Just out of the printing house is ‘The Daily Enlightenment 3′. Look out for news of its launch in TDE e-newsletter real soon! Special thanks go to WQ, SST and zweiya for making it possible in time for...

Shortly before the screening of ‘Handsome Suit’ this year was ‘Penelope’ last year – another real gem of a movie with an alternative but equally brilliant take on the ugly duckling theme. What’s the moral of the ugly duckling story? Sometimes, one is not a...

Recently in Singapore, a group of fundamental Xtians coordinated a cunning takeover of a women’s rights group called AWARE (if the leaked emails of their ploy are true). These new Exco members claim that AWARE promotes lesbianism, when it merely does its bit to speak up against lesbians...

This amazing movie is just 83 minutes long, but is nothing short of incredible. It is one of the few films that I would consider near perfect in all aspects – scripting, acting, editing… Most importantly, the message is driven across in a deeply heartfelt way. I first watched it...

To date, Swine Flu has killed over 80 in Mexico, while there are at least 20 confirmed cases in US and suspected cases in about 5 countries. Swine Flu is a respiratory disease affecting pigs that in caused by a strain of influenza – it has since mutated to combine with human and bird...

The above billboard gives a hint of the heavy marketing for ‘Angels & Demons’, the prequel of ‘The DaVinci Code’ – even in heartland Singapore (Toa Payoh train station). The local premiere will be on 14 May. The ad reminded me of one of the most satisfying...

In the plot of the movie ‘Ploy’, the characters seem to live their interconnected dreams as alternate but believable realities, before they wake up to actual reality – albeit not that realised in enlightenment, but the usual samsaric reality. The dreams experienced are not...

Yesterday, I took a brisk walk through the Vesak @ Orchard food fair. To my great disappointment, the organisation was using the usual non eco-friendly to package food. I remember vividly that wasn’t the case for last year, when biodegradable and recyclable packaging was used, while the...

If a chubby child, who already should have had his fill cries for more and refuses to stop, what do you do? Do you feed greed for peace of mind? Is it worth the price? I think kids are challenging potential living koans that people give birth...

A moment frozen in time with no trick photography. This is the ghostly world I ‘see’, with the abstract exactness of things as they are, before they morph, as they surely will, before they pass on by, as they surely will. Related Article: The Transience Haunted...

The battery in the clock runs flat before you know it, before you are prepared for it, before you learn not to take it for granted. This life too, that you have, might run out before you know it, before you are prepared for it, before you learn not to take it for granted. Like a clock...

Here’s a re-telling of a Jataka Tale, with additional commentary at the end… Once upon a time, the Bodhisattva (future Buddha) was walking in a forest with his disciple, when he saw from atop a cliff, that a weak and hungry tigress was about to devour one of her also starving...

Capital Tower* catching the setting sun, glowing like a pillar of gold. Reminds me of Amituofo, that supreme beacon of golden light which shines in all directions, even in broad daylight! Are you mindful enough, pure enough, to see it yet? * Amituofo’s Pureland is likened to the...

JX: I think these days, it’s okay for monastics to handle some money (but not too ridiculously much to spur greed) for what’s needed (unless they absolutely don’t need to, which cuts the hassle) – but all accounts in terms of pay and funds should be made transparent to...

A Tit for a Tat (7) Tit: (Closing windows) Woah! What strong winds tonight! (Opening windows a few minutes later) Stuffy! The winds stopped as suddenly as they started. What kind of weather is this? Tat: It’s rather normal weather… Tit: Huh? Tat: … that’s fickle and...

Pic: 4ocima Taking refuge in the Buddha, may I be with the awakened Taking refuge in the Dharma, may I be on the path to awakening Taking refuge in the Sangha, may I be with those on the path to awakening - Stonepeace A Dharma friend was rationalising for her refuge master’s legal...

Thank goodness that we can only have one thought at a time. Imagine if 84,000 thoughts assault you at the same time! It would be impossible to cultivate the mind, to train single-mindedness. Fickle the monkey mind is, jumping rapidly from one stray thought to another. Even when our mind seems...

Logo: The golden rays represent Amitabha Buddha’s light of compassion shining via his 48 great vows, which radiate in all directions from his Pureland to dispel the darkness of Samsara. Click to enlarge Join: Subscribe to mailing list for activity updates and teachings on Pureland...

A colleague I sat near apologised for her work desk being messy. I grinned and replied that it doesn’t matter, as long as one’s work output is not messy. She agreed. It doesn’t matter if one’s life seems relatively messy (physically; not mentally), as long as there is...

I knew of this video from a friend’s blog. To my utmost surprise, it totally moved me to tears. Later, I read in the papers that it moved many others to tears too! Not because it’s depressing but because it was simply BRILLIANT! It touched me so that genuine appreciative joy just...