Revoked

Monday, November 23, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 23/11/2015

“Luz e sombra passam constantemente pelo nosso sistema e nós temos a tendência de querer segurar os sentimentos e pensamentos luminosos e de sair correndo dos sentimentos e pensamentos sombrios. Porém, o apego e a aversão constituem a dinâmica mental que mantém a identificação com a ilusão. Através das práticas espirituais e da auto-observação é possível dissolver essa dinâmica e desenvolver equanimidade mental.”

“Luz y sombra pasan constantemente a través de nuestro sistema y tenemos la tendencia de querer sostener los sentimientos y pensamientos luminosos y de huir de los sentimientos y pensamientos oscuros. Sin embargo, el apego y la aversión constituyen la dinámica mental que mantiene la identificación con la ilusión. A través de las prácticas espirituales y de la auto-observación es posible disolver esta dinámica y desarrollar la ecuanimidad mental.”

“Light and shadow are constantly passing through our systems. Our tendency is to want to hold on to the feelings and thoughts that are light-filled and to flee from the shadowy thoughts and feelings. Attachment and aversion make up the mental dynamics that keep us identified with illusion. Through spiritual practices and self-observation, it can be possible to dissolve this dynamic and to develop mental equanimity.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Doing What We Can

Doing What We Can

We don’t have to look at others and be critical of their lack of virtue. Even when those close to us can’t practice, we should do what we can first. Before we worry about the deficiencies of others, those of us who understand and can practice should do
that straightaway.

—Ajahn Chah, "Meeting the Dharma Alone"

Via Tao & Zen / FB: ~ Learn to Be Still ~

“Notice... how quiet it becomes, in your mind... that state in between thoughts, where there is nothing going on, in that second, in that moment, when the mind is total quiet, the thoughts are not moving any longer.

This is your true Self, in that moment, in between thoughts. Stay in that moment. Learn to put yourself in that state, whether you are in the market place or you are in a temple, wherever you are, learn to be still.

It makes no difference what is going on around you. It makes no difference what other people are doing. You be still. When you are still, then there’s peace. When you are still, there’s happiness. Can you ever imagine a person who is being happy all the time, for no reason whatsoever?

Most of us have been taught that to be happy we have to receive something good. We have to have something nice happen to us to be happy, otherwise we are miserable. Yet the truth is, happiness is your very nature, unalloyed happiness, eternal happiness, forever happiness.”

~ Robert Adams

Learn to Be Still - The Eagles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBfeXmCtgDU

Surrender - The Conscious Process
https://theconsciousprocess.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/surrender-2/

Via Tao & Zen / FB:

At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it. Be free where you are.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 22/11/15

“Ao realizar o serviço desinteressado você também está realizando um trabalho espiritual de purificação. O serviço é uma poderosa ferramenta de autoconhecimento. Mas, não existe somente o serviço feito dentro da comunidade espiritual. O trabalho que você realiza no mundo também é uma prática na qual você pode servir ao propósito maior. Não importa qual é o seu trabalho, se existe essa consciência do serviço, você se sente pleno; você fica feliz ao levantar da cama de manhã.”

“Al realizar servicio desinteresado también estás realizando un trabajo espiritual de purificación. El servicio es una poderosa herramienta de autoconocimiento. Pero no existe sólo el servicio hecho dentro de la comunidad espiritual. El trabajo que realizas en el mundo también es una práctica en la cual puedes servir al propósito mayor. No importa cuál es tu trabajo, si existe esta conciencia del servicio, te sientes pleno; te sientes feliz al levantarte de la cama por la mañana.”

“By doing selfless service, you are also undergoing a process of spiritual purification. Service is a powerful tool for self-discovery. But there is not only service to do within a spiritual community. The work that you do in the world is also a practice in which you can serve a greater purpose. Regardless of what your actual work may be, if you are aware of this service, you will feel fulfilled. You will feel happy to wake up in the morning.”

Today's Daily Dharma: A Great Dualism

A Great Dualism

Our minds are never what we want them to be. That’s part of why we sit in the first place. We are uncomfortable with ourselves as we are. The greatest dualism we face is the split between who we are and who we think we ought to be.

—Barry Magid, "Five Practices to Change Your Mind"

Via Higher Perspective / FB:

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 21/11/15

“Enquanto for um escravo da mente condicionada, você irremediavelmente será lançado ao sofrimento. A mente condicionada facilmente é arrastada para o mundo e para todas as histórias que nascem da identificação com ele, e assim entra em decadência. Quando menos espera você se vê dentro de um drama; você é tragado pelas criações da mente. Portanto, se você quer se libertar do sofrimento e experimentar o sabor da liberdade, se faz necessário tornar-se o senhor da sua própria mente.”

“Mientras seas un esclavo de la mente condicionada, inevitablemente serás lanzado al sufrimiento. La mente condicionada es fácilmente arrastrada hacia el mundo y hacia todas las historias que nacen de la identificación con él, y así entra en decadencia. Cuando menos lo esperas te encuentras adentro de un drama; eres tragado por las creaciones de la mente. Por lo tanto, si te quieres liberar del sufrimiento y experimentar el sabor de la libertad, es necesario convertirse en señor de tu propia mente.”

“As long as we are slaves to the conditioned mind, we will inevitably be thrown into suffering. The conditioned mind is easily taken over by the world and by all of the stories that are born when we are identified with the world. We then fall into decadence. When we least expect it, we see ourselves there again, engaged in some drama, having beendragged down by the mind’s creations. We must become Lords of our own minds if we want to be free of suffering and to experience the taste of freedom.”

Link do Satsang completo: http://www.sriprembaba.org/pt-br/satsang/290913

Today's Daily Dharma: Releasing Control

Releasing Control

When we understand that nothing exists independently, everything that does arise seems more dreamlike and less threatening. This brings a deep sense of relaxation, and we feel less need to control our mind and circumstances.

—Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, "The Theater of Reflection"

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 20/11/2015

“Para termos êxito no caminho espiritual, precisamos desenvolver a verdadeira fé. Mas é preciso compreender o que é fé, pois essa é uma palavra que teve seu significado
muito distorcido. Fé é quando tudo está desmoronando, mas você não cai. Quando estabelece esse ponto de fé dentro de você, as vozes do ceticismo e do medo podem gritar e fazer tudo balançar, mas você não cai. Esse ponto de fé é inquebrável - ele é o que te segura. Esse é o êxito ao qual eu me refiro. Um ponto eterno de conexão com a realidade espiritual.”

“Para tener éxito en el camino espiritual necesitamos desarrollar la verdadera fe. Pero es preciso comprender lo que es fe, porque esta es una palabra que tuvo su significado muy distorsionado. Fe es cuando todo se está desmoronando, pero tú no caes. Cuando estableces este punto de fe dentro de ti, las voces del escepticismo y del miedo pueden gritar y hacer todo temblar, pero no caes. Este punto de fe es inquebrantable -es lo que te asegura-. Este es el éxito al que me refiero. Un punto eterno de conexión con la realidad espiritual.”

“In order to be successful on the spiritual path, we must develop true faith. But first we need to understand what the word ‘faith’ means, especially since its meaning has been so distorted over time. When everything is crumbling around us, faith holds us steady. Once we have established this much faith within ourselves, the voices of skepticism and fear may scream and shake everything up, yet we won’t fall. This type of faith is unshakable; it is what holds us steady. This is having 'success,' having faith build an eternal bridge connecting us to the spiritual reality.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Letting Things Be

Letting Things Be

We tend to try to overdo everything. Such conceptual actions just create more karma. Consider nondoing, nonaction, for a while, and leaving things as they are. This can provide balance.

—His Holiness the Twelfth Gyalwang Drukpa, "Awareness Itself"

Via WGB: Ten Things For which Gay Men can be Thankful

Ten Things

For which Gay Men can be Thankful

By Lawrence Pfeil, Jr.

Being Gay -- With all the rights, privileges and honors appertaining thereto; including being fabulous, stylish, and taste makers in most things that straight people will soon want to imitate.

Gay Saints -- Judy, Barbra, Liza, Bette, Patti, Cher, and Madonna whose talent and stature no longer require need of their mortal sir names Garland, Streisand, Minelli, Midler, LuPone, Bono-Allman, or Ciccone from whom we draw strength and inspiration. Not to mention, the “Patron Saint of Homosexuals,” St. Sebastian (no kidding); who was undoubtedly chosen so priests could identify gay men by all the lisping going on while they were saying his name in prayer.

Fierce Black Divas -- Darlene Love, Aretha Franklin, Martha Wash, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, et al, whose understanding of gay men’s tortured souls compels them to sing. The connection between gay men and black women is so strong in fact; it is thought that gay men are really black women who didn’t completely reincarnate.

Nieces and Nephews – We enjoy spoiling them rotten, making us the de facto “fabulous gay uncle” which their tight-ass parents thoroughly resent. So for all the teasing and torment we took from our siblings growing up… revenge is now served cold.

Women carrying the “Gay Gene” – They breed with hot studs and continue to populate the world with beautiful gay babies. We couldn’t do it without you!

Red Wine – Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigori, Chardonnay, vodka, scotch, Hennessy, or any other liquor that gets us through family gatherings at the holidays without bloodshed.

Therapists -- They helps us learn to let go of damaged baggage from our families; cope with the never ending drama of insane friends; and resist choking the living shit out of fucked up exes who desperately deserve it! (God bless their prescription pads too)

Modern Condoms and Lube – The earliest condoms from China were made of silk paper while in Japan, tortoise shell and animal horn; by the 16th century, European’s were using linen sheaths tied with ribbon; but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that natural intestine became widely popular. Slather them up with lard, olive oil, grease, Crisco, or Vaseline, and today’s latex/polyisoprene ultra-thins and designer lubes are truly carnal blessings.

Hung Men going Commando – They make the world a more beautiful place to behold, hold, stroke, etc.

Legalized Same-Sex Marriage – The battle was hard fought, the day longtime coming, but we have finally been granted full equality in reciprocity for the all the Tupperware and expensive wedding presents we’ve given hetero-couples for decades.

Let the church say, Amen!

WGB: I want to personally thank Lawrence for his contributions to this blog. He was written several great articles for Wicked Gay Blog. He wrote this one for me to post around the Thanksgiving holiday, but with all the bad news on TV and online, I thought it would be nice for some lighthearted fun. Thank you again Lawrence. Amen!

Today's Daily Dharma: Free to Act Wisely

Free to Act Wisely

Is it possible to imagine that power might be defined by presence of mind; that the more one is no longer controlled by compulsions, addictions, patterns, habits, the more power one has to act in service of wisdom and compassion? What if we said that power is internal freedom, that power is the capacity for choice?

—Helen Tworkov, "Just Power"

Today's Daily Dharma: Living Truths

Living Truths

The ultimate problem in human existence is alienation. The only solution to alienation is to deal with it in wholesome and skillful ways. The teachings of the Buddha seem to be a wholesome model for dealing with alienation. But these teachings cannot be a formula or even a solution. They have to be living truths.

—Mu Soeng, "Dharma for Sale"

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 17/11/2015

“Temos que olhar para o ser humano - não importa o time que ele torce, o partido político que ele prefere ou a religião a qual ele pertence – para ver se existe a disponibilidade de se comprometer com o bem. É preciso compreender o que está se passando dentro. Se dentro existe abertura para a paz, abertura para o amor e para se tornar um instrumento do Eu Maior.”

“Tenemos que mirar hacia el ser humano -no importa a qué equipo aliente, el partido político que prefiera o la religión a la que pertenezca- para ver si existe la disponibilidad de comprometerse con el bien. Es necesario comprender lo que está pasando adentro. Si adentro existe apertura para la paz, apertura para el amor y para convertirse en un instrumento del Yo Mayor.”

“We need to look at the human beings within people, looking for a willingness in them to commit to the greater good. This willingness might exist regardless of one’s favorite team, political party stance, or the religion one belongs to. We must understand what someone is going through internally, looking for any openness for inner peace and love, really wanting to become an instrument of the higher self.”

Today's Daily Dharma: A Tempered Response

A Tempered Response

In Buddhism, we say yes, there is an ocean of suffering. So it’s not bad to show that there’s anger, hatred, delusion, and greed in the world. In a way, the media are presenting some very important facts. Given that, we can look for different emotional responses
in ourselves.

—B. Alan Wallace, "What Is True Happiness?"

by Milo Yiannopoulos16 Nov 20156,704

I’d hate to be thrown off a roof. I mean, imagine if I landed on this face. But that’s the future Europe and even the US are sleepwalking into if we let wacky progressive hand-wringers keep apologising for radical Islam and calling the rest of us racist for expressing our concern at mass immigration from cultures that care nothing for the rights of women and gays.

You want to see a “patriarchy”? Fly to Riyadh or Tehran. In the former, women can’t drive. (Alright, fair enough, they might be on to something there.) In the latter, gays are hanged, often from cranes in public places. ISIS is even more brutal, hurling fags off the roof after ritually humiliating them. In Raqqa you’ll see women and children sold for a few hundred dollars.

These are the attitudes we’re importing by allowing millions of Muslims to settle in western Europe. Sorry if that sounds intolerant, but remember women and gays aren’t just treated like shit by ISIS, but mainstream Muslim culture, too. I can’t remember how many Muslim countries have the death penalty for homosexuality. What is it, ten? Eleven?

We now know that at least one of the Paris terrorists came into Europe posing as a “refugee.” This confirms all the worst fears of progressive commentators who were hoping the political Right was wrong about the security threat mass immigration presented.

But there’s a more general concern for liberal western democracies: it’s not just the jihadis, but the attitudes of ordinary Muslims that are a grave cause for concern, not just for the women being gang-raped in Malmö but homosexuals everywhere in Europe.

So you can accuse me of being “islamophobic” if you want, because no, I don’t want to be shouted at or spat on in the street. Maybe my gayness is standing in the way of a Muslim utopia… but I’m going to be selfish here and say maybe we don’t import all the people who want to murder me.

Read the full article here

Monday, November 16, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 16/11/2015

“A sua felicidade é de grande valia para a elevação da vibração do planeta e para a resolução da crise planetária. E a felicidade está intimamente relacionada com a manifestação da consciência amorosa. Por isso trabalhe para manifestar essa consciência no seu mundo, no seu universo de relações. Esse é o seu desafio.”

“Tu felicidad es de gran valor para la elevación de la vibración del planeta y para la resolución de la crisis planetaria. Y la felicidad está íntimamente relacionada con la manifestación de la consciencia amorosa. Por eso trabaja para manifestar esa consciencia en tu mundo, en tu universo de relaciones. Este es tu desafío.”

“Our happiness has a great impact on elevating the planet’s vibration and on resolving our planetary crisis. Happiness is intimately relatedto manifesting loving consciousness. This is why we should work for this consciousness to manifest in our world and in our sphere of relationships. It is our challenge.”

Today's Daily Dharma: The Truth about Truth

The Truth about Truth

To be awakened does not mean to understand the truth or nature of reality, which then frees you from ignorance, leaving you awakened. It may be more accurate to think of truth as truthfulness, or living a truthful life. It means to live in a certain way rather than to gain access to a privileged knowledge.

—Stephen Batchelor, "After Buddhism"