Clipmarks | Compassion Clips

Jihad-as commonly understood-not truly Islam

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:04:53 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: This Islam expert insists it never means war in the Koran, and the word itself is infrequent compared to words for mercy and compassion. Good!

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

Making a mockery of jihad

Recent terror attacks in India and abroad have created an impression that jihad is central to Koranic teaching

jihad does not mean war in the Koran as there are other words for it like qital and harb. Jihad has been used in the Koran in its root meaning: to strive for betterment of society, to spread goodness

and contain evil

But supposing jihad means war, as some Muslims believe, even then it still isn't central to Koranic teachings. The word "jihad" occurs in the Koran 41 times though not a single verse uses it in

the sense of war.

The four most fundamental values in the Koran are justice

benevolence

compassion

and wisdom

One who fails to practice these values can hardly claim to be a true Muslim

It can be said that compassion is most central to Koranic teachings. The words "compassion" and "mercy" in their various forms occur in the Koran 335 times

To seek revenge is human weakness, not strength

jihad can be declared only by the state

Tags: islam, koran, jihad

"Oming" in on Happiness

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:07:06 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Compassion for others? Doesn't sound like a bad idea at all!

Clip Source: www.dailygalaxy.com

Researchers Say Ancient Tibetan Practice May Improve Health & Happiness

Data from a new Emory University study suggests that individuals who engage in “compassion meditation” based on a thousand-year-old Tibetan Buddhist mind-training practice (called "lojong" in Tibetan), appears to effectively reduce the inflammatory and behavioral responses to stress that have been linked to depression and a number of physical illnesses. The practice revolves around fostering a sense of heightened compassion for others.

"Our findings suggest that meditation practices designed to foster compassion may impact physiological pathways that are modulated by stress and are relevant to disease," explains Charles L. Raison, MD, a lead author on the study.

The study focused on the effect of compassion meditation on inflammatory, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress, and evaluated the degree to which engagement in meditation practice influenced stress reactivity.

San Antonians Step Up To Help Burned-Out Man

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:35:00 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: www.ksat.com

Nearly a week after losing his home and all his possessions to a fire, 92-year-old Joe Cerda said he's amazed by the generosity of his community.

"I wish I could hold my heart and chop it up in pieces and give it to them, but I can't," Cerda said.

Those pieces would go to the volunteers who have donated time, money and effort into helping clear debris from his home on the city's northwest side.

Cerda's help started last week with neighbors in the Los Angeles Height subdivision donating a place to sleep and food for the burned-out man, but after Cerda's story was publicized, many others from the community went to help.

A barbecue fundraiser held this weekend raised nearly $1,000 for Cerda, and several local companies are also donating and volunteering. Friday afternoon, one company stepped up to replace Cerda's hearing aid, which is expected to be delivered Wednesday, and another company will be doing the demolition work on his home free of charge.

Tags: goodwill, san antonio, texas, marines, community, social, compassion

Can love change your mind? New project explores neuroscience of 'positive qualities'

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:49:12 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: “Most commentators agree that if the world contained more people who more often displayed qualities such as love, forgiveness, compassion and related characteristics, some of the myriad problems that plague modern society would be less severe,” Davidson says.

Interesting read

Clip Source: www.physorg.com

What is happening in the minds of people who have developed a greater capacity for forgiveness and compassion? Can a quality like love — whether it’s shown toward a family member or a friend — be neurologically measured in the brain?

Davidson works with a population of Tibetan monks and lay practitioners who have incorporated meditation practices into their daily lives, looking into how that practice impacts their mental and physical health.

has received a $2.5 million grant from the Michigan-based Fetzer Institute to create a new research initiative on the neuroscience of compassion, love and forgiveness, investigating how these virtues manifest themselves in the human mind and whether we have the ability to nurture and expand them through practice.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques, Davidson has been able to demonstrate that significant positive changes in brain behavior can be activated through meditation and other “contemplative practices.

Tags: neuroscoence, behavior, neural correlates of love

The Fable of Sarah - "The Nation" Weighs In

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:55:09 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: It seems Sarah has some issues.

Clip Source: www.thenation.com

The idea that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is experienced, ethical and wise would be laughable if it weren't so alarming, and millions have fallen for the fable. In truth, the pretty woman's story is not so pretty.

Her populist persona--the "just plain hockey mom"--is preposterous, her notion of decency defective, her ambition unbridled, her compassion counterfeit, her actions extreme, her intelligence limited and her judgment flawed.

Fearing retribution, only one of the more than twenty elected state and city officials, lawyers, doctors, health administrators, librarians, clergy and just plain residents I interviewed while in Alaska and over the phone agreed to be named.

"It's Sarah's way or the highway," claim many who've worked with her. As one state representative confided to me, "the public doesn't know the real Sarah Palin."

United Nations Public Policy!!! Dum dee dum dummmmmmm!!!!

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:49:00 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Blamed for about one-fifth of the world’s greenhouse gases, meat production produces the ever-popular methane gas from the flatulence of cattle–something these vegetarians like to say is much worse for the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Aren’t you merely speculating at best putting forth such bold statements about meat and global warming without any real evidence that makes your point? How can a group like the United Nations stand behind such an extreme position when the foundation for it is so incredibly suspect?

Dr. Pachauri spoke at an event held by an animal rights group called Compassion in World Farming which has called on the people of Great Britain to cut their meat consumption in half to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by even more than if they cut their driving in half. In fact, they are pushing for governments around the world to mandate a reduction of meat consumption by upwards of 60 percent by the year 2020. Well, yippee freakin’ skippy!

Clip Source: www.commonvoice.com

UN Climate Change chair Dr. Rajendra Pachauri says no more meat for you!

It was mildly amusing last year when I blogged about Dr. Dean Ornish’s PETA-based front group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) pointing the finger at meat eating as a reason for global warming.

He is recently-reelected UN Climate Change chair and Indian economist Dr. Rajendra Pachauri (somebody give this guy a toupee or something for that comb over!) and it should come as no surprise that he is a vegetarian. His group at the UN shared the Nobel Peace Prize last year with the equally kooky Al Gore who has made it his life’s mission to spread this global warming farce for the rest of his life no matter what kind of shaky evidence there is for it. We’ll leave the discussion of the validity of global warming to the political blogs, but let’s dig deeper into this business that meat is a contributing factor in climate change.

Tags: dr. rajendra rachauri, al gore, nobel peace award recipients, methane gas, promotes mandate on meat consumption reduction

Nonviolent Communication (NVC)

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:16:06 GMT

clipped by: wildcat
clipper's remarks: The goal of NVC is to get one's own needs met while also meeting others' needs. A key principle of nonviolent communication that supports this is the capacity to express oneself without use of good/bad, right/wrong judgment, hence the emphasis on expressing feelings and needs, instead of criticisms or judgments.

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a process developed by Marshall Rosenberg and others which people use to communicate with greater compassion and clarity.^[1] It focuses on two things: honest self-expression — exposing what matters to oneself in a way that's likely to inspire compassion in others, and empathy — listening with deep compassion. Formal NVC self-expression includes four elements: observations (distinguished from interpretations/evaluations), feelings (emotions separate from thoughts), needs (deep motives) and requests (clear, present, doable and without demand). ^[2]

Those who use nonviolent communication (also called "compassionate communication") describe all actions as motivated by an attempt to meet human needs. However, in meeting those needs, they seek to avoid the use of coercion (e.g., inducing fear, guilt, shame, praise, blame, duty, obligation, punishment, or reward

Tags: non violence, communication, social networks

Mrs. Palin Goes To Washington?

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:38:24 GMT

clipped by: debbyski

Clip Source: www.latimes.com

These are strange times we live in. I've been getting better gossip out of the Huffington Post than Us magazine. I've seen the same people who lambasted Lynn Spears for being the worst mother in America show compassion for Palin and her pregnant daughter. I've seen Republicans complain that any criticism of Sarah Palin is sexist, while delegates at the Republican convention sport "The Hottest VP From the Coolest State" buttons. Like I said, strange times.

Democrats would likely opt for re-crafting the Palin story into an update of the 1972 film "The Candidate," or "The Manchurian Candidate," or even "Dr. Strangelove," though I'm not sure how funny people would now find the tale of a mad general (or vice president) ordering a nuclear attack on a country like . . . Iran.

I asked a few creative people around town how they'd pitch the Palin story to the studios, but most demurred, because they said it was too unbelievable for Hollywood.

How to cheat at everything..

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:19:40 GMT

clipped by: einbar
clipper's remarks: "It requires avid study of psychology and body language. It's an amazing paradox--a con man has incredible emotional insight, but without the burden of compassion".

Clip Source: www.moreintelligentlife.com

Over lunch with Simon Lovell, a fascinating former card shark, Allison Schrager learns all sorts of things about how swindlers operate ...

"I can spot someone's weakness a mile away. In any room I can pick out the best target," says Simon Lovell, reformed con artist and famed magician, when asked over lunch about the root of his talents.

"But ultimately, anyone can be conned, if you have the balls to do it."

It requires avid study of psychology and body language. It's an amazing paradox--a con man has incredible emotional insight, but without the burden of compassion. He must take an intense interest in other people, complete strangers, and work to understand them, yet remain detached and uninvested. That the plan is to cheat these people and ultimately confirm many of their fears cannot be of concern.

He also authored a book

Clip Source: www.amazon.com

Clip Source: www.moreintelligentlife.com

I gleaned enough tips from my own copy to score a free round of drinks on my own, though Mr Lovell claims he wrote it to make people more aware of tricks.

The Eightfold Path of Buddha

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:14:33 GMT

clipped by: skwirlinator
clipper's remarks: The Eightfold Path mistakenly assumes that no value can be maximal -- that any value can be desired too much. This is not true for values like extropy, intelligence, and justice.

Clip Source: humanknowledge.net

The Eightfold Path is a prescription by Buddha of a middle path said to lie between asceticism and hedonism and said to end the suffering caused by desire.

Right Understanding: see things as they are.
Right Intention: resolve to follow the Path.
Right Speech: abstain from deception.
Right Action: practice compassion, abstain from aggression.
Right Livelihood: choose work compatible with the Path.
Right Effort: promote good and avoid evil.
Right Mindfulness: be aware of your thoughts, words, and actions.
Right Concentration: meditate on Oneness.

Tags: the eightfold path, buddha, right

B. Hussein Obama's "Lost" Brother Found in Kenya

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:50:37 GMT

clipped by: pkronfield
clipper's remarks: This tough guy has more substance than that empty suit. Note the non-existent compassion in The Empty Suit for his poor half brother.

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mr Obama, 26, the youngest of the presidential candidate's half-brothers, spoke for the first time about his life, which could not be more different than that of the Democratic contender.

"If anyone says something about my surname, I say we are not related. I am ashamed," he said.

For ten years George Obama lived rough. However he now hopes to try to sort his life out by starting a course at a local technical college.

The Illinois senator mentions his brother in his autobiography, describing him in just one passing paragraph as a "beautiful boy with a rounded head".

Of their second meeting, George Obama said: "It was very brief, we spoke for just a few minutes. It was like meeting a complete stranger."

"Huruma is a tough place, last January during the elections there was rioting and six people were hacked to death. The police don't even arrest you they just shoot you.

"I have seen two of my friends killed. I have scars from defending myself with my fists. I am good with my fists."

Tags: loony left

YAHVAH or YAHWEH insted of GOD or LORD

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:40:14 GMT

clipped by: MessiahsHouseof YHVH
clipper's remarks: Woe unto us who know and use His name. Will we not be held more accountable than others!
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

See how we are to walk humbly in grace and mercy helping them to receive his Spirit and Truth. Look here in Hebrews it is speaking of High Priests of whom he has called us to be.
Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

Spirit and Truth together!
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

May Yahweh Bless all you that seek him, And may he draw YOU that have not yet sought him. in Yahshua's name.

Always becoming more like Him!

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Yahweh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Yahweh (disambiguation).

Yahweh is an English rendition of יהוה, the Name of God as found in the consonantal Hebrew text. These four Hebrew letters (יהוה), known as the Tetragrammaton, are transliterated JHWH in German, and YHWH, YHVH, JHWH and JHVH in English.

The Tetragrammaton in Paleo-Hebrew (10th c. BC– c. AD 135), Aramaic (10th c. BC– AD 4th c.) and modern Hebrew.

Traditionally, observant Jews do not say this name aloud. It is believed to be too sacred to be uttered and is often referred to as the Ineffable Name, the Unutterable Name or the Distinctive Name.^[1] They often use circumlocutions when referring to the name of the Deity, e.g., HaShem ("The Name") or Shem HaMeforash (“the ineffable Name”) when reading the Tanakh aloud because the Name of God must not be spoken.

observant Jews do not say this name aloud.

animal cruelty

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:49:03 GMT

clipped by: silvanaraihane
clipper's remarks: sad movie!

Clip Source: www.opednews.com

No Beijing Olympics for Me

whose love of cats and dogs are limited to only their own.

Anyone interested in seeing a video re this horror, please go to the internet
and type in "CHINESE FUR FARMS." This video shows the terrible treatment
involved in the skinning of dogs which I believe are called raccoon dogs. Other farms also skin alive cats as well. Their reasoning for skinning them alive defies common sense and certainly compassion. The numbers are estimated in the millions, but for those who are incredulous - how about hundreds of thousands? Does that make it less of a tragedy?

Clip Source: pagead2.googlesyndication.com

Meat = Animal Cruelty

Watch the video the meat industry doesn't want you to see.

www.ChooseVeg.com

Skinned Cats & Dogs

Millions of dogs and cats in China turned into trim and trinkets.

FurIsDead.com

Mcain always putting women first in the back of the line ?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:34:28 GMT

clipped by: jt3600
clipper's remarks: McCain's comment; if I want to know what women think I'll tell them ,now shut the F**k up and make me a sandwich you "Ho" ! the fellow Republican are watching child porn ,no ! no ! we're going to vote on it !

Clip Source: www.johnmccain.com

Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life

For this reason, John McCain opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes. To that end, Senator McCain voted to ban the practice of "fetal farming," making it a federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from an embryo created for research purposes. Furthermore, he voted to ban attempts to use or obtain human cells gestated in animals. Finally, John McCain strongly opposes human cloning and voted to ban the practice, and any related experimentation, under federal law.

Stem cell research offers tremendous hope for those suffering from a variety of deadly diseases - hope for both cures and life-extending treatments. However, the compassion to relieve suffering and to cure deadly disease cannot erode moral and ethical principles.

Simulating being 85 teaches compassion.

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:59:21 GMT

clipped by: clipmaureen
clipper's remarks: When I was in social work grad school, I had to do this and it was very revealing. Everyone should slow down and care........

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

What does it feel like to be old in America? At the Westminster Thurber Retirement Community here, Heather Ramirez summed it up in two words. “Painful,” she said. “Frustrating.”

Mrs. Ramirez is only 33, but on a recent morning she was taking part in a three-hour training program called Xtreme Aging, designed to simulate the diminished abilities associated with old age.

Along with 15 colleagues and a reporter, Mrs. Ramirez, a social worker at the facility, put on distorting glasses to blur her vision; stuffed cotton balls in her ears to reduce her hearing, and in her nose to dampen her sense of smell; and put on latex gloves with adhesive bands around the knuckles to impede her manual dexterity. Everyone put kernels of corn in their shoes to approximate the aches that come from losing fatty tissue.

They had become, in other words, virtual members of the 5.3 million Americans age 85 and older, the nation’s fastest-growing age group

Tags: aging