Question: A temple is promoting beliefs that some Buddhas and Bodhisattvas protect people born in certain years. They have booklets in print and online on such ideas too. Are these beliefs Buddhist? Answer: The short answer is that these beliefs are not Buddhist. Here is an analysis of a sample booklet, using the one for [...]

In ‘Green Lantern: Secret Origin’ by Geoff Johns, Sinestro teaches Hal Jordan on how to use his power ring, which can manifest any form he visualises to rescue or defend beings in need – ‘Your constructs are weak. They’re laced with anger. And although the guardians [of the Green Lantern Corps] believe fear creates cracks [...]

Many staff quit organisations with Big Boss Syndromes (BBS), which is the ‘I’m always right’ attitude – while the Big Bosses are unaware that they quit precisely because of their huge egos. Due to BBS, staff don’t dare to feedback honestly to their Big Bosses, because they know that they don’t take feedback well. Even [...]

A Tit for a Tat (117) Tit: I don’t feel that I belong! Tat: Belong where? Tit: Here – in Samsara Tat: That’s good! Tit: How so? Tat: If you feel right at home, how are you going to break free from Samsara? Tit: But aren’t Bodhisattvas supposed to feel at ease in Samsara? Tat: [...]

Though a large organic farm I visited doesn’t use pesticides, it uses fly paper and blue UV light insect-killers to keep insects away from the crops. Truly vegan food is always organic, but organic food is not always truly vegan. Tricky indeed. But less insects are killed on the farm… I hope… than on non-organic [...]

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 that person redeems [...]

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, [...]

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 egoistic [...]

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 [...]

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 seething [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]