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I like the scene of reviving the old book – simply by reading it. Just as books give us a richer inner life, we give life to books by reading them too. Indeed, a book and its reader make sense in themselves only when relating to each other. Reminds me of the teaching that sutras can...

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,...

Upon entering Dharma Drum Mountain’s resource library is an interesting artwork. It’s called 心经影壁 or ‘Wall of Images of the Heart Sutra’. On it are 20 copies of the Heart Sutra inscribed on bronze in various languages. It’s an apt piece of sacred...

Form is emptiness; (色即是空) Emptiness is form. (空即是色) Form is not different from emptiness;（色不异空） Emptiness is not different from form.  (空不异色） So says the Heart Sutra, but what do these lines really say? They speak of that which cannot really be put ...

DHARMA@CINEMA: School Days with a Pig (Strictly by registration only) A movie screening and sharing by Shen Shi’an Based on a controversial true story that swept across Japan, a rookie primary school teacher suggests his students to raise a pig before eating him, so as to learn ‘the real...

Pic: 4ocima Taking refuge in the Buddha, may I be with the awakened Taking refuge in the Dharma, may I be on the path to awakening Taking refuge in the Sangha, may I be with those on the path to awakening - Stonepeace A Dharma friend was rationalising for her refuge master’s legal...

< Movie poster for Singapore The award-winning movie ‘School Days with a Pig’ tells of a teacher’s special project for his class of grade 6 students to learn more deeply about the connection between life and food – by raising a piglet together, before eventually...

In Mahavaipulya-mahasanni-pata Sutra, a verse says: In the Dharma Ending Age [which we're about 10% into now], when 100 million [times] of 100 million people practise the Dharma, it is rare that one will realise the way [at least Arahatship]; Only depending on mindfulness of Buddha [a...

Fai: My casual observation: both ‘practice’ and ‘studies’ seems to work well as means for ego inflation. I have met both ‘serious meditators/ practitioners’ as well as Buddhist scholars who have very big egos and think the world of themselves.  Me:...

A Dharma friend recounted the first time she stepped into a Chinese Buddhist temple out of interest to learn chanting. The chanting session was probably about to start, and there were rows of prayer cushions for kneeling. While navigating around, she straddled over a cushion with a Sutra...

Three Perspectives of a Fatherly Buddha Image From Chapter Three of the Lotus Sutra: I tell you, Shariputra, I am like this, too, The honored among many sages, The father of the worlds. All living beings Are my children; Deeply attached to worldly pleasures, They have no wise thoughts at...

Skanda Bodhisattva faces the Buddha in the main shrine, because he guards the Buddha. Skanda Bodhisattva faces the last page of the Sutras, because he guards the Dharma. Skanda Bodhisattva faces us when we face him, reminding us to guard the Buddha/dharma too. Notes: Skanda (Weituo)...

I was looking through my old phone’s notes… a collection of words, most of which do not form complete sentences, semi-shorthand notes taken in a hurry to remind me of what to write later. But it was a ‘later’ largely to late, because, to my aghast, many of the notes...

The Cross-Manifestations of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas & Gods? (Also featured in www.buddhistchannel.tv) It is common for those unfamiliar with the different intricate details between various religions to suppose that all the divine worshiped or taken refuge in are exactly the same, to be...