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Archive for July, 2017
Archive for July, 2017
Jul. 24 | Since impermanence is
a constant truth,
be mindful of it now.
Jul. 24 |
若见众会,
当愿众生,
说甚深法,
一切和合。
– 文殊菩萨
(华严经: 净行品: 第59偈)
If seeing masses* assembling,
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
speak the extremely profound Dharma,
[and with] all be harmonious.’**
–...
Jul. 24 |
‘He abused me, he struck me,
he overpowered me, he robbed me.’
Those who do not harbour such thoughts
still their hatred.
– The Buddha
(Dhammapada)
Someone quipped this on our post-truth era, ‘We used to laugh at comedians...
Jul. 24 | That which is true
can never be lost.
That which is lost
can never be true.
– Stonepeace | Books
Once, when Sakyamuni Buddha was meditating in a forest, he heard, from a distance, the laughter of a young woman. A little later, he saw her hurrying...
Jul. 24 |
Question: How do I make my own personal spiritual vows?
Answer: You can announce your vows before a Buddha image in a proper Buddhist temple while kneeling, prostrating once upon saying each vow. If you wish to further express the sincerity and seriousness...
Jul. 24 |
‘Okja’ begins with the mercenary Lucy Mirando announcing, ‘The world’s [human] population is 7 billion. 805 million humans struggle with hunger every day, including 30 million right here in the United States. The world is running...
Jul. 13 | Not seeking greater meaning,
this is all life is (again),
with death coming (again).
Jul. 13 |
若见险道,
当愿众生,
住正法界,
离诸罪难。
– 文殊菩萨
(华严经: 净行品: 第58偈)
If seeing dangerous paths,
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
abide in the realm of right Dharma,*
[and] depart from all difficulties...
Jul. 13 |
What cannot be rid of immediately
should be transformed immediately,
so as to be rid of eventually.
– Stonepeace | Books
As beings in the Desire Sphere (欲界),
we are all with the Five Desires (五欲),
for pleasing sights (色),
sounds (声),
smells...
Jul. 13 | Sudden windfalls seldom
bring about sudden happiness;
bringing sudden unrest instead.
– Stonepeace | Books
A peasant dug up a very valuable golden statue of an Arhat from a hill. When his friends learned of the discovery, they rushed to congratulate...
Jul. 13 |
Question: Someone suggested that even Buddhists should fear God. Is this sensible?
Answer: How about asking which of the millions of gods worshipped throughout history should be the one feared? And how is one more threatening than the others? It...
Jul. 13 |
Near the beginning of the movie ‘Due Date’ is a minor accident before Ethan and Peter enter an airport. Ethan tries to console Peter – ‘My father always had a saying. When a day starts like this, it’s all uphill from here.’...
Jul. 5 | Having no shame
over the shameful
is truly shameful.
Jul. 5 |
见路无尘,
当愿众生,
常行大悲,
其心润泽。
– 文殊菩萨
(华严经: 净行品: 第57偈)
Seeing roads without dust,
[reflect that] ‘May sentient beings,
constantly practise great compassion,*
[with] their [hearts and] minds...
Jul. 5 |
It is not that we have
to be free of obstacles
to practise the Dharma, but that
we practise the Dharma
to be free of obstacles.
– Stonepeace | Books
There is a popular notion that obstacles are frequent when attending Dharma assemblies for retreats,...