Will I Be Ready For Refuge & Precepts?

Nov. 5 | Question: If I hesitate taking the Threefold Refuge and committing to the Five Precepts, am I belittling their importance? Will I ever be ready?  Answer: It might be so, that there is ‘belittlement’, especially if you already think so....

Why Take Threefold Refuge & Receive Five Precepts? 为何受三皈持五戒？

Oct. 3 | First, be inspired by the Triple Gem to take refuge in the Triple Gem. – Shilashanti As the Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng (净土宗十三祖印光大师) taught in his ‘Third Reply Letter To Layperson Gāo Shàolín’...

Why Take Threefold Refuge?

Aug. 30 | 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, but the world-transcending Dharma’s perfect...

Do You Learn & Practise Buddhism Sincerely?

Jun. 13 | Sincerity is needed to master any worldly skill, much more spiritual skills. – Nowanden A Dharma friend shared that a mutual friend (who is an acquaintance), who used to sing Buddhist songs, had recently given up on Buddhism. My reply was this –...

I’m Taking A Ride With My Best Friend

Jun. 6 | It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up… – Shame: First half of chorus (Depeche Mode) The classic 1987 Depeche Mode concert anthem, ‘Never Let Me Down Again‘, is about a debatable ‘best friend’, who is taking...

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)...

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,...

三宝偈 Verse On Triple Gem

Dec. 19 | 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: The fourfold...

Refuge Haiku

Oct. 4 | 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 become part of the Sangha.

Can Animals Take Refuge?

Jun. 27 | Question: Is it alright to get pets to take the Threefold Refuge in the Triple Gem? Although all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, can animals understand refuge? Answer: Getting animals to take refuge is done in the hope that there might be some...

What To Relate To The Triple Gem?

Oct. 24 | Question: Is there a right attitude we should have when relating to Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, the Dharma (the Buddhist teachings), the Sangha and Dharma teachers? Answer: What mentioned above included the Triple Gem (Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha),...

Are Manifestations & Mediums Of Bodhisattvas & Buddhas Around?

Feb. 20 | This article was submitted to, and published in the April-June 2014 issue of Nanyang Buddhist, the magazine of Singapore Buddhist Federation. We should respect all beings, even helpful humans, gods and ghosts. However, Buddhists only take refuge in the...

Can True Buddhists Ever Be Converted?

Jan. 19 | The Buddha’s refuge in the Dharma even after enlightenment, is itself a Dharma lesson, to always take refuge in the Dharma. – Stonepeace | Get Books A friend shared a phone group message about her long-time Buddhist relative, who recently...

The Buddha’s Advice For Vanquishing Fear

Sep. 5 | With one’s self-limited merits, mere mindfulness of oneself when dying at best leads to a limitedly blessed rebirth. – Stonepeace | Get Books In the Dhajagga Sutta on ‘Banner Protection’, which is one of the discourses compiled...

Beating A Thief With The Triple Gem

Feb. 5 | As the Buddha is the invincible teacher of the infallible Dharma to the inspiring Sangha, the Triple Gem is the indispensable refuge. – Stonepeace A lama in Eastern Tibet lived beside the Dzachu River. He received many offerings from the faithful,...