Latest news with #Ober
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Understanding the social, cultural and geographical contexts of Buddhism
The world is increasingly getting obsessed with self-promotion and the thinking that it alone can bring about peace and progress. The growing selfie culture is a manifestation of this daily obsession, backed by the technology of the day. Often, a 'perfect' identity is carefully curated on social media with a focus on the self. Swayed by the glitter of social media, there appears to be no actual pursuit of knowing the inner self. Eventually, this relentless self-promotion is leading to distress. The fear of having less and the desire for more have contributed to a balance sheet of unhappiness. The illusory self It's perhaps the right time to re-read the teachings of the Buddha, who argued thousands of years ago that the self is an illusion -- and that our belief in it is the cause of most, if not all, of our sufferings. Poring over ancient Buddhist texts, Jay L. Garfield, Maria Heim, and Robert H. Sharf have teamed together to dismantle notions of the self in How To Lose Yourself: An Ancient Guide to Letting Go (Princeton University Press). Their suggestion? 'Better to lose your self!' The writers contend that Buddha had argued for letting go of the self, which allows us to see more clearly the innumerable causes and conditions that come together to create our experience and that make us who we are. 'When we allow our fantasies of self to dissolve, we discover instead the radically interdependent nature of our existence.' Opening up another flank of study on the ancient religion, Douglas Ober contests the commonly held belief that Buddhism 'all but disappeared' from India after the 13th and 14th centuries, and saw a revival only in the mid to late 19th century. In his book, Dust on the Throne (Navayana), he notes that Buddhism had always been there, and that two centuries of archaeological excavation and textual scholarship now point to a long, enduring, and 'unarchived' Indian Buddhist afterlife that extends to the modern day. Ober's exhaustive research told him that Buddhism had an indelible influence on shaping modern India. As he writes in the Introduction, 'A Dependent Arising', the theory of Buddhism's 'disappearance' from the subcontinent is 'little more than a useful fiction, deployed to wash over a more complicated historical terrain involving periodic Buddhist resurgences and trans-regional pilgrimage networks.' He shows that Indian's modern Buddhist revival began nearly a century before 1956, when the Indian government celebrated '2,500 years of Buddhism' and when B.R. Ambedkar led half a million followers to convert to Buddhism. Backstory of a revival Ober argues that the 'revival of Buddhism' in colonial and postcolonial India led to a slew of movements, from Hindu reform movements, the making of Hindu nationalism, Dalit and anti-caste activism, as also Nehruvian secular democracy. He tells the stories of individuals and communities that kept Buddhism alive, not least the incredible account of J.K. Birla, eldest son of entrepreneur B.D. Birla, who financed major Buddhist constructions in pilgrimage centres like Rajgir, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, and also in new centres of 'urban Buddhist activity', including Calcutta, Bombay, and New Delhi. While Ghanashyam Birla, J.K. Birla's younger brother, sided with Gandhi and Congress, J.K. and his father firmly supported the extreme Hindu right and the Hindu Maha Sabha, although as Ober notes, 'they never stopped supporting Gandhi either.' Efforts to resurrect Buddhist archaeological heritage are an ongoing process to help connect its monumental past with its philosophy. In his book, Casting the Buddha (Pan Macmillan India), Shashank Shekhar Sinha traces the Buddhist heritage sites and the cities they are located in to understand their larger geographical, sociocultural, and historical contexts. It is an illustrated history of Buddhist monuments in India, spanning 2,500 years. For the purposes of this book, Sinha writes in the Introduction, 'monumental history' plays on the word 'monument' and discusses Buddhist edifices, sites, and connected histories. Lives of monuments A closer look reveals how the 'lives of the monuments' resonated with the people and communities around them, including monks, laity, kings, traders, guilds, landlords, agriculturalists, and villagers. Over time, these structures have acquired different forms and meanings, and have also become important 'sites of social and cultural interactions.' The buildings are 'complex ecosystems' which capture the changing times and give an idea about belief systems, rituals, stories, and folklore. For instance, writes Sinha, the sculptured panels on the gateways of Sanchi not only depict events from the life of the Buddha but also the Jataka tales and the mythical bodhisattvas. Ober contends that Buddhism was an indispensable part of the daily lives of Indians from many walks of life. 'They spent their days reading and reinterpreting Buddhist scriptures, attending and delivering dhamma talks, building and rebuilding Buddhist shrines.' The lives of Ambedkar, Birla, Kosambi, Mahavir, Sankritayan, and many other figures 'help us realise that there is no one single identity at the heart of modern Indian Buddhism... [it] continues to have an important but often unacknowledged role in Indian society.' As Indians relived the past to find a better present and future, 'a classless, casteless, egalitarian society,' they found the Buddha, writes Ober. That as a society we have not yet been able to eradicate discrimination and poverty means the debates on issues like 'caste, inequality, morality, social order, and belonging' are not over. The quest to grasp the historical Buddha and understand his 'inherent mission' must continue, and this says a lot about our modern times and predicament. Sudhirendar Sharma is an independent writer, researcher and academic
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
How to watch the 2025 Easter sunrise service at Ober Mountain
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Spend Easter morning in the Smokies at Ober Mountain's annual Easter Sunrise Service, which is at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 20. The outdoor service is set to begin at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 20. It will be led by Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries. Sunrise is expected around 6:54 a.m. East Tennessee housing market shows steady growth despite uncertainty The service will be live on WATE Channel 6 and The livestream will appear in this story before the service begins on Sunday morning. For those planning to attend in person, Ober Mountain has provided details on free transportation and parking. According to the city's website, the Gatlinburg Trams will begin running around 5 a.m. on Sunday to carry people up to the service for free until the service begins at 6:30 a.m. Free parking will also be available for those who wish to drive up the mountain. Maryville pastor reunites with family after abduction, shootout in South Africa Ober will also open early to celebrate Easter. There will be a breakfast buffet, Gospel bands, a children's Easter Egg Hunt and early access to Ober attractions. A special onsite-only wristband will also be available until 10 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Mets at Minnesota Twins odds, picks and predictions
The New York Mets (11-5) and Minnesota Twins (5-12) play the middle game of a 3-game series Tuesday. First pitch from Target Field in Minneapolis is set for 7:40 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Mets vs. Twins odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets. Season series: Mets lead 1-0 The Mets started their road series in Minnesota on a high note, picking up a 5-1 win Monday as +101 underdogs as the Under (7.5) hit. OF Juan Soto broke things open in the seventh with a 2-run blast—just his second homer of the year. SP Clay Holmes fanned 8 and allowed only 1 run in 5 innings. The loss was the Twins fourth in the last 5 games. They had just 3 hits Monday and their lone run came on a sac fly from C Christian Vazquez. Starter Joe Ryan turned in a solid outing, giving up only 1 ER in 5 innings. Mets at Twins projected starters RHP Tylor Megill vs. RHP Bailey Ober Megill (2-1, 0.63 ERA) makes his fourth start. He has a 1.26 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9 and 10.7 K/9 in 14 1/3 innings. Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 0 ER (2 R), 6 H, 3 BB, 7 K in 5-0 home loss vs. Miami Marlins Wednesday Only start vs Twins: No-decision, 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 2 K in 2-0 road win Sept. 10, 2023 Ober (0-1, 7.11 ERA) also makes his fourth start. He has a 1.74 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9 and 8.5 K/9 in 12 2/3 innings. Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 3-2 loss at Kansas City Royals Thursday First time facing the Mets Win your fantasy baseball league with For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! BHQ offers full-season subscriptions. Sign up today and start winning! Mets at Twins odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:43 a.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Mets -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Twins +100 (bet $100 to win $100) : Mets -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Twins +100 (bet $100 to win $100) Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Mets -1.5 (+145) | Twins +1.5 (-175) : Mets -1.5 (+145) | Twins +1.5 (-175) Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105) Mets at Twins picks and predictions Prediction Mets 4, Twins 2 BET METS (-120). It's hard not to like the Mets heading into Tuesday's matchup. They've won 9 of their last 11 games and 3 of their last 4 outings on the road, backed by the best team ERA in NL at 2.22. Megill has been a big part of that success, giving up just 1 ER in 14 1/3 IP. He doesn't have much history against Minnesota, but he tossed 5 scoreless innings in his only start against them. The Twins have been cold at the plate, batting just .203 as a team—fourth worst in the majors. On the mound, Ober hasn't looked sharp, allowing 10 ER in 12 2/3 IP. With the way New York is rolling and the matchups favoring them, I'm locking in the Mets to keep it going on Tuesday. PASS. There's nothing wrong with taking the Mets on the run line with the plus odds, but personally I'll play it safe and take the moneyline. BET UNDER 8 (-105). While Megill has been outstanding, Ober has also settled in, allowing just 1 ER in each of his last 2 starts. The Twins have hit the Under in 8 of their last 10 games, largely due to their offensive struggles. The Mets have also leaned toward lower-scoring affairs, with the Under cashing in 4 of their last 5 games. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. Fantasy baseball help from Subscribe now to dominate the competition.
New York Times
31-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Twins takeaways: Déjà vu for Bailey Ober, prospect watching in St. Paul, franchise values
Regardless of next season's schedule, the Minnesota Twins should probably just avoid having Bailey Ober make his first 2026 start in Missouri. Last season, Ober started the Twins' third game and allowed eight runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Royals in Kansas City. This season, Ober started the Twins' third game and allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings Sunday against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Advertisement But whereas last year's Game 3 clunker from Ober stopped the Twins from sweeping the Royals, this year's version led to a three-game sweep by the Cardinals. With the 9-2 loss, the Twins have started a season 0-3 for the first time since 2016, when they opened 0-9 en route to a 59-103 record. 'The thing about a start like this is there's not one thing that one person is going to do,' manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters in St. Louis. 'We've got to go out there and play quality baseball as a team. We're going to do that. I'm going to do my part. There's not one thing that's going to turn it around, and you're only able to play one game a day.' The Twins do have a prime opportunity to bounce back beginning Monday with a three-game series in Chicago versus the lowly White Sox, against whom they went 12-1 last season. But the Cardinals aren't likely to be a powerhouse team, and the Twins looked bad throughout the series, on and off the field. Great Scott! 💣 — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 30, 2025 As for Ober, the Twins must hope the rest of his season continues to mirror 2024, when he recovered from the horrible first outing to post a 3.60 ERA with 190 strikeouts in 177 1/3 innings over his final 30 starts. There's no reason he can't do it again. However, his diminished velocity and uncharacteristically poor command Sunday could be worrisome after Ober struggled with similar issues throughout spring training. Ober's fastball averaged 91.7 mph last year, but it fell to 89.9 mph during spring training and was only slightly better Sunday at 90.3 mph. Normally a control artist, he threw 33 balls in 77 pitches, got only four whiffs on 28 swings, and issued three walks, one fewer than his high mark last season. In camp, Ober pointed to his mechanics being out of whack, but the right-hander felt his mechanics were fine Sunday and instead revealed after the game that he was pitching despite having an illness that also kept infielder Edouard Julien out of action for the series. Advertisement 'I did the best I could,' Ober said. 'I got an IV (on Saturday). I was pretty much bedridden all day, on the off day (Friday), but did fine. After the first inning, I got a little tired just because of the stuff I was battling and a quick turnaround after throwing 28 pitches.' Baldelli noted the coaching staff discussed potentially skipping or pushing back Ober's start, but 'it's not something that we were close to doing.' 'He said he was good to go, but clearly, I think it had some effect,' Baldelli said. 'The way he threw the ball, it wasn't like him. Command is normally something he has and he's able to pitch with all of his different pitches, add and subtract, and put it where he wants. He wasn't really able to find that.' Ober's next scheduled start is Saturday against the Houston Astros at Target Field, giving him extra time to get healthy. Countless things went wrong for the Twins at the plate, on the mound, in the field and on the airwaves while being swept by the Cardinals, bringing back painful memories of last year's collapse, but Ober not looking like himself for several weeks might be the biggest cause for concern. Triple-A St. Paul's season started with an 11-0 victory Friday, but the Saints' scheduled Saturday and Sunday games were rained out. St. Paul's roster is overflowing with top prospects and recently graduated former top prospects, along with the typical assortment of veteran minor leaguers looking to play their way back to the big leagues. The hitting headliners are Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall, who were No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, on my Twins top 40 prospects list in January, and each ranks as a consensus top-50 prospect across MLB. Emmanuel Rodriguez 2 run double hit at 113.6 MPH 🤯 to drive in the first @StPaulSaints runs of the season He is 2-2#MNTwins — Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) March 29, 2025 Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk on Opening Day, but also jammed his left thumb. It's not believed to be a serious injury, and crucially, it was Rodriguez's right thumb that bothered him throughout much of last season before requiring surgery in September. Keaschall, who is coming back from elbow surgery last August, impressed with his bat during spring training while being limited to designated hitter duties. He's been cleared to resume playing second base, with outfield action likely to follow fairly soon. Advertisement Rodriguez and Keaschall are among the minor leagues' best prospect duo teammates and both figure to be key pieces of the Twins' long-term lineup, perhaps beginning as soon as this summer. But the Saints' rotation is even more loaded with top prospects. Led by David Festa, who shed his prospect status last year by throwing 64 1/3 innings for the Twins in a solid rookie season, the Saints' starting group also features Zebby Matthews (No. 4 in my top 40), Andrew Morris (No. 5), Marco Raya (No. 8), Cory Lewis (No. 10) and Travis Adams (No. 25). Festa had the Opening Day assignment for the Saints and quickly got back on track following a poor spring training by throwing five shutout innings on just 58 pitches, striking out four and walking none. He and Matthews are basically just hanging out in St. Paul until the Twins need them again. In all, St. Paul's season-opening roster has 13 of the Twins' top 40 prospects, including four of the top five (everyone except top-ranked Walker Jenkins) and six of the top 10. And that's in addition to Festa and Austin Martin, who lost their prospect eligibility last season by playing regularly for the Twins. Regardless of whether the Twins turn things around after their 0-3 start, CHS Field is going to be an excellent place for prospect watching this season. Although, if the Twins don't turn things around, some of the Saints' top prospects may not be long for St. Paul. Forbes released its annual report about the finances of MLB teams, which is particularly relevant for the Twins with the team up for sale. Forbes estimates the Twins have a valuation of $1.5 billion. If that number seems familiar, it's because The Athletic reported last week that the Pohlad family turned down an offer in the $1.5 billion range and are believed to be seeking at least $1.7 billion despite the team carrying $425 million of debt. Advertisement Carl Pohlad bought the Twins for $44 million in 1984. According to Forbes, the Twins had an estimated $324 million of revenue in 2024, down slightly from their 2023 revenue of $342 million. And that makes sense, since the 2023 Twins were superior on and off the field, selling 22,508 more regular-season tickets and hosting four playoff games at Target Field. Forbes calculates the Twins' total player-related expenses at $182 million in 2024 and $187 million in 2023, estimating the team had profitable operating incomes of $5 million in 2024 and $19 million in 2023. And that's in addition to the franchise's valuation increasing by $110 million in those two years. Based on Forbes' numbers, at least, it's hard to see how the Twins accrued $425 million of debt unless it occurred entirely before the past two seasons and/or wasn't solely for baseball reasons. Whatever the case, Forbes' data suggests the Pohlads turned down a market-rate offer to buy the team. (Photo of Bailey Ober: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball: Trea Turner among the very best draft picks you can make in every round
It's time to put my money where my mouth is. After writing one fantasy baseball article after another since the start of spring training, I'm ready to identify my top values in each round of Yahoo drafts. These picks are based on 10-team leagues. Go here for the worst picks at ADP. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2025 MLB season] Of course, Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt Jr. and Aaron Judge are the preferred options. But I want to highlight someone who makes sense at any point past pick 3. Tucker has the five-category skill set that roto managers covet and the high walk rate that creates an elite floor in points leagues. Álvarez is sometimes overshadowed by other stars, but with a lifetime .973 OPS, he is part of the conversation as baseball's best pure hitter. Sitting squarely in his prime with four straight 30-homer seasons, the slugger could still have one more power uptick. Simply put, Turner belongs in Round 2. The five-category star is a top 15 hitter in roto formats and a top 20 hitter in points leagues. Hitting atop a productive lineup gives Turner a rock-solid floor. After striking out 209 batters in 146.1 innings last year, Crochet oozes upside now that he is permitted to log a heavy workload while working for a solid team. He has as good a chance as anyone to finish as the No. 1 starter of 2025. In 44 starts with the Royals, Ragans has logged a 3.00 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP and a 10.9 K/9 rate. He would have gone one round earlier if he had produced those numbers in a major market. Langford gave us a glimpse of the future when he was named AL Player of the Month in September after hitting .300 with 8 homers, 7 steals, 20 RBI and 25 runs scored. This is the last year that the future superstar will be available this late in drafts. Sure, Helsley isn't going to repeat his 49-save season. But he should be ranked higher than his current Yahoo ADP as the seventh reliever off the board. The ace closer has logged a 1.83 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP across the past three seasons. I previously identified McLain as my toughest player to rank. But after that painstaking evaluation process, I have become a big fan of someone who has a 20-20 floor and multi-position eligibility. Walker is a top-tier closer without the draft-price tag. The right-hander was among baseball's best relievers last year (1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 99:18 K:BB ratio) and should save plenty of narrow wins at his pitcher-friendly home park. Ober is a WHIP darling (career 1.07 mark) who strikes out a batter per inning. I'm happy to lock in that production while crossing my fingers that his fly-ball-heavy approach continues to result in a solid ERA. Bichette is my favorite value pick this year. I expect the career .290 hitter to return to his top form, which will not only include a high batting average but also 20 homers and a double-digit steals total from a premium lineup spot. Ryan is a cheaper version of his teammate Ober, with an even better strikeout rate that is offset by greater injury risk. The right-hander will have a WHIP below 1.10 and could whiff 200 batters. Steele represents the end of a large second tier of starters. The southpaw has logged an ERA below 3.20 in each of the past three seasons and made major strides with a 1.10 WHIP last year. This is a great spot in the draft to take a chance on one of baseball's best prospects. Crews may not hit for average right away, but he has the potential to accumulate 20 homers and 30 steals. The 14th round is mostly a flat tier of uninspiring hurlers, so I'll pivot to one of the few position players in the group. Bogaerts is past his peak but remains valuable as someone who can hit for average while also collecting 15-20 homers and steals. This is a great area of the draft to grab a competent backstop in one-catcher leagues. Langeliers and his 30-homer potential make for a fine target. J.T. Realmuto is another excellent option in this round. Admittedly, I'm worried about reports of Nimmo's knee soreness this spring. But I'm still willing to invest a pick this late in an on-base machine who is expected to bat cleanup in a productive lineup. Admittedly, I don't love the options in Round 18. But I'm happy to roster Díaz, whom I expect to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season. The infielder gains value in points leagues by virtue of his high walk rate and could produce an improved homer total thanks to the Rays' temporary home park. This is a good spot in the draft to throw darts at starters with major upside. Pivetta logged a helpful 1.12 WHIP and an eye-popping 11.1 K/9 rate across the past two seasons. Finally on a team with a pitcher-friendly home park, he can push his ERA below 4.00. Muncy is a perfect fit in points leagues with daily lineup moves, as he can provide 30 homers and 90 RBI while spending a day or two per week on the bench. In roto formats, I would prefer speedster Andrés Giménez in this round. Holmes has been so effective as a starter this spring that he earned the Opening Day nod for the Mets. With excellent velocity and a heavy groundball lean, the former closer can be an efficient starter who posts excellent ratios across 150 innings. I'm not sure where things will go with Shaw, but I'm happy to use a late pick on a premium prospect who may have an everyday role and opens 2025 with triple-position eligibility in Yahoo leagues. Schmidt could be the beneficiary of New York's rotation injuries, as he now has a clear runway to make 30 starts after making major improvements (2.85 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) in an injury-shortened 2024 season. He may miss a couple starts at the outset of the season, but his shoulder injury is viewed as a minor issue.
