Saturday, February 20, 2016

Via JMG: PORTUGAL: President Signs Gay Adoption Bill

portugalpresident

He doesn’t like it but he had no choice. The Perchy Bird reports: Portugal was once the only country with gay marriage but no adoption rights for couples. That changed today when news emerged that out-going President, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, signed the same-sex adoption bill ushered in by a new Left-leaning Parliamentary majority. 

Make the jump here to read the original and more at JMG

Via um amigo...


Via um amigo...


Via Buddhism in a Nutshell: The Metta Sutta Translated by Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhism in a Nutshell
The Metta Sutta
Translated by Thich Nhat Hanh
He or She who wants to attain peace should practice being upright, humble, and capable of using loving speech. He or she will know how to live simply and happily, with senses calmed, without being covetous and carried away by the emotions of the majority. Let him or her not do anything that will be disapproved of by the wise ones. (And this is what he or she contemplates): 

‘May everyone be happy and safe, and may their hearts be filled with joy. 

‘May all living beings live in security and peace, beings who are frail or strong, tall or short, big or small, visible or not visible, near or far away, already born or yet to be born. May all of them dwell in perfect tranquility. 

‘Let no one do harm to anyone. Let no one put the life of anyone in danger. Let no one, out of anger or ill will, wish anyone any harm. 

‘Just as a mother loves and protects her only child at the risk of her own life, we should cultivate boundless love to offer to all living beings in the entire cosmos. Let our boundless love pervade the whole universe, above, below, and across. Our love will know no obstacles, our heart will be absolutely free from hatred and enmity. Whether standing or walking, sitting or lying, as long as we are awake, we should maintain this mindfulness of love in our own heart. This is the noblest way of living. 

‘Free from wrong views, greed, and sensual desires, living in beauty and realizing perfect understanding, those who practise boundless love will certainly transcend birth and death.’




Mindfulness is the energy that allows us to look deeply at our body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness and see clearly what our real needs are, so we will not drown in the sea of suffering. Eventually love fills our mind and our will (Pali: cetana) and all our actions from that time on manifest love. Speech and actions are the fruits of will, so when our will is permeated by love, our speech and actions are also suffused with love. We speak only loving and constructive words and act only in ways that bring happiness and relieve suffering. 
*** 

Practise looking deeply all day long – during sitting meditation, walking meditation, at work, and at home. When you do, you will discover the true nature of the five skandhas – form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. You will see the conditions that have caused you to be the way you are, and this makes it easy to accept yourself – your suffering and your happiness at the same time. To love is first of all to accept yourself as you actually are. ‘Knowing thyself’ is the first practice of love.
*** 

May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love. May he/she learn to look at him/herself with the eyes of understanding and love. May they learn to look at themselves with the eyes of understanding and love. 

May I be able to recognize and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in myself. May he/she be able to recognize and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in him/herself. May they be able to recognize and touch the seeds of joy and happiness in themselves. 

May I learn to identify and see the sources of anger, craving, and delusion in myself. May he/she learn to identify and see the sources of anger, craving and delusion in him/herself. May they learn to identify and see the sources of anger, craving and delusion in themselves. 

http://slbuddhists.org/inanutshell/mettasutta.html
 

3. METTA SUTTA

3. METTA SUTTA
( Metta=Love; Affection; benevolence; eros; agape amour; Loving-kindness. )
Discourse on Love
Introduction
46.    Due to the glorious power of this discourse on Love, spirits dare not disclose the frighful sights.
   One who devotes to himself this doctrine day and night diligently.
47.    sleeps soundly and does not see any nightmare when asleep.
   Oh thou! Let us recite this doctrine endowed with such and other merits.
48.    He who is clever in the benefaction and who has anticipated in the attainment of the state of Perfect Tranquility
   must work to be efficient, right, upright, discussable, gentle, and humble,
49.    Contented, well-bred, less responsible, of fugal livelihood, serene in faculties, prudent, modest, not hanker after the families.
50.    He must not commit even the slightest sin for which the wise men might censure.
   He must contemplate thus:- may all sentient beings be cheerful and be endowed with happy secured life.
51.
   Whatever breathing beings there may be the frail ones or the firm creatures, with no exception tall or stout, short or meduim-sized, thin or fat,
52.    Those which are seen or those unseen those who are dwelling far or near those who are already born or those still seeking to become yet.
   May all these beings be endowed with happy-life.
53.     Let not one be angry with another, let him not despise anyone in any place
   By means of physical and verbal provocation or by frustrated enmity,
   Let one not wish another's suffering.
54.    Just like a mother would protect her baby, the only child, even so towards with her lifeall beings
   Let one cultivate the (Agape) boundless spirit of love.
55.    Let him radiate the boundless of love rays towards the entire world, to the above, below, and across unhindered, without malice and enmity.
56.    While standing, walking, or reclining, as long awake without sloth, sitting, as he be
   Let him devote himself to this mindfulness.
    This is called in this religion as "Noble Living" (Holy life).
57.    If the meditator, without falling into wrong view (egoism), be virtuous, and endowed with perfect insight, has expelled passion in sensual desires,
   he will surely come never again to be born in any womb. The end of Metta-sutta


The End of Metta Sutta


http://www.myanmarnet.net/nibbana/sound/metta.htm

Metta Sutta: Discourse on Loving-kindness by U Nandiya


Once the Bhagava ( Lord Buddha) was staying at the Jetavana
monastery in the pleasance of Anathapindika at Savatthi. A group
of monks received permission from the Lord to meditate in a
distant forest during the period of Buddhist Lent. Each of the
monks took shelter under a big tree as a temporary residence and
an engaged themselves intensively in the practice of meditation.

On account of the spiritual power of their meditation, the tree
deities could not stay in their trees-abodes above the monks, so
they had to come down to the ground. Realizing that the monks
would spend the whole rainy season there, the deities were much
annoyed. So they tried to scare the monks away during the night by
harassing them in various ways.

After living under such impossible conditions for sometime, the
monks could not bear it any longer and rushed back to the Buddha
and informed him about their difficulties. So the Buddha advised
them to recite the text of loving kindness (Metta Sutta) and to
radiate the spirit of love to all beings. On the full-moon day of
Wagaung, the Buddha taught the monks the Metta Sutta. From that
day till now, the full-moon day of Wagaung has been called as the
'Great or Grand Occasion of Metta.

Encouraged by this discourse, the monks returned to their
respective places. They practiced in accordance with the
instructions given them to permeate the entire atmosphere with
radiant thoughts of love, The tree-deities were much pleased to be
affected by the power of love, and so let the monks (meditators)
stay without any further disturbances.

Metta

Metta is the highest need of the world today, indeed it is more
needed than ever before. Because in this new world, there are
sufficient materials, money and brilliant wise men and scientists.
In spite of these, there is no peace and happiness. It shows that
something is lacking, That is Metta.

What is the Buddhist idea of Metta? The Pali word "Metta" means
"loving kindness", not the ordinary, sensual, emotional,
sentimental kind of love. Metta has been translated by modem
translators into English as generous, mindful loving, loving
kindness, sending out thoughts of love towards others" but
according to the words of Buddha, Metta has a far wider
significance, and a much more extensive implication than this. It
means a great deal more than loving kindness harmlessness,
sympathy.

What is love? Love is also defined in the Oxford Dictionary.
According to it, love means warm affection, attachment,
affectionate devotion, etc. These are synonymous terms for love
and they all refer to sentimental worldly love. So, Metta has no
full English equivalent. For this Metta is much more than ordinary
affection or warm feelings. The Pali word Metta literally means
"friendliness", but also means love without a desire to possess
but with desire to help, to sacrifice self-interest for the
welfare and well being of humanity. Metta is with out any
selection or exclusion. If you select a few good friends and
exclude a bad person, then you have not got a perfect grasp of
Metta. Indeed Metta is not only benevolent thought, but also
performing charitable deeds, an active ministry for the good of
one and all.

In the "Metta Sutta" the Buddha has chosen the love of a mother
for her child as an example. Imagine a mother's love when her
child is hungry; she watches carefully to feed her child even be
fore it asks her for food. When the child is in danger, she will
risk her own life. So the Buddha taught us to love all beings as a
mother loves her only child. If we can do this even to a small
extent, the world will become happier and more peaceful place. In
the Dighanikaya, it is said by the Buddha that almost every virtue
such as unselfishness, loving sympathy and loving kindness is
included in this "Metta".

Though we talked much about Metta and repeat the formula "Sabbe
satta avera hontu, abyapajjha hontu etc;. "( May all sentient
beings be free from danger; may they be free from oppression
etc.), without Metta how can it be effective? This passage is not
to be merely recited. The Buddha does not ask us to learn any of
his teachings for recitation only. So the recitation of the "Metta
Sutta" is good, but the Buddha did not mean it to be merely
recited. He exhorted us to follow and practice the instructions in
it so that we might realize Metta as the best state of heart in
the world.

Therefore do not be satisfied with the mere recitation of the
"Metta Sutta" but strive to know its meaning with a view to
practicing it and to make it suffuse your being. That is the most
essential fact. Meditation does not mean merely to think about it,
but to practice it in your daily life.

Discourse of loving kindness

This discourse of loving kindness serves as a mark of protection
and as a subject of meditation. In the first part of the discourse
are found virtues that should be practiced by anyone who desires
his own welfare, and in the latter part the method of practicing
Metta or good will is explained in de tail. The Buddha taught us
to follow and practice the following principles:

He who is skilled in doing welfare, who wishes to attain
the state of calm, (Perfect tranquility) must work to be
efficient, upright, perfectly upright, easy to speak to,
gentle and humble.

Contended, easily supportable, having few duties, simple
in livelihood, controlled in sense prudent, modest and
not greedily attached to families, he must not commit
even the slightest sin for which other wise men might
censure him.

He must contemplate so: May all beings be happy, may all
beings be secure, may all beings be happy. He must
radiate the measureless thoughts of loving kindness to
whatever living beings there may be; feeble or strong,
tall, medium or short, small, medium or large, thin,
medium or stout, seen or unseen, those dwelling far or
near, those who are born and those who are to be born-
may all beings, without exception, be happy.

Let none be angry with another, let him not despise
anyone in any place. By means of physical and verbal
provocation or by frustrated enmity, in anger or
ill-will let him not wish another's suffering.

Just as a mother would protect at the risk of her own
life the life of her only son, even so let him spread
boundless loving kindness to every corner of the world;
above, below and across, unhindered without any
obstruction, without any hatred, without any enmity.

While standing, walking, sitting or lying down, as long
as he awake, without sloth (laziness) he should devote
himself to this mindfulness of love. This, they say, is
the "Highest Conduct" and this is called the "Noble
living" (Holy life).

If the meditator, not falling into wrong-view (egoism),
be virtuous and endowed with perfect insight, and expel
his passion for sensual pleasure, then, of a truth, he
will never be conceived in any womb again.

In the Dhammapada the Buddha said, "A beautiful word or thought
which is not accompanied by corresponding acts is like a bright
flower which bears no fruit. It would not produce any effect." So,
it is action, not speculation, it is practice, not theory that
matters. According to the Dhammapada, "will" if it is not followed
by corresponding action does not count. Therefore, practice of the
"Noble Principles of the Metta Sutta" is the essence of Buddhism.

In this connexion this "Metta" or Universal Love (Loving kindness)
is generally taken to exist in connexion with other people, but in
reality love for self comes first. It is not a selfish love, but
love for self, pure love that comes first. By having pure love or
"Metta" as we defined it for self; selfish tendencies, hatred,
anger, will be diminished. Therefore, unless we ourselves possess
"Metta" within, we can not share, radiate, send "Metta" to others.
So meditation on love "Metta" is to be started within ourselves.
According to Buddhism self-love comes first. By helping ourselves,
we can help others effectively. The Buddha pointed out, "If a
person cannot help himself well, he cannot help others well".

In the Dhammapada it says, "One should first establish oneself in
what is proper then only he should advise another; such a wise-man
will not be reproached!". If one cannot find happiness in himself,
he cannot find happiness anywhere else. It is also said that
people who cannot control themselves cannot find happiness.

According to the Buddhist method, training oneself comes first.
Individual perfection must be first, so that the organic whole may
be perfect. The state of the outer world is a reflection of our
innerselves. The world is like a great mirror, and if you look at
the mirror with a smiling face, you will see your own beautiful
smiling face. If you look at it with a shrinking face, you will
see your own ugly face. It means that "Every action must have
equal and opposite reaction."

So if you treat the world properly, kindly, the world will treat
you kindly. We should not expect other persons to treat us kindly
first, we should start by ourselves treating them kindly,

This is the essence of Buddhist "Metta" Loving Kindness.

"May all beings be happy, may all beings be secure, may all beings be happy minded and  may their hearts be wholesome."
 
Source: The Buddhists' Three Jewels, http://www.buddhism.ndirect.co.uk/

The Metta Prayer

In order that I may be skilled in discerning what is good, in order that I may understand the path to peace,
Let me be able, upright, and straightforward, of good speech, gentle, and free from pride;
Let me be contented, easily satisfied, having few duties, living simply, of controlled senses, prudent, without pride and without attachment to nation, race, or other groups.
Let me not do the slightest thing for which the wise might rebuke me. Instead let me think:
“May all beings be well and safe, may they be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be, whether moving or standing still, without exception, whether large, great, middling, or small, whether tiny or substantial,
Whether seen or unseen, whether living near or far,
Born or unborn; may all beings be happy.
Let none deceive or despise another anywhere. Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate.”
Just as a mother would guard her child, her only child, with her own life, even so let me cultivate a boundless mind for all beings in the world.
Let me cultivate a boundless love for all beings in the world, above, below, and across, unhindered, without ill will or enmity.
Standing, walking, seated, or lying down, free from torpor, let me as far as possible fix my attention on this recollection. This, they say, is the divine life right here.
Translated and adapted by Bodhipaksa from the Pali Metta Sutta.

http://www.wildmind.org/metta/introduction/metta-prayer

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 20/02/2016

“A fase zero no processo do despertar da consciência é colocar-se total na ação. É estar plenamente atento a cada movimento. A atenção plena é o que permite que você ocupe o seu veículo, que é seu corpo. Sem ocupar o seu veículo, você não pode conduzi-lo; e sem poder conduzi-lo, ele será levado por impulsos inconscientes. Tais impulsos normalmente te levam na direção oposta àquela que a sua vontade consciente determina. Você é levado ao que chamo de ‘repetições negativas’: fracassos, conflitos, brigas e perturbações de diversos tipos.”

“La fase cero en el proceso del despertar de la consciencia es colocarse total en la acción. Es estar plenamente atento a cada movimiento. La atención plena es lo que permite que ocupes tu vehículo, que es tu cuerpo. Sin ocupar tu cuerpo no puedes conducirlo, y sin poder conducirlo, será llevado por impulsos inconscientes. Tales impulsos normalmente te llevan en la dirección opuesta a aquella que tu voluntad consciente determina. Eres llevado a lo que llamo “repeticiones negativas”: fracasos, conflictos, peleas y perturbaciones de diversos tipos.”

"Phase zero in the process of awakening consciousness is to be whole in our actions; to be fully aware of every move we make. Mindfulness is what allows us to occupy our vehicles, our bodies. Without occupying our vehicles, we cannot drive them, and without a driver, the vehicle will be directed by unconscious impulses. These impulses usually take us in the opposite direction from what our conscious will determines. We are led to create negative repetitions in our own lives such as failures, conflicts, fights and various kinds of disturbances."

Via Daily Dharma: Getting Started

Putting the Buddha’s discovery into practice is no quick fix. It can take years. The most important qualification at the beginning is a strong desire to change your life by adopting new habits and learning to see the world anew.

—Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Getting Started"