Comments for Moonpointer : Buddhist Blog of Everyday Dharma http://moonpointer.com/new Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:40:56 +0800 hourly 1 Comment on Tell Me My Character! by dirty pig http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/09/tell-me-my-character/comment-page-1/#comment-4523 dirty pig Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:40:56 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=3660#comment-4523 i am a simple committed good girl. i believe in simple life :-) i am a simple committed good girl. i believe in simple life :-)

]]> Comment on Tone & Message by Irene http://moonpointer.com/new/2012/01/tone-message/comment-page-1/#comment-4509 Irene Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:59:08 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10949#comment-4509 I think the related Chinese saying should be '忠言逆耳利于行，良药苦口利于病'.Amituofo I think the related Chinese saying should be ‘忠言逆耳利于行，良药苦口利于病’.Amituofo

]]> Comment on The Stonecutter’s Story by shian http://moonpointer.com/new/2012/01/the-stonecutters-story/comment-page-1/#comment-4507 shian Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:04:38 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10962#comment-4507 Do share :-] You just need to provide the link back to the article. Thank you for sharing! ;-) Amituofo Do share :-] You just need to provide the link back to the article. Thank you for sharing!

;-)

Amituofo

]]> Comment on The Stonecutter’s Story by Robert Ooi http://moonpointer.com/new/2012/01/the-stonecutters-story/comment-page-1/#comment-4506 Robert Ooi Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:19:01 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10962#comment-4506 Dear Moonpointer, I have been a passive follower your blog for a while now. There are many stories, quotes etc which I like very much; and would like to share them with my fellow Buddhists. Could I have your permission to do so. Of course, due acknowledgement to Moonpointer. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu Dear Moonpointer,

I have been a passive follower your blog for a while now. There are many stories, quotes etc which I like very much; and would like to share them with my fellow Buddhists.

Could I have your permission to do so. Of course, due acknowledgement to Moonpointer.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

]]> Comment on Possible ‘Time-Travel’ by Atomik http://moonpointer.com/new/2012/01/possible-time-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-4503 Atomik Sat, 07 Jan 2012 07:41:20 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10913#comment-4503 If one receives one's future by living in the past, then one is living one's future in the past no matter how much has passed. Every future and past is no more than made up of many windows of the present. If one held onto something no matter how much has passed, every window of our present moment is lived in the past shadows. If at one's present moment, one has let go of clinging. The next future will be a future of freedom from that suffering of attachment. Alot of things that happens next very much depends what one does now. Make every present moment count and the past and future will take care of itself. If one receives one’s future by living in the past, then one is living one’s future in the past no matter how much has passed. Every future and past is no more than made up of many windows of the present. If one held onto something no matter how much has passed, every window of our present moment is lived in the past shadows. If at one’s present moment, one has let go of clinging. The next future will be a future of freedom from that suffering of attachment. Alot of things that happens next very much depends what one does now. Make every present moment count and the past and future will take care of itself.

]]> Comment on Brightness & Darkness, Beauty & Ugliness by Atomik http://moonpointer.com/new/2012/01/brightness-darkness-beauty-ugliness/comment-page-1/#comment-4502 Atomik Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:17:30 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10863#comment-4502 If god is indeed an omnipotent creator, he needs no reason, no logic or science to create anything. I cannot help but laugh when religion tries to force-fit science to explain religion. It seems that Science is the higher religion which religion cannot explain when left on its own. For example, god created birds with wings to fly. If god indeed is omnipotent, he can do things that defy logic, reason and science. Does a bird need wings to be really able to fly? Why can't he create a bird without wings yet fly? If god indeed is a omnipotent creator, whatever he creates or not create becomes totally meaningless becos he can defy every logic or reason behind creating them.   Some time back, I read an article about a baby suffering from a rare disease where the skin will break into sores. Did the baby sin? Why take it out on the kid? But the parents, being theists explain that god has a reason which is how they reason. If a creator is indeed omnipotent and can defy all logic, how would one less pain or suffering mean anything to him? The same way, if I can create 10 stones and put into a container. If I only created 9, why would one less be any less significant when I am omnipotent and capable of twisting, adding or changing anything according to what I want. So it boils down to what my heart is made of. The more god tries to reason, the more unreasonable he seems to be. Why would a god need even a reason for anything or anyone? If god is indeed love, why does he not set his creatures straight and at times historically speak to them and set themselves against one another by killing rather than using love to solve certain issues since love is so great, surely it can solve all problems. While we are accused of having hardened our hearts, god also hardened the hearts of man when he set them to kill each other historically for all the agendas he have. If a creator is the source of what we are, what we have is what he wants in us.  If god is indeed an omnipotent creator, he needs no reason, no logic or science to create anything. I cannot help but laugh when religion tries to force-fit science to explain religion. It seems that Science is the higher religion which religion cannot explain when left on its own. For example, god created birds with wings to fly. If god indeed is omnipotent, he can do things that defy logic, reason and science. Does a bird need wings to be really able to fly? Why can’t he create a bird without wings yet fly? If god indeed is a omnipotent creator, whatever he creates or not create becomes totally meaningless becos he can defy every logic or reason behind creating them.  

Some time back, I read an article about a baby suffering from a rare disease where the skin will break into sores. Did the baby sin? Why take it out on the kid? But the parents, being theists explain that god has a reason which is how they reason.

If a creator is indeed omnipotent and can defy all logic, how would one less pain or suffering mean anything to him? The same way, if I can create 10 stones and put into a container. If I only created 9, why would one less be any less significant when I am omnipotent and capable of twisting, adding or changing anything according to what I want. So it boils down to what my heart is made of. The more god tries to reason, the more unreasonable he seems to be. Why would a god need even a reason for anything or anyone?

If god is indeed love, why does he not set his creatures straight and at times historically speak to them and set themselves against one another by killing rather than using love to solve certain issues since love is so great, surely it can solve all problems. While we are accused of having hardened our hearts, god also hardened the hearts of man when he set them to kill each other historically for all the agendas he have. If a creator is the source of what we are, what we have is what he wants in us. 

]]> Comment on Brightness & Darkness, Beauty & Ugliness by Atomik http://moonpointer.com/new/2012/01/brightness-darkness-beauty-ugliness/comment-page-1/#comment-4501 Atomik Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:30:46 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10863#comment-4501 For the full credits, pls also see below. How can truth be so one-sided in creationism? All things dull and ugly, All creatures short and squat, Al things rude and nasty, The Lord God mad the lot. Each little snake that poisons, Each little wasp that stings, He made their brutish venom, He made their horrid wings. All things sick and cancerous, All evil great and small, All things foul and dangerous, The lord God made them all. Each nasty little hornet, Each beastly little squid, Who made the spikey urchin? Who made the sharks? He did. All things scabbed and ulcerous, All pox both great and small, Purid foul and gangernous, The Lord God made them all. For the full credits, pls also see below. How can truth be so one-sided in creationism?

All things dull and ugly,
All creatures short and squat,
Al things rude and nasty,
The Lord God mad the lot.

Each little snake that poisons,
Each little wasp that stings,
He made their brutish venom,
He made their horrid wings.

All things sick and cancerous,
All evil great and small,
All things foul and dangerous,
The lord God made them all.

Each nasty little hornet,
Each beastly little squid,
Who made the spikey urchin?
Who made the sharks? He did.

All things scabbed and ulcerous,
All pox both great and small,
Purid foul and gangernous,
The Lord God made them all.

]]> Comment on Possible ‘Time-Travel’ by Linden http://moonpointer.com/new/2012/01/possible-time-travel/comment-page-1/#comment-4494 Linden Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:17:45 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10913#comment-4494 Interesting... Another way of investigating this week's Project: 'THE CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK'... (breaking links of identification with a past and future by strengthening the links of moment to moment mindfulness...) Thank you. Interesting… Another way of investigating this week’s Project: ‘THE CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST LINK’… (breaking links of identification with a past and future by strengthening the links of moment to moment mindfulness…) Thank you.

]]> Comment on The Morality Matter by hl.lim http://moonpointer.com/new/2011/12/the-morality-matter/comment-page-1/#comment-4492 hl.lim Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:00:18 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10830#comment-4492 Like minds will see the rationale in this statement but for those wih huge egos the word 'understanding' is lost in their actions. Like minds will see the rationale in this statement but for those wih huge egos the word ‘understanding’ is lost in their actions.

]]> Comment on Vegan Badminton by 43ED http://moonpointer.com/new/2011/12/vegan-badminton/comment-page-1/#comment-4488 43ED Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:25:01 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10833#comment-4488 That would be alright methinks. Technically not vegan yet with the vegan spirit of harmlessness. (Y) That would be alright methinks. Technically not vegan yet with the vegan spirit of harmlessness.

(Y)

]]> Comment on Vegan Badminton by Ita http://moonpointer.com/new/2011/12/vegan-badminton/comment-page-1/#comment-4484 Ita Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:37:29 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10833#comment-4484 It just came to mind. What if somehow you find some feathers in a place where birds usually fly? Then you use those feathers for your own purposes. You are not plucking the feathers, but just find some lying on the floor or something. Is that still considered as being vegan? It just came to mind. What if somehow you find some feathers in a place where birds usually fly? Then you use those feathers for your own purposes. You are not plucking the feathers, but just find some lying on the floor or something. Is that still considered as being vegan?

]]> Comment on Sutra on the Cause and Condition of the Great Matter of the Benefits of the Name of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life by doyi http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/03/sutra-on-the-cause-and-condition-of-the-great-matter-of-the-benefits-of-the-name-of-the-buddha-of-immeasurable-life/comment-page-1/#comment-4450 doyi Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:01:08 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=1586#comment-4450 Many thanks. Sometimes we need to take note of the different meanings of classical chinese. One common mistranslation in the Smaller Amitabha sutra is of the colour of the lotus flowers. The character "qing青" is actually "blue" and not "green". The older meaning is preserved in old expressions like 青天. This was also confirmed by the Sanskrit to English translation by Max Muller. Many thanks. Sometimes we need to take note of the different meanings of classical chinese. One common mistranslation in the Smaller Amitabha sutra is of the colour of the lotus flowers. The character “qing青” is actually “blue” and not “green”. The older meaning is preserved in old expressions like 青天. This was also confirmed by the Sanskrit to English translation by Max Muller.

]]> Comment on Sutra on the Cause and Condition of the Great Matter of the Benefits of the Name of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life by Shen Shi'an http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/03/sutra-on-the-cause-and-condition-of-the-great-matter-of-the-benefits-of-the-name-of-the-buddha-of-immeasurable-life/comment-page-1/#comment-4448 Shen Shi'an Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:07:06 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=1586#comment-4448 Right! I've just changed it to 'encounter', using the fourth meaning at http://www.zdic.net/zd/zi/ZdicE5Zdic80ZdicBC.htm Thank you for the note. ;-) Amituofo Right! I’ve just changed it to ‘encounter’, using the fourth meaning at http://www.zdic.net/zd/zi/ZdicE5Zdic80ZdicBC.htm Thank you for the note.

;-)

Amituofo

]]> Comment on Sutra on the Cause and Condition of the Great Matter of the Benefits of the Name of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life by doyi http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/03/sutra-on-the-cause-and-condition-of-the-great-matter-of-the-benefits-of-the-name-of-the-buddha-of-immeasurable-life/comment-page-1/#comment-4447 doyi Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:06:44 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=1586#comment-4447 Dear all, I think there is a misinterpretation of the chinese character "zhi值" according to classical chinese dictionaries, the meaning is not "value" but to "hold" or to "meet". We can infer that it means that it is rare for a person to be able to "hold" (read) the sutra. http://wenwen.soso.com/z/q173109709.htm Dear all, I think there is a misinterpretation of the chinese character “zhi值”

according to classical chinese dictionaries, the meaning is not “value” but to “hold” or to “meet”.

We can infer that it means that it is rare for a person to be able to “hold” (read) the sutra.

http://wenwen.soso.com/z/q173109709.htm

]]> Comment on Virtual Paradise Not by Atomik http://moonpointer.com/new/2011/11/virtual-paradise-not/comment-page-1/#comment-4438 Atomik Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:35:03 +0000 http://moonpointer.com/new/?p=10667#comment-4438 换膏不换药，来来去去都是同样的问题。斩草不除根春风吹又生. That's the reason why the dharma studies deeply into the mind and the heart. Every action of man does leave imprints/footprints onto the sands of time. There are some we fondly remember and there are some we are filled with disgust. All things arises inside us before they get expressed and acted on outside us leaving imprints onto this continuum of existence. Everything about this world whether it is the past, present or the future are all the footprints of the hearts of many humanity left onto the sands of time. 人生的所有一切本来就是人心人性所遗留的足迹。有心才有性。所以可称得上是心的足迹。有善有恶也因妄想执著，贪憎痴的足迹。That's the same reason why we must understand our heart before we can awaken to our original nature. 明心才能见性。 Only when we awaken to our original nature then is enlightenment found. Buddhism is really a heart yoga(内功心法) other than a religion, a philosophy and a path of liberation. All the answers we seek are already in our hearts. We seek our answers within which differentiate us as internalist and not externalist.  换膏不换药，来来去去都是同样的问题。斩草不除根春风吹又生. That’s the reason why the dharma studies deeply into the mind and the heart. Every action of man does leave imprints/footprints onto the sands of time. There are some we fondly remember and there are some we are filled with disgust. All things arises inside us before they get expressed and acted on outside us leaving imprints onto this continuum of existence. Everything about this world whether it is the past, present or the future are all the footprints of the hearts of many humanity left onto the sands of time. 人生的所有一切本来就是人心人性所遗留的足迹。有心才有性。所以可称得上是心的足迹。有善有恶也因妄想执著，贪憎痴的足迹。That’s the same reason why we must understand our heart before we can awaken to our original nature. 明心才能见性。 Only when we awaken to our original nature then is enlightenment found. Buddhism is really a heart yoga(内功心法) other than a religion, a philosophy and a path of liberation. All the answers we seek are already in our hearts. We seek our answers within which differentiate us as internalist and not externalist. 

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