| ||
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.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Via Daily Dharma
Saturday, April 18, 2015
JMG HomoQuotable - Paul Kuntzler
"It was so revolutionary. It had never been done before anywhere in the
world. We all wore coat and ties and we all had pseudonyms. I wasn’t
scared. I was intrigued by the idea. But I was intimidated by all the
photographers. I was only 23. And as they came across the street they
started photographing us. Every time I approached the cameras, I hid
behind my sign because I was unnerved by the whole thing. But I don’t
think I was scared. I was very open and proud of being gay. People
passed by in disbelief. It was written on their faces. It had never had
happened before. My sign read, '15 million homosexuals protest federal
treatment.' It reflected what I thought. We could not conceive then the
astonishing progress we would eventually
make as a community. The idea that gay people, gay men and women, could
work openly in the government and serve in the military. It was beyond
our imagination." - Paul Kuntzler,
73, speaking to ABC News about picketing the White House fifty years
ago today on April 17th, 1965. That protest, which included future LGBT
rights giants Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny, is believed to have
been the first organized gay rights demonstration in American history.
Reposted from Joe Jervis
Via JMG: HOUSTON: LGBT Rights Bill Will Stand
Via the Houston Chronicle:
Opponents of Houston's non-discrimination ordinance failed to gather enough valid signatures to force a repeal referendum, a state district judge ruled Friday, validating city officials' decision to toss out the petition foes submitted last summer. After separate rulings from both a jury and state District Judge Robert Schaffer, attorneys for both sides entered dueling counts of the valid signatures, adding and subtracting voters as Schaffer responded to motions. By early this week, the counts were closer together than ever before, fewer than 1,000 signatures apart. Ultimately, Schaffer on Friday ruled the final count of valid signatures was 16,684, leaving opponents short of the threshold required in the city charter of 17,249 signatures, or 10 percent of the ballots cast in the last mayoral election.Stand by for some epic sadz! Read the ruling.
"The jury's verdict and the judge's ruling are a powerful smack-down against the forces of discrimination and intolerance," said Geoffrey Harrison, lead attorney for the city, in a statement. "And maybe, just maybe, they'll reconsider their misguided ways." The law, on hold during trial, is now in effect, according to a city spokeswoman. Mayor Annise Parker released a statement celebrating the verdict. "I would hope that the plaintiffs would not appeal, they lost during a jury trial and today they also lost with the judge's ruling," Parker said. "Now all Houstonians have access to the same protections." But opponents, largely conservative activists and pastors whose objections center on the protections the law extends to gay and transgender residents, say they will appeal the decision. Andy Taylor, attorney for the plaintiffs, said he remains confident they will ultimately take the law to voters.
Labels: Annise Parker, Christianists, crackpots, HA HA HA, hate groups, Houston, Jonathan Saenz, LGBT rights, Liberty Institute, religion, Texas, Texas Values
Via Sri Prem Baba: aFlor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 18/04/2015
“O eu inferior age na forma de pensamentos destrutivos gerando
angústia, depressão e desespero. Mergulhamos nos nossos dramas e
fantasias, e a nossa vida acaba se tornando uma maneira de provar que
isso é verdade. Ao se ver identificado com esses pensamentos, fique um
minuto em silêncio. Um instante em silêncio faz com que você volte para o
seu centro, e se torne uma testemunha silenciosa do que acontece. Nesse
lugar não existe sofrimento. Este é o nosso trabalho: desapegar da compulsão de pensar.”
“El yo inferior actúa en la forma de pensamientos destructivos
generando angustia, depresión y desesperación. Nos sumergimos en
nuestros dramas y fantasías, y nuestra vida acaba tornándose una manera
de probar que eso es verdad. Al verte identificado con estos
pensamientos, permanece un minuto en silencio. Un instante en silencio
hace que vuelvas a tu centro, y te vuelvas un testigo silencioso de lo
que sucede. En este lugar no existe sufrimiento. Este es nuestro
trabajo: desapegarnos de la compulsión de pensar.”
"The lower self acts through the form of destructive thoughts, which in turn generate anxiety, depression and despair. We dive head-on into our dramas and fantasies, and our lives turn out to be a way of proving that they are true. If we find ourselves identified with these thoughts, we can take one minute of silence. A moment of silence allows us to come back to our center and to become a silent witness of what is happening. In this place, there is no suffering. It is our job to detach ourselves from compulsive thinking."
"The lower self acts through the form of destructive thoughts, which in turn generate anxiety, depression and despair. We dive head-on into our dramas and fantasies, and our lives turn out to be a way of proving that they are true. If we find ourselves identified with these thoughts, we can take one minute of silence. A moment of silence allows us to come back to our center and to become a silent witness of what is happening. In this place, there is no suffering. It is our job to detach ourselves from compulsive thinking."
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Friday, April 17, 2015
Brokenhearted Baha'is: LGBT's Rejected by Their Church
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nicholassnowlive/2015/04/17/brokenhearted-bahais-lgbts-rejected-by-their-church
Nicholas Snow welcomes Sean Rayshel, an
openly-gay, third generation American Baha'i who for the past fifteen
years has been an advocate for LGBT inclusiveness in the Baha'i
Faith. Says the Baha'i official website, "the teachings of the Bahá’í
Faith inspire individuals and communities as they work to improve their
own lives and contribute to the advancement of civilization." Yet, in a
widely circulated letter from the faith's Department of the Secretariat
the faith reinforces,"Marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and sexual relations are only permissible between husband and wife."
Because of his same-sex marriage (since 2008 to Rich Tarpening),
Sean faces the loss of his Administrative Rights and/or expulsion from
the Baha'i Faith.
Sean founded the only LGBT Baha'i Twitter account Gay Baha'is United which currently has 1,500 followers, as well as being a co-administrator of the Facebook group "LGBTQ Baha'is and Allies". Recently Sean has taken over the helm of the longest standing LGBT Baha'i online site Gay/Lesbian Baha'i Story Project.
Follow Nicholas on Twitter and Facebook to be alerted at the start of live broadcasts!
Sean founded the only LGBT Baha'i Twitter account Gay Baha'is United which currently has 1,500 followers, as well as being a co-administrator of the Facebook group "LGBTQ Baha'is and Allies". Recently Sean has taken over the helm of the longest standing LGBT Baha'i online site Gay/Lesbian Baha'i Story Project.
Follow Nicholas on Twitter and Facebook to be alerted at the start of live broadcasts!
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 17/04/2015
“A verdadeira riqueza nasce da confiança e da plenitude, não do medo.
Para alinhar-se com a prosperidade é preciso desenvolver a virtude da
confiança e se mover em direção à entrega. Nas áreas da sua vida em que
você completou a entrega e já pode confiar no fluxo da vida, a energia
flui livremente. As coisas acontecem com base na corrente de afirmação,
que é a corrente que se move em direção à prosperidade, à saúde, ao contentamento.”
Para ler o Satsang completo, acesse: bit.ly/1ysTYMz
“La verdadera riqueza nace de la confianza y de la plenitud, no del miedo. Para alinearte con la prosperidad es necesario desarrollar la virtud de la confianza y moverse en dirección a la entrega. En las áreas de tu vida en las que completaste la entrega y ya puedes confiar en el flujo de la vida, la energía fluye libremente. Las cosas suceden con base en la corriente de afirmación, que es la corriente que se mueve en dirección a la prosperidad, la salud, el contentamiento.”
"True wealth is born out of trust and abundance, not out of fear. In order to align oneself with prosperity, it is necessary to develop the virtue of trust and to move towards surrender. In the areas of your life where you have already surrendered and are able to trust in the flow of life, the energy flows freely. Things happen out of a current of affirmation. This current naturally moves towards prosperity, health, and contentment."
“La verdadera riqueza nace de la confianza y de la plenitud, no del miedo. Para alinearte con la prosperidad es necesario desarrollar la virtud de la confianza y moverse en dirección a la entrega. En las áreas de tu vida en las que completaste la entrega y ya puedes confiar en el flujo de la vida, la energía fluye libremente. Las cosas suceden con base en la corriente de afirmación, que es la corriente que se mueve en dirección a la prosperidad, la salud, el contentamiento.”
"True wealth is born out of trust and abundance, not out of fear. In order to align oneself with prosperity, it is necessary to develop the virtue of trust and to move towards surrender. In the areas of your life where you have already surrendered and are able to trust in the flow of life, the energy flows freely. Things happen out of a current of affirmation. This current naturally moves towards prosperity, health, and contentment."
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 16/04/2015
“Num relacionamento, quando o outro diz não para você, ou seja, quando
ele não atende as suas expectativas, você logo fica magoado. Você se
fecha e passa a agir com indiferença. Essa é sua defesa. Você finge que
nada está acontecendo, mas fica remoendo por dentro. No fundo, você quer
chamar a atenção do outro; quer que ele peça desculpas e faça você se
sentir importante. Assim age o orgulho dentro de nós. Ele é um guardião
que está a serviço de manter a identificação com o eu inferior.
Enquanto não puder aceitar que o outro não pode fazer como você quer,
trabalhe para se desidentificar do orgulho. Ao percebê-lo atuando
pergunte: ‘Será que eu sou só isso? Eu sou o orgulho?’ Assim você pode
voltar ao seu centro e abrir mão desse jogo.”
Acesse o Satsang completo: bit.ly/1HuNEq0
“En una relación de pareja, cuando el otro te dice no, o sea, cuando no atiende tus expectativas, después quedas herido. Te cierras y pasas a actuar con indiferencia. Esta es tu defensa. Pretendes que nada está sucediendo, pero te quedas molesto por dentro. En el fondo, quieres llamar la atención del otro, quieres que te pida disculpas y te haga sentir importante. Así actúa el orgullo dentro nuestro. Es un guardián que está al servicio de mantener la identificación con el yo inferior. Mientras no puedas aceptar que el otro no puede hacer lo que tú quieres, trabaja para des-identificarte del orgullo. Al percibirlo actuando pregúntate: ¿Será que yo solo soy eso? ¿Soy el orgullo? Así puedes volver a tu centro y soltar este juego.”
"In a relationship, we easily get hurt when the other says no or simply doesn’t meet our expectations. We close ourselves off and we become indifferent. This is our defense mechanism. We pretend that nothing is happening, but we are actually simmering on the inside. At a deeper level, we just want to get the other’s attention; we want them to apologize to us and make us feel important. This is the way pride acts within us. Pride is a guardian that is at the service of maintaining our identification with the lower self. As long as we’re still unable to accept that the other cannot or will not do what we would like, we must try to de-identify from our pride. As we observe pride acting in us, we can ask ourselves: ‘Is this all that I am? Am I only this pride?’ This will help you to return to your center and let go of this game.”
“En una relación de pareja, cuando el otro te dice no, o sea, cuando no atiende tus expectativas, después quedas herido. Te cierras y pasas a actuar con indiferencia. Esta es tu defensa. Pretendes que nada está sucediendo, pero te quedas molesto por dentro. En el fondo, quieres llamar la atención del otro, quieres que te pida disculpas y te haga sentir importante. Así actúa el orgullo dentro nuestro. Es un guardián que está al servicio de mantener la identificación con el yo inferior. Mientras no puedas aceptar que el otro no puede hacer lo que tú quieres, trabaja para des-identificarte del orgullo. Al percibirlo actuando pregúntate: ¿Será que yo solo soy eso? ¿Soy el orgullo? Así puedes volver a tu centro y soltar este juego.”
"In a relationship, we easily get hurt when the other says no or simply doesn’t meet our expectations. We close ourselves off and we become indifferent. This is our defense mechanism. We pretend that nothing is happening, but we are actually simmering on the inside. At a deeper level, we just want to get the other’s attention; we want them to apologize to us and make us feel important. This is the way pride acts within us. Pride is a guardian that is at the service of maintaining our identification with the lower self. As long as we’re still unable to accept that the other cannot or will not do what we would like, we must try to de-identify from our pride. As we observe pride acting in us, we can ask ourselves: ‘Is this all that I am? Am I only this pride?’ This will help you to return to your center and let go of this game.”
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Via Sen McGlinn's blog: On conversion therapies for homosexuality, July 7, 2014
[This is a citation from a letter to an individual written on behalf
of the Universal House of Justice: dated 7 July, 2014. It was cited, in
German, by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of Germany. A
full text would be much appreciated. ~ Sen]
“Sie haben auch gefragt, ob das Haus der Gerechtigkeit‚wirksame Behandlungen der Homosexualität nennen könnte, die dokumentierte Erfolge aufwiesen. Darüber wird die Wissenschaft zu entscheiden haben, und natürlich haben sich die Ansichten der Mediziner zur Homosexualität im Laufe der Jahre deutlich verändert. Die Frage ist jedoch nicht, ob die sexuelle Ausrichtung geändert werden kann, sondern ob man sich als Bahá’í nach Kräften bemüht, Bahá’u’lláhs Lehren zu folgen. Es bleibt dem einzelnen Gläubigen überlassen zu entscheiden, ob eine Beratung oder ein anderer Ansatz ihm persönlich dabei hilft.”
(Aus einem Brief im Auftrag des Universalen Hauses der Gerechtigkeit an einen einzelnen Gläubigen, 7. Juli 2014)
Sen's English translation:
They also asked whether House of Justice could name any effective treatments for homosexuality, whose success has been documented. This is something that science will have to determine, and of course physicians’ views regarding homosexuality have changed significantly over the years. However, the question is not whether sexual orientation can be changed, but whether one does one’s best, as a Bahai, to follow Baha’u’llah’s teachings. It is left to the individual believer to decide whether a particular kind of counseling, or some other approach, helps him personally.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, July 7, 2014)
~~~~~~~~~
Short link: http://wp.me/PcgF5-2y2
“Sie haben auch gefragt, ob das Haus der Gerechtigkeit‚wirksame Behandlungen der Homosexualität nennen könnte, die dokumentierte Erfolge aufwiesen. Darüber wird die Wissenschaft zu entscheiden haben, und natürlich haben sich die Ansichten der Mediziner zur Homosexualität im Laufe der Jahre deutlich verändert. Die Frage ist jedoch nicht, ob die sexuelle Ausrichtung geändert werden kann, sondern ob man sich als Bahá’í nach Kräften bemüht, Bahá’u’lláhs Lehren zu folgen. Es bleibt dem einzelnen Gläubigen überlassen zu entscheiden, ob eine Beratung oder ein anderer Ansatz ihm persönlich dabei hilft.”
(Aus einem Brief im Auftrag des Universalen Hauses der Gerechtigkeit an einen einzelnen Gläubigen, 7. Juli 2014)
Sen's English translation:
They also asked whether House of Justice could name any effective treatments for homosexuality, whose success has been documented. This is something that science will have to determine, and of course physicians’ views regarding homosexuality have changed significantly over the years. However, the question is not whether sexual orientation can be changed, but whether one does one’s best, as a Bahai, to follow Baha’u’llah’s teachings. It is left to the individual believer to decide whether a particular kind of counseling, or some other approach, helps him personally.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, July 7, 2014)
~~~~~~~~~
Short link: http://wp.me/PcgF5-2y2
Via JMG: Apple's Tim Cook Tops Out's Power 50 List
Out Magazine today published its ninth annual ranking of the 50 most powerful
LGBT people in the United States. Taking the top spot from last year's
list leader, Ellen DeGeneres, is Apple CEO Tim Cook, who formally came
out six months ago. Here is this year's top ten:
1. Tim Cook 2. Ellen DeGeneres 3. Rachel Maddow 4. Sen. Tammy Baldwin 5. Anderson Cooper 6. Anthony Romero 7. Chad Griffin 8. Mary Kay Henry 9. Laverne Cox 10. Andy Cohen
Romero is the executive director of the ACLU and Henry is the head of the SEIU. Missing from the list for the second year is closeted homocon blogger Matt Drudge, who ranked at #21 in 2013 and at #16 in 2012. Fellow homocons Peter Thiel and Ken Mehlman appear on this year's ranking at #13 and #41 respectively, with closeted Fox anchor Shepard Smith coming at #20. Also gone this year is recently retired blogger Andrew Sullivan, who ranked at #26 last year. Hit the top link for the full 2015 list.
1. Tim Cook 2. Ellen DeGeneres 3. Rachel Maddow 4. Sen. Tammy Baldwin 5. Anderson Cooper 6. Anthony Romero 7. Chad Griffin 8. Mary Kay Henry 9. Laverne Cox 10. Andy Cohen
Romero is the executive director of the ACLU and Henry is the head of the SEIU. Missing from the list for the second year is closeted homocon blogger Matt Drudge, who ranked at #21 in 2013 and at #16 in 2012. Fellow homocons Peter Thiel and Ken Mehlman appear on this year's ranking at #13 and #41 respectively, with closeted Fox anchor Shepard Smith coming at #20. Also gone this year is recently retired blogger Andrew Sullivan, who ranked at #26 last year. Hit the top link for the full 2015 list.
Labels: Anderson Cooper, Chad Griffin, Ellen Degeneres, Out Magazine, Rachel Maddow, Shepard Smith, Tammy Baldwin, Tim Cook
Via Mindful: The Many Meanings of Mindfulness
When we hear "mindfulness" it ought to inspire caring and joy, not just attention.
Photograph by Caleb Roenigk/Flickr.com
Mindfulness is a big deal these days. Now that we’re hearing the word so often in so many contexts, some readers are telling us that it can confuse them. The meaning fuzzes out, and they have a hard time talking to others about it. It’s like breakfast, which covers everything from a granola bar to a Grand Slam at Denny’s. So it may be worth taking some time to consider what mindfulness conjures up in people’s minds when they hear it.
One of the first things to clarify is that the word is doing double duty. For one, it refers to an innate quality or way of being we all have access to that allows us to be fully present, attending to the moment, deeply engaged and yet at peace. Mindfulness also refers to techniques that train our minds to be that way more often. Understanding the difference between the practice and the innate quality is vital. If we don’t, it becomes far too easy to think mindfulness is something possessed by experts and conferred by them on others.
Once you’ve sorted out the confusion between the way of being and the practices to cultivate it, you’re left with the question of how adequate a job this single word can do to describe a quality so elusive, and so wonderful, that it’s like water. How many ways can you describe what water is, and does, and the forms it can take?
To delve into this question, we queried a dozen or so people who teach mindfulness (the practice, not the innate quality) to get their thoughts about the effectiveness of the word.
There was a consensus that mindfulness as an umbrella term for a range of qualities is powerful, but also limited in certain ways. For one thing, Jon Kabat-Zinn and others say, mindfulness also needs to be heartfulness. There’s feeling and caring there, not just cool, distant perception. Being mindful can also mean being aware of causes and effects and responsibilities—up to and including for our whole planet—but there is no mindful ideology that everyone who meditates signs on to.
Others commented that mindfulness can sound like something that takes a lot of work, like mental ditch digging, or that involves being hypervigilant—never misplacing your keys or making a wrong turn. In fact, there’s an ease that comes about as one obsesses less about maintaining storylines that solidly define us in every situation.
Janice Marturano, of the Institute for Mindful Leadership, emphasized that there’s a strong element of aspiration to mindfulness. It’s not something you get once and then have forever. In a similar vein, Michael Chender, who also does leadership training, talked about relaxing into ambiguity or uncertainty, not needing to nail things down in every moment.
Still others were looking for some juice or joy. Mindfulness has a quality of pleasure about it, and connectedness, to other people and your surroundings. It makes things taste better. When you hear a word like chocolate, juices start to flow. The heavy three-syllableness of mindfulness doesn’t capture the pleasure factor. Some suggested that space or flow or presence are qualities that make sense to talk about in the right context.
Tara Healey, of Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, among others, concluded by saying that uncovering mindfulness is a journey. And all the limited ways we think about it come about because we’re asking the word to carry a wide range of meanings. No single definition can cover the whole territory. It’s a territory we discover in moments that go beyond words.
This article also appeared in the February 2015 issue of Mindful magazine.
Subscribe to Mindful's print edition or digital edition.
Sete Vidas: Luís conta para os filhos que teve duas mães
"Em algumas famílias, todos são da mesma cor. Em algumas famílias, todos são de cores diferentes. Algumas famílias têm...
Posted by Jean Wyllys on Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Sete Vidas: Luís conta para os filhos que teve duas mães
"Em
algumas famílias, todos são da mesma cor. Em algumas famílias, todos
são de cores diferentes. Algumas famílias têm madrasta ou padrasto,
irmão postiço ou irmã postiça. Algumas famílias adotam filhos, algumas
famílias podem ter dois pais e outras famílias podem ter duas mães...
Vocês sabiam disso, que uma família pode ter duas mães? Às vezes são
dois pais e, às vezes, duas mães.
É um pouco confuso, sim, porque não é assim que acontece na maioria dos casos. Tão confuso que a sua irmã, quando era bem pequenininha, perguntou para a mamãe quem era o avô dela e a sua mãe, com medo que a sua irmã não fosse entender, inventou um avô de mentirinha; foi uma forma que a sua mãe encontrou para adiar o assunto da vovó Vivian, para vocês estarem grandes e entender tudo melhor, como estão agora.
(Não tinha pai), mas eu tive DUAS MÃES. Para mim foi legal (ter duas mães) porque eu tive ESSAS MÃES. Tudo o que uma criança precisa, meu filho - amor, carinho, dedicação - tudo isto eu tinha de sobra. A Estér e a Vivan eram casadas, tipo namoradas, duas mulheres que se amavam muito. A minha família era tão legal que eu nunca podia imaginar que família pudesse ser de outro jeito.
Não importa se quem cuida de você é homem ou mulher, o importante é a pessoa que cuida de você te dar amor e segurança."
#SeteVidas
#EmDefesaDeTodasAsFamílias
#MinhaFamíliaExiste
É um pouco confuso, sim, porque não é assim que acontece na maioria dos casos. Tão confuso que a sua irmã, quando era bem pequenininha, perguntou para a mamãe quem era o avô dela e a sua mãe, com medo que a sua irmã não fosse entender, inventou um avô de mentirinha; foi uma forma que a sua mãe encontrou para adiar o assunto da vovó Vivian, para vocês estarem grandes e entender tudo melhor, como estão agora.
(Não tinha pai), mas eu tive DUAS MÃES. Para mim foi legal (ter duas mães) porque eu tive ESSAS MÃES. Tudo o que uma criança precisa, meu filho - amor, carinho, dedicação - tudo isto eu tinha de sobra. A Estér e a Vivan eram casadas, tipo namoradas, duas mulheres que se amavam muito. A minha família era tão legal que eu nunca podia imaginar que família pudesse ser de outro jeito.
Não importa se quem cuida de você é homem ou mulher, o importante é a pessoa que cuida de você te dar amor e segurança."
#SeteVidas
#EmDefesaDeTodasAsFamílias
#MinhaFamíliaExiste
The Baha'i Faith is Homophobic: The Baha'i faith and LGB issues
From a colelague on FB:
The group, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, believes that all religions have some good and that nearly all religions change their beliefs over time -- generally becoming more tolerant. Here's an observation the group makes about the Bahai Faith and homosexuality. It seems to be a reasonably accurate and pithy summary of the present situation:
The Baha'i Faith and LGB issues
The Baha'i Faith teaches that homosexual behavior is unacceptable among its members. Voting rights of some of their lesbian, gay and bisexual members quite an(LGB) who are out of the "closet" have been suspended; some memberships have been terminated.
The group, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, believes that all religions have some good and that nearly all religions change their beliefs over time -- generally becoming more tolerant. Here's an observation the group makes about the Bahai Faith and homosexuality. It seems to be a reasonably accurate and pithy summary of the present situation:
The Baha'i Faith and LGB issues
The Baha'i Faith teaches that homosexual behavior is unacceptable among its members. Voting rights of some of their lesbian, gay and bisexual members quite an(LGB) who are out of the "closet" have been suspended; some memberships have been terminated.
The Baha'i faith is in a unique position with regards to lesbians, gays, and bisexuals (LGB's) because:
The last person capable of changing the authoritative interpretation of its holy texts confirmed that homosexual behavior, same-sex marriage, etc. is unacceptable.
He died without naming a successor.
Human sexuality researchers, professional mental health associations, social worker professional associations, and liberal religious groups have reached a near consensus that homosexual and bisexual orientations and behavior are normal and natural for a minority of adults, and that homosexual orientation is unchosen, and unchangeable.
One of the main principles of the Baha'i faith is their respect and adoption of the findings of science.
Thus Baha'i beliefs concerning sexual orientation are quite similar to those of the conservative wings of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other religions. They reject the findings of science on this topic, and they have no mechanism to change their position.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bah.htm
The last person capable of changing the authoritative interpretation of its holy texts confirmed that homosexual behavior, same-sex marriage, etc. is unacceptable.
He died without naming a successor.
Human sexuality researchers, professional mental health associations, social worker professional associations, and liberal religious groups have reached a near consensus that homosexual and bisexual orientations and behavior are normal and natural for a minority of adults, and that homosexual orientation is unchosen, and unchangeable.
One of the main principles of the Baha'i faith is their respect and adoption of the findings of science.
Thus Baha'i beliefs concerning sexual orientation are quite similar to those of the conservative wings of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other religions. They reject the findings of science on this topic, and they have no mechanism to change their position.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bah.htm
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 15/04/2015
“Ao avançar e aprofundar nas práticas espirituais, você inevitavelmente
começa a enxergar mais claramente as atuações do eu inferior. É a sua
dedicação à prática espiritual que te dá essa visão clara. Portanto,
esteja atento para não cair na armadilha da mente que te faz acreditar
que você está involuindo. Você está apenas podendo perceber coisas que
antes não percebia, e a impressão é que a sombra está ficando maior, mas isso não é verdade.”
“Al avanzar y profundizar en las prácticas espirituales,
inevitablemente comienzas a ver más claramente las actuaciones del yo
inferior. Es tu dedicación a la práctica espiritual lo que te da esta
visión clara. Por lo tanto, permanece atento para no caer en la trampa
de la mente que te hace creer que estás involucionando. Solo estás
pudiendo percibir cosas que antes no percibías, y la impresión es que la
sombra se está haciendo más grande, pero eso no es verdad.”
"By advancing and deepening in your spiritual practices, you inevitably begin to see the actions of the lower self more clearly. Your dedication to a spiritual practice gives you this clear vision. So be careful not to fall into the trap of the mind that makes you believe you are going backwards. You're just being able to perceive things now that you couldn’t see before. It may seem as though the shadow is getting bigger, but this is not true."
"By advancing and deepening in your spiritual practices, you inevitably begin to see the actions of the lower self more clearly. Your dedication to a spiritual practice gives you this clear vision. So be careful not to fall into the trap of the mind that makes you believe you are going backwards. You're just being able to perceive things now that you couldn’t see before. It may seem as though the shadow is getting bigger, but this is not true."
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Via JMG: RUSSIA: Network Issues "18+" Warning On Hillary Clip Due To Gay Couple
Via ABC News:
The launch of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign has proved an unexpected test of Russia’s controversial so-called “gay-propaganda” law. The independent, opposition TV channel, Dozhd TV, decided it was obliged to include an “18+” age-rating on the video announcing the launch of Clinton’s campaign because it features a gay couple holding hands. Clinton’s campaign released the video Sunday to formally announce her run. A spokesperson for Dozhd TV told ABC News that it had decided to include the age warning in order to avoid risking falling foul of the Russia’s so-called “gay propaganda” law, which bans the promotion of “non-traditional” relationships to minors.The network claims it acted preemptively without orders from Russia authorities.
RELATED: The couple has invited Clinton to their wedding.
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 14/04/2015
“Nossos dons e talentos são manifestações do nosso propósito na Terra.
Eles são expressões do Amor. São nosso tesouro espiritual. Mas, é
lamentável que alguns tenham esquecido do seu próprio tesouro. O ser
humano foi tão severamente reprimido que deixou de expressar seus dons
naturais. Ele deixou de ser natural e passou a ser aquilo que agrada à
família e à sociedade. E assim ele passa a vida buscando remédios para
curar os sintomas causados pelo esquecimento de si mesmo.”
“Nuestros dones y talentos son manifestaciones de nuestro propósito en
la Tierra. Éstos son expresiones del Amor. Son nuestro tesoro
espiritual. Pero es lamentable que algunos se hayan olvidado de su
propio tesoro. El ser humano fue tan severamente reprimido que dejó de
expresar sus dones naturales. Él dejó de ser natural y pasó a ser
aquello que agrada a la familia y a la sociedad. Y así pasa la vida
buscando remedios para curar los síntomas causados por el olvido de sí
mismo.”
"Our gifts and talents are the manifestations of our purpose here on Earth. They are expressions of love: our spiritual treasure. Unfortunately, some people have forgotten about their own treasure. Human beings were so severely repressed that they ceased to express their natural gifts. We went from naturally expressing ourselves to being someone who seeks to please our family and society. In this way, we spend our lives seeking remedies to cure the symptoms caused by the forgetfulness of ourselves."
"Our gifts and talents are the manifestations of our purpose here on Earth. They are expressions of love: our spiritual treasure. Unfortunately, some people have forgotten about their own treasure. Human beings were so severely repressed that they ceased to express their natural gifts. We went from naturally expressing ourselves to being someone who seeks to please our family and society. In this way, we spend our lives seeking remedies to cure the symptoms caused by the forgetfulness of ourselves."
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Monday, April 13, 2015
iGay: "Não voaria e não voarei ao lado daquele senhor"
iGay: "Não voaria e não voarei ao lado daquele senhor"
Na última semana, algumas pessoas pareciam sofrer de amnésia, inclusive parte da imprensa que comprou uma tese de "heterofobia" (sic) sem tecer qualquer crítica a esse tipo de falácia absurda. Eu tenho memória e, por isso, decidi relembrar alguns fatos neste vídeo, um trecho de uma entrevista exclusiva que vocês vão conferir em breve no iGay: http://bit.ly/1NxnV5e "
Na última semana, algumas pessoas pareciam sofrer de amnésia, inclusive parte da imprensa que comprou uma tese de "heterofobia" (sic) sem tecer qualquer crítica a esse tipo de falácia absurda. Eu tenho memória e, por isso, decidi relembrar alguns fatos neste vídeo, um trecho de uma entrevista exclusiva que vocês vão conferir em breve no iGay: http://bit.ly/1NxnV5e "
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 13/04/2015
“Autorresponsabilidade significa tomar consciência em relação às
consequências ou resultados dos seus pensamentos, palavras e ações. Mas é
importante estar atento porque nesse processo de se
autorresponsabilizar, você pode resvalar na culpa, pois ela tira sua
dignidade; sua capacidade de andar com a cabeça erguida. Ela é como um
veneno que mata lentamente.”
“Autorresponsabilidad significa tomar conciencia en relación a las consecuencias o resultados de tus pensamientos, palabras y acciones. Pero es importante estar atento porque en este proceso de autorresponsabilizarse, puedes resbalar en la culpa, porque ella te saca tu dignidad, tu capacidad de andar con la cabeza erguida. Es como un veneno que mata lentamente.”
“Autorresponsabilidad significa tomar conciencia en relación a las consecuencias o resultados de tus pensamientos, palabras y acciones. Pero es importante estar atento porque en este proceso de autorresponsabilizarse, puedes resbalar en la culpa, porque ella te saca tu dignidad, tu capacidad de andar con la cabeza erguida. Es como un veneno que mata lentamente.”
"Self-responsibility means becoming aware of the consequences and
results of our thoughts, words and actions. We must remain attentive
during the process of taking self-responsibility so as to not fall into
the trap of guilt. Once we slip into guilt, it robs us of our dignity
and our ability to walk with our head held high. Guilt is like a poison
that kills slowly."
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Via JMG: Mother Jones: Hillary Clinton Selects Openly Gay Man As Campaign Manager
Mother Jones reports that the Hillary Clinton has selected Robby Mook, a relatively unknown and openly gay man who ran the 2013 campaign of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, to be her campaign manager.
Mook is widely known as Robby, not Robert, and at 35, he's still boyish—handsome and clean-shaven with close-cropped brown hair. His usual uniform consists of chinos and bland dress shirts rolled up to the elbows. He couldn't be more different from, say, James Carville, the loudmouth Ragin' Cajun who advised Bill Clinton's first presidential bid and now makes a living as a consultant and TV commentator. Mook rarely appears in news stories or on TV. He did not respond to repeated interview requests. He has no Facebook page. He has a Twitter account but never tweets and has forgotten the password. Mook, who will be the first openly gay manager of a major presidential campaign, is largely unknown beyond the insular world of Democratic staffers but well liked within it. In addition to the email listserv, his loyal following—the Mook Mafia—plans yearly reunions, during which they return to a state where they once operated for a weekend of bar-hopping mixed with volunteering for a local campaign.Hit the link for much more about Mook's history. And stand by for some hilarious wailing from the usual suspects. (Tipped by JMG reader Charles)
Via http://oblogdeeoblogda.me: Top 10 Reasons Why Hillary Clinton is Good for Gays
Today Hillary Clinton will
announce her candidacy for President of the United States of America.
While she has yet to outline her campaign goals, the support amongst
Democrats for her run has been enormous, with huge expectations by the
Gays ( I use term Gays collectively here to represent LGBTI) community
for an ally to continue the pro-equality stance of the Obama
administration.
1) She is a WOMAN ….
2) We trust that she will support Full Federal Equality Legislation for LGBT people, noting her evolution on the issue of equality for all to include lesbians, gays, bisexual and trans people;
3) She supports decriminalization of global anti-homosexuality laws. While in the State Department Hillary came out voraciously against Uganda’s Kill the Gays Bill . “I’m well aware that you do your work often amidst difficult, even dangerous circumstances. I know that some of your lives have been threatened, your friends and families intimidated. But I want you to know that the United States is and will be your partner.” Hillary Clinton”;
4) Republicans who hate gays are terrified of her… and that is a sign of her effectiveness;
5) Republicans will continue to use Hillary’s support of LGBT equality as a wedge issue which will continue to contribute – especially amongst the younger generation – to GOP implode;
6) She lived the horror of DOMA and DADT under her husband’s pen – while we wonder what she did not do at the time to thwart his thinking – now she must make it right – redemption time and her heart is there! #FullyEVOLVED;
7) Hillary Clinton’s Human Rights Day speech has was indeed a historic moment not just for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights movement, but for the nation as a whole. She noted “gay rights are human rights”;
8) Hillary respects Marriage equality;
9) Her Campaign Manager is openly Gay; and
10) She undoubtedly has the support of MOST people in the LGBT community.
1) She is a WOMAN ….
2) We trust that she will support Full Federal Equality Legislation for LGBT people, noting her evolution on the issue of equality for all to include lesbians, gays, bisexual and trans people;
3) She supports decriminalization of global anti-homosexuality laws. While in the State Department Hillary came out voraciously against Uganda’s Kill the Gays Bill . “I’m well aware that you do your work often amidst difficult, even dangerous circumstances. I know that some of your lives have been threatened, your friends and families intimidated. But I want you to know that the United States is and will be your partner.” Hillary Clinton”;
4) Republicans who hate gays are terrified of her… and that is a sign of her effectiveness;
5) Republicans will continue to use Hillary’s support of LGBT equality as a wedge issue which will continue to contribute – especially amongst the younger generation – to GOP implode;
6) She lived the horror of DOMA and DADT under her husband’s pen – while we wonder what she did not do at the time to thwart his thinking – now she must make it right – redemption time and her heart is there! #FullyEVOLVED;
7) Hillary Clinton’s Human Rights Day speech has was indeed a historic moment not just for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights movement, but for the nation as a whole. She noted “gay rights are human rights”;
8) Hillary respects Marriage equality;
9) Her Campaign Manager is openly Gay; and
10) She undoubtedly has the support of MOST people in the LGBT community.
@melanienathan1
@HillaryClinton #HILLARYforPRESIDENT #LGBTforHILLARY #HILLARY
Make the Jump here to read the original posting
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 12/04/2015
“Tenho dito que a raiz da crise que tem se manifestado nos vários
setores da sociedade no mundo todo é devido ao esquecimento da dimensão
espiritual da vida. A crise é um produto da nossa desconexão com o
Grande Espírito. Nós perdemos a capacidade de enxergar o Espírito por
trás das coisas e dos seres humanos (de nós mesmos). Não reconhecemos o
Espírito porque nosso olhar está focado na matéria, principalmente na
pobreza e nas mazelas do outro. E esse
olhar somente alimenta a crença de que somos um pequeno eu. Esse é um
encantamento, uma inconsciência coletiva.”
“Vengo diciendo que la raíz de la crisis que se ha manifestado en
varios sectores de la sociedad en todo el mundo es debido al olvido de
la dimensión espiritual de la vida. La crisis es un producto de nuestra
desconexión con el Gran Espíritu. Perdemos la capacidad de ver el
Espíritu por detrás de las cosas y de los seres humanos (de nosotros
mismos). No reconocemos el Espíritu porque nuestra mirada está enfocada
en la materia, principalmente en la pobreza y en los defectos del otro.
Este mirar solamente alimenta la creencia de que somos un pequeño yo.
Este es un encantamiento, una inconsciencia colectiva.”
"The root of the crisis that has manifested itself in various sectors of society around the world is due to the forgetfulness of life’s spiritual dimension. The crisis is a by-product of our disconnection with the Great Spirit. We have lost the ability to see spirit behind all things and all human beings, including ourselves. We do not recognize spirit because we are focused on matter, especially on poverty and the shortcomings of others. This focal point only feeds the belief that we are the small self, and it acts like a spell upon the collective unconscious."
"The root of the crisis that has manifested itself in various sectors of society around the world is due to the forgetfulness of life’s spiritual dimension. The crisis is a by-product of our disconnection with the Great Spirit. We have lost the ability to see spirit behind all things and all human beings, including ourselves. We do not recognize spirit because we are focused on matter, especially on poverty and the shortcomings of others. This focal point only feeds the belief that we are the small self, and it acts like a spell upon the collective unconscious."
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Saturday, April 11, 2015
JMG Quote Of The Day - Vivek Murthy
"Being
gay is not a disorder. Being transgender is not a malady that requires a
cure. Had I been Leelah Alcorn's physician, I would have told her
exactly that. And that's the message I want other doctors, nurses,
health professionals, and public health leaders to help get out to
parents and children who may be confronting these issues." - Surgeon
General Vivek Murthy, speaking today on a conference call about White
House support for bans on "ex-gay" torture.
Labels: brainwashing, ex-gay, feds, Leelah Alcorn, LGBT youth, Obama administration, Surgeon General, torture
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 11/04/2015
“É possível que você tenha entendido racionalmente a falta de lógica
da sua mágoa, e isso te faz tentar uma aproximação, uma conversa; te faz
tentar ser amigo do outro. Porém, esse entendimento racional não é o
suficiente. A compreensão é um fenômeno que se dá no plano do coração -
todo o seu Ser compreende. Então, você precisa transformar o
entendimento em compreensão. Para isso é necessário entrar em contato
com os sentimentos guardados.”
“Es posible que hayas entendido racionalmente la falta de lógica de tu
herida, y esto te hace intentar una aproximación, una charla; te hace
intentar ser amigo del otro. Sin embargo, este entendimiento racional no
es suficiente. La comprensión es un fenómeno que se da en el plano del
corazón – todo tu Ser comprende. Entonces necesitas transformar el
entendimiento en comprensión. Para eso es necesario entrar en contacto
con los sentimientos guardados.”
"It is possible for us to intellectually understand the lack of logic behind a particular hurt or resentment of ours. This enables us to come a little closer to the person involved, and attempt to have a conversation with them. We may even try to befriend the other. However, this rational understanding is not enough. Comprehension is a phenomenon that occurs on the plane of the heart – our entire Being comprehends. So we need to transform our understanding into comprehension. This requires us to come into contact with denied and protected feelings."
"It is possible for us to intellectually understand the lack of logic behind a particular hurt or resentment of ours. This enables us to come a little closer to the person involved, and attempt to have a conversation with them. We may even try to befriend the other. However, this rational understanding is not enough. Comprehension is a phenomenon that occurs on the plane of the heart – our entire Being comprehends. So we need to transform our understanding into comprehension. This requires us to come into contact with denied and protected feelings."
Via Daily Dharma
| ||
Friday, April 10, 2015
Via Spiritual Ecology / FB:
"The basic core values of ONENESS are free! "
"The real innovations that belong to the future should be in service to life, in service to humanity. If we will have this attitude, then the consciousness will be aligned where the information is, where the technology is waiting.... It is a gift."
"There is another interesting point that our culture has overlooked. Which is that everything that is seminal, everything that is really important is a gift. It is a gift from the inner world."
—Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, "Technology, Consciousness, and the Future: An Introductory Talk"
Listen to the complete talk here: http:// www.workingwithoneness.org/ node/624
Image: The labyrinth at Chartres cathedral
"The real innovations that belong to the future should be in service to life, in service to humanity. If we will have this attitude, then the consciousness will be aligned where the information is, where the technology is waiting.... It is a gift."
"There is another interesting point that our culture has overlooked. Which is that everything that is seminal, everything that is really important is a gift. It is a gift from the inner world."
—Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, "Technology, Consciousness, and the Future: An Introductory Talk"
Listen to the complete talk here: http://
Image: The labyrinth at Chartres cathedral
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día- Flower of the day 10/04/2015
“O perdão é uma fragrância do Ser. Ele é como um raio de luz, que
encontra-se encoberto por capas de mágoas e ressentimentos. Por mais que
você não esteja podendo identificar esses sentimentos, eles existem, e a
prova disso é a separação, tanto do outro como de si mesmo. Você pode
estar magoado com o outro ou consigo mesmo, mas independentemente disso,
o fato é que algo ainda não foi compreendido e aceito. Por alguma razão,
você se recusa a aceitar. Mas, a aceitação não pode ser forçada, assim
como o perdão não pode ser imposto de fora para dentro. Ela é um fruto
da árvore da compreensão.”
“El perdón es una fragancia del Ser. Es como un rayo de luz, que se
encuentra cubierto por capas de heridas y resentimientos. Por más que no
estés pudiendo identificar esos sentimientos, éstos existen, y la
prueba de ello es la separación, tanto del otro como de ti mismo. Puedes
estar herido con el otro o contigo mismo, pero independientemente de
eso, el hecho es que algo aún no fue comprendido y aceptado. Por alguna
razón, te rehúsas a aceptar. Pero la aceptación no puede ser forzada,
así como el perdón no puede ser impuesto de afuera hacia adentro. Es un
fruto del árbol de la comprensión.”
"Forgiveness is a fragrance of the Being. It is like a ray of light that is covered in layers of hurt and resentment. Even though we may not be able to identify these feelings, they do indeed exist. The proof of their existence lies in our feelings of separation, both from the other and from ourselves. We may have been hurt by others or by ourselves, but regardless, the fact is that something has not been understood and accepted. For some reason, we refuse to accept it. Acceptance cannot be forced, and forgiveness cannot be imposed from the outside. It is a fruit of the tree of understanding."
"Forgiveness is a fragrance of the Being. It is like a ray of light that is covered in layers of hurt and resentment. Even though we may not be able to identify these feelings, they do indeed exist. The proof of their existence lies in our feelings of separation, both from the other and from ourselves. We may have been hurt by others or by ourselves, but regardless, the fact is that something has not been understood and accepted. For some reason, we refuse to accept it. Acceptance cannot be forced, and forgiveness cannot be imposed from the outside. It is a fruit of the tree of understanding."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)










