Can We Take Refuge On Behalf Of The Deceased?

Jan. 1 | Question: Can we take the Threefold Refuge and receive the Five Precepts on behalf of deceased loved ones? Answer: While going through the above ceremonies, we can think of ourselves as doing so with departed loved ones (or even all beings). However,...

The ‘Three Provisions’ For Accomplishing Everything

Sep. 20 | 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...

Commitment Issues In ‘Café Society’

Apr. 13 | Why commit to another love interest if already committed to another? Was the first commitment not genuine then, and thus meaningless? If there was meaningless commitment for the first case, what makes one sure that the second case has genuine commitment? If...

Can Females Reordain As Buddhist Nuns?

Jun. 9 | Question: Can females ordain twice as Buddhist nuns? Answer: No, according to the record of this event and rule by the Buddha in the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya’s Section On Miscellaneous Matters’ 30th Scroll《根本说一切有部毘奈耶。杂事》卷三十,...

Commitment Haiku

Jun. 2 | One committed to nothing at all, is good for nothing.

Are You Committed To Being Committed?

Jun. 12 | To let another down in a relationship, is also to let oneself down, in one’s relationship to oneself. – Stonepeace | Books A recurring theme in many Western movies, especially of the romantic comedy kind, is that when a pair of lovers (dating,...

You Have A Rebel Buddha Within

May. 23 | Spiritually worthy rebels are the first to awaken, who awaken the rest. – Stonepeace | Books If we could, we would probably all sink completely into this dream that passes for our waking life, but something keeps rousing us from our sleep. No matter...

Please Feed the Right Wolf

Feb. 5 | How you feed yourself physically reflects how you feed yourself spiritually. – Stonepeace There was a story that was widely circulated a few days after the attacks of September 11, 2001, that illustrates our dilemma. A Native American grandfather...