Monday, April 13, 2015

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.”

"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


Not an Easy Fit | April 13, 2015


Whether on the cushion or in the laboratory, Buddhism and science resist an easy fit. A good deal of Buddhism—even including, ironically, the very notion of buddhahood—doesn’t lend itself to scientific validation or materialist empiricism. Consequently, to make Buddhism fit with what is perceived to be our best knowledge of the world, much of what constitutes the Buddhist tradition itself needs to be dismissed. In the process, this rich tradition gets reduced to a set of concepts and techniques stripped of the context that gave them meaning.
- Linda Heuman, "A New Way Forward"

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)


Reposted from Joe Jervis

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.

Screen Shot 2015-04-12 at 11.09.01 AM 

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."

Via Daily Dharma


True Giving | April 12, 2015


According to Buddhism, true giving involves the awareness that there is no giver, no gift, and no receiver. Attachments of any kind—whether it be to self as the benefactor, the value of the gift, or the acknowledgment by the receiver—nullify the pure act of giving.

- Taitetsu Unno, "Three Grapefruits"

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.


Reposted from  Joe Jervis

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."

Via Daily Dharma


From Suffering to Beauty | April 11, 2015


Suffering leads us to beauty the way thirst leads us to water.

- Jane Hirshfield, "Felt in Its Fullness"

Friday, April 10, 2015

Via The Blue Street Journal / FB:


Via FB:


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 s
eminal, 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



Sri Prem Baba também apóia nossa campanha


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."

Via Daily Dharma


Experiencing the Path for Ourselves | April 10, 2015


Following the path is about experiencing it for ourselves. It’s not taking on what other people have described. It’s not based on blind faith. Of course, you need a certain amount of confidence to buy a ticket and start on your journey. You have to believe that the country exists and that it’s worthwhile to go there. But beyond that, the important thing is just to go.

- Ani Tenzin Palmo, "Necessary Doubt"

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Via JMG: LGBT Groups Applaud Obama's Support For Laws That Ban "Ex-Gay" Torture


GLSEN
Studies conducted by major mental health organizations and personal testimony from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth have shown that conversion therapy can create dangerous and even life-threatening effects, including depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse and suicidal behavior. We are thrilled that President Obama will call for an end to the use of conversion therapy on minors. It is a harmful and discredited practice that uses rejection, shame and psychological abuse aimed at changing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Fifteen years ago, major medical, psychiatric and counseling associations rallied to GLSEN’s side to beat back attempts to force this insidious practice into our schools. We salute them for their pioneering stance and thank the President for his leadership in protecting youth from these damaging and misguided practices.
Truth Wins Out
"We are ecstatic that President Barack Obama spoke out against this harmful practice that psychologically terrorizes too many perfectly healthy LGBT youth and stigmatizes them as mentally ill,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The President’s wise words gave momentum to efforts to prohibit fringe practitioners from traumatizing vulnerable LGBT adolescents and calling it therapy.” “President Obama’s expression of support shows that he really ‘gets it’ at a fundamental level,” said TWO’s Wayne Besen. “We are very fortunate to have a president who is dedicated to equality and ending the destructive practice of conversion therapy.
Lambda Legal
In both California and New Jersey, Lambda Legal joined with regional and national organizations working with LGBT young people to advocate on behalf of the ultimately successful efforts in both states to enact legislation preventing licensed mental health providers from using therapies with minors that are demonstrably ineffective and can be deeply harmful, and we were part of the correspondingly successful efforts to defend these bans in court. We will continue to advocate on behalf of LGBT young people as other states likewise move to protect them from this preventable harm. These dangerous and damaging efforts to change sexual orientation and gender identity have wrecked lives. Tonight the President lent the full weight of his leadership to the work our community has been doing for years to protect young people and their families. He joins not only Lambda Legal and our sister organizations, but every leading medical and therapeutic organization, as they have unanimously and unequivocally recognized that LGBT people's identities should not be targeted for change.

Reposted from Joe Jervis

A Shred of Decency


Via JMG: Reuters Poll: Majority Say They Oppose RFRA Laws, Support Same-Sex Marriage



Via Reuters:
A majority of Americans believe businesses should not be allowed to refuse services based on their religious beliefs in the wake of controversies in Indiana and Arkansas over gay rights and religious freedom, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found on Thursday. The poll, conducted April 6 to 8, also found that 52 percent of Americans support allowing same-sex couples to marry, far more than the 32 percent who oppose it. The poll found solid opposition to allowing businesses to refuse services or refuse to hire people or groups based on religious beliefs.
Fifty-four percent said it was wrong for businesses to refuse services, while 28 percent said they should have that right. And 55 percent said businesses should not have the right to refuse to hire certain people or groups based on the employer's religious beliefs, while 27 percent said businesses should have the right. The Reuters-Ipsos poll found divisions among Americans on where same-sex marriage laws should be made. The largest grouping, 34 percent, believes same-sex marriage laws should be made by the U.S. Supreme Court declaring a nationwide constitutional right.
Another 22 percent said same-sex marriage laws should be made at the state level by voter referendum. Eleven percent said laws should be made by state legislators and 8 percent would leave it up to Congress. The poll found 24 percent did not know how best to handle it. The poll said 55 percent want to see all states - even those that do not permit same-sex marriages - recognize such unions from states where same-sex marriage is legal.
 
Earlier this week the Family Research Council trumpeted very different results from a poll they had commissioned.



Reposted from Joe Jervis

Via JMG: Married Today, Fired Tomorrow


 
Greg Stohr writes for Bloomberg:
Same-sex couples across the U.S. may soon have the legal right to marry. In 28 states, their employer will still have the legal right to fire them. Even as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares for arguments this month on legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, gays in much of the country lack the anti-discrimination protections that apply to racial minorities and women. It’s a legal anomaly that could become a new flashpoint this summer if the Supreme Court backs marriage rights. Gay-rights advocates are vowing to push for changes to anti-discrimination laws and try to overcome longstanding resistance from Republican-controlled legislatures. “Otherwise, these couples are going to hold public weddings and get fired from their jobs,” said David Codell, constitutional litigation director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
RELATED: The above map from the Movement Advancement Project shows the 22 states that currently include sexual orientation in employment protections. Of those 22 states only New Hampshire, New York, and Wisconsin do not also include gender identity in those protections.


Reposted from Joe Jervis