User:Buddhipriya

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thought for the day:

“ In general, I find the {{fact}} tagging to be overdone in Wikipedia. A better option is to nuke the unsourced material. Sometimes {{fact}} is warranted, I don't mean that it is always a bad idea. But it is overdone.

I very often see completely preposterous claims tagged with {{fact}}, usually because an editor is being excessively cautious. Be bold. :)

 ”
--Jimbo [1]
 This user is a member of the Harmonious Editing Club.
This user is a member of the WikiProject Hinduism.
This user is a member of WikiProject Spam.
Image:Example.of.complex.text.rendering.svg This article contains Indic text.
Without rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes or other symbols instead of Indic characters; or irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts.

Contents

[edit] Words to live by

The tradition of debate is well-developed in India. In Bhagavad Gita 10.32, Krishna says that as an example of his excellence, "I am vāda of the debaters." (वादः प्रवदतामहम्). A commentary by Madhusudana Sarasvati (b. 1490? - d. 1580?) on this verse explains that in the tradition of Hindu debate there are three varieties of discussion: vāda, jalpa, and vitaṇḍā. Vāda is discussion with open-mindedness, with a view to determining true purport. Jalpa is pointless debate. Vitaṇḍā is wrangling discussion.

Madhusudana Sarasvati explains:

"Vāda is the discussion between two unbiased seekers of truth, or between two brahmacārins who are seekers of truth and are classmates, or between a teacher and the taught, with the help of valid means of reasoning, and (proceeds) in the form of proving or disproving (statements) by taking up positions for or against, culminating in the ascertainment of truth.... Jalpa and Vitaṇḍā are forms of discussion of one seeking to score a victory for protecting the conclusion about the truth -- which was arrived at through Vāda -- by defeating an illogical and obstinate opponent; and they end merely in victory or defeat. This has been said in 'Jalpa and Vitaṇḍā are meant for the protection of a conclusion arrived at (through Vāda), just as a fence made of thorny branches is necessary to protect the sprouting of a seed. (Gautama-Nyāyā Sūtras, 4.2.50)"

"The countering of an opponent's view through Chala (circumvention), Jāti (false generalization) and Nigraha-sthāna (fault in a syllogism) is common to Jalpa and Vitaṇḍā. Among them, in Vitaṇḍā one's own point of view is firmly adhered to by one, while it is merely refuted by the other (without stating his own conclusion). In Jalpa, however, their own points of view are advanced by both, and the opposite view is refuted by both. This is the distinction.... However it has already been stated that Vāda is superior because it culminates in the ascertainment of truth."

Quotations from: Bhagavad Gita: With the Annotation Gūḍhārtha Dīpikā. Translated by Swami Gambhirananda. Advaita Ashrama Publication Department: Calcutta, 1998. ISBN 81-7505-194-9. pp. 631-632.

I pray that I may always practice vāda.

[edit] Previous thoughts for the day

“ There are no emergencies on Wikipedia.. ”
“ Unfettered prolixity may give rise to charges of obfuscation.. ”
“ Better to shun the bait than struggle in the snare. -- John Dryden ”
“ The past is but the beginning of a beginning. -- H. G. Wells ”
“ Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -- Gospel of Matthew 7:7,8 ”
“ The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.. -- Mahatma Gandhi ”
“ Man is a political animal.. -- Aristotle ”
“ The critical habit of thought, if usual in society, will pervade all its mores, because it is a way of taking up the problems of life. Men educated in it cannot be stampeded by stump orators... They are slow to believe. They can hold things as possible or probable in all degrees, without certainty and without pain. They can wait for evidence and weigh evidence, uninfluenced by the emphasis or confidence with which assertions are made on one side or the other. They can resist appeals to their dearest prejudices and all kinds of cajolery. Education in the critical faculty is the only education of which it can be truly said that it makes good citizens. -- William Graham Sumner ”


[edit] My activity on Wikipedia

[edit] Articles I started

Updated DYK query On February 9, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Ganesha Purana, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the "Did you know?" talk page.

Thanks for your contributions! Nishkid64 22:48, 9 February 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Links I use often

These are links to some issues which I enjoy following:

[edit] Indic scripts

I prefer the IAST transliteration methods (See: Template:IAST) and have compiled some ideas about the use of IAST on Wikipedia on the page User:Buddhipriya/IASTUsage.

For help with Indic scripts see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:INDIC

A LANG template for Sanskrit: ([[Sanskrit]]:{{lang|sa|गणेश पुराणम्}}; {{IAST|gaṇeśa purāṇam}}) which looks like this:

(Sanskrit:गणेश पुराणम्; gaṇeśa purāṇam)

From Wikipedia:Citing sources:

"Because this is the English Wikipedia, English-language sources should be given whenever possible, and should always be used in preference to other language sources of equal calibre. However, do give references in other languages where appropriate. If quoting from a different language source, an English translation should be given with the original-language quote beside it."

[edit] Vandalism and SPAM

Warning templates
PageName is optional
  • {{subst:uw-vandalism1|PageName}} ~~~~ (unintentional vandalism/test)
  • {{subst:uw-delete1|PageName}} ~~~~ (unintentional removal of content)
  • {{subst:uw-vandalism2|PageName}} ~~~~ (suitable for nonsense)
  • {{subst:uw-delete2|PageName}} ~~~~ (variant for removal of content)
  • {{subst:uw-vandalism3|PageName}} ~~~~ (please stop)
  • {{subst:uw-delete3|PageName}} ~~~~ (please stop removing content)
  • {{subst:uw-vandalism4|PageName}} ~~~~ (last warning)
  • {{subst:uw-delete4|PageName}} ~~~~ (last warning for removing content)

See additional templates and examples of output

Special:Linksearch

  • {{subst:uw-unsourced1|Lingam}} ~~~~
  • {{subst:uw-spam1|Hinduism}} ~~~~
  • {{longterm4im}} ~~~~
  • {{IPvandal|68.216.187.23}} - continued vandalism after final warning ~~~~
  • {{vandal|Sparklybubbles}} — continued vandalism of after final warning ~~~~
  • {{Cleanup-spam}}
  • [[Category:Wikipedia spam cleanup]]
  • Tool for analysis of editorial activity: [2]

For more spam fighting tips see WikiProjectSpam.

Wikipedia:WikiProject Trivia Cleanup

Wikipedia:Guide to layout

Wikipedia:Summary style

Wikipedia:Copyright_problems

Wikipedia:Notability (academics)

[edit] Citation methods

  • {{tl|unreferenced}}
  • {{verify source}}
  • {{page number}}
  • {{citation style}}
  • [[WP:RS]] appears as WP:RS
  • [[WP:ATT]] appears as WP:ATT
  • [[WP:EL]] appears as WP:EL
  • [[WP:EQ]] appears as WP:EQ
  • [[WP:NOT]] appears as WP:NOT

[edit] Mediation processes

[edit] Concerns about Wikipedia

My current opinion is that there are serious problems with the Wikipedia paradigm. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_is_failing

More specifically:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Expert_retention

A delightful collection of absurd situations is cataloged here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Expert_Retention/Conflicts_involving_expert_editors

One very good article: http://courseware.hbs.edu/public/cases/wikipedia/

A second very good article from New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060731fa_fact

If all else fails, consider editing at Unencyclopedia.

[edit] A new low for astonishing nonsense

Citing "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" television show as a reliable source of information on sadhus. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sadhu&diff=110762472&oldid=110762328

[edit] Barnstars

[edit] A barnstar I created

The Hindu Fire Barnstar
Namaste! I, Buddhipriya, humbly thank you for helping me get started as a contributor to Hinduism. If you have any further advice or comments for me, please post me a message at my talk page. Thank you for your kindness! -- Buddhipriya

[edit] Barnstars received

The Exceptional Newcomer Award Here is an award both for your significant contributions to wikipedia as a knowledge repository, particularly the articles Ganesh Purana and Mudgala Purana that you brought up almost single-handedly, as well as the manner in which you comport yourself and interact with other users. Keep it up ! Abecedare 06:11, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

The Barnstar of High Culture In regards to the development of Template:DisplayTranslations, I award you this barnstar for sharing your vast knowledge regarding Indic languages, for sharing it in a patient, thoughtful and tireless way, for sharing it for the betterment of a broad array of WP articles, and for sharing it across a cultural wall that too often is barbed with bitterness and hostility. Your tireless, kind heart gives me hope, Larry Rosenfeld (talk) 19:44, 27 February 2007 (UTC)

The Minor Barnstar For your honest and open approach to things, I hereby present you with the minor barnstar. Your good faith is a refreshing breeze in the often troll-infested maze of "Aryan" topics. dab (𒁳) 19:13, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

The Original Barnstar this is for your good work with articles relating to hinduism. Peace:) James, La gloria è a dio 21:52, 29 March 2007 (UTC)

The Barnstar of Good Humor For your good example of congeniality and your rare willingness to help even those with whom you might not see eye-to-eye. Arrow740 05:20, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

Gift Your Hinduism related edits need this--KnowledgeHegemony 13:08, 3 July 2007 (UTC)

For your edits to Shri Vidya - Gouranga(UK) 11:08, 31 July 2007 (UTC)

Specifically for your help with Khecarī mudrā‎—for your research and expertise, and for your willingness to work with editors who can sometimes be a pain in the butt :-). But much more for all the research and editing you bring to so many Hinduism related articles. It is much appreciated, ॐ Priyanath talk 04:36, 13 September 2007 (UTC)