Via Daily Dharma: Vulnerability is the Compass

 The great strength of lovingkindness and goodwill is vulnerability, and that vulnerability is what
sets the compass of the heart in the direction of connection and belonging.

Devin Berry, “Metta and Karuna: Two Heart Practices to Cultivate in Meditation and Daily Life”

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Via Be Here Now Network

  Raghu Markus – Mindrolling – Ep. 472 – Healing Woundedness with Judith Ragir
January 06, 2023

“The woundedness gets healed both psychologically but also through spiritual practice, through God consciousness entering you. Then you feel like something larger than yourself...

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Via Be Here Now Network

 

David Nichtern – Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck – Settling into Practice, A Buddhist View with Michael Kammers
January 06, 2023

“There is another expression of practice, ‘Hasten slowly and you will soon arrive.’ There is a built-in tension between our momentum to try not...

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Via Just a Baha'i Blog // What is a True Baha’i Marriage?

 

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given

 

RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Taking What is Not Given Taking what is not given is unhealthy. Refraining from taking what is not given is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning the taking of what is not given, one abstains from taking what is not given; one does not take by way of theft the wealth and property of others. (MN 41) One practices thus: "Others may take what is not given, but I will abstain from taking what is not given." (MN 8) A person reflects thus: "If someone were to take from me what I have not given, that is, to commit theft, that would not be pleasing and agreeable to me. Now if I were to take from another what he has not given, that is, to commit theft, that would not be pleasing and agreeable to the other either. How can I inflict on another what is displeasing and disagreeable to me?" Having reflected thus, one abstains from taking what is not given, exhorts others to abstain from it, and speaks in praise of abstinence from it. (SN 55.7)

Reflection Another way of stating the Golden Rule, this text is simply pointing out the natural argument against misappropriating the property of others. It is not just that it is wrong and invites retribution but in an important way it is actually unhealthy. That is to say, theft damages the quality of our own character, thus contributing to our own suffering, as well as causing suffering in others. Daily Practice This precept against taking what is not given is a rich ground for practice, because it raises the bar for what is to be considered theft. How many things do we take that may not have been freely given? More than you might think. Look into this matter today and see if you notice how many things are coerced from others or taken without returning adequate compensation, and how often you assume you are entitled to something others have overlooked. Tomorrow: Abandoning Arisen Unhealthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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Via Daily Dharma: The Value of a Spiritual Practice

 A spiritual practice should overflow into the world and help us to transcend illusion and journey toward enlightenment and truth.

Ben Okri, “Ben Okri on How ‘Art Helps Us Unify’

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Via Love Serve Remember Foundation

   

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
- Ram Dass

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Action: Reflecting upon Verbal Action

 

RIGHT ACTION Reflecting Upon Verbal 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 verbal action is to be done with repeated reflection. (MN 61) When you are doing an action with speech, reflect on that same verbal action thus: "Does this action I am doing with speech lead to my own affliction?" If, on reflection, you know that it does, then stop doing it; if you know that it does not, then continue. (MN 61)

Reflection Speaking is a form of action, and depending on the context, it can have far-reaching consequences. This is especially true when our words are printed, broadcast, or digitally shared with the wider world. This text is encouraging us to be aware of what we are saying as we are saying it. Speaking reflectively, can you notice when your words are causing harm to yourself or others and just stop what you are saying? Daily Practice We are familiar with mindfulness of the body and mindfulness of mental objects, but what about mindfulness of speech? This is not one of the formal four foundations of mindfulness, but it is no less an opportunity for practice. Try, for a start, to speak slower and more deliberately and notice the difference from when the words seem to tumble out on their own. Speech is something we do, so let’s do it mindfully. Tomorrow: Abstaining from Taking What is Not Given One week from today: Reflecting upon Mental Action Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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© 2023 Tricycle Foundation 89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Daily Dharma: Relational Mindfulness

 Mindfulness is a relational quality. It’s not about what’s happening, it’s about how we are with what’s happening. 

Sharon Salzberg, “A Guided Practice for Cultivating Attention”

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Via White Crane Institute // IGNACE VAN SWIETEN

 

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Ignace van Swieten

1943 -

 On this date the famed Dutch football (soccer here in the states) IGNACE VAN SWIETEN was born (d. 2005). He was also a teacher at the KNVB Academy. He was born in a Japanese (POW) camp near Semarang in Indonesia. Van Swieten was openly Gay at a time when it was not accepted in professional sports. 

Hell it's still tough. According to a 2009 poll conducted by the Dutch football magazine, Magazine Voetbal International, 33% of professional football players in the Dutch league expressed the notion that if a footballer came out of the closet, he wouldn't have a life anymore.

Twenty-five percent believe that homosexuality will always be a taboo. Sixty percent feel that there is no place for homosexuals in Dutch football. Only eleven players said that they do not consider it a taboo anymore. Van Swieten received a lot of hatred from players and fans alike but is now considered a great figure in Dutch Football and a valued teacher to other players.

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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 Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - January 5, 2023 💌

You have to work with your attractions as well as your aversions. Many of you are good at working with attractions; you get a little weak on the aversions…Don’t rush, it’s all right. There’s lots of time, and we’re human and it’s not an error. - Ram Dass From Here & Now – EP. 216 – From Psychedelics to Service

 

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Via Daily Dharma: Separating Awareness

It is this capacity to separate awareness from the common reflex of continual judging that can be transformative. 

Andrew Olendzki, “What’s in a Word? Sati”

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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Malicious Speech

 

RIGHT SPEECH Refraining from Malicious Speech Malicious speech is unhealthy. Refraining from malicious speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning malicious speech, one refrains from malicious speech. One does not repeat there what one has heard here to the detriment of these, or repeat here what he has heard there to the detriment of those. One unites those who are divided, is a promoter of friendships, and speaks words that promote concord. (DN 1) One practices thus: "Others may speak maliciously, but I shall abstain from malicious speech."(MN 8) When others address you, their speech may be true or untrue. . . .  One is to train thus: "My mind will be unaffected, and I shall utter no bad words; I shall abide with compassion for their welfare, with a mind of lovingkindness, without inner hate." (MN 21)

Reflection These days, it seems we are surrounded by malicious speech. So much speech is intended to divide, to insult, and to vent anger and frustration. We do not need to participate in this, however alluring it may seem at times. We can choose to work in the other direction, speaking in ways that unite people and promote concord. As you become sensitized to this, its healthy benefits become increasingly apparent. Daily Practice It is hard to remain equanimous when you know people are lying to you. "But still they do what’s hard to do," the Buddha said in the face of this. To resist the reflex to strike back and instead respond with kindness and compassion is a difficult practice. Yet it can be done. Regardless of the facts on the table, the quality of our own response in any situation is the measure of our wisdom and understanding.  Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Verbal Action One week from today: Refraining from Harsh Speech Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

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© 2023 Tricycle Foundation 89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

19 Prominent Ex-Baha'is

Via FB // “Our Lady of New Frontiers, Nichelle Nichols”

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“Our Lady of New Frontiers, Nichelle Nichols”

 

My last painting of 2022, and I wanted it to be a painting carrying me into the new year, a tribute to an amazing and inspirational woman.

Star Trek has been a show I have watched since I was a wee one. I started with TNG as a child, but when I finally watched TOS in college, its impact was undeniable, both today and especially during the time it aired.

 

Although the famous speech says “final frontier”, Nichelle Nichols was a woman leading the way onto new frontiers, a beacon of hope, resilience and possibility. So that is what I wish to carry with me into the new year.

 

www.lindsayvanek.com