dharmatalks

On January 18th, 2004, I was consecrated as the bishop-protector of the Franciscan Community (Servitores Franciscan Immacolatae), and became the exarchos (highest ranking patriarch) of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Congregational Church, then operating throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

In accordance with the Maronite Rite, I was consecrated at the hands of Bishop Carlos Harvin and Archbishop Michael J. Carroll, OSP, at the Cathedral Church of the African-American Catholic Congregation (Imani Temple) in Washington, D.C.

The weather was cold, with intermittent rain and sleet, on Capitol Hill, that night. But it was an important night for me, because it represented the confidence that my congregation – the flock entrusted to my pastoral and spiritual care – had in me to lead them and protect them in the years to come.

Six years later, many of you know the rest of the story… (and for those who don’t, a quick visit to: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com will bring them up to speed).

From 1983, when I began my contemplative life as a vowed monastic, until 2006, I was fortunate to be able to financially provide for the vast majority of the Order’s needs, and many of the expenses of the church itself. Until 2001, I personally covered the rent or mortgage on six convents/monastic houses, and our only fundraising outreach was to cover the growing costs of feeding the poor on the streets of the cities in which we were present.

Today, of course, with a much smaller number of contemplatives involved in our work and mission, I am no longer in a position of being able to support even the most modest of our expenses.  I sold off nearly all of the finer ecclesiastical vestments, my episcopal ring, even some of the items I received as ordination gifts, in the past six months, just to keep from being evicted from the cramped, unhealthy and ill-suited space we currently rent in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in which my office has been relegated to space in the corner of our walk-in closet, and my altar space a tiny corner therein.

And so as I contemplated the past six years, I realised that there was part of the story I could and should share with the thousands of students around the world, who come to our blogs for inspiration, information, guidance and support.

Now that the effects of living with full-blown AIDS for 26 years and my recent battle for the past several years with Parkinsonism (neurological problems similar in nature and linked to Parkinson’s Disease, although less serious), it has become very difficult for me to “pull rabbits out of my monastic zucchetto” financially.

I am now faced with a difficult decision. I could walk away from the medical coverage I’ve fought (in and out of court) for the past seven years to get back, and attempt to find work in the non-profit sector, so that we could have a steady and stable income… which would make it possible for us to get out of this terrible living situation and relocate back to the Greater Washington, D.C. area, where contacts and the culture itself lend itself to greater support for our work. Or I can figure out another way to make it.

If I try going back to work, particularly with an arm that remains badly broken due to the neuro problems, which will likely require another reconstructive/reparative surgery this spring, then that surgery will not be done. It will also necessitate going off the HIV treatment and treatment for Parkinsonism, since the co-pays for those meds exceeds $1600/month – something I could never afford with a traditional non-profit job. There is also a slim chance of finding a non-profit position which would be flexible enough to allow for the days when I spend six to eight hours in the morning sick, or too weak to move… or the periods of 4-5 hours of intense pain, when I cannot function, let alone think straight.

So what are my alternatives?

I’d like to think that the service I offer the community at-large is a valuable one. I am aware of the unique qualifications that come from having lived for 30 years within the Buddhist monastic life, while simultaneously functioning in a progressive Western ethos, and ministering to members of a more traditional (but radically inclusive) faith community. And so I am going to turn to you and ask for input…

What can I do for you that would have some sort of value?

The idea is that if I could find just 15 people, who were able to use my help in some way – whether it was writing or editing blog copy, creating graphics, developing a website, or some other function – for which they would offer just $100/month, I would have the additional funds needed to sustain healthier living standards, groceries, and utilities. And I would be able to ensure that Craig, whose challenges with Parkinson’s Disease are far more severe than my own, doesn’t end up further damaging his health by trying to push himself at times when he should not be doing so.

Of course, it would be wonderful if someone were to see value enough in my work to be able to offer half the amount we need as a monthly rental stipend ($850) or even if someone were to be able to afford to underwrite the entire $1500/month. I am sure that given my skillset, there is someone out there who could use the tax write-off, and quality of services we can deliver.

So I am going to put it out there, and see what happens. I am confident that there will be ideas coming forth from the community-at-large. I’ve put feelers out for those who might have rental properties that could use a live-in property manager; as well as positions for Church groundskeepers, which might include a suitable groundskeepers house in lieu of payment.

I am hoping too that folks will be inspired by the admonition of Og Mandino, who encourages us:

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight.  Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward.  Your life will never be the same again.

I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve as an historic successor to the Apostles John, James, Judas the Twin (Mar Thoma of India), Thaddeus and Bartholomew… in the lineage of Mar Thoma, Carlos Duarte-Costa, Dom Salomon Ferrez.

I am also profoundly grateful for those upon whom I have had the fortune of laying hands, who have taken up the responsibility as successors to the apostles themselves, including: Arcbhishop Michael Seneco (of the North American Old Catholic Church), Most Reverend Mother Jeanne Cortopassi (of the Franciscan Companions of Jesus & Mary), Bishop Hugh Strickland (of an independent sect within the Anglican Church), Bishop James Long and Bishop Stephen Delaney (both of the Universal Catholic Church), Bishop Kevin Crowell (of the Spiritus Project), Bishop Ken Young (of the Order of Servant Franciscans, now a Protestant Methodist/Episcopal sect) and Archbishop Roger LaRade (of the Eucharistic Catholic Church of Canada). Your continued work in the vineyard keeps the message of compassion alive!

Most importantly, as I offer thanks for the past six years of episcopal service and for the entire body of 30 years’ service in monastic life, I am grateful for all of those who have given me the privilege of serving them… for those who listen… those who ask for help… those who hunger for a way to free themselves and others from suffering and attachment.

It is for each of you that getting out of bed, no matter how much pain there is, becomes worth it.

Namasté

dharmacharya gurudas sunyatananda

(archbishop francis-maria of the immaculata, o.c.)

_____________________________________________

“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa —
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

_____________________________________________

Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Dharmacharya Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, His Eminence Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

When the Roman Vicar of Hatemongering, Benedict XVI, spewed his recent vitriolic diatribe, at the end of 2008, he made a complete and utter fool of himself, and those of like-minded intolerance everywhere, by stating that the existence of gay persons threatens humanity as much as the destruction of the rainforest, adding that “blurring genders” through the acceptance of transgender people would kill-off the human race.

I resisted the temptation to remind him of his earlier life as a Hitler Youth, and how he’s already contributed greatly to the killing-off of the human race.  And we simply shook our heads, wondering when the Roman Catholic institution was going to remember the essential message of the Christ, and return to its roots as a people devoted to that message. In its present state, we expect an intercommunion agreement with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – the only other hatemongering institution of its size, representing a warped political action committee, disguised as a church, much like its Roman counterpart.

The Roman Pontiff, however, continues to drive the stakes of hatred and homophobia deep, addressing the Vatican diplomatic corps (from deep in his own closet) in a message that was supposed to be focused on environmental issues.

And in fact, Der Führer Katholische, did just that initially…

According to the AFP, Der Führer spoke superficially about the responsibility of protecting species, and not allowing them to become endangered. This was only a segue for his hate speech to begin, however as he quickly manipulated the subject to become about “protecting or endangering the human species” stating: "One such attack comes from laws or proposals which, in the name of fighting discrimination, strike at the biological basis of the difference between the sexes."

Citing "certain countries in Europe or North and South America", the Pontiff continued his diatribe and attacks.  The comments were clearly references to Mexico City and Portugal, which legalised gay marriage recently.

This only further underscores the illegitimacy of the Roman Catholic claim to hold the teachings of the Christ. Absent are all signs of compassion, loving-kindness, forgiveness, equanimity and humility. Instead, we find an institution which readily abuses its perceived authority as a means of extortion, as was evidenced in Washington, D.C., where the archbishop attempted to use threats to prevent the D.C. Council from passing equal access to marriage laws.

Now I am not personally inclined to see any value whatsoever in the institution of marriage. But I do believe that those who wish to celebrate and solemnise their relationships in such a way ought to have the same rights and privileges as anyone else.

When will Roman Catholic wake up and realise that every time they donate a dime in their collection baskets, they are funding hatred, intolerance and violence? I don’t care how they justify their actions, claiming to only be supporting “the people” or their “local parish”… the bottom line is that when you continue to support an institution which spreads hatred, intolerance and incites violence toward people based on their gender or sexual orientation, you are equally culpable.

When will Roman Catholics realise that the rhetoric of their church is becoming less and less consistent with intelligence, science and reasoning, and more superstitious, archaic and irrelevant? On a recent trip to Africa, Der Führer Katholische, Benedict XVI, claimed that condoms “aggravate the spread of disease”! This statement was even decried by Lancet, the respected medical journal, which stated in an editorial:

"By saying that condoms exacerbate the problem of HIV/AIDS, the Pope has publicly distorted scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine on this issue.

"Whether the Pope’s error was due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to manipulate science to support Catholic ideology is unclear.

"But the comment still stands, and the Vatican’s attempts to tweak the Pope’s words, further tampering with the truth, is not the way forward…

"When any influential person, be it a religious or political figure, makes a false scientific statement that could be devastating to the health of millions of people, they should retract or correct the public record.

"Anything less from Pope Benedict would be an immense disservice to the public and health advocates, including many thousands of Catholics, who work tirelessly to try and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide."

The Roman Catholic Church represents hatred, homophobia, oppression of women, transgendered persons, and as a result of the language used by its leaders, incites violence toward those who do not fit into its archaic and narrow window of culturally acceptable persons.

My heart aches for the religious sisters, brothers and clergy who represent a more compassionate, loving and inclusive understanding of the apostolic tradition – the real champions of the spiritual tradition – whose voices are stifled by the oppressive Roman Reich.

I believe the time must come when the people take a stand, refuse to support the hatred, the intolerance, the scandals and cover-ups, the duplicity and injustice, and demand that Benedict come out of his closet and do the right thing.

Until then, he’s nothing more than another hateful, bitchy queen in Prada shoes.

Namasté

dharmacharya gurudas sunyatananda

_____________________________________________

“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa —
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

_____________________________________________

Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Dharmacharya Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, His Eminence Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

In the Buddhist tradition, we refer to greed, hatred and delusion as the three unwholesome roots or the three poisons. The term "poisons" is an apt metaphor, because these three states of mind literally poison our path.

The three poisons all have their root in ignorance and fear. Ignorant of our true nature as the awakened heart of compassion and wisdom, and fearful that we will not get "our fair share", we find these poisonous states of mind arising within us, and expressing themselves through toxic behaviours, such as unskillful thoughts and actions, divisive, intolerant or hateful speech, lies or violence. And of course, all of these behaviours ultimately result in lifetimes of suffering and unhappiness, disease and bondage to the samsaric existence.

The Buddha Sakyamuni taught that the three poisons alone were the root cause of unwholesome karma, trapping us in samsara, and bringing about the entire spectrum of human suffering.

Lately, I’ve seen a disturbing number of posts on Facebook, in blogs and most especially, on Twitter, in which certain individuals are investing much time and energy into attacking, disparaging and breeding contempt for a few well-known and respected spiritual teachers. Their apparent aversion or disdain for these particular teachers is not something that they maturely and rationally explain to those who ask, but instead is clearly wrought out of anger, fear and a frightening desire to destroy these other persons. What’s more, this hatred seems to spiral even further out of control with a desire to bring harm to these spiritual teachers’ students.

Having frequently been at the receiving end of such vitriolic attacks myself, I recognise the initial impulse to want to respond to the attackers with the truth. And as I’ve seen from many of my own students, their natural impulse to want to defend their teacher, often results in a certain level of uneasiness, hostility and anxiety as well.

What we must realise, however, is that there is only one remedy for this phenomenon. When someone is attacking us, we cannot attempt to block them, or use force to strike back. We must realise that whenever someone attacks the spiritual teacher of another person or group, they are disgracing their own spiritual teacher. The attacker or attackers are delusional, irrational and suffering the effects of their own poison.

What they perceive as an enemy exists only in their own minds, and is indeed a reflection of something repulsive within themselves, which they are projecting upon someone else.

And we’ve all been guilty of doing that at one time or another, so we must allow our awareness to give rise to compassion and wisdom. We must remember that these attackers suffer from an intense inner conflict that is manifesting itself in their experience, and by virtue of their delusional minds, being projected upon those who threaten the very foundations of their delusions.

Countless aeons have been influenced by the greed, hatred and delusion expressed by humanity, and we must assume the responsibility to put an end to that cycle. There is no value in arguing that our teacher is valid or authorised, qualified or recognised. Such concepts are ultimately meaningless anyway. When we do that, we are responding to the poisons of another with an ego-derived defense, which means we are perceiving them as the enemy as well. The result will be suffering… not resolution.

“If the world hates you,” Rabbi Jesus the Nazarene Dharma Master taught, “know that it has hated me before you. For you are not of this world.” The great master understood that those who live the renunciate’s path would always be at odds with the pettiness, the hatred, the jealousies and the anger of the phenomenal world. But he also knew that such phenomena were powerless over him and those who lived from a place of sacred detachment and groundlessness or Love.

You see, the work of purification and transformation will not occur so long as we perceive anyone as our enemies. Period. Our ego-minds expect retaliation, and we want to see that person "pay" for the "damage" they’ve done to our gurus’ name, reputation or honour. Yet we are mistaken. No real damage can ever be done to the name, reputation or honour of a just, compassionate and honest teacher. Surely, there can be temporary inconveniences: lost revenue or donations, a decline in popularity, even suspicion by the media or public. But these are nothing more that opportunities for our previous karma to ripen, so that we can move beyond these limiting experiences, and truly begin the work of transforming and purifying this level of existence for all sentient beings.

Nelson Mandela notes that becoming angry or hostile toward an attacker is like taking poison, and hoping our adversary dies from it. It’s pointless… insane… delusional… and harmful.

In the past week, I’ve been made aware of individuals who continue to "whisper" cowardly, claiming that my Root Guru’s lineage is "unqualified" or less worthy of recognition (whatever that’s worth) according to this sect or that. Some of my students have wanted to lash-out and contact the high lamas who may have been contacted by these hatemongers and "set the record straight". But for what purpose?

I suppose that if I were hoping to make a "career" out of being a lama, then I would be concerned about the effect such lies would have on my "business". But this isn’t a business… it’s simply my way of life. Whether someone else believes or agrees or not doesn’t change the simple fact that I have lived according to the monastic vows I took a little over thirty years ago. So this one says I am not worthy to wear the robes of a monk… that one says I ought to wear the robes all the time and not show up in jeans and t-shirts for Dharma classes. Both are merely expressing their opinions about what matters to them, based on their own limited perceptions. And frankly, I am disinterested in their opinions, because opinions are not generally useful or helpful.

I believe that one of the things we can do, as Buddhist practitioners, and particularly those of us who are charged with the responsibility of being teachers of the Dharma, is to carefully reevaluate our practice, and the method by which we give instruction to those entrusted to our care.

I believe, as I mentioned in a recent blog, that it is a mistake to focus on teaching meditation practice to a student who has not first mastered the foundational precepts of correct view, correct speech, correct action, correct livelihood and correct understanding. Far too often, we in the West jump straight into the practice of meditation, which works in situations in which a student lives in a traditional monastery and has all of their other needs provided for. But it is a faulty and flawed approach in our postmodern world, especially in the West.

I would like to encourage all of those who are practitioners, especially those who network, share and fellowship through various social media, like Twitter, Facebook, Multiply and blogs, to join us in affirming the need to create a safe environment in which people of all spiritual traditions, including people of various, divergent and perhaps seemingly incompatible sects of our own Buddhist tradition, are not only valued and included, but in which we are constantly mindful of the challenge to examine the ways in which we ourselves may have intentionally or unintentionally marginalised, disrespected, hurt or even incited violence toward other traditions.

We must affirm with our entire hearts and wisdom the words of the Charter for Compassion, which calls for us all "…to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain IS ILLEGITIMATE…"

And we must remember that to respond to vitriolic attacks on our teachers, our traditions or lineages, or our beliefs is to give our power to those who are delusional, wounded, and mentally-ill. No good will ever come of such reactions.

Instead we should support one another, and encourage one another in such difficult and challenging times to remember that we are Love. Pure and simple. And that Love needs no defense, because it is, as the Buddha points out in the Dhammapada, "the Eternal Principle".

Namasté

dharmacharya gurudas sunyatananda
The Contemplative Order of Compassion 

_____________________________________________

“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa —
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

_____________________________________________

Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Dharmacharya Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, His Eminence Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

Five generations of their family have called the old historic log cabin “home”.  Built before the American Revolutionary War, with its original hand-crafted stone hearth, the home of Otto and Sharon Daube has surely seen better days.

During the Depression era, Sharon’s father added onto the home, digging out a basement, and as was the custom at that time, did all of the work with what pieces of scrap lumber, cement, and architectural elements he could find. The timbers of the second floor addition, for example, came from the original Queen Anne-style governor’s mansion, which was torn down in 1960, after 96 years of use.

Last year, when his brother Alfred died suddenly, Otto Daube and his brother Fritz immediately went to a then-trusted funeral home, to spare their aging, grief-stricken mother the burden of having to bury another son (she had already lost several of her sons over the years). Alfred’s son, philanthropist, Michael Daube (founder of the Citta Foundation, an organisation dedicated to boost the education, health care and economic prospects of people in India and Nepal), and his daughter Karen were unable to get to the funeral home, still in transit from their homes out-of-state,  so Alfred’s brothers did what anyone would do in such cases, and proceeded with the arrangements, assuming that once Alfred’s children arrived, they would be able to take over from there.

The funeral director appears now to have had questionable motives and business practices, because despite his claim that the military would be paying a large portion of Alfred’s funeral and burial expenses, and his other claims about keeping costs down for the family, he also asked Alfred’s brothers to sign the paperwork “just until Michael and Karen could get there”.

Both Otto and Sharon Daube are elderly, permanently and totally disabled, and living on a very fixed, limited income. At the time of Alfred’s death, they were having difficulty keeping up with their mortgage and utility bills, and had serious concerns about urgent repairs that were long needed on their home.

The wiring is outdated and could represent hazards, and the structure itself needs reinforcements, renovations and updates, totaling more than $55,000. And now, in the midst of the biggest winter snowstorm in decades, the family’s furnace blew.

To make matters worse, when Alfred’s children refused to assume the financial responsibility for their father’s funeral and burial costs, the funeral home went after Otto and Sharon. They now face a Sherriff’s Sale, and will lose their home, unless we find a way to save the home.

Before all of this happened, Otto and Sharon were talking to the Contemplative Monks of the Eightfold Path about converting their property into a residence for the disabled, living on a fixed income. In addition to themselves, they identified four other permanently disabled individuals, living below the federal poverty level guidelines, who would be permitted to live in what would become “Karuna House”. Karuna is the Sanskrit word for compassion, and Karuna House would be a home where compassionate care for the elderly, the disabled and the poor was lived out in a community setting.

The total cost of renovations, additions and completely buying out the property would cost just $206,000.00 And the home could become a model for other communities across the country. But now, because of the circumstances of Otto and his brother being unfairly saddled with the funeral and burial expenses of their brother, Karuna House may never come to be.

My hope is that we will be able to spark renewed interest and awareness in the community, and find a way to raise the $17,000 needed to pay-off the funeral home and catch the family up on their mortgage, saving their home, as well as replacing the furnace, before it’s too late.

We would not only be helping to preserve an historic landmark in Dauphin County, which we could then work diligently to raise funds to acquire, renovate and allow these two kind souls to live with four other disabled persons as a “community of compassion”, but would also  be saving Otto and Sharon Daube, from being homeless in the middle of winter.

I’m asking everyone to consider passing this along to those you know. If you have friends, business associates or know of any compassionate and responsive philanthropists, perhaps they will find it in their hearts to make donations or even underwrite the project altogether.

To see their son and daughter (both of whom are likewise disabled and living on lower than poverty-level incomes), crying because they fear that their parents will lose their home in a few weeks, is something I hope none of you ever has to experience. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s simply unimaginable that we would sit by and do nothing to ensure that these two elderly folks, who’ve given so much to their families, as well as their local communities, can save their family home, and live in safe, affordable and warm conditions.

A corporate sponsorship could make this entire problem go away, while gaining for the sponsor a chance to “set the example” for Karuna House, and other projects like it.

As a Buddhist, it is my spiritual practice which drives the work that I do. In Buddhism, one learns to observe through one’s personal experience, penetrating the phenomenal world, and realising the True Nature that exists in everything… the true nature that allows us… no, compels us to recognise our essential unity with all others. By owning that existence, and recognising that everything that plays out in our experience is a reflection of our interior minds and hearts, we realise the need to do all we can, in every moment, to alleviate suffering wherever we find it.

This is one place, I am deeply and profoundly compelled to reach out and ask you to find it in your hearts to help us help Otto and Sharon Daube.

For more information, please get in touch with me or my staff immediately, at 717.517.9141, or email me at: Lojong Ladrang.

May your holiday season be warm, filled with compassion and awareness, and may every step be illuminated along the path of right action.

Namasté

dharmacharya gurudas sunyatananda
DharmadudeUnplugged.com 

_____________________________________________

Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Dharmacharya Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, His Eminence Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

In an example of compassion triumphing over violence and hatred, the long overdue hate crimes legislation was signed into law today, by President Barack Obama. “This law honours our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short because of hate,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

The new law, entitled the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

As a survivor of a violent hate crime, during which I was beaten and brutally raped by four Haitian (illegal) immigrants on 9th May 1983 in Hollywood, Florida, this is a moment of bittersweet victory. When I was discovered, in a stupour and covered in blood, some hours after the attack, the rape centre called the police, who brought me in to take a statement. The police officer doing the interview did not like gay people, and made it very clear. After about an hour of trying to explain why I was in and out of consciousness during the attack, the cop said, “I think this was just some kinky queer sexy thing that got out of hand… I think you asked for it.” And he closed his notebook and walked away… case closed!

Luckily for me, there was a news reporter sitting there, in earshot, and waiting to talk to me, who saw what transpired.

And he understood too that from my perspective, as a Franciscan and Buddhist contemplative, I could not hate the men who did this to me. These men were part of a group commonly called “the boat people”, who were tossed-away from their homeland (Haiti) and sent to America, where they were not welcomed with anything remotely considerable as compassion. And they apparently mistook me (wearing a security guard’s uniform) for being a cop, against whom they had some sort of beef.

During the attack, after ripping my insides with sticks and beating me, sexually abusing me, and kicking me repeatedly, they put a gun to my head, which the responding officer determined had “misfired”, leaving only powder burns around my temple, and doing some mild nerve damage to the tissue. My life had been spared by a remarkable force — which many consider a miraculous intervention — in which the Bodhisattva Mary, the Mother of Rav Yeshua, literally caught that bullet. Now I know that sounds ridiculously superstitious for someone who doesn’t believe in personal gods or other theistic notions. But it opened my eyes to the existence of a plane of existence parallel to our own, from which the Bodhisattvas and Enlightened Ones interact with us daily.

Nothing was the same from that point forward.

The attack left me with physical and emotional scars, and perhaps worst of all, resulted in my becoming infected with AIDS. Half a year later, in fact, I nearly succumbed to AIDS-related pneumonia (pneumocystis carinii pneumonia).

Years later, I had the opportunity to meet with the amazing Judy Shepard — the mother of slain hate crime victim, Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming college student brutally murdered in an act of hate violence in 1998 — and shared my story with her. And almost a decade later, found myself communicating with the friends and loved ones of James Byrd — the African-American man who was dragged to his death in a Jasper, Texas hatecrime.

Today was a victory that honours the memories, not only of Matthew and James, but also Brandon Tina (the transgender youth, murdered in Texas by her “friends”), Lawrence King (the 15 year-old gay youth who was murdered last year), Fannyanne Eddy (a lesbian activist murdered in Sierra Leone), Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni (the Iranian teens murdered by the Iranian government for the “crime” of being gay) and so many others.

It is also a day that will help move us closer to the end of another source of great loss, as I personally remember Allison Dawe, Billy Clayton, Nico Papatzimas, and many others, who took their own lives, because they could not bear the intolerance, the hatred and the violence any longer.

In the last ten years the FBI reported over 10,000 hate crimes in this country, based on sexual orientation alone. This historic day, the voice of compassion and the voice of justice have spoken, and they have said, “No longer will will allow such violence to occur on our watch!”

Finally, it is a victory for one of my personal heroes, Harvey Milk, who was martyred for the cause of LGBT rights, just one month shy of thirty-one years ago today.

We did it Harvey!

Namasté

gurudas sunyatananda

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Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Dharmacharya Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, His Eminence Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.

Today I was reminded of a peculiar phenomenon that we normally find among less educated and poorly formed clergy, particularly those in the so-called “independent liturgical movement”, but which is making something of a comeback even among those with proper formation and training.

I’m talking about an aversion to the via mystica or the Mystic’s Path of spirituality. Found in the writings of some of the greatest thinkers of the theistic tradition, including Teresa d’Avila, John of the Cross, Meister Eckhart, Merton, Anthony deMello, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Hildegarde de Bingen, this less literalist, more deeply rooted approach to spirituality seems to cause some clergy to bristle… and despite their protests to the contrary, bristle with fear.

Why is that? I would surmise that it is because approaching spirituality from a perspective that is not so wrapped up in the superstition, dogma and dramatics of the institutional church might actually lead people to realise that they do not need the priests, the bishops and the hierarchy of these little empires at all. In fact, if people began to understand the authentic teaching of Rav Yeshua ben Yusef (Yeshu Asef, upon whom be peace) — the so-called “Jesus the Nazarene” of the Bible and Qur’an, they would realise that the teaching has little at all to do with the primitive superstitions that were later adopted by the Roman Church, and imposed upon its followers.

Meister Eckhart, one of the most profound spiritual thinkers of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries observed, “The knower and the known are one. Simple people imagine that they should see God as if he stood there and they here. This is not so. God and I, we are one in knowledge.”

Such philosophies threaten those who enjoy the control they exercise over their flocks. These men (and I chose that word with intentionality, because we seldom find women-clergy in such abusive positions) are the ones who relish in the pomp and regalia of being priests or bishops. Even in the independent ecclesial movement, we find these types, who claim to have separated from Rome because they found it intolerable (but who often were kicked-out of their respective ecclesiastical communities due to scandal and other unsavoury circumstances), go on to recreate the very hierarchical institution they protest. Suddenly they are grand masters of their own “new versions” of the Jesuits, the College of Cardinals, even the Papacy!

The simple fact is that these people are highly suspect in my book, and always will be. A closer look into their personal lives will often reveal that that concern is well-founded also.

These are the people who shudder at the suggestion that the reason and purpose for the mythos of the Incarnation of the Christ is simply an illustration of our divine potential. Yet Athanasius I, a respected Doctor of the Catholic Church, who in fact served as a Roman Pontiff, himself wrote, “The meaning of the Incarnation is that God became man, so that man could become God.”

Such clergy are an embarrassment to their office, much like the late Pope John Paul II, who wrote in Crossing the Threshold of Hope, “If [Christ] were only a wise man like Socrates, if He were a ‘prophet’ like Mohammed, if He were ‘enlightened’ like Buddha, without any doubt, He would not be what He is. He is the one mediator between God and humanity.”

That kind of hubris is among the worst failures in which a spiritual leader can engage, because it shuts the door to genuine compassion, by imagining a delusional sense of “other” — and that “otherness” only generates intolerance and false pride.

While I have no question in my mind that the concept of a personal god is among the most pointless, useless and absurd of all primitive ideas and superstitions, I will never disrespect the right of others to choose a path that includes such mythical beings. And as such, I will never tolerate those who condemn others whose beliefs are incompatible with their own.

Earlier this week, one scholar, whose work among theists is admirable, published a condescending piece about the so-called New Atheists. Now, I find the over-zealousness of these New Atheists to be every bit as tiresome and non-useful as the religious fundamentalists, and I identify with neither camp personally. But I was quick to put myself in the line of fire by expressing my disappointment and offense at the article that surprisingly appeared in Foreign Policy magazine, because I do believe that it is wrong to dismiss someone’s beliefs in such a non-compassionate way. Similarly, when members of an atheist discussion group attacked the traditions of a group of folks from the Emergent Church movement in the Anglican Church, I was quick to express my offense there as well.

What probably disappoints me more than anything is the lack of witness I see among those clergy who dismiss the followers of the more authentic (mystical or dharma-oriented) teaching of Rav Yeshua. Seldom have I seen those who complain actually out there feeding the hungry, or working with the sick. (Oh, they waste no time trolling the bars for hot, young men… you can be sure. And the company they keep is frequently enough to raise scandal on sight. But lift a finger to do any real social justice work? Sadly, such things are seldom seen.)

These are also among those who are quick to point out that I am unfit to hold the title of “Successor to the Apostles”, because I am a so-called heretic. The simple fact that I will teach (and have always said) that people do not need me, or any other spiritual teacher… nor churches, nor clergy… neither religions nor doctrines… creed nor rituals in order to achieve spiritual liberation (enlightenment, salvation, happiness, or whatever one chooses to call it) will always be “heretical” to these people. The simple fact that I will also remind folks that Rav Yeshua was never Catholic, and certainly not a ‘Christian”, nor did he or any of his apostles start a church… that none of his apostles (including Simon Peter) ever served as a “pope” or headed an institutional church in Rome or anywhere else… causes these men to bristle.

The fact that I reject the notion these so-called clergy put forth that it is “enough” for them to simply offer Mass once a week in their homes or rented church space… that such lack of ministerial work disgraces the office they hold, and proves them to be of little value to people searching for spiritual guidance… makes these men angry.

Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, “The place to touch the Kingdom of God is within us,” which is what Rav Yeshua taught as well. “The miracle,” Master Hanh writes, “is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.”

Some have suggested that the reason donations to the Contemplative Monks of the Eightfold Path have fallen is because I am too controversial of a leader. I don’t know if that is true or not. But I do know this… as long as I have a voice, I will have a responsibility to speak out against injustice… to encourage compassion, kindness and inclusion… to demand that those who have more than enough get off their fat, lazy and greedy asses and feed others… care for the sick… reach out to those who suffer.

And some will not like it. To them, I can only offer these ten words…

Tough shit. Get over it. Do something. And grow up!

Namasté

gurudas sunyatananda

_____________________________________________

Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Dharmacharya Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, His Eminence Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.