The Great Western Vehicle is a 4th Wheel Buddhist tradition that seeks to teach Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practices within the context of any culture or religious tradition. They are not interested in Buddhism as a religion, but as a philosophy and practice strategy (dharma) that any one can follow to enlightenment, regardless of their cultural or religious background.
Like the Charismatic Christian movements, the Great Western Vehicle is a Charismatic movement within Buddhism and professes to teach Ecstatic Buddhism. Ecstatic Buddhism is interested in developing the charisms, which they call fruit (phala). These charisms, or fruit (phala) are developed through leading a contemplative life.
The fruit (phala) of the contemplative life is very much like the “sign-gifts” of the Holy Spirit, which are the charisms of prophesy, healing, and speaking in tongues, as described in the Christian Gospels 1 Corinthians 12. Ecstatic Buddhists and the Great Western Vehicle look to the Discourses of the Buddha where the fruit (phala) of the contemplative life is described in detail, and most notably in the Samaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) “The Discourse on the Fruits of the Contemplative Life”
Like the Charismatic Christian movements, the Great Western Vehicle is a Charismatic movement within Buddhism and professes to teach Ecstatic Buddhism. Ecstatic Buddhism is interested in developing the charisms, which they call fruit (phala). These charisms, or fruit (phala) are developed through leading a contemplative life.
The fruit (phala) of the contemplative life is very much like the “sign-gifts” of the Holy Spirit, which are the charisms of prophesy, healing, and speaking in tongues, as described in the Christian Gospels 1 Corinthians 12. Ecstatic Buddhists and the Great Western Vehicle look to the Discourses of the Buddha where the fruit (phala) of the contemplative life is described in detail, and most notably in the Samaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) “The Discourse on the Fruits of the Contemplative Life”
Dr Dimitrios Buhalis is an academic and consultant specialising in strategic marketing and management for tourism and in particular in the use of Information Communication Technologies for Tourism or eTourism. He is currently Established Chair in Tourism at the Bournemouth University. Professor Buhalis is responsible for eTourism research and for incorporating eTourism in all aspects of tourism teaching and research.
He was previously programme leader of the MSc in eTourism and MSc in Tourism Marketing, leader of eTourism Research, and leader in Business Information Management at the School of Management, University of Surrey, where he was elected member of the University Senate (2003-2007). Buhalis is also Adjunct Professor for the MBA in Hospitality Management at the IMHI (Cornell University-École supérieure des sciences économiques et commerciales) in Paris, and Professor Associado at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He has been teaching tourism related subjects in more than 30 universities around the world. He is regarded as an expert in the impacts of ICTs in the tourism industry and eTourism, the management of tourism distribution channels, as well as strategic tourism marketing and management. Buhalis has been involved with a number of European Commission FP5 and FP6 projects and regularly advises the World Tourism Organisation, the World Tourism and Travel Council, and the European Commission in the field of information technology and tourism. Buhalis is still an active tourism practitioner, listing the positions of marketing manager and webmaster for his family Hotel Segas, and non-executive director of yourholidays.com, an online travel agency.
He has written or co-edited a total of 10 books, including two books on the future of tourism, Tourism Business Frontiers and Tourism Management Dynamics, published by Butterworth-Heinemann. He has also written eTourism: Strategic Information Technology for Tourism, which was published by Pearson (Prentice Hall/Financial Times), Tourism Distribution Channels (Thomson), managing alliances in the global hospitality and tourism industry, and a series three books on IT and tourism. He has also published more than 80 articles in scholarly journals, books, conference proceedings and consultancy reports. He served as Chairman of the scientific committee of the ENTER'98, 'Â’99, and 2000 conferences on Tourism and Information Technology, as well as ENTER Destinations Chair for 2002 and ENTER Overall Chair in 2003.
He was previously programme leader of the MSc in eTourism and MSc in Tourism Marketing, leader of eTourism Research, and leader in Business Information Management at the School of Management, University of Surrey, where he was elected member of the University Senate (2003-2007). Buhalis is also Adjunct Professor for the MBA in Hospitality Management at the IMHI (Cornell University-École supérieure des sciences économiques et commerciales) in Paris, and Professor Associado at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He has been teaching tourism related subjects in more than 30 universities around the world. He is regarded as an expert in the impacts of ICTs in the tourism industry and eTourism, the management of tourism distribution channels, as well as strategic tourism marketing and management. Buhalis has been involved with a number of European Commission FP5 and FP6 projects and regularly advises the World Tourism Organisation, the World Tourism and Travel Council, and the European Commission in the field of information technology and tourism. Buhalis is still an active tourism practitioner, listing the positions of marketing manager and webmaster for his family Hotel Segas, and non-executive director of yourholidays.com, an online travel agency.
He has written or co-edited a total of 10 books, including two books on the future of tourism, Tourism Business Frontiers and Tourism Management Dynamics, published by Butterworth-Heinemann. He has also written eTourism: Strategic Information Technology for Tourism, which was published by Pearson (Prentice Hall/Financial Times), Tourism Distribution Channels (Thomson), managing alliances in the global hospitality and tourism industry, and a series three books on IT and tourism. He has also published more than 80 articles in scholarly journals, books, conference proceedings and consultancy reports. He served as Chairman of the scientific committee of the ENTER'98, 'Â’99, and 2000 conferences on Tourism and Information Technology, as well as ENTER Destinations Chair for 2002 and ENTER Overall Chair in 2003.
eTourism is defined as the use of information telecommunication technology (ICT's) in the tourism industry. This include all intranet, extranet and internet applications as well as all the strategic management and marketing issues related to the use of technology.
Operations
Dimitrios Buhalis (2003) in his eTourism book concluded that ICTs include the entire range of electronic tools, which facilitate the operational and strategic management of organisations by enabling them to manage their information, functions and processes as well as to communicate interactively with their stakeholders for achieving their mission and objectives. Thus, ICTs emerge as an integrated system of networked equipment and software, which enables effective data processing and communication for organisational benefit towards transforming organisations to eBusinesses.
Purpose
ICTs and the Internet enabled tourism organisations to develop their processes and adapt their management to take advantage of the emerging digital tools and mechanisms to:
* Increase their internal efficiency and manage their capacity and yields better. For example an airline’s reservations system allows the company to manage their inventory more efficiently and the managers to increase occupancy levels. They also incorporate sophisticated yield management systems that support organisations to adjust their pricing to demand fluctuations in order to maximise their profitability.
* interact effectively with consumers and personalise the product. For example, British Airways has launched a strategy to enable passengers to undertake a number of processes, including booking, ticketing, check-in and seat and meal selection, from the convenience of their computer.
* Revolutionise tourism intermediation and increase the points of sale. For example, Expedia , Lastminute.com, Orbitz and Opodo have emerged as the most dominant electronic travel agencies, offering an one-stop-shop for consumers.
* Empower consumers to communicate with other consumers. For example www.virtualtourists.com or www.igoyougo.com supports the exchange of destination information and tips, whilst www.untied.com or www.alitaliasacks.com enable dissatisfied customers to make their views available.
* Support efficient cooperation between partners in the value system. For example Pegasus enables independent hotels to distribute their availability through their web sites and other partners online.
* Enhance the operational and geographic scope by offering strategic tools for global expansion.
Operations
Dimitrios Buhalis (2003) in his eTourism book concluded that ICTs include the entire range of electronic tools, which facilitate the operational and strategic management of organisations by enabling them to manage their information, functions and processes as well as to communicate interactively with their stakeholders for achieving their mission and objectives. Thus, ICTs emerge as an integrated system of networked equipment and software, which enables effective data processing and communication for organisational benefit towards transforming organisations to eBusinesses.
Purpose
ICTs and the Internet enabled tourism organisations to develop their processes and adapt their management to take advantage of the emerging digital tools and mechanisms to:
* Increase their internal efficiency and manage their capacity and yields better. For example an airline’s reservations system allows the company to manage their inventory more efficiently and the managers to increase occupancy levels. They also incorporate sophisticated yield management systems that support organisations to adjust their pricing to demand fluctuations in order to maximise their profitability.
* interact effectively with consumers and personalise the product. For example, British Airways has launched a strategy to enable passengers to undertake a number of processes, including booking, ticketing, check-in and seat and meal selection, from the convenience of their computer.
* Revolutionise tourism intermediation and increase the points of sale. For example, Expedia , Lastminute.com, Orbitz and Opodo have emerged as the most dominant electronic travel agencies, offering an one-stop-shop for consumers.
* Empower consumers to communicate with other consumers. For example www.virtualtourists.com or www.igoyougo.com supports the exchange of destination information and tips, whilst www.untied.com or www.alitaliasacks.com enable dissatisfied customers to make their views available.
* Support efficient cooperation between partners in the value system. For example Pegasus enables independent hotels to distribute their availability through their web sites and other partners online.
* Enhance the operational and geographic scope by offering strategic tools for global expansion.
The Early Demo Tape is an untitled audio cassette recording that was recorded independently by American pop/rock group Hanson. Every song was sung completely in A Capella and it was recorded a short time after The Beginnings, when Hanson turned from Christian music to Secular music.
Recorded in 1992 for promotional use only, it was never released to the public. The demo consisted of an equal variety of original songs as well as covers.
Though Hanson themselves have never acknowledged the existence of these recordings and have stated that they are only rumors, several fans have managed to find them through the internet.
Track listing
All songs except tracks #5, #6, #7, #8, and #9 written by Isaac Hanson and Taylor Hanson. (Zachary Hanson, at only 6 years old, was too young to write at this time.)
*Track #5 originally recorded by Bobby Darin (1958)
*Track #6 originally recorded by Chuck Berry (1958)
*Track #7 originally recorded by Bobby Day (1958)
*Track #8 originally recorded by Eddie Cochran (1958)
*Track #9 originally recorded by The Beach Boys (1988)
Track #2 was also released on Hanson's first independent album, Boomerang and on their fan club's 5-track MOE Enhanced CD.
# "Pick Me Up"
# "Rain (Falling Down)"
# "Day Dreams In The Night"
# "The Magic Of Love"
# "Splish Splash (I Was Takin' A Bath)"
# "Johnny B. Goode"
# "Rockin' Robin"
# "Summertime Blues"
# "Kokomo"
Recorded in 1992 for promotional use only, it was never released to the public. The demo consisted of an equal variety of original songs as well as covers.
Though Hanson themselves have never acknowledged the existence of these recordings and have stated that they are only rumors, several fans have managed to find them through the internet.
Track listing
All songs except tracks #5, #6, #7, #8, and #9 written by Isaac Hanson and Taylor Hanson. (Zachary Hanson, at only 6 years old, was too young to write at this time.)
*Track #5 originally recorded by Bobby Darin (1958)
*Track #6 originally recorded by Chuck Berry (1958)
*Track #7 originally recorded by Bobby Day (1958)
*Track #8 originally recorded by Eddie Cochran (1958)
*Track #9 originally recorded by The Beach Boys (1988)
Track #2 was also released on Hanson's first independent album, Boomerang and on their fan club's 5-track MOE Enhanced CD.
# "Pick Me Up"
# "Rain (Falling Down)"
# "Day Dreams In The Night"
# "The Magic Of Love"
# "Splish Splash (I Was Takin' A Bath)"
# "Johnny B. Goode"
# "Rockin' Robin"
# "Summertime Blues"
# "Kokomo"