A Tit for a Tat (35) Tit: Just to let you know, in case you are losing patience with him… Tat: Aha? Tit: He is actually suffering from a mental condition. Tat: That explains so much! Tit: On him appearing to be difficult? Tat: Yes! Tit: I thought letting you know this would help you [...]

A Tit for a Tat (16) Tit: You must try this tea! Tat: Why? Tit: It’ll change your life! Tat: How did it change yours? Tit: It kept me coming back for more! Tat: Sounds like an addiction. Tit: But it’s really good! Tat: But not as good as not being addicted! Related Article: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-quote/message/390 [...]

Did you know that ‘Padme’ means ‘lotus’, as in ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’? Did you know that the Jedi Order was inspired by the Buddhist monastic order? Did you know that George Lucas who created Star Wars is a ‘Methodist Buddhist’? I seldom post excerpts, especially lengthy ones, but below is a good one – [...]

After collecting about a dozen ‘Batman Black & White’ statues, which are released periodically into the market, I decided to give up. Okay, lest you mistaken, these are really statues worthy of showcasing – individually hand-painted porcelain ones – not tiny plastic action figures. They cost about SDG$100 each. I started collecting them because they [...]

Sent this to a remarkable friend who is unrelentingly involved in charity work for the greater good, to the extent that his good example puts me to shame at times: ‘Serve not any particular person only [not even your 'boss' or 'client', lest you feel let down by him or her], but as many as [...]

It is partly due to the ‘endless’ clinging to self-delusion, to constant wondering about the nature of the ‘self’, which is really an illusion, that perpetuates our rebirths in Samsara (via attachment to this non-existent ‘self’). The subtlest attachment we have to the idea of ‘self’ will lead to rebirth because rebirth is due to [...]

Yup, Depeche Mode does slow and sentimental songs too. The above is the moving studio version of ‘Come Back’ from their new ‘Sounds of the Universe’ album (which some say is better than the album version). It is angsty yet calming at the same time, with the element of dark majesty that DM is renown [...]

Pic: Pureland Retreat at Dharma Drum Singapore Sometimes, you don’t really need a meditation cushion. Sometimes, you don’t really need a blanket from the cold. Sometimes, you can just sit, make do and make peace. 需要的不多，想要的太多 Our wants are many; our needs are few. – Ven. Shengyen

In the movie ‘Suspect X’, a brilliant mathematician plans an elaborate scheme that involves murder to help his love interest get away with manslaughter. When one is driven so much by love that it involves killing another, is such love still healthy? Is such love ‘lovely’ or lovable? Would it be more touching or disturbing? Is [...]

Maybe the occasional smoker is already addicted to the occasional smoking.

Leaving Kong Meng San monastery in the evening, I happened to turn around and saw a rainbow arching towards the Bell Tower. (At least, it seemed so.) I felt compelled to whip out my phone to snap it… and so I did. Then as I walked on, I wondered… What now? So what? What do [...]

Wrathful flames of Wisdom burning away raging passions, Acala is the Immovable Wisdom King. (不动明王) The fearsome Destroyer of Delusion.* The compassionate Protector of Dharma.* * The Immovable Dharma is the Truth and path of Wisdom that destroys Delusion.

Jen: Your ‘imaginary funeral parlour notice’ [see below] is well written, seemingly depicting dying. Is it due to the way Buddhists view death, that there are no Buddhist obituaries in the papers? Shi’an: Actually, there are Buddhist obituaries in the papers locally (in Singapore) – but usually only the Chinese ones (because most Buddhists here [...]

It struck me that the Hannya mask (left picture) I bought in Japan resembles Batman’s mask (right picture: DVD box of ‘The Dark Knight’). That said, the Hannya mask is essentially not a mask. It’s supposed to be the terribly anguished (more than horrifying) face of Hannya. Likewise, when Batman wears his cape and cowl, [...]

This is the first photo I snapped with my iPhone… with the protective film on. It looked nice enough to be set as wallpaper. How ironic, a common accidental effect that turned out good enough. It remind me of the cinematographic style of Wong Kar Wai’s ‘My Blueberry Nights’. While watching that film, I was [...]