Via WGB: Gay Pilgrims

In 1637, two male colonists at Plymouth faced conviction for a serious moral crime, a crime that could have led to their execution. Thomas Roberts and John Alexander were in love; caught expressing their love in a sexual relationship was their only crime.

Plymouth was still a small English colony; they all knew each other and so the judge was hesitant to impose the maximum sentence of death. However, the judge did not go lightly on either of them. Neither man was sentenced to death for being gay, but Alexander, labeled the “seducer”, was branded with a hot iron and banished from the colony. Roberts, the slightly less “guilty” of the two, was forbidden to own land or vote. Roberts was eventually considered “reformed” and his rights were re-instated, probably to encourage him to stay. The small colony needed very strong pair of hands it could get to survive.

Author Paul Monett once wrote that most of gay history “lies in shallow bachelors’ graves.”

Be grateful on this Thanksgiving day, we've come along way from 1637. (Source)

 

Read the orginal and more on WGB here

William S. Burroughs - A Thanksgiving Prayer

One More GLBTq Baha'i leaves the Faith...

Dear National Spiritual Assembly of the United States,

There are three matters I would like to discuss in my letter. First, it is long overdue that I officially write a letter to resign from the Faith. I have embraced the investigation of truth since I was 12. 

When I was 18, the Baha’i Faith found me, and it resonated with my heart. After being embraced by the amazing community in Baltimore, MD, and immersed myself in the love of the Faith, I became a Baha’i within a year. I made a fatal assumption at the age of 18, however. Considering the acceptance of all people in the Faith, and the amount of love I experienced when I met the Baltimore Baha’i’s, I assumed that the LGBT community was fully accepted, embraced, and allowed to be themselves. Soon after becoming a Baha’i, I learned that was not true. I was devastated, and contended with the issue for many years. I tried to find reconciliation, and made justifications and excuses despite how much it hurt my heart and soul--but I still stayed a Baha’i.

When I was 26, something strange and unexpected happened. I began to be able to see, hear, and communicate with other-dimensional beings (spirits, angels, ghosts--whatever you feel comfortable calling them). I was scared, and I sought comfort and understanding in the Baha’i writings, but I was left without such things. In fact, Abdu’l Baha said there were no such things as ghosts. How could that be when I see them everywhere? I was distraught, and considering I have always continued my investigation of truth since I became a Baha’i, I ventured elsewhere for answers. This journey took me to some incredible places, but my research was quickly drawing me away from the Faith. I resonated most with near death experience stories (first of which was Renee Pasarow’s NDE!) that confirmed all of the information I was gathering as my medium abilities opened up. Paired with this, I have been a Reiki practitioner since I was 16, and a Master by 27, and my healing abilities began transforming and transcending along with my expansion of consciousness. Near death stories continued to confirm and expand my understanding of healing. 

The existence of many kinds of multidimensional beings and the phenomena of past lives have all been confirmed. These are now facts in my life that I must accept to be who I am, and do what I do.

The Faith does not support these beliefs. This investigation has also led me to the knowledge that my heart knew all along, and science, of course, has been confirming: being gay is okay, natural, and accepted by God. In fact, many of the rules established in most religions serve no Divine purpose--only that of the ego. And since then, I choose to live free of the egoic constrictions of any religion, as I see that they do not serve me, only hurt me. 

I believe that Baha’u’llah and the Manifestations before and after Him are great Masters--and in their unbound Spirit, they are better at being these great Master-- however, I believe that any Spirit residing in the flesh can still only profess spiritual truths through the filter of the human ego. As conscious as Baha’u’llah was, He still saw the world through the lens of His relationship between his Spirit and His ego while residing in the body, thus increasing the fallibility of any Manifestation’s word--and this includes the perceptions of experiences during a near death event, and undoubtedly my own spiritual experiences. I approach everything from a scientific perspective, and I am a natural skeptic. When I read near death stories, I don’t take each singular story verbatim.

The truth lies within the innate essence of all the stories. The similarities. The ultimate truths that pervade outside of the realm of ego, human error, and perception. I see these same similarities and truths among the many faiths and religious institutions, which are the heart and meat of all that truly matters. 

Based on the accounts of stories like Howard Storm’s near death event, a Baha’i belief was confirmed: that all religions are right and serve a purpose in their own way. Therefore, I still hold great respect for the Faith, and I believe that those who feel they must be Baha’i, Christian, Muslim, etc. in their hearts, must indeed be to serve their purpose, and experience life as they were meant to. 

We all come here with a desire to experience this earthly realm through particular filters, and the choice of religion and spiritual beliefs is one of those filters. There are only some faiths that delay the soul from uniting with Oneness, but the Baha’i Faith, I assure you, is not one of them. 

I am grateful for the role the Faith has played in my life, these last 11 years. It has served my growth. My journey now has taken me away from the Faith as I continue to learn, investigate, grow, and be true to my purpose. I do not wish to be contacted by any Baha’i members, especially by those part of this area’s Local Spiritual Assembly--to which I will explain why with my third matter. 

* * *

While I respect the growth and journey of the Baha’i Faith, I cannot complete my letter without addressing the harm the Faith does by adhering to its outdated beliefs and treatments toward the LGBT community. All the science one could ever need is available, and I am sure many hurt and disgruntled people have sent all the scientific research showing the natural existence, and necessity of people who identify within the LGBT spectrum. When I researched data, I found that it is natural in many mammals to have a small percentage of gay spectrum animals, and they often provide surrogate families for abandoned young (Bagemihl, 1999). When I applied this to humans, I took the number of estimated gay couples in the US, and paired it with the number of children currently in foster care. If just a quarter of estimated gay couples adopted 2 kids each, there would be NO CHILD in the US foster care system.

Children of gay couples have been shown to be more intelligent, compassionate, and driven. And gay parents will not have an accidental child, and often go through great lengths to become parents, making them less likely to take their gift for granted, and be more educated in parenting (Pawelski, 2006). Gay people not only make suitable parents, but exceptional parents--which also translates to minimal to 0% of cases of child abuse in same-sex parent homes (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/lesbians-child-abuse-0-perc…). Kids in foster care deserve loving homes, same-sex or otherwise. 

If that isn’t enough proof of the need for same-sex acceptance and rights, the only other proof I can offer is that of near death experiences, which provide a spiritual window into how God treats homosexuality. In all near death experiences, who the people had sex with, when they had sex with them, and whether or not they were married mattered not during the life review process post death. 

God, nor any Divine Being witnessing the life review had no care, judgment, or concern over these matters (http://www.near-death.com/experiences/gay-and-lesbian.html). What was understood by more detailed stories, was that those we encountered and interacted with were often part of a Divine purpose. Same-sex relationships were just as destined as opposite-sex relationships (http://www.near-death.com/…/exp…/mellen-thomas-benedict.html).

Currently, The Faith is harming a portion of its own population by excluding the LGBT community. While the Faith preaches oneness and love, many communities do not know how to contend with their beliefs, and facing LGBT Baha’i’s. Because of this, they are often quietly shunned and excluded from activities. Some may be approached with hostility. Some others are approached by members who think they can say it’s okay to be who you are, you just can’t act on your feelings; they are a temptation you must resist; etc., but this leaves these people feeling trapped, unheard, invalidated, and physically ill with being in their own bodies. These words are just as harmful as the hostility, and can lead one to feeling hopeless and suicidal. Attempting to justify the existence of LGBT individuals through the limited scope of the Faith is not just hurting these individuals, but the Baha’i community as a whole. The Faith cannot progress if a part of its family is suffering, and I foresee a decay in the Faith until this illness is repaired. 

* * *

I am confident, comfortable, and happy with my decision to leave the Faith, though remorseful for the reasons. It feels right with every fiber of my being. I must follow my heart. I do not wish to be contacted to be persuaded otherwise, and considering my feelings towards the community here, I definitely do not seek council with any of these particular individuals. I must continue to follow my truth wherever it leads me, or I will not feel whole. I pray for the Faith that it grows, heals, and becomes what this world needs, otherwise it will only become part of the decay. Abdu'l-Bahá says: 'If religion be the cause of disunity, then irreligion is surely to be preferred.' (Compilations, Bahiyyih Khanum, p. 202) Such a commonly used quote among Baha’i’s, and yet, I have seen so much disunity without proper concern and rectification. I pray for change. I think the Baha’i Faith has the most potential of the religions, but what good is that potential if it already appears to be decaying within its first 300 years of birth. I am not the only person waking up to spiritual abilities and insight. 

There is a shift happening that no religion can control. The Baha’i Faith has the potential to keep up only if it is willing to let go of its own traditions and ego, or it shall be among the archaic faiths that could not accommodate the Spirit, and will fade into the past. I think the Baha’i Faith can be way more than that. 

With love, regards, and best wishes
  
NE

References
Bagemihl, B., Ph D. (1999). Biological exuberance: Animal homosexuality and natural diversity. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Retrieved on April 10, 2010, from Google Books http://books.google.com/books… &dq=biological+exuberance+by+bruce+bagemihl&source=bl&ots=xZoMVv9N N9&sig=zuovP2ctTB4xAsoWEYl2Dm76fGE&hl=en&ei=9_nAS4agHsWhngf0y 5z3CQ&sa=X&oi=book_resul t&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false
Pawelski, J. G. MS, Perrin, E. C. MD, Foy, M. J. MD, Allen, C. E. MD, Crawford J. E. MD, Del Monte, M. JD, Kaufman, M. MD et. al. (July 3, 2006). The effects of marriage civil union, and domestic partnership laws on the health and well-being of children. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from American Academy of Pediatrics from: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/…/cont…/full/118/1/349

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor de día - Flower of the day 27/11/2015

“Ninguém tem o poder de mudar o outro, apenas a si mesmo. E a partir de si mesmo é possível inspirar o outro a mudar.Porém o ego quer ter poder.Ele acha que já sabe de tudo e que pode mudar o outro. Achar que sabe mais do que o outro e querer modificá-lo a partir das suas crenças é uma das maiores distrações do caminho espiritual.”

“Nadie tiene el poder de cambiar al otro, solo a sí mismo. Y a partir de sí mismo es posible inspirar al otro a cambiar. Sin embargo, el ego quiere tener poder. Él cree que ya sabe de todo y que puede cambiar al otro. Creer que sabes más que el otro y querer modificarlo a partir de tus creencias, es una de las mayores distracciones del camino espiritual.”

“Nobody has the power to change others, only themselves. By changing ourselves, it’s possible to inspire others to change. The ego wants to have power, and it thinks that it already knows everything and can change the other. One of the greatest distractions on the spiritual path is to think that we know more than others, wanting to change them according to our own beliefs.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Not for Sale

Not for Sale

Zen teacher Reb Anderson says “Stop shopping” is Zen practice in a nutshell. The planet will be better off when we catch on to the idea that more new stuff isn’t what’s going to save us from suffering.

—Susan Moon, "Stop Shopping"

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Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 26/11/2015

“O caminho da iluminação ou o caminho do coração, que é sinônimo de religião vertical, tem como princípio básico a liberdade e a constante lembrança de que tudo aquilo que você procura está dentro de você, ou seja, aquilo que não está aqui, não está em lugar algum.”

“El camino de la iluminación o el camino del corazón, que es sinónimo de religión vertical, tiene como principio básico la libertad y el constante recuerdo de que todo aquello que buscas está dentro de ti, es decir, aquello que no está aquí, no está en ningún lugar.”

“The path of enlightenment or the path of the heart are synonymous with vertical religion. They all have the same fundamental principle of freedom and the constant reminder that everything we seek externally is within us. What is not here is nowhere.”

Today's Daily Dharma: In This Together

In This Together

Compassion: this is the most important element of all.…[T]here’s wisdom in the word’s roots, for com-passion, to suffer with, expresses a mutuality, an equality that is a world away from the humiliation that is such a powerful catalyst for terrorism.

—Noelle Oxenhandler, "Glass of Water, Bare Feet"

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Thich Nhat Hanh - Ten Mindful Movements (Mindfulness)

Thich Nhat Hanh - The Art of Mindful Living

Via Unfundamentalist Christians / FB:

Deva Premal - Mantras For Precarious Times (432 hz)

Via Equality House / FB:

Vua GayStarNews: Canada to accept gay refugees from Syria

ISIS have executed dozens of gay men in Iraq and Syria

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

25 November 2015

by Darren Wee

Canada will accept 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February with priority given to families, vulnerable women, gay men, lesbians and LGBTI people.

Tuesday’s (24 November) announcement comes after it was reported that the government would not accept single young men as they could pose a security risk.

But the government has now said it will sponsor gay men and those who identify as members of the LGBTI community, according CBC News.

‘The government is aware that gays could be persecuted, and therefore plans to include them in the selection process aimed at rescuing some of the region’s most vulnerable refugees,’ the Ottawa Citizen reported.

Over the last year, ISIS has executed dozens of men accused of being gay in its controlled areas of Iraq and Syria.

‘We have a responsibility to significantly expand our refugee targets and give more victims of war a safe haven in Canada,’ said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

‘The resettling of vulnerable refugees is a clear demonstration of this. While our plan is ambitious, it reflects Canada’s commitment to share responsibility and offer protection to those who need it. 

Canada must once again be regarded as the compassionate, generous country we’ve always been.’

Canada has already accepted 3,089 Syrian refugees, and will invest up to $678 million over the next six years toward resettling and integrating the 25,000 new arrivals.

Click here to read the original and more 

Via Liberal America / FB:

Via Sri Prem Baba: Sri Prem Baba participará do TEDxSãoPaulo

Olá Amigos! 

Amanha 26/11 às 19h | Sri Prem Baba participará do TEDxSãoPaulo. 

Os ingressos já estão esgotados mas todo o evento será transmitido ao vivo através do link: http://livestream.com/tedx
 
Saiba mais: https://www.facebook.com/events/1655152934760777/
#sriprembaba #prembaba #tedxsp #tedx

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 25/11/2015

“A educação pública deveria oferecer mais espaço para as crianças se expressarem. Na maioria das vezes, tanto na escola como em casa, a criança não tem a chance de se expressar como precisa, especialmente no que diz respeito a sentimentos de natureza sombria. Criança também sente raiva, inveja, culpa... Mas não aprende a lidar com isso e geralmente é reprimida. Um dos grandes obstáculos é a religião horizontal que exige que a criança seja boazinha e não admite a existência da maldade. A criança reprime esses aspectos sombrios e isso cria uma série de dificuldades que perduram até a vida adulta. Portanto, um espaço para a criança elaborar esses assuntos é muito importante.”

“La educación pública debería ofrecer más espacio para que los niños se expresen. La mayoría de las veces, tanto en la escuela como en casa, el niño no tiene la oportunidad de expresarse como necesita, especialmente en lo que respecta a sentimientos de naturaleza sombría. El niño también siente rabia, envidia, culpa... Pero no aprende a lidiar con eso y generalmente es reprimido. Uno de los grandes obstáculos es la religión horizontal que exige que el niño sea buenito y no admite la existencia de la maldad. El niño reprime esos aspectos sombríos y eso crea una serie de dificultades que perduran hasta la vida adulta. Por lo tanto, un espacio para que el niño pueda elaborar esos asuntos es muy importante.”

“Public schooling ought to offer more room for children to express themselves. In most cases in school as well as at home, children aren’t given the opportunity to express themselves as they need to, especially when it comes to saying anything regarding feelings from their shadowy nature. Children also feel anger, jealousy, guilt and so forth, but they don't learn how to deal with these feelings and they are generally repressed. One of our great obstacles are horizontal religions, as they demand that children be good and don’t fess up to the existence of evil. Children repress these shadowy aspects and this creates a series of challenges that last through their adult life. That's why it's so important for children to have the space to elaborate on these issues.”

Via LionsRoar: A Future Is Possible by Thich Nhat Hanh

 

Photo by Paul Davis.

When we see people living mindfully, smiling and behaving in a loving manner, we gain confidence in our future.

There’s a lot of suffering in the world, and it’s important for us to stay in touch with this suffering in order to be compassionate. But to remain strong, we also need to embrace the positive elements. When we see a group of people living mindfully, smiling and behaving in a loving manner, we gain confidence in our future. When we practice mindful breathing, smiling, resting, walking, and working, we become a positive element in society, and we will inspire confidence in everyone around us. This is the way to avoid allowing despair to overwhelm us. It is also the way to help the younger generation so they don’t lose hope. It’s very important that we live our daily lives in such a way as to demonstrate that a future is possible.

To bring about real change in our global ecological situation our efforts must be collective and harmonious, based on love and respect for ourselves and each other, our ancestors, and future generations. If anger at injustice is what we use as the source of our energy, we may do something harmful, something we will later regret. According to Buddhism, compassion is the only source of energy that is useful and safe. With compassion your energy is born from insight; it’s not blind energy. Just feeling compassion is not enough; we have to learn to express it. That is why love must always go together with understanding. Understanding and insight show us how to act.

Adapted from The World We Have. Look inside the January issue of the Shambhala Sun, dedicated to the life and teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. For a limited time, use this link to subscribe and start your subscription with this special issue (U.S. subscribers only).

Today's Daily Dharma: Arising and Subsiding

Arising and Subsiding

In the eternal scheme of things, we all sacrifice our lives, whether we are awake to this fact or not. This vast interdependence, in which the disappearance of one thing paves the way for the appearance of another, is the essence of life itself.

—Clark Strand, "The Wisdom of Frogs"

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VIa Aniabal - Obrigado!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mosteiro-Zen-Budista-pico-de-Raios/201928749819511