iACT

When is Violence Justified?

Jason Erick Taylor — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:46:11 +0000

As Memorial Day approaches and we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our nation, The Red Bench interfaith dialogue program will focus on the notion of “just war.”

Unfortunately, violence is a part of the human condition. When is its use justified? How do we reconcile the teaching of our faith traditions with violence? These questions have troubled mankind for millennia. Join people of varied faith traditions for a candid discussion as we explore these difficult issues.

We invite you to bring your life experiences and deepest beliefs to what should prove to be an inspiring, and we hope, thought-provoking conversation. Please reach out to others in your faith community or within your circle of friends and invite them to participate in this program!

RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/redbench/events/106740682/

Date: Tuesday, May 21
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: First Methodist Church Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca Street, 78701

Details: Free, everyone is welcome. Light Vegetarian Meal provided. The parking garage is no longer available for use, please park in the church’s lot on the southeast corner or along the street.

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10 things science and Buddhism says will make you happy

Jason Erick Taylor — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:22:48 +0000

1. Be generous
“Make altruism and giving part of your life, and be purposeful about it,” Yes magazine says. “Researcher Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend money on others reported much greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves.”

And in fact Buddhism has always emphasized the practice of dana, or giving. Giving hasn’t been seen purely as the exchange of material possessions, however; giving in Buddhist terms includes non-tangibles such as education, confidence, and wisdom.

“And which are the three factors of the donor? There is the case where the donor, before giving, is glad; while giving, his/her mind is bright & clear; and after giving is gratified.” (Anguttara Nikaya)

2. Savor everyday moments
“Study participants who took time to savor ordinary events that they normally hurried through, or to think back on pleasant moments from their day, showed significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression.”

This of course is an example of another fundamental Buddhist practice — mindfulness. When we’re mindful we stay in the present moment, and really pay attention to our experience. Walking meditation, and even eating, can be ways of savoring everyday moments. In being present, we dwell in the present without obsessing about the past or future, and this brings radiant happiness:

They sorrow not for what is past,
They have no longing for the future,
The present is sufficient for them:
Hence it is they appear so radiant.
(Samyutta Nikaya)

3. Avoid comparisons
“While keeping up with the Joneses is part of American culture, comparing ourselves with others can be damaging to happiness and self-esteem. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, focusing on our own personal achievement leads to greater satisfaction.”Buddhists are advised to avoid “conceit.” Now in the west we think of conceit as a sense of superiority, but in Buddhism conceit includes thinking you’re inferior to others, AND it includes thinking that you’re equal to others! What’s left? Just not thinking in terms of self and other at all. The ideal in Buddhism is a kind of “flow” state in which we un-selfconsciously respond to others without any conceptualization of there being a self or an other.

“Though possessing many a virtue one should not compare oneself with others by deeming oneself better or equal or inferior.” (Sutta Nipata 918)

4. Put money low on the list

“The more we seek satisfactions in material goods, the less we find them there,” [researcher Richard] Ryan says. “The satisfaction has a short half-life—it’s very fleeting.” People who put money high on their priority list are more at risk for depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Despite western preconceptions to the contrary, the Buddha wasn’t against people making money. In fact he encouraged it! Money’s useful to the extent that it supports our physical needs, allows us to make others happy, and — most importantly — to the extent that we use it to support genuine spiritual practice. In Buddhist terms we validate our wealth creation by giving our money away to support what’s really important in life, which is the pursuit of wellbeing, truth, and goodness. The idea that materialism can bring us genuine happiness is what Buddhism calls a “false refuge.”

There is no satisfying sensual desires, even with the rain of gold coins. (Dhammapada 186)

Knowing the bliss of debtlessness,
& recollecting the bliss of having,
enjoying the bliss of wealth, the mortal
then sees clearly with discernment.
Seeing clearly — the wise one —
he knows both sides:
that these are not worth one sixteenth-sixteenth
of the bliss of blamelessness.
(Anguttara Nikaya)

5. Have meaningful goals
According to Harvard’s resident happiness professor, Tal Ben-Shahar, “Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning.”The Buddha’s last words were “with mindfulness, strive.” The whole point of being a Buddhist is in order to attain spiritual awakening — which means to maximize our compassion and mindfulness. What could be more meaningful than that?

“He gains enthusiasm for the goal, gains enthusiasm for the Dhamma, gains gladness connected with the Dhamma.” (Majjhima Nikaya)

6. Take initiative at work
“How happy you are at work depends in part on how much initiative you take. Researcher Amy Wrzesniewski says that when we express creativity, help others, suggest improvements, or do additional tasks on the job, we make our work more rewarding and feel more in control.”

The Buddhist teaching on work is called the practice of Right Livelihood. And the Buddha saw work as being a way to show initiative and intelligence:

“By whatsoever activity a clansman make his living … he is deft and tireless; gifted with an inquiring turn of mind in to ways and means, he is able to arrange and carry out his job.” (Anguttara Nikaya)

Heedful at administering
or working at one’s occupation,
… [these are factors]
leading to welfare & happiness.
(Anguttara Nikaya)

7. Make friends, treasure family
“We don’t just need relationships, we need close ones,” says Yes magazine.

To the Buddha, spiritual friendship was “the whole of the spiritual life.” And even though people tend to think about monks and nuns leaving home, for those who embraced the household life, close and loving relationships with others was highly recommended. “Generosity, kind words, beneficial help, and consistency in the face of events” are the things that hold a family together, according to the Buddha.

Let him associate with friends who are noble, energetic, and pure in life, let him be cordial and refined in conduct. Thus, full of joy, he will make an end of suffering. (Dhammapada 376)

Support for one’s parents,
assistance to one’s wife and children,
consistency in one’s work:
This is the highest protection [from suffering].
(Mangala Sutta)

8. Look on the bright side
“Happy people … see possibilities, opportunities, and success. When they think of the future, they are optimistic, and when they review the past, they tend to savor the high points,” say [researchers Ed] Diener and [Robert] Biswas-Diener.

Buddhism doesn’t encourage us to have a false sense of positivity, but neither are these researchers. They’re suggesting that we find the good in any situation we find ourselves in. Buddhism encourages positivity through practices such as affectionate and helpful speech, where we consciously look for the good in ourselves and others.

The strongest expression of this is where we’re told to maintain compassionate thoughts even toward those who are sadistically cruel toward us:

“Monks, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that would not be doing my bidding. Even then you should train yourselves: ‘Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading these people with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning with them, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.’ That’s how you should train yourselves.” (Majjhima Nikaya)

9. Say thank you like you mean it
“People who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis are healthier, more optimistic, and more likely to make progress toward achieving personal goals, according to author Robert Emmons.”

The Buddha said that gratitude, among other qualities, was the “highest protection,” meaning that it protects us against unhappiness. And:

“A person of integrity is grateful and thankful. This gratitude, this thankfulness, is advocated by civil people.”(Anguttara Nikaya)

To one ever eager to revere and serve the elders, these four blessing accrue: long life and beauty, happiness and power.(Dhammapada 109)

Gratitude in Buddhism helps us to align our being with the good (kusala) so that we’re more likely to live in a way that leads to happiness and wellbeing.

10. Get out and exercise
“A Duke University study shows that exercise may be just as effective as drugs in treating depression, without all the side effects and expense.”

And the Buddha said — well, I don’t think he said much about exercise! In a culture like the Buddha’s where most people worked manually, and where walking was the main form of transportation, there wasn’t much need to emphasize exercise as a thing in itself. It’s only in sedentary cultures like ours that people have to make a special trip to the gym to exercise — although they usually park as close to the entrance as possible to minimize the amount of exercise they have to do in order to get to the exercise machines! But walking meditation was, and is, a key practice in Buddhism, even though it’s sometimes done very slowly. However the Buddhist scriptures commonly mention that such-and-such a person was “walking and wandering up and down beside the river for exercise,” suggesting that monks, with their own form of semi-sedentary lifestyle, needed to set aside special time to get their bodies moving.

Monks, there are these five benefits of walking up & down. What five?

One is fit for long journeys; one is fit for striving; one has little disease; that which is eaten, drunk, chewed, tasted, goes through proper digestion; the composure attained by walking up & down is long-lasting.

These, monks, are the five benefits of walking up & down. (Anguttara Nikaya)

Written by Bodhipaksa

SOURCE

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Spirituality Book Club – May 13

Jason Erick Taylor — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:04:06 +0000

Date: Monday, May 13, 2013, 7:00 PM
Venue: BookPeople
RSVP for in event on Meetup.com

Our next meeting will be Monday, May 13th at 7 p.m. at Book People.

Our book for May is Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. ISBN: 978-0615648224

At age 30, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus left their six-figure corporate careers, jettisoned most of their material possessions, and started focusing on life’s most important aspects. And they never looked back.

This book’s foreword and first chapter examine Joshua and Ryan’s backgrounds, their troubled pasts, and their eventual spiral into depression. These chapters discuss why the authors didn’t feel fulfilled by their careers and why they turned to society’s idea of living: working ridiculous hours, wastefully spending money, living paycheck to paycheck. Instead of finding their passions, they pacified themselves with ephemeral indulgences, inducing a cocaine-like high that didn’t last far past the checkout line.

And then, after a set of life-changing events, they discovered minimalism, which allowed Joshua and Ryan to eliminate life’s excess and focus on the essential things in life.

The subsequent chapters explore their journey into a lifestyle known as minimalism and discuss why these two successful businessmen eschewed their excess stuff in favor of focusing on life’s the more important aspects: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.

The authors discuss how minimalism allowed them to focus on each area, citing personal examples of how they changed everything in their lives over a two year span, during which time they left their corporate jobs, got out of debt, changed their diets, started exercising regularly, strengthened their core relationships, established exciting new relationships, began pursuing their passions, contributed to more people, and found ways to be content and happy with their lives.

The final chapter, Confluence of Meaning, binds together these five dimensions and asks the reader important questions about his or her life.

This book’s content is different from the content at TheMinimalist.com. While the authors’ website documents their journey into minimalism and their continued growth through experimentation, this book discusses minimalism in a different way: it discusses in great depth the five dimensions of living a meaningful life. It also gives the reader much more insight into the authors’ personal lives, into the painful events that led them to journey into minimalism, and into their world outside the web.

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Save the Date – World Refugee Day

Jason Erick Taylor — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:41:03 +0000

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Reconnecting with Your Spirit

Jason Erick Taylor — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:12:04 +0000

The old saying is true – the older we get, the more quickly time flies!

In this flurry of days, weeks, and months passing, we so often neglect to give our attention fully to the tasks at hand – always thinking about what we must accomplish next. We indulge ourselves in over-thinking and slowly drift from the sense of inner peace that slowing down and taking in some fresh air can bring.

When we lose the connection to our spirit, it can show up in many ways in our lives. We can feel down, uninspired, exhausted, etc… So how do we re-connect? Here are 5 ideas on how you can slow down and re-connect with your spirit.

For many of us, meditation seems daunting; how do we shut off our minds when we are just sitting there?! My solution is simple – a guided meditation. This is the perfect introduction to meditation, and it will do the job of allowing you to clear out the clutter in your mind.

Other than meditation, this is the simplest way to get back in touch with your spirit. There is something about hitting the pavement in your runners and looking up at the sky that can immediately draw you into presence and allow you to stop and smell the roses. Spring is upon us, and there is no better time to get outside!

Personally, I am a Non-Fiction book junkie, but sometimes it’s nice to encourage your mind to slow down by allowing yourself to become absorbed in a different world. Fiction serves a beautiful and inspirational purpose. Take advantage of this and dive in.

Many of us have dreams and goals which we want to accomplish. If we are in true alignment with our spirits, those dreams will make us feel full and loved and won’t feel like work at all. Spend a day or half a day sifting through magazines and creating a vision board. If it is what you truly are meant to do, your spirit will feel full in the process.

As difficult as it may be, turning off the TV, cell phones, and other devices for one day can be just what the doctor ordered for your spirit. Going screen-free once a week or once a month is like hitting the re-set button internally. You will feel refreshed and prepared for the week ahead.

SOURCE

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The Epiphanies Of Aging

Jason Erick Taylor — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:02:30 +0000

Patrick Kurp is reading John Updike’s Self-Consciousness, published when the author turned 57:

I’m three years older than Updike when he published it, and he spends much time revisiting Shillington, Pa., where he grew up and frequently returned in his imagination. It’s an aging man’s reverie, one I share, and so forgive … Updike writes:

Also like my late Unitarian father-in-law am I now in my amazed, insistent appreciation of the physical world, of this planet with its scenery and weather—that pathetic discovery which the old make that every day and season has its beauty and its uses, that even a walk to the mailbox is a precious experience, that all species of tree and weed have their signature and style and the day is a pageant of clouds.

(Photo by Flickr user JensSt)

Source

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Proudly Announcing the 2013 Hope Award Honorees!

Jason Erick Taylor — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:49:28 +0000

The theme for the 2013 Hope Awards gala is “Service – A Life’s Journey” and Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) will be honoring four Austinites who embody social engagement and transformational service to our community.

Alex Winkelman – Executive Director, Citizen Generation

Senator Kirk Watson and Liz Watson - State Senator and Community Leader

Patsy Woods Martin – Founder and Executive Director, I Live Here, I Give Here (and creator of Amplify Austin)

The Hope Awrards program is a fundraiser for iACT’s outstanding service programs: Hands on Housing, which repairs the homes of impoverished senior citizens and disabled individuals; and the iACT for Refugees School, which provides basic educational assistance to newly arrived refugees from around the world.

Join us for a beautiful evening honoring Austin’s finest servant leaders and support iACT’s mission of “Cultivating peace and respect through interfaith dialogue, service and celebration.”

Sponsorships for the Hope Awards. Table Sponsorships are available for $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000 (10 tickets per table). For more information about sponsorships and iACT, please call 512-386-9145 x302, or visit us online at www.interfaithtexas.org

We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you on April 30th.
The Hope Awards
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
The Four Seasons Hotel (98 San Jacinto Blvd)
Reception for Honorees and Sponsors- 6:00 PM
Public event – 6:30 PM, Silent Auction, dinner & awards
Tickets – $150 before April 5 and $175 after
Click Here For More Information

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iACT’s 2013 Hope Awards Honorees

Jason Erick Taylor — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:19:15 +0000

This year’s Hope Awards, “Service – A Life’s Journey” would like to recognize our 2013 Honorees.

Alex Winkelman – Executive Director, Citizen Generation
An inspirational young leader who has already launched several innovative philanthropic ventures, Alex represents the future of social entrepreneurship in Austin.

Patsy Woods Martin – Founder and Executive Director, I Live Here, I Give Here
Serving as the volunteer Executive Director of I Live Here, I Give Here, Patsy has left her indelible mark on the organization behind “Amplify Austin” the on-line “day of giving” which successfully raised nearly $2.8 million dollars for area non-profits in 24 hours!

Senator Kirk Watson and Liz Watson – State Senator and Community Leader
Kirk and Liz Watson are a dynamic duo! State Senator Kirk Watson has been one of the primary shapers of modern Austin. A two-term Austin Mayor, Senator Watson has also been recognized by Texas Monthly as being one of the “10 Best” Texas Legislators. Recently, he was the driving force behind the successful election to create The University of Texas teaching hospital. Liz, Kirk’s wife, has played her own unique role in lifting up the work of area non-profits and causes. A former TV news reporter and anchor, she is also a past Director of Physician Relations for the Seton Healthcare Network.

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Amplify Austin – Meet Paula

Jason Erick Taylor — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:00:55 +0000

Here’s the story of one of the many individuals changed by our work…

Sometimes, you can leave Austin just by walking through a door… at least the Austin we think we know.

That’s how iACT’s Hands on Housing staff felt when they first walked through Paula’s front door. Paula is 66 years old and has lived in the same modest house for nearly her entire life. Once inside the doors, it was immediately evident to our staff that her home was in alarming condition with sagging ceilings and rotten sheet rock. Worse still, it was a cold winter day and the house felt like a freezer – there was no functioning heat. But then the real shock came when Paula confided that she had been living without running water for over a year.

No running water.

Paula is a very shy woman and it had taken a long time for us to earn her trust. In the rapidly gentrifying world of East Austin there are a lot of rumors about “people wanting to take your home” and Paula was convinced that her new neighbors in their nice houses would call the City and have her home condemned if they knew how bad things had gotten. That is why she waited until dark to fill buckets with water from a neighbor’s hose.

Today, thanks to iACT’s Hands on Housing program, Paula has hot and cold running water, her roof has been patched, her electrical system upgraded, the sheet rock repaired, and her exterior walls have their first new coat of paint in many years. – Paula’s favorite shade of forest green. However, if you ask what matters to her the most, Paula answers, “the hope that you have given me.”

Your donations to iACT will help fund our Hands on Housing program which has made Paula’s home safe and hope filled. Hope fueled by Amplify Austin and iACT!

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Amplify Austin – Meet Andy

Jason Erick Taylor — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:00:09 +0000

Here’s the story of one of the many individuals changed by our work…

Andy is a 37 year-old refugee from Cuba. Facing a future with no job and no economic prospects in his home country, Andy went to Ecuador to see if he could find employment. (Ecuador is one of the few nations that will allow Cuban “tourists” in without a visa.) Unable to get work papers in Ecuador, Andy eventually decided he would try to get to the US.

Andy travelled across Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico by bus and on foot. He faced a veritable gauntlet of criminals including many police and border guards who prey upon refugees moving from nation to nation. The trip took an entire month, but eventually, Andy made it to the US border and made a formal request for refugee status.

Today, Andy is optimistic about his future and is anxious to start a real career in Austin and contribute to the life of his new hometown, Austin.

Your donations to iACT will help fund the iACT for Refugees school which helps refugees like Andy learn English and get a good start in their new hometown, Austin. You can help them by supporting iACT!

New beginnings fueled by Amplify Austin and iACT!

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