A Useful Mind
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Friday, December 18, 2015
Today's Daily Dharma: A Useful Mind
Thursday, December 17, 2015
End of a Surreal Year
Earthquakes, floods, landslides, political messiness...
Three very dear women taken from us... two so suddenly that it left most of us
gasping... And yet, I now have a permanent visa, we have a permanent home in a
lovely city, and as the year ends, our son is about to present us with a
grandchild.
I am even more confirmed that all of us are
afraid, afraid for our lives, afraid for our fragile and corrupt crumbling
environments and infrastructures, and the political and social institutions
that seem to be incapable of resolving the problems that threaten to engulf us
all. So many are afraid that we are loosing the gains that we worked so hard to
achieve. I see that.
And yet...
And yet, I see so many people rising out of
this morass... Most notably, my team in Nepal, they lost hundreds of friends,
neighbors, family members and colleagues and yet are thriving... producing
research, checking in every day or so... all of this when the political
situation there is impossible. I see my students, colleagues and family members
here in Brasil that despite the rancor, and hateful dialogue, hug you, reach
out, open the door, say hello... I am grateful to my amigos in the States who
check in and share their jokes and love. I am deeply grateful and honored to
call you all friends, family, amigos!
What these trips and living abroad have
shown us is how now more than ever, just how very fragile everything is, and
yet at the same time, this fragility gives us the opportunity to see in people
we meet, such grace, such talent, such strength, such light! I am absolutely sure that we are all one
people. That we have so much, much, much more in common than what we perceive,
as are our curious differences.
This year, more than ever, has shown us
just how fragile things are, yet it is this light, that seems to shine in each
one of us, that allows us to give our humanity a chance. It is the hundred
little simple things we can all do to fight back, to not give into the
darkness, that gives us our humanity... opening a door, picking up some liter,
greeting your neighbors, showing up on time, giving a seat to someone else on
the bus, saying hello and smiling to everyone...
This is one of the best forms of protest, and the
best way I know that keeps the darkness at bay.
Each small act can and will become a butterfly effect…
Daniel Orey, Ph.D.
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 17/12/2015
“É de grande valia ampliar a percepção para tomar consciência do que te
isola do outro. Você perceberá que por trás da separação existe
julgamento, comparação e uma série de crenças que fazem com que você se
proteja e se mantenha isolado. Vá olhando para tudo isso, mas procure ir
mais fundo: encontre o núcleo, a origem dessa crenças, pois isso é o
que te impede de se unir – ao outro e ao seu próprio coração. Quando toca esse núcleo, você tem a chance de virar uma chave e de transformar completamente a sua vida.”
“Es de gran valor ampliar la percepción para tomar conciencia de lo que
te aísladel otro. Te darás cuentade que por detrás de la separación
existe juicio, comparación y una serie de creencias que hacen que te
protejas y te mantengas aislado. Anda mirando todo esto, pero trata de
ir más profundo: encuentra el núcleo, el origen de estas creencias, ya
que esto es lo que te impide unirte, al otro y a tu propio corazón.
Cuando tocas este núcleo, tienes la oportunidad de girar una llavey de
transformar completamentetu vida.”
"It is of great value to expand our perception and become aware of what isolates us from the other. We may notice that behind the separation exists judgment, comparison and a series of beliefs that make us seek to protect ourselves and remain isolated. Continue to observe this, but try to go deeper: find the core, the origin of these beliefs, as this is what prevents us from uniting with each other and with our own hearts. When we tap into this core, we have a chance to turn the key and completely transform our lives."
"It is of great value to expand our perception and become aware of what isolates us from the other. We may notice that behind the separation exists judgment, comparison and a series of beliefs that make us seek to protect ourselves and remain isolated. Continue to observe this, but try to go deeper: find the core, the origin of these beliefs, as this is what prevents us from uniting with each other and with our own hearts. When we tap into this core, we have a chance to turn the key and completely transform our lives."
Today's Daily Dharma: Teach by Example
Teach by Example
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Via New Civil Rights: Senator Challenges Pope To Rein In Cardinal Who Keeps Calling US Ambassador A 'F****t'
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin engaged in some international diplomacy this week to defend a gay American U.S. Ambassador.
Even before stepping on Dominican Republic soil, James "Wally" Brewster has been the target of anti-gay and ugly attacks by a Dominican Catholic Cardinal. Since his appointment as U.S.
Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Brewster, who married his husband the same day he was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden, has had to deal with homophobic attacks from the Catholic Church abroad.
Earlier this month, Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez (photo) said Ambassador Brewster should focus on homemaking, because he's married to a man.
"Let him focus on housework, since he's the wife to a man," López Rodríguez told reporters after conducting mass.
In 2013, after discussing Brewster's appointment with reporters, López Rodríguez claimed the U.S.Ambassador would attempt to establish marriage for same-sex couples in the Dominican Republic. He then mockingly said we've been "talking about faggots and lesbians."
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, has had enough.
On Tuesday he penned a letter to Pope Francis asking His Holiness to rein in his homophobic cardinal.
"Even before Ambassador Brewster’s arrival in Santo Domingo in 2013, Cardinal Rodriguez launched a personal attack against him with public statements quoted in the popular press," Sen. Durbin's letter reads.
"Since your selection as Pope, you have shared a message of compassion, tolerance, and love," the Illinois Democrat writes, then artfully reminds the Pope of his address before Congress when he told them of their "responsibility to 'defend and preserve the dignity'" of our "'fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good.'"
"I accept that challenge and I am calling on you to ask nothing less of the hierarchy of the Church," Durbin requested.
Image by PresidenciaRD via Flickr and a CC licenseHat tip: Washington Blade
Even before stepping on Dominican Republic soil, James "Wally" Brewster has been the target of anti-gay and ugly attacks by a Dominican Catholic Cardinal. Since his appointment as U.S.
Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Brewster, who married his husband the same day he was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden, has had to deal with homophobic attacks from the Catholic Church abroad.
Earlier this month, Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez (photo) said Ambassador Brewster should focus on homemaking, because he's married to a man.
"Let him focus on housework, since he's the wife to a man," López Rodríguez told reporters after conducting mass.
In 2013, after discussing Brewster's appointment with reporters, López Rodríguez claimed the U.S.Ambassador would attempt to establish marriage for same-sex couples in the Dominican Republic. He then mockingly said we've been "talking about faggots and lesbians."
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, has had enough.
On Tuesday he penned a letter to Pope Francis asking His Holiness to rein in his homophobic cardinal.
"Even before Ambassador Brewster’s arrival in Santo Domingo in 2013, Cardinal Rodriguez launched a personal attack against him with public statements quoted in the popular press," Sen. Durbin's letter reads.
The Cardinal used the hateful slur “faggot,” which he continues to use to this day. In a recent interview Cardinal Rodriguez again described the Ambassador as a “faggot” and falsely claimed the Ambassador was setting out to promote “faggotry” in the Dominican Republic. The Cardinal described the Ambassador as a “wife” who “should stick to housework.”Calling Cardinal López Rodriguez's comments "intolerant," Durbin observes the Catholic Church’s "teachings on gay marriage are well known but the Church also teaches us to show tolerance for those with different sexual orientations."
"Since your selection as Pope, you have shared a message of compassion, tolerance, and love," the Illinois Democrat writes, then artfully reminds the Pope of his address before Congress when he told them of their "responsibility to 'defend and preserve the dignity'" of our "'fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good.'"
"I accept that challenge and I am calling on you to ask nothing less of the hierarchy of the Church," Durbin requested.
Image by PresidenciaRD via Flickr and a CC licenseHat tip: Washington Blade
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor de dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 16/12/2015
“A falsa autoconfiança se baseia no controle. A pessoa tenta controlar
tudo o que acontece pois somente assim ela pode sentir-se segura. A
autêntica autoconfiança não depende de nada externo, ela vem de dentro.
Se você confia de verdade, tudo pode estar caindo lá fora, mas você
permanece o mesmo.”
“La falsa autoconfianza se basa en el control. La persona trata de controlar todo lo que sucede pues solo así puede sentirse segura. La auténtica autoconfianza no depende de nada externo, viene de adentro. Si confías de verdad, todo puede estar cayéndose afuera, pero sigues siendo el mismo.”
“La falsa autoconfianza se basa en el control. La persona trata de controlar todo lo que sucede pues solo así puede sentirse segura. La auténtica autoconfianza no depende de nada externo, viene de adentro. Si confías de verdad, todo puede estar cayéndose afuera, pero sigues siendo el mismo.”
“False self-confidence is based on control. The person tries to control
everything that happens because it’s the only way they can feel secure.
Authentic self-trust does not rely on anything external – it comes from
within. When someone truly trusts, regardless if everything is falling
apart on the outside, they simply remain the same.”
Today's Daily Dharma: Patterns of Body, Patterns of Mind
Patterns of Body, Patterns of Mind
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Via Lions Roar: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana on Vipassana Meditation
The Dhammapada, an ancient Buddhist text, says:
“What you are now is the result of what you were. What you will be tomorrow will be the result of what you are now. The consequences of an evil mind will follow you like the cart follows the ox that pulls it. The consequences of a purified mind will follow you like your own shadow. No one can do more for you than your own purified mind—no parent, no relative, no friend, no one. A well-disciplined mind brings happiness.”
http://www.lionsroar.com/why-meditate/
“What you are now is the result of what you were. What you will be tomorrow will be the result of what you are now. The consequences of an evil mind will follow you like the cart follows the ox that pulls it. The consequences of a purified mind will follow you like your own shadow. No one can do more for you than your own purified mind—no parent, no relative, no friend, no one. A well-disciplined mind brings happiness.”
http://www.lionsroar.com/why-meditate/
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 15/12/2015
“O amor desperto é um fluxo contínuo de compaixão; é quando podemos nos
colocar no lugar do outro e sentir a dor dele; quando reconhecemos o
potencial adormecido no outro e damos força para esse potencial se
manifestar. É uma vontade sincera de ver o outro brilhar; de ver o outro
feliz e satisfeito. É isso que eu chamo de ‘autêntico altruísmo’. A
principal característica do amor desperto é a doação desinteressada.
Assim como a flor espalha seu perfume e
sua beleza gratuitamente; assim como o sol espalha o seu calor e a sua
luz; assim como a chuva molha a terra, e a água mata a sede, a essência
do ser humano ama.”
“El
amor despierto es un flujo continuo de compasión, es cuando podemos
colocarnos en el lugar del otro y sentir su dolor, cuando reconocemos el
potencial dormido en el otro y damos fuerza para que ese potencial se
manifieste. Es unas ganas sinceras de ver al otro brillar, de ver al
otro feliz y satisfecho. Esto es lo que llamo ‘auténtico altruismo’. La
principal característica del amor despierto es la entrega desinteresada.
Así como la flor esparce su perfume y su belleza gratuitamente, así
como el sol esparce su calor y su luz, así como la lluvia moja la
tierra, y el agua mata la sed, la esencia del ser humano ama.”
Libro “Amar y Ser Libre”
"Awakened love is a continuous flow of compassion. From this state, we can put ourselves in someone else's shoes and feel their pain. When love awakens we recognize the dormant potential in each other and give supportfor this potential to manifest. It is a sincere desire to see the other shine, be happy and feel satisfied. This is also called authentic altruism, as the main characteristic of awakened love is selfless giving. Just as a flower spreads its fragrance and beauty freely, the sun emanates its warmth and light, the rain wets the earth, and as water quenches thirst, the essence of human beings is to love."
From the book Love and Be Free
Libro “Amar y Ser Libre”
"Awakened love is a continuous flow of compassion. From this state, we can put ourselves in someone else's shoes and feel their pain. When love awakens we recognize the dormant potential in each other and give supportfor this potential to manifest. It is a sincere desire to see the other shine, be happy and feel satisfied. This is also called authentic altruism, as the main characteristic of awakened love is selfless giving. Just as a flower spreads its fragrance and beauty freely, the sun emanates its warmth and light, the rain wets the earth, and as water quenches thirst, the essence of human beings is to love."
From the book Love and Be Free
Today's Daily Dharma: Watering the Seedlings of Intention
Watering the Seedlings of Intention
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Monday, December 14, 2015
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 14/12/2015
“Talvez você não acredite no amor - talvez nunca tenha amado. Talvez
você já tenha sentido uma brisa, algumas notas do perfume do amor, que
pode ter se manifestado em relação a uma pessoa; alguém que acorda em
você um sentimento que não consegue traduzir em palavras, mas que te
eleva, te abre, e te faz sentir e viver coisas que até então você não
acreditava que pudessem existir. Você fica feliz sem razão; confia sem
razão. Você quer ver o bem do outro e
torce por ele, muitas vezes, sem nem mesmo ter motivo para isso. É algo
que desafia a lógica. Você não explica o amor, mas tem notícias de que
algo assim existe. E é isso que dá sentido para a vida humana.”
“Tal vez no creas en el amor, tal vez nunca hayas amado. Tal vez ya
hayas sentido una brisa, algunas notas del perfume del amor, que puede
haberse manifestado en relación a una persona, alguien que despierta en
ti un sentimiento que no logras traducir en palabras, pero que te eleva,
te abre, y te hace sentir y vivir cosas que hasta entonces no creías
que pudieran existir. Estás feliz sin razón, confías sin razón. Quieres
ver el bien en el otro y lo alientas, muchas veces, sin tener motivo
para eso. Es algo que desafía la lógica. No explicas el amor, pero
tienes noticias de que algo así existe. Y es esto lo que da sentido a la
vida humana.”
"You may not believe in love – perhaps you’ve never even truly loved. You may have felt a breeze, or smelled the scent of love’s perfume in relation to a person who awakens in you a feeling that you can’t even put into words. This feeling elevates you, opens you up, and makes you feel and experience things that you couldn’t have imagined. You feel happy without a cause, and trust without a reason. You wish the other well and root for him or her, oftentimes without even having a reason to do so. It defies logic; you can’t explain love, but you know that something like this exists. This is what gives meaning to human life."
"You may not believe in love – perhaps you’ve never even truly loved. You may have felt a breeze, or smelled the scent of love’s perfume in relation to a person who awakens in you a feeling that you can’t even put into words. This feeling elevates you, opens you up, and makes you feel and experience things that you couldn’t have imagined. You feel happy without a cause, and trust without a reason. You wish the other well and root for him or her, oftentimes without even having a reason to do so. It defies logic; you can’t explain love, but you know that something like this exists. This is what gives meaning to human life."
Today's Daily Dharma: A Human Possibility
A Human Possibility
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Sunday, December 13, 2015
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