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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

How Karmic Power Overpowers Supernormal Powers

Posted by on June 13, 2013

What pride should we have,
when we might be humbled
by great suffering at any time,
when our negative karma ripens?
- Stonepeace | Get Books
 

Among Sakyamuni Buddha’s great Arhat disciples, Maudgalyayana (Moggallana; 目犍连) is considered the one foremost in supernormal powers, them second only to the Buddha, as naturally developed in his deep meditation. To name a few, his abilities included mind-reading, flight, teleportation to other realms of existence and manifestation into myriad forms – all expressed only for greater ease of reaching out to more beings for guiding them towards enlightenment. Despite his many fantastic and inspiring adventures, his manner of demise might come somewhat as a shock to many, for he was brutally stoned by bandits hired by some Jains, who wronged him to have caused their loss of public support. (Ironically, it is a major Jain precept to be non-violent, which is why they did not want blood directly on their hands.) Dwelling alone in a forest hut with knowledge that his remaining days were few, and feeling that the body was becoming a burden, he did not wish to use his powers to sustain it much longer. However, when he saw the bandits nearing, he rendered himself invisible. This was not out of fear of death but out of compassion to prevent them from creating the grave misgiving of killing an Arhat. Returning for six consecutive days, the bandits could not find him. But on the seventh, his powers suddenly vanished, leading to his eventual murder. Before his actual passing, he was able to regain consciousness and travel to the Buddha to pay his last respects, where he took his last breath. 

When asked why Maudgalyayana could not protect himself, and why a great Arhat experienced such a death, the Buddha explained that he had created the karma to be killed in a past life – when he murdered his parents, also very grave misgivings, from the consequences of which he could not escape from (even when mitigated to some extent), which he graciously accepted. This was why his powers were naturally karmically ‘suspended’ despite already being an Arhat ‘with’ them. Way back, he was an only but dutiful son who cared for his parents. When they became old and blind, his work increased and they urged him to seek a wife for help. However, his wife soon became hostile to his parents, even maligning them for faults they did not have. Spurred by her, he decided to lie that their relatives elsewhere wished to meet them. Ferrying them off in a carriage into the middle of a forest, he stepped off to walk beside the carriage, claiming that he had to look out for ‘robbers’ – before mimicking ‘their threats’ to attack. Yelling at him to fend for himself as they were already old and blind, his parents begged the ‘robbers’ to leave him alone. While they were crying out, they were clubbed to death before being abandoned. As a turn of events in the life he met the Buddha, as recorded in the Ullambana Sutra, Maudgalyayana became renowned for his great filial kindness to his deceased mother with his efforts to practise the Dharma to rescue her from intense suffering as a hungry ghost.
 
This brief account of Maudgalyayana’s story teaches us many important lessons. The power of even great psychic abilities cannot overcome the power of heavy negative karma, which even the enlightened cannot escape from. This ought to remind us to uphold morality strictly, by observing the precepts well to avoid evil, and to do good – so as to mimimise the creation of negative karma, while maximising the creation of positive karma – lest both our worldly and spiritual lives get endangered. It might seem somewhat a ‘consolation’ that even a great Arhat could have misfortune due to negative karma’s ripening, as this means we should not expect our spiritual journey to be smooth-sailing. The less consoling part, however, is that if even an Arhat might have ‘terrible’ remnant karma, should we not expect more, as we are merely ordinary beings with perhaps worse negative karma? Technically, Arhats are already free from the rounds of life and death – even before the demise of their physical forms. As such, they do not suffer mentally, even if there is physical pain. (Incidentally, as Buddhas have much greater merits than Arhats, they can never be killed!) So long as we are far from enlightenment, we are liable to be cyclically good and evil, leading to the complex alternating of karmic blessings and misfortunes we create for ourselves. If so, we need to fortify our resolution to be better persons more diligently – all the way… till we perfect our morality as faultless Buddhas!
Being occasionally good
is never good enough.
Being always good
is surely pure enough.
- Stonepeace | Get Books
 http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2013/06/how-karmic-power-overpowers-supernormal-powers/

How A Great Beauty Realised Greater Beauty

Posted by on July 12, 2013

Fleeting in nature
is the false beauty of forms
selfishly clung by the deluded.
Stonepeace | Get Books
 

Khema, the chief consort of King Bimbisara, was said to be extremely beautiful. Revelling in her own exquisite beauty, she was ‘naturally’ uninterested in meeting Sakyamuni Buddha, as he was known for teaching that external beauty is impermanent – a truth she rejected. However, as the King was a devoted follower of the Buddha, he wanted her to learn from him. Using a skilful means to trick her to visit the monastery the Buddha was residing in, he got musicians to sing praises of the natural beauty of the grove the monastery was in. Being attracted to attractions sung, Khema decided to experience the grove in person. Seeing Khema approaching while teaching to a large assembly, the Buddha used his supernormal powers to manifest a beautiful maiden fanning him by his side. While engrossed in the beauty of the trees and flowers, Khema drew closer to the assembly. When she caught sight of the maiden, she was intrigued by her beauty, as it greatly surpassed hers. The Buddha then made the maiden age gradually, yet swiftly enough for her to see. Her skin wrinkled, her hair turned grey and her body collapsed in death, leaving a corpse that decayed into bones.

Finally recognising that conditioned forms were transient, Khema realised that the same would happen to hers. If even a form deemed more beautiful and precious than hers comes to pass, how could she retain hers? Her focus now shifted to the Buddha, he taught on the danger of lust for sense pleasures (as they breed spiritual complacency), and invited her to renounce them as they are fleeting in nature. Reflecting thus, she soon attained liberation as an Arhat, and became his first female chief monastic disciple, respected for her skills in explaining advanced teachings. Beyond the remarkableness of the Buddha’s means and Khema’s ability to awaken through it, this story also warns us of the possibility of spiritually backsliding in future lives. In her past lives, Khema already met and studied the Dharma from many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Pratyekabuddhas. She also made sincere offerings, once by selling her beautiful hair, for getting alms to offer to a Buddha, and made the aspiration to be a future Buddha’s chief female disciple. Despite these and more great efforts, she almost forgot the greater preciousness and beauty of the Dharma due to vanity before meeting Sakyamuni Buddha!

Although with the near miss of neglecting the Dharma, she was fortunate to have had forged strong enough affinity with it, to be able to reconnect firmly in time. What about the rest of us? If we have learnt and practised the Dharma for some time already, we should roughly know the strength of our connections with the Dharma. Seemingly far from possible sudden enlightenment, we differ from Khema, who needed only an appropriate nudge from the Buddha. This is a compelling reason for us to aspire for birth in a Buddha’s Pure Land, where we can always learn from a Buddha and be mindful of the Dharma until liberation is attained – without the interruption of death when reborn, which causes forgetfulness of the Dharma and distractions by merits manifesting as beauty, wealth, status, power and such. As Dharma practitioners of average spiritual capacity, we are liable to repeatedly backslide, making it difficult for most to smoothly advance towards enlightenment in this life. This is why, as emphasised in the Amitabha Sutra by Sakyamuni Buddha, all Buddhas, including himself, highly urge beings of their worlds to seek refuge in Amitabha Buddha’s (Amituofo) Pure Land.

Enduring in nature
is the true beauty of truth
selflessly shared by the wise.

http://thedailyenlightenment.com/2013/07/how-a-great-beauty-realised-greater-beauty/

Monday, July 29, 2013

插花班


插花班


以西方插花艺术为主题,注重协助学生掌握插花艺术的技能,提倡创意及插花素质,培养学生对花卉艺术的鉴赏能力。

课程内容
  • 插花基本认识
  • 插花造型基本原理
  • 花卉装饰的意义、特点、效果
  • 花材和花器的选择、保养
2013年插花班
日期: 9月7日至10月26日(每逢星期六)
时间: 早上11时30分至下午1时30分
学费: 每学员$100元(八堂课)
材料费: 每学员每堂课$25元(请支付给导师)
报名截止日期: 8月31日(一班只限15人)
上课地点: Awareness Place Well-Being Centre
Blk 261 Waterloo Street #01-42 Waterloo Centre Singapore 180261
电话:6336 5067 | 电子邮件:sem@kmspks.org | [详情]

导师简介

李心汇 – AIFD花艺设计师
资深的花艺设计指导师先后曾在各地举办插花花艺讲学和表演。

自1998年起,她已从事花艺设计工作,考核各项文凭也荣获国际插花艺术竞赛作品赏析奖项。李女士相信鲜花能陶冶性情,还能增进生活情趣;同它谈话、赞美它,会使花卉焕发出美丽的内涵。不用文字,却能够像诗一般的大自然美来舒解我们日常生活紧张的情绪。

在李女士的学生悉知,她不会去改变学生设计的样式和概念,而是推动他们去完善他们个人独有的风格。

在她运用现代花艺的变化多端,将花艺艺术拥有的摇曳生态,充满动感的美好理念传承下去。

地藏追思报恩法会

地藏追思报恩法会

各位大德、居士:
值此七月盛夏,本寺将启建九天《地藏追思报恩法会》,届时将由法师带领大众念诵《地藏菩萨本愿功德经》, 以祈世界和平,人民安乐,先亡得度,现眷吉祥。

On the 1st to 9th of the Seventh Lunar month, our monastery would conduct a nine day “Ksitigarbha’s Rememberance and Repaying of Kindness Puja”. Venerable Sirs would lead in the recitation of “The Sutra of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha’s Fundamental Vows” and dedicate it to world peace, well-being of citizens, deliverance of the deceased, and the auspiciousness of those living.
 
正所谓:
地藏法会 因缘难遇 悲心宏愿 至诚感通
诸佛加被 龙天齐护 悉令众生 愿满离苦
闻法修行 福慧增长 消宿现业 同登极乐

地藏追思报恩法会
欢迎公众踊跃参加 Come Join Us!
日期/Date: 2013年8月7日至8月15日(农历七月初一至初九日)7-15/8/2013
时间/Time:晚上8点正至9点30分 8 pm – 9.30 pm
地点/Venue:大悲殿 The Great Compassion Hall
 
注:法会结束后,有巴士车载送至宏茂桥巴士转换站
The monastery had catered bus to ferry participants to Ang Mo Kio bus interchange after the puja.

Understanding Ullambana
 Ullambana

Coming Together!


Coming Together!

Come together to celebrate National Day in a meaningful way!
 
A day workshop to learn how to be at ease with oneself and others – the coming together of mind and body. Let the Dharma shared by Venerables be  your guiding light.  Learn about connecting, loving, breathing and smiling!
 
Spend this day to relax and bond with family and friends at this serene monastery. May the merits created be dedicated to our nation and world peace.
 
 
Coming Together!
Date: 9 Aug 2013
Time: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm  
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall, Level 1, Room 9
Fees: $30 per pax, $50 per family unit (Sumptuous lunch and tea break provided)
* Fee to be collected on the day of event.
Dress Code: Red and White (Relax Casual)
Highlights: •    Dharma Sharing on Mindfulness and its application    
•    Mindfulness Training Technique
•    Relaxation session
•    Stress management strategies and technique   
•    Laughter Yoga 
•    Exploring values to increase personal power  
•    Buddhist Hymns performance
Who is this for: • Professional, Home makers, Joy Seekers
• All who seek to enhance their personal growth
Facilitators: •  Venerable Ren Xu (KMSPKS Dharma Propagation Division Spiritual Advisor)
•  Venerable Phra Chun Kiang ( Ordination under Thai Dhammayut tradition)
•  Karen Hee (MD of Positive Psychology Centre)
•  Gladys So (Psychologist)
•  Bro TC Lim (Laughter Yoga Leader)
•  Bodhicitta (Buddhist hymn group)
Enquiries: Tel: 6849 5317 | Email: community@kmspks.org
Registration: Please indicate “Coming Together” and email your name, contact and number of people attending to community@kmspks.org 
Remark: Donations are welcome for the sponsorship of the event

Facilitators Biography:

Venerable Ren Xu

• 2000 Ordained in the Monastery of Qing Yun in Jiang Su Province.
• 2004 Received high ordination in the Monastery of KMSPKS.
• 2001-2007 Studied in Min Nan Buddhist College, Xia Men, China.
• 2008-2012 Studied in University of Peradeniya, Department of Pail and Buddhist Studies, Sri Lanka.
• 2013 Serve in the DPD of KMSPKS.
 
Venerable Phra Chun Kiang
• 2001 – Took 3 refuges and 5 precepts from Khen Rinpoche from Amitabha Buddhist Centre.
• 2002-2004 – Served as Publications Secretary and President for Singapore Polytechnic Buddhist Society.
• 2004-2006 – Volunteer Sunday school teacher at KMSPKS.
• 2008 – Higher ordination into the Thai Dhammayut tradition at Santi Forest Monastery in Johor, Malaysia.
 
Karen Hee
Karen Hee is the Positive Psychology Consultant and Managing Director of Positive Psychology Centre. She has over 20 years of working experience with more than 18 years experience in people performance consulting ranging from areas like selection & assessment, performance management, HR systems & processes, learning & development. She has led and managed various major HR Consulting projects with MNCs and local enterprises and has wide experiences working with organization in various industries and from different culture. Karen is a Certified Profiler and Trainer of Harrison Assessments. She is also ACTA (Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment) – Facilitated Learning Certified. Karen is also an active volunteer working with teenagers and youths for more than 4 years where she trains, coaches, mentors and guides them. In addition to her consulting work, she has conducted customized training workshops and has organized Leadership Workshops and Conference.
 
Gladys So
Gladys So is a psychologist that enjoys enriching lives. She has moved from a very humble beginning of a special education classroom, to being a psychologist, to providing training, counselling and coaching adults from all walks of life. The strengths developed from years of tertiary education, professional skills, experiences and personal growth has made her excellent in helping transforming lives! She looks forward and would be honoured to be a part of this exciting phase in your life to facilitate a culture of change or individuals to maximise their full potential!
 
Education: University of Sydney, Master of Arts (Psychology).
University of New South Wales, Bachelor of Arts (Sociology & Psychology).
Institute of Education, Certificate in Special Education.
Member: Full member of the Singapore Psychological Society since 1997.
 
T. C Lim
Brother T.C. Lim is a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader from Johor Bahru. Trained under Laughter Yoga Teacher, Lee-Jean Fung and the Founder of Laughter Yoga , Dr Madan Kataria in March 2011.Since then, he has been using Laughter Yoga as a platform to bring Good Health, Joy and Laughter to the community at large especially to the Less-Fortunate, Needy, the Aged & the Sick.
 
Currently, he runs Laughter Clubs at the following centres in Johor Bahru :
• Century Gardens park for the public.
• Amitabha Charity Orphanage.
• Spastic Children’s Association.
• NASAM – National Stroke Association of Malaysia.
• JOBADA – Johor Bahru Alzheimer’s Disease Association.
• Johor Deaf Association, 7. Senior Citizens’ Association.
 
Bodhicitta 菩提吉他
Bodhicitta is a Dharma inspired, independent Buddhist Hymns and music group established since 1997. Bodhicitta started off by composing campus Buddhist Hymns before moving on to compose contemporary Buddhist Hymns about daily life. The group were then blessed with opportunities to render various inspirational chants of the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. To date, Bodhicitta had produced 10 cd albums and had more than 100000 Cds distributed. Bodhicitta had also conducted holistic music experiential workshops while continue to explore and compose music for various Mind-Body therapy works. With the motivation to touch the resonance within, Bodhicitta continues to engage, motivate, inspire and strike a chord in others’ hearts.


Monday, July 15, 2013

观音诞 – 大悲忏法会





大悲忏法会
农历二月十九日、六月十九日、九月十九日都是观音诞。这三个日子分别是:观世音菩萨出生、成道及出家的日子。千处祈求千处应,苦海常作渡人舟是大家对观世音菩萨的普遍印象。每个时代的苦难众生,都会期待这样一位大慈大悲的菩萨现身、解救人们于烦恼的苦海。只要诚心一心称念南无观世音菩萨,有感必应,所求如愿。

地点: 大悲殿
日期: 2013年7月26日(农历六月十九日·星期五)
时间: 上午10时正 * 法会后有午餐供应
电话: 6849 5300

欢迎公众踊跃出席共沾法益

Medicine Buddha Retreat


Medicine Buddha Retreat

The Medicine Buddha vowed to heal the sentient beings’ physical, mental, and spiritual diseases. We are often caught by ignorance and delusion which cause us to perform bad karma. Thus, be afflicted with immeasurable sufferings. Sufferings can be classified into three categories:
  1. Sufferings of the realm of desires
  2. Sufferings of the realm of form
  3. Sufferings of the realm of formlessness
The Medicine Buddha blessed the sentient beings with various medicines, from the physical healing to highest attainment of Buddhahood. This retreat will be conducted in a series of lectures and contemplative meditation.

Medicine Buddha Retreat
Date: 31 Aug – 01 Sep 2013 (Sat – Sun)
Time: 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
Fee: $60 per person for 2 days (with tea break)
Venue: Awareness Place Well-Being Centre
Blk 261 Waterloo Street #01-42 Waterloo Centre Singapore 180261
Closing Date: 15 Aug 2013
Enquiry: Tel: 6336 5067 | Email: sem@kmspks.org | [Details]

About Professor Cheng Chen-Huang
Professor Cheng, a Taiwanese, is a widely-acclaimed renowned Buddhist scholar and practitioner. He is actively involved in Dharma propagation activities in Taiwan, different states of America and South East Asia. The activities include Dharma Talks, Workshops and Meditation Retreats.
 
He has published more than 500 news articles and 20 books. Some of these include the translated Chinese versions such as Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by H.H. the Dalai Lama at Harvard; Consciousness at Crossroads; Anapanasati; Zen in the Martial Arts; Beginning to See and Mind Like Fire Unbound.

佛教礼仪


佛教礼仪

在现代社会里如何待人处世的方式以演变。我们作为社会群体的一份子,应对自己的行为负责,采取行为之前应想想这行为是否会伤害到他人和自己。

佛教礼仪含由许多如衣、食、行、住、坐、卧等的相应礼仪,让我们在这缺乏礼仪的社会中感受到它的优美与价值。待人处世的行为,高尚的情操与符合规律的礼节所表现出的一种良好品德会使人产生仰慕及恭敬心,对身为佛教徒来说更为重要。

佛教礼仪
上课日期:7月20日|星期六
上课时间:下午1时至4时30分
上课地点:光明山普觉禅寺|藏经楼|一楼课室
赞助费用:$20
报名地点:光明山普觉禅寺|接待处|早上9时至下午4时
截止日期:7月13日|星期六
报名表格:佛教礼仪 (EXCEL)
询问电话:6849 5300 | 电邮:sem@kmspks.org | [详情]






Monday, July 8, 2013

Y.cultivation



Date:  14 July 2013, Sunday
Time:
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, VHCMH, Level 1, Classroom 5.  Map

Click here to register.

Join us for a simple cultivation group session for youth from 17 – 35 years old. We will be doing short sutra recitation and guided meditation practice. Vegetarian lunch will be provided.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Y.dharma

Y.dharma

 

Dates: Starting in Sep (starting date is to be confirmed) Every first and third Sunday
Time: 12:30 pm –  2 pm
Registration fee : $10 (payment to be made during first lesson)
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall, Level 1, Classroom 5 & 6

A short course on the fundamentals of Buddhism conducted by Venerable Chuan Guan catered for the youth of age, 17-35 years old. It consists of 4 modules:
  • Faith & Confidence (5 lessons),
  • Understanding (5 lessons),
  • Cultivation I (5 lessons), and
  • Cultivation II (6 lessons).
Participants are encourage to join in our morning short cultivation session at 10:30 am and lunch with us at 11:30 am before the course.

Click here to register: http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/0Sao0ru1ezc7PtbKd08
Enquiries: Email youth@kmspks.org | Call 6849 5345

 

Dialogue with Venerable: Wealth and Happiness

Dialogue with Venerable: Wealth and Happiness

  

Dates: 8 July 2013, Monday
Time: 7:30pm –9:30pm
Admission Free
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Medicine Buddha Hall
(Level 2 of 10,000 Buddha Pagoda building)
Click here to register

In our modern age, the society is increasingly looking towards material development and comfort. However, are we happy? Are we satisfied with all that we have? Join us in this special Youth day session, where Ven. Chuan Guan will discuss the concept of being wealthy, giving tips on living a happy and fulfilling life.

Conducting Venerable
2002 Ordained under Master Miu King • 2003 Higher ordination  • 2002 – 2006, Fa Yun Monastery (New Mexico, United States) •  • 2006 – 2009 Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery under Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng •  • 2009 – Present, The Buddhist Library Dharma and meditation classes and various Buddhist organisations.