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The Joy of No Sex | January 20, 2015
The Buddha taught that sexual activity is part and parcel of craving (kama-tanha,
the craving for sensuality), described in the second noble truth as the
cause of suffering, a source of clinging and attachment (upadana,
or attachment to sensual pleasure), a hindrance to meditation and a
fetter or obstruction to liberation. More obstructive than the object of
desire itself is the mental activity we generate around it—the constant
thinking and planning and anticipation about how we get the goods. When
sex is involved, kama-tanha is a given. When sex is not involved, it can be easier to see how kama-tanha takes over.
- Mary Talbot, "The Joy of No Sex"  |
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Via Daily Dharma
Monday, January 19, 2015
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 19/01/2015
“O desejo é um saco sem fundo - você nunca está satisfeito, e sempre
quer mais. Não importa se o desejo esteja direcionado a práticas
espirituais - isso é gula, é voracidade. E a gula está a serviço de
amortecer o seu sistema para você não sentir. Quando a voracidade é
direcionada para o mundo material, você tenta preencher o vazio
comprando, falando ou comendo demais. E quando é direcionada a
espiritualidade, você não para de buscar
novas práticas que te ajudarão a se livrar do sofrimento. Mas, essa
atitude é justamente o que te impede de encontrar o seu lugar, de
relaxar, e de receber a graça divina.”
“El deseo es un barril sin fondo - nunca estás satisfecho y siempre
quieres más. No importa si el deseo está direccionado hacia prácticas
espirituales - eso es gula, es voracidad. Y la gula está al servicio de
adormecer tu sistema para que no sientas. Cuando la voracidad se
direcciona hacia el mundo material, intentas llenar el vacío comprando,
hablando o comiendo demasiado. Y cuando se direcciona hacia la
espiritualidad, no paras de buscar nuevas prácticas que te ayudarán a
librarte del sufrimiento. Pero esta actitud es precisamente lo que te
impide encontrar tu lugar, relajarte, y recibir la gracia divina.”
“Desire is a bottomless pit: we are never satisfied and are always left wanting more. Regardless of whether these desires are aimed towards spiritual practices, they still involve gluttony and greed. This gluttony is at the service of numbing our systems so that we are unable to feel. When greed is aimed towards the material world, we attempt to fill the inner void by buying things, speaking or eating compulsively. When this voracity is directed towards spirituality, we endlessly seek new practices that will help relieve our suffering. However, it is precisely this approach that prevents us from finding our place in the world, relaxing, and receiving divine grace.”
“Desire is a bottomless pit: we are never satisfied and are always left wanting more. Regardless of whether these desires are aimed towards spiritual practices, they still involve gluttony and greed. This gluttony is at the service of numbing our systems so that we are unable to feel. When greed is aimed towards the material world, we attempt to fill the inner void by buying things, speaking or eating compulsively. When this voracity is directed towards spirituality, we endlessly seek new practices that will help relieve our suffering. However, it is precisely this approach that prevents us from finding our place in the world, relaxing, and receiving divine grace.”
Talk on Peace and Compassion at the Baha'i Lotus Temple // January 17th 2015
New Delhi, India, 16 January 2015 - This morning
His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a talk on Peace and Compassion and
attended a prayer gathering at the Baha'i House of Worship in Baharpur,
commonly known as the Lotus Temple. The Baha'i Faith was founded by
Bahá'u'lláh more than a century ago in Iran teaching the oneness of God,
the oneness of the human family, and the oneness of religion.
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| The Lotus Temple, venue for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's talk in New Delhi, India on January 16, 2015. |
His Holiness was warmly received by Ms. Nazneen
Rowhani, the General Secretary of Baha'i Faith in India and Ambassador
Ashok Sajjanhar, Secretary of the National Foundation for Communal
Harmony (NFCH).
Ms. Rowhani introduced His Holiness to an audience that included
students from 14 different schools in Delhi, diplomats, school
principals, and other guests as the light that beckons unity of all
spiritual traditions.
"I usually don't like formality,” His Holiness began, “because we are
all the same mentally, emotionally and physically. All of us have
problems, physical and mental. No one is without problems. However,
education enables us to view our problems from a wider perspective so we
can deal with them.”
Looking at the many school children in the audience, His Holiness said,
"You are very important to humanity’s future. You are the generation of the twenty-first century. In you lies the hope of creating a better future for the world. It will fall to you to solve the problems created by my generation in the twentieth century."
His Holiness explained that the immense violence of the twentieth century arose largely due to short-sighted, narrow-minded thinking, when people only considered the narrow interests of their own group rather than those of humanity as a whole. He urged the younger generation:
“Concern yourselves more with the needs of others, with the needs of all humanity, and you'll have peace of mind. Selfishness creates a distance between us and other people, leading to suspicion and mistrust, ultimately resulting in loneliness. Think of others' well-being and you’ll be happy.
"Young brothers and sisters, think more broad-mindedly. Warm-heartedness and compassion are conducive to our physical and mental well-being, while anger, hatred, and fear are not. This is why some scientists today talk about warm-heartedness ensuring a 'healthy mind and a healthy body'.
"Because the existing education system is oriented towards materialistic goals we need to pay special attention to inner values such as tolerance, forgiveness, love and compassion. If we are to present these in a way that appeals to everyone we need to cultivate secular ethics. This is an approach followed in India for more than a thousand years, but which remains relevant today. India’s deep-seated tradition of ahimsa or non-violence is reflected in this age-old respect for all religious traditions and even the views of those who have no faith.”
Among questions from the audience His Holiness was asked how to cope with the threat of terrorism. He responded that many of the problems we face today are symptoms of our past mistakes. Resorting to the use of force, however decisive it may seem to be in the short run, is out of date, because violence only leads to more violence. Instead, whenever we face problems amongst ourselves, we should solve them through dialogue not force.
"You are very important to humanity’s future. You are the generation of the twenty-first century. In you lies the hope of creating a better future for the world. It will fall to you to solve the problems created by my generation in the twentieth century."
His Holiness explained that the immense violence of the twentieth century arose largely due to short-sighted, narrow-minded thinking, when people only considered the narrow interests of their own group rather than those of humanity as a whole. He urged the younger generation:
“Concern yourselves more with the needs of others, with the needs of all humanity, and you'll have peace of mind. Selfishness creates a distance between us and other people, leading to suspicion and mistrust, ultimately resulting in loneliness. Think of others' well-being and you’ll be happy.
"Young brothers and sisters, think more broad-mindedly. Warm-heartedness and compassion are conducive to our physical and mental well-being, while anger, hatred, and fear are not. This is why some scientists today talk about warm-heartedness ensuring a 'healthy mind and a healthy body'.
"Because the existing education system is oriented towards materialistic goals we need to pay special attention to inner values such as tolerance, forgiveness, love and compassion. If we are to present these in a way that appeals to everyone we need to cultivate secular ethics. This is an approach followed in India for more than a thousand years, but which remains relevant today. India’s deep-seated tradition of ahimsa or non-violence is reflected in this age-old respect for all religious traditions and even the views of those who have no faith.”
Among questions from the audience His Holiness was asked how to cope with the threat of terrorism. He responded that many of the problems we face today are symptoms of our past mistakes. Resorting to the use of force, however decisive it may seem to be in the short run, is out of date, because violence only leads to more violence. Instead, whenever we face problems amongst ourselves, we should solve them through dialogue not force.
Hindu, Moslem, Buddhist, Christian and Baha'i prayers were recited in a
number of languages including English, Hindi, Arabic and Sanskrit during
a gathering His Holiness attended in the actual Lotus Temple after his
talk.
Via Daily Dharma: MLK's Beloved Community | January 19, 2015
MLK's Beloved Community | January 19, 2015
We are caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality. . . . Strangely
enough I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought
to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought
to be. This is the way the world is made.
- Martin Luther King Jr., "A Sangha by Another Name"
- Martin Luther King Jr., "A Sangha by Another Name"
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 18/01/2015
“Uma parte fundamental do processo de cura e transformação que tenho chamado de “ABC da Espiritualidade” é fazer as pazes com a sua constelação familiar, ou seja, é se harmonizar com o passado para que possa se libertar dele. Durante esse processo, você é levado a tomar consciência de que muitas vezes seus desejos não são atendidos porque você não está pedindo de verdade; porque a parte consciente que está pedindo é pequena comparada à parte inconsciente que não está querendo. Portanto, existe uma relação entre esse aspecto e a sua história familiar. Eu posso te dar instrumentos para que você faça essa relação, mas somente você poderá compreendê-la através do estudo de si mesmo.”
Acesse o Satsang completo: bit.ly/1CviIRC
“Una parte fundamental del proceso de cura y transformación que vengo llamando "ABC de la Espiritualidad" es hacer las paces con tu constelación familiar, es decir, armonizarte con el pasado para que puedas liberarte de él. Durante este proceso, eres llevado a tomar conciencia de que muchas veces tus deseos no son atendidos porque no estás pidiendo de verdad; debido a que la parte consciente que está pidiendo es pequeña en comparación con la parte inconsciente que no está queriendo. Por lo tanto, existe una relación entre este aspecto y tu historia familiar. Te puedo dar instrumentos para que hagas esta relación, pero solo tú puedes comprenderla a través del estudio de ti mismo.”
“A fundamental part of the process of healing and transformation that I call the ‘ABC’s of Spirituality’ is to make peace with our family constellation. This happens by harmonize ourselves with the past so that we may become liberated from it. During this process, we begin to gain the awareness that oftentimes our desires are not fulfilled because we are not truly asking for them to be. The part of us that is asking is small in comparison to the unconscious part that truly doesn’t want it. Thus, there is a connection between this aspect of us and our family history. I can give you the tools to make this connection, but you will only understand this by studying yourself.”
Via Daily Dharma
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A Bigger Worldview | January 18, 2015
The dharma teachings of liberation and freedom enable us to have a much
bigger worldview because we learn what it is not to cling to a position
or opinion or religion. Finding skillful ways and means within different
religious and political structures is something we as Buddhists can
offer.
- Christopher Titmuss, "Rising to the Challenge: A Step Toward Peace" | |||||
Via The New Civil Rights Movement: Pope Francis: Same-Sex Marriage 'Threatens To Disfigure God's Plan'
Pope Francis on Friday in front of a large audience in the Philippines attacked same-sex marriage.
"The family is threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack of openness to life,” the Pontiff told thousands at a Mass in Manila. "These realities are increasingly under attack from powerful forces, which threaten to disfigure God’s plan for creation."
The 78-year old Argentinean also referred to the movement in many countries to accept same-sex marriage as an "ideological colonization that we have to be careful about that is trying to destroy the family."
"Every threat to the family is a threat to society itself," Francis also told the conservative Catholic nation. "The future of humanity, as Saint John Paul II often said, passes through the family."
Ironically, Pope Francis concluded his speech by saying he was "very moved after the Mass today when I visited that shelter for children with no parents." Those "children with no parents" likely could have parents if same-sex couples were allowed to marry and adopt.
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/pope_francis_says_gay_marriage_threatens_to_disfigure_god_s_plan
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Via JMG: Editorial Of The Day
From the editorial board of the New York Times:
Justice Antonin Scalia, who has voted against constitutional protections for gays and lesbians at every opportunity, foresaw this moment more than a decade ago, when the court reversed its own precedent and banned state anti-sodomy laws.
In the 2003 case of Lawrence v. Texas, Justice Kennedy wrote that the Constitution protects “adult persons in deciding how to conduct their private lives in matters pertaining to sex.” The opinion said it was not deciding the question of same-sex marriage, but Mr. Scalia begged to differ. If states may not use laws to express moral disapproval of homosexual conduct, he wrote in dissent, “what justification could there possibly be for denying the benefits of marriage to homosexual couples exercising the liberty protected by the Constitution?”
Precisely.
The 12 years since 2003 have seen enormous social change on this issue. Before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court legalized same-sex marriage in November 2003, no state permitted such marriages. Today, 36 states do, along with the District of Columbia — representing more than 70 percent of all Americans. A solid and growing majority now believes in marriage equality; among those 18 to 29, support is at nearly 80 percent.
For same-sex couples and their families, friends and communities, this moment has been a long time coming. The justices have the power and the responsibility to give meaning to the promises embedded in the Constitution, and end the exclusion and inequality of gays and lesbians in America.
Labels: Antonin Scalia, editorials, LGBT rights, marriage equality, New York Times, SCOTUS, Sixth Circuit Court
Via JMG: IRAQ: ISIS Executes Two Men Accused Of Being Gay By Hurling Them Off Roof
The Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq has published photographs that appear to show a man being thrown from the roof of a tall building apparently in Mosul, as punishment for being gay. The graphic photographs were uploaded to the Justpaste.it website on January 15 and shared on social media. One photograph, taken from the top of the building from where the man was apparently pushed to his death, shows a large crowd gathered in the public square below.According to the above-linked report, ISIS yesterday also stoned a woman to death after accusing her of adultery. (Tipped by JMG reader Zachary)
Another image shows a man with his face covered by a black balaclava, reading out the sentence imposed on the man under the IS group's version of Shari'a law. The caption to the photograph says that the verdict was issued by a Shari'a court in "Wilayat Nineveh," IS's name for Mosul and its environs.
Another image shows the victim being held by another man, apparently his executioner, on the edge of a rooftop. Text accompanying the photograph says that the man is being punished with "Hadd," meaning a punishment that is determined in the Koran and the Hadith for crimes considered to go against the rights of God. The caption noted that the man had committed the crime of the practices of the "people of Lot," a euphemism for sodomy, and that he must be killed by being "thrown from a high place."
Via LGTB Nation: Thousands protest lesbian couple’s ejection from Vienna cafe for kissing
Ronald Zak, AP
Protestors
hold a poster which reads “Join us in the 21st century” during an
protest in support of gay kissing, in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, Jan.
16, 2015. The protest was called after the manager of a cafe in Vienna
told a smooching lesbian couple to leave.
Ronald Zak, AP
Protestors
hold a poster reading ” Kiss me I’m cute” during an protest in support
of gay kissing, in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015.
Police estimated around 2,000 people participated in the protest Friday, forcing the closure of one downtown street. Some of the demonstrators exchanged long kisses.
The manager of Cafe Prueckel has apologized for telling the couple to leave last weekend. But the pair – Anastasia Lopez and Eva Prewein – say the demonstration is meant to draw attention to the general prevalence of discrimination against gays in Vienna.
Vienna hosts several events each year that attracts gays, bisexuals and cross-dressers from across Europe, and Austrian singer Conchita Wurst has become the figurehead for Europe’s non-straight community.
Vienna’s tourist agency has criticized the expulsions.
Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 17/01/2015
“Amor, assim como Deus, é uma palavra que foi muito distorcida. Muita
gente usa essa palavra para expressar nada. Dizem “eu te amo” quando, no
fundo, sentem raiva. Mas, se pudermos ser mais honestos com o uso das
palavras, reencontraremos seu verdadeiro sentido. Amor no seu estado
mais puro é sinônimo de doação desinteressada; é o desejo sincero de ver
o outro feliz, de ver o outro brilhar. Essa capacidade de se doar,
essa capacidade de ser um canal de bênçãos para o outro, é a fragrância
do divino no ser humano. É por isso que eu digo que Deus é amor, e que o
amor é Deus.”
“Amor, assim como Deus, é uma palavra que foi muito distorcida. Muita gente usa essa palavra para expressar nada. Dizem “eu te amo” quando, no fundo, sentem raiva. Mas, se pudermos ser mais honestos com o uso das palavras, reencontraremos seu verdadeiro sentido. Amor no seu estado mais puro é sinônimo de doação desinteressada; é o desejo sincero de ver o outro feliz, de ver o outro brilhar. Essa capacidade de se doar, essa capacidade de ser um canal de bênçãos para o outro, é a fragrância do divino no ser humano. É por isso que eu digo que Deus é amor, e que o amor é Deus.”
“Amor, así como Dios, es una palabra que fue muy distorsionada. Mucha
gente usa esta palabra para expresar nada. Dicen "yo te amo" cuando, en
el fondo, sienten rabia. Pero si podemos ser más honestos con el uso de
las palabras, reencontraremos su verdadero sentido. Amor en su estado
más puro es sinónimo de donación desinteresada; es el deseo sincero de
ver al otro feliz, de ver al otro brillar. Esta capacidad de donarse,
esta capacidad de ser un canal de bendiciones para el otro, es la
fragancia de lo divino en el ser humano. Es por eso que digo que Dios es
amor, y que el amor es Dios.”
“Love, just like God, is a word that has become very distorted. Many people use the word ‘love’ to not really express anything. They say ‘I love you’ when, below the surface, they feel anger. If we could be more honest with our use of words, then we would rediscover their true meaning. Love in its purest state is synonymous with selfless giving. It is the sincere desire to see the other be happy, to see the other shine. This capacity to give of oneself and to be a channel of blessings for the other is the fragrance of the Divine in a human being. This is why I say that God is love, and that love is God.”
“Love, just like God, is a word that has become very distorted. Many people use the word ‘love’ to not really express anything. They say ‘I love you’ when, below the surface, they feel anger. If we could be more honest with our use of words, then we would rediscover their true meaning. Love in its purest state is synonymous with selfless giving. It is the sincere desire to see the other be happy, to see the other shine. This capacity to give of oneself and to be a channel of blessings for the other is the fragrance of the Divine in a human being. This is why I say that God is love, and that love is God.”
Killing in the Name | January 17, 2015
What does it mean to call oneself a Buddhist when these are the actions
committed in the name of Buddhism? I'm sure this is a question that
Muslims are faced with constantly, as they are caught in the vice
between Islamic fundamentalism and international anti-Muslim fervor. . .
. Ultimately, whether Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, or any
other -ism, the worldwide push toward fundamentalism is also
heartbreaking in that it forces those of us sustained by some sort of
faith to have to say what should be obvious: these acts of violence do
not speak for us.
- Nayomi Munaweera, "The Real Enemy is Religious Extremism"
- Nayomi Munaweera, "The Real Enemy is Religious Extremism"
Friday, January 16, 2015
Via JMG: Catholic Bishops Have The SCOTUS Sadz
"It’s hard to imagine how the essential meaning of marriage as between
the two sexes, understood in our nation for over two hundred years, and
consistent with every society throughout all of human history, could be
declared illegal. To those arguing for a constitutional redefinition of
marriage, one must ask: when did the Constitution suddenly mandate a
novel and unfounded definition of marriage? To ask such a question is
not a judgment on anyone. It is a matter of justice and truth. The
central issue at stake is: what is marriage? The answer is: a bond which
unites a man and a woman to each other and to any children who come
from their union. Only a man and a woman can unite their bodies in a way
that creates a new human being. Marriage is thus a unique and beautiful
reality which a society respects to its benefit or ignores to its
peril." - "Father of Prop 8" and drunk driver Archbishop Salvatore
Cordileone, in a press release issued on behalf of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Labels: California, Catholic Church, drunk driving, marriage equality, Proposition 8, religion, Salvatore Cordileone, SCOTUS, The Sadz
Via Daily Dharma
Practice for the People | January 7, 2015
How fantastic if we, as a Buddhist community, had a tradition of
supporting sangha to study and practice. Of course there are many
Buddhist retreat centers in the West and many are as generous as they
can be to those who cannot afford to pay full fare. But more ubiquitous
and affordable retreats offered to more people would be a sign of good
times. Getting to that point would require more people to cultivate a
habit of giving joyfully and generously to sustain the practice of
others.
- Noa Jones, "If You Build It, They Will Need Food"
- Noa Jones, "If You Build It, They Will Need Food"
Via JMG: Supreme Court To Consider All Four Cases From Sixth Circuit Court
Via SCOTUSblog:
Taking on a historic constitutional challenge with wide cultural impact, the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon agreed to hear four new cases on same-sex marriage. The Court said it would rule on state power to ban gay and lesbian marriage and state power to refuse to recognize such marriages performed out of state. A total of one hour and ninety minutes was set for the hearings, likely in the April sitting. The Court fashioned the specific questions it is prepared to answer, but they closely tracked the two core constitutional issues that have led to a lengthy string of lower-court rulings striking down state bans. As of now, same-sex marriages are allowed in thirty-six states, with bans remaining in the other fourteen but under court challenge.
Labels: Kentucky, LGBT rights, marriage equality, Michigan, Ohio, SCOTUS, Sixth Circuit Court, Tennessee, United States
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