Friday, December 25, 2015

Today's Daily Dharma: Baby Buddha

Baby Buddha
We must grow up, just like a newborn baby. The infant born today and the adult 25 years later is essentially the same person, isn't he? He is not someone else. Right now, our nature is the buddha nature. When fully enlightened, it will also be the buddha nature.
—Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, "As the Clouds Vanish"
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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Via Elephant Buddhadharma / FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 23/12/2015

“Uma famosa frase da bíblia diz: ‘A Verdade vos libertará’. E tenho constatado que isso é verdade. Por isso tenho dito que a honestidade é a mais urgente e necessária forma de amor que precisamos desenvolver neste momento da jornada evolutiva. Ela é a base, a fundação do templo da consciência. Se você não pode ser honesto, seu processo evolutivo é interrompido.”

“Una famosa frase de la biblia dice: "La Verdad os hará libres". Y he constatado que esto es verdad. Por eso vengo diciendo que la honestidad es la forma más urgente y necesaria de amor que precisamos desarrollar en este momentodel camino evolutivo. Es la base, los cimientosdel templo de la conciencia. Si no puedes ser honesto, tu proceso evolutivo es interrumpido.”

“A famous passage of the Bible (John 8:32) reads, ‘The truth will set you free.’ I have experienced that this really is true. Honesty is the most urgent and necessary form of love that we need to develop at this moment of our evolutionary journey. Honesty is the foundation of the temple of consciousness. If we cannot be honest, our evolutionary process is interrupted.”

Today's Daily Dharma: The Value of Intention

The Value of Intention
I regularly advise people to discover what their deepest intention is. What do they really want? What is the heart’s deepest wish? While some people have worthwhile intentions for their meditation, the practice can have greater value when it is clearly connected to what is most important to us.
—Gil Fronsdal, "Evaluate Your Meditation"
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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 22/12/2015

“Através das práticas espirituais, estamos batendo na porta da Verdade. Mas é importante lembrar que a Verdade não pertence a uma determinada religião ou tradição espiritual específica - ela simplesmente é. Ela foi e sempre será a mesma. Aquilo que é verdadeiro não muda de acordo com as circunstâncias externas.”

“A través de las prácticas espirituales, estamos golpeando la puerta de la Verdad. Pero es importante recordar que la Verdad no pertenece a una determinada religión o tradición espiritual específica, simplemente es. Fue y siempre será la misma. Aquello que es verdadero no cambia según las circunstancias externas.”

“Through spiritual practices, we are knocking on Truth’s door. It is important to remember that the truth doesn’t pertain to any one particular religion or specific spiritual tradition. The truth simply is. The truth has always been and will always be the same. That which is true doesn’t change according to external circumstances.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Look Deeply at your Life

Look Deeply at Your Life
To practice the dharma is to look into the content of one’s life in a very deep way. To do this, one must be able to discern between one’s strengths and one’s shortcomings.
—Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, "Intelligence & Investigation"
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Monday, December 21, 2015

Via K-LOVE Morning Show / FB:


Via Towleroad: Tim Cook Takes ’60 Minutes’ Inside Apple and Talks About His Own Coming Out: WATCH

Tim Cook

Last night 60 Minutes and Charlie Rose went inside Apple and spoke with CEO Tim Cook, Jony Ive, Angela Ahrendts, Eddie Cue, and other top officials about the company’s innovation, its secrecy, its design lab, the new ‘spaceship’ campus it is building in Cupertino, encryption, taxes, and host of other issues.

Rose also spoke with Cook about his decision to come out of the closet last year.
Said Cook:

“When you’re in a minority group it gives you a sense of empathy of what it’s like to be in the minority and you begin to look at things from different point of views, and I think it was a gift for me.”
 
Cook added:

“Honestly, I value my privacy. I’m a very private person. But it became increasingly clear to me that if I said something that it could help other people. And I’m glad, because I think that some kid somewhere, some kid in Alabama, I think if they just for a moment stop and say ‘if it didn’t limit him, it may not limit me.’ Or, this kid that’s getting bullied. Or worse, I’ve gotten notes from people contemplating suicide. And so if I could touch just one of those, it’s worth it. And I couldn’t look myself in the mirror without doing it.”

Watch Inside Apple, in two parts, below:
 
 

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" MUSIC VIDEO - Steve Grand


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 21/12/2015

“Em um sangha ou comunidade espiritual, é comum vermos buscadores tomados por um ‘ego espiritual’. Os mais adiantados quase não são vistos, e aqueles que precisam de atenção, estão realmente chamando atenção. Porém, você não deve se incomodar com isso, pois é o próprio ego que se incomoda com o ego do outro. Estando livre disso, você não liga para o que o outro está fazendo. Ele está na sua viagem, querendo sentir-se especial mas você não liga, pois sabe que é o que ele precisa viver; que é somente uma fase. Portanto, não se preocupe com o outro – trate de olhar para si mesmo.”

“En un sangha o comunidad espiritual, es común ver a los buscadores tomados por un "ego espiritual". Los más adelantados apenas son vistos, y aquellos que necesitan de atención, están realmente llamando la atención. Sin embargo, no debes incomodarte con esto, ya que es el propio ego el que se incomoda con el ego del otro. Estando libre de esto, no te enganchas con lo que el otro está haciendo. Él está en su viaje, queriendo sentirse especial pero no te molesta,porque sabes que es lo que precisa vivir; que solo es una fase. Por lo tanto, no te preocupes con el otro - trata de mirar hacia ti mismo.”

“In a sangha or spiritual community, it is common to find seekers taken over by the ‘spiritual ego.’ Truly advanced seekers are almost invisible, while those who yearn for attention really clamor for it. But please don’t be bothered by this, for it is the ego itself that is bothered by the ego in the other. If you are free of this, you won’t even pay attention to what the other is doing. That person may be in their own trip wanting to feel special, but you don’t get affected because you know this is what that person is needing to go through, that it's just a phase. In sum, don’t worry about the other, and take a good look at yourself.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Brave Uncertainty

Brave Uncertainty
Anxiety, heartbreak, and tenderness mark the in-between state. It's the kind of place we usually want to avoid. . . . When we are brave enough to stay in the middle, compassion arises spontaneously.
—Pema Chödrön, "The In-between State"
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Sunday, December 20, 2015

Via FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 20/12/2015

“Você só fica satisfeito se o outro olha para você de determinada maneira. Então você tenta fazer com que ele olhe pra você sempre desse jeito, porque assim você se sente amado. Você força o outro a fazer do seu jeito para poder sentir-se feliz e amado. E se o outro não faz do jeito que você quer, você fica infeliz. Isso não é felicidade, muito menos amor. Se a sua felicidade depende do comportamento do outro, então você não é feliz. A verdadeira felicidade vem de dentro.”

“Solo quedas satisfecho si el otro te mira de determinada manera. Entonces intentas hacer que te mire siempre de esta manera, porque asíte sientes amado. Fuerzas al otro a hacerlo a tu manera para que puedas sentirte feliz y amado. Y si el otro no lo hace de la manera que quieres, te sientes infeliz. Esto no es felicidad, y mucho menos amor. Si tu felicidad depende delcomportamiento del otro, entonces no eres feliz. La verdadera felicidad viene de adentro.”

"We often feel satisfaction when the other looks at us, but only if it's done in a particular way. We eventually start subtly 'forcing' the other to always look at us in that way so we feel loved and happy. If the other does not concede, we become unhappy – but this isn't happiness at all, much less is it love. If our happiness depends on the other's behavior, then we are not really happy. True happiness comes from within."

Today's Daily Dharma: The Two Freedoms

The Two Freedoms
Whatever your difficulties—a devastated heart, financial loss, feeling assaulted by the conflicts around you, or a seemingly hopeless illness—you can always remember that you are free in every moment to set the compass of your heart to your highest intentions. In fact, the two things that you are always free to do—despite your circumstances—are to be present and to be willing to love.
—Jack Kornfield, "Set the Compass of Your Heart"
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Friday, December 18, 2015

Today's Daily Dharma: A Useful Mind

A Useful Mind
Like an umbrella, a mind is only useful when it is open. The first step toward maintaining an open mind is to understand the nature of mind or self.
—Gerry Shishin Wick Sensei, "Zen in the Workplace"
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Thursday, December 17, 2015

End of a Surreal Year



Earthquakes, floods, landslides, political messiness... Three very dear women taken from us... two so suddenly that it left most of us gasping... And yet, I now have a permanent visa, we have a permanent home in a lovely city, and as the year ends, our son is about to present us with a grandchild.

I am even more confirmed that all of us are afraid, afraid for our lives, afraid for our fragile and corrupt crumbling environments and infrastructures, and the political and social institutions that seem to be incapable of resolving the problems that threaten to engulf us all. So many are afraid that we are loosing the gains that we worked so hard to achieve. I see that. 

And yet...

And yet, I see so many people rising out of this morass... Most notably, my team in Nepal, they lost hundreds of friends, neighbors, family members and colleagues and yet are thriving... producing research, checking in every day or so... all of this when the political situation there is impossible. I see my students, colleagues and family members here in Brasil that despite the rancor, and hateful dialogue, hug you, reach out, open the door, say hello... I am grateful to my amigos in the States who check in and share their jokes and love. I am deeply grateful and honored to call you all friends, family, amigos!

What these trips and living abroad have shown us is how now more than ever, just how very fragile everything is, and yet at the same time, this fragility gives us the opportunity to see in people we meet, such grace, such talent, such strength, such light!  I am absolutely sure that we are all one people. That we have so much, much, much more in common than what we perceive, as are our curious differences. 

This year, more than ever, has shown us just how fragile things are, yet it is this light, that seems to shine in each one of us, that allows us to give our humanity a chance. It is the hundred little simple things we can all do to fight back, to not give into the darkness, that gives us our humanity... opening a door, picking up some liter, greeting your neighbors, showing up on time, giving a seat to someone else on the bus, saying hello and smiling to everyone... 

This is one of the best forms of protest, and the best way I know that keeps the darkness at bay.  Each small act can and will become a butterfly effect…



Daniel Orey, Ph.D.

Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 17/12/2015

“É de grande valia ampliar a percepção para tomar consciência do que te isola do outro. Você perceberá que por trás da separação existe julgamento, comparação e uma série de crenças que fazem com que você se proteja e se mantenha isolado. Vá olhando para tudo isso, mas procure ir mais fundo: encontre o núcleo, a origem dessa crenças, pois isso é o que te impede de se unir – ao outro e ao seu próprio coração. Quando toca esse núcleo, você tem a chance de virar uma chave e de transformar completamente a sua vida.”

“Es de gran valor ampliar la percepción para tomar conciencia de lo que te aísladel otro. Te darás cuentade que por detrás de la separación existe juicio, comparación y una serie de creencias que hacen que te protejas y te mantengas aislado. Anda mirando todo esto, pero trata de ir más profundo: encuentra el núcleo, el origen de estas creencias, ya que esto es lo que te impide unirte, al otro y a tu propio corazón. Cuando tocas este núcleo, tienes la oportunidad de girar una llavey de transformar completamentetu vida.”

"It is of great value to expand our perception and become aware of what isolates us from the other. We may notice that behind the separation exists judgment, comparison and a series of beliefs that make us seek to protect ourselves and remain isolated. Continue to observe this, but try to go deeper: find the core, the origin of these beliefs, as this is what prevents us from uniting with each other and with our own hearts. When we tap into this core, we have a chance to turn the key and completely transform our lives."

Today's Daily Dharma: Teach by Example

Teach by Example
It is not by preaching or expounding the sutras (scriptures) that you fulfill the task of awakening others to self-realization; it is rather by the way you walk, the way you stand, the way you sit and the way you see things.
—Thich Nhat Hanh, "Walking: Meditation on the Move"
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Via New Civil Rights: Senator Challenges Pope To Rein In Cardinal Who Keeps Calling US Ambassador A 'F****t'

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin engaged in some international diplomacy this week to defend a gay American U.S. Ambassador.

Even before stepping on Dominican Republic soil, James "Wally" Brewster has been the target of anti-gay and ugly attacks by a Dominican Catholic Cardinal. Since his appointment as U.S. 

Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Brewster, who married his husband the same day he was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden, has had to deal with homophobic attacks from the Catholic Church abroad.

Earlier this month, Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez (photo) said Ambassador Brewster should focus on homemaking, because he's married to a man.

"Let him focus on housework, since he's the wife to a man," López Rodríguez told reporters after conducting mass.

In 2013, after discussing Brewster's appointment with reporters, López Rodríguez claimed the U.S.Ambassador would attempt to establish marriage for same-sex couples in the Dominican Republic. He then mockingly said we've been "talking about faggots and lesbians."

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, has had enough. 

On Tuesday he penned a letter to Pope Francis asking His Holiness to rein in his homophobic cardinal.

"Even before Ambassador Brewster’s arrival in Santo Domingo in 2013, Cardinal Rodriguez launched a personal attack against him with public statements quoted in the popular press," Sen. Durbin's letter reads.
The Cardinal used the hateful slur “faggot,” which he continues to use to this day.  In a recent interview Cardinal Rodriguez again described the Ambassador as a “faggot” and falsely claimed the Ambassador was setting out to promote “faggotry” in the Dominican Republic.  The Cardinal described the Ambassador as a “wife” who “should stick to housework.”
Calling Cardinal López Rodriguez's comments "intolerant," Durbin observes the Catholic Church’s "teachings on gay marriage are well known but the Church also teaches us to show tolerance for those with different sexual orientations."
 
"Since your selection as Pope, you have shared a message of compassion, tolerance, and love," the Illinois Democrat writes, then artfully reminds the Pope of his address before Congress when he told them of their "responsibility to 'defend and preserve the dignity'" of our "'fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good.'"

"I accept that challenge and I am calling on you to ask nothing less of the hierarchy of the Church," Durbin requested.

Image by PresidenciaRD via Flickr and a CC licenseHat tip: Washington Blade

MEET OUR DAD




Ian McKellen on coming out at "just the right time." (Dec. 14, 2015) | Charlie Rose


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor de dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 16/12/2015

“A falsa autoconfiança se baseia no controle. A pessoa tenta controlar tudo o que acontece pois somente assim ela pode sentir-se segura. A autêntica autoconfiança não depende de nada externo, ela vem de dentro. Se você confia de verdade, tudo pode estar caindo lá fora, mas você permanece o mesmo.”

“La falsa autoconfianza se basa en el control. La persona trata de controlar todo lo que sucede pues solo así puede sentirse segura. La auténtica autoconfianza no depende de nada externo, viene de adentro. Si confías de verdad, todo puede estar cayéndose afuera, pero sigues siendo el mismo.”

“False self-confidence is based on control. The person tries to control everything that happens because it’s the only way they can feel secure. Authentic self-trust does not rely on anything external – it comes from within. When someone truly trusts, regardless if everything is falling apart on the outside, they simply remain the same.”

Today's Daily Dharma: Patterns of Body, Patterns of Mind

Patterns of Body, Patterns of Mind
As we inhabit our body with increasing sensitivity, we learn its unspoken language and patterns, which gives us tremendous freedom to make choices. The practice of cutting thoughts and dispersing negative repetitive patterns can be simplified by attending to the patterns in the body first, before they begin to be spun around in the mind.
—Jill Satterfield, "Meditation in Motion"
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

The Buddhist Door

Via Lions Roar: Bhante Henepola Gunaratana on Vipassana Meditation

The Dhammapada, an ancient Buddhist text, says: 

“What you are now is the result of what you were. What you will be tomorrow will be the result of what you are now. The consequences of an evil mind will follow you like the cart follows the ox that pulls it. The consequences of a purified mind will follow you like your own shadow. No one can do more for you than your own purified mind—no parent, no relative, no friend, no one. A well-disciplined mind brings happiness.”

http://www.lionsroar.com/why-meditate/

Morgana Bailey: O perigo de esconder quem você é


Via FB:


Via FB:


Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 15/12/2015

“O amor desperto é um fluxo contínuo de compaixão; é quando podemos nos colocar no lugar do outro e sentir a dor dele; quando reconhecemos o potencial adormecido no outro e damos força para esse potencial se manifestar. É uma vontade sincera de ver o outro brilhar; de ver o outro feliz e satisfeito. É isso que eu chamo de ‘autêntico altruísmo’. A principal característica do amor desperto é a doação desinteressada. Assim como a flor espalha seu perfume e sua beleza gratuitamente; assim como o sol espalha o seu calor e a sua luz; assim como a chuva molha a terra, e a água mata a sede, a essência do ser humano ama.”

“El amor despierto es un flujo continuo de compasión, es cuando podemos colocarnos en el lugar del otro y sentir su dolor, cuando reconocemos el potencial dormido en el otro y damos fuerza para que ese potencial se manifieste. Es unas ganas sinceras de ver al otro brillar, de ver al otro feliz y satisfecho. Esto es lo que llamo ‘auténtico altruismo’. La principal característica del amor despierto es la entrega desinteresada. Así como la flor esparce su perfume y su belleza gratuitamente, así como el sol esparce su calor y su luz, así como la lluvia moja la tierra, y el agua mata la sed, la esencia del ser humano ama.”

Libro “Amar y Ser Libre”


"Awakened love is a continuous flow of compassion. From this state, we can put ourselves in someone else's shoes and feel their pain. When love awakens we recognize the dormant potential in each other and give supportfor this potential to manifest. It is a sincere desire to see the other shine, be happy and feel satisfied. This is also called authentic altruism, as the main characteristic of awakened love is selfless giving. Just as a flower spreads its fragrance and beauty freely, the sun emanates its warmth and light, the rain wets the earth, and as water quenches thirst, the essence of human beings is to love."

From the book Love and Be Free

Today's Daily Dharma: Watering the Seedlings of Intention

Watering the Seedlings of Intention
Metta practice is the cultivation of our capacity for loving kindness. It does not involve either positive thinking or the imposition of an artificial positive attitude. . . . Rather, we meditate on our good intentions, however weak or strong they may be, and water the seeds of these intentions.
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Monday, December 14, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 14/12/2015

“Talvez você não acredite no amor - talvez nunca tenha amado. Talvez você já tenha sentido uma brisa, algumas notas do perfume do amor, que pode ter se manifestado em relação a uma pessoa; alguém que acorda em você um sentimento que não consegue traduzir em palavras, mas que te eleva, te abre, e te faz sentir e viver coisas que até então você não acreditava que pudessem existir. Você fica feliz sem razão; confia sem razão. Você quer ver o bem do outro e torce por ele, muitas vezes, sem nem mesmo ter motivo para isso. É algo que desafia a lógica. Você não explica o amor, mas tem notícias de que algo assim existe. E é isso que dá sentido para a vida humana.”

“Tal vez no creas en el amor, tal vez nunca hayas amado. Tal vez ya hayas sentido una brisa, algunas notas del perfume del amor, que puede haberse manifestado en relación a una persona, alguien que despierta en ti un sentimiento que no logras traducir en palabras, pero que te eleva, te abre, y te hace sentir y vivir cosas que hasta entonces no creías que pudieran existir. Estás feliz sin razón, confías sin razón. Quieres ver el bien en el otro y lo alientas, muchas veces, sin tener motivo para eso. Es algo que desafía la lógica. No explicas el amor, pero tienes noticias de que algo así existe. Y es esto lo que da sentido a la vida humana.”

"You may not believe in love – perhaps you’ve never even truly loved. You may have felt a breeze, or smelled the scent of love’s perfume in relation to a person who awakens in you a feeling that you can’t even put into words. This feeling elevates you, opens you up, and makes you feel and experience things that you couldn’t have imagined. You feel happy without a cause, and trust without a reason. You wish the other well and root for him or her, oftentimes without even having a reason to do so. It defies logic; you can’t explain love, but you know that something like this exists. This is what gives meaning to human life."

Today's Daily Dharma: A Human Possibility

A Human Possibility
Most of us haven’t been taught that to receive love deeply and transmit it wholeheartedly is a real human possibility, that it can be learned, and that to do so is the key to our deepest well-being, our spiritual life, and our capacity to bring more goodness into this world.
—John Makransky, "Love Is All Around"
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Sunday, December 13, 2015

Via Liberals Unite / FB:


Today's Daily Dharma: Glimpsing What's Not There

Glimpsing What's Not There
If we use precision in our attention, we see—even if only for a moment—that no person is embedded in our mind/body process. We can never forget that experience.
—Ayya Khema, "No Satisfaction"
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Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 13/12/2015

“O ego é o herói da jornada; ele tem uma missão, um trabalho a fazer no mundo. Mas para isso ele precisa estar vazio. Porém, primeiro ele precisa crescer e ficar forte. Ocorre um desenvolvimento pessoal. Você sente que está crescendo e expandindo, mas está em cima de um tapete vermelho. Mas quando está suficientemente grande, o tapete é puxado dos seus pés. Então você começa a encolher, até que se esvazia. E estando vazio, você está pronto para realizar sua missão, que é ser um canal puro do amor.”

“El ego es el héroe del camino, tiene una misión, un trabajo por hacer en el mundo. Pero para esto él necesita estar vacío. Sin embargo, primero necesita crecer y estar fuerte. Ocurre un desarrollo personal. Sientes que estás creciendo y expandiéndote, pero estás arriba de una alfombra roja. Pero cuando está lo suficientemente grande, la alfombra es quitada de tus pies. Entonces comienzas a encogerte, hasta que te vacías. Y estando vacío, estás listo para realizar tu misión, que es ser un canal puro del amor.” 

"The ego is the hero of the day; it has a mission and a job to do in the world. But for this to happen the ego must be empty. First, the ego needs to grow and become strong. Personal development occurs, and you feel that you are growing and expanding while on a red carpet. When the egobecomes large enough, the rug is pulled out from under your feet. Then you begin to shrink, until youbecome empty. Being empty, you are ready to carry out your mission, which is to be a pure channel of love."

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 13/12/2015

“O ego é o herói da jornada; ele tem uma missão, um trabalho a fazer no mundo. Mas para isso ele precisa estar vazio. Porém, primeiro ele precisa crescer e ficar forte. Ocorre um desenvolvimento pessoal. Você sente que está crescendo e expandindo, mas está em cima de um tapete vermelho. Mas quando está suficientemente grande, o tapete é puxado dos seus pés. Então você começa a encolher, até que se esvazia. E estando vazio, você está pronto para realizar sua missão, que é ser um canal puro do amor.”

“El ego es el héroe del camino, tiene una misión, un trabajo por hacer en el mundo. Pero para esto él necesita estar vacío. Sin embargo, primero necesita crecer y estar fuerte. Ocurre un desarrollo personal. Sientes que estás creciendo y expandiéndote, pero estás arriba de una alfombra roja. Pero cuando está lo suficientemente grande, la alfombra es quitada de tus pies. Entonces comienzas a encogerte, hasta que te vacías. Y estando vacío, estás listo para realizar tu misión, que es ser un canal puro del amor.” 

"The ego is the hero of the day; it has a mission and a job to do in the world. But for this to happen the ego must be empty. First, the ego needs to grow and become strong. Personal development occurs, and you feel that you are growing and expanding while on a red carpet. When the egobecomes large enough, the rug is pulled out from under your feet. Then you begin to shrink, until youbecome empty. Being empty, you are ready to carry out your mission, which is to be a pure channel of love."

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 12/12/2015

“O ego é uma falsa ideia sobre quem somos. E é o autoconhecimento que possibilita a integração do ego e o acesso à realidade de quem somos. Portanto é o autoconhecimento que possibilita a autorrealização. Por isso, abençoados sejam os momentos em que nos dedicamos às práticas que nos dão a chance de nos conhecer um pouco melhor. Abençoados sejam os seus esforços.”

“El ego es una falsa idea sobre quienes somos. Y es el autoconocimiento lo que posibilita la integración del ego y el acceso a la realidad de quien somos. Por lo tanto, es el autoconocimiento lo que posibilita la autorrealización. Por eso, benditos sean los momentos en que nos dedicamos a las prácticas que nos dan la oportunidad de conocernos un poco mejor. Benditos sean tus esfuerzos.”

"The ego is a false idea about who we are. Self-awareness enables us to integrate the ego and access the reality of who we are. Thus, self-knowledge allows for self-realization. Blessed are the moments when we dedicate ourselves to practices that give us the chance to know ourselves a little better. Blessed be your efforts."

Today's Daily Dharma: Energized by Wonder

Energized by Wonder
We need to be able to utilize the positive energy of wondering, of wanting to know the truth for ourselves and working to do that, and not get lost in cynicism or endless speculation.
—Sharon Salzberg, "Sitting on the Fence"
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Friday, December 11, 2015

Via JMG: FLORIDA: Gay Festivus Pole Approved

FLpole
 
It will be a very gay Festivus at the Florida Capitol Building this year:
The Florida Department of Management Services on Thursday approved an application by Deerfield Beach political blogger Chaz Stevens to set up the display to honor the Festivus “holiday,” agency spokeswoman Natalee Singleton said. Stevens’ application for his 2015 “Rainbow gay edition” display — a 6-foot-6-inch pole built of empty beer cans and topped with a disco ball — allows him to put up the pole on Dec. 21 and for it to remain in the Capitol’s first-floor rotunda through Dec. 28. The only other end-of-year display approved for the Capitol is a menorah by the Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle-Tallahassee. The menorah is already in place.
A similar request has been filed in Arkansas. “And now…the Airing Of Grievances….”

Via LGBTq Nation: Zachary Quinto shows how LGBTQ discrimination weakens our society

Zachary Quinto

Zachary Quinto

Today is Human Rights Day, and to make the occasion, the United Nation’s Free & Equal campaign worked with actor Zachary Quinto to spread awareness about the real price of LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace. 

A new video narrated by Quinto demonstrates the tremendous toll discrimination takes on society when LGBTQ people don’t receive adequate protections — both at work and in their private lives.
According to the vid, almost two thirds of LGBTQ youth are bullied. A third of them decide to quit school because of it. 

Gay and lesbian teens are four times more likely to consider suicide than straight teenagers.
Trans teenagers are more than ten times more like to attempt killing themselves. 

According to Charles Radcliffe, Head of Global Issues at the UN Human Rights Office, and campaign direction of UN Free & Equal:
“In study after study, rates of poverty, homelessness, depression & suicide are found to be far higher in the LGBT community than among the general population.
“But it’s not only LGBT people who pay the price; we all do. Every trans kid thrown out of home or forced out of school is a loss for society.
“Every gay or lesbian worker denied work or driven to emigrate is a lost opportunity to build a more productive economy.
“Everyone who still thinks the effects LGBTI discrimination has on the economy are small and marginal should think again.”

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 11/12/2015

“Existem momentos da jornada evolutiva nos quais acreditamos estar nos movendo em direção a realidade espiritual, mas estamos presos, estagnados em algum ponto. Mas como saber se, de fato, estamos nos movendo e não nos enganando? Muito simples - olhando para os nossos relacionamentos. Observando se estamos conseguindo manter o coração aberto para o outro; se estamos conseguindo ir além do jogo de acusações; se estamos conseguindo ver a luz que está por trás da sombra do outro e se já estamos podendo escolher desviar dos buracos que até então havíamos caído.”

“Existen momentos en el camino evolutivo en los cuales creemos estar moviéndonos en dirección a la realidad espiritual, pero estamos presos, estancados en algún punto. ¿Pero cómo saber si, de hecho, estamos moviéndonos y no nos estamos engañando? Muy simple, mirando nuestras relaciones. Observando si estamos pudiendo mantener el corazón abierto al otro, si estamos pudiendo ir más allá del juego de acusaciones, si estamos pudiendo ver la luz que está por detrás de la sombra del otro y si ya estamos pudiendo elegir desviarnos de los pozos que hasta ahora veníamos cayendo” 

"There are moments in the evolutionary journey where we believe that we’re moving towards spiritual reality but, in fact, we are stuck on some point. How can we know if we are truly moving towards this reality and are not fooling ourselves? Quite simply, by looking at our relationships. We do so by observing whether we are managing to keep an open heart to one another and being able to go beyond the blame game. If we are able to see the light behind the other’s shadow and consciously choose to deviate from the holes that we had previously fallen into, then we are indeed evolving."