Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 01/07/2016

“O corpo, desde o início da encarnação, está em processo de deterioração. A alma busca a vida, mas o corpo naturalmente se move para a morte. Embora o corpo tenha o potencial de viver determinado número de anos, se a alma diz: ‘não quero mais’, ela entrega o corpo à própria sorte; à mercê dos vírus, das bactérias e de todas as influências que conduzem o corpo de volta para a terra.”

“El cuerpo, desde el inicio de la encarnación, está en proceso de deterioro. El alma busca la vida, pero el cuerpo naturalmente se dirige hacia la muerte. Aunque el cuerpo tenga el potencial de vivir determinado número de años, si el alma dice: ‘no quiero más’, entrega el cuerpo a la propia suerte, a merced de los virus, de las bacterias y de todas las influencias que conducen al cuerpo de vuelta a la tierra.”

“From the beginning of its incarnation, the body is in the process of deterioration. The soul seeks life, but the body naturally moves towards death. Even though the body has the potential to live a certain amount of years, if the soul says, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore’, it leaves the body to its own demise. The body is then at the mercy of viruses, bacteria and all the influences that make the body return to the earth.”

Via Pink News: Muslims invite LGBT community to break Ramadan fast

Dublin's Muslim community invites the LGBT community to annual Ramadan meal

 
The LGBT community in Ireland has been invited to a Muslim community meal for Ramadan.


The Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council has invited LGBT individuals to their second annual community Iftar – the meal which marks the end of the daily Ramadan fast – in Dublin next Saturday. 

Ramadan is the annual month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex between dawn and sunset.

The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity and is seen one of the “five pillars” of Islam.

Read the full article and more here

Via the Advocate:

Leaders at the United Nations and Human Rights Campaign say the vote to create a special LGBT Independent Expert will have global repercussions.

By JEAN FREEDBERG and RYAN KAMINSKI

 

History was made today as the top human rights body at the United Nations voted to create the world’s first global-level envoy position focused on the human rights of LGBTQ people.

In a resolution passed today, a plurality of members of the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to establish the position of independent expert with a groundbreaking mandate to combat violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people around the world. While this resolution is the third passed by the council concerning sexual orientation and gender identity since 2011, it is the first to create such a position and institutionalize this mandate.

This is a major victory for LGBTQ rights advocates who have long been pressing for the creation of this position. Independent experts, or special rapporteurs (known as “special procedures”), are part of the U.N. system but are technically independent. They have been called the “crown jewels” of the human rights system because of their outsized influence in the international human rights landscape and the expanse of their roles engaging governments, civil society, and more.

This effort was led by a group of Latin American member countries of the U.N.’s 47-member Human Rights Council, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay. More than 620 nongovernmental organizations from 151 countries on every continent signed a joint statement of support, declaring: 

“It is time to move beyond one-off initiatives and piecemeal measures. … The establishment of a dedicated protection mechanism to address [sexual orientation and gender identity]-related human rights violations is a necessary step towards urgently addressing the serious abuses on these grounds in every region of the world.”

The creation of this position was not without controversy. A predictable minority of U.N. member-states argued that there was no need for such a position. Their opposition was driven and supported by international anti-LGBT groups.

Ultimately, support for the effort came from diverse regions of the world. The resolution passed with 23 states in favor, 18 against, and six abstaining.

At minimum, the new position will help ensure that LGBTQ rights remain in the international spotlight and are integrated into the portfolios of both public officials and diplomats. The independent expert can also play a crucial role in sharing best practices concerning the protection of the human rights of LGBTQ persons among the U.N.’s 193 member states.

By its very nature, the job will be extremely challenging, as there is no shortage of ground to cover. The independent expert will have to conduct country visits to assess the status of LGBTQ rights; connect with human rights defenders on the ground; and constructively and diplomatically engage officials and decision-makers on recommendations for reform. They will also periodically report back to the U.N. General Assembly on more specific issues under their mandate, both establishing a critical repository of evidence and data where it is sorely needed and building an important bridge between the Human Rights Council in Geneva and the broader U.N. system in New York and elsewhere. The independent expert will also be able to issue private communications to governments, including in emergency situations when an individual’s life may be at risk.

The recent massacre of 49 people in an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando demonstrated once again that violence targeting people for who they are or they love is a persistent global problem. Seventy-three countries still criminalize same-sex relationships — and in as many as 10 countries, being LGBT is punishable by death.

There are a few simple, early steps the new Independent Expert can take to catalyze change, raise global visibility for LGBTQ rights, and most critically, get the position renewed at the end of the initial three-year term. These include recognizing the overlapping discriminations that limit access of LGBTQ people to social and economic development; finding common ground with the other special procedures mandate holders — including the 14 that focus on specific countries, like Syria, and the 41 that work on thematic issues such as freedom of assembly and combating racism — to help address discrimination against LGBTQ people; and finally, committing to continued engagement with the diverse coalition of governments and civil society groups from across the global that drove this resolution across the finish line.

The outcome that was reached today in Geneva represents a key milestone for the LGBTQ community and its advocates and allies everywhere. It is yet another indication of the ever-increasing global recognition of the human rights and dignity of LGBTQ people. And even though we continue to face setbacks, today’s vote demonstrates that the momentum for equality is unstoppable.  

Make the jump here to read the full article and more

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 30/06/2016

“A causa das doenças incuráveis está no nível da alma. Em determinado estágio da jornada evolutiva, a alma percebe que o corpo não acompanha o seu desenvolvimento, então ela começa a querer deixar o corpo, mesmo que conscientemente a pessoa não saiba disso. Ocorre que algumas pessoas chegam nesse estágio onde elas experienciam uma profunda divisão, a alma não acredita na possibilidade do corpo acompanhar a evolução, aí ela começa a se desligar e, quando ela começa a se desligar, o corpo entra em processo de deterioração.”

 

“La causa de las enfermedades incurables está en el nivel del alma. En determinado estadio del camino evolutivo, el alma percibe que el cuerpo no acompaña su desarrollo, entonces comienza a querer dejar el cuerpo, aunque la persona, conscientemente, no sepa esto. Ocurre que algunas personas llegan a este estadio donde experimentan una profunda división, el alma no cree en la posibilidad que el cuerpo acompañe la evolución, entonces comienza a desconectarse y cuando se comienza apagar, el cuerpo entra en proceso de deterioro.” 

“The cause of incurable illness exists at the level of the soul. At one stage of the evolutionary journey, a soul perceives that the body is not accompanying its development. It begins to want to leave the body, even though consciously, the person is unaware of this. Some people get to the point in this stage where they experience a deep division. The soul doesn’t believe that it’s possible for the body to accompany its evolution, so it begins to disconnect from the body. When this disconnect begins, the body starts to deteriorate.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 30, 2016: The Starting Line is the Self

Purify your mind. This is how you can help society; this is how you can stop harming others and start helping them.

—S. N. Goenka, "No Magic, No Miracle"

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 29/06/2016

“Não há como controlar o processo do florescimento do perdão, pois esse é um fenômeno que se dá no plano do coração. E quem tenta controlar é a mente. O perdão só acontece quando você está suficientemente maduro, o que significa que você já pode compreender a razão maior de ter sido machucado.”

“No hay cómo controlar el proceso de florecimiento del perdón, porque este es un fenómeno que se da en el plano del corazón. Y quien intenta controlar es la mente. El perdón solo sucede cuando estás lo suficientemente maduro, lo que significa que ya puedes comprender la razón mayor de haber sido lastimado.”

“There is no way to control the blossoming of forgiveness. This is a phenomenon that happens at the level of the heart. The one who tries to control this process is the mind. Forgiveness only happens when we are mature enough to be able to understand the bigger picture why we ended up being hurt.”

Via Go Out And Play / FB:

Via Ram Dass:

June 29, 2016

The cosmic humor is that if you desire to move mountains and you continue to purify yourself, ultimately you will arrive at the place where you are able to move mountains. But in order to arrive at this position of power you will have had to give up being he-who-wanted-to-move-mountains so that you can be he-who-put-the-mountain-there-in-the-first-place. The humor is that finally when you have the power to move the mountain, you are the person who placed it there--so there the mountain stays.

Via Daily Dharma / June 29, 2016: Don't Let Insights Drag You Down

If you get excited, it ruins everything. You don’t see things clear through. You stop there and don’t go any further. For this reason, when you train the mind or contemplate the mind to the point of gaining clear realizations every now and then, regard them as simply things to observe.

—Upasika Kee Nanayon, "A Glob of Tar"

Via Occupy Democrats / FB:

 

Kudos to Pope Francis for leading the church away from bigotry and toward inclusion and love.

Read more here: http://n.pr/28XsHIQ
Image by Occupy Democrats, LIKE our page for more!

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 28/06/2016

“Se você ainda não consegue perdoar aqueles que te fizeram mal, não se culpe. Ainda não chegou o momento. O perdão é uma flor que nasce de sementes compreensão. Quando eu lhe digo para procurar identificar as suas contradições; quando digo para se mover em direção à transcendência das mágoas e dos ressentimentos ou para esvaziar o seu coração da discórdia, eu estou lhe dando direções, apontando caminhos. E esses caminhos te levam ao plantio das sementes da compreensão. Mas quando elas irão florescer não é possível determinar.”

“Si aún no consigues perdonar a aquellos que te hicieron mal, no te culpes. Aún no llegó el momento. El perdón es una flor que nace de las semillas de la comprensión. Cuando te digo busca identificar tus contradicciones, cuando digo que te muevas en dirección a la trascendencia de las heridas y de los resentimientos o vaciar tu corazón de discordia, te estoy dando direcciones, apuntando caminos. Y esos caminos te llevan a la plantación de las semillas de la comprensión. Pero no es posible determinar cuándo ellasvan a florecer.”

“If you are still not able to forgive those that hurt you, don’t feel guilty. The moment has not yet arrived. Forgiveness is a flower that is born from seeds of comprehension. When I tell you to try to identify your contradictions, when I say to move towards the direction of transcendence of your wounds and resentments or to empty your heart of disharmony, I am giving directions, and showing you the way. These paths allow you to plant the seeds of comprehension, but when these seeds will flower, it is not possible to predict.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 28, 2016: Enlightened Devotion

Devotion (saddha) that develops from a deep understanding of the dharma and a heartfelt appreciation of the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha is not blind faith but rather a key factor in the “balance of faculties” necessary for final liberation.

—Asoka Bandarage, "Visiting the Four Sacred Sites"

Via Ram Dass

June 26, 2016

If I don’t meet you in this form, I’ll meet you in another.
 

- Neem Karoli Baba

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 26/06/2016

“São poucos os seres humanos que sabem da existência da alma. Muitos acreditam que ela existe, mas poucos são os que sabem. Ainda menor é o número de pessoas que sabe que a alma tem um propósito. E é essa inconsciência a respeito da alma e do seu propósito que nos torna seres ‘desalmados’, sem valores espirituais desenvolvidos e que agem mecanicamente, guiados por impulsos físicos.”

“Son pocos los seres humanos que saben de la existencia del alma. Muchos creen que existe, pero pocos son los que saben. Aun menor es el número de personas que sabe que el alma tiene un propósito. Y es esa inconsciencia al respecto del alma y de su propósito que nos vuelve seres ‘desalmados’, sin valores espirituales desarrollados y que actúan mecánicamente, guiados por impulsos físicos.”

“Few human beings know of the soul’s existence. Many believe that it exists, but few have a direct experience of it. Even less people understand that the soul has a purpose. This unawareness of our souls’ purpose makes us become soul-less. We live without developed spiritual values which in turn makes us act mechanically, guided by our physical impulses.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 26, 2016: Having the Courage to Forgive

It takes great effort and resolution to endure pain and hardship. It requires tremendous confidence to bear insult and disgrace without a hint of retaliation or self-doubt.
—Master Hsing Yun, "Don't Get Mad, Get Even"

LGMC London Vigil

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/london-gay-mens-chorus-releases-song-aid-victims-orlando-shooting/#gs.v0fY=kI

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 25/06/2016

“A ambição gera inquietação. Ela não permite que você relaxe. Você se torna uma pessoa ansiosa, pois está sempre preocupada em como conquistar mais, como dar o próximo passo, como escalar novos degraus. Por trás da ambição existe um eu idealizado que precisa conquistar muitas coisas para ter segurança e sentir-se protegido. Ele vive em função de proteger a própria mentira, que é a sua autoimagem.”

“La ambición genera inquietud. No permite que te relajes. Te conviertes en una persona ansiosa, porque siempre estás preocupadaen cómo conquistar más, cómo dar el siguiente paso, cómo escalar nuevos peldaños. Por detrás de la ambición existe un yo idealizado que necesita conquistar muchas cosas para tener seguridad y sentirse protegido. Vive en función de proteger la propia mentira, que es tu autoimagen.”

“Ambition creates restlessness. It doesn’t allow us to relax. We become anxious,always concerned about how to get more, how to make the next move, how to get further up the ladder. Behind ambition, there is an idealized self that needs to conquer many things in order to feel secure and protected. The idealized self’s function isto protect its own lie which is it’s own self-image.”

Via Daily Dharma / June 25, 2016: The Expansive Self of the Bodhisattva

For us as bodhisattvas, all aspects of life, including the fate of humanity itself, live within us. It is with this in mind that we work to discover and manifest the most vital and alive posture that we can take in living out our life. —Kosho Uchiyama, "What Is a Bodhisattva?"

Via Daily Dharma / June 23, 2016: Multiplicity of the Self

We want to say a person is like this, or a person is like that. But that can’t tell the whole story.

—Tracy Franz, "Authentic Self"