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Quotes

What Within Your Mind Remains? 何在心中留?

酒肉穿肠过,佛祖心中留,世人若学我,如同进魔道。— 道济禅师 (济公):降龙罗汉化身 Wine and meat through the intestines pass, while the Buddhas and Patriarchs within my mind remain, but worldly people, if imitating me, are like those...

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Letters

How To Have Right Speech Socially?

Question: How can we practise Right Speech during social occasions when all seem to be gossiping? Answer: What we can do is listen if it is not appropriate to leave, but not add to the...

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Movies

‘Einstein And The Bomb’s Paradoxes

The following are thought-provoking actual quotes from Albert Einstein, as featured in the documentary, followed by further thoughts on them. [1] Peace Paradox: ‘I am not only a pacifist, but a...

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Quotes

Verses On The Greatest Noble Ones 最大圣偈

最大圣偈Verses On The Greatest Noble Ones 佛陀大觉者,佛佛非人人。是人天教主,非人非天人。 The Buddhas are Great Awakened Ones, with every Buddha not like everyone else. They are ‘Teachers Of Humans And Gods’...

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Movies

The Hellishness Of ‘Hell Girl’

To hatefully bully another,to give hell,is also to sow the seedsof personal hell. To hatefully avenge oneself,to give hell,is also to sow the seedsof personal hell.Wanting hellfor othersis with...

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Quotes

Verses On Four Desires 四欲偈

外道邪法,心外求道。财色名食,迷诱众生。 External paths’ evil teachings, teach seeking of the path externally away from the mind. With wealth, sex, fame and food, confusing and luring sentient beings...

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Letters

How Are The Forms In Pure Land Like?

Question: In this world, things have forms (色). In Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) Pure Land (净土), are the forms, as described in the sūtras with similar forms? Answer: They are not with the same...

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Quotes

See The Moon Beyond The Finger 超指见月

如愚见指月,观指不观月,计著名字者,不见我真实。 释迦牟尼佛《楞伽经》 Like the foolish seeing pointing at the moon, looking at the finger and not looking at the moon, those haggling over and attached to names and words, do not see my...

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Features

Verses On Eating As Vegans 吃素偈

吃素偈Verses On Eating As Vegans 多肉易病,蔬食营养,所以吃素,身心安康。As much meat-eating easily leads to sicknesses, while vegan foods are nutritious, therefore, with eating as vegans, this leads to the body and...

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Quotes

The Thus Come One’s Body Constantly Abides 如来身常住

或复示现三十二相、八十种好,以自庄严而现涅槃,喻如月蚀。如是众生,所见不同,或见半月,或见满月,或见月蚀,而此月性实无增减、蚀啖之者,常是满月。如来之身亦复如是,故曰常住不变。释迦牟尼佛《大般涅槃经》卷第九:如来性品第四之六Perhaps again revealing thirty-two forms, and eighty kinds of excellences, with them...

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Quotes

Are You At Middle Age?

This is our big mistake:to think we lookforward to death.Most of deathis already gone. Whatever timehas passedis owned by death. — Seneca Since you do not knowhow many years you will live,you might...

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Movies

‘Onmyoji’ On The Origins Of Demons

A man suppresses jealousy that grows insidously over time, somewhat pretending in bad faith to himself and others that it does not exist, as if life is a bed of roses. One night, when tending flowers...

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Thoughts

Verse On Humans And Ghosts 人鬼偈

恶人与恶鬼,哪个更可怕?鬼也曾是人,恶人成恶鬼。 Of evil humans and evil ghosts,who is more frightening?As ghosts also were once humans,evil humans can become evil ghosts. Related Article: 人比鬼可怕吗?Are Humans More Frightening...

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Features

More Mud, Less Lotuses

无污泥,无莲花,出污泥,难不染。此秽土,污泥界;彼净土,莲花界。— 泥花偈(1-2) Without mud, without lotus flowers, but growing out of mud, it is difficult to not be stained. This defiled land, is mud’s world; while that Pure...

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Letters

How To Live A Fulfilling Life?

Question: How can we lead satisfying lives? Answer: There are three main considerations or steps, as follow… [1] There must be work (or retirement),but it is not enough;as there must be...

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Quotes

The Thus Come One’s Body Constantly Abides 如来身常住

或复示现三十二相、八十种好,以自庄严而现涅槃,喻如月蚀。如是众生所见不同,或见半月,或见满月,或见月蚀,而此月性实无增减、蚀啖之者,常是满月。如来之身亦复如是,故曰常住不变。 — 释迦牟尼佛《大般涅槃经》卷第九:如来性品第四之六 Perhaps again manifesting thirty-two forms, and eighty kinds of excellences, with...

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Quotes

Verses On Pure Affinities 净缘偈

人生苦短,速结净缘。勿行外道,不攀恶缘。 As this human life is with suffering and short, quickly form pure Dharma affinities. Do not walk on external paths, and do not clamber towards evil affinities...

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Thoughts

Side(s)

When ignorant,be balancedto look at both sides. When informed,be particularto pick the right side.

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Movies

The ‘Blue Bayou’ Reminder

Staying Right Kathy encourages Antonio,‘You stay right,and things will work out.’ Even if they do not work outas quickly as wished,they will work out soon enough. If even a seed takes...

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Quotes

Verses On Defilements And Purity 秽净偈

诸恶仍在作,众善未奉行。守戒不精严,非深信因果。 With all evils still doing them, and all good yet to practise them. With guarding of the precepts not diligent and strict, one is not with profound faith in the karmic law of...

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Letters

Can Buddhism Be Free From Politics?

Question: Can Buddhism be absolutely free from worldly politics, without any so-called restrictions, obligations and collaborations? Answer: Throughout history, for religions to thrive safely as big...

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Thoughts

Foolish Anger

If you are angryat a personfor being angry at you,be it reasonably or not,to a third person,both of youare equally angry fools,who seem unreasonable,with only that personlooking on calmly,trying to...

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Quotes

Four Kinds Of Proximate Causes For Great Nirvāṇa 大涅槃之四种近因

菩萨即知有四种法,为大涅槃而作近因。若言勤修 一切苦行,是大涅槃近因缘者,是义不然。所以者何?若离四法得涅槃者,无有是处。何等为四?一者亲近善友,二者专心听法,三者系念思惟,四者如法修行。释迦牟尼佛《大般涅槃经》卷二十五 Bodhisattvas then know, that there are four kinds of Dharma teachings, for Great Nirvāṇa...

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Thoughts

Battles

If you do not choose your ‘battles’ well,you will be battling pointlesslytill you lose them,with your life,again.

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Quotes

Departure From Four Attachments 离四贪

贪爱今生非教徒。贪爱三界非出离。贪爱自利非菩萨。若有执著非正见。 — 文殊菩萨 If greedily attached to this life, one is not a practitioner.If greedily attached to the three realms, one is not with renunciation.If greedily attached to...

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Letters

Have I Done My Best?

Question: I think I have tried my best in Dharma learning and practice… Answer: Those who keep trying and doing their best eventually become Buddhas. As long as we are not Buddhas yet, we have...

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Thoughts

Four Sentences

You have a life sentence,death sentence,rebirth sentence,and redeath sentence,yet again…unless you have foundthe path to liberationin timethis time.Have you? Related Article: The Fastest Path...

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Features

The Two Steps Of Brainwashing

So-called education that neither allows nor urges enquiry and discussion is that called brainwashing. — Shilashanti The first step of brainwashingis to make those to be victimisedthink they are being...

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Thoughts

Clear Conscience

Without craving for praise,do your best to beonly praiseworthy;never blameworthy.Without shunning any blame,even if blamed then,having done your best,your conscience is clear as it can be.

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Features

So, What Do You Eat?

If you are kind ofwhat you eat with, — Shilashanti (Part 1) So, what animals do you meat-‘lovers’ eat?’ ‘Oh… We eatabout 10 main kinds of animals —pigs, cows, lambs...

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Quotes

Do Not Become Worms On The Lion’s Body 莫作狮子身上虫

如师子身中虫,自食师子肉,非余外虫。如是佛子自破佛法,非外道天魔能破。若受佛戒者,应护佛戒,如念一子,如事父母,不可毁破。 — 释迦牟尼佛《梵网经菩萨戒本》(最后一戒节录) Like worms within a lion’s body, personally eating the lion’s flesh, this is not by other external...

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Features

Verses On Smelting For Gold 炼金偈

炼金偈Verses On Smelting For Gold 若唯有矿之秽,何炼得金之纯? If we only have the impurities of ore,how can we smelt to get the purity of gold? 若唯有金之纯,为何有矿之秽? If we only have the purity of gold,why do we have the...

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Quotes

Dedication Verse 回向偈

愿以此功德,普及于一切。我等与众生,皆共成佛道。 — 诸梵天王《妙法莲华经》 May we, with these meritorious virtues,universally reach all.May we, with other sentient beings,all together accomplish the Buddha path. — All Brahma...

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Thoughts

Found A Path Yet?

If you have not found a path,you might not be lost yet. If you have found a path,you might be lost soon, if you are walkingin the wrong direction.— Shilashanti

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Quotes

Bright Gem Recovered 明珠再现

我有明珠一颗, 久被尘劳关锁。今朝尘尽光生,照破山河万朵。宋朝茶陵郁和尚I have a bright gem,long by dusts’ afflictions closed and locked.Now with the dusts exhausted does its light arise,to illuminate though ten thousand clusters...

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Quotes

Value True Cultivation 贵真实修行

学佛者无用庄严形迹,只贵真实修行。 净土宗八祖莲池大师《云栖法汇》   Those learning Buddhismhave no use for magnificent etiquette, only valuing true cultivation. Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí  ...

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Quotes

Poem On Uprightness 端正诗

忍辱生端正,多嗔作毒蛇。若人不儜恶,必得上三车。 —王梵志 With patience arises uprightness,with much anger becoming poisonous snakes.If people are not with evil,they will attain ascent of the three carts. — [Brahmacārin] Wáng...

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Quotes

All Buddhas Only Have The One Buddha Vehicle 诸佛唯一佛乘 Verses On The Only One Buddha Vehicle 唯一佛乘偈

诸佛唯一佛乘All Buddhas Only Have The One Buddha Vehicle 如来但以一佛乘故,为众生说法,无有余乘,若二、若三。… 诸佛以方便力,于一佛乘分别说三。…诸佛如来言无虚妄,无有余乘,唯一佛乘。…虽示种种道,其实为佛乘。 [三乘为声闻乘、辟支佛乘与菩萨乘。] 释迦牟尼佛《妙法莲华经》方便品第二 The Thus Come Ones are only with...

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Movies

The ‘Gran Torino’ Redemption

The one and only wayto relieve your heavy burdenof past grave transgressionsis to make great amends now. If those transgressions made are so great,that it cost (physical and/or spiritual) lives,the...

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Excerpts

Adornments Of The Ten Goodnesses’ Path 十善道之庄严

龙王!举要言之,行十善道,[1] 以戒庄严故,能生一切佛法义利,满足大愿;[2] 忍辱庄严故,得佛圆音,具众相好;[3] 精进庄严故,能破魔怨,入佛法藏;[4] 定庄严故,能生念、慧、惭、愧、轻安;[5] 慧庄严故,能断一切分别妄见; Dragon King, raising the essence, speaking of these, practising the Ten...

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Quotes

Difference Between Foolishness And Wisdom 愚智之别

自知愚昧的愚人,基于这点是个智者;自以为是智者的愚人,才是真正的愚者。释迦牟尼佛《法句经 •愚人品•第六十三偈》The fool who knows that he is a fool can,for that reason, be a wise man;but the fool who thinks that he is wise is,indeed, called a fool...

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Quotes

With Slander As No Slander 谤为无谤

古人云:「何以息谤?」曰:「无辩。」又云:「吃得小亏,则不至于吃大亏。」余三十年来屡次经验,深信此数语真实不虚。《弘一大师全集》Ancient ones say, ‘With what ceases slander?’ Saying, ‘Without debate.’ Also saying, ‘Able to suffer a...

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Excerpts

Rewards Of Practising Giving With The Ten Good Karmas 以十善业行施之报

尔时世尊复告龙王言:「若有菩萨依此善业,于修道时,[1] 能离杀害而行施故,常富财宝,无能侵夺;长寿无夭,不为一切怨贼损害。[2] 离不与取而行施故,常富财宝,无能侵夺;最胜无比,悉能备集诸佛法藏。[3] 离非梵行而行施故,常富财宝,无能侵夺;其家直顺,母及妻子,无有能以欲心视者。 At that time, the World-Honoured One told...

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Quotes

Accomplish That Good Of People 成人之美

代人之劳,成人之美。 净土宗十三祖印光大师《复叶福备居士书一》 On behalf of others’ efforts,help to accomplish their good deeds. Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng(First Reply Letter To...

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Thoughts

Openness

Is ‘agreeing to disagree’the beginning or endof discussion? (You decide,though othersmight not agree.)

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Quotes

Verses On The Truly Right 真对偈

对事不做,自然不对。对事做错,当然不对。事真做对,错者针对。未有针对,未真做对。 If right matters are not done,this is naturally not right.If right matters are done wrongly,this is of course not right.If matters are truly done right,those...

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Features

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock…

The first lesson of the Buddha-to-beis impermanence,thus ‘rushing’ to seek the pathto attain the deathless before his death.— Shilashanti (Part 1) Tick tock,tick tock,tick tock…Time is...

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Quotes

What A Wonder!

What is the greatest wonder in the world? …That, every single day, people die,Yet the living think they are immortal.Krishna Dvaipāyana(Mahābhārata)

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Excerpts

Benefits Of Departure From Frivolous Speech 离绮语之利益

若离绮语,即得成就三种决定。何等为三? If departing from frivolous speech, this immediately attains three kinds of certainties. What are the three?[i] 一、定为智人所爱;[ii] 二、定能以智,如实答问;[iii] 三、定于人天,威德最胜,无有虚妄;是为三。[i] First...

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Quotes

Once Fallen, Immediately Arise 一倒即起

无转已起,一转二起,二转三起,三转四起,四转五起,五转六起,六转七起,七转八起,八转九起,九转十起。 佛教格言(延申) Without falling, already arisen.With one time fallen, for the second time arise.With two times fallen, for the third time arise.With three...

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Thoughts

One Dharma Door

Master now when alive,the one Dharma door*you will practise on your deathbed.*Such as mindfulness of Āmítuófófor rebirth in his Pure Land,that ensures the swiftest progress to Buddhahood.

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Quotes

Verse On Doing Your Best 尽力偈

一切尽力,之后随缘。不愿尽力,只是随便。 For all strive to do your best,thereafter according with conditions.Not wishing to strive to do your best,this is just ‘whatever goes’.

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Features

The Good, The Evil And The Pure 善恶净

诸教偈 诸恶莫作,众善奉行,自净其意,是诸佛教。 — 释迦牟尼佛《法句经》第183偈 Verse On All Teachings Of all evil not do,of all good practise,and to self-purify this mind,these are all Buddhas’ teachings. — Śākyamuni...

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Movies

15 Lessons From ‘The Glory’

[01] Memento Mori: Remember you will die.Me(mento) Mori: I will die.(You too.) [02] Life is too short for hating the hated and hating the hateful. [03] There is no glory in...

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Quotes

The Foremost Pure Land 第一净土

令我作佛,国土第一。其众奇妙,道场超绝。 If I become [Amitābha] Buddha,my [Pure] Land will be the foremost.Its assembly will be outstanding and wonderful,as the place for practising the path that is superb...

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Quotes

Thoughts, Words And Deeds

心中生字,字成言语,又成行动,所以念佛。 As the mind within gives rise to words,with the words becoming speech,also becoming actions,therefore be mindful of Buddha’s name.— Shilashanti

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Features

How To Be Confident In Reaching Pure Land 如何有信心往生净土

诸有众生,闻其【阿弥陀佛】名号,信心欢喜,乃至一念至心回向,愿生彼国,即得往生,住不退转。唯除五逆,诽谤正法。— 释迦牟尼佛《无量寿经》All sentient beings, who hear his name [Āmítuófó], with the faithful mind joyful, and even with one thought, with the sincere mind...

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Features

Who Do You Choose To Be?

Those about to create evil karmado not look different fromthose about to create good karma.They can look like you too. — Shilashanti (Part 1) If we look at picturesof heroes and villains,it is...

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Thoughts

Acceptance Haikus

If you cannot acceptthings as they are first,how do you change things? If you can acceptthings as they are already,why would you change things?

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Excerpts

Rewards Of The Ten Good Karmas 十善业之报

当知菩萨有一法,能断一切诸恶道苦。何等为一?谓于昼夜,常念、思惟、观察善法,令诸善法念念增长,不容毫分不善间杂。是即能令诸恶永断、善法圆满,常得亲近诸佛、菩萨及余圣众。You should know that Bodhisattvas have one Dharma teaching, that is able to sever all evil paths’ suffering. What...

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Excerpts

Diligently Take The Dharma’s Medicine 勤服法药

汝等比丘,于诸功德,常当一心,舍诸放逸,如离怨贼。大悲世尊,所说利益,皆已究竟。汝等但当勤而行之。 You and other Bhikṣus, for all meritorious virtues, constantly should be wholehearted, and abandon all laxity, like departing from a hateful thief...

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Thoughts

War Haikus

The best war filmsare not of victories;but anti-war films. True peaceis without war;not between wars.

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Quotes

Impermanence From Moment To Moment 时时无常

一期一会,二期二会,三期三会,多期多会。 佛教格言(延申) In one moment, with one meeting.In two moments, with two meetings.In three moments, with three meetings.In many moments, with many meetings. Buddhist Saying (Extended)...

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Excerpts

Restraint Of Mind 制心

汝等比丘,已能住戒,当制五根,勿令放逸,入于五欲。You and other Bhikṣus, those already able to abide by the precepts, should restrain your five roots [of the (1) eye, (2) ear, (3) nose, (4) tongue and (5) body (眼耳鼻舌身)], not...

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Quotes

Poem On No Fear 不畏诗

我不畏恶名,恶名不须畏。四大亦无主,信你痛谤诽。 你自之于我,于我何所费?不辞应对你,至对无气味。 — 王梵志 As ‘self’ does not fear a bad name,a bad name is not needed to be feared.With the great four elements also without hosts,to believe...

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Excerpts

Upholding Of Precepts 持戒

「汝等比丘,于我灭后,当尊重珍敬波罗提木叉,如闇遇明,贫人得宝。当知此则是汝等大师,若我住世无异此也。 ‘You and other Bhikṣus (i.e. monastics), after my Parinirvāṇa (i.e. relinquishment of the Buddha’s body), should honour, treasure and...

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Features

A Drive Out Of Stormy Weather

The cold rain just rains.The hot sun just shines.The unwise just complain. — Shilashanti The cabbie pointed out that we just drove out of stormy weather. He enthusiastically asked me to look behind...

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Excerpts

With Shame Then Diligently Cultivate 惭愧而勤修

汝等比丘,昼则勤心修习善法,无令失时。初夜后夜,亦勿有废。中夜诵经,以自消息,无以睡眠因缘,令一生空过,无所得也。当念无常之火,烧诸世间,早求自度,勿睡眠也。 You and other Bhikṣus, in day then, should be with the diligent mind practising good Dharma teachings, without leading...

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Movies

Why Have ‘Selective Outrage’?

Sometimes, comedy is just wit, for laughs.Sometimes, comedy has wisdom, food for thought.Sometimes, comedy has both wit and wisdom.Sometimes, comedy is more of one and less of the other. Is it truly...

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Quotes

Just Reminders

When you feel greedy or angry,why deludedly remain so?Greed and anger are just remindersto have more contentment and calmness instead.— Shilashanti

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Excerpts

Abstinence From Flattery 戒谄曲

汝等比丘,谄曲之心与道相违。是故宜应质直其心。 You and other Bhikṣus, should know that the mind of flattery, with the path, contradict each other. Therefore, there should be straightforwardness of your minds...

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Quotes

Always Be Noble

君子落得为君子,小人枉费做小人。 — 格言 Noble personsstill end up as noble persons,while small persons [of little virtue]waste their efforts in vainas small persons [in harming them]. — Saying

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Excerpts

Far Depart From Confusions And Disturbances 远离愦闹

汝等比丘,欲求寂静无为安乐,当离愦闹,独处闲居。静处之人,帝释诸天,所共敬重,是故当舍己众他众,空闲独处,思灭苦本。You and other Bhikṣus, desiring to seek the tranquillity of unconditioned peace and bliss, should depart from confusions and disturbances, to...

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Letters

How To Not Break The Precepts?

Question: How do I prevent myself from breaking the Five Precepts (which guard against killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and taking of intoxicants)? Answer: You can remind...

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Quotes

The Buddhas Have Many Manifestations

I work for sentient beings in the costume of Brahma and Indra,And sometimes even as Mara.But worldly people cannot realize this.I also appear as a woman or as an animal. I show attachment, even...

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Letters

Why Stop Complaining?

‘Question’: *Complaint… complaint… complaint…* Answer: Life will never improve if we merely keep complaining about people, organisations and matters. It...

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Quotes

With Upholding Precepts Following Teachings And Offering Buddhas 以持戒顺教供佛

譬如灵瑞优昙华,亦如随意妙宝珠,若信恭敬一切佛,则持净戒顺正教。若持净戒顺正教,诸佛贤圣所赞叹,戒是无上菩提本,应当具足持净戒。若能具足持净戒,一切如来所赞叹,若信恭敬一切佛,则能奇特供最胜。 — 文殊师利菩萨《华严经》贤首菩萨品第八 For example, like the Uḍumbara flower,*likewise like a wish-according wonderful...

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Excerpts

Self-Encouragement 自勉

汝等比丘,于诸功德,常当一心,舍诸放逸,如离怨贼。 You and other Bhikṣus, for all meritorious virtues, constantly should be wholehearted, and abandon all laxity, like departing from a hateful thief. 大悲世尊,所说利益,皆已究竟。汝等但当勤而行之。...

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Quotes

How To Repay The Buddha’s Kindness 如何报佛恩

念报佛恩,当持经戒,相率以道。道不可不学,经不可不读,善不可不行。行善布德,济神离苦,超出生死。见贤勿慢,见善勿谤,不以小过证入大罪。违法失理,其罪莫大,罪福有证,可不慎耶! — 释迦牟尼佛《阿难问事佛吉凶经》 To mindfully repay the Buddha’s kindness, you should uphold the sūtras and precepts, with one...

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Excerpts

The Dharma Body Constantly Abides 法身常住

自今以后,我诸弟子,展转行之,则是如来法身,常在而不灭也。是故当知,世皆无常,会必有离。勿怀忧恼,世相如是。当勤精进,早求解脱;以智慧明,灭诸痴暗。 From now afterwards, all my disciples, passing it through many, practising it (i.e. the Dharma), are then with the Thus Come...

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Thoughts

Lotus Haiku

If there are no lotuses without mud,because of this defiled land’s mud,seek that Pure Land’s lotuses.

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Features

Should Others Smile Or Cry At Your Wake?

此时,所最得益者,莫过于一心念【阿弥陀】佛。所最贻害者,莫过于妄动哭泣。 — 净土宗十三祖印光大师《临终三大要》 At this moment, of the greatest attainable benefits, nothing is more beneficial than to wholeheartedly recite the name of Buddha [Āmítuófó]...

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Excerpts

Swiftly Eliminate Arrogance 疾灭憍慢

汝等比丘,当自摩头,已舍饰好,著坏色衣,执持应器,以乞自活,自见如是。 You and other Bhikṣus, should personally scrape (i.e. shave) your heads, and already having abandoned adornments for beautification, wear spoilt coloured robes (i...

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Thoughts

Hope Haikus

Your Buddha-natureis your truly greatand lasting hope.___Potential not lived up tois still there,yet as if not.

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Quotes

Only Walk The Middle Path 唯行中道

远离二边,直行中道。不偏不离,即是佛道。 Far depart from the two extremes, by straightforwardly walking the Middle Path. Not being one-sided and not leaving it, this then is the Buddha path. Shilashanti...

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Excerpts

With Few Desires Is Less Suffering 少欲少苦

汝等比丘,当知多欲之人,多求利故,苦恼亦多。You and other Bhikṣus, should know that of people with many desires, with much seeking of benefits thus, their sufferings and afflictions are also many. 少欲之人,无求无欲,则无此患。 Of...

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Thoughts

Action Haikus

Great actions speak louderthan great words…and great thoughts.___The truly greathave great actions…not just great words and thoughts.

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Quotes

Propagate The Path 弘道

人能弘道,非道弘人。 《论语•卫灵公第十五•第二十九章》 It is people who are able to make great the path,not the path that makes great people. (Analects: 15th Chapter: Wèilínggōng: 29th Section)

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Quotes

Bodhisattvas Do Not Eat Meat 菩萨不食肉

菩萨摩诃萨发菩提心不失正念。于诸众生不起害心。不食肉。不欺诳。常以善法教化众生。众生不受不废不愁。 — 释迦牟尼佛《菩萨善戒经》   Bodhisattva Mahāsattvas give rise to the Bodhi Mind and do not lose right mindfulness. For all sentient beings, not giving rise...

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Excerpts

Illumination Of True Wisdom 实智慧之照

汝等比丘,若有智慧,则无贪著。常自省察,不令有失,是则于我法中,能得解脱。若不尔者,既非道人,又非白衣,无所名也。You and other Bhikṣus, if having wisdom, are then without greedy attachment. Constantly personally examining oneself, not leading to having...

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Thoughts

Focus Haikus

Live with ever sharperlaser-sharp focuson what you should realise. Live with ever broadersun-like radianceon how you should help.

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Features

How To Overcome Bullying?

The law of karma is unrelenting, even for those who do not believe it exists, do not understand it, and misunderstand it. — Shilashanti An unfortunately common question these days goes, ‘Still...

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Excerpts

Pare Down Your Belongings

The more of the excess you give,the more of contentment you gain. In Zen, we have a word for almsgiving: kisha. It means gladly giving something up, without regret. This is how we describe it when...

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Letters

How To Increase Attention Span?

Question: I am impatient, with short attention for Dharma learning and practice. What should I do?Answer: First, do not keep affirming to yourself that you are so. What you keep affirming...

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Excerpts

Four Sayings On Being Timely

Even ‘bad’ experiences become goodif there are good lessons learnt.Even ‘good’ experiences becomes badif there are no good lessons learnt. — Shilashanti In this world, knowing...

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Quotes

Be Sincerely Diligent 勤精进

汝等比丘,若勤精进则事无难者,是故汝等,当勤精进,譬如小水常流则能穿石。若行者之心数数懈废,譬如钻火未热而息,虽欲得火,火难可得。是名精进。   释迦牟尼佛《佛遗教经》 You [and] other Bhikṣus, if constantly diligent, [are] then [with] matters without difficulties...

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Letters

Do The Evil Live Shorter Or Longer?

Question: Why do evil leaders in the past generally live shorter lives? Answer: This is due to their immense evil karma created via creating much suffering for the masses, which bear their...

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Quotes

Verses Expressing Sentiments 抒怀偈

沉沦生死海,轮回苦无涯。娑婆非吾土,净土是君家。众生离苦海,弥陀航慈筏。信愿勤念佛,金台坐莲华。 — 传印长老 Sunken in the ocean of birth and death, reborn with suffering without a shore. This Sahā World is not my land, and the Pure Land is your home...

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Thoughts

Change Haikus

If you do notlike yourself,change yourself. If you cannotchange your body,change your mind. If you canchange your mind,your life will change.

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Quotes

Within The Path’s Mind 道心之中

道心之中有衣食衣食之中无道心 Of the path’s mind within,it has clothing and food.Of clothing and food within,they are without the path’s mind.— Buddhist Saying有修行者必得所需有所需者未必会修Those who have...

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Movies

‘The Hunt’ For A Crazy Lady

Once, two pickpockets joined a group of laypersons on their way to Jetavana Monastery, where the Buddha was teaching. One listened attentively and soon attained stream-entry. The other, however, only...

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Quotes

Mixed Good And Evil

戒律不分明,好坏便参半。难称为善人,随时可成恶。 With precepts and rules not understood clearly,one is with good and evil then mixed as halves. Difficult to be called as a good person then,as at any time, possibly...

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Excerpts

Contemplating Knowing Contentment 观知足

汝等比丘,若欲脱诸苦恼,当观知足,知足之法即是富乐安隐之处。 You [and] other Bhikṣus, if desiring [to be] liberated [from] all sufferings [and] afflictions, should contemplate [on] contentment. [The] Dharma of knowing contentment...

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Quotes

The Triply Beautiful

Practise the Dharmabeautiful in the beginning,beautiful in the middle andbeautiful at the end.For a lifebeautiful in the beginning,beautiful in the middle andbeautiful at the end.— Shilashanti

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Excerpts

Not Forgetting Mindfulness 不忘念

汝等比丘,求善知识、求善护助而不忘念,若不忘念者,诸烦恼贼则不能入,是故汝等,常当摄念在心; You [and] other Bhikṣus, [when] seeking good-knowing friends, [and] seeking good protective helpers, none [are] like not forgetting mindfulness. If...

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Quotes

Restrain From Evil Speech 禁止恶口

白圭之玷,尚可磨也;斯言之玷,不可为也! —《诗经•大雅•抑》 The blemishes of white jade,still can be polished away,but for the blemishes of that said,this cannot be done! — (Book Of Odes: Greater Odes: Restraint)

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Features

Somebody, Please! Anybody?

To be sincereis to be wholehearted,and thus single-minded.— Shilashanti In a Taiwanese comic book《怪奇微微疼》of ghost stories (by 微疼) is a full page drawing of a frowning guy having a supernatural...

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Movies

An Existential Crisis Of ‘Mine’?

A lone soldier who found himself standing on what could be a mine in the middle of a desert brings these questions to mind… [1] How do you know if you are on an existential mine or not, as...

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Quotes

Four Steps For The Dharma

Do not just learn; contemplate too.Do not just contemplate; practise too.Do not just practise; realise too.Do not just realise; share too.— Shilashanti

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Letters

Why Is There Aversion Of Some?

Question: Why do we sometimes have inexplicable aversion of some sentient beings ‘naturally’? Answer: Generally, when we feel averse towards anyone (human, animal or otherwise) for no...

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Quotes

Verse On Being Without Patience 无忍偈

真忍无忍,忍无可忍。忍者所忍,皆无所住。 — 直弦子  True patience is without patience,thus patient without that to be patient of.With the one patient and that patient of,all without that to abide upon(due to impermanence...

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Movies

Review Films Personally

Why only ‘review’ a filmby ‘reviewing’others’ reviews of it?Why not review the filmby watchingand reflecting on it? Not that others’ reviewsare worthless,but truth...

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Features

Are We In The ‘Beginning’ Pure, Impure… Or Both?

譬如销金矿, 金非销故有, 虽复本来金, 终以销成就,一成真金体, 不复重为矿。 — 释迦牟尼佛《圆觉经》For example, like smelting gold ore, the gold does not, with smelting thus exists. Although again with the original gold, in the end, it is with...

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Features

Your Coffin, Urn, Tablet, House Is Not Your True Home

闻说阿弥陀佛,执持名号… 一心不乱。其人临命终时,阿弥陀佛,与诸圣众,现在其前。是人终时,心不颠倒,即得往生阿弥陀佛极乐国土。— 释迦牟尼佛《阿弥陀经》Hearing this said about Amitā[bha] Buddha, firmly uphold mindfulness of his name (Āmítuófó)… wholeheartedly...

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Movies

The Real ‘Resident Evil’

When humans already with muchgreed, hatred and delusion‘mindfully’ meddle with science… zombies are created with moregreed, hatred and delusion,who ‘mindlessly’ consume...

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Quotes

Pure And Cool Moon 清凉月

菩萨清凉月,常游毕竟空。众生心垢净,菩萨影现中。 — 佛教名言 Bodhisattvas, like the pure and cool moon,constantly travel in ultimate emptiness.When sentient beings’ minds’ defilements are purified,the...

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Quotes

Find Buddha

A Buddha is not easy to find,for one is not born just anywhere.However, where one is found,you will also find great happiness.— The Buddha(Dhammapada Verse 193)(It is easiest to find a Buddha in his...

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Excerpts

What Makes This Life Worthy?

There is no predicament whichcannot be ennobled either byan achievement or by endurance.— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe [I]magine that you are sitting in a concert hall and listening to your favourite...

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Movies

The Gem Within ‘Richard Jewell’

Being unenlightened, none of us are perfect all the time, be it in the past or present. After all, we are mixed bags, with pure gold but embedded in ore, that requires further refinement. Despite...

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Quotes

Verse On Diligent Learning 勤学偈

未成佛者,学无止境。唯成佛者,学达止境。 For those yet to accomplish Buddhahood,learning is still without an end.Only for those who have accomplished Buddhahood,has learning reached its end.

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Features

Time Will Tell The Truth 时间会说出真相

时间会说出真相 [1] 赠君一法决狐疑,不用钻龟与祝蓍。[2] 试玉要烧三日满,辨材须待七年期。[3] 周公恐惧流言日,王莽谦恭未篡时。[4] 向使当初身便死,一生真伪复谁知? — 白居易《放言五首·其三》 Time Will Tell The Truth [1] [I hereby] give you a method for resolving doubts, that does not...

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Quotes

Non-Anger & Non-Violence

He who meets anger with anger is the loser. He who is calm in the face of anger is the winner. He has won a difficult battle.He who remains calm and unperturbed in the face of anger,saves both...

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Features

How Should Buddhists See The Plant-Based Meat ‘Revolution’?

第三食肉[轻]戒:若佛子,故食肉,一切肉不得食。夫食肉者,断大慈悲佛性种子,一切众生见而舍去。是故一切菩萨,不得食一切众生肉。食肉得无量罪。若故食者,犯轻垢罪。— 释迦牟尼佛《梵网经菩萨戒本》The Third [Light] Precept Against Eating Meat: If as Buddhas’ [Bodhisattva] disciples, of...

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Excerpts

A Spinning Coin

The world keeps changing,and you are part of the world,but even if it changes to be worse,you can still change yourself for the better.— Shilashanti Uncertainty is the cause of anxiety, but it is...

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Features

What Is The Best Way To Depart?

上念佛者,佳妙瑞相,预知时至,启众信心。—《佳妙偈》(1)Those with superior mindfulness of Buddha, have excellent and wonderful auspicious signs, including in advance knowing the time of reaching Pure Land, which inspires all...

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Excerpts

What Does Your Life Expect Of You?

If it is finitely meaningfulto seek True Happiness for oneself,it is infinitely meaningfulto seek True Happiness for all.— Stonepeace I once had two world-weary people sitting opposite me — as chance...

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Excerpts

Be Morally Superior Firmly

Those with a higher purposecan suffer meaningfully,thus not truly suffering.Those without a higher purposemight suffer meaninglessly,thus truly suffering.— Stonepeace We know today more than ever...

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Quotes

Patience With Evil Without Anger 忍恶无瞋

恶人闻善,故来挠乱者,汝自禁息,当无瞋责。彼来恶者,而自恶之。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第六章 When evil persons who hear of good,are with those who thus come to disturb,if you are personally restrained and calm,you will be without angry...

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Features

All The More Should Pure Land Be Reached

国中天人… 识宿命,下至知百千亿那由他诸劫事者… — 前法藏菩萨;现在阿弥陀佛《无量寿经》:第五:生者皆得宿命愿[H]eavenly and human beings within my [Pure] Land, have those… knowing past lives… at least know[ing] a hundred...

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Excerpts

Animals (A Vegan Slam Poem)

Veganism gives us all the opportunity to say what we ‘stand for’ in life — the ideal of healthy, humane living. Add decades to your life, with a clear conscience as a bonus.— Donald...

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Letters

Are Such Funeral Proceedings Ideal?

Question: At a teacher’s funeral, there was a period when many students were standing and sitting around, not doing anything in particular. Some might be meditating, but none were chanting...

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Movies

Just A ‘Feria’ Tale?

If there is evil in this world, is there not also the most powerful evil? Yes, of course. by logical default. In Buddhism, this is represented by Māra, the heavenly demon king. What if there is a(n)...

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Quotes

Evil Returns To Oneself 恶还本身

有人闻吾守道,行大仁慈,故致骂佛。佛默不对。骂止,问曰:「子以礼从人,其人不纳,礼归子乎?」对曰:「归矣。」佛言:「今子骂我,我今不纳,子自持祸,归子身矣。犹响应声,影之随形,终无免离,慎勿为恶。」 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第七章 There was a person who heard of my guarding of the path, and practice of great...

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Excerpts

Keep Leading By Doing What Is Right

Let us not wait for other people to come to us and call upon us to do great deeds. Let us instead be the first to summon the rest to the path of honor. Show yourself to be the bravest of all the...

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Quotes

With Dust & Spittle Self-Defiling 尘唾自污

恶人害贤者,犹仰天而唾。唾不至天,还从己堕。逆风扬尘,尘不至彼,还坌己身。贤不可毀,祸必灭己。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第八章 When evil persons harm those virtuous, it is like looking up to the sky and spitting. Their spittle does not reach the sky...

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Excerpts

How To Stoically Respond To A Ghost

Direct yourself calmly and clearly.Guide others kindly and wisely.Direct and guide one and all likewise.— Shilashanti There was at Athens a large and roomy house, which had a bad name, so that no one...

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Letters

Are Enlightened Ones Still Sentient Beings?

Question: Are awakened beings (觉者) like Buddhas (佛陀), Pratyekabuddhas (辟支佛), Bodhisattvas (菩提萨埵/菩萨) and Arhats (阿罗汉/罗汉) still considered as sentient beings? Answer: The term ‘sentient...

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Features

Past As Prologue

The past had already formed.The future has yet to form.Only in the present is forming.— Shilashanti William Shakespeare wrote, ‘Whereof what’s past is prologue…’Not...

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Movies

Is This The Horror Of Horrors?

Having watched many horror films, I wondered what is the simplest yet still effectively ‘horrible’ scenario. To ‘qualify’, it must have the element of an existential crisis...

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Thoughts

Advice

Advice for the young at heart: Soon we will be older… When we’re gonna make it work?— Tears For Fears(Advice For The Young At Heart)

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Quotes

Giving Of Alms In Turn Superior 施饭转胜

饭恶人百,不如饭一善人。饭善人千,不如饭一持五戒者。饭五戒者万,不如饭一须陀洹。饭百万须陀洹,不如饭一斯陀含。饭千万斯陀含,不如饭一阿那含。饭一亿阿那含,不如饭一阿罗汉。饭十亿阿罗汉,不如饭一辟支佛。饭百亿辟支佛,不如饭一三世诸佛。饭千亿三世诸佛,不如饭一无念无住无修无证之者。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第十一章 Offering food to a hundred evil...

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Excerpts

Now Is Forever

That once thought, said and done become that forever thought, said and done, with karmic repercussions echoing forever.— Shilashanti [T]he eternal refers back to the temporal – to the temporal...

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Features

Six Serenity ‘Prayer’ Reminders

What I can controlis what I think, say and do — that is all.As this is how I create my karma,may I always think, say and do well.— Shilashanti(The Control Reminder: Part 1) [1] When Trouble...

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Excerpts

Rationality: A Simple Definition

The more rational knowthey are not always rational.The more irrational thinkthey are always rational.— Shilashanti Clearly the words “rational” and “irrational” can be quite...

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Thoughts

Karma Haikus

Those who do not believethat fire burnsnevertheless suffer fires’ burns.Those who do not believethat ill causes lead to ill effects.nevertheless suffer ill causes’ effects.

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Excerpts

Life Is For Joyful Duty

I slept and dreamtthat life was joy.I awoke and sawthat life was duty.I worked – and behold,duty was joy.— Rabindranath Tagore [L]ife is somehow duty, a single huge obligation. And there...

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Features

What Will Never Deceive You

I can become a good personand create one good person for the world.And I think that if I can just do that,then I might become a personwho can create more than that.— Copper (via Genzaburo...

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Excerpts

Give It To Me!

Give away what you do not need.Give away your miserliness.Give away what others do need.— Shilashanti One morning when the Blessed One was in Śrāvastī he donned his lower garment and Dharma robes...

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Movies

Run ‘Beckett’ Run

What is worse than being on the run, fleeing from relentless enemies eager to take your life? Not knowing why they are after you, even if you believe it is some karmic situation you got caught up in...

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Excerpts

You Have Your Now

The centre betweenthe past and futureis forever the now.— Shilashanti I walked up toward Suzuki [Roshi] and said, ‘What now?’ He said, ‘Don’t ask me. Now is now. You have your...

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Quotes

When Brightness Comes, Darkness Fades 明来暗谢

夫见道者,譬如持炬入冥室中,其冥即灭,而明独存。学道见谛,无明即灭,而明常存矣。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第十七章 Those who see the path, for example, are like those holding torches entering dark rooms within, with that darkness then eradicated, and...

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Movies

What Truly Is ‘A Family’?

What if all left for worldly refuge is a ‘surrogate’ family? What is a real family? What if one never felt the love of a real blood family, while experiencing real care by gangsters? What...

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Thoughts

Wellness Haikus

There are none bornwho do not keepgetting to die. There are none youngwho do not keepgetting old.There are none wellwho do not keepgetting unwell. Wellness hereis no true wellness,just respite from...

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Excerpts

The Most Wonderful Secret For Success 最妙秘诀

事事以诚为本,念念常省自心,则汝诸生之成就,均不可量。— 净土宗十三祖印光大师《法云寺佛教慈幼院规约书后诫勖诸生》When handling everything, with sincerity as foundation regarding them, and from thought to thought, always reflecting upon your own minds...

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Letters

Is Telling Half-Truths Lying?

Question: Is not telling all of the truth a form of lying, in terms of breaking the Fourth Precept? Answer: This depends on several factors. For instance, if there is legal declaration needed, such...

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Quotes

With The False And True Both Contemplated 假真并观

观天地,念非常。观世界,念非常。观灵觉,即菩提。如是知识,得道疾矣。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第十九章 Contemplate the heavens and earth, to be mindful of impermanence. Contemplate the world, to be mindful of impermanence. Contemplate spiritual...

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Excerpts

The Central Practicality Of Pure Land Buddhism

无禅有净土,万修万人去。若得见弥陀,何愁不开悟。–  净土宗六祖永明延寿大师 | 法眼宗三祖永明禅师《禅净四料简》Without Chán and with Pure Land practice, of ten thousand cultivators, ten thousand persons will go to Pure Land. If...

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Quotes

Reasoning For Self To Fundamentally Be Empty 推我本空

当念身中四大,各自有名,都无我者。我既都无,其如幻耳。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第二十章 You should be mindful, that of the body within’s four great elements, although each has a name, [as earth, water, fire and wind], all are that...

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Quotes

For Reputation Losing The Fundamental 名声丧本

人随情欲,求于声名,声名显著,身已故矣。贪世常名,而不学道,枉功劳形。譬如烧香,虽人闻香,香之尽矣;危身之火,而在其后。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第二十一章 Of people following passionate desires, seeking for reputation, with reputation outstanding, the body is already...

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Quotes

Wealth And Sex Attracts Suffering 财色招苦

财色于人,人之不舍,譬如刀刃有蜜,不足一餐之美。小儿舔之,则有割舌之患。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第二十二章 Of wealth and sex given to people, of people not renouncing them, for example, are like having a knife’s blade with honey, not enough...

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Letters

Are Sicknesses Due To Karma?

Answer: All sicknesses that lead to physical and/or mental suffering involve negative karma, as expressed through biological and/or psychological processes naturally. Karma is part of nature too; it...

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Quotes

Desires’ Fire Burns Oneself 欲火烧身

爱欲之人,犹如执炬,逆风而行,必有烧手之患。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第二十五章 Of people with attachments and desires, they are like those holding torches, against the wind then walking, who definitely will have the suffering of...

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Features

How The Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng Was Recognised As Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Manifestation 净土宗十三祖印光大师如何被认定为大势至菩萨的化身

莲风迭扇奏肤功,万论千经一句融;势至化身弘净土,故应念佛证圆通。— 李慧澄第十四《诗偈》: 第五偈With the Lotus Tradition’s wind repeatedly fanning, while [humbly] presenting ‘shallow’ merits, with ten thousand treatises and...

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Letters

Why Not Dress Before Buddha Images?

Answer: In the absence of the Buddha in person, Buddha images are customarily taken to represent his presence, to serve as precious Dharma reminders. They are not meant to be mere decorative images...

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Movies

The True Horror Of All Horror Movies

Watching on, seeing a truly horrific horror flick,we naturally first wonderhow such a horrible villain or demonis able to exist, even if fictitiously. Watching on, discovering the mysterious...

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Quotes

Heavenly Demons Disturbing The Buddha 天魔娆佛

天神献玉女于佛,欲坏佛意。佛言:「革囊众秽,尔来何为?去。吾不用。」天神愈敬,因问道意。佛为解说,即得须陀洹果。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第二十六章 Heavenly gods offered beautiful maidens to the Buddha, desiring to destroy the Buddha’s resolve. The Buddha said...

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Letters

Which Realm Has The Most Beings?

Question: Of the six realms of existence, which has the most sentient beings? Answer: Numbers in the scriptures were not encountered, probably as they fluctuate with rebirth. However, there is this...

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Quotes

Those Without Attachment Attain The Path 无著得道

夫为道者,犹木在水,寻流而行。不触两岸,不为人取,不为鬼神所遮,不为洄流所住,亦不腐败。吾保此木,決定入海。学道之人,不为情欲所惑,不为众邪所娆,精进无为。吾保此人,必得道矣。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第二十七章 Those as practitioners of the path, are like wood on water, along with the flow then...

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Excerpts

Live Without Cold Spots

镬汤无冷处。The cauldron’s soupis without cold spots.— Zen Saying If you are living as fully a you can, you will have no time to be bored [or unhappy]. There is not a single drop of cold water in a...

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Movies

An Awakening Walk Through Bly Manor

Every unresolved ghost story is a tragedy, arising from the three poisons of strong attachment, aversion and delusion. Reborn out of delusion, we return with its offsprings of attachment and aversion...

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Excerpts

Everything In The Right Places

好雪片片,不落别处。— 庞云居士Good snow!Flake by flake,they do not fall on other places.— Layperson Páng Yún Do not be afraid. Live while accepting everything [as they are, so that they can be bettered if...

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Features

What Is ‘Beauty’?

The worldly onlycling to the beautiful.— Shilashanti(Part 1) The so-called ‘beautiful’ is soonly when perceivedunder certain conditionsof space and time. When seen too far without,it is...

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Excerpts

The Danger Of Arrogance Vs The Power Of Repentance

忏悔文我昔所造诸恶业,皆由无始贪嗔痴,从身语意之所生,一切我今皆忏悔。— 普贤菩萨《普贤菩萨行愿品》Verse For RepentanceFrom my past, those created all evil karmas,all due to beginningless greed, hatred and ignorance,from body, speech and mind, of...

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Quotes

From Desire’s Fire Far Depart 欲火远离

夫为道者,如被干草,火来须避。道人见欲,必当远之。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十章 Those as practitioners of the path, are like those who wear dry grass [i.e hay]. When fire comes, it must be avoided. Practitioners of the path...

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Letters

What Is ‘Form Is Emptiness’?

Question: What is the meaning of ‘form is emptiness’ (色即是空)? Answer: ‘Form’ (色) refers to matter, (which is what has mass); the material, as summed by the Four Elements (四大)...

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Quotes

With Self Emptied Is Fear Eradicated 我空怖灭

人从爱欲生忧,从忧生怖。若离与愛,何忧何怖? — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十二章 People from attachments and desires give rise to worries, and from worries give rise to fear. If departed from attachments, what worries and what fears...

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Letters

Is Guānyīn A Bodhisattva Or Buddha?  

Question: If Guānshìyīn (Avalokiteśvara) Bodhisattva (观世音菩萨) is still a Bodhisattva as named, why do Buddhists commemorate her/his day of accomplishing the path to Buddhahood (成道日) on the 19th...

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Movies

My Love Is ‘My Magic’

A man jaded after the loss of his wife struggles to provide for himself and his young neglected son. He intoxicates himself by drinking to drown his sorrows, but is reminded eventually, of his past...

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Quotes

With Wisdom’s Brightness Destroy The Demonic 智明破魔

夫为道者,譬如一人与万人战。挂铠出门,意或怯弱:或半路而退,或格斗而死,或得胜而还。沙门学道,应当坚持其心,精进勇锐,不畏前境,破灭众魔,而得道果。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十三章 Those as practitioners of the path, are for example, like one person with ten thousand persons...

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Letters

Why Dread Karmic Retribution?

Question: Why should one be afraid of being reborn in a lower realm like hell if one does not remember anything from one’s past life? Answer: If one knows one is going to hell later...

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Quotes

Abide In The Middle To Attain The Path 处中得道

沙门夜诵迦叶佛遗教经,其声悲紧,思悔欲退。佛问之曰:「汝昔在家,曾为何业?」对曰:「爱弹琴。」佛言:「弦缓如何?」对曰:「不鸣矣。」「弦急如何?」对曰:「声绝矣。」「急缓得中如何?」对曰:「诸音普矣。」佛言:「沙门学道亦然,心若调适,道可得矣。于道若暴,暴即身疲。其身若疲,意即生脑。意若生脑,行即退矣。其行既退,罪必加矣。但清净安乐,道不失矣。」 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十四章 A...

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Excerpts

That One Should Disdain Hardships

You will earn the respect of all menif you begin by earning the respect of yourself.— Musonius Rufus(Fragment: 30) In order to support more easily and more cheerfully those hardships which we may...

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Letters

How Best To Have Sea Burial?

Question: For sea burial, is it better to scatter the ashes, which seems to express freedom, or to drop the ashes in the urn?Answer: Scattering of ashes does not lead to freedom of the deceased, just...

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Quotes

With Defilements Purified Brilliance Is Retained 垢净明存

如人锻铁,去滓成器,器即精好。学道之人,去心垢染,行即清净矣。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十五章 Like people forging iron, ridding sediments to become wares, the wares are then excellent and beautiful. Of people learning the path, ridding...

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Letters

What Is This Certain Sutra About?

Question: What is this ___ sutra about? Answer: While this is a very good question, it is also very difficult to answer simply. It is especially difficult to answer due to the length of the scripture...

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Quotes

Passing Through Much To Obtain Victory 展转获胜

人离恶道,得为人难。既得为人,去女即男难。既得为男,六根完具难。六根既具,生中国难。既生中国,值佛世难。既值佛世,遇道者难。既得遇道,兴信心难。既兴信心,发菩提心难。既发菩提心,无修无证难。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十六章 For people to depart from evil paths, to attain as humans is difficult. Already...

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Movies

A Monkey’s Satire On Human ‘Love’?

‘A Chinese Odyssey, Part Two: Cinderella’《大话西游之大圣娶亲》is one of the (too) many (?) comedic retellings of ‘Journey To The West’《西游记》. Although often ridiculous, there seems to be...

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Quotes

Be Mindful Of Precepts To Be Near The Path 念戒近道

佛子离吾数千里,忆念吾戒,必得道果。在吾左右,虽常见吾,不顺吾戒,终不得道。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十七章 The Buddha’s disciples departed from me for several thousand miles, if recollecting mindfully my precepts, will definitely attain...

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Excerpts

Why Be Ashamed Of Being Shameless?

Non-integrity is not to be ashamed of yourself;inconsideration of others is not being embarrassed with regard to others.Haughtiness is the incapacity of honoring others.Fury is a mental disturbance...

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Letters

Why Do Buddhists Practise Fasting?

Question: What are the spiritual benefits of having only one (or two) meals a day (as in practice of the Eight Precepts)? Answer: Having one near-noon meal a day (or with breakfast) helps to...

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Quotes

That Taught Are Without Differences 教诲无差

学佛道者,佛所言说,皆应信顺。譬如食蜜,中边皆甜,吾经亦尔。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第三十九章 Those who learn the Buddha’s path, of that the Buddha taught by speaking, all should be faithfully followed. For example, like eating honey...

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Features

Three Ways To See Mountains And Rivers 三看山水

[1] 参禅之初,看山是山,看水是水。[2] 禅有悟时,看山不是山,看水不是水。[3] 禅中彻悟,看山仍然山,看水仍然是水。— 青原惟信禅师 (意译) As above, it was proposed by Chán Master Qīngyuán Wéixìn in his paraphrased saying, there are three key...

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Excerpts

Be As Bodhisattva-Like As You Can

All the suffering there is in this worldarises from wishing our self to be happy.All the happiness there is in this worldarises from wishing others to be happy.― Santideva You also get plenty of...

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Quotes

Walking The Path Is In The Mind 行道在心

沙门行道,无如磨牛,身虽行道,心道不行。心道若行,何用行道? — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第四十章 Śramaṇas walking the path, should be without those like milling cows, whose bodies although walking the path, with the mind’s path not...

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Quotes

With Straightforward Minds Leaving Desires 直心出欲

夫为道者,如牛负重,行深泥中,疲极不敢左右顾视,出离淤泥,乃可苏息。沙门当观情欲,甚于淤泥。直心念道,可免苦矣。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四四十二章经》: 第四十一章 Those as practitioners of the path, are like bulls carrying heavy burdens, walking in deep mud within, even if...

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Excerpts

Tame & Transform Your Raging Tiger

It’s great to be able to stopWhen you’ve planned a thing that’s wrong,And be able to do something else insteadAnd think this song.— Mr. Rogers As silly as those lyrics might seem to...

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Quotes

Attain The World By Knowing Its Illusoriness 达世知幻

吾视王侯之位,如过隙尘。视金玉之宝,如瓦砾。视纨素之服,如敝帛。视大千界,如一诃子。视阿耨池水,如涂足油。视方便门,如化宝聚。视无上乘,如梦金帛。视佛道,如眼前华。视禅定,如须弥柱。视涅槃,如晝夕寤。视倒正,如六龙舞。视平等,如一真地。视与化,如四时木。 — 释迦牟尼佛《四十二章经》: 第四十二章 I see positions of kings and lords, to be like...

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Excerpts

Do The Right Thing Naturally

There is no enjoying the possession of anything valuable unless one has someone to share it with. — Seneca Neither the Buddhists nor the Stoics believed in what has come to be called ‘original...

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Quotes

Bird In Vase

鸟来入瓶中,以縠掩瓶口。縠穿鸟飞去,识神随业走。 《大智度论》   When a bird comes to enter a vase within,with fine gauze covered is the vase’s mouth.When the gauze is penetrated, the bird flies to go off,the...

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Excerpts

One Stone At A Time

Since there is only one thoughtin each moment,be aligned to do only one thing wellin each moment.— Shilashanti There is no such thing as good multitasking… Pay attention to your attention —...

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Features

Is There Buddhist Minimalism?

Minimise evil entirely.Maximise goodness totally.Realise purity completely.— Shilashanti In recent years, the minimalist lifestyle seems to be the in thing. Is there a Buddhist take on it? Yes...

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Excerpts

Master Being A Beginner

Those who think they are learnedare probably the least learned.Those who know they should learnwill probably become learned.— Shilashanti All of us act like those close-minded experts sometimes, and...

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Letters

Are Saṃsāra & The Sahā World Same?

Question: How are the Sahā World and Saṃsāra different and similar? Answer: The Sahā World (娑婆世界) which means the ‘World Of Endurance’ [of suffering] (堪忍世界) refers to our world system, in...

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Movies

‘The Coldest Game’ Of Duplicity

In this story that ties cunning games of chess competition with duplicitous espionage, the chess master Mansky spoke of how he decides who is truthful by recalling a classic brainteaser –...

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Thoughts

First Haikus

You might be young now,but you will be old later —if you do not die first. You might be healthy now,but you will be sick later —if you do not die first. You might be alive now,but you will be dead...

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Quotes

Mind Like Bright Moon 心如明月

吾心似秋月,碧潭清皎洁。无物堪比伦,教我如何说? 寒山(文殊菩萨化身) My mind is like the autumn moon,in the green pool pure and shining clean.Without an object worthy as an equal,      tell me how can I speak of...

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Excerpts

I Want You To Panic

No one is acting as if we are in a crisis. Even most green politicians and climate scientists go on flying around the world, eating meat and dairy.* — Greta Thunberg* Such consumption is one of...

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Letters

What Is The Cause Of Sickness?

Question: A non-religious friend says he does not understand why he contracted a sickness, while a religious friend says she does not understand why the deity she has faith in allowed her sickness to...

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Letters

Are There Buddhist Wealth Gods?

Question: Does the god of wealth (财神) exist? Is there an equivalent in Buddhism? Answer: In Chinese culture, there are some characters believed and worshipped as gods of wealth, some of whom might be...

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Quotes

Verse With Three Truths 三谛偈

诸行无常,是生灭法。 生灭灭已,寂灭为乐。      古佛《涅槃经》   As all formations* are impermanent,they are arising and ceasing dharmas.*With arising and ceasing ceased already,tranquil...

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Features

How Dairy Cows & Veal Calves Suffer

若诸比丘,不服东方丝绵绢帛,及是此土靴履裘毳、乳酪醍醐,如是比丘,于世真脱。酬还宿债,不游三界。何以故?服其身分,皆为彼缘,如人食其地中百谷,足不离地。— 释迦牟尼佛《楞严经》 If all Bhikṣus, [do] not wear eastern silk waddings [and] silk clothing, and this land’s [leather] boots [and]...

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Quotes

How To Have More Peace

If you have the misconception that your life will be perfect, you will always be shocked by its up and down nature. If you expect your life to be up and down, your mind will be much more peaceful...

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Excerpts

Spiritual Practice In The Face Of War & Death

万物自有功,当言用及处。事存函盖合,理应箭锋拄。 石头希迁禅师 《参同契》   The ten thousand things each has its merits,that should be said of their functions and situations.Phenomena exists like boxes and lids...

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Thoughts

Karma Haiku

Preaching about karma without practising accordingly creates worse karma.* * By being a negative example instead of an expected good one.

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Quotes

Eradicate Bad Minds

境缘无好坏,好坏起于心。愚人除境不除心,至人除心不除境。既除矣,境岂实有? 达境本空,便能素位而行。  不愿乎外,以所历位,无非无外之法界也。知皆即法界,自无入而不自得。   — 净土宗九祖蕅益大师  《灵峰宗论》 Situations’ conditions are without good and bad, with good and bad arising from the...

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Excerpts

Thank You Very Much

The essence of givingis to give awaygreed, hatred and delusion.— Shilashanti Giving is the warm heart of Bodhisattva practice. Generosity attends and responds with kindness to whatever turns up...

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Excerpts

Give The Dharma By Asking For It

Ask well if the answer matters to the welfare of you and/or all others.— Shilashanti Bodhisattvas aspire to offer all their actions of body, speech and mind as Dharma gifts. We have received the gift...

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Letters

Does Āmítuófó Have A Sexist Vow?

Question: The 35th Vow of Amitābha Buddha (阿弥陀佛: Āmítuófó) says that ‘if there are women who hear my name (i.e. are sincerely mindful of it), with joyful faith, give rise to Bodhicitta, and...

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Quotes

Verse For Wearing Precepts’ Robe 搭缦衣偈

善哉解脱服,钵吒礼忏衣, 我今顶戴受, 世世常得披。 This excellent liberation garment,the patta* prostration and repentance robe,I now with my crown support and receive it,** in life after life, may I always attain...

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Quotes

Supreme Offering 最上供养 

是真精进,是名真法供养如来。 若以华、香、璎珞、烧香、末香、塗香、天缯、幡盖及海此岸栴檀之香,如是等种种诸物供养,所不能及;  假使国城、妻子布施,亦所不及。… 是名第一之施,于诸施中最尊最上,以法供养诸如来故。  — 诸佛《妙法莲华经药王菩萨本事品第二十三》 This which is true diligence [in Dharma...

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Features

Should Buddhists Take Their Time Spiritually?

生死事大, 光阴可惜。 无常迅速,时不待人。— 寺院钟板文Birth and death is a matter big,and time available is regrettably little.With impermanence swift,time does not wait for one.— Text On Temple Sounding Board Some Buddhists...

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Movies

Is ‘The Devil Next Door’? 

TDND is a documentary series on the case of Ivan Mykolaiovych Demjanjuk, who lived as an ordinary family man, about whether he was truly ‘Ivan the Terrible’, the nickname given to a...

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Thoughts

Respite Haiku

Wellness is ever shorter respitebefore ever longer sickness,before ending in (re)death.(Swiftly live life well now then.)  

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Quotes

Birds Of A Feather

世间人民不念修善,转相教令共为众恶。两舌、恶口、妄言、绮语、谗贼、斗乱,憎嫉善人、败坏贤明,于傍快喜。— 释迦牟尼佛《无量寿经》The world’s people are not mindful of cultivating good. In turn instructing one another, together doing many evils. With divisive...

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Excerpts

Do People Swarm To You Or Shun You?

If there is always affinityor the lack of it,we might as well createonly good affinity.— Shilashanti Once Sakyamuni Buddha and his disciple Mahamaudgalyayana went with a large gathering of followers...

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Thoughts

Poison Haiku

As what truly harmful are the Three Poisons,* do not poison.** As what truly harmful are the Three Poisons, do not be poisoned.*** * of greed, hatred and delusion ** to harm others *** to harm...

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Quotes

Self-Deceit Before Other-Deceit 先自欺后欺他

妄语之人,先自诳身,然后诳人; 以实为虛,以虛为实,虛实颠倒,不受善法。 譬如覆瓶,水不得入。妄语之人,心无惭愧,闭塞天道、涅槃之门。 观知此罪,是故不作。   — 龙树菩萨《大智度论》 Of people with false speech, they first deceive themselves, afterwards deceiving people; With the...

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Features

How A Shocking Teaching Can Be True

[1] 为利杀众生,[2] 以财取诸肉, [3] 二俱是恶业,[4] 死堕叫唤狱。 — 释迦牟尼佛《大乘入楞伽经断食肉品第八》第六偈 [1] For profit killing sentient beings,[2] with wealth obtaining much meat,[3] both together are [with] evil karma,[4] [after] death...

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Quotes

Truth & Goodness

If you appreciate truth,defend and share it,lest it distorts.If you appreciate good,praise and emulate it,lest it vanishes.– Bodhistoica

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Features

How To Be Mindful Like A Wise Tortoise

若众生心,忆佛念佛,现前当来,必定见佛。– 大势至菩萨 《念佛圆通章》 If sentient beings’ minds recollect the Buddha, and are mindful of the Buddha, now or in the future, they will definitely see the Buddha.  – Great Power...

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Excerpts

How Managers Can Have Right Speech

Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, and from idle chatter. This is called right speech. – The Buddha(Magga-vibhanga Sutta) The primary goal of giving feedback at work...

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Quotes

Where Evil Starts

一切恶事,虛妄为本。   – 释迦牟尼佛  《涅槃经》   All evil matters,are with falsehood as the root. – Śākyamuni Buddha (Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra)

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Features

Why Be A Lapsed ‘Buddhist’?

只看好样子…Only looking at good examples…  – 净土宗十三祖印光大师  – Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng Someone shared a testimonial on how a person...

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Letters

Do Bodhisattvas Help Non-Believers?

Question: Can those who do not believe in Bodhisattvas be saved by them? Answer: The very definition of Bodhisattvas is that they are those who aspire to guide all beings to Buddhahood, which is the...

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Quotes

Ego

The bigger the ego,the greater the weakness. The smaller the ego,the lesser the weakness. The ending of ego,is the absence of weakness. – Shilashanti

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Excerpts

In Summer & Winter, Dress & Eat

No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.– Alan Watts The greater part of Zen literature consists of mondo, of brief dialogues between masters and...

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Letters

How Tall Was The Buddha?

Question: How tall was Śākyamuni Buddha? Answer: In Chinese Buddhist texts, the Buddha is usually described to be ‘丈六八尺’ in height, which is ‘one zhàng and six chǐs or eight chǐs...

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Features

Just Pour Away Ink-Diluted Water

近墨易黑, 离朱难赤。生人天道, 易成善恶。 – 朱墨偈 (1) Those near ink are easily blackened, departed from cinnabar, difficult to redden. Born in the humanly and godly paths, it is easy become good and evil. – Verses...

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Movies

How Comedies Can Become Scary Movies

Naturally, we think of comedies as the direct opposite of horror films. The first is for fun and laughter, the latter for terror and shrieks. Then again, there is a way in which a brainless comedy...

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Quotes

Loving-Kindness & Compassion 慈与悲

佛心者慈与悲:大慈则与乐,大悲则拔苦。 – 空海大师(性灵集) Those with the Buddha’s hearthave loving-kindness and compassion:with great loving-kindness thus giving joy,with great compassion thus uprooting suffering...

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Movies

What To Make Of ‘Wounds’?

It is tricky trying to know what to make of ‘Wounds’. There is the idea that there are ancient rituals that see wounds as portals for summoning ‘higher beings’ to enter this...

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Thoughts

Impact Haikus

Not braced for impact, the less impactful feels more so. Having braced for impact, the more impactful feels less so. Just as you brace yourself for physical impact, brace for the emotional too.

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Excerpts

Eat Clean With Your Whole Heart

Consume mindfully with compassion and wisdom or consume mindlessly with greed and delusion. – Shilashanti Do not neglect your meals: Make your meals about the eating When you eat, are you focused on...

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Quotes

Thought, Word & Deed

If pure, think it appropriately.If true, say it appropriately.If right, do it appropriately.  If impure do not think it.If untrue, do not say it.If not right, do not do it...

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Excerpts

Discard What You Don’t Need

What you do truly not need is so, even if you do not think so. What you do truly need is so, even if you do not think so. – Shilashanti When things aren’t going well, we tend to think  we...

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Letters

Are There Many Monastics In Hell?

Question: During a casual discussion with friends about Buddhism, a friend mentioned that many monastics end up suffering in hell. Is it so? Answer: There is this equivalent line that has been...

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Movies

How To Not Be ‘Haunted’?

Episode one of season two of ‘Haunted’ features among the most malevolent of ghosts, one who is both cunning and wicked. With the ability to read minds, the ‘Mimic’ is able to...

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Thoughts

Help Haiku

Those sincere to help will correct the wrong; not just condemn them. The first to complain to is the one doing wrong, not to anyone else.

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Quotes

How To Delight The Buddhas 如何令佛欢喜

若于众生尊重承事, 则为尊重承事如来。 若令众生生欢喜者, 则令一切如来欢喜。 何以故?诸佛如来, 以大悲心而为体故。 因于众生而起大悲, 因于大悲生菩提心, 因菩提心成等正觉。 – 普贤菩萨 《普贤行愿品》 If of sentient beings respectfully aided in matters, thus is as respectful aiding in matters...

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Letters

How To View Miscarriages?

Question: How should an accidental miscarriage be seen? If family members have been praying to deities, how could it still occur? Answer: In the Buddhist perspective, a miscarriage happens due to...

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Quotes

How To Check Your ‘Dharma’

Carefully studying the sentences word by word,one should trace them in the Discourses (Sutras)and verify them by the Discipline (Vinaya). If they are neither traceable in the Discoursesnor verifiable...

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Thoughts

Hell Haiku

Do those who wish hell on others deserve hell too? If hell is for rehabilitation, why not repent now, to avoid hell later?

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Quotes

Merits Of Veg(etari)an Offerings 供斋功德

若能为其父母乃至眷属,命终之后,设斋供养,志心勤恳,  如是之人,存亡获利。  — 地藏菩萨《地藏经》   If able to, for their Fathers, Mothers and even [other] family members, after their lives end, arrange veg[etari]an offerings [to...

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Excerpts

Wake Up Earlier To Be Less Busy

Find more time to live a more meaningful life – before you run out of time. – Shilashanti When we are short on time, this scarcity extends to our heart as well. We automatically say, ‘I’m...

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Letters

Do We Chant Just To Show Respect?

Question: Is chanting to express respect to Buddha? How does it help us and others? Answer: Chanting should always be practised respectfully, so as to be attentive, to receive the teachings chanted...

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Movies

Is ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ Ours Too?

What is the meaning, purpose or point of this life, be it long or short? These existential issues are pondered by a dog, who is able to recall several immediate past lives. Is it just to have fun and...

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Quotes

Be Not The Last To Sever The Seed 莫作最后断种人

汝粗得其门, 当传灯化物, 莫作最后断种人也。 – 慧思大师致智者大师之遗教 《佛祖统纪》第六卷 智者大师最后教诲乃 亲自得生阿弥陀佛极乐净土  You, who have just attained this [Dharma] Door, should transmit its lamp to transform external beings, and not become the...

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Quotes

Two Razors

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. – Hanlon’s Razor It is always from the third poison of delusion, that arise the first poison of greed, and the second...

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Excerpts

How To Rise From Rock Bottom

When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up – or to stay sunken. – Extended saying I’ve been a Dharma teacher for twenty years, and I’ve observed that prisoners, war veterans, refugees...

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Quotes

Why Take Threefold Refuge?

Worldly teachers will let you down, but the world-transcended Buddhas’ pure blessings will never let you down – thus should you take refuge in the Buddhas. Worldly teachings will let you down...

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Excerpts

Friends, Not Food

If you’re eating animals please understand that  they do not want your metta;  they want you to not eat them.   – Bob Isaacson If you stopped people on the streets of Chicago or London and ask them...

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Movies

Our ‘Escape Room’ To Escape From

Like it or not, life now is as if a giant escape room puzzle with minor puzzles within to escape from. Such escape is not from rightly due responsibilities, but from saṃsāric (娑婆) existence itself...

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Quotes

A Day Better Than A Hundred Years 百岁不如一日

若人活百岁, 不解生灭法, 不如生一日, 而得解了之。 – 释迦牟尼佛 《法句经》第 113 偈 If a person lives for one hundred years, not understanding rising and cessation of phenomena, this is not equal to living for one day, yet attaining...

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Excerpts

The Three Kinds Of Patience

There is no evil like hatred, And no fortitude like patience. Thus I should strive in various ways To meditate on patience. – Shantideva (Guide To Bodhisattva’s Way Of Life) [1] Not Becoming...

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Letters

Can I Suffer On Behalf Of Others?

Question: Is it possible to suffer on the behalf of other sentient beings? Answer: Most parents, being loving, wish to suffer on behalf of their children when they are sick, but who is able to do...

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Movies

What Is Your True Nature To Show?

Based on a true story, ‘TND’ depicts the dawn of the AV industry in Japan. As presented, are four key ideas raised and reflections on them. First, we are born and die naked. However...

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Quotes

Where Is Freedom?

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. – Viktor E. Frankl

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Excerpts

We Have No Time To Be Evil

There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die. But those who do realize this settle their quarrels. – The Buddha (Dhammapada Verse 6) Let’s get rid of anger’s evil;...

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Thoughts

TV Haikus

Even a TV only occasionally faulty is still a faulty TV. Only a TV never ever faulty is then a perfect TV.

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Quotes

Reach The Shore

Few among men are those who cross to the farther shore [of liberation]. The rest, the bulk of men, only run up and down the hither bank. – The Buddha (Dhammapada Verse 85)

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Letters

Can I Listen To The Dharma At Night?

Question: Is it not advisable to listen to pre-recorded Dharma teachings too late at night, in case it attracts unseen beings to come, who might cause disturbances? I am however only free at night to...

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Movies

The First Things In ‘Cities Of Last Things’

The film (幸福城市) begins in the midst of a casual yet cautionary song – ‘爱千万不要给得太多… 你今天将它挽留,明天它悄悄溜走。你将一切给我,我却不知如何接受。啊… 请你请你不要再来找我。世界上的男孩不只我一个。啊…...

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Quotes

Control Yourself

Irrigators regulate the rivers; fletchers straighten the arrow shaft; carpenters shape the wood; the wise control themselves. Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not...

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Excerpts

What Is In Your Circle Of Control?

Mind your mind mindfully, or it will be ‘minded’ by its negative habits of greed, hatred and delusion. – Shilashanti ‘We control our reasoned choice and all acts that depend on that...

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Quotes

Whose Fault?

不举他功过, 勿观作未作, 唯观己修行, 已修与未修。 – 佛陀 (法句经,第50偈) Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one’s own acts, done and undone. – The Buddha...

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Features

How To Know Who Is Not A Buddha

因地不真,果招纡曲。 – 释迦牟尼佛《楞严经》 [With the] causal ground [or direction] not true [at the start, the] fruit [or effect] attracted [will be with] twists and turns, [away from the true goal]. – Śākyamuni...

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Quotes

Direct Your Mind Well

Whatever harm an enemy may do to an enemy or a hater to a hater, an ill-directed mind inflicts on oneself a greater harm. Neither mother, father, nor any other relative can do one greater good than...

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Excerpts

How To Truly Know Anyone

The fool assumes quickly. The wise observes slowly. – Shantishila The nature of the human mind is unpredictable. As Pessa has observed and the Buddha endorsed in his reply that the mind’s...

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Letters

Is There A Wrong Time To Chant?

Question: Is there appropriate timing to recite the Repentance Verse, the name of Amitabha Buddha (Nianfo in terms of ‘Amituofo’) and the Verse For Sharing Of Merits? Someone told me they...

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Quotes

Heed The Dharma

Heedfulness is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful die not. The heedless are as if dead already. – The Buddha (Dhammapada Verse 21)

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Excerpts

Be Mindful, Brothers & Sisters

But little water do the oceans four contain, Compared with all the tears that man hath shed, By sorrow smitten and by suffering distraught. Woman, why heedless dost thou still remain? – The Buddha to...

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Quotes

Wellness

To live well, think, speak and do well when well. To live more well, think, speak and do well even when unwell. – Zhaojian

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Quotes

Five Poisons

The greedy, when overboard, will be deprived, when repented, will be content. The hateful, when overboard, will be loathed, when repented, will be accepted. The deluded, when overboard, will be...

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Movies

What Horror Stories Teach Us

All horror stories, fictitious or true, are tragedies. All tragedies are with suffering. All suffering is from the Three Poisons (of greed, hatred and delusion). To have unhappy endings, there must...

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Quotes

Grief Vs Joy

  The evil-doer grieves here and hereafter; he grieves in both the worlds. He laments and is afflicted, recollecting his own impure deeds. The doer of good rejoices here and hereafter; he...

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Letters

Can Offerings Be Offered Again?

Question: Can offerings made to the Buddha(s) or Bodhisattva{s) at their shrines be made to the deceased? Answer: Yes, they can be re-offered as suggested, after reasonable time, such as the span of...

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Thoughts

Wellness Haiku

Worldly ‘wellness’ now is but a brief period before sickness or death returns. Spiritual wellness lasts for all time, ending all cyclical suffering.

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Quotes

True Practice Is What Matters

Much though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others – he does not partake of the blessings of the holy life...

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Excerpts

Extend The Five Precepts To Cover All

As all moral precepts extend from the Five Precepts, they are basic yet profound, in implications and applications. – Shilashanti Sulak reinterprets in Seeds of Peace the first five Buddhist precepts...

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Letters

Can Buddhists Have Tattoos?

Question: Is it alright for Buddhists to have tattoos? Answer: Tattooing is okay… provided that what tattooed is not misrepresentative or disrespectful of the Buddhas (or any other enlightened...

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Quotes

Woe & Bliss

Those who imagine evil where there is none, and do not see evil where it is — upholding false views, they go to states of woe. Those who discern the wrong as wrong and the right as right — upholding...

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Features

‘The Song Of Patience By Hánshān & Shídé’ As Sung By The Bodhisattvas Mañjuśrī, Samantabhadra & Maitreya 文殊、普贤与弥勒菩萨所唱的《寒山拾得忍耐歌》

古人云:「何以息谤?」 曰:「无辩。」 又云:「吃得小亏,则不至于吃大亏。」   余三十年来屡次经验,深信此数语真实不虚。     弘一大师   《弘一大师全集》   Ancient ones say, ‘With what ceases slander?’ Saying, ‘Without debate.’ Also saying...

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Excerpts

Two Kinds Of Lion’s Roar

Truths are only surprising to those used to non-truths. – Shilashanti Two of the most important scriptures in the Pali canon are the Great Discourse on the Lion’s Roar (Maha-sihanada Sutta) and...

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Quotes

What Is ‘New’ This Year?

所谓新者何, 亦如常人贴新春联、 着新衣等以为新乎?… 所谓新者, 乃是改过自新也。 — 弘一大师 What is that so-called ‘new’? Is it also like ordinary persons’ pasting of new spring couplets, wearing new clothes and...

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Quotes

Entering The Path Here

以坚持四重戒法, 为入道根本。 – 净土宗十二祖彻悟大师 《彻悟禅师语录》 With firm upholding [of the] Dharma [of the] Four Heavy Precepts [to guard against lust, killing, stealing and lying], as fundamental [for] entering [the] path...

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Quotes

Supreme Sharing

There are these two kinds of sharing: sharing of material things and sharing of the Dharma. Of the two, this is supreme: sharing of the Dharma. – The Buddha (Itivuttaka 4.1)

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Thoughts

Zombie Haiku

Zombies particularly terrify because they seem human, yet relentlessly greedy, hateful and deluded. (Be not the undead or unalive.)

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Quotes

Learn To Practise Accordingly

Much though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others — he does not partake of the blessings of the holy life...

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Excerpts

How To Not Sleepwalk Through Life

You act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire. – Seneca Like Buddhists, Stoics advise us to contemplate the world’s impermanence. “All things...

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Quotes

Why End Conflicts Now?

愚人不明了, 人生终归死。 彼等若明了, 诤论自息灭。 – 释迦牟尼佛 《法句经》第六偈 Foolish persons [do] not understand clearly, [that] human lives [in the] end return [to] death. Those others if understanding clearly, [their] arguments...

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Excerpts

Two Ways To Overcome Lust

Where another man prays ‘Grant that I may possess this woman,’ let your own prayer be, ‘Grant that I may not lust to possess her.’ Where he prays, ‘Grant me to be rid of such-and-such a one,’ you...

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Quotes

True Spiritual Friends 真善知

真善知识者, 深通大乘教, 持菩萨胜律, 虽逢命难缘, 不舍菩萨戒。 – 寂天菩萨 《入菩萨行论》 Those [who are] true good-knowing [spiritual friends], know profoundly well [the] Great Vehicle’s teachings, uphold [the] Bodhisattva’s...

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Excerpts

Four Ways To Overcome Anger

Anger is like those ruins which smash themselves on what they fall. – Seneca Suppose we find that despite our attempts to prevent anger, the behaviour of other people succeeds in angering us. It will...

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Letters

Is There Predestinated Fate?

Question: Do Buddhists believe in fate or destiny? Answer: The answer is at  and the related links at the end of the article. Briefly, while there are predispositions of what might happen due to past...

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Quotes

Verse On Four Impermanences 四非常偈

积聚皆销散, 崇高必堕落, 合会要当离, 有生无不死。 – 释迦牟尼佛 《阿含经》 [That] gathered together [will] all dissipate, [the] majestic most certainly [will] fall, [those] assembled together must later depart, [who is] with birth...

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Excerpts

Should You Eat Animals?

[W]e are supposed to be the refuge and protector of all infinite beings. The beings with unfortunate karma that we are supposed to be protecting are instead being killed without the slightest...

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Letters

How To Not Follow Customs Blindly

Question: Some are very particular that red packets (angbaos) given must be with amounts of money ending with 8 (which sounds in a Chinese dialect like ‘huat’, which means ‘prosper’), and not 4...

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Quotes

Difference Between The Wise & Foolish 智愚之分

愚者自知愚, 彼即是智人。 愚人自谓智, 实称真愚夫。 释迦牟尼佛 《法句经》 A fool who knows about his foolishness, just by that he is like a wise man. And a fool, who is proud of his cleverness, he is indeed called a fool. Śākyamuni...

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Letters

Can Ancestors Bless Survivors?

Question: Many pray for their ancestors to bless them. Does this work? Answer: They are not able to bless us, unless they have been reborn with greater blessings, or have become Bodhisattvas and...

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Thoughts

Right Haiku

Just that youdo the right thing.The rest doesn’t matter…  – Marcus Aurelius(Meditations) Cold or warm.Tired or well-rested.Despised or honored.Dying… or busy with other assignments.

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Quotes

Transformation

To keep transforming greed, keep giving with generosity. To keep transforming hatred, keep radiating loving-kindness. To keep transforming delusion, keep learning to realise wisdom. – Zhaojian

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Features

How We Almost Entered Darkness

What truly terrifying is not the terrifying, but the absence of mindfulness. – Wuyoukongbu Many years ago, during one of those aimless holiday night rides with a biking buddy, we zipped up and down a...

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Excerpts

Both The Haves & Have-Nots Suffer

Who you are is defined  by what you’re willing  to struggle for.   – Mark Manson One of the realizations [of the Buddha] was this: that life itself is a form of suffering [as it includes ageing...

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Movies

Meet The Darkened ‘Titans’

The ‘DC’ in DC Comics stands for ‘Detective Comics’, but they might as well stand for ‘Darker Comics’? On both big and small screens in recent years, their...

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Thoughts

Death Haiku

You may reject death for all your life, but death will never reject you – unless you transcend before it comes.

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Quotes

Verse On Not Forgetting 莫忘偈

莫忘须活; 莫忘将死。 莫忘当下; 莫忘当后。 – 照见 Do not forget you need to live; Do not forget you will die. Do not forget the immediate; Do not forget later. – Zhàojiàn

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Features

Do Sentient Beings Increase Or Decrease?

一切有情,与诸如来, 同俱一法,平等法身, 更无别体,亦无别心, 事理平等,犹如虚空, 常住一相,无有差别。 – 释迦牟尼佛 《宝悉地成佛陀罗尼经》 All sentient beings, and all Tathāgatas, [are] together all [of] one Dharma, [of the] equal Dharma body [i.e. Dharmakāya]...

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Quotes

An Ancient Law

不能以怨恨, 止息世间怨, 唯慈能止怨, 乃不易古法。 释迦牟尼佛 (法句经) [One is] not able [to], with hatred, cease [the] world’s hatred; only [with] loving-kindness [is one] able [to] cease hatred – this [is an]...

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Features

How Did Ignorance Arise?

While rebirth occurs gradually from life to life, rebirth occurs swiftly from moment to moment too. – Ignoramusan In the 12 links of dependent origination (十二因缘) which explain how rebirth occurs...

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Letters

How To Handle Unwanted Lay Robes?

Question: If the owner of a set of Chinese lay Buddhist robes, one black (海青) and the other brown (缦衣) had passed away, how should they be handled?    Answer: Perhaps the temple through which refuge...

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Quotes

The Swiftest Path To Buddhahood

若人疾欲至, 不退转地者, 应以恭敬心, 执持称名号。 – 龙树菩萨 《十住毗婆沙论》(易行品) If one swiftly desires [to] reach, [the] ground [of] non-retrogression [for progress to Buddhahood, one] should with reverent hearts [and minds]...

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Excerpts

Make Your Bed

Make up your mind,  to better your mind, to better mind your  words and deeds, to better your life. – Shilashanti Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all...

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Movies

‘Outlaw King’ Vs Dharma King?

What do you do if your duty is to save your people against tyranny, while being wanted, and with little support? The titular (but somewhat fictionalised) ‘Outlaw King’ who was Robert the...

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Features

What If You Are Reborn Here Again?

末法亿亿人修行, 罕一得道; 唯依念佛, 得度生死。 – 释迦牟尼佛 《大集经》 [In the] Dharma-Ending [Age, which is NOW, when] koṭis* [of] koṭis [of] humans cultivate [Dharma] practice, [it is] rare [that] one attains [the] path; only...

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Excerpts

Always Listen To Continually Learn

Be kind whenever possible.  It is always possible. – H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama [A]fter Sulak [Sivaraksa] saw a photograph in which the Dalai Lama was drinking Coca-Cola, [h]e mentioned his disapproval...

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Letters

Can Animal Experimentation Be Alright?

Question: If one’s job uses sentient beings such as animals for research to find cures for human diseases, this creates negative karma due to the animals’ imprisonment, torturous experimentation and...

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Quotes

Giving Little Gains Much 施少得多

贤者好布施, 天神自扶将, 施一得万倍, 安乐寿命长。 [Of] virtuous ones [who] delight [in] generosity, heavenly gods [will] personally look after [them]. [When] giving once, [they] attain ten thousand times [more], [with]...

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Features

[7] How To Offer Benefits To All

In short, both directly and indirectly, do I offer every happiness and benefit to all my mothers. I shall secretly take upon myself all their harmful actions and suffering. – Geshe Langri Tangpa...

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Letters

How Should Buddhist Images Be Worn?

Question: Is it alright to wear images, names and mantras of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas on clothes, socks, shoes and such? Answer: it is best not to wear prominent Buddhist imagery in the above ways, as...

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Quotes

The Dharma

Learn the Dharma thoroughly. Practise the Dharma fully. Share the Dharma generously. – Dharma Saying

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Excerpts

You Stop Too

Spiritual practice starts by stopping the unskilful, before starting the skilful, and perfecting it. – Shilashanti A famous bandit, a murderer named Angulimala, had been sighted in the...

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Movies

We Are Humans In A ‘Bird Box’

An inexplicable presence turns people crazy when seen, leading to suicide and murder. With no one who has seen it surviving, no one lives to tell what it really is, be it some spirit being, alien or...

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Quotes

Axe

Every fool who is born has an axe within his mouth with which he cuts himself when he uses wrong speech… The worse of the two is he who, when abused, retaliates. One who does not retaliate wins...

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Thoughts

Diligence Haiku

All the time in the world due to (endless) rebirth(s)? Ever less time in this life due to (impending) death! How many more times do you wish to assume you have enough time? May all be diligent to...

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Quotes

三宝偈 Verse On Triple Gem

依止佛陀, 依止正法, 依止圣僧, 乃真皈依。 Reliance upon the Buddhas, reliance upon their true Dharma, and reliance upon the Arya Sangha* [who teach it], is thus true refuge [in the Triple Gem]. *Noble (Holy) Sangha:...

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Features

[3] How To Avert Harming Of All

Vigilant, the moment a delusion appears in my mind, endangering myself and others, I shall confront and avert it without delay. – Geshe Langri Tangpa Reflections On ‘The Eight Verses Of Thought...

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Movies

All Lies Of The ‘Allied’?

How can a spy truly love a spy? To make it more confounding, how can a very ‘good’ spy love another very ‘good’ spy? After all, a very good spy is also a very good actor. Such...

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Quotes

Test Well For Gold

比丘与智者, 当善观我语, 如炼截磨金, 信受非唯敬。 – 釋迦牟尼佛 Monastics and wise ones, should well contemplate my words, like burning, cutting and rubbing [to test for] gold, with faithful acceptance not only out of reverence...

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Features

How To Not Be Reborn As Animals

The very shortsighted must learn to see much further. – Shilashanti The Kukkuravatika Sutta records how Puṇṇa (of the Koliyans), an ox-duty ascetic, and Seniya the naked dog-duty ascetic learnt the...

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Excerpts

How We Should Train Ourselves

Of a worthy goal reachable, have Faith to reach it, have Aspiration to reach it, have Practice to reach it. – Shilashanti … there is the case where a certain monk follows right after the...

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Excerpts

Food Of The Monks, Devotional Cuisine

Eat and drink well, for the long-term well-being of yourself and others, including those you might eat and drink from. – Moustachoman Shojin Ryori (精进料理) is the devotional cuisine of monks in Japan...

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Movies

‘The Angel’ Of Peace?

‘The Angel’ tells the supposedly true story, of how an alleged double-agent high in political office cried wolf, on oncoming war, to avert war itself. The stakes were not just a sheep or...

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Excerpts

6 Brief Universal Lessons

Your mind cannot hold two thoughts at once. This means that a single thought can occupy your entire mind. Whether good or bad, everything stems from a single thought. If we are careful with that...

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Letters

How To Handle Someone In A Rush?

Question: I was sick at at a clinic. There was a patient there who complained that she had wasted time waiting for an hour, asking if the next in line can let her go first, so that she can go home to...

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Thoughts

Work Haiku

Your real work is to use your worldly work to support your spiritual work of learning, practising and sharing the Dharma.

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Letters

How Should Buddhists View Politics?

Question: What is the Buddhist view of politics? When there is social injustice due to politics, how should Buddhists approach it as concerned citizens? Answer: The Buddha personally, after...

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Thoughts

Giving Haiku

Give till there is nothing left to give by your time to die – to perfect your generosity best you can. Love till there is no one left unloved by your time to die – to perfect your loving-kindness...

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Excerpts

A Zen Master’s 3 Lessons

If you think you are either superior or inferior to someone, an invisible wall goes up between you. Treat him like an old friend you haven’t seen in a while. When you let your guard down, so...

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Letters

Are Cordyceps Considered Vegetarian?

Question: Are cordyceps considered vegetarian? Answer: There are cordyceps that are grown out of the bodies of caterpillars, usually sold retaining the form of caterpillars. As the definition of what...

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Thoughts

Late Haiku?

Never just take; give more meaningfully, and never hate; love all meaningfully… before it is too late.

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Features

Which Is More ‘Allowable’ For Consuming?

第三食肉[轻]戒:若佛子,故食肉,一切肉不得食。夫食肉者,断大慈悲佛性种子,一切众生见而舍去。是故一切菩萨,不得食一切众生肉。食肉得无量罪。若故食者,犯轻垢罪。 – 释迦牟尼佛 (梵网经菩萨戒本) [The] Third [Light] Precept [Against] Eating Meat: If [as] Buddhas’ [Bodhisattva] disciples, [of]...

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Excerpts

Just Work Harder

Should you desire the great tranquillity, prepare to sweat white beads. – Zen Master Hakuin There are no shortcuts or ways to bypass the Apprenticeship Phase. It is the nature of the human brain to...

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Letters

Does Blood Donation Break Any Precept?

Question: Does blood donation break any Buddhist precept? Answer: Voluntary donation of blood does not break any precept at all. In fact, it upholds the spirit of the First Precept, as not only is...

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Features

Who Are Your Karmic Creditors?

Create not karmic creditors by harming any. Be not karmic creditors by harming any. – Nowanden Who are karmic creditors (冤亲债主)? They are those whom we owe karmic debts to, who we have harmed, from...

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Excerpts

How To Guard Your Six Senses?

To experience things as they are, as clearly as you can, do so with as little attachment, aversion and delusion as you can. – Shilashanti And how does a noble disciple guard the sense doors? When a...

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Thoughts

Refuge Haiku

Take refuge in the Buddhas and eventually also become one of the Buddhas. Take refuge in the Dharma and eventually also become one with the Dharma. Take refuge in the Sangha and eventually also...

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Excerpts

The Glass Is Already Broken

[Mis]fortune falls heavily on those for whom she’s unexpected. The one always on the lookout easily endures. – Seneca (On Consolations To Helvia, 5.3) There is a story of a Zen Master who has a...

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Features

The Easiest Ways To…

If even perfect Buddhas and great Bodhisattvas express themselves humbly in thought, word and deed, who are we as ordinary beings to be proud? – Shilashanti The easiest way to carry clothes is to...

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Excerpts

Be Ever More Sober

The height of cultivation runs to simplicity. – Bruce Lee The great philosopher king Marcus Aurelius… wrote to himself, he must ‘fight to be the person philosophy tried to make you...

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Features

The ‘Three Provisions’ For Accomplishing Everything

设我得佛,十方众生, 至心信乐,欲生我国, 乃至十念,若不生者,不取正觉。 唯除五逆,诽谤正法。 – 释迦牟尼佛 《佛说无量寿经》 阿弥陀佛第十八大愿 If I, [Dharmākara Bodhisattva] attain Buddhahood, [the] ten directions’ sentient beings, [whom with] utmost sincere...

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Excerpts

One Hell Of An Act Of Compassion

Hell is absence of compassion by oneself and for oneself, by others and for others. – Shilashanti We may be surprised to hear how the Buddha[-to-be] first generated compassion in the hell realm. In...

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