Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 27/04/2015

“A jornada da alma se assemelha ao rio que corre na direção do mar. O destino do rio é se tornar o mar. Mas, até que o rio chegue ao seu destino final, ele passa por muitos desafios: sobe montanhas, desce vales, passa por desertos, florestas, e às vezes até evapora e volta na forma de chuva. Mas, em algum momento ele deixa de ser rio e se torna o oceano. Assim é a jornada da alma: em algum momento ela se torna o Absoluto.”

Para ler o Satsang Completo, acesse: bit.ly/1Cf8hRR

“El camino del alma se asemeja al río que corre en dirección al mar. El destino del río es volverse mar. Pero hasta que el río llegue a su destino final, pasa por muchos desafíos: sube montañas, baja por valles, pasa por desiertos, selvas, y a veces hasta se evapora y vuelve en forma de lluvia. Pero en algún momento éste deja de ser río y se vuelve océano. Así es el camino del alma: en algún momento se convierte en el Absoluto.” 

"The journey of the soul is like a river flowing towards the ocean. The fate of the river is to eventually become the sea. However, until the river reaches its final destination, it goes through many challenges. It goes up mountains, descends through valleys, passes through deserts, forests, and sometimes even evaporates back into rain. But, at some point, it stops being the river and becomes the ocean. This is also the soul’s journey: at a given moment, it becomes the Absolute."

Via Daily Dharma

Sorrows No Greater Than Yours | April 27, 2015 You seem to be you and I seem to be me. My sorrows are no greater than your sorrows. Thou art beautiful, o my loves, as tears are. - Terrance Keenan, "A Sweetness Appears and Prevails" Read More →

Via Desmond Tutu / FB: Time to Boogie!

It's Time for the Freedom to Marry

Via JMG: Dozens Line Up Outside Supreme Court

 

Equality Case Files reports that dozens are lined up outside the Supreme Court this morning. The line actually began some time on Friday and it rained on them last night. See the Twitter feed for many more photos.

Labels: LGBT rights, marriage equality, SCOTUS

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: President Obama Cracks Gay Jokes At White House Correspondents' Dinner

Starnes is probably referring to this line: "I tease Joe sometimes, but he has been at my side for seven years, I love that man. He's not just a great vice president, he is a great friend. We've gotten so close in some places in Indiana, they won't serve us pizza anymore." Or maybe this one: "Rick Santorum announced that he would not attend the same-sex wedding of a friend or a loved one, to which gays and lesbians across the country responded, 'That's not gonna be a problem.'" The president's full speech is below.

Labels: Barack Obama, Indiana, Joe Biden, LGBT rights, public accommodations, RFRA, Rick Santorum, Todd Starnes

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Hillary Clinton's keynote address at the 2015 Women in the World Summit

Namaskar Nepal!

 

Make the jump here to help

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 26/04/2015

“A principal prática espiritual para esse momento da humanidade é aprender a se relacionar sem se machucar e sem machucar o outro. Isso significa viver a espiritualidade nas nossas relações. E mais do que falar de conceitos espirituais, aplicá-los, integrando a espiritualidade à vida prática.”

Para ler o Satsang Completo, acesse: bit.ly/1BcR1dU

“La principal práctica espiritual para este momento de la humanidad es aprender a relacionarse sin lastimarse a uno mismo y sin lastimar al otro. Esto significa vivir la espiritualidad en nuestras relaciones. Y más que hablar de conceptos espirituales, aplicarlos, integrando la espiritualidad en la vida práctica.”

"The main spiritual practice for humanity at this moment in time is to learn how to relate without getting hurt and without hurting the other. This is what it means to embody spirituality in our relationships. More than just talking about spiritual concepts, we need to apply them, integrating spirituality into our daily lives."

Via Daily Dharma

Devotion and Compassion | April 26, 2015 We need devotion to enlightened beings and compassion to those who are not. Possessing these two, the main training is maintaining nondistraction. When we forget mind essence we get carried away. But with devotion and compassion, the practice of recognizing mind essence will automatically progress. - Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, "The Great Experiment" Read More →

Via FB:

Via JMG: Today in "This is How its Done":

GEORGIA: Print Shop Refuses To Print Wedding Invitations For Lesbian Couple

Citing his religious beliefs, the owner of an AlphaGraphics print shop franchise in suburban Atlanta has refused to print wedding invitations for a lesbian couple. Via Atlanta's NBC affiliate:

Paige Beckwith says throughout her wedding planning process she has been open with vendors that there would be two brides on the wedding day. She says none of the vendors seemed to care, but him. Beckwith says she contacted the company after being referred by a friend. They were trying to go with a train theme. Their engagement photos, taken by Snap Shots By Allie, were on railroad tracks. Their reception would be at an old train depot in Lawrenceville. They wanted the invitations to look like a train ticket, so she needed a company that could design and print them. "The owner called me back and let me know that he's not going to print our invitations because he does not support same sex marriage," said Beckwith. "I kept asking him how, why, how he could do this? He just basically stood on his religious beliefs, referenced the Bible, called it a sin, and I was basically in tears saying how could you treat me this way?," she recalled.

The AlphaGraphics main office has denounced its franchisee and promised to print the invitations at no charge. They have also issued a statement:

We do not condone discrimination of any kind, and wish to make clear that customers of any race, religion, nationality, ethnicity or sexual orientation are welcome at our franchisees' locations nationwide. We also wish to apologize to the customers who were impacted by the actions of this franchisee, and hope that our response conveys the level of commitment we feel toward upholding our company's standards of inclusion, and that all members of the Suwanee community continue to feel welcome at AlphaGraphics.

Georgia does not protect LGBT residents from business discrimination. (Tipped by JMG reader Todd)

Labels: Atlanta, business, gay weddings, Georgia, LGBT rights, public accommodations, religion, retail

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 25/04/2015

“Nós não somos a matéria. A matéria é somente o nosso veículo. Nós somos o espírito que habita a matéria. Quando identificados com o corpo, estamos suscetíveis às leis da matéria, mas quando nos identificamos com o espírito, podemos exercer domínio sobre a matéria, compreendendo que ela é feita de terra, fogo, água, ar e éter. Com isso, podemos curar doenças, materializar objetos e até retardar o envelhecimento. Esse é o mistério daquilo que muitos chamam de “milagres.”

Para ler o Satsang completo, acesse: bit.ly/1uTivU9

“Nosotros no somos la materia. La materia es solamente nuestro vehículo. Nosotros somos el espíritu que habita la materia. Cuando estamos identificados con el cuerpo, estamos suceptibles a las leyes de la materia, pero cuando nos identificamos con el espíritu, podemos ejercer dominio sobre la materia, comprendiendo que está hecha de tierra, fuego, agua, aire y éter. Con esto podemos curar enfermedades, materializar objetos y hasta retardar el envejecimiento. Este es el misterio de aquello que muchos llaman “milagros”.

"We are not that which is material. Matter is only our vehicle. We are the spirit that inhabits this matter. When we get identified with the body, we are susceptible to the laws of matter. When we identify with the spirit, we can exercise dominion over matter, and we realize that matter is simply made from earth, fire, water, air and ether. With this understanding, we can cure diseases, materialize objects, and even slow down aging. This is the mystery of what many call miracles.”

Via Daily Dharma

To Be Called a Buddha | April 25, 2015 When you refrain from unwholesome actions, are not attached to birth and death, and are compassionate toward all sentient beings, respectful to seniors and kind to juniors, not excluding or desiring anything, with no designing thoughts or worries, you will be called a buddha. Do not seek anything else. - Eihei Dogen, "Birth and Death" Read More →

Nobody's Memories - PFLAG Canada – Same-sex Marriage – TV Commercial

HRC's AMERICANS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Via JMG: Hotelier Ian Reisner Reacts To Cruz Flap

"For my entire adult life, I have been an ardent supporter and activist for gay rights and LGBT organizations worldwide. I was given the opportunity to have a candid conversation with Senator Ted Cruz on where he stood on issues including the state of Israel and national security, which are the only places where we share common ground. It was just three months ago that I hosted a 'Ready for Hillary' event for a record turnout of 900 people at The OUT Hotel. Senator Ted Cruz and I disagree strongly on the issue of gay marriage, but having an open dialogue with those who have differing political opinions is a part of what this country was founded on. My tireless support of the gay community and its causes worldwide hasn't changed and will not change." - New York City hotelier Ian Reisner, posting tonight on his Facebook page.

NOTE: There are conflicting reports at whether the event with Cruz was a fundraiser.  CNN is saying that it was, but the New York Times is saying this "Mr. Cruz was on a fund-raising tour of New York City, although the dinner was not a fund-raiser." I've added this notation to previous posts on this topic.

Labels: 2016 elections, GOP, LGBT rights, NYC, Out NYC, Tea Party, teabaggers, Ted Cruz

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: Ted Cruz Files Two Anti-Gay Marriage Bills

Via Bloomberg:

Days before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on same-sex marriage, Senator Ted Cruz has filed two bills to protect states that bar gay couples from marrying. Cruz's legislation would establish a constitutional amendment shielding states that define marriage as between one woman and one man from legal action, according to bill language obtained by Bloomberg News. A second bill would bar federal courts from further weighing in on the marriage issue until such an amendment is adopted. While Cruz's legislation would face solid opposition in the Senate, it is an attempt to force his competitors to keep the issue alive even if the court rules in favor of same-sex marriage. Last year, Cruz and Utah Senator Mike Lee filed similar legislation to protect more than 30 states that currently define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, but those bills died when the session in a Democratic-controlled congress ended.

The bills are here and here.

Labels: 2016 elections, Christianists, crackpots, marriage equality, religion, Senate, Tea Party, teabaggers, Ted Cruz

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 24/04/2015

“É importante que possamos ensinar para as nossas crianças sobre a impermanência. Elas precisam saber que o envelhecimento e a morte são fenômenos inerentes a este plano. Desde cedo elas podem compreender que o corpo tem prazo de validade e que somente aquele que habita o corpo é permanente.”
Para ler o Satsang completo, acesse: bit.ly/1uTivU9

“Es importante que podamos enseñar a nuestros niños sobre la impermanencia. Ellos necesitan saber que el envejecimiento y la muerte son fenómenos inherentes a este plano. Desde temprano ellos pueden comprender que el cuerpo tiene plazo de validez y que solamente aquél que habita el cuerpo es permanente.”

"It’s important that we teach our children about impermanence. They need to know that aging and death are inherent phenomena of this world. From early on, they can understand that the body has an expiration date, and that only the Being that inhabits the body is permanent."