How ‘Elmo’s Song’ can be yours too. A simple song that epitomises being Elmo as the opposite of being ‘Emo’. The nonsensical Mah Na Mah Na ‘Mantra’ of zany joy for no particular reason. An actually sensible yet funny analysis of Yankee Doodle by Don...

Question: Would you say that reciting Om Mani Padme Hung is similar to the practice of metta meditation in that it develops loving-kindness and compassion? Answer: A friend’s wife, at the end of an Om Mani Padme Hum retreat, turned vegetarian upon hearing the heartfelt advice of...

’3 Idiots’ is the most amazing Indian movie I have seen so far. Truly wonderfully moving, funny yet insightful. (It is to date the highest grossing Bollywood film.) In it, a story was related by Rancho, of an old watchman, who goes about a village at night proclaiming his...

A friend is compiling teachings by Rinpoche for publication, and asked me to check the below, which I sent years ago. I thought it is good to share the improved version here… Teachings given on 8 Dec 2003 at Than Hsiang Temple, Penang, Malaysia during 100 Million Six-Syllable ...

The ingenious film that is ‘Inception’ begins with the assumption that it is possible for multiple persons to enter someone’s dream, that can even be designed without that person knowing, thus digging out deep secrets from his sub-consciousness, or even implanting ideas...

Mantras are words, which are supposed to mean as much as possible in as few words as possible. So concise and compact are they, that they are difficult, or some say, impossible, to expound in full. (Pic: The most popular mantra: Om Mani Padme Hung)...

The more I look around, the more ‘mantras’ I see in everyday life. Here’s a haunting one… ‘Mmm mmm mmm mmm’ A ‘mantra’ on doubt, puzzlement, wonderment… ? ‘Mmm mmm mmm mmm’ Now this will get you nowhere near...

In ‘Superman: Camelot Falls’ by Kurt Busiek, Superman resists a spell by repeating a ‘mantra’ (taught by J’onn Jones) that tries to overpower his will – ‘I know who I am. I know where I am. I think for myself.’ To that, illusory avalanche rocks...

Below is some traditional Vajrayana advice on how to dispose Dharma books that have become too old or damaged for re-circulation. (Yes, ideally, such books should be ‘recycled’ for reuse by others as much a possible – before being disposed.) – ‘If it is...