Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 22, 2012

Just Sitting

Just sitting means just that. That 'just' endlessly goes against the grain of our need to fix, transform, and improve ourselves. The paradox of our practice is that the most effective way of transformation is to leave ourselves alone. The more we let everything be just what it is, the more we relax into an open, attentive awareness of one moment after another.

- Barry Magid, "Leave Yourself Alone"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 21, 2012

Being Here and Now

When we meditate, we relate to that unsettling, ineffable commodity: the present. We train in letting go of thoughts and feelings as they arise, and settle back into the present: that gap between two concepts—past and future—that don’t actually exist. We’re simply being, here and now.

- Pamela Gayle White, "The Pursuit of Happiness"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

AIDS Quilt - 25 Years Later

JMG HomoQuotable - Dan Savage

"In this political climate, with 'conservative' now synonymous with political homophobia, a man who claims to be a 'true conservative' doesn't just default straight. He defaults bigoted. Conservative voters will assume he holds anti-gay political beliefs and they will expect him to vote anti-gay should he be elected to office. So Sheriff Babeu stood to benefit politically—and may have actively sought to benefit politically—from the assumption that he was 1. straight and 2. anti-gay." - Dan Savage.

Labels: Arizona, Dan Savage, homocons, HomoQuotable

Reposted  from Joe

JMG Church Sign Of The Day:

Source.

Labels: advertising, masturbation, religion

reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 20, 2012

Creating Space

As we meditate, we simply sit straight and watch the breath. So what does that do? It creates space. In fact, the technique itself is just a trick. The main point is to recognize all these thoughts and distractions that are constantly bombarding us. We still get angry, but we know that we are angry. When we are angry and know it, the anger has a lot of humor. With that kind of anger, we have more control.

- Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, "Do Nothing"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via JMG: Anti-Gay Candidates: UNITE

 

Labels: Chuck Norris, Donald WIldmon, hate groups, Jim Garlow, Mat Staver, Newt Gingrich

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 18, 2012

Fear is not the Enemy

There are many ways to meditate on fear. One is to wait until it appears adventitiously. Another is to invite it in—when we send out invitations we can be a little better prepared for who shows up at the party. Perhaps for both methods of approach the first thing to bear in mind is that fear is not the enemy—it is nature’s protector; it only becomes troublesome when it oversteps its bounds. In order to deal with fear we must take a fundamentally noncontentious attitude toward it, so it’s not held as a problem, but as a visitor. Once we take this attitude, we can begin to work with fear.

- Amaro Bhikkhu, "Inviting Fear"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via AmericaBlog Gay: New Jersey GOP governor vetoes same-sex marriage bill

It matters when we elect "moderate" Republicans who are too afraid to be moderate in a party that isn't.

Via a Facebook posting:

Bill Maher On Rick Santorum: 'He Believes Life Begins at Erection'

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma February 17, 2012

Change Your Relationship to Pain

You change your relationship to the pain by opening up to it and paying attention to it. You 'put out the welcome mat.' Not because you’re masochistic, but because the pain is there. So you need to understand the nature of the experience and the possibilities for, as the doctors might put it, 'learning to live with it,' or, as the Buddhists might put it, 'liberation from the suffering.' If you distinguish between pain and suffering, change is possible.

- Jon Kabat-Zinn, "At Home in Our Bodies"
Read the entire article in the Tricycle Wisdom Collection

Via JMG: NJ Assembly PASSES Marriage Bill

UPDATE: By a vote of 41-33 the New Jersey Assembly has approved its marriage equality bill. That's far below the necessary 54 votes for an override of Gov. Christie's promised veto. Nevertheless, we WON and New Jersey can now be added to the lengthening list of states with legislatively approved marriage equality.

UPDATE II: The New York Times says the final vote tally was 42-33 and not 41-33 as displayed by the final tote board in the chamber. That figure matches the 75 reps who responded to the initial quorum call I heard the speaker make.

NOTE: New Jersey has 80 Assembly districts which means that six legislators did not vote. A tipster tells me that one of the missing reps is a Republican who would have been a "yes" vote. As for the other five missing votes, I have no idea. There were no abstentions.

EARLIER: The voting should commence sometime around 1pm Eastern. We need 41 votes to win, 54 to override. Even with Monday's win in the Senate, all this may seem symbolic in the face of Christie's promised veto. But let's not forget the enduring power of the positive press today's vote will get around the nation. Plus we get almost two full years to get those extra votes.

Labels: LGBT rights, marriage equality, New Jersey

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: New Jersey Marriage Reactions

Lambda Legal

Today New Jersey's General Assembly rose above the political fray and did right by New Jersey's families. Governor Christie should follow their lead - but if he doesn't, legislators should continue to stand for equality and override his veto. Marriage equality in New Jersey is a matter of when - not if. New Jersey should choose to join the right side of history soon, because loving same-sex couples and their families should not have to wait any longer. We believe there are many paths to justice, and Lambda Legal continues to fight for marriage equality in the courts on behalf of seven same-sex couples, Garden State Equality, and all families in New Jersey.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

This victory is a victory for New Jersey families. It affirms what millions of people across the country already know — loving, committed same-sex couples and their families should be able to join in the celebration and responsibilities of marriage. This marks an important step in the Garden State’s march toward marriage equality. It has been a long journey of changing hearts and minds, of breaking down walls, and of shining a spotlight on our common humanity. Gov. Chris Christie should take a stand for families by signing this bill.

Freedom To Marry

Sadly, Governor Chris Christie has planted his feet on the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of the majority for marriage in New Jersey and nationwide. If the governor sticks with his threat of a veto, Freedom to Marry will work throughout the entire remainder of the legislative session, supporting local families, leaders, and advocates as they make the case and win the extra handful of votes needed to override the veto and do right by these families.

Human Rights Campaign

Today, the New Jersey State Legislature sent a powerful message that all its citizens should be treated equally under the law, and that all families deserve the same protections,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Governor Christie may veto this legislation, but he is out of step with the majority of voters on this issue. We will not give up until marriage equality becomes a reality in New Jersey. HRC has been proud to partner with Garden State Equality (GSE) in achieving this historic legislative victory.

Labels: Freedom To Marry, HRC, Lambda Legal, LGBT History, New Jersey, NGLTF

Reposted from Joe

Via Nalanda LGBT Buddhist Cultural and Resource Center: BE PATIENT WITH PAIN

"Patience is a way to de-escalate aggression and its accompanying pain. This is to say that when we’re feeling aggressive—and I think this would go for any strong emotion—there’s a seductive quality that pulls us in the direction of wanting to get some resolution. We feel restless, agitated, ill at ease. It hurts so much to feel the aggression that we want it to be resolved. Right then we could change the way we look at this discomfort and practice patience."- Peme Chodron

 

Via Nalanda LGBT Buddhist Cultural and Resource Center:

Nalanda LGBT Buddhist Cultural and Resource Center also shared Buddha Sayings's photo.

Wall Photos

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

For more quotes, visit http://www.buddhasayings.com/Don't forget to "like" and "share" these photos. The purpose of this page is to share the wisdom of some amazing and inspirational people in Buddhism and life. We appreciate helping us spread these messages by re-sharing and liking them.

By: Buddha Sayings

Via JMG: INDIA: Supreme Court Hears Challenge To Decriminalization Of Homosexuality

In 2009 the Delhi High Court struck down laws that criminalized gay sex, a move that was celebrated by LGBT activists around the world. Anti-gay and religious groups immediately appealed that decision. This week the Indian Supreme Court began hearings.

Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri, president of the hardline Indian Islamic group Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said in 2009: “The time has come for all religious leaders to unite on this issue and jointly protest the government’s proposed move to legalise gay rights. A consensus should be evolved for challenging the Delhi High Court order in the Supreme Court.” The case has now been brought and debate began at the Supreme Court yesterday with a petition by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhyaya asked petitioners who had the authority to decide the “order of nature” that gay acts supposedly violate. They asked: “Test-tube babies, surrogate mothers – are they in the order of nature?”

RELATED: Anti-sodomy laws were imposed up India over 150 years ago when the British took control. Prior to that no such ban existed.

Labels: homosexuality, India, LGBT rights

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: ANCHORAGE: Christian Hate Groups To Battle Against Proposed LGBT Rights Bill

For 35 years, LGBT residents of Anchorage, Alaska have battled for employment and housing protections. Time after time Christian groups have beaten them back. Last week activists successfully placed a referendum on the November ballot which adds the words "sexual orientation and gender identity" to this long list: "race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, physical disability, and mental disability." The result? Outrage, websites, and a vow to defeat LGBT rights yet again.

Labels: Alaska, Alaska Family Council, Anchorage, bigotry, LGBT rights, religion

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Stonewall Democrats To Log Cabin: Don't Endorse Anti-Gay Candidates

The National Stonewall Democrats have launched a petition campaign asking the Log Cabin Republicans to refrain from endorsing anti-LGBT candidates this year. Stonewall's executive director Jerame Davis writes:

In 2004, Log Cabin Republicans took a principled stand and refused to endorse George W. Bush for his support of a federal marriage amendment alone. These candidates have pledged to go farther than President Bush ever considered. Will Log Cabin Republicans follow its own precedent and refuse to endorse anti-equality politicians? Recent stories in the media suggest they may actually be willing to overlook the anti-LGBT pledges GOP candidates have taken against our community. Sign the petition and tell Log Cabin Republicans they should never endorse anti-LGBT candidates who pledge to deny us equality.

RELATED: The other allegedly gay Republican group, GOProud, has already issued a statement declaring that any of the four remaining GOP candidates would make a better president that Obama. GOProud staffers have been photographed brandishing a Romney banner.

Labels: 2012 elections, gay Republicans, Log Cabin Republicans, Stonewall Democrats

reposted from Joe