Sex and Suffering on Valentine's Day

(Matt on Buddha's Wisdom) SEX in BUDDHISM: not a moral rule but a deeper question

Valentines is a heart-shaped box of chocolates

Valentine's Day (aka Saint Valentine's Day, Feast of St. Valentine [1]) is celebrated annually on February 14th [2].

This celebration of going from Lust to Love like the Go Go's, it originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world [3, 4].

Cupid is Mara and Kama

There are a number of martyrdom stories associated with various Saint Valentines connected to February 14th [5], including an account of the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century [6, 7].

According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer [8]. Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: Tradition maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor [7]. An 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer's daughter a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell before his execution [9].

Will consumers buy cheap cards?

The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14th [10, 11]. The day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries, when notions of courtly love flourished, apparently by association with the "lovebirds" of early spring.

In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").

Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid [who acts like the India god Kama, Greek Eros and Aphrodite, Roman Venus, and Buddhist Mara].

No sex please. We're Ameboids 'n Gatchularians

In the 19th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings [12] thanks to capitalism. In Italy, Saint Valentine's keys are given to lovers "as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver's heart" as well as to children to ward off epileptic fits (called Saint Valentine's Malady) [13], which could be thought of as an overwrought lover's obsessive mania, like St. Vitus' Dance. More

Jewish sex: stripping vs. old men

"Stripping vs. Old Men Sex" - Russian Vicka Margulis (stand up comedy)

Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)

Why would anyone think we were mourning the dead. We are celebrating life. They still live.

Wheel of Life/Death (Bhavacakra)

Why are Mexicans and other Hispanics in Latin America obsessed with a Day of the Dead? It is to remember and honor loved ones who have passed. They are still here. We still love them and want the best for them. (Filial piety is common in the culture just as it is in Asia and used to be around the world). The idea of death is not a ghoulish thing in that context, but it mixes with spooky American Halloween or tainted by Catholic All Hallows Eve and loses its Obon and Samhain (Sau-in) echoes, which aim to honor and remember, connect and care for those lost to Death.

Countless worlds, 31 planes

In Buddhism, who is the Grim Reaper? One might think it's Yama, the King of the Dead, the kind judge in the afterlife. "Justice" is meted out not by him, who is just the one who delivers the news, but by karma (our personal store of deeds coming up for appropriate results). If it's anyone, it has to be the king of the yakkhas Mara, the personification of Death, a kind of Santa Muerte who is actually a "Cupid" or "Lucifer" figure in Buddhism who resides in the highest sensual-celestial heavenly world. His aim is that people should go to hell but rather to stay trapped in his sphere of influence, of which he imagines he is the ruler. In his view, no one should escape the Sensual Sphere (the human plane, the subhuman worlds, and a few of the lower celestial angelic planes) to the superior Fine Material Sphere or the even loftier Immaterial Sphere. These three spheres (Kama Loka, Rupa Loka, Arupa Loka) are general categorizations of the individual planes (lokas) within the 31 Planes of Existence.

The scary thing about Mara is that he's alluring.

La Muerte Aztec Tepito - Santa Muerte (Wiki)

Karma leads to all planes

Mara's influence only extends up to the world where he was reborn and is referred to as Mara Devaputra (a literal being "Mara reborn among the devas or gods"). He frequently comes to earth where along with the asuras or anti-devas he causes a great deal of mischief for mortals who are fueled by sensual desires, craving, and clinging. They hear the Dharma, the path to liberation made known by the Buddha, but it is hard to follow with all the allure of the five sense strands of pleasure. What is the antidote? It is practice, which reveals what we are clinging to: that which is impermanent, disappointing (incapable of ever fulfilling us), and impersonal. We will not see these Three Marks of Existence, the true nature of things, so we go on trapped, revolving in samsara, faring according to our karma (deeds), constantly facing and having to endure the results. When our deeds (intentional actions) are motivated by greed (attraction), hatred (aversion or fear), and delusion (wrong views), the result is suffering. When our karma is rooted in nongreed (letting go), nonhatred (kindness, heart), and/or wisdom (right view), the results (vipaka and phala) are sweet. It's our choice IF only we were mindful and in control of ourselves, but we usually are not. Buddhists are as bad as the Mexicans, always going on about Death.

• Buddhism came to ancient Mexico and the Americas? How the Swans Came to the Lake: A Narrative History of Buddhism in America (shambhala.com)
• AUDIO: Day of the Dead on Coast to Coast AM
• Hey, let's have sex, Psyche? - Okay, Cupid
• Happy birthday, Fernando Valenzuela! (RIP) 

Skull face paint tutorial | Halloween, Day of the Dead, Samhain makeup tutorial | Snazaroo

Though the Buddha talked about 31 Planes of Existence, they were distilled down to just these 6

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(Shonagh Scott) Sponsored Shonagh Scott for Oct. 2017. Today's Halloween makeup tutorial is this beautiful but eerie skull face paint, sponsored by Snazaroo! Their products are so affordable, and their Halloween kits are great on children and adults alike and they're the sponsor. daz3d.com

• Makeup System: Dead Makeup for Genesis 9 | Daz 3D

Grim Reaper Makeup Tutorial for Halloween | ShowMe MakeUp

Death stands behind all rebirth.

(Shonagh Scott) Oct. 2014: As explained in the tutorial, I've created this look using cream products, face paint, and eyeshadows. Substitute the cream-based products for solely face paint. Hit subscribe to see more tutorials using a vast range of different media and brands. Watch me create special occasion makeup, stunning evening looks, and everyday makeup routines! Go with me behind the scenes on photoshoots, and even watch me create SFX makeup for fancy dress and The Dia de Los Muertos or Mexican Halloween (All Hallows Eve, Samhain, Obon)!

Good thing we'll never die and need not be mindful

Buddhists are crazy and stupid. Don't think about Death! Think about LIFE! Live it up, Man, live!!! Why the heck think about Death? - What if how we live is how we die? There is more than just this life. Samsara (the wandering through life and death) keeps going. We don't really die. We are wise to do something for the future, to prepare for it. If it all just "ended," we might be right to be hedonists living it up all the time. But it doesn't end, so we're neither insane nor dumb to be mindful of Death. It helps living life after life, and fearing (ignoring and avoiding) causes many problems that could be avoided with a little bravery to look even on Halloween.

• Model - Bill Follow him: itsteambill Instagram; @itsteambill The boys YouTube channel; gorillazillavids Music; Music - Alchemists Tale Composer - Tilman Sillescu www.freeplaymusic.com Products; Supracolor - Kryolan | 521, 517, 043, and White Black Face Paint Matte Brown and Matte Black Eyeshadow Translucent Power to set the cream. Camo Eyes Coloured Contact Lenses; camoeyes.com/product/crazy-con...
• Shonagh Scott, makeup artist tutorials on YouTube, 2017, 2014; Crystal Quintero, CC Liu, Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

I think I'm falling in love, not my partner

Cupid (Kamadeva, Mara Devaputra, Eros) seems so cute and innocent.

I know it's love cause she starts looking like this.

These things indicate a love that is slowly dying. It’s often easy to tell when a relationship is totally falling apart because there will be obvious signs, but it’s less apparent if someone is slowly falling out of love with his or her partner.

Keep an eye out for these 12 behaviors, as they may indicate that your lover’s interest is cooling when you wish that it would burn forever with more and more intensity, like an endless honeymoon. But it burns, dwindles, until is burns out.

• Make these 13 mistakes and you’ll end up in a one-sided relationship, where you do and that person doesn't
• 18 powerful ways to address someone who doesn’t respect me

I know I'm in love because it's blissful (piti) like serene meditating only not as good.

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This is how I pictured us. Details schmeetails!

Am I falling in love, how can I know? Maybe this flower can tell me with its petals. They love me, they love me not, they love me, they love me not... Omens. Signs. Who can predict the future? But what if my partner is slowly falling out of love as the old lovespell is coming undone?

1. They’ll have less interest in intimacy and physical affection. That's one sign.

We were like cats in a cradle reaching Purvana.

One surefire way to determine whether someone is quietly falling out of love (even if you're falling more and more in love) is to pay attention to physical intimacy, or rather the lack of it.

Couples tend to grow less passionate after the "honeymoon period" has worn off. That's usual. But if intimacy has disappeared entirely, including hugging or handholding, that’s a big warning sign.

• Nooo, 16 excuses women give when they’ve lost interest but don’t want to admit it

2. They mention feelings of being “trapped.” It's time for A Conscious Rethink. Feeling trapped rarely happens in the context of discussing a relationship, but a partner may drop hints about feeling trapped or caged in various aspects of life.

This may be accompanied by restlessness and frustration, leading to behaviors such as going for long drives or walks “just to get out.” 

3. There’s less communication than there used to be. When and if this person does communicate with a partner, rather than avoiding conversation, it seems distant and unresponsive than before.

Maybe it's just to get an answer instead of having a conversation, or it's a grunt, a lackluster response, rather than actually having a discussion about a topic. More: If someone is quietly falling out of love, they'll display these 12 behaviors

• 17 things you should do when you love someone who doesn't love you back

SUTRA: Falling Apart

Numerical Discourses, 6. Brahmins, Ven. Sujato (trans.); Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

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Mara appears like an angel of light or monster

(AN 3.56) A rich Brahmin approached the Buddha. Sitting respectfully to one side, he said: “Master Gotama, I have heard that Brahmins of the past who were senior teachers-of-teachers, said:

“‘In the olden days this world was so full of people one would think they were squashed together. Villages, towns, and capital cities were no more than a chicken’s flight apart.’ What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why these days human numbers have dwindled, a decline in population is evident, and whole villages, towns, cities, and countries have disappeared?”

“Brahmin, nowadays humans love only illicit desires. They are overcome with immoral greed and are mired in wrong customs. Taking up knives, they murder each other, and many people perish. This is the cause, this is the reason why nowadays human numbers have dwindled.

“Furthermore, because nowadays humans love only illicit desires…the heavens [deva worlds on superior planes of existence] do not provide enough rain, so there’s famine, bad harvests, with blighted crops that shrivel into dry straw. And many people perish. This is the cause, this is the reason why nowadays human numbers have dwindled.

“Furthermore, because nowadays humans love only illicit desires…native spirits let vicious monsters [cryptids] loose. And many people perish. This is the cause, this is the reason why nowadays human numbers have dwindled.”

“Excellent, Master Gotama, excellent! …From this day forward, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone [to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha] for refuge for life.” More: suttacentral.net

• 12 behaviors via MSN; Ven. Sujato Bhikkhu, suttacentral.net (AN 3.56); Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

National Crush Day (9/27)

"Love is like oxygen" (The Sweet)

Why would we have a day to celebrate crushes? Some say these are literal. We crush cans. We recycle. If we're smart, we pre-cycle (plan ahead about what will become of the waste) and use banana leaves instead of plastic plates or big rolls of seaweed instead of those maddening packaged ones in individual wrappers where the container weighs more than the contents. Of course, we all know what a crush is. And we should know it isn't harmless. Mara Devaputra (Kamadeva, Eros, Cupid) delights. It hurts pining, waxing, wishing, hoping, wondering, casting our hearts like lures into the sea to see if anything is biting. Those bites won't much matter. There's just the One who either got away or was never caught. And we idealize. We weave a fantasy that becomes a petard. We're hoisted by our own petard. We grow tendrils and then cry when the mass of vines grows so heavy it tears off the fence or pole. Oh, the hole! In our hearts, there are many spaces, but in all the space, there's only you. You send me, Crush. Woe upon us. If only, if only there were a way to snap out of it. If only there were a way to be mindful of the moment instead. This moment I'm free, I'm fine, everything's good -- ah, to be there. Where? Here. When? Now. Be here now? Yes. But Woo Deng is soo deng cuuuute!

When devas descend, they communicate

Akasha devas are the "shining ones" from the celestial worlds, the heavens, who from time to time visit humans, who note their grace, elegance, and orderliness. What do they say when they visit humans? They are able to communicate directly and telepathically, by mimicking human languages, and by archetypes and dance. Some ships or vimanas pulse lights, colors, shapes, and frequencies to send their messages down. Bali, Indonesia, retains a Hindu dance tradition from India (kathak), which seems to be the stylized body language and interpretive dancing of female devas (devis) and apsaras depicted on the bas relief walls of Borobudur, the largest excavated Buddhist temple in the world as well as the ornate Angkor Wat in the jungles of Buddhist Cambodia. - Wisdom Quarterly

Legong Semarandhana in Balerung stage, Peliatan

(Bernard Marchal) Marchal is an amateur videographer and a simple tourist. His channel has no commercial purpose. He often travels to Indonesia, in particular to the Hindu island of Bali.

As he is passionate about video and Balinese culture (Hindu ceremonies, traditional dances, and music), he often films events and shows he attends. It is his way of recording memories of his stays and, more importantly, making known the rich culture of the island.

Legong Semarandhana on Balerung stage, Peliatan, Tirta Sari. Dancers: Aan Devita and Nitha Suwitri. Recorded Nov. 23, 2018.

This dance was filmed on the Balerung stage, in the small town of Peliatan (near Ubud, Bali), where world famous Balinese dances and gamelan music began.

Indeed, the first international tour of Balinese artists in the US and Europe in 1952 brought together a group from Peliatan led by A. A. Gede Mandera.

Since that time, Peliatan has remained one of the historic centers of Balinese dance and music. Two groups of the famous 1952 troupe are Tirta Sari and Gunung Sari, which give shows for visitors every week. Tirta Sari on the Balerung stage on Friday evenings and Gunung Sari on Saturdays.

Many of the best dancers in Bali learn their art in Peliatan. Legong Semarandana is a dance that developed in Balinese royal courts.

The narration refers to a long Javanese Hindu poem, a myth about the origins of love and passion between humans, embodied by the couple in love: Semara, the god (deva) of love, and Ratih, the moon goddess, interpreted by two twin dancers who perform a choreography symbolizing their harmony.

Lord Shiva then intervenes, furious to have had his meditation disturbed by the couple [because what god wouldn't be furious to be disturbed by humans and their behavior on earth].

Semara tries in vain to pierce him with arrows [like Cupid is said to do in Western mythology]. Lord Shiva, who takes on the appearance of the terrible Rangda, curses the desire that forces him to create the mortal world and intends to reduce the two lovers to ashes.

Apologies for any inaccuracies in the story summary and thanks in advance to anyone who can correct or complete the explanation.

The Entire History of Pornography (video)

The ENTIRE History of Pornography | documentary

(History But Fast) 9/6/24: Explore the fascinating history of pornography, tracing its roots from ancient civilizations to the digital age. Delve into how early cultures like the ancient Greeks and Romans depicted erotic art and literature, reflecting societal norms and taboos. Discover the impact of the printing press in the 15th century, which revolutionized the dissemination of explicit and obscene material, making it more accessible than ever before. Journey through the Victorian Age, when the tension between moral conservatism and hidden desires led to a clandestine market for erotic novels and photographs. Learn about the role of early cinema in the 20th century, which brought moving images into the realm of adult entertainment, pushing boundaries and challenging censorship laws. Examine the pivotal moments in the 1960s and 70s, when the sexual revolution and the rise of counterculture movements led to a more open discussion and acceptance of pornography. Understand the legal battles and landmark court cases that shaped the industry, defining what could be produced and consumed. Witness the transformation brought by the internet, which democratized access to adult content, creating a global market and giving rise to new genres and platforms. Analyze the ongoing debates about the ethical implications, societal impact, and future of pornography in a rapidly changing digital landscape. This video offers a comprehensive overview of the origins and evolution of pornography, providing historical context and critical insights into one of the most controversial yet enduring aspects of human culture.

Whether one is a history enthusiast, a sociology student, or simply curious about the subject, this exploration promises to be both enlightening and thought-provoking. #HistoryOfPornography #EroticArt #AncientCivilizations #PrintingPress #VictorianEra #EarlyCinema #SexualRevolution #Censorship #InternetPorn #DigitalAge #AdultEntertainment #CulturalImpact #EthicalDebates #Sociology #HumanCulture

How to be magnetic: attractive energy

• Source for Understanding Men and Women: Alison Armstrong

Goddess Reclaimed: Initiations to Unleash Power

How can we increase our magnetic feminine energy and learn how to be magnetic, how to attract everything we desire from our divine feminine goddess energy? It would be life changing. We must first learn to heal wounds in the psyche and shadow-self, increasing our feminine energy with self-love.

How can we increase feminine pleasure, receive from our soft feminine energy, become irresistible, and learn to magnetize everything we could ever want? This video begins to make suggestion. If it serves, say so in the comments and please share with our sisters, beloved ones.

Can it be empowering to participate in a straight women's circle with Syma Kharal?

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Man or machine?

Kate Nitshe shares that, “With Syma [Kharal]'s support, I was able to remove the darkness that had engulfed me and for the first time in a long time, I was able to see the light.

Would it help or hurt to love myself first? Help

“Syma helped heal my heart and allowed me to see all of my potential. I have been living lightheartedly and surrounding myself with people who positively serve me.

“I can't thank Syma enough. Syma CARES. She is genuine and truly wants to support you to become the best version of yourself."

Is there any hope for MEN and nontoxic masculine energy?

Who needs jerk men? The mainstream media says we can be happy lesbian families.

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Understanding Men/Women (Orion's Method)

According to Alison Armstrong (alisonarmstrong.com), “Men have a natural attentiveness to providing what women need. One problem is they don't always know what women need. A bigger problem is the women themselves don't know what they need, even if they were willing to ask for it.

“Women want to help men get what they need, if only to keep them from being so grumpy and frustrated. But men ignore their needs until they reach the 'breaking point,' and the way they ask then causes women to resist providing it!

“The lack of information, misunderstandings, inability to speak up — and on top of that, the way we project our needs onto others — well, it’s going to be a mess for sure!”

Singer-songwriter Alanis M.

Alanis Morrisette shares that, “Alison [Armstrong]'s deep understanding and love of men moved me to a whole other level of clarity and peace about a gender that has confounded me for a long time. I feel like the wool has been pulled from my eyes and I can see men in a new and more loving way.”

Racist, pro-genocide, right wing radio host Dennis Prager agrees: “Alison Armstrong...is in my view brilliant and gifted beyond words with an original mind. Original minds are very rare, and she has it combined with a good heart and that's a terrific combination.”

• Making Sense of Men (Alison Armstrong)
• Alison Armstrong (@thealisonarmstrong) • Instagram
• In memoriam for Alison Armstrong's lost husband Greg
• 3 Ways to Magnetic Feminine Energy (Flourishing Goddess)
• Syma Kharal, flourishinggoddess.com, Feb. 22, 2023; Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Dhr. Seven (eds.). Wisdom Quarterly

Boobs illegal on Delta Airlines flights?

How much cleavage is too much cleavage for us to avert our nosy gazes and get airborne?

Allred says a woman says she was targeted by Delta Airline for not wearing a bra

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If you're like us, you believe in science. And if you believe science, you know that staring at boobs is good for a man's heart. Why does Delta Airlines hate men's hearts?

Dependable shyster lawyer and sensational feminist attorney Gloria Allred is on the right side of history: Burn your bras. Free those definition of our species. We're "mammals," right? Is that a species?

I dress to feel good about me (at others' expense).

We're mammalian, part of the family of creatures who feed their young colostrum, fat, and protein. And we will not be putting them away. Avert your eyes. Or if thine eye offends thee, follow Saint Issa's advice.

However, when attending a Buddhist monastic complex, temple, or meditation center, have mercy: There are men and women trying to observe celibacy (brahmacariya) as part of the Eight Precepts.

Anything men can wear, I can wear better. Look:

Ample bosoms lead many to thoughts of distraction. Who's fault is it?

Surely lust must reside in the wandering eye of the beholder, but still. Does it offend a statue (or the deity invited to reside in that representation in many Indian religions and all animist traditions)? It might.

If we lived in a fair and equal country, we could all whip them out at will.
Fe/males are not equal. But we must gain parity and equal opportunity.

Julia: My eyes are up here, Pig.

Do visuals lead fellow visitors to thoughts of lust, to roaming eyes, to craving, to distraction, to a lack of restraint, to feelings of want, lack, obsession, addiction ("must have"), kickstarting arousal, craving, grasping, clinging (repeated grasping), and titillation over thing that bring pleasure to the senses? You bet they do.

And as Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich about a pair of boobs who get a law degree and go into environmental law to sue an evil corporation for polluting.

Does objectifying females lead to LGBTQIA+?

When asked about her amazing chest, Roberts, who is now a good Hindu, said "it took a whole army to produce what people saw on screen," that cleavage, that bosom, that set of legal tools that made The Brock or Erin Go Bra so successful in fighting industry. So, please, a little modesty.

I should be able to dress anyway I want for a flight. Gloria Allred's my lawyer! Lisa Archbold

"Women's rights! Human rights!" (FEMEN.org protests topless for sll our rights).

Ah, modesty! And it's bulletproof, too. Throw away those cancer-causing wire undergarments!

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Sophia Loren steals a glance at Jayne Mansfield

It's funny that if a friend of yours told you that he taped a bunch of twenty-dollar bills to his clothes and walked through the rough part of town, or a dark bar or club, and he got robbed, you would probably tell him what we would tell him. And no one would scold us for sexism, bias, or "blaming the victim."

Bras? We're rich socialites. We don't even wear panties! (Catholic Discipline)

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We're not role models of how to be women.

But if you told us you wore no bra and a transparent tee-shirt, a very revealing dress, a classy see-through blouse, or a no panties and miniskirt combo (like Paris Hilton and her bleached Redheaded Gang used to wear on Ladies Nights Out), and we dared to suggest someone was maybe being misinterpreted as "asking for it," "bringing it on themselves," or should not be surprised that people, when no one is watching, are savages and animals, we would be monsters, anti-feminists, and aholes.

Whatcha lookin at, Dog? Didn't ya had no mama?

We think everyone should be free to wear whatever s/he wants, at any time anywhere. But there is decorum, there are standards. Why a flossy thong bikini is alright at the beach but against the dress code in a corporate setting, we don't know. Productivity? Distraction? Woman says she was targeted by Delta for not wearing a bra (NBC Los Angeles)

"Cardi B" is not real. She's hypnotized/possessed, glitching reveals.

Our feed is full of boobs, and not just the mind-controlled Bill Maher/Cardi B kind.