Contrary to my expectations due to its trailer, ‘Kick-ass’ is not a typical smart-ass fantasy flick only for kiddies. It’s gritty at parts, and some scenes are violent reflections of what might happen in the real world. Yes, as bad-ass Big Daddy put it, Kick-ass gets his ass kicked – bad. Kick-ass is a regular guy who, like most boys and girls, fantasise about being a superhero with a mix of naivety and optimism, despite not having any super powers. He goes one step further by actually dressing up for the ‘job’ and doing his bid to help strangers on the mean streets.

When Kick-ass gets stabbed on his first ‘assignment’, he started having second thoughts on being a masked vigilante. After all, it’s a largely thankless job, though one gets a kick out of fan support and er… kicking asses. Since ‘With great power comes great responsibility’, he began to entertain the reverse – ‘With no power comes no responsibility’! But who is truly totally powerless? He realised he had the power to better equip himself with training. Likewise, all Bodhisattva-wannabes learn to better themselves to better help one and all.

Kick-ass wondered why no one tried to be what he became. But… some people do try to be heroes… albeit with less egoism and theatrics, and without masks and costumes. Because their efforts are less physically colourful, they don’t get highlighted in the news so much. And there are those online, who use avatars to get their messages across.

Why the secrecy? Identity is a powerful thing, that can be used against them and their relations. No matter how super you are, who you are is always a potential weakness. In a way, all heroes, super or not, have the paradoxical power of anonymity and branding at the same time. While anonymity lets them be above the law, kick-ass branding sends shivers down baddies’ spines!

From ‘The Resident Tourist: Otah Tree’ by Troy Chin in ‘Liquid City: Volume One’:

Mint: It’s funny. Don’t you think, Troy?
Troy: What is?
Mint: If I hadn’t come here, I’d still believe that my tree’s standing alive. Would that have been better or worse?
Troy: I… I’m not sure… (In the six months since my return to Singapore, I’ve visited a very small handful of my old haunts… I don’t because… I can’t answer that question.)

It would have been better
to treasure the tree as it was in the past
to not be attached to the tree’s eventual changes,
to know the truth of the tree now.

From the movie ‘Greenberg’:

Ivan: Youth is wasted on the young.
Roger: I’d go further. I’d go: ‘Life is wasted on people.’

Yet, part of growing up is to realise how youth was squandered,
in order to realise the value of life in the moment.
Yet, part of living is to spend time with people (including ourselves),
in order to realise the value of everyone in the moment.

Form is emptiness; (色即是空)
Emptiness is form. (空即是色)
Form is not different from emptiness;（色不异空）
Emptiness is not different from form.  (空不异色）

So says the Heart Sutra, but what do these lines really say?
They speak of that which cannot really be put in words,
that which is hinted by these words.
Read between the lines, to realise the truth they point at.

If form is emptiness and emptiness is form,
to cling to either as ultimate is unwise.
If form is not different from emptiness or emptiness from form,
the Middle Path is to relate to both without falling to either extreme.

The Middle Path here is to straddle between Samsara and Nirvana,
to abide in activities of Samsara to guide beings to liberation,
to abide in quiescence of Nirvana as the liberated,
yet to be attached or averse to neither place or state.

This is the heart of the Heart Sutra,
the essence of the perfection of wisdom,
which is also the essence of the perfection of compassion,
both embodied as one by Bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

Personal freedom
that does not freely guide others to their freedom
is not yet complete or ultimate freedom.

- Stonepeace

Question: If I had committed to a regular sadhana practice after an initiation, must I ask the guru for permission if I want to give it up? Can I simply give it up myself? I heard that this creates heavy negative karma?

Answer: It is best to ask the guru for permission and forgiveness. If he is hard to contact, you can email to those who can contact him. You can think of the situation in this way. Your spiritual commitment to the guru’s expectations is loosely similar to commitment to a life partner’s expectations of loyalty. As such, it is best to discuss on changes in meeting these expectations. If there is no sincere discussion, the commitment might be not sincere in the first place.

It is good to state the reasons for giving up too. For example, perhaps you were searching for a key Dharma practice in your life and have found it, and wish to focus. Were you aware of the need to meet the commitments when you were at the initiation(s)? If you were not really aware and thus did not really prepare yourself for them, I think there is good ground to apologise for not being ready to commit all the way on second thought. But there will still be the need to repent for having committed to something out of uncertainty.

Only if you really can’t contact the guru, should you consider announcing your wish to dissolve the commitments and repent before the Buddha. Most importantly, to resolve guilt for forgoing the commitments, it is good to do equivalent quantity of practice (and study) of the Dharma methods you now prefer. This can serve both as repentance and for making up for the other practices given up. If not, it would be giving up Dharma commitments for ‘nothing’ else – as in, becoming idle instead. Dharma commitments should be given up only for other Dharma commitments. If not, it would be similar to ‘giving up the Dharma’ to some extent. Plus the doing of more good deeds in general, this will help to dilute any negative karma incurred. Mindfulness of Buddha (Amituofo) is the simplest (hassle-free) yet most efficient way (in terms of generating merits) – but it must be done sincerely and with the right understanding.

Am sure you have come across ‘peculiar’ haikus, which seem weird in the sense that they seem to be about nonsense, yet possibly having some wit and wisdom tucked within. Here is a peculiar haiku series in three parts for you. It doesn’t follow the traditional syllable structure though, and there is no great wit and wisdom guaranteed!

Dirt is nutritious
Not for me
But for plants

Fruits are nutritious
Not for them
But for me

Dirt and fruits
Which is nutritious?
All of Samsara can be!

Question: I contributed money for a group gift, but later realised that it wasn’t an animal-friendly gift. Do I create negative karma because of this?

Answer: About pooling of money for the hamper, if it wasn’t intentional to neglect asking, it’s okay. It’s just unmindfulness. You just need to be more mindful before agreeing to pool money in future. It’s good to practise repentance to dissolve feelings of guilt and practise proper animal liberation to ‘make up’ for the mistake too, to share merits with any animals indirectly harmed.

In future, you can always readily suggest animal-friendly gifts! If it’s not possible for some reason, you can excuse yourself and get another present, but also explain that you try not to be linked to the suffering of any animals as part of your Buddhist practice of compassion. In many cases, people will respect you for that!

If what you find attractive in someone
is the Dharma embodied and expressed,
why be attached to the manner and form?

- Stonepeace

There are a few great regrets I have when it comes to relationships. Ironically, the most troubling ones are those which are somewhat related to the Dharma. Many years ago, I met someone, who was interested in the Dharma I was sharing. Later, she confessed that she developed a liking for me. When I politely rejected her, while promising to remain as good Dharma friends, she felt so troubled that she said she is likely to turn away from the Dharma because it reminds her of me. It was very sad indeed, because what she was attracted to in me was the Dharma I had to share… but she unmindfully digressed… when she ‘fell in love’ with the fool expressing it. It was lopsided… as if I was more important than the Dharma. I asked a monk for advice on her ‘threat’ to disown the Dharma because of me. Surprisingly, he said to simply ignore it.

It felt heartless, though I couldn’t really tell if it was good advice. Maybe monks, who have less worldly entanglements are more clear-cut about these dilemmas? I maintained friendly but not too intimate contact, but she eventually slipped away. She did join another Dharma group though. But I seriously can’t tell if it was for better or worse due to the group’s somewhat controversial nature. But there was no way to get closer again, even dharmically, due to the fear of stirring up her painful memories. And she seemed to be maintaining a distance too. Or maybe I had become insignificant and was forgotten. Such tension is very unfortunate, because over the years, there is much wonderful Dharma that I’m eager to share with her, but am unable to. I have to respect the preference of keeping the distance.

Though I can’t really get closer unless conditions change, the truth is, our karmic affinities never end. Even if they appear to fade away, they only remain ‘dormant’ for a while, and change, for better or worse. Why not conscientiously better it then? Even more sadly, looking back, she is not the only one who had this problem with me. To prevent accidental future ‘crushes’, I decided to be as faceless as I can, especially when sharing the Dharma online. But really, I’m just a non-descript person. Without the Dharma, I’m as ‘charming’ as a piece of blank paper. So much said, I have to let go of the attachment of wanting to heal the relationship too, and the sadness involved, while remaining open. If you are reading this, I hope you will let go of your attachment and sadness too – if any. If you can, there’s so much we can catch up on our Dharma friendship!

If what you find more attractive in someone
is the manner and form,
you might miss the Dharma embodied and expressed.

- Stonepeace

Release from being bound by what
you wrongly assume to be true happiness
brings even greater happiness.

- Stonepeace

This is a wonderful short film on the joys of mindful appreciation of everyday things in the moment. However, from a Dharma point of view, the ideas portrayed are imperfect due to the below.

The meaning of life or happiness is stated as nothing more than small moments of pleasure. This is worldly happiness that the Buddha taught to be fleeting and unsatisfactory in the long run; in contrast to unconditioned blissful True Happiness to be realised in Nirvana. Such happiness is not genuine enough, as it is unsubstantial. Happiness is also defined only as sensual happiness (other than that from sight), though it does advocate treasuring of whatever blessings we have, even though we might be impaired in some ways. Ironically, it was the loss of sight that the man learnt to cherish what he had more.

The parts on emptying one’s mind of thoughts in lightness and calmness seems almost like meditation – but it is not complete if no insight from watching the mind arises as a result. While it’s good to have no irrational fear, to indulge in a sensation due to being fearless is still a form of sensual craving. The bit on believing a ladybird landing on one being is a good sign is superstitious – unless it is seen as a sign of having enough metta (loving-kindness), such that insects are attracted without fear.

There you have it – a contrast of worldly versus spiritual happiness, that is easily missed. But I’m no killjoy here, for all the pleasures above are alright if not addicted to, pleasurable in their own limited right. But even as we enjoy them, we should realise that they are short-lived, and know that attachment to the illusion that they are ultimate will eventually lead to disappointment… life after life… as we pursue the transitory endlessly. If we are not aware of the availability of timeless bliss beyond small pleasures, we will be stuck chasing them, hoping they will last.

Any sensual bliss in the world,
any heavenly bliss,
isn’t worth one sixteenth-sixteenth
of the bliss of the ending of craving.

- The Buddha (Raja Sutta)

My right wrist was very sore, with its tendons feeling tight. It’s a reoccurring occupational hazard due to heavy mouse usage while forgetting to move the wrist enough to relax. The pain was agonising and unbearable. Massotherapy (推拿）didn’t work well the day before and I decided to try acupuncture. After a few minutes of examining my hand, the physician, like a worried mother explained why exercising and relaxing every now and then is important.

With precision and speed, she poked three needles onto the troubled areas after locating and disinfecting them. As the first needle penetrated into my skin, I felt a sharp pain, followed. As quickly as the soreness was literally pinpointed, it also gushed out like a massive flood and dissipated. That moment was liberating!

This experience reminded me of the Buddha’s teachings. With his perfect guidance and with our sincere and diligent practice, many were able to obtain Arhantship. Some were even liberated in mere moments. The Buddha, being the finest physician with acute precision, was able to offer the best possible ‘medicine’ to heal Samara’s ailments.

Although the Buddha had passed into Parinirvana about 2,500 years ago, we are the lucky few who are able to learn the Buddhadharma, with extensive exposure to its three main traditions. The choice is always ours. Either that we suffer on needlessly, or take the right medicine to be cured as soon as possible. Well… unless you think staying in Samara isn’t a problem. Or are you like me, not being able to see it as a problem until you experience pain… again?

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From ‘Talking Lines: The Graphic Stories of R.O. Bleachman’, Shakespeare’s sister Opinia says, ‘Hell. For is not its definition? An eternal fire that can never be quenched?’ That’s an interesting alternative take on the notion of ‘eternal hell’, not that it’s real. Hell is perpetuated by endless craving too, not just hate, fear and guilt. In other words, endless craving is hellish. As a vicious cycle, craving to exit from hell makes it more hellish. The goodness is that it is not possible to crave 24/7 for every minute and second. Since no one can create negative karma all the time, no one karmically deserves hell for all time.

Happiness is
a kind of look in the eyes,
a way of looking at life,
a wisdom embodied.

Happiness is
a kind of smile on the lips,
a way of looking after life,
a compassion expressed.

Your karma makes your world go round.
Our karma makes our world go haywire too.

[i] We All Create Karma

Among the various natural laws of cause and effect, one of them is the law of karma, which is the universal law of moral cause and effect. Whatever we intentionally think, say or do plants the ‘seeds’ of karma, which reaps corresponding ‘fruits’ when conditions ripen. Like all laws of nature, karma functions whether we believe in it or not. While there is karma created by individuals, there is also karma created collectively. The common values and actions we share have collective effects on us as family, society or humanity. The state of our climate crisis makes this the most crucial time to make conscientious efforts to consume wisely through our choice of food, transport and use of limited resources.

Our positive karma creates harmony.
Our negative karma wrecks havoc.

[ii] Our Common Karma Now

The rate at which humans are breeding, exploiting and killing farm and wild animals, while depleting and polluting the Earth’s natural resources is unprecedented in history. The relentless mass-killing of sentient lives creates the most destructive form of negative karma. Mass-killing creates the karma for mass-suffering, which can manifest in many ways across many lifetimes – via climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, food shortages and even wars. On the individual level, it can manifest as ill health, disabilities and hardship. Both supply and demand for meat and other animal produce perpetuate such karma.

As we are interconnected, everything we do matters.
As we are interdependent, everyone’s effort matters.

[iii] Transforming Our Karma

As collective karma is created by individuals with similar actions, the path towards collective change arises from our united efforts as individuals. If you are not part of the solution, you are probably part of the problem. Let us no longer wait for others or blame them for our global climate crisis, and begin to take greater personal responsibility today. An effective way to do so is to reduce or end our demand for animal products. As we are interconnected, our individual actions have the ability to change the world. Together, we have the power to save humanity from destructive self-centredness.

Increasing meat demand is one of the easiest ways to harm the world.
Reducing meat demand is one of the easiest ways to better the world.

[iv] Reasons To Cut Meat

It is highly recommended to reduce or end meat consumption as:

[1] A balanced vegetarian or vegan diet leads to a healthier and longer life for one and all.
[2] Trapped and exploited animals lead short and fearful lives before painful slaughter.
[3] 1/3 of all grain breed farm animals while poor fellow human beings starve.
[4] Meat production creates 18% of all greenhouse gases* and wastes much resources.
(*This is more than that caused by all motor vehicles on the seas, land and in skies.)
[5] Violence and wars are karmically linked to hatred created from mass-killing of animals.
[6] All animals have been our family and friends at various points in previous lives.

To treasure our blessings, live with gratitude.
To create more blessings, live with kindness.

[v] Treasuring Our Good Karma

By making kinder and wiser choices in how we relate to fellow humans and animals, and by caring for the environment by mindful reduction, reuse and recycling of our material goods, we are not only cherishing our blessings, we are also creating more blessings of peace and harmony for the future. Karmically, we already have many blessings of nature, such as sufficiently nutritious plant food, clean air and water. May we live with gratitude and contentment instead of unrestrained greed, and do our best to be selfless good examples to make the world a better place. Please help to share these messages too.

The classic ‘Mad World’ by Tears for Fears seems to be a poignant string of world-weary haikus. In between its stanzas below are some one-liner comments. Above is the more meditative cover version by Gary Jules, in a video directed by the very creative Michel Gondry, who gave us the amazing ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, while below is the original song. Both are ingenious works in their own right. Tears for Fears is coming to Singapore in May, but the ticket pricing is a little too challenging for me!

Mad World

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces

Comments: May we have compassion for one another instead of despair about one another.

Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere
Going nowhere

Comments: May we have the aspiration to break free of Samsara, instead of pining for more within it.

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
No expression

Comments: May we be relieved after any tears; not drained of life and will.

Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow

Comments: May we have the will to face our suffering today for a better tomorrow, instead of hide from it.

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had

Comments: May we have the wisdom that death does not transcend suffering; that only liberation does.

I find it hard to tell you
‘Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very very
Mad world
Mad world
Mad world
Mad World
(A raunchy young world
Mad world)

Comments: May we have the courage to see the futility of Samsaric rebirth and thus break free.

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday
Happy birthday

Comments: May we treasure today every day, to make it a special day, as we advance closer to liberation.

And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen
Sit and listen

Comments: May we sit and listen to ourselves too; not just others.

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me
No one knew me

Comments: May we transform our existential aloneness into a deeper journey of self-discovery.

Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me
Look right through me…

Comments: May we readily master and share our lessons well.