Basic Buddhism Course

This will be a familar picture to those who attended the Weekday Dharma Classes (Basic Buddhism Course) at kmspks.

The "antique" cup often quoted by Venerable in her examples of attachment.
A close up on the mini Buddha stature. Very serene and compassionate look.

From the classes attended which the Venerables spent great efforts to make the lessons interesting with stories and examples, trying to teach us Dharma with more relevance to lay person context, I learnt what is meant by Rejoicing/Dharma Joy (Fa Xi). From their lessons, I learnt to 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. "

We had always been constantly reminded not to be just "pray pray Buddhist" but to learn to lead by example especially parents/adults to their children/younger generation. Though the classes had ended for the semester, I believe the messages and the seeds of the Dharma are already imparted in us and will continue to spread.
Personally, I like their styles of teachings. You won't find yourself dragging your feet to the classes (at least to me, it is something to look forward to every week).
I will strongly encourage those who had not attended Basic Buddhism course to attend and those who had attended long ago to attend again...It will be time well-spent...

With the ending of the lessons for the semester, I can imagine how sad the disciples must be when Shakyamuni Buddha entered into Parinirvana. However, the Dharma will always be in our heart.
Do check up the web for updates of their new classes :

Chinese: http://kmspks.org/download/poster/CBuddhismCourse_Poster.pdf

English: http://kmspks.org/download/poster/EBuddhismCoursePosterV3_6%203Dec12%20(Finalized).pdf


May All Be Well & Happy!!!
Amituofo!!!

Beyond's Concert 2008

The last concert that I attended was TZ's. Time flies, that's about 2 years ago. :P

S had free tickets to Beyond's concert last Sat evening and I readily agreed to attend with her. It is a good retrieval of good old memories of school days as they are the Rock Band of my teenage days. I wondered if my long lost touch classmates who were fans of them would attend the concert but I didn't manage to catch glimpse of any familiar faces. :-I

Paul had matured alot from my fade memory and he showed his powerful voice during the concert. I had always believed in quality of concerts from Unusual Productions from my limited concert viewing experience but the nite's production team, Horizon Productions had produced enjoyable quality too. The ability of the singers to play the musical instruments themselves added points to their charisma.

Always enjoyed concerts' drum performance, I love percussion drum performance. The only musical instruments that motivated me to learn but gave up soon, satisfying myself as an appreciator of music. :P It's not just striking 2 sticks on surfaces but a difficult task co-ordinating the whole mind and body, including the feet and really requires great concentration and talent which I quickly realise I don't have. But given time and hard work, I think it is a good tool to train concentration and aids meditation. Strongly encouraged for kids to learn besides piano. (1 possible class to consider is here :-) )

It's a great evening of Rock music especially during their Encores section when their famous pieces were sung. Most audiences in front of the stage stood up and swayed with the music. Thanks, S, for an enjoyable evening.

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:-)