Monday, June 30, 2014

JMG HomoQuotable - Elton John


"The church hierarchy, the traditionalists, might be up in arms about it but times have changed. If Jesus Christ was alive today, I cannot see him, as the Christian person that he was and the great person that he was, saying this [gay marriage] could not happen. He was all about love and compassion and forgiveness and trying to bring people together and that is what the church should be about." - Elton John, speaking with Sky News. John went on to praise Pope Francis, saying, "He's excited me so much by his humanity."


Reposted from Joe Jervis

Birthday Daily Dharma:


Recognizing Awareness | June 30, 2014

Awareness is always present. We cannot function without it, but we can function without recognizing it. 
 
—Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, “The Good Shepherd”
 

Birthday Flower of the Day: 06/30/14

“When a pattern is very persistent, it is necessary to dive deeper in order to understand its roots. We must understand the feelings that sustain the negative repetition. The main tool used for this is amplifying our perception. This is one of the ways to remove the veil of forgetfulness that covers up our true nature. Bit by bit, we de-identify from the ego, which is the idea that ‘I control’ and ‘I do,’ and we open the doors to the remembrance of who we are.”
Sri Prem Baba

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Tomorrow is my Birthday, and I have huge plans!



Tomorrow begins my dedicated 365 day march towards my 60th birthday.  In anticipation for the hordes of visitors that will come to Ouro Preto in June of 2015 to celebrate this huge event, I will announce soon my plans for a 2.5 billion dollar (not in real)  stadium, a bullet train line from the new airport to OP. I promise, promise, promise that there will be no, absolutely no corruption, and no money will be taken from education or health care. 


Amanhã começa a minha dedicada marcha de 365 dias rumo ao meu 60 º aniversário. Em antecipação para os grupos de visitantes que virão para OP no mês de junho de 2015 para celebrar este grande evento, eu vou anunciar em breve os meus planos para a construção de um estádio de 2,5 bilhões (em dólar, não real) e de uma linha de trem-bala do novo aeroporto em Cachoeira do Campo para Ouro Preto. Eu prometo, prometo, prometo que não haverá nenhum, absolutamente nenhuma corrupção, e nenhum dinheiro será desviado da educação, da saúde ou de outros serviços básicos da população.

Both Sides Now by Mary Fahl (former lead singer of October Project)


Flower of the Day: 06/29/14

“It is important for us to take concrete actions towards helping to de-pollute our waters, especially through the awareness of where our trash goes. This is one of the main issues in the world today. However, what’s even more important is being aware of our relationship to the feminine. How is your relationship with your mother? De-polluting starts from the inside out by detoxifying our hatred. So, see how you are relating to women in general. Ask yourself if you are already able to give of yourself, to be a friend and to give thanks. See if you are able to root for the other’s happiness, or if instead you still act out of envy, jealousy and competition.”
Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma


We Need to Act | June 29, 2014

Meditation does not matter that much if it has no effect on the rest of our life. Likewise, we could be filled with empty words that do not lead to any change whatsoever in our life or our relationship with others. We need to act on our understanding and our awareness.
 
—Judy Lief, “Is Meditation Enough?”
 

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Flower of the Day: 06/28/14

“Some people believe that they need to use effort to quiet down their minds, but this effort will only further agitate the mind. It is not necessary to do anything other than increase one’s perception by being whole in action and fully present. Then, when the thoughts come, they will simply pop like bubbles in the air. If one is able to develop presence, then the situation or place one finds oneself in doesn’t matter: nothing will shake one’s serenity.”
Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma


Understand Your Mind | June 28, 2014

Just understand your mind; how it works, how attachment and desire arise, how ignorance arises, and where emotions come from. It is sufficient to know the nature of all that; that alone can bring you happiness and peace. Thus, your life can change completely; everything turns upside down. What you once interpreted as horrible can become beautiful.
 
—Lama Yeshe, “Your Mind is Your Religion”
 

Friday, June 27, 2014

To Be Takei Official Trailer (2014) George Takei Documentary HD


Via Freedom to Marry / FB:


Via Daily Dharma


Back to the Fundamentals | June 26, 2014

People are looking for liberation from their fears, worries, and anxieties; that is, for freedom from the bonds of birth, old age, sickness, and death. Even in our times—where mankind has developed this amazing modern civilization with scientific wonders—people still continue to lead their lives trying to figure out solutions to these fundamental matters. 
 
—Harada Sekkei Roshi, "Zen Basics"
 

Flower of the Day: 06/27/14

“The ABC of Spirituality work of healing the personality and purifying the lower self is vital, but it is still not the most important phase in the evolutionary process. The most important part begins when you make progress in this initial phase of purification and are able to integrate some imprints from the past. Only by progressing in your purification can you honestly surrender yourself to the Supreme. At that point you are no longer bargaining, giving only to receive. Instead, you are now ready to place every molecule of your body at service of the divine will.
Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma


Leave Room for Mystery | June 27, 2014

Faith must ripen through uncertainty and doubt. It must open us to something larger than our concepts, for these arise from within the limits of the self. Faith must, in the end, leave room for mystery.
 
—Andrew Cooper, “The Transcendent Imperative”
 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Via JMG: Updated Wikipedia Marriage Map




Reposted from Joe Jervis

NASA LGBT Pride Month Profile - Amy Stalker, Glenn Research Center


Rice: LGBT rights among the most challenging global human rights issues

Susan RiceAP
Susan Rice

WASHINGTON — With anti-gay laws taking root in nearly 80 countries, White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Tuesday cast the protection of gays from global discrimination, abuse and even death as one of the most challenging international human rights issue facing the United States.

Rice told a White House forum of gay rights advocates that President Barack Obama has directed that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote the rights of LGBT men and women around the world.

She urged religious, human rights and HIV health care advocates to form a united front to halt global discrimination against the LGBT community.

“To achieve lasting global change, we need everyone’s shoulder at the wheel,” she said. “With more voices to enrich and amplify the message — the message that gay rights are straight-up human rights — we can open more minds.”

Make the jump here to read the full article

Via Daily Dharma


Make the Most of It | June 24, 2014

If you think of the number of people in the world, what percentage of them really devote any substantial amount of time to spiritual practice? What percentage of them are even inclined to do so? And the fact that we are willing and interested in this kind of an approach to life is very rare. And so we are encouraged to make the most of it.
 
—Ken McLeod, "37 Practices of the Bodhisattva, Verse 1"