Recently I was told that
writing for a Baha’i gay audience was an oxymoron, and when I pointed
out that I found this comment offensive the response was that the
problem was with me and the writer went so far as to state that I needed
to take this up with the House of Justice, as if his statement
automatically reflected their views. My point here is that so often when
in discussion with Baha’is on the topic of homosexuality, at some point
a Baha’i tells me I am disagreeing with the House of Justice or the
Baha’i Teachings as a way of trying to silence me. To start this
discussion I’d like to focus first on homosexuality as a form of
identity.
It seems to me that some Baha’is pretend that gay Baha’is don’t exist
or don’t have a voice, viewpoint or audience. I’m an artist and a
Baha’i, and while I might not have any sort of Baha’i audience, I
certainly have a Baha’i artistic voice, which is informed by my
experiences and beliefs. This is what I mean by a gay Baha’i voice. What
do you think?
Of course there’s a huge difference between no one in my Baha’i
community being interested in what sort of art I’m making and a gay
Baha’i having to keep their sexuality a secret in order to be treated
with dignity and equality.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Via Daily Dharma
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Awareness Unmoved | January 5, 2015
Beautiful thoughts and ugly thoughts, all arise and cease in awareness, and yet awareness remains unmoved.
- Kittisaro, "Tangled in Thought"  |
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 04/01/2015
“Espiritualidade é sinônimo de união. Se existe separação; se existe
barreira ou julgamento, não podemos chamar de espiritualidade. A
espiritualidade considera tudo como sagrado, porque tudo tem seu papel
dentro do jogo. Tudo aquilo que faz parte da vida humana é natural, caso
contrário não faria parte. Determinadas frequências de energia estão
distorcidas, mas isso também faz parte do jogo. E se negamos essas
distorções acabamos dando mais força
para elas. A chave é manter o coração puro, pois só um coração puro pode
transitar no inferno sem se contaminar.”
Acesse ao satsang completo: http://www.sriprembaba.org/pt-br/satsang/221014
“Espiritualidad es sinónimo de unión. Si existe separación, si existe barrera o juicio, no podemos llamarlo espiritualidad. La espiritualidad considera todo como sagrado, porque todo tiene su papel dentro del juego. Todo aquello que es parte de la vida humana es natural, de lo contrario no sería parte. Ciertas frecuencias de energía están distorsionadas, pero esto también es parte del juego. Y si negamos estas distorsiones terminamos dándoles más fuerza a ellas. La llave es mantener el corazón puro, porque sólo un corazón puro puede transitar el infierno sin contaminarse.”
“Spirituality is synonymous with union. If separation, barriers or judgments exist, there is no spirituality. In spirituality everything is considered sacred, because everything has its own role in the game of life. Everything that’s part of human life is natural; otherwise, it wouldn’t be part of it. Certain energy frequencies are distorted, but this is also part of the game. If we negate these distortions, we end up giving more power to them. The key is to keep your heart pure, as only a pure heart can go through hell without getting contaminated.”
“Espiritualidad es sinónimo de unión. Si existe separación, si existe barrera o juicio, no podemos llamarlo espiritualidad. La espiritualidad considera todo como sagrado, porque todo tiene su papel dentro del juego. Todo aquello que es parte de la vida humana es natural, de lo contrario no sería parte. Ciertas frecuencias de energía están distorsionadas, pero esto también es parte del juego. Y si negamos estas distorsiones terminamos dándoles más fuerza a ellas. La llave es mantener el corazón puro, porque sólo un corazón puro puede transitar el infierno sin contaminarse.”
“Spirituality is synonymous with union. If separation, barriers or judgments exist, there is no spirituality. In spirituality everything is considered sacred, because everything has its own role in the game of life. Everything that’s part of human life is natural; otherwise, it wouldn’t be part of it. Certain energy frequencies are distorted, but this is also part of the game. If we negate these distortions, we end up giving more power to them. The key is to keep your heart pure, as only a pure heart can go through hell without getting contaminated.”
Via Daily Dharma
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Why Wisdom? | January 4, 2015
Perfection of Wisdom continuously generates, offers, dedicates, and
contributes the immeasurable meritorious energy of selfless thought and
action. Why? To bring about the awakening of all lives into the bliss of
Buddhahood.
- The Buddha, "Mother of the Buddhas" |
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Via JMG: Today On Truth Revolt
DeGeneres doesn't actually have any children, but hey, people are being mean to Sarah Palin.
UPDATE: They've quietly changed the headline and text of the story, but have posted no notice of correction.
Reposted from Joe Jervis
UPDATE: They've quietly changed the headline and text of the story, but have posted no notice of correction.
Via JMG: On Highsexuality
Dr. Marcie Bianco writes at Mic.com:
Does getting high make you a little gay? If so, you may just be a "highsexual." The term, ensconced in Urban Dictionary since 2009, made its way onto two Reddit forums in recent weeks as a way to describe the alleged phenomenon of participating in sex with someone of the same gender or having same-sex fantasies when getting incredibly high. But while perhaps not common parlance, these two threads — "Can LSD make you temporarily gay?" and "Weed makes me temporarily gay. Anyone else?" — are example of a phenomenon that's been around for awhile. It seems straight guys have wondered about "highsexuality" for a few years, given the plethora of online evidence. Are drugs the key to sexual fluidity in men? Responses in both Reddit threads exhibited an awareness of "highsexuality," as well as the fact that getting high makes you horny and just might lead to a more unconventional sexual encounter. But they also were encouraging in their acceptance of sexual fluidity.Hit the link for examples from the Reddit threads.
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 03/01/2015
“Para evoluirmos enquanto humanidade precisamos aperfeiçoar nossa
capacidade de nos relacionar, ou seja, precisamos aprender a nos
relacionar com o outro sem machucar. Esse é o nosso maior desafio. Nesse
“outro” está inclusa a natureza, a nossa casa. Precisamos aprender a
conviver em harmonia, preservando, não destruindo. Destruir é muito
fácil. Cortar o tronco de uma árvore é simples, mas não é possível
colocá-lo de volta. Estamos agora
colhendo os frutos do que plantamos, ou melhor, do que não plantamos
(destruímos). Estamos sendo convidados a rever nossas ações, nossos
hábitos e condicionamentos, pois a forma como vivemos até agora não tem
funcionado.”
“Para
evolucionar como humanidad necesitamos perfeccionar nuestra capacidad de
relacionarnos, es decir, precisamos aprender a relacionarnos con el
otro sin lastimar. Este es nuestro mayor desafío. En este "otro" está
incluida la naturaleza, nuestra casa. Precisamos aprender a convivir en
armonía, preservando, no destruyendo. Destruir es muy fácil. Cortar el
tronco de un árbol es simple, pero no es posible colocarlo de vuelta.
Ahora estamos cosechando los frutos de lo que plantamos, o mejor dicho,
de lo que no plantamos (destruimos). Estamos siendo invitados a revisar
nuestras acciones, nuestros hábitos y condicionamientos, pues la forma
como vivimos hasta ahora no viene funcionando.”
“In order for humanity to evolve, we need to improve our capacity to relate to others. We need to learn how to relate to others without hurting anyone. This is our greatest challenge. This ‘other’ also includes nature, which is our home. We need to learn to live with one another in harmony, by preserving and not destroying. It is very easy to destroy something: it’s simple to cut a tree trunk, but impossible to put it back together. We are now harvesting the fruit of what we planted - or rather of what we did not plant, but destroyed. We are being invited to reflect on our actions, our habits and conditioning, because the way we’ve been living until now hasn’t been working.”
“In order for humanity to evolve, we need to improve our capacity to relate to others. We need to learn how to relate to others without hurting anyone. This is our greatest challenge. This ‘other’ also includes nature, which is our home. We need to learn to live with one another in harmony, by preserving and not destroying. It is very easy to destroy something: it’s simple to cut a tree trunk, but impossible to put it back together. We are now harvesting the fruit of what we planted - or rather of what we did not plant, but destroyed. We are being invited to reflect on our actions, our habits and conditioning, because the way we’ve been living until now hasn’t been working.”
Via Daily Dharma
Help Buddhism Evolve | January 3, 2015
Buddhist practice is a wonderful, very important expression of
people's interest in something that goes beyond their own self-interest.
It is a profound practice, a lineage practice. We actually have the
capacity, and, in a sense, each of us has the responsibility—whether we
know it or not or like it or not—to understand it. Study it. Practice
it. Make it available to others. And in that way, this lineage can
continue to be sustained and evolve and develop and be helpful.
- Myogen Steve Stücky, "To the Last Moment"
- Myogen Steve Stücky, "To the Last Moment"
Friday, January 2, 2015
Via Daily Dharma
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Our Ability to Forgive | January 2, 2015
Our ability to forgive allows us to make space for our ability to
meet suffering—our suffering as well as the suffering of others—with a
kind heart.
- Gina Sharpe, "The Power of Forgiveness" |
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 01/01/2015
“Awaken Love é um movimento que busca ancorar a consciência amorosa em todos os setores da sociedade através de seis valores: Honestidade - romper com a mentira em todas as suas manifestações; Autorresponsabilidade - ter coragem de assumir que você está onde se coloca, e dar fim ao jogo de acusações; Gentileza - sinônimo de não-violência, ou seja, não ferir o outro de maneira alguma. Dedicação - sinônimo de foco e direcionamento da força de vontade; renovar, renascer e recomeçar e cada instante; Serviço - colocar seus dons e talentos a serviço do bem comum; Beleza – uma expressão da essência amorosa que nos habita; ao manifestar esses valores você se torna belo, e passa a ser uma fonte de inspiração e reconexão para os outros.”
“Awaken Love es un movimiento que busca anclar la conciencia amorosa en
todos los sectores de la sociedad a través de seis valores: Honestidad -
romper con la mentira en todas sus manifestaciones;
Auto-responsabilidad - tener el coraje de asumir que estás donde te
colocas y poner fin al juego de acusaciones; Gentileza - sinónimo de no
violencia, es decir, no herir al otro en ninguna forma; Dedicación -
sinónimo de foco y dirección de la fuerza de voluntad; renovar, renacer y
recomenzar a cada instante; Servicio - poner tus dones y talentos al
servicio del bien común; Belleza - una expresión de la esencia amorosa
que habita en nosotros; al manifestar estos valores te vuelves bello y
pasas a ser una fuente de inspiración y reconexión para los demás.”
“Authentic spiritual orientation is like a compass that helps you navigate “Awaken Love is a movement that aims to anchor a loving consciousness in all sectors of society through six values. Honesty means putting an end to all kinds of lies. Self-responsibility is having the courage to accept that you are where you put yourself and to end the blaming game. Kindness is synonymous with non-violence, and avoiding to hurt others in any way. Dedication requires focus and directing your willpower; it means constantly renewing yourself, being reborn and starting over. Service implies placing your gifts and talents at the service of the common good. Beauty is an expression of the loving essence within us. When you manifest these values, you become a beautiful source of inspiration and reconnection for others.”
“Authentic spiritual orientation is like a compass that helps you navigate “Awaken Love is a movement that aims to anchor a loving consciousness in all sectors of society through six values. Honesty means putting an end to all kinds of lies. Self-responsibility is having the courage to accept that you are where you put yourself and to end the blaming game. Kindness is synonymous with non-violence, and avoiding to hurt others in any way. Dedication requires focus and directing your willpower; it means constantly renewing yourself, being reborn and starting over. Service implies placing your gifts and talents at the service of the common good. Beauty is an expression of the loving essence within us. When you manifest these values, you become a beautiful source of inspiration and reconnection for others.”
- Sri Prem Baba
Via Daily Dharma
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Out with the Old, In with the New | January 1st, 2015
The real purpose of Buddhist practice is to cut down your addictions
and to correct your habitual patterns and this can be achieved as a
layperson or as a monk or nun. That brings us to the question of
Buddhist ethics—changing habitual patterns and getting rid of the old
addictions, such as attachments, and replacing them with love,
compassion, generosity, and patience.
- Gelek Rinpoche, "A Lama for All Seasons"
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Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Via Daily Kos: It's Finally Official - Pope Francis Demotes Highest-Ranking US Cardinal Over LGBT Issues
attribution: None Specified
It's been in the news. Now it has been confirmed. As of this past weekend, Raymond Leo Burke,
America's highest-ranking cardinal at the Vatican, was officially
removed from the Vatican's Supreme Court, and demoted to chaplain of the
Knights of Malta, where he will reign with much less responsibility.
The ultra-Conservative and anti-gay cardinal, continuously challenges
the jurisdiction of Pope Francis, and the Catholic Church's new
receptive stance on homosexuality.
How ironic it is to find the demoted cardinal is from the United
States. What does that say about America - that even the Catholic Church
and a pope are ahead of so many anti-LGBT lawmakers and extremists in
this country.
Weeks after taking office in 2013, Pope Francis asked, 'Who am I to judge?' speaking of the LGBT community. Since then, he has had great support for his progressive views, and of course, great opposition. Raymond Burke is one of the pope's strongest opponents. The 66 year-old Burke believes homosexuality is, 'always and everywhere wrong [and] evil,' and continuously questioned the authority of Pope Francis, now 77. Burke told Buzzfeed in October:
Weeks after taking office in 2013, Pope Francis asked, 'Who am I to judge?' speaking of the LGBT community. Since then, he has had great support for his progressive views, and of course, great opposition. Raymond Burke is one of the pope's strongest opponents. The 66 year-old Burke believes homosexuality is, 'always and everywhere wrong [and] evil,' and continuously questioned the authority of Pope Francis, now 77. Burke told Buzzfeed in October:
“The pope is not free to change the church’s teachings with regard to the immorality of homosexual acts or the insolubility of marriage or any other doctrine of the faith.”Apparently the Pope is free, at minimum, to encourage change. This is one more reason why so many free-thinkers in America, and in other countries love Pope Francis.
Raymond Burke is also staunchly outspoken with his anti-choice views. He once protested well-known pro-choice advocate, Sheryl Crow, for performing at a benefit concert. Burke stated:
h/t Karen Hartjen
"A Catholic institution featuring a performer who promotes moral evil gives the impression that the church is somehow inconsistent in its teaching."Many of us love these new Catholic Church 'inconsistencies,' Burke denounces. They represent the over-due distancing of archaic religious dogma that drove many people away from the church. As a pro-choice Liberal woman, I cannot end this diary, in good conscience, without conveying my hope that Pope Francis will vocally extend his progressive efforts to defend the reproductive rights of women, as well as women's position in the church. One step at a time. Meanwhile, here's to a great pope and a great man, who continues to be a breath of fresh air for many, many people around the world.
h/t Karen Hartjen
Originally posted to Leslie Salzillo on Mon Nov 10, 2014 at 09:23 AM PST.
Also republished by Street Prophets , LGBT Kos Community, and Anglican Kossacks.
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