Tag: merits

29
May
2017

Incenseless Incense

Er… Technically, this becomes offering of just a little light only; with no actual offering of incense! The basic significance…

09
May
2017

Merits Vs Blessings

BLESSINGS (福报) refer to GOOD karma created, WITH attachment to rewards. Thus, they are LIMITED in nature. (福报有限) MERITS or…

21
Mar
2013

Vinegar Story?

Question: I’ve heard of how Lao Tze and Confucious tasting vinegar with the Buddha together, and how the Buddha declared…

09
Jan
2012

Land Without Money

If this is 100% true, this is another good reason to migrate to Pure Land, the land of no greed…

06
Dec
2011

The Limited Merits Of Meritocracy

Meritocracy sounds fair at first – the idea that may the ones who work the hardest shine, but the truth is,…

03
Oct
2011

Ghostly Affinity?

A friend thinks he might have encountered a ghost, indirectly, having snapped a picture which includes a strange ghostly figure….

27
Jul
2011

Bless You

What happens when a guru blesses you? Does he or she passes over some special force of goodness or merits,…

14
Dec
2010

Healthy Monastic & Lay Interdependence

From Itivuttaka 4.8:  This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: “Monks, brahmans…

07
Dec
2010

The Limitations of Amulets

Amulets might offer some protection – but they cannot protect anyone from eventual death. Amulets might offer some blessings –…

24
Nov
2010

Self & Other-Reliance

Question: I was having a practical test and there was a candidate who did very badly. Immediately, I chanted silently,…

22
Nov
2010

Who Blesses The Blessed One?

The Buddha is also called ‘The Blessed One’. But who blesses the Blessed One, who blesses us with the Dharma?…

04
Oct
2010

To Empathise is to Civilise

To empathise is to civilise. To civilise is to empathise. – Jeremy Rifkin As mentioned in the video, ‘We are…

29
Sep
2010

How to Be a Monk?

About once or twice a year, I get calls from strangers, directed from people who don’t know the answer, who…

02
Sep
2010

Transformation by Power of Goodness

Y: I need to minimise my contact with him… to save my sanity, preserve myself, to prevent good vibes from…

13
Jul
2010

‘Slavery’ of Child Spirits

Q: Is the rearing of child spirits (such as aborted babies or those who died prematurely) a Buddhist practice? A:…

18
Jan
2010

How to ‘Live Long(er) & (Truly) Prosper’

The most urgent matter, upon attaining this precious but brief human rebirth, is to safeguard one’s future rebirth. – Stonepeace…

03
Sep
2009

Pop Buddhism?

Q: What are your thoughts on the relation of pop psychology and Buddhism, and how the concept of karma is…

12
May
2009

Do You Win When You Lose?

In ‘Timbuktu’ by Paul Auster (illustrated by Julia Goschke for an abridged graphic novel), the author explores human homelessness via…

14
Apr
2009

Do You Admit You Cheated If You Didn’t?

The Million Dollar Question… Q: How do you admit how you cheated if you did not? A: You don’t –…

29
Mar
2009

Do You Owe the Earth An Hour?

Sadhu to those all over the world who participated in Earth Hour. May all be mindful of the importance of…