Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma December 3, 2011

 

How Prayer Works

To understand how prayer works, consider the sun, which shines everywhere without hesitation or hindrance. Like God or Buddha, it continuously radiates all its power, warmth, and light without differentiation. When the earth turns, it appears to us that the sun no longer shines. But that has nothing to do with the sun; it’s due to our own position on the shadow side of the earth. If we inhabit a deep, dark mine shaft, it’s not the sun’s fault that we feel cold. Or if we live on the earth’s surface but keep our eyes closed, it’s not the sun’s fault that we don’t see light. The sun’s blessings are all-pervasive, whether we are open to them or not. Through prayer, we come out of the mine shaft, open our eyes, become receptive to enlightened presence, the omnipotent love and compassion that exist for all beings.

- Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, "Prayer"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via JMG: Openly Gay Son Of Anti-Abortion Activist Randall Terry Killed In Car Accident

The openly gay adopted son of infamous anti-abortion activist Randall Terry has been killed in a Georgia car accident. When Jamiel Terry first came out five years ago, his father publicly denounced him with cruel scriptural references about eternal damnation and a life doomed to an early and gruesome end from AIDS. Today the senior Terry issued a press release via Christian Newswire. An excerpt:

In 2006, Jamiel Terry made national headlines with his announcement that he was a practicing homosexual, and began to promote homosexual marriage. Randall Terry has long been engaged in high profile political efforts to defeat the attempt to legalize homosexual marriage. The rift between Jamiel and Randall Terry was widely exploited and at times misrepresented in print and on TV. However, Randall and Jamiel maintained frequent contact, and were "working through their issues." [snip] Randall Terry: "We beg you for your prayers for our family, and beg you to pray for the mercy of God, and the eternal rest of Jamiel's soul. He will be sorely missed. We still cannot believe this is happening. God have mercy; Christ have mercy."

In lieu of flowers, the above-linked press release asks for donations for Jamiel's headstone. That's a typically shameless move, since Randall Terry obviously has the money to purchase gruesome anti-abortion billboards all over the nation.

UPDATE: Over at Good As You, Jeremy Hooper reminds us of Randall Terry's first response to his son's coming out announcement.

If I love my son, I can't say to him, "Hey, you're committing suicide on the installment plan. This is a great lifestyle." I have to be honest with him. Take out the word homosexuality and put in alcoholism or put in drug addiction. Would you tell a drug addict, "I accept you. This is your choice, this is your life and I will stand by you"? The average death age of a male homosexual is 42 years old because of disease, because of suicide, because of alcoholism, because of drugs, because of violence. It's just not a good world. It's a self-abusive, self-destructive sexual addiction.

Labels: abortion, hate groups, obituary

reposted from Joe

Gay Baby Short Film

Via JMG: Photo Of The Day

AmericaBlog tips us to today's hilarious shot of Crazy Eyes in the Washington Post. Could this be even better/worse than her infamous Newsweek shot? Get ready for the wingnuts to attack WaPo for "purposely selecting an unflattering photo."

Labels: Michele Bachmann, photo of the day, WaPo

reposted from Joe

Via BiNationalCouples blog:

Binational couples and the holidays 

From the BiNationalCouples blog: 

My lovely friend in Colorado will celebrate Christmas with her wife via Skype. Her wife is British and lives in the UK. In spite of her wife's extensive education, there is no "line" at the immigration office for this bi-national couple to get into.

My very dear friend lives in California, her wife, her legal wife (married in Canada and in California) will be in England due to the United States immigration discriminatory laws. These two ladies pose no threat to anyone, as a matter of fact, the Californian is a Military Veteran. In spite of serving her country, her country refuses to acknowledge her marriage to her lovely wife from the United Kingdom. They, too, will spend Christmas apart....touching their computer screens instead of holding each other. 

VIDEO made by the US Citizen 

     

Follow Up Story:  Heartbreak for Lesbian Binational Couple: What's Changed in a Year

I have a friend on twitter who is struggling on telling her son (age 2) and daughter (age 6), that their "other" Mom's visa may not be renewed. Another family separated by the so called Defense of Marriage Act and immigration discrimination. Will they be able to watch their children open their presents....together as a family?

Their Story:  Part 1         Their Story:  Part 2

 

Things that heterosexuals take for granted, spending holiday's with the family, watching the kids open presents, sitting around the dinner table, are things that bi-national same sex couples pray to be a reality soon.

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

 December 2, 2011

Living and Breathing

Freedom of breath cannot be measured, contained, or punished—as I breathe, my aliveness asserts itself, even laughs at its constraints. Yes, in this place it is an elusive joy, but I feel it now, as surely as I feel the knots of anxiety loosen in my shoulders.

- Marilyn Buck, "The Freedom to Breathe"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via JMG: White House Observes World AIDS Day

Ab Fab Christmas Special 2011 (Absolutely Fabulous)

Via JMG: Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill To Offer "Prize Fund" To Lower HIV Costs

Our favorite socialist has issued a typically blistering call for lower HIV drug costs. On the official site of Sen. Bernie Sanders, he discusses his innovative HIV drug bill. (My bolding.)

By allowing patients to purchase generic versions of HIV/AIDS medicines, the bill would lower prices dramatically. In place of revenues from high prices for prescription medicine, the innovator of the product would be awarded substantial monetary reward from a special prize fund. The legislation would eliminate the monopoly barriers that keep drug prices sky-high and allow those living with HIV and those suffering from AIDS to access the most effective treatments right away. Patents would no longer be used to block generic competition. Instead, they would be used as a claim on significant prize funds for real innovation. The Prize Fund for HIV/AIDS would replace monopoly control of the HIV/AIDS treatment marketplace with a rationally administered prize fund of more than $3 billion that would be awarded based on the therapeutic advantages of new treatments. The cost of this fund would be easily offset by the savings to consumers, private insurers and government insurance programs, which now spend $9.1 billion on HIV/AIDS medicines every year.

Considering the power of the pharmaceutical lobby, Sanders' bill likely would not have a chance unless drug companies see a real way to make more money. It would be great, although surprising, to see our major LGBT rights groups get behind Sanders bill. But many of those outfits also benefit from pharma donations, so don't hold your breath.

Labels: drugs, HIV/AIDS, pharma, World AIDS Day

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

 December 1, 2011

Joy Has Many Flavors

Joy has many different flavors. It might overflow from us in song or dance, or it might gently arise as a smile or a sense of inner fullness. Joy is not something we have to manufacture. It is already in us when we come into the world, as we can see in the natural delight and exuberance of a healthy baby. We need only release the layers of contraction and fear that keep us from it.

- James Baraz, "Lighten Up!"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection