Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 18/01/2016

“A mudança climática, que tem afetado diretamente o ciclo das águas, está anunciando um novo estágio na nossa jornada evolutiva: é tempo de purificação. Estamos sendo levados a nos desidentificar do ego, com todas as suas crenças e condicionamentos, de forma que possamos abrir espaço para uma coisa nova. Esse processo passa pela harmonização do feminino, o que requer o desenvolvimento de qualidades como aceitação, cooperação, gentileza, receptividade e confiança.”

 

“El cambio climático, que viene afectando directamente el ciclo de las aguas, está anunciando una nueva etapa en nuestro camino evolutivo: es tiempo de purificación. Estamos siendo llevados a des-identificarnos del ego, con todas sus creencias y condicionamientos, para que podamos abrir espacio para algo nuevo. Este proceso pasa por la armonización de lo femenino, que requiere el desarrollo de cualidades como aceptación, cooperación, gentileza, receptividad y confianza.”

"Climate change has directly affected the planet’s water cycles, and is thus announcing a new stage in our evolutionary journey: a time for purification. We are being led to de-identify from the ego and all of our beliefs and conditioning, so that we can make room for something new. This process also involves harmonizing ourselves with the feminine, which requires us to develop qualities such as acceptance, cooperation, kindness, receptivity and trust.”

Via Daily Dharma: Personality Transformation

Practice can change the personality, yes, and hopefully for the better. That’s the idea of spiritual training, of what we call in Tibetan lojong, attitude-transformation or mind-training. All the practices—ethical training, meditation or mindfulness training, wisdom and love training—are to be a better person, but it is also to realize who we are as we are. 

—Lama Surya Das, "Old Wine, New Bottles"

 

Read More 

Via FB:

Via On Being: Stephen Batchelor — The Limits of Belief, The Massiveness of the Questions

Stephen Batchelor’s “secular Buddhism” speaks to the mystery and vitality of spiritual life in every form. For him, secularism opens to doubt and questioning as a radical basis for spiritual life. Above all, he understands Buddhism without transcendent beliefs like “karma” or “reincarnation” to become something urgent to do, not to believe in.

To hear the full discuss go here

Via SimpleReminders.com / FB:

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 17/01/2016

“Nas esferas emocional e mental, o sofrimento nasce do conflito entre duas forças opostas agindo no nosso sistema. Com isso, podemos deduzir que esse mesmo cabo de forças contrárias também se manifesta no nível coletivo. Os conflitos e desastres que estamos vendo e vivendo são sintomas de um grande expurgo interno. E tudo isso é para que possamos trazer à superfície o nosso melhor, ou seja, são oportunidades reais de crescimento. Mas para que isso aconteça, precisamos ter coragem de resolver nossos problemas que, no mais profundo, são dores existenciais. Essa é a única maneira de nos libertarmos do apego à guerra e à destruição.”

“En las esferas emocional y mental, el sufrimiento nace del conflicto entre dos fuerzas opuestas actuando en nuestro sistema. Con esto, podemos deducir que este mismo cable de fuerzas contrarias también se manifiesta a nivel colectivo. Los conflictos y desastres que estamos viendo y viviendo son síntomas de una gran purga interna. Y todo esto es para que podamos traer a la superficie lo mejor de nosotros, es decir, son oportunidades reales de crecimiento. Pero para que esto suceda, necesitamos tener el coraje de resolver nuestros problemas que, en lo más profundo, son dolores existenciales. Esta es la única manera de liberarnos del apego a la guerra y a la destrucción.”

"In the emotional and mental spheres, suffering is born out of the conflict between two opposing forces acting within our systems. This same tug-of-war also occurs in the collective sphere. The conflicts and disasters we are seeing and experiencing in the world are symptoms of a large internal cleansing. This is all happening so that we can bring our best to the surface, meaning that these are in fact opportunities for growth. In order for this growth to take place, however, we must have the courage to solve our problems, which carry an existential pain at their core. This is the only way we can free ourselves from our attachment to conflict and destruction."

Via Daily Dharma: An Awakening Brew

Each of you—not separately, but in the cauldron with all beings, cooking and being cooked—is realizing awakening. 

—Reb Anderson, "In It Together"

 

Read More 

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 16/01/2016

"O karma é uma dívida de aprendizado. Quando apreende a lição, você se liberta da teia karmica. E se libertar significa mover-se em direção ao dharma e à compreensão do propósito da sua alma. Dharma é a lei universal, o caminho do coração; é a ação correta que te leva à morada sagrada. Tudo o que nasce dessa compreensão é bênção. São impulsos de construção, união, amor, saúde e prosperidade.”

"El karma es una deuda de aprendizaje. Cuando aprendes la lección, te liberas de la tela kármica. Y liberarse significa moverse en dirección al dharma y a la comprensión del propósito de tu alma. Dharma es la ley universal, el camino del corazón, es la acción correcta que te lleva a la morada sagrada. Todo lo que nace de esta comprensión es bendición. Son impulsos de construcción, unión, amor, salud y prosperidad.”

"Karma is a debt of learning. When we learn the lesson, we are freed from the karmic web. Freeing ourselves means moving towards our dharma and understanding our soul’s purpose. Dharma is the universal law – the path of the heart. It is the correct action that takes us to the sacred abode. All that is born from this understanding is a blessing. Dharma manifests as constructive actions that bring union, love, health and prosperity.”

Via Daily Dharma: Happiness and the Marketplace

The good news is that genuine happiness is not out there in the marketplace to be purchased or acquired from the best teacher around. One of the best-kept secrets is that the happiness we’re striving for so desperately in the perfect spouse, the great kids, the fine job, security, excellent health, and good looks has always been within and is just waiting to be unveiled. Knowing that what we are seeking comes from within changes everything. 

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

 

Read More 

Via Occupy Democrats / FB:

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 13/01/2016

“Os aspectos da personalidade que chamamos de eu inferior são como entidades que têm autonomia própria. Quando se aproximam, elas trazem uma frequência de energia específica; determinada cor e uma expressão corporal específica. Através do autoconhecimento, você vai se tornando capaz de reconhecê-las. Sempre que um aspecto começa a se aproximar (vindo de dentro e também de fora) você sabe, porque sente em determinados pontos do seu corpo. Às vezes fecha o estomago, causa enjoo, aperta o peito ou a garganta. Essas são algumas das possíveis reações. Então você precisa aprender a identificar quem está se aproximando e a transmutar essas energias, dentro e fora de você.”

"Los aspectos de la personalidad que llamamos de yo inferior son como entidades que tienen autonomía propia. Cuando se aproximan, traen una frecuencia de energía específica, determinado color y una expresión corporal específica. A través del autoconocimiento, vas siendo capaz de reconocerlas. Siempre que un aspecto comienza a aproximarse (viniendo de adentro y también de afuera) lo sabes, porque lo sientes en determinados puntos de tu cuerpo. A veces se cierra el estómago, causa naúseas, aprieta el pecho o la garganta. Estas son algunas de las posibles reacciones. Entonces necesitas aprender a identificar quién se está aproximando y a transmutar esas energías, dentro y fuera de ti.” 

"The aspects of personality that we call the lower self are like self-driven entities. When they come close to us, they bring with them a specific energy frequency as well as a color frequency. Through self-knowledge, we are able to recognize them and even identify the body language that they manifest in us. Whenever an aspect of the lower self begins to approach us, whether it is coming from inside or outside of us, we know it is coming because we feel something in certain points of our bodies. Sometimes we may experience reactions such as getting knots in our stomachs, feeling nauseous, or a tightening in our chest or throat. We must learn to identify which lower self is approaching us and transform these energies within and without.”

Via Daily Dharma: Examining Labels

You can’t go preventing pleasure and pain, you can’t keep the mind from labeling things and forming thoughts, but you can put these things to a new use. If the mind labels a pain, saying, “I hurt,” you have to examine the label carefully, contemplate it until you see that it’s wrong: the pain isn’t really yours. It’s simply a sensation that arises and passes away, that’s all.  

—Upasika Kee Nanayon, "Tough Teachings To Ease The Mind"

 

Read More 

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 12/01/2016

“Se eu tivesse que usar uma única palavra para traduzir aquilo que compreendo como espiritualidade eu utilizaria desapego. O ego tende a desejar e a se apegar a tudo aquilo que conquista. Mas, toda essa energia usada para a conquista e para manter aquilo que se conquistou deve ser direcionada para o Espírito.”

“Si tuviese que usar una única palabra para traducir aquello que comprendo como espiritualidad, utilizaría desapego. El ego tiende a desear y a apegarse a todo aquello que conquista. Pero toda esa energía usada para la conquista y para mantener aquello que se conquistó debe ser direccionada hacia el Espíritu.”

"If I had to use one word to translate what we understand as spirituality, I would use ‘detachment’. The ego tends to desire and cling to everything that it achieves. All this energy spent on gaining things and sustaining our accomplishments should be directed towards the Spirit.”

Via Daily Dharma: Small Blessings, Large Consequences

So many factors demand our attention; isn’t it awesome that we have at least some influence over what we choose to focus on? And if there is power in acknowledging and being thankful for even small blessings, the power of finding meaning in the face of suffering can be transformative. 

—Pamela Gayle White, "Skunked by Gratitude"

 

Read More 

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 11/01/2016

“Comparo o processo de autoconhecimento a uma autoescola na qual estamos aprendendo a conduzir um veículo. E como a autoescola está aberta para todos (embora a sua aula seja pessoal e intransferível), é inevitável que um carro ou outro se cruze; é inevitável que aconteçam coisas que você não concorda. Talvez você prefira dirigir numa estrada vazia, sozinho com o seu professor; e talvez você possa fazer isso durante um tempo. Mas, em algum momento você terá que dirigir no trânsito e passar por avenidas congestionadas. Em algum momento você terá que aprender ocupar e conduzir o seu veículo enquanto se relaciona com o mundo.”

"Comparo el proceso de autoconocimiento con una autoescuela en la cual estamos aprendiendo a conducir un vehículo. Y como la autoescuela está abierta para todos (aunque tu clase sea personal e intransferible), es inevitable que un auto u otro se crucen, es inevitable que sucedan cosas con las que no concuerdas. Tal vez prefieras manejar en una ruta vacía, solo con tu profesor, y tal vez puedas hacer esto durante un tiempo. Pero en algún momento tendrás que manejar en el tránsito y pasar por avenidas congestionadas. En algún momento tendrás que aprender a ocupar y conducir tu vehículo mientras te relacionas con el mundo.”

"I compare the process of self-discovery to driving classes wherein we are learning to drive a vehicle. Since driver’s ed classes happen out on the road in traffic, other drivers may cut us off or make us upset. Though we may prefer to drive on empty roads alone with our teacher, we can only do so for a certain amount of time. At some point we will have to drive on crowded streets and learn the harder lessons. We need to learn how to occupy our bodies and drive our ‘vehicles’ well, even while relating with the outside world.”

Via Daily Dharma: Striking a Balance

Just as meditation requires an understanding of the practice as well as determination to carry it out, likewise it requires a sense of balance to determine when to push ourselves harder and when to step back and relax where we are, without falling into either of two extremes.  

—Lama Dudjom Dorjee, "Heartfelt Advice"

Read More

Via Towleroad: Pope Francis Expands on Remarks About Gays: ‘God Loves All His Creatures’

In a new book set for publication on Tuesday, Pope Francis explains for the first time the remarks about gays he made to reporters aboard a plane from Brazil to Rome in 2013.
The Pope was asked how he would respond to learning that a cleric in the Catholic Church was gay, but not sexually active. “Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?” the pontiff replied. “You can’t marginalize these people.”

RELATED: Pope Francis Met Privately with Gay Couple During U.S. Visit: VIDEO

Now, in The Name of God is Mercy, a conversation with journalist Andrea Tornielli, Francis elaborates on those remarks according to National Catholic Reporter:

“On that occasion I said this: If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person? I was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized.”

He adds:

“I am glad that we are talking about ‘homosexual people’ because before all else comes the individual person, in his wholeness and dignity. And people should not be defined only by their sexual tendencies: let us not forget that God loves all his creatures and we are destined to receive his infinite love…I prefer that homosexuals come to confession, that they stay close to the Lord, and that we pray all together. You can advise them to pray, show goodwill, show them the way, and accompany them along it.”

http://www.towleroad.com/2016/01/pope-francis-gays/

Via JMG: Jim Obergefell To Sit With First Lady During SOTU

January 10, 2016 LGBT History, Marriage Equality

This morning the White House announced that Jim Obergefell will be among the guests seated with the First Lady during President Obama’s final State Of The Union address. From their bio on Obergefell:

Jim Obergefell was the named plaintiff in the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, which ruled same-sex couples nationwide have the Constitutional right to marry. In 2013, Jim married his partner of 20 years, John, who was dying of ALS. Their marriage – performed in Maryland – wasn’t recognized in their home state of Ohio, setting off a legal proceeding over whether the marriage should be recognized under Ohio law and listed on John’s death certificate.

While they won the initial legal battle, Ohio appealed, and their case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, which declared marriage equality the law of the land. Jim considers himself an accidental activist, one who became entwined in a political statement larger than himself – a statement of equality and dignity that Americans have been fighting for since this nation’s founding – and he now remains committed to ensuring the civil rights for all Americans.

Other guests to be seated with the First Lady include a Syrian refugee, an Obamacare navigator, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and USAF Sgt. Spencer Stone, who helped thwart a terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train. The press release includes this important notation:

We leave one seat empty in the First Lady’s State of the Union Guest Box for the victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice – because they need the rest of us to speak for them. To tell their stories. To honor their memory. To support the Americans whose lives have been forever changed by the terrible ripple effect of gun violence – survivors who’ve had to learn to live with a disability, or without the love of their life. To remind every single one of our representatives that it’s their responsibility to do something about this.

Make the jump here to read the original on JMG

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 10/01/2016

“É impossível estar no mundo sem se relacionar. Você pode trabalhar na Wall Street, viver numa praia deserta, num monastério ou comunidade espiritual, mas os desafios do relacionamento sempre estarão presentes. Isso porque muda o cenário e os personagens, mas não muda o que você carrega dentro de si. Enquanto você não olha de frente, compreende e aceita as suas imperfeições, sempre haverá alguém que te incomoda. Mas quando você aceita e integra as partes da sua personalidade que foram negadas, ocorre uma cura, e você se torna capaz de viver em harmonia com o outro, não importa o lugar.”

“Es imposible estar en el mundo sin relacionarse. Puedes trabajar en Wall Street, vivir en una playa desierta, en un monasterio o comunidad espiritual, pero los desafíos de las relaciones siempre estarán presentes. Esto es porque cambia el escenario y los personajes, pero no cambia lo que cargas dentro de ti. Mientras no mires de frente, comprendas y aceptes tus imperfecciones, siempre habrá alguien que te. Pero cuando aceptas e integras las partes de tu personalidad que fueron negadas, sucede una cura, y te vuelves capaz de vivir en armonía con el otro, no importa el lugar.”

"It is impossible to live in this world without relating. Whether one works on Wall Street, lives on a deserted beach, in a monastery or a spiritual community, the challenges of relationships will always be present. The setting or characters may change, but what we carry inside does not. As long as we do not face this straight on and understand and accept our imperfections, there will always be someone who throws us off center. On the other hand, when we accept and integrate the parts of our personality that were denied, a healing occurs. We are then able to live in harmony with each other, regardless of where we may be."