These Are Satanic Verses (satire)

Now then, O people, you have a right over your wives and they have a right over you. You have the right that they should not cause anyone of whom you dislike to tread on your beds; and that they should not commit any open indecency. If they do, then God permits you to shut them in separate rooms and to beat them, but not severely. If they abstain from evil, they have the right to their food and clothing in accordance with the custom. Treat women well, for they are like domestic animals with you and do not possess anything for themselves. You have taken them only as a trust from God, and you have made the enjoyment of their persons lawful by the word of God, so understand and listen to my words, O people. --- Mohammad, The Farewell Sermon

To ignorant people the above words could be mistaken for condoning domestic violence and the treatment of wives as animals. However, such a view of these verses might makes them seem to be Satanic verses, but only if you didn't read the whole Farewell Sermon by Mohammad.

I'm pretty sure when he says "beat your wives but not severely" isn't a call for ritual domestic abuse, but rather a call to have a nice poker game with the wife and discipline her mercifully.

Seriously though, "Beat her but not severely" means "discipline her but don't use a belt or fists or verbal abuse." I'm sure that men who love their wives and treat them like queens aren't going to beat them at all. The real intent of this part of this sermon was a warning to wives to be faithful to their husbands and not be tempted to adultery and other similar things. The part about treating wives like animals implies that you care for them and tend to them compassionately, just like you do with the camels and goats (and cars).

Sadly though, a few Muslim men and women don't get this part of the sermon at all, mainly because they are forced to memorize it in Arabic, but not taught what it actually means.

In short, there is much a modern day Muslim imam or mullah could teach his followers. Instead, most of them waste their time bringing politics into the sermon instead of actually doing their job, which is to teach the truth of the Quran.

Telling your followers about the evils of the Great Shaitan America and the Zionists and what awaits them before the Fire is not proselyting; it is preaching ignorant fire-and-brimstone propaganda much like Christianity does.

There is much good in teaching the unconditional love of God Almighty like Rumi does that the imam could use to proselyte to his followers.

---

Reference:

Mohammad - The Farewell Sermon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farewell_Sermon

The Power of Dharma Practice

I'm a Buddhist, and have the power called Dharma practice consisting of the skillful means of Buddha Remembrance and meditation, both of which aid mindful practice.

It has the potential to burn away evil karma, and accumulate merit through good thoughts and deeds.

As a True Pure Land School (Jodo Shinshu) Buddhist, the skillful means called Buddha Remembrance (Buddha Recitation) consists of 7, 21 or 49 recitations of Amida Buddha's name (Namu Amida Butsu).

Known as the Nembutsu, it has a special name only within Jodo Shinshu circle as the Name-that-calls. For when a Pure Land devotee calls out Amida's name, it is Amida calling through her.

When I was young, I went to the Fraser Valley Buddhist temple to learn about our faith. However, as a child I was prone to taking wring action that built up evil karma.

In Buddhism, evil karma is defined as calculated actions that serve the self, and through ignorant craving, leads to the ego controlling the mind.

It wasn't until over 20 years ago, that I first started meditating.

Though, it's been only about a month since I started reading Thich Thien Tâm's book Buddha of Wisdom and Faith, and was moved to commit myself to Chinese Pure Land School and using my education as a True Pure Land School student.

Even though a few Buddhist claim that it isn't wise to study outside of Pure Land tradition, I have studied Vajrayana but only have an intellectual grasp of it. It's only been very recently that I have discovered that tantra can be practiced by one person without delving into the intimacies of tantrism.

Additionally, to help empower the mindful part of my Dharma practice, I also listen to Buddhist chants and dharanis, along with Hindu Veerashaivist chants.

My Buddhist chants and dharani playlist consists of:

• Amitabhâ Buddha Dharani and Mantra,
  
• Buddha Bar Meditative Music,
  
• Shingon Buddhist Chant,
  
• Karanda Mudra Dharani by Ani Choying,
  
• Mantra of Avalokitshvara (a Tibetan incantation), and
  
• Relaxing Buddhist Music

My Veerashaivist chants playlist consists of

• Akka Mahadevi Vachana,
  
• Rudram,
  
• Skanda Sashti Kavacham (sung by the Soolamangalam Sisters), and
  
• Vachanadalli Nâmâmruta Tunbi (sung by Sangeeta Katti)

And just for variety, while not distinctly Buddhist, I listen to the Yoshida Brother's Ibuki and to Yoshida Kiyoshi's Rising Sun, since I find music using the three-stringed shamisen to be pleasing to the ear, and very invigorating.

As well, I also have started a music hobby in which I remix music of the Experimental genre. After creating each of my songs, I take pictures to compile into a video to be used with that particular song. Often though, the video portion does not match the music.

Currently I am thankful to Thich Thien Tâm for writing Buddhism of Wisdom and Faith, which has inspired me to recommit to my Buddhist faith. As a result of reading his book, I have a strong faith in the Primal Vow, and sincerely believe in Amida Buddha's Pure Land of Bliss.

Are You Just Evil or a Do-Gooder?

As an ex-Clubvibes member, the minute I saw the article called "Anonymity Doesn't always Make You a Jerk. It Might Make You Kinder."

Though I admit replying with a reference to that website for social drinkers and their fans (usually their designated driver), it's the fact that Clubvibes had both fuckwads who were this close to being abusive and do-gooders that drove me away.

Why? Because I was turning Evil due to lack of sleep and the power that relative anonymity gives people.

However, what the Evil-doers and do-gooders hated was me switching between extremes. They thought it was normal to either be an extreme Evil-doer everyone hates or an extreme do-gooder who wants to reform a member who cries about her worst time at a club.

Either way, a person is lifé.

That is why I tried to be a moderate who may appear to be totally Evil but actually is a do-gooder.

Even though I had fans on that website, they wouldn't all stick up for me when the Evil-doers who were bullies started their abuse.

That's because most people who stand up to the bullies tend to escalate the situation by answering the bully's challenge instead of saying clearly that they will not put up with bullying on-line and do not answer the challenge.

Word to the wise: tell the owner of any web forum if a cyber-bully decides to take his sexual frustration out on you by tearing a piece off you on-line.

After hours of watching people trade insults on-line on Club Vibes, I'd only stick up for the underdog if s/he actually wasn't Evil. Usually the best way to determine if they are, is to offer private compliments. As a rule, Evil-doers usually tell you where to go and block you.

Just like Club Vibes, there are kids on GooglePlus who follow this same mentality of being more evil than Google. Thankfully, G+ allows me to report, mute and block them. The same goes for Twitter.

Otherwise, I'd be lumped in with the Evil-doers for a stupid comment that never was abusive but definitely passive-aggressive (usually a quote from a favorite TV show like Dr Who or the cult classic Firefly).

However, that would be a totally Evil way of reasoning because if you think long and hard about what I said, it's usually a constructive comment.

Anyway, I stopped logging into Club Vibes when I realized I'd become just as Evil as the Evil-doers who used multiple accounts to indulge in passive-aggressive forms of abuse as a form of social engineering.

There was no longer any purpose in using my sageb1 account to be a do-gooder, because I had been Evil to friends and enemies alike.