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

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: Petition Of The Day

Details.

Labels: Indiana, marriage equality, Mike Pence

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Jon Stewart Navigates the Difficult Plumbing of Gay Marriage in Red States - January 16, 2014

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.

- Mark Epstein, “Shattering the Ridgepole”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 18, 2014
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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

Reposted from Joe Jervis

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.

Labels: Hollywood, obituary, television

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Judy Garland-I Don't Care

Via TabooJive.com / FB:

Via HimalayaCrafts / FB:

At the bottom of patience is Heaven. - HimalayaCrafts

 

An Amazing Day! Um pedido de casamento. (legendado)

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.

- Wes Nisker, "Evolution’s Body"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 17, 2014
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 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.

- Wes Nisker, "Evolution’s Body"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 17, 2014
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John Grant - Glacier

O Budismo te incomoda? Então…

 

… talvez você busque algo que não é budismo…. vamos ver o que a Reva Yvonete Joko tem a nos dizer:

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.

Nota: Esse texto é de autoria da Rev. Yvonete Gonçalves (Shakuni Joko) qualquer reprodução deve citar o nome da autora.

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

 

 

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.

- Mary Talbot, “No Justice, No Peace”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 16, 2014
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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.

- Daehaeng Kun Sunim, "Thinking Big"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 15, 2014
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Support for Marriage Equality Sees Huge Jump in Utah: Jan 13 MNW

Via Tricycle Daily Dharm:

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 13, 2014

Grace in Suffering

There is grace in suffering. Suffering is part of the training program for wisdom.

- Ram Dass, "America's Guru"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 14, 2014
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Via Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma January 12, 2014

Challenge Your Standards

When judging the results of your own actions, you can’t simply take your own ideas of ‘what works’ as a trustworthy standard. After all, you can easily side with your greed, aversion, or delusion, setting your standards too low. So to check against this tendency, the Buddha recommends that you also take into consideration the views of the wise, for you’ll never grow until you allow your standards to be challenged by theirs.

- Thanissaro Bhikkhu, “Lost in Quotation”

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through January 13, 2014
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