Via Alison Elizabeth Marshall blog

  Landscape of Light: Understanding the Kingdom of Abha

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Over the past few years, I've begun a contemplative study of Jean-Marc Lepain's Archeology of the Kingdom of God, a philosophical work that explores Baha'u'llah's metaphysics in depth. It's a complex and thoughtful book, inviting a new kind of inquiry—one that examines the architecture of spiritual reality and the soul's unfolding within it. Rather than summarizing the entire work, I've decided to share my findings gradually, beginning here, with chapter 2.

This chapter focuses on the Kingdom of Abha. 'Abdu'l-Baha refers to it often, yet its meaning is rarely unpacked in everyday conversation. What is the Kingdom of Abha? What kind of reality does it name? And why does it matter to our spiritual life? This post offers a simplified overview of Lepain's insights, organized into five sections.

Via Daily Dharma: Be Your Dreams

 

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Be Your Dreams We have no fixed identity because we are constantly under construction, year by year, day by day, really moment by moment. The Buddhists would have it, then, that if you can dream it, you can be it. Robert E. Buswell Jr., “A Buddhist-Themed Commencement Address” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures

 

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RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures  Sensual misconduct is unhealthy. Refraining from sensual misconduct is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning sensual misconduct, one abstains from misbehaving among sensual pleasures. (MN 41) One practices thus: “Others may engage in sensual misconduct, but I will abstain from sensual misconduct.” (MN 8) Sensations cognizable by the body are of two kinds: things to be cultivated and things not to be cultivated. Such sensations as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to increase and healthy states to diminish, such sensations are not to be cultivated. But such sensations as cause, in one who cultivates them, unhealthy states to diminish and healthy states to increase, such sensations are to be cultivated. (MN 114)

Reflection Sensual pleasures come in many forms, some obvious and overt, some more delicate and suggestive. All have the potential for leading us into misbehavior, which is defined as acting in ways that cause harm or are laced with greed, hatred, and delusion. The pleasures of physical sensations are particularly seductive, and it is conducive to overall health and well-being to be capable of abstaining from misconduct whenever possible.  Daily Practice We practice observing physical sensations in formal sitting meditation, when we can remove ourselves somewhat from everyday sights and sounds that can be so distracting. By paying close attention to very subtle sensations, such as those accompanying the inbreath and outbreath, we learn that all sensations are impermanent, thus giving us the ability to avoid misconduct when facing more challenging enticements later. Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via LGBTQ Nation \\ JD Vance suggests trans people pose a “domestic terrorist threat” & FBI plans to target trans people

 

Via LGBTQ Nation \\ Too diverse... wtf?