Friday, September 1, 2017

A friend posted this on her FB page, and I just had to mess with it. Not to diminish the evils of racism... it just got me to thinking


-->
The problem is that many heterosexuals see homophobia as conscious hate, when homophobia is bigger than that. Homophobia is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on behalf of heterosexuals at the other people’s expense, whether heterosexuals know/like it or not. Homophobia is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn’t care if you are a heterosexual person who likes LGBTq people; it’s still going to find a way to infect how you deal with people who don’t act like you do. Yes, racism looks like hate, but hate is just one manifestation. Privilege is another. Access is another. Ignorance is another. Apathy is another. And so on. So, while I agree with people who say no one is born homophobic, it remains a powerful system that we’re immediately born into. It’s like born into air; you take it in as soon as you breathe. It’s not a cold that you can get over. There is no anti-homophobia certification class. It’s a set of socioeconomic traps and cultural values that are fired up every time we interact with the world. It is a thing you have to keep scooping out of the boat if your life to keep from drowning in it. I know it’s hard work, but it’s the price you pay for owning everything.”

Via FB


Via FB


Via Daily Dharma: Nurture Your Spiritual Confidence

You should feel confident: Yes, I can attain enlightenment, I can benefit beings. Here in samsara I can help my family, I can support the sangha and benefit sentient beings. I can do it. I can achieve things, and I can live a joyful, meaningful life.

—Kyabgon Phakchok Rinpoche, “Four Simple Tips for Living a Buddhist Life