In some news forums and on facebook, I sometimes notice people highlighting the religion of this or that minister. I wonder if that is wise or useful. Unless that minister was acting in his capacity as a member of that religion or bringing his religion into Parliament, otherwise, it may be prudent to not single out his or her religion in posts.
In Singapore, the state, government and politics are secular in nature. Consequently, the state, gov and politicians carry out their duties and service to the nation regardless of the religion of the citizen. This allow citizens to exercise religious freedom within their personal space without fear of discrimination.
Likewise, politicians and civil servants should be allowed to serve the nation regardless of their religious choice as long as they exercise their religious freedom within their personal space and not let it influence their judgements while carrying out their official duties. The onus is on them to be impartial and to rise above their personal religious choices while serving the people without discrimination.
Just imagine if you go to CPF, ICA or HDB and your application or enquiries are rejected because of your religion. Just imagine.
I've met some folks who shared their thoughts on vegetarianism with me. They reason that vegetables are alive as well and if Buddhists do not eat animals out of compassion and do not wish to have a living thing killed for their food, they should not eat vegetables as well.
I present to you Carrots and Rabbit.
I know, I know. This is an imbalanced comparison. For most people who are omnivores would not eat rabbits anyway. But the principle is this. Given a choice, which would you pick?
Between vegetables and animals, when I ask a number of people to choose one to kill, cook and eat, most people would choose to eat carrots. The answer is unanimously because it is easier to 'kill' carrots, cook and eat it. When asked further, why it is easier to 'kill' carrots, they replied that because it is comparatively less alive than the rabbit. I've not had one person choose carrots simply because they don't eat rabbits. But I digress.
How about the following? Is it because we have been conditioned to accept certain living beings as food for the . . . → Read More: Which would you eat? Carrots or Rabbit?
Heard of SOPA and PIPA? These are two bills that U.S. Congress is deliberating over and if passed, may vastly change how the internet will be.
It makes me wonder. How can one country pass a bill that affects the whole world without any input from the rest of the world?
Several companies and non-profit web sites are speaking up about this, amongst them, Google.
https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/
Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and . . . → Read More: Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet … …
In the mid 80s, there was a TV programme called "Me & My Micro", a production by British Broadcasting Corporation with Fred Harris.
That is how I really started learning programming at home when I was studying in secondary one.
In the programme, he would showcase some new technology or software written by a guest and have a section where he introduces programming concepts and source codes in BASIC.
Below is an exchange of emails between Mui Hoong, ST Forum editor and myself that started because of the article Quiet contemplation on common ground.
10 Jan 2012 10:07pm Here's the letter to Sr Theresa Seow and Ms Chua.
11 Jan 2012 11:45am Letter to Straits Times Editor.
11 Jan 2012 14:00pm A reply from Ms Chua.
Letter to Sr Theresa Seow and Ms Chua
Dear Sr. Theresa and Mui Hoong,
Hope this email find you well. I am writing regarding the article "Quiet contemplation on common ground". I mentioned to Sr. Theresa earlier today that there is an unconscious misrepresentation of Buddhist meditation in it and I hope to share with you what it should be. As emailed to you through facebook earlier in the day (around 3+pm), I've posted a short piece on facebook and a more comprehensive article on my blog http://buddhavacana.net/2012/01/10/do-buddhist-meditate-to-reach-god-through-silence/ . I have not heard back from you and hope to clarify through this open letter.
In summary, Buddhists do not have a belief in a creator God and also do not meditate to reach God through silence. We meditate to cultivate Samadhi (Concentration) and . . . → Read More: Letter to Sr Theresa Seow and Ms Chua, and her reply
This morning started off as Tuesdays do for me since 2009 September. My Dharma brother Cheng Soon and I would meet at the Buddhist Library and we would do translation of the Buddhist teachings, from Chinese to English. Today was no different. Except when I read the sms from Sister Theresa Seow about the Straits Times article "Quiet contemplation on common ground" by review editor Chua Mui Hoong.
Over the last weekend (7th & 8th January 2012), representatives from various faiths came together for a seminar on "The Contemplative Dimension of Faith". The theme and title was "common ground", representing the contemplative practice (meditation) that is common in many religions.
As I read the article before lunch today, a line grabbed my attention.
http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=26114
"… they are all engaged in a practice both unique to their tradition, and common to all faiths: reaching God through silence."
I reread the article and line a few times but did not seem to figure out how that came about. I've posted the picture below on my facebook wall to highlight that it is either a misrepresentation or misinterpretation of Buddhist meditation shared during the seminar.
I watch this video with much respect for His Holiness The Dalai Lama. My respect for HH comes not from his position, age or role as the 14th DL, but his openness to embrace scientific findings while being clear and firm on the Dharma (Buddhist teachings)!
My respects to him! ^_^
The Dalai Lama had a discussion in his home Dharamsala, India, on March 15th, 2011 with some Thai Buddhists. The first question asked of him is basically "How does Buddhism mesh with modern science?" His answer is quite refreshing to hear from any leader of any religion.
Though, whether or not Buddhism is really a stereotypical "religion" is very much up for debate. Many classify it has a philosophy rather than a religion – myself being one of them (with exception to the supernatural-endorsing sects). I do not consider myself a Buddhist but have great reverence for many of their teachings.
Full 2-hour discussion - Question & Answer Session with Thai Buddhists
On page 40 and 41, the passages under "A Reading from the Dhammapada" and "A Reading from the Heart Sutra" was provided by other parties. The readings from the heart sutra is unfortunately wrongly placed. They are not from the Heart Sutra. I'm trying to determine the source of these verses with Sr Theresa and Daulet. Below is a translation and explaination notes that I prepared for a series of workshops on the Heart Sutra for your reading.
