition to create a positive cycle of growth, wealth, and education for new generations that will continue for years. If you want to see the direct impact that globalization can have, the case of Nike in Vietnam provides a solid starting point to see the positive effects that have come about as Nike has expanded to have workers in over 50 countries.