Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Via JMG: BREAKING: White House Backs Equality Act

whitehouserainbow



The Washington Post reports:
The White House endorsed legislation Tuesday that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, plunging into the next front in the national battle over LGBT rights. Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the administration “has been reviewing for several weeks” the bill. “It is now clear that the administration strongly supports the equality act,” he said, adding it would advance the civil rights of “millions of Americans.”
Earnest added the White House would “work to ensure that the legislative process produces something that balances “the bedrock principles of civil rights with the religious liberty that we hold dear in this country.” Although there is little chance that this Congress will approve the legislation — which was introduced in July by Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.) and Cory Booker (N.J.) — President Obama’s support elevates to greater prominence the question of whether lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans need greater legal safeguards.
The Human Rights Campaign reacts:
The unfortunate reality is that, while LGBT Americans can legally get married, millions remain at risk of being fired or denied services for who they are or who they love because the majority of states still lack explicit, comprehensive non-discrimination protections,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “By endorsing the Equality Act, the White House sent a strong message that it’s time to put the politics of discrimination behind us once and for all. Now it’s time for Congress to act. Everyone should be able to live free from fear of discrimination and have a fair chance to earn a living and provide for their families, including people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.”
Note that today’s move comes on the same day that President Obama’s Out Magazine “Ally Of The Year” cover story was issued.

Read this and more at JMG here

Via JMG: Obama Becomes First Sitting President To Pose For Gay Title As Out Magazine Names Him Ally Of The Year

ObamaOut2


 


Out Magazine has named President Obama its “Ally Of The Year” in their annual Out 100 issue. They write:
The 44th President of the United States is our Ally of the Year—a president who came to office on a wave of euphoria, appeared to lose momentum halfway through, and has since rallied, helping us secure marriage equality, among other landmark initiatives that are transforming our place in America.
This is the first time a sitting president has been photographed for the cover of an LGBT title, a historic moment in itself, and a statement on how much his administration has done to advance a singularly volatile issue that tarnished the reputations of both President Clinton and President Bush. It might have tarnished this president, too, but for his late-hour conversion in 2012, which set the stage for the extraordinary succession of events that led to this year’s Supreme Court ruling, on June 26, making it unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to wed.
Many things led up to that decision—“decades of our brothers and sisters fighting for recognition and equality” as the president notes—but once his administration decided to join that fight it created what people like to call a “transformative” moment. It helped tip the balance, and it put our elected leader on the right side of justice.
A slideshow of this year’s Out 100 honorees is here.

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 10/11/15

“O verdadeiro seva ou serviço desinteressado, é um fenômeno que ocorre quando você pode seguir o programa estabelecido pela sua alma. Porém, muitos ainda não têm clareza sobre esse programa ou propósito da alma. Isso ocorre simplesmente porque ainda não chegou a hora de ter essa consciência. Mas tudo nesse mundo tem seu tempo. Enquanto isso eu sugiro que se dedique ao seva, seja ele qual for, até que tenha a humildade suficiente para perguntar: Como posso ajudar?”

“El verdadero seva o servicio desinteresado, es un fenómeno que ocurre cuando puedes seguir el programa establecido por tu alma. Sin embargo, aún muchos no tienen claridad sobre ese programa o propósito del alma. Esto ocurre simplemente porque aún no llegó el momento de tener consciencia. Pero todo en este mundo tiene su tiempo. Mientras tanto, sugiero que te dediques al seva, sea cual fuere, hasta que tengas la humildad suficiente para preguntar: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?”

“True seva, selfless service, is a phenomenon that happens when we are able to follow our soul’s purpose. Many people still lack clarity as to what their purpose truly is. This happens simply because the time has not yet come for them to have this consciousness. But everything in this world has its time. Until that moment arrives, I suggest that we dedicate ourselves to seva, in whatever form that may be, until we are humble enough to ask: ‘How may I be of help?’ ”

Today's Daily Dharma: What Meditation Is About

What Meditation Is About
One must learn how to do [meditation] properly. It’s not just about trying to find a comfortable quiet corner to hide in. There is more to it than that. It is about wisdom awareness, knowing, seeing clearly.
—His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa, "Awareness Itself"
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Monday, November 9, 2015

Via Join the Coffee Party Movement / FB:


What politicians do you know who vote and support issues according to their conscience even if it may not be politically advantageous? We need to make them all household words.

Via PAPO RETO / FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 09/11/2015

"A sensação de separação faz parte da natureza deste plano da existência no qual estamos vivendo a experiência da individualidade através do ego. O ego é como uma gota de água que está separada do oceano: estando separada, ela não se sente pertencendo, porém ela desconhece que sua própria essência é o oceano. Assim é a entidade humana em evolução: tomada pela ilusão da separação, acredita ser apenas um corpo isolado, enquanto a realidade é que ela é o próprio Espírito que habita todas as coisas."

"La sensación de separación es parte de la naturaleza de este plano de la existencia en el cual estamos viviendo la experiencia de individualidad a través del ego. El ego es como una gota de agua que está separada del océano: estando separada, no se siente perteneciendo, sin embargo desconoce que su propia esencia es el océano. Así es la entidad humana en evolución: tomada por la ilusión de la separación, cree ser solamente un cuerpo aislado, cuando la realidad es que es el propio Espíritu que habita todas las cosas."

"A sense of separation is one of the pillars maintaining the existential anguish that pervades human life. Therein lies the sense of failure. After all, what else can be the fate of a droplet of water that is separate from the ocean but to dry up and disappear? The only way for the droplet to survive is to return to the ocean."

Today's Daily Dharma: Simple as That

Simple as That
Actions conditioned by greed, hatred, and delusion bring a heavy burden of suffering. On the other hand, actions conditioned by generosity, loving kindness, and wisdom lead to a light and happy sense of well-being. Simple as that.
—Vaddhaka Linn, "Does Self-Help Help?"
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Sunday, November 8, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 08/11/2015

“Sinto que estamos vivendo um momento no qual a Mãe divina, na forma da crise de sustentabilidade, está vivendo as dores do parto - ela está parindo a Verdade. Ela está tentando nos ensinar alguma coisa. Esse processo é bastante caótico, porém o universo nasce do caos. Esse é o movimento que possibilita a transformação.”

“Siento que estamos viviendo un momento en el que la Madre Divina, en la forma de la crisis de sustentabilidad, está viviendo los dolores del parto –está pariendo a la Verdad-. Está intentando enseñarnos algo. Este proceso es bastante caótico, sin embargo el universo nace del caos. Este es el movimiento que permite la transformación.”

“Due to the current sustainability crisis we are experiencing, I feel that the divine Mother is going through intense labor pains, as she is birthing the truth. The Divine Feminine is trying to teach us something. This process is rather chaotic though,just as the universe was born out of chaos. This movement is what enables the possibility for transformation to occur.”

Satsang completo:
http://www.sriprembaba.org/pt-br/satsang/181014

Today's Daily Dharma: No Matter What

No Matter What
We train our minds by looking into them. We just look in, not allowing ourselves to be carried away by our perceptions; we just look into what is going on, and ask, “Where does this come from?” We are training ourselves in the practice and study of Buddhism so that our thoughts and emotions do not disturb our true-nature mind, so that we can sit imperturbably no matter what.
—Maurine Stewart, "Our One and Only Commandment"
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Saturday, November 7, 2015

Pedro Tornaghi's photo.

 
5 passos para a felicidade:

1. Sorria mais.
2. Pense menos.
3. Esteja presente.
4. Dê mais.
5. Espere menos.


Da tradição budista

Ancient Wisdom in Modern Times - Deepak Chopra and Sadhguru, moderated by Ms. Chandrika Tandon


Via JMG: GALLUP: Post-Obergefell Nearly One Million Americans Are Now In A Same-Sex Marriage


Gallup estimates that nearly 100,000 same-sex weddings have taken place since the Obergefell ruling, pushing the total number of Americans in a same-sex marriage to nearly one million. They report:
The practical legal impact of the Obergefell decision was to invalidate laws in 13 states that did not recognize same-sex marriages. Since then, the percentage of same-sex married couples increased from 26% to 31% in those states. Prior to Obergefell, states that did not recognize or conduct marriages of same-sex couples still had same-sex married couples residing there. But those couples either married elsewhere or considered themselves married even if the state did not. Those spouses’ rights were enhanced by the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in U.S. v. Windsor that ensured the federal government would recognize marriages of same-sex couples even in states where such marriages were not recognized by the state.
But states whose laws were not affected by the Obergefell ruling have also seen a notable increase in same-sex marriages over the last four months. Currently, 49% of same-sex couples living together in states where same-sex marriages were already legal report being married, compared with 42% prior to the decision. That means same-sex couples living together in these states are now as likely to be married as not married.
Overall, 3.9% of all Americans identify as LGBT, and 0.4% of all Americans are in a same-sex marriage. The latter figure is up from 0.3% before the ruling. Those figures can be used to estimate that there are now approximately 972,000 Americans in a same-sex marriage, up from approximately 780,000 before the ruling. Put differently, there are now approximately 486,000 same-sex marriages in the U.S., compared with approximately 390,000 four months ago.
Incredible.

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 07/11/2015

“Ainda estamos evoluindo do estado primitivo para o estado humano. Nos movemos desse estado de ignorância e estupidez, no qual estamos completamente identificados com o ego e com a ilusão de separação; atuando através de mecanismos de defesa que nos tornam violentos e maldosos, para o estado humano. Em outras palavras, transitamos do estado demoníaco para o estado humano. E somente nos tornaremos verdadeiramente humanos quando formos capazes de manifestar valores humanos.”

“Todavía estamos evolucionando del estado primitivo hacia el estado humano. Nos movemos desde este estado de ignorancia y estupidez, en el que estamos completamente identificados con el ego y con la ilusión de separación; actuando a través de mecanismos de defensa que nos hacen violentos y malos, hacia el estado humano. En otras palabras, transitamos del estado demoníaco hacia el estado humano. Y solamente nos volveremos verdaderamente humanos, cuando seamos capaces de manifestar valores humanos.”

“Looking at humanity in global terms, we see that we are still largely evolving from a more primitive state of consciousness to a more ‘human’ state, moving beyond ignorance and senselessness. When we are still identified with our egos andthe illusion of separation, weusually act through defense mechanisms,at times even causing us to be violent or malevolent. We only become truly human when we are capable of manifesting human values.”

Satsang completo no link abaixo:
http://www.sriprembaba.org/pt-br/satsang/171014

Today's Daily Dharma: Nature's Reward

Nature's Reward
If instead of generating anger or hatred or passion or fear or ego, I generate love, compassion, goodwill, then nature starts rewarding me. I feel so peaceful, so much harmony within me. It is such that when I defile my mind I get punishment then and there, and when I purify my mind I get a reward then and there.
—S.N. Goenka, "Superscience"
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Friday, November 6, 2015

THE SEVEN LINE PRAYER (AND WEB SITE LAUNCH)

The Prayer/祈请文
“ The Seven Line Prayer is not just a simple supplication.  It has everything in it, the path, the view, meditation, action, everything…” by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

“《七句祈请文》不只是一个简单的祈请,其中包含了道、见、修、行等等的一切......”
--宗萨钦哲仁波切  


Tibetan / 藏文
༄༅། །གུ་རུ་རིན་པོ་ཆེའི་ཚིག་བདུན་གསོལ་འདེབས་བཞུགས་སོ། །

ཧཱུྂ༔ ཨོ་རྒྱན་ཡུལ་གྱི་ནུབ་བྱང་མཚམས༔
པདྨ་གེ་སར་སྡོང་པོ་ལ༔
ཡ་མཚན་མཆོག་གི་དངོས་གྲུབ་བརྙེས༔
པདྨ་འབྱུང་གནས་ཞེས་སུ་གྲགས༔
འཁོར་དུ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་མང་པོས་བསྐོར༔
ཁྱེད་ཀྱི་རྗེས་སུ་བདག་བསྒྲུབ་ཀྱི༔
བྱིན་གྱིས་བརླབ་ཕྱིར་གཤེགས་སུ་གསོལ༔
གུ་རུ་པདྨ་སིདྡྷི་ཧཱུྂ༔


Phonetic Tibetan Spelling /藏语拼音
hung orgyen yul gyi nubjang tsam / 邬金由吉努江参
pema gesar dongpo la / 贝玛给萨东波拉
yatsen chok gi ngödrub nyé / 雅参秋给俄珠涅
pema jungné shyé su drak /贝玛炯内些苏扎
khor du khandro mangpö kor / 阔都康卓忙波阔
khyé kyi jesu dak drub kyi / 切记借苏达助吉
jingyi lab chir shek su sol / 钦吉拉起谢苏所
guru pema siddhi hung / 咕噜贝玛悉地吽


Sanskrit / 梵文
हूं ! ओडियाने वायव्ये पद्मकेसरकांडे
सिद्धिर्लब्धात्यद्भुता ख्यात पद्मसम्भवः
बहुडाकिनीभिरावृत तवैवानुसारामि
आयाह्यधिष्ठानार्थम् गुरु पद्मसिद्धि हूं!

Hum! Odiyaane Vaayavye,
Padma Kesar kaande,
Siddhir labdhat yadbhutah,
Khyaata Padmasambhava,
Bahudaakini bhiraavrita,
Tavaiva anusaraami,
Aaya Adhishtha Naartham,
Guru Padma Siddhi Hum!



English /英文
Hūṃ,On the northwest border of the land of Uḍḍiyāṇa,
On the pistil of a lotus flower and stem,
You attained supreme wondrous siddhi,
Renowned as Padmakara,
Surrounded by a retinue of many ḍākinīs.
Following you, I reach accomplishment;
Please come and grant your blessings!
Guru Padma Siddhi Hūṃ


Chinese / 中文
吽,邬金刹土西北隅,
莲花花茎莲胚上;
稀有殊胜成就者,
世称名号莲花生;
空行眷属众围绕,
我随汝尊而修持;
祈请降临赐加持,
咕噜贝玛悉地吽。


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 06/11/2015

“Você está onde se coloca. Se algo de ruim aconteceu na sua vida foi você que abriu a porta para isso. Sim, é possível que você tenha encontrado alguém que foi canal de uma extrema estupidez. É possível que alguém tenha sido realmente maldoso com você. Mas por alguma razão você precisou desse encontro que te machucou tanto. Existem pessoas que realmente não podem ser amigas, mas o problema não é esse, é você ficar encantado com isso, preso num ciclo vicioso que sabota a sua felicidade.” 

“Estás donde te colocas. Si algo malo sucedió en tu vida fuiste tú quien abrió la puerta para esto. Sí, es posible que hayas encontrado a alguien que fue canal de una estupidez extrema. Es posible que alguien haya sido realmente malo contigo. Pero por alguna razón necesitaste de este encuentro que te lastimó tanto. Existen personas que realmente no pueden ser amigas, pero el problema no es este, es que te quedes encantado con esto, atrapado en un ciclo vicioso que sabotea tu felicidad.”

“We are exactly where weplace ourselves. If something horrible happens in our lives, believe it or not, at some level we were responsible for opening the door to this experience. It is possible that we may haveencountered someone who was a channel for extreme senselessness, or someone who really wishedus harm. But for some reason, we may have actually been unconsciously seeking out thisexperience that caused us so much pain. There are some people who just can’t be friends with each other, but this is not the problem. The issue lies in becomingfixated on the negative experience or situation,getting stuck in a vicious cycle that sabotages our happiness.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Lighten Your Load

Lighten Your Load
Relinquishing is the ground for practicing 'beginner’s mind.' It helps us see things anew, as they really are; to be willing to listen to the thoughts and ideas of others with an open mind. So the relinquishing of thoughts and ideas about which we have been adamant can give us a sense of freedom, joy, and spaciousness.
—Allan Lokos, "Lighten Your Load"
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