The Free Library of Philadelphia

                        Initiated by the efforts of Dr. William Pepper, the Free Library of Philadelphia was chartered in 1891 as "a general library which shall be free to all." The library opened in March 1894.The Free Library is home to 54 locations and 7.2 million circulating items. In addition, the system has free Wi-Fi at each of its locations and nearly 1,000 public access computers, making it one of the largest providers of free internet in Philadelphia.

           It has several rare and unique special collections. The Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library features one of the world’s most renowned Charles Dickens collections—featuring first editions, personal letters, and Dickens’s stuffed pet raven, Grip—as well as the largest Beatrix Potter collection outside of the United Kingdom. The Department also houses robust collections of cuneiform tablets, medieval and Oriental manuscripts, and Pennsylvania German fraktur, as well as the extensive Children’s Literature Research Collection.

     In addition to the collections housed in the Rare Book Department, the Free Library also features the Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music, which is the largest lending library of orchestral music in the world. The Library’s Automobile Reference Collection is one of the most extensive public resources of its kind, and the Print and Picture Collection houses roughly half-a-million circulating pictures in the largest public picture lending library in the nation, in addition to thousands of fine art prints, drawings, and photographs. The Free Library also has an extensive special collection devoted to maps.

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul - Philadelphia

               Francis Patrick Kenrick initiated the building of this magnificent Church in 1846. It was continued through the tenure of Saint John Neumann and completed in 1864 by Bishop (later Archbishop) Wood. The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is modeled after the Lombard Church of Saint Charles (San Carlo al Corso) in Rome. It is an excellent example of Roman-Corinthian architecture. 

      With its majestic facade, vaulted dome, ornate main altar, eight impressive side chapels, and main sanctuary the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is one of the largest brownstone and architecturally-eminent structures in the City of Philadelphia. The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is ranked among the outstandingly beautiful and architecturally perfect structures in Philadelphia and in the United States.

A LESSON IN MEDITATION

Concentration on the Breath

A very simple way of meditating is concentrating on your breath. The breath is like a bridge between your body and mind. When you concentrate on your breath for a while, your body becomes relaxed and your mind becomes peaceful.

• Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight.
• Place your hands in your lap with the left hand on the bottom.
• Keep your eyes half-closed or closed.
• Concentrate on the tip of your nose. Notice your breath going in and out.

Lotus posture

Full lotus is the best sitting posture. Begin by sitting in half-lotus, then work your way up to full lotus.

• Full-lotus- Sit on the edge of a cushion. Place your left ankle on your right thigh. Then lift your right ankle onto your left thigh.
• Half-lotus- Lift your left ankle onto your right thigh.

Note: It is best to sit at the same time and place everyday. Increase your sitting time little
by little. You may sit in a chair or stand if necessary.

A day out in Philadelphia

           Philadelphia  is the largest city in the  Pennsylvania and the fifth-most-populous city in the United States.It is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.
                   In 1682, William Penn founded the city to serve as capital of Pennsylvania Colony.By the 1750s it was the largest city and busiest port in British America.During the American Revolution, Philadelphia played an instrumental role as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787. Philadelphia was one of the nation's capitals during the Revolutionary War, and the city served as the temporary U.S. capital while Washington, D.C., was under construction. During the 19th century, Philadelphia became a major industrial center and railroad hub that grew from an influx of European immigrants. It became a prime destination for African Americans during the Great Migration and surpassed two million occupants by 1950.

Reading Terminal Market

Midway between Old City and Broad Street is the Reading Terminal Market, with dozens of take-out restaurants, specialty food vendors, and small grocery store operators, a few of which are operated by Amish farmers from nearby Lancaster County.

Franklin Institute

City Hall

Philadelphia Art Museum

The city contains many art museums, such as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Rodin Museum. The city's major art museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is one of the largest art museums in the United States.