I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

“I was in Australia and a package was left for me at the hotel, full of books and CDs: Books on Buddhism, books on the Bhagavad Gita, on Christianity, Sai Baba’s teachings and ‘Autobiography of a Yogi.’ All these sort of worldly religious books just appeared, no note—other than ‘when you finish reading them, pass them along.’” Mraz dove into the books and world music, which led to his going to India and “just writing things I never thought I would write. To this day, I have no idea who sent me the package. This was one of the many major coincidences that caused me to say, ‘This is who I am and this is why I have taken the time off the road and this is what I’m supposed to be writing about.’”- Jason Mraz

Camp Publicity Video Trip 1 (Part 4of5)

Part 4 is the journey to Taipei Buddhist Center. Our last stop for the day!

Dalai Lama - Four Noble Truths Part 1/4

An Amazing and inspirational talk by the Dalai Lama on Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion) which is the sutta on the four noble truths in Lord Buddha's first sermon. It always good to be taugh on the basics of Buddhism and thats the most fundamental which is also the most critical.

1st Noble Truth: There is dissatisfaction in life

2nd Noble Truth: The origins of This dissatisfaction is due to attachment

3rd Noble Truth: There is a way to get out of this constant dissatisfaction and to attain bliss.

4th Noble Truth: The way out is to walk the Noble Eight Fold Path

Please enjoy the talk

The english translation of the sutta can be found here:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html.

A more detailed explination on Four noble truths can be found here:

http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble.htm

Blogging and Internet Ethics

On the 20th of September, Venerable Bodhi gave us a sharing on Internet Ethics.
It was a very interesting session for most of us.
We were separated into 4 different groups to discuss on the topic that we were given.
Such as Areas where Ethics are needed, How can we protect ourselves? , How to protect others?
What can we do?


We discussed that the areas where ethics are needed would be blogs, Friendster , Facebook , Email , Gaming, Instant Messenger , Online Shopping, Youtube , Downloading from the net.
When people blog, they should have “Internet Manners”. If one do not have the “manners” , blogs will be exploited as a mean to provoke people, create misunderstandings, , straining relationships among people as well as creating a upheaval. But of course, some bloggers have been quite successful in maintaining “ Internet Manners” and definitely sbmyouth is one such example =D. Besides blogging, applications such as facebook and Friendster can also hurt others if not controlled , for example, people use this media to make fun of their friends .


Next , how can we protect ourselves and protect others?
There are quite a lot of issues that are quite dangerous in the internet. Such examples will be hacking of accounts, credit card frauds, lottery scams, sensitive information leaked, young people addicted to gaming.


The way to prevent the hacking of your account and avoiding sensitive information being leaked out is to put a strong password which is not easily cracked by others. Recently there have been numerous cases of lottery scams and credit card frauds. There may not be many solutions to help this issue. But campaigns have been establish to raise awareness among the public to ask the people not to be easily taken in by those lottery scams.


What can we as Young Buddhist do?

We have discussed what are the things we can do, and we have came up with quite interesting ideas , some which may be implemented. Such as creating a eBuddy that is a desktop application that will teach you more on internet ethics, also allowing children from as young as primary 5 to be educated on the internet , also raising awareness and teaching others how to avoid lottery scams and frauds. And also to fight off the addiction among youths, we came up with an anti addiction day, whereby young people try not to game for a day. Starting from small, let’s try it ourselves! Any takers? ( refer to Venerable Bodhi).


Whatever we hope to implement to the public, we must also be practicing it.
Tune in to this blog for more tips on how to avoid lottery scams and also the response of our “Anti Addiction day! “. AH HAH! I see vicky’s thinking of joining this.


Cheers ! Wilson Chua signing off :)

Publicity Drive at Kong Meng San Monastery

Singapore Grand Prix

Some of us (boys only 'cos only boys like fast cars) went to squeeze with the crowd and found ourselves at Singapore Grand Prix! The qualifiers though. There were lumps of people and there was no way you could watch the cars. Fortunately for our adventurous instincts, we wiggled passed crowd after crowd and climbed 10 stairs up Mandarin Hotel and got ourselves a nice view. Then we decided to venture again and found an open spot right in front of the hotel. Possibly the only empty area that stretches for about 10 metres only!

Honestly I have never seen so many people in Singapore all my life and for a moment, I felt trapped by the sea of people.

Must be a beautiful sight as the world watches cars go speeding around our beautiful city.

yet another proud moment for Singapore :)

Sharing Session: What do you want to be when you grow up?

"Your work is to find your world and then with all your heart, give yourself to it...

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea...

The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows..."

- The Buddha

Camp Publicity Video Trip 1 (Part 3of5)

Part 3: Its presentation time!!!

find Your Strength

From Mabel's blog:

"In the past week, I've learnt better to cherish. I've seen and personally experienced the manifestation of a basic Buddhist concept- Impermanence. Bad news have wrangled me, crushed me to the ground, caused me to struggle, to lose strength at a certain point in time. It struck me not once; but twice in three days.

When I knelt before the Buddha, I hesitated- I could not see my faith, I was so confused, my mind was everywhere, I didn't know what to do or what to say. I continued to kneel before him, in a desperate attempt to bring my mind back from its wandering state. I offered my first prostration and recalled he times he has guided me with his teachings in life. For the second time, I revered to learn more from him and for the last, I thanked him. His image brought me great comfort in this turbulent period, he reminded me that the present is what matters. Then I recalled, what Venerable Bodhi taught us: It's not that Buddhists do not feel sorrow upon the loss of their loved ones, it's just that they are able to turn over at a faster rate than others. Thus, they are not above sadness, but able to let go of these negative emotions and move on faster than others do."

Moonpointer's Everyday Dharma

The concept of 随缘 (Sui Yuan: follow the conditions)
in Buddhism is often misunderstood.
Here are some fuller definitions of it.

Sui Yuan means...
to let things take their natural course
after one had done one's best with the existing conditions.

Sui Yuan means...
to try again
when conditions for continuing arise again.

Sui Yuan means...
to try
to create the right conditions for effecting the above too.

Sui Yuan is not Sui Bian (随便: careless apathy).
Sui Yuan is to create Fang Bian (方便: skilful means).
Sui Yuan is to follow and create conditions with compassion and wisdom.

Source: Moonpointer

The Sky Over

" When the child was a child, it was the time of these questions. Why am I me, and why not you? Why am I here, and why not there? When did time begin, and where does space end? Isn't life under the sun just a dream? Isn't what I see, hear, and smell just the mirage of a world before the world? Does evil actually exist, and are there people who are really evil? How can it be that I, who am I, wasn't before I was, and that sometime I, the one I am, no longer will be the one I am? "

Stay strong young lady for Life still goes on. You've come a long way with him. So cherish those memories while you go on with life to find your peace of mind.

Lets perfect ourselves

Many of us gathered at Mandai crematorium today to send our last regards to a departed friend and brother, Liwei. It was truely a painful and sorrowful experience. An experience that may or may not fade in time but will never be forgotten. This experience of Dukkha will be etched in our hearts.

After witnessing his departure at the viewing gallary, we had to walk past the glass window that separated us from the furnance. I could see the tracks made on the ground to allow the machine to roll coffins after coffins into the furnance. These thoughts arose:

"It is painful enough to see a dear friend rolled into the furnace.

To think that there are actually many more love ones passing through,

The painful is beyond imagination, unthinkable.

The Buddha must have undergone and understood pain much greater than this

to be able to realise and tell us the first noble truth."

With that, I give my all due respect to our Lord Buddha and truely hope that may Liwei and all of us be blessed to be able to recieve the Buddha's teachings and strive to perfect ourselves. May our dear brother be reborn in a place where the Triple Gem exists. Till we meet again.

- Zeming

Camp Publicity Video Trip 1 (Part 2of5)

Part 2 of camp publicity describes the time of arrival at Buddhist Library. We were waiting for the time of presentation. While wating, Vicky and Jian Yong role played and entertained us.

Enjoy!

Camp Publicity Video Trip 1 (Part 1of5)

CEP 2008 very first camp presentation publicity trip. Part 1 is taken at SBM premise before setting off to the two other temples. Stay Tune to be updated on our camp vodcast!

Enjoy!

Life Never Dies

Life never dies, although we live
In midst of change and death
Only the forms shall pass away
And not the spirit's breath.

The consciousness can never die
Although it seems to fade
It doth but pass to other forms
Which thoughts and acts have made.

There is no death all nature cries
The rose will reappear
its petal will more perfect be
After the winter drear.

The tiny bird that lifeless falls
A victim to its prey
Returns again in higher forms
Upon its upward way.

From life to life more high and free
the myriad forms evolve
O may we learn to know the truth
This mighty riddle solve.

Temple-Hopping

On Sunday morning, we embarked on our second 'Temple Hopping', as part of the publicity drive for Camp Ehi-Passiko 2008. With our mind still preoccupied with Liwei's sudden departure, this work we are doing is ever more meaningful, as Camp Ehi-Passiko 2003 was the one event that brought him into the group. Still, life must go on and work must be done.

The first temple of the day was Buddhist Library. The crowd is a bit younger but they warmed up quickly to the presentation by Hangqi, Kianchong, Vicky, Fu Zhong and Xiao Hei. I thought Fu Zhong spoke really very well and summarized important points that the rest have missed! Good job!

At the end of the session, Alvin took the stage and led the kids through a Shark Attack camp cheer, which the kids and the Dhamma teachers thoroughly enjoyed!


The second and last stop is Tai Pei Buddhist Centre, where the crowd is much older. We met the Abbess of the Buddhist Centre, who made us laugh and helped ease any anxiety, when she made a joke about Vicky as an actor. And we are also very thankful for the Dhamma teachers at Tai Pei, especially Sister Meifang. They were kind and polite and very helpful and ecnouraging during our time there. They are what you should see in a true practicing Buddhist, ever mindful of his/her speech, thoughts and action. The teachers at Tai Pei are really very inspiring and a reminder that the most basic Buddhist practice is our day to day interaction with the people around us.


Next week, we'll be off to Kong Meng San's Sunday School, and hopefully more temples will allow us to come and then we can share with them more on Camp Ehi-Passiko. If you guys are interested, please feel free to join us on a Sunday, as we visit various temples in Singapore.

With the entire day spent on the hard work of sharing the Dhamma earnestly, I can feel the passion and sincerity the boys have towards their Buddhist youth work. And it is heartening to see them stepping up. So good job once again.

And with a pure and sincere mind of sharing the Dhamma and working fo the Buddhist community of Singapore, may whatever merits that we may have accrued be share with our dearest Dhamma brother, Liwei. May he gain a favourable rebirth and to learn Buddhism again.

Tribute to Liwei

You can go to Wencai's blog to read his tribute to our fellow Dhamma brother, Liwei.

Life like a blossoming flower will one day wither too. Cherish whatever time you have with the peopl around you. Love and adore your parents. Support your friends. Take good care of your health. Cultivation is a daily practice, starting from the way we interact with one another.

May all be well and happy.

In Loving Memory

Teo Liwei

1987 - 2008

A loving and compassionate young man who has lived his life for others through the Buddha-Dhamma. Years will pass and leaves will turn grey. As bright flowers blossom again in the seasons, your name will still linger in our hearts and mind.

Thank you for coming into our lives and sharing with us your joy for life. Thank you for the memories that we have shared as a brother and a spiritual friend in Singapore Buddhist Mission.

May you find a good rebirth and wherever you may be, may you be well and happy. Ultimately, may you cross over to the freedom of Nibbana.

This is the song that all of us in SBM used to sing together as one. Time can heal all wounds but time cannot erase the memories that we have shared.


Death is no cause for sorrow, but it would be sorrow if one dies without having done something for oneself and for the world.
– The Late Chief Reverend Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda

Goodbye.