Impermanence Haiku

Jul. 24 | Since impermanence is a constant truth, be mindful of it now.

Verse On Assemblies

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.’** –...

Love Not Terrorism But Hate Not Terrorists

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...

Your Money Or Your Self?

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...

How Do I Make Spiritual Vows?

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...

Meet ‘Okja’ The Super Omni-Animal!

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...

Meaning Haiku

Jul. 13 | Not seeking greater meaning, this is all life is (again), with death coming (again).

Verse On Dangerous Paths

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...

How To Spiritualise The Worldly Five Desires

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...

Where Are The 17 Arhats?

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...

Should Buddhists Fear God?

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...

When Is Your Good Or Bad Karma’s ‘Due Date’?

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.’...

Shame Haiku

Jul. 5 | Having no shame over the shameful is truly shameful.

Verse On Dustless Roads

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...

Will We Face Obstacles During Buddhist Practice?

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,...