Feeds:
Posts
Comments

The skeleton of a dead bird

30/09/2025 by A learning buddhist...

I was feeding at Sembawang one afternoon when I saw the skeleton of a dead bird lying on the grass. I believe it was a fledgling that had been unable to find food or keep itself warm. It was a lifeless, untouched, complete skeleton.

When I looked at the bird, I asked myself why would the world want the birds to die so badly. The majority supports killing but to wish death on others is unnecessary since we will all die one day. Regardless of any species, wouldn’t it be better to rejoice when others have food to eat and water to drink? Why can’t everyone live with that joy until death comes to us? Then there will be no resentment or hatred, only kindness and compassion, perhaps a little smile when we face death.

There are hundreds of thousands of birds out there. How many times and for how long, must we be angry with them and wish them dead? Why is it so difficult to cultivate inner joy for others?

Obviously, it was a fledging. A fledging who had lost its mother and its source of care.

One day, a Buddhist questioned me on Facebook, asking if I had accepted the First of the Four Noble Truths. I didn’t reply until a local monk ‘visited’ my page and commented, ‘Did the Buddha promote veganism?’ He said it only to spite me.

Because I hadn’t replied to the first person earlier, I responded to the monk by saying that accepting the First of the Four Noble Truths doesn’t mean I should just sit and do nothing. Promoting veganism and raising public awareness that animals suffer so much because of us, benefits not only ourselves, but also the animals, the environment, and the climate. Since the monk was only there to spite me, he said nothing further and moved on to the next post. He tried to find fault with me and put words into my mouth. Whatever he did, he will ultimately have to face the consequences himself.

Understanding and accepting suffering does not mean that our compassion ends there. Nor does it mean that we have to lament or cry over it. We can keep calm, accept it and influence or inspire others to extend their loving~kindness and compassion towards all sentient beings in all directions.

This image is also a reminder that we are the same.

Posted in Love all wings | Tagged , , , |

We should not be attached to Jhana… But the Buddha said otherwise.

29/09/2025 by A learning buddhist...

Mahayana monks often tell us that we should not be attached to jhāna. In the suttas, the Buddha said that the purpose of renunciation and living a holy life is to learn and practise the path towards liberation. Only then is a monk truly worthy of gifts, hospitality, offerings, and reverence. What is the point of supporting a Sangha if their destination is no different from that of ordinary beings?

In fact, the Buddha encouraged us to take delight in the pleasure of jhāna. Below is a quote from MN 66, The Simile of the Quail.

“Here, Udayin, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, a bhikkhu enters upon and abides in the first jhāna…With the stilling of applied and sustained thought, he enters upon and abides in the second jhana… With the fading away as well of rapture… he enters upon and abides in the third jhāna…With the abandoning of pleasure and pain… he enters upon and abides in the fourth jhana…

“This is called the bliss of renunciation, the bliss of seclusion, the bliss of peace, the bliss of enlightenment. I say of this kind of pleasure that it should be pursued, that it should be developed, that it should be cultivated, that it should not be feared.”

To read the entire sutta, please click on the link below.

https://suttacentral.net/mn66/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

If our beliefs lie outside the Buddha’s teachings, then we are not Buddhists.

I hope everyone makes an effort to investigate the origin of the Buddha’s teachings. They must come from the Buddha himself, 2,500 years ago, and not from anyone else.

Posted in Teachings to remember |

White paper launched by ACRES and SPCA.

27/09/2025 by A learning buddhist...

ACRES and SPCA have recently launched the white paper to further strengthen protection for the animal welfare.

I am glad that the petition I started was quoted in the white paper.

My name in the footnote

When I started the petition, my intention was to raise public awareness that pigeons have every right to live, and that we should co-exist with them instead of killing them inhumanely. What NParks did and is still doing is cruel and unforgivable!

At the same time, I also got to know people who love birds, and Geri is a kind lady who consistently gives advice to those who need help and also educates the public.

The Urban Birds Initiative Singapore was formed. They are a group of volunteers who take the initiative to educate the public. The information they provide is useful and helpful.

I hope that with every little effort we put in, we can change how others perceive pigeons. They are not what we think they are. They have every right to live, just as we do. We must learn to extend our compassion to all living beings.

Below is the link to the white paper.

SPCA-ACRES-The-White-Paper-2025-Animal-Welfare-1.pdfDownload

Posted in Love all wings | Tagged , , , |

Helping to rehome a corgi named Baby.

20/09/2025 by A learning buddhist...

It’s the same owner that hoarded 12 cats at her rental flat. We helped to rehome most of the cats. She is also the same owner who abandoned two mongrels. The whole experience of helping them was unpleasant. Right now, this lady has done it again. This time, she claims that Baby’s owner doesn’t want him anymore.

As a Buddhist, we don’t practise hatred. Therefore, I hardly hate anyone. I also don’t agree with feelings of like and dislike. As long as I do my best to help, I don’t want to hold on to anything.

The fosterer calls him Baby. This is my first time walking dogs. Baby is a sweet boy who gets along well with humans but not with some dogs and perhaps all cats. Someone told me that the reason Baby cannot get along with other pets is because his owner did not take him to socialise with them.

I have no experience in rehoming dogs, so I sought help from those who are experienced with dogs. Mdm Goh, who is a cat rescuer and also a stray dog feeder, recommended Purely Woof, a dog welfare group.

At first, they were hesitant to help as the dog has an owner and there might be legal complications. But after I explained the experiences I had with the fosterer, NParks and SPCA. I was glad they understood where I was coming from. Instead of leaving me out, they included me.

Today, a potential adopter came to visit Baby. I wasn’t around because I felt it would be easier for the volunteers to communicate with the fosterer and the adopters without my presence. When the meeting ended, I met the fosterer. The adopters were shopping at the supermarket, they came by to interact with Baby again. They were a mother and daughter. The daughter seemed interested in Baby, but not the mother. We knew that when the mother showed no interest, the likelihood of adopting Baby was slim.

I told the fosterer not to carry too much hope. The volunteers would continue looking for another adopter. Just a week ago, I took Baby for check-up. He had a comprehensive blood test and a 4Dx test and the result showed he was in perfect health, which is a plus point. I also had his nails clipped and ears cleaned. The total cost was $606.

I have always done what I could, but for the sterilisation, it is the adopter’s responsibility. The adopter must take responsibility for the dog they adopt, just as with cats. Purely Woof is a responsible dog welfare group, so I’ll leave to them!

I sincerely hope Baby finds a good, loving and responsible home.

Posted in The learning experience… |

99 copies of Ayya Khema’s books distributed.

18/09/2025 by A learning buddhist...

Distributing Buddhist books to buddhist centres and monasteries is not easy. At first, Buddhist Fellowship agreed to help with the distribution, but when the books arrived, the person-in-charge never replied! However, I managed to contact other centres. Most of the centres that had a resident monastic wouldn’t want to take the books, probably because they have their own books to distribute. I was glad that the staff from Mangala Vihara, the temple where I took my diploma in Buddhism, warmly accepted the books and helped with the distribution.

Other temples and centres include Palelai Temple, Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society, Sinhala Buddhist Temple and Evergreen Buddhist. Two copies were donated to our national library and two copies were given to the public. Melanie gave six copies to her friend who are interested in understanding the Buddha’s teachings. Finally, Sister Foo who uses Ayya Khema’s teachings to teach at the Buddhist Library also helped with the distribution.

Melanie kept one copy for herself and I ordered another copy for public distribution which I intend to distribute one by one. I am not confident about ordering another hundred copies, as many may not want to take.

Ayya Khema spoke about her experiences in meditation that I have not heard anyone speak before and what she shared is very important to me. I guess it’s hard to come across such good teachers who not only have profound experience but are also willing to share it. In her autobiography “I give my life to you” she shared not only her personally journey but also valuable experiences – experiences rooted in the Buddha’s teachings.

It is the original teaching from the Buddha from 2500 years ago that we need to preserve. When one has experienced the Buddha’s teachings, one would know that the truth has been preserved and successfully passed down.

May the true Dhamma continue to flourish and benefit all sentient beings and lead us on the path towards liberation – that is Nibbāna.

Posted in The learning experience… |

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »