Sunday, January 31, 2016

Via FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba Flor do dia / Flor del día / Flower of the day 31/01/2016

“O desejo é um poder que faz as coisas se materializarem. A mente é a árvore de realização dos desejos, pois é onde eles são forjados. Você pode não perceber, mas está constantemente criando isso que chama de realidade. Você não percebe porque seus desejos, muitas vezes, são jogados nos porões do inconsciente e acabam sendo esquecidos. Mas, normalmente, os desejos inconscientes contradizem e sobrepõe os desejos conscientes, porque, sendo desconhecidos, eles ganham força e maior poder de materialização. Assim, o autoconhecimento é a única ferramenta capaz de te ajudar a criar a realidade de acordo com sua vontade consciente.”

“El deseo es un poder que hace que las cosas se materialicen. La mente es el árbol de realización de los deseos, pues es donde son forjados. Puedes no percibirlo, pero está constantemente creando eso que llamas realidad. No lo percibes porque tus deseos, muchas veces, son arrojados en los sótanos del inconsciente y terminan siendo olvidados. Pero normalmente, los deseos inconscientes contradicen y se sobreponen a los deseos conscientes, porque siendo desconocidos, ganan fuerza y mayor poder de materialización. Así el autoconocimiento es la única herramienta capaz de ayudarte a crear la realidad de acuerdo con tu voluntad consciente.” 

"Desire is a power that makes things materialize. The mind is a wish-fulfilling tree, since that is where desires are forged. You may not realize it, but you are the one creating your own reality. If you’re unaware of this, it may be because your desires are relegated to the dungeons of the unconscious, and simply end up being forgotten about. Unconscious desires usually contradict and overpower our conscious desires. The desires gain strength and have a greater power to materialize precisely because we don’t know them. Self-awareness is the only tool that can help us shape reality according to our conscious will.”

Via Daily Dharma: Painful Truths

As a teacher, one of the things that I find out about students relatively early on is whether they are interested in the real thing—do they really want the truth, or do they actually just want to feel better? Because the process of finding the truth may not be a process by which we feel increasingly better and better. 

—Adyashanti, "Bliss is a By-Product"
 

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia / Flor del día / Flower of the day 30/01/2016

“O Eu real pode se manifestar somente no momento presente. Por isso, a essência da prática espiritual é a ampliação da percepção através da auto-observação e da totalidade na ação. O seu corpo é o instrumento para essa prática cuja base é a atenção plena; é estar completamente presente a cada singular instante e atitude. Portanto, ao perceber-se tragado por sentimentos negativos, traga a atenção para o momento e lembre-se de ocupar o seu corpo.”

“El Yo real puede manifestarse solamente en el momento presente. Por eso, la esencia de la práctica espiritual es la ampliación de la percepción a través de la auto-observación y de la totalidad en la acción. Tu cuerpo es el instrumento para esta práctica cuya base es la atención plena, es estar completamente presente a cada singular instante y actitud. Por lo tanto, al percibirte tragado por sentimientos negativos, trae tu atención al momento y recuérdate de ocupar tu cuerpo.”

"The true self can only manifest in the present moment. Therefore, the essence of spiritual practices is to expand our perception through self-observation and wholeness in action. Your body is the instrument for this practice, whose foundation is mindfulness. The basis is to be fully present in every single moment and action. If you realize that you are being brought down by negative feelings, bring your attention to the present moment and remember to occupy your body.”

Via Daily Dharma: Buddhist Faith

As a factor of the Buddhist path, faith (saddha) does not mean blind belief but a willingness to accept on trust certain propositions that we cannot, at our present stage of development, personally verify for ourselves. 

—Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, "The Role of Faith"
 

Friday, January 29, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia / Flor del día / Flower of the day 29/01/2016

“Precisamos ir além de qualquer vestígio de discriminação; de qualquer resquício de separação, por mais sutil que seja. Precisamos aprender a olhar para dentro e não para fora, compreendendo que cada grupo de almas tem seu papel no processo evolutivo da humanidade. Esse é o trabalho que tenho proposto: a cura das feridas ancestrais e a harmonização com as nossas raízes, o que representa um resgate de nós mesmos, porque somos Um - uma só família. Mas temos fechado nossos olhos para alguns de nossos familiares.”

“Necesitamos ir más allá de cualquier vestigio de discriminación, de cualquier resquicio de separación, por más sutil que sea. Necesitamos aprender a mirar hacia adentro y no hacia afuera, comprendiendo que cada grupo de almas tiene su papel en el proceso evolutivo de la humanidad. Este es el trabajo que he propuesto: la cura de las heridas ancestrales y la armonización con nuestras raíces, lo que representa un rescate de nosotros mismos, porque somos Uno – una sola familia. Pero hemos cerrado nuestros ojos para algunos de nuestros familiares.”

"We need to go beyond any vestige of discrimination and any trace of separation, however subtle it may be. We must learn to look inward rather than outward, understanding that each group of souls plays a role in the evolutionary process of humanity. The work I propose involves healing our ancestral wounds and harmonizing with our roots. This in turn means rescuing our selves, because ultimately, we are one and the same. We are one family, but in one way or another we have turned out backs on some of our family members.”

Via Daily Dharma: The Limits of Niceness

The second lesson of karma is that just as you’re the primary architect of your own happiness and suffering, other people are the primary architects of theirs. If you really want them to be happy, you don’t just treat them nicely. You also want them to learn how to create the causes for happiness. 

—Thanissaro Bhikkhu, "Head & Heart Together"
 

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Via Equality House / FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia / Flor del día / Flower of the day 27/01/2016

“A lei do karma determina que toda a ação tem uma reação. O karma individual está entrelaçado ao karma coletivo, ou seja, as crises e conflitos que vemos hoje no mundo são produto das nossas crises e conflitos internos. Momentos como esse que estamos vivendo trazem lições para todos nós. Mas não podemos esquecer de outra lei soberana: o livre arbítrio. Foi através de nossas escolhas que chegamos e é através das nossas escolhas que poderemos evoluir.”

“La ley del karma determina que toda acción tiene una reacción. El karma individual está entrelazado al karma colectivo, es decir, las crisis y conflictos que vemos hoy en el mundo son producto de nuestras crisis y conflictos internos. Momentos como este que estamos viviendo, traen lecciones para todos nosotros. Pero no podemos olvidarnos de otra ley soberana: el libre albedrío. Fue a través de nuestras elecciones que llegamos y es a través de nuestras elecciones que podremos evolucionar.”

"The law of karma states that every action has a reaction. Since the individual karma is intertwined with the collective karma, the crises and conflicts we see in the world today are the product of our internal crises and conflicts. Times such as these bring lessons for all of us. And we cannot forget another sovereign law: free will. It was through our choices that we got here and it is through our choices that we can evolve.”

Via Dialy Dharma: Unmarked by Drama

Our true nature is like the infinite sky, unmarked by whatever drama temporarily appears in its vast space.  

—Kittisaro, "Tangled in Thought"
 

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

NSFW: The Last Thing on My Mind (Official Video)

Why music videos need more nude men

In their latest video, Welsh band the Joy Formidable attack the industry’s obsession with objectifying women. Here, singer Ritzy Bryan explains why she wants more bulges and erections and fewer taboos

make the jump here to  read the full article






Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia / Flor del día / Flower of the day 26/01/2016

“Durante o processo de purificação e transformação do eu inferior, ocorre a desconstrução daquilo que você acredita ser a sua identidade. Esse processo não é nada fácil, mesmo que isso seja fonte de grande sofrimento; mesmo que essa desconstrução represente a derrubada das paredes de uma prisão e o fim de uma grande escuridão. Isso ocorre porque essa prisão ainda é a sua referência de identidade, e ao perder essa referência, você teme desaparecer.”

“Durante el proceso de purificación y transformación del yo inferior, ocurre la desconstrucción de aquello que crees que es tu identidad. Este proceso no es nada fácil, aunque eso sea fuente de gran sufrimiento, mismo que esa desconstrucción represente el derrumbe de las paredes de una prisión y el fin de una gran oscuridad. Esto ocurre porque esa prisión aún es tu referencia de identidad, y al perder esa referencia, temes desaparecer.”

"During the process of purifying and transforming the lower self, what we believe to be our identity gets deconstructed. This process is not easy, even if this false identity has been a huge source of suffering for us. Even though this deconstruction actually represents the crumbling of our prison walls, putting an end to a great darkness, it is still a challenging process. This is because the prison walls still give us a sense of identity,

Via DailyDharma: The Body’s Right Mind

The Right Mind is the mind that does not remain in one place. It is the mind that stretches throughout the entire body and self. 

—Takuan Soho, "The Right Mind and the Confused Mind"
 

Monday, January 25, 2016

Via JMG: CANADA: Edmonton Oilers Become First NHL Team To Use “Pride Tape” On Their Hockey Sticks

ptape

From the National Hockey League:
The Edmonton Oilers became the first NHL team to use Pride Tape, a multicolored tape to promote inclusiveness in sports. The Oilers used the tape Sunday during their annual Skills Competition at Rexall Place. “Many view professional hockey players as role models and our team felt this was a great initiative to let every person know they’re welcome in the game of hockey,” defenseman Andrew Ference told the Oilers website. “We’re all proud to play for a team and city that supports diversity and human rights.”
Wells and Calder Bateman Communications are working together on a Kickstarter campaign to raise enough funds to produce 10,000 rolls of the tape. As of Sunday, they have raised more than $40,000 of their $54,000 campaign goal. On the Kickstarter page, Pride Tape is described as a badge of support from the teammates, coaches, parents and pros to young LGBTQ players. It shows every player that they belong on the ice, that everyone is on the same team and your help is needed to make it a reality.

tape4Pridetape

Via FB:

Diversity in the modern world is more than just skin color - It’s gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, social background, and - most important of it, in my opinion – is diversity of thought. If you have genuine diversity of thought among people making TV & film, then you won’t accidentally shut out any of the groups I just mentioned.

— Idris Elba (via celebritiesofcolor)

Via Daily Dharma: Step Away from Selfishness

The practice of focusing on the welfare of others undermines the usual emphasis on oneself, thereby opening the possibility for progress toward diminishing the self’s inflated status, the primary impediment blocking the realization of the emptiness of all phenomena. 

—Kadampa Geshe Langri Thangpa, "Breaking the Habit of Selfishness"
 

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Via Daily Dharma: Doing Nothing

What do we do with our fear and anger and frustration? We do absolutely nothing with it. To do something with it would run the risk of adding to the fear and rage that are already in the world. 

—Christopher Titmuss, "Rising to the Challenge: A Step Toward Peace"

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Via Daily Dharma: It Takes Time to Retrain the Mind

Frequently we discover that our minds do not rest in radiant contentment for the entire meditation session. Why not? Because we have been training for years in desiring, reaching, grasping, getting, and then wanting more, and then, of course, more—all reinforcing the underlying feeling that this moment is not enough. 

—Gaylon Ferguson, "Fruitless Labor"
 

Friday, January 22, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia / Flor del día / Flower of the day - 22/01/2016

“A mente envolve o raciocínio, a lógica, a inteligência, a criatividade... Porém, esses atributos da mente precisam estar a serviço do Ser. Para isso, se faz necessário disciplina e constante renovação de votos, porque a mente tornou-se condicionada por fatores sociais, culturais e morais. Muitas vezes você não tem a menor noção do por que sente apego ou aversão por determinadas coisas, porque acha uma coisa feia ou bonita, porque sente atração ou rejeição por alguém. A mente condicionada julga, classifica e discrimina de acordo com um repertório que você não sabe de onde vem.”
 
“La mente envuelve al razonamiento, la lógica, la inteligencia, la creatividad... Sin embargo, estos atributos de la mente necesitan estar al servicio del Ser. Para ello, es necesario disciplina y constante renovación de votos, porque la mente se ha se ha vuelto condicionada por factores sociales, culturales y morales. Muchas veces no tienes la menor idea de porqué sientes apego o aversión por ciertas cosas, porqué algo te parece feo o bonito, porqué sientes atracción o rechazo por alguien. La mente condicionada juzga, clasifica y discrimina de acuerdo con un repertorio que no sabes de dónde viene.”

"The mind involves reasoning, logic, intelligence and creativity, and these attributes of the mind must be at the service of the Being. We need much discipline and a constant renewal of vows to channel these attributes appropriately. The mind has become conditioned by many social, cultural and moral factors, and we often don’t have a clue as to why we feel an attachment or an aversion towards certain things. We don't know why we think something is ugly or beautiful, or why we feel attracted to or repulsed by someone. The conditioned mind judges, classifies and discriminates according to a catalog whose origin we are often entirely unaware of.”

Via Daily Dharma: Clinging to Emptiness

Good and Wise Friends, do not listen to me explain emptiness, and then become attached to emptiness. Above all, do not cling to emptiness. If you meditate with a vacant mind, you will become fixated on a blank emptiness. 

—Huineng, "Prajna"
 

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Pet Shop Boys - 2016 Launch Video


Pet Shop Boys - Inner Sanctum (Official Audio)


Heather Small - Proud


Via The Idealist / FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 21/01/2016

“A natureza inferior é reencarnante. Alguns aspectos do eu inferior são como entidades que nos acompanham há milênios. Aspectos do orgulho, da luxúria, do medo, que se tornaram especialistas em manter-se vivos, e por conta da lei do karma, seguem nos acompanhando. Quando tem a chance de disparar uma flecha na direção dessas entidades, você pensa: ‘Poderei viver sem meu orgulho? Sem minha luxúria?’ Isso porque você acredita que elas te dão algum poder, e para manter esse suposto poder você faz um contrato com a maldade. E para rasgar esse contrato é preciso aprender a lidar com resistências.”

“La naturaleza inferior es re-encarnante. Algunos aspectos del yo inferior son como entidades que nos acompañan desde hace milenios. Aspectos del orgullo, de la lujuria, del miedo, que se tornaron especialistas en mantenerse vivos, y por cuenta de la ley del karma, siguen acompañándonos. Cuando tienes la oportunidad de disparar una flecha en dirección de estas entidades, piensas: '¿Podré vivir sin mi orgullo? ¿Sin mi lujuria?' Eso es porque crees que te dan algún poder, y para mantener este supuesto poder haces un contrato con la maldad. Y para romper este contrato es necesario aprender a lidiar con resistencias.”

"The lower self is reborn throughout many incarnations. Some aspects of the lower self are like entities that accompany us for millennia. There are aspects of pride, lust and fear that have become true survival experts, and due to the law of karma, have continued to accompany us throughout our lives. When we finally ‘shoot an arrow’ at these entities, we start to hesitate and ask, ‘Can I even survive without my pride and my lust?’ We doubt ourselves because we believe that they give us some power, and in order to maintain this supposed power we subconsciously make a ‘pact’ with evil. We will need to deal with much internal resistance before we can finally tear up this pact.”

Via Daily Dharma: City Living

Living in a big city, sometimes we feel that we don’t know our neighbors but actually we know them well. They want pleasure and don’t want pain. This realization of similarity is not superficial; to know that each of us has hairs in the nose means we can always know something about others by reflecting on that fact. 

—Jeffrey Hopkins, "Equality: The First Step in Cultivating Compassion"
 

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Outrageous Oral, Volume 2: Jack Evans and George Harris


Dallas LGBT History: Jack Evans and George Harris Full Interview


Jack Evans and George Harris


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia -Flor del día - Flower of the day 20/01/2016

“É preciso ter coragem para sustentar o êxtase na relação, o que significa sustentar o coração aberto enquanto o outro também está aberto. A conexão da energia sexual com o coração pode causar medo, pois ela gera uma poderosa onda de luz e, estando identificado com a sombra (com os círculos viciosos do sofrimento), você teme ser tocado pela luz. A escuridão é somente ausência de luz. Se você acredita ser a escuridão, quando a luz surge, você teme ser aniquilado.”

“Es necesario tener coraje para sostener el éxtasis en la relación, lo que significa sostener el corazón abierto mientras el otro también está abierto. La conexión de la energía sexual con el corazón puede causar miedo, ya que genera una poderosa ola de luz y estando identificado con la sombra (con los círculos viciosos del sufrimiento), temes ser tocado por la luz. La oscuridad es solamente ausencia de luz. Si crees que eres la oscuridad, cuando la luz surge, temes ser aniquilado.”

"It takes courage to sustain ecstasy in a relationship, which means sustaining an open heart while the other’s heart is also open. When our sexual energy connects with our hearts, it can bring up fear because this connection generates a powerful wave of light. If we are identified with the shadow and its vicious cycles of suffering, then we fear being touched by the light. If we believe that we are the darkness itself, then we fear being annihilated when the light approaches us. Darkness is merely the absence of light.”

Via Daily Dharma: What Giving Is

Generosity takes many forms—we may give our time, our energy, our material possessions, our love. All are expressions of caring, of compassion, of connection, and of renunciation—the ability to let go. The beauty of generosity is that it not only brings us happiness in the moment—we feel good when we give—but it is also the cause for happiness to arise in the future. 

—Joseph Goldstein, "The Evolution of Happiness"
 

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Via Daily Dharma: Peace of Mind

When your mind is trained in self-discipline, even if you are surrounded by hostile forces, your peace of mind will hardly be disturbed. 

—The Dalai Lama, "The Enemy Within"
 

Monday, January 18, 2016

Via FB:


Via Miss R•EVOLutionaries / FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 18/01/2016

“A mudança climática, que tem afetado diretamente o ciclo das águas, está anunciando um novo estágio na nossa jornada evolutiva: é tempo de purificação. Estamos sendo levados a nos desidentificar do ego, com todas as suas crenças e condicionamentos, de forma que possamos abrir espaço para uma coisa nova. Esse processo passa pela harmonização do feminino, o que requer o desenvolvimento de qualidades como aceitação, cooperação, gentileza, receptividade e confiança.”
 
“El cambio climático, que viene afectando directamente el ciclo de las aguas, está anunciando una nueva etapa en nuestro camino evolutivo: es tiempo de purificación. Estamos siendo llevados a des-identificarnos del ego, con todas sus creencias y condicionamientos, para que podamos abrir espacio para algo nuevo. Este proceso pasa por la armonización de lo femenino, que requiere el desarrollo de cualidades como aceptación, cooperación, gentileza, receptividad y confianza.”

"Climate change has directly affected the planet’s water cycles, and is thus announcing a new stage in our evolutionary journey: a time for purification. We are being led to de-identify from the ego and all of our beliefs and conditioning, so that we can make room for something new. This process also involves harmonizing ourselves with the feminine, which requires us to develop qualities such as acceptance, cooperation, kindness, receptivity and trust.”

Via Daily Dharma: Personality Transformation

Practice can change the personality, yes, and hopefully for the better. That’s the idea of spiritual training, of what we call in Tibetan lojong, attitude-transformation or mind-training. All the practices—ethical training, meditation or mindfulness training, wisdom and love training—are to be a better person, but it is also to realize who we are as we are. 

—Lama Surya Das, "Old Wine, New Bottles"
 

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Via FB:


Via On Being: Stephen Batchelor — The Limits of Belief, The Massiveness of the Questions


Stephen Batchelor’s “secular Buddhism” speaks to the mystery and vitality of spiritual life in every form. For him, secularism opens to doubt and questioning as a radical basis for spiritual life. Above all, he understands Buddhism without transcendent beliefs like “karma” or “reincarnation” to become something urgent to do, not to believe in.

To hear the full discuss go here

Via SimpleReminders.com / FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 17/01/2016

“Nas esferas emocional e mental, o sofrimento nasce do conflito entre duas forças opostas agindo no nosso sistema. Com isso, podemos deduzir que esse mesmo cabo de forças contrárias também se manifesta no nível coletivo. Os conflitos e desastres que estamos vendo e vivendo são sintomas de um grande expurgo interno. E tudo isso é para que possamos trazer à superfície o nosso melhor, ou seja, são oportunidades reais de crescimento. Mas para que isso aconteça, precisamos ter coragem de resolver nossos problemas que, no mais profundo, são dores existenciais. Essa é a única maneira de nos libertarmos do apego à guerra e à destruição.”
“En las esferas emocional y mental, el sufrimiento nace del conflicto entre dos fuerzas opuestas actuando en nuestro sistema. Con esto, podemos deducir que este mismo cable de fuerzas contrarias también se manifiesta a nivel colectivo. Los conflictos y desastres que estamos viendo y viviendo son síntomas de una gran purga interna. Y todo esto es para que podamos traer a la superficie lo mejor de nosotros, es decir, son oportunidades reales de crecimiento. Pero para que esto suceda, necesitamos tener el coraje de resolver nuestros problemas que, en lo más profundo, son dolores existenciales. Esta es la única manera de liberarnos del apego a la guerra y a la destrucción.”

"In the emotional and mental spheres, suffering is born out of the conflict between two opposing forces acting within our systems. This same tug-of-war also occurs in the collective sphere. The conflicts and disasters we are seeing and experiencing in the world are symptoms of a large internal cleansing. This is all happening so that we can bring our best to the surface, meaning that these are in fact opportunities for growth. In order for this growth to take place, however, we must have the courage to solve our problems, which carry an existential pain at their core. This is the only way we can free ourselves from our attachment to conflict and destruction."

Via Daily Dharma: An Awakening Brew

Each of you—not separately, but in the cauldron with all beings, cooking and being cooked—is realizing awakening. 

—Reb Anderson, "In It Together"
 

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 16/01/2016

"O karma é uma dívida de aprendizado. Quando apreende a lição, você se liberta da teia karmica. E se libertar significa mover-se em direção ao dharma e à compreensão do propósito da sua alma. Dharma é a lei universal, o caminho do coração; é a ação correta que te leva à morada sagrada. Tudo o que nasce dessa compreensão é bênção. São impulsos de construção, união, amor, saúde e prosperidade.”

"El karma es una deuda de aprendizaje. Cuando aprendes la lección, te liberas de la tela kármica. Y liberarse significa moverse en dirección al dharma y a la comprensión del propósito de tu alma. Dharma es la ley universal, el camino del corazón, es la acción correcta que te lleva a la morada sagrada. Todo lo que nace de esta comprensión es bendición. Son impulsos de construcción, unión, amor, salud y prosperidad.”

"Karma is a debt of learning. When we learn the lesson, we are freed from the karmic web. Freeing ourselves means moving towards our dharma and understanding our soul’s purpose. Dharma is the universal law – the path of the heart. It is the correct action that takes us to the sacred abode. All that is born from this understanding is a blessing. Dharma manifests as constructive actions that bring union, love, health and prosperity.”

Via Daily Dharma: Happiness and the Marketplace

The good news is that genuine happiness is not out there in the marketplace to be purchased or acquired from the best teacher around. One of the best-kept secrets is that the happiness we’re striving for so desperately in the perfect spouse, the great kids, the fine job, security, excellent health, and good looks has always been within and is just waiting to be unveiled. Knowing that what we are seeking comes from within changes everything. 

—B. Alan Wallace, "What is True Happiness?"
 

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Via Occupy Democrats / FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 13/01/2016

“Os aspectos da personalidade que chamamos de eu inferior são como entidades que têm autonomia própria. Quando se aproximam, elas trazem uma frequência de energia específica; determinada cor e uma expressão corporal específica. Através do autoconhecimento, você vai se tornando capaz de reconhecê-las. Sempre que um aspecto começa a se aproximar (vindo de dentro e também de fora) você sabe, porque sente em determinados pontos do seu corpo. Às vezes fecha o estomago, causa enjoo, aperta o peito ou a garganta. Essas são algumas das possíveis reações. Então você precisa aprender a identificar quem está se aproximando e a transmutar essas energias, dentro e fora de você.”

"Los aspectos de la personalidad que llamamos de yo inferior son como entidades que tienen autonomía propia. Cuando se aproximan, traen una frecuencia de energía específica, determinado color y una expresión corporal específica. A través del autoconocimiento, vas siendo capaz de reconocerlas. Siempre que un aspecto comienza a aproximarse (viniendo de adentro y también de afuera) lo sabes, porque lo sientes en determinados puntos de tu cuerpo. A veces se cierra el estómago, causa naúseas, aprieta el pecho o la garganta. Estas son algunas de las posibles reacciones. Entonces necesitas aprender a identificar quién se está aproximando y a transmutar esas energías, dentro y fuera de ti.” 

"The aspects of personality that we call the lower self are like self-driven entities. When they come close to us, they bring with them a specific energy frequency as well as a color frequency. Through self-knowledge, we are able to recognize them and even identify the body language that they manifest in us. Whenever an aspect of the lower self begins to approach us, whether it is coming from inside or outside of us, we know it is coming because we feel something in certain points of our bodies. Sometimes we may experience reactions such as getting knots in our stomachs, feeling nauseous, or a tightening in our chest or throat. We must learn to identify which lower self is approaching us and transform these energies within and without.”

Via Daily Dharma: Examining Labels

You can’t go preventing pleasure and pain, you can’t keep the mind from labeling things and forming thoughts, but you can put these things to a new use. If the mind labels a pain, saying, “I hurt,” you have to examine the label carefully, contemplate it until you see that it’s wrong: the pain isn’t really yours. It’s simply a sensation that arises and passes away, that’s all.  

—Upasika Kee Nanayon, "Tough Teachings To Ease The Mind"
 

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 12/01/2016

“Se eu tivesse que usar uma única palavra para traduzir aquilo que compreendo como espiritualidade eu utilizaria desapego. O ego tende a desejar e a se apegar a tudo aquilo que conquista. Mas, toda essa energia usada para a conquista e para manter aquilo que se conquistou deve ser direcionada para o Espírito.”

“Si tuviese que usar una única palabra para traducir aquello que comprendo como espiritualidad, utilizaría desapego. El ego tiende a desear y a apegarse a todo aquello que conquista. Pero toda esa energía usada para la conquista y para mantener aquello que se conquistó debe ser direccionada hacia el Espíritu.”

"If I had to use one word to translate what we understand as spirituality, I would use ‘detachment’. The ego tends to desire and cling to everything that it achieves. All this energy spent on gaining things and sustaining our accomplishments should be directed towards the Spirit.”

Via Daily Dharma: Small Blessings, Large Consequences

So many factors demand our attention; isn’t it awesome that we have at least some influence over what we choose to focus on? And if there is power in acknowledging and being thankful for even small blessings, the power of finding meaning in the face of suffering can be transformative. 

—Pamela Gayle White, "Skunked by Gratitude"
 

Monday, January 11, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 11/01/2016

“Comparo o processo de autoconhecimento a uma autoescola na qual estamos aprendendo a conduzir um veículo. E como a autoescola está aberta para todos (embora a sua aula seja pessoal e intransferível), é inevitável que um carro ou outro se cruze; é inevitável que aconteçam coisas que você não concorda. Talvez você prefira dirigir numa estrada vazia, sozinho com o seu professor; e talvez você possa fazer isso durante um tempo. Mas, em algum momento você terá que dirigir no trânsito e passar por avenidas congestionadas. Em algum momento você terá que aprender ocupar e conduzir o seu veículo enquanto se relaciona com o mundo.”

"Comparo el proceso de autoconocimiento con una autoescuela en la cual estamos aprendiendo a conducir un vehículo. Y como la autoescuela está abierta para todos (aunque tu clase sea personal e intransferible), es inevitable que un auto u otro se crucen, es inevitable que sucedan cosas con las que no concuerdas. Tal vez prefieras manejar en una ruta vacía, solo con tu profesor, y tal vez puedas hacer esto durante un tiempo. Pero en algún momento tendrás que manejar en el tránsito y pasar por avenidas congestionadas. En algún momento tendrás que aprender a ocupar y conducir tu vehículo mientras te relacionas con el mundo.”

"I compare the process of self-discovery to driving classes wherein we are learning to drive a vehicle. Since driver’s ed classes happen out on the road in traffic, other drivers may cut us off or make us upset. Though we may prefer to drive on empty roads alone with our teacher, we can only do so for a certain amount of time. At some point we will have to drive on crowded streets and learn the harder lessons. We need to learn how to occupy our bodies and drive our ‘vehicles’ well, even while relating with the outside world.”

Via Daily Dharma: Striking a Balance

Just as meditation requires an understanding of the practice as well as determination to carry it out, likewise it requires a sense of balance to determine when to push ourselves harder and when to step back and relax where we are, without falling into either of two extremes.  

—Lama Dudjom Dorjee, "Heartfelt Advice"
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Sunday, January 10, 2016

Via Towleroad: Pope Francis Expands on Remarks About Gays: ‘God Loves All His Creatures’

Pope Francis gays - name of god is mercy

In a new book set for publication on Tuesday, Pope Francis explains for the first time the remarks about gays he made to reporters aboard a plane from Brazil to Rome in 2013.
The Pope was asked how he would respond to learning that a cleric in the Catholic Church was gay, but not sexually active. “Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?” the pontiff replied. “You can’t marginalize these people.”

RELATED: Pope Francis Met Privately with Gay Couple During U.S. Visit: VIDEO

Now, in The Name of God is Mercy, a conversation with journalist Andrea Tornielli, Francis elaborates on those remarks according to National Catholic Reporter:

“On that occasion I said this: If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person? I was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized.”

He adds:

“I am glad that we are talking about ‘homosexual people’ because before all else comes the individual person, in his wholeness and dignity. And people should not be defined only by their sexual tendencies: let us not forget that God loves all his creatures and we are destined to receive his infinite love…I prefer that homosexuals come to confession, that they stay close to the Lord, and that we pray all together. You can advise them to pray, show goodwill, show them the way, and accompany them along it.”

http://www.towleroad.com/2016/01/pope-francis-gays/

Via JMG: Jim Obergefell To Sit With First Lady During SOTU

JimObergefellLS2

This morning the White House announced that Jim Obergefell will be among the guests seated with the First Lady during President Obama’s final State Of The Union address. From their bio on Obergefell:
Jim Obergefell was the named plaintiff in the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, which ruled same-sex couples nationwide have the Constitutional right to marry. In 2013, Jim married his partner of 20 years, John, who was dying of ALS. Their marriage – performed in Maryland – wasn’t recognized in their home state of Ohio, setting off a legal proceeding over whether the marriage should be recognized under Ohio law and listed on John’s death certificate.
While they won the initial legal battle, Ohio appealed, and their case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, which declared marriage equality the law of the land. Jim considers himself an accidental activist, one who became entwined in a political statement larger than himself – a statement of equality and dignity that Americans have been fighting for since this nation’s founding – and he now remains committed to ensuring the civil rights for all Americans.
Other guests to be seated with the First Lady include a Syrian refugee, an Obamacare navigator, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and USAF Sgt. Spencer Stone, who helped thwart a terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train. The press release includes this important notation:
We leave one seat empty in the First Lady’s State of the Union Guest Box for the victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice – because they need the rest of us to speak for them. To tell their stories. To honor their memory. To support the Americans whose lives have been forever changed by the terrible ripple effect of gun violence – survivors who’ve had to learn to live with a disability, or without the love of their life. To remind every single one of our representatives that it’s their responsibility to do something about this.

Make the jump here to read the original on JMG

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 10/01/2016

“É impossível estar no mundo sem se relacionar. Você pode trabalhar na Wall Street, viver numa praia deserta, num monastério ou comunidade espiritual, mas os desafios do relacionamento sempre estarão presentes. Isso porque muda o cenário e os personagens, mas não muda o que você carrega dentro de si. Enquanto você não olha de frente, compreende e aceita as suas imperfeições, sempre haverá alguém que te incomoda. Mas quando você aceita e integra as partes da sua personalidade que foram negadas, ocorre uma cura, e você se torna capaz de viver em harmonia com o outro, não importa o lugar.”

“Es imposible estar en el mundo sin relacionarse. Puedes trabajar en Wall Street, vivir en una playa desierta, en un monasterio o comunidad espiritual, pero los desafíos de las relaciones siempre estarán presentes. Esto es porque cambia el escenario y los personajes, pero no cambia lo que cargas dentro de ti. Mientras no mires de frente, comprendas y aceptes tus imperfecciones, siempre habrá alguien que te. Pero cuando aceptas e integras las partes de tu personalidad que fueron negadas, sucede una cura, y te vuelves capaz de vivir en armonía con el otro, no importa el lugar.”

"It is impossible to live in this world without relating. Whether one works on Wall Street, lives on a deserted beach, in a monastery or a spiritual community, the challenges of relationships will always be present. The setting or characters may change, but what we carry inside does not. As long as we do not face this straight on and understand and accept our imperfections, there will always be someone who throws us off center. On the other hand, when we accept and integrate the parts of our personality that were denied, a healing occurs. We are then able to live in harmony with each other, regardless of where we may be."

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Via Daily Dharma: Before It’s Too Late

There’s a wonderful Kagyu saying: “When we are young, we don’t realize the importance of dharma practice; when we are middle-aged, we think we are too busy to do it; and when we are old, it’s too late.” 

—Reggie Ray, "The Power of Solitude"
 

Dra Yang Project " Namo Buddhaya, namo Dharmaya, namo Sanghaya "


Friday, January 8, 2016

Via Medical News Today: What is the difference between sex and gender?

The words sex and gender are commonly used interchangeably, but many linguists would argue that their usage is quite distinct. Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics, while gender refers to behaviors, roles, expectations, and activities in society.

Sex refers to male or female, while gender refers to masculine or feminine.
The differences in the sexes do not vary throughout the world, but differences in gender do.
Here are some examples of characteristics related to sex:
  • Females have a vagina, males do not
  • Males have a penis, females do not
  • Male newborns tend to weigh more than female newborns
  • Females can breastfeed their babies, males cannot
  • Males have deeper voices than females
  • Females can get pregnant, males cannot
  • Males have testicles and females have ovaries
Here are some examples of characteristics related to gender:
  • Women tend to do more of the housework than their spouses do
  • A higher percentage of US doctors are women, compared to Egypt
  • Nursing is often seen as a woman's job, although many men enter the profession
  • In some countries women have to cover their heads when they go outside the house
  • 120 years ago women were not allowed to vote in elections.
Another way of putting it is:
Sex refers to a natural or biological feature. Gender refers to cultural or learned significance of sex.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary:
Sex is "The biologic character or quality that distinguishes male and female from one another as expressed by analysis of the person's gonadal, morphologic (internal and external), chromosomal, and hormonal characteristics."
Gender is "The category to which an individual is assigned by self or others, on the basis of sex."
The word gender comes from Middle English gendre, which came from Old French, which in turn came from the Latin word genus, meaning "kind," "type," or "sort."
The word sex probably comes from Middle English, meaning "section" or "divide." In Latin, the word sex means the number "six." 

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 08/01/2016

"Conheça-te a ti mesmo e conhecerás o Universo. O homem é um microcosmo - absolutamente tudo que existe lá fora está dentro. Todas as respostas para todas as perguntas podem ser encontradas nos nossos mundos internos, assim como o antídoto para todas nossas as doenças encontra-se dentro de nós mesmos."

“Conócete a ti mismo y conocerás el Universo. El hombre es un microcosmos- absolutamente todo lo que existe allá afuera está adentro. Todas las respuestas a todas las preguntas pueden encontrarse en nuestros mundos internos, así como el antídoto para todas nuestras enfermedades se encuentra dentro de nosotros mismos.”

"Know thyself and you will know the Universe. Humans are a microcosm. Absolutely everything that exists on the outside exists within. The answer to every question can be found in our inner worlds – that’s where we find the antidote to all our ailments."

Via Daily Dharma: Seeing Through Failure

Disappointment and failure bring us down to the ground so we can see through our ideas to the way things really are.  

—Natalie Goldberg, "Beyond Betrayal"
 

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 07/01/2016

“No mais profundo, a causa pela qual temos gerado tanta destruição neste planeta, é a ignorância a respeito da nossa verdadeira identidade. Por trás dessa destruição está o impulso de acumular bens materiais. Não sabendo quem somos, agimos a partir de uma crença a respeito de quem somos, e isso gera um vazio que se traduz em uma profunda angústia. Nós tentamos preencher esse vazio através de coisas. Você acumula para agregar valor e poder à sua falsa identidade; para aliviar a angústia causada pela falta de conexão consigo mesmo. E para ter mais coisas, você faz qualquer coisa. Essa é a raiz da destruição.”

En lo más profundo, la causa por la cual hemos generado tanta destrucción en este planeta, es la ignorancia al respecto de nuestra verdadera identidad. Por detrás de esta destrucción está el impulso de acumular bienes materiales. Al no saber quiénes somos, actuamos desde una creencia acerca de quién somos, y eso genera un vacío que se traduce en una profunda angustia. Tratamos de llenar este vacío a través de cosas. Acumulas para agregar valor y poder a tu falsa identidad; para aliviar la angustia causada por la falta de conexión contigo mismo. Y para tener más cosas, haces cualquier cosa. Esta es la raíz de la destrucción.”

"The root cause for all this destruction we wage on the planet is our ignorance regarding our true identity. Behind this destruction lies the impulse to accumulate material goods – and we’ll do anything to get more things. Not knowing who we truly are, we act out of our mistaken beliefs about who we are, and this creates a void that turns into profound anguish. We try to fill this void by hoarding material things, striving to add value and power to our false identity. We do so to alleviate the anguish caused by our lack of connection with our own selves. This is the root of destruction."

Via Daily Dharma: Finding Your Direction

There is nothing to hang on to. The path emerges from a personal, surprisingly innate sense of direction and not from what’s expected of us by those who supposedly know better. Staying awake means continually reevaluating the ground on which we walk. 

—Stephen Schettini, "A Sense of Belonging"

Via Queerty: Queen Elizabeth II Says Gay Marriage Is Absolutely “Wonderful”


Just when we didn’t think she could get any more amazing, Queen Elizabeth II called gay marriage in England “wonderful.”

Or at least according to comedian/newlywed Stephen Fry.

During an interview over the weekend, Fry explained how the 88-year-old monarch expressed her approval of gay marriage in July 2013 when signing the Marriage Act, which granted same-sex couples the right to legally marry in England.

“It was only last summer that Her Majesty The Queen gave the Royal Assent,” he told The Jonathan Ross Show.

The Queen must remain politically neutral and has never spoken publicly about gay marriage, but according to sources who Fry describes as “well-founded,” her royal majesty is all for marriage equality.

“When the Queen signed the Royal Assent for the equal marriages act, allowing gay people to marry for the first time, she put it down and said ‘Well, who’d have thought 62 years ago when I came to the throne, I’d be signing something like this? Isn’t it wonderful?'”

Wonderful, indeed!

h/t: Gay Star News

Related stories:
Queen Elizabeth Makes Marriage Equality Law Final
Police Concerned Over Threat Grindr Poses To Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth Makes Historic First Statement Supporting LGBT Rights

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor de día - Flower of the day - 06/01/2015

“A espiritualidade pode ser traduzida como uma experiência da realidade – um processo de despertar de um sonho. A iluminação espiritual começa quando a imaginação cessa. Imaginação quer dizer fantasias criadas pela mente. Num clássico exemplo utilizado pelo Vedanta: uma pessoa que olha para um pedaço de corda vê uma cobra, e a partir dessa visão, ela cria toda uma história em torno da cobra. Quando começa a ver a corda no lugar da cobra, o seu processo de despertar se iniciou.”

“La espiritualidad puede ser traducida como una experiencia de la realidad - un proceso de despertar de un sueño. La iluminación espiritual comienza cuando la imaginación cesa. Imaginación quiere decir fantasías creadas por la mente. En un ejemplo clásico utilizado por el Vedanta: una persona que mira hacia un trozo de cuerda ve una serpiente, y a partir de esta visión, crea toda una historia alrededor de la serpiente. Cuando comienzas a ver la cuerda en lugar de la serpiente, tu proceso de despertar comenzó.” 

"Spirituality can be translated as the experience of reality. It is a process of awakening from a dream. Spiritual enlightenment begins when one ceases to imagine things, meaning the mind stops fantasizing. A classic example used in Advaita Vedanta is that a rope seen in dim light is mistaken for a snake, and with this image in mind, the rope affects the person as much as an actual snake would. When the person begins to realize it was a rope rather than a snake, their process of awakening begins."

Via Daily Dharma: Already Enlightened

We don’t practice to attain enlightenment, just as we don’t eat or breathe to be alive. Because we’re alive, we breathe. Because we’re alive, we eat. Because we’re enlightened, we do zazen. 

— Bernard Gassman and Rick Fields,
"Instructions to the Cook"

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 05/01/2016

“O primeiro passo para ampliar a percepção e o seu poder de auto-observação é ocupar o seu corpo, é colocar-se presente, ocupando cada molécula. Estando aqui e agora não existe a possibilidade de você ser governado por impulsos inconscientes. Não estando presente, você se torna um joguete nas mãos das mais diversas forças, não somente do seu próprio passado, mas das suas fantasias a respeito do futuro.”

El primer paso para ampliar la percepción y tu poder de auto-observación es ocupar tu cuerpo, estar presente, ocupando cada molécula. Al estar aquí y ahora no existe la posibilidad de que seas gobernado por impulsos inconscientes. Al no estar presente, te conviertes en un juguete en las manos de las más diversas fuerzas, no solo de tu propio pasado, sino también de tus fantasías respecto del futuro.”


"The first step towards increasing our perception and our power of self-observation is to inhabit our bodies, becoming present and occupying each molecule. When we are in the here and now we cannot be ruled by unconscious impulses. On the other hand, if we are not present, we become a puppet in the hands of many forces, including our own pasts as well as our fantasies about the future."

Via Tricycle / Daily Dharma: Learning How to Listen

To hear every sound as the dharma means to just pay attention. Listen to what people are saying when somebody is talking to you. We are usually so busy trying to say something that will impress them that we don’t really listen to what they are saying. It is easy to give an appropriate response if we are really listening. 

—Gerry Shishin Wick Sensei, "Zen in the Workplace"

Monday, January 4, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 04/01/2016

“O medo é um sentimento que se tornou tão habitual que você mal percebe o quanto ele influencia a sua vida. Você tem diversos tipos de medo, mas muitas vezes não tem consciência disso. Medo de ser humilhado, traído, machucado, entre tantas outras coisas. Mas, normalmente, o medo não tem base na realidade. É um sentimento criado a partir de uma fantasia a respeito de uma suposta dor, que pode vir ou não. E, tomado por essas fantasias, que normalmente são fruto de experiências traumáticas do passado, seu coração se enche de escuridão; e você vive tenso, com a sensação de que elas irão se repetir.”

“El miedo es un sentimiento que se volvió tan habitual que apenas percibes cuánto influye en tu vida. Tienes diversos tipos de miedo, pero muchas veces no eres consciente de ello. Miedo a ser humillado, traicionado, lastimado, entre tantas otras cosas. Pero por lo general, el miedo no tiene base en la realidad. Es un sentimiento creado a partir de una fantasía al respecto de un supuesto dolor, que puede venir o no. Y atrapado por estas fantasías, que suelen ser el resultado de experiencias traumáticas del pasado, tu corazón se llena de oscuridad; y vives tenso, con la sensación de que se van a repetir.”

"Fear is a feeling that has become so habitual that we hardly realize how much it influences our lives. We have many different types of fear, and we’re often unaware of it. We fear being humiliated, betrayed, and hurt, among other things. Most often, fear has no basis in reality. Fear is a feeling created due to a fantasized pain that we may or may not experience. When we are taken over by these fantasies, which are usually the result of past traumatic experiences, our hearts are filled with darkness. We live in constant tension, with the feeling that these experiences will repeat themselves."

Deep Tranquility

Pleasure without pain is possible only as we progress toward higher states of mindfulness. Unlike sensory pleasure that leads only to an instant of temporary happiness, the joy we feel when we achieve deep concentration brings peace and tranquility. 

—Bhante Gunaratana, "Desire and Craving"

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 03/01/2016

“Durante um estágio da evolução da consciência, você pode simplesmente trabalhar para ganhar dinheiro, sem se questionar a respeito do propósito daquilo que está fazendo. Mas quando sua consciência começa a expandir, naturalmente você se questiona a respeito disso. Pois é a consciência do seu propósito no mundo que proporciona a sensação de pertencimento e de preenchimento que você tanto busca. Estando consciente do que veio fazer no mundo, você utiliza a sua energia e os seus dons para realizar essa meta. Você segue tendo uma razão para continuar levantando da cama todas as manhãs.”

“Durante una etapa de la evolución de la conciencia, puedes simplemente trabajar para ganar dinero, sin cuestionarte al respecto del propósito de lo que estás haciendo. Pero cuando tu conciencia comienza a expandirse, naturalmente te cuestionas al respecto de esto. Pues es la conciencia de tu propósito en el mundo que proporciona la sensación de pertenencia y de satisfacción que tanto buscas. Al estar consciente de lo que viniste a hacer en el mundo, utilizas tu energía y tus dones para realizar este objetivo. Sigues teniendo una razón para continuar levantándote de la cama todas las mañanas.”

"During a certain stage in the evolution of consciousness, you can work to simply make money without questioning the purpose of what you are doing. But when your consciousness begins to expand, you naturally begin to question your purpose. This awareness of your purpose in the world gives you the sense of belonging and fulfillment that you so yearn for. Once you are aware of what you came to do in the world, you use your energy and your gifts to accomplish this goal. You wake up every morning with a reason to get out of bed."