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Compassion Demands Engagement | January 9, 2015
The central guiding principle of Buddhism is compassion and concern for
the world in which we live. It's the idea of interdependence—that our
actions dictate the experience of others. I don't think everybody needs
to run out and join an aid organization and everyone should feel bad
that they're not doing more for people in need. But I would like to see
Buddhists have a braver relationship to engaging with the world—and
also, potentially, a smarter one. We're trained to develop our intellect
and develop our wisdom, and it's not worth very much unless you put it
into practice.
- Ashoka Mukpo, "I Survived Ebola. But the Fight Doesn't End There."  |
Friday, January 9, 2015
Via Daily Dharma
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 08/01/2015
“Normalmente as feridas criadas na infância são reeditadas na
adolescência, que é justamente um período no qual temos a chance de
tratá-las. Mas, se não conseguimos fazer isso, elas permanecem na vida
adulta, o que torna a cura muito mais desafiadora. Isso porque o ser
humano tem a tendência de se esquecer; e o tamanho do esquecimento é
proporcional ao tamanho da dor que ele sente - quanto maior a dor, maior
o amortecimento. Alguns se esquecem
completamente da infância e até mesmo da adolescência. E é por isso que
eu tenho insistido tanto no tema da responsabilidade em relação as
nossas crianças: se pudermos diminuir ao máximo o número de episódios
traumáticos na infância, estaremos facilitando o processo de cura
coletivo.”
“Normalmente las
heridas creadas en la infancia son reeditadas en la adolescencia, que
es justamente un período en el cual tenemos la chance de tratarlas. Pero
si no conseguimos hacer eso, ellas permanecen en la vida adulta, lo que
convierte a la cura en un desafío mayor. Esto es porque el ser humano
tiene la tendencia a olvidar, y el tamaño del olvido es proporcional al
tamaño del dolor que siente – cuanto mayor el dolor, mayor el
anestesiamiento. Algunos se olvidan completamente de la infancia e
incluso de la adolescencia. Y es por eso que vengo insistiendo tanto en
el tema de la responsabilidad en relación a nuestros niños: si podemos
disminuir al máximo el número de episodios traumáticos en la infancia,
estaremos facilitando el proceso de cura colectivo.”
“Normally, the wounds created during one’s childhood are recreated in one’s adolescence, which is precisely the time when we have the opportunity to heal them. But if we are unable to do so, they will remain with us throughout our adult life, which makes healing them much more challenging. This is because us human beings have a tendency to forget ourselves. The extent to which we forget our true nature is proportionate to the amount of pain we feel: the greater the pain, the greater the numbing. Some people completely forget about their childhood, and even their adolescence. This is why I insist so much that we must take responsibility in our children’s lives: if we could reduce the number of traumatic events during childhood as much as possible, we would be facilitating the collective healing process.”
“Normally, the wounds created during one’s childhood are recreated in one’s adolescence, which is precisely the time when we have the opportunity to heal them. But if we are unable to do so, they will remain with us throughout our adult life, which makes healing them much more challenging. This is because us human beings have a tendency to forget ourselves. The extent to which we forget our true nature is proportionate to the amount of pain we feel: the greater the pain, the greater the numbing. Some people completely forget about their childhood, and even their adolescence. This is why I insist so much that we must take responsibility in our children’s lives: if we could reduce the number of traumatic events during childhood as much as possible, we would be facilitating the collective healing process.”
Via Daily Dharma
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A Wider Spiritual Vision | January 8, 2015
People of faith should root transformative action in the spiritual
disciplines of prayer, meditation, and contemplation. While
traditionally such practices served as stepping stones to the
realization of a transcendent goal, today we need a wider spiritual
vision that can encompass the divine and the mundane, the transcendent
and the immanent, in an integral whole.
- Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, "Foster Peace, Inside and Out" |
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Via My Migraine Family: My Turn To Come Out
The news of Leelah Alcorn’s suicide has, of course, hit my family hard. And while I wrote a post, erm, a year and a half ago, about being a person of deep faith – in which I only mentioned the name of my religious persuasion in the tags, this is not something I discuss publicly.
In large part, I do not discuss this publicly because I have had an internal struggle in which I was not sure my transgender child had a place in my faith. And if she did not have a place, that meant it no longer had a place for me. And that was an intensely painful struggle for me.I am a Bahá’í. And while you may go ahead and google it, you will find little information of value on the internet concerning transgender folk. And frankly, this post is directed at those who are already aware of the Bahá’í Faith, because it is time for me to claim my right for my family to proudly be a part of the Bahá’í family. I could find quotes from our holy scriptures for people who need that, but frankly, that’s not my job. What I will tell you is what I know the Bahá’í Faith says about being transgender and being a Bahá’í, because while my job is to raise my children to be good little human beings, I also feel a heavy weight to educate as many people about who my transgender daughter (ninja, comic book writer, explorer, inventer, artist, all around awesome human) is and her right to be where everyone is allowed to be. Thus far, we have been incredibly blessed within our own Bahá’í community, but we are a world faith, and we are a united force, not individual units across the world.
This means that a part of me feels that I have to make this space for my daughter throughout the entire Bahá’í world. You know, only 6 million people. Heh.
*And yes, to be clear, my voice is not an official voice, it is a personal voice.* The Bahá’í Faith encourages transgender folks to transition with the support of skilled physicians and therapists (of the individual’s choice, if they are going to transition). Furthermore, the individual is supported in their affirmed gender, and all Bahá’í laws then applying to them as such.
And it is incredibly important to me that my daughter is not shamed or judged by Bahá’ís. It is incredibly important to me that my daughter does not know fear because of Bahá’ís. It is also incredibly important to me that other children, youth and adults do not find themselves in that position because of ignorance and transphobia that is left over from an old tired world. This is not what the Bahá’í Faith is meant for. I want all Bahá’ís to read this. I want all Bahá’ís to understand that my daughter belongs in the Bahá’í Faith like every other child. If you disagree, it’s time for you to go back and fall in love with the spirit of the Bahá’í Faith all over again. Because the Bahá’í Faith is a faith for all humanity. We, as individuals, are not in a position to judge. We are meant to love. If we disagree on that, it’s not my family who doesn’t belong here. We cannot allow the Bahá’í Faith to be a place of bullying.
And if you have a child, and you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I will educate, I will support, and I will encourage. What I am not interested in and will not engage in is debate.
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 07/01/2015
“O que caracteriza um ser humano é sua capacidade de se doar e de
colocar o amor em movimento através dos seus dons e talentos. A partir
disso evoluímos do estado humano para o estado divino. E quando
transcendemos a consciência humana, nos tornamos canais da perfeição
divina. Quando reconhecemos que por trás da personalidade - do nome, da
história, do corpo e do ego - está nossa verdadeira essência; o
princípio da vida única, encontramos a unidade dentro da multiplicidade.”
“Lo que caracteriza a un ser humano es su capacidad de donarse y de
colocar el amor en movimiento a través de sus dones y talentos. A partir
de esto evolucionamos del estado humano al estado divino. Y cuando
trascendemos la conciencia humana, nos convertimos en canales de la
perfección divina. Cuando reconocemos que por detrás de la personalidad -
del nombre, de la historia, del cuerpo y del ego - está nuestra
verdadera esencia; el principio de la vida única, encontramos la unidad
dentro de la multiplicidad.”
“What makes a human being human is our capacity to give and to put love into motion by using our gifts and talents. This is the basis for the evolution from the human state to the divine state. When we transcend human consciousness, we become channels of divine perfection. When we recognize that behind our personality, our name, our past, our body and ego lies our true essence, the principle of the one and only life, we find unity within the multiplicity.”
“What makes a human being human is our capacity to give and to put love into motion by using our gifts and talents. This is the basis for the evolution from the human state to the divine state. When we transcend human consciousness, we become channels of divine perfection. When we recognize that behind our personality, our name, our past, our body and ego lies our true essence, the principle of the one and only life, we find unity within the multiplicity.”
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 06/01/2015
“As fantasias sexuais funcionam como sinalizadores de aspectos da sua personalidade que ainda não foram integrados e que, às vezes, não têm nada a ver com a sexualidade. Porém, atuar na fantasia pode te colocar em situações complexas e delicadas, e te enredar ainda mais nas teias do karma. O que você pode fazer é procurar compreender o que a fantasia quer te dizer, qual é a mensagem que ela tem pra te dar. É fácil se enganar e achar que você está num lugar onde não está, e as fantasias sexuais te mostram onde você está de verdade, e te ajudam a tomar consciência do que precisa ser transformado dentro de você.”
“Las fantasías sexuales funcionan como indicadores de aspectos de tu
personalidad que aún no están integrados y que, a veces, no tienen nada
que ver con la sexualidad. Sin embargo, actuar en la fantasía te puede
colocar en situaciones complejas y delicadas, y enredarte aún más en las
redes del karma. Lo que puedes hacer es intentar comprender lo que la
fantasía te quiere decir, cuál es el mensaje que ella tiene para darte.
Es fácil engañarse y creer que estás en un lugar donde no estás, y las
fantasías sexuales te muestran dónde estás de verdad, y te ayudan a
tomar conciencia de lo que necesita ser transformado dentro de ti.”
“Sexual fantasies work like signals that point out aspects of your personality that have not yet been integrated and that sometimes have nothing to do with sexuality at all. However, acting on fantasies may put you in complex or delicate situations and entangle you further in the webs of karma. What you can do is to try to understand what the fantasy is trying to tell you and what message it has for you. It is easy to fool yourself and think you are in a place that you are not. Sexual fantasies show you where you really are and help you become more aware of what inside of you needs to be transformed.”
“Sexual fantasies work like signals that point out aspects of your personality that have not yet been integrated and that sometimes have nothing to do with sexuality at all. However, acting on fantasies may put you in complex or delicate situations and entangle you further in the webs of karma. What you can do is to try to understand what the fantasy is trying to tell you and what message it has for you. It is easy to fool yourself and think you are in a place that you are not. Sexual fantasies show you where you really are and help you become more aware of what inside of you needs to be transformed.”
Via Daily Dharma
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Smiles in Context | January 6, 2015
Positive psychology has been criticized for overemphasizing the
potential of individuals to transcend their circumstances. But not every
life context affords the same opportunities for flourishing. The
promise 'smile, think positive thoughts, and you will be happy and
healthy' underestimates the importance of social context for
psychological well-being and health.
- James Coyne, "Self-Help for the Affluent" |
Monday, January 5, 2015
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 05/01/2015
“A Indiferença é um mecanismo de defesa, uma forma passiva de raiva.
Ela é como uma capa que te impermeabiliza - uma anestesia que te
entorpece para você não sentir. Esse entorpecimento se não é a própria
maldade, é a origem dela. Porque se você não se permite sentir, não é
possível fazer empatia com o outro. E o princípio da compaixão é
justamente você experimentar calçar o sapato do outro, e sentir o que
ele está vivendo. Mas, essa capacidade
de sentir te torna vulnerável e frágil porque você entra em contato com
as suas próprias dores. Então você tenta fugir através da indiferença.”
“La indiferencia es un mecanismo de defensa, una forma pasiva de rabia.
Ella es como una capa que te impermeabiliza - una anestesia que te
entorpece para que no sientas. Este entorpecimiento si no es la propia
maldad, es su origen. Porque si no te permites sentir, no es posible
hacer empatía con el otro. Y el principio de la compasión es justamente
que experimentes calzar los zapatos del otro, y sentir lo que él está
viviendo. Pero esta capacidad de sentir te vuelve vulnerable y frágil
porque entras en contacto con tus propios dolores. Entonces intentas
huir a través de la indiferencia.”
“Indifference is a defense mechanism, a passive form of anger. It’s like a layer that makes you waterproof, or an anesthetic that numbs you so you don’t feel anything. If this numbing is not evil itself, it is the origin of it. If you don’t allow yourself to feel anything, then it’s impossible for you to empathize with others. The principle of compassion specifically requires that you put yourself in the other’s shoes and feel what he or she is going through. But this capacity to feel makes you vulnerable and fragile because you come into contact with your own pain, so you respond trying to use indifference as an escape.”
“Indifference is a defense mechanism, a passive form of anger. It’s like a layer that makes you waterproof, or an anesthetic that numbs you so you don’t feel anything. If this numbing is not evil itself, it is the origin of it. If you don’t allow yourself to feel anything, then it’s impossible for you to empathize with others. The principle of compassion specifically requires that you put yourself in the other’s shoes and feel what he or she is going through. But this capacity to feel makes you vulnerable and fragile because you come into contact with your own pain, so you respond trying to use indifference as an escape.”
Via Just a Baha'i: Homosexuality and the Baha’i Community: a conversation
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.
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.
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.
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