Today's Daily Dharma: Present for All of It

“No one really knows what will happen from one moment to the next: who will we be, what will we face, and how will we respond to what we encounter? We don’t know, but there’s a good chance we will encounter some rough, unwanted experiences, some surprises beyond our imaginings, and some expected things, too. And we can decide to stay present for all of it.”

—Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel, "Open Stillness"

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Via The Beer Party L.G.B.T.Q. / FB:

Why Does the Supreme Court Get to Decide Marriage Laws?

Today's Daily Dharma: Don't Cling to Passing Moods

“Lust and hate arise but leave no trace, like birds in flight; don't cling to passing moods.”

—Padampa Sangye, "On What Is Most Important"

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New at Tricycle: On What Is Most Important

On What Is Most Important

Contemplative traditions are in steep decline—or so we're told. Nobody meditates anymore. They're too busy playing Candy Crush or writing screeds in the comments section below YouTube videos. As Tricycle readers, you know better. This week we look at how Buddhist teachings and rituals remain vibrant in our time. 

Before we examine the teachings that thrive today, however, we must get a sense of the ones from the past that are worth holding onto. We offer a perfect example in our latest magazine piece, "On What Is Most Important," in which the Tibetan master Kenchen Thrangu elaborates on eight classical Indian verses from the yogi Padampa Sangye. Together they emphasize practicing the dharma in every moment, no matter the circumstance. Then, and only then, they say, can we make the most of our lives. 

In "A Quiet Subversion," we hear from a modern-day Buddhist trying to do just that. By romanticizing the cave-dwelling recluse, says writer Leath Tonino, we perceive his lifestyle as an exotic one far different from our own. In this humorous yet insightful piece, Tonino erases that divide by showing us how a solitary spiritual life is possible even for a young city-dweller with a job, a girlfriend, and an obsession with Seinfeld.

Both of those magazine articles are available to everyone this week, but join as a Supporting or Sustaining member to read the entirety of our latest issue. In it, find out how to escape from jealousy's clutches, feel good about what you've got, and actually celebrate your friends' success with the issue's special section on jealousy and envy. It features a Zen teacher who cops to those green feelings, a writer who says they don't deserve such a bad rap, and a Tibetan Buddhist who offers five steps to free yourself from them for good.

As the Buddhists know, nothing lasts forever. That makes our choices about which teachings to hold onto and which to leave behind all the more important. In a provocative blog interview with longtime Vajryana teacher and practitioner Sangye Khandro, "No Adaptation Required," she speaks candidly about this tension between tradition and renewal. 

Every generation—every person—resolves that tension differently. There's no easy answer. But by virtue of our mere rumination, perhaps we invent the teachings anew.

 Make the jump here to read the original

Was Dr. Smith Gay?...Yep, says Lost in Space's June Lockhart

Via Janis Ian / FB:

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: LGBT Discrimination (HBO)

Via United Americans / FB:

Via Instinct Magazine: Did They Just Find That Homophobia Is A Disease?

I think they just found that homophobia is a disease?  Here's an excerpt from the longer livescience.com article.  

Make the jump here to give it a read

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 13/09/201

Project Everyone - Metas Globais
5.IGUALDADE ENTRE OS SEXOS
“Embora a diferença entre homem e mulher seja algo bem definido, no que tange a interação entre eles, os contrastes se equilibram na balança. Tanto o homem como a mulher carregam dentro de si um masculino e um feminino positivo e um masculino e um feminino negativo ou distorcido. A facilidade ou dificuldade se dá na interação: se o meu masculino ou feminino distorcido se relaciona com o masculino ou feminino distorcido de outra pessoa é sempre difícil, independentemente do gênero.”

Project Everyone - Metas Globais
5. IGUALDAD DE GÉNERO
“Aunque la diferencia entre hombre y mujer sea algo bien definido, con respecto a la interacción entre ellos, los contrastes se equilibran en la balanza. Tanto el hombre como la mujer llevan dentro de sí un masculino y un femenino positivo y un masculino y un femenino negativo o distorsionado. La facilidad o dificultad se da en la interacción: si mí masculino o femenino distorsionado se relaciona con el masculino o femenino distorsionado de otra persona es siempre difícil, independientemente del género.”

Project Everyone - Global Goals
5. GENDER EQUALITY
“Although it seems like men and women are very different, in taking a closer look at their interactions, it becomes clear their qualities counter-balance each other. Just as both men and women carry distorted masculine and distorted feminine qualities, they both carry the positive qualities as well. Human interactions can be more or less challenging based on how one person’s distorted masculine and feminine qualities relate with another’s, regardless of gender.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Prayer for Its Own Sake

“Prayer just for itself, just for the act of praying . . . is a way of connecting to the deep ocean of being that we all are. It is a way of offering our bows, our incense, our flowers, to the ineffable reality of the moment, to the absolute reality of this experience.”

 

—Sensei Pat Enkyo O'Hara, "Prayer: Sensei Pat Enkyo O'Hara"

 

Ian Shoales: Dualism

Via WGB: New York Man Accused of Torching Gay Pride Bench

Police say they've have charged a 47-year-old man with a hate crime for torching an outdoor bench that had been painted in rainbow colors by members of a northern New York group to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Authorities in Ogdensburg say Francis Solis was charged Wednesday with arson and criminal mischief as a hate crime. Full story here!

WGB :: I am so glad he got caught but I am not surprised he did this after reading THIS ARTICLE.

Real Time with Bill Maher: Kim Davis Controversy – Sept. 11, 2015 (HBO)

Via Lizzy the Lezzy / FB:

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 12/09/201

Project Everyone - Metas Globais
4. EDUCAÇÃO DE QUALIDADE
"Uma completa renovação na educação se faz necessária, pois é através dela que um novo ser humano, mais consciente e responsável, surgirá. A criança é sábia e traz com ela dons e talentos a serem compartilhados com o mundo. Nós precisamos criar espaço para que isso aconteça, incentivando o empoderamento da criança. Para isso, uma educação baseada em valores humanos espirituais precisa se tornar política pública.”

Project Everyone - Global Goals
4. QUALITY EDUCATION
"We are in need of a complete educational reform, for it is through education that a new kind of human being will emerge, more conscious and responsible. Children are wise; and they bring to the world gifts and talents to be shared. We need to create space for this by encouraging people to empower children. For this to occur, an education based on spiritual human values must become public policy."

Project Everyone - Global Goals
4. EDUCACIÓN DE CALIDAD
"Una completa renovación en la educación es necesaria, ya que es a través de ella que un nuevo ser humano, más consciente y responsable, surgirá. El niño es sabio y trae dones y talentos a ser compartidos con el mundo. Precisamos crear espacio para que esto suceda, incentivando el empoderamiento del niño. Para ello, una educación basada en valores humanos espirituales precisa convertirse en política pública.”

Via Te Greko - konstantin dimopoulos / FB:

Te Greko - konstantin dimopoulos

 

Konstantin Dimopoulos’s The Barbed Wire Buddha is a fresh addition to his thought-provoking public art interventions in urban and landscape environments, yet it is not simply just a tool for public engagement. The sculpture also raises key formalist art questions of materiality and technique. At Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney Contemporary.

Today's Daily Dharma: Violence Begets Violence

“Hostilities aren't stilled through hostility, regardless. Hostilities are stilled through non-hostility: this, an unending truth.”

—Shakyamuni Buddha, "September 11: Practice and Perspectives"

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