By Wakeupnow, on 31st March, 2010 There are many computing books I’ve read before, but there are two I thought would be interesting to share.
The first is “Mind at Play: The Psychology of Video Games” and the second is “The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity”.
Mind at Play: The Psychology of Video Games
I read the first book in my teens from the school library (TKSTS) when I was crazy writing games in the mid 80s. It didn’t teach me how to write games as far as programming languages were concern, but it explored what made people tick. What makes games compelling? Why do people play games? Back in those days, it was a gem, for it gave insights into how I could design the games I was writing to make it interesting and fun. Challenging and not insurmountable, rewarding and not trivial. How to get others hooked onto my game?
Now as a monk, I think back about that book and ponder about how there are much parallel between what the author discovered and shared in the book and what the Buddha taught 2500++ years ago. Understanding how people get hooked . . . → Read More: Two Computing Books I've read before
By Wakeupnow, on 27th March, 2010 Dear friends,
Below is the English translation of the first half of the chapter “本地分中修所成地第十二 The Twelfth Main Stage: Foundation of Actualization of Cultivation”.
http://buddhavacana.net/yogacara-bumi-sastra/yogacara-20090923/
By Wakeupnow, on 24th March, 2010 A sharing from a Buddhist on Checking One’s Motivation to become a monk.
“So what makes you want be a monk?” the nun asked me back
I explained to her that my Lama had previously done a divination for me: I was a monk in my previous life
“So I wanna continue the good work that I did in my previous life, and I thought that life as a layman is quite a waste of my past life’s efforts” I explained
Read it here … http://boh-tak-chek.blogspot.com/2010/03/check-your-motivation.html
By Wakeupnow, on 20th March, 2010 Dear Boys and Girls,
Vesak 2554 will be celebrated at Ngee Ann City on 8th & 9th May 2010.
http://vesakcelebrations.sg/
The working committee has put in hours of sweat, tears and hard work to put up this year’s Vesak celebration. So kudos to them.
I was roped in recently by Ven. Kwang Phing to assist him as vice-chair. I hestitated as my Dharma teaching commitments are already filling up my week, but I still agreed to assist where I can and attended my first meeting as vice-chair. To my surprise and relief, much of the planning and work had already been completed, so my concerns were unfounded.
Well, the tickets for the Food & Funfair should be going around now, so get yours today!
There are those who believe that we mortal humans cannot amount to much, that we are imperfect and doomed to suffer.
But then one person stood up and overcame human failings and perfected Himself. He became known as the Budha, the Awakened One.
Come down to Ngee Ann City to commemorate the Victory of the Buddha, in this weekend of celebration and inspiration!
By Wakeupnow, on 8th March, 2010
Today I’m going to share a simple simple way to approach a task, project or goal. More accurately, I’m focusing on the initial decision process.
A project can be split into a few parts such as
Envisioning & Planning Development & Implementation Testing & Feedback
Different project management methodologies are abound, and you may be familiar with others that are similar or different, each with different focus and strengths. Take note that this post is not about project management, it is about making that initial decision to do or not to do the project. This can be done at the Envisioning stage and should culminate with the Planning stage.
Since the very first meeting in secondary school I’ve ever sat in to discuss and decide on whether or not a project or activity be carried out, I’ve noticed a certain trend. Most initial meetings start with someone sharing the bright idea for a project or something and quite quickly degenerates into a wack-the-mole exchange of debate over why the project will fail for various reasons. If you have ever been in such meetings and would like a different (read: more effective) approach, read on.
The above trend actual happen . . . → Read More: How to decide on a task, project or goal?
By Wakeupnow, on 8th March, 2010 Today, an 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey. This follows the series of earthquakes that occurred in the past few weeks. It is easy for us to forget how fortunate we are to have whatever peace and safety we presently have, until we see how terribly wrong things can turn out.
In the “Sutra on the Eight Great Realization of Great Beings” 《佛說八大人覺經 》, the first stanza of the first realisation is
世間無常，國土危脆
The world is impermanent, the country and land are fragile.
Let us not take things for granted and assume things will be, must be or should be in a certain manner tomorrow just because it is today. For all are impermanent, and that which is impermanent is subject to change. Something that is subject to change, tends more towards agitation than not. Something that is subject to change and tends towards agitation brings uncertainty, anxiety and unease. This in turn does not promote happiness.
If we forget this, we become complacent and start having presumptions about things and people around us. We become used to how things are and when they suddenly change, or more rightly exhibit significant change, we fret, we tremble, we are vexed.
. . . → Read More: Earthquakes in the past few weeks
By Wakeupnow, on 5th March, 2010 Know someone who just got fired and need someone to talk to?
Drop by the Buddhist Library. We are all ears.
To avoid disappointment, call and make an appointment in advance.
Library Opening Hours Tues to Sat: 12:00 noon – 9:00pm Sun: 10:00am – 9:00pm Closed on Mondays. Open on Public Holidays
We Are At: 2, Lorong 24A, Geylang, Singapore 398526
Contact Us: Tel: (65) 6746-8435
By Wakeupnow, on 1st March, 2010 Below is an excerpt from an email I wrote, some thoughts about practices. Thought it may be useful.
After reading your email, here are some thoughts to share with you on Om Mantra chanting.
Over the CNY period, I met a couple of lay buddhists and while chatting, we touched on the topic of practices. It turned out that one was learning the lam rim teaching while others were doing Om mantra chanting. So I quizzed them about their practices and asked them something. While we do all forms of practices, be it Mantra or Buddha name recitation, Buddha recollection, sutra recitation, meditation (Samatha or Vipassana) etc, we may want to consider how it is linked to our daily defilements and our learning of Dharma.
Let’s leave non Buddhist and nominal (Read: non-practising) Buddhist aside for now. When some people start attending Dharma classes, they get caught up with the knowledge of Buddhism and Dharma, but fail to see the application or link of Dharma in their daily lives. Then there are those who busy themselves with chanting, offering and even meditation without grounding themselves with the teachings. Sometimes, we may even do all forms of practices . . . → Read More: Attitude on Practices
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