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FROM MY YouTube GROUP http://www.youtube.com/group/nubiannewyorkers

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Law Of KARMA

IT CANNOT COME TO PASS THAT THE FRUIT OF A DEED WELL DONE BY BODY, SPEECH, AND THOUGHT SHOULD HAVE FOR A RESULT THAT WHICH IS UNPLEASANT, HATEFUL OR DISTASTEFUL. BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE OTHERWISE IS QUITE POSSIBLE.(see)

The concept of Karma plays a very important role throughout Asia. Asian religions in general have established the famous universal moral code based upon this law, that good deeds produce good effects and bad deeds produce bad effects. However, it should be pointed out that Buddhism places additional qualifications on this code:

I. The Good or Bad Effect Is Neither Reward Nor Punishment
The so-called good effect or bad effect is not a judgement nor is it given as a reward or punishment by a supramundane authority such as God. The good or bad effect produced by good or bad Karma is purely and simply a natural phenomenon governed by natural laws that act automatically, with complete justice. If God has anything to do with it, then God must also act according to this natural law. This cause produces this effect. That cause produces that effect. God would not change this natural path because of his like or dislike of a particular person.

II. Good and Bad Are Not Defined By A Human Code of Law.
The good and bad referred to here are not defined by any code or law created by human being unless such a code or law follows the natural path. For example, when democracy was first established in the United States, women did not have the right to vote. At that time, women who complied with that status were considered good and those who fought against it were considered bad.

The judgement was incorrect, however. The natural path is that human beings are all equal, and thus the system which gives women equal voting rights with men is truly the just one. Therefore, those who opposed the unequal voting system were actually the good ones.

This law of Karma, or cause and effect, is so powerful that it governs everything in the universe except, according to Buddhism, the one who is Enlightened or who recognizes basic nature. Upon Enlightenment, the round of cause and effect loses its significance, just as Samsara, or the round of birth and death, ceases with Enlightenment.

Since basic nature transcends all duality and is ultimate, there is no one to receive the effect, whether it is good or bad, and no one to whom any effect can apply.

This unique explanation by Buddha of the nullification of the law of Karma is very important. I will discuss it below.
With this brief explanation of Karma as a background, let us now go a step further to see how Karma works.

In one of the Buddhist texts it is recorded that someone asked Buddha:
Why are some women ugly but rich?
Why are some women beautiful but poor?
Why are some people poor but with good health and a long life?
Why are some rich yet ill and short-lived?

The Buddha's answers were:
One who is ugly but rich was short-tempered in past lives easily irritated and angered but was also very generous and gave offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and made contributions to many sentient beings.

One who is beautiful but poor was, in past lives, very kind, always smiling and soft spoken, but was stingy and reluctant to make offerings or help other people.

The person who is poor but in good health and enjoying a long life was, in his or her past lives, very stingy or reluctant to make donations, but was kind to all sentient beings, did not harm or kill others, and also saved many sentient beings lives.

The person who is rich but often ill, or who is short-lived, was, in his or her past lives, very generous in helping others but loved hunting and killing and caused sentient beings to feel worried, insecure, and frightened.

The above examples give us some idea of why people on earth, although all human beings, vary so much in appearance, character, lifespan, health, mental ability and fate. It is even more interesting to note how much the circumstances in which a person is born can influence his or her destiny. Which race, which nation, which skin color, which era all these factors make a great difference.

Would it not be more logical to think that something was going on before one birth that caused all those effects than to say that it is purely accidental or even to say that it is God's will? If a baby has no past life, then on what grounds does God judge whether to reward or to punish that baby by causing him or her to be born under different circumstances? Intent, thought and action should always be taken into consideration. Remember:

IT CANNOT COME TO PASS THAT THE FRUIT OF A DEED WELL DONE BY BODY, SPEECH, AND THOUGHT SHOULD HAVE FOR A RESULT THAT WHICH IS UNPLEASANT, HATEFUL OR DISTASTEFUL. BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE OTHERWISE IS QUITE POSSIBLE.(source)

"Karmic effect is the incomprehensible!" This statement of Buddha suggests not only the complexity of karmic effects but also the difficulty of predicting when a karmic effect will mature.

Generally speaking, however, Karma is like the action of lighting a candle. The candle will light the whole room immediately and will last until it is consumed. Similarly, Karma has the following characteristics:

Karma not only affects the doer but also affects others. The magnitude of the Karma determines the sphere of its effect.

Most Karma produces an immediate effect which will last until it is consumed. The nature and magnitude of a karmic action determine the duration of the effect, which may remain many years, or may not even be felt until some other karmic conditions mature.

Karmic effects can combine and accumulate.

These three points are rather condensed. I do not have time to give you a detailed description of them. The following examples however, might help you to understand these points a bit more:
The discovery of electricity by Benjamin Franklin and the conversion of electricity into light by

Thomas Edison changed the lives of human beings tremendously, and the effect is still growing.
An action taken by the U.S. Congress to change the tax law will immediately affect millions of American pockets. The effect can be seen by many Americans in their lifetime, and it will also be felt by future generations of Americans.

The combined and cumulative karma of the system of slavery used by many Americans over a long period of time has produced effects which constitute a major domestic problem in the U.S.
The theoretical discovery of atomic energy by Albert Einstein and the joint effort of all the participants in the Manhattan Project produced such complicated effects, good and bad, that we are probably just beginning to realize the significance of these developments.

III. A comparison can be made of the magnitude of effects of various kinds of Karma.
Such comparisons are recorded in many Buddhist scriptures. I would like to give you some examples to enable you to form your own ideas on how you may create karmic effects of greater magnitude.

One day, while walking on the street, Buddha met a beggar who was a so-called untouchable in the strict caste society of India during his time. Not only was Buddha friendly with him, but he accepted the beggar as a disciple in his order of the Sangha. This action had an effect which was infinitely greater than the acceptance of a prince as his disciple.

When the monk Bodhidharma went from India to China he was welcomed by the Emperor Liang. The emperor asked him, "What merit have I gained since I built so many temples, erected so many pagodas, made so many offerings to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and did numerous other virtuous deed?" Bodhidharma's reply greatly disappointed Emperor Liang. Bodhidharma said, "Your Majesty, there is none whatsoever. You have gained no merit. What you have done produces only worldly rewards, that is, good fortune, great power, or great wealth in your future lives, but you will still be wandering around in Samsara."

Buddha often emphasized that to study and explain to others even a few sentences of the teachings that show how to be rid of samsara creates infinitely greater merit than making tremendous offerings to as many Buddhas all over the universe as there are grains of sand in the great Ganges River.

Buddha also taught these principles:
One who makes numerous offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, helps sentient being, and does many good deeds, and yet dedicates all the merit accumulated thereby to one's own or one's relatives interest such as making more money or enjoying a longer or better present or future life produces limited effects.

One who does those same good deeds but dedicates all the merit to saving sentient beings from suffering in Samsara receives much greater merit than the one with selfish purposes.
Finally, one who does the same good deeds with no specific purpose or desire at all receives infinitely greater merit than the two cases mentioned above.

In a further elaboration to the above regarding the Buddha's words as well as the meeting between Bodhidharma and Emperor Liang, regardless of what action one takes in regards to deeds or any merits or non-merits that may or may not follow thereof, the following should underscore both:

Emperor Liang invited Bodhidharma to his capital in Nanjing. The emperor was very fond of Buddhism and often wore Buddhist garments and recited Buddhist prayers. He was, however, most proud of his unbending and unqualified support for Buddhism throughout his entire kingdom.

Proud of his knowledge and the contributions towards Buddhism, he asked Bodhidharma, "Since I came to the throne, I have built many temples, published numerous scriptures and supported countless monks and nuns. How great is the merit in all these?"

"No merit whatsoever" was his shocking reply.
Now, the emperor thought, he had often heard teachings from renowned masters who said, "Do good, and you will receive good; do bad and you will receive bad. The Law of Cause and Effect is unchangeable, effects follow causes as shadows follow figures." But now, this sage declared that he had earned no merit at all. Thus, the emperor was thoroughly perplexed.

The emperor had failed to understand Bodhidharma's words which means that one is not really practising the Buddhadharma if one does good with the desire to gain merit for oneself. It will be more like satisfying one's own ego, or promoting one's own welfare, or even for the sake of being recognized and appreciated by the public.

IV. Karma and free will.
This topic has been discussed often. The question is: "Is there any room for free will under the law of Karma?" A more penetrating question is: "Might not free will be simply subjective opinion? So-called free will is also an effect of Karma."

For the most part Hindu and Indian-based religious schools of thought, especially early ones, believed in and promoted the concept that Karma operates in a straight line, with actions from the past influencing the present, and present actions influencing the future. As a result, they saw little room for free will. A lot of that interpretation has permeated into western culture and thought, with Karma ending up being an unbending "fate" or "destiny" type of concept.

However, Karma operates more closely with the Buddhist view as formulated by the Buddha, acting more or less in feedback loops, with the present moment being shaped both by past and by present actions; present actions shape not only the future but also the present. This constant opening for present input into the causal process makes free will possible.

This freedom is symbolized in the imagery that Buddhists use to explain the process: flowing water:

Sometimes the flow from the past is so strong that little can be done except to stand fast, but there are also times when the flow can be diverted in almost any direction. (source)

NubianNewYorkers - HEAVEN, HOME & ANGELS (Nov 18 2007)

I love music... I love, love, love, music.. ALL kinds, any time. There is a song for every emotion and situation. Are you like me?

Something I noticed about myself is.. I like just about ANY song that has the words "Heaven" or "Home" or "Angel" in the title. To me, songs with one of these words in the title or chorus are
guaranteed to speak to me in a deep way. It something I noticed for a long time and recently decided that I will make 3 CDs, each dedicated to songs about each topic. (its a good idea, you should try it)

I asked the masterminds at "NubianNewYorkers" (The Yahoo Group). The 24,000 plus members have vast knowledge on all sorts of things. 


So to collect the songs I need for the
CDs, I asked for some titles by writing to NubianNewYorkers@YahooGroups.com
And just like always, the brilliant members stepped up. Here's the list they've given me so far....
(hope these titles, provided by these "Angels" will help to create some "Heaven" in your "Home"
like they did for me...)

arjd9972 wrote:

1. You Are My Heaven by Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack.

2. Heaven On The Earth by Lalah Hathaway.

3. Heaven by Rude Boys.

4. Heaven On the Place Called Earth by Belinda Carlisle(Go-Go's).

5. Angel by Anita Baker.

6. Angel by Rene & Angela.

7. Angel by Aretha Franklin. Loved the hell outta this song.
8. You're An Angel by Madonna. It's a pop song.

9. Home by Stephanie Mills. She was at BB Kings in NYC this week.

10. Take Me Home by Phil Collins. I like this guy.

11. Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel(60's group)

12. Perfect Angel by Minnie Ripperton

13.Heaven Help Us All by Stevie Wonder

chuckie7161 wrote:
1. Heaven's Girl by Ron Isley, R. Kelly, Aaron Halland Charlie Wilson

2. Heaven Knows by Donna Summer & Joe Esposito

3. Heaven by John Legend

4. Heaven Bound by Chaka Khan & Rufus

5. When You've Been Blessed(Feel Like Heaven)by PattiLaBelle

6. Heavenly Love by Angela Bofill


7. Heaven's Just A Whisper Away by Donna Summer alsoby Regina Belle

ANGEL songs..

1. Angel by Chaka Khan(from her new CD "Funk This")
2. Angel of Mine by Monica

3. Perfect Angel by Minnie Riperton

4. Angel by Ne-Yo

HOME songs..

1. A House Is Not A Home by Luther Vandross originallydone by Dionne Warwick

2. Home by Carl Thomas

3. Coming Home by John Legend

4. Love Will Be Waiting at Home by For Real from the Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack

5. Got You Home by Luther Vandross

6. Love Shoulda Brought You Home by Toni Braxton

7. Hurry Home by Patti Austin

8. Come Home To Me by Miki Howard

"NYCblackbrotha" wrote:
Off the top of my head here are mine. Can't wait to see what others put down:

Heaven - The Chimes
Heaven in Your Arms - Rj's Latest Arrival

You Are My Heaven - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

My Piece of Heaven - Ten City

Angel- Angela Winbush

Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel - Tavares (You get two for one here)

Angel Of The Morning - Merrilee Rush

Angel - Madonna

Angel In My Pocket - Change

Home - Stephanie Mills

As Long As He Takes Care of Home - Candi Staton (This is my song, check this out and listen to the words)

Daddy's Home - Jermaine Jackson

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd (not sure if that's spelled right)

Home At Last - Steely Dan

KEVINETAYLOR.com wrote:
HEAVEN IS WITH YOU - Natalie Cole
A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN - Natalie Cole
HEAVEN'S HANDS - Nancy Wilson
HEAVEN I NEED A HUG - R. Kelly
HEAVEN KNOWS - Donna Summer
HEAVEN - Joan Armatrading (black folk singer)
HEAVEN - Avant
TEARS FROM HEAVEN - Eric Clapton
HEAVEN - Mary Mary
HEAVEN HELP US ALL - Stevie Wonder
HEAVEN SENT - Keyshia Cole
(Patti Labelle's WHEN YOU'VE BEEN BLESSED has "HEAVEN!" as the hook, so in case you are also looking for the word)
CAN'T REMEMBER THE ARTIST, but the lyrics said:

HEAVEN SENT FROM ABOVE
HEAVEN SENT ME YOUR LOVE
HEAVEN SENT
(maybe 1980s)

ANGEL - Anita Baker
ANGEL - Aretha Franklin
ANGEL OF THE MORNING - Juice Newton
EARTH ANGEL (The Cleftones - doo woop era)
ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER - Natalie Cole
LET ME BE YOUR ANGEL - Stacy Lattisaw
ANGEL OF THE NIGHT - Angela Boffill
PERFECT ANGEL - Minnie Riperton
SOON AS I GET HOME - Faith Evans
EVERYTHING I MISS AT HOME - Cherrelle
DAVE HOLLISTER - Take Care of Home
THIS MUST BE HEAVEN - Brainstorm
TAKE ME HOME - CherMAKE YOURS A HAPPY HOME (Soundtrack of CLAUDINE - Gladys and the Pips)
IF I THINK OF ANYMORE, I WILL HIT YOU UP...HOPE THIS HELPED! This kind of thing is my blood, so it was a pleasure!

tippindascalez2 wrote:
Two that I love with Heaven in the title are "Heaven Sent" by Keyshia Cole and "Heaven" by BeBe & CeCe Winans.


Angel in the title - "Angel Of Mine" by Monica

neutralshine2000 wrote:
Heaven by Mary Mary

paynestalker wrote: 1. heaven in your arms- rj lastest arrivals
2. heaven knows- faith evans and donna summer
3. heaven by john legend
4. angel of the night- angela bofill
5. angel- angela winbush
6. angel- aretha franklin
7. heaven must be like this by ohio players and d'angelo
8. how can a angel break my heart- toni braxton
9. heaven by lalah hathaway
10. when did you leave heaven- nancy wilson and little jimmy scott

nivla 99 wrote:
1. Angel--Anita Baker
2. A House Is Not A Home--L uther Vandross
3. Heaven Must Be Like This--Earth,Wind & Fire


"betcamus" wrote:
Sitting By Heaven's Door- En Vogue
Heaven Hasn't Been The Same- En Vogue
Heaven Knows- Layla Hathaway
Angel- Angela Winbush
Home- Stephanie Mills
Love Shoulda Brought You Home Last Night- Toni Braxton

THANKS GUYS
--------
IF ANYONE ELSE HAS SOME TITLES WE MISSED.. PLEASE
HIT "COMMENTS" BELOW AND POST THEM 

HARMONIZE WITH US !! 

 

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Drinking from the cup of knowledge..

"If I want to stock the bar in my apartment with enough liquor to cover anything guests at a small dinner party might need, what exactly do I need besides Vodka and Rum?" was the question I posted in the Yahoo Group "NubianNewYorkers" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NubianNewYorkers/ .

For years I have watched as the 22,000 plus members gave expert advice to each other on all kinds of topics and I am happy to say I found the answers I got to be very very informative...

withinme_1 (Rusty) wrote:

now you're talking my language.

well lets see,?!?

exactly which vodka and rum do you have? because any self respecting party giver should know, that at the minimum the rum is bacardi, and the vodka is smirnoff. that triple distilled is no play play. but i do remember a fierce headache after. so play it safe and get the absolute. or if your really g fab then you might do kettle one or vox. the gin is seagrams. tangarey gives you a little something else, i dont know exactly what that taste is, it's distinct. not like the other gins. but it does go well with grapefruit juice. seagrams goes with just about anything.

there should be a big bottle of brandy. folks usually like that. try the paul masson brandy vs or the vsop. that went over well at my last get together. they preferred it to the henney. and you know there has got to be some henney.

but back to brandy. you could stick to E&J, or christian brothers, have any of you tried the white E&J? that dark one turned me. then you should have some johnny walker red, or black, or dewars. if you like scotch, and you know we like some scotch, especially at some one elses expense. matter of fact, leave that under the counter, and give it to the ones that ask for scotch specifically. you can leave the dewars on the shelf.

bourbon, jack daniels. am i forgetting something? oh beer, plenty or beer. the hot ones are coors lite, heinieken corona or good old BUD. any rate, that sounds like a nice starters kit. and dont be ashamed to tell your friends to bring a libation with them. to add to the pot. if you have them friends with the good home training, then you wont have to ask them at all. they come correct. like mama taught em.

tell us all about the party. i know it will be a smash.

Paynestalker (ELC) wrote:

you can try some tequila

some wine and cognac and brandy plus henny and remy, also keep sodas around like pepsi and coke plus spirte and 7-up or sierra mist or vault which is good.

and juices the best to get them at is costco or sam's club as you can get the big ones for 2 at 5 dollars a bottle.

and don't neglect gin.

Gregmac04 wrote:

You don't really need a fully stocked bar for a small dinner party. Unless that is the par - tay! I think you should have beer & a Red and White wine to compliment the food you plan to serve. I would make a "specialty drink" with the rum or vodka and have something non alcoholic: like an equally satisfying "mocktail"- fruit juice and club soda w/ lime just in case someone decides to be the designated driver for the evening. Enjoy!

-----------

THANKS GUYS, I CAN REALLY USE YOUR ADVICE!!

--------

IF ANYONE ELSE HAS SOME ADVICE, OR DRINK RECIPES.. PLEASE

HIT "COMMENTS" BELOW AND POST THEM OR SIMPLY EMAIL

NUBIANNEWYORKERS@YAHOGROUPS.COM & INTOXICATE US

WITH YOUR KNOWLDEGE!!

REV THEM ENGINES

TRIVIA- CAN YOU NAME WHO DROVE THESE CARS?

WHO DROVE THESE CARS? CAN YOU GUESS THEM ALL?

Can you name them all? Just hit "comments" after this post and number and list your answers.. or let us know by emailing NubianNewYorkers@YahooGroups.com

THE DOG LET THE CAT OUT THE BAG!

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER'S RACIST RANT -- CAUGHT ON TAPE!

Dog Chapman has been captured spewing foul-mouthed racist slurs on a tape obtained exclusively by The NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

And now a civil rights leader is calling for Dog's TV show to be removed from the airwaves.

In a shocking world exclusive The ENQUIRER has obtained tapes of two revolting phone conversations in which Duane "Dog" Chapman unleashes a filthy bigoted attack, littered with the N-word and other disgusting racial insults.

The star of the A&E reality show Dog, The Bounty Hunter directed his racist hatred at his son Tucker's girlfriend Monique Shinnery, who is black.

"Dog Chapman should not have a show. That show should be taken off the air!"

That's the opinion of prominent civil rights leader Roy Innis, who has served as the chairman of the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) since 1968. Innis was shocked and outraged when The ENQUIRER played Dog Chapman's racist telephone conversations for him.

"This man should not be held up as a role model for children," Innis told The ENQUIRER. "He has venom deep in his soul. This is a picture of his heart — a revelation of his true nature.

Innis believes that cable network A&E needs to take swift action in response to Dog's vicious outburst.

"He needs to answer for his behavior," says Innis.

"When someone gets the opportunity to use the airwaves, he becomes a role model, whether he likes it or not. Dog Chapman should not be in that position, posing as a good guy.

"His comments show that he certainly is not a good guy."

Full details are in the new issue of the NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

Update: In response to this story, A&E network has released a statement saying: "A&E has just learned of the story released by the National Enquirer concerning Duane Dog Chapman. We take this matter very seriously. Pending an investigation, we have suspended production on the series. When the inquiry is concluded we will take appropriate action."

Listen to the audio tape:
Warning: Contains racist and offensive language.
http://www.nationalenquirer.com/2007/popup/full-wmv.html