Talmud

Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world. - Talmud

Happy Birthday (sort of)

to me! Today is my 60 day birthday! woo hoo yipee! Seriously, sobriety is the best thing I have done. I've never been happier and more grounded. My relationships have never been stronger and I mean all my relationships including my dogs! (bitchy out on the east coast pointed out that it's not actually a birthday...whatever! ;-)

From Buddhanet

Bahiya of the Bark Garment asked the monks: "Pray, sirs, where is the Lord staying he who is a Noble One, he who is a fully awakened Buddha?"

"The Lord has gone into the town to get alms-food."

So, Bahiya quickly left the Jeta Grove, went into Savatthti, and found the Lord in quest for alms food. Handsome he was, good to look upon, with senses calmed, tranquil in mind, composed and controlled like a well trained elephant.

"Sir, let the Lord teach me Dhamma so that it will be for my welfare and happiness for a long time."

"You have come at the wrong time, Bahiya. I am getting my alms-food."

A second and a third time he asked, so the Lord answered: "This is how you must train yourself. When, in the seen there is just the seen, in the heard just the heard, in the sensed just the sensed and in the cognized just the cognized, then there will be no 'thereby', and when there is no 'thereby' there will be no 'therefore', and when there is no 'therefore', there will be no here, no there, no midway in between. That is the end of suffering."

Then and there, because of this concise Dhamma teaching, Bahiya's mind was freed from the defilements.

is faith the acceptance of hope?

(Spiritual) knowledge, like the appreciation of beauty, is not attained by a logical process of thought but by experience and feeling. -Quakers

On Plato and Human Nature

Ancient, classical, Greek philosophy also evidences cogent suggestions that human nature is complex with that complexity following the pattern set out in the teachings and texts of several World Faiths:-

Plato was a pupil and friend of the greek philosopher Socrates. Amongst the many works attributed to Plato's authorship is his "The Republic" wherein is set out a series of discourses that allegedly took place between Socrates and a number of other persons who variously arrived and departed as the discussions continued. (Plato may actually have been putting his own ideas in Socrates' mouth!!!)
It is in this record, made by Plato, of "Socrates? " philosophising that most intriguing themes are developed -

...can we possibly refuse to admit that there exist in each of us the same generic parts and characteristics as are found in the state? For I presume the state has not received them from any other source. It would be ridiculous to imagine that the presence of the spirited element in cities is not to be traced to individuals, wherever this character is imputed to the people, as it is to the natives of Thrace, and Scythia, and generally speaking, of the northern countries; or the love of knowledge, which would be chiefly attributed to our own country; or the love of riches, which people would especially connect with the Phoenicians and the Egyptians.
Certainly.
This then is a fact so far, and one which it is not difficult to apprehend.
No, it is not.
But here begins a difficulty. Are all our actions alike performed by the one predominant faculty, or are there three faculties operating severally in our different actions? Do we learn with one internal faculty, and become angry with another, and with a third feel desire for all the pleasures connected with eating and drinking, and the propagation of the species; or upon every impulse to action, do we perform these several actions with the whole soul…
Socrates à la Plato's Republic Book 4


...As there are three parts, so there appear to me to be three pleasures, one appropriate to each part; and similarly three appetites, and governing principles.
Explain yourself.
According to us, one part was the organ whereby a man learns, and another that whereby he shews spirit. The third was so multiform that we were unable to address it by a single appropriate name; so we named it after that which is its most important and strongest characteristic. We called it appetitive, on account of the violence of the appetites of hunger, thirst, and sex, and all their accompaniments; and we called it peculiarly money-loving, because money is the chief agent in the gratification of such appetites.
Yes, we were right.
Then if we were to assert that the pleasure and the affection of this third part have gain for their object, would not this be the best summary of the facts upon which we should be likely to settle by force of argument, as a means of conveying a clear idea to our own minds, whenever we spoke of this part of the soul? And shall we not be right in calling it money-loving and gain-loving?
I confess I think so, he replied.
Again, do we not maintain that the spirited part is wholly bent on winning power and victory and celebrity?
Certainly we do.
Then would the title of strife-loving and honour-loving be appropriate to it?
Yes, most appropriate?
Well, but with regard to the part by which we learn, it is obvious to everyone that its entire and constant aim is to know how the truth stands, and that this of all the elements of our nature feels the least concern for wealth and reputation.
Yes, quite the least.
Then shall we not do well to call it knowledge-loving and wisdom-loving?
Of course we shall.
Does not this last reign in the souls of some persons, while in the souls of other people one or other of the two former, according to circumstances is dominant?
You are right.
And for these reasons may we assert that men may be primarily classed as lovers of wisdom, of strife, and of gain?
Yes, certainly.
And that there are three kinds of pleasure, respectively underlying the three classes?
Exactly so.
Now are you aware, I continued, that if you choose to ask three such men each in his turn, which of these lives is pleasantest, each will extol his own beyond the others? Thus the money-making man will tell you, that compared with the pleasures of gain, the pleasures of being honoured or of acquiring knowledge are worthless, except in so far as they can produce money.
True.
But what of the honour-loving man? Does he not look upon the pleasure derived from money as a vulgar one, while, on the other hand, he regards the pleasure derived from learning as a mere vapour and absurdity unless honour be the fruit of it.
That is precisely the case.
And must we not suppose that the lover of wisdom regards all other pleasures as, by comparison, very far inferior to the pleasure of knowing how the truth stands, and of being constantly occupied with this pursuit of knowledge…
Socrates à la Plato's Republic Book 9

Thanks to Age of the Sage

Bhagavad Gita - Passion

Arjuna spoke.
But by what is a man impelled, O Varshneya! when he commits sin even against his will, as if compelled by force?

The Holy One spoke.
It is lust: it is wrath, born from the "passion" mode: know that this, all-devouring, all-defiling, is here our foe.
Bhagavad Gita 3: 36- 37

"Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.... And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love". Paul of Tarsus, 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 8 (New King James Version) and an alternative "take":

going to check there good folks out - clicky click

Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Community
Unitarian Universalism is very supportive of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender (BGLT) people and their families, and has officially welcomed this community since 1970. We believe that our first principle, respecting “the inherent worth and dignity of every person,” applies equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Since 1987, more than half of our congregations have completed a program to become especially welcoming to the BGLT community. These congregations are known as Welcoming Congregations, and are indicated on the congregation list with a rainbow chalice icon.

Unitarian Universalism is one of the few religions that ordains openly Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender people. We encourage our BGLT clergy to participate as fully in our faith as our heterosexual clergy.

In addition to welcoming BGLT people into our religious community, we also work to protect the civil and legal rights of BGLT people and families across the country. Unitarian Universalists have been at the forefront of the same-sex marriage debates, advocating for the right for each person to marry the partner of his or her choice.

For more information contact obgltc @ uua.org.

Last updated on Thursday, August 2, 2007.

Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, do not lie against the truth.


This wisdom is not that which comes down from Above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.


But the wisdom from Above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness, is sown in peace, by those who make peace.
(James 4:13-18)

My Belief Results

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (89%)
3. Neo-Pagan (88%)
4. Mahayana Buddhism (86%)
5. New Age (84%)
6. Theravada Buddhism (79%)
7. Secular Humanism (76%)
8. Taoism (76%)
9. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (75%)
10. Scientology (70%)
11. Hinduism (65%)
12. New Thought (65%)
13. Jainism (64%)
14. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (62%)
15. Reform Judaism (58%)
16. Sikhism (55%)
17. Orthodox Quaker (51%)
18. Nontheist (46%)
19. Bahá'í Faith (46%)
20. Orthodox Judaism (30%)
21. Islam (28%)
22. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (28%)
23. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (26%)
24. Seventh Day Adventist (24%)
25. Jehovah's Witness (16%)
26. Eastern Orthodox (14%)
27. Roman Catholic (14%)

The water in a vessel is sparkling; the water in the sea is dark. The small truth has words which are clear; the great truth has great silence.
-Rabindranath Tagore