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 [...]

I watched the 2010 version of ‘The Karate Kid’ on the plane to India. It’s better than I expected. (It’s not about Karate; but Kungfu. I guess they wanted to bank on the well-known brand.) The most powerful one-liner in the film is when Mr Han (acted by Jackie Chan) tells the titular kid that [...]

A Buddhist friend whom I did not know too well commented during a group chat that just as the universe has balanced energies of the Yin and the Yang, it is necessary for  individuals to have balanced positive and negative aspects too, in terms of character. I think he is one of those who clings [...]

In ‘Valley of Flowers’, which might appear to be a Tibetan Buddhist movie at first, there is a scene of classic misinterpretation of death as release with the wrong use of a quote from Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life: May I be a guard for those without one, A guide for all [...]

From ‘The Mighty Avengers: Secret Invasion Book 1′ by Brian Michael Bendis is this diialogue, Journalist: Doctor, why did the Avengers [superhero team] break up? Dr. Henry Pym: In my mind, they’re – they’re just taking a break. I think – I think if the world needs the Avengers again, the Avengers will be there. [...]

Q: Some Buddhists like to cast lots, e.g. at Guanyin temples. Are these lots’ words from Guanyin Bodhisattva? A: There are a few divination systems worldwide ‘associated’ to Guanyin Pusa. They are not Guanyin Pusa’s words per se, but out of great faith that Guanyin Pusa will always find means to help people in need, [...]

Read this in a mailing list: ‘Speaking for myself, I’ve always thought that the impossible task of the Bodhisattva to save all sentient beings is perfectly portrayed in Camus’ ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’. The famous last sentence of that book article reads – “The struggle itself is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must [...]

Since Bodhisattvas do manifest as animals at times (to help various beings), isn’t it a scary thought that the animals one eat might be Bodhisattvas? Then again, even if they are not already Bodhisattvas, all beings are future Bodhisattvas… and Buddhas too.

In ‘Made of Wood’ by Ed Brubaker, Batman says this – ‘There’s a moment… right before my grapple cable goes taut… when it’s just me and the ground hovering somewhere far below… a moment of freefall… a moment of total calm. I will never tell anyone how much I enjoy that moment. Or how good [...]

Why is it that the noblest people are the ones most troubled by conscience? – Lois Lane (‘Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow’ by Alan Moore) This reminds me of how Guanyin Bodhisattva’s body, before he became a full-fledged Bodhisattva, shattered into pieces due to his anguish at not being able to help [...]

In ‘Manifest Destiny : Wolverine′ by Jason Aaron, Wolverine learnt the hard way that he has to become the Black Dragon (the leader overseeing multiple triads and pugilistic groups) after taking down the past corrupted one. In fact, the triad members were ready to kill him when he abandoned the position was he expected to [...]

In ‘X-Factor: Many Lives of Madrox’ by Peter David, Jamie Madrox or the Multiple Man (MM), who has the ability to create instant clones of himself recalls how he sent his dupes all over the place on his ‘great odyssey of learning’. However he loses track of them and has to find them one by [...]

Q: Does one who sacrifices his life for you have the greatest love of all? A: Being able to live a full life based on the Four Immeasurables (loving-kindness, compassion, rejoice, equanimity) perfected to help as many as possible is the greatest love. It is greater and truer love to live to help, than just [...]

Contrary to my expectations due to its trailer, ‘Kick-ass’ is not a typical smart-ass fantasy flick only for kiddies. It’s gritty at parts, and some scenes are violent reflections of what might happen in the real world. Yes, as bad-ass Big Daddy put it, Kick-ass gets his ass kicked – bad. Kick-ass is a regular [...]

From ‘The Amazing Spider-man: Family Ties’: Uncle Ben: Peter… you’ve never been in a fight in your entire life. Peter: So. Have you? Uncle Ben: A few times. Peter: Bet you were a regular Bruce Willis, huh? Kicking butt and taking names. Uncle Ben: I was a young idiot who learned the hard way that [...]