A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 21/01/2016
“A natureza inferior é reencarnante. Alguns aspectos do eu inferior são
como entidades que nos acompanham há milênios. Aspectos do orgulho, da
luxúria, do medo, que se tornaram especialistas em manter-se vivos, e
por conta da lei do karma, seguem nos acompanhando. Quando tem a chance
de disparar uma flecha na direção dessas entidades, você pensa: ‘Poderei
viver sem meu orgulho? Sem minha luxúria?’ Isso porque você acredita
que elas te dão algum poder, e para manter esse suposto poder você faz
um contrato com a maldade. E para rasgar esse contrato é preciso
aprender a lidar com resistências.”
“La naturaleza inferior es re-encarnante. Algunos aspectos del yo
inferior son como entidades que nos acompañan desde hace milenios.
Aspectos del orgullo, de la lujuria, del miedo, que se tornaron
especialistas en mantenerse vivos, y por cuenta de la ley del karma,
siguen acompañándonos. Cuando tienes la oportunidad de disparar una
flecha en dirección de estas entidades, piensas: '¿Podré vivir sin mi
orgullo? ¿Sin mi lujuria?' Eso es porque crees que te dan algún poder, y
para mantener este supuesto poder haces un contrato con la maldad. Y
para romper este contrato es necesario aprender a lidiar con
resistencias.”
"The lower self is reborn throughout many incarnations. Some aspects of the lower self are like entities that accompany us for millennia. There are aspects of pride, lust and fear that have become true survival experts, and due to the law of karma, have continued to accompany us throughout our lives. When we finally ‘shoot an arrow’ at these entities, we start to hesitate and ask, ‘Can I even survive without my pride and my lust?’ We doubt ourselves because we believe that they give us some power, and in order to maintain this supposed power we subconsciously make a ‘pact’ with evil. We will need to deal with much internal resistance before we can finally tear up this pact.”
"The lower self is reborn throughout many incarnations. Some aspects of the lower self are like entities that accompany us for millennia. There are aspects of pride, lust and fear that have become true survival experts, and due to the law of karma, have continued to accompany us throughout our lives. When we finally ‘shoot an arrow’ at these entities, we start to hesitate and ask, ‘Can I even survive without my pride and my lust?’ We doubt ourselves because we believe that they give us some power, and in order to maintain this supposed power we subconsciously make a ‘pact’ with evil. We will need to deal with much internal resistance before we can finally tear up this pact.”
Via Daily Dharma: City Living
Living
in a big city, sometimes we feel that we don’t know our neighbors but
actually we know them well. They want pleasure and don’t want pain. This
realization of similarity is not superficial; to know that each of us
has hairs in the nose means we can always know something about others by
reflecting on that fact.
—Jeffrey Hopkins, "Equality: The First Step in Cultivating Compassion"
—Jeffrey Hopkins, "Equality: The First Step in Cultivating Compassion"
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia -Flor del día - Flower of the day 20/01/2016
“É preciso ter coragem para sustentar o êxtase na relação, o que
significa sustentar o coração aberto enquanto o outro também está
aberto. A conexão da energia sexual com o coração pode causar medo, pois
ela gera uma poderosa onda de luz e, estando identificado com a sombra
(com os círculos viciosos do sofrimento), você teme ser tocado pela luz.
A escuridão é somente ausência de luz. Se você acredita ser a
escuridão, quando a luz surge, você teme ser aniquilado.”
“Es necesario tener coraje para sostener el éxtasis en la relación, lo
que significa sostener el corazón abierto mientras el otro también está
abierto. La conexión de la energía sexual con el corazón puede causar
miedo, ya que genera una poderosa ola de luz y estando identificado con
la sombra (con los círculos viciosos del sufrimiento), temes ser tocado
por la luz. La oscuridad es solamente ausencia de luz. Si crees que eres
la oscuridad, cuando la luz surge, temes ser aniquilado.”
"It takes courage to sustain ecstasy in a relationship, which means sustaining an open heart while the other’s heart is also open. When our sexual energy connects with our hearts, it can bring up fear because this connection generates a powerful wave of light. If we are identified with the shadow and its vicious cycles of suffering, then we fear being touched by the light. If we believe that we are the darkness itself, then we fear being annihilated when the light approaches us. Darkness is merely the absence of light.”
"It takes courage to sustain ecstasy in a relationship, which means sustaining an open heart while the other’s heart is also open. When our sexual energy connects with our hearts, it can bring up fear because this connection generates a powerful wave of light. If we are identified with the shadow and its vicious cycles of suffering, then we fear being touched by the light. If we believe that we are the darkness itself, then we fear being annihilated when the light approaches us. Darkness is merely the absence of light.”
Via Daily Dharma: What Giving Is
Generosity
takes many forms—we may give our time, our energy, our material
possessions, our love. All are expressions of caring, of compassion, of
connection, and of renunciation—the ability to let go. The beauty of
generosity is that it not only brings us happiness in the moment—we feel
good when we give—but it is also the cause for happiness to arise in
the future.
—Joseph Goldstein, "The Evolution of Happiness"
—Joseph Goldstein, "The Evolution of Happiness"
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Via Daily Dharma: Peace of Mind
When
your mind is trained in self-discipline, even if you are surrounded by
hostile forces, your peace of mind will hardly be disturbed.
—The Dalai Lama, "The Enemy Within"
—The Dalai Lama, "The Enemy Within"
Monday, January 18, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 18/01/2016
“A mudança climática, que tem afetado diretamente o ciclo das águas,
está anunciando um novo estágio na nossa jornada evolutiva: é tempo de
purificação. Estamos sendo levados a nos desidentificar do ego, com
todas as suas crenças e condicionamentos, de forma que possamos abrir
espaço para uma coisa nova. Esse processo passa pela harmonização do
feminino, o que requer o desenvolvimento de qualidades como aceitação,
cooperação, gentileza, receptividade e confiança.”
“El cambio climático, que viene afectando directamente el ciclo de las
aguas, está anunciando una nueva etapa en nuestro camino evolutivo: es
tiempo de purificación. Estamos siendo llevados a des-identificarnos del
ego, con todas sus creencias y condicionamientos, para que podamos
abrir espacio para algo nuevo. Este proceso pasa por la armonización de
lo femenino, que requiere el desarrollo de cualidades como aceptación,
cooperación, gentileza, receptividad y confianza.”
"Climate change has directly affected the planet’s water cycles, and is thus announcing a new stage in our evolutionary journey: a time for purification. We are being led to de-identify from the ego and all of our beliefs and conditioning, so that we can make room for something new. This process also involves harmonizing ourselves with the feminine, which requires us to develop qualities such as acceptance, cooperation, kindness, receptivity and trust.”
"Climate change has directly affected the planet’s water cycles, and is thus announcing a new stage in our evolutionary journey: a time for purification. We are being led to de-identify from the ego and all of our beliefs and conditioning, so that we can make room for something new. This process also involves harmonizing ourselves with the feminine, which requires us to develop qualities such as acceptance, cooperation, kindness, receptivity and trust.”
Via Daily Dharma: Personality Transformation
Practice
can change the personality, yes, and hopefully for the better. That’s
the idea of spiritual training, of what we call in Tibetan lojong,
attitude-transformation or mind-training. All the practices—ethical
training, meditation or mindfulness training, wisdom and love
training—are to be a better person, but it is also to realize who we are
as we are.
—Lama Surya Das, "Old Wine, New Bottles"
—Lama Surya Das, "Old Wine, New Bottles"
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Via On Being: Stephen Batchelor — The Limits of Belief, The Massiveness of the Questions
Stephen Batchelor’s “secular Buddhism” speaks to the mystery and vitality of spiritual life in every form. For him, secularism opens to doubt and questioning as a radical basis for spiritual life. Above all, he understands Buddhism without transcendent beliefs like “karma” or “reincarnation” to become something urgent to do, not to believe in.
To hear the full discuss go here
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 17/01/2016
“Nas esferas emocional e mental, o sofrimento nasce do conflito entre duas forças opostas agindo no nosso sistema. Com isso, podemos deduzir que esse mesmo cabo de forças contrárias também se manifesta no nível coletivo. Os conflitos e desastres que estamos vendo e vivendo são sintomas de um grande expurgo interno. E tudo isso é para que possamos trazer à superfície o nosso melhor, ou seja, são oportunidades reais de crescimento. Mas para que isso aconteça, precisamos ter coragem de resolver nossos problemas que, no mais profundo, são dores existenciais. Essa é a única maneira de nos libertarmos do apego à guerra e à destruição.”
“En las
esferas emocional y mental, el sufrimiento nace del conflicto entre dos
fuerzas opuestas actuando en nuestro sistema. Con esto, podemos deducir
que este mismo cable de fuerzas contrarias también se manifiesta a nivel
colectivo. Los conflictos y desastres que estamos viendo y viviendo son
síntomas de una gran purga interna. Y todo esto es para que podamos
traer a la superficie lo mejor de nosotros, es decir, son oportunidades
reales de crecimiento. Pero para que esto suceda, necesitamos tener el
coraje de resolver nuestros problemas que, en lo más profundo, son
dolores existenciales. Esta es la única manera de liberarnos del apego a
la guerra y a la destrucción.”
"In the emotional and mental spheres, suffering is born out of the conflict between two opposing forces acting within our systems. This same tug-of-war also occurs in the collective sphere. The conflicts and disasters we are seeing and experiencing in the world are symptoms of a large internal cleansing. This is all happening so that we can bring our best to the surface, meaning that these are in fact opportunities for growth. In order for this growth to take place, however, we must have the courage to solve our problems, which carry an existential pain at their core. This is the only way we can free ourselves from our attachment to conflict and destruction."
"In the emotional and mental spheres, suffering is born out of the conflict between two opposing forces acting within our systems. This same tug-of-war also occurs in the collective sphere. The conflicts and disasters we are seeing and experiencing in the world are symptoms of a large internal cleansing. This is all happening so that we can bring our best to the surface, meaning that these are in fact opportunities for growth. In order for this growth to take place, however, we must have the courage to solve our problems, which carry an existential pain at their core. This is the only way we can free ourselves from our attachment to conflict and destruction."
Via Daily Dharma: An Awakening Brew
Each of you—not separately, but in the cauldron with all beings, cooking and being cooked—is realizing awakening.
—Reb Anderson, "In It Together"
—Reb Anderson, "In It Together"
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 16/01/2016
"O karma é uma dívida de aprendizado. Quando apreende a lição, você se
liberta da teia karmica. E se libertar significa mover-se em direção ao
dharma e à compreensão do propósito da sua alma. Dharma é a lei
universal, o caminho do coração; é a ação correta que te leva à morada
sagrada. Tudo o que nasce dessa compreensão é bênção. São impulsos de
construção, união, amor, saúde e prosperidade.”
"El karma es una deuda de aprendizaje. Cuando aprendes la lección, te liberas de la tela kármica. Y liberarse significa moverse en dirección al dharma y a la comprensión del propósito de tu alma. Dharma es la ley universal, el camino del corazón, es la acción correcta que te lleva a la morada sagrada. Todo lo que nace de esta comprensión es bendición. Son impulsos de construcción, unión, amor, salud y prosperidad.”
"El karma es una deuda de aprendizaje. Cuando aprendes la lección, te liberas de la tela kármica. Y liberarse significa moverse en dirección al dharma y a la comprensión del propósito de tu alma. Dharma es la ley universal, el camino del corazón, es la acción correcta que te lleva a la morada sagrada. Todo lo que nace de esta comprensión es bendición. Son impulsos de construcción, unión, amor, salud y prosperidad.”
"Karma is a debt of learning. When we learn the lesson, we are freed
from the karmic web. Freeing ourselves means moving towards our dharma
and understanding our soul’s purpose. Dharma is the universal law – the
path of the heart. It is the correct action that takes us to the sacred
abode. All that is born from this understanding is a blessing. Dharma
manifests as constructive actions that bring union, love, health and
prosperity.”
Via Daily Dharma: Happiness and the Marketplace
The
good news is that genuine happiness is not out there in the marketplace
to be purchased or acquired from the best teacher around. One of the
best-kept secrets is that the happiness we’re striving for so
desperately in the perfect spouse, the great kids, the fine job,
security, excellent health, and good looks has always been within and is
just waiting to be unveiled. Knowing that what we are seeking comes
from within changes everything.
—B. Alan Wallace, "What is True Happiness?"
—B. Alan Wallace, "What is True Happiness?"
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 13/01/2016
“Os aspectos da personalidade que chamamos de eu inferior são como
entidades que têm autonomia própria. Quando se aproximam, elas trazem
uma frequência de energia específica; determinada cor e uma expressão
corporal específica. Através do autoconhecimento, você vai se tornando
capaz de reconhecê-las. Sempre que um aspecto começa a se aproximar
(vindo de dentro e também de fora) você sabe, porque sente em
determinados pontos do seu corpo. Às
vezes fecha o estomago, causa enjoo, aperta o peito ou a garganta. Essas
são algumas das possíveis reações. Então você precisa aprender a
identificar quem está se aproximando e a transmutar essas energias,
dentro e fora de você.”
"Los aspectos de la personalidad que llamamos de yo inferior son como
entidades que tienen autonomía propia. Cuando se aproximan, traen una
frecuencia de energía específica, determinado color y una expresión
corporal específica. A través del autoconocimiento, vas siendo capaz de
reconocerlas. Siempre que un aspecto comienza a aproximarse (viniendo de
adentro y también de afuera) lo sabes, porque lo sientes en
determinados puntos de tu cuerpo. A veces se cierra el estómago, causa
naúseas, aprieta el pecho o la garganta. Estas son algunas de las
posibles reacciones. Entonces necesitas aprender a identificar quién se
está aproximando y a transmutar esas energías, dentro y fuera de ti.”
"The aspects of personality that we call the lower self are like self-driven entities. When they come close to us, they bring with them a specific energy frequency as well as a color frequency. Through self-knowledge, we are able to recognize them and even identify the body language that they manifest in us. Whenever an aspect of the lower self begins to approach us, whether it is coming from inside or outside of us, we know it is coming because we feel something in certain points of our bodies. Sometimes we may experience reactions such as getting knots in our stomachs, feeling nauseous, or a tightening in our chest or throat. We must learn to identify which lower self is approaching us and transform these energies within and without.”
"The aspects of personality that we call the lower self are like self-driven entities. When they come close to us, they bring with them a specific energy frequency as well as a color frequency. Through self-knowledge, we are able to recognize them and even identify the body language that they manifest in us. Whenever an aspect of the lower self begins to approach us, whether it is coming from inside or outside of us, we know it is coming because we feel something in certain points of our bodies. Sometimes we may experience reactions such as getting knots in our stomachs, feeling nauseous, or a tightening in our chest or throat. We must learn to identify which lower self is approaching us and transform these energies within and without.”
Via Daily Dharma: Examining Labels
You
can’t go preventing pleasure and pain, you can’t keep the mind from
labeling things and forming thoughts, but you can put these things to a
new use. If the mind labels a pain, saying, “I hurt,” you have to
examine the label carefully, contemplate it until you see that it’s
wrong: the pain isn’t really yours. It’s simply a sensation that arises
and passes away, that’s all.
—Upasika Kee Nanayon, "Tough Teachings To Ease The Mind"
—Upasika Kee Nanayon, "Tough Teachings To Ease The Mind"
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 12/01/2016
“Se eu tivesse que usar uma única palavra para traduzir aquilo que
compreendo como espiritualidade eu utilizaria desapego. O ego tende a
desejar e a se apegar a tudo aquilo que conquista. Mas, toda essa
energia usada para a conquista e para manter aquilo que se conquistou
deve ser direcionada para o Espírito.”
“Si tuviese que usar una única palabra para traducir aquello que comprendo como espiritualidad, utilizaría desapego. El ego tiende a desear y a apegarse a todo aquello que conquista. Pero toda esa energía usada para la conquista y para mantener aquello que se conquistó debe ser direccionada hacia el Espíritu.”
“Si tuviese que usar una única palabra para traducir aquello que comprendo como espiritualidad, utilizaría desapego. El ego tiende a desear y a apegarse a todo aquello que conquista. Pero toda esa energía usada para la conquista y para mantener aquello que se conquistó debe ser direccionada hacia el Espíritu.”
"If I had to use one word to translate what we understand as
spirituality, I would use ‘detachment’. The ego tends to desire and
cling to everything that it achieves. All this energy spent on gaining
things and sustaining our accomplishments should be directed towards the
Spirit.”
Via Daily Dharma: Small Blessings, Large Consequences
So
many factors demand our attention; isn’t it awesome that we have at
least some influence over what we choose to focus on? And if there is
power in acknowledging and being thankful for even small blessings, the
power of finding meaning in the face of suffering can be transformative.
—Pamela Gayle White, "Skunked by Gratitude"
—Pamela Gayle White, "Skunked by Gratitude"
Monday, January 11, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 11/01/2016
“Comparo o processo de autoconhecimento a uma autoescola na qual
estamos aprendendo a conduzir um veículo. E como a autoescola está
aberta para todos (embora a sua aula seja pessoal e intransferível), é
inevitável que um carro ou outro se cruze; é inevitável que aconteçam
coisas que você não concorda. Talvez você prefira dirigir numa estrada
vazia, sozinho com o seu professor; e talvez você possa fazer isso
durante um tempo. Mas, em algum momento
você terá que dirigir no trânsito e passar por avenidas congestionadas.
Em algum momento você terá que aprender ocupar e conduzir o seu veículo
enquanto se relaciona com o mundo.”
"Comparo el proceso de autoconocimiento con una autoescuela en la cual
estamos aprendiendo a conducir un vehículo. Y como la autoescuela está
abierta para todos (aunque tu clase sea personal e intransferible), es
inevitable que un auto u otro se crucen, es inevitable que sucedan cosas
con las que no concuerdas. Tal vez prefieras manejar en una ruta vacía,
solo con tu profesor, y tal vez puedas hacer esto durante un tiempo.
Pero en algún momento tendrás que manejar en el tránsito y pasar por
avenidas congestionadas. En algún momento tendrás que aprender a ocupar y
conducir tu vehículo mientras te relacionas con el mundo.”
"I compare the process of self-discovery to driving classes wherein we are learning to drive a vehicle. Since driver’s ed classes happen out on the road in traffic, other drivers may cut us off or make us upset. Though we may prefer to drive on empty roads alone with our teacher, we can only do so for a certain amount of time. At some point we will have to drive on crowded streets and learn the harder lessons. We need to learn how to occupy our bodies and drive our ‘vehicles’ well, even while relating with the outside world.”
"I compare the process of self-discovery to driving classes wherein we are learning to drive a vehicle. Since driver’s ed classes happen out on the road in traffic, other drivers may cut us off or make us upset. Though we may prefer to drive on empty roads alone with our teacher, we can only do so for a certain amount of time. At some point we will have to drive on crowded streets and learn the harder lessons. We need to learn how to occupy our bodies and drive our ‘vehicles’ well, even while relating with the outside world.”
Via Daily Dharma: Striking a Balance
Just
as meditation requires an understanding of the practice as well as
determination to carry it out, likewise it requires a sense of balance
to determine when to push ourselves harder and when to step back and
relax where we are, without falling into either of two extremes.
—Lama Dudjom Dorjee, "Heartfelt Advice"
—Lama Dudjom Dorjee, "Heartfelt Advice"
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Sunday, January 10, 2016
Via Towleroad: Pope Francis Expands on Remarks About Gays: ‘God Loves All His Creatures’
In a new book set for publication on Tuesday, Pope Francis explains for the first time the remarks about gays he made to reporters aboard a plane from Brazil to Rome in 2013.
The Pope was asked how he would respond to learning that a cleric in the Catholic Church was gay, but not sexually active. “Who am I to judge a gay person of goodwill who seeks the Lord?” the pontiff replied. “You can’t marginalize these people.”
RELATED: Pope Francis Met Privately with Gay Couple During U.S. Visit: VIDEO
Now, in The Name of God is Mercy, a conversation with journalist Andrea Tornielli, Francis elaborates on those remarks according to National Catholic Reporter:
“On that occasion I said this: If a
person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge
that person? I was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic
Church where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy
and not be marginalized.”
“I am glad that we are talking about
‘homosexual people’ because before all else comes the individual person,
in his wholeness and dignity. And people should not be defined only by
their sexual tendencies: let us not forget that God loves all his
creatures and we are destined to receive his infinite love…I prefer that
homosexuals come to confession, that they stay close to the Lord, and
that we pray all together. You can advise them to pray, show goodwill,
show them the way, and accompany them along it.”
http://www.towleroad.com/2016/01/pope-francis-gays/
Via JMG: Jim Obergefell To Sit With First Lady During SOTU
January 10, 2016
LGBT History, Marriage Equality
This morning the White House announced that Jim Obergefell will be among the guests seated with the First Lady during President Obama’s final State Of The Union address. From their bio on Obergefell:
Jim Obergefell was the named plaintiff in the landmark marriage equality case Obergefell v. Hodges, which ruled same-sex couples nationwide have the Constitutional right to marry. In 2013, Jim married his partner of 20 years, John, who was dying of ALS. Their marriage – performed in Maryland – wasn’t recognized in their home state of Ohio, setting off a legal proceeding over whether the marriage should be recognized under Ohio law and listed on John’s death certificate.
While they won the initial legal battle, Ohio appealed, and their case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, which declared marriage equality the law of the land. Jim considers himself an accidental activist, one who became entwined in a political statement larger than himself – a statement of equality and dignity that Americans have been fighting for since this nation’s founding – and he now remains committed to ensuring the civil rights for all Americans.Other guests to be seated with the First Lady include a Syrian refugee, an Obamacare navigator, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and USAF Sgt. Spencer Stone, who helped thwart a terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train. The press release includes this important notation:
We leave one seat empty in the First Lady’s State of the Union Guest Box for the victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice – because they need the rest of us to speak for them. To tell their stories. To honor their memory. To support the Americans whose lives have been forever changed by the terrible ripple effect of gun violence – survivors who’ve had to learn to live with a disability, or without the love of their life. To remind every single one of our representatives that it’s their responsibility to do something about this.
Make the jump here to read the original on JMG
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 10/01/2016
“É impossível estar no mundo sem se relacionar. Você pode trabalhar na
Wall Street, viver numa praia deserta, num monastério ou comunidade
espiritual, mas os desafios do relacionamento sempre estarão presentes.
Isso porque muda o cenário e os personagens, mas não muda o que você
carrega dentro de si. Enquanto você não olha de frente, compreende e
aceita as suas imperfeições, sempre haverá alguém que te incomoda. Mas
quando você aceita e integra as partes da sua personalidade que foram
negadas, ocorre uma cura, e você se torna capaz de viver em harmonia com
o outro, não importa o lugar.”
“Es imposible estar en el mundo sin relacionarse. Puedes trabajar en
Wall Street, vivir en una playa desierta, en un monasterio o comunidad
espiritual, pero los desafíos de las relaciones siempre estarán
presentes. Esto es porque cambia el escenario y los personajes, pero no
cambia lo que cargas dentro de ti. Mientras no mires de frente,
comprendas y aceptes tus imperfecciones, siempre habrá alguien que te.
Pero cuando aceptas e integras las partes de tu personalidad que fueron
negadas, sucede una cura, y te vuelves capaz de vivir en armonía con el
otro, no importa el lugar.”
"It is impossible to live in this world without relating. Whether one works on Wall Street, lives on a deserted beach, in a monastery or a spiritual community, the challenges of relationships will always be present. The setting or characters may change, but what we carry inside does not. As long as we do not face this straight on and understand and accept our imperfections, there will always be someone who throws us off center. On the other hand, when we accept and integrate the parts of our personality that were denied, a healing occurs. We are then able to live in harmony with each other, regardless of where we may be."
"It is impossible to live in this world without relating. Whether one works on Wall Street, lives on a deserted beach, in a monastery or a spiritual community, the challenges of relationships will always be present. The setting or characters may change, but what we carry inside does not. As long as we do not face this straight on and understand and accept our imperfections, there will always be someone who throws us off center. On the other hand, when we accept and integrate the parts of our personality that were denied, a healing occurs. We are then able to live in harmony with each other, regardless of where we may be."
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Via Daily Dharma: Before It’s Too Late
There’s
a wonderful Kagyu saying: “When we are young, we don’t realize the
importance of dharma practice; when we are middle-aged, we think we are
too busy to do it; and when we are old, it’s too late.”
—Reggie Ray, "The Power of Solitude"
—Reggie Ray, "The Power of Solitude"
Friday, January 8, 2016
Via Medical News Today: What is the difference between sex and gender?
The words sex and gender are commonly used interchangeably,
but many linguists would argue that their usage is quite distinct. Sex
refers to the biological and physiological characteristics, while gender
refers to behaviors, roles, expectations, and activities in society.
Sex refers to male or female, while gender refers to masculine or feminine.
The differences in the sexes do not vary throughout the world, but differences in gender do.
Here are some examples of characteristics related to sex:
Sex refers to a natural or biological feature. Gender refers to cultural or learned significance of sex.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary:
The word sex probably comes from Middle English, meaning "section" or "divide." In Latin, the word sex means the number "six."
The differences in the sexes do not vary throughout the world, but differences in gender do.
Here are some examples of characteristics related to sex:
- Females have a vagina, males do not
- Males have a penis, females do not
- Male newborns tend to weigh more than female newborns
- Females can breastfeed their babies, males cannot
- Males have deeper voices than females
- Females can get pregnant, males cannot
- Males have testicles and females have ovaries
- Women tend to do more of the housework than their spouses do
- A higher percentage of US doctors are women, compared to Egypt
- Nursing is often seen as a woman's job, although many men enter the profession
- In some countries women have to cover their heads when they go outside the house
- 120 years ago women were not allowed to vote in elections.
Sex refers to a natural or biological feature. Gender refers to cultural or learned significance of sex.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary:
Sex is "The biologic character or quality that distinguishes male and female from one another as expressed by analysis of the person's gonadal, morphologic (internal and external), chromosomal, and hormonal characteristics."The word gender comes from Middle English gendre, which came from Old French, which in turn came from the Latin word genus, meaning "kind," "type," or "sort."
Gender is "The category to which an individual is assigned by self or others, on the basis of sex."
The word sex probably comes from Middle English, meaning "section" or "divide." In Latin, the word sex means the number "six."
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 08/01/2016
"Conheça-te a ti mesmo e conhecerás o Universo. O homem é um microcosmo
- absolutamente tudo que existe lá fora está dentro. Todas as respostas
para todas as perguntas podem ser encontradas nos nossos mundos
internos, assim como o antídoto para todas nossas as doenças encontra-se
dentro de nós mesmos."
“Conócete a ti mismo y conocerás el Universo. El hombre es un microcosmos- absolutamente todo lo que existe allá afuera está adentro. Todas las respuestas a todas las preguntas pueden encontrarse en nuestros mundos internos, así como el antídoto para todas nuestras enfermedades se encuentra dentro de nosotros mismos.”
“Conócete a ti mismo y conocerás el Universo. El hombre es un microcosmos- absolutamente todo lo que existe allá afuera está adentro. Todas las respuestas a todas las preguntas pueden encontrarse en nuestros mundos internos, así como el antídoto para todas nuestras enfermedades se encuentra dentro de nosotros mismos.”
"Know thyself and you will know the Universe. Humans are a microcosm.
Absolutely everything that exists on the outside exists within. The
answer to every question can be found in our inner worlds – that’s where
we find the antidote to all our ailments."
Via Daily Dharma: Seeing Through Failure
Disappointment and failure bring us down to the ground so we can see through our ideas to the way things really are.
—Natalie Goldberg, "Beyond Betrayal"
—Natalie Goldberg, "Beyond Betrayal"
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day - 07/01/2016
“No mais profundo, a causa pela qual temos gerado tanta destruição
neste planeta, é a ignorância a respeito da nossa verdadeira identidade.
Por trás dessa destruição está o impulso de acumular bens materiais.
Não sabendo quem somos, agimos a partir de uma crença a respeito de quem
somos, e isso gera um vazio que se traduz em uma profunda angústia. Nós
tentamos preencher esse vazio através de coisas. Você acumula para
agregar valor e poder à sua falsa identidade; para aliviar a angústia
causada pela falta de conexão consigo mesmo. E para ter mais coisas,
você faz qualquer coisa. Essa é a raiz da destruição.”
En lo más profundo, la causa por la cual hemos generado tanta
destrucción en este planeta, es la ignorancia al respecto de nuestra
verdadera identidad. Por detrás de esta destrucción está el impulso de
acumular bienes materiales. Al no saber quiénes somos, actuamos desde
una creencia acerca de quién somos, y eso genera un vacío que se traduce
en una profunda angustia. Tratamos de llenar este vacío a través de
cosas. Acumulas para agregar valor y poder a tu falsa identidad; para
aliviar la angustia causada por la falta de conexión contigo mismo. Y
para tener más cosas, haces cualquier cosa. Esta es la raíz de la
destrucción.”
"The root cause for all this destruction we wage on the planet is our ignorance regarding our true identity. Behind this destruction lies the impulse to accumulate material goods – and we’ll do anything to get more things. Not knowing who we truly are, we act out of our mistaken beliefs about who we are, and this creates a void that turns into profound anguish. We try to fill this void by hoarding material things, striving to add value and power to our false identity. We do so to alleviate the anguish caused by our lack of connection with our own selves. This is the root of destruction."
"The root cause for all this destruction we wage on the planet is our ignorance regarding our true identity. Behind this destruction lies the impulse to accumulate material goods – and we’ll do anything to get more things. Not knowing who we truly are, we act out of our mistaken beliefs about who we are, and this creates a void that turns into profound anguish. We try to fill this void by hoarding material things, striving to add value and power to our false identity. We do so to alleviate the anguish caused by our lack of connection with our own selves. This is the root of destruction."
Via Daily Dharma: Finding Your Direction
There
is nothing to hang on to. The path emerges from a personal,
surprisingly innate sense of direction and not from what’s expected of
us by those who supposedly know better. Staying awake means continually
reevaluating the ground on which we walk.
—Stephen Schettini, "A Sense of Belonging"
—Stephen Schettini, "A Sense of Belonging"
Via Queerty: Queen Elizabeth II Says Gay Marriage Is Absolutely “Wonderful”
Just when we didn’t think she could get any more amazing, Queen Elizabeth II called gay marriage in England “wonderful.”
Or at least according to comedian/newlywed Stephen Fry.
During an interview over the weekend, Fry explained how the 88-year-old monarch expressed her approval of gay marriage in July 2013 when signing the Marriage Act, which granted same-sex couples the right to legally marry in England.
“It was only last summer that Her Majesty The Queen gave the Royal Assent,” he told The Jonathan Ross Show.
The Queen must remain politically neutral and has never spoken publicly about gay marriage, but according to sources who Fry describes as “well-founded,” her royal majesty is all for marriage equality.
“When the Queen signed the Royal Assent for the equal marriages act, allowing gay people to marry for the first time, she put it down and said ‘Well, who’d have thought 62 years ago when I came to the throne, I’d be signing something like this? Isn’t it wonderful?'”
Wonderful, indeed!
h/t: Gay Star News
Related stories:
Queen Elizabeth Makes Marriage Equality Law Final
Police Concerned Over Threat Grindr Poses To Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth Makes Historic First Statement Supporting LGBT Rights
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor de día - Flower of the day - 06/01/2015
“A espiritualidade pode ser traduzida como uma experiência da realidade
– um processo de despertar de um sonho. A iluminação espiritual começa
quando a imaginação cessa. Imaginação quer dizer fantasias criadas pela
mente. Num clássico exemplo utilizado pelo Vedanta: uma pessoa que olha
para um pedaço de corda vê uma cobra, e a partir dessa visão, ela cria
toda uma história em torno da cobra. Quando começa a ver a corda no lugar da cobra, o seu processo de despertar se iniciou.”
“La espiritualidad puede ser traducida como una experiencia de la
realidad - un proceso de despertar de un sueño. La iluminación
espiritual comienza cuando la imaginación cesa. Imaginación quiere decir
fantasías creadas por la mente. En un ejemplo clásico utilizado por el
Vedanta: una persona que mira hacia un trozo de cuerda ve una serpiente,
y a partir de esta visión, crea toda una historia alrededor de la
serpiente. Cuando comienzas a ver la cuerda en lugar de la serpiente, tu
proceso de despertar comenzó.”
"Spirituality can be translated as the experience of reality. It is a process of awakening from a dream. Spiritual enlightenment begins when one ceases to imagine things, meaning the mind stops fantasizing. A classic example used in Advaita Vedanta is that a rope seen in dim light is mistaken for a snake, and with this image in mind, the rope affects the person as much as an actual snake would. When the person begins to realize it was a rope rather than a snake, their process of awakening begins."
"Spirituality can be translated as the experience of reality. It is a process of awakening from a dream. Spiritual enlightenment begins when one ceases to imagine things, meaning the mind stops fantasizing. A classic example used in Advaita Vedanta is that a rope seen in dim light is mistaken for a snake, and with this image in mind, the rope affects the person as much as an actual snake would. When the person begins to realize it was a rope rather than a snake, their process of awakening begins."
Via Daily Dharma: Already Enlightened
We
don’t practice to attain enlightenment, just as we don’t eat or breathe
to be alive. Because we’re alive, we breathe. Because we’re alive, we
eat. Because we’re enlightened, we do zazen.
— Bernard Gassman and Rick Fields, "Instructions to the Cook"
— Bernard Gassman and Rick Fields, "Instructions to the Cook"
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 05/01/2016
“O primeiro passo para ampliar a percepção e o seu poder de
auto-observação é ocupar o seu corpo, é colocar-se presente, ocupando
cada molécula. Estando aqui e agora não existe a possibilidade de você
ser governado por impulsos inconscientes. Não estando presente, você se
torna um joguete nas mãos das mais diversas forças, não somente do seu
próprio passado, mas das suas fantasias a respeito do futuro.”
El primer paso para ampliar la percepción y tu poder de auto-observación es ocupar tu cuerpo, estar presente, ocupando cada molécula. Al estar aquí y ahora no existe la posibilidad de que seas gobernado por impulsos inconscientes. Al no estar presente, te conviertes en un juguete en las manos de las más diversas fuerzas, no solo de tu propio pasado, sino también de tus fantasías respecto del futuro.”
El primer paso para ampliar la percepción y tu poder de auto-observación es ocupar tu cuerpo, estar presente, ocupando cada molécula. Al estar aquí y ahora no existe la posibilidad de que seas gobernado por impulsos inconscientes. Al no estar presente, te conviertes en un juguete en las manos de las más diversas fuerzas, no solo de tu propio pasado, sino también de tus fantasías respecto del futuro.”
"The first step towards increasing our perception and our power of
self-observation is to inhabit our bodies, becoming present and
occupying each molecule. When we are in the here and now we cannot be
ruled by unconscious impulses. On the other hand, if we are not present,
we become a puppet in the hands of many forces, including our own pasts
as well as our fantasies about the future."
Via Tricycle / Daily Dharma: Learning How to Listen
To
hear every sound as the dharma means to just pay attention. Listen to
what people are saying when somebody is talking to you. We are usually
so busy trying to say something that will impress them that we don’t
really listen to what they are saying. It is easy to give an appropriate
response if we are really listening.
—Gerry Shishin Wick Sensei, "Zen in the Workplace"
—Gerry Shishin Wick Sensei, "Zen in the Workplace"
Monday, January 4, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 04/01/2016
“O medo é um sentimento que se tornou tão habitual que você mal percebe
o quanto ele influencia a sua vida. Você tem diversos tipos de medo,
mas muitas vezes não tem consciência disso. Medo de ser humilhado,
traído, machucado, entre tantas outras coisas. Mas, normalmente, o medo
não tem base na realidade. É um sentimento criado a partir de uma
fantasia a respeito de uma suposta dor, que pode vir ou não. E, tomado
por essas fantasias, que normalmente são
fruto de experiências traumáticas do passado, seu coração se enche de
escuridão; e você vive tenso, com a sensação de que elas irão se
repetir.”
“El miedo es un
sentimiento que se volvió tan habitual que apenas percibes cuánto
influye en tu vida. Tienes diversos tipos de miedo, pero muchas veces no
eres consciente de ello. Miedo a ser humillado, traicionado, lastimado,
entre tantas otras cosas. Pero por lo general, el miedo no tiene base
en la realidad. Es un sentimiento creado a partir de una fantasía al
respecto de un supuesto dolor, que puede venir o no. Y atrapado por
estas fantasías, que suelen ser el resultado de experiencias traumáticas
del pasado, tu corazón se llena de oscuridad; y vives tenso, con la
sensación de que se van a repetir.”
"Fear is a feeling that has become so habitual that we hardly realize how much it influences our lives. We have many different types of fear, and we’re often unaware of it. We fear being humiliated, betrayed, and hurt, among other things. Most often, fear has no basis in reality. Fear is a feeling created due to a fantasized pain that we may or may not experience. When we are taken over by these fantasies, which are usually the result of past traumatic experiences, our hearts are filled with darkness. We live in constant tension, with the feeling that these experiences will repeat themselves."
"Fear is a feeling that has become so habitual that we hardly realize how much it influences our lives. We have many different types of fear, and we’re often unaware of it. We fear being humiliated, betrayed, and hurt, among other things. Most often, fear has no basis in reality. Fear is a feeling created due to a fantasized pain that we may or may not experience. When we are taken over by these fantasies, which are usually the result of past traumatic experiences, our hearts are filled with darkness. We live in constant tension, with the feeling that these experiences will repeat themselves."
Deep Tranquility
Pleasure
without pain is possible only as we progress toward higher states of
mindfulness. Unlike sensory pleasure that leads only to an instant of
temporary happiness, the joy we feel when we achieve deep concentration
brings peace and tranquility.
—Bhante Gunaratana, "Desire and Craving"
—Bhante Gunaratana, "Desire and Craving"
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 03/01/2016
“Durante um estágio da evolução da consciência, você pode simplesmente
trabalhar para ganhar dinheiro, sem se questionar a respeito do
propósito daquilo que está fazendo. Mas quando sua consciência começa a
expandir, naturalmente você se questiona a respeito disso. Pois é a
consciência do seu propósito no mundo que proporciona a sensação de
pertencimento e de preenchimento que você tanto busca. Estando
consciente do que veio fazer no mundo,
você utiliza a sua energia e os seus dons para realizar essa meta. Você
segue tendo uma razão para continuar levantando da cama todas as
manhãs.”
“Durante una etapa
de la evolución de la conciencia, puedes simplemente trabajar para
ganar dinero, sin cuestionarte al respecto del propósito de lo que estás
haciendo. Pero cuando tu conciencia comienza a expandirse, naturalmente
te cuestionas al respecto de esto. Pues es la conciencia de tu
propósito en el mundo que proporciona la sensación de pertenencia y de
satisfacción que tanto buscas. Al estar consciente de lo que viniste a
hacer en el mundo, utilizas tu energía y tus dones para realizar este
objetivo. Sigues teniendo una razón para continuar levantándote de la
cama todas las mañanas.”
"During a certain stage in the evolution of consciousness, you can work to simply make money without questioning the purpose of what you are doing. But when your consciousness begins to expand, you naturally begin to question your purpose. This awareness of your purpose in the world gives you the sense of belonging and fulfillment that you so yearn for. Once you are aware of what you came to do in the world, you use your energy and your gifts to accomplish this goal. You wake up every morning with a reason to get out of bed."
"During a certain stage in the evolution of consciousness, you can work to simply make money without questioning the purpose of what you are doing. But when your consciousness begins to expand, you naturally begin to question your purpose. This awareness of your purpose in the world gives you the sense of belonging and fulfillment that you so yearn for. Once you are aware of what you came to do in the world, you use your energy and your gifts to accomplish this goal. You wake up every morning with a reason to get out of bed."
Today's Daily Dharma: My Faults, My Friends
My Faults, My Friends
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Saturday, January 2, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 02/01/2016
“O nosso trabalho é dissolver a guerra, é colocar todos juntos,
trabalhando pelo despertar da consciência amorosa. Pessoas de todos os
tipos, de todas as denominações religiosas, de diferentes partidos
políticos, palmeirenses e corintianos... Todos juntos em prol do mesmo
objetivo, que é estabelecer uma cultura de paz e prosperidade. Pois
somente assim teremos um mundo melhor para viver.”
“Nuestro trabajo es disolver la guerra, es ponernos todos juntos, a trabajar por el despertar de la conciencia amorosa. Personas de todos los tipos, de todas las denominaciones religiosas, de diferentes partidos políticos, palmeirenses y corintianos… Todos juntos en pro del mismo objetivo, que es establecer una cultura de paz y prosperidad. Porque solo así tendremos un mundo mejor para vivir.”
“Nuestro trabajo es disolver la guerra, es ponernos todos juntos, a trabajar por el despertar de la conciencia amorosa. Personas de todos los tipos, de todas las denominaciones religiosas, de diferentes partidos políticos, palmeirenses y corintianos… Todos juntos en pro del mismo objetivo, que es establecer una cultura de paz y prosperidad. Porque solo así tendremos un mundo mejor para vivir.”
"Our job is to dissolve conflicts, working together to awaken loving
consciousness. People of all kinds, of all faiths and all political
parties must join hands for the same goal, which is to establish a
culture of peace and prosperity. Only then will we have a better world
to live in."
Today's Daily Dharma: Compassionate Earth
Compassionate Earth
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Friday, January 1, 2016
Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 01/01/2016
“Este novo ciclo do tempo traz raras oportunidades de crescimento. É um
momento no qual temos a chance de ativar nossos potenciais e de colocar
nossos dons a serviço do amor, como nunca foi possível antes. Porém,
não estando alinhado com o seu propósito, a sua missão na Terra, você
será apertado. Por isso, quero propor uma reflexão: eu o convido a tomar
consciência do que você está fazendo com os seus dons. A serviço do
que você está colocando as suas habilidades e a sua inteligência? Da
união, da construção, do amor e da cooperação? Você está trabalhando
para que esse mundo seja melhor ou está sendo canal da discórdia e da
separação, usando o seu repertório para instigar a guerra? Não podemos
continuar negligenciando o poder que nos foi dado. Não podemos
prosseguir sendo canais do ódio.”
“Este nuevo ciclo del tiempo trae raras oportunidades de crecimiento.
Es un momento en el que tenemos la oportunidad de activar nuestros
potenciales y de poner nuestros dones al servicio del amor, como nunca
antes fue posible. Sin embargo, no estando alineado con tu propósito,
con tu misión en la Tierra, te sentirás limitado. Por eso, quiero
proponer una reflexión: te invito a tomar consciencia de lo que estás
haciendo con tus dones. ¿Al servicio de qué estás poniendo tus
habilidades y tu inteligencia? ¿De la unión, de la construcción, del
amor y de la cooperación? ¿Estás trabajando para que este mundo sea
mejor o estás siendo canal de la discordia y de la separación, usando tu
repertorio para instigar la guerra? No podemos seguir descuidando el
poder que nos fue dado. No podemos seguir siendo canales del odio.”
“This new cycle of time brings with it rare opportunities for growth. We can now activate our potential and put our gifts at the service of love like never before. However, if we are not aligned with our purpose and our mission on earth, we will be tested. Therefore, I propose that we each become aware of what we are doing with our gifts. Are you putting your skills and intelligence at the service of union, construction, love and cooperation? Are you working to make this world a better place, or are you being a channel of discord and separation, using your ways to instigate conflict? We can no longer neglect the power that we were given. We cannot continue being channels of hatred.”
“This new cycle of time brings with it rare opportunities for growth. We can now activate our potential and put our gifts at the service of love like never before. However, if we are not aligned with our purpose and our mission on earth, we will be tested. Therefore, I propose that we each become aware of what we are doing with our gifts. Are you putting your skills and intelligence at the service of union, construction, love and cooperation? Are you working to make this world a better place, or are you being a channel of discord and separation, using your ways to instigate conflict? We can no longer neglect the power that we were given. We cannot continue being channels of hatred.”
Today's Daily Dharma: This is Nirvana
This is Nirvana
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