Q: I have always thought that the Buddha’s Parinirvana was the end and that he would not be subjected to rebirth upon achieving it. I was surprising that you mentioned that the Buddha still exists. And that he and all other Buddhas are still working hard to guide beings to Nirvana
A: Yes, you [...]

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

Symbol of the Triratna (: Sanskrit; Tiratana: Pali), as seen in the Sanchi stupa, 1st century BCE.
自皈依佛，当愿众生，绍隆佛种，发无上心
自皈依法，当愿众生，深入经藏，智慧如海
自皈依僧，当愿众生，统理大众，一切无碍
- 华严经
Taking refuge in the Buddha, may all beings succeed and glorify the Buddha seed,
giving rise to the unsurpassable aspiration [for Buddhahood].
Taking refuge in the Dharma, may all beings deeply enter the treasury of sutras,
and widen [...]

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 to [...]

Visited St. Patrick’s School again, a couple of days ago, to give a presentation on the Buddhist perspective of life and death. Instead of using the usual lecture theatre, the school hall was used instead – as there were 130 Catholic boys this time. Above is a picture of a powerpoint slide used, featuring a [...]

Something written for a magazine:

Q: Why do Buddha images differ? What do different poses and expressions reflect?
A: Buddha images in different countries evolved according to the cultural preferences of each. For instance, images in China came to resemble the Chinese. Chinese images of the Buddha are usually more plump or even slightly [...]

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 [...]

A friend came across these phrases in a Buddhist website – ‘Who is Buddha?’ and ‘Buddha’s teachings’. He asked whether they ought to be ‘Who is the Buddha?’ and ‘The Buddha’s teachings’. He remarked that it’s ironical that such incorrect English is used very often in the West! I agree, because:
1. [...]

From ‘The Color of Earth’ by Kim Dong Hwa, a young monk poignantly thinks to himself when he realises he has a crush on a girl.
Night after night,
I embrace Buddha and sleep.
Morning after morning,
I embrace Buddha and wake…
Hour
by minute
by second
I always believed I’d spend
every moment with Buddha, but…
Why does Ehwa appear bigger than Buddha?
If I [...]