… I saw something in your eyes I’m sure Something in your eyes I wanted it for myself You and I have come so far We’ve reached beyond the farthest star Time and time and time again I want you back You were my friend We can’t pretend… Dave Gahan’s song ‘Saw Something’ (from the album [...]

Jat: What do you think of people who can’t take jokes? Yah: Why? Who had you offended? Jat: That petty client I told you before. Yah: Haha, someone who can’t take jokes is still better than someone who turns everything into competition. Jat: Goodness, did I mention she’s into that too? Yah: Wahaha… you are [...]

Question: Is there a need to be a full-time vegetarian if I pay homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Dizang Pusa)? Am asking because I’m going to install his image at home. Answer: It’s not compulsory, but it would be good to eat less meat, as many animals and Ksitigarabha Bodhisattva would rejoice greatly when they know of your compassionate [...]

在一个无聊的下午中 面对一堆无聊的事物 唯我能做的就是念佛 安抚着那不在焉的心 阿弥陀佛！ On a boring afternoon Facing tons of trivial brainless work The only thing I can do is be mindful of the Buddha To pacify that monkey mind of mine Amituofo!

Sharing the Dharma in person is great spiritual training for me. Through it, I learn to be more generous, patient and caring. Beyond sharing by writing Dharma articles online, I get the chance to connect to various kinds of fellow Buddhists in real life, to practise compassion and wisdom, to go beyond words. Sharing the [...]

TV drama serials (or soap operas), creative as they can be in their story arcs, are at times predictable – in the sense that when, say, a many-membered family seems to be very happy, we know that something unhappy is going to happen to at least one of them, which gradually affects them all. At [...]

A Tit for a Tat (47) Tit: Tell me my character. Make it quick! Tat: Impatient! Tit: Not more than you! Tat: Defensive! Tit: Not more than you! Tat: Unreasonable! Tit: Not more than you! Tat: Incorrigible! Tit: Not more than you! Tat: Unbelievable! Next aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/09/are-you-more-clear-minded Previous aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/09/tongues-might-wag

In the graphic novel version of ‘Kidnapped’ by Robert Louis Stevenson (adapted by Alan Grant, illustrated by Cam Kennedy), the protagonist gets… yes, kidnapped. For most of the story, he is portrayed as severely disturbed by having been betrayed by his only uncle. Even after he breaks free from his kidnappers, he is still uneasy, [...]

In ‘Fables: Animal Farm’ by Bill Willingham et al, Weyland Smith fashions a key to help unlock Snow White’s shackle. Due to a spell cast on him, he cannot, however make a key to unlock his own shackle, or even suggest how it can be made. It turned out that the key that unlocked Snow’s [...]

You sing yourself into this life. You live this life you sing. With what lyrics do you sing? With what lyrics should you re-sing? With what tune do you sing? With what tune should you re-sing? I think radically creative cover versions of songs are fantastic examples of how the same set of words (lyrics) [...]

You might stumble upon what you think is another’s ‘deep dark secret’. But if you leave it unclarified, the true ‘deep dark secret’ might be yours – that ‘you are deluded about the truth.’ A secret so truly deep and dark that you will never know it as delusion, because you already see it as the [...]

From yesterday’s news, a headline (and sub-heading) reads – ‘A star to the end: (Michael) Jackson mourners kept waiting as casket arrives late’. It finally arrived 90 minutes after the scheduled time. An interesting question came to mind. If it arrives even much later, will the mourners feel more sorrow or less sorrow? With no [...]

Jat: She’s one of the most insensitive, childish and petty clients I’ve ever met! Yah: Wow… but how accurate is your judgement? Jat: Well, after numerous calls, meetings and emails with her, you’ll know who you are dealing with. Yah: Well, that’s just YOUR side of the ‘truth’, and it might not be the complete [...]

Vegan shoe design by Natalie Portman (for Te Casan) Something hilarious from a Facebook friend: M: T, what great shoes! P, take a look at them! What brand are they? T: Thanks, Stella (McCartney). She makes vegan shoes you know. P: (deadpans) Why? I won’t be interested to eat them! *LOL* Commenting on the above: [...]

When I was younger and more foolish, I used to avoid confrontation because I would react in anger. When I became older and wiser, I still avoid confrontation because I knew anger wasn’t needed. Confrontation won’t do, if it is to choose to confront angrily. Emotional confrontation makes matters murkier. Clarification will do, if it [...]