Via Facebook / Ram Dass

 

Via White Crane Institute // DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE (DOMA)

 

1996 - President Bill Clinton announced his signing of a bill outlawing homosexual marriages, DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE (DOMA) but said it should not be used as an excuse for discrimination, violence or intimidation against Gays and Lesbians.  No…of course not. Who would do such a thing? Thanks for nothing, Bill. Guess you had your fingers crossed for that “equal protection” part? In 2013 the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to strike down DOMA. The Obama administration, which had declined to defend the law, took steps to insure the Federal government, including the Internal Revenue Service, recognized marriages from states where LGBT marriage is legal. Under the Full Faith and Credit section of the Constitution. We shall overcome!

|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8| Gay Wisdom for Daily Living from White Crane Institute "With the increasing commodification of gay news, views, and culture by powerful corporate interests, having a strong independent voice in our community is all the more important. White Crane is one of the last brave standouts in this bland new world... a triumph over the looming mediocrity of the mainstream Gay world." - Mark Thompson Exploring Gay Wisdom & Culture since 1989! www.whitecraneinstitute.org |8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|

Via The Upworthiest

 

3 Why are people 'unhappy' even when their material needs are met? Here are some thoughtful answers. What truly makes us happy? Psychologists, social scientists, artists, religious authorities and philosophers have grappled with this question for centuries and it doesn’t seem that anyone has completely cracked the code. It’s an important question a lot of people are asking in America where happiness seems to be on the decline. A U.N. report from 2019 found that when Americans rated their level of happiness on a scale of 1 to 3, the average person gave themselves a 2.18. That’s down from a high of 2.28 in the 1980s. What’s interesting is that this decline comes during a period in which Americans have become richer. Obviously, money doesn’t buy happiness, but it does provide the security necessary to find contentment. Spencer Greenberg, a mathematician and entrepreneur in the field of social science, asked his followers on Twitter: “Why do you think that many people are unhappy even when they have all their material needs met?” and the answers were thoughtful and varied.

Read the story

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

 

RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Appreciative Joy

Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency towards, that will become the basis upon which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop meditation on appreciative joy, for when you develop meditation on appreciative joy, any discontent will be abandoned. (MN 62)  Appreciative joy is the way to purity for one who has much discontent. (Vm 9.108)

Reflection

Entangled as we are in a consumer economy that depends on the cultivation of desire and discontent, it can be hard to simply take joy in what we already have and feel joy in the good circumstances of others. Yet this can be practiced as an antidote to always feeling desire for one thing or another. Cultivate appreciative joy, or gladness for the happiness of others, at every opportunity and feel its cleansing and shielding effects.

Daily Practice

Discontent can be subtle and insidious. It can poison us slowly in small but steady doses, or erupt in episodes of jealously and resentment. By paying careful attention to the details of your experience, notice the next time you feel bad in some way about what others have or get. Now recognize that as a form of discontent and counter it with appreciative joy, deliberately taking pleasure in the good fortune of another person.

Tomorrow: Refraining from Harsh Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Equanimity

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Daily Dharma: Reframing Body Image

 In contrast to an unhealthy positive body image, a healthy one focuses not on how good the body can look but on the good it can do.

Thanissaro Bhikkhu, “Under Your Skin”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE