Pakistan - Political history. Pakistan has been ruled by both democratic and military governments. The first decade was marred with political unrest and instability resulting in frequent collapses of civilian democratic governments. From 1947 to 1958 as many as seven Prime Ministers of Pakistan either resigned or were ousted. This political instability paved the way for Pakistan’s first military take over. On October 7, 1958 Pakistan’s civilian and first President Iskander Mirza in collabor ...

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Pakistan, Pakistan - History, Pakistan - Ancient History, Pakistan - Arrival of Islam, Pakistan - British rule, Pakistan - Post-independence, Pakistan - Politics, Pakistan - Political history, Pakistan - Foreign relations, Pakistan - Provinces and Territories, Pakistan - Geography, Pakistan - Tourism, Pakistan - Economy, Pakistan - Demographics, Pakistan - Population Statistics, Pakistan - Religion, Pakistan - Languages, Pakistan - Ethnic groups, Pakistan - Society and culture, Pakistan - Roots, Pakistan - Media, Pakistan - Globalization, Pakistan - Mercantile culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia II - Pakistan - Politics

See also : Main article: Subdivisions of Pakistan, Districts of Pakistan. Pakistan comprises four provinces, two territories, and also administers parts of Kashmir. The provinces are further subdivided into a total of 105 districts. Provinces: Balochistan North West Frontier Province Punjab Sindh Two provinces, NWFP and Balochistan, also have Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) which are e ...

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Pakistan, Pakistan - History, Pakistan - Ancient History, Pakistan - Arrival of Islam, Pakistan - British rule, Pakistan - Post-independence, Pakistan - Politics, Pakistan - Political history, Pakistan - Foreign relations, Pakistan - Provinces and Territories, Pakistan - Geography, Pakistan - Tourism, Pakistan - Economy, Pakistan - Demographics, Pakistan - Population Statistics, Pakistan - Religion, Pakistan - Languages, Pakistan - Ethnic groups, Pakistan - Society and culture, Pakistan - Roots, Pakistan - Media, Pakistan - Globalization, Pakistan - Mercantile culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia II - Pakistan - Provinces and Territories

Pakistan has a total area of 803,940 square kilometres (land area of 778,720 km²), approximately the combined land areas of France and the United Kingdom. To Pakistan's east is India, which has a 2,912 km (1,809 mile) border with Pakistan. To the west is Iran, which has a 909 km (565 mile) border with Pakistan. To Pakistan's northwest lies Afghanistan, with a shared border of 2,430 km (1,510 miles). China is towards the northeast and has a 523 km (325 mile) border with Pakistan. To the south is the Arabian Sea, with 1,046 km (650 mil ...

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Pakistan, Pakistan - History, Pakistan - Ancient History, Pakistan - Arrival of Islam, Pakistan - British rule, Pakistan - Post-independence, Pakistan - Politics, Pakistan - Political history, Pakistan - Foreign relations, Pakistan - Provinces and Territories, Pakistan - Geography, Pakistan - Tourism, Pakistan - Economy, Pakistan - Demographics, Pakistan - Population Statistics, Pakistan - Religion, Pakistan - Languages, Pakistan - Ethnic groups, Pakistan - Society and culture, Pakistan - Roots, Pakistan - Media, Pakistan - Globalization, Pakistan - Mercantile culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia II - Pakistan - Geography

Pakistan's culture, people and landscape are very diverse. Pakistanis pride themselves on their tradition of hospitality "Mehman-nawazi" to guests. Tourism is a growth industry in Pakistan. Pakistan has in the past been invaded and occupied by many different peoples, including Huns, Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols and various Eurasian groups, all of which left differences in culture among the various ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion. Pakistan also contains the ruins of ancient places such as Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Kot Diji, Thatta, Bhamb ...

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Pakistan, Pakistan - History, Pakistan - Ancient History, Pakistan - Arrival of Islam, Pakistan - British rule, Pakistan - Post-independence, Pakistan - Politics, Pakistan - Political history, Pakistan - Foreign relations, Pakistan - Provinces and Territories, Pakistan - Geography, Pakistan - Tourism, Pakistan - Economy, Pakistan - Demographics, Pakistan - Population Statistics, Pakistan - Religion, Pakistan - Languages, Pakistan - Ethnic groups, Pakistan - Society and culture, Pakistan - Roots, Pakistan - Media, Pakistan - Globalization, Pakistan - Mercantile culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia II - Pakistan - Tourism

Pakistan, a developing country, is the sixth most populous in the world and has faced a number of challenges on the political and economic fronts. Although a very poor country when it became independent in 1947, in the 1960s Harvard economists proclaimed it to be a model of economic development. In each of its first four decades, Pakistan's economic growth rate was better than the global average, but imprudent policies led to a slowdown in the late 1990s. Since then, the Pakistani government has instituted wide-ranging reforms, and ec ...

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Pakistan, Pakistan - History, Pakistan - Ancient History, Pakistan - Arrival of Islam, Pakistan - British rule, Pakistan - Post-independence, Pakistan - Politics, Pakistan - Political history, Pakistan - Foreign relations, Pakistan - Provinces and Territories, Pakistan - Geography, Pakistan - Tourism, Pakistan - Economy, Pakistan - Demographics, Pakistan - Population Statistics, Pakistan - Religion, Pakistan - Languages, Pakistan - Ethnic groups, Pakistan - Society and culture, Pakistan - Roots, Pakistan - Media, Pakistan - Globalization, Pakistan - Mercantile culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia II - Pakistan - Economy

Pakistan - Population Statistics. Pakistan has the world's sixth largest population, more than Russia, but less than Brazil; because of Pakistan's high growth rate, it is expected to overtake Brazil in population in the year 2020. Population projections for Pakistan are relatively difficult because of the apparent differences in the accuracy of each census and the inconsistencies between various surveys related to ...

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Pakistan, Pakistan - History, Pakistan - Ancient History, Pakistan - Arrival of Islam, Pakistan - British rule, Pakistan - Post-independence, Pakistan - Politics, Pakistan - Political history, Pakistan - Foreign relations, Pakistan - Provinces and Territories, Pakistan - Geography, Pakistan - Tourism, Pakistan - Economy, Pakistan - Demographics, Pakistan - Population Statistics, Pakistan - Religion, Pakistan - Languages, Pakistan - Ethnic groups, Pakistan - Society and culture, Pakistan - Roots, Pakistan - Media, Pakistan - Globalization, Pakistan - Mercantile culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia II - Pakistan - Demographics

Pakistan has a rich and unique culture, and has actively preserved its established traditions throughout history. Prior to the Islamic invasion, many Punjabis and Sindhis were Hindu and Buddhist. This later changed during the expansion of Islam through Pakistan by the Ummayad General Muhammad bin Qasim and later by Mahmud of Ghazni and others. Many cultural practices, foods and monuments, shrines, have been inherited from the rule of Muslim Mughal and Afghan emperors in all of Southern Asia. The Pakistani national dress, Shalwar Kameez is on ...

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Pakistan, Pakistan - History, Pakistan - Ancient History, Pakistan - Arrival of Islam, Pakistan - British rule, Pakistan - Post-independence, Pakistan - Politics, Pakistan - Political history, Pakistan - Foreign relations, Pakistan - Provinces and Territories, Pakistan - Geography, Pakistan - Tourism, Pakistan - Economy, Pakistan - Demographics, Pakistan - Population Statistics, Pakistan - Religion, Pakistan - Languages, Pakistan - Ethnic groups, Pakistan - Society and culture, Pakistan - Roots, Pakistan - Media, Pakistan - Globalization, Pakistan - Mercantile culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia II - Pakistan - Society and culture

One meaning of republicanism is the opposition to monarchies. Republic comes from the Latin word res publica and one meaning of this term is the form of government that began with the overthrow of the last tyrant known as the Roman Republic. While this government was much lauded by its contemporaries, once it was replaced with the empire, republicanism became all but nonexistent throughout Europe for several centuries. Outside of Europe, opposition to monarchy before the modern period is not generally termed republicanism. Islam, for ...

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Republicanism, Republicanism - Anti-monarchial republicanism, Republicanism - Early History, Republicanism - Modern History, Republicanism - Republicanism in political science, Republicanism - Classical antecedents, Republicanism - Civic humanism, Republicanism - Enlightenment republicanism, Republicanism - Modern republicanism

Read more here: » Republicanism: Encyclopedia II - Republicanism - Anti-monarchial republicanism

During this period, Jewish immigration came primarily from Germany, bringing a liberal, educated population that had experience with the Haskalah, or Jewish Enlightenment. It was in the United States during the 1800s that two of the major branches of Judaism were established by these German immigrants, including Reform Judaism (which grew out of German Reform Judaism) and Conservative Judaism, in reaction to the perceived liberalness of Reform Judaism.. Jewish communities began to organize themselves in the early parts of the 19th cen ...

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History of the Jews in the United States, History of the Jews in the United States - Jewish immigration, History of the Jews in the United States - First wave: Spain and Portugal, History of the Jews in the United States - Second wave: Holland and Germany, History of the Jews in the United States - Third wave: Russia Poland and Eastern Europe, History of the Jews in the United States - Later immigration, History of the Jews in the United States - Colonial history, History of the Jews in the United States - American Revolution, History of the Jews in the United States - The 19th Century, History of the Jews in the United States - Civil War, History of the Jews in the United States - Jews and the government, History of the Jews in the United States - The 20th Century, History of the Jews in the United States - Jews Socialism and organized labor, History of the Jews in the United States - World War II and the Holocaust, History of the Jews in the United States - The founding of Israel and American Zionism, History of the Jews in the United States - Recent times, History of the Jews in the United States - Anti-Semitism in the United States, History of the Jews in the United States - Jewish contributions to the United States, History of the Jews in the United States - Links and references, History of the Jews in the United States - Related articles

Read more here: » History of the Jews in the United States: Encyclopedia II - History of the Jews in the United States - The 19th Century

Ithaca is commonly listed among the most culturally liberal (or, more controversially and presumptuously, "enlightened") of American small cities. It also sometimes receives accolades for having a high overall quality of life. In 2004, Cities Ranked and Rated named Ithaca the best "emerging city" to live in the United States. The Utne Reader named Ithaca "America's most enlightened town" in 1997 [9]. These designations have at times polarized some local residents: some note the recognition with pride, some see it as an i ...

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Ithaca New York, Ithaca New York - Setting, Ithaca New York - The life of the city, Ithaca New York - Local government, Ithaca New York - Population and income figures, Ithaca New York - Transportation, Ithaca New York - Local transportation issues: growing pains, Ithaca New York - Other recent changes and trends, Ithaca New York - History, Ithaca New York - Most Enlightened Town in America, Ithaca New York - Sin City, Ithaca New York - Books set at least partially in Ithaca, Ithaca New York - Notable residents and natives, Ithaca New York - Points of interest

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Enlightenment: A state in which one is aware of one's true nature. This is not necessarily a state of complete awareness, which would be nirvana.

 (See also: Enlightenment, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Enlightenment

A higher state of consciousness in which the person seems to transcend his or her ego, and becomes aware of his/her divinity, and that he/she is one with God

(See also: Enlightenment, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Satori: A state of consciousness, often associated with enlightenment. Satori is an awareness of Buddha nature, similar to Tao-sheng's concept of enlightenment. In this text satori is placed one step below enlightenment. Satori is essential wisdom (prajna) for the practice of Zen. See also kensho.

 (See also: Satori, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Avadhuta: An enlightened being who lives in a state beyond body-consciousness.

(See also: Avadhuta, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Bodhi:

Bodhi ("enlightenment"): the state of the awakened master, or buddha

(See also: Bodhi, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Seven aids to enlightenment

(Jpn.: shichi-kakushi or shichi-bodaibun)

Seven practices conducive to enlightenment. They are memory, discrimination, exertion, joy, lightness and ease, meditation, and impartiality (also referred to as indifference).

Memory here means to recollect one's own past deeds and states, and keep them in mind. Discrimination means to discern the true from the false. Exertion means to be ever diligent in the practice of true teachings, and joy to delight in the practice of true teachings.

Lightness and ease means that one's body and mind are at peace and free from burden. Meditation means to keep the mind concentrated and unperturbed, and impartiality to abandon feelings of attachment and keep the mind detached and calm.

The "seven aids to enlightenment" constitutes the sixth of the seven categories within the thirty-seven aids to the way, or the thirty-seven practices leading to enlightenment. The Sanskrit for "aid to enlightenment" is bodhyanga.

(See also: Seven aids to enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Earthly desires are enlightenment

(Jpn.: bonno-soku-bodai)

A Mahayana principle based on the view that earthly desires cannot exist independently on their own; therefore one can attain enlightenment without eliminating earthly desires. This contrasts with the Hinayana view that extinguishing earthly desires is a prerequisite for enlightenment.

According to the Hinayana teachings, earthly desires and enlightenment are two independent and opposing factors, and the two cannot coexist; while the Mahayana teachings reveal that earthly desires are one with and inseparable from enlightenment. This is because all things, even earthly desires and enlightenment, are manifestations of the unchanging reality or truth-and thus are non-dual at their source.

The Universal Worthy Sutra, an epilogue to the Lotus Sutra, states, "Without either cutting off earthly desires or separating themselves from the five desires, they can purify all their senses and wipe away all their offenses."

T'ien-t'ai (538-597) says in Great Concentration and Insight, "The ignorance and dust of desires are enlightenment, and the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana."

In The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings, Nichiren (1222-1282) states: "The idea of gradually overcoming delusions is not the ultimate meaning of the 'Life Span' chapter of the Lotus Sutra. You should understand that the ultimate meaning of this chapter is that ordinary mortals, just as they are in their original state of being, are Buddhas," and, "Today, when Nichiren and his followers recite the words Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, they are burning the firewood of earthly desires, summoning up the wisdom-fire of enlightenment."

(See also: Earthly desires are enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Buddhahood

(Jpn.: bukkai)

The state of awakening that a Buddha has attained. The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice and the highest of the Ten Worlds. The word enlightenment is often used synonymously with Buddhahood. Buddhahood is regarded as a state of perfect freedom, in which one is awakened to the eternal and ultimate truth that is the reality of all things. This supreme state of life is characterized by boundless wisdom and infinite compassion. The Lotus Sutra reveals that Buddhahood is a potential in the lives of all beings.

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Buddhahood, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Jivan-mukti:

The state of being liberated (enlightened) while alive.

(See also: Jivan-mukti, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Enlightenment of plants

(Jpn.: somoku-jobutsu)

Also, enlightenment of insentient beings. The enlightenment of grass, trees, rocks, the land itself, or anything else that has neither emotion nor consciousness.

The doctrine that insentient beings can attain Buddhahood derives from T'ien-t'ai's doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life. One of the component principles of this doctrine is the realm of the environment, or the insentient objective world.

The doctrine teaches the mutually inclusive relationship of living beings and their environments, or that of sentient and insentient beings, thereby revealing that both manifest the same state of life. Therefore, when living beings manifest the state of Buddhahood, their environment simultaneously manifests the state of Buddhahood as well.

In The Diamond Scalpel, Miao-lo (711-782) refuted the arguments of Ch'eng-kuan, the fourth patriarch of the Chinese Flower Garland (Hua-yen) school, who asserted that insentient beings do not possess the Buddha nature. Miao-lo wrote, "A plant, a tree, a pebble, a speck of dust-each has the Buddha nature, and each is endowed with cause and effect and with the function to manifest and the wisdom to realize its Buddha nature."

(See also: Enlightenment of plants, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Yoga:

state of union between two opposites - body and mind; individual and universal consciousness; a process of uniting the opposing forces in the body and mind in order to achieve supreme awareness and enlightenment.

(See also: Yoga, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Nirvana

Hindu state of enlightenment or liberation from earthly things; bliss, freedom of the personal soul from the physical world.

(See also: Nirvana, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)