Napolean Dynamite is one quirky comedy starring the amazing Jon Heder. He acted so believably as an ultra-nerd that the twist at the end where he breaks into a dance with super confidence and ‘coolness’ surprises everyone in the movie, and of course, the ones watching it too – especially those who were not yet [...]

Pic: Mug at Dharma Drum Mountain’s Bookshop at Jinshan OMG! Oh my God? Ohmigosh? OMB! Oh my Buddha! My own Buddha-nature… too. Next Taiwan Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/07/taiwan-adventure-7-heart-sutra-in-binary-code Previous Taiwan Adventure: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/06/taiwan-adventure-5-more-more

Int he movie ‘Marie Antionette’, she quotes Rousseau in the open fields to her friends, after ‘breaking free’ of the palace: If we assume man has been corrupted by an artificial civilization, what’s the natural state. The state of nature from which he was removed? Imagine wandering up and down the forest without industry, without [...]

If you really think you and I can’t change, you don’t really believe in Anicca. If you really think you and I can’t change, you don’t really believe in Anatta. If you really think you and I can’t change, you don’t really believe in our Buddha-nature.

Best words of wisdom from the third Shrek movies, by Arty: Just because people treat you like a villain, or an ogre or just some loser doesn’t mean you are one. What matters most is what you think of yourself. If there’s something you really want, or someone you want to be, the only person [...]

I don’t understand how any deity is invoked by excitement, by songs, yells and cheers. Won’t overwhelming emotions get in the way? My Buddha-nature however, is invoked by calmness, by mindfulness, contemplation and realisation.        . Peace of mind paves the way.

In the latest movie depiction of the most turbulent years in the life of ‘Confucius’, there was a scene where Confucius spoke up for a sacrificial bird in court. There was a discussion over whether the bird, who bit off its main tail feather, ought to be killed as scheduled for the gods or liberated [...]

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 [...]

A Tit for a Tat (100) Tit: Everyone should see someone as special. Tat: Only one? Tit: If not, that person wouldn’t be special. Tat: Isn’t it more special to see two or more than one to be special? Tit: Sounds like promiscuity! Tat: What if everyone is seen as equally special? Tit: Sounds like [...]

Seeing a cleaner dusting a stupa that housed the Buddha’s relics. I wondered what would happen, should it be left neglected? It will become buried, swallowed by the sands of time, forgotten and lost in history. Like a precious relic that is the Buddhadharma, or our Buddhadhatu (Buddha-nature) too, it will be obscured by dirt [...]

The story by Maaike Hartjes in ‘Go Home: 12 Moving Stories’ tells of a baby bird born a little different. He searches for acceptance, and tries to give up some of his unique physical features, while trying to take up ones similar to others. However, despite his efforts, he is repeatedly rejected by other birds. [...]

‘Who am I?’ ‘I’ am nothing but constant change, yet while our mind and matter change, there is always to unchanging potential to become fully enlightened, perfect in compassion and wisdom. Yesterday at 11:37pm · Raymund Lacson Well said.. Thanks Shen Shi’an Today at 4:40am · Leong Seng Chen Well bros Shen & Ray, to [...]

From ‘Wonderland’, which is a spin-off story based on ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew are some interesting dialogues – Feather: You’re late because you spent so much time bleaching, starching, and ironing this apron! Mary Ann: There was a spot! Feather: It was a shadow. Comments: Some things, which protect [...]

The main story arc of the movie PTU (Police Tactical Unit) is about a cop who slips and falls in an alley while chasing a gangster. Losing his consciousness, he awakes to find his gun missing. He then goes on a series of misadventures which implicate many others to retrieve his gun, which he believes [...]

Every time I come to hear the poignant opening lines of Erasure’s ‘Piano Song’, I’m reminded of how the Buddha’s teachings saved my life during my growing up years – both physically and spiritually, of how much existential resentment and estrangement I had learnt to let go… Never get angry at the stupid people Though [...]