Designing A Successful Training Program - 1910 Words

In order to create a successful training program, ConAgra Foods has to have analyzed their organization, personnel, and tasks to ensure what kind of training is necessary. After, assessing the organization s needs, it s clear ConAgra Foods main objective for its new training program is to focus on providing its sales team with new skills; so every one of its salespeople â€Å"know their product lines and customers so well they can serve as trusted advisors† (Noe et al., 202). This means each employee needs to be trained in understanding financial data and how sales affect ConAgra’s profits. To accomplish this goal, the company has opened up a system to share training resources in hopes of meeting each individual s needs. To track employee†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, by being able to track progress all the way through the program, a manager can see what training methods were beneficial and areas which may need to be improved. When developing the training program, the company planned well for ways to measure the results. This truly gives ConAgra a competitive advantage over companies who do not evaluate their training methods. ConAgra decided to expand their training efforts to include the first-line supervisors, because these members may not have had a chance to practice how to become a leader of individuals and teams. The purpose of the training program was to have its supervisors â€Å"understand what is involved in being a leader at ConAgra Foods so their groups can provide better results† (Noe et al., 202). To track the success of the members, employee surveys were used to add feedback and develop new training procedures where improvement was needed. Overall, the program proved to have decreased employee turnover. Economically speaking, the results proved to have saved the company roughly â€Å"$116,100 for every class of 28 supervisors trained† (Noe et al., 202). According to the company website, when comparing â€Å"600 trained and 1,600 untrained supervisors...Those who went through the training also were nearly twice as likely to be promoted† (ConAgra Brands). Clearly, ConAg ra’s training methods prove to be beneficial, has helped supervisor succeed and beShow MoreRelatedTraining : Training Need Assessment1544 Words   |  7 PagesTraining Need Assessment INTRODUCTION Training is one of the mediations of human resource development process for cultivating competency, and for the critical goal of raising the standard of an organization’s performance. Training programs are focused on developing activities, that are appropriate and applicable to guarantee the success of an organization’s needs. Identifying of training needs hold the key to the attainment of any training program. Based on training need assessments, training programsRead MoreSchool Based Mentoring Programs ( Sbmp )919 Words   |  4 PagesSchool-based mentoring programs (SBMP) have become widely used due to their presumptuously simple implementation and effective results; however, they remain to be scientifically under-developed and require integrity during implementation (Miller et al., 2013; Smith Stormont, 2011). Undoubtedly, SBMP have been shown to improve students: attitudes, confidence, school engagement, school performance, behaviour, vocational skills, and emotio nal and social skills (Converse Lignugaris/Kraft, 2009; MillerRead MoreDeveloping a Performance Appraisal System1063 Words   |  5 Pagesshould be supportive of organizational, departmental, and position goals. Assign 3to 5 goals in order to maintain focus on priorities. For example: Supervisor, Manager, or Director implements a reinforcement and reward program for supervised employees that provide programs. Program outline to be completed by the end of the month in the New Year. Different Approaches According to Allan amp; Rosenberg (1981), the system should be based on behavior results; not ambiguous employee characteristicsRead MoreBenefits Of A Person Focused Pay Program1409 Words   |  6 PagesPerson-focused pay systems convey that employees need to move away from viewing pay as a privilege. Simply, person-focused pay programs use compensation as a reward earned for gaining and fulfilling job relevant knowledge and skills (Stasheen, 2015). Likewise, it is contended that, the person-focused pay plan offers job enrichment and variation, and potentially flexibility in scheduling. Further, it can also allow a person to remain with one organization and learn the organization completely.Read MoreUrban Outfitters, Inc.. Employee Self Assessment Form.739 Words   |  3 PagesEmployee Self Assessment Form Employee Name: Jasmine Tate Department: Training Employee Title: Training Coordinator Manager Name: Alisha Traynum Accomplishments (Describe your accomplishments in the past year against mutually understood goals and objectives for the position. Also, list any accomplishments you achieved which were outside of your general job role.) Instructed over 435 agents to prepare them to be successful employees at URBN Throughout the holiday classes, I increased my teachingRead MoreTraining Is the Answer an Article by Rob Rosner639 Words   |  3 Pages Article Summary Rob Rosner’s 1999 article titled Training is the answer ... but what was the question? 20 questions to make sure your training really works. starts with a cautionary tale about training seminars gone bad. The author conveys an incident at a health care training seminar where the trainer’s admission of knowing nothing about health care, derailed the training program before it even started. After the conclusion of the seminar, the trainer presented his participants with a congratulatoryRead MoreEmployee Learning in Terms of Training and Development920 Words   |  4 PagesRecord a five minute video describing the topics covered in this course and how that material will be applicable in your career. Post the video to the forum and respond to your peers. I will be discussing the employee learning in terms of training and development. Incidental vs. Intentional learning Learning is something that happens all the time whether or not one’s aware of it. If a power failure occurs and you loose some data, do you learn anything? If you say to yourself, I must rememberRead MoreSample Resume : Customer Service Essay1398 Words   |  6 Pageslanguage and the importance of using it when speaking with customers. 3. Demonstrate a consistent, professional style when talking with customers. 4. Prepare the employees to manage demanding customers and difficult circumstances (â€Å"Customer Service Training,†n.d.). The Main Topics with subtopics are: 1. Define excellent customer service. †¢ What does excellent service look and feel like? †¢ Discuss experiences of good and bad customer service. †¢ Describe the responsibilities of customer service. 2. ManageRead MoreTraining1351 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Training can... Help ensure that employees have skills to work with new technology. Help employees understand how to work effectively in teams to contribute to product and service quality. Ensure that the company’s culture emphasizes innovation, creativity, and learning. Ensure employment security by providing new ways for employees to contribute when their : jobs change or interests change skills become obsolete Training is a planned effort by a company to facilitate the learning ofRead MoreStarbucks - Case analysis and problem solving1123 Words   |  5 Pagesdecade of astounding financial performance with increasing sales from $697 million to 7.8 billion, net profit from $36 million to 40 million and ROIC was 25.5%. These superior financial performances resulted from the excellent coffeehouse format with designing stores to create a relaxed, informal, and comfortable atmosphere and selling premium roasted coffee, freshly brewed espresso-style coffee beverages, a variety of pastries, coffee accessories, teas, and other products in a coffeehouse setting. This

Punishment And The Criminal Justice System - 1776 Words

If we accept that punishment is justified in certain circumstances, then, ideally, it should only be incurred by individuals whose actions warrant punishment. I think, at least amongst civilised society, this opinion cannot be disputed. The difficult question is not whether punishment should be deserved, but when punishment should be deserved. The quotation above suggests that in order to be worthy of punishment, the defendant must have consciously chosen to have committed the wrong of which he or she stands accused. However, as the UK criminal justice system demonstrates, strict compliance with this principle is often impractical. This essay will investigate the legislation that seems to challenge the ‘conscious choice’ principle, before considering whether or not this legislation compromises the value of the criminal justice system. Before we contemplate the types of behaviour that deserve punishment, it is essential that we understand why ‘deserved punishment’ is a fundamental premise of the criminal justice system. In order to do this, we will need to consider the different justifications for punishment. As Wilson considers, theories of punishment have historically ‘fallen into one of two categories’; they can be identified as either a retributive theory or a utilitarian (consequentialist) theory.[1] Retributive theories suggest that punishment can only be justified if the punishment itself has some inherent moral value; it cannot be ‘made right’ by its positiveShow MoreRelatedCriminal Punishment And The Criminal Justice System1193 Words   |  5 Pagesthe criminal justice system apply as much influence over the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of criminal offenders as the final sentencing decision. Judges have an extensive range of sentencing options. 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Research studies have also added fuel to the debate in regardsRead MorePunishment Of A Crime And Criminal Justice System994 Words   |  4 Pages The history of punishment in Americ a has had multiple changes in order for the rules and regulations to adapt to societies changing ways. The most common punishment is jail time or imprisonment, however in this date and age time punishment is not the only option to punish a criminal of the society, probation, parole, house arrest and even being put in solitary confinement, or worse the death penalty are options. With this in mind we must as a society and criminal justice system be able to applyRead MoreJuvenile Justice System Is Not The Punishment Of The Criminals3535 Words   |  15 Pagesany community cursed with crime is not the punishment of the criminals, but the preventing of the young from being trained to crime† (Du Bois, 1903). Though W.E.B. Du Bois wrote this quote well over a century ago, it still reflects the truth we hold today. This is especially apparent when we examine the intent of the modern juvenile justice system. The juvenile justice system operates under a system referred to as juvenile court. Although this system was developed in Cook County, Illinois in theRead MoreUtilitarian Theory of Punishment in the Criminal Justice System763 Words   |  4 PagesThere is an ongoing problem in our society regarding punishment and responsibility. We, as a society, tend to look away when it comes to how criminals are being punished and maybe we should be paying more attention. Violence seems to be an integral part of our society, some raise their children with violence, we watch it on television, read it in newspapers and books and now we are even playing violent video games. 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In considering an effective punishment for an offender, the law must be mindful of both the moral and legal rights of a number of parties, including the society, the offender, and the victim, in order to achieve true justice for all (Warren 2005) - a process proving controversial and almost impossible in many cases. Whilst aiming to provide a system in whi ch citizensRead MoreCrime System And Criminal Justice System Essay1399 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: The criminal justice system has evolved on the decades. From initially being constituted by the victim to eventually becoming constituted by written laws. There have been several changes made within the justice system, so in the following I will discuss my perspectives of the researched information and the noted changes of a system that was created by the people for the people. Topic I – Victim Justice System vs. Criminal Justice System A. Responsibilities of the victim’s past/presentRead MoreThe Doctrinal Design Has Been Used To Study The Jurisprudential1425 Words   |  6 Pagesis the status of child witnesses in the Criminal Justice system? 1.6 Chapterization Scheme:It should in sentence format CHAPTER NAME CONTENTS 1. Introduction Witness assumes additional significance in adversarial system of criminal justice where the onus of proving the case lies on the prosecution and the witness of prosecution becomes important in the pursuit of exploring the truth. 2. Criminal Justice System in India Our adversarial criminal justice system aims at reducing the level of criminalityRead MoreThe Limits Of The Criminal Sanction Written By The Criminologist Scholar Herbert Packer Essay1619 Words   |  7 Pages The criminal justice system is finding ways and doing their absolute best to prevent crime and protect their citizens. Preventing crime is not an easy job, the system prevents crime by using their powers to arrest, prosecute, and sentences criminals to prison. Citizens need to feel safe in their environment that they are living in. However, since we are living in a constitutional and democratic society, where citizen rights need to be protected and have due process where people can be innocent

Integrated Marketing Communications Media Strategy

Question: Discuss about theIntegrated Marketing Communicationsfor Media Strategy. Answer: Media Strategy Different media mixes were strategically used to campaign towards the brand awareness increment of LOreal Company. While conducting the campaigns, both men and women aged between 20 to 60 years was the targeted audience. A similar advert slogan, LOreals shampoo beauty Master was used by all media throughout the campaign, either by voice or through designed writing. The objectives of the strategy was to prove to the public how natural LOreals shampoo is, hence, increasing the awareness of the brand in the process (Chapter 9 Advertising and Promotion, 2011). To this respect, widely used radio and TV channels, Internet Banners, and Magazine Ads are intended to be used. The Radio As one of the planned channel of communication within the strategy, radio will enable LOreal to realize an immediate sale because it reaches customers within few hours. In France, the diplomatic communication channels to be used are the Radio France, Public radio independent of Radio France, the Independent Radio Network, Independent Local Radio and Category A Stations. Use of radio in the brand awareness campaign will also allow the company to sell with intimacy. It is also an effective media because it stars the minds theatre hence, appealing most (Sebastian, 2014). TV Channels The recent study on media strategies has revealed that television in the main media of communication in the US and the rest of the world. Therefore, it is equally considerable for LOreal to increase its brands awareness. Notably, most people spend at least four hours in a day watching the television. To a greater extent, these individuals watch TV as leisure. Apparently, the highly targeted audience by LOreal comprises of the youths, who have a tendency of watch TV for entertainment purposes. Therefore, it was very strategic to incorporate TV as one of the media strategies. To this respect, widely watched TV channels such as the ABC, BBC, and the FOX are going to be used. Using television as media strategy is a fruitful idea for LOreal because it is targeting the demography (Royo-Bordonada et al., 2016). Television advertising may cover a vast array of program options. Similarly, the impacts of Televisions can be used as a complement for other media mix (Okdie, Rempala, and Garvey, 2 016). Through the TV, the viewer can be told to visit the companys brand website hence, increasing its awareness. Likewise, viewers will be encouraged via the TV to see the full catalogue of the brand in certain newspapers (Dunnhumby USA 0003, 2016). They can also be made aware of the radio stations where the awareness campaigns are also conducted. Magazines The magazine is used to increase brands awareness by posting beautiful pictures of the brand especially, in the main parts of the paper such as the front and back pages. With the current global technology level, magazines are also read online. To progressive increase, the brand of LOreal, widely read magazine are going to be used. They include the Parents, Soap Opera Digest, Real Simple, Better Homes Garden and the Vanity Fair. Like any other media strategy, use of magazine imposes a message in a most efficient way. Therefore, most ads regarding the brand will be posted in full page. Images displayed in magazines are always attractive in colours thence, impose a picture imagery on the eyes of the readers. This visual imagery attracts the readers attention, thereby, enhancing the visual presentation of the brand. To increase the performance of the magazine as media, bleed images and colour backgrounds are used. Furthermore, such performances ensure the outstanding of a brand. Magazine will also enable LOreal to attract more audience through the interesting themes. Typically, people who read magazines are interested by topics. Therefore, the pages that are likely to rhyme with the brand are identified and attached to one page. Magazines will also enable the company to reach more people by creating repeated exposure. Mostly, magazines are put in bright areas or exposed for other interested readers. For example, in most homes and businesses, there are distinct stations where they are placed for other readers. In additions, most libraries around the world have magazines sections, where newsletters and related articles are dropped for students on a daily basis. Therefore, use of publications to increase the brand awareness by LOreal Company is very useful as most people will repeatedly be reached. Unlike the radios or the televisions whose programs are rarely recorded in at homes, magazines are rarely burnt or thrown away. Besides this effectiveness, the cost of a journal may be a limiting factor for LOreal. For example, ads on a national newsletter of magazine costs thousands of dollars (Pitts, Burke, and Adams, 2014). Therefore, besides being an efficient way of increasing the brands awareness, it is very expensive. The Internet LOreal has also advanced in the line of technology. It increases its brands awareness through the web. The power of LOreal to reach the targeted audience through the internet is an innovative strategy. This media strategy is a target market mechanism, where the brand is strategically located on the website to attract 100% relevant viewers (St?tesk et al., 2016). What it takes to attract such percentage of the audience is designing a website and strategic location of the product. The internet also enables the company to have more contact with online viewers hence, increasing the brands awareness. Here, an interactive ad of shampoo is located and allow consumers to comment freely. Such comments are used by other viewers to weigh the brand. This strategy is also cost-effective. While televisions and radios ads last not more than three minutes due to other programs, internet adverts last all day and night hence, accessed by millions of online users. Therefore, the Internet is a major med ia strategic technique that is beneficial to LOreal. LOreal Company Media Plan The purpose of this media plan is to select, plan and budget for the most amicable media channels that can help LOreal to increase the awareness of its brand. Currently, LOreal is facing high completion due to the existence of so many worldwide players in the same market. Besides, these players have reputation and brand power compared to LOreal. Basically, those players have the power of the current market condition. While its competitors such as Procter Gamble had 11.5% market share in 2011, LOreal had 9.8% only. LOreal was followed so close by Unilever who had 7.8%. To excel and overtake Procter Gamble and become the worlds best manufacture and supplier of cosmetic products including shampoo, LOreal needs an effective media plan. Therefore, this part of the paper represents outsourced media strategy and the selection of the media platform for the companys brand. To this respect, all channels within the media mix i.e. the radio, television, magazines, and the internet are going to be planned for accordingly, after which the best media combination that can be effective when used by LOreal to increase its brand awareness is pointed out. Through the journey of enhancing the awareness of the brand, LOreals objectives are to engage customers by making them interact with the brand through the highlighted media devices. This interaction will help the company to shape the entire campaign process. It will also promote a sense of loyalty between the consumers and the company hence, drive more sales. Not only will the brand awareness campaign will better the existing market share for LOreal, but also make more consumers aware of the brand. In relation to this plan, the strategies used are planned for in the most appropriate manner to reach all households in Paris, Maybelline, the Asian market and the rest or the world. The target for this plan is summarised in the table below; Qualifier Index Target Women and men 20-60 153 Income per household $65,000-$70,000 125 Region Europe and Middle East 120 Radio Ads, entertainment 110 Television ads 100 Internet Shampoo website 130 magazine Ads, entertainment I50 107 The targeted audience lead an active live. Most of them are youths who love entertainment. Therefore, most ads items will be accompanied with entertainment. Shampoo, one of the products produced by LOreal, is used by most women across the globe. The planning for the increase of brand awareness affirms that most investments are going to done on the most effective and cost efficient Medias. Little funds would be allocated for the most expensive media mixes.Therefore, the media strategy planned budget is as shown below; Budget Media Cost Activities Magazine $2,500 Per Basic photography 10 $ 1,200 Per Image linked campaigns 10 TV $ 2000, 000 Per ad 30 Radio $ 4,500 1 and an extra ad. 20 Internet $ 11,000 Maintenance and ads (per month) - Campaign Evaluation $ 10,000 - - Total $ 218, 000 70 The campaign period was set to run for one month. While planning, the television, the internet, and the radio were found to be both efficient and cost friendly. At the same time, the magazine is an effective way of increasing the brands awareness, but it is very expensive. Therefore, the T.V campaigns will be conducted after every four hours every day, likewise to the radio. The internet is going to be used throughout the election period, which is expected to last for one month. In readiness to the brands awareness, $170, 000 was allocated towards the intended campaigns over the T.V and radio channels. The website banners and general website maintenance activities are expected to cost $11,000, and the magazines to be $37,000. Evaluation of the campaign is also set to be done after the one month campaign period, and is expected to cost $10,000. Hence, a total of $ 228,000 for the entire brand awareness campaigns. Evaluation of the Campaign The campaign period lasted for one month. Within this period, various media mix; the television and radio channels, widely read magazines and the internet websites were used. While conducting the campaigns, the media strategy was aiming at increasing LOreals brand by at least 70%. Fortunately, the performance of the strategy was very effective. The brands awareness increased by 10% more than expected. After the one month period, most customers were leaving other companies in favour of LOreal. This great achievement was in courtesy of the effort of all media mixes used. However, some channels came out as good performers than the rest. Therefore, the purpose of this segment of the paper is to evaluate the general campaign, and also highlight distinct performance of each media channel. To begin with, the entire process was expensive as $ 228,000 was invested. However, the Internet was a major player to ensure that the project realises its objective. Through the internet survey, it was observed that 30% of new customers interacted by the firms product vie the internet. Interestingly, this was an area that received least funds during the plan budgeting. Besides the survey, the evaluation team observed the companys shampoo website which was very impressive. The page had garnered more than $2 million likes within a period of three weeks. Also, most of the charts at the website were very positive. Both the television and the radio tied at 26% each. According to a group of customers, the picture that was used to publicize the shampoo over the various Television channels was very attractive. In respect to the radio channels, the customers really appreciated the voice of the woman used to attar the brands slogan, LOreals shampoo beauty Master. The percentage presented by the customer who are alerted by the magazines was 18%. However, these customers confessed that they first heard about the brand over television and radio, which also acted as subsidiaries for other media by directing customers to visit certain sites to get more information about the natural and valuable products offered by LOreal. The results according this campaign evaluation is presented in the pie chart below. From the above evaluation, it is evident that the internet is the best media mix. Therefore, LOreal should utilise it appropriately especially in during the next media strategy. References Chapter 9 Advertising and Promotion .2011. Community Bank Marketing Manual pp. 9.1-9.24 n.p. DunnhumbyUSA 0003. 2016. TRA, Inc. and dunnhum by USA Study Measures Impact of In-Store Marketing Tactics with Television Advertising Using Single-Source, Household Level Data', Business Wire (English), 3. Okdie, B, Rempala, D, and Garvey, K. 2016. The first shall be first and the last shall be last: YouTube, need for closure, and campaigning in the internet age. Personality Individual Differences, 89, pp. 148-151. Pitts, A, Burke, W, and Adams, J. 2014. Marketing messages in food and alcohol magazine advertisements, variations across type and nutritional content of promoted products: a content analysis. Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England), 36, 3, pp. 417-425. Roux, A, and Van der Walt, D. 2016. Toward a Model to Enhance Synergy of Out-of-Home Advertising Media Integration Strategies. Journal of Promotion Management, 22, 3, pp. 386-402 Royo-Bordonada, M, Len-Flndez, K, Damin, J, Bosqued-Estefana, M, Moya-Geromini, M, and Lpez-Jurado, L .2016. The extent and nature of food advertising to children on Spanish television in 2012 using an international food-based coding system and the UK nutrient profiling model. Public Health, 137, pp. 88-94. Sebastian, M. 2014. In Colorado, media largely reefer ad-less. Advertising Age, 85, 2, p. 12. St?tesk, V, St?tesk, M, Quigley, M, and Rha, D. 2016. Significance of demographic variables for targeting of internet advertisements. Business, Management Education / Verslas, Vadyba Ir Studijos, 14, 1, pp. 1-18.

Taoism And Buddhism (2219 words) Essay Example For Students

Taoism And Buddhism (2219 words) Essay Taoism And BuddhismTaoism and Buddhism are the two great philosophical and religious traditionsthat originated in China. Taoism began the sixth century BCE. And Buddhism cameto China from India around the second century of the Common Era. These tworeligions have shaped Chinese life and thought for nearly twenty-five hundredyears. One dominant concept in Taoism and Buddhism is the belief in some form ofreincarnation. The idea that life does not end when one die is an integral partof these religions and the culture of the Chinese people. Reincarnations, lifeafter death, and beliefs are not standardized. Each religion has a different wayof applying this concept to its beliefs. This paper will discuss thereincarnation concepts as they apply to Taoism and Buddhism, and then provide acomparison of both. Taoism The goal in Taoism is to achieve Tao, to find theWay. Tao is the ultimate reality, a presence that existed before the universewas formed and which continues to guide the world and ev erything in it. Tao issometimes identified as the Mother, or the source of all things. Thatsource is not a god or a Supreme Being, as Taoism is not monotheistic. The focusis not to worship one god, but instead to come into harmony with Tao. Tao is theessence of everything that is right, and complications exist only because peoplechoose to complicate their own lives. Desire, ambition, fame, and selfishnessare seen as hindrances to a harmonious life. One can only achieve Tao if he ridshimself of all desires. By shunning every earthly distraction, the Taoist isable to concentrate on the self. The longer the persons life, the more saintlythe person is presumed to become. Eventually the hope is to become immortal, toachieve Tao, to reach the deeper life. This is the after life for a Taoist, tobe in harmony with the universe, and to have achieved Tao. The origin of theword Tao can explain the relationship between life, and the Taoism concept oflife and death. The Chinese character for Tao is a combination of two charactersthat represent the words as head and foot. The character for foot represents theidea of a persons direction or path. The character for head represents the ideaof conscious choice. The character for head also suggests a beginning, and foot,an ending. Thus the character for Tao also conveys the continuing course of theuniverse, the circle of heaven and earth. Finally, the character for Taorepresents the Taoist idea that the eternal Tao is both moving and unmoving. Thehead in the character means the beginning, the source of all things, or Taoitself, which never moves or changes; the foot is the movement on the path. Taoism upholds the belief in the survival of the spirit after death. Taoistbelieves birth is not a beginning, and death is not an end. There is anexistence without limit. There is continuity without a starting point. Applyingreincarnation theory to Taoism is the belief that the soul never dies, apersons soul is eternal. In the writings of the Lao-Tzu Te-Tao Ching, Tao isdescribed as having existed before heaven and earth. Tao is formless, it standsalone without change and reaches everywhere without harm. The Taoist is told touse the light that is inside to revert to the natural clearness of sight. Bydivesting oneself of all external distractions and desires, only then can oneachieve Tao. In ancient days a Taoist that had transcended birth and death,achieved Tao, was said to have cut the Thread of Life. In Taoism, the soul orspirit does not die at death. The soul is not reborn, it simply migrates toanother life. This process, the Taoist version of reincarnation, is repeateduntil Tao i s achieved. The following translation from the Lao-Tzu Te-Tao Chingsummarizes the theory behind Tao and how a Taoist can achieve Tao. The Great Taoflows everywhere. It may go left or right. All things depend on it for life, andit does not turn away from them. It accomplishes its task, but dies not claimcredit for it. It clothes and feeds all things but does not claim to be masterover them. Always without desires, it may be called the Small. All things cometo it and it does not master them; it may be called the Great. Therefore (thesage) never strives himself for the great, and thereby the great is achieved. (Te-Tao Ching, Chapter 34) Buddhism The followers of the Buddha believe thatlife goes on and on in many reincarnations or rebirths. The eternal hope for allfollowers of Buddha is that through reincarnation one comes back intosuccessively better lives until one achieves the goal of being free from painand suffering and not having to come back again. This wheel of rebirth, known asSamsara, goes on forever until one achieves Nirvana. The Buddhist definition ofNirvana is the highest state of spiritual bliss, as absolute immortalitythrough absorption of the soul into itself, but preserving individuality.Birth is not the beginning and death is not the end. This cycle of life has nobeginning and can go on forever without an end. The ultimate goal for everyBuddhist, Nirvana, is to accomplish total enlightenment and liberation. Byachieving this goal, one can be liberated from the never ending round of birth,death, and rebirth. Transmigration, the Buddhist cycle of birth, death, andrebirth, d oes not involve the reincarnation of a spirit, but only the rebirth ofa consciousness containing the seeds of good and evil deeds. Buddhisms world oftransmigration encompasses three stages. The first stage concerns with desire,which goes against the teachings of Buddha. It is the lowest form and involves arebirth into hell. The second stage is one in which animals dominate. But aftermany reincarnations in this stage the spirit becomes more and more human, untilone attains a deeper spiritual understanding. At this point the Buddhistgradually begins to abandon materialism and seek a contemplative life. In thethird stage, the Buddhist is able to put his ego to the side and become purespirit, having no perception of the material world. This stage requires one tomove from perception to non-perception. And so, through many stages of spiritualevolution and numerous reincarnations, the Buddhist reaches the state ofNirvana. The transition from one stage to another, or the progression within astage is based on the actions of the Buddhist. All actions are simply thedisplay of thought, the will of man. This is caused by the persons character,and character is manufactured from karma. Karma means action or doing. Any kindof intentional action, such as mental, verbal or physical action, is regarded askarma. All good and bad actions constitute karma. A persons karma determineswhat he deserves and what goals can be achieved. What the Buddhist does in hispast life determines his present standing in life and that determines his nextlife. Buddha developed a doctrine known as the Four Noble Truths based on hisexperience and inspiration about the nature of life. These truths are the basisfor all schools of Buddhism. The fourth truth describes the way to overcomepersonal desire through the Eightfold Path. Buddha called his path the MiddleWay, because it lies between a life of luxury and a life of poverty. Noteveryone can reach the goal of Nirvana, but every Buddhist is at least on t hepath toward enlightenment. To achieve Nirvana the Buddhist must follow the stepsof the Eightfold Path. Step 1: Right Understanding is knowledge of whatlife is all about; knowledge of the Four Noble Truths is basic to any furthergrowth as a Buddhist. It includes the true understanding of ourselves, of ourreal motives, of our hopes and fears, envies and hatreds. Step 2: RightThought is those thoughts that are free from lust, form ill-will, and fromcruelty. It means a clear devotion to being on the Path toward Enlightenment. Arthur Conan Doyle EssayDesire, ambition, fame, and selfishness are seen as complications. That idea isconsistent with Buddhist teachings; it is the personal life of each individualthat gives Taoism its special form. Taoism and Buddhism perceive life, death andrebirth as a continuous cycle. This cycle has no beginning and no end. The soulis eternal, yet the soul is not the object of reincarnation. Taoist believes thesoul is not reborn, it migrates to another life. Buddhist alsobelieves the soul is not reborn, but instead a consciousness containingthe seeds of good and evil deeds is the object of rebirth. One majordifference between Taoism and Buddhism is the concept of karma. Karma refers tothe idea that actions are the display of thought, the will of man. Karmadetermines the Buddhist actions and position in life. A persons karma limitsthe goals that he can achieve. Karma determines where in the cycle of birth,death and rebirth the consciousness returns. This return can be in the f orm ofan animal or human, and the Buddhist must progress through a hierarchy toachieve Nirvana. The Taoist has no concept similar to karma, and Taoism does notmention the soul migrating to an animal form. The determining factor to oneslife is contained in the individual behavior for the Taoist. By forsakingpersonal desires in life, and by focusing on the self, one can live longer. Eventually, by following the Inner Light, immortality can be achieved. Thesimilarities between Taoism and Buddhism in the belief of life after death faroutweigh the differences. Both religions believe the individual must focus onthe self to achieve the ultimate goal. To focus on oneself, all desires andpersonal ambitions must be forsaken. One must focus on the self and the properway of life to reach immortality. The cycle of life continues indefinitely untilthe Thread of Life is broken. Only through proper living, and by following thecorrect path guided by the Inner Light, can one achieve the ultimate goal of Taoor Nirvana. BibliographyRobert G. Henricks, Lao-Tzu Te-Tao Ching ? Translated. With anintroduction and commentary, The Bodley Head, London, 1989. Dolly Facter,The Doctrine of Buddha, Phiosophical Library Inc., NY, 1965.