One of the methods to ‘combine’ Pure Land and Zen practice is that the one who practise mindfulness of Amituofo’s (Amitabha Buddha) name also asks oneself ’Who is the one mindful of Amituofo?’ Who is the one who practises mindfulness of Buddha? One who is truly mindful would realise that the one mindful of Buddha is one’s Buddha-nature. [...]

A friend asked for my testimonial of how I become a Buddhist for sharing. Below is a short account… If you would like to share your story, please do by commenting! I began to be seriously interested in Buddhism after coming across an English version of the Heart Sutra. I was intrigued by its profound [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

For the very first time, I became genuinely apprehensive of a Dharma class being oversized due to space constraints and shortage of chairs. This is called a ‘good problem’ and I have to agree. When I first started publicising the fifth run of the ‘Introduction to Pure Land Buddhism: Understanding Amituofo Via the Amitabha Sutra’ [...]

Pic: Sign for ‘Homage to (or refuge in) Amitabha Buddha (Amituofo)’ in Taoyuan Another still and well-meaning ubiquitous sign, to remind fleeting passers-by to be mindful of Buddha… but how many are mindful of what his name means? More and more I hope! Namo Amituofo! Next Taiwan Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/06/taiwan-adventure-6-oh-my-buddha Previous Taiwan Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/06/taiwan-adventure-4-a-makeshift-bridge

On how to find one’s Guru? You just need to keep your mind and heart open and learn the Dharma from whoever you can. Everyone who is able to benefit us with the Dharma is like our Guru in the moment. With this approach, coupled with a questioning mind, you will encounter many Gurus, unless [...]

From ‘A Spacious Path to Freedom: Practical Instructions on the Union of Mahamudra & Atiyoga’ by Karma Chagme, Commentary by Gyatrul Rinpoche, Translated by B. Alan Wallace: (This excerpt continues from the excerpt at http://thedailyenlightenment.com/enewsletter/43.php) [Teachings from Machik Labdron (11th century Tibetan Buddhist yogini, emanation of Yeshe Tsogyel)]: There is a Tibetan aphorism that it [...]

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I lost a good idea… It just slipped my mind, as suddenly as it arrived. The very next thought… that it may never return terrifies me absolutely. The thoughts after this… are even more terrifying that the previous… What if… I pine ‘endlessly’ for a thought that isn’t there anymore… What if… this happens on [...]

Q: Where is the mind? How does it multi-task? A: The mind is where you put it to. E.g. If you think of your fingers typing, your mind is there then. Multi-tasking is an illusion. We can only do one thing mindfully at a time, though we can train to do many things quickly and [...]

A friend once asked me to never forget her, to remember to ‘save’ her, to lead her to Pure Land, should I reach there first. I didn’t promise her because me being mindful of her cannot bring her to Pure Land, while it is her mindfulness of Amituofo [Amitabha Buddha] that can lead her to [...]

‘The Serpent and the Rainbow’, which is supposedly based on a true story (By Wade Davis) tells of a terrifying Haitian semi-scientific and semi-voodoo drug, that can induce a fake death syndrome, where the ‘deceased’ is seen to be thoroughly dead medically, who is not so at all. One might then be buried alive, but [...]

(Picture: A Buddhist making lamp offerings at a Tibetan temple near Mayadevi Temple) May we always be mindful of Amita Buddha. May we always aspire to swiftly become Buddhas. Next India Adventure: Coming Soon Previous India Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/01/india-adventures-10-a-different-christmas-cheer

That there is only one truth does not mean that all so-called ‘truths’ are one. – Stonepeace Recently, I met a holistic healer, who claimed to be very open-minded. His intentions seem good, though the way he carried himself could do better to benefit more. After asking a few questions about the methods he uses [...]