Chapati is a staple in South Asian households, and their popularity has rightly shot up thanks to their versatility. I prefer to have my chapati with a good dollop of mango chutney and/or quality curry sauce. Yes, that might be indicative of simple tastes, but then again, chapati is a gloriously simple thing to make. […]
Author: Teahouse
Postcard from Raymond: “Monk’s Posture”
This image, shot by photographer Ding Zuhe and called, “Monk’s Posture,” won first prize in the China category for National Geographic’s 2017 photography contest. Here are six people, all in some form of sleep, lethargy, stupor, or unconsciousness. There are two women (the one in the foreground looks older), and four males: a child in […]
Embrace your advantages and deploy your blessings for the good of others
Every day I choose a quote from a Buddhist source that runs on the homepage of Buddhistdoor Global. Tuesday’s theme is Pure Land-inspired, and today I picked one that seemed particularly thought-provoking to me: “Being born as a human, having heard of the Buddhist teachings, and encountered with the unsurpassed great teaching of Amitabha’s deliverance, […]
Veggie Burger
The veggie burger is the quintessential hefty meal for a hearty lunch or dinner with family or friends. One of the more famous plant-based hamburgers is the Beyond Burger, which mimics all the taste, smell, and even texture and juice of a beef patty, but made from peas and other protein-packed plants, with beet helping […]
Science and Religion
Master Jingzong; English translation by Chia Chang Wang, edited by Jingtu “Religion” here refers specifically to faiths that embrace a single creator-god. Science and religion are like day and night. Science resembles the day; it wants to reveal things clearly. Religion is like the night, intending to enshroud everything. Don’t criticize religions as “superstitious,” or […]
Roti Canai
Whenever I visit Malaysia, I never pass up the chance to enjoy some authentic and delicious roti canai. The texture and taste need to compliment each other. There’s a particular satisfaction to a good roti canai’s feel in your hands, not to mention how it feels and smells while you’re actually chewing it. The flatbread […]
Allugobi
This is one of my favourite dishes: starchy, hearty, substantial potatoes (among my most beloved savoury foods) with cauliflower in a less bland iteration (I’m not usually a cauliflower person). The sauce is what makes all the difference, and a good curry should be fragrant, generous, and saturate the potatoes and cauliflower with flavour. […]
Why Hindutva Ideology Will Obstruct Indian Buddhist Diplomacy
It was relatively recently in 2014 that Indian PM Narendra Modi went on an all-out charm offensive to Buddhists domestically and globally, appearing alongside Asian leaders at Buddhist sites during international trips and appearing personally at Bodh Gaya in September 2015 at the invitation of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). While activities related to […]
Conscience and the Buddha-Mind
Master Jingzong; English translation by Foxin, edited by Jingtu An honest man speaks from his conscience. An Amitabha-reciter, though, speaks not only from conscience but from his Buddha-mind. In either case, it is not easy and requires courage; it may even offend people. This is because the consciences of worldly people are askew and their […]
Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Attributes of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism: Ultimate Truths
Master Honen therefore says: schools of the Sacred Path focus their practice on development of knowledge and discernment for realization of truth and entering nivana, while the practice of Pure Land school focuses on returning ignorance for rebirth in the Land of Bliss. “Returning ignorance” means not displaying our talents, wisdom, or good deeds in […]