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Posts tagged with "suffering"
How Can We Handle Our Jealousy?
Sep. 13 | Spiritual cultivation is but the actualisation of our pure potential and deactivation of our defiled habits. – Shilashanti When we see those worse off, such as the very poor and sick, we usually genuinely wish that they be free from suffering, to be...
The ‘Historically’ Fantastic ‘Legend Of The Demon Cat’
Aug. 15 | ‘Legend Of The Demon Cat’ (妖猫传) is what can be called ‘fantastical history’ or ‘historical fantasy’ – a highly dramatised and romanticised retelling of how events might had been, that led to the demise of Yang...
Can Faith In Any Deity Help The Dying?
Aug. 1 | According to one doctrine, there is a great, self-existent [i.e. uncreated] deity whose substance is real and who is all-pervading [i.e. omnipresent], eternal, and the producer of all phenomena [as a creator]…. If something [or someone] produces...
A Kid’s ‘Real’ Pain From An Imaginary Needle
Jul. 18 | Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. – Buddhist Saying At the clinic, I saw how a kid was dragged by his mother into the doctor’s room. When the door closed, almost immediately from the outside, some screaming could be heard. Perhaps he...
‘The Prize Winner Of Defiance, Ohio’ In A ‘Few’ Words
Jul. 18 | ‘The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio’ tells the true story of Evelyn Ryan (1913-1998), as based on a biography of the same title by her daughter Terry Ryan, with the subtitle of ‘How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less’....
Always Reflect On Your Thoughts, Words & Deeds
Jun. 27 | The Buddha: What is a mirror for? Rahula: For reflection, sir. The Buddha: … Actions are to be done with repeated reflection. – Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta As summarised from the second part of the Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta (Discourse...
Five Good Qualities Of Suffering
Jun. 20 | Furthermore, the good qualities of suffering are that you Dispel arrogance with disenchantment, Develop compassion for the beings of cyclic existence, Carefully avoid sin [or misgivings], and delight in virtue. – Shantideva Bodhisattva (Engaging In...
The Unalienation Of ‘The Alienist’
Jun. 6 | As the title card of ‘The Alienist’ informs, ‘In the 19th century, persons suffering from mental illness were thought to be alienated from their own true natures. Experts who studied them were therefore known as alienists.’ Yes,...
How One Who Slighted None Attained Buddhahood
May. 24 | 此诸众生 云何具有 如來智慧， 愚痴迷惑， 不知不见？ – 释迦牟尼佛 （华严经） [Of] all these sentient beings, why [are they] complete with [the] Tathāgatas’ wisdom, [yet] ignorant [and] confused, not knowing...
Is ‘An Honest Death’ An Ideal Death?
Feb. 11 | ‘An Honest Death: A Palliative Care Doctor’s Final Days’ is a documentary featured on NHK World Prime. Masahiro Tanaka was a palliative care doctor and a Japanese Buddhist priest, who had helped thousands to die peacefully. He requested...
Verse On Sorrow
Jan. 24 | 见无忧林， 当愿众生， 永离贪爱， 不生忧怖。 – 文殊菩萨 (华严经: 净行品: 第76偈) Seeing groves [with trees named] ‘without sorrow’,* [reflect that] ‘May sentient beings, forever depart [from] greedy attachment, [to]...
Can One Suffer Due To Others’ Mistakes?
Dec. 7 | Question: Can someone in a family suffer due to the mistakes of another in the family? Answer: Conventionally speaking, this is possible. For example, parents often suffer due to their children’s reluctance to heed their good advice, while children...
Is It Possible To Fire With Compassion?
Oct. 31 | Question: As I hired an incompetent domestic helper via an incompetent agent, I technically fired the helper. But the agent asked for some holding on to the helper in name first, to facilitate her transfer without incurring more cost for both the agent...
Does Good Triumph Over Evil?
Aug. 30 | But he who has abandoned greed, hatred and delusion, is no longer Māra’s prisoner; he is freed from Māra’s snares, no longer subject to the Evil One’s will and pleasure. – The Buddha (Itivuttaka 68) Will good triumph over evil? Or does evil...
