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.
Monday, June 5, 2023
Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation // Words of Wisdom - June 4, 2023 💌
"When you stand back far enough, all of your life experiences, independent of what they are, are all learning experiences. From a human point of view, you do your best to optimize pleasure, happiness, all the nice things in life. From your soul’s point of view you take what comes down the pike. So from the soul’s perspective, you work to get what you want and then if you don’t, ‘Ah, so, I’ll work with what I’ve got."
- Ram Dass -
[GBF] New Talk: Meeting the Fragility and Vulnerability of Life - Devin Berry
In this talk, Devin Berry reflects on passages from the Dhammapada related to compassion for others and ourselves in the face of dukkha.
He shares that the Buddha described compassion as "the trembling of the heart in response to suffering."
Especially in marginalized communities, we practice to create a refuge of belonging, which requires opening our heart. However, the habit of seeing those we encounter as 'other' can constrain our willingness to actively respond with care. Compassion requires a willingness to lean into suffering and be touched.
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Devin Berry is an Insight Meditation Society guiding teacher. A meditator since 1999, his practice is primarily informed by the metta and vipassana teachings of the Insight Meditation tradition. He has undertaken many periods of silent long-term retreat practice. Devin is committed to the personal and collective liberation of marginalized communities knowing that through the integration of reflection and insight, clarity and wisdom give rise to wise action. Devin was mentored by Larry Yang, Lyn Fine, Joseph Goldstein, Carol Wilson and Andrea Fella. He lives in New England and the Bay Area and teaches nationally.
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Enjoy 750+ free recorded dharma talks at www.gaybuddhist.org/podcast/
Via Dhamma Wheel | Right View: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering
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Via Daily Dharma: Patience Is Peace
Patience
gives you joy in the process of awakening. Without patience, you may
find yourself at war with your own forgetfulness or reactivity.
Tara Brach, “Finding True Refuge”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
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Sunday, June 4, 2023
Via Daily Dharma: Routine Paired with Vision
The key to development along the Buddhist path is repetitive routine guided by inspirational vision.
Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi, “Vision and Routine”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and the Third Jhāna
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Via White Crane Institute // Tiananmen Square
The killing around Tiananmen Square started soon after midnight. It was a different army from the unarmed one which had tried to enter the square on Friday night and failed. This one was told to kill, and the soldiers with their AK- 47 automatic rifles and the armoured personnel carriers with their machine guns opened fire indiscriminately, in the air, directly at the huge crowds, at small groups, everywhere.
Lined up in rows across the Avenue of Eternal Peace, they advanced slowly, shooting all the while, then they would halt and kneel and fire directly into the crowd. They did the same at the southern end of the square by Zhengyang Gate. When both ends of the square were cleared, they switched off the lights and encircled the thousands of students who had crowded together on the Revolutionary Heroes' monument. Dawn broke and riot police moved in with truncheons. Everyone expected the army. But no one expected such ferocity, such armor, such numbers. There were more than 100,000 soldiers. It is unknown to this day how many demonstrators were killed in the square.
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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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Saturday, June 3, 2023
Via Daily Dharma: Gaining Space with Formal Practice
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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Developing Unarisen Healthy States
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