I used to be quite a severely unforgiving person. (Fortunately, things have improved greatly since.) The slightest bit of evil that I see others do I would condemn so greatly that I would slap a label of ‘evil-doer’ on the person for life. I would shun this person for indefinite time till [...]

The last cosmic scene of ‘Men in Black’ (which is the only part that stuck to me) reminds me of a part of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra – especially the parts in blue below. Prepare for a mind-blowing experience as you try to imagine this part of the sutra.
The Licchavi Vimalakirti replied, “Reverend Sariputra, for [...]

In ‘Batman: Gotham After Midnight’ by Steve Niles and Kelley Jones, Batman says this to Comissioner Gordon, ‘This is the second time she [a police officer] took credit for my work. I don’t like it. You know how important it is for criminals to know that it’s me taking them down.‘ Sounds like an [...]

When you’re born a lover
You’re born to suffer
Like all soul sisters and soul brothers…
I’m not looking for an easy ride
True happiness cannot be tried
So easily
- Depeche Mode (Goodnight Lovers)
We are reborn as lovers of Samsara, and suffer,
sometimes willingly and more often unwittingly,
even as we seek love and happiness.
If not, we wouldn’t be here…
unless we are [...]

Lawrence: [Seeing gun and bullets] I didn’t know you hunted monsters.
Singh: Sometimes monsters hunt you.
‘The Wolfman’, like all good monster movies, be they remakes or not, remains a cautionary tale. If we take the wolf half of a wolfman (aka. werewolf) to represent the inner beast, the raging animal aspect of us [...]

The 1994 classic ‘Bodhisattva Vow’ by Beastie Boys:
As I develop the awakening mind
I praise the Buddha as they shine
I bow before you as I travel my path to join your ranks,
I make my full time task
For the sake of all beings I seek
The enlightened mind that I know I’ll reap
Respect to Shantideva and all the [...]

An imaginary verse on how a Bodhisattva might think:
The only reason my heart is broken
is because so many hearts are broken.
There is no time to indulge in being heartbroken,
when there are so many broken hearts to heal.
From the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra:
Manjusri: Householder, whence came this sickness of yours? How long will it continue? How does [...]

The first kind of Dharma worker
thinks that Dharma work ought to be quiet and laid back,
reflecting the serenity of little frequented temples.
The second kind of Dharma worker
thinks that the Dharma is so wonderful that one should do one’s best to share it,
reflecting the Buddha’s tireless travelling to teach it to the masses.
Every Dharma worker is [...]

K: There is nothing wrong with getting ahead. But there is nothing wrong with not getting ahead either.
S: I think it depends on one’s aspirations. E.g. Getting ahead in terms of influence can help many more – in terms of walking the Bodhisattva path too.
K: We all can help people within our different capacities. Those [...]

In the poignant but touching story of ‘My Sister’s Keeper’, a young girl realises that she was conceived specifically to save her older sister’s life. She decides to sue her parents for ‘medical emancipation’ – to reject any further bodily donations, so that she can live her life fully, in a carefree manner. Now that [...]