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New post on Just a Bahai Blog

Stephen Fry’s docu – “Out There” being gay by justabahai

Stephen Fry's opening phrase on the question of why do people hate gays, "It's like someone who spends their whole life trying to get rid of red telephones" - why bother? They don't hurt anyone. Watch episode 1 of this brilliant 58 minute documentary aired on the BBC on October 14th 2013 and let me […]

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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 26, 2013

Speaking Afresh

It turns out we learned to qualify everything, to say ‘almost’ and ‘perhaps’ and ‘it could be’ and ‘it’s likely’ and ‘maybe,’ maybe too well. As befits the understandings of contemporary physics, Truth became statistical truth and never an absolute. Now, in the wake of wars and tragedies, we can’t seem to find our way back to fresh and vivid ways of saying, ‘Here I take my stand’ and ‘This, I believe.’

- Dick Allen, “Does a Cow Go ‘Mu’?”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 27, 2013
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Via AmericaBlogGay: Christian couple refuses to tip gay waiter because “Queers do not share in the wealth of GOD”

A “Christian” couple eating at an Italian restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas refused to tip their water because they somehow deduced that he was gay.

Oh but it gets worse. Instead of a tip, they left the 20 year old young man a long note full of anti-gay slurs.



I’m adding asterisks in the note below, as sometimes words like this can kill our ads – the authors of the note made no such hedging:

“Thank you for your service, it was excellent. That being said, we cannot in good conscience tip you, for your homosexual lifestyle is an affront to GOD. Queers do not share in the wealth of GOD, and you will not share in ours. We hope you will see the tip your f*g choices made you lose out on, and plan accordingly. It is never too late for GOD’S love, but none shall be spared for f*gs. May GOD have mercy on you.”

The incident happened this week at Carrabbas Italian Grill, where the kid and his mother both work (she’s the hostess).  Mom told a local new site that the “Christians” were lucky she didn’t see the note before they left, or there’d have been a bit of a scene.

Make the jump here to read the full article

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 25, 2013

The Truth About Gossip

When talking about others is motivated by thoughts of ill will, jealousy, or attachment, conversations turn into gossip. These thoughts may seem to be subconscious, but if we pay close attention to our mind we’ll be able to catch them in the act. Many of these are thoughts that we don’t want to acknowledge to ourselves, let alone to others, but my experience is that when I become courageous enough to notice and admit them, I’m on my way to letting them go.

- Thubten Chodron, “The Truth About Gossip”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 26, 2013
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Via Nalanda LGBT Buddhist Cultural and Resource Center

 

Via HimalayaCrafts / FB:

The foolish are trapped by karma, while the wise are liberated through karma.

 

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 24, 2013

The Examined Life

Life is profound if you’re awake to see it. It’s one thing to draw from culture, it’s another thing to be drawn so deeply into the culture that your true nature disappears. Wisdom is not merely something to be gained with old age. One can be wise in every stage of one’s life. To manifest wisdom means simply to step back and see—to reflect, inquire, be aware, be disciplined, and be focused not once in a while, but all of the time, moment to moment. This life is precious and fleeting. Pay attention.

- Seido Ray Ronci, "The Examined Life"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 25, 2013
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Tricycle Daily Dharma October 23, 2013

The Exquisite Taste of Plain Water

When we are able to fully appreciate the basic activities of eating and drinking, we discover an ancient secret, the secret of how to become content and at ease. The Zen teachings talk about the exquisite taste of plain water. Have you ever been very, very thirsty? Maybe you were on a long hike, or sick, or working without a break in the summer heat. When you were finally able to drink, even plain water, you remember how wonderful it was. Actually, each sip of liquid and each bite of food can be that fresh and delicious, once we learn again just to be present.

- Jan Chozen Bays, "Mindful Eating"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 24, 2013
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Via JMG: 33% Of Americans Live In Marriage States

 

Largely due to California and New York and pushed over the one-third mark by New Jersey. Adding only three states (FL, TX, IL) would have us at 50%, but we won't hold our breath for two of them. Via AFER.

Labels: AFER, marriage equality, New Jersey

Reposted from Joe

Via Wimp.com / FB: Never!

VIa JMG: Marriage Comes To Australia's Capital!

ABC News Australia has the great news:

The Labor Government passed its Marriage Equality Same-Sex Bill in the Legislative Assembly with the help of Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury. The laws will allow an authorised celebrant to marry gay couples within the ACT, regardless of where they live. "I am proud to stand for equality. I am proud to stand for decency and I am proud to stand for respect," Mr Rattenbury told the Assembly today. "Perhaps most simply I am proud to stand in support of the notion that two people who love each other should be able to get married." Amendments were also passed to strengthen the laws against any challenge in the High Court. It is expected same-sex couples will be able to take advantage of the new laws before Christmas, after they give four weeks notice of their intent to marry.

The federal government is expected to challenge the bill.

Federal Attorney-General George Brandis has warned the ACT that the laws will be subject to a High Court challenge. Earlier this month, Senator Brandis said he had received advice the bill was "invalid by reason of inconsistency" with the Commonwealth Marriage Act. Prime Minister Tony Abbott's sister and Sydney City Councillor, Christine Forster, has bought into the debate, calling for federal Liberal MPs to be allowed a conscience vote on the issue if legislation comes before the Parliament. Revealing that she and her partner have been engaged since March, Ms Forster said she hoped the new Liberal party room would regard the issue as a matter of conscience. "Marriage is about love, it's about people's feelings, it's a matter of the heart," she told Channel 9.

Labels: Australia, Canberra, marriage equality

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: OKLAHOMA: Gay Native American Couple Marries Legally On Tribal Land

In May of this year, two Native American JMG readers married in Michigan at the approval of the Odawa tribe. And now two gay Native Americans have married in Oklahoma with the blessings of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

For the past five years, Jason Pickel has wanted to marry boyfriend Darren Black Bear. The two even planned a trip to Iowa, a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. But when the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act last June, Pickel had an idea. He called the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe's courthouse and asked a simple question. "I was really expecting a big no,” said Pickel. “I thought we're on our way to Iowa, but I called the tribe and they said, 'Yeah come on down, it's twenty bucks.'" Twenty dollars for what no amount of money could buy in Oklahoma -- a marriage license made legal by the tribal code. Its requirements, both people be of Native American descent and live within the tribe's jurisdiction. Nowhere does it specify gender. “I do know at the end of the day the state offices won't recognize it, but they kind of have to,” said Pickel. That's because on sovereign Indian land, state laws don't apply, making Jason and Darren the first publicly married same-sex couple in Oklahoma, a milestone, he hopes is followed.

Pickel's happiness is hampered by only one thing: "When we have equality in all 50 states and all U.S. territories, that is when we'll have true equality. That's when I will be truly, truly happy." (Tipped by JMG reader Brandy)
RELATED: Other Native American tribes that have approved same-sex marriage: The Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon (2009), The Suquamish Tribe in Washington state (2011), the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Michigan (2013), The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state (2013), the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in Michigan (2013), and the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel in California (2013). 

 

Labels: marriage equality, Native Americans, Oklahoma

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 22, 2013

Keep Opening the Door

When you sit down to meditate, you never know what’s going to come up. Some days you’re hammered by relentless trivia; other days you’re caught in storms of anger or grief or fear. What’s important is just to keep coming back to the cushion, to keep opening the door to the possibility of peace and insight.

- Anne Cushman, "Fifteen Weeks of Dharma Dating"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 23, 2013
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The Gardener Mohsen Makhmalbaf - Official Trailer باغبان

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 21, 2013

The Dharma Can Take Care of Itself

There’s this idea that the dharma is like a special little flower that needs to be very carefully planted. But I think it’s much more rhizomatous. It’s completely graftable, and it can spread and take root in new places. I like to believe that the dharma can take care of itself. It’s so much more resilient and creative than we think.

- Sebene Selassie, "An Interview with Sebene Selassie"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 22, 2013
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Via Gawker:

Tea Party Leader Wants to File Class Action Suit Against Homosexuality

gawker.com

The leader and founder of one of America's most influential Tea Party groups believes he's found the final solution the America's gay problem: A class action lawsuit against homosexuality.

Make the jump here to read the full story

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma October 19, 2013

What is the Dharma?

If it is a remedy against affliction, it is Dharma; if not, it is not Dharma. If it is at variance with all worldly people, it is Dharma; if it is in accord with the worldly, it is not Dharma. If its trace is positive, it is Dharma; if not, it is not Dharma.

- Dromtönpa, "Wouldn't it be better if you practiced the dharma?"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through October 20, 2013
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