Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Photo for Facilitators Training Camp:

Special Thank to our camera girl =D













I hope this training camp have bonded you guys and prepare each of you for the December camp.

Take care.
hangqi

Monday, November 24, 2008

Monday Editorial

Your all-time favourite blogger @ sbmyouth.blogspot.com and temporary mugger-toad says:

"Goodluck to all with the impending exams!

May the Triple Gems be a Guiding Light!
And don't hug the Buddha's leg at the last minute!"

Mine is just ending soon.

Only Buddha knows how many of our youths will be hugging His feet.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Mini-Camp: BBQ Nite

























Got Ghost!!!

The Buddha

Keanu Reeves as Lord Buddha in Little Buddha.

Found a segment of the film on Youtube. The following 10 minute segment depicts the Buddha's Enlightenment in a visual and literal way which makes it very interesting, especially the wise words near the end.



Gotama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, lived in Northern Indian in the 6th century B.C. His personal name was Siddhattha and family name Gotama. The name ‘Buddha’ was given to Him after He attained Enlightenment and realized the Truth. It means ‘Awakened’ or the ‘Enlightened One’.

He was born as a crown prince of the Sakya Dynasty and had everything. He had a luxurious upbringing, was heir to the throne, extremely handsome, stately and gifted.

Despite His splendid upbringing, the imperfections of life could not be concealed from this unusually inquisitive young man. Determined to find the way out of these universal sufferings, he decided to leave home to find the cure not for Himself only, but for all mankind.

At the age of 29, He left behind all his power, wealth and fame to search for an answer to life. For six long years, He laboured to find the Truth. He studied under the wisest teachers and philosophers of His time, learning all they had to offer, but they could not provide the answers He was seeking. He then struggled with the path of self-mortification, taking that practice to the extremes of asceticism, but to no avail.

But at the age of 35, on a full moon night of May, He sat beneath the Bodhi tree and developed His mind in deep and luminous, tranquil meditation. Using the extraordinary clarity of such a mind, He realized the true nature of all life and all beings. Thus He gained the Supreme Enlightenment and from then on He was known as the Buddha, the Awakened One.

His Enlightenment consists of the most profound insight into the nature of mind and all phenomena. This Enlightenment was not a revelation from some divine being, but a discovery made by the Himself based on the deepest levels of meditation and the clearest experience of the mind.

For nearly half a century, the Buddha walked on the dusty paths of India teaching the Dhamma, the Truth He has realised. He founded an order of monks and nuns, challenged the caste system, raised the status of women, taught religious freedom and free inquiry, opened the gates of deliverance to all, in every condition of life, high or low, saint or sinner, and ennobled the lives of criminals, courtesans, beggars and slaves.

For the first time in history, He gave men the power to think for themselves, raised the worth of mankind, and showed that man can reach to the highest knowledge and Supreme Enlightenment by his own efforts.

He is the Buddha, the Teacher of Gods & Men... and our Teacher.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Separated at Birth

The above is Alvin Yeo. He likes to sing. He is my neighbour in NTU Hall 6, and many believe he has many twin brothers but separated at birth.

Starting from


Eh... especially look like Nicholas Lee right?

songs for the weekend

The Middle
- Jimmy Eat World

Hey,
Don't write yourself off yet.
It's only in your head you feel left out.



Hey,
Don't write yourself off yet.
It's only in your head you feel left out,
Or looked down on.
Just try your best,
Try everything you can.
And don't you worry what they tell themselves
When you're away.

[Chorus]
It just takes some time,
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything, everything will be just fine,
Everything, everything will be alright. (alright)

Hey,
You know they're all the same.
You know you're doing better on your own, (on your own)
So don't buy in.
Live right now.
Yeah, just be yourself.
It doesn't matter if it's good enough (good enough)
For someone else.

[Chorus x2]

Hey, don't write yourself off yet.
It's only in your head you feel left out, (feel left out)
Or looked down on.
Just do your best, (just do your best)
Do everything you can. (do everything you can)
And don't you worry what their bitter hearts (bitter hearts)
Are gonna say.


100 Years
- Five For Fighting.

"15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star"



Actual MTV cannot be embedded but can be viewed here.

I’m 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

I’m 22 for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we’re on fire
Making our way back from Mars

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15 there’s never a wish better than this
When you've only got a hundred years to live...


I’m 33 for a moment
still the man, but you see I’m a they
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind

I’m 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I’m heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
15 I’m all right with you
15 there’s never a wish better than this
When you've only got a hundred years to live...

Halftime goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
the sun is getting high
We’re moving on...

I’m 99 for a moment
I’m dying for just another moment
And I’m just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you're on your way
Every day's a new day

15 there’s still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15 there’s never a wish better than this
When you've only got a hundred years to live



Life's too short to be caught up with the unpleasant side of life. Make full use of the beauty of life and unleash your fullest potential, so that you can make this world a better place for yourself and the people around you. Cheers.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Days before the Leaders Camp - As a Matter of Fact. Here's a Note.

Guys!

I hope the people who are engaged in 'combat' in COD4 be ready cos Lt Tsukimoto is on the way to joining the ranks, or to pit his strategic and fast fingers skills against you. For the ladies, hoped u have a great week shopping and reading yourselves away to tests and exams. And for guys who are playing soccer, lets hope you guys can play like what you guys would normally play. but then again, the tigers left are still gonna munch u up if we have the chance. hah. kidding. but i think its time to have some fitness fun after exams, on day 0, and when we prep for camp.

At this juncture, let me shed some light on what i could really see is happening in SBM youth right now. As of this current moment, we have seen the light of new leaders performing way above expectations, even though one can say 'lets not give too much attention too those who did alot for fear of complacency', but i personally feel we still cannot take away the credit of the person who has done well, thus, lets praise objectively so that we do not get ourselves too carried away, in many cases just like tat.

For the current working team of 25, i congratulate you guys fo you have somehow or rather placed youselves in duties and facing the crowd and being the ambassadors in roles and responsiblities so different from each other, from Kaiwen and Jianyong being the host, till Vicky taking up the game master role completely and Fuzhong (I'll call him FZ, he's really cool now, the more i look at it) settling himself well in the position of the logistics man. Forester is doing well and as much as we worry about firepower in the committee to steel-check the team, Felicia Kang is still firey, but with a logical and certain amount of reason, so don't play a fool. Mabel is a marvel, with some of the good work and Hangqi trying every bit to bring back CEP's best moments.
I'm happy to see Cherng Shing and Andrina take up roles of campfire masters, and though its not an easy job, it would be interesting. Many others have settled down, and i would prompt those who have yet to be given certain roles, stake claim for it, for remember, SBM Youth is an organisation made according to your interest, role as buddhist and cultivators.

As much as everything that has happened before and over SBM Youth, i hope to have an official closure. And since everyone is really still down with the relevant work to do in their lives or in the youth groups, i wanna give this a real positive closure for us to move on as much as possible in our whole timeline.
Every group has their own ups and downs, i believe every social organization in this social world goes through an illusion of individuality, and as a result comes into a cultural norm that 'once u come together, u are one, and once u divide, there u'll fall'.

But more than a decade is passed and when i first joined sbm youth, it was the unity that bonded everyone in it that truly impressed me. Its true that people here have either passed on, joined their ranks in society to pursue the trail of success and some are still as a result of further commitments which are really positive, have chosen to move forth. We also witnessed many new comings and for sure to say, we have surely been through a hell lot.

For the team that is riding the waves now, taking the initiatives in SBM Youth and continuing the forge forward what former seniors have done for and with us, let us recognise the potential at which we still can grow and help to propagate the buddhist teachings to nominal buddhist youths through our own brand of swash-buckling youth activities that hit everyone in the heart.

Its our effort that counts in the end. No personal ego nor pride can stop a team victory whenever we step forth and face tons of campers lining up at registration counters, cheering our every bit of self-made original cheers, our songs hand-picked for cameraderie.
For those who have been through camps, you know it when i say all these things that how you yearn for these times to come back and how much u look forward to camp every single year.
We have been trained to deal with all situations in camp and still feel like there's a tinge of feeling for this camp that everyone, and i mean everyone that recognises their own efforts in putting it together.

For the team working hard on it now, feeling the intensity of the camp and also to prepare on how to impress the next batch of buddhist youths that have chosen the path to come to us in search of realising certain teachings that have been prevalent in the world today, let us remember the former energy, strive with new vibe from the new formed team, forget about the personal aversions that bringing every single barrier to every single step, and to overcome misunderstandings, quarrels, difficult situations that we might come to face time and time again, to grow even stronger from all quandaries, and become even more bonded, as a GROUP.

I believe from now on and the strength that i see that is growing everyday in the new team, everything is possible once again. And i would like to appreciate everyone of you putting in the efforts, yet also constantly being mindful of your actions within our own temple. With this balance, lets aim far.

CEP - Here We Come!

- Alvin Yeo

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

kmsYouth Ministry & Singapore Buddhist Mission (Youth) presents

Spiritual Countdown 2008 !

Guys the poster for the event is out and is designed by our dear friends from Kong Meng San Youth Ministry. As you can see, our Singapore Buddhist Mission logo is placed on the poster too, as we are the joint organiser. Thus, all of you do try your best and come down to support this event yea?

Do also take note of the date and keep yourself free, as our band will be performing some of their original songs like 'Buddhist Boys' and 'Jaya Mangala Sutta'. Hopefully, Fuzhong and Xiao Hei will be in time to present their self-cpmposed Buddhist rap!

So do come and join in the celebration with Buddhist youths all over Singapore as we welcome the New Year at Bright Hill Monastery!



Kudos to our friends from Kong Meng San Youth Ministry, who are really doing most of the work, and putting in the money and the location too!

Sadhu...

Monday, November 17, 2008

Hello. =D

Please be reminded that this coming Saturday is the Facilitators Training Camp.


Reporting time: 10am

Venue: SBM


Please do not be late..


For those who haven submit the consents form for Facilitators Training Camp and December Camp. Please submit as soon as possible.


Thank

hangqi

SBM Youth - The Big Give - A Youth Initiative 2009

We all had a great talk today and the event was a success with campers getting more enthusiastic towards the camp and us getting used to the mood and atmosphere of camps once again.

However, we also singled out the difficulties and executing alot of our stuff due to the lack of equipments and constant starvation of camp items we really need in order for the camp to be run successfully. Thus i asked for a wish list and after a long period of consideration of all the needed items, here is the list and the procedures that people can take if they really take interest and hope to help us in anyways possible to make our camp successful!

Here it is - SBM Youth - THE BIG GIVE!

Brief Introduction and Objectives of this Youth Initiative

Singapore Buddhist Mission (Youth) has seen 12 years of its camp activities, catering to more than 2000 campers in total along the whole duration and has also facilitating the training of around 200 future Buddhist leaders in the execution of the camps. Also, as the youth group dedicated to their main centre, the Singapore Buddhist Mission, the active participation of these youths in the organization and direct execution in the events, from Kathina Day Celebrations to the Vesak Day Annual Carnival, often sees the youth team having to work with equipments that are premature at most in its functions in reaching the effect and results of the event that is needed.

For example, there would often be a certain level of difficulty in securing firewood without the proper set of cutting equipment due to our cost saving methods in not spending on buying firewood for burning during campfires in our camps. Among other examples that we would face during our vast experiences in dealing with the items, we would also seek to reduce cost of running our camps, and thus the hopeful procurement of these items within the initiative would help in doing so and also to address the lack of logistical materials to run the camp with full operational capability.

Idea of the Youth Initiative
The Youth Group would be interested in securing the relevant camp/events equipment so as to ensure that they would be able to fully realise the logistical capabilities as a camp facilitator and events organiser.


Thus, we are willing to accept and are actively seeking sponsorships to the below mentioned materials. We would be happy to also assist in any form of manpower needs that the sponsor needs in gathering these items. These would include:

1) Canvassing Jobs (Working at Events or festivals)
2) Miscellaneous Jobs (That would include spring cleaning, car-cleaning)
3) Advertisement of Individual/Company during Camp



Any other forms of manpower needs could be discussed with us and we would seek to try our best in fulfilling the jobs given to us in appreciation to the sponsorship provided. The sponsor can choose the items that they want to procure for the activities of the youth group. Any form of donation/sponsorship is also truly appreciated as this would help us to further strengthen our capabilities to reach out to more youths via our camps effectively with the smooth operations bolstered by the additions that are badly needed.

For more details, please do not hesitate to contact us at alvino84@gmail.com or contact alvin at 97986072.

Power Tools
(Includes Hammers, Electric Saw, Files)

Sports Equipments which can consists of:
- 2 Soccer Balls
- 2 Basketballs
- 2 Volleyballs
- 1 Rugby Ball
- 1 Roll of Tennis Balls
- 10-20 Cones
- 20 bibs
- 1 Ball Pump

Sound Equipment Wires which can include:
- 2 x 10m Quarter Inch to Quarter Inch
- 2 x Sound Wires Box

Torch Lights and Misc.
- 10 x LED Torch Lights
- 10 x Electric Camping Lamps

First Aid Box
- A full range of up-to-date medical supplies that is able to support 15 casualties/box

Camping Equipment
- 10 x Safari Beds
- 5 x 4-man tents

Trolleys
- Transport Trolleys

Games Fund

Any readers online or friends' friend that hope to sponsor and be able to contribute to the camp back in return to boost our logistics and store would be greatly greatly appreciated as these items are and would be a neccesity and would be used for long-term purposes for future camps and events that would happen in SBM as well as SBM Youth.

Youths, what are you waiting for? Start spreading the word!!

alvin

Cos I'm a Buddhist Boy!

hi Guys and Girls, This song is pleasing and has nice lyrics! orgincal composition by our very own SBM band! first of its kind. so please do enjoy...btw Copy righted ah!





Sunday, November 16, 2008

Camp Ehi-Passiko Pre-Launch !

Singapore Buddhist Mission presents...

let your love flow!

SBM Youth and Pearson the pseudo-sleeping buddhist policeman.


The girls did it the art piece but they don't seem to like it.

Youth Notice Board.

Alvin the Chipmunk.

Nice good food on every Sunday provided by the aunties!

Camp Mistress.

Selling tea. A bit scandalous.

Sheepish smiles, after realising the camera.

Forrester arranged them for you.


Making the Band!

Performing the latest Buddhist composition, Buddhist Boy.

Fan 1.
Fans 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9.
emo_boy_91@hotmail.com




The Singers.
Juulia... all the way from Finland, enroute USA.
The band.


Games and Pre-Launch Main Event

Uncle Audrick can Dance!
and Alvin... Alvin...
Chao recruit.
Our campers who are coming for CEP!

Mr. Ten Bucks' Magic Show.

Ultraman: Girl is Freed. Post Olevels version.
Ultraman Sotong - The Chao Recruit Version.
Paikapaichiu Pikachiu. (Army terminology, sorry girls!)



Alvin, watch out for that belly!
They too are shocked to find a bulging belly on the chipmunk.
Let's see it again.



Cheers!
SBM Youth, yeah!