Rational Nation USA

  Carlson and the rest of the FOX MAGA'ts deserve only our contempt for their egregiously wrong headed support of Trump and Trump's lies leading up to his J6 2021 insurrection attempt. These people have absolutely no business in the news media. They should be run out of town on a rail. As they are every bit as dishonest and despicable as Trump is.

 

  Here’s How Much Each Member Of The Royal Family Is Worth MONEYPOP - The British royal family has power, prestige, and tons and tons of money. Contrary to popular belief, the Royals aren’t fully funded by taxpayers. They’re independently wealthy with inheritances, crown estates, and allowances. Alone, the crown jewels have an estimated worth of between £3 and £5 billion ($4 – $6.6 billion). Their combined wealth is thought to be around $88 billion. So, how much are the British family members actually worth? Spoiler: even the poorest royals are still wealthier than most of us could ever imagine. Just imagine what existence would be like if greed were not a part opf the equation. Spreading a more equitable and more pleasant existence for millions if not billions across the globe. Ignorance and Greed represent humanities two very biggest problems.

  Buddhadharma - In July 2022, seven clergy of various faiths in Miami-Dade County filed lawsuits against the State of Florida seeking to invalidate House Bill 5 (HB 5), the Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act. HB 5 prevents women and girls from having autonomy over their own bodies; has no exceptions for rape, incest, or the age of the victim; no exceptions for life-threatening medical emergencies; and no exceptions for incurable fetal abnormalities. I was one of the seven. Can our lawsuit be considered bodhisattva activity? If motivation counts, then yes. Can we as Buddhists dispassionately examine this issue, asking ourselves and our teachers difficult questions? Can we dialogue with those who disagree with us? And whatever perspective we adopt regarding abortion, can we offer spiritual support and understanding to women and girls who choose it? This situation cries out for compassion, for empathy, and for protection of women and girls. Laws like HB 5 are enacted when abort...

  Lions Roar - For Tibetan Buddhists, this week marks Losar, the new year—a time to clean house, cherish family, make offerings, contemplate the past year and welcome the new. Losar is one of the most important days in the Tibetan Lunar calendar, a day of community practice and celebration, and a chance to express appreciation for the teachers, teachings, and the basic goodness that binds all beings together. Generally falling around the second new moon after the winter solstice, the tradition originated thousands of years ago in the pre-Buddhist Bon period and is now celebrated around the world, including in many Buddhist centers in North America. 2023 is designated as the year of the Water Rabbit, traditionally characterized by a peaceful and patient energy. Happy Losar!

 

 

 

  Scholars of CRT view race as a social construct with no biological basis. One tenet of CRT is that racism and disparate racial outcomes are the result of complex, changing, and often subtle social and institutional dynamics, rather than explicit and intentional prejudices of individuals. CRT, or Critical Race Theory seems to have many Republicans and conservatives knickers in a knot. Either they have not read anything in depth about CRT and essentially prefer to remain ignorant, or,  they have read the material and simply choose not to give it any credibility. Unfortunately  many people, reified in their lifelong conditioned beliefs, simply want no part of recognizing what has driven, and continues to drive, racial unrest and race relations in general in America. Very sad, because CRT has absolutely nothing to do with indoctrination of school children. That, and until we, as a nation, honestly and openly confront our history on race and honestly...

 

 

We are reposting the video on the possibility Christ was a Buddhist Monk in the far east before returning to Palestine to start his three year ministry there. There is so much believed to be so that may, in truth, not actually be... perhaps being a seeker may be the only way to arrive at true peace and understanding.

  HT: Progressive Eruptions

 

 

  Mahamudra is a body of teachings found in the many of the Tibetan Buddhist schools, which includes methods for truly understanding the very nature of our own minds, leading us to enlightenment. Different schools might propose slightly different approaches for achieving this goal, but regardless of which one is followed, working on knowing the actual nature of our minds is a way of making our lives incredibly meaningful. Study Buddhism -  Mahamudra , a Sanskrit word meaning “ great seal ,” refers to an advanced and sophisticated system of meditation on the nature of the  mind , and the realizations gained through it. Just like wax seals are stamped on legal documents to authenticate their signature, similarly the  great seal  of  mahamudra  is stamped on authentic practices that bring enlightenment for the benefit of all. Mahamudra   meditation ’s distinctive characteristic is that it focuses on the mind itself and its intimate relation with the...

 

 

Five hundred years after the Buddha’s death, a radically new version of Buddhism was born and  spread with its new teachings along the Silk Road into China. This new version became known as Mahayana Buddhism, or the “Greater Vehicle.” A look at how the teachings of Shakyamuni entered China, and the dramatic transformations they underwent on their way to Japan. Mahayana Buddhism Takes Form: Anyone Can Become a Buddha Sasaki Shizuka   -  From its  beginnings in India  some 2,500 years ago, Buddhism spread and became influential across a wide area of the subcontinent and Central Asia. The decision of King Ashoka, the third-century ruler of the Maurya dynasty, to become a Buddhist was a pivotal event in the early history of the religion. It is thought that Buddhist teachings were known throughout India and had expanded as far south as Sri Lanka around this time. In Sri Lanka, the religion has survived a turbulent history, and remains today more or less in the origin...

 

 

The republican party has lost all sense of honesty and accountability. So,  when i saw this on Progressive Eruptions  today i just had to bring a section of Shaw's post over with links to information exposing the republican's who have publicly stated their intentions on SS. And folks, the liars are, in fact, the republicans. Senator Mike Lee called POTUS a liar when POTUS said SOME GOPers wanted to cut Social Security, etc. But who is the REAL liar?  Go to this link and see him talking about pulling Social Security up by the roots and getting rid of it . Sen. Rick Scott also wants to mess with Social Security as well.  (MT Greene called POTUS a liar, but she's the poorly informed member of Congress who's loud, jeering heckling made her look like a howler monkey last night.) Scott doubles down on sunsetting all federal programs after Biden’s jab   ***************************** Trumpers are so confused!

 

 

  Through the round of many births I roamed without reward,     without rest, seeking the house-builder. Painful is birth     again & again. House-builder, you're seen! You will not build a house again. All your rafters broken, the ridge pole destroyed, gone to the Unformed, the mind has come to the end of  Craving .

  One may conquer a thousand men a thousand times in a battle, but having conquered one’s own self, one would be supreme in battle. 

 

 

  Perusing the internet today i came across the following on the Buddha's teachings relative to political and economic theory. While rather lengthy it is worth the read. Lots of good stuff that could help the political and governmental leaders of the world. If they'd just read, meditate, and learn. But unfortunately their egos and reified beliefs get in the way. Springer Link - This chapter outlines doctrinal Buddhist political and economic theory including its notions about interstate relations, which are based on its unique understanding of the nature of reality. Some readers may be surprised to hear that there exists a theory of politics in Buddha’s teachings. But in fact, Buddha spoke extensively about politics, contrary to the assertion of Max Weber who famously asserted that Buddhism was “a specifically a-political and anti-political status religion.” Although the overriding goal of Buddha’s teachings is the liberation of individuals from pervasive suffering, Buddha consi...