The focus of this issue, being always conceived of with its usual and overall emphasis on Nonduality and Universality, falls upon the sacred traditions of Jainism, Tibetan Buddhism, Tantra, and Vedanta, with tidbits of all the other religions of the world present and included in revolving fashion. As a mention and an invitation, the Nectar staff asks for writers associated with Taoism, Zoroastrianism, American Indian, and Western Philosophy to submit articles on their respective faiths and ideologies. It seems that in our eight-year history of producing and distributing a religious and philosophical publication, it has been hardest for us to find authors and practitioners from these four paths to contribute to the journal. If you profess these paths, or know anyone who does who is capable of writing an article to share, please get in touch with us at your earliest convenience. We welcome to the present issue of Nectar a follow-up article on Jainism, a radio interview from the 1970s by Lex Hixon on “Divine Mother Transmission,” an article in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition on destroying delusion by the honorable Anam Thubten Rinpoche, and another article by D.S. Lokanath out of Portland, Oregon. Additionally, we are very gratified to see another of our guru’s articles in print, transcribed from a host of programs I myself recorded at the Vedanta Society of Oregon when he was still alive. In tandem with his discourse, I have offered a fresh article called “The Illusion of Change,” designed to complement the nondual message so expertly put forth by him. May the guru be pleased!

“This Is a Novel to Retain in Your Heart and Library” —Milwaukee Journal In the sun-baked fields of rural India, Rukmani and Nathan toil side by side, their love woven into the very fabric of the land. Their days are marked by the rhythm of seasons—the planting of rice saplings, the monsoon rains that breathe life into parched soil, and the harvest that sustains their family. But life is not idyllic. Famine stalks the village, and hunger gnaws at their bellies. Rukmani clings to hope, her spirit unyielding even as the world shifts around her. She witnesses the encroachment of modernity—the distant hum of factories, the allure of city lights—and wonders if progress will bring salvation or destruction. As Rukmani’s children grow, so do their dreams. Selvam, the eldest, seeks education beyond the village; Irawaddy, the daughter, yearns for love and security. Through it all, Rukmani remains the heart of their home, her hands stained with the colors of life—earth, blood, and sweat. Nectar in a Sieve is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Kamala Markandaya’s prose weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and endurance. Amidst the harsh realities of poverty and change, Rukmani’s unwavering love for Nathan becomes a beacon—a nectar that sustains them through hardship. “An elemental book. It has something better than power, the truth of distilled experience.” —New York Herald Tribune “Unique in poetic beauty, in classically restrained and controlled tragedy.”—Dorothy Canfield Fisher, noted author and critic “Will wring your hearts.”—Associated Press “A superb job in telling her story.”—Christian Science Monitor

Touching upon various aspects like meditation, prayer and faith, Drops of Nectar, authored by one of the most revered Indian spiritual master, enriches our life and nourishes our soul. It esonates with the message of peace and helps each of us to find it for ourselves. Simple and profound, the book is a guiding light to lead a more fulfilling and joyful life.

This book reports on new theories and applications in the field of intelligent systems and computing. It covers cutting-edge computational and artificial intelligence methods, advances in computer vision, big data, cloud computing, and computation linguistics, as well as cyber-physical and intelligent information management systems. The respective chapters are based on selected papers presented at the workshop on intelligent systems and computing, held during the International Conference on Computer Science and Information Technologies, CSIT 2020, which was jointly organized on September 23-26, 2020, by the Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine, the Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, Ukraine, and the Technical University of Lodz, Poland, under patronage of Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Given its breadth of coverage, the book provides academics and professionals with extensive information and a timely snapshot of the field of intelligent systems, and is sure to foster new discussions and collaborations among different groups.