Via Ram Dass:

July 17, 2016

I think in relationships, you create an environment with your own work on yourself, which you offer to another human being to use to grow in the way they need to grow. Parents are environments for their children, lovers are an environment for their partners.

You keep working – you become the soil – moist and soft and receptive so the person can grow the way they need to grow, because how do you know how they should grow?

Via Mary Stroube / FB: TRUMP – PENCE Will Eliminate Legal and Social Gains for LGBT Citizens

Today I heard a news commentator say that Trump has a “more moderate” view towards gay rights. Perhaps in relation to Mike Pence, that is true, but Trump is no friend to the LBBT community, nor is the Republican Party. I share this so you have accurate information.

The Republication party has concluded its platform with two extreme anti-gay planks: 

1) Marriage should only be between a man and a woman and encouraging overturning the Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage

2) Based on the lead by the Family Research Council, "conversion" or "reparative therapy," which purports to "cure" homosexual inclinations through analysis and, frequently, prayer has been endorsed. With that, parents are given the right to decide the proper treatment for their children in this regard. These concepts have been consistently discredited, and typically criticized. by established mental health professions

Trump has claimed that he knows many gays and lesbians and “likes the gays and lesbians.” Of course he has said the same about just about every other group, for example, “the poorly educated” and disabled. And there’s his one African American man at a recent rally. While he may like gays and lesbians, he has always opposed same-sex marriage. Briefly in 2013 he said civil unions would be acceptable, but he then retreated to opposition to any same sex unions.

In an interview with Chris Wallace this year, Trump said he would appoint people to the Supreme Court who would overturn the court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. Although it would be an unusual circumstance that would even allow the issue to be reconsidered, it is Trumps beliefs that are concern.

Mike Pence’s record is much more extremely anti-gay/lesbian. Pence believes that the prominence of gay couples signals inevitable societal collapse. He actively opposes same-sex marriage. He also opposes legislation that prohibits workplace discrimination against LGBT people saying it wages war against freedom and religion in the workplace.” He also objected to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

I’m not an one-issue voter, and the Republicans have given me a lot to not like, not the least of which is the tenuous mental health of their Presidential candidate, but I’m not going to vote against myself or risk returning to unacceptable, outmoded and even dangerous beliefs. I’m voting for Hillary.

Via Daily Dharma / July 17, 2016: At Peace in Quiet, Empty Space

The quiet, empty space of zazen reveals the mind’s addiction to imagining the future and reminiscing about the past.

—Les Kaye, "The Time is Now"

Via Daily Dharma / July 16, 2016: Harmful Habits

If someone insults us, we usually dwell on it, asking ourselves, “Why did he say that to me?” and on and on. It’s as if someone shoots an arrow at us, but it falls short. Focusing on the problem is like picking up the arrow and repeatedly stabbing ourselves with it, saying, “He hurt me so much. I can’t believe he did that.”

—Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, "Putting Down the Arrow"

Via Sri Prem Baba Flor do dia - Flor día- Flower of the day - 16/07/2016

“Tenho fé de que a verdade libertará o nosso país, mas talvez isso ocorra somente numa próxima encarnação. Porque, a verdade é que não adianta só prender políticos corruptos; é preciso mudar hábitos e condicionamentos mentais; precisamos de uma reforma profunda em toda a base do nosso sistema, uma reforma cultural. Assim como cada um de nós pode ter o sistema tomado por determinadas matrizes psicológicas, um país também. E, nesse momento, o Brasil está tomado pelo egoísmo e pela vaidade.”

 

“Tengo fe que la verdad liberará nuestro país, pero tal vez eso solamenteocurra en una próxima encarnación. Porque la verdad es que no sirve solo arrestar políticos corruptos; es necesario cambiar hábitos y condicionamientos mentales; necesitamosde una reforma profunda en toda la base de nuestro sistema, una reforma cultural. Del mismo modo que cada uno de nosotros puede tener el sistema atrapado por determinadas matrices psicológicas, un país también. Y en este momento, Brasil está atrapado por el egoísmo y por la vanidad.”

“I have faith that the truth will set Brazil free, but this may only happen in the next incarnation. In truth, it’s not enough to simply blame corrupt politicians. We need to change our own habits and mental conditioning. There is a need for a thorough reform at the foundation of our entire system, including a cultural reform. In the same way each of us can be overtaken by certain psychological matrices, this can also happen to a country. In this moment, Brazil has beenoverwhelmed by selfishness and vanity.”

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 15/07/2016

“Chega um momento em que é preciso simplesmente relaxar e não gerar expectativa em relação a nada. Chega um momento em que até mesmo o desejo pela iluminação precisa cair, porque esse desejo começa a ser o seu obstáculo. Quem deseja a iluminação é um eu psicológico viciado em controlar a vida. Trata-se de um eu idealizado que traçou um plano de como as coisas devem ser. Mas, quando você realmente puder silenciar para viver essa experiência, esse eu não estará lá para isso, porque o silêncio só é possível na ausência dele.”

“Llega un momento, en que simplemente, es necesario relajarse y no generar expectativa en relación a nada. Llega un momento en que hasta el deseo por la iluminación necesita caer, porque ese deseo comienza a ser tu obstáculo. Quien desea la iluminación es un yo psicológico adicto en controlar la vida. Se trata de un yo idealizado que trazó un plan de como tienen que ser las cosas. Pero cuando realmente te puedes silenciar para vivir esa experiencia, ese yo no estará ahí para eso, porque el silencio solo es posible en la ausencia de él.”

“There comes a moment when it is necessary to simply relax and not have any expectations in relationship to anything. There comes a moment when even the desire for enlightenment needs to drop, because even this very desire becomes an obstacle for us. The part in us that desires enlightenment is a psychological self that is addicted to controlling life. It is an idealized self that has outlined a plan of how things should be. However, when we can really be silent enough to live this experience, this psychological self will not be there, because silence is only possible in the absence of this self.”

Via Daily Dharma / July 15, 2016: Echoes of an Endless Past

The wind blows hard among the pines
Toward the beginning
Of an endless past.
Listen: you’ve heard everything.

—Shinkichi Takahashi, "Triumph of the Sparrow"

Via Daily Dharma / July 14, 2016: A Warning for Your Meditation Practice

Without an understanding of nontheism and the motivation to benefit others, meditation practice can degenerate into self-absorption and escapism.

—Judy Lief, "Is Meditation Enough?"

Antropólogo afirma que evangélicos espalham “ódio, fobia e vingança” na sociedade brasileira

O professor de antropologia Ronaldo Almeida, da Unicamp, afirmou que o comportamento social dos evangélicos é permeado por ódio, fobia e vingança, e que isso explica casos como o da agressão à menina candomblecista (atribuída, sem provas, a pentecostais) e o apoio à redução da maioridade penal.

Segundo Almeida, os dois exemplos acima são manifestações de conservadorismo que refletem um cenário geral da sociedade brasileira.

Ele pontuou em entrevista ao IG que o ódio pode ser notado na reprovação dos evangélicos à homossexualidade e outras religiões; a fobia pode ser percebida no apoio que muitos brasileiros dão à legislação mais permissiva em relação ao porte de armas; e por último, a vingança, que seria o motivo pelo desejo da redução da maioridade penal.

“No Brasil, o que se consolida é o pluralismo no interior do cristianismo, cujo movimento principal são católicos se tornando evangélicos. Esse aumento do contingente vai além dos templos, se reflete no âmbito da política, da economia, da mídia”, teoriza o professor, sugerindo que essa mudança de pensamento da sociedade é um reflexo direto do crescimento dos evangélicos.

Segundo Almeida, erros políticos teriam funcionado como combustível para o crescimento da representatividade dos evangélicos na política. O professor também criticou a gestão do pastor Marco Feliciano (PSC-SP) à frente da Comissão de Direitos Humanos e Minorias (CDHM).

“Em 2010, o José Serra [candidato à presidência do PSDB] colocou o pastor Silas Malafaia para atacar a Dilma [à época candidata do PT] sobre o tema do aborto. Foi o início. Depois, com Dilma já no poder, o PT fez aquela besteira de entregar a Comissão de Direitos Humanos para o PSC. O presidente, como todos sabem, foi o deputado Marco Feliciano. Na comissão de Direitos Humanos, esses religiosos acharam um espaço para lidar com temas morais. E essa comissão, que antes cuidava das minorias, como a causa indígena, começou a ter uma pauta moralista, a travar uma disputa pela moralidade pública, a replicar aqui temas do fundamentalismo norte-americano, como o ensino religioso e o criacionismo”, criticou.

Em outro trecho da entrevista, Almeida diz que as lideranças evangélicas fazem apologia à violência de forma indireta, como forma de estabelecer seus próprios paradigmas: “Na questão religiosa, os fundamentalistas acabam por fomentar a ação violenta. 

O que não é novidade: basta lembra que o episódio do pastor da Igreja Universal que chutou uma imagem foi em 1995. É a cultura de demonizar o outro, de vilipendiar as outras religiões. Tem uma coisa cínica no Malafaia: na prática, ele diz: ‘o Estado laico tem de garantir que eu posso demonizar o outro’. É o oposto da noção clássica do protestantismo: de liberdade individual. Mas, no fundo, o que a bancada evangélica mostra são expressões de coisas mais profundas da sociedade: conservadora, violenta, hierárquica e desigual”, resumiu.

Make the jump here to read the original and more

Via CBS News: "Star Trek" creator's son weighs in on gay Sulu

Actor John Cho poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "Star Trek Beyond" in London, Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

LOS ANGELES -- The son of late "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry says his father would have been on board with an Enterprise crew member being portrayed as gay, but he's unsure if it should have been helmsman Hikaru Sulu.

Rod Roddenberry said his father would have been supportive of a gay "Trek" character and commended the "Star Trek Beyond" filmmakers for featuring an LGBT character. Roddenberry died in 1991.

Make the jump here to read the full story and much more
 

Via Teanderthal Party: King James

 

King James was affectionately called "Queen James" by his friends. Being gay himself, he would know if the Hebrew and Greek condemned homosexuality.

http://www.libchrist.com/other/homosexual/kingjames.html

Via Faith In America: RNC’s Conversion Therapy Support Is Dangerous

Dear Faith In America Supporters,

The GOP has solidified their stance against LGBT people at their convention supporting the condemned practice of conversion therapy. This pseudo science practice is both spiritual and medical malpractice and actively harms LGBT individuals, especially LGBT youth. Faith In America thoroughly condemns the adoption of this practice into the GOP platform.

Below is the press release we sent to media on this issue.

Sincerely,
Eliel Cruz
Executive Director
Support our work? Make a contribution today.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RNC’s Conversion Therapy Support Is Dangerous

New York, New York, July 14, 2016 – The Republican National Convention is being used as a tool to further a bigoted anti-LGBT agenda. Anti-LGBT pundit Tony Perkins used his influence as an RNC delegate to include dangerous, pseudo-science “conversion therapy” into the GOP platform.

“The addition of conversion therapy in the GOP’s platform shows they’re far from finished fighting against the LGBT community,” said Eliel Cruz, Executive Director of Faith In America. “Conversion therapy has been denounced by all leading medical organizations. The practice stems from a religious-based archaic understanding of sexuality that believes homosexuality is a choice and is sinful. Today, we know that being LGBT is natural and not something to be ‘cured’ of. The Republican Party has proven itself once more that it’s the party of religious based bigotry.”

The language included in the platform does not specifically mention the words “conversion therapy.” It mentions that parents should be allowed to seek whatever treatment or therapy they deem fit for their children. This language extends to “physical and emotional” therapy as well.

“The state intervenes when parents are abusing their children,” Eliel Cruz said. “Conversion therapy is nothing short of child abuse. There is ample evidence that shows attempting to change someone’s innate sexual orientation leads to depression, anxiety, and suicide. Parents who are willing to put their children at risk to undergo conversion therapy are abusing their children.”

Faith In America condemns the RNC’s decision to include conversion therapy in their GOP platform. Faith In America supports a national ban on conversion therapy.

For more information go to faithinamerica.org and follow on Twitter.

About Faith In America: Established in 2006, Faith In America is a non-profit organization whose ultimate goal is to end decades and centuries of using religious teachings to justify marginalizing and discriminating against others.  We are dedicated to influencing media and faith community narratives on religion and sexuality. Our goal is to move the needle forward on LGBTQ equality in the pews and in our legislation. Our Mission is to educate the public about the ongoing harm caused to LGBTQ persons, especially youth, by religious-based prejudice. Our dream is to change the hearts and minds of religious communities on the “sinful” nature of homosexuality. To remove it permanently from “the sin list.”

Surreal...

Via Ram Dass

July 13, 2016

Treat everyone you meet like God in drag.

Via Daily Dharma / July 13, 2016: Recognize the Love All Around You

Every day, priests minutely examine the Law
And endlessly chant complicated sutras.
Before doing that, though, they should learn
How to read the love letters sent by the wind and rain,
The snow and moon.

—Ikkyu, "Rain, the Snow, and Moon"

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 12/07/2016

“O agora é o portal para a eternidade; é o portal para acessar a fonte da bem-aventurança, a fonte da felicidade, que é o que somos. Ao reconhecer isso percebemos o valor de cada singular momento, porque cada instante contém a semente da mais rara oportunidade – a oportunidade da transcendência. Sendo assim, o agora é, sem dúvida, aquilo de mais valioso que uma alma humana possui.”

“El ahora es el portal para la eternidad, es el portal para acceder a la fuente de bienaventuranza, la fuente de felicidad, que es lo que somos. Al reconocer eso percibimos el valor de cada singular momento, porque cada instante contiene la semilla de la más rara oportunidad – la oportunidad de la trascendencia. Siendo así, el ahora es, sin duda, aquello de mayor valor que un alma humana posee.”

“The here and now is the doorway to eternity. It is the portal through which we can access the source of bliss, the source of happiness, which is what we truly are. As we recognize this, we see the value in each and every moment, because each moment contains a seed of rare opportunity- the opportunity for transcendence. Seen in this light, the here and now is without doubt, the most valuable thing a human soul possesses.”

Via Daily Dharma / July 12, 2016: The Wisdom of the Diamond Vehicle

In the Vajrayana, we see that our difficulties with relative reality stem from our attitudes and beliefs, rather than from relativity itself. We are called to see each arising of our day not as a threat, but as an opportunity—a chance to open our arms, lay down our weapons, and surrender to this exact moment of our life.

—Reginald Ray, "The Vajrayana Journey Is an Experience of Love, Power, and Freedom"

Via Daily Dharma / July 11, 2016: The Heart of Compassion

The sangha is the treasure of our greatest yearning, for it provides all of us with a sense of belonging as well as a safe haven; a foundation from which to grow and develop; a way to commit to excellence in practice; and above all, a connection to the heart of compassion.

—Myokei Caine-Barrett, "Our Common Thread"

Via Ram Dass

July 10, 2016 There is a larger frame to the painting than the one that bounds our life's events.