Pissing me off.

Right now my internet does not work. Hence, the lack of updates and consequent lack of visits to this blog. Internet has often been a problem for a majority of students at college and it’s been even worse this year. I have been scabbing internet sessions off my friend’s computer just to check my e-mails, [...]

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Best wishes to the start of the academic year!

Well I am ready to resume blogging now, and I am quite happy to do so. What was meaningful was not only the spiritual significance, but also the stricken poverty plaguing less developed areas in India. In the coming few days ahead I will talk about Nepal first, and then India, and then Thailand.
And with [...]

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Greetings from Benares!

Hi guys, for any who are reading! Thanks for all your warm send-offs in my previous post. I am at a hotel in Varanasi, sacred to Hindus, Jains and Buddhists alike, and finally managed to find a computer to check my email, albeit on a horrible computer with a horrible connection. Nevertheless, this trip has been [...]

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Goodbye, everyone…

First of all I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Yes, I know – it seems a bit suspicious to celebrate it when it seems like an “obligatory” day of love, and the fact that the most eager promoters of February the 14th are Hallmark and other large gift corporations (and all corporations, [...]

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Thesis on hiatus… and procrastination sucks.

For now the final part of my small essay and its conclusion will be put on hiatus for several reasons. Firstly I am lazy. Secondly I fly to India on the 15th and I don’t really feel like burdened with such things while I am thinking of packing and safety and health precautions in India. [...]

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Triumphant Cosmic Awakening (Part 3)

Freedom from the Three Poisons: greed, hatred and delusion
From various perspectives we have come to understand that while the Buddha preached non-violence and respect for all living beings, he was essentially obsessed with a great battle, and with victory – to the extent of leaving his family and Kapilavastu to seek a triumph greater than [...]

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Triumphant Cosmic Awakening (Part 2)

1. The Buddha’s twofold battle (cosmic and psychological) with Mara
As with “Dhamma Fighting”, which will be addressed later, the Awakening is a colossal battle fought by the Buddha against Mara on two fronts: the cosmic and psychological. In fact, the two fronts are interchangeable and need not be distinguished from the other because of the [...]

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Triumphant Cosmic Awakening (Introduction)

This humble theory of mine is inspired by the works of Gustaf Aulen on his theological treatise Christus Victor: An Historical Study of the Three Main Types of the Idea of Atonement, and Venerable Ajahn Chah’s work Food for the Heart and his chapter on Dhamma Fighting. It is a new take on the exact [...]

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Great Blessings.

In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be happy. Weak or strong, of high, middle or low estate,/
Small or great, the visible and the invisible, those living near and far away,/
Those alive or still to be born – may all beings be happy!
- Siddartha Gautama
I love verses of blessings like this one. There is no [...]

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Japanese Cuteness.

There are three things I love about Japan and its people. Firstly, it is the country itself. I have been there two times, the last time in 2005 with some high school friends. We visited almost every famous place except for Hokkaido in the north. Easily one of the best holidays in my life. Secondly, [...]

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