While selecting films for a Buddhist film event, we sampled some movies. A friend wondered why many of the shortlisted films seem to end with some form of death. Someone else in the audience remarked that we all have to die anyway. Hmmm…. only half correct… some of us might be able to transcend life [...]

I was looking through my old phone’s notes… a collection of words, most of which do not form complete sentences, semi-shorthand notes taken in a hurry to remind me of what to write later. But it was a ‘later’ largely to late, because, to my aghast, many of the notes are incoherent now. I can [...]

Beliefs of a ‘Non-Believer’ http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=8,7674,0,0,1,0 I watched the live telecast of Obama’s inaugural presidential speech last night. It was largely a speech on inclusion; not exclusion, though one part seems to accidentally segregate instead of integrate. In his words – ‘For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are [...]

As an unconventional Chinese New Year greeting, above is a simple calligraphic piece of ‘Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Admonition for the Masses’ (普贤菩萨警众偈) with a new translation below. I hope the strokes highlight a sense of fragility, transience, urgency, focus and determination, which are qualities mentioned in the verse. 是日已过，命亦随减； 如少水鱼，斯有何乐？ 大众！ 当勤精进,  如救头燃； 但念无常，慎勿放逸！ This day [...]

From the story ‘The Maggies’ in ‘American Splendor’ by Harvey Pekar – Harvey: (Detecting untruthfulness) When you talk about dishonest men, do you have to be dishonest? Interviewee: (Shrugging) Why not? Even Socrates was dishonest… Harvey: (Confronting) Socrates?? What does he have to do with it? Interviewee: (As-a-matter-of-factly) Socrates said all men are dishonest, so [...]

I came across the following stories from the Theravada tradition relating how even animals can be reborn in the heavens. Here’s a a take with a more Mahayana flavour… Animals can also be born in Pure Land – which is a good reason to take care of them while exposing them to the Dharma. Perhaps [...]

The ‘Twilight’ or Dawn of Desire? http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=12,7673,0,0,1,0 What if you have the power of great strength and speed, and are able to remain ever youthful? Sounds like invincible eternal life? Not really, as the vampires in the movie ‘Twilight’, like others, can die too – especially when slayed by other equally powerful vampires. What literally [...]

The Unseen ‘Ip Man’ Behind Bruce Lee? http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=12,7663,0,0,1,0 The mild-mannered ‘Ip Man’ (pronounced ‘eep-mun’: Bruce Lee’s martial arts master) is a refreshing break from the typical genre of screen Kung Fu heroes. Come to think of it, Ip Man is in many ways the direct opposite of Bruce Lee’s famous brash screen personas. Then again, [...]

From ‘Chandni Chowk To China’, Delusion to Realisation http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=12,7665,0,0,1,0 In the first Bollywood-Hollywood action-comedy ‘Chandni Chowk To China’, an Indian cook (Sidhu) who was disgruntled by his humdrum life sought hope in the possibility that he might have had an remarkable previous life, one which he would be able to magically relive, to chase his [...]

The Ponyo Paradox of Change & Acceptance (Review of ‘Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea’) http://buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=12,7664,0,0,1,0 The Japanese animation feature ‘Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea’ is a creative ‘retelling’ of ‘The Little Mermaid’ minus the tragedy of loss. It is largely an uplifting story on the universal themes of love, sacrifice, acceptance [...]

Bing: Why is there paint over forgotten masking tape on this wall? Ding: The renovation guy must had been sloppy… not having checked properly. Bing: Or maybe we were the sloppy ones… for not having checked his work properly. Ding: Guess all of us were sloppy! Who is kinder? The one responsible only for oneself [...]

Customer: Two cold barley (drinks). Staff: Barley – hot or cold? Customer: Cold. Staff: One? Customer: Two. I had the above dialogue thrice already, with the same service staff, at the same eating place, on different occasions. It’s rather amazing to me how she never seems to learn that I always give a short but [...]

Many are against animal-testing. But not many are against animal-tasting. How ironic!

Tit: (Sarcastically) Oh… I forgot I’m not supposed to disagree with you! Tat: (Sarcastically) Oh… really? I’ll have to disagree with that! Tit: (Seriously) So… I should disagree with you? Tat: (Seriously) Not always… Only when you should! One big reason I find the Buddha’s teachings agreeable is because they allow me to be disagreeable [...]

As inspired by the film ‘The Dhamma Brothers‘ , here’s a simple poem, in tribute to those who seek spiritual freedom within their physical prisons: More than just a killer… More than just a thief… More than just a liar… More that just a rapist… More than just a junkie… More than just convicts… They [...]