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.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Via Ram Dass
August 17, 2016
Because when you push against somebody (even the subtlest model in your head they should be different than they are), it awakens in them at a very in unconscious level, pushing back. A resistance, a subtle paranoia. And I have noticed in my human relationships that as I want less and less of each individual, there is much less paranoia of them at a deep level, and they are much more available immediately.
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día- Flower of the day - 21/08/2016
“Quando desenvolve a habilidade da auto-observação e da atenção plena, a
sua memória desperta e você começa a lembrar de situações e imagens;
você abre os porões do inconsciente e inicia uma limpeza. Limpar os
porões significa liberar sentimentos guardados, fechar contas abertas
(mágoas e ressentimentos) e se harmonizar com o passado, para finalmente
poder sustentar a presença. Pois o que te tira da presença é o passado.”
“Cuando desarrollas la habilidad de la auto-observación y de la
atención plena, tu memoria despierta y comienzas a recordar situaciones e
imágenes; abres los sótanos del inconsciente y comienzas una limpieza.
Limpiar los sótanos significa liberar sentimientos guardados, cerrar
cuentas abiertas (heridas y resentimientos) y armonizarse con el pasado,
para finalmente poder sustentar la presencia. Porque lo que te saca de
la presencia es el pasado.”
“When we develop the abilities for self-observation and mindfulness, our memories awaken and we begin to remember situations and images from our past. We open the dungeons of our unconscious and begin a deep cleansing. We cleanse these areas of darkness by liberating our suppressed feelings, closing our open accounts of hurts and resentments, and by coming into harmony with our past. We do all of this so that we may finally be able to sustain presence. It is the past that robs us of our presence.”
“When we develop the abilities for self-observation and mindfulness, our memories awaken and we begin to remember situations and images from our past. We open the dungeons of our unconscious and begin a deep cleansing. We cleanse these areas of darkness by liberating our suppressed feelings, closing our open accounts of hurts and resentments, and by coming into harmony with our past. We do all of this so that we may finally be able to sustain presence. It is the past that robs us of our presence.”
Via Daily Dharma / August 21, 2016: The God of Silent Music
Zen
and Catholicism meet deep inside me . . . There is nothing to
contradict and nothing to harmonize. They don’t say the same thing,
because they don’t say anything. They don’t address the one God
expressed in different languages, because the only God there is, is the
God of silent music.
—Thomas Moore, "Zen Catholic"
—Thomas Moore, "Zen Catholic"
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día- Flower of the day - 20/08/2016
“Algumas pessoas tentam fugir dos relacionamentos com a desculpa de
precisarem se dedicar à espiritualidade. Elas acreditam que, ao se
mudarem para uma comunidade espiritual, terão seus problemas resolvidos.
Mas, a realidade é que, onde quer que estejam (quer seja trabalhando no
escritório de uma grande empresa ou rezando em um templo), elas
precisarão encarar seus fantasmas internos, o que significa lidar com
seus medos e sentimentos negados. Não
importa onde estejam, será necessário aprender a se relacionar de forma
saudável, pois o fantasma não é o outro, é você mesmo.”
“Algunas personas intentan huir de las relaciones con la excusa de que
necesitan dedicarse a la espiritualidad. Creen que al mudarse a una
comunidad espiritual, tendrán sus problemas resueltos. Pero la realidad
es que, dondequiera que estén (ya sea trabajando en la oficina de una
gran empresa o rezando en un templo), tendrán que encarar sus fantasmas
internos, lo que significa lidiar con sus miedos y sentimientos negados.
No importa donde estén, será necesario aprender a relacionarse de forma
saludable, porque el fantasma no es el otro, eres tú mismo.”
“Some people avoid being in relationships with the excuse of needing to dedicate themselves to spirituality. They believe that by moving to a spiritual community, their problems will be resolved. The reality is that, no matter where we are, whether working in the office of a big company, or praying in a temple, we will have to face our inner ghosts. We have to deal with our fears and denied feelings. Regardless of where we are, we have to learn how to relate in a healthy way, because the other is not the ghost: we are the ghost.”
“Some people avoid being in relationships with the excuse of needing to dedicate themselves to spirituality. They believe that by moving to a spiritual community, their problems will be resolved. The reality is that, no matter where we are, whether working in the office of a big company, or praying in a temple, we will have to face our inner ghosts. We have to deal with our fears and denied feelings. Regardless of where we are, we have to learn how to relate in a healthy way, because the other is not the ghost: we are the ghost.”
Via Daily Dharma / August 20, 2016: The Buddha’s Mindfulness
Mindfulness
supports the moment-to-moment intention to not cause harm, to be kind,
and to renounce those thoughts and actions that lead to heedlessness.
Without wise intention and wise understanding, mindfulness is aimless,
and therefore not the Buddha’s mindfulness.
—Phillip Moffitt, "The Mindfulness of the Buddha"
—Phillip Moffitt, "The Mindfulness of the Buddha"
Friday, August 19, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día- Flower of the day - 19/08/2016
“Tudo está aqui - aquilo que não está aqui, não está em lugar algum. O
corpo é um portal interdimensional através do qual acessamos diferentes
universos. Cada singular pontinho de acupuntura abre novos caminhos de
acesso a novas dimensões. Às vezes, é possível aliviar uma perturbação
mental apenas pressionando um desses pontos. Tudo que se manifesta no
corpo físico tem origem no corpo sutil. Essa é uma relação que merece ser estudada.”
“Todo está aquí – aquello que no está aquí, no está en ninguna parte.
El cuerpoes un portal inter-dimensional a través del cual accedemos a
diferentes universos. Cada singular puntito de acupuntura abre nuevos
caminos de acceso a nuevas dimensiones. A veces es posible aliviar un
trastorno mental con sólo presionar uno de estos puntos. Todo lo que se
manifiesta en el cuerpo físico se origina en el cuerpo sutil. Esta es
una relación que merece ser estudiada.”
“Everything is here - what is not here is nowhere. The body is an inter-dimensional portal through which we access different universes. Every single acupuncture point opens up new paths to access new dimensions. Sometimes it is possible to alleviate a mental disorder just by pressing one of these points. Everything that manifests in the physical body originates in the subtle body. This is a relationship that needs to be studied more.”
“Everything is here - what is not here is nowhere. The body is an inter-dimensional portal through which we access different universes. Every single acupuncture point opens up new paths to access new dimensions. Sometimes it is possible to alleviate a mental disorder just by pressing one of these points. Everything that manifests in the physical body originates in the subtle body. This is a relationship that needs to be studied more.”
Via Daily Dharma / August 19, 2016: Asking a Different Question
When Jesus cries out to his Father, Why have you forsaken me? he has come to an edge. Is he going to curse or embrace? At a certain point the question becomes not: Why did this happen? but: How do I work with it?
—Lynn Crawford, "Broken Gold"
—Lynn Crawford, "Broken Gold"
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba Flor do dia - Flor del día- Flower of the day - 18/08/2016
“Errar é humano. Reconhecer os seus erros e se abrir para a
transformação é divino. Ter a honestidade de reconhecer os próprios
defeitos é o primeiro passo para a perfeição. Todo ser humano, de alguma
maneira, pratica pequenos ou grandes delitos todos os dias; até mesmo o
ser humano considerado normal carrega dentro de si um grau de
perturbação, de loucura ou maldade. Alguns casos se tornam patológicos,
mas todos, de alguma maneira, têm um
lado doentio. Essa insanidade nos impede de manifestar nossos dons e
nossos talentos e nossa inteligência. E, para curarmos essa insanidade,
precisamos, em primeiro lugar, reconhecê-la.”
“Equivocarse es humano. Reconocer tus errores y abrirte a la
transformación es divino. Tener la honestidad de reconocer los propios
defectos es el primer paso hacia la perfección. Todo ser humano, de
alguna manera, ejerce pequeños o grandes delitos todos los días; incluso
el ser humano considerado normal carga en su interior un grado de
perturbación, de locura o maldad. Algunos casos se vuelven patológicos,
pero todos, de alguna manera, tienen un lado enfermo. Esta insania nos
impide manifestar nuestros dones y nuestros talentos y nuestra
inteligencia. Y para curarnos esta insania necesitamos, en primer lugar,
reconocerla.”
To err is human. Recognizing our mistakes and opening up to transformation is divine. Having the honesty to recognize our faults is the first step towards perfection. In some way, everyone commits big or small offenses every day. Even human beings who are considered to be ‘normal’ carry within themselves a certain level of disturbance known as madness or evil. Some cases it becomes pathological, but in one way or another, all of us have a sick side. This insanity prevents us from manifesting our gifts, our talents and our intelligence. In order to heal this insanity, we must first recognize it.”
To err is human. Recognizing our mistakes and opening up to transformation is divine. Having the honesty to recognize our faults is the first step towards perfection. In some way, everyone commits big or small offenses every day. Even human beings who are considered to be ‘normal’ carry within themselves a certain level of disturbance known as madness or evil. Some cases it becomes pathological, but in one way or another, all of us have a sick side. This insanity prevents us from manifesting our gifts, our talents and our intelligence. In order to heal this insanity, we must first recognize it.”
Via Daily Dharma / August 18, 2016: We Are Responsible for the Mind
The
mind is not yours, but you are responsible for it . . . Don’t feel
disturbed by the thinking mind. You are not practicing to prevent
thinking, but rather to recognize and acknowledge thinking whenever it
arises.
—Sayadaw U Tejaniya, "Got Attitude?"
—Sayadaw U Tejaniya, "Got Attitude?"
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Via Ram Dass / Be Here Now Network
August 17, 2016
We’re all just walking each other home.
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Via Sri Prem Baba:Flor do dia - Flor del día- Flower of the day - 17/08/2016
“Tenho visto que muitos buscadores, em momentos de crise, sentem
vontade de tornar-se terapeutas ou professores de yoga. Eles visualizam
uma vida mais tranquila e acreditam que isso resolverá todos os seus
problemas. Isso até pode acontecer mas, na maioria dos casos, esse
desejo é a expressão de uma profunda angústia em relação ao propósito da
vida, e mudar de atividade seria apenas transferir o problema. Você
pode vir a ser um professor de yoga, mas
é importante não alimentar falsas esperanças para evitar frustrações.
Em momentos como esse, é importante não deixar-se limitar por
expectativas. Mantenha-se aberto e trabalhe para ampliar a percepção. A
sua alma está em busca de algo; ela busca uma visão. E essa visão
indicará o caminho.”
“He
visto que muchos buscadores, en momentos de crisis, sienten ganas de
convertirse en terapeutas o profesores de yoga. Ellos visualizan una
vida más tranquila y creen que esto va a resolver todos sus problemas.
Puede que esto suceda pero, en la mayoría de los casos, este deseo es la
expresión de una profunda angustia al propósito de vida, y cambiar de
actividad sería solamente transferir el problema. Puedes llegar a ser un
profesor de yoga, pero es importante no alimentar falsas esperanzas
para evitar frustraciones. En momentos como este, es importante no
dejarse limitar por expectativas. Permanece abierto y trabaja para
ampliar la percepción. Tu alma está en la búsqueda de algo; ella busca
una visión. Y esta visión señalará el camino.”
“In moments of crisis, I have seen many seekers wanting to become therapists, or yoga teachers. They imagine this to be a more peaceful way of life and believe it will solve all their problems. Even though this may actually occur, in the majority of cases, this desire to change is the expression of a deep anxiety in relationship to life’s greater purpose. To believe a new job or profession will make a difference is just escaping the problem. You may become a yoga teacher, but it is important not to limit yourself by creating expectations. Keep yourself open and work to increase your perception. Your soul is in search of something; it is seeking a vision. This vision will show you the path.”
“In moments of crisis, I have seen many seekers wanting to become therapists, or yoga teachers. They imagine this to be a more peaceful way of life and believe it will solve all their problems. Even though this may actually occur, in the majority of cases, this desire to change is the expression of a deep anxiety in relationship to life’s greater purpose. To believe a new job or profession will make a difference is just escaping the problem. You may become a yoga teacher, but it is important not to limit yourself by creating expectations. Keep yourself open and work to increase your perception. Your soul is in search of something; it is seeking a vision. This vision will show you the path.”
Via Daily Dharma / August 17, 2016: Abandoning What Arises
Unwholesome
states have already arisen and the work is to abandon them now, rather
than to regret that they have arisen at all. To acknowledge deeply held
beliefs, passing fantasies, unwholesome thoughts—and to abandon them.
—Leora Fridman, "Notes on Abandon"
—Leora Fridman, "Notes on Abandon"
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día- Flower of the day - 16/08/2016
“Quem sou eu? Por que estou aqui? Sidarta Gautama, o Buda, dedicou toda
sua vida à busca das respostas para essas questões. Ele não poupou
esforços; fez tudo que o seu coração determinou que fizesse. Se, ao
ouvir os comandos do seu coração, você chegou onde está, esse é o lugar
certo, pois somente o coração sabe o caminho. O coração nos leva a
diferentes lugares e experiências para nos purificar, até que estejamos
prontos para revelar o Buda que nos
habita. Ele nos leva à Verdade de quem somos. Mas, para podermos lembrar
de quem verdadeiramente somos, precisamos remover as capas que
constituem a falsa identidade.”
“¿Quién soy yo? ¿Por qué estoy aquí? Sidarta Gautama, o Buda, dedicó
toda su vida a la búsqueda de respuestas a estas cuestiones. No escatimó
esfuerzos; hizo todo lo que su corazón determinó que hiciera. Si, al
oír a los comandos de tu corazón, llegaste donde estás, este es el lugar
correcto, porque solamente el corazón sabe el camino. El corazón nos
lleva a diferentes lugares y experiencias para purificarnos, hasta que
estemos listos para revelar al Buda que nos habita. Él nos lleva a la
Verdad de quienes somos. Pero para poder recordar lo que verdaderamente
somos, necesitamos remover las capas que constituyen la falsa
identidad.”
“Who am I? Why am I here? Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha,dedicated his entire life to searching for the answers to these questions. He spared no effort and performed everything his heart commanded him to do. If you have arrived to the point where you are in your life by listening to the commands of your heart, then rest assured it is exactly where you need to be because only the heart knows the way. The heart takes us to different places and experiences so that we may purify ourselves until we are ready to reveal the Buddha that inhabits us. The Buddha within leads us to the truth of who we are. In order to remember who we truly are,we need to remove the layers that make up our false identity.”
“Who am I? Why am I here? Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha,dedicated his entire life to searching for the answers to these questions. He spared no effort and performed everything his heart commanded him to do. If you have arrived to the point where you are in your life by listening to the commands of your heart, then rest assured it is exactly where you need to be because only the heart knows the way. The heart takes us to different places and experiences so that we may purify ourselves until we are ready to reveal the Buddha that inhabits us. The Buddha within leads us to the truth of who we are. In order to remember who we truly are,we need to remove the layers that make up our false identity.”
Via Daily Dharma / August 16, 2016: No Meditation Without Aspiration
Without
prayers of aspiration, expressing one’s noble wishes, our meditation
lacks something important, a certain vital richness. Your aspirations
must be inspired by the altruistic spirit of bodhicitta, awakened heart-mind.
—Tsoknyi Rinpoche, "Noble Wishes"
—Tsoknyi Rinpoche, "Noble Wishes"
Monday, August 15, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día- Flower of the day - 15/08/2016
“Sempre digo que a última prova da universidade dos relacionamentos é
poder amar, mesmo quando o outro não te ama. O sol te ilumina,
independentemente do que você pensa sobre ele. A água sacia a sua sede,
independentemente do que você pensa sobre ela. Em algum momento, o ser
humano desenvolve essa qualidade e se torna o amor, pois esse é o seu
destino. Tornar-se o amor significa ter essa qualidade do sol e da água -
significa amar desinteressadamente.”
“Siempre digo que la última prueba de la universidad de las relaciones
es poder amar, incluso cuando el otro no te ama. El sol te ilumina,
independientemente de lo que piensas sobre él. El agua sacia tu sed,
independientemente de lo que piensas sobre ella. En algún momento, el
ser humano desarrolla esa cualidad y se vuelve el amor, porque ese es tu
destino. Volverte el amor significa tener esa cualidad del sol y del
agua – significa amar desinteresadamente.”
“The last exam in the University of Relationships is to be able to love, even when the other does not love you in return. The sun shines on everyone, regardless of what they think about it. Similarly, water quenches everyone’s thirst, independently of what they think about it. At a certain moment, the human being develops this quality and becomes love itself, because love is our destiny. To become love means to have the same qualities of the sun and water- it means to love selflessly.”
“The last exam in the University of Relationships is to be able to love, even when the other does not love you in return. The sun shines on everyone, regardless of what they think about it. Similarly, water quenches everyone’s thirst, independently of what they think about it. At a certain moment, the human being develops this quality and becomes love itself, because love is our destiny. To become love means to have the same qualities of the sun and water- it means to love selflessly.”
Via Daily Dharma / August 15, 2016: Happiness Is the Path
Happiness
means feeling you are on the right path every moment. You don’t need to
arrive at the end of the path in order to be happy.
—Thich Nhat Hanh, "The Heart of the Matter"
—Thich Nhat Hanh, "The Heart of the Matter"
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