Buddhism and the seven dimensions - 2538 Words

Since the beginning of time humans have endeavoured to explain the causes and reasons behind their existence. As a result of this thirst for knowledge many different beliefs and values have been formulated with the aim of explaining this age-old question. Most of these beliefs are prevalent today in the form of institutionalised religions. In order to gain an understanding of the word religion, we need to fully analyse and compare the components of religions in order to gain a more cultivated understanding of this enigmatic term. An extremely valuable way of classifying religion and its many aspects is through the Seven Dimensions, developed by Ninian Smart. (See Appendix 1) These dimensions explore the many aspects of religion in a†¦show more content†¦While this dimension is not as important as in some other faiths of a strongly sacramental kind, it is still highly regarded. This can be attributed to the fact that it is through certain rituals that the core experience of e nlightenment is obtained. (Hope, 1995) The ritual central to the Buddhist faith is the practice of meditation. The importance of meditation is paramount because it was through meditation that Buddha was able to gain enlightenment. Consequently, Buddhists attempt to emulate Buddha when meditating by endeavouring to cultivate wisdom and compassion, whilst also trying to gain control of the mind and expel suffering. (Mudge et al, 1993) If a Buddhist is successful in accomplishing this then they are said to have gained enlightenment. In terms of mass rituals, Buddhism maintains a plethora of ceremonies dealing with both the Sangha (Order of monks and nuns) and laity. The primary rituals concerning the Sangha includes; the initiation ritual in which the shaving of the head is a common practice and the annual Kathina Festival, in which the laity of the faith offers fabric to the monks for their new robes. For the laity, worship is more personal than congregation. A common practice is the taking of the three refuges (See appendix 3), in which adherents chant the same three sayings in repetition. This type of chanting, along with meditation, are common acts of devotion in Buddhism. RecentlyShow MoreRelatedThe Seven Dimensions Of Buddhism985 Words   |  4 Pagesthere is no true way to define a religion. Instead, one must apply the seven dimensions in order to fully understand it. The seven dimensions are ritual (practical), mythology, doctrinal, ethical, experiential, social, and material. Buddhism is a religion that was founded by an Indian prince named Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha. Buddhism can be understood using all seven of the dimensions. The first dimension used to understand a religion is based off its rituals. Buddhist performRead MoreBuddhism : A Life Of Life1786 Words   |  8 PagesBuddhism arose from its founder Siddhartha Gautama, or better known as Buddha. He was born into a life of luxury, as rightfully so a Prince should be. Born in Nepal, in 563 BCE Siddhartha grew up in a world in which all his desires and wants were fulfilled. His father had demanded that he live a life of seclusion from all of the world’s anguish. When Siddhartha was first born a fortune teller came, upon his father’s request, to tell of the boy’s future. They inform his father that, â€Å"if he succeededRead MoreBased Stress Reduction And Behavioral Therapy Course Essay1253 Words   |  6 Pagesand other problems. However, discussion are limited to concepts of â€Å"secular† Buddhism, rather than religious Buddhism. These concepts are relevant to our personal, social, and environmental experience of the world rather than dealing with a belief system and worship of a superhuman controlling power, as would be a dimension in any religion. As such, a view of principles of non-religious, this-worldly, secularized Buddhism can be considered supplemental to any belief system (Swart, 2014). The BuddhaRead MoreBuddhism And Hinduism : Religion2033 Words   |  9 Pages Religion is a way of shaping and molding your life. As stated before, there are many religions. That also means there are many different beliefs and not all religions have things in common. Take Buddhism and Hinduism, nothing alike at its foundational beliefs, but are similar in some aspects. Buddhism at its foundation is a non-theistic religion following the teachings of one man and following his lifestyle, non-theistic meaning that they do not have a god. On the other hand Hinduism (dependingRead MoreGlobal Business Cultural Analysis South Korea7932 Words   |  32 PagesKorea. In doing so, I will be answering the four major questions as it relates to the major Elements and Dimensions of culture in South Korea. Also, since the dimensions of culture in any nation are many, it is necessary to analyze each category that makes up the Dimensions of one’s culture, these categories have been in place fo r many years in any given country. If we simply consider the Dimensions of Culture in the United States alone, which range from Religion to our Ethical standards, it would beRead MoreIslam : Religious Aspects Of Islam1380 Words   |  6 Pageswill emerge. Educations was the focus point for the Muslims, which help in the development of arts and science. Also, a new intellectual and spiritual tradition was brought in with the introduction of â€Å"Sufism† which is basically the inner mystical dimension of Islam. On my conclusion of this paper, I will hope to answer and give a little more understanding on what are the tenets of Islam as described in the text are? Why did trade thrive in Muslim lands? And what new ideas and practices emerged in theRead MoreThe Cultural Analysis Of Outdoor Leisure Essay1732 Words   |  7 Pageshighly increase of commodity price against the comparatively slow growth of personal income, and deteriorating urban environment, all these pave a way fo r necessity for an alternative way of urban living. Meanwhile, confronting with the consecutive seven years slow down growth of GDP as well as increasing expand tensions by disparities spreading from cities and rural, and from coastal and inland, this is mainly caused by both global economic crises as well as Party-State’s imbalanced economic strategiesRead MoreBuddha Is The Ten Original Practices For Enlightened Living By Surya Das1841 Words   |  8 Pageswhat is learned in the religious beliefs of Buddhism, the way to enlightenment. The Buddha can be defined as the awakened one. Buddha teaches individuals to transform your life experiences, and become totally responsible for your lives. Buddhism is unique from other religions, in that it is non-theistic. The Buddha teaches that believing in God was not needed to seek enlightenment. The Buddha teaches many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths and the Noble EightfoldRead MoreBudhism and The Seven Chakras Essay2151 Words   |  9 Pagestranscending the confines of the human psyche as it is in our physical bodies. This door to another dimension is a substance known by scientific communities as Dimethyltryptamine, or simply, DMT. I- What is DMT? A. Dimethyltryptamine (2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N,N-dimethylethanamine) B. A Tryptamine molecule that has psychedelic properties. C. Exists in living beings as a communication device between the dimensions II-How is it used? A. Smoking, injecting, insufflating, and brewing into teas (ayahuasca)Read MoreBuddha And The Yin And Yang1976 Words   |  8 Pagespracticed many forms of extreme austerity or painful rituals, such as sleeping on brambles to mortify the desires of his body and denying his body of sitting by instead crouching on his heels to develop his concentration. He did these things for six or seven years to attain truth. One day while on his pilgrimage of enlightenmerhaps the most important point in his spiritual journey, where he became the Buddha or the Enlightened One. With his newly found title as the Buddha, he decided to set out and share

Extrovert and Introvert Children Free Essays

Children learn how to express themselves by watching their parents or guardian. They learn how to love; stress, get angry, sadness, or discontent etc†¦Cultural backgrounds have a lot to do with how children show emotion. Is your child’s emotional behavior acceptable by society standards? Parents that are in touch with their feelings and/ or emotions and are able to express themselves without being destructive are more then likely going to raise their child to express the appropriate emotion giving the situation. We will write a custom essay sample on Extrovert and Introvert Children or any similar topic only for you Order Now Parents with repressed emotions will also teach their children how to hold back their emotions. A child maybe more of an introvert if they are not aloud to express themselves, as the child that is encouraged to express how they feel is more likely to be an extrovert. Society tolerates emotional expression as long as it is not destructive to themselves or others. Many people will march in protest for or against a cause, which is acceptable by society, but if that protest turns violent then the emotional behavior is now an unacceptable means of expression.As your child grows you should encourage them to have an opinion and to be respectable to others opinions. Teaching your child that it is ok for someone to disagree, and we are not all meant to believe, feel, live and look the same way. Some cultural types are very adamant about what kind, when to, and even who is aloud to express certain emotions. Cultural differences play a huge part on many racist people. You may not be a racist but maybe your parents taught you that it is socially unacceptable to date or marry out side your race. Some cultural differences teach boys that crying shows weakness. Some parents may yell or talk aggressively, while others are very quiet and don’t have a whole lot of communication with the child at all. We as parents are the biggest influences on our child’s emotional behavior. The way we communicate with our child helps them develop emotionally. The way we encourage communication will also determine if they are able to communicate their feelings, needs, likes, or dislikes in a way which is socially acceptable.Children should be taught that all forms of emotions are normal feelings, and that it is ok to be angry, mad, disappointed, scared, confused, or happy etc†¦it’s dealing with those emotions and how we communicate those feelings which count. I always told my daughter that it was ok to tell me how she feels (whether I agreed or not) as long as she does it respectfully. I want her to feel that her opinion matters. How to cite Extrovert and Introvert Children, Papers

The Reluctant Dragon Essays - Catalan Symbols, Dragons, Monsters

The Reluctant Dragon Keith Tobin English 428 Assign #1 The Reluctant Dragon By Kenneth Grahame GRADE LEVEL: This is a relatively short book and would be good for third or forth graders or for someone at an intermediate reading level. This packet will be designed for third graders. SYNOPSIS: The setting of this book takes place in medieval times in a small English village. It's about a boy, his mother and father, a dragon, a dragon slayer, and the people of the village. It all begins when the father of the boy discovers a dragon in a cave in the countryside. The father tells the boy and the boy proceeds to go and find the dragon. When the boy finds the dragon, he talks to it. The dragon is timid and doesn't want any trouble from the boy. The boy became good friends with the dragon and they share stories and poetry with each other. Word gets back to the village and they begin talking about the dragon. They spread rumors about the dragon and say that it is a menace and a scourge. The villagers want to see the dragon destroyed in a fight. They recruit a dragon slayer from far away named Saint George. Upon the arrival of the saint, the boy meets up with him and convinces him to visit the dragon. The boy and the saint meet the dragon and talk with him. The saint explains that he must defeat the dragon and the dragon asks the saint why he must be defeated. The saint explains that is what the villagers want to see to be appeased by the foe. He says that it is irregular for the dragon to win and it would not win over the public. Both the dragon and the saint finally reach an agreement. They decide there will be a staged fight so that the villagers will get to see what they want to see. They also agree that the dragon will not be harmed and the saint will win. The saint also agrees to change the ways of the dragon in the villager's eyes and make him into a good dragon. The next day they act out the fight with the entire village watching. Everything goes as planned. The saint wins victoriously and the dragon becomes socially acceptable. Everyone is happy and the boy and the saint walk the dragon home to his cave where he can now live in peace. TOPICS: Getting along with others, imagination, communication, sharing, history, animal rights, violence, poetry. THEME(S): There are many lessons in this book that would be beneficial to young readers. Some of the more important themes of the book are prejudice, problem solving, and getting along with others. These are good themes because they are ones faced by children everyday. Children can learn a lot from this book. The main theme of prejudice is displayed when the entire town assumes the dragon is evil. They stereotype the dragon. They show how they feel when they recruit the help of the saint. The saint didn't even know the dragon wasn't evil until he talked with the dragon. At the beginning of the book even the father of the boy prejudges the dragon. The reader can see the prejudgment of the dragon by the father because the father runs off frantically at first sight of the dragon. The boy is the only one who doesn't pass judgment on the dragon. He is more curious than anything and he wanted to see for himself if the dragon is good or evil. I thought this was a good scene for a young reader to relate to. It shows that adults aren't right to pass judgment on anyone before they get a chance to get to know them. To a child, the book also shows that they can make friends with anyone no matter their color, size, stereotypes, or race. Another great lesson for children is problem solving. There was a problem with the dragon and how the saint had to kill it. The saint and the dragon compromise so that both of their problems are solved. This is the part of the book when they decide to stage the battle between the two. The author was trying to teach problem solving

Comparison of How Shusaku Endo in Wonderful Fool and Albert Camus in the Outsider Have Used Moral Issues to Develop Their Works Essay Example

Comparison of How Shusaku Endo in Wonderful Fool and Albert Camus in the Outsider Have Used Moral Issues to Develop Their Works Essay Example Comparison of How Shusaku Endo in Wonderful Fool and Albert Camus in the Outsider Have Used Moral Issues to Develop Their Works Essay Comparison of How Shusaku Endo in Wonderful Fool and Albert Camus in the Outsider Have Used Moral Issues to Develop Their Works Essay Essay Topic: In Cold Blood Comparison of how Shusaku Endo in Wonderful Fool and Albert Camus in The Outsider have used moral issues to develop their works It is debatable whether morality is a code of conduct that is considered right by society or whether it is a code unilaterally decided upon by an individual. When we consider morality as a tool used by both Shusaku Endo in Wonderful Fool and Albert Camus in The Outsider, this debate holds immense relevance. Wonderful Fool, heavily influenced by Christian doctrine, addresses the degeneration of Japanese society and the way moral issues are presented in the novel reflects this. In Wonderful Fool Shusaku Endo looks upon morality as the value system defined by the Bible, where Jesus Christ is regarded as the epitome of true goodness. In his portrayal of the main character he draws upon examples from Christ’s life to recreate a character whose morality is nearly flawless. The Outsider as a philosophical social commentary uses moral issues to demonstrate the absurdity of existence. Camus chooses to present morality as the code of conduct that an individual chooses to uphold regardless of the views of society or religion. He creates a character that lives according to his own â€Å"morality†. Although supposed by most readers to be amoral, this character, Meursault appears to be true to his personal convictions of objectivism. Meursault’s commitment to objectivity makes him moral in my opinion. Coined post-Camus, moral objectivism in this context refers to objectivity being used to guide one’s actions as opposed to subjective emotions or traditions. Both writers utilize characterization to present moral issues concerning honesty, consistency and non-conformity in a manner that supports their respective viewpoints. In both texts characterization is frequently used as a vehicle through which morality is presented. In Shusaku Endo’s novel Gaston is presented as a clumsy ‘horse-like’ (Endo 43) Frenchman who is incongruous with the modern slick Japanese city of Tokyo. This ‘fool’ who descended from greatness (Napoleon) is very much like Jesus who is also an unwelcome descendant of a ruler (King David). Gaston, like Jesus, is not physically attractive . Both were rejected by people in society, especially the fashionable, rich or powerful. Jesus was rejected at Nazareth his hometown. People scoffed, â€Å"He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary† (Mark 6:3), whilst Gaston is constantly referred to as the â€Å"foreigner,† never integrating into Tokyo. His rejection is best characterised by Tomoe. â€Å"’hope you are satisfied†¦bringing that fool into our home,’ she said with deep resentment† (Endo 51). She did not welcome his presence in her house. Gaston makes companions of the lowliest members of society: prostitutes, murderers, and stray dogs. In this way he resembles Christ who befriended the outcasts of his society, such as lepers and prostitutes. He demonstrates selflessness and patience as he attempts to befriend a thug that was beating him up. â€Å"No matter what trick†¦he was of such a temperament that he could not hate his persecutors† (Endo 83). This demonstrates a parallel with Christ who forgave those who taunted him on the cross. His self-sacrificing, unconditional ‘childlike faith’ (Psalm 116:6) in the goodness of people bears a strong resemblance to Jesus and this presents him to the reader as being morally good. Shusaku Endo uses Gaston’s character as a foil, against which he shows the individualistic nature of Japanese society. Endo conveys his disapproval of this societal trait by painting a positive picture of Gaston’s selflessness against the gloom of Japanese hedonism. Gaston is seen by the reader as being altruistic and therefore the reader is led to feel that Japan is self-seeking because of the harsh contrast between his magnanimity and the city’s self-absorbed nature. This contrast is created through other character’s response to Gaston as well as the scenes in which Gaston’s tale is told. The other characters in the novel respond to Gaston’s actions with disdain. For instance, when â€Å"Gaston took food from his own plate and threw it to the dog†¦Tomoe and Matchan looked away in disgust† (Endo 51). His simple act of kindness disgusted them. This contrast between the ideal (embodied by Gaston) and reality (of the character Japanese society) demonstrates Shusaku Endo’s disapproval of the judgemental society that Japan had become. Contrast is further evident in the following examples: the scene at â€Å"Hilltop Hotel† (a brothel), the incident at Sanya where â€Å"even the police†¦close their eyes to prostitution† and â€Å"extortion, theft and other such crimes flourish† (Endo 115). By playing out Gaston’s story in these places, which are hedonistic, dark and cruel, Gaston’s kindness and compassion is even more apparent as he unwittingly helps the prostitute in need. The writer places Gaston in the company of a murderer, Endo, â€Å"who was able to kill a man in cold blood† (Endo 118). Endo (the character) embodies the Japanese in a way that suggests they are self-serving as he acts without regard for Gaston trying to satisfy his own needs. Despite Endo’s aggression Gaston’s response to Endo is one of concern for him as opposed to worry for himself. This relationship further emphasises the idea of the Japanese being too egotistical by contrasting Endo’s selfishness with Gaston’s unselfishness. Albert Camus has a similar approach in his choice of characteristics for his principle character. Meursault, as the title implies, is an outsider and apathetically goes about life. Meursault appears not to concern himself with the conventions of his society. When his mother died Meursault’s response was one of indifference as he concerned himself more with the date and logistics than acknowledging the gravity of her death. â€Å"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday†¦I’ll come back tomorrow† (Camus 9). However he is not completely indifferent; truth is of great importance to him. Like Gaston he never wavers from his belief system, upholding objectivity without compromise. He is honest and true as a result. By the end of the text when Meursault is offered an alternative to execution in exchange for his faith in God he refuses. †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦with God’s help he would do something for me† (Camus 67) †¦ [he asked] me if I believed in God. I said no† (Camus 68). He sees no need for a lawyer, â€Å"I could answer for myself† (Camus 66). His unwillingness to compromise or immersion in his ‘simple’ belief system turns Meursault almost into a martyr, dying for his belief. Meursault’s commitment to honesty to himself overrides the instinctive response of self-preservation. He is a non-conformist and does not understand society. This emphasizes how this judgmental society imposes its own belief system on individuals, requiring assimilation. Meursault, like Gaston, is consistent in his conduct, not lying once in the text, making him moral in his own mind. Similar to Shusaku Endo, Camus uses the contrast of the ideal characterised by Meursault to highlight a fault in the society he presents. Meursault’s objectivity demonstrates, through juxtaposition, the absurdity of our society. He comments on how murder is murder, thus it makes no difference if a man is shot once or four times, or if a man is killed by a stranger or his own son. During the trial his lawyer asks, â€Å"Is he being accused of burying his mother or of killing a man? † (Camus 93). This question showing how the court or society was judging him based on â€Å"exposing the dark workings of this criminal soul† (Camus 96), as opposed to the arbitrary shooting. The murder was not malicious. He only killed the man as a response to â€Å"a red hot blade gnawing at [his] eyelashes† (Camus 60). Although Meursault speaks the truth he is judged by a system which does not recognise his moral code. This system views murder as immoral regardless of the intention, whilst Meursault sees no shame in his action as it wasn’t borne from malice. In effect he is convicted for not conforming. In the Afterword Camus says â€Å"the hero of the book is condemned because he doesn’t play the game† (Camus 118). Meursault pulled the trigger out of tension from the heat and was not out of revenge or hatred towards the Arab. If morality is an individual’s set code of conduct, independent of society, a society’s morals could then be called ‘ethics’. Camus creates a character that is moral as he is true to his own beliefs, whilst at the same time the character is unethical. It was the skill involved in playing a character’s private beliefs against those of a society that made me enjoy these texts. In each text, a character’s personality conflicts with a society’s personality and to me this was a most effective way of exploring the society’s flaws. Both writers utilize characterization to present moral issues concerning honesty, consistency and non-conformity in a manner that supports their respective viewpoints. As these characters show the ideal, society is painted as being imperfect. Through characterisation both writers present the flawed world and a consistent character to the reader. The reader then chooses which is right and which is wrong based on the biased information given by the writer. This then means the reader identifies the society as flawed and the writer has fulfilled his purpose and conveyed his message. Word Count: 1,497 words Bibliography Camus, Albert. The Outsider. English Translation: Joseph Laredo. Penguin Books Ltd, London; 1983. Endo, Shusaku. Wonderful Fool. English Translation: Francis Mathy. Peter Owen Publishers, London; 2002.

Shrimp Treadmill - How Much it Cost Taxpayers

Shrimp Treadmill - How Much it Cost Taxpayers The famous shrimp treadmill study (video), conducted by researchers at Pacific University and College of Charleston, came under scrutiny during debates over the federal deficit and wasteful spending in 2011. Yes, the shrimp treadmill research cost taxpayers more than $3 million over the course of a decade. That includes a $559,681 grant for research into Impaired Metabolism and Performance in Crustaceans Exposed to Bacteria. But dont blame Congress, as the AARP did in a major television ad buy in 2011. The decision to fund the research actually came from the National Science Foundation. Shrimp Treadmill Grilled The AARP suggested the shrimp treadmill was but one of many examples of wasteful spending in a commercial it ran in the spring and summer of 2011, as Congress debated ways to trim the nations debt. The ad read: If Congress really wants to balance the budget, they could stop spending our money on things like a cotton institute in Brazil, poetry at zoos, treadmills for shrimp. But instead of cutting waste or closing tax loopholes, next month Congress could make a deal that cuts Medicare, even Social Security. I guess its easier to cut the benefits we earned than to cut pickle technology. AARP was not the first to cast the shrimp treadmill in a harsh light, though. About the Shrimp Treadmill Study The shrimp treadmill and National Science Foundation were initially targeted as an example of pork by U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma in 2011, though the research had begun years earlier. As a practicing physician and a two-time cancer survivor, I have a very personal appreciation for the benefits of scientific research, Coburn wrote in a report titled The National Science Foundation: Under the Microscope. Investing in innovation and discovery can transform and improve our lives, advance our understanding of the world, and create meaningful new jobs. He added, though: The theory in Washington all too often tends to be if you throw enough money at a problem, you can solve all our nations problems. But when Congress commits the nation to significant increases in spending, Congress owes it to the U.S. taxpayers to pay careful attention to how those dollars are being spent. Researchers developed the shrimp treadmill to test whether sickness would impair the mobility of the crustaceans. It remained unclear, however, what the practical impact of such research would be. Sick shrimp have more limited mobility, which may mean they are less likely to avoid being eaten. A decrease in performance may mean the difference between life and death, Scholnick was quoted as saying. About the National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense†¦ Under its congressional mandate, the NSF funds fundamental research and education in all fields of science and engineering. With a budget of just over $7.5 billion in fiscal year 2017, the NSF funds about a fifth of all federally supported basic research conducted at U.S. colleges and universities. NSF funding for research is distributed through grants, and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the United States. Of the more than 48,000 competitive requests for funding it receives every year, the NSF awards about 12,000 new research grants. At the time, the NSF responded to Sen. Coburns criticism of the â€Å"Shrimp on a Treadmill† study by pointing out that the projects it funds have advanced the frontiers of science and engineering, improved Americans lives and provided the foundations for countless new industries and jobs. About the National Institutes of Health As another major source of congressionally authorized research funding, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), agency of the cabinet-level U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), bills itself as nation’s medical research agency. Currently, the NIH awards nearly $32.3billion in grants annually for medical research in support of its stated mission of seeking â€Å"fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.† Almost 50,000 research studies funded by NIH grants are being conducted by over 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools, and other research institutions in every state and around the world.

Reg Vardy PLC financial analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Reg Vardy PLC financial analysis - Essay Example The company, which is named after founder Reg Vardy, is one of the leading motor retail groups in the United Kingdom. Reg Vardy was initially established as a haulage business at Houghton-le-Spring. Due to the success of the business, it diversified into the sale of vehicles (Yahoo! Finance 2005). Under the leadership of the founder's successor, Chief Executive Officer Sir Peter Vardy, the firm acquired franchises from a number of the finest motor and car manufacturers in the world. Through the course of the company history, Reg Vardy was appointed as the sole distributor of Aston Martin for the North of England. This was followed by the company's franchise of Ferrari and Rolls Royce. Reg Vardy was also awarded the main dealer franchise for other marques such as Jaguar/Daimler, Mercedes and BMW among others. (Company History 2005) In 1989, Reg Vardy became listed in the London Stock Exchange. The initial flotation has raised about 5 million and allowed for expansion outside North East Heathen. With this, the company expanded further as it acquired more dealerships from other volume marques. (Company History 2005) To finance its expansion binge, the company issued rights in 1998 and raised 26 million. The fund was used to acquire Trust Motor Group, the firm's largest acquisition to date. In the same period, the company also established Vardy Contract Motoring, which is focused on the contract hiring and leasing operations (Company History 2005). This year, Reg Vardy pushes through with its strategic acquisitions given the upcoming purchase of five dealerships from the Priory Motor Group. This highlights the company's strategy of acquiring performing and high quality business that accounts from payments of goodwill. (Reg Vardy PLC Annual Report 2005) So far, Reg Vardy sells about 200,000 vehicles annually and employs around 6,000 workers. It has also substantially increased its total franchises to 98 dealerships in 2005 from only 63 dealerships in 1998 (Reg Vardy PLC Annual Report 2005). The company continues to distribute new and used cars for Aston Martin, Renault, Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Citroen, Fiat, Mercedes and Jaguar. Its major shareholders include the Vardy family (28%), Deutche Bank (20.6%) and Aegon (3.59%). (Yahoo! Finance 2005) Financial Highlights Table 1 - Balance Sheet Balance Sheet (in millions) 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Assets Current Assets Cash and Equivalents 39.2 24.3 45.5 39.7 12.0 Receivables 73.6 66.6 61.9 52.6 64.0 Inventories 243.2 247.5 174.8 123.1 128.2 Other Current Assets 14.5 12.0 15.0 6.5 8.5 Total Current Assets 370.5 350.4 297.2 221.9 212.7 Property Plant and Equipment-Net 180.9 181.7 154.8 162.0 165.6 Intangible Other Assets 3.5 3.2 1.3 1.3 1.8 Other Assets 3.5 3.2 1.3 1.3 1.9 Total Assets 555.0 535.3 453.3 385.2 380.3 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current Liabilities Accounts Payable 186.2 184.3 146.9 96.5 78.8 Short-Term Debt 34.1 38.7 70.1 42.3 35.7 Other Current Liabilities 44.4 37.0 28.8 25.6 47.3 Total Current Liabilities 277.2 271.3 256.8 174.5 169.3 Long-Term Debt 47.9 49.7 12.7 53.0 57.1 Provision for Risks/Charges 5.4 1.2 1.4 2.8 4.0 Deferred Taxes 6.4 5.9 5.1 4.1 4.8 Other Liabilities 12.6 10.8 6.3 1.7 12.4 Total

Sustainability at ASDA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Sustainability at ASDA - Essay Example Supermarkets in Europe are investing time and effort into the accomplishment of sustainability in their operations since this is the new competitive advantage they ought to possess. The paper discusses the drivers as well as the sustainability initiatives to be undertaken by ASDA in its shopping centre at Wolverhampton, keeping in view dynamics of the industry as well as social, political, legal, economic and other factors. Before delving into the concept of sustainability, it is useful to understand the nature of the grocery industry in the U.K. The U.K supermarkets industry was worth more than ? 150.8 bn in 2010 which showed considerable increase of 3.1% compared to the last year (Schnedlitz et al., 2010). Food and grocery expenditure accounted for 0.52% of retail expenditure (Schnedlitz et al., 2010). Of this 0.53%, 21% is roughly spent shopping for the same in convenience stores (Schnedlitz et al., 2010). The private label brands, including Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and Sain sbury’s have their unique brand identity and are not me-too or imitations of their branded competitors (Schnedlitz et al., 2010). The U.K retail market seems to be on the maturity stage of its lifecycle, however, growth is still quite prominent. The market is on its verge to a 15% growth in the next 5 years (IGD, 2010). Economic dynamics such as rising interest rates and consumer prices, house prices as well job insecurity are only few of a plethora of factors affecting firms in this sector (IGD, 2010).The new government following the election in May, 2010 also seems to bear impact by way of its proposed contractionary fiscal and monetary policy which could mean tough times for the high end markets. The history of ASDA can be traced back to the 1920’s when farmers in Yorkshire created the Hindell’s dairies in 1920 (ASDA, 2011). The company was an instant hit and diversified and expanded to become the Associated Dairies and Farm Stores Ltd in 1949, hence the name ASDA (ASDA, 2011). At the same time, in 1958, two brothers came up with The Asquiths store which offered, to some extent, convenience shopping to customers at a single place (ASDA, 2011). In 1965, the Asquiths merged with Associated Dairies and Farm Stores Ltd. to create ASDA (ASDA, 2011). Thereon, the company was named as ASDA in 1970 when The Asquiths was acquired by Associated Dairies and Farm Stores Ltd (ASDA, 2011). Today, ASDA is known as a subsidiary of Wal-Mart, and is a merchandising and grocery retailing giant in the U.K. The company owns about 583 stores that stock various items ranging from grocery to apparel (ASDA, 2011). ASDA has its headquarters in Leeds, U.K and is home to approximately 178,000 workers (ASDA, 2011). The company is widely known for its staunch sustainability initiatives and has undertaken massive reforms in the same area in order to maintain its competitive edge over competitors such as Morrisons, Sainsbury’s Tesco and Waitrose. Sustainability is defined as the ability to survive or sustain. Popularly, the term environmental sustainability is being used to represent efforts to sustain and prolong the survival of all species and the ecosystem in the environment. A more comprehensive definition of sustainability encompasses all three foundations of sustainability, including the people, economy and the environment (Dunphy, 2000). The relation between these three foundations suggests that there exist limitations on the