‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Who Returned As Master

Sep. 30 | The Jedi Master Luke Skywalker once saw his apprentice Ben Solo, to be so potentially dangerous, that he almost destroyed him, in a bid to prevent him from actualising this potential. Yet, in that very moment, Skywalker forgot the existence of Solo’s...

How To Give Wisely To Those Truly In Need?

Jul. 9 | Question: Once, a well-dressed lady walked up to me on a shopping street and asked for money for dinner. I gave her $2 but she asked for $10 persistently. I then walked away. On another occasion, a man who saw me praying at a temple showed me a scarred...

Generosity Haiku

Jul. 6 | Be more frugal with yourself, so as to be more generous for others.

Can Offerings Be Offered Again?

Jun. 4 | 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 a meal. Although the food is not really eaten, it is...

‘Tidying Up With Marie Kondo’ & The Dharma?

Jun. 3 | The KonMari Method is a technique to organise material stuff at home. Its first step is to heap especially clothes in one giant pile – to realise how much ‘more than enough’ one has. This creates motivation to declutter and to sort what...

Supreme Sharing

Apr. 26 | 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)

How The Buddha Redirected A Precious Offering

Apr. 18 | Being the fundamental source of physical kindness in our lives, our parents should first to be repaid, by sharing the Dharma learnt with them. – Shilashanti As recounted by the Pure Land Tradition’s 2nd Patriarch Great Master Shàndǎo (净土宗二祖善导大师)...

Why You Should Be More Giving Now (Or ‘Death Cleaning For Better Living’)

Mar. 27 | Giving what others need now will create merits, which can manifest as what we really need later. – Shilashanti In the Avadāna Sūtra《阿婆陀那经》, Velāma Bodhisattva (韦罗摩菩萨) had the following reflection – ‘People speak...

Transformation

Mar. 6 | 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

Giving Little Gains Much 施少得多

Jan. 16 | 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] peace,...

[7] How To Offer Benefits To All

Jan. 16 | 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 Reflections On ‘The Eight Verses Of Thought Transformation’...

The Dharma

Jan. 8 | Learn the Dharma thoroughly. Practise the Dharma fully. Share the Dharma generously. – Dharma Saying

[3] How To Avert Harming Of All

Dec. 19 | 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 Transformation’ (Part 3 of 8): 第三颂：疾断烦恼 一举一动观自心， 正当烦恼初萌生， 危害自与他人时， 愿疾呵斥令消除。 –...

Which Of These Four Actions Do You Create?

Nov. 8 | There are four kinds of [karmic] actions proclaimed by me, after realising them for myself with direct knowledge. – Śākyamuni Buddha (Kukkuravatika Sutta) (As paraphrased and extended from the second half of the Kukkuravatika Sutta) [1] There are dark...

How To Handle Someone In A Rush?

Nov. 8 | 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 take care of her child. Everyone remained silent....