An Essay on Tahitians and Europeans in the Voyage of Bougainville

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Love should grow up like a wild iris Essay

Since the beginning of human existence love has earned a meaning of pure bliss and wild passion between two people that cannot be broken. Through out time the meaning of love has had its slight shifts but for the most part, maintains a positive value. In the poem â€Å"Love Should Grow Up Like a Wild Iris in the Fields,† the author, Susan Griffin expresses that this long lost concept of love is often concealed by the madness of everyday life and reality. In the poem, Griffin uses many literary elements to help convey the importance of true love. The usage of imagery, symbolism, and other literary techniques really help communicate Griffins’ meaning that love is not joyous and blissful as its ‘s commonly portrayed but often broken by the problems in our everyday lives. Through out the whole entire poem, Griffin uses a metaphor comparing a wild iris to love. Just like a wild iris, love can grow into something so beautiful and flourish so quickly with no limits on stopping. In the start of the poem Griffin says, â€Å"†Love should grow up like a wild iris in the fields, unexpected, after a terrible storm, opening a purple mouth to the rain, with not a thought to the future, ignorant of the grass and the graveyard of leaves around, forgetting its own beginning†, meaning that love should grow with no domestication and no boundaries just like a wild iris after a terrible storm (1-5). By using this metaphor the reader can really understand the value that love should flourish beautifully with no worries about its surroundings just as a wild iris does in an open field. This really gives the reader a mental image to help really grasp the emotional significance of how spontaneous and wild love should be. In the second stanza Griffin introduces the reality of love. She uses symbolism and imagery to really portray how love is often neglected by the realities of everyday life. She starts the stanza with, â€Å"Love more often is  to be found in kitchens at the dinner hour, tired out and hungry,† which gives the reader a completely different feeling in comparison to the metaphor with the iris growing in the wild fields (8-9). Dinnertime is often portrayed as â€Å"time with family†, but Griffin follows that line with, â€Å"tired out and hungry† giving the reader gets a negative connotation (9). Griffin is suggesting that love is â€Å"more often† to be portrayed to be this feeling of bliss but is really over powered by the problems of everyday life such as exhaustion and hunger to name the simplest. Love is not just represented by a marriage; you must fall in love with one another and continue that feeling but often times that is forgotten due to the common roadblocks in life. In the second stanza, Griffin portrays love as â€Å"houses where the walls record movements†, while in comparison to the wild iris whose love blossoms uncontrollably which cannot even be kept in a place with confined space without overgrowing (9-10). This could symbolize that love cannot be suffocated or have boundaries and like an iris you must let love takes its course. The author continues to compare love to a house â€Å"while the cook is probably angry, and the ingredients of the meal are budgeted, while a child cries feed me now and her mother not quite hysterical says over and over, wait just a bit†, which really gives of a sense of turmoil after reading through it (11-13). Every situation the author talks about above is everyday stressor that couples in love commonly fight about whether it’s from budget to infants. For example, normally a happy wife enjoys cooking for the family and feeding the kids. Happy and joyous feelings are usually associated with this event. Griffin explains the cook as â€Å"angry†¦while the child cries feed me now†, giving off a very undesirable tone which can relate to how the burn for your partners love is often overpowered by the pandemonium of peoples everyday lives. In the first stanza Griffin really uses nature to explain love, where as in stanza 2 she uses the house and all the events that happen during â€Å"dinner hour† which really expresses the negative mood and tone while reading. It was a very abrupt change in the flow because it goes from a more free-flowing and positive tone to a fast-paced tone and sense of chaos towards the end of the second stanza. The author uses the line â€Å"Love should grow up like a wild iris in the fields† on four separate occasions from start to finish in the poem. Each time used, Griffin changes the word play following the line,  which each gives its own tone to it. The first time he used the line was in the first sentence that was quickly followed with the stanza that gave of a sense of beauty while comparing love to nature. The second time Griffin uses the line she follows it with â€Å"but does not† and then compares love to dinner hour, which portrays a tone of turmoil and sadness (7). The third and fourth time Griffin uses the line they are followed by â€Å"but never does† and â€Å"but doesn’t†, both giving off a very negative tone in comparison to the first time Griffin used the phrase in the first line (15 & 30). The author goes from explaining the ideal value of love and how it’s perceived in the first stanza and as each stanza passes she begins to reveal how love really is perceived. This literary technique definitely helps portray the reader grasp the meaning of the illusion of the ideal love versus reality. In the final stanza, Griffins symbol of the wild iris takes on a whole new meaning as the â€Å"iris† of an eye. In relationship to the function of an eye, the iris of an eye can be a symbolic meaning that love is going to be perceived differently through every ones own view. A couple must be able to adjust with everyday misfortune that arises just as an iris of an eye does when it becomes too bright and needs to adjust to the sunlight. An effective technique Griffin used to contribute to the meaning of the poem is when she left the words â€Å"love should† on its own line near the end of the poem so it really catches the reader’s eye (29). In doing so, it gives the reader a visual almost as if the sentence is incomplete and the one reading should fill in what they think love should be. This directly relates back to the symbolism for the iris, which represents how all humans will perceive love differently through their point of view. The society has always shaped the meaning of love as something so perfect and flawless that all must go through in there lifetime. Is there one universal definition for â€Å"true love†? Susan Griffins writing style plays a large factor in portraying the ideal meaning of love versus the truth behind love. Her use of metaphors to describe love is really effective, giving the reader a vivid image whether it was love flourishing wildly in the open or just confined in the walls of a house hidden by all the stress and everyday burdens of life. Love is in the eyes of the beholder. What do you think love should be?

Mission Statements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Mission Statements - Essay Example The company feels left out somewhere- it is difficult to pin down exactly where it has missed out. Gradually slipping on share of voice in the market, top of mind recall, may not be slipping yet in terms of volumes. The channels are perfectly fine; the products are superior, and the sales team has consistently performed well as per defined parameters. The company has some of the best talent in the verticals they address through their services, and has forged excellent strategic alliances with the best developers, production houses. A committed team of professionals form the Board of Directors. Keeping in mind the findings of the organizational audit and the dipstick customer audit, we need to realign our strategies for product development and selling through an appropriate marketing strategy which redefines our passion and extends it beyond on the ground activities and convinces our customers of the value differential. While advertising may introduce the product, other forms of communication like below the line activities, direct marketing, viral marketing, network marketing have to be initiated to complement it and create the required

Discussion Board Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion Board - Assignment Example Infants should be allowed to mature, to the age where they can distinguish right from wrong, that is when they should be judged. Infants can hardly distinguish right from wrong they require protection at that age. This is so, because they hardly know anything. Regardless of whether infants are baptized or not they will still inherit the kingdom of God, if they die at that age (Boyd & Paul 225). This is because they are innocent and blameless. Jesus Christ loved little children and always taught his teachings giving examples on children. He loved them because they are humble and innocent. Many people argue that infants who are not baptized will not go heaven, because it is believed that the sins of their fathers are transferred to them. This is not true, Jesus Christ died for all our sins, and he broke all curses when he was crucified (Boyd & Paul 226). Thus, all infants are freed from the sins of their fathers, because Jesus Christ broke all the curses on the

BUSINESS MODELS AND PLANNING Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

BUSINESS MODELS AND PLANNING - Assignment Example According to wired magazine, craigslist is the currently â€Å"most popular dating site†, job searching site, apartment hunting site and selling site despite its weird business model. Craigslist does not entertain innovation, and has very few workers. However, craigslist has remained a performer in the market due to. Reaching customers: this refers to the process of using communication channels to reach the customers of a product with an aim of generating a market. Entry into a new market is very easy. This happens through the company’s ability to draw a chain of people. When the network enters into a given region and obtains a few clients, other people soon find it necessary. Product differentiation: this is the process of developing unique strategies for product positioning that spotlight the product’s true value in the market. A company needs a clear understanding of its competitors and should clearly differentiate its product from those of the competitors. Craigslist is clearly known for its dating services, job hunting among others and therefore attract so many people in those areas. Pricing: this is the determination of the amount of money that a company will charge for its product or service. This starts by an evaluation of the value customer attach on a product, consideration of production cost, consideration of competition landscape and finally determination of price. This has been the strongest point of craigslist model i.e. offering very low prices that attract and keep the customers (Osterwalder 270). Selling: this involves the actual persuading and convincing a customer to buy a product. This calls for a precise understanding of what is required to close a business deal, and subsequent organization of a sales force. Craigslist does not stock items that it deals with but rather performs the deals as an intermediary. Delivery /distribution: this is the process of transporting goods from the business premises to the

Strategic alliance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategic alliance - Essay Example Therefore, they are very pertinent issues for organizations and for the viability of the same. Moreover, author rightly claims that if managers fail to accurately assess risk, they can lose a big opportunity which could have been exploited for greater gains. In the current environment of highly competitive business and escalating cost of healthcare, strategic alliances can provide the firms with competitive advantage and significantly promote business interests at lower cost. Though, failure rate of alliances is relatively high, but correct risk analysis and comprehensive study of pros and con of the strategic alliance can hugely benefit organizations to expand and compete against their rivals. Richardson (2011) says that strategic alliances in healthcare industry have become critical inputs that not only help to meet the challenges of recessive environment but also facilitate easier access to healthcare delivery by larger demographic segment, especially the vulnerable segment of the society. Most importantly, I believe that in the current times, strategic alliances must be encouraged as they tend to divide the risks and double the profit. Richardson, V. (2011) Crossing Strategic Alliance Borders to 2025: Healthcare in an Era of Globalization. Retrieved from

Legalizing Marijuana Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Legalizing Marijuana - Essay Example Against the national average of 44.5%,British Columbia has a fair share of 52.1% and the lower then average percentage that is reported in the province like Prince Edward Island (36.5%) Through it may sound bizarre to us but the legalization of Marijuana not only help in controlling black marketing and subsequent war and law& Order impasse, it will help the federal government to get a considerable revenue in terms of tax that is to be levied upon. In economic perspective, it gives a good profit and the government should en cash out of that. In his well researched article, Dr Gieringer has cited the price advantages of Marijuana. The facts are amazingly simple. The ounce of fine tea costs $2, the pipe tobacco costs in between $1.25 to 1.5 while the Marijuana costs something in between $5 including labor cost. The same Marijuana, via clandestine drug market, costs any thing in between $150 to $400 per ounce. No wander, this high margin attracts the elements in crime circle, providing the leeway to full fledged gang war. The economic benefits can be pegged up to a staggering $18-19 Billion. Perhaps one of the most exhaustive reports of its kind The Le Deng Commission Report of 1972 has covered the entire gamut of... The facts are amazingly simple. The ounce of fine tea costs $2, the pipe tobacco costs in between $1.25 to 1.5 while the Marijuana costs something in between $5 including labor cost. The same Marijuana, via clandestine drug market, costs any thing in between $150 to $400 per ounce. No wander, this high margin attracts the elements in crime circle, providing the leeway to full fledged gang war. The economic benefits can be pegged up to a staggering $18-19 Billion. 2.The Le Dang Commission Report Perhaps one of the most exhaustive reports of its kind The Le Deng Commission Report of 1972 has covered the entire gamut of the problem. Tabled as "The Report of the Canadian Government Commission of Inquiry into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, 1972". Le Dang Report still happens to be the frame work of modern Canada Legal system. Retrieved on November,26, 2009, from : http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/ledain/ldctoc.html(3) Le Dang Report still happens to be the frame work of modern Canada Legal system. Exhaustive in nature, the report covers every related aspect which includes-patterns of social history in Canada and USA. The first use (in mid 30) ,World War II scenario where Marijuana effectively penetrates into middle class to University campus till 1971-72. The extensive chemical analysis and side effect analysis of Barbiturates have also taken place in lucid manner. The most significant part is the national and international law. Canadian law acts in tune to the international law - Single Convention of Narcotic Drugs, 1961. The Canadian Narcotic Law complies all specification of these laws and the Canadian laws have also been framed as per the same stringent norms.Through the annals of time, the situation has

How to take risks in business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How to take risks in business - Research Paper Example Every business in the competitive world has to take charge of its own operations specifying clearly, what they really want to achieve (Ferrell etal, 2011, p.89). Whatever the specifications, they have to be in form of plans and in fact lifelong plans and future aspirations and endeavors. The plans have the impact of helping the business in question visualize in the manner in which to attain the enjoyable heights in operations that have since only been dreams. Risk taking plan process only brings business dreams to a clear view in terms of how they could be achieved (Rees, 1977, p.53). It is a fact that any merits that are normally realized in the life of any business normally only opens the doors to the realities that such forms of businesses are faced with. The realities to achieve greater heights of business operation, realities to make greater profitability, realities for future business expansions and even the realities of the likelihood of beating all the fierce competitors in t he market of their operations and become the giants, holding closer to if not 100% of the market share (Rees, 1977,p. 53). Assumptions, procrastinations, and fears are normally the sole and foremost obstacles to the attainment of the above aspirations. As it is always very clear that fear is the first step and sign towards failure (Ferrell etal, 2011, p. 90). The moment’s one individual decision maker in any form of business takes the first step geared towards what the individual really wants for the business. Then in such instances, the individual must as well be prepared to accompany the relevant decisions with an equal amount of risks. The risks that we are referring to in such a case are the risks that are likely to help the business be recognized, get the required attention, and forcefully propel it forward in its operations. They are the risks that the business really

Marketing matrix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing matrix - Essay Example lm which comes with a total bill of $200 million will need a staggered release so that at every stage of the release the filmmaker is able to recover a part of the production cost and hope to increase his/her profits (Waxman, 2006). To make everyone adopt simultaneous release would be to enforce an innovation upon individuals who may not wish to follow it. Therefore, for small productions and those which cost very little to bring to the market, a policy of simultaneous release would be much better and perhaps more profitable than a staggered release to the public. This idea was strongly supported by Godas (2005) who is the founder of Dogwoof Digital which is the company that went for a simultaneous release of its low budget home grown production titled ‘EMR’. In fact, while giving the advantages of simultaneous release, Godas (2005) also describes the idea of having a staggered release and mentions that â€Å"this model works well with larger films (Godas, 2005, Pg. 1)†. While simultaneous release can be seen as a well employed method for film distribution when it comes to small productions, larger films and movies which costs many millions may not see this as a useful method for allowing the public to access movies. Of course it is difficult to say how the future will take shape since major film producers such as George Lucas have already mentioned the benefits of simultaneous release as a means of fighting piracy. Additionally, the innovations used by independent producers and filmmakers may become attractive to larger movie houses but for the most part, what independent release has done for major movie studios is to shrink the window between launching a movie on the box office and launching it on DVD for rentals (Godas, 2005). Undoubtedly, the theatrical experience and the home movie watching experience are two different things and the impact of a work of art in the cinema and in the home may be quite different. Both experiences have their value and the

Consumer behaviour and marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Consumer behaviour and marketing - Essay Example The only plausible way to do this is to ensure that the targeted customers are responding positively to the products or services of these companies. Marketing is one of the best ways to make sure that these customers have a connection to the companies’ products or services that is desirable. However, with the increased customer awareness and insight into brands all over the world, the marketing strategies of the companies have had to undergo a tremendous metamorphosis as a way of trying to predict the consumer behaviour and their influence on the businesses. According to Bian & Moutinho (2011, p. 200), customers have a great impact on the way a particular business behaves in the aspect of branding, usage, perception and even quality. The way the customer behaves towards a certain product is influenced by a number of different diverse factors. Some of these factors could be attributed to attitude of the customers towards a certain product of a certain company, fashion, culture among many others (Danaher & Rossiter, 2011, p.12). It is the responsibility of the companies to ensure that they come up with products that are in alignment with these different factors. In so doing, they must first identify which factor affects which type of the targeted customer and in the process come up with products that are considered appealing to this specific group of target customers. In other words, marketing is a strategy that puts the interests of the customer at heart. Companies are bound to fail if they come up with products without taking a survey of the market to identify the different needs of different customers. Different strategies of marketing are applied with respect to different fields. For instance, the kind of strategy that could be applicable to social marketing may not be fully applicable to another field such as manufacturing among others. However, no matter which field the marketing takes place, the main point of focus is on the customer. In every busin ess, the customer is the king. The customer is the main reason why people engage themselves in business activities (Geigenmuller & Outland, 2012, p. 430). This paper will indulge in the discussion of how the different forms of consumer behaviour influences the way companies conduct their marketing. It will illuminate upon the response of these companies in the marketing aspect with respect to changes in consumer behaviour. What happens to the marketing strategies laid down by different companies if the consumer behavior is varied? Since there are many diverse aspects of consumer behavior and attributes to name but a few such as fashion, culture, perceptions, attitudes, motivation and even group influence. Though these attributes sometimes intertwine, for the purposes of a clear investigation into this topic of influence of consumer behavior on marketing, this paper will narrow the attributes down to culture as a consumer attribute. Definition of terms For an in-depth and profound an alysis of this topic, a number of terms that will be applied extensively in this paper will be defined here. These terms are the consumer behavior as well as the culture concept of consumer behavior. Consumer behavior is a term used by different marketers and marketing strategists to describe extensively the way different consumers respond with respect to a number of factors. Consumer behavior

A Study in Adaptation Essay Example for Free

A Study in Adaptation Essay Among the monographs found in the Culture and Ecology in East Africa Project is that of the work of Walter Goldschmit, entitled â€Å"The Sebei: A Study in Adaptiona. † It is among the ethnographic studies conducted to shed light on a particular community, which is that of Sebei. The project previously mentioned to which the monograph belongs is that of the University of California in Los Angeles which also carries the research design that was followed by the entire project (Mead 938). It has become important to evaluate this study because of the important role it plays in the field of ethnography and in the lives of the Sebei people. This paper will include the synopsis, a critique of the book, and the relationship with the materials and discussions found in the class. Synopsis of the Book The book primarily focuses on the people of Sebei, the socio-economic modes followed by the people there, and the adaptations which has happened throughout the existence of the community. People from Sebei speak Nilotic and have a connection with the Nandi and Kipsigis (MacGaffey 110). These people lives in the southeastern portion of Uganda and the elements of this community which has been discussed include the â€Å"history, environment, policy, social organization, animal husbandry, agriculture, a cash economy, sexual roles and marriage, child rearing, initiation, and the Sebei belief system† (Beidelman 542). The wide variety of the factors that have been covered in the study has been instrumental to the focus of the book, which is that of the ways of living of the people and how they have economically survived the environment they lived in. There are two environments which have been considered in the book to show the adaptive processes of the community under study. One is the area which is well-watered and is situated in the slopes of the mountains and the second is in the dry lands of the plains. With the conditions found in the said communities, there are also adaptive measures which have been taken by the people in terms of the production of their food and ways of living. One community concentrated on the hunting and gathering means of production because of the factors in the environment which makes this the most acceptable form of gathering food and sustaining the needs of the community. On the other hand, it is agriculture which has become the primary mode of economic production followed because of the availability of fertile soil that could be used for crops. Moreover, access to water is available that makes this a better option for the people. More so, it is seen to be the most effective in consideration of the available resources and conditions for the people. Economics-wise, this is the best methods for the respective communities discussed. Through time, it has been proven that Sebei people have the capability to adapt easily to changes in their environment and new situations which they are placed in (Mead 938). It has been shown in the book that the people have been able to be in contact with the Europeans when this group has been in a point where they are trying to adapt with the demands brought about by intra-African connections. The flexibility in adapting to such cultures has been carried out by the group by following the previous methods which have been used before by the group. It has been proven to be an effective pattern for the people since their first interaction with other cultures. Critique of the Book This particular book can be considered as one of the best monographs that have been written of an Ugandan community because of its succinctness and thoroughness. The ability of the author to present facts and data near what is real is considered to be a vital element of the author’s work. The author’s ability to record and research the past of the community has been helpful. The author, himself, has done quite an extensive job in proving the authenticity of his claims where there are primary evidences, such as photos, that has been shown together with the narratives provided. In writing a book, the ability of the author to provide evidences, especially in the field of ethnography, is considered to be vital in establishing the credibility and authenticity of the monograph. In a sense, this adds to the ability of the monograph to convince its readers that what is being said and shown in the account is true. Moreover, the book has shown one community but the picture that has been drawn and what has been learned over the discussions made of the particular community studied can be used in order to understand the African perspective. More so, the means of adoption that has been studied can be taken to a larger picture where it is also seen to exist in other areas and in different times. It has been found that the general perspective that can be used in order to interpret that of the Sebei culture is that â€Å"the maladies of the social system seem to outweigh their strengths† (Goldschmidt 338). With this particular statement, the author is then able to show that he has been able to observe the communities with a keen eye and relate it to the rest of the elements in the environment that surround the community. The author does not simply focus on what can be found within the community but also observes how it relates to the different links formed. More so, there is judgment that is found for these relationships from where a strong conclusion can be made. This monograph serves as a very good reading material for the members of the academic institutions and the epistemic communities from a wide variety of fields. Where field observations and thorough data collection has been done, there is the worthiness of examining the material and using it as a foundation of different researches. More so, an understanding of the different elements of the community can be easily derived through a reading of this material because of the substantial data that can be found here. This is not only for the purpose of studying communities but can also be taken by people from different fields such as psychology, economics, policy-making, sociology, and others in order to make researches and decisions. Relation to Class Materials and Discussions Understanding the book has been made easier because of the foundation laid by the class discussions and materials. The concepts that have been clarified in relation to culture, communities, and globalization has become an integral part of understanding how and why the Sebei communities had to adjust to the changing setting of the world and the communities which belong to it. It is difficult for a reader to understand the complex parts of the monograph if one would not take into consideration the aspects which relate the community to the changes in its surroundings. If the reader would not have the respective concepts and ideas, he/she might be limited to understanding the community in isolation and forget to relate it to the world outside the said community. There are factors which might be missed by the reader in understanding the community, in this case, and forget about the other forces that could change communities. Works Cited Goldschmidt, Walter. Culture and behavior of the Sebei: A study in Continuity and Adaptation. Berkeley, Los Angeles: University of California, 1976. MacGaffey, Wyatt. â€Å"Review. † ASA Review of Books 4 (1978): 110-111. Mead, Margaret. â€Å"Review. † American Anthropologists 79. 4 (1977): 938-939.

The Influence of Jewish Mysticism Essay Example for Free

The Influence of Jewish Mysticism Essay Mystics know and experience God in a very different way than the ordinary believer. Whereas the ordinary believer knows God in an objective, concrete manner as embodied in nature or via sacred scriptures, the mystic knows God by personal, one to one contact between their own spirit (soul) and the spirit of God; heart to heart, or as Augustine called it, â€Å"cor ad cor loquitur.† Because of the one to one, highly individualized nature of this experience, one might think the mystic would exist outside of the domain of the major religions of the world. That, in fact, is not the case. Mystics are most often allied with one of the major world religions, including (but not limited to) the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The mystic’s conceptions of God do not only come from the small voice speaking to him in the silence of his soul. Instead, the mystic combines these esoteric experiences with the teachings and traditions of their religion. Much has been written on the comparability between the mystics of the differing world religions, noting that the only differences between them stem from the underlying religion itself. The overarching practice of seeking to actually experience what philosophers call the â€Å"Absolute truth†, (what theologians refer to as God), seems to know no theological boundaries. A Christian mystic seeks the same â€Å"beyond human† communion with the Trinity as the Jewish mystic does with YWEH, and the Muslim mystic does with Allah. The theology of Christianity differs from the llm al-Kalam of Islam and the theology of Judaism in the same ways, whether the believer is a mystic or not. Hence, the principal differences that separate the mystics of the world are the same as the differences that separate all believers. My research seeks not to explain, compare, or contrast the mystics of the differing religions, as I mentioned that much has been written on that subject already, but rather to examine how the mystics of one religion (Judaism) influenced the foundation and theoretical framework of another religion (Christianity). 1. Authority Mysticism is not a term that an ancient mystic himself would use to describe his realm of religiosity. In that regard, mysticism as we have come to understand and know it through most primary sources is not emic (or in their own words), and therefore very difficult to accurately investigate using a hermeneutic approach. The Essenes, for example, did not label themselves â€Å"mystics† in ancient Jerusalem. Our account of them as mystics comes from a purely etic (outside observers) viewpoint. In addition, the literature on early Jewish and Christian mysticism is not the possession of a single religious community, or maintained by a single religious community. While there is mounting evidence that the main origins of mystic tradition were in Jewish priestly circles, most of the literature on the subject of mysticism is from a variety of esoteric Jews and Christians over the course of several centuries. Making the matter more difficult is the amount of pseudepigrapha in â€Å"pr imary† Jewish sources. While this problem also exists in Christian sources, is seems to be more of a roadblock to the student of Jewish mysticism, as most scholars agree that the predominant primary source on the topic, The Zohar, is pseudepigraphical. The Zohar is the primary piece of reference for a sect of Jewish mystics called Kabbalaists, refers to historical events of the post-Talmudic period while purporting to be from an earlier time. Because of the difficulty, then f obtaining a primary source detailing what has come to be known as Jewish mysticism, sacred texts such as the Tanakh and the Bible themselves are used frequently as a main source of information. Therefore, primary sources used for my research in the area of Jewish mysticism include The Talmud, including portions of the Midrash and the Tanakh (The Hebrew Bible). Contained within the Talmud is the Torah. Very helpful to my understanding of these texts were writings by Josepus , a first century Jewish hagiographer, theologian and scholar. Christian primary sources include an Interlinear Greek-English New Testament of the Bible with a parallel column in the New Revised Standard Version, as well as excerpts by Origen, and Gregory of Nyssa, both Fathers of the Early Christian Church. A basic framework for my understanding of Jewish and Christian mysticism includes secondary sources by Joshua Abelson and Evelyn Underhill. The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism was helpful in clarifying Jewish terms that I was unfamiliar with. 2. Jewish Mysticism History The beginning of Jewish mysticism is usually linked to the Essenes, a sect of the Second Temple Jews. Known by the Greeks as the â€Å"Holy Ones†, these mysterious Jews are now assumed to be the original keepers of the Dead Sea Scroll library. The sect was closed to society, and was dominated by hereditary priests who had to go through multiple rites of purification before being accepted into the sect. According to Josephus, the Essenes were one of three sects among the Jews at the time of Christ who â€Å" †¦Had different opinions concerning human actions; the one was called the sect of the Pharisees, another the sect of the Sadducees, and the other the sect of the Essenes. Now for the Pharisees, they say that some actions, but not all, are the work of fate, and that some of them are in our own power, and that they are liable to fate, but are not caused by fate. But the sect of the Essenes affirms that fate governs all things, and that nothing befalls men but what is according to its determination. And for the Sadducees, they take away fate, and they say there is no such thing, and that the events of human affairs are not at it’s disposal; but they suppose that all of our actions are in our power, so that we ourselves are the cause of what is good, and receive evil from our own folly.† This clearly illustrates marked difference between the three sects. Josephus later stated that the Essenes were interpreters of dreams, and were very diligent in the reading of the sacred books. Philo of Alexandria, who often tried to reconcile Jewish exegesis with Stoic philosophy, wrote this of the Essenes: â€Å"Of natural philosophy, the Essenes only study that which pertains to the existence of God and the beginning of all things, otherwise they devote all their attention to ethics, using as instructors the laws of their fathers, which, without the outpouring of the Divine Spirit, the human mind could not have devised†¦for, following their ancient traditions, they obtain their philosophy by means of allegorical interpretations†¦ Of the love of God they exhibit myriads of examples, inasmuch as they strive for a continued uninterrupted life of purity and holiness; they avoid swearing and falsehood, and they declare God causes only good and no evil whatsoever†¦no one possesses a house absolutely as his own, one which does not at the same time belong to all; for, in addition to living together in companies, their houses are open also to their adherents coming from other quarters. They have a storehouse for all, and the same diet; their garments belong to all in common, and their meals are taken in common.† Clearly, this sect of Judaism combined mystical speculation with an ascetic mode of life.   Merkabah (chariot) mysticism came into being in the early second century. Merkabah mysticism used as its framework a vision of God experienced by Ezekiel, and told in great detail in Ezekiel Chapters 1-5. â€Å"In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was on him. 4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved. 10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they wen t. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. 15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. 23 Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. 25 Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.† For the Jewish mystics of the 1st and 2nd centuries, Ezekiel’s image of YWEH riding upon a chariot of the â€Å"living creatures† was outside the range of the deepest esoteric experiences of all of the other Old Testament personages. The chariot was interpreted as an invitation from the Divine to man to come and experience the secret which he so desperately seeks: the experience of the Absolute, the being of God himself. The idea that God is the first one to initiate a union of man and God, or has â€Å"called† one’s soul to unite with the divine, is important to all mystics. The chariot, then, is a allegorical vehicle to carry one to the unseen. Every mystic wants to be the chariot rider, to be carried to his ultimate union with the divine. However, as Joshua Ableson points out in his commentary on the Merkavah mystics â€Å"it was believed that he could only undertake this Merkavah-ride, who was in possession of all religious knowledge, observed all the commandments and precepts and was almost superhuman in the purity of his life.† While these roots of Merkavah mysticism were planted firmly in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, they did not bloom and flourish until the 7th- 11th centuries. Since that time, much has been speculated about the meaning of the chariot. Was it a true vision or an experiential event? Does the text hold hidden meaning with each description holding significance for the future? Is the text eschatological? Some modern day occult claim the Merkavah was not a chariot but an alien spaceship! It is understandable why this passage, in the midst of literature that is otherwise devoid of dramatic and colorful descriptions would attract such attention and speculation. Although it is outside the scope of the time period this article seeks to examine, a mention must be made to the ultimate expression of Jewish mysticism: Kabbalah. Kabbalah is an esoteric gnostic occult that emerged in medieval Spain in the 12th century. Kabbalistic teachings look to The Zohar as their primary source of inspiration. The Zohar is a commentary of the Torah, (the first five books of the Old Testament). A Spanish Jew by the name of Moses de Leon attributed the book to a 2nd century Rabbi by the name of Shimon bar Yochai, but scholars are now in general agreement that de Leon penned the work himself. The practices and beliefs of 15th century Kabbalists had much influence on Christian mystics and the Humanist movement (as well modern day New-Age Hollywood!) The Kabbalah school of thought attempts to explain the relationship between an unchanging external, mysterious YWEH (known as Ein Sof) and the mortal, finite universe, by seeking to define the nature of the universe and the human being, the nature and purpose of existence, and various other ontological questions. Given, however that this article seeks to examine the influence of the Jewish mystics on the early Christian Church, I will stick to sects of Jewish mysticism that took place between 500 BCE and 400 CE, that is, the Essenes and the Merkavah. 3. Connections It is easy to find the similarities between the three Abrahamic religions. The mere fact that they are categorized together under the same heading within world religions indicates enough of a resemblance to one another, even beyond their homogeneous beginnings. It would not be new or even controversial for me to suggest a sequential, linear progression from Judaism to Christianity to Islam. My research does not aim to reinforce these arguments, but rather to look deeper. What specific aspects of Judaism continue on into the Christian faith? It is here where I draw a distinction in that there are, as mentioned above, fundamental differences between the sects of Judaism at the time of Christ. I argue that the mystic sects of Judaism, (the Essenes and the Merkavah’s), are the factions of Judaism that influenced the formation and practices of early Christianity the most. Specifically, there are three principal dimensions of early Jewish mysticism that are also primary in early Christianity. These dimensions are an incorporation of the speculative, the experiential and the practical. 3a. The Speculative The first dimension of the two religions is speculation, that is, the search for the absolute truth and revealed nature of the identity of God. This speculation also includes a quest for both the cosmogony (origins) and the cosmology (organization) of the universe. This dimension is most realized in the esoteric followers of both religions. The centerpiece of the cosmogony of the identity of God in mystic Judaism is that God has a â€Å"body.† This body is known as the Kavod of YHWH. The esoteric interpretation of the Kavod is that of a vision of a divine form created by the invisible, formless God that is actually visible to the human eye. This body of God can take the forms of light, clouds, angles, or be felt in just its presence, known as the Shekhinah (the Holy Spirit.) The Essenes believed that complete devotion to the sacred texts, abstinence from sex and certain foods, and communal prayer might bring the believer to the ultimate experience of the Kavod (which literally means â€Å"glory.†) The Kavod must be â€Å"experienced† or perceived, as it was believed at the time that no one could look directly at the face of God and live. This is illustrated in Moses’ encounter with God: â€Å"So the Lord said to Moses, â€Å"While my Glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back. But my face shall not be seen.† The concept of Kavod had a profound impact on the formation of the Christologies of the early Christian Church. John was the most prolific of writers in his belief that Jesus was the revealed Kavod descended here on earth. John wrote in Chapter One, 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. and again in Chapter 11, directly quoting Christ immediately following the resurrection of Lazarus, 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 â€Å"Take away the stone,† he said.â€Å" But, Lord,† said Martha, the sister of the dead man, â€Å"by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.† 40 Then Jesus said, â€Å"Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?† In total, John refers to the glory or Kavad of God revealed through Christ seven times in the Book of John. Paul also mentions Christ as the glorified image of God in II Corinthians: 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. And even in a more powerful way in Colossians: 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Clearly, the concept of Kavod was a theologically fundamental principal of the esoteric Essenes that became a foundational key factor in the overall Christian understanding of the nature and identity of Christ. Thereby, the speculation about the identity and nature of God and the search for absolute cosmogony and cosmology of God was carried from the mystics to the early Christians. 3b. The Experiential The quest for a direct encounter with a deity is the experiential dimension of both the mystic Jews and the early Christians. The Jewish mystics sought not only knowledge of God, but also an esoteric experience with him. This is clear in the apocalyptic literature of both religions. Second Temple eschatology relates that the mystical, the belief in the immediate and direct experience of God, is an important part of the last days. This religious experience, an encounter with God that is an act of revelation itself, results in the devotee’s immediate personal transformation and the uncovering of God’s mysteries. According to War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness, (one of the scrolls found of the Dead Sea Scrolls, or Qumran Scrolls), the Essenes were awaiting the cataclysmic struggle between the Sons of Light (themselves) and the Sons of Darkness (everybody else). This battle was to occur not only between the earthly beings, but also joining them would be the cosmic forces of good and evil, and would signal the end of days. Paul wrote in detail of the faithful who experienced Christ’s spirit. He felt these Christians could start their transformation into the image of God while still on earth but that the complete transformation would only occur after death. Paul states in Romans: 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. This is but one example of many (thousands) of references to the Holy Spirit altering or affecting of the Early Christians. For these mystical Jews and Christians, experiencing a vision of the Kavod, (the Image of the Glory of God), stamped Gods image on the soul. Words used to describe these experiences included glorified, exalted, or angelic. The apocalyptic literatures describe believers clothed in shining white garments, as angels worshiping God before his throne, transformed into beings of fire or light, and enthroned with Gods name or image. This is but one example of many shared concepts between the apocalyptic literatures of the mystics of Judaism (such as The Apocalypse of Abraham and The Testament of Levi) and the book of Revelation in the Christian Canon. Comparisons could also be made between cosmic revelations such as descriptions of heaven, hell and events at the end of time, as well as several symbolic symbols such as hands, bowls, scrolls, angels, or dragons. Once again, we see an important concept of the mystics carried into the essential framework of early Christianity. It is important to note, that in the cases of both religions, this shift of thought to experiencing God in the present may have been due to failed eschatological expectations. Hopes for the long awaited battle between the forces of light and the forces of dark for the mystics, and the imminent return of Christ for the Christians had not gone as previously thought. Moving these hope for the future to actual experiences of the present made the reward of Kavod available to all believers, and a possible reality. 3c. The Practical The most obvious shared dimension between the Jewish mystics and the Early Christians was that of their shared practical application of their experiences in order to effect change. This was illustrated in their communal practices, which served as an avenue for mystical transformation. Examples of these practices include asceticism (denying oneself of worldly pleasures), initiation rites (such as Circumcision for the Jews and Baptism for the Christians), washing (such as foot washing for Christians and purification rituals for the Jews), the anointing of the body and hair with sacramental oil, spirit possession, sexual asceticism, and sacramental ritual behavior, (such as the Passover meal and the Eucharist.) The transformation of the mystical ideals into the sacramental rituals of the early Christian Church and the â€Å"Gnostic† schools is fascinating. The sacraments seem to normalize the mystical, making the presence of God regularly available to believers. Baptism, anointing, and the Eucharist all involve the integration of the Holy Spirit and the Christ into the soul. These rituals were understood as the vehicle that elevates and transports the person into the sacred realm so that he or she can come into the very presence of God. This is the ultimate combination of the speculative theology experienced through the practical; and once again illustrates how the mystics of Judaism influenced the early Christians. While it is clear to me that many practices and beliefs Christians are directly taken from the practices and beliefs of the Jewish mystics, it remains unclear to me if Christianity was a continuum of the Jewish mystic sect of the Essenes, (with the addition of the long-awaited Messiah), or a completely new religion that merely borrowed a few key dimensions from the Essenes. What, if anything did the other non-mystic Jewish sects contribute? How many of the Essenes converted to Christianity in comparison to the other Jewish sects? Was Jesus himself an Essene? All of these remain topics for further research. However, there is arguably no question that the Jewish faith and specifically the mystics of Judaism influenced the theology, framework and Christology of the Christian Church. References ODonnell, James. Augustine’s Confessions: An Electronic Edition. The STOA Consortium. The STOA Consortium, 1992. Web. 03 Mar 2012. http://www.stoa.org/hippo/. Barclay, Joseph. The Talmud. Sacred Texts. London1878. Web. 6 Mar 2012. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/bar/bar000.htm. Rapaport, Samuel. Tales and Maxims from the Midrash. Sacred Texts. George Routledge Sons Limited, 1907. Web. 10 Mar 2012. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/tmm/tmm00.htm. Kimball, Christopher V. The Tanach. Sacred Texts. Westminster Hebrew Institute, 20 OCT 2006. Web. 06 Mar 2012. http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/tan/index.htm Whiston, William. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. 5th. 1. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1985. Print. Brown, Robert K., and Phillip W. Comfort. The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament. UBS 4th Edition;Nestle-Aland 26th Edition. Munster/Westphalia: Tyndale, 1990. Print. McGinn, Bernard. The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism: Origen: Commentary on the Song of Songs. New York, New York: Random House, 20006. Print. McGinn, Bernard. The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism: Gregory of Nyssa: the Life of Moses. New York, New York: Random House, 2006. Print. Abelson, Joshua. Jewish Mysticism. First Published in 1913: Forgotten Books, 2008. Print. Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism. 12th.Lexington, KY: 2011. Print. Dennis, Rabbi Geoffrey. The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism. 1st ed. Woodbury. MN: llewellyn Publications, 2011. Print. Whiston, William. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. 5th. 1. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1985. Print. â€Å"Antiquities of the Jews.† pp. 274, Book Xiii, Chapter V, Section 9. Coleson, F.H.. The Contemplative Life. Early Jewish Writings. pp. 53, 206. 2011. Web. 15 Mar 2012. http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/philo/book34.html. E. Wolfson, Yeridah la-Merkavah: Typology of Ecstasy and Enthronement in Ancient Jewish Mysticism, in R. Herrera (ed.), Mystics of the Book: Themes, Topics, and Typologies (New York: Lang, 1993) pp. 13-44 [ 1 ]. ODonnell, James. Augustine’s Confessions: An Electronic Edition. The STOA Consortium. The STOA Consortium, 1992. Web. 03 Mar 2012. . [ 2 ]. Barclay, Joseph. The Talmud. Sacred Texts. London1878. Web. 6 Mar 2012. . [ 3 ]. Rapaport, Samuel. Tales and Maxims from the Midrash. Sacred Texts. George Routledge Sons Limited, 1907. Web. 10 Mar 2012. . [ 4 ]. Kimball, Christopher V. The Tanach. Sacred Texts. Westminster Hebrew Institute, 20 OCT 2006. Web. 06 Mar 2012.

Rising prices and the tactics opted by common man

Rising prices and the tactics opted by common man Price hike in essential commodities has been a norm in our country. The pattern is very frequent, for instance, the petrol prices have been hiked ten times in the last 6 years. The ever increasing cost of living has once again proven the age old theory of Survival of the Fittest. Petrol price hike is an epitome to show govt.s incapability or lack of accountability. Though, the international fuel prices have fallen sharply by almost 100% in 2009, the Indian govt. shows no signs of reducing the price in the domestic market. Petrol, diesel and other petroleum products have an enormous impact on almost all the other commodity prices. The reason given by the government for hiking the petrol and diesel prices across the board is: to reduce the fiscal deficit and this increase will lead to generation of more revenue for the government. In the recently concluded 3G spectrum auctions, the government declared that they got bids in excess of what they had expected and that this would mean that this excess can easily be added to the extra revenue for the government. The income tax department this time as well as last time collected huge IT returns and all these returns go to the government revenue list. So, one fails to understand that why did the government give generating extra revenue through rising petroleum prices as a reason for increasing these prices. Surely there is more to this reason than what meets the eye. Another thing that might puzzle the common man is what was the need to give full power to Oil Companies to increase the prices as much as they feel is necessary? Why was Government control removed suddenly? LPG prices:Yet another thing that baffles the mind is why such a great hike in LPG prices. As it is the LPG Cylinder was expensively priced at Rs.310 and now it will cost Rs.345. What kind of impact will this decision of the government have on the common man? The restaurants will make the food they sell expensive since they use many cylinders to make the large quantity of food that they make To the people who entertain guests at their home , have to cook food in bulk? Will this mean that they will serve less food to the guests to conserve gas Property rates According to the new revised rates, the houses which were already out of bounds for the common man have gone even further out of bounds due to this increase in property rates. According to the revised circle rates , the lowest circle rate now is Rs.9000 per sq meter and the highest circle rate is Rs 1,25,000 per sq meter. If you want to purchase a flat in having more than 4 stories (including lift) then the minimum value is 18 lakhs plus stamp duty of 1,44,000, so that means a total of Rs 19,44,000 will have to be spent to buy a flat in this kind of a society! Now with rates so high for buying property, the rent in posh areas is becoming far more expensive , and now with this increase in circle rates the rents are set to go up by at least Rs 2000. So that means that if you were paying 15,000 for a 2-bedroom flat then now you will have to pay 17,000, what to talk of 3-bedroom flats. Auto and Taxi rates The increase in fuel price made the auto rates to zoom up in Coimbatore city from Rs.20 to 30 for the first two kilometres and then Rs.10 for the following kilometres. And the taxi rates increases from Rs.50 to Rs.80 for the first two kilometres and then Rs.30 for the following kilometres. Food Price Rise For decades, food prices had been declining in real terms, allowing millions of people around the globe to escape from the trap of poverty. This long-term trend took place despite rapid income and population growth, as agricultural productivity rose steadily. However, productivity gains began to stagnate in the face of continuing growth in demand, bringing about a reversal of this long-term trend. Rising food prices contributed to an acceleration of inflation across the Asia and Pacific region during 2007, and in 2008 the further rise in food prices has reached alarming proportions. The rise in food prices is worrisome precisely because food price inflation is the most regressive of all taxes-it hurts the poor the most. The year 2009-10 has been an unusual one as far as the inflation trend goes, with food inflation soaring while inflation in the non-food sector was negligible. Only twice before in recent history-1992-93 and 1996-97-have seen a combination of double-digit food inflation and deflation in the rest of the economy. Every other major inflationary episode since 1971 has seen prices of food and non-food items shooting up in tandem. The Economic Survey released even came up with a new name for such lopsided price trends-skewflation. In the countrys inflation history from 1971, this kind of inflation, where food inflation is above 10 per cent and non-food inflation negative, has happened only twice before in 1992-93 and 1996-97. And food inflation 10 per cent, non-food inflation negative and fuel inflation less than 10 per cent has never occurred. There are several other years where the pattern was the same. The inflation trend stands out for its lopsidedness across sectors. In 2009-10 (April-November), food inflation was 12.6 per cent and non-food inflation minus 0.4 per cent.The wholesale food prices in India touched a 10 year high with food inflation coming at 19.95% for the week ended December 5, 2009. The table below gives the retail prices for some of the key agricultural commodities in four Indian metros. This is just to give an idea of how the prices have moved in the last one year. Clearly, the prices of all key agricultural commodities have risen sharply. Significant price increase has been observed in commodities like arhar dal, sugar, potatoes and onions. EXPLAINING THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF HIGH FOOD PRICES Prices of close substitutes for rice are rising sharply as well: wheat, maize, and soybeans are all at record highs. Three sets of factors must be taken into account in order to explain what is happening to food prices in developing Asia. First is the distinction between structural and cyclical factors; second is the distinction between supply and demand; and third is the relationship between international and domestic markets. STRUCTURAL AND CYCLICAL FACTORS Structural factors are fundamental in explaining what has happened to international rice and food grain prices in recent years. Falling global stocks of rice and other cereals are indicative of the fact that production growth has fallen below consumption growth for several years. Rice and wheat stocks have ebbed and now are about 200 million metric tons, compared with 350 million metric tons in 2000, a decline of about 43% (USDA 2008). Cyclical factors as well have been unkind in influencing price trends. Adverse weather including the drought-related harvest failure of wheat in Australia in 2007 and the flooding in South Asia have harmed production as did outbreaks of brown plant hopper infestation in Viet Nam. Recent financial market turmoil has also exerted a cyclical effect as investors turn to commodities with high expected rates of return in contrast to poor returns from equities, bonds, and money market instruments. DOMESTIC AND WORLD MARKETS Government short-term responses have made matters worse by attempting to paper over relative price changes and shield consumers through beggar-thy-neighbor policies of restricting exports and using administrative measures in an attempt to control prices. In order to shield consumers, taxes and import duties on imported grains are being reduced in net importing countries-temporarily. Price subsidies are also widely applied throughout the region for staple foods such as rice and for suppression of food prices. The burden of general rice and wheat price subsidies will become much heavier as a result of the spike in prices in 2008. In the Philippines, the leading importer of rice in the world in 2007, the fiscal cost of subsidized rice in 2008 is estimated to be P32.8 billion with a purchase price of P29.4/kg_ versus a selling price of P_7.25/ kg. Indonesia has budgeted in 2008 an increase in food subsidies of Rp 9.8 trillion from Rp7.2 trillion-an increase of $_.4 billion or 3% of all government expenditure.It is not possible to untangle all the causes of rising prices without conducting a more detailed statistical analysis or decomposition of price movements. However, it appears from the discussion of these three sets of factors above that structural factors are swamping cyclical factors, as price spikes have occurred in the context of slowing world growth. The International Monetary Fund in its World Economic Outlook 2008 (IMF 2008) has cut its forecast for world growth drastically in 200 8 from 4._% down to 3.7%. In spite of this slowdown, prices have been accelerating, indicating that it would be unwise to be complacent, and that higher food prices are not merely a short-term phenomenon that markets will automatically correct. This has strong implications for macroeconomic stability, poverty incidence and inequality and for corrective measures over time. Reasons for rise in prices: The primary cause of the recent food-price inflation was the severe drought of 2009, which caused a downturn in food production in the third quarter of 2009-10 and the expectation of the resultant price rise itself fed further into the inflation. However, some other reasons (not so much talked about) for the spiralling food price inflation in India. In 2008, it was estimated that India loses INR 58,000 crore worth of agricultural food items due to lack of post harvesting infrastructure such as cold chains, transportation, and storage facilities. If the Government ensured proper storage facility, food inventory would have been more then sufficient leading to prices remaining under control. It is not sure if the Government is still doing enough to have proper food storage facilities in the country. The Indian farmers are largely dependent on the four-month monsoon season during which 80% of the years total rainfall takes place. The reason is that 60% of the countrys total cropped area is not irrigated. The Government has again been talking about inclusive growth and stress on rural India. These facts dont point to any meaningful efforts to help farmers in a country where over 10,000 farmers have committed suicide over the last decade. The per hectare agricultural yield in India is half that of China. This again points of inefficiency and the failure to help the farmers adopt latest technology in order to increase the crop output. Increased bio-fuel production has contributed to the rise in food prices: Concerns over oil prices, energy security and climate change have prompted governments to take a more proactive stance towards encouraging production and use of bio-fuels.  [1]  This has led to increased demand for bio-fuel raw materials, such as wheat, soy, maize and palm oil, and increased competition for cropland Implications: Steep rise in food prices may cripple Indias growth: Even as India was settling in the comfort of an independent government after many successive coalitions, the political stability has been threatened by the surging prices of food and other basic commodities. For a long time, India has struggled with strengthening its Public Distribution System (PDS).In a world, which is still stumbling and trying to recover from one of the worst even economic setback, Asia has been confidently surging ahead. However, it seems that the ever rising food prices may cripple this recovery and pose a major threat to the strong GDP rise. This will not only be a setback to India, but to the rest of the continent as well, many parts of which are dependent on India to meet their food shortages. This year, food prices have seen a steep rise of 19.95 per cent, one of the highest ever recorded. What is of more concern is the fact that this steep rise has significantly out paced the rise on per capita income. Even staple foods like rice and wheat have become so expensive that theyve gone out of reach of the common man. Food Price Rise Affects Rural Areas Adversely Objective: The purpose of this article is to analyze on the spiraling food price in India, future trend of food prices, analyzing, how much the people spend on food items and others, which calls for the stratagem to be opted by the common man, and by finding out the ways to save and to find the new sources of income to troubleshoot the crisis. Review of Literature Sushma Swaraj, one of the senior members of the BJP, said: The price rise is not an outcome of any natural calamity, it is the outcome of the wrong policies of the government. Mohanty, Rath and Ramaiah (2000) argued that a large array of commodities show relative price volatility over time; hence, it is not appropriate to remove them all from core measure. The basket of commodities whose prices are volatile is not time invariant; therefore, excluding certain commodities permanently will result in loss of information about underlying inflation. Moreover, primary commodities are sizable in the consumption basket of consumers and their influence on underlying inflation is substantial. Therefore, core measure that excludes primary commodities cannot be a good indicator of inflation. Joshi and Rajpathak (2004) used new series on WPI and constructed core inflation following exclusion and trimmed mean methods. They conclude that WPI excluding food and 20 percent trimmed mean satisfy most of desirable properties of the core measure. Indias annual food and fuel inflation quickened in the week to April 10, putting upside pressure on the headline inflation and central bank to take action before its next policy review in July. The food price index rose 17.65%   in the 12 months to April 10, marginally higher than an annual rise of 17.22%  . Rising food and fuel prices risk fanning wider inflation as the companies look to pass on cost increases and could prompt the central bank to raise its key rates again ahead of its next policy review in July.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised key interest rates by 25 basis points and warned price pressures were fast becoming a demand-driven phenomenon Reuters poll found a narrow majority of economists expect another increase in rates by the end of June, or before the RBIs next quarterly review. Government officials, however, keen to keep the economy on track to exceed 8%   growth this year, said inflationary pressures were waning and played down the need for aggressive tightening. Research methodology Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It is necessary for the researcher to know not only the research methods/techniques but also the methodology. Researchers also need to understand the assumptions underlying various techniques and they need to know the criteria by which they can decide that certain techniques and procedures will be applicable to certain problems and others will not. He has to specify very clearly and precisely what decisions he selects and why he selects them so that others can evaluate them also. Research design is the arrangement of conditions for the collection and analysis of data for a research study, which will have relevancy and scientific approach to the study. The research design is Exploratory in nature. Opinion survey is used to find out the Impact of Food inflation on Indian consumers and Secondary data, have been used which are already gathered by others. The researcher has been collecting information through internet, finance journals and books Techniques like Linear growth rate, correlation, Chi-square and trend analysis were been used to check out the future trend in food price and its impact on the common people. In the above table food prices and non food prices are been rising year by year in which CPI rises by 1.75% and food group by 0.3% and non food group by 5.93% year by year.. The observed increase in food prices is not a temporary phenomenon, but likely to persist in the medium term. Food crop prices remains high in 2008 and 2009 and then begin to decline as supply and demand respond to high prices; however, they are likely to remain well above the 2004 levels through 2015 for most food crops. There is a high relation between crude oil and food items. As the price of crude oil increases the prices of food items also increases. There is high relation between GDP,CPI,PPI and WPI. As GDP increases year by year consumer,producer,wholesale price index also increases. Finding Answers to Food Inflation prompts consumers to cut down unnecessary expenditure The younger generation feel that they would feel save by investing in pension fund then the fixed deposit rather than investing in shares and securities. Suggestions However, looking into the very near term, some ways to ease food prices would be: Crackdown on hoarders and black marketers could help prevent prices from rising further. This step might not significantly reduce prices but will ensure that prices dont escalate further. The Government should allow the private sector to import and store the primary agricultural commodities at zero import duty. This will help ease the prices to a large extent. The Government also needs to unload the inventory it has in its storage locations. This will have an immediate impact on the prices. It is very important for the Government to try and control the inflation or at least try and ensure that these circumstances do not arise again in the future. There are several ways of curbing food inflation. It is only that the Government needs to be more proactive rather then being reactive. Another important point to note is that a majority of Indians still dont invest in equity markets. They prefer going for fixed deposits which are currently yielding only around 8-10% annually. On the other hand, inflation for an average household is easily around 12-15% (even education, health and housing cost are going up). Save More Tomorrow is a registered trade mark. strategies are appropriate at younger ages 1) because young peoplehave more of their wealth in bond-like human capital and can afford to take more financial risk, and 2)Because younger people have more flexibility to work more to make up for any shortfall created by losses in financial assets. Conclusion If things have not been taken care of nothing substantial can been done in order to overcome challenges of rising prices. Hoping that minimal food wastage, high crop productivity and increase in irrigated land would help to deflate the food prices. It is also said that if the INR 58,000 crore of food crop is not wasted on an annual basis, Indias deficits could be wiped out in less then a decade without any other measures being taken. The study ensures that the future trend of food prices will be spiraling in near future to daunt the common people to cut back their spending on un-necessary items and concentrate on developing a strategy to save and to find new sources of income, early as viable. Regardless of the challenges faced throughout your life, a secure nest egg will do wonders for helping you cope the future price rise.