Jade Buddha for Universal Peace in singapore

16-26 Jan 2012 Jade Buddha at Orchard Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza

More and more Serene as days gone by...

Offerings of rice to the Buddha which after the event would be donated to charity organisations

Sacred art of sand mandala of Chenrezig constructed by monks and nuns from Kopan Monastery and Nunnery (Nepal); many other events
and many nice accessories from Jade Gallery at reasonable prices :-)

For more info, pls refer to:
http://fpmtabc.org/jadebuddha/index.php


Found this wonderful words of Wisdom from the back of the Organiser (Amitabha Buddhist Centre)  namecard freely distributed:

Live with compassion.
Work with compassion.
When problems come, experience them with compassion.
Die with compassion.
Enjoy with compassion.
Practicing this gives you the best happy life, 
- it fulfills all your wishes and all living beings' wishes for happiness
~Lama Zopa Rinpoche

May All Beings Be Well & Happy!
Amituofo!

Amitabha Chanting Retreat by ABS

Heard about this annual chanting event organised by Amitabha Buddhist Society (this year 31-Dec to 2 Jan) at Spore Expo (Hall4) but still no affinity to participate as full-timer.

Decided to visit it as part-timer, I was impressed with the event, well-organised with lots of volunteers, simple yet serene, very good energy felt there. 

Sigh, some obstacles, can't stay longer & can't attend the final day's.

If you are available and around the area, do attend!

I wish I could attend 2012 year end's.

Letting Go Of The Past, Embracing The Future

Ajahn Brahm drawing crowds on his talk on 29 Dec 2011. The hall was full of audience that some even had the proximity to sit on stage just before him.

He wishes us "Happy Buddhist calendar 2555" (HaHaHa-Thai for 5) for 2012.
Encouraging us to Face the Future with Confidence, whatever, it is, we can fix it!
Remember only the Good memories, write any bad ones on toilet paper, flush it and start 2012 afresh.  

May 2012 be a Wonderful year for All- Embrace it with Positive attitude.
Happy 2012!

Mani Recitation Retreat 2011

23-26 Dec 2011- The 11th Annual Mani Recitation Retreat in Singapore and Yes, at Suntec again.
This year, the new organiser had changed new Theme with Late Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche picture on left, and the centre is a Different image of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig).

Close-up of new image of Four Armed Chenrezig

A better picture could be seen from http://maniretreat.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/advbanner-chenrezig.jpg

Well, with the picture of Late Drubwang Konchok Norbu Rinpoche and the new image of Chenrezig side by side, I perceive some similarity in the two, perhaps a younger version of the late Rinpoche.:-)

New recitation text which combined with The Extraordinary Aspiration of the Practice of Samantabhadra (King of Prayers)  

The year's retreat is again led by His Eminence Thritsab Rinpoche & Drikung Kagyu Lamas.

Something new at my end too, instead of being a backseater again, I had purchased a seat nearer in front as I want to be nearer to the stage to see who are the leading chanters. From the chant rhythm, I believe it is a new team of chanting Venerables on stage. Rinpoche joined in the chanting team from Day 1 too. :-)

Morning session is refreshing with new start of day, afternoon session is rather long and drowsy that I was always trying to stay awake :P

I especially like their nite session of Dedication-prayer for the Mani Mantra that brings swift realisation of Perfect Bliss, The Hundred-syllable Purification Mantra of Vajrasattva and The King Of Prayers. :-)

All Full-timers were given a certificate of attendance on last nite of retreat. I recalled this was given couple of years ago only to those who attended consecutively for a number of years as full-timers.
As emphasis this year was not on achieving the number of chants of 100 Million but on the accurate pronunciation of "Om Mani Padme Hung" according to the organiser, the momentum of chants had been slower compared to past years and while the motivation for last day was to complete the target, there was blessing session organised this year.

Well, there was much enjoyment by all in the offering of flowers near end of retreat though we did not manage to achieve the chant target this year. :P

Achievement is New Aspirations that arise from the Retreat! :-)

Gratitude to All who made this annual event possible and gratitude that I was able to participate with minimal obstacles and was at a much warmer seat area without much worry about the coolness. Really a blessing!

Gan En.

Om Mani Padme Hung

STILLNESS - MEDICINE FOR THE MIND

Still as jovial & compassionate, Ajahn Brahm (60 years old & 37 years as an ordained monk) on the topic of practising Stillness that helped him to maintain his energy to deal with his busy hectic schedule of multiple mundane roles.

More on 29th Dec 2011...

http://www.buddhistfellowship.org/images/stories/ajahnbrahm_dec11.jpg

(picture taken on 4 Dec 2011, Ajahn Brahm compassionately faces the camera during his autograph session on stage when he notices we would like to take a picture of him.)

Meaningful Phrases

This is a calligraphy of a Chinese Character: Buddha.

Look closely... what do you see?

(Taken at the Vegetarian Restaurant located at China Hefei's Mingjiaosi.)

 Pictures of Meaninful phrases taken at a Dining Hall of a temple at Jiuhuashan (pictures taken by sis PK)

Review on my Jiuhuashan trip

It's a month since we are back from China Jiuhuashan and time flies...

Received comment that I slimmed down after I am back from the trip but I didn't do much there, I still eat alot during the trip but they are mostly organic fresh vegetables, I only really walked more than usual days versus sitting in front of PC & desk during the day. (And now 1 month back, tummy gaining back...:P)

We woke up around 4am daily to prepare for the morning chanting with the Sangha, had relaxing hours during the day and wondered how time passed so slowly in comparison to Spore hours while we were at temple premises.

What I like about Pilgrim trips are the greater possibilities to meet good Sangha. This trip is also fruitful, no only get to know our tour-mates but we get to know new China friends.
Is it the culture is different? When overseas, we get to freely conversed with the Sangha.
Their culture of lay-followers having meals with Venerables in 1 table, ice-breaking instantly with each other helping to serve dishes to one another. Opportunities to enquire to clarify doubts, with also indirect answers via wise non-answer moments...

Caring volunteers, compassionate brothers and also the guardians of the temple accompanying us to the back mountains...
Various fellow brothers having the same given names that if we gather 1 day, may be twins, triplets or quartlets? Interesting to be addressed in the given name CX and given same name as a compassionate brother, I hope to learn from her compassionate ways demonstrated in her way of life. (Taking care of our meals, bringing us around despite her busy schedule, offering food to the less fortunate, apologetic to not having coins to dana to the beggars, sweeping wasted rice to the bushes for the ants)
Brother CM who had fetch us from airport and accompanied us to the temple and who saw my clumsiness had kindly demonstrated the right way of prostration which really helped in following days.
A commented that when she is at the temple, she feels like she has returned home...