Lamrim and Life
Ten steps to happiness (Part 7)
When our world falls apart, when we suffer loss, when it seems everyone is turning against us, we have to [...]
Ten steps to happiness (Part 6)
Understanding that the good fortune we are presently enjoying is the result of the practice of generosity in the past, [...]
Ten steps to happiness (Part 5)
We have to stop thinking about the wall in front of us, and look at the space behind the wall [...]
Ten steps to happiness (Part 4)
Life in the context of Buddhism means past, present and future lives. Remembering life means learning from the past in [...]
Ten steps to happiness (Part 3)
We need to be mindful that although death is certain, the time of death is uncertain. Death can be just [...]
Ten steps to happiness (Part 2)
Being unattached, we are ready for new and fresh experiences and discoveries…
Ten steps to happiness (Part 1)
Our spiritual path does not end until we are fully enlightened. Until then, it is a constant endeavour of study, [...]
Rock and not roll
When we are faced with problems or difficulties, the first thought in our mind is to avoid them. This aversion [...]
Ignorance is (not) bliss
The bliss of ignorance is a deception. In reality, what is merely a temporary reduction or postponement of one’s suffering, [...]
Impermanence need not be a bad thing
The biggest problem with failing to realise that all phenomena is subject to impermanence, is that it deceives us into [...]
A balanced mind
Dharma does not make us suffer. The fluctuations in our minds make us suffer H.E. Tsem Rinpoche When we work [...]
Don’t be a great pretender, be a real practitioner
What constitutes pure motivation? Pure motivation is a mind free from the eight worldly concerns…
Taking refuge is to become a Buddhist, not a refugee
Until we can perceive the Enlightened ones directly, the best teacher is our spiritual guide, the source of all good…
The agony + ecstasy of love
To give and receive love is one of the greatest joys of being human. Animals and other beings do not [...]
Think out of the box
When our minds are closed, we cannot learn from anyone and our learning curve plateaus and takes a dive. We [...]
Be a Dharma warrior, not an ostrich
On our journey to Enlightenment, we need to proceed in an organised and efficient manner. Mount Everest cannot be conquered [...]
Ethical living: Giving and taking
The laws of karma is the law of cause and effect, whereby all our actions are the causes and our [...]
Back to school
What is spiritual practice? The transformation of bad to good. His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche Generally, we can engage in spiritual [...]
The destructiveness of anger
We may have knowledge and even teach Dharma. But are we humble and kind to everyone?
#29: The most beautiful mind of all
From our experiences, we know that despite our best intentions, we cannot really do much to benefit others. We may [...]
#28: Why Buddhahood?
It is very important for us to know why we want to become a Buddha. If you think it is [...]
#27: Altruism, the mother of superior intention
It is easy for us to wish for all sentient beings to be happy or to recite a verse of [...]
#26: Compassion conquers all
All samsaric life is characterised by beings taking what they like from others, and giving things they do not like. [...]
#25: The power of imagination (Part 2)
First, we imagine exchanging places with someone who is of similar ability, intellect or status as ourselves. Next, we relate [...]
#24: The power of imagination (Part 1)
When we use our imagination to exchange our self with others, there is no danger or confusion because the exchange [...]
#23: The power of familiarity
How is it possible to exchange self with others? First, we must acknowledge and understand that the object we cherish [...]
#22: The art of switcheroo
If we are determined to turn over a new leaf and become the truly beautiful person we really are, a [...]
#21: Cherishing ourselves and others equally
Since the moment we were born we have been cherishing ourselves. Just look at babies – don’t they get whatever [...]
#20: How to be the greatest lover of all: Be an equaliser
We still need to remove some doubts before we can move on to be a lover of all…
#19: Remembering and repaying the kindness of our mothers
Recognising that all living beings – humans, animals, insects, anything – in the universe seen and unseen, known and unknown [...]
#18: Believe it or not, all living beings are our mothers
Many will find the above assertion a tough nut to swallow. Before we reject it, please consider what the Enlightened [...]
#17: Equanimity: The key to a cool mind
A Buddha is cool because he has stilled his passions and is therefore free from excitement and depression. He does [...]
#16: How to be really cool: Developing equanimity
In Buddhism, being cool is not about ignoring everything or accepting everything. To be cool means we can deal with [...]
#15: On the way: The seven-fold cause and effect method
Each step is a cause for the succeeding effect, which in turn becomes the cause.
#14: The way of the bodhisattva
The suffering I witness will be what all living beings, without exception, will have to go through…
#13: The road to perfection
What is so imperfect or unsatisfactory about our life, and daily challenges and encounters? We have to recognise this first [...]
#12: Hallebuddhaya: The cure and the medicine
For those who have been following this series so far, we have reached a milestone here which can be considered [...]
#11: Nipping the bud: The true origin of suffering
According to Buddhism, our main mental problems or delusions are: ignorance, attachment and anger. Because of these delusions, we engage [...]
#10: Closing in on the truth of suffering
What is it we have in common with Queen Elizabeth or the homeless Ah Kow on Sultan Street? Suffering! It [...]
#9: Suffering of change
When we encounter obvious pain or suffering, there is no issue about us seeking treatment, whether for ourselves or for [...]
#8: The path to freedom
The path to freedom… Well, not quite yet. We’ve got to get real first.
#7: To be or not to be FREE
What do we want to be free from? All kinds of suffering. Not only freedom from suffering from physical ailments, [...]
#6: Karma, part 2 (Be a karmic doctor, not a karmic slave)
Karmic cause and effect is the fairest operation of a natural law one can find in our world system. It [...]
#5: Karma, part 1 (Karma and chameleon)
A chameleon protects itself by changing its body’s colours through a bio-chemical process to ‘hide’ itself in different environments…
#4: The dharma & sangha jewels
The Buddha gave 84,000 teachings during his lifetime , each of which are specific antidotes to the 84,000 afflictions of [...]
#3: Refuge
When you are in deep trouble, who do you call? Buddhists know where to seek relief – they go for [...]
#2: Life after death
Since the dawn of civilisation, mankind has been fascinated by death and life thereafter
#1: Death and impermanence
While there can be arguments or debates with regards to the impermanent nature of many objects in this universe, known [...]
