Practical Buddhist Wisdom For a Happier Life
Ep 75: My Mother and I Both Ordained: She as a Nun, I as a Monk. Here’s Why ft Phra Anand
She raised her son while trying not to drown — fighting teachers, fighting her husband, fighting to keep her family afloat, and never once seeming happy. Years later, both mother and son would leave their old lives behind and ordain. In this raw conversation, Phra Anand traces his mother's journey from a decade of failed meditation teachers to the one who finally taught her wisdom before technique — and how watching her transform set him on the same path.
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Ep 75: My Mother and I Both Ordained: She as a Nun, I as a Monk. Here’s Why ft Phra Anand
She raised her son while trying not to drown — fighting teachers, fighting her husband, fighting to keep her family afloat, and never once seeming happy. Years later, both mother and son would leave their old lives behind and ordain. In this raw conversation, Phra Anand traces his mother's journey from a decade of failed meditation teachers to the one who finally taught her wisdom before technique — and how watching her transform set him on the same path.
5 Mistakes That Lead to Burnout in Practice
Sincere effort can still lead to burnout when practice loses its balance. Here are five common ways Dhamma practice quietly turns into strain instead of ease.
Qiu Qian: Understanding Guan Yin lots and what the Buddha said about fortune-telling
Shaking a bamboo cylinder for a temple lot is older than you'd guess, and the Buddha actually had something pointed to say about fortune-telling. Here's how to use a Guan Yin lot without turning it into fate.
Beyond Idolatry: What True Devotion Looks Like
TL;DR: Devotion, once something I mistook for...
What a Film About Hiring Strangers to Be Loved Ones Taught Me About Mettā
A reflection on how Rental Family illuminates Buddhist teachings on suffering, non-self, and loving-kindness. The film reminds us that being truly present for others may matter more than any role we play.
“I waited for a 3-month period to get tested.”: How the Dhamma saved me as I went through the darkness of sexual assault and suicide ideation.
Taking refuge in the triple gem can guide us to safety. To be at peace at whatever hardships life may throw at us. While sharing metta to ourselves might be the hardest, it is necessary for us to heal and grow over our wounds.
Certainties are the Scariest Thing on Earth
What happens when hope becomes pressure? A moving reflection on certainty, disability, Buddhism and staying present with reality.
A Buddhist on a Catholic Pilgrimage: Reflections from the Camino de Santiago
A Buddhist reflects on walking the Camino de Santiago and discovering mindfulness, compassion, impermanence, and letting go through direct experience rather than theory. Through long walks, simple living, and unexpected encounters, the Camino became a living practice in presence, humility, and inner transformation.
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Handful of Leaves | Buddhist Blog on Practical Buddhist Wisdom for a Happier Life
Welcome to Handful of Leaves, a Buddhist blog for youths seeking practical wisdom for a fulfilling life. Our mission is to share the teachings, reflections & practice of Dhamma in a relatable and accessible way for young people in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. By learning about mindfulness, compassion, impermanance and inner peace through our articles and resources, you can gain the tools to navigate through the complexities of modern life with grace and clarity. Join us on a journey to discover how this ancient wisdom can help us live life to the fullest with more meaning & purpose.