Do your best. Speak the truth.
FIML practice is like JWST compared to normal interpersonal speech, which is like Hale at best. Like the telescope, FIML is a technical advance that allows for much greater clarity and resolution. In Buddhist terms, FIML is partner-based mindfulness that provides an objective control on understanding in addition to much better clarity. ABN
Link to article: Attorney ‘Thrilled’ After Federal Judge Blocks COVID Vaccine Mandate for Air Force, Air National Guard
Never, never, never give up your right to religious freedom—the freedom to act in accord with your conscience. Spiritually, this is arguably our most fundamental right because it is only by nurturing and following our consciences that we grow in wisdom and goodness. ABN
Today, Liberty Counsel settled the nation’s first classwide lawsuit for health care workers over a COVID shot mandate, for more than $10.3 million. The class action settlement against NorthShore University HealthSystem is on behalf of more than 500 current and former health care workers who were unlawfully discriminated against and denied religious exemptions from the COVID shot mandate. The agreed upon settlement was filed today in the federal Northern District Court of Illinois.
As a result of the settlement, NorthShore will pay $10,337,500 to compensate these health care employees who were victims of religious discrimination, and who were punished for their religious beliefs against taking an injection associated with aborted fetal cells.
This is a historic, first-of-its-kind class action settlement against a private employer who unlawfully denied hundreds of religious exemption requests to COVID-19 shots.
…As part of the settlement agreement, NorthShore will also change its unlawful “no religious accommodations” policy to make it consistent with the law, and to provide religious accommodations in every position across its numerous facilities. No position in any NorthShore facility will be considered off limits to unvaccinated employees with approved religious exemptions.
In addition, employees who were terminated because of their religious refusal of the COVID shots will be eligible for rehire if they apply within 90 days of final settlement approval by the court, and they will retain their previous seniority level.
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Ultimately, religious freedom means freedom to act on your own conscience. This is not just a freedom for established religions or for people who have a note from their priest. It is an unalienable right of all people and no one shall infringe it. All freedom-loving people should be delighted with this decision. I hope we see many more like it. ABN
Animism (from Latin: anima, ‘breath, spirit, life‘)[1][2] is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence.[3][4][5][6] Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and perhaps even words—as animated and alive. Animism is used in the anthropology of religion, as a term for the belief system of many Indigenous peoples,[7] especially in contrast to the relatively more recent development of organised religions.[8] Animism focuses on the metaphysical universe, with specific focus on the concept of the immaterial soul.[9]
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The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia – Book Thread
Prior to their conversion to Buddhism, Tibet once ruled an empire which battled the Chinese & Turks for control over the Silk Road from the 7th to the 9th century AD
Unknown to many, Tibet was long ago a great power in Inner Asia
This is the heartbreaking reality of what the woke activists have done to our community with their push to sexualize & indoctrinate children. So many of us feel this way. Had we known this is what our fight for equality would have led to, we wouldn’t have fought for it at all 💔
Incredible and raw video from our newest contributor, Carol. You can find her on TikTok and Instagram.
Originally tweeted by Gays Against Groomers (@againstgroomers) on July 17, 2022.
The Buddha made rules for monks and nuns ad hoc, to address something that had happened or was happening. In the video above Carol says: “If I had known… I never would have.” I think that is a very good basic formula for how to draw the line on behaviors that have gone too far. Carol states it very eloquently, in a fine example of controlled brevity. “If we had known better… we would never have agreed to that.” This is a good way to assess public policies that have not worked for us and figure out how to improve them. ABN
Incidentally, shame in Buddhism is considered essential for the cultivation of wisdom for without shame we do not recognize our own mistakes and learn from them. It is not right to dwell on shame, but feel it and contemplate it long enough to fully mend your ways. Rather than pretend there is no hypocrisy in her words, Ardern would do better for herself and others to simply admit her mistakes, take her lumps and move on. ABN
First the easy ones:
Most people can more or less agree on the above, even stated as bluntly as that. These and other simple issues are purposely made complex or stated as ideals to confuse people so advocates/activists can rake in the money.
The hard problems:
These two hard problems are difficult because they involve highest level beliefs/values. My proposal for these is put them together. The result will be a Western “religion” or “culture” that accepts individual rights in a law based social system that respects all religions that can accept this synthesis.
2016: Chloe said that she became exposed to transgender activism at age 11 on Instagram and Tumblr which influenced her thinking on her own gender.
2018: At age 14, Chloe began taking puberty blockers and testosterone injections, that were administered by her mother. That same year she begins going by the name Leo.
June 2020: Chloe goes under the knife for the first time at 15 when she has a double mastectomy
Almost immediately, she regrets the surgery as she was confined to her bed for that summer as she healed from her surgery
May 2021: Following a biology class during which she came to the realization that she would never be able to feed her baby, Chloe said that she stopped taking testosterone injection
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Pretty much any hard-held identity is delusional in Buddhism. I do not see any way a Buddhist can honestly support surgical or hormonal transgender treatments on children, who obviously are too young to make these decisions for themselves. Not sure I see any reason to support treatments like these for adults either. Clinging to any mundane identity is the core delusion of the Second Noble Truth, the truth of the cause of suffering. Sexual orientation alone is not important enough to base an identity on. Surgically or chemically changing your body just to conform to some notion of what your “real” gender identity is is clearly excessive, not the Middle Way. As Buddhists, we do not reject people who do this just as we do not reject out of hand anyone who makes even very serious mistakes. But not rejecting is not the same a condoning or encouraging behavior that furthers delusion and suffering and does not lead toward greater wisdom. ABN
You thought the treatment of folks going bare-faced in 2020 was intense? Wait until you see how unvaccinated people still wearing a mask – in good faith and according to CDC guidelines – are ostracized as dangerous pariahs in 2021.
[For Buddhists, this and virtually all things covid illustrate the First and Second Noble Truths with exquisite clarity. ABN]
Continue reading “How the unvaccinated were treated in 2021”
McCullough is a magnificent example of Christian bravery, of religious bravery that transcends denomination and transcends even human language. He is not only a great Christian he is also, probably without knowing it, a better Buddhist than most Buddhists. Moreover, McCullough shows that deep religious conviction can fit perfectly with deep scientific conviction. There is no contradiction between science and religion in a mature spirit. ABN
for more clips of Peter McCullough…
Continue reading ““Pull all the vaccines off the market. Figure out what went wrong. And start to in earnest evaluate safety” – Dr Peter McCullough”
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