Drewscape’s short story in ‘Monsters, Miracles, Mayonnaise’. Reminds me of how, as much as we are anonymous to one another, we are interdependent too. Mr (Lock)Smith seems to somewhat paradoxically understand while overlooking this when he felt smug about his role in the...

The above is a 1995 photo by a school senior. This was how the library of Singapore Polytechnic Buddhist Society looked like many years ago. I remember first entering the society room, looking at the sheer number of books and being thoroughly humbled by the fact that I knew little about the...

He, a stone-cutter, saw a rich man gathering many luxuries, and wished to be like him. Suddenly, he became him. He saw a high official getting much respect, and wished to be like him. Suddenly, he became him. He saw the hot sun making him sweat, and wished to be like it, Suddenly, he became...

She assumed he had let go of the matter, so she let it go, not further resolving it, not realising it is always better to over-apologise than to not apologise at all. It is always better to be doubly humble than not humble at...

I am partly blind because I cannot see everything yet. May I be humble to remember this. I am partly deaf because I cannot hear everything yet. May I be humble to remember this. I am partly foolish because I cannot know everything yet. May I be humble to remember...

From Itivuttaka 4.8:  This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: “Monks, brahmans & householders are very helpful to you, as they provide you with the requisites of robes, alms food, lodgings, & medical requisites for the sick. And you, monks,...

It is better to stand humbly low while moving stably than to stand tall and proud while moving rashly.

When one trips and falls, it’s easier to look for someone to blame, than to realise one was unmindful, as one’s ego looks for a scapegoat. Even when there is no tripper to blame, it’s easier to look for something on the ground to blame, than to realise one was unmindful, as...

Another random lesson from Taiji class: To master Taiji faster, forget all your preconceptions… and even doubts, and accept the instructions on how to move properly, before asking anything later. As this is not the receiving of spiritual truth, but only physical instructions, this is...

It is heartening to see Dharma teachers attending talks and classes of other teachers, instead of just attending to their own. Because the best teachers, other than those already enlightened, are still students, with more to learn, even if they think they already know...

A good translator can be both satisfied and unsatisfied: unsatisfied with other translations seen, which urges one to come up with a more satisfactory translation… which leads to satisfaction with one’s better translation, till one sees a more satisfactory translation...

Here is my mini sharing of His Holiness Dalai Lama’s 2010 Southeast Asia teaching tour. I felt very fortunate to be able to learn directly from him. Even more fortunate was to have two great Dharma friends who have been to His Holiness’ teachings for years, to take care of us and...

I remember when I first visited a primary school built by Tzu Chi Foundation many years ago, the Buddhist volunteer who guided us around the wonderful buildings in the compound shared something intriguing with us. He said that if we might have noticed, there are no sharp edges in any...

I’m reminded that it is good to leave my email address when I comment online… so that I can receive replies to my comments. I mustn’t imagine that I have the last word, as I might not. Humility is good, for it keeps me learning, for it keeps things real. And if someone posts...

I haven’t watched ‘Rain Man’ yet, though I know it’s a classic film for understanding the nature of autism. Knowing the synopsis roughly, it stuck me that we are all, so long as not fully enlightened, defective in various ways. Tom Cruise plays the ‘normal’...

The tour guide cum driver we had for the temple pilgrimage trip admitted to us on the very first day, that he is a Christian; not a Buddhist. We were a little appalled at first, but he was professional, and assured us that because he does not know much about Buddhism or the places we are...

In ‘Ip Man 2’, Ip Man (pronounced as Ye Wen in Chinese) shares some counter-intuitive wisdom on the arts of fighting (and not fighting): 1. When facing many enemies out for blood, it is best to run. But if running is not possible, fight. 2. Winning an opponent is not as important as...

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...

Thus have I heard, the below poignant and hilarious accounts are based on actual concurrent incidents… The old abbot of a temple had a terrible toothache. So bad was it that it was debilitating… affecting his nerves literally. The hospital stay was humbling to him. It made him...

Question: A friend’s son lately found it difficult to focus and could not study at all. He had applied leave of absence from school. But, currently he is preparing for a special exam required for studying the subject of choice later.  At times, he is quite frustrated, tense and...