June 2022 LGBTQ Baha'i Experience Question and Answer Session

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - June 19, 2022 💌

 

As long as you’re in a body, you gotta act, and as long as you act, you act within roles...for years, I was so busy with my spiritual development that I didn’t have time to vote; I didn’t have time to be involved with politics; all I could do was grouse about politicians. And then I saw that for some reason, I took incarnation in the United States at this time.

Now do I say, “This is all an abominable error, and God, you screwed up,” or can I say, “Maybe there is an exquisite design in it all. Maybe there is a plan. Maybe there is consciousness in it all? Let me assume that it is, and I have something to learn through this curriculum I’ve been handed, which includes the fact that I was born in the United States. What does that mean? What does it mean that I’m a part of a very affluent culture? Should I deny it? Should I just grab at it and greedily, take everything I can? Or, do I hear what it means to steward resources?"

 

- Ram Dass -

CANÇÂO PARA A AMAZÔNIA Salve se a Selva ou não se Salva o Mundo - #Can...

Via Daily Dharma: Daily Well-being

 In Buddhism, it’s considered appropriate and helpful to cultivate and enhance our well-being. It is all too easy to overlook the well-being that is easily available in daily life. Even taking time to enjoy one’s tea or the sunset can be a training in letting in well-being.

Gil Fronsdal, “A Perfect Balance”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States

 

RIGHT EFFORT
Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States

Whatever a person frequently thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders unhealthy states, one has abandoned healthy states to cultivate unhealthy states, and then one’s mind inclines to unhealthy states. (MN 19) Here a person rouses the will, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind, and strives to restrain the arising of unarisen unhealthy mental states. One restrains the arising of the unarisen hindrance of ill will. (MN 141)

Reflection

We all have the capacity for unhealthy states. This capacity was eliminated by the Buddha under the Bodhi tree, his awakening being largely defined as dismantling the mechanism by which such states as anger, jealousy, hatred, and cruelty arise. Pulled up by the roots, they can no longer occur. But for the rest of us, the issue is more about managing these states than vanquishing them, and this requires restraint.

Daily Practice

Restraining the arising of unhealthy mental and emotional states that lie dormant in the unconscious mind but have not had occasion to erupt into consciousness is an  important practice. We learn to position ourselves and hold ourselves in ways that do not encourage these states to arise. If you do not ruminate about people treating you badly, for example, you will not be likely to feel ill will or hatred toward them.

Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Body and Abiding in the First Jhāna
One week from today: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings

 

RIGHT LIVING
Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Harming Living Beings      

Harming living beings is unhealthy. Refraining from harming living beings is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning the harming of living beings, one abstains from harming living beings; with rod and weapon laid aside, gentle and kindly, one abides compassionate to all living beings. (M 41) One practices thus: “Others may harm living beings, but I will abstain from the harming of living beings." (MN 8) This is something that leads to the welfare and happiness of a person in this present life: accomplishment in initiative. Here, whatever may be the means by which a layperson earns their living—whether by farming, trade, government service, or some other craft—one is skillful and diligent. One possesses sound judgment about it in order to carry out and arrange it properly. (AN 8.54)

Reflection

Many of the Buddha’s followers were members of the merchant class, and much of what he teaches is suitable for those who are earning a living in society at the same time as trying to follow his guidance. The practical advice here is that it is good to be "skillful and diligent," whatever your trade or mode of livelihood. Sound judgment is a valuable quality to have and leads you naturally to a respect for life that abandons all harming.

Daily Practice

Mindfulness is a form of skillfulness. When you do what you do—whatever it is—with full attention, this contributes to its skillful accomplishment. Try approaching your means of earning a living as a craftsman might approach their craft, with focus, sound judgment, and full awareness. Notice in the text that this applies to managerial work as much as to farming, and there is no modern pursuit that will not benefit from a mindful approach.

Tomorrow: Restraining Unarisen Unhealthy States
One week from today: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Daily Dharma: Acknowledging Desire

 It’s an enormous relief to admit that I’m obsessed by a desire for something. First, I can stop trying so hard to pretend that I don’t want something I do want. Second, an overriding desire is often a moment of “wishful thinking.” Seeing our desire as what it is allows it to drop away, or at least loosens our hold on it.

Geri Larkin, “Practicing with the Five Hindrances”

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Via Facebook // Sukhasiddhi Dag Shang Kagyu

 

True bravery is the fruit of tenderness, it shows up when we let the world blossom from our heart and then we feel willing to share it with others. -

Tsering Dordye

Via Daily Dharma: Seeing Beauty in the Strange

 Once we spend enough time in the company of the cringeworthy, we may realize that there is a beauty to simply accepting every ounce of strangeness that crosses our path—that there’s beauty in the unexpected itself, and that none of us knows what will happen in the next moment.

Mike Gillis, “Cringing Toward Compassion”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Bodily Action

 

RIGHT ACTION
Reflecting Upon Bodily Action

However the seed is planted, in that way the fruit is gathered. Good things come from doing good deeds, bad things come from doing bad deeds. (SN 11.10) What is the purpose of a mirror? For the purpose of reflection. So too bodily action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) When you are doing an action with the body, reflect upon that same bodily action thus: “Does this action I am doing with the body lead to both my own affliction and the affliction of another?” If, upon reflection, you know that it does, then stop doing it; if you know that it does not, then continue. (MN 61)

Reflection

Mindfulness of the body involves being fully conscious of your bodily sensations as they occur in the present moment. Reflecting upon bodily action, as described here, has to do with being sensitive to the ethical quality of your actions, which requires tuning in not only to what you are doing but also to how your current activities affect yourself and others. If they pass review, then carry on; if not, it is time to alter your behavior.

Daily Practice

Be aware of the implications of your actions. Notice the patterns of cause and effect generated by what you do, particularly in regard to whether they are causing harm or not. If you realize you are doing something that is not good for you or something that is hurtful to others in some way, simply stop doing it. It is good to pause in mid-stride from time to time, to check on the ethical quality of your actions.

Tomorrow: Abstaining from Harming Living Beings
One week from today: Reflecting upon Verbal Action

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Facebook

 

Via Facebook

 

Via SFLGBT Sangha // 20th Anniversary Daylong Celebration

 20th Anniversary Daylong Celebration

This is a reminder that the SFLGBT Sangha is celebrating our 20th Anniversary of Buddhist practice in Queer community on Saturday, June 18th from 10am-5pm at the SF Buddhist Center at 37 Bartlett Street in San Francisco or virtually via Zoom. We’d love to see you!

• Please register here by Wednesday, June 15th at 11:59pm if you plan to join in-person so we can provide lunch. 
• If you would like to attend virtually, please find the Zoom meeting info below.

On the agenda for the day will include sitting and walking meditation, provided lunch (for in-person attendees), dharma talks and visits from former and founding teachers. To close out the day, we’ll have cake! We are accepting donations for the event but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
 
COVID Considerations: Evidence of vaccinations will be required for in-person attendees. We will be doing our best to social distance. Wearing a KN95 or N95 mask over mouth and nose will be mandatory except during lunch. (We will provide masks if you do not have one.) Please do a rapid-test prior to arriving.

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Zoom meeting information: 
https://zoom.us/j/844085275
Meeting ID: 844 085 275
Password: 948743 

One tap mobile:
+16699009128, (San Francisco)
+ 844085275# US

Feel free to share the meeting ID, password, and link with anyone you know who may be interested in joining the daylong.

We hope you can join us!

Via LGBTQ Nation // Joe Biden issues executive order to fight conversion therapy & LGBTQ fostering discrimination

Joe Biden promised to work to get a law passed banning conversion therapy on the campaign trail. Now he's doing what he can on his own. 

 

 

Via Daily Dharma: Let the Mind Settle

 Our mind is analogous to a cup of muddy water. The longer you keep a cup of muddy water still, the more the mud settles down and the water will be seen clearly. Similarly, if you keep quiet without moving your body, your mind settles down and begins to experience the bliss of meditation.

Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, “Sitting Still”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from False Speech

 

RIGHT SPEECH
Refraining from False Speech

False speech is unhealthy. Refraining from false speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning false speech, one dwells refraining from false speech, a truth-speaker, one to be relied on, trustworthy, dependable, not a deceiver of the world. One does not in full awareness speak falsehood for one’s own ends or for another’s ends or for some trifling worldly end. (DN 1) One practices thus: “Others may speak falsely, but I shall abstain from false speech.”  (MN 8) When one knows covert speech to be true and correct but unbeneficial, one should try not to utter it. (MN 139)

Reflection

The main thing to look at when deciding if it is appropriate to speak or not is whether what you are saying is likely to be beneficial. Yes, it is important to speak the truth, but even when something is true it may not always be helpful to say it. By beneficial what is meant is, will it help a person move away from what is unhealthy and point them toward what is healthy? If so, then by all means speak up; if not, try to keep silent.

Daily Practice

Be careful what you whisper to others, making sure it is not a subtle form of false speech. Even if what you are saying is true, the fact that it is spoken in secret or covertly suggests there may be something about it unsuited to the light of day. Better to speak only what can be said openly whenever possible. Just ask yourself as you are about to speak: Is this helpful? Will this contribute in a beneficial way?

Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Bodily Action
One week from today: Refraining from Malicious Speech

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
#DhammaWheel

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - June 15, 2022 💌

 
 

Your anger and your inspiration are all inside you. They are just being who they are. Your reaction is your reaction. It is showing you your attachments and aversions.

- Ram Dass -

Via White Crane Institute // The Supreme Court ruled that a landmark civil rights law protects LGBT people from discrimination in employment,

 

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Noteworthy

2020 -

The Supreme Court ruled that a landmark civil rights law protects LGBT people from discrimination in employment, a resounding victory for LGBT rights from a conservative court. The court decided by a 6-3 vote that a key provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 known as Title VII that bars job discrimination because of sex, among other reasons, encompasses bias against LGBT workers.

The cases were the court’s first on LGBT rights since Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement and replacement by Kavanaugh. Kennedy was a voice for gay rights and the author of the landmark ruling in 2015 that made same-sex marriage legal throughout the United States. Kavanaugh generally is regarded as more conservative.

The Trump administration had changed course from the Obama administration, which supported LGBT workers in their discrimination claims under Title VII. During the Obama years, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had changed its longstanding interpretation of civil rights law to include discrimination against LGBT people. The law prohibits discrimination because of sex, but had no specific protection for sexual orientation or gender identity.

In recent years, some lower courts have held that discrimination against LGBT people is a subset of sex discrimination, and thus prohibited by the federal law. Efforts by Congress to change the law had failed.

The Supreme Court cases involved two gay men and a transgender woman who sued for employment discrimination after they lost their jobs.

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Gay Wisdom for Daily Living from White Crane Institute

"With the increasing commodification of gay news, views, and culture by powerful corporate interests, having a strong independent voice in our community is all the more important. White Crane is one of the last brave standouts in this bland new world... a triumph over the looming mediocrity of the mainstream Gay world." - Mark Thompson

Exploring Gay Wisdom & Culture since 1989!
www.whitecraneinstitute.org

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Via Lion’s Roar - Practice for a World at Risk