By Shi ChuanGuan, on 17th December, 2010 Chanced upon two interesting articles in StraitsTimes:
1. Chinese factory 'treated workers as slave labour' – dated 15 December 2010
2. Hospital steps in to stop abuse – dated 16 December 2010
The first article about "mentally disabled workers allegedly enslaved for years in deplorable conditions (China)" was syndicated from Agence France-Presse, XINHUA while the second article was written by Kimberly Spykerman from SPH (Singapore Press Holdings).
These two articles caught my attention because while both were reporting on abuse, their respective titles focused on quite different aspects of the matters. The first article focused on the abuse of workers by a Chinese factory while the second focused on how a hospital stopped abuse. Granted, the context and people involved are vastly different, the subtle difference in the title can paint a very different story in the mind of many readers who merely scan through titles.
To be fair, the former article states clearly in the first paragraph of how the Chinese authorities have stepped in to shutdown said factory. What if the title had read "Chinese authorities stepped in to shutdown factory for workers abuse"? Would that not give a more positive impression that the Chinese government is not . . . → Read More: Discerning Reading, Responsible Journalism
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 23rd November, 2010 Dear Friends,
I'll be away till mid-Dec. Take care and remember to be mindful.
If something upset you today, ask yourself, "Why?". Is it because someone did something wrong, and you are thinking "I am right and he is in the wrong." ? If you are indeed right, then why be angry? Why allow yourself to be upset? Since you are right, you should be happy!
Give yourself a challenge, to be calm and happy regardless of whether others are right or wrong.
Take care of your bodily, emotional and mental health my friend. Only you can do that. Don't give your emotional remote to others and let others make you happy or sad.
In the meantime, have a nice day …. Unless you have other plans!
With Metta,
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 16th November, 2010 Here's an interesting video about how electronic products are designed for the dump and how this is consequently bringing about a whole slew of problems affecting our health, environment and planet earth.
I would say that the same applies for most modern consumer products too. Go ahead and take a look by following the link and share your thoughts below.
http://storyofstuff.org/electronics/
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 15th November, 2010 This is to test the integration between this blog and my facebook page.
If it works, all future blog entries will be posted on my facebook wall and comments will be synced up both ways.
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 15th November, 2010 For some reason, the commenting page is pretty messed right now.
Try sending me an email or on the cbox comment.
Suki hontu!
EDIT: 1231pm – I think I got it fixed. Please try reposting your comments. Suki hontu!
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 7th November, 2010 Dharma talk @ NUS Buddhist Society on 17th October 2010. Part 1 of 8 clips
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 22nd October, 2010 There is an EIF dialogue session on Saturday, 23rd October 2010 and I was invited to participate. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the dialogue, so I decided to pen down my thoughts in relation to the suggested discussion points and share them with the participants and on this blog.
Faith & Atonement
I'll go with the two definitions of atonement and move on from there:
1. Amends or reparations made for an injury or wrong; 2. Reconciliations or an instance of reconciliation between God and humanity.
When I first read it, I zoomed into the part of reconciliation between God and humanity. Throughout history, humans have worshipped and prayed to multitudes of God(s). However, Buddhist do not have a belief in creator God(s). Hence, there is no concept to receive reconciliation between God and humanity. Some may posit that Buddhists merely replace "God" with "Buddha" and draw arbitrary delineations to differentiate themselves. Consequently, some think that Buddhists worship Buddha and seek forgiveness from him, in order to not incur his wrath. In fact, it cannot be further from the truth.
We may perhaps first examine how wrong or injury can occur. It can occur if . . . → Read More: Righting a Wrong: Faith & Atonement
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 17th October, 2010 Someone emailed me a question:
Hi shifu, can a gay person be ordained as a monk/nun?
I replied:
Thank you for writing.
Heterosexual men and women have to transcend their heterosexual desires if they are going to be ordained. Similarly, gay person can be ordained as a monk/nun, as long as this person can transcend this inclination.
Hope this clarifies.
With metta, ^_^
In which case, can such a person still be considered gay or heterosexual? Asexual perhaps?
Suki hontu! ^_^
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 17th October, 2010 What if I tell you that I am going to slap you when I see you? Never mind that I don't really have a good reason to do so or that I don't know who is reading this entry … unless you leave a comment.
Future Slap
Now, I have not slapped you yet. but already, you may start wondering why this crazy monk wants to slap you. Or you may start pondering on when I might really slap you. Perhaps you are already worrying about the slap and how painful or embarrassing it would be. You might even start to become upset at me or become afraid of me, because of the future slap that I *may* deliver to your rosy cheeks. All these occurring without me having slapped you just yet. I may end up giving you a pat or punch or nothing at all. But who knows?
Now, the only thing that has happened is really your reaction to the possibility of being slapped some time in the future. Maybe your reaction is justified, or maybe it is not. What is certain is that your reaction if at all, is the one thing affecting you. Each time . . . → Read More: I am going to slap you! *Piak*
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 14th October, 2010
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@ PMT *NEW*
Heart Sutra Workshop
More info
@ BL
Tue Morn Translation
Tue Nite Meditation
Sun Puja-talk-Bodhikids
Wed, Fri - Consultation
Thu SIMBB Dharma classes @ PMT
Sun Monthly talks @ SBM
@ Metta
Sun Nite 佛法概論
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