Thursday, June 30, 2016

Via the Advocate:


UN


History was made today as the top human rights body at the United Nations voted to create the world’s first global-level envoy position focused on the human rights of LGBTQ people.

In a resolution passed today, a plurality of members of the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to establish the position of independent expert with a groundbreaking mandate to combat violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people around the world. While this resolution is the third passed by the council concerning sexual orientation and gender identity since 2011, it is the first to create such a position and institutionalize this mandate.

This is a major victory for LGBTQ rights advocates who have long been pressing for the creation of this position. Independent experts, or special rapporteurs (known as “special procedures”), are part of the U.N. system but are technically independent. They have been called the “crown jewels” of the human rights system because of their outsized influence in the international human rights landscape and the expanse of their roles engaging governments, civil society, and more.

This effort was led by a group of Latin American member countries of the U.N.’s 47-member Human Rights Council, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay. More than 620 nongovernmental organizations from 151 countries on every continent signed a joint statement of support, declaring
“It is time to move beyond one-off initiatives and piecemeal measures. … The establishment of a dedicated protection mechanism to address [sexual orientation and gender identity]-related human rights violations is a necessary step towards urgently addressing the serious abuses on these grounds in every region of the world.”
The creation of this position was not without controversy. A predictable minority of U.N. member-states argued that there was no need for such a position. Their opposition was driven and supported by international anti-LGBT groups.

Ultimately, support for the effort came from diverse regions of the world. The resolution passed with 23 states in favor, 18 against, and six abstaining.

At minimum, the new position will help ensure that LGBTQ rights remain in the international spotlight and are integrated into the portfolios of both public officials and diplomats. The independent expert can also play a crucial role in sharing best practices concerning the protection of the human rights of LGBTQ persons among the U.N.’s 193 member states.

By its very nature, the job will be extremely challenging, as there is no shortage of ground to cover. The independent expert will have to conduct country visits to assess the status of LGBTQ rights; connect with human rights defenders on the ground; and constructively and diplomatically engage officials and decision-makers on recommendations for reform. They will also periodically report back to the U.N. General Assembly on more specific issues under their mandate, both establishing a critical repository of evidence and data where it is sorely needed and building an important bridge between the Human Rights Council in Geneva and the broader U.N. system in New York and elsewhere. The independent expert will also be able to issue private communications to governments, including in emergency situations when an individual’s life may be at risk.

The recent massacre of 49 people in an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando demonstrated once again that violence targeting people for who they are or they love is a persistent global problem. Seventy-three countries still criminalize same-sex relationships — and in as many as 10 countries, being LGBT is punishable by death.

There are a few simple, early steps the new Independent Expert can take to catalyze change, raise global visibility for LGBTQ rights, and most critically, get the position renewed at the end of the initial three-year term. These include recognizing the overlapping discriminations that limit access of LGBTQ people to social and economic development; finding common ground with the other special procedures mandate holders — including the 14 that focus on specific countries, like Syria, and the 41 that work on thematic issues such as freedom of assembly and combating racism — to help address discrimination against LGBTQ people; and finally, committing to continued engagement with the diverse coalition of governments and civil society groups from across the global that drove this resolution across the finish line.

The outcome that was reached today in Geneva represents a key milestone for the LGBTQ community and its advocates and allies everywhere. It is yet another indication of the ever-increasing global recognition of the human rights and dignity of LGBTQ people. And even though we continue to face setbacks, today’s vote demonstrates that the momentum for equality is unstoppable.  

Make the jump here to read the full article and more

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 30/06/2016

“A causa das doenças incuráveis está no nível da alma. Em determinado estágio da jornada evolutiva, a alma percebe que o corpo não acompanha o seu desenvolvimento, então ela começa a querer deixar o corpo, mesmo que conscientemente a pessoa não saiba disso. Ocorre que algumas pessoas chegam nesse estágio onde elas experienciam uma profunda divisão, a alma não acredita na possibilidade do corpo acompanhar a evolução, aí ela começa a se desligar e, quando ela começa a se desligar, o corpo entra em processo de deterioração.”
 
“La causa de las enfermedades incurables está en el nivel del alma. En determinado estadio del camino evolutivo, el alma percibe que el cuerpo no acompaña su desarrollo, entonces comienza a querer dejar el cuerpo, aunque la persona, conscientemente, no sepa esto. Ocurre que algunas personas llegan a este estadio donde experimentan una profunda división, el alma no cree en la posibilidad que el cuerpo acompañe la evolución, entonces comienza a desconectarse y cuando se comienza apagar, el cuerpo entra en proceso de deterioro.” 

“The cause of incurable illness exists at the level of the soul. At one stage of the evolutionary journey, a soul perceives that the body is not accompanying its development. It begins to want to leave the body, even though consciously, the person is unaware of this. Some people get to the point in this stage where they experience a deep division. The soul doesn’t believe that it’s possible for the body to accompany its evolution, so it begins to disconnect from the body. When this disconnect begins, the body starts to deteriorate.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 30, 2016: The Starting Line is the Self

Purify your mind. This is how you can help society; this is how you can stop harming others and start helping them.

—S. N. Goenka, "No Magic, No Miracle"

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 29/06/2016

“Não há como controlar o processo do florescimento do perdão, pois esse é um fenômeno que se dá no plano do coração. E quem tenta controlar é a mente. O perdão só acontece quando você está suficientemente maduro, o que significa que você já pode compreender a razão maior de ter sido machucado.”

“No hay cómo controlar el proceso de florecimiento del perdón, porque este es un fenómeno que se da en el plano del corazón. Y quien intenta controlar es la mente. El perdón solo sucede cuando estás lo suficientemente maduro, lo que significa que ya puedes comprender la razón mayor de haber sido lastimado.”

“There is no way to control the blossoming of forgiveness. This is a phenomenon that happens at the level of the heart. The one who tries to control this process is the mind. Forgiveness only happens when we are mature enough to be able to understand the bigger picture why we ended up being hurt.”

Via Go Out And Play / FB:


Via Ram Dass:

June 29, 2016

The cosmic humor is that if you desire to move mountains and you continue to purify yourself, ultimately you will arrive at the place where you are able to move mountains. But in order to arrive at this position of power you will have had to give up being he-who-wanted-to-move-mountains so that you can be he-who-put-the-mountain-there-in-the-first-place. The humor is that finally when you have the power to move the mountain, you are the person who placed it there--so there the mountain stays.

Via Daily Dharma / June 29, 2016: Don't Let Insights Drag You Down

If you get excited, it ruins everything. You don’t see things clear through. You stop there and don’t go any further. For this reason, when you train the mind or contemplate the mind to the point of gaining clear realizations every now and then, regard them as simply things to observe.

—Upasika Kee Nanayon, "A Glob of Tar"

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Via Occupy Democrats / FB:




 
Kudos to Pope Francis for leading the church away from bigotry and toward inclusion and love.

Read more here: http://n.pr/28XsHIQ
Image by Occupy Democrats, LIKE our page for more!

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 28/06/2016

“Se você ainda não consegue perdoar aqueles que te fizeram mal, não se culpe. Ainda não chegou o momento. O perdão é uma flor que nasce de sementes compreensão. Quando eu lhe digo para procurar identificar as suas contradições; quando digo para se mover em direção à transcendência das mágoas e dos ressentimentos ou para esvaziar o seu coração da discórdia, eu estou lhe dando direções, apontando caminhos. E esses caminhos te levam ao plantio das sementes da compreensão. Mas quando elas irão florescer não é possível determinar.”

“Si aún no consigues perdonar a aquellos que te hicieron mal, no te culpes. Aún no llegó el momento. El perdón es una flor que nace de las semillas de la comprensión. Cuando te digo busca identificar tus contradicciones, cuando digo que te muevas en dirección a la trascendencia de las heridas y de los resentimientos o vaciar tu corazón de discordia, te estoy dando direcciones, apuntando caminos. Y esos caminos te llevan a la plantación de las semillas de la comprensión. Pero no es posible determinar cuándo ellasvan a florecer.”

“If you are still not able to forgive those that hurt you, don’t feel guilty. The moment has not yet arrived. Forgiveness is a flower that is born from seeds of comprehension. When I tell you to try to identify your contradictions, when I say to move towards the direction of transcendence of your wounds and resentments or to empty your heart of disharmony, I am giving directions, and showing you the way. These paths allow you to plant the seeds of comprehension, but when these seeds will flower, it is not possible to predict.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 28, 2016: Enlightened Devotion

Devotion (saddha) that develops from a deep understanding of the dharma and a heartfelt appreciation of the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha is not blind faith but rather a key factor in the “balance of faculties” necessary for final liberation.

—Asoka Bandarage, "Visiting the Four Sacred Sites"

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Via Ram Dass

June 26, 2016

If I don’t meet you in this form, I’ll meet you in another.
 

- Neem Karoli Baba

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 26/06/2016

“São poucos os seres humanos que sabem da existência da alma. Muitos acreditam que ela existe, mas poucos são os que sabem. Ainda menor é o número de pessoas que sabe que a alma tem um propósito. E é essa inconsciência a respeito da alma e do seu propósito que nos torna seres ‘desalmados’, sem valores espirituais desenvolvidos e que agem mecanicamente, guiados por impulsos físicos.”

“Son pocos los seres humanos que saben de la existencia del alma. Muchos creen que existe, pero pocos son los que saben. Aun menor es el número de personas que sabe que el alma tiene un propósito. Y es esa inconsciencia al respecto del alma y de su propósito que nos vuelve seres ‘desalmados’, sin valores espirituales desarrollados y que actúan mecánicamente, guiados por impulsos físicos.”

“Few human beings know of the soul’s existence. Many believe that it exists, but few have a direct experience of it. Even less people understand that the soul has a purpose. This unawareness of our souls’ purpose makes us become soul-less. We live without developed spiritual values which in turn makes us act mechanically, guided by our physical impulses.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 26, 2016: Having the Courage to Forgive

It takes great effort and resolution to endure pain and hardship. It requires tremendous confidence to bear insult and disgrace without a hint of retaliation or self-doubt.
—Master Hsing Yun, "Don't Get Mad, Get Even"

LGMC London Vigil



http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/london-gay-mens-chorus-releases-song-aid-victims-orlando-shooting/#gs.v0fY=kI

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 25/06/2016

“A ambição gera inquietação. Ela não permite que você relaxe. Você se torna uma pessoa ansiosa, pois está sempre preocupada em como conquistar mais, como dar o próximo passo, como escalar novos degraus. Por trás da ambição existe um eu idealizado que precisa conquistar muitas coisas para ter segurança e sentir-se protegido. Ele vive em função de proteger a própria mentira, que é a sua autoimagem.”

“La ambición genera inquietud. No permite que te relajes. Te conviertes en una persona ansiosa, porque siempre estás preocupadaen cómo conquistar más, cómo dar el siguiente paso, cómo escalar nuevos peldaños. Por detrás de la ambición existe un yo idealizado que necesita conquistar muchas cosas para tener seguridad y sentirse protegido. Vive en función de proteger la propia mentira, que es tu autoimagen.”

“Ambition creates restlessness. It doesn’t allow us to relax. We become anxious,always concerned about how to get more, how to make the next move, how to get further up the ladder. Behind ambition, there is an idealized self that needs to conquer many things in order to feel secure and protected. The idealized self’s function isto protect its own lie which is it’s own self-image.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 25, 2016: The Expansive Self of the Bodhisattva


For us as bodhisattvas, all aspects of life, including the fate of humanity itself, live within us. It is with this in mind that we work to discover and manifest the most vital and alive posture that we can take in living out our life.

—Kosho Uchiyama, "What Is a Bodhisattva?"

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Via Daily Dharma / June 23, 2016: Multiplicity of the Self

We want to say a person is like this, or a person is like that. But that can’t tell the whole story.

—Tracy Franz, "Authentic Self"

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Via Ram Dass

June 22, 2016

I would like to play the part of someone who has worked on my consciousness sufficiently so that if things get tough, in terms of environment, social structures, oppression, minority groups, whatever the thing is – I would like to be able to be in the scene without getting caught in my own reactivity to it, without getting so caught in my own fear that I become part of the problem instead of part of the solution.
 

Via Daily Dharma / June 22, 2016: The Beauty of Life All Around Us

Sitting still is a way of falling in love with the world and everything in it.

—Pico Iyer, "Dropping Distraction"

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 21/06/2016

“Nós estamos aqui buscando a verdade; estamos batendo na porta dela. Mas, às vezes, quando a porta se abre, nos assustamos. Certa vez, uma buscadora que dizia querer encontrar a verdade (e por isso era muito dedicada às suas práticas espirituais diárias) um dia descobriu que o marido a estava traindo. Então ela entrou em desespero e me disse: ‘quanto mais eu rezo, mais assombração me aparece! Eu estava buscando a verdade do Ser e isso é o que eu encontro?’ Existem graus de verdade, mas a verdade é uma só. E comprometer-se com a verdade significa comprometer-se com todos os seus aspectos. Então, ela que se achava tão desapegada, teve que entrar em contato com o ciúme e a possessividade que ainda carregava.”

“Nosotros estamos aquí buscando la verdad; estamos golpeando su puerta. Pero, a veces, cuando la puerta se abre, nos asustamos. Una vez, una buscadora que decía que quería encontrar la verdad (y por eso era muy dedicada a sus prácticas espirituales diarias) un día descubrió que su marido la estaba engañando. Entonces entró en desesperación y me dijo: ‘¡cuánto más rezo, más fantasmas me aparecen! ¿Yo estaba buscando la verdad del Ser y esto es lo que encuentro?’ Existen grados de verdad, pero la verdad es una sola. Y comprometerse con la verdad significa comprometerse con todos sus aspectos. Entonces, ella que se creía tan desapegada, tuvo que entrar en contacto con los celos y la posesividad que todavía cargaba.”

“We are here seeking for truth and knocking on truth’s door. However, sometimes when the door opens, we get frightened. Once there was a disciple of mine, who said she wanted to find truth and as suchwas very dedicated to her daily spiritual practice. One day she discovered that her husband was cheating on her. She fell into despair and said to me, ‘the more I pray, the darker the shadow becomes! I was searching for the truth of my being and this is what I find?’ There are degrees of truth but there is only one truth. To be committed with the truth means to be committed to be willing to see the truth in all of its aspects. So, even though she thought she was free from her attachments, she had to get in touch with the jealousy and possessiveness she still carried within.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 21, 2016: The True Meaning of Renunciation

The ground of renunciation is realizing that we already have exactly what we need, that what we have already is good. Every moment of time has enormous energy in it, and we could connect with that.

—Pema Chödrön, "Renunciation"

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Via Daily Dharma / June 18, 2016: The Roots of Meditation

All it takes to evoke the relaxation response—the gateway to all forms of meditation—is to focus exclusively on a repetitive stimulus or movement to break the stream of ordinary thought.

—James Kingsland, "Siddhartha, the Scientist"

Orlando City's Emotional In-Stadium Tribute


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 19/06/2016

“Somente quando pode amar plenamente você pode experimentar a liberdade. Mesmo que não tenha consciência disso, o que você está buscando é a experiência da liberdade, pois ela é o perfume da unidade; e a unidade é possível somente através do amor - esse tão imenso poder capaz de remover todas as barreiras de separação.”
“Solamente cuando puedes amar plenamente puedes experimentar la libertad. Incluso si no eres consciente de ello, lo que estás buscando es la experiencia de la libertad, pues es el perfume de la unidad; y la unidad es posible solamente a través del amor - ese tan inmenso poder capaz de remover todas las barreras de separación.”

“Only when we can fully love can we experience freedom. Even if we are not conscious about it, what we are actually seeking is the experience of freedom. This is the fragrance of union. Union is only possible through love. Only the immense power of love has the capacity to remove all the barriers of separation.”

Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 18/06/2016
 
“Normalmente, o medo e o orgulho trabalham juntos para proteger os porões do inconsciente. Me refiro a um aspecto bem específico do orgulho: a vergonha. Você tem vergonha de si mesmo, da sua história e do seu passado; tem vergonha de estar numa situação de insegurança e fragilidade, e tem medo que o outro descubra. Você não admite estar nesse lugar. Esse é o orgulho, mas o principal guardião é o medo – medo de entrar no núcleo da origem da dor.”

“Normalmente, el miedo y el orgullotrabajan juntos para proteger los sótanos del inconsciente. Me refiero a un aspecto muy específico del orgullo, la vergüenza. Tienesvergüenza de ti mismo, de tu historia y de tu pasado; tienes vergüenza de estar en una situación de inseguridad y fragilidad, y tienes miedo de que el otro lo descubra. No admites estar en ese lugar. Este es el orgullo, pero el principal guardián es el miedo - miedo de entrar en el núcleo del origen del dolor.”

“Usually, fear and pride work together to protect the dungeons of the unconscious. I am referring to a very specific aspect of pride, which is shame. We are ashamed of ourselves, of our story, and of our past. We feel ashamed to be in a situation that exposes our insecurity and vulnerability. We are afraid that the other will discover this. We don’t want to admit that we are in this place. This is an example of pride acting in us, whose main guard is fear. We fear getting in touch with the original core of this pain.”

Via Ram Dass:


June 19, 2016

The world is perfect as it is, including my desire to change it.

Antigua, Guatemala June 2016


Via Dialy Dharma / June 19, 2016: When Dualism Collapses

When sense and the objects of sense both become empty, then emptiness and sense merge and reach a state of absolute perfection.

—Kuan-Yin, "Hearing, A Door to Liberation"

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Via Daily Dharma / June 15, 2016: Examining Interdependence

It is entirely appropriate to examine in our moment-to-moment experience how craving and aversion manifest in personal psychological suffering. It is also important to follow that strand out through the interdependent karmic relationships in which each moment is entangled, to see how our desire is affecting everyone and everything around us.

—Andrew Olendzki, "The Other Dukkha"

Via Ram Dass

June 15, 2016

All action is prayer.
All trees are desire-fulfilling.
All water is the Ganga.
All land is Varanasi.
Love everything.


- Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji)

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 16/06/2016

“Antes de identificar o que fecha o seu coração e te impede de amar, é preciso identificar o fechamento. Nem sempre é fácil ver que o coração está fechado, mas é fácil identificar os sintomas do fechamento: acusação e julgamento. Se você acusa e julga é porque o seu coração está fechado. Uma coisa é enxergar o erro no outro e rezar para que ele transforme determinado aspecto negativo, e assim se libere. Outra coisa é identificar o erro e usar a sua energia (pensamentos, palavras e ações) para fortalecê-lo. Dessa forma, você cristaliza o outro naquele aspecto negativo para poder se sentir melhor do que ele. Isso é vingança.”

“Antes de identificar lo que cierra tu corazón y te impide de amar, esnecesario identificar elcierre. No siempre es fácil ver que el corazón está cerrado, pero es fácil identificar los síntomas del cierre: acusación y juicio. Si acusas y juzgas es porque tu corazón está cerrado. Una cosa es ver el error en el otro, y rezar para que él transformeun determinado aspecto negativo, y así se libere. Otra cosa es identificar el error y utilizar tu energía (pensamientos, palabras y acciones) para fortalecerlo. De esta manera, cristalizasal otro en aquel aspecto negativo para poder sentirte mejor que él. Esto es venganza.”

“Before we can identify what makes our hearts close and prevents us from loving, we must first identify when our hearts are closed. It isn’t always easy to see that our hearts are closed, but it is easy to identify the symptoms of a closed heart: blame and judgment. If we are blaming and judging the other it is because our hearts are closed. It is one thing to see the faults of another and pray for them so that they may be able to transform certain negative aspects and become free of them. It is another thing to see their faults and invest all of our energy into blaming or judging them throughour thoughts, words and actions. This only crystallizesand reinforces the other’s negative behavior so that we can feel superior to them. This is what we call revenge.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 16, 2016: Recognizing Mortality, Cherishing Life


Recognizing mortality means we are willing to see what is true. Seeing what is true is grounding. It brings us into the present.

—Anne Klein, "The Supreme Contemplation"

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Via John Peart: To my heterosexual friends: this is why Orlando hurts




To my heterosexual friends,

Lots of you have been silent about events in Orlando this weekend. That’s OK; maybe you were busy, life moves fast. But this one cuts a little deeper for your LGBT friends, like me, and you should know why.

It’s not because it’s terrorism; though that plays a part in it.

It’s not because of the size of the death toll. There isn’t a scale and this isn’t a competition.

It hurts because it’s not so different from the violence we experience every day. Until you’ve been scared to hold your partner’s hand in public, unless you’ve faced fear of revealing yourself to those closest to you; you can sympathise, but you can’t understand.

This hurts because whilst families and our community are grieving, the media is denying our collective identity.

The world around us tries to politicise every part of our lives as an LGBT community: our fundamental rights, who we can marry, whether we can donate blood. And yet, the rare occasion we want our community to be at the forefront of politics, the politics of hate is erased from the discussion.

This wasn’t “America’s Bataclan”. It wasn’t an attack on ‘the West’ or Western culture. This attack was specific. Pre-meditated. Fuelled by a hatred of people like me.

This hurts because so many remain silent when usually they are most vocal. They’ll mourn the death of a gorilla but they won’t mourn 49 dead LGBT people.

This hurts because it brought the worst of the world out of the woodwork. From presumptive Presidential nominees to priests to small town hicks, they congratulate a terrorist for killing “pedophiles” and “deviants”.

This hurts like it always has. Like Harvey Milk said:
The anger and the frustrations that some of us feel is because we are misunderstood, and friends can’t feel the anger and frustration. They can sense it in us, but they can’t feel it. Because a friend has never gone through what is known as coming out. I will never forget what it was like coming out and having nobody to look up toward. I remember the lack of hope - and our friends can’t fulfill it.
This hurts because of when it happened. June isn’t just any month in the year: it’s the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. It’s the time of the year when our community comes together to celebrate the progress made, and remember those who came before us. Now this year, more than most, Pride will be a reminder of how far we still have to go.

But we remain defiant. As a community, you hurt one of us and you hurt us all, and we’ll come back fighting.

In cities around the UK, and around the world, people stood still last night to honour and remember the dead. Thousands flocked to pay their respects and draw strength from our collective voice: love is love, and love always wins.

So my friends, don’t stay silent in the face of homophobic terror. Do something.

Be defiant. Light a candle. Teach your children LGBT people are to be loved not feared. Lend your support to homophiles not homophobes. Ask your LGBT friends if they’re OK. Do whatever you can, but don’t stay silent and don’t let this happen again.

John Peart

Liberal Redneck: Orlando shooting and 'Radical Islam'

From the New York Daily News:
There’s no joke to be told here for Daily News Hillbilly-in-Chief Trae Crowder following the massacre in Orlando. In an impassioned and powerful appeal to stop the “archaic lunacy” of religious and gun fanaticism, Crowder breaks it down to its most granular level on whether you’re on the side of love or hate.

“Saying that gay people shouldn’t be allowed to get married or be parents is not the same as murdering them, OK? Clearly. But that is where this road leads. This is what happens when zealous hate masquerading as faith is allowed to go unchecked.”

Beautiful Song - Krishna Das - Sri Argala Stotram - Show Me Love


Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Stephen Colbert: Despair Is A Victory For Hate


Anderson Cooper pushes Pam Bondi on LGBTQ issues


Via LGBT Brasil / FB:




‘The guilt of being alive is heavy’: Orlando massacre survivor describes encounter with gunman


Via Lion's Roar: Buddhist figures, communities respond to Orlando massacre


Buddhist flad and pride flag.

The Buddhist flag (right) debuted in Sri Lanka in 1855 and was adopted internationally in 1952. The rainbow pride flag, designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978, has become a symbol of LGBTIQ hope and progress worldwide. 
After the almost incomprehensible news of the early-Sunday morning mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Buddhist teachers and communities began to share their grief and support for and with the LGBTIQ community. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say.

Note: this page has been updated with additional comments since it was originally posted. These most recently added comments start immediately following here.

Larry Yang, East Bay Meditation Center:

In the chaos of violence, senselessness, carnage, and despair, we can take care of each other. We can hold each other with the most precious thing we can offer, our compassionate attention. Unwavering, we can love one another without questioning or second-guessing any aspect of that love or anyone’s life experience or identity. There is great Power in that coming together from wherever we are. In that solidarity with the deepest of places of our tender humanity, we begin to live the truth that the Buddha spoke of:

Hate never yet dispelled hate. Only love dispels hate.
This is the law, ancient and inexhaustible.
 
We begin to create justice in the only ways possible—through just means. Instead of trading Homophobia with Xenophobia as an insidious pattern of the market economy—Instead of displacing and playing off the oppression of one, for the oppression of another—we endeavor to dispel all oppressions, for the freedom of all beings. We can only create justice through just means—that is the law, ancient and inexhaustible.

San Francisco Zen Center:

Dear sangha,
Today, many of us are experiencing great sorrow and disbelief at the recent tragedy in Orlando. We are deeply saddened that one individual, whose mind may be clouded by ignorance and hate, has taken the lives of 50 people at a gay dance club in Orlando and injured 53 more. At this difficult time, we turn to our practice – to our loving, compassionate heart-minds – and hold everyone tenderly in Buddha’s embrace.

May we focus our hearts and minds now on unity, acceptance, and resilience rather than blame and hate. May we bring the world into our hearts and extend our loving kindness to those affected by this violent act.

May we turn our hearts and minds towards the conditions for realizing our Bodhisattva vow of freeing all beings from suffering and the causes of suffering.

Eyes of Compassion
Observing Sentient Beings
Assemble an Ocean of Blessings
Beyond Measure
—Chapter 25, Lotus Sutra

Adapted from City Center Tanto David Zimmerman’s opening remarks at a memorial service today for the victims of the recent shooting in Orlando.

Tara Brach:

The tragedy in Orlando brings us together in deep sorrow and prayer.
May those suffering loss feel held in our love;
may those suffering from hatred be healed with compassion;
may yet more violence awaken our collective dedication to living from peaceful, open hearts.

Lama Rod Owens of Natural Dharma Fellowship:

Remembering the loss of life everywhere this morning. I continue to watch, fight, and pray. May you continue to do the same.

The Dalai Lama:

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama today led a minute of silent prayer, in recognition of the events in Orlando, noting that he “is quite skeptical about the effects of prayer. The real change, effect, comes through action.” Watch his full comments here.

Mushim Patricia Ikeda:

This morning I offered a Dharma talk titled “Let’s all become buddhas together: the importance of spiritual friendship” to the full house Sangha gathering at Insight Meditation Center of Redwood City, California. When I left my home in Oakland, the first report of 20 people who died in the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida was in the news; by the time I returned home, there was a report of 50 dead and 53 wounded.

Acknowledging this hate crime in my talk, I said: “I propose that, considering all of the desperate and liberatory people’s movements now happening all over the world, that we need to look deeply and continuously — as continuously as we return to the physical sensations of the breath or whatever the object of our meditation practice is — to ask whether we are creating not only community, but whether we are creating *beloved* community. After all, this is more than an abstract question. We live in earthquake country, and at any moment those of us gathered in this meditation hall, whether we know one another or not, might need one another in ways that are highly intimate and highly unromantic. The Big One could happen at any time. 

Then we would need to rely on that essential human bond, in moments of crisis, which asks: ‘Even if I am not your parent, your child, your sibling, your coworker, your neighbor, will you help me? Will you be my spiritual friend?’ When I was in the Korean Buddhist monastery in 1988, I learned the phrase ‘songbul hashipshio,” which I was told translates into English as ‘Let’s all become buddhas together.’ Creating beloved community this year and next year and beyond is an urgent matter.”

Insight Meditation Society:

IMS stands in solidarity with the LGBTIQ community grieving over the Orlando Massacre. May you rest in abiding love during this tragedy.

Maia Duerr of the Liberated Life Project:

Feeling kind of stunned today, in the aftermath of the news from Orlando… I am remembering back to years that I lived in Oregon when hate crimes against LGBT were commonplace, and when legislation to discriminate against our community was being pushed on everyone.

This level of violence, hatred, and bigotry is traumatizing… any group of people that has experienced oppression has experienced that. May we never forget what this trauma can do to people, and let that help us to have great forbearance with each other in the days to come.

I keep remembering something that dear Frank Ostaseski has said — “There is endless suffering. There is also endless compassion.” Let us abide in that place of compassion in the days and weeks ahead…

Kalu Rimpoche:

I heard and saw on television news the tragic event that happened in Orlando Florida for those who were simply having fun in their life. I am strongly doing my prayers for those who have passed away, those that are hurt and those who are going through a difficult time. All my love and caring and respect to the LGBT community and individuals around the world.

All the teachings from the great masters comes with nonviolence, kindness, love and compassion. This is the foundation of the teachings of all religions and all the great masters. We must continue with that direction for what we believe.

Be proud of who you are and don’t let any religion tell you what you have to be. Just look for happiness and quality and wisdom in mind. Happiness and truthfulness is never based on lies, violence and ignorance. It Is always based on wisdom and equality and living the life we want with simplicity and freedom.

Love and care from your Kalu Rimpoche

Jack Kornfield:

As I learn of the shootings in Florida, I am filled with tears and an ocean of compassion for so many who have been harmed. Sitting quietly, this tragedy strengthens my resolve to not let terror and fear take over my heart.

As we move through this beautiful and troubled world, may we vow to be a beacon of peace, a fearless carrier of respect and lovingkindness for all life, a teller of truth , a voice for justice, a protector of those who are vulnerable or targeted. May the power of wisdom, integrity and compassion be our guide.

And may I/we follow these instructions of the Buddha…….

Others will kill. We shall not kill. Thus we should direct our hearts. Others will be cruel. We shall not be cruel. Thus should we direct our hearts. Others will speak falsely. We will speak what is true. Thus we should direct our hearts. Others will be fraudulent. We shall not be fraudulent. Thus we should direct our hearts. Others will be hateful. We shall become loving. Thus we shall direct our hearts. Others will be unwise. We shall become wise. Thus we shall direct our hearts.
May I/we carry these intentions with courage, as a beacon and a medicine, as a blessing to all we touch.

Metta, Jack

Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families and all those affected in Orlando, FL.

When Rinpoche heard about this tragedy he immediately started doing prayers.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche always advises to make strong prayers to Medicine Buddha for anyone who is dying, sick, injured or who has already passed away. Also this can be dedicated to anyone who needs protection, support, strength and love.

Lodro Rinzler:

I am very sad and tired today. But posting things on the internet doesn’t seem like enough today. So I’m committing to volunteering for a nonprofit that does gun violence prevention work going forward. Do you have one you’d recommend? Willing to put in a few hours a week.

[Rinzler also wrote a piece for Huffington Post called “Meditation Isn’t Enough: A Call to Take Action Against Gun Violence.”]

Miguel Chen:

This pain belongs to all of us. Senseless, awful violence. May we unite from a place of compassion, rather than divide from a place of fear. Our brothers and sisters need our love.

Greg Snyder of Brooklyn Zen Center:

This morning I got really irritated about something not that important and realized I was resisting letting my heart break for Orlando. Then it just did. I have no idea what to say here, other than Charleston, Orlando, on and on – enough with the hatred, all of us. I am speaking from grief, so forgive my insistent tone; but we have just got to stop as a nation, as a people of many peoples, communities, and take stock, slap ourselves in the collective face and wake up to the ways we are creating the conditions for this. People are being executed… executed in nightclubs and churches, on streets for nothing. Nothing. 

Nothing. They are worshipping and dancing and walking. I pray every person with a shred of sanity – especially those of privilege and power – train her or his heart on love and, from that place, work to expose and heal hatred wherever we see it. I would encourage us all to take up the practice of watching our every word and silence, every action and inaction, every thought and distraction, every vote and political shrug of the shoulders, and ask ourselves – Am I right now cultivating a world of love or hate? Is the language I’m getting behind a language of love or hate? I know I fail at this intention everyday of my life, but all I feel right now is that we must work tirelessly to cultivate a society deeply rooted in love. Most of us will fear this because love is both personally and societally revolutionary. Love will shake us to our core as people and as nations. But it’s so long past time. It has been said so many times that it’s boring, but business as usual really has to stop being business as usual. I can already see the story unfolding in the news and soon it will be all too easy just to blame this on ISIS and take no stock of who we are. We too easily use this or that terrorist or sociopath as a free ticket for moving on. This too has to stop. We have to bring the world into our hearts and make love our first thought, our first intention for ourselves and every person we meet. That means we have to critically engage the mental and societal habits that resist love. Despite all we can do to each other, I choose to have faith in humanity. Yes, we can be a wind of fire that leaves scars and burning, but we are also dear and precious and deserving of our birthright of peace and happiness, every one of us. I vow to focus my heart on the latter, knowing that we must learn to clearly see and end the conditions for the former. May the mystery forever cradle those murdered in Orlando and may we all learn to care for each other while here. Love to the families and communities of those lost. Love to all of you, my sacred sisters and brothers.

Spirit Rock Meditation Center:

May we be free from hatred and the suffering caused by hatred. May we hold our suffering and the suffering of the world with fierce, deep, and tender compassion.

The Orlando Shooting: A Closer Look


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 13/06/2016

“O desvendar do amor é um processo que se inicia com a identificação das capas que o encobrem. Ao identificar seus padrões destrutivos, você dá o primeiro passo em direção ao amor. E essa identificação só é possível se houver honestidade – honestidade para aceitar suas imperfeições.”

“El develardel amor es un proceso que comienza con la identificación de las capas que lo encubren. Al identificar tus patrones destructivos, das el primer paso en dirección al amor. Y esta identificación solo es posible si hubierahonestidad - honestidad para aceptar tus imperfecciones.”

“The unveiling of love is a process that begins with actually identifying the layers that cover our capacity to love. When we identify our destructive patterns, we take the first step in the direction towards love. This identification is only possible if we are capable of honesty. We must be honest enough to accept our imperfections.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 14, 2016: The Consequence of Understanding


When you understand interconnectedness, it makes you more afraid of hating than of dying.

—Robert A. F. Thurman, "Rising to the Challenge: Cool Heroism"

Monday, June 13, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 13/06/2016

“O desvendar do amor é um processo que se inicia com a identificação das capas que o encobrem. Ao identificar seus padrões destrutivos, você dá o primeiro passo em direção ao amor. E essa identificação só é possível se houver honestidade – honestidade para aceitar suas imperfeições.”

“El develardel amor es un proceso que comienza con la identificación de las capas que lo encubren. Al identificar tus patrones destructivos, das el primer paso en dirección al amor. Y esta identificación solo es posible si hubierahonestidad - honestidad para aceptar tus imperfecciones.”

“The unveiling of love is a process that begins with actually identifying the layers that cover our capacity to love. When we identify our destructive patterns, we take the first step in the direction towards love. This identification is only possible if we are capable of honesty. We must be honest enough to accept our imperfections.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 13, 2016: Finding Balance Through Moderation

I would say that not doing too much is the important thing. We tend to try to overdo everything. Such conceptual actions just create more karma. Consider nondoing, nonaction, for a while, and leaving things as they are.

—His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa, "Awareness Itself"

Via FB:



GoFundMe Campaign To Support Orlando Victims Surpasses $1.6 Million

pulse

A GoFundMe campaign set up by Equality Florida to help support the victims of Sunday’s horrific shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub, has reached over $1.6 million thus far.
Equality Florida, the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, will ensure that all funds raised will go ‘directly to the victims and families affected by the horrific shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub.’
In its first 24 hours, the campaign has garnered over 40,000 donations, amounting to over $1.6 million.
gofundme
The organisation is assuring donors that funds will be properly managed, saying, “We are working with a team of attorneys and experts, including the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both Chattanooga and Aurora, to ensure funds are distributed correctly.”

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“We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country,” the organization writes.
“Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. June commemorates our community standing up to anti-LGBTQ violence at the Stonewall Inn, the nightclub that has become the first LGBTQ site recognized as a national monument.”
“We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help or to make sense of the senseless. We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy.”
If you would like to make a contribution to the fund, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund.
- See more at: http://www.thegailygrind.com/2016/06/13/gofundme-campaign-to-support-orlando-victims-surpasses-1-6-million/#sthash.MjV1cpHd.dpuf

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 11/06/2016

Si amas de verdad, no pides nada a cambio. Si negocias amor justamente es porque eres incapaz de amar. La negociación funciona así: ‘¿Lo que quieres es atención? Está bien, te doy atención, pero tendrás que hacer exactamente lo que yo quiero, como yo quiero'. Este es un juego nefasto cuyo objetivo es hacer del otro un esclavo para atendertus necesidades y expectativas. Esto genera codependencia, lo que implicadepender de la miseria del otro para sentirse feliz. Necesitas hacer que el otro se sienta débil para poder sentirte fuerte. De esta forma las parejasquitan energía uno al otroy refuerzan la falsa idea de yo. Pagan este precio exorbitante, que es la pérdida de la libertad, porque están completamente dependientes. Y lo peor es que encima llaman a esoamor.”
Del libro “Amar y Ser Libre”

“When we truly love, we ask for nothing in return. When we try to bargain with love it is because we are not yet capable of truly loving. Negotiating with love looks like this: ‘Is it attention you want? Okay, I’ll give you attention, but you will have to do exactly what I want, in the way that I want it.’ This game’s objectiveis to make the other a slave in order to attend to our needs and expectations. This creates co-dependency and requires the other’s misery in order for us to feel happy. We need the other to feel weak in order for us to feel powerful. Subsequently, as partners, we suck energy from one another, reinforcing this false idea of self. We pay an exorbitant price: the loss of freedom.We become completely dependent on the other. Unfortunately, this is still what we call ‘love’.”
From the book To Love and Be Free

Via Ram Dass

June 12, 2016

I'm explicitly making my life a teaching, by expressing the lessons that I've learned through it so it can become a map for other people. Everybody's life could be like that, if they choose to make it so; choose to reflect what they've been through and to share it with others.

Via Daily Dharma / June 12, 2016: Make Your Mind Like the Earth

Disgusting things get thrown on the earth, but the earth isn’t horrified by them. When you make your mind like the earth, neither agreeable nor disagreeable sensory impressions will take charge of it.

—Thanissaro Bhikkhu, "The Joy of Effort"

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 11/06/2016

“O que é certo e o que é errado, no plano do coração, pode ser completamente diferente do que é certo e do que é errado no plano da mente. A mente segue tradições, segue elementos da cultura. A tradição tem uma função na sociedade e durante uma fase da jornada ela é útil, mas chega um momento em que ela sabota a possibilidade da transcendência.”

“Lo que está bien y lo que está mal, en el plano del corazón, puede ser completamente diferente de lo que está bien y lo que está mal en el plano de la mente. La mente sigue tradiciones, sigue elementos de la cultura. La tradición tiene unafunción en la sociedad y durante una fase del camino es útil, pero llega un momento en que sabotea la posibilidad de la trascendencia.”

“What is right and what is wrong at the level of the heart can be completely different from what we deem right and wrong at the level of the mind. The mind follows traditions; it follows cultural norms. Conditionings have their place in society and, up until a certain phase of the journey, are useful. However, there comes a time when these conditionings sabotage the further possibility of transcendence.”