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An Improper Definition of Sangha | January 11, 2015
Everyone I meet is in my sangha. I don’t know if that’s the proper
definition, but that’s the way I’m going to hold it in my mind.
- Jeff Bridges, "The Natural" |
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Compassion Demands Engagement | January 10, 2015
When we resist change, it’s called suffering. But when we can completely
let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the
groundlessness of our situation and relax into its dynamic quality,
that’s called enlightenment, or awakening to our true nature, to our
fundamental goodness.
- Pema Chödrön, "The Fundamental Ambiguity of Being Human" |
A Dublin priest received a standing ovation from his congregation this week as he called for same sex marriage equality in Ireland and came out to his parishioners. Father Martin Dolan, who has been a priest at Church of St Nicholas of Myra in Francis Street in Dublin’s city center for 15 years, opened up to his congregation at the Saturday night Mass. He also confided in his Sunday morning congregation. Dolan is the only priest in the parish. Calling on his Dublin city congregation to support same sex marriage in the upcoming Irish referendum, set for the end May, Dolan said “I’m gay myself.” A referendum on same sex marriage will take place at the end of May 2015. Although polls consistently show that over 70 percent of the Irish are in support of gay marriage, campaigners admit that there’s no room for complacency during the run up to the vote. The Dublin Archdiocese declined to comment until they had spoken directly to Dolan. However, the Catholic Church hierarchy in Ireland showed their disdain for the referendum in December 2014. Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin said legalizing same-sex marriage would change the meaning of marriage itself.The Irish government is supporting a "yes" vote in the referendum.
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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." |
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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" |
