What have you been missing out in life?

Hello Friends!

This week, I'll be giving you guys a sharing about what you have been missing out in life. Let me tell you that it's A LOT. And you still have a chance to experience it for yourself!

See you this Saturday, 2pm at SBM!

Cheers
Mabel

BOTIF Schedule

Time: 11:30am to 1pm

Lesson 4: Editing 9 July

Lesson 5: Directing 23 June

Lesson 6: Producing 30 June

Lesson 7: Script Writing 6 August

Lesson 8: Basic Acting 13 August

Kungfu Panda Movie Sharing

Oogway: Look at this tree, Shifu: I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time.
Shifu: But there are things we *can* control: I can control when the fruit will fall, I can control where to plant the seed: that is no illusion, Master!
Oogway: Ah, yes. But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.

The Picture Shows It All

Hello Friends!

After a break from sharing, we're back with Movie Sharing!

Jianyong Mohawk will be hosting this sharing session together with the almighty Kungfu Panda!

2PM at SBM, don't be late!

xoxo,
Mabel

Words aren't enough, but too much would make me long-winded.

so said the Camp Master on his Facebook note:

Vicky doing the plank during Beta-Test.

Thank you, everyone, who made Camp Lions 2011 a huge success. As I have said before, everyone played a part in making Camp Lions 2011 a success, no matter what role you might have held.

To start,

Ernest, thank you for covering me and holding the fort at the frontlines. Your jokes and antics were probably one of the most memorable moments for all the leaders, your presence alone was good enough to break the ice and also hype up the leaders to fully enjoy the programs and workshops of the camp. Once again, thank you for being the battery that provides unlimited energy to all.

Mabel, although I did not manage to sit in the actual workshops, I have learnt so much from the presentation you gave at the meeting with the facilitators. Even that short talk about your idea on the social experiment, your opinions and observations made about certain leaders did teach me a thing or two and more. You have great insight and I thank you for not only passing on knowledge to me but to the leaders, the organizers and the facilitators.

Mao, thank you for your words of encouragement and criticism. You often play the role of the bad-guy, which is to critcise and to question. The truth always sounds harsh, but no improvements can be made without it. Such words would not be easy to swallow but one would realise the importance as well as the intent only after one has learnt his lessons. Thank you, for motivating me and pushing me into the right direction.

Wufeng, you are the rock that holds down the organizers. Your level-headed thinking and calm reactions have prevented panic and confusion from breaking out. There are times whereby people might have misread your poker face, but surely they would know more about you after having spent 5 days and 4 nights working along side with you! Thank you for ensuring that everything is A-okay at all times.

Next up!

Yong Hui, thank you for your awesome admin support, thank you for reminding us all on important dates and minor details that needs to be done. Thank you for your patience and kind understanding. There are times we would overlook on checking the emails that have been sent to the official email, but thanks to you, we are reminded of what has been done and what needs to be done.

Yuan yi, Ying hui and Fu-sai4, thank you for being the timely and relentless logistics/ messing and PKL support. For the times you have slogged it out packing and preparing the logistics, for the times you adapted to what seemed to be never-ending last minute changes and for the times you all had to sacrifice sleep before and during camp in the name of preperations. You all have re-defined the meaning of what it takes to be part of the PKL team.

Derek, Kaiwen, Pearson and Zhenglin, thank you for being our charioteers! Having to double-up as organizers and drivers is no easy feat, since driving already requires alot of concentration and can be very tiring. Without your support, transporting logistics and manpower would have been at a stand-still. Thank you, for enduring the long hours and endless roads.

To the rest of the ORGANS! I am really amazed by your ability and vigour! Being able to improvise on the spot to enhance the gameplay without making significant changes to the rules of the game and also having to adjust the difficulty of the game so as to make each and every game a fun and exciting experience! Thank you for lending your voice and energy to the campfire, you all are truely the vital organs, so to speak, of Camp Lions!

And on to...Team Facilitators! Thank you all of you! You are the ones who set the difference between Camp Lions and other camps. I am sorry I couldn't thank you all personally :( Your words of wisdom have helped the leaders to better understand the rationale behind every game station and provided a good link to the workshops. I believe that your experience has not only helped the leaders to learn more about being a Buddhist Leader but has also inspired many to strive and follow in your footsteps to become a role-model to future leaders. Thank you, for taking time-off from work and personal time to run together with the leaders and share woe and weal with them throughout Camp Lions.

Last but not least,To the leaders who have participated in Camp Lions 2011, thank you for making Camp Lions possible! Without you all, Camp Lions would serve no purpose. You are the ones who give meaning to the organizers of Camp Lions, your smile and laughter is what that empowers and energizes us all! It doesn't matter which Buddhist Group you come from, nor does it matter what your nationality is. What matters is that we are all Buddhists.

Camp Lions has always been and will always be BY the Buddhist Community FOR the Buddhist Community. I hope there will be more projects, platforms and opportunities (besides Camp Lions) for the Buddhist Community to come together and grow together.

All of your efforts have been recognised, the smile of the leaders and those who attended Camp Lions 2011 are more than sufficient to prove my point :D I am sorry if I have by any chance left anyone out, I am really really really really really sorry D: I didn't mean to forget you!Let us make the Buddhist Community into a Buddhist Circle, whereby one would not find an end to it and it would appear to be vitually continuous!

Zomg, so many people to tag but I don't think I have added everyone :( Please tag them if you have added them as a friend etc. Thank you so much!

CAMP LIONS 2011: It's a wrap!

Mabel says: "Thank you people"

I've so many to thank and I've no idea how to start.Camp LIONS 2011 gave me a chance to work with change, to work with myself and to work with people around me. It wasn't too easy a journey, it wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be. But it was all worthwhile, to see more friendships forge, to see individuals grow and to see so many so many things within myself.

It was heartening to hear that the Leaders from camp enjoyed themselves and take away learning points. It was even more heartening to see that the Leaders have pushed their limits, as the rest of the organising committee have done.

Thank you Ernest, for always being there for me to vent my frustrations when the frustration button is pushed. Thank you for making me learn from my every lesson of anger outburst.

Thank you Vicky, for filling this camp with laughter.

Thank you Wufeng and Maomao, who have always reminded me of my goal and to stop focusing on the negative.

Thank you Shixiong, for filling me with the belief that I could do it; and I did it.

Thank you Zeming, Amy, Perry, Eric, Xinyi, Jun Keat, Wenjie, Billy, Ci Hui, Tricia for sitting through the sessions to discuss the workshop materials with me. From there i've learnt a lot a lot about the Dhamma.

Thank you Forester, for giving me the opportunity to talk to you and learn more about you.

Thank you Jianyong, Zeyan, for stepping in to support during Campfire, allowing LIONS to end with an awesome blast.

Thank you Ying Hui, Yuanyi, for being there hear me bitch about the world when I needed a listening ear. Thank you for being so adaptable and tolerant of the so many changes that we had throughout the 5 months.

Thank you Xinyi, for being willing to step up as a facilitator this camp. I'm very very happy to see that you managed to push your own boundaries and do beyond your doubts. I know that camp wasn't easy for you, but I've definitely seen you grow. Doubt yourself less, and do it when you want to do it, for the benefit of more people, Lions, sbm, or ycamp.

Thank you to everyone, who have contributed to this entire process of Lions. The planning of workshops, execution of LIONS and the continuation of spiritual friendship has indeed strengthened my belief in the Triple Gems. Sadhu to all of you.

Not startled at sounds like lions - The Buddha

Camp Lions, the short for leading and inspiring young Buddhists in Singapore, and now Malaysia! It hasn't end and i have a mixed feeling of wanting it to end and go on for another day. It is what they call tiring but fufilling.

Although there is no photo, I hope to update on those who cannot make it to the camp and still feel our energy. These days we have walked half of Singapore's gardens and parks to carry out fun and exciting games. An example would be the well loved nerf wars. And not forgetting instilling leadership skills and personal qualities into this games.

I have met existing and new members from other youth groups, and am very proud to be a Buddhist youth and am able to contribute to it. Why Camp Lions? It is not another leisure camps that SBM have organised. It is a platform for many youths to get together, know each other and learn from each other.

No words can describe what we experience during the camp, so as the younger generations get older they can have a chance to run and meet other companions in the pursuit of Dhamma.

Good morning! From Mohawk @ Aloha Changi

And to contrary beliefs, we cycled to jetty! The combined house outing was a success, a pity to those who could not make it due to school works and commitments. But nonetheless it had been some time since we bonded and spent the whole day doing something together.

 The Story

We stormed eagerly into East Coast Park and walked towards the bike shop. The sky was dark and the sea was churning. When all hopes were lost and it looked like it was going to rain, we stubbornly rented the bikes and ride on. And the weather was merciful and let out a smile upon seeing our determination.

The road to the jetty was long, but we managed to find strength to cycle to our destination.

The sounds of waves of sea crashing on the shore and the strong wind was refreshing to us. We have made it! From where we stand we could see the entire beach, stretching out to the distant MBS. Magnificant sight in celebration of our achievement. And admist the peace, we took out the cameras and...

The true fact is, we had too much time on our bikes and didn't know what to do! So we cycled a few rounds and headed back. Weary, we stepped into the Western Tavern, Mcdonals and grabbed a bite. Meantime we played some monopoly.

Being a Buddhist youth group, we are bonded not by spirituality, but also by friendship and sibling love. Such a relationship is hard to find in the 10,000 world systems. I am not exaggerating but the Buddha mentioned the difficulty of being even a Buddhist in the Human realm. Every one within SBM must have attained great karmic energy to be able to be together in such a small cosy temple. There is impermanence, people come and go and we cannot stop it. But what we can do is to cherish one another while everyone is still around.

This is something to share, the house of moggallana. I am in the picture and will always be proud to have been in this house. We are the special group of people that weathered hardship and joy everyday. We studied, cooked, played, cried, sang, and talked. There are the brothers and sisters that is unique. And i hope the new batch of youths can be as lucky as me and find home within the temple.

Scouting & Beta-Test

CAMP LIONS