Crossing To The Other Shore

Apr. 19 | Even attachment to Nirvana and aversion to Samsara obstructs ultimate Nirvana. - Stonepeace One day, two Tibetan monks who were on a pilgrimage came to a rushing river. There on the bank sat an ugly old leper, begging for alms. When the monks approached,...

Dust Haiku

Jan. 29 | Why aversion to specks of dust, when this body of mine is but a big cluster of them?

Can ‘Buddhists’ Not Believe In Rebirth?

Dec. 4 | If you do not believe in unenlightened rebirth, what are you seeking liberation from? [to be continued...] - Stonepeace There are some who do not believe in the Buddha’s teachings on rebirth, who nevertheless consider themselves to be Buddhists....

How Not To Attend Dharma Activities?

Sep. 26 | The path to self-liberation starts from awareness of your own suffering. The path to liberating others starts from awareness of others’ suffering. - Stonepeace From a Dharma friend and regular class participant, I received a thought-provoking email....

The Intention Of Renunciation

Aug. 2 | True renunciation is to let go of attachment, aversion and delusion; not anything else. - Stonepeace The Buddha does not demand that everyone leave the household life for the monastery [to further facilitate spiritual cultivation] or ask his followers...

Donald & Charlie Talk About Love & Happiness

May. 10 | To have unconditioned happiness, have unconditioned love for one and all. - Stonepeace There is a great conversational gem in the underrated film ‘Adaptation’. In it, Charlie spoke of, to his brother Donald, a time in high school, when he...

A Toddler’s Encounter With A ‘New’ Emotion

Apr. 6 | The inner demon you can’t name [recognise], is the one you are tormented by. ~ Stonepeace A toddler nephew is undergoing a strange yet understandable phase of growing up. Barely a month ago, his baby sister was born. Suddenly, his behaviour became...

Take Offense?

Apr. 5 | If you are quick to take offense at those who are quick to take offense at you, how are you different from them? ~ Stonepeace

How To Stop Being A Snake

Mar. 30 | Why live to expend positive and negative karma? Why not live to create positive karma to dilute negative karma? ~ Stonepeace There is a story about a man who, after he died, was reborn as a snake. He retained his intelligence and memory, so he knew...

A Human Survivor of Battlestar Galactica’s Cylon Ride Speaks

Mar. 15 | The joy is not in the ride, but how you ride. - Stonepeace Without mindfulness, how do you enjoy anything? Without mindfulness, how do you not fear everything? - Stonepeace From Wikipedia, ‘”Battlestar Galactica (BSG): Human vs. Cylon”...

Friendship As Middle Path

Dec. 21 | Between the dualistic extremes of strong love (attachment) and hate (aversion) is the Middle Way of spiritual friendship (with the friendliness of loving-kindness) ~ Stonepeace

What Weeds?

Oct. 20 | Weeds only grow when we dislike them. ~ Zen Saying

The True Meaning of Letting Go & Being At Ease

Oct. 7 | Let go only of your attachment, aversion and delusion; never your generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom. - Stonepeace On one of those customary birthday cards passed around the workplace, I saw these words written – ‘fangxia zizai’...

How the Buddha’s Attendant Became Enlightened

Aug. 12 | All we need to let go of is attachment, aversion and delusion, so as to realise generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom. - Stonepeace You know the story of Ananda, the Buddha’s attendant. His faith was as strong as anyone’s. There was to be...