Via JMG: Ho-Hum, Yet Another "Ex-Gay" Former Exodus Leader Comes Out As Gay

In what has become a fairly routine event, yet another "ex-gay" leader has decided that he was kidding himself. Today it's Randy Thomas, former Exodus International vice president and self-described "ex-gay poster boy." He writes:

Whether anyone cares, pays attention, approves, disapproves, friends or unfriends me isn’t the point. The point is that I need to stay true to how I am wired, be honest, and consistent with what I believe to be true in this regard. Writing this post is something I need to do as a part of taking personal responsibility for my past journey and being honest in my present reality. My love for Jesus and His finished work on the Cross is unwavering, and stronger than ever. I am as saved today as I was the moment I believed in, and received Him as my Lord and Savior. He rose from the dead to open the door to reconciliation with God and eternal Life. I’ve already walked through that door. He is in my heart. None of that changes regardless of my sexuality or my all-to-human musings. It doesn’t change because it’s all on Him and He never changes. He loves me, I know it. He loves you, is not angry with you, and I hope you know that truth.

Thomas says he hasn't had sex in 24 years. He notes that he published an apology to the gay community back in 2013. Former Exodus leader Alan Chambers, who has also apologized, is among those participating in the comment thread at the top link. (Tipped by JMG reader Jasun)

Labels: brainwashing, coming out, ex-gay, Exodus International, LGBT rights, LGBT youth, Randy Thomas, religion

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: South Dakota Turns Mustard

 

And the number of red states shrinks again.

 

BREAKING: South Dakota Marriage Ban Struck Down, Ruling Has Been Stayed

 

Read the ruling. From its conclusion:

In Loving, the Supreme Court addressed a traditionally accepted definition of marriage that prohibited Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving from marrying. Because Virginia’s laws deprived that couple of their fundamental right to marriage, the Court struck down those laws. Little distinguishes this case from Loving. Plaintiffs have a fundamental right to marry. South Dakota law deprives them of that right solely because they are same-sex couples and without sufficient justification. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (Docket 20) is granted, and defendants’ motion for summary judgment (Docket 43) is denied.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that SDCL 25-1-1, SDCL 25-1-38, Article 21, § 9 of the South Dakota Constitution, and any other provision of state law that precludes people from marrying, or refuses to recognize an existing marriage, solely because the individuals are of the same gender are unconstitutional because they violate the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendants are enjoined from enforcing those laws or otherwise declining to issue a marriage license solely because the applicants are of the same gender. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a separate judgment will be entered and the effects of that judgment will be stayed until the judgment is final.

Labels: LGBT rights, marriage equality, South Dakota

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 12/01/2015

“É importante tomar consciência dos hábitos e condutas que te conectam com a crueldade no seu dia a dia. Porque é a crueldade (ou maldade) que rebaixa sua consciência. O que te derruba? Qual é a porta que você abre? Dica: Não importa se o sintoma é físico ou emocional (psicológico), o que te derruba é um vício. Pode ser um alimento, uma droga, um hábito, ou até um pensamento - todo vício é uma porta de entrada para o mau.”

“Es importante tomar conciencia de los hábitos y conductas que te conectan con la crueldad en tu día a día. Porque es la crueldad (o maldad) lo que rebaja tu conciencia. ¿Qué es lo que te derriba? ¿Cuál es la puerta que tú abres? Una pista: no importa si el síntoma es físico o emocional (psicológico), lo que te derriba es un vicio. Puede ser un alimento, una droga, un hábito o incluso un pensamiento – todo vicio es una puerta de entrada al mal.”

“It’s important to become aware of the habits and behaviors that connect us to cruelty in our day-to-day lives, as cruelty, or evil, is what lowers our consciousness. What brings us down? Which doors do we open? I’ll give you a hint: it doesn’t matter whether the symptoms are physical, emotional or psychological, what knocks us down is an addiction. This addiction may either be to food, drugs, a habit, or even a thought – all addictions are an entryway for evil”.

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

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A Moment of Wakefulness | January 12, 2015

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Every mindful moment in which generosity displaces greed, compassion takes the place of hatred, and insight dislodges delusion is a moment in which we are awake.

- Andrew Olendzki, "A Tough But Not Impossible Act to Follow"

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 11/01/2015

“Muitos buscadores procuram saber sobre técnicas tântricas de controle da energia sexual para faze-la subir pela coluna e abrir os chakras. Mas, aqui eu proponho uma reflexão: Quem em você quer controlar a energia? E para quê? É fato que ao praticar essas técnicas você pode adquirir certos “poderes”, mas é importante compreender a serviço de quem eles serão usados. Para que você quer ter poder?”

Confira o satsang completo: bit.ly/prembaba01

“Muchos buscadores buscan saber sobre técnicas tántricas de control de la energía sexual para hacerla subir por la columna y abrir los chakras. Pero aquí propongo una reflexión: ¿Quién en ti quiere controlar la energía? ¿Y para qué? Es un hecho que al practicar esas técnicas puedes adquirir ciertos “poderes”, pero es importante comprender al servicio de quién ellos serán usados. ¿Para qué quieres tener poder? ”

“Many seekers search to learn about Tantric techniques of controlling sexual energy in order for it to rise up through the spine and open the chakras. But I propose we reflect on the following: Who inside of us wants to control this energy? For what purpose? It is a fact that by using these techniques, we can acquire certain ‘powers’, but it is important to understand at the service of whom they will be used. Why do we want to have this power?”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

An Improper Definition of Sangha | January 11, 2015 Everyone I meet is in my sangha. I don’t know if that’s the proper definition, but that’s the way I’m going to hold it in my mind. - Jeff Bridges, "The Natural"

Via BBC Three Counties Radio

Post by BBC Three Counties Radio.

Iain Lee tries a simple experiment to see if the public have a problem with people being openly gay.

You might have heard 23 year-old Nick telling Iain how humiliated he felt when he was subjected to a torrent of homophobic abuse by a woman who followed him off the train.

What really shocked Iain was when Nick went on to say he's used to being insulted by strangers offended by him holding hands with his boyfriend in public...not kissing, smooching or cuddling...just holding hands.

So we decided to conduct a little experiment. — with Iain Lee.

Via AliYoussefiMusic: UNITE

 

Publicado em 1 de jan de 2015

Music composed and produced by Ali Youssefi
Text from the Bahá’í Sacred writings

“Unite and bind together the hearts, join in accord all the souls.
Oh Lord! Make these faces radiant through the light of Thy oneness”

To download song and find more music:
https://aliyoussefi.bandcamp.com/trac...

Follow me on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AliYoussefiMusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/youssefi_a

Mastered by Ivan Mihoci
Video produced by Ivan Mihoci and Ali Youssefi

Special thanks to Mike Gannon, Ivan Mihoci for their tireless support, and to all the wonderful singers, without whose support this song would not be what it is.

Michael Gannon: Slide guitar, Bass
Jonathan Bryan: Flute
Nobuya Yamaguchi: Steel drum
Afshin Toufighian: Piano

Singers:

Benjamin Ables
Kristen Ables
Zachary Ables
Nicholas Ables
Sara Azimi
Maryam Azimi
Elijah Christopher-Green
Leila Christopher-Green
Melissa Christopher-Green
Aleksandar Cveta- Cvetanovski
Katharine Day
Katie Eckert
Melani Fedri
Michael Gannon
Carolyne Gardner
Kamran Grasselli
Nahoko Hata
Saba Jordan
Daniel Kemp
Katharine Key
Alexander Kruszewski
Borghild Kveim
Glenn Loe
Alex Mahally
Elika Mahony
Tina Majongwe
Sanam Milani
Sheyda Peyman
Ella Piknjac
Katy Porray
Bayan Rasooly
Sohayla Reimer
Hannah Reimer
Alia Reimer
Katharina Reyhani
Charles Sawka
Linda Sawka
Asal Sinanović
Dania Tanović
Livina Tanović
Gustave Wayenece
Truba Wayenece
Amelia Youssefi
Nasim Youssefi

• Categoria

  • Música

• Licença

  • Licença padrão do YouTube

Via JMG: Obamacare Ad Stars Married Gay Couple / Jake and Allen's Story

Dilma quer lei para criminalizar a homofobia

Uma das prioridades da presidente Dilma neste segundo mandato será aprovar uma lei que torne crime a homofobia; religiosos são contra a proposta; pesquisa feita pelo Grupo Gay da Bahia apontou que pelo menos 312 gays, lésbicas e travestis brasileiros foram assassinados em 2013, uma média de um homicídio a cada 28 horas; a entidade estima que 99% dessas mortes foram motivadas por homofobia; a investigação obrigatória para mortes consequentes de ações com policiais também deverá ser outra prioridade do atual governo.

247 - Uma das prioridades da presidente Dilma Rousseff (PT) neste segundo mandato será aprovar uma lei que torne crime a homofobia. Líderes religiosos são contra a proposta. A investigação obrigatória para mortes consequentes de ações com policiais também deverá ser outra prioridade do atual governo.

Assim como existe a Maria da Penha para a violência contra a mulher, a presidente Dilma quer implantar uma lei específica para homofobia, segundo ministros entrevistados pela Folha.

Um projeto de criminalização da homofobia está em debate há oito anos no Senado, porém será arquivado por tramitar há mais de duas legislaturas, como prevê o regimento.

Entidades que lutam pelos direitos dos homossexuais como a ABGLT e o Grupo Gay da Bahia consideraram o arquivamento "um desastre". Esses movimentos querem que a homofobia seja equiparada ao crime de racismo. Segundo pesquisa feita pelo Grupo Gay da Bahia, pelo menos 312 gays, lésbicas e travestis brasileiros foram assassinados em 2013, o que representa uma média de um homicídio a cada 28 horas e, ao mesmo tempo, uma queda de 7,7% em relação ao ano anterior. No entanto, a entidade estima que 99% dessas mortes foram motivadas por homofobia. 

A outra proposta do governo federal diz respeito a um projeto que prevê investigação pela de todas as mortes por policiais. Um relatório do Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública apontou, em novembro do ano passado, que os policiais brasileiros mataram uma média de seis pessoas por dia entre 2009 e 2013. Foram pelo menos menos 11.197 mortes provocados por policiais nesses cinco anos.

O número de mortes nesse período supera o da polícia dos Estados Unidos, que, ao ongo de 30 anos, matou 11.090 pessoas. "Elas (as mortes) não são investigadas, o que incentiva a ilegalidade policial", afirma o deputado Paulo Teixeira (PT-SP), um dos autores do projeto.

http://www.brasil247.com/pt/247/brasil/166169/Dilma-quer-lei-para-criminalizar-a-homofobia.htm

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 10/01/2015

“Ao tomar consciência de que há uma parte em você escolhendo sofrer, você está próximo do ponto de virada. Durante uma fase do processo de cura, é importante identificar os seus sentimentos negativos e reconhecer que existe prazer no sofrimento. Na medida em que vai ampliando a consciência, você percebe que isso é apenas um sistema de defesa criado para te proteger das dores geradas pelos choques de exclusão e abandono que viveu. Alguns se defendem através da arrogância, outros através da vaidade, da luxúria, da avareza, da gula... Tudo isso faz parte do processo de evolução da consciência humana, mas em algum momento você precisa compreender porque você precisou desenvolver determinada camada de proteção, pois também faz parte da cura entrar em contato com a dor primordial que está escondida por trás dela.”

Acesse o satsang completo: bit.ly/1xKRYP6

“Al tomar conciencia de que hay una parte en ti eligiendo sufrir, estás cerca del punto de giro. Durante una fase del proceso de cura, es importante identificar tus sentimientos negativos y reconocer que existe placer en el sufrimiento. En la medida en que vas ampliando la conciencia, percibes que eso es solo un sistema de defensa creado para protegerte de los dolores generados por los shocks de exclusión y abandono que viviste. Algunos se defienden a través de la arrogancia, otros a través de la vanidad, de la lujuria, de la avaricia, de la gula…Todo esto es parte del proceso de evolución de la conciencia humana, pero en algún momento necesitas comprender por qué necesitaste desarrollar determinada capa de protección, pues también es parte de la cura entrar en contacto con el dolor primordial que está escondido por detrás de ella.”

“When we become aware that there is a part of us that chooses to suffer, we are close to a turning point. During one phase of the healing process, it is important for us to identify our negative feelings and to recognize the pleasure we feel in suffering. As our consciousness expands, we come to realize that this is merely a defense mechanism created to protect us from the pain generated by the shocks of exclusion and abandonment we experienced. Some people use arrogance to defend themselves, others use vanity, lust, greed, gluttony, and so forth. This is all part of the evolutionary process of human consciousness. At some point, we must understand why we needed to develop a certain layer of protection, because getting in touch with the primordial pain hidden behind it is also part of the healing work.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

Compassion Demands Engagement | January 10, 2015 When we resist change, it’s called suffering. But when we can completely let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the groundlessness of our situation and relax into its dynamic quality, that’s called enlightenment, or awakening to our true nature, to our fundamental goodness. - Pema Chödrön, "The Fundamental Ambiguity of Being Human"

Via ॐ Thich Nhat Hanh Quote Collective ॐ / FB:

I have arrived
I am home
In the Here
In the now
I am Solid
I am free
In the ultimate I dwell..

--Thich Nhat Hanh--

 

 

 

 

Via JMG: IRELAND: Catholic Priest Comes Out During Mass, Urges Support For Marriage

Via the Irish Central:

A Dublin priest received a standing ovation from his congregation this week as he called for same sex marriage equality in Ireland and came out to his parishioners. Father Martin Dolan, who has been a priest at Church of St Nicholas of Myra in Francis Street in Dublin’s city center for 15 years, opened up to his congregation at the Saturday night Mass. He also confided in his Sunday morning congregation. Dolan is the only priest in the parish. Calling on his Dublin city congregation to support same sex marriage in the upcoming Irish referendum, set for the end May, Dolan said “I’m gay myself.” A referendum on same sex marriage will take place at the end of May 2015. Although polls consistently show that over 70 percent of the Irish are in support of gay marriage, campaigners admit that there’s no room for complacency during the run up to the vote. The Dublin Archdiocese declined to comment until they had spoken directly to Dolan. However, the Catholic Church hierarchy in Ireland showed their disdain for the referendum in December 2014. Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin said legalizing same-sex marriage would change the meaning of marriage itself.

The Irish government is supporting a "yes" vote in the referendum.

Labels: Catholic Church, coming out, Dublin, Ireland

Reposted from Joe Jervis

All The Little Things | Panti | TEDxDublin

Via Awake in our Mythology: THE GOLDEN RULE

Awake in our Mythology at undefined

THE GOLDEN RULE


The Golden Rule is an ethical statement which is found in many religions and philosophies. It is also called the ethic of reciprocity.


♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
African Traditional Religions
"One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."
Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria) 


♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
Buddhism
"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
Udana-Varga 5,1
"Comparing oneself to others in such terms as "Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I," he should neither kill nor cause others to kill."
Sutta Nipata 705
"One should seek for others the happiness one desires for himself"
Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama, c. 563 - c. 483 B.C.)

"The Ariyan disciple thus reflects, Here am I, fond of my life, not wanting to die, fond of pleasure and averse from pain. Suppose someone should rob me of my life... it would not be a thing pleasing and delightful to me. If I, in my turn, should rob of his life one fond of his life, not wanting to die, one fond of pleasure and averse from pain, it would not be a thing pleasing or delightful to him. For a state that is not pleasant or delightful to me must also be to him also; and a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another? As a result of such reflection he himself abstains from taking the life of creatures and he encourages others so to abstain, and speaks in praise of so abstaining."
Samyutta Nikaya v.353

"Never do to other persons what would pain thyself."
Panchatantra (Buddhist Mythology c. 200 B.C.) 


♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
Christianity
"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets."
Matthew 7:1

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Leviticus 19.18

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets"
Matthew 22.36-40 


♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
Confucianism
"Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state."
Analects 12:2

"Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence."
Mencius VII.A.4

"Tsekung asked, "Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?" Confucius replied, "It is the word shu--reciprocity: Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.""
Analects 15.23

 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Hinduism
"This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you."
Mahabharata 5,1517
"One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire."
Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8 

 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Islam
"No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself."
40 Hadith of an-Nawawi 13 


♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
Jainism
"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self."
"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated."
Sutrakritanga 1.11.33

"One should treat all beings as he himself would be treated."
Agamas Sutrakritanga 1.10.13 


♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ 
Judaism
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary."
Talmud, Shabbat 3id 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Sikhism
"As thou deemest thyself, so deem others."

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Taoism
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss."
Tai Shang Kan Yin P'ien 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Zoroastrianism
"That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself."
Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5
"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others."
Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Other
"Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others."
Socrates 436-338 BCE
"We should behave toward friends as we would wish friends to behave toward us."
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)
"He sought for others the good he desired for himself. Let him pass."
Egyptian Book of the Dead (1580-1350 B.C.)
"Do not kill or injure your neighbor, for it is not him that you injure, you injure yourself. But do good to him, therefore add to his days of happiness as you add to your own. Do not wrong or hate your neighbor, for it is not him that you wrong, you wrong yourself. But love him, for Moneto loves him also as he loves you."
Shawnees Indians 

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Contemplation and Application of the Golden Rule
Maybe, due to our past tendencies, we find ourselves acting cruelly and selfishly despite our intellectual understanding of the goodness and correctness of the Golden Rule. How may we strengthen our intellectual understanding of the Golden Rule and also increase our awareness and moment to moment application of the Golden Rule? Keep the rule in mind, that is, remember it often. Venerate the rule, silently praise it in your heart and mind joyfully. This will increase your attraction to the principle of the Golden Rule. Within your own nature, your attention will cleanse and deepen your understanding of the Golden Rule. Visualise the highest Love and Understanding of the rule as glorious light filling you and vibrating through you, cleansing, healing and blessing your motives, your thoughts, your speech, your actions and your circumstances. If you believe in God and/or positive higher powers then pray for help in this. If you are an athiest then make a rational decision to embody this rule in the best way possible.
"On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear."
Bhagavad Gita

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 09/01/2015

“Existem dois tipos de karma: um que te aproxima de Deus e te libera; e outro que te afasta e te aprisiona. O karma é construído através de pensamentos, palavras e ações. Então, você escolhe cultivar pensamentos, palavras e ações que contribuem para sua liberação ou que te aprisionam ainda mais.”

“Existen dos tipos de karma: uno que te aproxima a Dios y te libera, y otro que te aleja y te aprisiona. El karma es construido a través de pensamientos, palabras y acciones. Entonces elijes cultivar pensamientos, palabras y acciones que contribuyen a tu liberación o que te aprisionan cada vez más.”

“There are two types of karma: one that brings you closer to God and liberates you, and another that distances you from God and imprisons you. Karma is constructed through thoughts, words and actions. Therefore, you can choose to cultivate thoughts, words and actions that contribute to your liberation or ones that imprison you even further.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

Compassion Demands Engagement | January 9, 2015 The central guiding principle of Buddhism is compassion and concern for the world in which we live. It's the idea of interdependence—that our actions dictate the experience of others. I don't think everybody needs to run out and join an aid organization and everyone should feel bad that they're not doing more for people in need. But I would like to see Buddhists have a braver relationship to engaging with the world—and also, potentially, a smarter one. We're trained to develop our intellect and develop our wisdom, and it's not worth very much unless you put it into practice. - Ashoka Mukpo, "I Survived Ebola. But the Fight Doesn't End There."

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 08/01/2015

“Normalmente as feridas criadas na infância são reeditadas na adolescência, que é justamente um período no qual temos a chance de tratá-las. Mas, se não conseguimos fazer isso, elas permanecem na vida adulta, o que torna a cura muito mais desafiadora. Isso porque o ser humano tem a tendência de se esquecer; e o tamanho do esquecimento é proporcional ao tamanho da dor que ele sente - quanto maior a dor, maior o amortecimento. Alguns se esquecem completamente da infância e até mesmo da adolescência. E é por isso que eu tenho insistido tanto no tema da responsabilidade em relação as nossas crianças: se pudermos diminuir ao máximo o número de episódios traumáticos na infância, estaremos facilitando o processo de cura coletivo.”

“Normalmente las heridas creadas en la infancia son reeditadas en la adolescencia, que es justamente un período en el cual tenemos la chance de tratarlas. Pero si no conseguimos hacer eso, ellas permanecen en la vida adulta, lo que convierte a la cura en un desafío mayor. Esto es porque el ser humano tiene la tendencia a olvidar, y el tamaño del olvido es proporcional al tamaño del dolor que siente – cuanto mayor el dolor, mayor el anestesiamiento. Algunos se olvidan completamente de la infancia e incluso de la adolescencia. Y es por eso que vengo insistiendo tanto en el tema de la responsabilidad en relación a nuestros niños: si podemos disminuir al máximo el número de episodios traumáticos en la infancia, estaremos facilitando el proceso de cura colectivo.”

“Normally, the wounds created during one’s childhood are recreated in one’s adolescence, which is precisely the time when we have the opportunity to heal them. But if we are unable to do so, they will remain with us throughout our adult life, which makes healing them much more challenging. This is because us human beings have a tendency to forget ourselves. The extent to which we forget our true nature is proportionate to the amount of pain we feel: the greater the pain, the greater the numbing. Some people completely forget about their childhood, and even their adolescence. This is why I insist so much that we must take responsibility in our children’s lives: if we could reduce the number of traumatic events during childhood as much as possible, we would be facilitating the collective healing process.”  

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

A Wider Spiritual Vision | January 8, 2015 People of faith should root transformative action in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation, and contemplation. While traditionally such practices served as stepping stones to the realization of a transcendent goal, today we need a wider spiritual vision that can encompass the divine and the mundane, the transcendent and the immanent, in an integral whole. - Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, "Foster Peace, Inside and Out"

Via My Migraine Family: My Turn To Come Out

The news of Leelah Alcorn’s suicide has, of course, hit my family hard. And while I wrote a post, erm, a year and a half ago, about being a person of deep faith – in which I only mentioned the name of my religious persuasion in the tags, this is not something I discuss publicly.

In large part, I do not discuss this publicly because I have had an internal struggle in which I was not sure my transgender child had a place in my faith. And if she did not have a place, that meant it no longer had a place for me. And that was an intensely painful struggle for me.

I am a Bahá’í. And while you may go ahead and google it, you will find little information of value on the internet concerning transgender folk. And frankly, this post is directed at those who are already aware of the Bahá’í Faith, because it is time for me to claim my right for my family to proudly be a part of the Bahá’í family. I could find quotes from our holy scriptures for people who need that, but frankly, that’s not my job. What I will tell you is what I know the Bahá’í Faith says about being transgender and being a Bahá’í, because while my job is to raise my children to be good little human beings, I also feel a heavy weight to educate as many people about who my transgender daughter (ninja, comic book writer, explorer, inventer, artist, all around awesome human) is and her right to be where everyone is allowed to be. Thus far, we have been incredibly blessed within our own Bahá’í community, but we are a world faith, and we are a united force, not individual units across the world. 

This means that a part of me feels that I have to make this space for my daughter throughout the entire Bahá’í world. You know, only 6 million people. Heh. 

*And yes, to be clear, my voice is not an official voice, it is a personal voice.* The Bahá’í Faith encourages transgender folks to transition with the support of skilled physicians and therapists (of the individual’s choice, if they are going to transition). Furthermore, the individual is supported in their affirmed gender, and all Bahá’í laws then applying to them as such.

And it is incredibly important to me that my daughter is not shamed or judged by Bahá’ís. It is incredibly important to me that my daughter does not know fear because of Bahá’ís. It is also incredibly important to me that other children, youth and adults do not find themselves in that position because of ignorance and transphobia that is left over from an old tired world. This is not what the Bahá’í Faith is meant for. I want all Bahá’ís to read this. I want all Bahá’ís to understand that my daughter belongs in the Bahá’í Faith like every other child. If you disagree, it’s time for you to go back and fall in love with the spirit of the Bahá’í Faith all over again. Because the Bahá’í Faith is a faith for all humanity. We, as individuals, are not in a position to judge. We are meant to love. If we disagree on that, it’s not my family who doesn’t belong here. We cannot allow the Bahá’í Faith to be a place of bullying.

And if you have a child, and you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I will educate, I will support, and I will encourage. What I am not interested in and will not engage in is debate.

Make the  jump here to read the original

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 07/01/2015

“O que caracteriza um ser humano é sua capacidade de se doar e de colocar o amor em movimento através dos seus dons e talentos. A partir disso evoluímos do estado humano para o estado divino. E quando transcendemos a consciência humana, nos tornamos canais da perfeição divina. Quando reconhecemos que por trás da personalidade - do nome, da história, do corpo e do ego - está nossa verdadeira essência; o princípio da vida única, encontramos a unidade dentro da multiplicidade.”

“Lo que caracteriza a un ser humano es su capacidad de donarse y de colocar el amor en movimiento a través de sus dones y talentos. A partir de esto evolucionamos del estado humano al estado divino. Y cuando trascendemos la conciencia humana, nos convertimos en canales de la perfección divina. Cuando reconocemos que por detrás de la personalidad - del nombre, de la historia, del cuerpo y del ego - está nuestra verdadera esencia; el principio de la vida única, encontramos la unidad dentro de la multiplicidad.”

“What makes a human being human is our capacity to give and to put love into motion by using our gifts and talents. This is the basis for the evolution from the human state to the divine state. When we transcend human consciousness, we become channels of divine perfection. When we recognize that behind our personality, our name, our past, our body and ego lies our true essence, the principle of the one and only life, we find unity within the multiplicity.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 06/01/2015

“As fantasias sexuais funcionam como sinalizadores de aspectos da sua personalidade que ainda não foram integrados e que, às vezes, não têm nada a ver com a sexualidade. Porém, atuar na fantasia pode te colocar em situações complexas e delicadas, e te enredar ainda mais nas teias do karma. O que você pode fazer é procurar compreender o que a fantasia quer te dizer, qual é a mensagem que ela tem pra te dar. É fácil se enganar e achar que você está num lugar onde não está, e as fantasias sexuais te mostram onde você está de verdade, e te ajudam a tomar consciência do que precisa ser transformado dentro de você.”

“Las fantasías sexuales funcionan como indicadores de aspectos de tu personalidad que aún no están integrados y que, a veces, no tienen nada que ver con la sexualidad. Sin embargo, actuar en la fantasía te puede colocar en situaciones complejas y delicadas, y enredarte aún más en las redes del karma. Lo que puedes hacer es intentar comprender lo que la fantasía te quiere decir, cuál es el mensaje que ella tiene para darte. Es fácil engañarse y creer que estás en un lugar donde no estás, y las fantasías sexuales te muestran dónde estás de verdad, y te ayudan a tomar conciencia de lo que necesita ser transformado dentro de ti.”

“Sexual fantasies work like signals that point out aspects of your personality that have not yet been integrated and that sometimes have nothing to do with sexuality at all. However, acting on fantasies may put you in complex or delicate situations and entangle you further in the webs of karma. What you can do is to try to understand what the fantasy is trying to tell you and what message it has for you. It is easy to fool yourself and think you are in a place that you are not. Sexual fantasies show you where you really are and help you become more aware of what inside of you needs to be transformed.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Spirit Science / FB:

Via Give a Damn Campaign / FB:

Via Daily Dharma

Smiles in Context | January 6, 2015 Positive psychology has been criticized for overemphasizing the potential of individuals to transcend their circumstances. But not every life context affords the same opportunities for flourishing. The promise 'smile, think positive thoughts, and you will be happy and healthy' underestimates the importance of social context for psychological well-being and health. - James Coyne, "Self-Help for the Affluent"

Daily Kos Cartoon: Oregon woman gives birth to Hindu baby

Via Divine / FB: The Filthiest Coin Alive

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 05/01/2015

“A Indiferença é um mecanismo de defesa, uma forma passiva de raiva. Ela é como uma capa que te impermeabiliza - uma anestesia que te entorpece para você não sentir. Esse entorpecimento se não é a própria maldade, é a origem dela. Porque se você não se permite sentir, não é possível fazer empatia com o outro. E o princípio da compaixão é justamente você experimentar calçar o sapato do outro, e sentir o que ele está vivendo. Mas, essa capacidade de sentir te torna vulnerável e frágil porque você entra em contato com as suas próprias dores. Então você tenta fugir através da indiferença.”

“La indiferencia es un mecanismo de defensa, una forma pasiva de rabia. Ella es como una capa que te impermeabiliza - una anestesia que te entorpece para que no sientas. Este entorpecimiento si no es la propia maldad, es su origen. Porque si no te permites sentir, no es posible hacer empatía con el otro. Y el principio de la compasión es justamente que experimentes calzar los zapatos del otro, y sentir lo que él está viviendo. Pero esta capacidad de sentir te vuelve vulnerable y frágil porque entras en contacto con tus propios dolores. Entonces intentas huir a través de la indiferencia.”

“Indifference is a defense mechanism, a passive form of anger. It’s like a layer that makes you waterproof, or an anesthetic that numbs you so you don’t feel anything. If this numbing is not evil itself, it is the origin of it. If you don’t allow yourself to feel anything, then it’s impossible for you to empathize with others. The principle of compassion specifically requires that you put yourself in the other’s shoes and feel what he or she is going through. But this capacity to feel makes you vulnerable and fragile because you come into contact with your own pain, so you respond trying to use indifference as an escape.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Just a Baha'i: Homosexuality and the Baha’i Community: a conversation

Recently I was told that writing for a Baha’i gay audience was an oxymoron, and when I pointed out that I found this comment offensive the response was that the problem was with me and the writer went so far as to state that I needed to take this up with the House of Justice, as if his statement automatically reflected their views. My point here is that so often when in discussion with Baha’is on the topic of homosexuality, at some point a Baha’i tells me I am disagreeing with the House of Justice or the Baha’i Teachings as a way of trying to silence me. To start this discussion I’d like to focus first on homosexuality as a form of identity.

It seems to me that some Baha’is pretend that gay Baha’is don’t exist or don’t have a voice, viewpoint or audience. I’m an artist and a Baha’i, and while I might not have any sort of Baha’i audience, I certainly have a Baha’i artistic voice, which is informed by my experiences and beliefs. This is what I mean by a gay Baha’i voice. What do you think?

Of course there’s a huge difference between no one in my Baha’i community being interested in what sort of art I’m making and a gay Baha’i having to keep their sexuality a secret in order to be treated with dignity and equality.

Make the jump here to read the full article

Via Daily Dharma

Awareness Unmoved | January 5, 2015 Beautiful thoughts and ugly thoughts, all arise and cease in awareness, and yet awareness remains unmoved. - Kittisaro, "Tangled in Thought"

Via God Bless the President of the United States / FB:

Via The Master Shift / FB:

Flor do Dia - Flor del Día - Flower of the Day - 04/01/2015

“Espiritualidade é sinônimo de união. Se existe separação; se existe barreira ou julgamento, não podemos chamar de espiritualidade. A espiritualidade considera tudo como sagrado, porque tudo tem seu papel dentro do jogo. Tudo aquilo que faz parte da vida humana é natural, caso contrário não faria parte. Determinadas frequências de energia estão distorcidas, mas isso também faz parte do jogo. E se negamos essas distorções acabamos dando mais força para elas. A chave é manter o coração puro, pois só um coração puro pode transitar no inferno sem se contaminar.”

Acesse ao satsang completo: http://www.sriprembaba.org/pt-br/satsang/221014

“Espiritualidad es sinónimo de unión. Si existe separación, si existe barrera o juicio, no podemos llamarlo espiritualidad. La espiritualidad considera todo como sagrado, porque todo tiene su papel dentro del juego. Todo aquello que es parte de la vida humana es natural, de lo contrario no sería parte. Ciertas frecuencias de energía están distorsionadas, pero esto también es parte del juego. Y si negamos estas distorsiones terminamos dándoles más fuerza a ellas. La llave es mantener el corazón puro, porque sólo un corazón puro puede transitar el infierno sin contaminarse.”

“Spirituality is synonymous with union. If separation, barriers or judgments exist, there is no spirituality. In spirituality everything is considered sacred, because everything has its own role in the game of life. Everything that’s part of human life is natural; otherwise, it wouldn’t be part of it. Certain energy frequencies are distorted, but this is also part of the game. If we negate these distortions, we end up giving more power to them. The key is to keep your heart pure, as only a pure heart can go through hell without getting contaminated.”

- Sri Prem Baba

Via Daily Dharma

Why Wisdom? | January 4, 2015 Perfection of Wisdom continuously generates, offers, dedicates, and contributes the immeasurable meritorious energy of selfless thought and action. Why? To bring about the awakening of all lives into the bliss of Buddhahood. - The Buddha, "Mother of the Buddhas"

Via JMG: Today On Truth Revolt

 

DeGeneres doesn't actually have any children, but hey, people are being mean to Sarah Palin.

UPDATE: They've quietly changed the headline and text of the story, but have posted no notice of correction.

Labels: Ben Shapiro, Sarah Palin, teabaggers, TruthRevolt

Reposted from Joe Jervis

JMG Headline Of The Day

Details.

Labels: Baptist Church, Britain, real estate, religion

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: On Highsexuality

Dr. Marcie Bianco writes at Mic.com:

Does getting high make you a little gay? If so, you may just be a "highsexual." The term, ensconced in Urban Dictionary since 2009, made its way onto two Reddit forums in recent weeks as a way to describe the alleged phenomenon of participating in sex with someone of the same gender or having same-sex fantasies when getting incredibly high. But while perhaps not common parlance, these two threads — "Can LSD make you temporarily gay?" and "Weed makes me temporarily gay. Anyone else?" — are example of a phenomenon that's been around for awhile. It seems straight guys have wondered about "highsexuality" for a few years, given the plethora of online evidence. Are drugs the key to sexual fluidity in men? Responses in both Reddit threads exhibited an awareness of "highsexuality," as well as the fact that getting high makes you horny and just might lead to a more unconventional sexual encounter. But they also were encouraging in their acceptance of sexual fluidity.

Hit the link for examples from the Reddit threads.

Labels: drugs, highsexuality, Reddit, sexuality

Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via Out & Proud Veterans of America / FB: