BF Newsletter Jul-Sept 2009

Newsletter of the Buddhist Fellowship • July 2009 - September 2009

MICA (P) 186/05/2009

HIGHLIGHTSEvents6 Aug Launch Of Executive Club30 Aug Teachers Day Performance

By Rahula And Youth3 Sept Executive Club7 - 11 Sep Pilgrimage To Wat Pah Nanachat

And Wat Nong Pah Pong27 Sep Children’s Day Celebration3 Oct (TBA) Mid Autumn Celebration With Ren CiOct (TBA) Nargis Step 524 Oct - Jhana Grove Retreat With1 Nov Ajahn Brahm4 - 9 Nov Pilgrimage To Wat Pah Nanachat

And Wat Nong Pah Pong26 Nov 21st Coming Of Age Dinner

Wed Night Talks by Ven Tenzin Palzang22 July Suffering, Causes Of Suffering &

Developing Renunciation29 July Developing Great Love,

Compassion & Bodhichitta5 Aug Developing Great Love,

Compassion & Bodhichitta12 Aug The 6 Perfections (1)19 Aug The 6 Perfections (2)

Sunday Talks19 Jul Dharma As Preached By The

Buddhaby Sebastian Wong

26 Jul Managing The Stress Of Uncertaintiesby Yap Kheng Guan

2 Aug Our Lives As Storiesby Piya Tan

9 Aug After The Storm, Building The Rainbowsby Yap Kheng Guan

16 Aug Honouring The Departedby Angie Monksfield

23 Aug Finding Happinessby Tan Hun Tong

Spiritual Patron:Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso

Patrons:Dr. Ang Beng ChooDr. Tan Choon Kim

Advisor Patron:Low Teck Suan

EXCO Members:P r e s i d e n t A n g i e M o n k s f i e l d • V P - A d m i n i s t r a t i o n W o n g T a i W e eVP - Members Af fa i rs Bi ta Seow • VP - Publ ic Af fa i rs Yap Kheng GuanVP - Resource Development Jer ry Ong • Hon Secretary Poh Mu i HoonH o n . T r e a s u r e r L u a r L i n g L i n g • C o m m i t t e e M e m b e r s H e n r y B a e y ,Jayson Goh Chor Hong, Lim Ai Ling, Lim Soon Huat, Poh Joo Tung, Mathew Rickard,T ikk i Gee & Dr . Henry Yeo Peng Hock

Centre Manager : Ho Eng Chin • Centre Administrator : Wai L ingManager Humanitarian Projects: Wang Pei Chong • Manager ProgramsDevelopment & Public Relations: Albert Lee K. H

Address: 9 Chwee Chian Road Singapore 117488 • Tel: 6278 0900 • Fax: 6278 0102 • Email: [email protected] • www.buddhistfellowship.orgOffice Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am - 8pm, Sat-Sun: 10am - 5pm • Closed on Public Holidays FREE shuttle bus from Vivo City, check website for details.

New Look for BF Websiteby Tikki Gee

The Buddhist Fellowship recently revamped its website. Stillaccessible at the same web address at www.buddhistfellowship.org,this new site, based on Web 2.0, features a modern look andstreamlined site navigation.

New functionalities include podcasts and the latest in social mediasuch as Flickr and Twitter. YouTube is retained in the improvedwebsite. The new site also offers a forum where members canactively participate in online discussions on subjects pertinent tothe Buddhist community. An online poll takes a quick snap shot ofsentiments on current issues.

New functionalities will be added in the future, such as a web shop,where members can browse and purchase BF merchandise andbooks. Members looking for jobs can refer to a new section on jobopportunities. A directory of members’ businesses is also beingplanned. Finally, dana will be made easier with the introduction ofa safe and secure online donation facility.

Check out the new website now!

Designed by: www.creativeservices.com.sg

CONNECTION JUL - SEP 20092

NEWS

We often hear of the word “miracles” – acts of blessingsfrom God. Miracles are so-called because they fall out ofnormal expectations. They often come from an initiallyunforeseeable but eventually extraordinary outcome.Examples of miracles include the survival of a terminal illness,the turn in fortune and the survival of a natural disaster.

According to Wikipedia, a miracle also has the element ofdivine intervention, the influence of a deity or a supernaturalbeing. It is defined as follows:

“A miracle is a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature,such that can be explained by divine intervention, and issometimes associated with a miracle-worker”.

Walking on water by an enlightened being is often quotedas a miraculous act, for instance. Throughout history, millionsof people have sworn allegiance to their faith, inspired byexamples that their religions claimed as proof. It is notuncommon to hear of a familiar scene - converts falling totheir knees, choking in tears of emotion and singing praisesof a superior entity that manifest miracles.

With one exception.

Such a scene is not usually found in a Buddhist tradition.After all, there is no God or promises that our wishes willcome true just by our undertaking of the precepts.

Which begat the following questions: What about Buddha? Did he perform miracles? Were there any Buddhist miraclesthat we can boast about to our friends from other religions? Well, Ajahn Brahm’s evening talk on “Buddhist Miracles” onMay 7 squashed all hopes that would have elevated our egoin this regard. He told many stories to share his views.Buddhists do not really emphasize miracles because theyarise from acts of nature. They are not supernatural events. Metaphorically, miracles are simply the “special effects”,the extra seasoning to a food. Miracles come about becauseof the power of the mind. A mind grows in strength throughthe practice of meditation. Meditation brings a number ofhuge benefits, one of which is focused thought – a prerequisite

to bringing an intention into reality. In short, miracles arejust natural outcomes of a focused mind.

Using “magic shows” of miracles to entice people to believein a religion is also preying on a mind based on fear. Peoplebought into these beliefs because they are superstitious,filled with craving and/or acting out blindly to begin with.They are not practicing awareness.

But what if you have hopes for divine intervention? Well,your act has to be one borne out of goodwill. Ajahn Brahmshared that if you are inspired to do something out of thegoodness of your heart and for the benefit of all humanity,you will be supported by heavenly forces. Acts of greed,selfishness and lack of compassion do not apply. It isinvariable that your plans for kind deeds will come into fruition,despite all difficulties and challenges that you may face.

So what will a miracle be, if any, from a Buddhist perspective? The real miracle lies in the freeing of your mind. The lettinggo of your attachments. Not just material attachments butalso attachment to the ones you love. The seeing that painand suffering is temporary. That life is one of impermanence.Kisa Gotami was taught precisely these by the Buddha. Inthe end, she was awakened and became an Arahant. It isthe miracle of embodying unconditional love, peace,compassion, wisdom and light.

As in all ceremonies, I shall now do the same. I close myarticle by expressing my gratitude. Thank you for helpingme understand what a real blessing is!

Buddha'sMiraclesA Talk by Ajahn Brahmon 7 May By Evelyn Lim

Taking Refuge with Ajahn Brahm.

Happiness through Meditation.

Here’s looking at You!


NEWS

Opening of Jhana GroveRetreatBy Angie Monksfield

Perth, 11 April 2009: A few Exco members and the Presidentof BF, Ms Angie Monksfield, attended the inaugural retreatat the newly built retreat centre, Jhana Grove. The retreatcentre for lay disciples, was a brain child of Ajahn Brahm tomeet increasing interests in meditation. Situated in Serpentine,Western Australia, about 1km away from BodhinyanaMonastery where Ajahn Brahm and his monks reside, thecentre was the result of plenty of hard work and compassion.A couple of weeks before the opening, the monks toiled hardto complete the building works. They were laying tiles in theDhamma Hall on many nights till 2am!

On opening day, about one thousand people ascended thehills of Serpentine. A procession led by 6 monks emergedfrom the Bodhinyana Monastery's Sima Hall, carrying abeautiful Buddha statue on a '2-pole carriage'. The processionwas led by Ajahn Brahm, his monks, guest monks and nunsfrom other monasteries were joined by hundreds of laydisciples chanting the Homage to Triple Gem.

Ajahn Brahm ensured that Jhana Grove was built with comfortin mind for the retreatants. There are 10 "cottages", eachwith a dining area and kitchenette and 6 bedrooms, eachcomplete with attached toilet and shower. The design ensuresconvenience for the elderly and people suffering from illnesses.There are covered walkways leading to the dining hall andDhamma hall, lined by two Borobudur stupa replicas donatedby Indonesians. The Dhamma Hall has no windows so thatthere are no distractions when meditating.The best part of all - Ajahn Brahm's rules offer the retreatantsmaximum rest in an optimum environment for the body andmind to unwind from the stressful world. He believes that

retreatants be given the flexibility to wake up and sleep atany time as he understands how tough it is in the workjungle. “A meditation retreat centre is not a torture chamber.If the schedule is regimented and the teacher is strict, wewill end up being even more stressed out!” - Ajahn Brahm'sfamous words.

During the inaugural retreat, Ajahn Brahm commented "TheDhamma Hall in Jhana Grove, may start off being very simpleand uncluttered, being new. However, people will want tostart decorating the shrine, hang pictures on the wall, fillevery corner with vases and ornaments. I am sure thishappens in your homes as well. It is the ego, the controllingnature that always want to fill up spaces and wanting to leavea mark behind."

If you are looking for a place to find outer and inner peace,Jhana Grove is the sanctuary. To book into Jhana Grove,please go to the website www.bswa.org for more informationor fax 61-8-95253420 to make a request. There will be aspecial retreat for BF members in October 2009 -announcement will be by email. Please be sure you are onthe email list.

Anyone needing a pick up service from the airport, bed &breakfast or a ride to the monastery or Jhana Grove, youmay contact our BF member based in Perth: Mark Ang([email protected])


The setting was just perfect. On Wednesday, I walked into theempty Dharma hall before the evening talk on Right Mindfulnessby Ajahn Cattamalo and sat there in stillness in front of theBuddha statue. I always enjoy the deep peace that emanatesin this sacred hall, a silence which quiets my thinking mind andbrings me right in the present moment, all by itself it seems.

Thursday morning, the retreat was officially opened by AjahnCattamalo. There were about 70 participants. Ajahn guided usthrough our first morning chanting session at 5.30am. We tookthe 8 Precepts and formally began the meditation retreat.

Ajahn Cattamalo spoke a great deal about the cultivation ofMindfulness or ‘Presence of Mind’, and using it during the retreatand in our daily lives. His simple yet powerful instructions helpedus sustain our daily meditation and spiritual practices.

I was struck by Ajahn Cattamalo’s great wisdom and his incrediblegift to convey his wisdom in a simple and very clear manner.We learned that the more we uncover our Buddha Nature, themore we can make a difference in this world. He takes you outof the world of ignorance and limitations in a direct yet holymanner, and his teachings and wisdom have enriched myspiritual practice and personal life.

He gave us numerous insights on how to uncover true joy andinner peace that are inherent in us, and how we can take moreresponsibility for our actions.

He said, “To truly know you have to stop all thinking, yet it is onthe thinking that we rely to know”. This profound truth resonateddeep within me, it’s like he opened another door for me.

The evening Q&A sessions were fruitful as we sharedexperiences and learnt from each other.

The days went by and each day was a new experience ofdeeper understanding and stillness. On the last day, we wentto the beautiful green fields of Fort Canning Park to meditatewith Ajahn. It was still dark when we arrived. The experienceof meditating in nature was incredibly sacred and peaceful. Itwas there that Ajahn officially closed the retreat. We meditated,chanted and dedicated our merits. Ajahn blessed all of usthrough a most beautiful and touching chant. His Presence ofMind and Compassion were so tangible that it touched all ofour hearts – deeply. I looked around me and saw 70 radiatingand shining faces; we were all basking in love and peace. Itwas just so wonderful. I noticed I was not the only one withtears of joy in my eyes. What a true blessing to be part of thisretreat!

Someone asked, “How can it be that not talking for four days,taking only two meals a day and sleeping with thirty women inone room bring you more joy than a holiday at a five-star resort?”.

I smiled and said, “Because true happiness, joy and innerpeace cannot be found in anything outside of you; instead theycome from within. Come with me to the next retreat and you’llfind out for yourself.”

This retreat had given me more happiness, joy and peace thanany other holiday and made me realised the unmistaken truthof the Buddha’s Path even more.

Behind the scenes, the staff of the Buddhist Fellowship gaveso much of themselves to make this retreat possible. Withoutthem, none of us would have had the privilege to spend timewith such a virtuous and attained monk and teacher like AjahnCattamalo.

Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.

NEWS

On Saturday, 4th July 2009, I attended an Interfaith Dialogueheld at Ren Ci Community Hospital Multi-Purpose Hall at 71Irrawaddy Road. This event was organised by the South EastCDC in conjunction with Buddhist Fellowhip.

There were two sessions. From 9am till 10.30am, the participantsfrom various religions had a workshop. The various groups,each led by a facilitator, discussed and shared ideas on howto promote racial harmony in Singapore.

From 11.00 am till 1 pm, the participants took part at a plenarysession in the main hall. Speeches were made by Mr JamesToi, the CEO of Ren Ci Community Hospital and Ms AngieMonksfield, President of Buddhist Fellowship. The facilitatorswere invited to present a report of their group discussions atthe workshop. This was followed by the five religious leaderswho were each given about five minutes to espouse the keyconcepts and teachings of their own religions. The representativeswere Ms Angie Monksfield from Buddhist Fellowship, Rev.Malcom Tan from Barker Road Methodist Church, Mr S.Ravenderan from the Hindu Centre, Mr Idris Bin Rashid KhanSurattee, Ba’alwi Mosque and Master Chung Kwang Tong fromthe Singapore Taoist Federation.

Then, it was Q & A session from 12.15 pm till 1.00 pm. Therewere many questions asked. I was the last person to give mycomments. Briefly, I brought up the following points:

1. For thousands of years, many great minds, scholars,theologians and religious teachers have discussed and arguedabout the truth of their own religions and yet they fail to cometo a consensus. All of us look at Reality or Truth from differentperspectives. One perspective is the tunnel view , whereby,we see only a restricted view of the reality outside. How muchwe can see depends on the size of the tunnels.

2 . A n o t h e rexample is thestory of thee lephan t asdescribed by agroup of blindpeople. Howone describesthe elephantdepends on where one stands from the elephant. If we standjust behind the elephant’s tail, our description of the elephantwould be different from that if we were to stand in front of itstrunk. So each of our description of the elephant would beincomplete. We see the same Reality from different perspectives.

In view of this inherent problem, I suggested that we adopt thefollowing philosophy or principles in order to promote andmaintain racial harmony in Singapore. We should respect eachother’s opinion, views and religious beliefs. We should learn toagree to disagree so that we can achieve the ideal of “Unity inDiversity”.

After the Q & A session, the Guest of Honour, Mr Matthias Yao,the Mayor of South East District, was invited to address theaudience. He reiterated that although Singapore has successfullymaintained racial peace and harmony since our independence,we must be continuously be vigilant and not be complacent lestthe divisive and destructive forces might surface once againand destroy the cohesive fabric of our harmonious society whichwe have built up over the years.

All in all, I found the dialogue refreshing and educational. I wouldencourage those who did not attend it not to miss the nextDialogue. It would be time well spent.

The speakers with some participants.

Ajahn Cattamalo’sMeditation Retreat30 April – 3 May By Ellen Bok

Interfaith DialogueBy Robert Quek


RAHULA COLLEGE

Mother’s ReflectionBy Sabrina Peh

As parents of twins, Yinmin and Yinwei, our biggest wish isfor them to grow up to be kind and compassionate peoplewith strong values, and to mix with similar-minded friends.This wish became more urgent recently after I lost a goodfriend to sickness. She left behind 3 young children. It wasa wake-up call for us.

Most Dharma schools told me that they are too young butBF was willing to let them try out. My initial fears that theymight not be able to adapt were unfounded as all the teachersare very loving. During the first lesson at Rahula College, Icould sense the anxiety in my son Yinwei, but when I peekedin to check on him later, it was very reassuring to see TeacherLawrence putting his arm over Yinwei’s shoulders.

The 2 of them look forward to Sunday school. We canunderstand why because every week, there are interestingprograms lined up for them. Lessons are never boring and thechildren learn the right values/teachings behind every activity.

During their first outing to the Marina Barrage, we went alongin case they felt lost. However, we soon found that our presencewas really not necessary. The teachers took such good careof them. I learnt later, that all the teachers actually went backto BF over a few evenings to ensure all the logistics were takencare of, down to bubble-blowing for the younger children whodid not know kite-flying. I was very touched by theirthoughtfulness and commitment. My twins had so much funthat they kept talking about it at home and in their pre-school.

The recent Vesak Day cum Mothers’ Day celebration wasanother very heartwarming experience. With the help of thetireless teachers, the children spent the morning preparingthe food and decorating the room. Everyone worked togetherlike one big family. The atmosphere was great. The partystarted with a video which showcased what the kids haddone in the school in recent months. It was followed byofferings. The children then gathered to Dana lunch to AjahnBrahmali. They also put up a performance of 2 songs which

was very touching andfitting for the occasion.Finally, they presentedtheir mothers with thec a r n a t i o n s m a d epreviously. Hugs andkisses ‘flowed’ freely inthe room. Through this celebration, the children learntgenerosity and gratitude.

Although the twins have only been with Rahula College forless than 3 months, we noticed some positive changes inthem. They are more helpful, more caring and moreappreciative. A few weeks ago, Yinwei’s nursery teachereven commented that she is very surprised that at 4 yearsold, he is able to show empathy towards his peers whenthey hurt themselves.

Every Sunday, while the kids are attending their classes,hubby and I attend the weekly service. We feel a sense ofpeace sitting in the dharma hall, doing short meditation andlistening to the very inspiring Dharma talks of diversifiednature, surrounded by nice people. Now the whole familylooks forward to Sundays. Sundays are no longer spent justlazing around at home.

Everyone STRETCH, please! Father’s Day: Dressing up in their finest. Mother’s Day: We will let mum restand prepare lunch for her instead.

Dharma is for everyone. Tai Wee teaching thesignificance of offerings.

Rahula Activities

10 May Dana to Ajahn Brahmali (Vesak Day) &

Mother's Day Celebration

24 May The Mouse Story - Values of Teamwork

by Teng Lan

31 May Compassion via Emotional Freedom

Techniques (EFT) by Chun Yu

7 Jun Music Dhamma - Meditation with music

by Bita Seow

21 Jun Father's Day Celebration - Best Dressed "Daddy"

28 Jun Sunflower story - Everyone has their own talent

& skill by Michelle Lim


�If music be the food of love, play on…�-William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Love is timeless, and the usage of music to embrace thepower of love has long been a mark of human civilizations.Even in Shakespearan plays dating back to the 17th century,music played an important role in creating an atmosphereof love and harmony amidst tense times. What we saw on23rd and 24th May in a concert staged by the BuddhistFellowship’s Soracco choir served to promote that samelove and harmony, in spite of the bleak economic situationand swine flu fears that has plagued our society recently.

Like many others, when I first heard of this concert, I wonderedto myself how it was going to be like. It was not the first choirconcert that I had been to, and I remember other concertsbeing characterized by songs, songs, and more songs allnight, with the occasional swishing of arms and synchronizedtapping of feet. It did not seem like I was the only one whothought that way, as I had overheard a lady in the bathroomtelling a friend, “Do you think the choir will be moving at allor just singing?”

Boy, was I wrong. The Soracco choir staged 3 performances,one on Saturday night, and two on Sunday. I went for allthree and enjoyed them tremendously. Even though theysang the same songs in all 3 performances, each performanceto me appeared different and fresh. There was never a dullmoment, due to the wide range of songs chosen andhumourous interjections by guest singer, Robert Fernando.Despite the weather being warm and humid, where the daywas probably best spent in a pool or an igloo, the concerthall was still packed with people all three times.

As I sat in the solitude of the dimly-lit chamber on the secondfloor of the concert hall, I observed the stage crew workinghard with final preparations and the three youthful musiciansheading up to take their places at the back of the stage. Soon,head musician and composer August Lum made his presencefelt with his energetic kungfu-like moves on his keyboard, andthe concert hall was lulled into silence. A concert dedicatedto all our loved ones – be they our family or friends – in honourof all those who have been there for us.

After kicking off with “You Raise Me Up”, expectations forthe choir grew steadily due to their professional-soundingnature, despite them all being volunteers. As more songswere sung in dedication to different people – some songswere in appreciation to our fathers, some to our mothers,some to our friends – one thing that struck me the most wasthe spirit of “teamwork” that the choir had. A choir of differentnationalities and different ages, no one person outshone theother. The choir could only produce such songs through theconcerted effort of all singers, as well as the hard work of allthe musicians and backstage crew and volunteers.

While many songs were creations by some of the Soraccosingers and the musicians themselves, others were classichits that many of us were familiar with and could activelyparticipate in. One of the more popular songs sung was “I’llBe There for You”, from the hit television show “Friends”,and was a song that was well-received by the audience inall 3 of the performances. Audience participation for suchold songs was high, and even I found myself attempting tobob my head to the music despite my lack of musicalcoordination. It was a nice medley of songs as the songschosen had a balance of thought-provoking ballads to light-hearted hits, all giving the same message about love. Toappeal more to an even wider range of musical tastes, thesecond half of the concert also saw the musicians stagingan instrumental performance, in particular an entrancingclassical piece from “Carmen”.

Another thing that stood out to me was the arrangement ofthe songs. There were not too many ballads, and not toomany heart-pounding hits. There were songs for the young,and songs for the old. What I liked especially was how thefirst half of the concert dealt more with love in all its cheekiness,as well as love between family and friends and romanticlove. The second half of the concert seemed to deal morewith the endless boundaries of love and the eternity of love,with songs like “Grow Old with You” and “Times of our Life”.The theme of love shone through strongly by touching on allits different aspects, and love and its all-encompassing naturewas highlighted strongly.

In addition to the musical talents of the Soracco choir, it wasalso pleasing to have Robert Fernando, a professional artist,to perform 4 different songs. His first song, “Love is a Many

By: Pearlyn Yap Assisted by: Darren Ang, 11 years old, Rahula College

NEWS


NEWS

QUOTES

“It was exhilarating. You can see the energy and the passionof everyone involved in this. We hope that by staging such a

performance, the dhamma can appeal more to everyone,including the youths. The wide range of songs also makes iteasy for everyone to relate to the messages we are trying to

send out.”- President of Buddhist Fellowship, Angie Monksfield

“It has been so enjoyable. I am overwhelmed and honoured tobe here to witness all this enthusiasm. The choir is notprofessionally-trained, and it’s a wonderful and learning

experience for me to see these volunteers showing their passion.There is so much warmth, and this concert of goodwill bringsout the best in people. Music bonds people, and I have only

great memories from the time that I have spent here.”- Guest singer, Robert Fernando

“Musically, it’s the best concert we have ever done.I’m very satisfied.”

- Musician, August Lum

“The atmosphere was good, and awareness was created aboutwhat BF is about. It’s good to do such concerts annually.”

- Musician, Rit Xu

“It’s wonderful, the first time I didn’t fall asleep in a concert.There was a lot of audience participation, and it was very

enjoyable. A good way to celebrate Vesak!”- Brother T

“I enjoyed it very much. The songs sung were beautiful andhad a lot of meaning. The choices of songs were great and itwas about love for the family, friends and the dhamma. It should

be an annual performance.”- Dr. Yeo

“Very good concert, I enjoyed it very much. Many of them havepowerful voices, and it’s very harmonized. There are love songs,

and songs about friendship, it’s a wide range of songs.Robert Fernando also adds spice to the show, and engages

the audience well.”- Shirley Yeo

“Very good, the best concert I have been to. The songs weregood, and the singers are very good, they should take part inSingapore Idol. Robert Fernando is also very entertaining.”

- Yeo Kin Poh, 86, Dr. Yeo’s father

“The selection of love songs was good and varied, taken bothfrom the classics and those composed by the BF members. Ithink both the young and old can relate to love songs easily.It would be good though if the lyrics of the latter, since someof us may not be familiar with them, could be printed in the

programme or flashed on screens on both sides of the stage.”- Gek Tiang

“It’s fantastic, very refreshing. The choir is good, and it’ssomething different. I like that it’s neutral and modern, and that

it’s not steeped in religion.”- Non-Buddhist Fellowship member, Latifah Ramadil

“The Soracco group shocked me. The songs are fantastic, andthey communicate well with the audience.”

- Darren Ang, 11, one of the few who willingly gave out his age

Note : Soracco will be making their Internationaldebut in Jakarta in October./November this year.Watch out for more information…

Splendoured Thing”, immediately drew applauses from theaudience. A brilliant singer and a great entertainer, Mr. Fernandobrought the house down with his cheeky banter with theaudience, at some points even dragging some of them up onstage with their partners to promote the message of love.

Wanting to find out if the audience felt the same way that I did,I asked randomly selected members of the audience abouthow they felt. Fashion designer Benny Ong wholeheartedlycommended the Soracco singers, saying, “The singers arevery good, and you can see that they are enjoying themselves.It’s a fun atmosphere, and that’s the most important thing.Perhaps in the future they can expand it even more with thecostumes and the lighting to give it more of a theatre feel. Ilike the arrangement of the songs as there is a mix of classicBuddhist Fellowship hits with older, more familiar songs.”

Coming from someone who cannot play the piano with morethan two fingers and who was scolded for singing in class notbecause it was distracting but because my singing was so bad,watching such a concert was inspiring and uplifting. Wordscannot describe the experience accurately, and I hope that allthose who attended the concert enjoyed it as much as I did.Well done, Soracco choir, and I look forward to more of suchconcerts in the future.

Thank you for the dhamma.


NEWS

Bringing cheers to theresidents of the GeylangEast Home for the AgedBy Huang Xue Fen

As part of BF’s community program, 35 volunteers madetheir inaugural visit to the Geylang East Home for the Aged(GEHA). The visit took place on Saturday, 27th June.

BF member Tee started the visit with a talk on meditation inHokkien. He explained to the senior residents that just asthe body needs to detoxify, the mind needs to meditate tocleanse off any unkind thoughts. Under a relaxed environment,the residents were able to experience a short session ofmeditation. BF Tee also encouraged them to meditate duringtheir leisure time so as to fully reap its benefits to the bodyand the mind.

This was followed by a series of Bingo games. There werefun and laughter as numbers were called and prizes givento winners. It was indeed a good way for the BF volunteersand the residents to get to know each other better.

After Bingo, a few of the volunteers led the residents in akaraoke session, bringing more fun and laughter. Meanwhile,in a corner, other volunteers started to make preparationsfor dinner. GEHA has a fully-equipped kitchen which gavethe volunteers the opportunity to demonstrate their cookingskills. Their effort to go the extra mile was a pleasant surpriseto the residents.

After much excitement, it was time to feast on the sumptuousspread sponsored by BF member Doris Tee.

The event came to an end with an exchange of thanksbetween GEHA residents and BF volunteers. Although it wasthe inaugural session, it is encouraging to see a good turnoutof volunteers. In fact, many of the volunteers were alreadymaking plans for the next trip and would they would bringalong to cook for the residents.

I am happy to part of this meaningful trip. As the saying goes,a little kindness goes a long way. Come, play a part in spreadingthe kindness by joining us for a day of fun and activities.

The next visit will be on 25 Jul 09 (Saturday), from 3pm to6pm. Please register by contacting BF office or [email protected] for more details.

Volunteer Mr Tee giving instructions on meditation.

GEHA residents and volunteers in silent meditation.

Dinner sponsoredby Doris Tee.

Origami expert, Mr Leong Chit Chung. Senior citizens enjoyingthemselves too.

Ajahn Brahmali giving a talk.

Vesak DayThere was a hive of activitieson Vesak day including aorigami demonstration byMr Leong Chit Chung.


What is the definition of a perfect holiday? Taking in manysights, imbibing an assortment of foods, running aroundvarious places jostling with the crowds? This is the typicalseries of activities that occur when we go traveling. Whenwe return home, we wonder why we find ourselves strangelymore tired than we were before embarking on the journeythat was supposed to reinvigorate us. So the next time youfeel that you really need a break, go on an ExecutiveMeditation Retreat with Buddhist Fellowship instead.

This year, the Buddhist Fellowship Executive MeditationRetreat took place from 13th June to 17th June (or 19th Junefor those abiding by the 8 precepts) in the prestigious SheratonResort in Hua Hin, Thailand. Hua Hin is considered by thepeople-in-the-know as one of the best spa and beach areasin South-East Asia, thereby debunking the preconceivednotion that meditation retreats necessarily entails Spartanliving conditions.

Under the auspices of Ajahn Brahm, the retreat was onewhich rejuvenated both the body and the mind. Even a fussyperson like me could find no fault with the spacious rooms,luxurious swimming pools, and sumptuous buffet spreadsduring breakfast and lunch. The resident spa too exudedtasteful affluence. My body was therefore also given muchcare and attention, not just my mind.

The true distinction that made the retreat superior to theusual run-of-the-mill get-away trips was the presence ofAjahn Brahm. His ever smiling countenance was reminiscentof the cheerful statues of Lord Matreiya, and his unfailingpatience with everyone and our ceaseless questions, nomatter how trivial, reminded us all of the importance ofcompassion.

Unfailingly at 6am every morning, before the sun’s rays evenbroke through the night, Ajahn Brahm would be at the lawnof the hotel to guide the retreat participants to seek thestillness of their own minds. Under Ajahn Brahm’s tutelagein the serene surroundings where birds chirped with unabatedenthusiasm, it was easy to find the inner peace that sneakilyavoids me during my hectic daily living.

Dhamma talks after breakfast and in the evenings providedmuch revelation and new perspectives on seemingly mundanesituations. For example, I am sure most of us detest mosquitobites because of the perpetual itch, but after Ajahn Brahmcompared the mosquitoes biting humans to us being swattedat the buffet tables, somehow it made me feel that themosquito bites I received at the beach were tolerable. Suchis the power of receiving elucidation from a person who holdsthe right views.

Sadly, as with all good things, the days flew by quickly andall too soon, the majority of the participants had to board thecoaches heading for the Bangkok airport. Seeing AjahnBrahm waving goodbye to the departing masses made mefeel truly inspired, for I had the good fortune to receive (albeitit being only for a few short days) the teachings of someoneso great and yet so humble, an exemplary paragon of virtueswhose depth of compassion is simply immeasurable. Hence,I feel that I would not be wrong in speaking on everyone’sbehalf that the retreat with Ajahn Brahm was truly a blessing.

Thank you Ajahn Brahm!

5 Star Retreatfor Body andMind By C U Pinn

NEWS


NEWS

BF, in collaboration with the Ren Ci Hospital and Wings,organized a forum “Living Beyond our Prime Years “ on the7th June, Sunday.

The four speakers at the forum are Dr Kanwaljit Soin,Dr Neo Han Yee, Ms Angie Monksfield and Ajahn Tiradhammo.

Dr Soin started spiritedly to quickly debunk the commonmisconception that a growing and sustained aging populationis an economic and social burden to any country.

Dr Soin gave 8 tips for successful ageing:

1. Stay mentally active

2. Exercise regularly

3. Maintain a varied and balanced diet. Quit smoking.

4. Regular medical checks.

5. Keep a positive outlook – optimists are 50% more likelyto survive the next 30 years than pessimists.

6. Develop stress-free living – Meditation and adequate sleep are important.

7. Master your environment to reduce stress

8. Be happy

In conclusion Dr Soin reiterated the need to change ourattitude and to be more outgoing with a positive attitude toenjoy our golden years to the fullest. Being open can helpus become more receptive to ideas, assistance andforgiveness to better reap the benefits of a more fulfilling life.

Ms Angie Monksfield touched on relationships.

When the relationship is meaningful, one can express one’smind freely without any fear of reprisal or criticism. Anotherterm for such relationships is “spiritual friendships”. Theconfidence developed within this friendship will further nurturegreater honesty, mindfulness and readiness to forgive andforget. She then enumerated an incident when Ananda askedthe Buddha, “Is spiritual friendship half of the spiritual life?”To this the Buddha replied, “No Ananda, that is not the case.Spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life.”

She clarified that when our relationships are fulfilling, we willexperience a lot of happiness, thus making our livesmeaningful. Therefore, it is important to continue to masterthe skills of making friends. To achieve this, we must beaware of the critical ingredients necessary to realize this.What are these?

Life is short and it gets shorter everyday. So we should notwaste any more time and start building meaningfulrelationships now.

Living Beyond Your Prime Years By S.K. Chin

Panel of Speakers: Ms Angie Monksfield, Ajahn Tiradhammo, Dr Neo Han Yee, Dr. Kanwaljit Soin.


NEWS

OperationNo ReleaseBy Luis Tirtasanjaya Lioe

As part of the Vesak Day observance, a group of BF volunteersjoined forces with PUB and NParks to urge the public not torelease animals in our reservoirs and parks. According tothe agencies, such act upsets the ecological systems in thesenatural places. Also, as the released animals are not equippedto survive in the wild, they might die shortly after they arereleased.

On 16 May, the volunteers accompanied the friendly stafffrom NParks on a mission to educate the public on the harmfulact of releasing animals into our nature reserve and reservoirs. We were rostered into 2 shifts, one in the morning and theother in the afternoon, and deployed to various hot spotswhere animals were commonly released animals in the pastyears.

My group was led by NPark’s staff, Mr Koa who briefed uson our duty. Soon, we were on our round, enjoying the freshair and beautiful scenery of nature while on the lookout forpeople releasing animals.

Near the lake, there were several instances when carsstopped by and people came down for a short break. Thoughthey were not releasing animals, we took the opportunity tohave a friendly chat with them and handed brochures on theharmful effects of releasing animals into the wild. Some ofthem mentioned that they were not aware of the harmfulconsequences of such an act. Hopefully, they could pass onthe information to their relatives and friends.

One of the most heartbreaking experiences was at the fishingarea, where we found a turtle trapped with a fishing hookand line stuck in its mouth. It struggled to get free but theharder it tried, the more the hook embedded into it.

The little friend’s suffering was tremendous. We brought itto shore and sought the help of a man who was fishing

nearby. He managed to free the turtle from the hook andline but unfortunately, we noticed another hook entrenchedfurther down it’s mouth that could not be reached. The poorturtle swam away with a permanently damaged mouth. Itslife would not be long, cut short by infection and its inabilityto eat.

We could see that the man’s face also showed deep sympathyand regret for the turtle. We do hope that this encounter willhelp him reflect on the suffering of the fishes and other marineanimals when he indulges in his hobby and hopefully, thecompassion arises in his heart to stay away from fishing.

Poor Ninja’s fate is a reminder to us that good intentionsmust come with wisdom. Releasing animals into the wildmay not necessarily be a kind or wise thing to do.

At the end of the day’s duty, Mr Koa expressed his gratitudeto us. He said that our presence, warm greetings, andengagement with the public had helped people understandthe harmful effects on the release of animals. Mr Koa addedthat group from BF was the most organized volunteer grouphe had encountered.

I am fortunate to be a part of this meaningful volunteer workthat allow us to practice metta for the welfare and benefitsof all sentient beings.

BF volunteers with staff from NParks.

Saving Ninja.


NEWS

Nargis Step 43 – 5 JulyBy Matthew Rickard

It has been over a year since Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmarand just over a year that BF made its first trip to the region.With this in mind ‘Nargis Step 4’ represented a mile stone inBF’s Humanitarian efforts. The trip was an opportunity to seeat first hand the progress of recovery for ChaungGyi village.

There was a group of 19 this time led by Brother Pei Chongwho heads up all the humanitarian projects for BF, as wellas exco members, Brother Yap, Sister Jesilynn, myself(Brother Matt) and Sister Bita who also brought her childrenBrian and Tara. For at least 12 of the group this was theirfirst Nargis trip.

We set off on Friday from Changi and as always the group’sluggage allocation was used to pack the plane with blanketsas well as other donated items to be distributed to schoolkids. The flight to Yangon took around 2.5 hours and as theplane made the descent there were spectacular views of thedelta region. The maze of waterways is a reminder of howinaccessible many of the villages still are.

Arriving there in the early evening we made for dinner afterchecking into the hotel and then an early night with the planto be up at 3 30 am so we could be at the village by 10 am for the Dana offerings to the village monks.

The sun may have been struggling to rise, but all 19 of thegroup were ready and waiting to go by 5am. The first partof the journey took around 2.5 hours to Kungyangon, a townon the Toe River where, as always, the group stopped formorning tea, a long-standing Burmese tradition. After a shortbreak we jumped on to a long narrow fishing boat for thesecond part of the journey in to the delta.

From my personal experience one of the high lights is alwaysthe boat journey. It takes about 1.5 hours and there is alwaysa lot to take in. The river varies from a few meters at itsnarrowest to perhaps a few kilometers where the inlets meet

the estuary. The banks were lush green with a mix of localpalms and other native trees. We passed by many fishermenin their boats and though they were busy managing theirnets, all of whom took the time to wave and smile as wepass them. About half way into the journey we passed by avery large seated Buddha. At 30 feet or so he sits serenelyabove the trees, a symbol not just of Buddhism but also theBurmese villagers’ resilience after such a disaster.

We arrived at ChaungGyi village around 9.45 am and madeour way to the monastery in the village centre so we couldoffer the dana to the monks and take some lunch. Therewere 2 groups of monks, one of which was made up of 5novice monks between the ages of 5 and 10. Many of uswere transfixed by how peaceful the young children were asthey sat and ate in silence.

After lunch, the Chairman of the Chaung Gyi Village committeegave a speech to the villagers and the volunteerscommemorating the completion of the Chaung Gyi VillageMonastery. He thanked BF for their humanitarian effort inthe village. On behalf of BF, Brother Yap commented thatit was indeed a great fortune for BF to be given the opportunityto help the village after the devastation of Cyclone Nargis.The ceremony ended with the offering of robes to the monkswhile the abbot of the monastery led everybody in therecitation of the 5-precepts and the water-liberation ceremony.

The group then headed to the school tohand the donations of backpacks, snacksand bubbles, to put smiles on the facesof the children. With Pei Chong’s seamlessorganizing and the help of locals AungAung and Hayman we were able todistribute to all the school children withouta hiccup. As always it was great to put asmile on the faces of the children. Whengiving these donations I often get a sensethat it’s not so much the gift itself but theact of giving, and the fact we have madethe trip to be there that puts a smile ontheir faces.

It was also heart warming to see 8 yearold Tara handing out donations andinteracting with the local children. Whenher Mummy talked to her about herexperience she commented, "I fell.... andthe aunty in the hut helped me up... andcleaned me and my shoes... she was verykind, I feel thankful.” ; "I want to go hometo tell my school that the children I met

Kids just happy to be in a school.

Sleeping quarters of the novice monks.


NEWS

were better behaved and less noisy. Our classmates canlearn from them."; and "Can we bring them more clothes,toys, food the next time?"

We spent a few more hours in the village, leaving before lowtide around 3.30pm. Since my first trip to Nargis it wasencouraging to see the progress the community has made.With the language barrier, it was never easy to know forsure, but certainly the general spirit of the people was muchhigher and BF donations have helped to repair buildings aswell as supplying vital machinery to get the villagers backon their farming land.

We arrived back at Yangon around 9pm. A long day, but verysatisfying indeed.

When I asked a fellow volunteer, Brother Steve Tan whowas on his first trip to Nargis, about his experience he said,“After the initial charm faded, my monkeymind startedcontrasting this with my life back in Singapore -- no plasmascreen TVs here, no internet access, no Spinelli's coffee!What I thought were life's essentials these people do withoutevery day. Their generosity in hosting us, providing us withfood which they themselves rarely eat, showed me theirwealth was not measured by material things but by the sizeof their hearts”

On the way to the airport the following day I was sitting nextto 11-year-old Brian on the bus. As he looked out of thewindow he commented on how the city looked like it neededmore rebuilding work. “Maybe we can send our people overto help out” he said. A suitable metaphor, I thought, for ourcontinuing work in the recovering delta region. There is a lotwe have achieved in the last year and it was heart warmingto see many more smiling faces on this trip. Now as we lookon to Stage 5, we will continue to find new ways to assistChaung Gyi and the surrounding villages to rebuild theircommunities.

LianHe Zaobao’s articleThe trip has also attracted the attention of the media. LianHeZaobao carried a story on the trip on 7 Jul 09. A copy of thepress story and the translation in English are reproduced.

Next StepNargis Step 5 is scheduled for Oct 09. More informationwould be available soon via email. Please contact BrotherPei Chong at [email protected] toregister your interest.

Quote from the Chairman of village committee,Chaunggyi Village

Mingalarbar, I think today is the most auspiciousday because the Kangyi Pariyatti Monastery wassuccessfully completed through the goodwill

and faith of the fellows brothers and sisters fromthe Singapore Buddhist Fellowship.

On behalf of the entire Kawat Chaunggyi Village,I, here, would like to express my gratitudetowards our brothers and sisters from the

Singapore Buddhist Fellowship, who providedevery effort, cash and kind to the completion of

our village’s Buddhist monastery.

Starting the boat ride with megawatt smiles.

Jesilynn feeling totally at home here.

Renovated Monastery with BF funding.

Simple joys of bubble fun.


NEWS

Translation of Lian He Zao Bao’s article on 7 Jul 09

Volunteers go far in Myanmar to renderhumanitarian aid in the cyclone afflicted areaThe Buddhist Fellowship Singapore is believed to beone of the few overseas organisations that have beengranted permission by the Myanmar government to gofar in the local remote areas to provide humanitarianaid. Since the disaster happened in May last year, this is the fourth time that the Buddhist Fellowship Singaporeis going into the cyclone afflicted area.By Joanne Lim

How did you spend your time over the weekend? Did youshop, watch movies or simply relax at home?

19 volunteers from Buddhist Fellowship (BF) made full useof the weekend by participating in a self-paid mission thatbrought them into the Ayeyarwady delta, a region that wasdevastated by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.

BF is believed to be one of the few overseas organizationsthat had been granted permits by the Myanmar governmentso they could prov ide humani tar ian a id to theregion. 4 missions were conducted since the disaster tookplace.

Apart from the first trip where the volunteers had to endurea grueling 14-hour bus & boat journey to Labutta andnearby villages, the team had been making 4-hour bus &boat journeys into the village of Chaung Gyi to provide aidto the victims of the cyclone.

Angie Chew Monksfield, president of BF, commentedthat the decision to adopt Chaung Gyi village as the recipientof BF humanitarian aid in Myanmar was due to the fact

that this village has about 500families and is comparablylarge in size.

“We made the decision to focusour efforts on helping a biggervillage given the constraints inresources and language. Ast h e b i g g e r v i l l a g erecovers from the disaster,they would have the ability tohelp other smaller villages”.

BF, compris ing of 3000members, had providedS$45,000 worth of food anddaily necessities til l date.10 p lough ing mach ines( S $ 8 , 0 0 0 ) w e r e a l s odonated to the village to assistthem with their rice harvests.S$12,000 was also contributedto the renovation of the villagemonastery.

Other than the above, donation items (500 kilogramsper trip) such as blankets,clothes, toys and books werebrought to Myanmar as part ofthe participants’ personalbaggage allowance. BF is veryfortunate to have the supportof Silkair which had facilitatedin the transportation of thedonation items.

Although it has been a year since the disaster hadoccurred, living conditions in the region are still in the variousstages of recovery, Bita Seow, Vice-President (Member Affairs) of BF, went ahead and brought her children (8 &11 years old) for the trip.

“I did not help the children make any mental preparationprior to the trip. All I did was to get them to pack as muchtoys and books as possible to be donated to the village kids”.

Bita added, “It was a very valuable opportunity for thechildren to experience living conditions which are significantly different from Singapore's. To my delight, they were ableto adjust and adapt to the changes and had learnt toappreciate and be thankful of the comforts of home. Moreover,they spent a weekend without asking for their television andPSPs!”

Vice President (Public Affairs), Yap Kheng Guan, observedthat while the life in the village was tough, the villagers werevery contented with their simple lifestyle. They were dignifiedand did not resort to begging from the volunteers. Instead, theyextended their hospitality by providing whatever simplecomforts they could to the volunteers. On the surface, thevolunteers were there to give but in reality, they benefited alot in return from the interaction with the villagers.

Other than Myanmar, the Buddhist Fellowship also runsvarious humanitarian projects in Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and China. Long-term projects included providinghumanitarian efforts for an orphanage in Khao Lak (a townin Thailand that was almost destroyed by the tsunami in2004) and the Chaung Gyi village in Myanmar.

Although the volunteers had just returned to Singapore, theyare already enthusiastically preparing for the next mission(3 months later) to go back to the village of Chaung Gyi.

A D V E R T I S M E N T


FEATURE

Not By Works Alone By Piya Tan

After years of living in Singapore, leading a semi-reclusive life oftranslating and teaching the early Buddhist suttas and supportingmy family as a lay Dharma teacher and meditation therapist, we(my wife, two young sons and myself) joined a full-day trip to Johor.

This trip was a very successful one because everything turned outjust right. It was a weekend, and I had no teaching, counseling,family or urgent task to attend to. But the main reason I acceptedthe invitation was that it was from a remarkable Dharma-inspiredpractising Buddhist.

I will call him Sudhana for reasons you will discover if you readbetween the lines of this reflection. He is one of the mature adultswho have been attending my Dharma courses and Sutta classes,and truly benefitted from them. Let me say that his whole life ischanged by the Dharma he tasted.

He is a better husband, a better father, a better family man, a betterworker, a better friend, and of course a better person. Yes, thethought of becoming a monk does arise in Sudhana’s mindoccasionally, but he well knows that walking the humble path ofstreamwinning puts him well ahead of the many yellow-necks1 whohaunt us today.

How do you know the Dharma has changed a person’s life? Hewill consistently tell you he is happy. He lost a bundle in the recentglobal financial collapse. But unlike others who put $100 into thedonation box to con “the Buddha” into giving him a million in return,Sudhana says that his loss is his Dana to the economy!

How do you know the Dharma has changed a person’s life? Youare happy when you meet him, or even think of him. No, I am nottalking about how we feel towards a famous religious master, orour favourite pop star, or a VIP politician who just shook our hands.That is admiration and self-satisfaction.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with just that. But I’m talking abouta sense of deep happiness that makes us so fulfilled with a calmjoy that we feel that we do not need anything else in the world.

We often enjoy being before a crowd, being the centre of attention;we enjoying being a noble trying to change people’s lives; we enjoythe power of teachings we do not understand; we are thrilled at thepresence of those we canonise as arhats and living masters. Thepoint is, we should see a Dharma-moved change in our lives. If welack emotional independence, we will always be dependent on anexternal power figure.

Let me come back to Sudhana. He is an assertively compassionateperson who would gently and patiently talk Dharma to his workcolleagues and to anyone who cares to ask, and yet does notdominate any conversation.

Oh, yes he is a consistent meditator. That is, he sits in mindfulnesswhenever there is an opportunity. This is the real source of hismiraculous change and spiritual strength. Although he is not anintellectual, our mutual Dharma interest melds our minds togetherin a Sutta study. His attention span is remarkable, which is helpedby the fact that he always ensures his handphone is switched offfor better reception of the Dharma.

Sudhana is not a social worker or a fund-attracting CEO, who wouldbreak any precept to help others. On the contrary, he is an amazinglysimple, calm yet firm person who is inspired not to break any ofthe precepts, even when helping others, and who uses the eightprecepts to lose weight, bodily and mentally.

Sudhana may not remember the exact title or reference of the(Saddha) Janussoni Sutta (A 10.177), but he certainly knows thatif we do only good work, no matter how good, but do not keep tothe precepts, we will be reborn with just rewards: we will be wellloved, well cared for, well provided for—as a loving pet (an elephant,horse, cow, dog, cat etc)! Which reminds me: please treat your petwell, because it is likely to have been such a person in its past life.Elsewhere I have written about how our pets can still go to heaven2.

So what is the vital difference between good work and moral virtue?Good work is mainly our benefitting from the misfortune and badnessof others, while our moral virtue is self-respect and other-respectthat bring us untold spiritual happiness. No matter how “good” aworker we may be, without moral virtue, we look good in the badof others. People may think we are “good,” but even we do notknow who we really are.

Maybe that is why we do good work famously. But when we aremorally virtuous, our actions are more easily guided by the clearcalm of the Dharma: it gives meaning and truth to good work. For,we are showing others their own goodness. We are like two clearmirrors facing each other.

By the way, you may try, out of evolutionary curiosity or lack of freewill, to find out who Sudhana really is. Anyway, my point is thatSudhana is a true seeker, which you yourself are, or can be. I’mnot talking about a person, but a type of individual.1 See Dakkhina Vibhanga Sutta (M 142.8/3:256 = SD 1.9); Jivika Sutta (It 3.5.2/89 f) = SD 28.9b.2 See “Animals go to heaven,” Reflection 090121: see http://dharmafarer.googlepages.com.

The retreat was held at the Sheraton Resorts. White chairsand tables were laid out neatly on the lawn and food stationsshowcased an array of culinary delights ranging from Thaigreen curry soup to chocolate cupcakes. The ambience wasspectacular. Dinner was held against the backdrop of a beautifulsunset and filled with an airy sea breeze. The pop songs fromthe live band completed the carnival-like atmosphere. Thiscould have passed off as a wedding event but it was in factthe welcome dinner of the meditation retreat held at Hua Hin,Thailand, from 13th to 21st June 2009. Angie Monksfield,President of the Buddhist Fellowship, gave the opening speech,encouraging the 300-odd retreatants from 15 nationalities tocherish the retreat as a break from the drudgery or battles ofeveryday lives as they truly deserved it. In addition, sheinformed them of the activities held in the upcoming days ofthe retreat.

After the sumptuous dinner, the retreatants made their way

to the high-ceilinged, air-conditioned meditation hall for thewelcome talk and were greeted by the ever jovial Ajahn Brahmwho had just arrived from the airport. Ajahn Brahm set thetone for the first 5 days of the retreat by encouraging theretreatants to “put down the 2 heavy baggage held by bothhands” – The baggage in the left hand and right handsymbolizing the guilt and disappointment arising from the pastand fear and worries concerning the future respectively. Byletting go of these unwholesome thoughts, they would be ableto take a break from their daily lives, focus on the presentmoment, and fully benefit from the meditation retreat. Afterthe evening meditation session, the participants retreated intotheir rooms for the night.

The optional morning meditation sessions starting from 6amwere held on a grass lawn surrounded by an expansive swimmingpool and sleepy apartments. Held before the daily buzz ofactivities, these sessions proved conducive for reaching deeper

An Alternative Holiday for the YouthsBy Teo Heng Bin/Carene Poh

Fun Under the SunBy Rong HanIt was the 29th of May, an ordinary day, just like any other day.The sun shone brightly with nary a cloud in the sky. It was possiblya blessing in disguise, with the devas knowing what was to happenafterward. At 4pm, they would all rejoice.

4pm. The first signs of life trickle into the hallowed halls of BuddhistFellowship. There to welcome everyone with her big and generoussmile was the camp chairman (or chairwoman for that matter), MissOng Ser Gin. Soon, more people started arriving, and at 4.30pm,Camp “Fun under the Sun” officially opened.

After the icebreakers were done, campers were given time tointeract amongst themselves while the music team got ready fora short lesson on percussions. Grabbing the campers’ attentionwith two songs, “Quando, Quando, Quando” and “ ” wasperformed admirably by August Lum on keyboards, Thow Xin Qiangon guitar and Ronghan on vocals. The campers were then taughtto create music from recycled items or household equipment.

The second day started slowly, and the sleep-deprived camperswere woken up by a hearty breakfast of cereal and bread. Dr. TeohRenshang then gave a talk on “Who am I? Who knows? WhoCares?”. Campers were told to split into groups of two, and writeten things good and bad about themselves, followed by the samething about their partner. The talk left everyone a little bit wiser andmore aware of their own strengths and weaknesses.

It was time for fun at Sentosa after theDhamma was done. “The Amazing Race”required each group to decipher clues to theirrequired destinations before attemptingdifferent tasks at the locality. Some tasks likedancing to an audience, skipping, andclimbing ironworks were tiring, but everyonehad fun running around Sentosa screaming,scheming and strategizing.

A good hearty meal, courtesy of Sister HelenGoo, awaited us at the finish line, andeveryone tucked in happily, hungry and tiredafter a full day of running about. Terrifiedscreams interrupted our dinner as camperswere rounded up, one by one, andsystematically dunked into the salty watersof the sea. At nightfall, screams made wayfor singing and dancing around an imaginary

campfire consisting of xylem sticks. Upon return to BuddhistFellowship, campers rushed for showers and a late night moviebefore finally hitting the sack.

The third day began early, as campers were roused from hibernationat 7.30am in order to get ready for a talk by representatives fromthe Tibetan Traditional Medicine (TTM). Campers were thenintroduced to breathing techniques, remedies and cures that werecommonly used in TTM. Most interesting was its breathingtechniques, which were very much like meditation. The apparentability to breathe away toxins from one’s body fascinated many,and the terminologies caused many to giggle.

After the talk ended, the campers proceeded to the rooftop for lunchand other games till about 1.30pm, before heading down to thebasement for the final moments of the camp. Activities like a secondpercussion lesson, writing of short testimonials for each other andthe revealing of each other’s “Deva and Mortal” were done. Thecamp was capped with a final performance for the parents ofwhatever the campers had learnt during the percussion lessons.

Finally, the camp came to an end. Many were reluctant to leaveeach other’s company. A great three days which started withlaughter and happiness ended on a high note, with every camperreturning home with new cherished memories and great friends.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!

states of meditation. After coming out of meditation at 7am,retreatants would get to savour the sunrise in the picturesqueresort before heading to the resort’s cafe for their breakfast.

The first session of the day starts at 8.30am, when AjahnBrahm would give a talk followed by a guided meditation. Asusual, his talks were filled with humorous tales which not onlydrew laughter from the audience but also drove home vitalpoints of Buddhist teachings.

After lunch at the resort’s cafe, retreatants would then decidehow to spend the day before the evening Q & A session.Some would choose to go for a dip in the resort pool underthe afternoon Hua Hin sun. The resort has an interestinglayout where part of the pool greets the balconies of theapartments, a nice way to say ‘Hi’! to other resort guests.Other retreatants would venture out of the resort for a relaxingThai Massage, visit the wet market selling local produce, orsearch for delicious Thai food based mainly on word of mouthand bargain at the night market so that they can bring backsouvenirs for their loved ones back home.

Not forgetting the sessions held by Bro Albert and Sister AngieMonksfield, who catered specially-themed sessions for thedifferent categories of retreatants. Namely, the youths club(where dating skills were explored), the executives club (where“Dealing with Guilt” and “What it Means to Love?” were thediscussion topics), the husbands club (“What a Woman Wantsfrom you?”) and the wives club (“Reconnecting with yourPartner”). A line dance session was organized due to populardemand, and telematches where games like captain’s balland human chain were played.

Retrospectively, it is indeed important to be progressive in thepractice of meditation rather than “force the process”. Suchretreats are perfect opportunities as windows into the worldof meditation while pampering oneself. Having completed thisHua Hin trip, I would recommend the five preceptors’ retreat(the first five days of the meditation retreat) to participantswho want to spend quality time with their family members orwho are not fully ready to attempt the entire day meditating.Hopefully, this will plant the seeds for them to attempt morechallenging meditation retreats, such as an 8-precept meditationretreat, in the future.

Fun Under the Sun

YOUTH



FEATURE

To Help with an Open Heart By: Kwon Zhi Yong

I heard this story in the most unexpected of places.It was in a class that I was taking called BusinessEthics, a class where most of the people were drivenmore by money than by ethics. One day in class, theprofessor, Mr. Andy*, related a story.

Before Mr. Andy was born, his parents, bothAmerican, were stationed in Morocco after WorldWar 2, when Morocco was under French occupation.Mr. Andy’s sister was only a toddler at the time, andeveryone knew the young American expatriate familyliving in the big house in a shanty village.

One day, Mr. Andy’s mother spotted a thin childrummaging through their rubbish can, looking forfood. Taking pity on the child, Mr. Andy’s mothercalled him in, and proceeded to make him a bowl ofoats, which the child ate up heartily.

The days after that, the number of children rummagingthrough Mr. Andy’s parents’ rubbish bin grew steadily.Each time, Mr. Andy’s mother called them in andmade oats for them. It became a daily routine, andnot once did his mother ask the children if they weregenuinely starving, or if they were worthy of her kindact. She did it unconditionally and unquestioningly,behind her husband’s back.

It was not long before her husband found out. Oneday, Mr. Andy’s father returned home soon after heleft for work, as he had forgotten something. To hisshock, he saw a kitchen filled with dirty-lookingchildren, eating from his bowls and cutlery, eatingthe food that he had bought with his own money.

“Why are you doing this, have you gone mad!” Mr.Andy’s father burst out. His wife replied, “It meanslittle to us, but so much to them. Why don’t you leavethis all to me, I will handle this on my own. It’s justa little trouble to me, that’s all.” Disgruntled, Mr.Andy’s father relented, but warned her that more andmore children will keep coming.

And he was right about that. But not for long, becausethen came the time when the Moroccans startedstaging revolts against French rule, and all foreigners(especially those who are of white origin) were forcedto leave the country. Mr. Andy’s family saw that samefate, and they rushed to pack their things as thesituation worsened one day.

On the way to the American Embassy, Mr. Andy’sparents realized that in their rush, they had forgottento take some important documents. It was dangerousas the streets were filled with violent revolts, andmany white foreigners (though not French) were alsobeing attacked. As they needed some of thesedocuments to leave the country, Mr. Andy’s fatherdecided to drive back to his home alone, leaving hiswife and daughter at the embassy.

Not even halfway along the journey, the car wasstopped by a mob of rioters and protestors. Mr.Andy’s father was dragged out and beaten up, despitehis insistence that he was not French. “That’s whatall the whites say!” said one of his attackers.

Suddenly, a desperate cry came out from nowhere.“Stop, stop! I know who he is, stop!”

The voice belonged to a little boy, a boy that Mr.Andy’s father could not recognize. Yet, the boyseemed to know him. “His wife cooks for the villagechildren, she looks after all of us! He’s American,he’s not French!” said the boy.

Stunned, the attackers looked down at Mr. Andy’sfather and immediately pulled him up and dustedhim off. The looks of wild anger switched to admirationand respect, and they soon apologized profusely fortheir treatment towards him. “Don’t take this road,there are too many people fighting around here. We’llshow you a better way,” said one of the men.

As Mr. Andy told us his parents’ story, we looked athim incredulously. It sounded so surreal, yet it seemedthat fate just naturally turned out that way. Mr. Andycontinued, “My mother never asked for anything inreturn, the children she fed had no way of payingher back. She never envisioned that she would needtheir help one day, but still she did this.”

Often, we weigh the benefits and costs before helpingsomeone. The trouble that we put upon ourselvesmakes it inconvenient for us to help someone else.Perhaps we should open up our hearts more so thatcompassion becomes an instinct and not a calculatedaction.

*Name has been changed

This is a new section for people to share theirown personal anecdotes or stories that theyhave come across while going about their dailylife. Please send in your stories for the nextissue, we look forward to receiving them!

Lotus Soupfor the Heart


FEATURE

This new feature shows the diverse background ofour members in their spiritual journey. It serves toremind us that the Dharma touches everyone.

In this inaugural feature, the spotlight is on Mr. JuanHonorio Arguelles Malamud. Born in Rio de Janeiro(Brazil) he grew up in the north of Argentina.

1) What triggered your search for Buddhism?I think the spiritual search is always there... So nowI'm here and I found this water to drink.

2) How long ago when you were first interestedin Buddhism?Very early in my life, but I don't remember exactly.The Buddhist concepts are very readable in everyday's life.

3) What aspect in Buddhism appeals to you most?It's not a specific thing... For me, Buddhism is thenatural way of living. You can be Buddhist even ifyou don't know Buddhism or the Buddha becauseDharma is everywhere. I've been in the mountainsand in the jungle, I've been in many places and I'veknown people with a "Buddhist" way of living. Allthese concepts organized in a religion is like a schooland we sometimes need books to develop ourselvesbut the world itself (I mean inside and outside) canshow us the Dharma.

4) How do you practice Buddhism?I try to be a good, kind and grateful person. Practicewith meditation to expand the consciousness andcontemplate the reality. So the things that I learn, Iinternalise it and it becomes part of "myself". It is likea transmutation of the aggregates.

5) Is Buddhism something mystical and exoticto be explored in your own country? Do youknow of many other Buddhists in your owncountry ?In Argentina or Brazil or many countries in SouthAmerica, when you say Buddhism, they will closethe eyes and put the arms and hand like in ameditation posture! There's not too much informationavailable for the lay people. But those with a littlemore information understand what Buddhism is about.In my personal experience, when I came to Singaporeit was a little difficult to understand those Buddhist

temples with too many rituals. I've always had a visionof Buddhism as more unattached, no possessions,no intermediaries. After a time, I've understood that'sbecause of the different traditions. It's all about thepre-concepts and the direct experiences.

Yes I know of a few Buddhists in my country. Butmany people live and feel in the Buddhist way withoutknowing anything about Buddhism. Even nativepeople from the jungle have a Buddhist way of livingwithout knowing Buddhism! Dharma is everywhere.

6) What do you like most about the BuddhistFellowship?There's an atmosphere of respect, joy and freedomof thinking. It is like a place where you can go torecharge your energy and increase your knowledge.It's a beautiful fountain. I feel good.

7) What events and activities have you attendedhere at BF?I go to the talks on Wednesday and Sunday.

8) Any suggestions in what you would like to seemore of in Buddhism or Buddhist Fellowship?I don't expect nothing, just receive what that beautifultree invite me wherever I go. Thanks!!

D H A M M A P A D AVerse No. 2

Mind precedes all mental states.Mind is their chief;

They are all mind wrought.If with a pure mind

a person speaks or actsHappiness follows him

Like his never departing shadow.

Brought to you by GAB Investment Pte Ltd

Juan

Donations to help defray the costs of producing thenewsletters are welcome. Kindly contact the office.

A D V E R T I S M E N T

BF Newsletter Jul-Sept 2009

Documents

Transcript of BF Newsletter Jul-Sept 2009