Just to give you an idea of what the journey has been like so far, we'll start with introductions. I'm a 25-year-old single mother of four, passionate about spiritual life, photography, experimental cooking, excited about learning, in love with the world, and quite possibly married to my camera. Somehow I managed to have four daughters in five years. Some think I've accomplished an amazing feat, and others think I'm bloody insane. I'm probably the latter because at some point I want more children. My body, however, may disagree (along with my mother).

My daughters: Radhe Shyam and Sadhana Bhakti, "The Twins", are five-years-old. They're delicate little ruffians, who relish swinging pirate swords, drawing pictures of monsters eating princesses, and obsess over the Disney Princess phenomenon.  Fighting and loving each other, protecting and supporting one another. They have such different personalities, but such strong karma that brought them into this world together. The middle child: Nitya-priya. She's 3, rambunctious, inquisitive, affectionate,  and more than often dynamite. She's always amazing me with how much understanding she has of the world. She is fearless, causing me great, and constant worry. And then there's the baby, Vedavati Emily ("Darth Vader" my father likes to call her), who's nearly 9 months-old. The quiet, congruous little Capricorn. Serious, quiet, and cautious. She almost reminds me of a wise intelligent elderly person, who has great knowledge of the world, and takes all things in her own calm stride.

In the past two months we have rocked the boat on a large scale. I left my marriage and flew with my girls across the globe from the United States to where I spent the first 19 years of my life, New Zealand, to start a new, secure life for my children and myself. Since arriving here we have gone from being dependant on everyone to completely independent (as independent as one can be), living in our own home in a small out-of-this-world seaside town on the outskirts of Auckland. The twins began their adventure into primary education over a week ago and are loving it. Nitya, Veda, and I have been reconnecting with old friends and having fun walking along Auckland's hidden West Coast beaches, drinking mocha latte's, fluffies (milk foam with chocolate scattered on top), and enjoying the Spring that has finally emerged in the Southern Hemisphere.

So, our life begins now, a new beginning. And this blog will hopefully help me document my experiences, and share them with the world.

1. Nitya - Nitya Japam is the daily recitation. It could be as simple as the repetitive names or short slokams one says as part of the daily prayer.

2. Naimittika - This type of recitation is done for specific circumstances or during specific times. An example could be the recitation one does before embarking on a journey.

3. Kaamya - This type of recitation is when a person has a specific goal in mind and meditates to obtain that specific result.

4. Nishidda - The forbidden recitations are called Nishidda. These could comprise of certain restrictions during certain times. An example is when Sandhyavandanam is beign performed, one is not allowed to recite certain Japa mantras.

5. Prayaschitta - These set of mantra japams are meant for atoning from one's sins. It is when a person is cognisant of their mistake and want to do japams to repent their mistakes.

6. Chala - Chala is when the meditation is done when one is mobile.

7. Achala - Achala is when the meditation is done when one is immobile.

8. Upaamsu - This type of meditation is when the mantras are whispered rather than said aloud

9. Vaachika - This is the articulate type of meditation where one uses words to connote to the object of meditation.

10. Bramara - This is when the words are hummed like the buzz of the bees.

11. Manasa - This is when the meditation is done in the mind.

12. Akhanda  - It is said that when one perseveres and consistently meditates, the habit will become sub-conscious like the very breath one takes. This is the incessant meditation.

13. Ajapa - This is the where words are not used. This form of meditation takes the breathing process of Inhalation and Exhalation as the object of the Japam. This is the inarticulate form of meditation

14. Pradakshina - This form of Japam is when the person circumambulates the source and chants the Mantra while doing so.

Essas inovações vêm se juntar às soluções lançadas recentemente, tais como aplicações de sílicas para reforço de borracha e EVA, aplicações de intermediários químicos em poliuretano para calçados, a tecnologia Rhodiaeco para curtimento de couro, além da nova versão do Solsys – um software sofisticado para ajudar na escolha do melhor sistema de solventes.

Desenvolvidos nos laboratórios da Rhodia no Brasil, que atuam em rede com os centros de pesquisa da empresa em todo o mundo, essas novidades reforçam a participação da empresa no setor. Em média, por ano, 8% do faturamento da empresa no País são obtidos com vendas de produtos e soluções que entram na fabricação de couro, componentes e calçados.

Valorização da cadeia produtiva - “Temos um ‘pipeline’ de novas soluções bem variado para o segmento. Anualmente, há pelos menos duas dezenas de projetos nas diferentes fases de desenvolvimento, desde a etapa inicial de prospecção da idéia original até quando a solução é comercializada”, explica Antonio Sergio Luvizeto, diretor da Rhodia Intermediários América Latina e coordenador do projeto Footwear Technology.

Segundo ele, a estratégia de desenvolvimento de novas soluções da Rhodia tem em vista a valorização da indústria de calçados do Brasil, o terceiro maior produtor mundial. Esta indústria passa no momento por uma fase de recuperação, tanto no mercado interno quanto em exportações, oferecendo produtos de maior valor, que incorporam tecnologias e inovações para atender aos desejos dos consumidores.

“Todos nós queremos um calçado que alie características e atributos importantes, tais como conforto, qualidade, design e custos adequados”, acrescenta Luvizeto. A relação da empresa com o segmento coureiro-calçadista - observa – inclui a participação em exposições e feiras do porte da Fimec, que reúne os mais importantes produtores do setor e conta com a participação de profissionais de todo o mundo.

REFERÊNCIA:
PORTAL FATOR BRASIL. Tecnologia e inovação fazem Rhodia ampliar participação no setor calçadista nacional. Dispoível em: <http://www.revistafator.com.br>. Acesso em: 03 Mai 2008

Jesús Ferrero: Bélver Yin (Plaza&Janés)