We
all know anger from experience, but when we are asked to pause and
consider, ‘What is this anger?’ it’s not always so easy to see what it
is. Yet when we approach our feelings of anger with awareness, with
mindfulness, it becomes a productive part of our practice. We find,
after all, that anger has something to teach us.
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You
don’t have to be afraid of pain. If it’s going to be there, you can let
it be there—but don’t let the mind be in pain with it.
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Laos has held its first-ever LGBT Pride event with the support of the U.S. Embassy. More than 100 people attended the event, which took place on the sports field of the U.S. Embassy. The guests of honor were U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart and Dr. Bounpheng Philavong, Director of the Center for HIV/AIDS/STI (CHAS) at the Lao Ministry of Health. During their remarks, both Dr. Bounpheng and Ambassador Stewart congratulated the event organizers for taking an important first step to achieving full acceptance of LGBT people in Lao society.The theme was "Proud To Be Us."
"The message we want to send is that no matter what you look like or where you come from or what your sexual orientation is, every single one of you is a person with value and should be treated with dignity and respect," Ambassador Stewart told the crowd to loud applause. The event drew performers and participation from a number of organizatons that provide outreach and services to Laos' LGBT community, including the Purple Sky Network, Lao Positive Health Association (Lao PHA), Population Services International (PSI), the Burnet Institute, Family Health International (FHI), the Vientiane Youth Center for Health and Development, and UNFPA.
Dharma
is not about credentials. It’s not about how many practices you’ve
done, or how peaceful you can make your mind. It’s not about being in a
community where you feel safe or enjoying the cachet of being a
'Buddhist.' It’s not even about accumulating teachings, empowerments, or
'spiritual accomplishments.' It’s about how naked you’re willing to be
with your own life, and how much you’re willing to let go of your masks
and your armor and live as a completely exposed, undefended, and open
human person.
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Silence
doesn’t mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you are
not disturbed inside. If you’re truly silent, then no matter what
situation you find yourself in you can enjoy the silence.
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It
is because of pain and suffering that we first want to practice. And
it’s because of pain and suffering that we attain enlightenment. Regard
suffering as a teacher, and an inspiration.
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Much
of the language around sexuality has to do with fire: 'in the heat of
passion'; 'a burning desire'; 'she has a new flame.' This is the fire of
creation. It’s not just my sacred energy I need to be in touch with and aware of, it is the fire of all creation from moment to moment to moment.
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