The James Bond movie franchise had its 50th anniversary recently. Despite many themes of death in their titles, say, ‘You Only Live Twice’, ‘Live & Let Die’, ‘A View To A Kill’, ‘The Living Daylights’, License To Kill’, ‘Tomorrow...

He wants to donate his organs and body upon death later, as part of his ‘Bodhisattva practice’ to help other sentient beings. It’s wonderful. But he should also consider not eating the organs and bodies of other sentient beings while alive now. Related Article: Am I Ready...

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From ‘The Dark Knight Returns: Part 1′, a news feature says this, ‘[Bruce] Wayne [who is Batman], who sponsored Dent’s [Two-Face the villain] rehabilitation, had this to say just days before Dent’s release: “As a city, we have to give Harvey every chance to...

Question: A shelf above my desk gave way and broke my Bodhisattva image. Can I glue the pieces and continue to pay respect? Answer: I think this is a very powerful reminder of how life can be very unpredictable, and how we should treasure the moment without attachment. Yes, of course you can...

‘Your mission, should you choose to accept it…’ So goes the line after the mission is spelt out. But as we know, improbable as it might seem, all missions impossible in the series can be accomplished. What is the real Mission Impossible, that seems the toughest, yet is...

From the movie ‘Precious’ - Here Precious: And, I never really talked in class before. Ms Rain: How does that make you feel? Precious: Here. It makes me feel here. Comments: Precious experiences mindfulness of the precious here and now for the first time in class, when she...

A surprise email arrived on a mediation case between two people I helped some time ago. Here is my abridged reply: My apologies for any perceived and actual misgivings from my side. Reflecting on this, I sincerely believe I did the best I could back then to help, foolish and inadequate as I...

The best teachers must eventually teach ultimate Compassion and Wisdom. To encourage perfect Compassion, they must eventually advocate veganism, which is not just a way of consumption, but a way of life, of being helpful and harmless. To encourage perfect Wisdom, they must eventually advocate...

我不敢轻于汝等， 汝等皆当作佛。 - 常不轻菩萨 (法华经) ‘I do not dare to belittle you all, for you all will become Buddhas.’ - The Bodhisattva ‘Never Underestimate’ (Lotus Sutra) Who Became Shakyamuni Buddha Related Articles: The Bodhisattva Who...

Question: Would you say that reciting Om Mani Padme Hung is similar to the practice of metta meditation in that it develops loving-kindness and compassion? Answer: A friend’s wife, at the end of an Om Mani Padme Hum retreat, turned vegetarian upon hearing the heartfelt advice of...

Here is the original Hippocratic Oath taken by ancient Greek doctors, from which modern versions of doctors’ moral conduct is derived: I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my...

I’ve no intentions of being a killjoy when it comes to others’ gastronomical pleasures. But I do find it as jaw-dropping as it is bizarre, when Buddhist friends post photos of their ‘catch of the day’, the meaty dishes they are about to tuck into, in their Facebook...

A friend is compiling teachings by Rinpoche for publication, and asked me to check the below, which I sent years ago. I thought it is good to share the improved version here… Teachings given on 8 Dec 2003 at Than Hsiang Temple, Penang, Malaysia during 100 Million Six-Syllable ...

A short review of the movie ‘DMC (Detroit Metal City)’: Acting as a demon from hell, and singing the dark and profane, he unexpectedly draws legions of fans. Yet, what he wanted to do was to sing sweet songs of hope, and gives up his unworldly fame. Upon realising the power of...

In the first ‘Gantz’ movie (see trailer below at around 46 seconds), a Vajrakumara (Dharma Protector guardian diety), a thousand arm Guanyin Bodhisattva and a Buddha statue in a museum were revealed to be aliens in disguise, who were disturbed by the Gantz corps, leading to a...

A review of Radiohead’s ‘Give Up the Ghost’: Lyrics: Don’t haunt me don’t haunt me… Gather up the lost and sold In your arms In your arms Gather up the pitiful In your arms In your arms What seems impossible In your arms In your arms I think I have had my...

Part 1: True Happiness as an attained goal (of Buddhahood) is not conditioned by anyone (including one’self’),* or it would not be unconditional. But the path to True Happiness is conditioned by guiding others to attain True Happiness (as the Bodhisattva path). Part 2: Even after...

A Chinese new year text greeting I received and forwarded: 愿佛法的人生伴随你， 观音菩萨的慈悲充满你， 文殊菩萨的智慧带领你， 地藏菩萨的愿力加持你， 普贤菩萨的行愿成就你...

Different from the run-of-the-mill concept of there being a supreme and extreme good guy versus a supreme and extreme bad guy, who keep the forces of good and evil in balance, the ‘Night Watch’ and ‘Day Watch’ movies suggest that there is a powerful leader of...