Sharing Session

"Before a man studies Zen, a mountain is a mountain
after he gets insights, a mountain is not a mountain
When he really understands, a mountain is a mountain"
For the past 2 weeks, our "Lay Buddhism For Young Adults" sessions conducted by Venerable Dr. Bodhi were about the concept of emptiness. This post is an attempt to summarize what Venerable has taught us. Hopefully I got it right. Feel free to correct me if I were wrong!
1. Form
2. Sensation / Feeling
3. Perception
4. Mental Formations
5. Consciousness
 
 
Secondly, we also learnt that the Buddha taught that all phenomena is branded with three salient marks, namely:
1. Impermanence (Anicca)
2. Dissatisfaction (Dukha)
3. Non-Self (Anatta)
From the study of non-self, the concept of emptiness or sunnata emerges. By meditating and realising that all forms are empty of an independent existence, and they are made up of many aggregates and conditions, a young Buddhist learn to liberate his/her own mind. We learn to see obstacles as merely something made up of many conditions. Life is made up of many set of causes and conditions, without one of which the outcome may be different. Thus, we learn to be responsible for our own actions and are empowered to make decisions for ourselves in a way that can benefit the people around us and ourselves. We can take control of our lives and our mind and learn not to be sway by negative emotions and obstacles but rather, to see each difficulty as an opportunity to learn and become better. 
Here are also some photos from Youth Sharing Session conducted by Bro. Wu Feng:

J.K. Rowling's Magical Speech

It is truly amazing how inspiration comes about and brings on what I would term as blessings to pen down a few words.

Funnily enough, I am far from what people would deem as a Harry Potter fan. Watched a couple of Harry Potter movies and do not know why just never had the chance to watch the complete episode – I will sure to miss a small tiny bit no matter what. Well, well finally a turning point now, for the beautiful words of the amazing author J.K. Rowling resonate so deeply that I can’t help but to listen to every single bit of her Harvard commencement speech…feeling truly inspired.

I love how she started of her speech with so much humility and genuine connections with the audience. Being such a famous and successful writer, she not only brought herself to the same leveled ground with people around her but sincerely relates her own story to theirs bringing a meaningful message to commemorate the ceremony. This is the Harvard graduation ceremony where the celebration of the brightest in law and politics is, where she shared a realistic message through her very own journey on the benefits of failure and the crucial importance of imagination.

Coming from a background which pays a predominant amount of importance on academic success, I was not surprised when she quotes, what someone in Harvard may deem as setback or failure is considered a success to a lot of average people. An exemplary example would be someone who is devastated when they get 99% and not a perfect score for their examinations – drastic example but true.

For those of you who are braving the storm of failure, do not be disheartened for only through failure would you learn to see your inner potential of strength and determination. Only through setbacks, will you learn to understand being in the shoe of others who may be disappointed, to practice true compassion. I hope this simple sharing will resonate with my dearest SBM Youth, whom I miss very much, to strive on your aspirations, to believe in your inner potential, to have the courage to fall and grow out of it. When you are successful one day, to continue to practice humility and for every success you have weaved into your life, always remember to be contented for your loved ones who have supported you through and attribute the success to wider goodness.

Megametta,
Amy

- Thanks J.K. Rowling for the magic of inspiration –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c

ACE CAMP 2012: The Groups

VIRIYA

CAPELLA

BODHI TREE

RIGEL

Emotions Are Like Hotel Guests

By Lee Yue Heng aka Ah Heng

From the Agara Sutta, we can infer that there was already a hotel industry in the Buddha's time. The sutta makes references to different types of guests in a guest house:

In a guest house, O monks, people from the east may take lodgings, or people from the west, north or south. People from the warrior caste may come and take lodgings there, and also Brahmans, middle class people and menials.

The Buddha compares our emotions and feelings to such guests:

Similarly, O monks, there arise in this body various kinds of feelings; there arise pleasant feelings, painful feelings and neutral feelings; worldly feelings that are pleasant, painful or neutral, and unworldly feelings that are pleasant, painful and neutral.

Guests at a hotel come and go. They check in, stay for a while and eventually they have to check out.

The implication of the this discourse is that we should train our minds to develop equanimity, so as not be too affected or attached to feelings. Very often, we get angry or upset and become "captured" by our feelings. They become so real to us and we get destabilized by them. We forget that they are impermanent, fleeting sensations. Emotions come according to temporary causes and conditions and leave when these causes and conditions dissipate.

If we are not mindful, we can become so attached to these emotions that even after the "turbulence" has subsided, we are still attached to the imprint left behind by these emotions. In doing so, we create suffering for ourselves and others.

Activities on 21/072012

(1) "Youth Sharing Session: Things We Can Do As A Lay Buddhist" by Bro. Wu Feng
(2) Buddhism For Young Adults: "When a Mountain Is Not A Mountain again..." by Ven. Dr. Bodhi

Pali Chanting on iPhone & iPad

Hangqi has developed and updated the Pali Chanting app for iPhone and iPad. This newly updated version contains an audio guide as well! Download now if you haven't!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pali-chanting/id424399929?ls=1&mt=8

Activities on Saturday, 7 July

SBM Youth's activities this Saturday, 7 July:

(1) Youth Sharing Session: "My Spiritual Friends" by Bro. Vicky Teo
(2) Buddhism For Young Adults Course, Session 1 by Ven. Dr. Bodhi.

See you all, 2pm at Singapore Buddhist Mission, 9 Ruby Lane!

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Follow @sbmyouth

ACE CAMP 2012