I am at my first library conference in several years. I’m always amazed at the challenge conferences present to my social skills. I like to think of myself as outgoing and assertive. These conferences give me a chance to rethink these beliefs. I realize something about myself: I’ll basically talk to anyone. I can hold a conversation with anyone about anything and feel comfortable. However, I feel quite uncomfortable about the approach. I always do better when approached as opposed to doing the approaching.
Maybe I should set a goal of meeting 3 or more people during the next 2 days. I am here with a colleague; but, I see people who are obviously traveling solo. Would they like it if they were invited to dinner? Or if I sidled up to them and talked techie shop? I’m always curious about these opportunities for human interaction that come so easy to some and are so difficult for others. I imagine that there are folks that come to these conferences alone and never really interact with any strangers. Isn’t part of the purpose of these conferences networking with our peers.
I have never really been a good networker and I wonder how my career has been effected by this weakness.
Since I have been out of the library field for 3 years while I recovered from a scooter accident, and I am recently returned; I have really been evaluating my career trajectory. What parts of librarianship are important to me? What parts of being a librarian offer me the most fun and flexibility? What is my niche? I’m a techie but not devoted. I’m more of a curious and practical geek: is it cool? How will it make my life easier? How will our customers use it? How can we use it to reach customers? That pretty much sums up my filter. So, where do I fit now?
I know that my love of librarianship has a lot do with serving the public. Just the existence of this blog will give a clue as to the direction of my interests. Before my accident, a friend and I were conspiring about how I could find a job that I loved. I was working part time at a large library system and was bored and rarely challenged. I remember so clearly what I said: I need to feel challenged. I need responsibility. I need opportunity to spread joy.
I have friends who don’t use their public libraries because they claim that the librarians and/or circulation staff are unpleasant, mean people. I find this hard to believe; but, then they relay stories to me about incidents they experienced or witnessed. It is these discussions that prompted me to think: for some people are we as painful as the DMV? are we as unpleasant an experience as the Post Office can sometimes be? What are we doing wrong that members of the reading public don’t want to go to the library?
This is why I started Civil Civil Servant. I want to address the simplest, cheapest thing we can do: be nicer. Of course this is a simplistic answer; but, Civil Civil Servant is going to explore the nature of “be nicer” and how we can manifest and create an atmosphere that pulls people in instead of repelling them away; how we can create an atmosphere where staff are happy and that spreads to the customer. Putting the civil back in civil servant.
In India, the republican institutions were strong in the 6th century B.C.This enabled rise of heterodox sects against the orthodox religion dominated by rites and rituals
primary cause for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism was the religious unrest in India in the 6th century B.C
teachings of Upanishads, an alternative to the system of sacrifices, were highly philosophical in nature andtherefore not easily understood by all
larger interests of the people was a simple, short and intelligible way to salvation for all people.
As a result, they wanted to enhance their social status but the orthodox Varna system did not allow this.
Therefore, they began to extend support to Buddhism and Jainism. It was this merchant class that extended the chief support to these new religions
right knowledge –acceptance of the theory that there is no God and that the world has been existing without a creator and that all objects possess a soul
Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, have souls and various degrees of consciousness
doctrine of asceticism and renunciation was also carried to extreme lengths by the practice of starvation, nudity and other forms of self-torture.
spread rapidly in Western India and Karnataka. Chandragupta Maurya, Kharavela of Kalinga and the royal dynasties of south India such as the Gangas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas patronized Jainism
there was a serious famine in the Ganges valley. Many Jain monks led by Bhadrabagu and Chandragupta Maurya came to Sravana Belgola in Karnataka. Those who stayed back in north India were led by a monk named Sthulabahu who changed the code of conduct for the monks. This led to the division of Jainism into two sects Svetambaras (whiteclad) and Digambaras (Sky-clad or Naked)
first Jain Council was convened at Pataliputra by Sthulabahu, the leader of the Digambaras, in the beginning of the 3rd century B.C
Gautama or Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in 567 B.C. in Lumbini Garden near Kapilavastu. His father was Suddodhana of the Sakya clan and mother Mayadevi. As his mother died at child birth, he was brought up by his aunt Prajapati Gautami.
bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and did intense penance, after which he got Enlightenment (Nirvana) at the age of thirty five.
most important disciples of Buddha were Sariputta, Moggallanna, Ananda, Kassapa and Upali. Kings like Prasenajit of Kosala and Bimbisara and Ajatasatru of Magadha accepted his doctrines and became his disciples. Buddha in his lifetime spread his message far and wide in north India and visited places like Benares, Rajagriha, Sravasti, Vaisali, Nalanda and Pataligrama
should be noted that he did not involve himself in fruitless controversies regarding metaphysical questions like god, soul, karma, rebirth, etc., and concerned himself with the practical problems confronting man.
Though he did not make a direct attack on the caste system, he was against any social distinctions and threw open his order to all.
first Buddhist Council was held at Rajagraha under the chairmanship of Mahakasapa immediately after the death of Buddha
third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Asoka. Moggaliputta Tissa presided over i
fourth Buddhist Council was convened in Kashmir by Kanishka under the chairmanship of Vasumitra. Asvagosha participated in this council.
After the birth of Mahayana Buddhism, the practice of idol worship and making offerings led to the deterioration of moral standards
attack of the Huns in 5th and 6th centuries and the Turkish invaders in 12th century destroyed the monasteries.