Ramblings of a Monk

The one place you would not expect to find demand of “Human Rights” would be in a college, a Buddhist College I mean. One would think that 1) a Buddhist College would be extolling values above and beyond mere human rights and 2) students (monks in this case) would not really care much about human rights (HR). Afterall, Buddhism as a whole seem to point towards an attitude of non-attachment and non-self (no-self or not-self if you will!), it seem strange that they while working towards these ideals, would be so concerned with human rights. After all, without a self, who is to enjoy the rights or suffer their absence?

But this article is not about that. This article is about what I think Human Rights is and its place in an Asian society vs the role of Human Responsibilities. Read the rest of this entry »

You know what they say, in some therapy, in some movies, or some TV shows, where the patient is advised to just let out their anger? Or in some cases, yourself or a friend who actually sees a “shrink” and you are told to acknowledge your anger (or whatever emotions you are dealing with! … rarely is it happiness!). Some of these scenes (not sure in real life) would further include the patient shouting out “I’m angry! I’m flabbergasted! I’m so f**king pissed!” … and in some cases even throwing things, and the good doctor would then say “Good good! Acknowledge your emotions. … ” etc etc …

I’m just wondering if anyone who tried this realise that the mere acknowledging or more rightly, the identifying with emotions in such manner, serves also to strengthen them. The mere “I am angry”, reinforces that well, I am angry. But where’s the I, as they would say? There’s probably a letting go part that some of these movies or real life accounts are missing, or maybe I didn’t watch the right ones or the persons I hear it from didn’t go to the right shrink. But is it just me or isn’t it harder to let it go later on after we have identified with it saying “I am angry” like a gazillion times?? Read the rest of this entry »

Hi all,I’m going off on a retreat, and if anyone can help host the BuddhaVacana facebook app, please contact me. Appreciate it.

Hosting server needed:
* LAMP server
* PHP 5.* (facebook requirement, not my apps)
* 10mb space for the app (should be lesser)

Human beings are not light bulbs … … they cannot simply be switched on and off.

What do you think?

As though twins by birth, the Myanmar cyclone disaster is followed by this China earthquake disaster …

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_re_as/china_earthquake;_ylt=AqRs37zTkVYMYHzBWIHcm_qs0NUE

http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=376894098

Let’s extend our prayers and meditation to them.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080507/ts_nm/myanmar_cyclone_dc

As is already in the news … disaster struck Myanmar recently. Let us offer our prayers and kind thoughts to them.

At the same time, if we can, offer them practical help through some of the organisations who are able to reach the disaster areas.

http://www.fireflymission.org/cyclone_00.html

http://www.redcross.org.sg/myanmar_cyclone_src.htm

May all sentient beings be free from thoughts of harm,
May all sentient beings be free from danger and harm,
May all sentient beings abide in loving kindness and compassion,
May all sentient beings be Well and Happy!