The Tao Te Ching (Chinese: 道德經, Dào dé jīng), roughly translated as The Book of the Way and its Virtue (see below on translating the title) is an ancient Chinese scripture. Tradition has it that the book was written around 600 BCE by a sage called Laozi (WG: Lao Tzu, "Old Master"), a record-keeper in the Emperor's Court of the Zhou Dynasty. A careful reading of the text, however, suggests that it is a compilation of maxims sharing similar themes. The authenticity of the date of compositio ...

Including:

Tao Te Ching - The original Tao Te Ching text Tao Te Ching - Translations of the title Tao Te Ching - Structure Tao Te Ching - Historical authenticity Tao Te Ching - Interpretation
Tao Te Ching - The Valley Spirit Tao Te Ching - The Return Tao Te Ching - The Sage has no heart on his own... Tao Te Ching - Knowing oneself Tao Te Ching - Other themes
Tao Te Ching - Translation
Tao Te Ching - The difficulties of translating classical Chinese Tao Te Ching - Translations

Read more here: » Tao Te Ching: Encyclopedia - Tao Te Ching

The Hebrew calendar (Hebrew: הלוח העברי) or Jewish calendar is the annual calendar used in Judaism. It determines the dates of the Jewish holidays, the appropriate Torah portions for public reading, Yahrzeits (the date to commemorate the death of a relative), and the specific daily Psalms which some customarily read. Two major forms of the calendar have been used: an observational form used prior to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70, and based on witnesses observing ...

Including:

Hebrew calendar - History
Hebrew calendar - Babylonian exile Hebrew calendar - Second Temple era Hebrew calendar - Roman Era Hebrew calendar - Alexandrian Jewish calendar Hebrew calendar - Transition period
Hebrew calendar - When does the year begin? Hebrew calendar - Modern calendar
Hebrew calendar - Epoch Hebrew calendar - Measurement of the month Hebrew calendar - Pattern of calendar years Hebrew calendar - Measurement of hours Hebrew calendar - Measurement of lunar conjunctions/molads Hebrew calendar - Metonic cycle Hebrew calendar - Special holiday rules Hebrew calendar - Karaite interpretation
Hebrew calendar - Accuracy

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Rice refers to two species (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima) of grass, native to tropical and subtropical southeastern Asia and to Africa. Rice is an annual plant, growing to 1-1.8 m tall, occasionally more, with long slender leaves 50-100 cm long and 2-2.5 cm broad. The small wind-pollinated flowers are produced in a branched arching to pendulous inflorescence 30-50 cm long. The seed is a grain (caryopsis) 5-12 mm long and 2-3 mm thick. The word rice derives from the Tamil word arisi. Rice ...

Including:

Rice - Rice cultivation Rice - Preparation as food Rice - History of rice cultivation Rice - World production and trade Rice - Cultivars Rice - International Year of Rice

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The history of Yoga spans from four to eight thousand years ago to the current day. From hints of it's practice in pre-vedic times, the first elucidations and detailed elaborations in Hindu texts, absorption into Buddhist and Jain philisophies, upto it's modern suffusion into secular life, it's applicability has stood the test of time. History of Yoga - Pre-Vedic ca. 6000 - 3000 BCE [?]. Older findings are believed by some to show that "yoga" existed in some form well before the establishment of vedas in the India ...

Including:

History of Yoga - Pre-Vedic ca. 6000 - 3000 BCE [?] History of Yoga - Vedic ca. 2000-1500 BCE History of Yoga - Upanishadic ca. 800-100 BCE History of Yoga - Bhagavad Gita History of Yoga - Classical - Patanjali's 'Yoga Sutras' ca. 200 CE History of Yoga - Yoga-bhasya 450 - 850 CE History of Yoga - Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1350 - 1400 CE History of Yoga - Today History of Yoga - Modern growth of yoga in the West

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Kabul (34°32′N 69°10′E, Kâb'l, in Persian کابل) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan with a population variously estimated at 2 to 4 million. It is an economic and cultural center strategically situated in a narrow valley along the Kabul River, high in the mountains before the Khyber Pass. Kabul is linked with the Tajikistan border via a tunnel under the Hindu Kush Mountains. It is about 1,800 metres (5,900 feet) above sealevel. Kabul's main products include ordnance, cloth, furniture, and beet sugar ...

Including:

Kabul - Reconstruction Kabul - History Kabul - Attractions

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The Eleusinian Mysteries were annual initiation ceremonies for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece. Of all the mysteries celebrated in ancient times these were held to be the ones of greatest importance. These myths and mysteries later spread to Rome. The rites and cultic worships and beliefs were kept secret, and initiation rites united the worshipper with god including promises of divine power and rewards in life after death. Eleusinian Mysteries - The Mysteries. Eleusis ...

Including:

Eleusinian Mysteries - The Mysteries Eleusinian Mysteries - End of the Eleusinian Mysteries Eleusinian Mysteries - Entheogenic theories

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Asclepius (Greek Ἀσκλήπιος also rendered Aesculapius in Latin and transliterated Asklepios) was the god of medicine and healing in ancient Greek mythology, according to which he was born a mortal but was given immortality as the constellation Ophiuchus after his death. His name means "cut up," and (perhaps incidentially) shares a root with the word scalpel. He represents the healing aspect of the medical arts, while his daughters Hygieia, Me ...

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bce: Abbreviation for "before common era," referring to dating prior to the year zero in the Western, or Gregorian calendar, system. Thus, 300 bce was 300 years before the turn of the millennium. Cf: ce.

(See also: Bce, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Brahmanism: Reform movement within Hinduism from 1000 BCE to 300 CE which de-emphasizes priestly sacrificial rites and emphasizes the notion of the Atman-Brahman (Self-God).

 (See also: Brahmanism, Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

ce: Abbreviation for "common era." Equivalent to the abbreviation ad. Following a date, it indicates that the year in question comes after the year zero in the Western, or Gregorian calender, system. E.g., 300 ce is 300 years after the turn of the millennium. Cf: bce.

(See also: Ce:, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Bhagavata: n (Sanskrit) "Relating to God or a God holy; sacred, divine." Pertaining to Vishnu or Krishna. From bhaga, "Gracious lord; patron; good fortune." The name of a sect of Vaishnavism which arose in the Western part of India after 600 bce. A highly devotional monotheistic faith worshiping God as Krishna, Vasudeva or Vasudeva- Krishna. It is believed by scholars to have been one of five religions (along with the Ekantika, Narayaniya, Vaikhanasa and Satvata) that blended to form what was called the Pancharatra religion in the vicinity of Mathura around 300 bce. Today, the term Bhagavata is often used to refer to the Vaishnavite religion as a whole. See: Pancharatra,Vaishnavism.

(See also: Bhagavata, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Bhagavata: n (Sanskrit) "Relating to God or a God holy; sacred, divine." Pertaining to Vishnu or Krishna. From bhaga, "Gracious lord; patron; good fortune."

The name of a sect of Vaishnavism which arose in the Western part of India after 600 bce. A highly devotional monotheistic faith worshiping God as Krishna, Vasudeva or Vasudeva- Krishna. It is believed by scholars to have been one of five religions (along with the Ekantika, Narayaniya, Vaikhanasa and Satvata) that blended to form what was called the Pancharatra religion in the vicinity of Mathura around 300 bce.

Today, the term Bhagavata is often used to refer to the Vaishnavite religion as a whole.

See: Pancharatra,Vaishnavism.

(See also: Bhagavata, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Arthaveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of statecraft." A class of ancient texts, also called Nitishastras, on politics, statecraft and much more, forming the Upaveda of the Rig Veda. The most important text of this group is Kautiliya's Arthashastra (ca 300 bce) which gives detailed instructions on all areas of government. It embodies the kshatriya perspective of rulership and society. See: Upaveda.

(See also: Arthaveda, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Arthaveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of statecraft." A class of ancient texts, also called Nitishastras, on politics, statecraft and much more, forming the Upaveda of the Rig Veda. The most important text of this group is Kautiliya's Arthashastra (ca 300 bce) which gives detailed instructions on all areas of government. It embodies the kshatriya perspective of rulership and society. See: Upaveda.

(See also: Arthaveda, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

shad darshana: (Sanskrit) "Six views or insights; six philosophies."

Among the hundreds of Hindu darshanas known through history are six classical philosophical systems: Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta.

Each was tersely formulated in sutra form by its "founder," and elaborated in extensive commentaries by other writers. They are understood as varied attempts at describing Truth and the path to it. Elements of each form part of the Hindu fabric today.

-       Nyaya: "System, rule; logic." A system of logical realism, founded sometime around 300 bce by Gautama, known for its systems of logic and epistemology and concerned with the means of acquiring right knowledge. Its tools of enquiry and rules for argumentation were adopted by all schools of Hinduism.

-       Vaisheshika: "Distinctionism." From "vishesha," differences. Philosophy founded by Kanada (ca 300 bce) teaching that liberation is to be attained through understanding the nature of existence, which is classified in nine basic realities (dravyas): earth, water, light, air, ether, time, space, soul and mind. Nyaya and Vaisheshika are viewed as a complementary pair, with Nyaya emphasizing logic, and Vaisheshika analyzing the nature of the world.

-       Sankhya: "Enumeration, reckoning." A philosophy founded by the sage Kapila (ca 500 bce), author of the Sankhya Sutras. Sankhya is primarily concerned with "categories of existence," tattvas, which it understands as 25 in number. The first two are the unmanifest purusha and the manifest primal nature, prakriti - the male-female polarity, viewed as the foundation of all existence. Prakriti, out of which all things evolve, is the unity of the three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. Sankhya and Yoga are considered an inseparable pair whose principles permeate all of Hinduism.

-       See: prakriti, purusha.

-       Yoga: "Yoking; joining." Ancient tradition of philosophy and practice codified by Patanjali (ca 200 bce) in the Yoga Sutras. It is also known as raja yoga, "king of yogas," or ashtanga yoga, "eight-limbed yoga." Its object is to achieve, at will, the cessation of all fluctuations of consciousness, and the attainment of Self Realization. Yoga is wholly dedicated to putting the high philosophy of Hinduism into practice, to achieve personal transformation through transcendental experience, samadhi.

-       See: yoga.

-       Mimamsa: "Inquiry" (or Purva, "early," Mimamsa). Founded by Jaimini (ca 200 bce), author of the Mimamsa Sutras, who taught the correct performance of Vedic rites as the means to salvation.

-       Vedanta (or Uttara "later" Mimamsa): "End (or culmination) of the Vedas." For Vedanta, the main basis is the Upanishads and Aranyakas (the "end," anta, of the Vedas), rather than the hymns and ritual portions of the Vedas. The teaching of Vedanta is that there is one Absolute Reality, Brahman. Man is one with Brahman, and the object of life is to realize that truth through right knowledge, intuition and personal experience. The Vedanta Sutras (or Brahma Sutras) were composed by Rishi Badarayana (ca 400 bce).

See: Brahma Sutra, padartha, tattva, Vedanta, yoga.

(See also: Shad darshana, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Many believe that the Tao Te Ching contains some universal truths which have since been independently recognized in other philosophies, both religious and secular. Each modern language interpretation (including even interpretation of the three-character title, of which there are dozens) differs at least slightly and occasionally profoundly from the next. Depending on how one reads them, some chapters could have three or more interpretations, ranging from practical wisdom for the common man to advice intended for kings to even the odd medical recipe. The following are some concepts and principles ...

See also:

Tao Te Ching, Tao Te Ching - Translations of the title, Tao Te Ching - Structure, Tao Te Ching - Historical authenticity, Tao Te Ching - Interpretation, Tao Te Ching - The Tao that can be told of..., Tao Te Ching - The Valley Spirit, Tao Te Ching - The Return, Tao Te Ching - The Sage has no heart on his own..., Tao Te Ching - Knowing oneself, Tao Te Ching - Other themes, Tao Te Ching - Translation, Tao Te Ching - The difficulties of translating classical Chinese, Tao Te Ching - Translations

Read more here: » Tao Te Ching: Encyclopedia II - Tao Te Ching - Interpretation

There are hundreds of different constructions that find a special point inside a triangle, satisfying some unique property: see the references section for a catalogue of them. Often they are constructed by finding three lines associated in a symmetrical way with the three sides (or vertices) and then proving that the three lines meet in a single point: an important tool for proving the existence of these is Ceva's theorem, which gives a criterion for determining when three such lines are concurrent. Similarly, lines associated with a triangl ...

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Triangle, Triangle - Types of triangles, Triangle - Basic facts, Triangle - Points lines and circles associated with a triangle, Triangle - Computing the area of a triangle, Triangle - Using geometry, Triangle - Using vectors, Triangle - Using trigonometry, Triangle - Using coordinates, Triangle - Using Heron's formula, Triangle - Using the side lengths and a numerically stable formula, Triangle - Non-planar triangles

Read more here: » Triangle: Encyclopedia II - Triangle - Points lines and circles associated with a triangle

Hebrew calendar - Biblical period. Jews have been using a lunisolar calendar since Biblical times, but originally referred to the months by number rather than name. Only four pre-exilic month names appear in the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible): Abib (first, literally "Spring"), Ziv (second), Ethanim (seventh), and Bul (eighth), and all are Canaanite names, and at least two are also Phoenician. It is possible that all of the months were initially identifiable by native Jewish numbers or foreign Canaanite/Phoenician names, ...

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Hebrew calendar, Hebrew calendar - History, Hebrew calendar - Biblical period, Hebrew calendar - Babylonian exile, Hebrew calendar - Second Temple era, Hebrew calendar - Roman Era, Hebrew calendar - Alexandrian Jewish calendar, Hebrew calendar - Transition period, Hebrew calendar - When does the year begin?, Hebrew calendar - Modern calendar, Hebrew calendar - Epoch, Hebrew calendar - Measurement of the month, Hebrew calendar - Pattern of calendar years, Hebrew calendar - Measurement of hours, Hebrew calendar - Measurement of lunar conjunctions/molads, Hebrew calendar - Metonic cycle, Hebrew calendar - Special holiday rules, Hebrew calendar - Karaite interpretation, Hebrew calendar - Accuracy

Read more here: » Hebrew calendar: Encyclopedia II - Hebrew calendar - History

By the 1770s, atheism was ceasing to be a dangerous accusation that required denial, and was evolving into a position openly avowed by some. The first open denial of the existence of god and avowal of atheism since classical times may be that of Paul Baron d'Holbach (1723–1789) in his 1770 work, The System of Nature. D'Holbach was a Parisian social figure who conducted a famous salon widely attended by many intellectual notables of the day, including Diderot, Jean Jacques Rousseau, David Hume, Adam Smith, and Benjamin Franklin. Nevertheless, his book was published under a pseudonym ...

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History of atheism, History of atheism - Early Eastern Philosophy, History of atheism - Classical Greece and Rome, History of atheism - The Middle Ages, History of atheism - The Renaissance the Reformation and the Age of Enlightenment, History of atheism - The Modern Period, History of atheism - The 20th Century, History of atheism - Bibliography

Read more here: » History of atheism: Encyclopedia II - History of atheism - The Modern Period

Eleusis (modern-day Elefsina) was a small town located about 30 km NW of Athens. It was an agricultural town, producing wheat and barley. The Mysteries were based on a legend revolving around Demeter. Her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by Hades, the god of death and the underworld. Demeter was the goddess of life, agriculture and fertility. She neglected her duties while searching for her daughter; causing a dry season (summer in Greece) in which people star ...

See also:

Eleusinian Mysteries, Eleusinian Mysteries - The Mysteries, Eleusinian Mysteries - End of the Eleusinian Mysteries, Eleusinian Mysteries - Entheogenic theories

Read more here: » Eleusinian Mysteries: Encyclopedia II - Eleusinian Mysteries - The Mysteries

Many believe that the Tao Te Ching contains some universal truths which have since been independently recognized in other philosophies, both religious and secular. Each modern language interpretation (including even interpretation of the three-character title, of which there are dozens) differs at least slightly and occasionally profoundly from the next. Depending on how one reads them, some chapters could have three or more interpretations, ranging from practical wisdom for the common man to advice intended for kings to even the odd medical recipe. The following are some concepts and principles ...

See also:

Tao Te Ching, Tao Te Ching - The original Tao Te Ching text, Tao Te Ching - Translations of the title, Tao Te Ching - Structure, Tao Te Ching - Historical authenticity, Tao Te Ching - Interpretation, Tao Te Ching - The Tao that can be told of..., Tao Te Ching - The Valley Spirit, Tao Te Ching - The Return, Tao Te Ching - The Sage has no heart on his own..., Tao Te Ching - Knowing oneself, Tao Te Ching - Other themes, Tao Te Ching - Translation, Tao Te Ching - The difficulties of translating classical Chinese, Tao Te Ching - Translations

Read more here: » Tao Te Ching: Encyclopedia II - Tao Te Ching - Interpretation

Rice is a dietary staple of more than half of the world's human population, making it the most consumed cereal grain. Rice cultivation is well suited to countries and regions with low labour costs and high rainfall, as it is very labour-intensive to cultivate and requires plenty of water for irrigation. However, it can be grown practically anywhere, even on steep hillsides. Rice is the world's third largest crop, behind maize (corn) and wheat. Although its species are native to South Asia and certain parts of Africa, centuries of trade and exportation ...

See also:

Rice, Rice - Rice cultivation, Rice - Preparation as food, Rice - Cooking rice, Rice - History of rice cultivation, Rice - World production and trade, Rice - Cultivars, Rice - International Year of Rice

Read more here: » Rice: Encyclopedia II - Rice - Rice cultivation