Heart Sutra for the “Philosophical Buddhist”

HeartSutraCoverI know of many people who are mistaken thinking that Buddhism is a ritualistic religion steeped in idolatry. And that unfortunately has caused them to miss the deep philosophy in Buddhism. Buddha did not claim to be a god and neither did he set out to create a religion. But the philosophy in Buddhism transcends religions such that I consider all my good friends of other faiths or religions as “Buddhists”, as much as I consider myself a Philosophical Buddhist.

Bro Teoh Kian Koon conducts regular Dhamma (teachings of Buddha) classes with meditation. From his regular classes, he has compiled the Heart Sutra (aphorisms) to share the essence of the Philosophy of Buddhism. Download a free copy here.

About Bro Teoh Kian Koon

Bro. Teoh Kian Koon graduated from University of Malaya in Civil Engineering in 1979. He has been a spiritual practitioner cum ‘Meditator’ since 1971. Since his retirement in 2001 from his engineering career, he has been sharing his understanding and experiences with all who are keen in the search for true happiness, peace and liberation from birth and death and all mental suffering to become a more virtuous, noble and wiser human being. He gives talks and hold meditation and Dhamma classes at various meditation centres.

Territorial Dispute Face-off Between Cute vs Angry

Cute Pick-necked Green Pigeon versus Angry Myna

If there is a territorial dispute between an “angry” bird and a “cute” bird, who do you think will win?

I was taking some photos of a family of Pink-necked Green Pigeons feeding on a palm tree in my garden when a drama unfolded. A rather mean-looking Myna quietly crept up and startled the Green Pigeons who understandably flew away terrified. But then the head of the family decided that he was not going to let the Myna get away with it.  And very much like a bullying incident, the bully had no stomach for a fight when the victim decided to fight back.

Watch the dispute between a Myna (“angry”) and a Pink-necked Green Pigeon (“cute”) and see the unexpected outcome… Cute overcomes Angry.

Float Like A Butterfly

On a bright sunny morning, this nippy orange-coloured butterfly Tawny Coster (Acraea violae), flitted among the leaves of a Yellow Turnera or Holy Rose (Turnera ulmifolia) plant. It appeared to be searching for suitable spots to lay its eggs. The Tawny Coster’s dance is captured in the following stills.