Via Daily Dharma / December 31, 2016: Cherishing Existence

This is who and what we are: constellations of matter, vulnerable, impermanent, and—for moments? for lifetimes?—illumined by the miracle of awareness. Whether fleeting or eternal, it’s a miracle that we must never take for granted.

—Noelle Oxenhandler, "Awake and Demented"

Via FB

"Trump courted evangelicals and promised to appoint judges to overturn the historic Obergefell ruling on marriage equality (and he has publicly opposed marriage equality since 2000). Even if you believe he wouldn’t do that, why would you give even conditional support to a man who has given hope to the people who detest you and wish you harm?"

- Michelangelo Signorile

Via Ram Dass

At a certain point, you realize that you see only the projections of your own mind. The play of phenomena is a projection of the spirit. The projections are your karma, your curriculum for this incarnation. Everything that’s happening to you is a teaching designed to burn out your stuff, your attachments. Your humanity and all your desires are not some kind of error. They’re integral parts of the journey.

Via Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma / January 1, 2017: A New Year’s Resolution

I intend to cultivate equanimity and balance—not to panic when things appear to be off track, and not to relax when everything seems to be going smoothly. I intend to cultivate awareness and presence and not focus too hard on the outcome—paying more attention to the process and developing understanding and sympathy for myself and others.

—David Nichtern, "A New Year's Resolution to Consider"

The Biggest LGBT Advances of 2016

Via Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma / December 30, 2016: Leading the Charge

Individually, we might feel that global problems are beyond our capacity to solve. What I have noticed, though... is that if one or two people take the lead in making even small changes, it energizes the whole community.

—Joseph Goldstein, "Facing the Heat"

Via Daily Dharma / December 29, 2016: The Binding Thread

A string of beads has a thread running through all the beads, keeping them together. What we need is a thread too—of sanity and stability. Because when you have a thread, even though each bead is separate, they hang together.

—Sogyal Rinpoche, "The Stability of Ease"

Via Ram Dass

As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be, you can't see how it is.

Via Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma / December 28, 2016: Learning How to Love

To love is, first of all, to accept ourselves as we actually are. —Thich Nhat Hanh, "Cultivating Compassion"

Via Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma / December 27, 2016: Give Up the Pursuit

If you were to let go of the pursuit of happiness, what would you do? To put it a bit more dramatically, suppose you were told that no matter what you did, you would never be happy. Never. What would you do with your life?

—Ken McLeod, "Forget Happiness"

Via Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma/ December 26, 2016: A True Understanding

When you understand interconnectedness, it makes you more afraid of hating than of dying.

—Robert A. F. Thurman, "Rising to the Challenge: Cool Heroism"

RIP George Michael - Freedom! '90

Via Ram Dass

When I asked Maharajji how to meditate, he said, “Meditate like Christ.” I said, “Maharajji, how did Christ meditate?” He became very quiet and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he had a blissful expression on his face and a tear trickled down his cheek. He opened his eyes and said, “He lost himself in Love.”

Via Daily Dharma / December 25, 2016: Giving, but Losing Nothing

The Buddha taught “kingly or queenly giving,” which means giving the best of what we have, instinctively and graciously, even if none remains for ourselves. We are only temporary caretakers of all that is provided; essentially, we own nothing. —Marcia Rose, "The Gift That Cannot Be Given"