K: We don’t smile as much to strangers when we’re not travelling overseas. S: If we realise we’re all travellers passing through this life, wherever we are, with only short moments to spare, and that we might not pass by where we are again, or meet who we do again, may we...

A mountain casting a shadow on a mountain A mountain in the light ‘creating’ a mountain in the dark Reminds me of the Buddha’s light of purity, that is so strong that it shows us our unseen darkness of defilements. (Scenes of Wutaishan’s Taihuaizhen village) Next...

As amusing as it is somewhat bizarre, many temple devotees in China like to deposit their cash donations in the meditative mudras (sacred hand gestures) of images of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. Some would go around with small denominations to put the money at every image encountered in a...

While preparing for a a Zen course: http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2011/05/course-the-magic-of-zen-origins-stories-essence I did research on the Flower Sermon, which is briefly this… When Shakyamuni Buddha spoke the Dharma, Maha Brahma presented him with a golden lotus and the Buddha...

Before we returned home, we spent a night at the district called the Tibetan Refugee Colony in Delhi. We had to do so as the connecting flight was on the next morning. In a sense, we sought refuge there. It was as if we were refugees of sorts too. The place was like a more crowded version...

A donkey’s strength renders him trapped, to be a beast of burden, fed and used. (Two of his hooves bound together, semi-parking him like a vehicle) A dog with no particular strengths keeps him free, as a wandering stray who needs to fend for survival though. (He is napping in a cosy...

A friend found what (Khadi) seems to be a more ethical form of silk available in India, made from silk cocoons naturally broken open by the moths within, who then fly free. (Conventional silk is made by boiling cocoons with the insect within, so as to not break the silk threads for...

Scenes like abstract paintings at the guesthouse called ‘The Pink House’ after some rain. (The slugs are paradoxically slimy yet graceful at the same time!) Next India Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/10/india-adventure-23-kinder-silk Previous India Adventure:...

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...

I remember when I first visited a primary school built by Tzu Chi Foundation many years ago, the Buddhist volunteer who guided us around the wonderful buildings in the compound shared something intriguing with us. He said that if we might have noticed, there are no sharp edges in any...

I slipped and fell in the bathroom of the guestroom where we stayed in Dharamshala… and hit my back on the rim of the toilet bowl. Thankfully, the plastic toilet seat was on it, which kind of helped to buffer from the otherwise unforgiving hardness of the ceramic. There was a sharp ...

Despite a domestic flight delay at Delhi airport towards Dharmashala, we accidentally but surely, karmically ‘bumped’ into His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, who was also taking the same plane as us. The delay turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Everyone was excited, as...

Om Mani Padme Hung a – a Buddhist mantra to generate great compassion. Such stone cravings are seen placed around the premises of many temples as an offering, as act of devotion to remind passers-by of the mantra and what it represents. And it’s a local tradition to circumambulate...

In a taxi at Dharamshala, we told a cabbie that he was going the wrong way. If I heard him correctly, he kind of admitted, but kind of denied this. While reversing his way out, he thought I heard him say, ‘There is no wrong way; only long way!’ Remind me of the idea that a trip to...

Turning these defenseless animals into egg-producing machines with no consideration for their welfare whatsoever is a degradation of our own humanity. - His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama HHDL joins the campaign against battery (caged) hens. Let’s support and follow his example at...

I make a long list of stuff to bring to India, before I departed. Don’t forget the toothbrush, the torch in case there are blackouts, extra socks cos’ it’s the monsoon season…. Some of the stuff I never use, such as many extra batteries, and handkerchiefs… So...

Death as release from suffering, as being for the better, is not always true. Death as entry into hell, as being for the worse, is not always true. Death is change, and what it will be for you depends on how you live too. (Moonpointer folks will be away in India learning from HHDL from...

Above is a vegetable bun (bao) bought at an airport in Taiwan. I love it when stuff like these surprise me, helping me to appreciate the value of being unconventional. A bao need not be round. A bao need not be small. A bao need not be just a snack. A bao can also be of an odd shape. A bao...

A scene in Taiwan’s Danshui’s Starbucks: A student’s T-shirt reads, ‘There is no rule without exceptions.’ (E.g. Most but not all crows are black.) But if that is a rule, that rule too is without exception, which means there are rules which are with...

If I were to summarise our mini pilgrimage to Taiwan, it would be 悲欣交集 (intertwinement of sadness and happiness). The Dharma is still strong and flourishing in Taiwan. Could it be because they have strong Dharma leaders who not only lead, preach but walk the talk too? Basically, there...