How to deal with anger using the Buddhaās Teachings
Recognising anger without judgement is the first step to healing it. The Buddha offers down-to-earth tools for transforming this fire.
Handful of Leaves
Handful of Leaves
Bringing you practical wisdom for a happier life.
Ep 73: Retiring from Singapore Elite Special Forces to Buddhist Monk ft. Venerable Drachom
Can you become fearless not by becoming stronger, but by learning to love more deeply?
In this thought-provoking conversation, Ven Drachom explores what it means to move beyond fear and develop a deeper relationship with compassion, courage, discipline, and suffering. Drawing from his experiences as a former SEAL-trained anti-terrorist commando and his Buddhist spiritual practice, he offers a very different perspective on what it means to become a spiritual warrior.
Rather than seeing fear as something that must simply be defeated, Ven Drachom describes a transformation in which fear gradually gives way to love. The goal is not to become emotionally numb or invulnerable. Instead, it is to develop the inner strength to meet difficult experiences without immediately reacting to them.
Ep 72: Buddhist Monk with The Duty to Kill ft Venerable Drachom
What happens when a former Special Forces operative turns his attention from confronting external threats to confronting the hardest enemy of allāthe mind?
In this episode, Ven Drachom reflects on his experience in Singaporeās Special Forces, the meaning of responsibility, and his journey into Buddhist practice. He shares why the happiness we chase externally is temporary, how self-cherishing creates suffering, and why the ultimate goal isn't simply to feel peacefulābut to develop clarity so we can do more for others.
Five Precepts, Eight Precepts: Whatās the Real Difference?
The Five Precepts support ethical daily living, while the Eight Precepts create temporary conditions for deeper practice. One helps you live well in the world, the other helps you step back and study the mind.
Ep 71: From Princeton Graduate & Singapore Civil Servant to Buddhist Nun ft Venerable Damcho
What happens when you follow the Singapore path, tick the right boxes, and still feel like something is missing?
In this episode, Cheryl speaks with Venerable Damcho on her unexpected path into Buddhism, from heartbreak and anxiety in university, to meditation, retreats, ordination, and discovering a kind of happiness that did not depend on external success.
Guan Yin Lot 1 Meaning: The Opening of Heaven and Earth (č§é³éē±¤ē¬¬1ē¾)
Guan Yin lot 1: Auspicious. Good fortune is already set aside for you, though it has not arrived yet. Full verse, meaning & reflection here.
Guan Yin Lot 100 Meaning: The Final Word: Stay As You Are (č§é³éē±¤ē¬¬100ē¾)
Guan Yin lot 100: Inauspicious. This is the final message in the set, and everything that needed foretelling has already been said. Full reading here.
Guan Yin Lot 99 Meaning: The Reckless Rider’s Whip (č§é³éē±¤ē¬¬99ē¾)
Guan Yin lot 99: Inauspicious. A lifetime of hard work, careless of scandal, can still be met with misfortune out of nowhere. Full reading here.
Guan Yin Lot 98 Meaning: The Bird That Rushed Into the Net (č§é³éē±¤ē¬¬98ē¾)
Guan Yin lot 98: Inauspicious. Wait for the right opening. Full verse, meaning & reflection here.
Guan Yin Lot 97 Meaning: A Candle Flickering in the Wind (č§é³éē±¤ē¬¬97ē¾)
Guan Yin lot 97: Neutral. Wealth and standing are heaven's to give, and fate decides who goes without. Full verse, meaning & reflection here.