Something written for the press that went unpublished: I refer to the letter ‘Town council right in culling pigeons‘ (Mar 14), which stated that it was right to poison pigeons which dirtied HDB blocks. However, since pigeons naturally flock to where humans leave food, it is obvious that the cause of the problem lies with [...]

Something written for a magazine: Q: Why do Buddha images differ? What do different poses and expressions reflect? A: Buddha images in different countries evolved according to the cultural preferences of each. For instance, images in China came to resemble the Chinese. Chinese images of the Buddha are usually more plump or even slightly fat, [...]

In the latest movie depiction of the most turbulent years in the life of ‘Confucius’, there was a scene where Confucius spoke up for a sacrificial bird in court. There was a discussion over whether the bird, who bit off its main tail feather, ought to be killed as scheduled for the gods or liberated [...]

‘Pride and Prejudice’ tells the tale of how the aloof Mr. Darcy came to be with the feisty Ms. Elizabeth Bennet. As usual, for classic romances, it would be wrong to call it wholly a love story per se, because theirs was a love-hate relationship before they finally decide to let their love dominate. Pride [...]

With close reference to Buddhist scriptures, here are three interesting articles with the Buddha’s perspectives on the origin of humans and their belief in a creator ‘God’: Can a ‘Creator God’ be ‘Created’? Unless out of Bodhicitta, wanting to create something external is a sign of internal imperfection, incompletion and discontentment. – Stonepeace In the [...]

Question: A temple is promoting beliefs that some Buddhas and Bodhisattvas protect people born in certain years. They have booklets in print and online on such ideas too. Are these beliefs Buddhist? Answer: The short answer is that these beliefs are not Buddhist. Here is an analysis of a sample booklet, using the one for [...]

Alternative Alice (2): What is Not Cat about the Cheshire Cat? Cheshire Cat: Which part of me is not like a cat? Alice: You tell me! Cheshire Cat: Let me fade away part by part, to help you decide which is the non-cat part. (He fades… till his grin remains) Alice: That’s what’s not cat [...]

A dialogue inspired by the writing style of Lewis Carroll. I’ve been wanting to write a book called ‘The Alternative Alice’. Guess this is a start, as a random episode! Alternative Alice (1): Is the Cheshire Cat a Cat? Cheshire Cat: Greetings! Alice: Are you a cat? Cheshire Cat: Do I look like anything else? [...]

Based on the book, the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ movie reminds me of a phase of growing up that is probably more terrifying than being smack in the middle of the adolescent years. When is that? It’s the beginning of the above – that awkward transition when one tries to hasten growing up – [...]

A friend is getting married. But like many non-vegetarians, she’s offering a feast of many sentient beings. Me being the only vegan in her entourage, has special arrangements prepared for. It was very nice of her to call to go through the vegetarian menu with me (as I don’t take many mock stuff). Not many [...]

Only Buddhas, who are perfect teachers, do not require [constructive] criticism from their students. – Stonepeace What do you do when you encounter a Dharma teacher who teaches in ways far from perfect? I used to slap an invisible label of ‘lousy’ on him or her, and shun his or her teachings indefinitely. Thankfully, after [...]

A line from ‘Flash Forward’ session two goes – ‘It’s not fate versus free will; it’s fate and free will.’ Someone asked me if the protagonists can’t really change anything. I replied that of course they can. If not, what kind of am engaging TV series can it be? What kind of life would it [...]

A friend came across these phrases in a Buddhist website – ‘Who is Buddha?’ and ‘Buddha’s teachings’. He asked whether they ought to be ‘Who is the Buddha?’ and ‘The Buddha’s teachings’. He remarked that it’s ironical that such incorrect English is used very often in the West! I agree, because: 1. It’s wrong to [...]

A Tit for a Tat (123) Tit: Hey! Don’t lean on the train pole! Tat: Why not? Tit: It’s a grab bar! Tat: So? Tit: It’s for grabbing! Give some space for others to grab! Tat: But no one else is around, and I’m grabbing it too! Tit: How so? Tat: With my whole body! [...]

In the award-winning ‘The Rabbi’s Cat’ (Le Chat du Rabbin) by Joann Sfar, which ‘The Boston Globe’ calls, ‘An affecting, fraught, and yes – sometimes hilarious tour de force about the complexities of living faithfully in a godless world’, a rabbi’s cat begins to talk after he eats a parrot. In one part, the cat [...]