Via NPR \\ Weekend Edition

 

Via Ram Dass - Love Serve Remember Foundation \\ Words of Wisdom - November 19, 2023 💌

To see through the veil of your senses and thinking mind to the true Self often feels like humanity's highest aspiration. When you do this, it's as if you find your rightful place in the order of things. You begin to recognize a harmony that's been waiting for you to feel, and once you do this, it's not only for the life hereafter or some abstract thing for later, it's for now, and how you live your life day by day. - Ram Dass

Via GBF \\ New Talk: "Non-Retaliation as a Spiritual Practice"

The latest dharma talk has been added to our website and podcast:

"Non-Retaliation as a Spiritual Practice" with Dave Richo

In what ways do we engage in retaliation in our relationships? How can we let go of this urge?

In this talk, Dave Richo defines retaliation as reacting equally to the harm that was initiated against us; revenge on the other hand is a magnified form of retaliation.

He looks at what various spiritual traditions have to say about retaliation. From a psychological view, we often dream of revenge so that we won't have to face the grief that we are feeling.

Dave holds that the urge to retaliate is a normal impulse, one that we inherited from our ancestors who survived by fighting back against those who hurt them. However many spiritual masters encourage us to work in overcoming this natural tendency. Ultimately, letting go of this urge makes room for higher qualities in us to blossom, including mercy and forgiveness that may actually transform the perpetrator.

Listen to the full talk at

https://gaybuddhist.org/podcast/non-retaliation-as-spiritual-practice-dave-richo/

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Enjoy 800+ free recorded dharma talks at www.gaybuddhist.org/podcast/

Via NPR \\ Up First

 

by Suzanne Nuyen

November 19, 2023 Good morning. This week, Congress avoided a government shutdown, the Supreme Court adopted its first-ever code of ethics, and the 2024 Grammy nominations were announced. Plus, Scott Simon has some strong opinions about leaf blowers.  Best of NPR Today marks the end of Transgender Awareness Week. Participating organizations nationwide aim to increase understanding about transgender people and the issues the community faces.  Raquel Scoggin for NPR For the past few weeks, NPR's Embedded has aired its new three-part series, All The Only Ones, an exploration of the little-known and often neglected history of trans youth in America. Trans youth have become a hot-button topic in culture, media and politics. On All The Only Ones, host Laine Kaplan-Levenson moves past the debates by speaking with real trans kids in the U.S., as well as going back in time to learn about some of the earliest documented trans youths in America.  Zen, a native of New Orleans native and a Mexican American, tells the story of coming into their transness in Episode 1. Their story is paralleled by that of Bernard, a trans person fighting to be seen in Alabama during the 1900s.   Parker, a senior in high school in Columbus, Ohio, is a top field hockey athlete. As he prepares to graduate, he'll have to decide between pursuing his dreams as a trans Division I field hockey player or starting hormone therapy. In the 1960s, Vicky and Donna both faced similar barriers to gender-affirming care and treatment.  Finally, 18-year-old Christine of New Mexico shares her experience navigating her freshman year of college after starting hormone therapy.  All three episodes of All The Only Ones are now available on NPR's Embedded feed.

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Mindfulness and Concentration: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and the Third Jhāna

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RIGHT MINDFULNESS Establishing Mindfulness of Body A person goes to the forest or to the root of a tree or to an empty place and sits down. Having crossed the legs, one sets the body erect. One establishes the presence of mindfulness. (MN 10) One is aware: “Ardent, fully aware, mindful, I am content.” (SN 47.10)

Reflection The third foundation on which mindfulness is established, mindfulness of mind, involves noticing the impact of various emotions and attitudes on the mind. Consciousness simply reflects whatever object comes before it, but then we respond to the object with love or hate, wanting or not wanting, and all kinds of judgments favoring or opposing it. With mindfulness we are content with watching this as it occurs. Daily Practice After you gain skill in observing the bodily sensations that accompany breathing in and out and then bringing mindfulness to bear on pleasant and unpleasant feeling tones, next focus on the influence craving and aversion may or may not have on your mind in any given moment. When you like something, be aware of that. When you dislike something, be aware of that. This is the starting point of mindfulness of mind.  RIGHT CONCENTRATION Approaching and Abiding in the Third Phase of Absorption (3rd Jhāna) With the fading away of joy, one abides in equanimity; mindful and fully aware, still feeling pleasure with the body, one enters upon and abides in the third phase of absorption, on account of which noble ones announce: “One has a pleasant abiding who has equanimity and is mindful.” (MN 4) Tomorrow: Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering One week from today: Establishing Mindfulness of Mental Objects and Abiding in the Fourth Jhāna 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: It Could Not Be Otherwise

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It Could Not Be Otherwise The causes and conditions that lead to an event form its result, so it could not be otherwise. Our only choice is to release. Leora Fridman, “Notes on Abandon” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

The 3 Poisons of Christianity

Via FB

 

Randy Rainbow Interviews Mike Johnson (2024 Tour Announcement!)

Via White Crane Institute \\ T.J. OSBORNE

 

Country music star T.J. Osborne

1984 -

T.J. OSBORNE is half of the hit country music duo The Brothers Osborne consisting of T.J. Osborne (lead vocals) and John Osborne (lead guitar, background vocals), both natives of Deale, Maryland. The duo is signed to EMI Nashville and has released one self-titled extended play album and three studio albums: Pawn Shop, Port Saint Joe and Skeletons. Seven of their singles have charted on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, the highest peak belonging to Stay A Little Longer, which charted at No. 4 on the former and No. 2 on the latter. The duo's albums were both produced by Jay Joyce, and consist largely of songs that both brothers wrote with a number of collaborators. Artists with whom they have worked include David Nail, Dierks Bentley, Lee Ann Womack, and Lucie Silvas, the last of whom is John's wife. The musical style of the duo takes influence from Southern rock, outlaw country, and neotraditional country.

They have received seven Grammy nominations, won four CMA Awards and have had seven of their songs become Top 40 hits including Stay A Little Longer, which features gay interracial couples in the video.  

|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8| 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 |8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|O|8|

In February 2021, TJ Osborne came out as gay, making him the first openly gay artist signed to a major country music label. He received support from other artists including Kacey Musgraves, Ty Herndon, Chely Wright, Maren Morris, Jason Isbell, Brandy Clark, Dierks Bentley and his record label UMG Nashville.

It's all right to be Gay

 

Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Effort: Developing Unarisen Healthy States

TRICYCLE      COURSE CATALOG      SUPPORT      DONATE RIGHT EFFORT  Developing Unarisen Healthy States Whatever a person frequently thinks about and ponders, that will become the inclination of their mind. If one frequently thinks about and ponders healthy states, one has abandoned unhealthy states to cultivate healthy states, and then one’s mind inclines to healthy states. (MN 19) Reflection What do you do when you are in the grip of an unhealthy mood, filled with a steady stream of unhealthy mental and emotional states? Sometimes you just have to take the initiative and change the channel, so to speak. Just as you might decide to prepare and eat a meal if you are hungry or take a walk if you are restless, so too you can decide to develop healthy states and, by various means, invite them to arise in your mind. Daily Practice You might adopt the practice of each day choosing a healthy state to develop and then working to deliberately bring it to mind. Maybe generosity one day, kindness another, or compassion all week. It is just a matter of making a decision to call to mind that particular positive quality. Choose to think kind thoughts about someone or decide to do a kind act, and you will find that the emotional state of kindness will naturally arise. Tomorrow: Establishing Mindfulness of Mind and the Third Jhāna  One week from today: Maintaining Arisen Healthy States Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page. Tricycle is a nonprofit and relies on your support to keep its wheels turning. Donate » © 2023 Tricycle Foundation 89 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003

Via Daily Dharma: Truth in the Present

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Truth in the Present There is a truth about life that can be found when you’re in the present moment. Elizabeth Napp, “Bear Versus Buddhist” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

VIA Dhamma Wheel | Right Living: Abstaining from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures

 

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RIGHT LIVING Undertaking the Commitment to Abstain from Misbehaving Among Sensual Pleasures  Sensual misconduct is unhealthy. Refraining from sensual misconduct is healthy. (MN 9) Abandoning sensual misconduct, one abstains from misbehaving among sensual pleasures. (MN 41) One practices thus: “Others may engage in sensual misconduct, but I will abstain from sensual misconduct.” (MN 8)

Reflection There are so many ways it is possible to misbehave among sensual pleasures. Anything that feels good has the power to seduce us, and it does not take much for us to want more and more of almost anything. It is not that such pleasures are bad or evil, just that the pursuit of them can expand out of proportion and distort our behavior. It is empowering to understand this and temper our relationship to pleasure accordingly. Daily Practice Notice when something feels pleasurable and examine the texture of that sensation closely. Then let it go, as all transitory episodes of experience will inevitably cease. It is okay to welcome pleasure into your house as a guest, so to speak, as long as you also escort it to the door and wave goodbye when the time comes. It is when we chase after pleasure or try to hold on to it that we are in danger of misbehaving.  Tomorrow: Developing Unarisen Healthy States One week from today: Abstaining from Intoxication Share your thoughts and join the conversation on social media #DhammaWheel Questions? Visit the Dhamma Wheel orientation page.

Tricycle is a nonprofit and relies on your support to keep its wheels turning. Donate »

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