Dhamma Delights

EQ and IQ

2026-02-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

At a Christmas dinner, an elderly woman said she just prayed to God for simple things. A young woman asked why pray for so little. She said the scripture said clearly you can pray for anything, lots of things in fact and one might as well pray for lots of things, like lots of money for instance. Both the women are Christians and the young woman did not sound cynical but dead serious. The young woman, I heard did very well academically and career wise, an intelligent person by modern standards. An ntelligent person who is clever enough to invent could invent a bomb but don't you think it did not do much justice to his or her intelligence. All said, I mean to say maybe about religion, an intelligent person seems to lose some of his or her intelligence. Perhaps, religious matters are matters of the heart. They have to do more with EQ than IQ. The brain stops functioning then and the heart takes over. Lol.

Giving Away Your Bahts

2025-04-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Going overseas, one may encounter this problem - one either has too little or too much to spend depending on the amount of foreign currencies one has changed. In the case of Thai Bahts, one lady has this to say : Don't worry of having too much and don't worry about not being able to use them when you get back to your home country. You can always donate your Bahts to Buddhist monks. I suppose that make sense since many of them would visit Thailand at one time or another or perhaps know Thai monks who could make good use of your Thai Bahts. Never mind that Buddhist monks are not supposed to handle money. I suddenly thought that when one gave away things one does not need, it does not tantamount to giving. In such case, would one earn merits?

What the Diamond Sutra says about merits:

Food for Dana

2025-03-29T01:44:00.000-07:00

When lay Buddhists offer Buddhist monks food, you would be surprised by the sheer variety and abundance. Buddhist monks since Buddha's time never have it that good, I suppose. Today, monks could have a pick of their food and eat to their heart content if they choose to. Offering of food to monk is part of dana and while it aims to cultivate in lay Buddhists,generosity among other things; do you for once wonder if it affects the monks. Could they unknowingly get overindulge in satisfying their tastebuds?

Unconditional Love

2025-02-26T18:06:00.000-08:00

Just the other day, someone posted in Facebook saying that one should treat one's mother well because she is the one who treats her children with unconditional love. Several people commented that this was not true. Some mothers do set conditions for loving their children. Some could be toxic as well to the extent that the children refuse to talk or have anything to do with them. A spade should be called a spade, I suppose and in the case of toxic parents, it is not easy to just brush them off. Thinking of the days when we were dependents, perhaps we ought to be thankful to mothers and fathers for having a roof over our heads and food on the tables. While we may not be able to be nice to toxic parents, perhaps we should still have to take care of their material or whatever needs. Children perhaps should have unconditional love for their parents.

Something about love!

Something about Greed

2025-02-17T23:17:00.000-08:00

Wonder if anyone in this world never ever experience greed. Often when talking about greed, one thinks of the greed of money and other material things; but I remember when young, sometimes I would have this greed of wanting more attentions from parents, teachers and friends. At a later stage in life, during the twilight years, would there perhaps arise a greed to achieve Nirvana?

Something about greed :

Happy New Year!

2024-12-31T22:49:00.000-08:00

It's 1st January 2025! Time certainly flies! Probably it is the time when many make new resolutions. May it be about your love life or working life, perhaps it would be a good idea to incorporate the Five Buddhist Precepts into some of your resolutions. Not that I have make resolutions on New Year Day, in the past or present but I suddenly thought it would be a good idea to consider this:

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.

2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.

5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

Happy New Year everyone! May you be well and happy!

Merry Christmas!

2024-12-25T00:48:00.000-08:00

A government department, I read came out with guidelines for Muslims celebrating religious festival of non-Muslims. Read that they are not supposed to wear red but I didn't catch the reason why. Elsewhere, in Facebook, someone asked if Buddhists can celebrate Christmas. There probably is no reason why Buddhists can't. Afterall, Christmas is a time for rejoicing and sharing and there seems to be lots of Metta on Christmas day. As to how Buddhists celebrates Christmas, I remember reading a long time ago that a Buddhist temple in South Korea even had a Christmas tree. Most Buddhists most probably wish Christians and non-Christians a merry Christmas. There is no harm in having good thoughts for others.

Merry Christmas everyone! May you be well and happy!

More musings!

Would She Suffer?

2024-12-08T00:51:00.001-08:00

When a politician was sued for defamation, one would wonder if the she would suffer any negative effects. The politician was asked to pay different sum of money to three different people which added up to a big sum. Not sure if the politician is rich as she is rather young; but probably it hurts when it comes to the loss of money. If money isn't an issue, would the politician undergo some other kind of sufferings; or would she be able to hold on to her peace of mind considering that as a PhD holder, she could have an above average intelligence.

Would this verse in the Dhammapada applies to the politician?

Death Contemplation

2024-12-08T00:17:00.001-08:00

Imagine going for a job interview thinking that you are going to work in a tour agency and ending up having a job preparing dead bodies for cremation instead. That was what happened to a young cellist Daigo Kobayashi in the 2008 Japanese Academy Award winning movie, Departure. There are some deaths in the movie, enough to make one realize that death is something natural, something not really negative but a reality which we ought to accept. Somewhere I read that Buddha said that contemplating on death leads to the Deathless and to Nibbāna. Not sure how that works but some believe that such contemplation could change how we relate to others and how we live our lives. That probably is something good.

Perhaps, we ought to contemplate on death!

News! : Dream

2024-11-19T06:45:00.002-08:00

A top Malaysian politician claimed that a decade ago he had dreamed of meeting the Prophet. Suppose if a Buddhist dreams of meeting the Buddha, he would not forget the dream easily too, not in a lifetime even. Imagine seeing yourself paying homage and then communicating with the Buddha as he sat there cross legged on a lotus. How would you forget if he was talking to you when usually he sits mum in the temples, sometimes with eyes closed and in meditation too. But you would recognize Buddha anywhere as you have seen images of him. As for the prophet, you probably haven't seen his image.

More News!

Squander Off Your Wealth!

2024-10-26T18:35:00.008-07:00

Wealth has always been an important aspect in a human's life. Remember reading about famous Hollywood celebrities who squandered away their wealth including Mike Tyson, Nicholas Cage and Johnny Depp. Mike Tyson reportedly spent millions on a golden bathtub and spent big chunks of money on a birthday party, jewelleries; even exotic animals. The former heavyweight champion did not review his bank statements and let others control his finances. Nicholas Cage bought an octopus and a dinosaur skull at a hefty price while Jonny Depp spent big money on wine. There are always ways to squander off one's wealth!

Check out the Sigalovada Sutta!

Your God, My God

2024-10-14T02:57:00.000-07:00

Religions cause discord; there's no doubt about it. Forget the great discord caused by people going to wars in the name of their religion. Every now and then, one may hear of young people leaving their homes or disowned by their parents when they convert to another religion. In their zeal to spread their religion, people do not really give a thought to the pain inflicted to a family. Just as long as a new member has been recruited and someone has been thought to be saved and ensured a place in heaven, everything could be forgo. In the recent Chinese Nine Emperor Gods Festival, a group of Hindus paid homage to the Chinese Gods in a Chinese temple. Perhaps people could live in harmony if they would only offer some respect to other people's God. Your God is my God should be the motto of good people, Buddhists too even though they do not place so much importance of God especially in determining their fate. What do you think?

At a Chinese temple :

11. 10.24

Quotes to Ponder : Kǒngzǐ 孔子

2024-09-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

When anger rises, think of the consequences.
Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
Respect yourself, and others will respect you.
The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Talk about a Chinese known all over the world more for his non-Chinese name, I'd place my best bet on Kǒngzǐ 孔子. The Chinese sage of ancient time was born Kong Qiu 孔丘 during the Spring and Autumn period and was the first teacher in China to advocate mass education. He emphasized personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness, kindness, sincerity, and a ruler's responsibilities to lead by virtue in his philosophical teachings called Confucianism which influenced the Chinese greatly. Kong Qiu is none other than Confucius.

More Wise Quotes!

Fun Pictures

2024-09-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

I read that an App called Renmini became the rage in China. The App could transform beautiful images of people into ugly images. When some people posted the doctored pictures in the Internet, they became a hit because many find the pictures cute. During the days when there were no Apps to doctor our pictures, I suppose one could just use one's own creativity and ingenuity to take fun pictures. Like for instance in the picture I came across in the Internet where the photographer took the picture of his hands and a Buddha statue - the pictures tickled the funny bones but again I wonder, why aren't pictures like this taken with statues of other religious leaders. Would their actions be tolerated?

More Musings!

Feelings

2024-09-21T00:20:00.000-07:00

Feelings, you may think is fleeting. Feeling happy especially seems to come and go in a split of a second but feelings of pain and hurt would gnaw into our hearts and seems to last a lifetime. Knowing that feelings come and go, could we not just let the bad feelings go?

Feelings, as in the Ananda Sutta:

More Musings!

Becoming the Buddha

2024-09-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

Remember hearing a Mahayana monk said many years ago why he converted from Christianity to Buddhism. He had received a book about Buddhism from a friend and reading that everyone could become a Buddha struck a chord. One could not dream of becoming the all powerful God let alone be an equal to him. That a man can perfect himself to become Buddha attracted him. Would you want to become a Buddha yourself?

Here's something from the Lotus Sutra:

Contemplation

2024-09-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

While at the Lake Gardens, came across a little seemingly lifeless bird on the tarred road leading to the Raintree Walk. It was a little baby mynah. Its feathers seemed sparse and the baby bird was not fully grown yet. It probably had fallen from its nest. An adult mynah hopping from branch to branch on a tree could be its mother but there was no nest in sight. There seemed to be a little life yet in the listless baby mynah and I caught it breathing. As there was no way of putting the bird back to where it belonged, I had taken it back home, intending to feed it and nurse it. In instances like this, perhaps one would recognise how lucky it is to be born as humans. Of all sentients being, humans stood out since in most instances, they could help themselves and alter their fate. All will die though and when one spots a little bird hanging to dear life, one perhaps realize how fleeting life is. Wouldn't it be great then if one could make the most of life, making it meaningful before we go?

For contemplation:

More contemplations!

20.4.24

Buddhist Arts

2024-09-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

The 2024 action role-playing game Black Myth: Wukong caused quite a stir, don't you think? The game which was inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West was in the news in practically all media. The game reportedly features several iconic temples from China such as the Yungang Grottoes, Little Western Paradise, Nanchan Temple, Iron Buddha Temple, Guangsheng Temple, Stork Tower and the Kaiyuan Temple. Suppose then it would be right to say that it features Buddhist Arts too.

Here're some lessor known Buddhist Arts!

A Cruel Act

2024-08-30T21:28:00.000-07:00

There is a Jataka tale about a man who was instigated by his wife to murder his old father. One version of this story has it that the man was to dig a hole in a forest and leave him there to die. Leaving one's parents to die in an unfavourable place seems far fetch but I read of Ubasute, the ancient Japanese practice of leaving mothers in a distant, secluded locations to meet their end alone. In 1783, Mount Asama erupted, resulting in the Great Teimei Famine. There was a desperate need to reduce the population for survival and elderly individuals who could no longer contribute to the community were thus abandoned in remote areas. In good or bad times, abandoning our parents seems like a cruel act.

Parents' Duties

2024-08-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Here I read about parents' duties to their children according to Buddhism. They should restrain their children from unwholesome behaviour, teach them moral values, provide for their education, help them to make a good marriage and let them inherit the family wealth at a proper time. These days, children are free to pick their own life partners, free from intervention from the parents both before and after marriage. And probably. you'd wonder if parents do or could restrain their children from unwholesome behaviour, teach them moral values, provide for their education. Would the children permit?

Passing on the Light of Buddha

2024-08-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

The Chinese song, 传灯 literally meaning Passing the Lamp; according to an online dictionary, translates into to pass on the light of Buddha. No wonder the song is often used in some programmes organised by the local Buddhists. Passing on the light of Buddha, I suppose means to pass or make known the dhamma, that is the teaching of Buddha to others. Many Buddhist parents however do not pass any even to their own children whatever little knowledge of dhamma they have, let alone others. In some religions, the followers are almost always full of zeal and regard it their duty to teach others their religions, knocking on closed doors even to preach. Buddhists I know often leave it to 缘, translated as fate, predestined affinity or even kamma and would say a person needs to have that affinity to his or her professed religion. Suppose the light of Buddha will have to shine on its own.

Here's 传灯:

Talking to Buddha

2024-07-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

In TikTok, there was a clip of a lady tour guide who explained to a group of Westerners why Chinese burn joss sticks. She started by saying that people communicate by talking face to face to each other or if they were in different places, they could speak through the phone. Then, she went on to say that Chinese burn joss sticks to communicate with Buddha. Joss sticks are commonly used in tradtional Chinese rituals but when Buddhists use it, there perhaps is a tendency to communicate with Buddha. That is even though Buddha was a human and a teacher. Since he taught that one is the owner of one own's karma and have to walk one own path in life, there would be no point asking favour from him. Nobody, not even Buddha could intefere with one's karma no doubt. A Buddhist however is a mere human being and like most people, he probably could not help but start to communicate with him while offering the imcense. If only Buddha could grant everyone a heart-to-heart talk...

More musings...

Quotes to Ponder: Mahatma Gandhi

2024-06-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

The future depends on what we do in the present.
Man should forget his anger before he goes to sleep.
It does not require money to live neat, clean, and dignified.
Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
A man is but the product of his thoughts.

Here's more to Mahatma Gandhi.

More Wise Quotes!

It's Vesak Day!

2024-05-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

It's Vesak Day today. On this day commemorating the birth, enlightenment (Nibbāna), and passing (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha, many Buddhists visit temples when on normal day, they don't. In a TikTok post, a layman Dharma teacher said that Buddha did not require a person to go the temple on a designated day each week like on a Friday or Sunday but he, the layman, advocated that Buddhists should make a point to go at least once a week which undoubtedly is a good idea. One can't expect a temple to run on its own and most of the time, it is in the temple that one gets to know and understand Dharma. On Vesak Day and any other day, one should also contemplate on what is important to us too, I suppose.

Happy Vesak and happy contemplating!

News!: Monk Having Affair

2024-05-07T06:28:00.001-07:00

A popular politician in Thailand was caught having an affair with her adoptive monk son by her husband. Thailand has some rogue monks, you could say; once there was a head monk of a temple there who was sentenced to 468 years in jail for embezzling a huge amount of money. Such rogue monks naturally raise eyebrows. Since they have given up the mundane life and are bound by the strict rules of the Vinaya, money and sex simply don't have a place in their lives. Even for lay people, politicians included; if they are Buddhists,embezzling money is akin to taking things not given and having sexual intercourse with adopted children is akin to misusing the senses and being involved in sexual misconduct; breaking of layman's precepts most certainly. When a politician or anyone adopt a monk to be a son, an adult one at that; one should be suspicious.

More News!