Super Short Story (99): Pain He was wondering why it took so long for the ulcer on his lip to heal, imagining it to be a huge ulcer, before discovering that the pain was from two small ulcers. When it comes to pain, he further wonders, is it better that it’s focused in one place or...

Some lament of not finding a dream partner, of not getting the one one wants now. Some lament of losing a dream partner, of not having ‘the one’ any more. Which is worse? Not getting what you want now, or losing what you get later? Is it worth it? Getting heavenly marital bliss...

From ‘Divide “between religions, not religious and non-religious”‘ in The Straits Times on 6 September 2011: ‘Mr Lee (Kuan Yew), whose agnosticism is well-known, concluded on a sanguine note: “If you try to convert me, I’ll say, thank you very...

A genie appeared to three in a boat and granted each of them a wish. A: I want to go to a place where I will always have enough to spend. The genie said okay and sent him to Moneyland. B: I want to go to a palace made of gold with all my needs attended to. The genie said okay and sent him to...

Before we returned home, we spent a night at the district called the Tibetan Refugee Colony in Delhi. We had to do so as the connecting flight was on the next morning. In a sense, we sought refuge there. It was as if we were refugees of sorts too. The place was like a more crowded version...

If forced bedside conversion to another religion is okay according to some, is it okay if someone else does the same to them? Why create hell for someone when all one wants when dying is peace of mind? Would not the giving of hell lead the dying to hell with anger and anguish? Would not the...

From the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln260/Vimalakirti.htm) are lesser known but some very surprising and illuminating teachings: ‘… Then the Licchavi Vimalakirti said to the patriarch Mahakasyapa, “Reverend Mahakasyapa,...

In a taxi at Dharamshala, we told a cabbie that he was going the wrong way. If I heard him correctly, he kind of admitted, but kind of denied this. While reversing his way out, he thought I heard him say, ‘There is no wrong way; only long way!’ Remind me of the idea that a trip to...

From ‘Talking Lines: The Graphic Stories of R.O. Bleachman’, Shakespeare’s sister Opinia says, ‘Hell. For is not its definition? An eternal fire that can never be quenched?’ That’s an interesting alternative take on the notion of ‘eternal...

S took a cursory glance at some alternative seats at the centre, where there is a full-house Dharma talk about to start. S: There are better seats there by the side of the building (which is out of the line of sight). G: What’s wrong with here? S: The seat here is on sloping ground and...

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...

There is a view that horrible scenes from films which get imprinted onto human minds will be fleshed out accordingly if one goes to hell. Because of this, such films should not be seen. However, here are some alternative views: 1. If one watches horror films to rejoice or relish in suffering...

I saw this as the ‘blurb’ of the new PostSecret book - ‘PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God’. I think it’s a beautiful ‘confession’. If this God-believer believes in love without discrimination, why can’t the God she believes in, who...

A Tit for a Tat (17) Tit: Well, another working day in ‘paradise’… not! Tat: Well, at least it’s hell.. not! Tit: Relatively paradisaical; not absolute hell! Next aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2009/06/overrating-the-overrated Previous aT4aT:...

In ‘Drag Me to Hell’, a girl who was just living another day in relative paradise before she encounters an old gypsy woman. Having offended her by not helping her enough, she gets hell in return. A vicious curse makes her life a living hell for three days, before dragging her to...

‘Those whose actions are evil are the ones who will fill the Hell of Great Heat, experiencing therein the fruits of their wickedness. It is there that they will boil for hundreds of thousands of years because of their wilful harm. Their own evil actions have thus become their enemies....

In ‘Chickens with Plums’ by Marjane Satrapi is this recounted story where Azrael, the angel of death was commanded by God to take the life of a man in India. But the day before, he bumps into him in Jerusalem. Terrified, the man runs to King Solomon to ask that he be sent far away...