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A participant of my latest Pure Land class (http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2012/01/course-understanding-amituofo-via-the-amitabha-sutra-9th-run) had an interesting experience. While chanting the name of Amituofo in class for five minutes, right after hearing instructions on how to do so,...

Gil tells Adriana in ‘Midnight in Paris’, when they travelled back in time to an era of Paris (Belle Epoque) more appealing to her, ‘Adriana, if you stay here, though, and this becomes your present, then pretty soon you’ll start imagining another time was really your,...

I had requested feedback from a recently completed class: http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2011/07/understanding-amituofo-via-the-amitabha-sutra-8th-run This is a part of what I received, a nice commemorative Amituofo coin with a message. I’ve never won any major prizes in my life...

These are some scenes from lesson #7 of this 10-lesson class: http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2011/07/understanding-amituofo-via-the-amitabha-sutra-8th-run at Buddha of Medicine Welfare Society. [The 9th run will be next year :-] In the pictures are a past participant sharing his Pure Land...

Pujisi class participants practising guided mindfulness of Amituofo’s name, in the room set up for Ven Miaodeng’s 96th birthday buffet lunch celebration yesterday. Was sharing a condensed 1.5 lesson version of this 10-lesson course:...

I’m interpreting ‘You’ve Got The Love’ by Florence + the Machine my way, with ‘Lord’ standing for Lord Buddha, and even Amitabha Buddha (Amituofo). Electric ‘spiritual’ beginning to the song at the concert in the video above! In a way, the...

A ‘root guru’ is the main teacher you learn from, or the root teacher of your lineage of teachers. My root guru is the main teacher I learn from – the Buddha (Shakyamuni), the root teacher of the lineage of all teachers – the Buddha. My guru devotion is to Amitabha...

For someone (or anyone) suffering from bipolar disorder and/or schizophrenia: To be frank, it is tedious reading your mails which swing from one end to another due to your condition. Just before responding to one mail, another mail comes in with another swing. The previous mail becomes not so...

Lost a good idea within a finger snap Arghhh! Imagine if this happens on the deathbed. Arghhh! Not a good idea then, no matter how good it seems. Amituofo! (Best thought and...

Question: We went to exhume of one of our long-time ancestors’ graves for cremation and discovered some ornaments with the remains. Some relatives suggested keeping them for remembrance and good luck. Is there any harm in doing so? Answer: It’s not likely that the items will...

Almost everyday I hear the same busker singing the same few lovelorn love songs in the same few ways. I wonder which is his main theme whose thoughts and emotions he relives the most. I wonder which will replay the loudest in his mind as his last song as his parting haunting melody. I wonder...

Tim: I read a teacher saying that to meet the future Buddha, who comes a long time later, simply don’t practise the Dharma! Jim: I know what he means, but the lesser you practice the Dharma, the farther away you will be from any buddhas physically, including future ones! * The...

The vegan restaurant is closing soon. (Vegsenz at Tekka Mall, at end of month) It’s my last chance to eat there (till they reopen at another place). Should I savour the dishes not yet tried? Should I savour the ones I’m familiar with already? Will I be glad? Will I regret? What if...

He spent $200,000 to change his kidneys via the black market. He spent 1 second to fall and die. What bitter irony! Wealth is no true refuge. Health is no true refuge. What is your true refuge? Amituofo… Amituofo… Amituofo… Amituofo is the name of the Dharmakaya of all...

Amituofo! I chant this for you to hear, not to condemn you for the evil you do, but to urge you to awaken to your Buddha-nature. Amituofo! I chant this for you to hear, not to flatter you for the good you do, but to urge you to align it to your...

A live band played Auld Lang Syne at his ‘Buddhist’ funeral. Way too sentimental a parting gift. Is it supposed to make him (if he’s still around) and the survivors attached and weepy? They should had chanted Amituofo sincerely instead, And asked him to do the same, to...

Q: How do I convince my father to observe the Five Precepts, when they don’t ‘buy’ karma readily? A: The ‘simple’ solution is this. You must learn and practise the Dharma better, so that you will be able to touch and influence him more deeply through your...

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:...

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...