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The Buddha condemned the caste system, recognized the equality of all beings, spoke on the need to improve socio-economic conditions, favored a more equitable distribution of wealth among the rich and the poor, raised the status of w((omen, recommended the incorporation of humanism in government and administration, and taught that a society should not be run by greed but with consideration and compassion for the people.—Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
(feel free to re-post or link to your social media)
(feel free to re-post or link to your social media)
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It can be hard to tell what’s a failure and what’s just something that is shifting your life in a different direction. In other words, failure can be the portal to creativity, to learning something new, to having a fresh perspective. - Pema Chodron
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Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. - Helen Keller
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Several years ago while receiving teachings from her Guru in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sarah C. Beasley and the other students were instructed to leave the meditation hall and, within 24 hours, see a newborn, a sick person, an aged person and a dead person.
It was an unusual Buddhist homework assignment.
Beasley took off and was able to experience the first three without much difficulty. Finding a body proved to be a bit more challenging because she understood the homework was to see a recently deceased person, not one made to look asleep by a funeral director. She managed to get herself into a morgue where several bodies were covered in green medical sheets.
Here is what she experienced, in her words: "What a gift to experience this, precisely because it was a stranger. His death, while not affecting me personally, touched me in some deep, universal way. As if the corpse was speaking to me, saying: “You see? This is our fate. You are no exception. It is this simple after the fact. The differences lie in the karma leading up to it. None of us truly knows until we arrive at the moment, of conscious or unconscious knowing, that our time has come.”
It was an unusual Buddhist homework assignment.
Beasley took off and was able to experience the first three without much difficulty. Finding a body proved to be a bit more challenging because she understood the homework was to see a recently deceased person, not one made to look asleep by a funeral director. She managed to get herself into a morgue where several bodies were covered in green medical sheets.
Here is what she experienced, in her words: "What a gift to experience this, precisely because it was a stranger. His death, while not affecting me personally, touched me in some deep, universal way. As if the corpse was speaking to me, saying: “You see? This is our fate. You are no exception. It is this simple after the fact. The differences lie in the karma leading up to it. None of us truly knows until we arrive at the moment, of conscious or unconscious knowing, that our time has come.”
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The sun rises, the sun sets—it’s impossible to hold onto the day or night. Enjoy what comes and be at peace with what doesn't. - Roger Gabriel
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In India, National Doctors’ Day is celebrated to honour Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy who was born on July 1. He was a renowned freedom fighter and highly respected physician. In 1948 he was elected the second Chief Minister of an Indian State and founded five cities there.
A former student of the Calcutta Medical College, he completed both his F.R.C.S. and M.R.C.P. degrees in a little over two years, in England. On his return to India, he joined as a faculty member of Calcutta Medical College. He went on to establish several prominent medical institutions in Calcutta.
He was a leader in the Civil disobedience movement in Bengal and was later elected as Mayor of Calcutta Corporation. He played a prominent role in the selection of the National Anthem. On Gandhi's insistence, he accepted the Chief Minister position of West Bengal and took office in 1948. Within three years, he restored law and order in chaotic Bengal. National Doctor's Day is celebrated every year on 1st July on his birthday (July 1, 1882 - July 1, 1952 - he died on the same month date he was born)
A former student of the Calcutta Medical College, he completed both his F.R.C.S. and M.R.C.P. degrees in a little over two years, in England. On his return to India, he joined as a faculty member of Calcutta Medical College. He went on to establish several prominent medical institutions in Calcutta.
He was a leader in the Civil disobedience movement in Bengal and was later elected as Mayor of Calcutta Corporation. He played a prominent role in the selection of the National Anthem. On Gandhi's insistence, he accepted the Chief Minister position of West Bengal and took office in 1948. Within three years, he restored law and order in chaotic Bengal. National Doctor's Day is celebrated every year on 1st July on his birthday (July 1, 1882 - July 1, 1952 - he died on the same month date he was born)
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July was named in honor of the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was a Roman general, statesman, and historian who conquered Gaul (what is now part of Italy, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands), changed the structure of the Roman government into a dictatorship, was assassinated.
The Roman Senate named the month of July after Julius Caesar to honor him for reforming their calendar, which had degenerated into a chaotic embarrassment. Bad calculations caused the months to drift wildly across the seasons—January, for example, had begun to fall in the autumn. Corrupt calendar officials sometimes lengthened the year so that favored politicians could remain in office longer or they shortened a year to limit another politician's tenure in office.
The calendar we now follow is called the "Julian" or "Roman" calendar made up of 12 months, 365 days and a leap year every four years when an additional day is added to keep the calendar synchronized.
(feel free to re-post or link to your social media)
The Roman Senate named the month of July after Julius Caesar to honor him for reforming their calendar, which had degenerated into a chaotic embarrassment. Bad calculations caused the months to drift wildly across the seasons—January, for example, had begun to fall in the autumn. Corrupt calendar officials sometimes lengthened the year so that favored politicians could remain in office longer or they shortened a year to limit another politician's tenure in office.
The calendar we now follow is called the "Julian" or "Roman" calendar made up of 12 months, 365 days and a leap year every four years when an additional day is added to keep the calendar synchronized.
(feel free to re-post or link to your social media)
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You are what you think. You become what you think about. You can create the life you want, simply by thinking the right thoughts. - Deb Peterson
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It's called santhara.
Coming from the Jain religious tradition, santhara is voluntary fasting to death by gradually reducing one’s intake of food and fluid. Many yogis have transitioned this way when they were very aged or very sick. It is not considered suicide because it is not an act of desperation nor does it use poisons, weapons or violence.
This ancient way of exiting the body is being rediscovered and re-applied among yogis who prefer to make a conscious departure in weeks rather than months of medical intervention and drug therapies leading to a loss of consciousness. Upon committing to santhara it takes approximately thirty days for release to come through death.
Coming from the Jain religious tradition, santhara is voluntary fasting to death by gradually reducing one’s intake of food and fluid. Many yogis have transitioned this way when they were very aged or very sick. It is not considered suicide because it is not an act of desperation nor does it use poisons, weapons or violence.
This ancient way of exiting the body is being rediscovered and re-applied among yogis who prefer to make a conscious departure in weeks rather than months of medical intervention and drug therapies leading to a loss of consciousness. Upon committing to santhara it takes approximately thirty days for release to come through death.
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Buddhist teacher Lama Rod Owens announced to his Facebook followers that he would serve as the officiant at the funeral of rapper XXXTentacion (born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy), who was killed in a suspected robbery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
About his choice to officiate, Owens writes:
I made a decision to officiate the funeral of the slain rapper XXXTentacion. I am doing this because I have been asked by the family as he wanted a Buddhist service. I’m here to hold space for the family, friends, and fans while helping this young man transition into what is next for him. I am not condoning any of the violence he was associated with. All of this is complex and now my role is to support the process of grieving and to fulfill his wishes to have a service from the tradition of Buddhism that has helped and supported me so much.
(source: www.ionsroar.com)
About his choice to officiate, Owens writes:
I made a decision to officiate the funeral of the slain rapper XXXTentacion. I am doing this because I have been asked by the family as he wanted a Buddhist service. I’m here to hold space for the family, friends, and fans while helping this young man transition into what is next for him. I am not condoning any of the violence he was associated with. All of this is complex and now my role is to support the process of grieving and to fulfill his wishes to have a service from the tradition of Buddhism that has helped and supported me so much.
(source: www.ionsroar.com)