Reflecting on Ajahn Brahm's Talk

I was hot and tired, yawning unsightly on the train, on my way to kmspks, even contemplating giving it (11 Oct, Sat, Meditation Workshop: Stress Relief and Self Healing) a miss but I brushed the idea aside and decided that even if I fall asleep during the meditation workshop, it will be better time spent for the moments that I am awake than idling at home.

I am glad I made the right decision as it is another rejoicing experience attending the workshop. I am so grateful for the recent opportunities to attend good Dharma Talks and Classes that always gave me the rejoicing feel (Fa Xi) after the events that I began to understand and appreciate why the Sutras always ended with the phrases: "...the great assembly, on hearing what the Buddha had said, were greatly delighted. They received it with faith and respectfully practiced it. "

There are alot of gems that Ajahn Brahm had touched on tonight and I am unable to comprehend and put across as interestingly as he had done. I could not write well but I will still like to try and diary it here to share with all and as my future reference and reminders.

What is Ajahn Brahm's secret of keeping himself energetic throughout his hectic schedule of travelling and many jobs in many places?
He revealed that it is the power of mindfulness, peace of meditation and compassion in one's heart that kept him energetic.

Ajahn began the session with a non Buddhist story of "the Emperor's 3 questions" by a Russian author to illustrate mindfulness:

1) When is the most important time?

2) Who is the most important person?

3) What is the most important thing to do?

1) NOW is the most important time.
How can you survive in economic recession , with sickness etc?
If you have any disputes or unable to see eye to eye with someone, Don't put off the time to reconcile. Don't put off the time to tell the person you love, you love them.

2) WHO is with us now is the most important person.

Pay personal full attention to those in front of you and let the person feel truly valued.

No matter it is your boss or client, pay attention to person you are with. Clients will come back to you if they feel their needs are heard.

Ajahn gave the example that when he was outside the hall signing autographs and time was up for him to enter the hall to give the speech, he would still complete all autographs and gave full attention to the requestors, not worrying about next schedule.

From my observation, he is also very mindful as in the gaps between next autograph requestor, when he noticed that people are taking snapshots of him, he will turn to the photographers to give his warm smile for them before back to his full attention to next autograph requestor.
(I was abit disappointed that the pictures taken of him did not come out well with my sis's hp and kind of miss my hp which had just gone into coma. Thank you SEphone, for your past services, for helping me captured memorable pictures of food and images:P, lets hope you could pull out of your coma soon.

Thank goodness, BF had put up some lovely pictures taken for the events on this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seng548/sets/72157607984234516/)

3) TO CARE is the most important thing to do.

The job of Doctors is to care for people, healing is the side effect/bonus.

He then introduces that health problems can actually be cured by meditation.
The meditation method can also be a self-inflicted medical check-up/cure for yourself. Give your care to the area where you may suffer e.g. back ache, to massage the muscles around the pain area.
He also related the story of a girl who suffered from chronic panick attack whose conditions was so serious that she was bedridden and medicine couldn't help. She was taught by Ajahn to identify which part of her body felt tense whenever she suffered from anxiety. To massage the area of the body with care & compassion and by easing the tension of her body, the causes, her mental problems also disappeared.

Meditation is kind, soft and gentle just like the Buddha.
He went on to teach this variation of meditation method of relaxing one's body that I 1st encountered.

At the stage before he gave his meditation instructions, I was still very tired, trying hard to open my eyes wide and fighting away my tiredness.

In his very kind, compassionate voice, he gave the meditation instructions:

Sit down, close your eye and relax as best as you can.
It may take minutes to get used to the darkness to be aware of feelings in body.
Ask yourself if you are comfortable.
If yes, then ask yourself if you can feel your toes,
be mindful of the physical sensations of your toes.

Relax your toes, feel your toes connect to the brain.
There is contact when feedback is received if your toes feel tense or relax.
Make your feeling change to make it more relaxing.

Spend quality time with your body --> caring it now

Now move up sensation to your feet, contact , notice sensation changes.

Ease any tightness, feel your feet relaxing more and more.

Any stress is released.

Move your attention up to lower legs.

Mindful of physical feelings...Contact...

Wish those sensation to relax, tightness to disband,

any hardness to soften, and more relax...

Change to become more easy, peaceful, soothing.

Everything relax, feel good and maintain as long as you can....

Gradually move sensations up your body.... to shoulders where we generally felt tightness to relax.

Go down the arm to relax and send kindness to your mind.

Then slowly repeat process up to your head....

Hence, his meditation method starts from relaxing from lower part of one's body instead of from top-down and surprisingly at end of the meditation, I came out of it with wide open eyes and clear mind. (And I am still wide awake later up to 2am writing my blog:P)

I wish BF or kmspks could make the recording of the talks, workshop available to public either thru CD, DVD or downloadable from Internet to benefit those who missed the events. And hopefully they can especially edit the portion of his soothing meditation instructions separately to benefit all so that all could easily practise.

May All Beings Be Well and Happy... :-)

Reflecting on Ajahn Brahm's Talk

Another rejoicing talk by Ajahn Brahm! Enlightening us as usual in his intelligent and lively talk. (10 Oct Fri, Dealing with Uncertainties in Life)

A brief recall of his speech...

Fear is good for us to avoid mistakes but too fearful can cause psychological obstacles as the story told by Ajahn Brahm on novice monk "Grasshopper" in crossing pool of "acids".

This too will pass ....
(story of young ruler given ring with craving of the phrase to remind himself)

Very important to have correct positive mindset in the coming difficult times expected, build up your social assets: friends and relatives who will standby you.
What people will remember you at funerals will not be your wealth but how you had been a good parent or children or in your social role.

In times of recession, positive mindset that this will pass soon,
In times of good economy, this will also pass soon so don't spend unnecessary. ...
Kind words, tiny acts of show of concern can all help one another.
Start by smiling to your neighbors...strangers...
By showing concern that someone still cares about them, you never know your simple act could save them their lives...let them see sunshine in life...

Just reflecting
This too will pass ... Extending this beyond current years, to this current life of ours...
Make the best of our current human life (satisfactorily or not) in preparation for our future rebirths too....
We are in the position we are now because of what we did in the past...
We will be what we are in the future because of what we are to do now...

Any reflection from the talk? Please feel free to share your thoughts...

Cheers:-)

Cartoons on Life Protection

A series of cartoons with funny, slightly exaggerating ancient characters in Mandarin was being produced. Hopefully, amidst your laughter, the messages on the theme of life protection, discouraging killing for food, and advocating blessings for those who save lives got across to viewers, both children and adults. :-)

I got these free distribution DVDs from one of the activities organised by Buddhist Life Mission, Venerable Hai Tao's Dharma Centre in Singapore.
Venerable Hai Tao is the president of Life Education Foundation and Life TV Channel, Taiwan and a strong advocator for vegetarianism and life release activities. It is through Venerable's widely distributed Dharma talk DVDs that inspired me towards vegetarianism and aroused my awareness on life release activities.
The centre is located at 19-B Lorong Bachok (Off Geylang Lor 19) Singapore 387788.
It often organises life release activities (last Sunday of each month) and if you are interested, you may call their centre at 6836 9088 (after 12pm) for more details of their activities.

Cheers:-)

Singapore Biennale 2008

Chanced upon an exhibit of Singapore Biennale 2008 before I cross the traffic light between Raffles City Shopping Centre & City Hall MRT the other day.

It 's amazing how views change from viewing through colored filters.

That's why there's a saying: "别戴着有色眼镜看人? (Don't view people via coloured spectacles?)" :P

More info about Singapore Biennale 2008 (11 September to 16 November 2008) can be found at http://www.singaporebiennale.org/

Cheers:-)

COME AND SEE

It was indeed an eye-opener to attend the seminar organised by SBF on role of Buddhist Music in proprogating Buddhism. It's a pity I was late for the event and missed the earlier session of discussion.

Little did I know that Music is still not widely accepted in Buddhist circles. I recalled that one of the earlier Buddhism talks I attended was Venerable Chodron's and usually before the talks, there will be a singing session by 1 or 2 groups singing Buddhist hymns, similar to Pop and Folk songs often sang at Christian assemblies. Recently, there was also release of albums by abbot of kmspks, hence, I had always thought it was widely accepted also as a means of proprogation in Buddhism as well.

Resources not being channelled to promote Buddhist music and the need to compose new songs to suit the younger generation more receptive to pop music to Buddhism is highlighted. What also left me a deep impression is the enthusiasm displayed by Brother Daniel in trying to teach Dharma to children in Fun, Interactive & Simple (F.I.S) way. He and his passion alike Dharma friends had produced lively English children Buddhist songs.

You may refer to the demo at their web: http://www.d-kidz.com/comensee2.html.
If they could have a musical concert as what they had done overseas in S'pore, I am sure alot of young parents will support it.

Hopefully, after this seminar whereby various views were gathered, I look forward to even greater support and growth of Buddhist music to reach out to more people.
Cheers:-)

Love at Asha Vihar

Asha Vihar was a clinic set up by a German Lady Claudia in Bihar, one of the poorest state in India. Applying TCM, ayurvedic and other unintrusive methods, she had helped several children who suffered from polio, falaria and other diseases. Many of us have benefited from the sharing, and the lessons that she learnt from working with the tribal people under such harsh environment. Do join us and feel free to invite your friends to the slideshow. To know more about Asha Vihar, you can visit the website at

http://www.yohar.de/news.htm

The 2008 schedule:

1. Nam Hua Acupuncture and Medical Hall
(440 Race Course Rd, near Farrer Park and Boon Keng MRT)
27 Aug wed 7 pm


2. Holistic Lifestyle Centre – Kg Senang Aljunied
(Blk 106 Aljunied Cresent #01-205, near Aljunied MRT)
30 Aug sat 1pm

3. 觉海学佛研修中心
CHS Building
174 Trywhitt Road #03-174
30 Aug sat 3pm


4. 福海禅寺Foo Hai Ch'an Monastery
87 Geylang East Ave 2,
31 Aug 9.45am

5. Yes Natural F&B (悦意坊)
No. 57, Geylang Lorong 27, Singapore 388184
31 Aug 1pm

(Above are extracted fr SC's mail)

Hope to see you there..

Cheers :-)

Please offer this seat to someone who needs it more than you do

In a number of MRT rides, even after the recent publication effort to raise awareness , I was disappointed to see many seats intended for the "someone who needs it more than you do" (hereby call it "priority list") to be seated by the non-priority who ignored passengers who could have fitted the priority list description standing near them.

During my normal rides, I will prefer to stand on the rides to avoid the trouble of moving up & down to give up seats. However, I decided to do a small experiment.

I boarded the train at a station before one that is likely to have elderlys boarding. I took a vacant seat (a non-priority seat) and gave it up to an elder who boarded at the next station who thanked me with a grateful relief of smile while those seated earlier beside me remained indifferent to other passengers who seem to fit the priority list.
After a few stations, the elder whom I gave up the seat notified me of an empty seat behind me. I looked around & do not find other standing passengers who fit the description of priority list, hence I gladly took the seat thinking of giving it up to next passenger on priority list instead of letting it being occupied by other potential indifferent passengers.
At next station, I received another grateful "thank you" from an elder who also signalled me to next available seat.
So, the saying : "Good begets Good" is true in this small experiment. This is a surprise as I didn't expect the outcome. Hence, on my return trip, I repeated the process and the result is the same, the elderlys all repay with a gratitude smile and word of "Thank you" and notified me of next available seat.
I guess a little inconvenience of moving up & down to give up the seats is nothing compared to the smile by the priority list.

Try this experiment yourself, in a way, this could be a way to lead other indifference passengers to participate in the act. (But of course don't be disappointed if you gave up a seat to someone who didn't thank you, sometimes they are just too engrossed in their own thoughts:P)
If you feel troublesome, just imagine the next priority passenger as your aging parents or grandparents or relative or pregnant wife who will be so happy to receive a seat for their tired legs. (Hopefully, this could help create a little positive karma that when your kins travel on public transport, they could be identified as on priority list and given a seat as well.) :-)

I do miss the courtesy lion mascot, Singa, and the rigorous advertisement of the courtesy campaign that had left a deep impression for my generation (or at least to me) during my childhood days (haha, that reveals my age:P).
I found some info on Singa, and the old National Courtesy Campaign, you may refer to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Courtesy_Campaign_(Singapore) .

I do hope that there could be a good revival of Singa's courtesy campaigns.

***New MTV on good etiquette, pls click here to view! :-)

Cheers :-)