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With remote car starters, the situation is a bit different. Remote starter installation can be a very complicated procedure, and seeking help from a professional with automotive electrical experience as opposed to a mechanic is typically the best course of action.

Some dealerships will install them for you. Reina has spent 30 years working in the automotive industry in sales, engineering and mechanics. However, you can also ask if there's a choice between a factory remote and an aftermarket remote: compare prices based on both parts and labor, and don't forget to ask about the warranty for each. However, be aware that on modern cars, an aftermarket remote starter requires obtaining a spare key which must be hidden in the car as part of the install. That's the only way the remote can start the car, because the ignition must be able to communicate with the transponder in the key.

Some starters need a good deal of wiring and rewiring in order to work, while others may require a bypass module to allow your vehicle's computer to recognize the starter as a spare key. Trying to perform these tasks by yourself isn't just difficult, it could also present an electrocution hazard. These electrical mistakes can void your car's warranty and will cost you a lot in repairs. The good news is that it's a relatively quick job, one which can be done in three hours. If you have experience working with electronics and you're set on installing your own starter, you'll want to make sure it's compatible with your vehicle and that all necessary accessories are included such as a bypass module, for instance.

Bulldog Security offers wiring information for a vast selection of vehicle makes and models, all free to view. You'll want to consult the appropriate page for your vehicle, then refer to any instructional information that came with your remote starter kit. If none was included and the manufacturer suggests hiring a professional to do the installation, then that is the best course of action.

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Roadshow editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Roadshow staff. Jump to details. Best remote car starter on a budget. Best remote car starter with valet mode. Best remote car starter for diesel engines. Consult with a professional installer about the model you plan to purchase for your vehicle. Consider whether you want remote start with security features like aftermarket sirens, valet mode, or panic buttons.

If you do decide to install the remote start system on your own, make sure to disconnect the battery first. Consider decreasing your risk of auto theft with the following tips. There are many factors to remote car starter installation cost. In addition to the pricetag of the starter itself, you may need to purchase a bypass module to make it compatible with your vehicle. First, it needs to be from a reputable, high-quality manufacturer.

Secondly, you should have your remote car starter installed by a licensed technician. Improper installation can mean damage to the wiring of your vehicle and can rack up costly repair bills.

Aftermarket means that the system was not part of the vehicle when it was originally manufactured. Our recommendations are based on careful consideration of the competition which includes compiling product stats.

We also looked to experts in the field to learn more about brand reputation and performance during testing. And last, but not least, we pored over ratings from real customers across multiple platforms to identify potential problems or standout features. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon.

About Contact Press Blog. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. This is not a guarantee.

SafeWise is an independent review site. We may earn money when you click links on our site. Learn more. Smart Home FAQ. We scrutinized dozens of remote car starters to bring you our top four picks. Best overall. Crimestopper RS7-G5. LCD screen. Two-vehicle compatibility. View on Amazon. Read Review. Take care! My dodge ram came with factory remote start but i like viper system better, can i add aftermarket remote start to my vehicle?

Hi Marcus, it is definitly possible to install an aftermarket remote starter in that truck even though it already has an OEM starter. We often do this to gain range and features. Hi Mary, That is a bit of an odd one.

I would definitely suggest taking the car to either the dealer, or a local mobile electronics retailer to have a look and see if they can pin point the smell. My son asked me whether he can get a remote car starter for his car. I am glad that you explained that getting one will not void his warranty. With that, I thought about buying one and finding a locksmith that can fix it if it breaks down. Hi Tim, The best bet is to find a reputable local mobile electronics retailer near you and to purchase the product and have it installed by them.

I have a Acadia and it only allows me to start my car twice, is there a way to program it endlessly? Cold Minnesota winters sometimes we need more then twice! You will also increase the range capabilities by using a long range remote. I remote started my car to avoid the polar vortex chill. The timer is set for 12 min.

I checked 20 later so I pressed the same keys to stop the engine. This happened 3 times. I am afraid to go to sleep! What can I do to stop this from recurring? Hi Rosalyn, Is your remote start factory or aftermarket? If it is aftermarket, what brand is it? Some remote starters have features that start automatically in lower temperatures, or at timed intervals.

These features ca be turned on or off fairy easily! Hi Kevin! Although the guides do not show integration with the manual trans PTS vehicles, it may still be doable. If you are interested in pursing the installation, we can dig into it further to get you the information needed. Hello i had a viper remote start installed in my truck 2 weeks ago. Today as i went to the store in the evening i turned off my truck first before turning off my headlights.

When i tried starting my truck on it would not start. I first had to turn my headlights on first before my truck would start. Is this a bad wiring of the viper remote start? It definitely sounds like you have a wiring issue on that remote starter. Are you able to take it back in to the installation facility to get that checked out? I have a ford explorer 4.

System is controlled by a cms control module and was installed by an authorized Compustar center, although I refuse to do business with this establishment anymore.

There are other times will function as designed. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. This problem is honestly a bit hard to diagnose without seeing the vehicle. It could be a number of different things causing that issue.

Do you have a local authorized dealer to take it to and have them check it out? Also, there could be a possibility that the ignition switch is self is causing some of these problems if it is faulty. I have a Honda Pilot that has factory command start. Every time I hit the command start my alarm goes off. I have to turn off the command start, hit the unlock on my key fob and then can start the command start… not sure if it is a remote issue or with the command start itself.

It sounds like the protocol that disarms the OEM alarm is not functioning. Is it a Honda branded remote start? Often times, remote starters are added at the dealer but they are in fact aftermarket.

Something may have lost programming and need to be looked at. I added a remote starter after purchasing my Subaru Impreza. Was fine until last year. Now if I try to start my car without using remote starter, the steering is really rough. Does not get rough steering if using the remote starter. What would cause this? This is a super bizarre problem. Could you further explain the rough steering? Does the Imprezza have electronic power steering or hydraulic power steering? So I have a remote stater but want to change it to a different one do I have to rewire the whole thing or can I just connect the new antenna to the original wires?

Often times remotes can be changed and upgraded, but we would have to know exactly what make and model of remote start it is. Are you able to find this out? Generally the best practice to see if there is a remote starter in the vehicle is to remove the under dash and see if there is a remote starter hidden somewhere in there. Any remote start retailer would be more than happy to see what is in there and hopefully be able to order replacement remotes to get it working again.

Is it worth the cost to have it uninstalled and reinstalled in another vehicle? We would be more than happy to un-install the remote starter, but we do not deal with that brand and unfortunately would not be able to reinstall that into another vehicle.

If they are an Astrostart dealer, they will likely be able to do this for you! I have a nustart r when I unlock my door the radio comes on along with other accessories. So if I hit the button accidentally it draws attention to my unlocked vehicle. This is on a used f which had the remote starter previously installed. My wife bought a brand new Nissan Rogue with the factory installed one-way remote starter. The range on the FOB is only 60m, nowhere near the distance she requires to remote start the vehicle.

Is there any way to: 1 Extend the range of the remote up to 1km perhaps? At this current time there arnt any options within the after market world to do this, without installing an aftermarket remote start system with a secondary fob. I have a Santa Fe with factory installed remote start. So, my question is can my key fob or an aftermarket remote start key fob be program to operate the existing remote start system or do I have to have to have a new system installed?

At this time there is no such thing without going to something like the DRONE setup, which is through an app. There are some other options out there, Stop in at one of our locations and we can go through them with you!

I tried to put my truck in gear while autostart was running and forgot to put key in. What could this be? How can I tell what kind of remote start that is installed in my F ? All the symbols have rubbed off buttons, I have figured out whats what but when hit the blue button the lights just blink. I just bought it I did not install it. Hi Vikki, If is often best to have the truck in and for us to check what brand and model the remote starter is by checking at the module under the dash.

I hope this helps! I have a compustart remote installed just lately in my chrysler using the chrysler key fob.. Hi Gerry, Depending on the unit brain installed in the vehicle, the 3, then 5 flashes generally mean that the unit is sensing footbrake. We would suggest taking that in to a compustar dealer and having the brain reflashed to that vehicle.

It is likely a firmware issue. Hope that helps! My main question is is it possible that their mechanic messed up the sensor because he was bypassing it to start and then found out that that is the problem?! That is a very hard thing to determine without actually seeing the vehicle and how the remote starter was integrated. When referring to a hatch sensor, do you in fact mean the hood pin switch? I had a remote car starter installed to my vehicle saturn vue about a week ago and ever since, it will start but the radio and my blinkers dont work.

Do you know why this would be? Did they do something wrong? Hi Becky, that is a bit of a weird one. I would definitely have the installer who put the remote start in look over the install and see if something was possibly left disconnected or if something was improperly installed.

Unfortunately, it is near impossible for us to diagnose this without seeing the vehicle. I hope that helps! Hi, I had a Compustar remote car starter install in a Hynudia Tuscon. Would that cause the BlueLink cellular remote starter to stop working? The OEM Hynudia key fob never had a remote start button on it so it was one reason I had the Compustar system installed. It is honestly tough to say.

It is likely that this is the case, but we would need to confirm this with compustar and datalink once we knew exactly which compustar unit is installed. To the best of our knowledge without in fact seeing the installation in that vehicle, it should not interfere with the blue link system. After I replaced the car battery, it is not connecting with my autostart anymore. Would you mind helping. We suggest finding your nearest AutoStart dealer to have them help.

We are not an autostart dealer and are not familiar with that unit. I would definitely mention this to the installer of the remote start unit and see if they can diagnose it.

Any reputable brand of remote starter will have this feature available for programming. Liliana It all depends on what kind of system is installed in the vehicle.

My car starter was starting the car on its own, I removed the control module but cannot find the extra key they put in the car. Where would this be put please? I had a compustar remote system installed in my CRV when new. I seldom use the remote start, so for the warmer season coming up, I removed the 3 fuses that come from the control module which is labeled CM to disable. All seemed fine except when driving with the 3 fuses removed, two 30 amp and one 10 amp, the door locks cycle when driving at different speeds.

Replacing the fuses and it was back to normal. Will entering valet mode help with the draw or is there anything else I can do short of having it uninstalled? Good Morning Vincent, there may be a couple things that could be done to help with the draw. A couple of things to have checked: Battery life, Being that the car is rarely driven it would be a good idea to take your vehicle into a service facility and have the battery checked.

This is especially important if the battery is the original from If of course this isnt an acceptable option then yes ultimately removal may be the case. Hi i have. Good morning. You will need to get new keys for the car. A remote start system will not allow you to take over and drive without the key.

Your vehicle also has a steering lock device for when the key is not in the ignition. The Honda dealership should be able to order you a cut key based off the vin number of your car. Thanks and take care! I have a compustar 2wg15r-PM. The post to start starts it and then dies.

Which is good pin. Is there something else or did they bypass it. I live in Oklahoma city, Oklahoma. Got it at Best Buy. Had geek squad hook it up. What do I do? Hi Shannon, Your best bet is to find a local Compustar dealer using compustar. Most shops will be more that happy to assist. I would highly recommend an independent store over a big box store. The customer service and care you will get will be much much better.

Hello Chris, you will probably have to contact the dealer who got you all setup and arrange a service appointment, not sure what could have happened without further testing. When you do find out it would be wonderful to know what the issue was so we can keep track of it in case it ever happens to us. My remote fell and broke for my remote car starter.

Good Morning Chris, in most cases remotes can be sourced without installing a whole new system, It all depends on the brand of remote starter you have and how backwards compatible their systems are or how their legacy old product support is.

If you are local to us feel free to contact one of our stores and we will see if there is anything we can do to help you. Thank you for providing this forum! I had a locksmith visit our home to program a spare ignition key. We had lost our spare key chainand did not want to risk losing the other and have no way to start our car. The technician arrived and programed the ignition key and it worked fine. The very next morning, like every other morning, my wife went to start the car using the autostart fob.

Could the reprograming the ignition key disable the programed autostart feature? I recently purchased an 05 Nissan Titan used obviously, and upon driving it home noticed a little black box with an antenna coming out of it above the rear view mirror.

My question is I've had a truck with this same sort of box before and that truck had a remote starter and I'm assuming this is some kind of receiver for one as well! When I start the truck 2 blue LEDs flash every time it starts,and it also has a little button in the center of it! I've pushed it and it doesn't seem to do anything! I have no remote that came with it just a key,so what I'm wondering is there anyway to identify this or find the control box to get a remote so I can use it?

The only I can find is on the side of this box above the mirror it is Any help would b greatly appreciated I'd love to be able to use it thanks. Back to Top. Joined: July 01, Location: New Jersey, United States.

You will also need to program the remotes. I looked under the dash where I thought it would b but diddnt see anything that looked added or aftermarket under there!






















Recognition as a composer came slowly. Though Debussy was often regarded as personally aloof, few great composers have cultivated their links with writers, artists and other composers more assiduously than he did. As his songs inspired by works of Verlaine and Baudelaire had already shown, he was totally immersed in the highly suggestive world of symbolist poetry. It proved to be his last orchestral work.

As well as Boulez, in the second half of the century Ligeti and even Steve Reich were indebted to him, and, among British composers, Oliver Knussen and George Benjamin both acknowledged how much they owe him. Debussy: where to start with his music. At age 22, he won the Prix de Rome, which financed two years of further musical study in the Italian capital. After the turn of the century, Debussy established himself as the leading figure of French music. During World War I, while Paris was being bombed by the German air force, he succumbed to colon cancer at the age of While his family had little money, Debussy showed an early affinity for the piano, and he began taking lessons at the age of 7.

By age 10 or 11, he had entered the Paris Conservatory, where his instructors and fellow students recognized his talent but often found his attempts at musical innovation strange. In , Nadezhda von Meck, who had previously supported Russian composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, hired Debussy to teach piano to her children.

With her and her children, Debussy traveled Europe and began accumulating musical and cultural experiences in Russia that he would soon turn toward his compositions, most notably gaining exposure to Russian composers who would greatly influence his work. In , when he was just 22 years old, Debussy entered his cantata L'Enfant prodigue The Prodigal Child in the Prix de Rome, a competition for composers.

He took home the top prize, which allowed him to study for three years in the Italian capital, though he returned to Paris after two years. Debussy returned to Paris in and attended the Paris World Exposition two years later.

At the age of 18 he began an eight-year affair with Marie-Blanche Vasnier, wife of a Parisian civil servant. The relationship eventually faltered following his winning of the Prix de Rome in and obligatory residence in Rome.

Such cavalier behaviour was widely condemned, and precipitated the end of his long friendship with Ernest Chausson. Moreover, her looks had prematurely aged, and she was unable to bear children.

In contrast to Texier, Bardac was a sophisticate, a brilliant conversationalist, and an accomplished singer. On their return to France, Debussy wrote to Texier from Dieppe on 11 August, informing her their marriage was over, but still making no mention of Bardac.

Debussy briefly moved to an apartment at 10 avenue Alphand. On 14 October, five days before their fifth wedding anniversary, Texier attempted suicide, shooting herself in the chest with a revolver while standing in the Place de la Concorde; she survived, although the bullet remained lodged in her vertebrae for the rest of her life.

The ensuing scandal was to alienate Debussy from many of his friends, whilst Bardac was disowned by her family.

In the spring of , finding the hostility towards them intolerable, Debussy and Bardac now pregnant fled to England, via Jersey. The couple settled at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne from 24 July to 30 August , where Debussy was to correct proofs to his symphonic suite La mer , and celebrate his divorce from Texier on 2 August.

After a brief visit to London, the couple returned to Paris in September, buying a house in a courtyard development off the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne now Avenue Foch , where Debussy was to reside for the rest of his life.

He loved his music — and perhaps himself. I think he was wrapped up in his genius… He was a very, very strange man. Claude-Emma outlived her father by scarcely a year, succumbing to the diphtheria epidemic of after her doctor administered the wrong treatment.

Debussy died of rectal cancer at his Paris home on 25 March , at the age of He had been diagnosed with the cancer in after experiencing haemorrhaging, and in December underwent one of the earliest colostomy operations ever performed. The military situation in France was critical, and did not permit the honour of a public funeral with ceremonious graveside orations. One side argues that the term is a misnomer, an inappropriate label which Debussy himself opposed.

It can be argued that he would have been pleased with application of the current definition of Impressionism to his music. In contrast to the enormous works of Wagner and other late-romantic composers, however, around this time Debussy chose to write in smaller, more accessible forms. Suite bergamasque recalls rococo decorousness with a modern cynicism and puzzlement.

In this work he used the Phrygian mode as well as less standard scales, such as the whole-tone, which creates a sense of floating, ethereal harmony. Debussy was beginning to employ a single, continuous theme and break away from the traditional A-B-A form, with its restatements and amplifications, which had been a mainstay of classical music since Haydn.

In contrast to the large orchestras so favoured by late-romanticism, Debussy wrote this piece for a smaller ensemble, emphasizing instrumental colour and timbre. It would be his only complete opera. Based on the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, the opera proved to be an immediate success and immensely influential to younger French composers, including Maurice Ravel. These works brought a fluidity of rhythm and colour quite new to Western music.

La mer — essays a more symphonic form, with a finale that works themes from the first movement, although the middle movement, Jeux de vagues , proceeds much less directly and with more variety of colour. Again, the reviews were sharply divided. Some critics thought the treatment to be less subtle and less mysterious than his previous works and even a step backward. During this period Debussy wrote much for the piano.

The set of pieces entitled Pour le piano uses rich harmonies and textures which would later prove important in jazz music. The evocative Estampes for piano give impressions of exotic locations. Debussy came into contact with Javanese gamelan music during the Paris Exposition Universelle. Pagodes is the directly inspired result, aiming for an evocation of the pentatonic structures employed by the Javanese music.

The Preludes are frequently compared to those of Chopin. Debussy wanted people to respond intuitively to these pieces so he placed the titles at the end of each one in the hope that listeners would not make stereotype images as they listened.






















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Print portfolios are great for face to face meetings, but you cannot be present everywhere. Chances are that most agencies and clients will end up seeing your portfolio online.

This is where your portfolio website comes in. Make sure that you choose the right platform your portfolio website that lets you achieve the unique style that best represents your personality. Your modeling portfolio website needs to be not just stunning but functional as well. Pixpa offers the flexibility, features, and ease-of-use you need to put together a professional portfolio website without requiring any coding knowledge.

As an aspiring model, you can easily create and manage a modeling website. What features do models have? There is no set template for models. Depending on genre and industry, different kinds of models are in demand. There is also a growing demand for plus sized models, mostly in catalog modeling. What are the 10 types of modeling? What are the 3 types of fashion models? Editorial, Catalog and Runway are three kinds of models in the high fashion industry.

What type of models get paid the most? Runway fashion models who can get to supermodel status are usually the highest earning category of models. Explore More Articles See all articles. All Posts , Fashion ,.

Anisha Singh on Jul 24, 10 min read. There is talk of diverse representation of models in the fashion industry, in terms of gender, ethnicity, and age of models. Modeling is one of those exclusive professions that lends itself to implementing your creative skills in diverse ways. Let us look at the different types of Models in the Fashion World Fashion Editorial Model Fashion models are also called editorial models.

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Swimsuit and Lingerie Model Swimsuits and lingerie models are often confused with glamour models, but they are not the same. Child Model Think wide-eyed babies, grinning from ear to ear, donning the latest kids couture or endorsing a range of products.

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I would so love that. That sounds lame. I don't think so. Sure, if the money was right. Sign me up! No, whose hair shines? Umm, I don't think so. Maybe a little. Like the sun. No, I am really short actually. I'm about average. I am pretty tall. Yes, very tall. Who wants to know? No, I have never been into that. I have done acting a little.

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In this instance, the breath becomes the sole object of your meditation. You observe every nuance of the breath and each sensation it produces: how it moves in your abdomen and torso, how it feels as it moves in and out of your nose, its quality, its temperature, and so on.

What you discover is neither good nor bad; you simply allow yourself to be with the breath from moment to moment. Another way to meditate is to watch a physical sensation. Practice this with the same degree of detail as you would when watching the breath. In this context, you will look deeply at, or penetrate, a particular sensation that draws your attention, such as how hot or cool your hands feel.

The increased sensitivity you gained due to your asana practice may provide you with other points of focus: the strength of your spine or the suppleness you feel in your lower body, for example. Observing a particular emotion or any specific area of discomfort is also a possibility. Whatever you choose remains your point of focus for the whole practice. You may find that observing a physical sensation can be more challenging than observing the breath.

For most beginners, mantras, chants, and visualizations offer more tangible ways to replace or calm the scattered thoughts of our minds, which seem to be perpetually on sensory overload. See also: Meditation Has Proven Benefits. Although you can meditate, or become fully absorbed in any activity or position of stillness, sitting is the most commonly recommended posture.

There are a number of classic seated poses, but Sukhasana Easy Cross-Legged Pose is obviously the most basic. More flexible meditators prefer Padmasana Lotus Pose. Sitting in a chair also works. The most important things are that your spine remain upright and that you feel steady and comfortable, the same two qualities necessary for performing asanas.

To maximize comfort on the floor, place a cushion or folded blanket under your buttocks to elevate them and gently guide your knees down toward the floor. This helps support the natural lumbar curve of the lower back. Relax your arms and place your hands on your thighs or in your lap, with the palms in a relaxed position facing up or down. Roll your shoulders back and down and gently lift the chest. Keep your neck long and the chin tilted slightly downward. Depending upon which technique you are following, the eyes may be opened or closed.

Breathing is natural and free. A moving meditation—highly recommended by many teachers—may be an enjoyable option for you. The challenge of this form is to walk slowly and consciously, each step becoming your focal point.

Destination, distance, and pace are all incidental. Relax your arms at your sides and move freely, coordinating your breath with your steps. For instance, you might breathe in for 3 steps and breathe out for 3 steps. If that feels awkward or difficult, just breathe freely. Although you can practice walking meditation anywhere, choose a setting you particularly love—the ocean, a favorite park, or a meadow.

Remember, getting somewhere is not the issue. Rather, the complete involvement in the act of walking becomes your meditation. Standing is another meditation practice that can be very powerful. It is often recommended for those practitioners who find that it builds physical, mental, and spiritual strength. Stand with your feet hip- to shoulder-distance apart. Knees are soft; arms rest comfortably at your sides. Check to see that the whole body is aligned in good posture: shoulders rolled back and down, chest open, neck long, head floating on top, and chin parallel to the floor.

Either keep your eyes opened or softly close them. Even though lying down is associated with relaxation, the classic Corpse Pose, Savasana , is also used for meditation. Lie down on your back with your arms at your sides, palms facing upward. Touch your heels together and allow the feet to fall away from one another, completely relaxed. Although your eyes may be opened or closed, some people find it easier to stay awake with their eyes open. A supine meditation, although more physically restful than other positions, entails a greater degree of alertness to remain awake and focused.

Therefore, beginners may find it more difficult to meditate in this position without falling asleep. Research has confirmed what the yogis of ancient times already knew: Profound physiological and psychological changes take place when we meditate, causing an actual shift in the brain and in the involuntary processes of the body.

This is how it works: An instrument called an electroencephalograph EEG records mental activity. During waking activity, when the mind constantly moves from one thought to another, the EEG registers jerky and rapid lines categorized as beta waves. When the mind calms down through meditation, the EEG shows waves that are smoother and slower, and categorizes them as alpha waves.

As meditation deepens, brain activity decreases further. The EEG then registers an even smoother, slower pattern of activity we call theta waves. Studies on meditators have shown decreased perspiration and a slower rate of respiration accompanied by a decrease of metabolic wastes in the bloodstream.

If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Meditation is a technique used for thousands of years to develop awareness of the present moment.

It can involve practices to sharpen focus and attention, connect to the body and breath, develop acceptance of difficult emotions, and even alter consciousness. Meditation may offer a solution to the growing need to reduce stress in the midst of busy schedules and demanding lives.

Not all meditation styles are right for everyone. These practices require different skills and mindsets. How do you know which practice is right for you? Mindfulness meditation originates from Buddhist teachings and is the most popular and researched form of meditation in the West.

In mindfulness meditation , you pay attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind. You simply observe and take note of any patterns. This practice combines concentration with awareness. You may find it helpful to focus on an object or your breath while you observe any bodily sensations, thoughts, or feelings. Spiritual meditation is used in nearly all religions and spiritual traditions. Many of the meditation techniques listed in this article could be considered spiritual meditation.

Examples include:. Spiritual meditation can be practiced at home or in a place of worship. This practice is beneficial for those who seek spiritual growth and a deeper connection to a higher power or spiritual force.

For example, you can focus on something internal, like your breath, or you can bring in external influences to help focus your attention. This practice may be simple in theory, but it can be difficult for beginners to hold their focus for longer than a few minutes at first. As the name suggests, this practice is ideal for anyone who wants to sharpen their focus and attention. Although most people think of yoga when they hear movement meditation , this practice may include:.

This is an active form of meditation where the movement guides you into a deeper connection with your body and the present moment. Movement meditation is good for people who find peace in action and want to develop body awareness.

Mantra meditation is prominent in many teachings, including Hindu and Buddhist traditions. This type of meditation uses a repetitive sound to clear the mind. Your mantra can be spoken loudly or quietly. This allows you to experience deeper levels of awareness. Some people enjoy mantra meditation because they find it easier to focus on a word than on their breath.

Others enjoy feeling the vibration of the sound in their body. TM was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and refers to a specific practice designed to quiet the mind and induce a state of calm and peace. Because it slowly and steadily relaxes the body, some people use this form of meditation to help them sleep. Mindfulness is a form of meditation that urges practitioners to remain aware and present in the moment. Crucial to this is a lack of judgment.

So, rather than reflecting on the annoyance of a long wait, a practitioner will simply note the wait without judgment. Mindfulness meditation is something people can do almost anywhere. While waiting in line at the grocery store, for example, a person might calmly notice their surroundings, including the sights, sounds, and smells they experience.

A form of mindfulness is involved in most kinds of meditation. Breath awareness encourages practitioners to be aware of their breathing, while progressive relaxation draws attention to areas of tension in the body. Because mindfulness is a theme common to many forms of meditation, it has been extensively studied.

Research has found that mindfulness can:. Some evidence suggests mindfulness may improve health. For example , a study of African-American men with chronic kidney disease found that mindfulness meditation could lower blood pressure. Practitioners breathe slowly and deeply, counting their breaths or otherwise focusing on their breaths. The goal is to focus only on breathing and to ignore other thoughts that enter the mind.

As a form of mindfulness meditation, breath awareness offers many of the same benefits as mindfulness. Those include reduced anxiety, improved concentration, and greater emotional flexibility.

Kundalini yoga is a physically active form of meditation that blends movements with deep breathing and mantras. People usually learn from a teacher or do a class. However, someone can learn the poses and mantras at home. Similarly to other forms of yoga , kundalini yoga can improve physical strength and reduce pain. It may also improve mental health by reducing anxiety and depression. A study of veterans with chronic low-back pain, for instance, found that yoga reduced pain, increased energy, and improved overall mental health.

Zen meditation, sometimes called Zazen is a form of meditation that can be part of Buddhist practice. Many Zen practitioners study under a teacher because this kind of meditation involves specific steps and postures. Again, this form of meditation is similar to mindfulness meditation but requires more discipline and practice.

People may prefer it if they are seeking both relaxation and a new spiritual path. Transcendental Meditation is a spiritual form of meditation where practitioners remain seated and breathe slowly. During a meditation session, practitioners focus on a mantra or a repeated word or series of words.

A teacher determines the mantra based on a complex set of factors, sometimes including the year the practitioner was born, and the year the teacher was trained.

An alternative allows people to choose their mantra. This more contemporary version is not technically Transcendental Meditation, though it may look substantially similar. People who practice Transcendental Meditation report both spiritual experiences and heightened mindfulness.

The various meditative disciplines encourage a focus on heightened awareness, slower breathing, and increased acceptance.






















This feature is limited to our corporate solutions. Please contact us to get started with full access to dossiers, forecasts, studies and international data. Skip to main content Try our corporate solution for free! Single Accounts Corporate Solutions Universities. Roman Catholic was the most common religion affiliation in Mexico in In a survey carried out between October and December of that year, roughly 72 percent of Mexican respondents claimed to be of catholic faith, whereas the second most chosen religion was evangelism, with only 4.

More than 13 percent of respondents answered they didn't profess any religion and a total of one percent defined themselves either as atheists or agnostics. Loading statistic Show source. Download for free You need to log in to download this statistic Register for free Already a member?

Log in. Show detailed source information? Half of adults or fewer in Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras now identify as Catholic, while roughly four-in-ten in each country say they are Protestant.

In Mexico, about one-in-ten adults were raised Catholic but no longer identify with Catholicism. By contrast, in Nicaragua, roughly a quarter of adults have left Catholicism after having been raised in the faith. At the same time, Catholics in Mexico do not uniformly agree with Catholic Church teachings.

Hispanic Catholics who support these changes to church teachings. But Mexican Catholics are more traditional in some other ways. During his visit, Pope Francis is expected to authorize the use of indigenous languages during Mass.

Missionaries kidnapped children and converted them to Christianity. In addition, conquistadors killed local political leaders who resisted the conquest. The Spaniards destroyed symbols of indigenous religions and replaced them with traditional Catholic imagery, building churches on top of destroyed temples. The remains of the Templo Mayor, the primary temple of the Mexica people at the time, lie next to the Metropolitan Cathedral today.

This juxtaposition of colonial wealth against the destruction of indigenous culture is emblematic of the tensions of the colonial period. In fact, it was a Catholic priest, Bartolome de las Casas, that led the movement against slavery in Mexico. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics. Pew Research Center now uses as the last birth year for Millennials in our work. President Michael Dimock explains why. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world.

It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.






















This anchor is accompanied by metal parts like shackles and chains. Its responsibilities include mooring and forbidding pontoon boats and other water vessels from drifting away as current and wind can make them do so. Anchors have been with mariners since the earliest time. Rock is utilized to make this tool during the Bronze Age and its development and enhancement are applied as time passed by. The anchor that you use for your pontoon boat is the thing that counters movement, shaking, and drifting.

These happenings may occur due to strong wind conditions. By having a reliable anchor, your pontoon boat will stay in the spot where you dock it. Aside from security, the mooring task is no sweat.

These areas are where pontoon boats usually have their journeys. This type of anchor clings to a muddy surface area with some vegetation that is present in the mentioned bodies of water. A foot or two feet is the depth that it can penetrate. The box form of this anchor type creates friction when it deals with mud.

It results in excellent holding power. Grass and other vegetation may be a struggle for a mushroom anchor but not for the box type. The latter has pointed flukes so it can pass through the roots of underwater vegetation. It can also hold on to rocks or crevices so your pontoon will stay in place. It may be hard for some when you free the anchor. Do it by pulling your boat forward. Nevertheless, the real struggle of this tool is on sandy surfaces. This anchor works by digging into the bottom and it will get a hold of gravel and sand.

A pound of this anchor is enough for a foot pontoon boat over calm water. When getting a fluke anchor, size is something that you have to consider. A light one is suitable for muddy water floors. You may need to increase a size higher for this anchor to dig efficiently into the sand. Flukes are sharp so you have to make sure the surface of the vessel is protected.

To make anchoring smooth on rocky bottoms , you need a grapnel anchor. The typical one has four arms to be able to grip the different sizes of the rocks. Using it correctly starts with dropping the anchor and letting it backup or drift so the arms have the chance to catch the rocks.

After you set the anchor, the most secure hold on the rocky surface is laid down. Two grapnel anchors are necessary for instances of strong wind and current. They are also called digger anchors. With the perpendicular flukes, they are good at digging the bottom part. They are similar to fluke anchors and the only difference is that the latter is open to angle adjustments.

This type of anchor is great at surfaces with mud, vegetation, and sand. It can hold the vessel in a steady position even in a fast current, strong wind, and harsh weather. It will not leave its post for sure.

Anchoring will be manageable. Other perks of getting a pontoon boat anchor are as follows:. Proper handling should be practiced so learn anchoring first before committing to it.

It can expose you to danger as accidents may occur. Since there are different types of anchors, you have to know the parts and usage as well.

Knowing the pontoon boat anchor system will let you know the right details and steps of anchoring. The weight on the anchor depends on the size of your boat. For average ones, it should be around 15 pounds to 20 pounds. The heaviest is the anchor box type. More weight on the anchor means more work for you. The next thing you have to check is the holding power or it is the quantity of the pull force that an anchor can deal with.

If it has sufficient power, the pontoon boat or other craft stays in place. But then, this ability can be distracted by the wind. It can get along with the wind speed of 20 mph. You ought to know that a mushroom anchor made of plastic and weighs 10 pounds only needs a holding power twice their weight.

Anchors designed for pontoon boats come in different forms so as the materials. Aluminum or aluminum-magnesium alloy, galvanized steel, stain steel, and vinyl-coated steel are the common materials used for durability.

Aluminum and stainless steel are pricey materials and they are both highly resistant to corrosion. On the other hand, galvanized steel is balanced between price and corrosion resistance. It may not be attractive as the others but it serves its purpose well.

Most pontoon boat anchors are formed out of galvanized steel and coated with a polymer like epoxy and vinyl. Keep in mind that corrosion may occur when it has contact with saltwater.

These are parts that are responsible for making the pontoon boat stable. It can go through sandy and swampy surfaces while it refrains your pontoon boat from moving. Anchor flukes are very important in an exquisite mooring. This eyelet or hole should be large enough for accommodating big rope support.

It should be able to take in the thickness of the rope that you prefer. Pontoon boat anchors fundamentally need care and maintenance. Here are the things that you need to do:. Anchoring and mooring a pontoon boat are not different from the way you do them with other watercraft. You have to start looking for the right anchor for your pontoon boat. Then you have to place your pontoon boat in an area where it will be stationed. Choose an ideal place for mooring and consider some factors.

Approach the place slowly. Move towards the wind or water current gradually before you drop the anchor so it will reach the bottom. Proceed to the bow of the boat to lower the anchor.

Continue expanding the anchor line until it is 5 or 7 times the water depth from where you are standing. Once you release the ideal length of the rope, you can tie it to a cleat and not on the handrail. Just let your anchor go in the direction where the water flows as it will stop after a short moment. Your engine should be moved reversely so you can pull the anchor line to ensure it is correctly secure on the water floor. When gradually dropping the anchor, make sure that it faces towards the wind, the current, and the front side of the pontoon boat.

You should know that there will be disturbance from the wind. It happens with the speed and direction where the anchor is going. To prevent your boat from drifting away, it will be smart to place another anchor on the rearward section. Having an additional anchor will give more security and peace of mind.

Some people use under deck mooring which solidifies further the hold of just a single anchor. The boat will not let go even with strong winds. You may add one anchor opposite to the location of the under deck mooring.

You may place the anchor either at the rear or front of your boat. It will all depend on the wind and current. You know all the necessary steps in the correct installation of a pontoon boat anchor. You would typically need two anchors for your pontoon boat. When you go seriously on the mooring, you need 3 feet to 4 feet of chain. It can be hefty enough to connect to the anchor. A short anchor chain is acceptable for fishing and a momentary stop.

Keep in mind that the purpose of the chain is to be a shock absorber. It is also a tool that allows the anchor to tip over and start its job. Its other function is keeping the waves from pulling the pontoon boat.

This manner allows the anchor to let go and pull loose. It is a set up that lessens the resistance to water and wind. The grapnel anchor has at least 4 large arms which reach out to grab a firm hold of rock below. In my home state of Idaho, 3 people in two separate incidents have died in the last 6 years while trying to anchor a boat. In one of the cases, a man got his leg tied around the anchor line and then tossed in the anchor—pulling him to the bottom and drowning him.

In the other case, a family was on a small craft and threw out the anchor line which was too short. The Tampa Bay Times reports that 2 NFL football players and a college football player died when improperly anchoring their boat. The anchor was stuck on the bottom feet below and was unretrievable. Having lost an anchor the previous weekend that was unretrievable, the group fought hard to retrieve.

They decided to tie the anchor to the stern of the boat, which is unsafe as it is not as sturdy or a platform as the bow. They then proceeded to gun the motor in hopes of pulling the anchor free, but anyone with knowledge of this type of anchor knows that this would only drive the anchor further into the ground. Even with life jackets, three of the men died of hypothermia and were lost at sea. One survived. Anchoring is not an inherently dangerous activity, but incidents such as these prove that there is always need for caution when boating.

Be careful out there. Thank you so much for this useful information. We purchased our first boat, a pontoon this year… I am looking for an anchor but got a little concerned of the dangers after reading your review. I will take extra precautions when we get out on the lake and using the anchor. I will prob purchase the fluke anchor. You must be logged in to post a comment. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible.

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This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. July 31, Read More. May 07, April 13, Menu 0. Sign in 0 Home Shop Galvanized Anchors. Holding Power Choosing the right size Anchor. Sizing Storage. Contact Us Returns.






















Thus, the existence of innumerable buddhas implied that there are myriads of purified buddha-fields over which they preside, for it may be expected that, through aeons of history in numberless worlds, countless beings will have attained supreme awakening by following the bodhisattva path, and these beings all work for the liberation of others in their own spheres of realization.

In the Mahayana cosmology, there are great chiliocosms countless as the sands of the Ganges throughout the ten quarters, and most are buddha-fields, or parts of buddha-fields, in which a buddha teaches dharma for the benefit of its inhabitants. Thus, the entire cosmos is a panoply of countless buddha-fields in which the drama of the salvation of all beings is carried out, with buddhas and bodhisattvas radiating the light of wisdom-compassion for all living things.

A third aspect of notable relevance to the Pure Land tradition is the transcendence of the dichotomy of monastic and lay in Mahayana thought. Monastic life had developed as the practical norm for Buddhist life in the early tradition, for the end was personal emancipation from samsaric existence. Practice was construed as observance of the monastic code and meditative practices, and withdrawal from ordinary lay life was itself seen as a crucial step in breaking the bonds of samsaric existence.

Mahayanists, however, sought to realize a fully nondichotomous wisdom; hence, while in actual practice they continued to recognize the efficacy of monastic life as a means to the goal, renunciation of lay life was not in itself an intrinsic or requisite aspect of emancipation.

Other paramitas also emphasize the resolution to fulfill the bodhisattva vows for the enlightenment of all beings. Moreover, precepts or morality was not necessarily construed as the rigid monastic rule governing sequestered life apart from normal society, but as a more general code of proper action observable in varying degrees in lay life also.

This insight rooted in Mahayana thought from its beginnings underlies the evolution of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan in particular, which during the period of its most dynamic development evinces precisely the shift of the center of praxis from assumptions of monastic efficacy to an emphasis on everyday life as the domain of in which genuine practice is manifested.

He therefore searched throughout Buddhist tradition for an accessible path, and at length found the exposition of the nembutsu. Nembutsu practices in early Buddhist tradition centered on mindfulness exercises conducted in veneration of Sakyamuni Buddha, and included elements of bodily worship and the reverent repetition of the name of the Buddha.

Later, it developed into a core practice of monastics involving ritual prostrations with the body, contemplation on the features of enlightened beings and vocal recitation of their names, conducted with long lists of Buddhas and bodhisattvas. No intellectual command of Buddhist teachings, accumulation of merit, moral rectitude, or any act of practice other than the vocal nembutsu is necessary. There was no specified manner of utterance, no necessity for any accompanying ritual or meditative endeavor, and no stipulation of the length of the period of practice or number of repetitions.

Without an adequate demonstration that vocal nembutsu held such power, Pure Land praxis would remain an supplementary discipline within the existing schools of Buddhist tradition, one supportive practice to be performed in combination with a range of other methods.

In other words, Amida, through his vow and the salvific virtue of his own already completed performance of endless aeons of bodhisattva practices, established the saying of the Name as the medium by which his own compassionate working actively reaches each being.

Thus, the nembutsu has been prepared for beings as effective practice—already fulfilled by Amida as the act resulting in birth in the Pure Land.

This salvific activity is particularly appropriate in the present age, when the accomplishment of praxis as ordinarily understood in Buddhist tradition has receded beyond the reach of beings. Nevertheless, the major formulation of his religious thought followed customary models, dictated by his formidable role in Buddhist history.

The former manifests self-power, the latter Other Power. In other words, concretely, how should persons of the nembutsu carry on their lives?

This view, however, sometimes shaded into ethical and eschatological concerns. If, because it is taught [in the Larger Sutra ] that birth is attained with but one or ten utterances, you say the nembutsu heedlessly, then faith is hindering practice. As your faith, accept that birth is attained with a single utterance; as your practice, endeavor in the nembutsu throughout life. The master, in short, failed to achieve a clear doctrinal resolution of this issue of religious life.

Above all, the emergence of such issues within the context of a thoroughgoing application of the general Mahayana critique of self-attachment in religious praxis gave rise to the most innovative philosophical reflection in the Japanese Pure Land tradition. Let us turn here to several basic issues in Pure Land Buddhist thought that 1 emerged from problems of practical engagement but were given characteristic treatment specifically in Japan, and 2 may be considered to have received philosophical attention in the sense that, regarding them, Japanese Pure Land Buddhists were forced, by intra-sectarian debate, to seek a degree of intellectual self-understanding distinct both from scholastic Buddhist discourse and from the kind of realization achieved through religious engagement.

In addition, for convenience, I will discuss these issues under the headings of metaphysics, anthropology, hermeneutics, and ethics. In fact, the four headings are best understood as slightly differing perspectives on essentially the same central problem: the apprehension of what is true and real from within a stance of radical conditionedness.

What enables such apprehension? What is its significance for human existence? How does it come about? And what implications does it hold for the conduct of life? This thinking characterized by the discriminative perception of the world of beings rooted in the nondiscriminative apprehension of reality may be seen in relation to the question of the real existence of beings born in the Pure Land in the following passage from the sixth century Chinese Pure Land thinker Tanluan — :.

We see that from very early in the East Asian tradition, as well known in Japan, Pure Land thinkers applied the Mahayana logic of the nonduality and interpenetration of discriminative and nondiscriminative realms to Pure Land concepts. Regarding the nature of Amida Buddha, perhaps the most natural approach for the modern mind is to focus on the relationship between Amida and Sakyamuni.

It is common to say, therefore, that Sakyamuni belongs to the realm of historical fact and actual existence, while Amida is fictive.

This view is supported by the modern understanding of the relationship between the two buddhas. Amida Buddha has never appeared directly as a historical personage, and there are no teachings or words that can be attributed to him. Thus, it is common to view the story of Amida as a narrative fashioned by Sakyamuni or a later figure to express the content of his own religious insight.

In this view, Amida is a fiction whose origins lie in the experience of Sakyamuni. In fact, there is basic continuity in the perspective on Amida among the Mahayana schools, and it stands diametrically opposed to modernist assumptions. For Mahayana Buddhists, reality resides not fundamentally with the historical existence of Sakyamuni as such, but rather with that for which he is recognized as buddha, or that which is the motive-force for his appearance in the world, his attainment of buddhahood, and his teaching of dharma.

Reality assumes form in order to emerge into the consciousness of sentient beings and thereby guide beings beyond the attachments and compulsions of their discriminative, reifying, conceptual grasp of their own existence and the things of the world around them. He states:. Concerning the central purport [of the Larger Sutra ]: Sakyamuni discarded the supreme Pure Land and appeared in this defiled world; this was to expound the teaching of the Pure land and, by encouraging sentient beings, to bring them to birth in the Pure Land.

Amida Tathagata discarded this defiled world and emerged in the Pure Land; this was to guide sentient beings of this defiled world and bring them to birth in the Pure Land.

This is none other than the fundamental intent with which all buddhas go out to the Pure Land and emerge in the defiled world. Without Sakyamuni, Amida would remain unknown to beings in this world and his work of leading all to his buddha-field would go unapprehended; without Amida, Sakyamuni would have no effective means of liberating beings and his teaching mission would be futile.

In place of a linear chronology, we have a motif of movement between the timeless and mundane time, by which the temporality of karmic causation and discriminative thinking is broken. For Shinran, it is the motive-force of wisdom-compassion that underlies the historical existence of Sakyamuni—that in fact made him buddha—and this wisdom-compassion is itself the life of Amida Buddha. Shinran focuses on the pattern in the sutras by which, prior to expounding dharma, the Buddha enters a profound samadhi and delves to the nondiscriminative wisdom that transcends words and concepts.

On emerging from the samadhi, he reemerges into the realm of words and responds to questions from his disciples. While his words are those of ordinary human discourse, they give expression to the samadhi he attained. Sakyamuni proceeds to deliver the teaching of Amida Buddha.

From the perspective of this sutra, were it not for Amida, whose Buddhahood lies at the heart of the samadhi of great tranquility, Sakyamuni himself would not be Buddha. At the same time, were it not for Sakyamuni, the teaching of Amida would not be disclosed to the world. Thus, the relationship between Amida and Sakyamuni is not that between two distinct figures, or between the religious symbol taught and the teacher. It may be said that while meditative traditions in Buddhism tend to emphasize the elimination of delusional thinking and the apprehension of formless reality free of the imposition of egocentric discrimination, the Pure Land tradition is attentive to the compassionate working of reality to awaken beings incapable of eradicating conceptual thought.

It does so by manifesting itself in forms and approaching beings. Since beings cannot attain such wisdom, reality as such cannot be grasped. Because the Pure Land path is not based on such praxis, the use of such terms is unnecessary. There are two aspects. One is to believe deeply and decidedly that you are a foolish being of karmic evil caught in birth-and-death, ever sinking and ever wandering in transmigration from innumerable kalpas in the past, with never a condition that would lead to emancipation.

Second [of the three minds] is deep mind, which is true and real shinjin. One truly knows oneself to be a foolish being full of blind passions, with scant roots of good, transmigrating in the three realms and unable to emerge from this burning house.

Three points may be noted here. First, the self-awareness of the practitioner indicated by Shan-tao is that of a human being wholly incapable of fulfilling Buddhist practices.

In other words, the self-reflection implied in deep mind is, in its opposite aspect, at the same time deep trust in the salvific power of Amida. The third point is that while human being and Buddha stand thus as thoroughgoing opposites—the being filled with afflicting passions and lacking any goodness that might lead toward enlightenment, on the one hand, and the Buddha freely exerting the power of wisdom-compassion, on the other—deep mind arises as a unitary awareness out of the interaction of being and Buddha.

Self-reflection and trust arise simultaneously. Without the approach of Amida, not only trust, but also genuine self-awareness is unattainable. Although Buddhism is vast, in essence it is composed of no more than the three learnings [of precepts, meditation, and wisdom. In meditation, I have not attained even one. In wisdom, I have not attained the right wisdom of cutting off discriminative thinking and realizing the fruit….

Shinran, for example, distinguishes various types of bodhi-mind and identifies that of the true Pure Land path with his conception of shinjin. If they have the ability to give rise to trust, can they not perform other practices also?

That which is real suchness, thusness, nondual reality, buddha-nature, etc. The question of the nature of the relation leads to the problem of hermeneutics. Issues of hermeneutics are central to the Japanese Pure Land tradition because of the discontinuity it asserts between the ordinary awareness of beings and the enlightened wisdom-compassion of the Buddha, which is the source and ultimate content of the teaching. The narrative settings of the Pure Land teachings in the sutras were regarded as particularly significant in this regard.

From her cell, Vaidehi beseeches the Buddha to teach her a way to be born in a world free of such treachery and turmoil.

Shinran emphasizes the distance between this world and the realm of enlightenment by asserting that at the point in history when conditions were ripe for teaching and reception of the Pure Land path, the entire drama of regicide and betrayal was played out by incarnated bodhisattvas precisely to allow for the introduction of the Pure Land teaching.

It is, therefore, the condition of self-reflection and repentance that allows for the reception of the Pure Land teaching. In the latter view, the various contemplative exercises and the disciplines and study taught by the sutra are meant to reveal the wisdom-compassion of the vow, which grasps all beings without discrimination, whatever their capacity. In other words, the sutra teachings are not to be taken literally, but as means to awaken beings so that they entrust themselves to the vow.

In Shinran, the activity of the vow is more direct, for he asserts that shinjin in beings is itself the mind of Amida and that Amida gives his mind to beings.

This oneness manifests itself as the nembutsu. Precisely how it was given remained an issue. The effects of the oneness are manifested not only in the occurrence of birth in the Pure Land at death, but also in various ways in present life.

Chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha does not do anything at all to help the person to the Pure Land. Chanting is nothing more than an expression of gratitude to Amitabha Buddha and an expression of the chanter's faith. But it's not possible to do away with the chanting: Shinran wrote "the True Faith is necessarily accompanied by the utterance of the Name". Shin Buddhists say that faith in Amitabha Buddha is not something that the believer should take the credit for since it's not something that the believer does for themselves.

Their faith is a gift from Amitabha Buddha. And in keeping with this style of humility, Shin Buddhists don't accept the idea that beings can earn merit for themselves by their own acts; neither good deeds, nor performing rituals help. This has huge moral implications in that it implies and Shinran quite explicitly said that a sinner with faith will be made welcome in the Pure Land - even more welcome than a good man who has faith and pride.

The sect's teachings brought it huge popularity in Japan, since here was a form of Buddhism that didn't require a person to be clever, or a monk, and that was open to the outcasts of society. It remains a popular group in Buddhism - and the reasons that made it popular years ago are exactly the same ones that make it popular today. On the surface Pure Land Buddhism seems to have moved a very long way from the basic Buddhist ideas, and it's important to see how it might actually fit in.

The way to do this is to tackle each issue and see what's really going on. On the surface, yes. But perhaps chanting Amitabha Buddha's name is not praying to an external deity, but really a way of calling out one's own essential Buddha nature.

However some of Shinran's writings do speak of Amitabha Buddha in language that a westerner would regard as describing God. But perhaps the Pure Land is really a poetic metaphor for a higher state of consciousness. Chanting the name can then be seen as a meditative practice that enables the follower to alter their state of mind.

This argument is quite hard to sustain in the face of the importance given to chanting the name in faith at the moment of death - when some supernatural event is clearly expected by most followers. And the chanting is not regarded solely as a meditative practice by most followers. However gaps between populist and sophisticated understanding of religious concepts are common in all faiths.

But in fact this is just a further move in the direction that Mahayana Buddhism has already taken to allow assistance in the journey to liberation. And the being still has much work to do when they arrive in the Pure Land. Shinran however taught that arriving in the Pure Land was actually the final liberation - the Pure Land was nirvana.

Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. What many may not know is that this interpretation differs vastly from its practice in East Asia. This form of practice — central to Pure Land Buddhism — arose from Mahayana Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism that emerged in the first to sixth centuries A.

One of the innovative teachings of Mahayana Buddhism was that the cosmos is inhabited by millions of buddhas, not just the historical founder of the religion. Since all these buddhas had to reside somewhere, and their environments had to be as pure as they were, it followed that there are many buddha-lands. Prior to the development of Pure Land Buddhism, the only way to enlightenment lay through an arduous path of study and practice that was out of reach for most people. In China, the Pure Land teaching made the prospect of liberation from suffering and the attainment of buddhahood feasible for ordinary people.

Buddhists believe that all living beings are stuck in an endless loop of birth and rebirth and the good or bad fortune they experience results from karma. Karma is a moral force created by the deeds one does: Virtuous deeds give one better fortune, while evil or even just ignorant deeds bring misfortune.

As a buddha is believed to have completely purified his karma, his body and mind are free of all defects and the land he inhabits is perfect.






















Description: Sustaining the quality and supply of our water resources is essential to safeguarding human health. More than million people living in the United States rely on the safety of tap water provided by public water systems that are subject to national drinking water standards. While promoting sustainable management of drinking water infrastructure, we will provide needed oversight and technical assistance to states, tribes, and territories, so that their water systems comply with or exceed existing standards and are able to comply with new standards.

We will also promote the construction of infrastructure that brings safe drinking water into the homes of small, rural, and disadvantaged communities and increase efforts to guard the nation's critical drinking water infrastructure.

In addition, EPA is actively working Agency-wide and with external partners and stakeholders to implement a multi-faceted drinking water strategy. With this approach, EPA seeks to: address chemicals and contaminants by group, as opposed to working on a chemical-by-chemical basis; foster the development of new drinking water treatment technologies; use the authority of multiple statutes in addressing drinking water contamination; and, encourage collaboration with states and tribes to share more complete data from monitoring at public water systems.

SDWIS Prime is designed to assist regulatory agencies with their implementation of the public water system supervision PWSS program, as well as improve the efficiency of sharing drinking water data among states, tribes, and the Agency. This will allow for better targeting of federal and state funding and technical assistance resources, and improve data quality while increasing public access to drinking water data. Science-based water quality criteria are essential to protect our public water systems, groundwater and surface water bodies, and recreational waters.

These criteria are the foundation for state and tribal tools to safeguard human health such as public advisories for beaches, fish consumption, and drinking water. Over the next 4 years, we will expand that science to improve our understanding of emerging potential waterborne threats to human health, develop new criteria, and validate testing methods that provide quicker results and enable faster action on beach safety.

Natural gas plays a key role in our clean energy future. Hydraulic fracturing is a key way to recover natural gas from sources. EPA is working with state and tribal organizations, along with other federal agencies, to develop and implement voluntary strategies for encouraging the use of alternatives to diesel in hydraulic fracturing and improving compliance with other Class II regulations, including possible risks from induced seismic events and the risk from radionuclides in disposal wells.

EPA is also continuing to work with state, tribal, and industry representatives to make UIC Class II regulations and information more transparent and to implement best practices and promote coordination between UIC and oil and gas agencies. Statement: By September 30, , EPA will provide technical assistance and other tools to 75 urban communities to advance green infrastructure planning and implementation efforts to increase local climate resilience and water quality protections in stormwater infrastructure.

EPA will also provide tools and training for operators of small water utilities to improve resilience in drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. Trainings will be targeted based on regional threats, such as drought and flooding. Description: The uninterrupted delivery of safe drinking water is an integral element in maintaining the public health of the nation. Improvements in the drinking water sector preparedness to prevent and mitigate the duration and severity of interruptions to the delivery of safe drinking water continues to be necessary in light of evolving stresses, whether attributed to natural, accidental, or intentional circumstances or aging or stressed infrastructure.

Extreme weather events, sea level rise, shifting precipitation patterns and temperature variability, all intensified by climate change, have significant implications for the sustainability of the water sector.

By planning for, assessing and adapting to these challenges, the water sector can fulfill their public health and environmental missions and begin the process of becoming climate ready. The agency has developed green infrastructure tools and resources for communities to use in planning their long-term stormwater actions.

Drinking water and wastewater utilities must remain operational in the face of all hazards if we are to preserve the many gains in public health and environmental protection which have been realized from the water sector. As with the other lifeline sectors, the water sector is at risk from a multitude of threats spanning natural disasters, climate change, cyber-attacks, and terrorism.

The amendments to the SDWA required drinking water systems serving more than 3, people to submit a vulnerability assessment to EPA. However, Congress required that such systems prepare a vulnerability assessment as a one-time mandate, not a recurring one. The statutory requirements also excluded water systems serving fewer than 3, people and all wastewater systems.

Small and larger scale incidents have triggered the activation of eighty-six percent of these agreements. Despite this success, enhancing resilience competes with many other priorities within the water sector, notably, regulatory compliance, aging infrastructure, and funding inadequacies.

As such, EPA continues to try to lower the barriers to adopting resilience measures by providing innovative, easy to use software tools and in person, nationwide training sessions to help water systems of all sizes and types to enhance their resilience.

In addition to motivating the water sector, EPA must be mindful of the evolving threats to the water sector. Such threats will jeopardize the ability of the water sector to continue to fulfill its public health and environmental missions unless the sector manages to improve its resilience to all hazards. In response, EPA has undertaken a national effort to enhance resilience—with an emphasis on severe drought, flooding, cybersecurity, and climate change—through the provision of planning tools, training sessions, and direct technical assistance.

Stormwater is an increasing water infrastructure challenge. As more land is developed with impervious surfaces, the amount of stormwater that communities must manage continues to grow.

Stormwater is a significant source of water pollution, contributes to sewer overflows, and causes local flooding. As the climate changes, more precipitation and more intense rain events in certain portions of the country will further strain community stormwater management systems.

In the west and southwest increasing drought conditions will emphasize the need for communities to use rain as a beneficial water resource before in can become polluted stormwater runoff. Statement: Protect, restore, and sustain the quality of rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands on a watershed basis, and sustainably manage and protect coastal and ocean resources and ecosystems.

Description: People and the ecological integrity of aquatic systems rely on healthy watersheds. While promoting sustainable management of municipal wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, we will work with federal, state, and local partners to bring appropriate and effective solutions to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. EPA will continue to promote robust planning that includes an assessment of green, sustainable alternatives, and will continue to work with municipalities on implementing the integrated planning process for wastewater and stormwater management on a case-by-case basis.

We will also work more aggressively to reduce and control pollutants that are discharged from industrial, municipal, agricultural, and stormwater sources, and vessels, as well as to implement programs to prevent and reduce pollution that washes off the land during rain events. By promoting green infrastructure and sustainable landscape management, EPA will help restore natural hydrologic systems and the health of aquatic ecosystems to reduce pollution from stormwater events.

These data will support EPA and our partners in identifying priority actions to protect and restore water quality and in assessing whether collective efforts are improving water quality over time as water conditions are altered in response to climate change.

Over the next 4 years, EPA will continue efforts to restore water bodies that do not meet water quality standards, preserve and protect high-quality aquatic resources, and protect, restore, and improve wetland acreage and quality. The Agency will improve the way existing tools are used, explore how innovative tools can be applied, and enhance efforts and cross-media collaboration to protect and prevent water quality impairment in healthy watersheds.

The Agency will use the National Aquatic Resource Survey to track the effectiveness of these combined efforts at protecting and improving water quality over time. Programs for controlling nonpoint sources of pollution are key to reducing the number of impaired waters nationwide. The programs provide a multi-faceted approach to the problem, combining innovative development strategies to help leverage traditional tools.

EPA is collaborating closely with USDA as it implements this program, and is now requiring states to assess water quality results in NWQI watersheds through Section grant funds or other funding sources. Development and implementation of total maximum daily loads TMDLs for CWA Section d listed impaired waterbodies is a critical tool for meeting water quality restoration goals.

The CWA d listing and TMDL program has engaged with states to implement a new year vision for the program to more effectively achieve the water quality goals of each state.

As part of this effort, EPA will continue to encourage states to identify priority waters for assessment, for development of TMDLs and other restoration plans for impaired segments, and for pursuit of protection approaches for unimpaired waters.

EPA will work with states and other partners to develop and implement activities and watershed plans to restore and protect these waters. In partnership with states, tribes, and local communities, EPA is implementing a clean water strategy that explores ways to improve the condition of the urban waterways that may have been overlooked or under-represented in local environmental problem solving.

The Agency will continue to play an active role as a member of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership to promote more efficient and effective use of federal resources and build new partnerships with states, tribes, local entities, and the private sector.

EPA will also lead efforts to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems and wetlands, particularly in key geographic areas[4], to address complex and cross-boundary challenges. EPA will continue to work with and involve states, tribes, and interested stakeholders to set and achieve goals in these geographic areas. EPA will continue to work with states, tribes, and stakeholders in the Mississippi River Basin on nutrient pollution that is affecting the health of the Gulf of Mexico.

Further, given the environmental catastrophe resulting from the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill, EPA will continue to take necessary actions to support efforts of federal and state trustees in the natural resource damage assessment to restore the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.

EPA shares in the role of being a Natural Resource Trustee with responsibility to conduct the natural resource damage assessment for the spill. Monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico under the National Aquatic Resource Survey will be important to fully document the long-term impacts of the spill and track the recovery of wetland and near-shore estuarine resources.

This long-term effort by EPA and the states is an important complement to the project-specific and special-focus monitoring efforts underway as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and BP Research funds. EPA is working with state, tribal, and local governments, as well as other partners, to implement actions addressing climate change challenges to the protection of water infrastructure, coastal and ocean waters, watersheds, and water quality.

EPA is also defining actions that states can take starting in to adapt core clean water and drinking water programs e. Technology Market Opportunities: EPA is working both internally and with external partners and stakeholders to discuss plans for advancing innovative technologies that will be important to the continued protection and restoration of waters. Statement: By September 30, , EPA will engage with an additional ten states for a total of 30 states and three tribes to improve small drinking water system capability to provide safe drinking water, an invaluable resource.

The delivery of safe drinking water is often taken for granted and is extremely undervalued. More than , public water systems provide drinking water to the approximately million persons in the U.

Many of the communities that operate these small systems face a number of challenges in their ability to reliably administer, operate, and assure adequate and long term funding capacity in order to provide safe drinking water to their customers. EPA will work closely with state primacy agencies, tribes, and other organizations to implement a series of efforts to address these challenge areas and strengthen the capacity of small systems to sustainably provide safe water to the public now and in the future.

Since the Amendments, states have implemented a variety of activities to assist small systems with their compliance challenges and enhance their technical, managerial, and financial capacity. In FY , EPA re-energized its small systems focus with the intent to work more closely with state programs to improve public water system sustainability and public health protection for persons served by small water systems.

EPA also partnered with other federal agencies that work with small systems, such as USDA-Rural Development, or offer resources that can assist small systems with workforce challenges, such as the Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs. Through these and other efforts, EPA has worked with states to continue to enhance their Capacity Development programs to improve small system capabilities.

The Optimization program helps states and tribes prioritize their technical assistance resources by identifying which public water systems are in most need of help based on water quality and public health risk and most effectively apply a range of compliance and technical assistance tools to enable small water systems to meet and sustain compliance requirements and optimization goals.

This is being done through a series of ongoing field training activities. The program originally focused on optimizing surface water treatment plant performance to improve finished water quality lower microbial risk ; more recently these concepts have been applied to control Disinfection By-Products DBPs in the treatment plant and distribution system, and are now being piloted to address groundwater systems, distribution system water age and storage challenges, and systems that utilize membrane filtration.

The Optimization Program and the Capacity Development Program have been working together to identify opportunities for collaboration and integration of core program activities. Combined, these programs provide resources, guidelines, technical assistance and a framework to the states to assist them in managing their drinking water programs and helping small systems. Statement: By September 30, , percent of the states will have updated nonpoint source management programs that comport with the new Section grant guidelines that will result in better targeting of resources through prioritization and increased coordination with USDA.

Description: The Clean Water Act Section Program is a vital source of support for the management of nonpoint source NPS pollution — excess nitrogen, phosphorus, pathogens and sediments that are the primary cause of pollution in the vast majority of impaired waterways across the Country.

NPS pollution comes from many diffuse sources and can include excess fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural lands and residential areas; oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production; sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks; bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes and faulty septic systems, among others.

Because resources are limited and NPS pollution comes from diverse sources that differ by state and locale, strategic use of Section funds is essential to achieving the best water quality outcomes for this limited natural resource. In EPA took steps to strengthen the Section program, issuing revised national guidelines for Section grants to states. Effectively utilizing limited resources for such a diverse set of pollution problems requires setting priorities, sustaining priority efforts over time, and substantial leveraging with other programs and partners.

EPA will work with states to ensure that the commitments and milestones in their management program are reflected in annual Section workplans. This priority goal is a continuation of the work achieved under the goal that 50 percent of states with outdated NPS management programs would update their programs in accordance with new Section grant guidelines that EPA released in April Significant progress has been made, but additional work remains. This priority goal will track the continued progress of states updating their NPS Management Programs.

Under the FY priority goal, 22 states must update their programs. Seven states already had updated programs that meet the guidance. This FY priority goal is that all state NPS management programs will be current and aligned with the new grant guidelines by September Moving forward beyond FY , states are required to review and update their program every five years to keep them relevant.

Statement: Clean up communities, advance sustainable development, and protect disproportionately impacted low-income and minority communities. Prevent releases of harmful substances and clean up and restore contaminated areas. Statement: Support sustainable, resilient, and livable communities by working with local, state, tribal, and federal partners to promote smart growth, emergency preparedness and recovery planning, redevelopment and reuse of contaminated and formerly contaminated sites, and the equitable distribution of environmental benefits.

Description: EPA supports the goals of urban, suburban, and rural communities to grow in ways that improve the environment, human health, and quality of life for their residents. By making sustainable infrastructure investments, communities can successfully build innovative and functional systems on neighborhood streets and sidewalks to deal with the runoff from stormwater and still provide easy access for pedestrians, bicyclists, on-street parking, and other beneficial uses.

By adopting local planning and zoning codes that account for the environmental impacts of development, the private sector can more easily construct market-ready green buildings serving a range of housing needs.

Communities also can benefit from tools, technology, and research that better engage citizens and inform local decision making to support smart and sustainable growth. These goals are not mutually exclusive. Sustainable and livable communities balance their economic and natural assets so that the diverse needs of residents can be met with limited environmental impacts. For example, EPA has been working with the U. Department of Transportation DOT since to align federal resources and improve the environmental outcomes from development.

Through technical assistance, grants, and training, these three agencies have worked together to assist hundreds of communities to plan for and invest in growth that improves access to affordable housing, increases transportation options, and expands choices for all citizens.

The brownfields program also provides funding for state and tribal environmental response programs as well as outreach and technical assistance to communities. Area-wide planning approaches for brownfields work help to identify important local factors in a coordinated manner: viable end uses of individual or groups of brownfield properties; beneficial air and water infrastructure investments in these areas; and, added environmental improvements in the surrounding area to revitalize the community.

Taken together, these efforts will enhance the livability and economic vitality of neighborhoods in and around brownfield properties. In addition to the brownfields activities, EPA promotes livable communities though its efforts to prevent chemical accidents. EPA's risk management program requires facilities with one or more covered chemicals in a process to analyze the potential for accidental releases and possible consequences, develop an accident prevention program, and coordinate with the community to ensure that all are prepared for responding to a release.

There are approximately 13, active RMPs currently on file. These include:. Statement: Conserve resources and prevent land contamination by reducing waste generation and toxicity, promoting proper management of waste and petroleum products, and increasing sustainable materials management. Description: To prevent future environmental contamination and to protect the health of the estimated 20 million people living within a mile of hazardous waste management facilities[1], EPA and its state partners continue their efforts to issue, update, or maintain Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RCRA permits for approximately 20, hazardous waste units such as incinerators and landfills at these facilities.

EPA also will issue polychlorinated biphenyl PCB cleanup, storage, and disposal approvals each year since this work cannot be delegated to the states or tribes. With the October promulgation of the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act, improving and modernizing hazardous waste transportation and tracking has become an important Agency focus. EPA will be working with state agencies, other partners and stakeholders, and the public to implement the requirements of the new law.

These include the use of electronic tracking e-Manifest , which will provide superior data availability, transparency, and cost savings when compared with the use of paper manifests, and the establishment of an advisory board to provide recommendations to the Agency on the implementation of this new e-Manifest approach. These strategies are focused on using less environmentally intensive and toxic materials and employing downstream solutions, like reuse and recycling, to conserve our resources for future generations.

Food Waste Challenge to address sustainable food management from farm to final disposition. These efforts—to identify and reduce or minimize the impact of waste and capture resultant GHG benefits through more sustainable materials management throughout all life-cycle stages from extraction of raw materials through end of life —are critical, along with other activities, for offsetting the use of virgin materials. To reduce the risk posed by underground storage tanks USTs located at more than , facilities throughout the country, EPA and states are working to ensure that every UST system is inspected at least once every 3 years and all facility operators are trained.

As fuel types change, UST systems must be equipped to safely store the new fuels. Statement: Prepare for and respond to accidental or intentional releases of contaminants and clean up and restore polluted sites for reuse. Description: Challenging and complex environmental problems persist at many contaminated properties.

These include contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater that can cause human health concerns. From the inception of the respective programs to the end of FY , , sites were made RAU, corresponding to over 2. There are multiple benefits associated with cleaning up contaminated sites: reducing mortality and morbidity risk; preventing and reducing human exposure to contaminants; making land available for commercial, residential, industrial, or recreational reuse; and, promoting community economic development.

A study suggests that Superfund cleanups reduce the incidence of congenital anomalies in infants of mothers living within 2, meters of a site by roughly percent. The study found that when sites are cleaned up and deleted from the National Priorities List NPL , properties within 3 miles of the sites experience an More than different actions were conducted under ICI from FY through FY by the various land cleanup programs involved in the effort.

These actions to improve efficiency and effectiveness are now part of current business procedures and cleanup processes. EPA's Superfund program is undertaking a comprehensive review of all aspects of the program. The goal of this review is to determine the best way to maintain the program's effectiveness in protecting human health and the environment by more efficiently managing its site cleanup process and program resources.

Another challenge to protecting our land resources from contamination is pollution from leaking underground storage tanks USTs. While considerable progress has been made to clean up leaks from USTs, a backlog of over 80, sites remains and the number of cleanups per year is decreasing. To understand the makeup of remaining UST releases and the decline in the number of cleanups per year, EPA conducted a two-phase, data-driven analysis of UST cleanups as of and The study compiled and analyzed available data from 14 state [L]UST programs and identified key findings and potential opportunities to help reduce the number of remaining UST cleanups.

To address new and existing LUST sites, EPA, in partnership with state and tribal programs, is developing and implementing strategies to address technical challenges, leverage best practices, and support management, oversight, and enforcement activities. In addition, EPA has implemented improvements in the LUST prevention program by increasing inspection frequency and other prevention efforts, and there has been a corresponding decrease in new confirmed releases.

The efforts of the prevention program and the continued reduction in new confirmed releases, along with the earlier detection of releases, will remain critical factors in backlog reduction.

Throughout this work, EPA is enhancing its engagement with local communities and stakeholders so that they may meaningfully participate in decisions on land cleanup, emergency response, and management of hazardous substances and waste. Enhancing community engagement helps to ensure transparent and accessible decision-making processes, to deliver information that communities can use to participate effectively, to improve EPA responsiveness to community perspectives, and to ensure timely cleanup decisions.

In recent years, the U. Maintaining our preparedness level and ensuring that emergency responders are able to address chemical spills, unplanned releases of other hazardous materials, and other catastrophes are vital responsibilities.

Consistent with the government-wide National Response Framework and the National Disaster Recovery Framework, EPA prepares for the possibility of multiple, simultaneous, nationally significant incidents across several regions and provides guidance and technical assistance to state, tribal, and local planning and response organizations.

EPA recognizes the important role of state and local emergency responders and works with them to strengthen their preparedness and provide technical assistance when significant man-made or natural incidents strain their staffing and budget resources. Hazardous waste programs are intended to provide permanent solutions to contamination at sites or facilities to the extent practicable.

As appropriate, EPA must incorporate emerging science into decision making to maintain its commitment to provide permanent solutions. Statement: Directly implement federal environmental programs in Indian country and support federal program delegation to tribes.

Provide tribes with technical assistance and support capacity development for the establishment and implementation of sustainable environmental programs in Indian country. Description: Under federal environmental statutes, EPA is responsible for protecting human health and the environment in Indian country. Approximately 56 million acres are held in trust by the United States for various Indian tribes and individuals.

Over 10 millon acres of individually owned lands are still held in trust for allotees and their heirs. In collaboration with our tribal government partners, EPA will engage in a two-part strategy for strengthening human health and environmental protection in Indian country.

First, EPA will ensure that its environmental protection programs are implemented in Indian country either by EPA or through implementation of environmental programs by tribes themselves. Second, EPA will provide resources through grant funds and technical assistance for federally-recognized tribes to create and maintain effective environmental program capacity.

Tribal environmental and human health needs are significant. EPA, along with over four federal departments and agencies, provides a range of federal water infrastructure programs to tribes, consistent with our legal authorities and the federal trust responsibility.

There is a broad spectrum among tribes with respect to population, culture, income, geography, economic development, environmental program management expertise, and priorities. EPA also recognizes that many tribes may not have the capacity to implement programs in a manner similar to a state, where programmatically available.

Further, the decision to be treated in a manner similar to a state TAS is voluntary, and may not be a priority to a tribe. Currently, over tribes are not eligible for jurisdictional reasons to receive a TAS designation to implement federally authorized environmental protection programs, yet they are partnering with EPA to build programmatic capacity in other ways. EPA continues to play a critical role in ensuring environmental protection in Indian country.

Statement: Clean up contaminated sites to enhance the livability and economic vitality of communities. By , an additional 18, sites will be made ready for anticipated use protecting Americans and the environment one community at a time. Description: Problem or opportunity being addressed. There are multiple benefits associated with cleaning up contaminated sites and making them ready for reuse: reducing mortality and morbidity risk; preventing and reducing human exposure to contaminants; making land available for commercial, residential, industrial, or recreational reuse; and promoting community economic development.

When sites are ready for anticipated reuse, communities are able to reclaim them for ecological, recreational, commercial, residential and other productive purposes. Statement: Reduce the risk and increase the safety of chemicals and prevent pollution at the source.

Statement: Reduce the risk and increase the safety of chemicals that enter our products, our environment, and our bodies. EPA employs a variety of strategies under several statutes to ensure the safety of chemicals, adequately protect against unreasonable public health or environmental risks, and foster sustainability.

EPA uses predictive techniques to assess the safety of new chemicals in the face of information limitations imposed by TSCA. This effort led to the identification of a set of more than 80 chemicals TSCA work plan chemicals for further assessment. EPA believes that these are the chemicals most in need of risk assessment and that adequate data exist for that purpose.

The first five risk assessments for TSCA work plan chemicals were made available by EPA for public and peer review less than a year after they were publicly identified for assessment. Assessments of 23 additional chemicals—including 20 flame retardants—were announced in Looking forward, EPA plans to assess all of the remaining work plan chemicals to initiate risk management actions as appropriate, and identify additional work plan chemicals for subsequent priority assessment.

At the same time, two newly developed electronic tools will greatly improve data quality and public accessibility. Planned enhancements to CIS will extend electronic reporting to nearly all required TSCA submissions and integrate the system with scientific tools, dashboards, and models used in making chemical management decisions. EPA will make major strides in guarding against exposure to chemicals that continue to pose potential risks to human health and the environment even after their hazards have been identified and certain uses have been phased out.

For example, to continue to reduce childhood blood lead levels, EPA is working in partnership with states and tribes to certify hundreds of thousands of renovators and contractors on lead hazard management. More than , individuals have been certified by EPA alone, and nearly , firms have been certified by EPA and the states through April Certification coupled with public outreach is intended to expand public awareness of lead-based paint risks as well as the requirements for the use of lead-safe practices in renovation, remodeling, and painting activities in millions of older homes.

On a broader scale, EPA is looking comprehensively across statutes to determine the best tools to apply to specific problems. In addition, EPA is continuing its work to increase the safety of chemicals and prevent pollution on an international scale.

EPA is working collaboratively with stakeholders both domestically and internationally to develop approaches to better assess nanomaterials[5], including work with the OECD on internationally harmonized test guidelines. Over the next 4 years, EPA will manage a comprehensive pesticide risk reduction program through science-based registration and reevaluation processes, a worker safety program, certification and training activities, and support for integrated pest management.

To ensure the continued effectiveness of the various chemical programs, EPA will conduct several evaluations over the next 4 years. In FY , the Agency will evaluate the effectiveness of recently implemented efficiencies to the registration review process to identify further enhancements and efficiencies to the process.

Search EPA Archive. Reorganization Plan No. Skip to main content. EPA History. Contact Us. The Origins of EPA. We celebrate EPA's "birthday" every December 2. What actually happened on December 2, ? President Nixon signed Reorganization Plan No.

The U. B is the correct answer. Studies have also shown that the Clean Air Act saves hundreds of thousands of lives every year, while saving Americans trillions of dollars in healthcare costs. At the time, factories regularly discharged pollution and sewage directly into rivers—around 70 percent of which was completely untreated—killing aquatic life and turning waterways into cesspools. Outcry about water pollution led to the passage of the Clean Water Act in , and the EPA was charged with enforcing it.

The act made it unlawful to dump pollution into navigable waters without a permit and sought to make all U. The EPA set standards for how clean water should be, and worked with local authorities and companies to design programs to clean wastewater, redesign sewer systems, and restore degraded rivers and lakes. Last year, the EPA and U.

Army Corps of Engineers issued a rule that wetlands and streams are integral parts of waterways , and so also fall under the purview of the Clean Water Act. This is one of the EPA policies that Scott Pruitt and the new administration has vowed to overturn, a promise that threatens wetland habitat that birds and wildlife rely upon as feeding grounds during lengthy migrations and throughout the year. While black smoke is a rarer sight today than it was in , not all pollution is visible to the human eye.

Fossil fuel-powered industries continue to emit colorless greenhouse gases—such as carbon dioxide and methane—into the atmosphere. These pollutants prevent heat in our atmosphere from escaping to space, and as a result the planet is warming and its climate is changing, with dire consequences.

Rising temperatures threaten the habitats birds need by redistributing their food and shelter, while rising seas encroach inland and put wetlands and beaches at risk. In North America, climate change threatens the survival of over bird species , according to Audubon scientists. In that case, the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.

Since then, the agency has set standards for limiting carbon emissions from cars and new factories, and in it announced the Clean Power Plan to work with states to reduce emissions from existing power plants. The Clean Power Plan aims reduce U. Then in , the EPA passed a rule to reduce methane pollution , which is hundreds of times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of warming ability. Both rules have been challenged in the courts. The Clean Power Plan is currently on hold after electrical utilities, 28 states including Oklahoma led by Scott Pruitt , and others challenged it last year ; the D.

Circuit appeals court will rule on it any day now, and the case will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court regardless of the outcome.

And more than a dozen states have sued the EPA over the methane rule , too, including—you guessed it—Oklahoma and Pruitt.






















What was the importance of the 38th parallel? How did the Korean War begin? Who fought on each side of the Korean War? What was the significance of North Korea crossing the 38th parallel? It marked the beginning of the Korean War. It marked the victory of communists in China. It marked the first defeat of U. The Soviets decided to move into Korea from the north which made the US fearful of the spread of communism and the US did not want the Soviet Union to take over all of the Korean peninsula.

The Soviet Union and the US agreed to divide Korea at this drawn line, more commonly known as the 38th parallel. Why Was Korea Divided?

The treaty became effective the same day and was published one week later. Despite this, the relationship between the two states have been continuously strained and unfriendly, due to many disputes. There is still an Imperial royal family of Korea. The article states that during a V-Live, Suga confirmed the fact, adding that his family belonged to a high ranking within the clan.

So Jin and Tae are whole royal blood straight up from a prince. This clan traces its roots from one royal prince in Later Silla Dynasty — There have been a few link ups but he not married to anyone. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London Love them or hate them, there's no denying their growing numbers have added an explosion of color to the city's streets.

India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country. Epic floods leave South Sudanese to face disease and starvation.

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History Magazine These 3,year-old giants watched over the cemeteries of Sardinia. This Day In History. History Vault. A Unified Korea For centuries before the division, the peninsula was a single, unified Korea, ruled by generations of dynastic kingdoms. Recommended for you. Spy Ship for 11 Months. South Korea. North Korea.






















There seems to be several different takes on what influences a Patronus , which makes sense since the forms they take are never explained. Why loved one definitely play a factor, the take away point is that a Patronus and Animagi forms t akes the shape of the animal that best describes your innermost , deepest personality traits , the part that is underneath disguises , life phases , and layers. Snape has virtually only one consistent positive trait… undying love for Lily Potter. After her death, Snape pledged his loyalty not to Dumbledore or Harry, but to her memory.

His entire life since childhood has been impressing, courting, chasing, and dreaming about Lily. Snape loved Lily. This caused his Patronus to take the form of hers. Lily's Patronus was a doe, and Snape knew this. Snape was in love with Lily and always has been and so adopted the doe patronus. An incorporeal [20] Patronus is one which does not resemble any living creature and has few distinguishing features if any. Incorporeal Patronuses resemble a burst of vapour or smoke without any clearly defined form shooting from the tip of the wand.

While they may be partially effective at halting Dementors but not repelling them and shielding the caster from them, incorporeal Patronuses are not "fully-fledged" Patronuses, and are regarded as a simpler and weaker version of the Charm. Severus Snape 's doe Patronus is the same as Lily Potter's due to his lifelong love for her. A corporeal Patronus is one that is fully-formed, taking the shape of a bright-silver, translucent animal.

It is the strongest form a Patronus can take, being able to fully drive Dementors away. The specific animal forms that a corporeal Patronus takes will vary from person to person and reflect each individual's innermost personality.

Patronus forms, however, are subject to change if the caster goes through an emotional upheaval of some sort, including falling in eternal, unchanging love. Based on the fact that Patronuses are conjured by recalling happy memories, it stands to reason that a Patronus might change its form after one falls in love and the memories used to conjure the Patronus largely revolve around the person the caster is in love with.

In addition, it seems that some couples have "complementary" Patronuses male and female forms of the same animal , such as Lily and James Potter. It is, however, unknown if this is a coincidence or not. If a wizard is an Animagus and can summon a corporeal Patronus, the two may take the same form, as was the case for Minerva McGonagall and James Potter.

It stands to reason that it's likely due to Remus' best memories of his youth revolving around the acceptance he felt despite his condition, in which he felt more at home in his wolf form during those times, rather than cursed by it and also due to his nature as desiring a sense of belonging at his core, much like a true wolf.

Most Patronuses take the form of an ordinary animal. Magical creatures, such as Albus Dumbledore 's phoenix Patronus, are uncommon. It is extremely rare for Patronuses to take the form of extinct animals.

Hedley Fleetwood 's Woolly Mammoth Patronus is a notable exception. There are two known uses for the Patronus Charm. The first and main use of the Patronus is to drive off certain Dark creatures , such as Dementors and Lethifolds and is the only known charm that will work against them.

As Dementors feed on happy memories causing humans to drown in their own sorrow and sadness, the Patronus acts as a shield of sorts, of which the Dementor would try to feed off instead — the Patronus is comprised exclusively of positive feelings and cannot comprehend negative emotion, so the Dementor's influence cannot affect it.

The other use was devised by Albus Dumbledore , who invented a way of using the Patronus corporeal and non as a means of communication. They can deliver messages, speaking with the voice of the caster. This source of communication is believed to be exclusive to the members of the Order of the Phoenix.

Using the Patronus for communication offers great advantages in security, as Patronuses identify the caster and are Dark Arts -proof. Multiple Patronuses can be cast for communication, as McGonagall was able to create three. It is unknown if Snape had conjured the Patronus with instructions or if he was hiding and controlling it for this task. Harry's Patronus was able to follow both oral and physical commands. They also only remain active whilst the caster is focusing on them.

If they are not protecting anyone, Patronuses seem to take on the traits of the creature they resemble and generally follow their caster around. This makes it unsure whether or not they are sentient. In their fourth year, they learnt the charm under Tonks' tutelage.

Patronus is the nominative singular case meaning "protector", "guardian", or simply "patron" in Latin, specifically reflecting the entire role that the Patronus Charm plays. In archaic Latin, it meant "father", which is very interesting, considering that Harry Potter 's Patronus is the same as his father's Patronus and Animagus form, a stag. The Latin word exspecto is the first person singular form of exspectare meaning "to await", thus the charm's incantation translates into "I await a patron" since patronum is the singular accusative form of patronus , meaning it is the case which a noun or an adjective describing the noun takes when it is the direct object of a sentence, which in the spell's translation, it is.

The spell's symbol in the PC version of the Prisoner of Azkaban video game. Harry Potter Wiki Explore. Rowling Story.

Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account? Patronus Charm. View source. History Talk Do you like this video? Play Sound. The Patronus Charm is difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, a guardian which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity.

You may suspect, but you will never truly know what form your Patronus will take until you succeed in conjuring it. He screwed up his eyes, trying to see what it was. It looked like a horse. It was galloping silently away from him, across the black surface of the lake. He saw it lower its head and charge at the swarming dementors But I must warn you, Harry, that the Charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it. Harry Potter : " And how do you conjure it?

Harry Potter : " What does a Patronus look like? Abraxan Winged Horse. Basset Hound. Bay Mare. Bay Stallion. Black cat. Black and white cat. Black Bear. Black Mamba. Black Mare. Black Stallion. Black Swan. Brown Bear. Brown Hare. Brown owl. Calico Cat. Capuchin Monkey. Chestnut Mare. Chestnut Stallion. Chow Dog. Dapple Grey Mare. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group.

Create a free Team What is Teams? Learn more. How come Snape and Lily have the same patronus? Ask Question. Asked 4 years, 5 months ago. Active 2 years, 9 months ago. Viewed k times. Improve this question.

Obsidia k 18 18 gold badges silver badges bronze badges. That's sort of an important plot point, which explains sort of the biggest the only? Have you even finished the books? It's explained there in plain speech. I disagree. This question, while adressed in the linked post, is big enough to have own answers. Gallifreyan I agree, and you can see that my answer below doesn't overlap with any of given answers on the dupe target. I've VTRO.






















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Basic ] [TestCase 0, 4, Membership. Basic ] [TestCase 8, 5, Membership. Premium ] [TestCase 5, 4, Membership. Tasks; using WiredBrainCoffee. Basic ] [InlineData 0, 4, Membership. Basic ] [InlineData 8, 5, Membership. Premium ] [InlineData 5, 4, Membership. View All. Saket Adhav Updated date Aug 20, Next Recommended Reading. Windows 10 Vs Windows Visual Studio Vs Visual Studio Understanding Matplotlib With Examples.

Understanding Numpy With Examples. I was truly excited about xUnit after your answer, but figured that NUnit seems to be doing fine in. NET Core as well. I will personally start trying XUnit first, and if I happen to have any trouble with it or find it too complicated, then I will change to NUnit. I Suggest the same thing for newbies to testing in c , like myself. Loaderon I posted that around 4 years ago and I've been using xunit since then up until now.

Joey Joey k 80 80 gold badges silver badges bronze badges. Pity this got closed, since it isn't a straight duplicate - you are right - the OP has got confused between two terms that are almost the same.

I've slightly changed the title, to make sure that there will be no confusion. I didn't go by the title but rather the highlighted segments of the quotes in your question. But maybe I misunderstood you. So is not the name of the tool, they are different tools. TakinosaJi TakinosaJi 5 5 silver badges 11 11 bronze badges. What is "test context"? Has it been implemented by now?

From what I am aware it is probably not implemented yet :. Rad Rad 8, 4 4 gold badges 44 44 silver badges 44 44 bronze badges. Does xunit have any other ways to make tests in the same class to run in parallel? There's one feature that makes me switching from XUnit 2. WriteLine , while NUnit does. I think Console. WriteLine and Console. WriteLine alike are added in. NET 6 xUnit. Even before that, you could get ITestOutputHelper in the constructor.

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Featured on Meta. Now live: A fully responsive profile. And would you look at that, the test passed. Looks like our Raygun can at least hit a stationary bug.

Some other very useful tags you will surely be using are the [TestInitialize] and [TestCleanup] tags. These tags allow you to specify code that is run before initialize and after cleanup every individual test is run. So if you want to reload your Raygun after every encounter like a stylish gunslinger, then this should do the trick:. Overall the built in Visual Studio testing tools do exactly what they say on the box.

They are simple, easy to use and handle all the basic testing functionality you would need. NUnit is an incredibly widely used tool for testing, and it serves as an excellent example of the open source unit testing frameworks. NUnit uses a very similar attribute style system just like the visual studio testing tools, but now we will be referring to a [TestClass] as a [TestFixture], and a [TestMethod] as simply a [Test]. Notice the new [TestFixture] and [Test] tags.

Assuming everything is set up properly, the NUnit console runner will run all the tests in your project and give you a nice little report on how things went:. Looks like our bug sure can dodge and our Raygun can certainly run out of ammo! One feature of NUnit that makes it incredibly useful is the ability to include parameters in your tests! This means that you can write a test case with arguments, then easily run the same test with a range of unique data. This removes the need to write unique test cases for every set of arguments you want to test.

Excellent, with this one test case we were able to make sure a Raygun which has fired two shots still has ammo, while one that has fired three is empty. And thanks to the [TestCase] tag we were easily able to test a whole bunch of other values while we were at it! XUnit is an open source testing platform with a larger focus in extensibility and flexibility.

XUnit follows a more community minded development structure and focuses on being easy to expand upon. XUnit actually refers to a grouping of frameworks, but we will be focusing on the C version.