Super Short Story (162): Biography She thought of writing her biography until she heard a biographer’s comment that an autobiography is probably the most inaccurate version of one’s own life. Makes sense, unless… she chooses to be brutally honest with herself. But that...

A:I find 老实人 (honest; forthright persons) irresistible. S: A very 老实 comment! We all prefer 老实人. Ironically, even the 不老实的人 prefer them! Actually, 不老实的人 are very tired of other 不老实的人, that’s why they prefer 老实人. Sadly, they forget...

心不老实即行不老实。 老实至心即老实修行。 When the mind is not earnest [forthright; honest; frank; straightforward], the practice [action] is not earnest. When the mind is earnest [and sincere], the practice is earnest. -...

In the ‘brutal’ game that is Survivor in one of the recent seasons, Fabio, seemingly a simple-minded goofball at first, eventually won the game. This seemed pretty amazing because he was the youngest winner yet, and he won without double-crossing anyone. The thing is, if you...

Part 1: It is amazing… how a total stranger on the street can be all smiles, greeting you, offering a hand to shake. Then again, it’s expected, as she is just a salesperson out to be nice, only to solicit a sale from you. Part 2: It is amazing… how the same...

A Tit for a Tat (214) Tit: Do you have change? Tat: Yes… but I need to use it later. Tit: Why waste my time? You should just say you don’t have any! Tat: I prefer honesty. Tit: I prefer to save time. Tat: You prefer dishonesty? Tit: No, but you having change was as good as not...

An email apology: Dear Si’Ann (sic), Referring to our tele-conversation, our sincere apologies for any misunderstandings or miscommunication if any. May you be well and happy. ___, President of ___ My email reply: To ___, It is really incredibly simple… Once again, all notices...

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...

Only Buddhas, who are perfect teachers, do not require [constructive] criticism from their students. - Stonepeace What do you do when you encounter a Dharma teacher who teaches in ways far from perfect? I used to slap an invisible label of ‘lousy’ on him or her, and shun his or...

Love is the only shocking act left on the planet. – Reed Bennett If you are honest, and would like others to be honest, how would you take it if your otherwise perfectly ‘faithful’ spouse of many years tells you that she once had a very brief affair in your absence a long ...

There is a quiz game show on TV that we all know, that is seemingly the most difficult, because almost anything can be asked ‘randomly’. This game is ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire?’, which tests general knowledge. Now, some of the ‘remainder’ unasked...

The Million Dollar Question… Q: How do you admit how you cheated if you did not? A: You don’t – or you would really be cheating – yourself and the world! The hero of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a story of the power of integrity, of how it truly shines despite...

I used to wonder this when I come across news of celebrity marriages in the papers – ‘Why is it that the rich and famous tend to marry the rich and famous?’ Is it the result of mutual seeking of compatibility in social status? Is it natural or contrived? How true is the...