Voted song of 2008 by Rolling Stone, The Killers’ ‘Human’ has an interesting line, that seems grammatically incorrect – ‘Are we human, or are we dancer?’ Wikipedia: ‘There remains confusion and debate over the line “Are we human, or are we dancer?” in the song’s chorus. Debate raged across the internet over whether the lyrics [...]

There are many Buddha images around the world, and they come in all shapes, sizes and materials. We will always choose the one we feel close to for enshrining at home – one that is appealing to look at, that we feel close to. Non-Buddhists often accuse Buddhists of idol-worshiping. To them, paying homage before [...]

… I saw something in your eyes I’m sure Something in your eyes I wanted it for myself You and I have come so far We’ve reached beyond the farthest star Time and time and time again I want you back You were my friend We can’t pretend… Dave Gahan’s song ‘Saw Something’ (from the album [...]

Question: Is there a need to be a full-time vegetarian if I pay homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Dizang Pusa)? Am asking because I’m going to install his image at home. Answer: It’s not compulsory, but it would be good to eat less meat, as many animals and Ksitigarabha Bodhisattva would rejoice greatly when they know of your compassionate [...]

In the graphic novel version of ‘Kidnapped’ by Robert Louis Stevenson (adapted by Alan Grant, illustrated by Cam Kennedy), the protagonist gets… yes, kidnapped. For most of the story, he is portrayed as severely disturbed by having been betrayed by his only uncle. Even after he breaks free from his kidnappers, he is still uneasy, [...]

I don’t have faith that there is an all-forgiving God because the last time he lost faith in us… he sent a flood. I do have faith that there are all-loving Buddhas because the recent one had faith in us… he said we have Buddha-nature.

Here are some lyrics in part from Moby’s bittersweet song ‘Slipping Away’ from his album ‘Hotel’: Open to everything happy and sad Seeing the good when it’s all going bad Seeing the sun when I can’t really see Hoping the sun will at least look at me Focus on everything better today All that I [...]

I read in a Buddhist mailing list that Karen Armstrong’s new book ‘The Case for God’, which is somewhat apologetics for the ‘invisible ruler’, surprisingly ended with a paragraph on the Buddha. I checked it out at a bookstore. Here it is: Excerpt: One day a Brahmin priest came across the Buddha sitting in contemplation [...]

When I was younger, during my adolescent years, there was a period of time, which felt like two years, when I diligently avoided looking into any mirror – because I didn’t felt like the person I saw in the reflection. There was a bizarre sense of disconnection, as if my face didn’t represent or express [...]

‘Who Is It?’ is one of Michael Jackson’s lesser known hits. With news of his tragic early demise, the song suddenly came to mind. It’s the song I would remember MJ by, because I often wondered who the shapeshifting and occasionally physically veiled MJ really was, just as he wonders who the girl he’s with [...]

A Tit for a Tat (22) Tit: Do you believe me or yourself? Tat: I believe in Buddha. Tit: But I have Buddha-nature. Tat: So do I. Tit: Why not believe yourself then? Tat: Because I don’t totally believe I’m a Buddha within… yet! Next aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/06/procrastination-of-happiness-with-attachment Previous aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/06/give-a-break

The Terminator saga, as most would know, is about the anthropomorphism and demonisation of high technology. It is a series of extreme cautionary tales on the potential danger of humans going overboard with unchecked technologisation. Technology is meant to be a means for relieving human suffering, for bringing ease into our lives. However, technology for [...]

From the chorus of ‘Only When I Lose Myself’ by Depeche Mode: ‘It’s only when I lose myself in someone else That I find myself I find myself’… … in the depths of Samsara or that of true Nirvana? Lose your self-delusion to realise the ‘true-self’ of ‘non-self’ – one’s Buddha-nature! For those who have [...]

In the movie ‘Blood: The Last Vampire’, it was suggested to Saya (the half-vampire human) by her teacher that (vampirical) demons have no souls (in the sense that they have no conscience and are thus not redeemable or worth sparing), that ‘heaven’ put them in our world to test our virtues. Now, how virtuous can such [...]

In ‘Timbuktu’ by Paul Auster (illustrated by Julia Goschke for an abridged graphic novel), the author explores human homelessness via the vision of a vagrant dog. Ostracised by society, as Mr. Bones the dog put it, ’He would have to keep on moving, even if he had nowhere to go.’ There is no true lasting refuge [...]