A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia -Flor del día - Flower of the day 12/02/2016
“Parte da sua missão como trabalhador espiritual é tornar-se uma usina
de transformação do sofrimento coletivo. Estando no mundo,
principalmente nos grandes centros urbanos, é preciso aprender a
transmutar e a digerir as energias que nos circundam e passam por nós.
Cada um vai descobrir os instrumentos que o ajudam nesse trabalho: pode
ser a música, a arte, uma atividade física intensa ou uma simples
caminhada no parque; pode ser ficar em
silêncio, rezando, ou apenas olhando para o céu. Então, através desses
instrumentos, você vai se reconectando e realinhando. Esse é o trabalho
do karmayogi.”
“Parte de tu misión como trabajador espiritual es convertirte en una usina de transformación del sufrimiento colectivo. Estando en el mundo, principalmente en los grandes centros urbanos, es necesario aprender a transmutar y a digerir las energías que nos rodean y que pasan por nosotros. Cada uno va a descubrir los instrumentos que lo ayudan en este trabajo: puede ser la música, el arte, una actividad física intensa o un simple paseo por el parque; puede ser estar en silencio, rezando, o simplemente mirando hacia el cielo. Entonces, a través de estos instrumentos, te vas reconectando y realineando. Este es el trabajo del karmayogi.”
“Parte de tu misión como trabajador espiritual es convertirte en una usina de transformación del sufrimiento colectivo. Estando en el mundo, principalmente en los grandes centros urbanos, es necesario aprender a transmutar y a digerir las energías que nos rodean y que pasan por nosotros. Cada uno va a descubrir los instrumentos que lo ayudan en este trabajo: puede ser la música, el arte, una actividad física intensa o un simple paseo por el parque; puede ser estar en silencio, rezando, o simplemente mirando hacia el cielo. Entonces, a través de estos instrumentos, te vas reconectando y realineando. Este es el trabajo del karmayogi.”
"Part of your mission as a spiritual worker is to become a 'power
plant' that transforms the collective suffering. While being in the
world, especially in large urban centers, we must learn to transmute and
digest the energies that surround and pass through us. Each of us will
find the tools that help us in this work, whether it be through music,
art, intense physical activity, a simple walk in the park, being in
silence, praying, or just looking at the sky. Through these instruments,
we go on reconnecting and realigning ourselves. This is the work of the
karma yogi.”
Via Daily Dharma: Settled Mind
With
practice, that space—which is the mind’s natural clarity—begins to
expand and settle. We can begin to watch our thoughts and emotions
without necessarily being affected by them quite as powerfully or
vividly as we’re used to.
—Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, "The Aim of Attention"
—Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, "The Aim of Attention"
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia -Flor del día - Flower of the day 11/02/2016
“O que ocorre durante os nossos encontros é um fenômeno: nós criamos
condição para o Divino se manifestar e proporcionar o milagre da cura,
do insight, da abertura do coração, da lembrança de quem somos. Às vezes
somos levados para lugares de purificação, onde nada parece se
encaixar, mas tudo isso faz parte do processo de expansão da
consciência. Então, independentemente das palavras, o mais importante é a
transmissão de energia. Essa é a essência do jogo que chamamos satsang(encontro com a verdade).”
“Lo que ocurre durante nuestros encuentros es un fenómeno: creamos
condiciones para que lo Divino se manifieste y proporcione el milagro de
la cura, del insight, de la apertura del corazón, del recuerdo de
quienes somos. A veces somos llevados a lugares de purificación, donde
nada parece encajarse, pero todo eso es parte del proceso de expansión
de la conciencia. Entonces, independientemente de las palabras, lo más
importante es la transmisión de energía. Esta es la esencia del juego
que llamamos satsang (encuentro con la verdad).”
"What happens during our encounters is a phenomenon: we create the conditions for the Divine to manifest and deliver the miracle of healing, insights, heart-openings, and the remembrance of who we are. Sometimes we are led to places of purification where nothing seems to fit in place, but it's all part of the process of expanding consciousness. Regardless of what words are spoken, what's truly important in these encounters is the energy transmission. This is the essence of the play we call satsang, an encounter with the truth.”
"What happens during our encounters is a phenomenon: we create the conditions for the Divine to manifest and deliver the miracle of healing, insights, heart-openings, and the remembrance of who we are. Sometimes we are led to places of purification where nothing seems to fit in place, but it's all part of the process of expanding consciousness. Regardless of what words are spoken, what's truly important in these encounters is the energy transmission. This is the essence of the play we call satsang, an encounter with the truth.”
Via Daily Dharma: The True Self
What is the true self? It's brilliantly transparent like the deep blue sky, and there's no gap between it and all living beings.
—Kodo Sawaki Roshi, "The True Self"
—Kodo Sawaki Roshi, "The True Self"
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Via Ram Das
February 10, 2016
Everybody you know, you see, you remember, you will meet, is another face of God, is another doorway through. Is another way that God has come to you to awaken your attachments, to bring them to the forefront, to allow you to see through them.
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 10/02/2016
“A jornada evolutiva tem seus altos e baixos. Muitas vezes, vamos de um
extremo para o outro numa velocidade radical. Ora você está no vale,
ora está no pico. Às vezes você vai às profundezas das suas emoções e
acessa sentimentos aterrorizantes, verdadeiros infernos internos; e às
vezes vai para o céu. Mas, se puder apenas testemunhar esse movimento,
sem se identificar, você encontra a saída para o sofrimento. Você apenas observa até que possa ficar no céu, mantendo o coração aberto em qualquer situação; até que possa sustentar o êxtase".
“El camino evolutivo tiene sus altibajos. Muchas veces, vamos de un
extremo al otro a una velocidad radical. En un momento estás en el
valle, y otra en el pico. A veces vas a las profundidades de tus
emociones y accedes a sentimientos aterradores, verdaderos infiernos
internos; y a veces vas hacia el cielo. Pero si puedes simplemente ser
testigo de este movimiento, sin identificarte, encuentras la salida del
sufrimiento. Solo observa hasta que puedas permanecer en el cielo,
manteniendo el corazón abierto en cualquier situación; hasta que puedas
sustentar el éxtasis.”
"The evolutionary journey has its ups and downs. Oftentimes, we go from one extreme to the next at extreme speeds. At one moment we're in the valley, and then we’re at the peak. Sometimes we go to the depths of our emotions and access terrifying feelings that are truly like an inner hell. And sometimes we visit the heavens. If we were able to simply witness this movement without getting identified, we would find the way out of suffering. We simply observe until we’re able to remain in the heavens, maintaining an open heart in any situation, until we can sustain the ecstasy.”
"The evolutionary journey has its ups and downs. Oftentimes, we go from one extreme to the next at extreme speeds. At one moment we're in the valley, and then we’re at the peak. Sometimes we go to the depths of our emotions and access terrifying feelings that are truly like an inner hell. And sometimes we visit the heavens. If we were able to simply witness this movement without getting identified, we would find the way out of suffering. We simply observe until we’re able to remain in the heavens, maintaining an open heart in any situation, until we can sustain the ecstasy.”
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Via Daily Dharma: Commit to One Another
Hang
out with people who are capable of making a commitment to you and your
life, and who require that you make a commitment to theirs. Hang out
with people who care about you, with people who need you to develop and
who say so. Make such a commitment and don’t break that bond until you
and all beings are perfect.
—Reb Anderson, "In It Together"
—Reb Anderson, "In It Together"
Via Daily Dharma: The Head and the Heart
Your
heart needs the help of your head to generate and act on more skillful
emotions. Your head needs your heart to remind you that what’s really
important in life is putting an end to suffering.
—Thanissaro Bhikkhu, "Head & Heart Together"
—Thanissaro Bhikkhu, "Head & Heart Together"
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 07/02/2016
“Paralelamente ao trabalho psicoespiritual, algumas práticas podem te
ajudar a chegar à compreensão necessária. Pode ser a repetição de um
mantra, uma meditação, mas também um kriya (purificação do corpo) ou um
asana (postura de yoga). As práticas externas podem ajudar a transformar
aspectos internos. Você pratica fora até que aprende a fazer sirsasana,
padmasanae bhastrika dentro de você, na hora que o outro está ali,
te desafiando, te provocando. É preciso ter muita firmeza e
flexibilidade para lidar com a brutalidade que se manifesta no mundo.
Algumas situações pedem muito alongamento e equilíbrio. E, às vezes,
temos que ficar de ponta cabeça para dar conta.”
“Paralelamente al trabajo psicoespiritual, algunas prácticas pueden
ayudarte a llegar a la comprensión necesaria. Puede ser la repetición de
un mantra, una meditación, pero también una kriya (purificación del
cuerpo) o un asana(postura de yoga). Las prácticas externas pueden
ayudar a transformar aspectos internos. Practicas afuera hasta que
aprendes a realizar sirsasana, padmasana y bhastrikadentro tuyo, en el
momento en que el otro está allí, desafiándote, provocándote. Es
necesario tener mucha firmeza y flexibilidad para lidiar con la
brutalidad que se manifiesta en el mundo. Algunas situaciones piden
mucha elongación y equilibrio. Y a veces, tenemos que estar cabeza abajo
para conseguirlo.”
"In conjunction with our psycho-spiritual work, there are some practices that can help us reach understanding. These practices may include the repetition of a mantra, meditation, or even a kriya (a bodily purification) or an asana practice (yoga postures). External practices can help to transform internal aspects of ourselves. We continue with these external practices until we learn to do sirsasana (headstand), padmasana (lotus pose) and bhastrika (bellows breath) within ourselves at the moments when someone is challenging and provoking us. It takes great steadiness and flexibility to deal with the brutality that manifests in the world. Some situations call for us tostretch out and balance ourselves. Sometimes, we even need to stop and go into a full headstand in order to cope.”
"In conjunction with our psycho-spiritual work, there are some practices that can help us reach understanding. These practices may include the repetition of a mantra, meditation, or even a kriya (a bodily purification) or an asana practice (yoga postures). External practices can help to transform internal aspects of ourselves. We continue with these external practices until we learn to do sirsasana (headstand), padmasana (lotus pose) and bhastrika (bellows breath) within ourselves at the moments when someone is challenging and provoking us. It takes great steadiness and flexibility to deal with the brutality that manifests in the world. Some situations call for us tostretch out and balance ourselves. Sometimes, we even need to stop and go into a full headstand in order to cope.”
Via Dialy Dharma: Bow by Bow
We
offer our whole body and mind to wisdom or to compassion, opening
ourselves, in the act of the bow, to that quality letting go of
everything else in our life but that quality, bringing it out, making it
big, fashioning it day by day, bow by bow.
—Norman Fischer, "Why Do We Bow"
—Norman Fischer, "Why Do We Bow"
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Via Daily Dharma: The Ordinary Self
Holding
to an ordinary notion of self, or ego, is the source of all our pain
and confusion. The irony is that when we look for this "self" that we're
cherishing and protecting, we can't even find it.
—Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, "Searching for Self"
—Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, "Searching for Self"
Friday, February 5, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 05/02/2016
Compreenda que é preciso ser honesto, mas também é preciso ser gentil.
Parte fundamental do processo de evolução da consciência é extirpar a
violência do nosso sistema. Por isso precisamos encontrar maneiras de
sermos honestos sem machucar o outro. E mesmo sendo gentil, pode ser que
a verdade machuque o outro (porque nem sempre é fácil lidar com ela).
Mas, nesse caso, isso não é um problema seu, é um problema do outro.”
“Comprende que es necesario ser honesto, pero también es necesario ser
gentil. Parte fundamental del proceso de evolución de la consciencia es
extirpar la violencia de nuestro sistema. Por eso necesitamos encontrar
maneras de ser honestos sin herir al otro. Incluso siendo gentil, puede
ser que la verdad lastime al otro (porque no siempre es fácil lidiar con
ella). Pero en ese caso, eso no es un problema tuyo, es un problema del
otro.”
"Understand that we must be honest, but we also need to be kind. A key step in the process of the evolution of consciousness is to weed all traces of violence from our systems. We need to find ways to be honest with one another without hurting each other. Even if we are being kind, the truth may hurt others, because it is not always easy to deal with the truth – but that's a challenge the other must work with.”
"Understand that we must be honest, but we also need to be kind. A key step in the process of the evolution of consciousness is to weed all traces of violence from our systems. We need to find ways to be honest with one another without hurting each other. Even if we are being kind, the truth may hurt others, because it is not always easy to deal with the truth – but that's a challenge the other must work with.”
Via Daily Dharma: Discovering the Gems Within
People
who are attached to sutras and a scriptural teaching of words can lack
faith in the living, mysterious experience of meditation that leads to a
sudden insight. They are . . . attached to the stubborn habit of
distinguishing between "true" and "not true." Believing only what is
written in holy texts, they are conceptually mesmerized by the treasures
of others, instead of digging inside to discover the priceless gems of
their own, lying deep within.
—So Sahn, "The Zen of Confidence"
—So Sahn, "The Zen of Confidence"
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Via Free & Equal / FB:
Did you know that United Nations Postal Administration has been issuing postage stamps since 1951 to celebrate United Nations' goals and achievements? Tomorrow they become the very first postal service to launch a collection of stamps promoting #LGBT equality!
#stampcollecting #philately #humanrights #geekingout
Via Daily Dharma: Gathering Merit
What
do I mean by gathering merit? First, it is to be able to cultivate
compassion; to have an altruistic motivation and to do things to benefit
others. It is to help people in an appropriate way, such as giving
advice, and likewise to be generous and disciplined and to develop
patience—to develop these kinds of qualities and do things with a pure,
sincere wish to help.
—Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche, "Four Simple Tips for Living a Buddhist Life"
—Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche, "Four Simple Tips for Living a Buddhist Life"
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 04/02/2016
“Tenho falado sobre a honestidade como o primeiro valor a ser desenvolvido. Porém, sinto que pode haver uma distorção desse ensinamento. A honestidade, como uma manifestação da Verdade maior, deve sempre se manifestar com sabedoria e compaixão. Muitas vezes, a pessoa se sente o cavaleiro da verdade, hasteia uma bandeira, e sai por aí falando tudo que pensa. Aparentemente ela está alinhada com a verdade, mas, ao machucar o outro, ela passa a ser um canal da mentira.”
“He hablado sobre la honestidad como el primer valor a ser
desarrollado. Sin embargo, siento que puede haber una distorsión en esa
enseñanza. La honestidad, como una manifestación de la Verdad mayor,
debe siempre manifestarse con sabiduría y compasión. Muchas veces, la
persona se siente caballero de la verdad, iza una bandera y sale por ahí
hablando todo lo que piensa. Aparentemente está alineada con la verdad,
pero al herir al otro, pasa a ser un canal de la mentira.”
"Honesty is the first value that needs to be developed. However, this teaching can become distorted. Honesty, as a manifestation of the greater truth, should always manifest with wisdom and compassion. Oftentimes, we feel like we are the Knight of the Truth, as we hoist a flag and go around sharing all that we think. It may seem as if we are aligned with the truth, but by hurting others, we actually become a channel of deceitfulness.”
"Honesty is the first value that needs to be developed. However, this teaching can become distorted. Honesty, as a manifestation of the greater truth, should always manifest with wisdom and compassion. Oftentimes, we feel like we are the Knight of the Truth, as we hoist a flag and go around sharing all that we think. It may seem as if we are aligned with the truth, but by hurting others, we actually become a channel of deceitfulness.”
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Via Daily Dharma: We Are One Another
The
world embraces us at every moment. And you don’t stop at your skin. To
write about a tree with absolute objectivity is to write autobiography,
and to write your personal story is to write the geography of the
planet.
—Jane Hirshfield, "Poetry Flesh, Zen Bones"
—Jane Hirshfield, "Poetry Flesh, Zen Bones"
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