A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Via JMG: Putin: Gays Won't Be Bothered At Sochi As Long As They Leave Children Alone
Via the Associated Press:
Russian President Vladimir Putin says gays should feel welcome at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, but they must "leave the children in peace." Putin told volunteers Friday that gays visiting Sochi "can feel calm and at ease," and vowed that there would be no discrimination at the games. But he emphasized that, according to a law banning homosexual "propaganda" among minors, gays cannot express their views on gay rights issues to anyone underage.So protesting to adults will be allowed?
Labels: LGBT rights, Russia, Sochi Olympics, Vladimir Putin
Via JMG: NIGERIA: Dozens More Arrested
Via the Associated Press:
Activists say that dozens more people have been rounded up, arrested and questioned across Nigeria for being perceived to be gay just over a week after the president signed a law criminalizing gay organizations and meetings as well as same-sex marriage. Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike, Executive Director of the Nigeria-based International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health, said Friday that over two days more than 30 people have been detained. He says 12 people have been arrested in Oyo state in the southwest, six in Imo state in the southeast, eight in central Abuja and six in Anambra state in the southeast.(Tipped by JMG reader Akim)
Labels: Africa, homosexuality, Nigeria, religion
Via JMG: HRC Demands US Action On Nigeria
The Human Rights Campaign has written to Secretary of State John Kerry, demanding a "strong and proactive American response to the humanitarian crisis" in Nigeria. From the list of suggested actions:
Directing the U.S. Embassy in Abuja to perform in-country refugee processing for LGBT Nigerians who are being targeted for arrest under the newly passed law. Recommending that President Obama evaluate removing Nigeria from the list of countries currently eligible for assistance under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The law requires the President to determine on an annual basis which countries are eligible based “on progress in meeting certain criteria, including progress toward the establishment of a market-based economy, rule of law, economic policies to reduce poverty, protection of internationally recognized worker rights, and efforts to combat corruption. ”Suspending bilateral engagements between the United States and Nigeria that are of particular importance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, such as suspending Nigeria’s participation in the Young African Leaders Initiative. Using any regulatory, administrative, or statutory means in your arsenal to combat implementation of this law.Read the full letter.
Labels: Africa, Chad Griffin, Goodluck Jonathan, HRC, John Kerry, LGBT rights, Nigeria, Obama administration, State Department
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma January 17, 2014
Changing Views
For,
as the Buddhist view has consistently demonstrated, it is the
perspective of the sufferer that determines whether a given experience
perpetuates suffering or is a vehicle for awakening. To work something
through means to change one's view; if we try instead to change the
emotion, we may achieve some short-term success, but we remain bound by
forces of attachment and an aversion to the very feelings from which we
are struggling to be free.
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- Mark Epstein, “Shattering the Ridgepole”
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Via JMG: NIGERIA: Eleven Muslim Men On Trial, Face Stoning To Death For Homosexuality
The BBC reports:
An Islamic court in Nigeria's northern state of Bauchi has put on trial 11 Muslim men accused of being homosexuals in violation of their religion, a religious leader has told the BBC. A 12th person arrested - a Christian - would be tried under secular law, a BBC reporter says. Under Islamic law, a person can be sentenced to death by stoning if convicted of homosexuality. It is also illegal to have gay sex in Nigeria, according to its secular laws. Jibrin Danlami Hassan, the commissioner of Bauchi state's Sharia Commission, said the alleged homosexuals were arrested by residents of Bauchi city. They were handed to the Islamic police force, which interrogated them, he said. "They accept that they are doing that dirty game," Mr Hassan said. Ms Aken'Ova said some of those arrested had been beaten up and tortured, but Mr Hassan denied this. The BBC's Ishaq Khalid in Bauchi says the Sharia Commission confirmed to him that a Christian had been arrested with the 11 Muslims, and would be tried in a "conventional court".There have not yet been any confirmed "death by stoning" executions in Nigeria, although several such sentences have been handed down.
Labels: Africa, homosexuality, Islam, LGBT rights, Nigeria, religion, Sharia Law
Via JMG: The Professor Dies At Age 89
Russell Johnson, the professor on Gilligan's Island, has died at the age of 89.
Johnson, who played Professor Roy Hinkley, died of natural causes at his home in Washington. Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann, just posted on Facebook, "My 2 favorite people are now gone. The professor past (sic) away this morning. My heart is broken." The other person who died is Bob Denver, who played Gilligan. He died in 2005. Johnson was on the show from 1964 to 1967. Johnson was not in the original opening of the show. He and Mary Ann were referred to as "The rest." But Denver insisted that they be included and that happened later.In his later years Johnson became a full-time fundraiser for AIDS research. His son died of the disease in 1994.
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma January 16, 2014
Your Interwoven Self
For
a few moments just feel the body’s warmth and strength, its ability to
hold itself upright. The vitality and aliveness that you experience in
your body require various chemical and mineral substances, a continuous
supply of oxygen, the energy of the sun, and the cohesion and
conductivity of water. The Buddha instructs us to reflect on the body as
composed of the elements of earth, air, fire, and water, so that we
will see how this life is interwoven with universal processes.
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- Wes Nisker, "Evolution’s Body"
January 16, 2014
Your Interwoven Self
For
a few moments just feel the body’s warmth and strength, its ability to
hold itself upright. The vitality and aliveness that you experience in
your body require various chemical and mineral substances, a continuous
supply of oxygen, the energy of the sun, and the cohesion and
conductivity of water. The Buddha instructs us to reflect on the body as
composed of the elements of earth, air, fire, and water, so that we
will see how this life is interwoven with universal processes.
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- Wes Nisker, "Evolution’s Body"
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
O Budismo te incomoda? Então…
Desfazendo Equívocos
Se você quer milagres, não procure o budismo. O supremo milagre para o budismo é você lavar seu prato depois de comer.
Se você quer curar seu corpo físico, não procure o budismo. O budismo só cura os males de sua mente: ignorância, cólera e desejos desenfreados.
Se você quiser arranjar emprego ou melhorar sua situação financeira, não procure o budismo. Você se decepcionará, pois ele vai lhe falar sobre desapego em relação aos bens materiais. Não confunda, porém, desapego com renúncia.
Se você quer poderes sobrenaturais, não procure o budismo. Para o budismo, o maior poder sobrenatural é o triunfo sobre o egoísmo.
Se você quer triunfar sobre seus inimigos, não procure o budismo. Para o budismo, o único triunfo que conta é o do homem sobre si mesmo.
Se você quer a vida eterna em um paraíso de delícias, não procure o budismo, pois ele matará seu ego aqui e agora.
Se você quer massagear seu ego com poder, fama, elogios e outras vantagens, não procure o budismo. A casa de Buda não é a casa da inflação dos egos.
Se você quer a proteção divina, não procure o budismo. Ele lhe ensinará que você só pode contar consigo mesmo.
Se você quer um caminho para Deus, não procure o budismo. Ele o lançará no vazio.
Se você quer alguém que perdoe suas falhas, deixando-o livre para errar de novo, não procure o budismo, pois ele lhe ensinará a implacável Lei de Causa e Efeito e a necessidade de uma autocrítica consciente e profunda.
Se você quer respostas cômodas e fáceis para suas indagações existenciais, não procure o budismo. Ele aumentará suas dúvidas.
Se você quer uma crença cega, não procure o budismo. Ele o ensinará a pensar com sua própria cabeça.
Se você é dos que acham que a verdade está nas escrituras, não procure o budismo. Ele lhe dirá que o papel é muito útil para limpar o lixo acumulado no intelecto.
Se você quer saber a verdade sobre os discos voadores ou sobre a civilização de Atlântida, não procure o budismo. Ele só revelará a verdade sobre você mesmo.
Se você quer se comunicar com espíritos, não procure o budismo. Ele só pode ensinar você a se comunicar com seu verdadeiro eu.
Se você quer conhecer suas encarnações passadas, não procure o budismo. Ele só pode lhe mostrar sua miséria presente.
Se você quer conhecer o futuro, não procure o budismo. Ele só vai lhe mandar prestar atenção a seus pés, enquanto você anda.
Se você quer ouvir palavras bonitas, não procure o budismo. Ele só tem o silêncio a lhe oferecer.
Se você quer ser sério e austero, não procure o budismo. Ele vai ensiná-lo a brincar e a se divertir.
Se você quer brincar e se divertir, não procure o budismo. Ele o ensinará a ser sério e austero.
Se você quer viver, não procure o budismo, pois ele o ensinará a morrer.
Se você quer morrer, não procure o budismo, pois ele o ensinará a viver.
Via HimalayaCrafts / FB:
“Many
of us are slaves to our minds. Our own mind is our worst enemy. We try
to focus, and our mind wanders off. We try to keep stress at bay, but
anxiety keeps us awake at night. We try to be good to the people we
love, but then we forget them and put ourselves first. And when we want
to change our life, we dive into spiritual practice and expect quick
results, only to lose focus after the honeymoon has worn off. We return
to our state of bewilderment. We're left feeling helpless and
discouraged. It seems we all agree that training the body through
exercise, diet, and relaxation is a good idea, but why don't we think
about training our minds?”
― Sakyong Mipham
― Sakyong Mipham
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma January 15, 2014
Right Judgment
Many
Western Buddhists believe that judging runs counter to insight and
unconditional compassion, that passing judgment automatically implies a
troubling duality, a delusional moral hierarchy. The Buddha, however,
warned not against judging, but against being judgmental. The former
implies clear comprehension of appropriate action and the latter implies
bias and misconception.
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- Mary Talbot, “No Justice, No Peace”
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma
Tricycle Daily Dharma January 14, 2014
The Unconditional Love of Bodhisattvas
When we raise a thought for someone’s well-being, and entrust that to our foundation, that underlying mind—Juingong—never
disappears and is never used up. This is different from helping people
through material things. This is the unconditional love that
bodhisattvas have for all beings. This mind is the compassion that rises
when all beings and myself are one, when the suffering of others is my
suffering. This is the power that leads us to the truth.
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- Daehaeng Kun Sunim, "Thinking Big"
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