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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body



Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body


Join us for a weekend getaway for a quiet break from the hustle and bustle of city life and to discover the inner peace within you.
Rejuvenate Your Mind and Body
Participants are to observe 8 Precepts during the retreat. This retreat is for participants of age 16 and above.
- 20 Jun, Fri | Check-in | 7.30 pm | Applicable to stay-in participants only.
- 21 Jun, Sat | Retreat begins | Stay-out participants please report by 7.30 am.
22 Jun, Sun | Check-out | 9.30 am.
Retreat Offering:
$30 (stay-in)
$20 (stay-out)
Conducted in English.
Conducted by: Abbot, Venerable Kwang Sheng
Assisted by: 
Venerable Chuan Guan and Venerable Ren Xu
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
88 Bright Hill Road Singapore 574117
Closing Date: 15 Jun 2014
Enquiry: programme and registration form
Tel:
 6849 5300 | Email: sem@kmspks.org

Vipassana Meditation Retreat


Vipassana Meditation Retreat

Vipassana Meditation Retreat
Sayadaw’s teaching differs from the general Vipassana meditation that is practised in Myanmar. Sayadaw’s style of teaching and approach is dynamic – an evolving process based on his own experiences and his recognition of difficulties yogis face in their practice. He believes that awareness must first be directed to the presence of defilements in the meditating mind.
Sayadaw does not emphasize any postures or specific method of walking meditation. He believes it is more important that the mind is aware with understanding while meditating. He also wants to help practitioners possess skills which they can continue to apply throughout their lives in the absence of a teacher.
Date: 31 Oct – 9 Nov 2014
Check-in Time: 31 Oct | 5pm
Check-out Time: 9 Nov (Before Lunch)
Closing Date: 17 Oct or when registration is full.
Registration Venue: Reception | 9am – 4pm
Retreat Offering: $150
Requirement: Strictly stay-in retreat. Prior meditation retreat experience is preferred.
Registration & Enquiry:Tel: 6849 5300 | Poster
Profile:
Sayadaw U Tejaniya began his Buddhist training as a young teenager in Burma under the late Shwe Oo Min Sayadaw. After a career in business and life as a householder, he was ordained a fullfledged monk in 1996. He teaches meditation at Shwe Oo Min Dhamma Sukha Forest Meditation Centre in Yangon, Myanmar.
Sayadaw’s relaxed demeanour and easy sense of humour belies a commitment to awareness that he encourages his students to apply in every aspect of their lives. His earlier life as a householder gives him rare insight into the challenges faced by his lay students. His books, Don’t look down on the defilements, they will laugh at you, Awareness alone is not enough and Dhamma everywhere: welcoming each moment with awareness + wisdom aptly characterise his teachings – accessible and true to the traditional teachings of the Buddha.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

The Pureland in the Here and Now


The Pureland in the Here and Now

A retreat led by Plum Village Monastic in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
 
In the Sukhavati-Vyuha Sutra (The Smaller Sukhavati Sutra, Taisho Revised Tripitaka 366) Shakyamuni Buddha speaks to Sariputra about Amitabha Buddha and the Land of Great Happiness. The Pure Land (The Land of Great Happiness, The Land of Bliss) of the West is the realm that Amitabha Buddha (Buddha of Infinite Light) or Amitayus Buddha (Buddha of Infinite Life) resides.  Shakyamuni Bhudda talks about the great vows of Amitabha Budddha to bring all sentient beings to the Pure Land, just by their repetitive recitation of the name Amitabha Buddha, wholeheartedly and attentively. In the Pure Land, things are very beautiful, people have time to listen to the Dharma talks, doing walking meditation after midday meal. The birds sing the teachings of the Buddha such as the Five Powers, The Noble-Eight Fold Path, The Seven Factors of Awakening … Listening to the birds’ singing, residences of the Pure Land practice mindfulness of the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. In the Sutra, Amitabha Buddha also praises Shakyamuni Buddha for being able to transform defilements and live in happiness right in the Saha world, the world of Suffering and Confusion. 
 
In this retreat, we will study this sutra from the perspective of mindfulness meditation. We will see how the practice of mindfulness can bring us to The Pure Land in the Here and Now.  By going back to our mindful breaths, being aware of what’s happening inside and around us, in the present moment, we can realize wonderful things around us. We will see how the practices of walking meditation, sitting meditation, dharma discussion, listening to the Dharma talks that we are doing in the retreat, are like those practiced in the Pure Land. We will see that Nien-Fo (by reciting  Namo Omito-Fo) is actually a mindfulness practice, which has its roots from the word Buddhanusmrti meaning Mindfulness of the Buddha.

The Pureland in the Here and Now
Date: 4 – 8 Jun 2014 (Wed-Sun)
Retreat Offering:
- $150 per person,
- $70 for full time student* / senior citizen*
(*document for verification required)(Note: This retreat is for age 16 and above)
Closing Date: 25 May 2014 (or when registration is full)
Registration: Reception Office | 9am – 4.30pm
Registration Details: Retreat FAQs and Application
Tel: 6849 5300 | Email: sem@kmspks.org | [poster]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QabZDyzhtek

http://www.kmspks.org/events/featured/the-pureland-in-the-here-and-now/

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

星雲大師現代詮釋--神通

2014/5/2

神通




有些人對神通非常嚮往,想盡各種方法修神通,而佛經裡也提到有:天眼通、天耳通、他心通、神足通、宿命通、漏盡通等六種神通。但只有漏盡通是斷除煩惱、了生脫死的究竟神通,唯有聖者的阿羅漢和佛陀才能證得。

神通看似能帶給我們方便,但佛陀卻不鼓勵弟子追求神通,主要原因是:神通非究竟解脫之道、神通敵不過業力、神通比不上道德、神通及不上空無。過去的祖師大 德不少人也都證得神通,然而所謂「打死會拳的,淹死會游的」;會神通的,常亡命於神通。例如提婆、目犍連雖有神通,但仍難逃定業,死於外道之手。

佛世時,釋迦族因為侮辱琉璃太子,而遭到滅族的惡運,即使是神通第一的目犍連尊者,運用神通力拯救了五百人,但最後他們仍然化為血水,所謂「假使百千劫,所作業不亡」,這些都是神通不敵業力的明證。

一般人認為有了天耳通、天眼通、他心通,什麼就能聽到、看到、知道,反不知這是更大的障礙與迷思。比方你沒有他心通,人家要害你,你不知情就能活得自在, 若事先知道了,你還能快樂嗎?你沒有天耳通,聽不到人家罵你,耳不聽心不煩。如果有天眼通,看到人間的苦難重重,還能快樂起來嗎?耳不聽眼不看心不知,沒 有神通,你的日子反而過的好。

因此,一般人最好不要有神通,有神通反而是害了自己;神通必須要證果、有禪定,依於慈悲、住於淨戒,有般若智慧的人擁有,才不會障礙自己、傷害到別人。

佛陀曾說過,佛法是要用道德來感化他人,用慈悲來救護眾生,而不是以神通來迷惑大眾,像菩薩基於慈悲,以神通來攝化眾生。一旦有了神通,更要嚴持淨戒,做有益於大眾的事情,而不是依仗神通胡作非為。

神通不假外求

其實,我們日常生活中,處處都有神通,只是我們和它太接近,反而感覺不出奇妙。比方說,肚子餓了,吃一碗飯就飽了,這不就是神通?天冷了,多加一件衣服就 暖和了,這也是神通;精通各國語言的人,與人交談沒有障礙,就是天耳通;電視傳訊,給我們看到世界,不也是「天眼通」;遊走世界,只要搭乘飛機,數小時便 能抵達,可說是「神足通」。其實,一切經驗的累積及智慧的判斷,都是相似的神通。

神通是人類經驗的累積,是智慧的呈現,是潛能不斷開發的超絕運用。神通若建立在有形、有相上求,這個「有」,就是有限、有量、有盡;唯有空無的真理,才有 無限的妙用。所以神通不必處處求,日常生活裡處處都可以體驗,就看自己有沒有用心,有沒有智慧罷了。具有神通並不一定擁有幸福,只有道德、慈悲才是取之不 盡,用之不竭的寶藏。

神通提問

問:佛教對神通靈異的看法?
答:生活中,時時刻刻都是神通靈異的顯現。神通靈異不在別處,現前當下即是。如一朵花,散發芬芳香味,淡化人間的濁氣;一座橋,溝通往來行旅,給予大家的便利;一棵樹,庇蔭萬千行人,散布清涼的氣息;一盞燈,照亮暗夜道路,指引人們的前途,也都是另一種神通。
佛教對神通靈異的看法,即不好奇,不貪求,明白神通敵不過業力的輪轉,比不上清淨的道德和不執不取的生命智慧。
問:神通對我們的利害得失,應如何了解?
答:神通可以是弘教的方便,但不是萬能的利器。
優陀夷是一位有神通的阿羅漢,連毒龍也能降伏。一天,他喝醉了酒,睡在路旁,人事不知,佛陀見了說:「現在,他連一隻青蛙也降伏不了。」
善用神通可以輔助教化,解厄抒困,譬如觀世音菩薩應聲化現,常常是苦難中的希望;隱峰禪師擲錫飛空,阻止兩軍廝殺,成為災難的救星。為了迅速弘法,神通可以收一時之效,但假藉神通欺世盜名則害人害己。
反之,神通如果使用不當,容易成為危害他人的巫蠱邪術。因此,求證和運用神通,必須具備四個條件:
一、要依於慈悲;二、要住於淨戒;
三、要安於忍耐;四、要用於平常。
問:神通可以改變業力嗎?
答:依佛陀的教法,神通不是究竟的解脫之道,佛法講因果法則,業力才是世間最大的力量,它是由身心造作,發乎於外的行為,是無法運用神通違背業果。
佛陀時代,釋迦種族因為侮辱琉璃太子,而遭到滅族的惡運,即使是神通第一的目犍連尊者欲拯救釋迦種族,最後被拯救的人仍然化為血水,所謂「假使百千劫,所作業不亡」,就是神通不敵業力的明證。
業力雖不受神通所抵消,並不表示定業完全不可轉,如果有足夠的時間,真心發露懺悔,向上向善,必能重業輕報,如同鹽水注入大量的清水,便可沖淡鹹味一般。
(摘自星雲大師《佛光教科書》)

傳統之說

神通
乃一種無礙自在、不可思議的能力,不僅佛、菩薩具足神通,連神祇、鬼也有神通。佛教認為神通有六種:
(一)神足通,據《大智度論》載,有三種,一為隨心所欲,可至任何地方,一為隨意改變相狀之變化,另一為隨意轉變外界對境的隨意自在。其中,後者唯佛所獨具者。
(二)天眼通,即看透世間所有遠近、苦樂、粗細等之作用。
(三)天耳通,即悉聞世間一切音聲之作用。
(四)他心通,即悉知他人心中所想各種善惡等事之作用力。
(五)宿命通,即悉知自他過去世等各種生存狀態之作用力。
(六)漏盡通,即斷盡煩惱,永不再生於迷界之悟力。
《宗鏡錄》亦記載神通有從證悟中道而得,有修禪定而得,或由咒術、業報而得,善惡優劣,層次不一。唯有究竟圓滿的漏盡通才是吾人取證的對象。
(摘自《佛光教科書》、《佛光電子大辭典》第四版)

禪∣門∣語∣錄
文/星雲大師
譯者/滿和法師、Doris Koegel-Roth、Leon Roth
禪,就像太陽的熱能一樣,只要有心,人間到處無不充滿了禪機,大自然無一不是禪的妙用。
Chan radiates like the sun. When you are in harmony with Chan, you see Chan everywhere, and Chan illuminates everything you see.

http://www.merit-times.com/NewsPage.aspx?Unid=348562

Mindfulness Breathing Meditation Class


Mindfulness Breathing Meditation Class

Meditation is beneficial to our physical, emotion and mental well-being. It is also the key in helping us to manage our stress and anger.

Through mindfulness of the breath, we learn to develop awareness, mindfulness and concentration.
Come and join our Mindfulness Breathing Meditation classes to learn to be at ease and at peace with our inner selves and others.

When our mind is purified, the world is pure!

Mindfulness Breathing Meditation Class
Date: 19 May – 21 Jul 2014 | Every Mon
Time: 7.30pm – 9pm
Venue: Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall
Level 4 | Hall of No Form
Closing Date: 12 May 2014
Registration Venue: Reception Office | 9am – 4.30pm
Registration Form: Mindfulness Breathing Meditation Class
Enquiry:
Tel:
6849 5300 | Email: sem@kmspks.org | [poster]

About Venerable Chuan Guan

Venerable Chuan Guan was ordained under Master Miu King (Master Miao Jing 妙境长老) in 2002 and received higher ordination in 2003. He began his monastic training in Fa Yun Monastery (New Mexico, United States), learning the sutras and practised meditation under the Mahayana Buddhist tradition while studying the Theravadan Pali Canon.
 In 2006, he returned to Singapore and continued his training under Venereable Sik Kwang Sheng in Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (KMSPKS). Currently, he is a Spiritual Advisor for Dharma Propagation Division of KMSPKS. He also gives Dharma talks and organise meditation activities at various temples. He reaches out to the online Buddhist community via his blog (www.buddhavacana.net), Facebook, Twitter, and through apps on Apple and Android mobile devices.

Monkhood Novitiate Programme



Monkhood Novitiate Programme

Experience a simple monastic life together. Cultivate compassion and wisdom for inner joy and peace.

Monkhood Novitiate Programme
Date: 19 - 28 Dec 2014
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Fee: $120.00 per person
Registration Venue: Reception Office | 9am – 4pm
Registration Form: Monkhood Novitiate Programme
Closing Date: 30 Sep 2014
Participant Requirement: 16 – 60 years old, male only
Enquiry: Tel: 6849 5300 | Email: sem@kmspks.org | poster
Remarks: Shortlisted participants are required to attend preparatory class on 15 -18 Dec, 7.30pm – 9pm.

Vegetarian Dumplings For Sale





Dumplings For Sale

Dragon Boat Festival Vegetarian Dumplings For Sale
Date: 25 May – 2 Jun 2014
Time: 9.30 am – 2.30 pm
Fee: $3.00 each
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery | Dinning Hall
Tel: 6849 5300

The Grand Prayer Ceremony


Shui Lu Notice