Pixie We tend to think of buildings as permanent. There is even an English phrase, “As safe as houses,” which is presupposed on their ability to withstand damage and protect their contents. But is this justified? The building next to the one I’m sitting in has just been demolished, and across the road there is […]
Month: August 2016
Reflections on Quality of Life at a Buddhist Studies Conference
Raymond Lam Last Tuesday, the Buddhistdoor team returned to Hong Kong from Vancouver after attending the 6th Annual Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation Conference at The University of British Columbia (UBC). Jessica Main, the intellectually formidable and ever-kind chair of the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies and Contemporary Society, kept the conference […]
A Monkey’s Tale Retold
Steve Braff It is said that in the ninth year of the Buddha’s ministry a quarrel arose between two parties of monks. One party consisted of experts in the disciplinary code, or the Vinaya laws; the others were experts in the Dharma, or the teachings. The Buddha tried to settle the quarrel peacefully, but finally, when his […]
The Moon Has Disappeared. Now What?
Pixie It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the whole family has gathered to play with lanterns and gaze at the beautiful full moon. Suddenly, the Moon disappears. What happens to our family and the Earth? The Moon is a 3,475 kilometer-wide ball of rock. How could it disappear? Let’s take a look at a few different […]
Buddhism and Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll—Part 2
Guan Her Ng He Hua Temple’s name was bestowed personally by Master Hsing Yun. The Chinese characters, “荷華,” symbolize the Netherlands and its most famous floral motif, the tulip. In addition, it also represents a lotus flower in a river. The temple’s mission is not only to give the neighborhood color and joy, but more […]
Buddhism and Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll—Part 1
Guan Her Ng He Hua Temple, a branch of Master Hsing Yun’s influential Fo Guang Shan, stands in the heart of Amsterdam’s humble Chinatown. It also happens to be next to the infamous Red Light District. Most of the people around here are searching for good food, good leisure, and good company. You’ll find all kinds of […]
Friendship and Identity: Who is Reuniting with Who?
Raymond Lam December last year was a delightful conclusion to 2015 for me because my best mates and I had organized a reunion in Ho Chi Minh City. I’ve known one friend since kindergarten, the other two are more or less my best university buddies. What was perhaps most encouraging, and I daresay touching, was that despite having passed so many years apart and living […]