Here is my mini sharing of His Holiness Dalai Lama’s 2010 Southeast Asia teaching tour. I felt very fortunate to be able to learn directly from him. Even more fortunate was to have two great Dharma friends who have been to His Holiness’ teachings for years, to take care of us and make this trip [...]

During one of the revision classes of HHDL’s teachings, the Geshela said attachment is an exaggerated form of liking. The attractiveness of the object is exaggerated by the one attached. In order to lessen the suffering of attachment, one has to realise that this attachment is due to the exaggerated projection of our mind, that [...]

Everyone has weaknesses… which can be magnified if in denial of them… due to ego. Strong ego ironically is a weakness. It is only through acceptance of our weaknesses that we can work with them, softening our ego in the process.

A message written for Singapore Buddhist Free Clinic’s magazine: There is a famous medical analogy in Buddhism used to describe the Triple Gem. The Buddha, with his perfect compassion and wisdom, is likened to a great doctor, who dispenses the pure medicine that is the precious teachings of the Dharma, for alleviating suffering. Members of [...]

About once or twice a year, I get calls from strangers, directed from people who don’t know the answer, who ask me how to become a Buddhist monk. This is quite strange, as I am not a monk. Anyway, I kind of go through the same routine of advising, and the results are kind of [...]

This is a note that from now onwards, full length movie reviews will be posted at http://thedailyenlightenment.com/category/05 (while moonpointer.com will continue to host short reviews). An example of the latest review of that of ‘Detective Dee’ at http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2010/09/detective-dee-for-dharma Enjoy!

A bipolar student wasn’t sure he liked being his more ‘sober’ self. Perhaps he is used to swinging between highs and lows? I advised that there is no need to cling to any self… Since there is no fixed self that stays high or low, especially in mundane way. Good to chant ‘Amituofo’ more, to [...]

During the animal liberation, he seemed particularly angry in the box of many crabs. Using a pair of tongs to hold him while snipping off the strings on his claws, I managed to free one of them. With the free claw, he waved it around dangerously, making it hard to free the other claw. I [...]

A man raised a ruckus at a food stall, claiming that he had waited half an hour, that he patronises the stall every day, yet is still given such poor service. Why didn’t he think the other way round? He patronised the stall every day, and has been given okay service so far, other than [...]

During the recent mid-autumn festival night, I was in charge of handling lantern riddles. I came up with 100 English Dharma riddles. The idea was to share the Dharma. However, in the process of coordinating the event with the help of Pureland Practice Fellowship volunteers, I realised that those who know the answers already know [...]

From the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln260/Vimalakirti.htm) are lesser known but some very surprising and illuminating teachings: ‘… Then the Licchavi Vimalakirti said to the patriarch Mahakasyapa, “Reverend Mahakasyapa, the Maras who play the devil in the innumerable universes of the ten directions are all bodhisattvas dwelling in the inconceivable liberation, who are playing the devil [...]

A friend did something interesting. Noticing that there are many flyers messily placed at her gate and doorstep, she made a box that hangs at the door, that says ‘Please put flyers here.’ I joked that I would write this instead – ‘Please put flyers here – for recycling without reading.’ Would that deter flyer [...]

A Tit for a Tat (166) Tit: How was your birthday? Tat: Was it a happy birthday? Tot: (frowning) I had an angry birthday! Tit: Why? Tot: The cake was too small! Tat: If no one told you it was your birthday, you wouldn’t even have a cake! Healthiest vegan cakes in Singapore: http://www.delciesdesserts.com Next [...]

From Hurts’ ‘Blood, Tears and Gold’: Love goes cold Blood, tears and gold Won’t make it any better My interpretation: All the vented violence, with self-inflicted pain, sorrow and wealth won’t heal a broken heart. What’s needed then? Some love itself, for oneself, some loving-kindness.

Just sent this to the press: I refer to the letter ‘”No meat, no fish” ideology can disturb eco balance’ (Sept 26) by Paul Chan in ‘The Sunday Times’, which stated that that ’we cannot survive on rice and vegetables alone’ and ’if half the world’s population became vegetarian… the sea would be infested with whales, sharks [...]