Dhamma Sharing Camp 2005/06

5. Metta Meditation

As we learn metta last week, this week we move on with a better “sifu”. We made a trip to Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF) at Sec 19 for metta meditation session with Bro / Datuk Victor Wee.

Of course we introduce ourselves to everyone. Gladly to meet Sis Dolly, Sis Elaine…from BGF and Simon from Korea and the rest f newcomers of DSG class. Datuk brief about metta. Then we did the QIGONG to relax our muscles. Proceed with metta meditation for more than ½ hour.
It was an experience for all of us.

Oh yah, we met fellow INCOVARIANS , they had meeting for the IDC ( Incovar Dhamma Camp).Our Senior Ern Huei around. We took photos.

As we were waiting at downstairs. We know that what we are doing (wasting 3 hours to study) is worthy. Not only for this moment but the future too.

Dhamma Sharing Class 2005/06

4. Sigalovada Sutta

The first Sutta for this year “Sigalovada Sutta” by Bro Benny Liow, the editor of Eastern Horizon.

We start by introducing everyone. Then we learn metta meditation by Sis BMF. First she brieflyinform what is metta and how Buddha introducing metta to the monks during vassa (rain retreat) and were disturbed by the spirits around them.

Bro Benny came and his first response

#cultivating metta is NOT only when you are meditating but throughout your daily life too#

As usual, Puja and introduction session Protocol lah

Sigalovada sutta….

4 types of friends that you should hang out

4 types of friends that you should avoid

How to handle your financial

6 types of directions
Zenith, Nadir, East, West, South, North

Ok, we are not going to tell you all EVERYTHING what we know already but we prefer to you all outside there to read and understand your own Sendiri baca lah Make your own efforts!!!

Click at the sidebar, access to insight. Then click sutta pitaka, then write “sigalovada sutta” in the search box

During the sharing, Bro Benny mentioned

#If there is a problem, why worry?
If there is no a problem, why worry#

Is taken from Samyutta Nikaya

The message: Sigalovada Sutta was mean for Sigala but still can be practical for us today.

The verdict: As a layperson, we too have the opportunity to understand the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha very…well. Keep striving!!!

Dhamma Sharing Class 2005/06

3.Dana

Dana, the third sharing class with Bro Wong Ting Song. We kick off with singing session “My Beautiful Friend” by I-GEMS (OK, there are not there) leading by Sis BMF

We had fun…
We had joy…
We did enjoy…

Then, sharing session start with Puja and introduction for Bro Wong.
Dana… means GIVING but actually we MUST learn the art of giving and receiving too.
We not only must GIVE, Give, give
We only not must RECEIVE, Receive, receive
But we must GIVE and RECEIVE too.
That why, learning and understand the art of Giving and Receiving is IMPORTANT!

Of course, ada macam-macam type of DANA

Dana to Sangha (food, vihara…)
Dana to poor people (money, time, service…)
Dana to disaster victim (tsunami, eartquake…)
Dana to family (loving, gratitude…)
Dana to society (civil minded, appreciation…)

Banyak lah, can not list all

The message; Try to do good eg like DANA to create a better community in these world.

The verdict: Days by days, cultivate this art of giving and receiving in our daily life. Do you know that this is the last Parami that Buddha cultivates? Check the great disciples of Ajahn Chah (By WAVE publication) One of his student talks about DANA

Dhamma Sharing Class 2005/06

2.The Dhamma

Second sharing class, invited speaker is Bro Tan Huat Chye. The topic is “Dhamma”.
We start with getting to know others esp for newcomers. We play a game.

First person: Hello, I am…
Second person: Hi I am…
First person: Nice to meet you. Meet my friend (pointing at the person sitting next to the second person)

Those fail to be mindful, will have to be known as One dot (a dot of toothpaste will be put at the face)

We start with a short Puja. An introduction session for Bro Tan Huat Chye. We sing 3 songs, The Ancient Path, Flower of Mankind & Wheel of Life

Of course, the songwriter is here, Bro Tan share his meaning for every song. Ha ha We clarify what we could not explain for last week discussion.

What is Dhamma?
1st response: The teaching of Buddha
2nd response: The universal law
3rd response; Noble 8fold paths
4th response; The truths

Bro Tan: Dhamma is like a journey. Example, when you decide to play a roller coaster (life), you need a seatbelt (Dhamma) to protect you. When you actually did play it, it goes UP and DOWN. Sometimes you laugh (pleasure), Sometimes you fear (unpleasure) Sometimes you calm (neutral)

The message: Once when Buddha was in a forest,Buddha took a handful of leafs,Buddha asked, “what is this?” One of the monk answered, “A handful of leafs”
Buddha replied, “Yes, so what is symbolise? See around you (nature). There a lots of leafs in this forest But I only took a handful of leafs. What I taught u all is good enough already.”

The verdict: Ha ha ha…Deep lah the meaning. Is something like if you understand the basic and practise with what you have, it good enough for you to survive in this world.

Dhamma Sharing Class 2005/06

1.Why Buddhism?

Well, the sharing class start with getting to know and understand better (at least tahu-tahu sikit-sikit,OK lah) about Buddhism. The speaker, non other than our Grandpa Kar Pin (A final year student in medic, currently known as Dr. Low Kar Pin)

What type of Buddhist are you?

Food Buddhist? Eat vege, Eat vege & meat, Eat meat only

Social Buddhist? Love to sing, Pandai Bersosial, Knowing others, Trying to seek partners

Intellectual Buddhist? CD, Books, Sutta try to name it This person know everything from A to Z

Preacher Buddhist? keep telling everyone to convert to Buddhist

The categories can go on and on…

But the REAL message is NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF Buddhist are you, TRY to understand what Buddhism can offer to you first and then start to value it!

The verdict: As a Buddhist, we need all this categories actually. Why?
Sometimes we need to be Food Buddhist eg During Uposatha Day
Sometimes we need to be Social Buddhist eg For Fellowship
Sometimes we need to be Intellectual Buddhist eg We must have theory first than practical
Sometimes we need to be Preacher Buddhist eg After knowing this great “religion”, why not share it with people around us

We did sing a song “Ancient Path”. We shared together the meaning of this song (Of course we know the meaning deeper as we met Bro Tan Huat Chye before)

We did “play-play”, we used our own hands ONLY (to save budget lah)

Practising awareness

One clap, move to right
Two claps move to leftThree claps, Skip