末法末法，人末法不末。 正法正法，人正法自正。 ~ 石子 Dharma Ending Age, Dharma Ending Age… It is in the humans that the Dharma ends, the Dharma itself has no end. Right Dharma Age, Right Dharma Age… It is when the humans are upRight, that the Dharma Ending Age naturally becomes Right. – Stonepeace

Here is the original Hippocratic Oath taken by ancient Greek doctors, from which modern versions of doctors’ moral conduct is derived: I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement: To consider dear to [...]

Some friends comment that some relics (sairira) of great Buddhist masters look quite ordinary, in the sense that they can’t even tell for sure if they can be considered holy relics. The truth is, it is indeed not easy to verify if some remains are truly of unique significance. However, the truest relics always are non-physical [...]

Gift of vegetarian mid-autumn mooncakes on teacher’s day from M & Y with post-it that says ‘法轮常转’ (May the wheel of the Dharma keep turning) and thanks :-] My thanks in return, for appreciating the Dharma-sharing! Let’s all keep turning the wheel in ways we can! Amituofo (Written later) Interestingly, a friend noted that on the post-it, [...]

He spent $200,000 to change his kidneys via the black market. He spent 1 second to fall and die. What bitter irony! Wealth is no true refuge. Health is no true refuge. What is your true refuge? Amituofo… Amituofo… Amituofo… Amituofo is the name of the Dharmakaya of all Buddhas. Amituofo is the essence of [...]

There is much discussion accounting for the drop of 9.2% of Buddhists here, according the latest census. Wanted to write a lengthy piece on it but decided to just write this – ‘Let’s step up work in Buddhist education and urge one another to do the same.’ All other discussions, if not acted upon, is [...]

He collects many Dharma books that are sponsored by others for sharing the Dharma. But he doesn’t really read them; he just browses and shelves them. But he might be collecting lots of bad karma too, by hoarding precious Dharma books that are meant to spread the Dharma. This is how the Dharma when ‘abused’ [...]

Open-hearted communication is the lifeblood of any relationship. Without the Buddha’s communication of the Dharma to the Sangha, of the Sangha to us, we would have no spiritual relationship with the Triple Gem, and no spiritual friends too.

The more you learn the Dharma, the harder is it to share the Dharma, as you realise the depth of the Dharma. Yet… The more you learn the Dharma, the easier is it to share the Dharma, as you realise the essence of the Dharma.

I worry for Dharma friends who learn from many teachers, because they might become confused if there are (‘seemingly’) contradicting teachings (that they can’t reconcile). I worry for Dharma friends who learn from only one teacher, because they might become disappointed if there are contradicting actions (that contradict the Dharma preached). I suggest taking the [...]

To know if your moves happened to be right due to unmindful beginner’s ‘luck’, keep practising them, to repeat the right moves mindfully. To know if you have perfected a Dharma practice, keep practising the Dharma perfectly. – Stonepeace

The Buddha is also called ‘The Blessed One’. But who blesses the Blessed One, who blesses us with the Dharma? The Blessed One blesses himself perfectly with perfect realisation and practice of the Dharma. The Blessed One is thus infinitely blessed with boundless merits and wisdom.

As generally defined, seven kinds of refuge. Which one are you? Generally, any form of refuge missing Dharma is spiritually unsafe. In the absence of Buddha and Sangha, is refuge in Dharma enough? Refuge In The Single Gem 1. Refuge in Buddha: Faith in Buddha without learning Dharma from Sangha 2. Refuge in Dharma: Practice [...]

A friend’s experience… While shortlisting films for a Buddhist short film festival, I spoke firmly against the choice of one, listing more than 20 reasons why it should not be selected. To my shock, despite this, someone exclaims that ‘It’s just a movie’. Disturbing… because aren’t Buddhist film festivals for sharing the Dharma; and not [...]

The singing duo ‘Everything But the Girl’ (EBTG) adopted their name from the slogan of furniture which had a window sign that read, ‘for your bedroom needs, we sell everything but the girl’. A reminder that the material is still incomplete. In fact, the non-material or spiritual is the essential. What makes a well-furnished house a home [...]