Via The Raft: You Are Wonderful As You Are // Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation

 

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Speech: Refraining from Harsh Speech

 

RIGHT SPEECH
Refraining from Harsh Speech

Harsh speech is unhealthy. Refraining from harsh speech is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning harsh speech, one refrains from harsh speech. One speaks words that are gentle, pleasing to the ear, and affectionate, words that go to the heart, are courteous, and are agreeable to many. (DN 1) One practices thus: “Others may speak harshly, but I shall abstain from harsh speech.” (MN 8) The monks at Kosambi had taken to quarreling and brawling and were deep in disputes, stabbing each other with verbal daggers. They could neither convince one another nor be convinced by others; they could neither persuade one another nor be persuaded by others. The Buddha then said to them: “What can you possibly know, what can you see, that you take to acting like this? It will lead to your harm and suffering for a long time.” (MN 48)

Reflection

This is such an incisive question: What can you possibly know or see to make you act like this? We think it must be something compelling for someone to turn against their own best interests and harm themselves. What higher purpose justifies this? These brawling and quarreling people were not only stabbing each other with verbal arrows, but by doing so they were also inflicting a lot of harm upon themselves.

Daily Practice

The next time you are engaged in an argument with someone, stop and look inward, examining your state of mind and body. Notice the physical tension and the harsh emotional attitude of the moment. Now ask yourself: Does the issue under dispute really require inflicting damage on myself? Can you feel the harm and suffering involved in such agitated and aversive emotional states? Let it go; you’ll be better off.

Tomorrow: Reflecting upon Mental Action
One week from today: Refraining from Frivolous Speech

Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media
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Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Daily Dharma: The First Step in Compassion

 The first step in compassion is to notice the other’s need. It all begins with the simple act of attention.

Daniel Goleman, “I Feel Your Brain”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Ellen Page entrevista Jair Bolsonaro

Stephen Fry entrevista Jair Bolsonaro - Out There

Via White Crane Institute // STEPHEN JOHN FRY

 

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Stephen Fry

1957 -

STEPHEN JOHN FRY  is an English comedian, actor, writer, presenter, and activist born on this date.  With Hugh Laurie, he is half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, who starred in Jeeves and Wooster.

Fry's acting roles include a Golden Globe–nominated lead performance in the film Wilde, portraying Oscar Wilde, Melchett in the BBC series Blackadder, the title character in the television series Kingdom, a recurring guest role as Dr Gordon Wyatt on the crime series Bones, and as Gordon Deitrich in the dystopian thriller V for Vendetta. He has also written and presented several documentary series, including the Emmy Award–winning Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, which saw him explore his bipolar disorder, and the travel series Stephen Fry in America. He was also the long-time host of the BBC television quiz show OI, with his tenure lasting from 2003 to 2016.

Besides working in television, Fry has contributed columns and articles for newspapers and magazines and written four novels and three volumes of autobiography, Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. He also appears frequently on BBC Radio4, starring in the comedy series Absolute Power, being a frequent guest on panel games such as Just A Minute, and acting as chairman during one series of I'm Sorry I haven't A Clue, where he was one of a trio of possible hosts who were tried out to succeed the late Humphrey Lyttelton, Jack Dee getting the post permanently.

Fry is also known for his voice-overs, reading all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the UK audiobook recordings, narrating the LittleBigPlanet and Birds of Steel series of video games, as well as an animated series of explanations of the laws of cricket, of which he is a particular fan, and a series of animations about Humanism for Humanists UK.

Fry married comedian Elliott Spencer in January 2015. Fry is on cordial terms with Prince Charles, through his work with the Prince's Trust. He attended the Prince's wedding to Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005. Fry is a friend of comedian and actor (and Blackadder co-star) Rowan Atkinson and was best man at Atkinson's wedding to Sunetra Sastry at the Russian Tea Room in New York City.

Fry struggled to keep his homosexuality secret during his teenage years at public school, and by his own account did not engage in sexual activity for 16 years from 1979 until 1995. When asked when he first acknowledged his sexuality, Fry quipped: "I suppose it all began when I came out of the womb. I looked back up at my mother and thought to myself, 'That's the last time I'm going up one of those'." Fry was in a 15-year relationship with Daniel Cohen, which ended in 2010. Fry was listed #2 in 2016 and #12 in 2017 on the World Pride Power list.

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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 - August 24, 2022 💌

 

When I am loving awareness I’m aware of everything outside, but pulling into the heart, the spiritual heart brings me to loving awareness. I’m aware of my thoughts, but loving awareness is simply witnessing them. And loving awareness is in the moment. I have thoughts about the past and future, and those are not helpful, so I dive deep into the present and the presence and in this present moment we will find loving awareness. This moment is love. I am infinite. I am loving awareness.   - Ram Dass -

Via Ram Dass LGBTQ+ September Satsang ~ Connecting with the Divine

 

September LGBTQ+ Satsang Following in the Footsteps ~ Connecting with the Divine Sept 11 @ 8 pm EDT | 5 pm PDT REGISTER HERE   “I hang out with my guru in my heart. And I love everything in the universe. That's all I do all day.” ~ Ram Dass

In Honor of Neem Karoli Baba’s Mahasamadhi (meaning, a conscious being’s exit from the body at the time of physical death), the Ram Dass LGBT Fellowship is gathering to share stories and communally delve into our experiences contacting the Divine Presence.  We will share with each other how Ram Dass and/or Maharaji-ji is present to us in whatever form, be it from within our own heart, via another person, in spirit, in dreams, recorded teachings, or in a myriad of other ways. Join us for a spirited gathering to honor our queer fellowship community. This event will include meditation, social discussion time, and kirtan. Please feel free to bring a story, excerpt, or teaching to share with the satsang, that connects you to or reflects your queer spiritual experience. REGISTER HERE Add event to calendar          LGBTQ+ Fellowship Mission Statement The LGBTQ+ Ram Dass Satsang’s mission is to cultivate loving awareness and heart connections in a community of kindred souls. We celebrate our unity in the full spectrum of gender and sexuality in and from a space of supportive openness. GOALS: Create a refuge of satsang for LGBTQ+ individuals through the teachings of Maharaj-ji and Ram Dass Promote inclusive transcendence and self-acceptance of our human incarnation as members of the LGBTQ+ community Explore the intersection of seva/service & the spectrum of gender and sexuality  Hold a space for exploring being LGBTQ+ from the perspective of consciousness  Have a place to have a voice and be a valued part of the community   Remove barriers from LGBTQ+ identities within the spiritual world Help to generate a shift within the collective consciousness through awakening VALUES: Following the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba & Ram Dass Service Compassion Acceptance Spiritual Inquiry Cultivating the Witness Loving Awareness Devotion Healing Loving our Roles and Souls Honoring the individuality within the Unity Developing our Sadhana SEE YOU SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 The Ram Dass LGBTQ+ Satsang team

Register Here

You signed up for the Ram Dass Fellowship via the Form you filled out after one of RamDass.org's Meditation Courses or by visiting our website.​ Our mailing address is: Love Serve Remember Foundation 226 W Ojai Ave Ste 101 #531 Ojai, CA 93023

Via JMG: CDC Data: Life Expectancy Dropped 1.8 Years In 2020

 

Via Lama Rod Owens

 

Podcast: Rethinking the Dharma with Lama Rod Owens and David Nichtern In this podcast episode, Lama Rod Owens joins Buddhist teacher and Grammy-nominated musician, David Nichtern to discuss reimagining the dharma in a way that is appropriate for our time.

Listen Here

Tending to the summer of apocalypse

Inbox

Lama Rod Owens assist@lamarod.com via gmail.mcsv.net

2:14 PM (14 minutes ago)

to me

Dear Friends,  Probably like you, I have been really exhausted.  Though I now enjoy my life, it has been tremendous labor to experience this level of mental and physical wellness. I am grateful for the labor, and still, it is important for me to tell the truth that this labor has cost a lot.  These pandemic years have invited me to re-evaluate how I spend my time and direct my energy. I have come to understand that I must protect my energy, especially in a culture where so many people don’t realize the preciousness of their energy and have found themselves spending energy unskillfully or taking energy from others in ways that they may not be aware of. Boundaries have become essential in protecting my energy. I’ve had to divest from spaces, groups, relationships, and even lineages not because I disliked them but because I just don’t have the energy to offer right now; though I hope to be able to return to these places when I am not trying to survive an apocalypse.  As we continue moving through the year and deeper into this apocalypse, we have to become more conscious of how we spend our energy. We must figure out how to let go of the places, things, and relationships that are taking more from us than we realize.  My goal is to care for myself in order to care for my communities. I am not called to be a martyr in this life, and likely you are not either.  I am called to survive to help bring about this new world to which I believe we are giving birth. I want to be of service to help, not deplete myself in meaningless ways.  So this is a question I leave for you: Are you being depleted, or are you being sustained?  With love, Lama Rod

Podcast: Rethinking the Dharma with Lama Rod Owens and David Nichtern In this podcast episode, Lama Rod Owens joins Buddhist teacher and Grammy-nominated musician, David Nichtern to discuss reimagining the dharma in a way that is appropriate for our time.

Listen Here

 

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

 

RIGHT INTENTION
Cultivating Appreciative Joy

Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will become the basis upon which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop meditation on appreciative joy, for when you develop meditation on appreciative joy, any discontent will be abandoned. (MN 62)  The far enemy of appreciative joy is discontent. (Vm 9.100)

Reflection

It is telling that we do not even have a word in English for the Pali word for appreciative joy (mudita). By putting together two words, we only approximate what we are trying to convey. Appreciative joy is the emotion of feeling happy for the other person, not because of them or about them, but celebrating the fact that they are happy and feeling blessed or fortunate in some way. Why don’t we have a word for this?

Daily Practice

Pay close attention to what happens in your own experience when you hear news of some good fortune befalling someone, whether the person is well known to you or not. Do you feel resentment, jealousy, or some other form of discontent? If so, stop right there and intervene. Conjure up goodwill instead and practice feeling happy for the person. These two mind states are opposites: one is unhealthy and the other healthy.

Tomorrow: Refraining from Harsh Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Equanimity

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

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Via Daily Dharma: Be Patient with Your Mind

 Understanding comes from patiently reasoning with yourself. You cannot force your mind or order it about. 

Gehlek Rinpoche, “An Interview with Gehlek Rinpoche”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Via The L.A. Times

 

Via FB

 

Via Bizarro

 

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right View: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

 

RIGHT VIEW
Understanding the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

What is the cessation of suffering? It is the remainderless fading away and ceasing, the giving up, relinquishing, letting go, and rejecting of craving. (MN 9) When one knows and sees consciousness as it actually is, then one is not attached to consciousness. When one abides unattached, one is not infatuated, and one’s craving is abandoned. One’s bodily and mental troubles are abandoned, and one experiences bodily and mental well-being. (MN 149)

Reflection

Last week we were reminded of the consequences of not knowing and seeing consciousness as it really is, namely attachment, infatuation, and an increase of troubles generally. Here we discover the positive side of the story. We are much better off when we understand that consciousness is a series of momentary phenomena that arise and pass away in rapid succession. Seeing this, we do not get attached to it.

Daily Practice

Become familiar with the habit of regarding your own mind as a series of events rather than as a solid thing with enduring qualities. Little is lost by doing so, and much can be gained. With a process, there is nothing to attach to. It is like watching a game or a performance: you want to stay present and attentive, but you don’t want to inhibit what is happening by trying to hold on to it. Your mind too is like a performance.

Tomorrow: Cultivating Appreciative Joy
One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering

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

Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.