Saturday, January 5, 2013

Forum 2013: State of Buddhism in Singapore


The Singapore Buddhist Mission is honored to have received the invitation from the Buddhist Youth Network and the Dharma In Action to collaboratively organise FORUM 2013L STATE OF BUDDHISM IN SINGAPORE.

SBM's Chief Resident Monk and Religious Advisor, Venerable K. Dhammika Maha Thera, was also invited to pen a message to the forum.

The following is Venerable's message:


I am glad to hear that a group of young Buddhist volunteers from the Buddhist Youth Network (Camp LIONS), Dharma In Action, the National University of Singapore Buddhist Society and the Singapore
Buddhist Mission’s youth group have come together to collaboratively organize Forum 2013 with the pure thought of understanding the history and current state of the Buddhist community in Singapore and sharing ideas on how the education of the Dhamma can be conducted, in light of the rapidly-changing lifestyles and needs of the Singaporean society.

I would like to thus remind all of you of one of the great messages our Lord Buddha had given
to His followers. He said, “Bhikkhus, the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata
shines when exposed, not when concealed” (Thathagatappavedito dhammavinayo, bhikkhave,
vivato virocati, no paticchanno).

This message can be applied aptly to Forum 2013. I hope that it would be an effective platform
for its speakers and participants. May all your good efforts of seed bear excellent fruits!

With Metta

Ven. K. Dhammika Maha Thera

Bro. Zeming and Bro. Shi Xiong, both members of the General Committee and Lay Advisors to SBM Youth also presented ten conditions in which have aided in the growth of SBM Youth for the past 15 years. It was a fruitful forum and we hope more Buddhists in Singapore can take the lead to develop and grow the community further. Sadhu!

Congratulatory Message



From 14th to 17th December 2012, the Mission's youth group, SBM Youth, successfully organised the Camp Ehi-Passiko. It is a Buddhist youth camp for teenagers aged 13 to 21 years old. There were more than 80 over participants and 60 organisers. It was a great effort and Sadhu to our youths for another good work done. 

Mr Audrick Kwek, General Secretary of the General Committee, Singapore Buddhist Mission, sends a congratulatory note to the youth organisers. Below is his message:

Dear Ehi-Passiko Camp Organizers.

This recent camp that ended yesterday is a reinforcement of your SADDHA (Faith) in the Buddha Dhamma and dedication to Teamwork. 

As the sayings goes Unity is Strength. 

Vicky / Ernest - You did a good job in galvanizing your team to give their best for this camp. 

Supporting 80 young participants with a volunteer group of 60 youth leaders has indeed provided a good base for you to train your 4th Generation leaders.
I spoke to a dozen smiling parents who attended your presentation and campfire program last night's. They were very happy and proud of the kids participating in this camp. Quite a few wanted to have their other younger kids join this Ehipassiko Camp in the next year. 
 
 
I would like to compliment the various teams who spent so much time rehearsing and going through the details of their program and dry runs. As list of names are quite long, let me focus on a few  teams that I have managed to engage with over the weekends:
 
1) The Messing Team- You were faced with a lot of challenges with the sudden demise of our regular Caterer's wife in ABCD. You have persevered and came up with alternatives. The good thing is that nobody is left hungry.
 
2) Camp Fire is certainly very well organized. Thanks Xinyi, Sherman, HuiYu, Pearson and team. It is certainly a very good idea to have picture taking session together with campers and their parents as well as Venerable Dhammika and Venerable ChandaWimala.
 
3) Games & Dhamma discussion leaders as well as the peripheral support team who helped purchase impromptu needs should not be left out in this recognition note.
 
Good work to One and All !!. 

Keep up this "CAN DO" mental energy and I am confident you will do well in whatever aspirations you intend to achieve.
 
With Metta
Audrick

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Bhante Dhammika 's Message to the Youths



A bird needs two wings to fly properly. You need to develop both your head and heart in order to become a successful noble human being.If you develop only the qualities of the heart ignoring your brain, you will be a virtuous, kind hearted, good man. But the others may take advantage on you.

On the other hand if you develop only your brain, you will be very intelligent, cleaver and cunning. Since you don't know the value of human qualities you will not hesitate to do any kind of crime. You will not care about other people. You are ready to do anything to get what you want.

Why do you need a religion? Man is a living being who has got a mind which can be developed either in positive or negative way. Buddhism guides you to develop this mental power in proper way so as to become noble, peace loving, intelligent human beings.

A plant needs sunshine, water, good soil and necessary conditions to grow into a healthy strong tree. The SBM youth group provides necessary conditions and create suitable surroundings for Singapore youths to develop spiritually with right vision and correct understanding. Just like parents are happy to see the growing of their children I am very happy to see the great success that the youth wing has achieved. It is a great pleasure to see the team, which started with eight members, has increased to ninety members at the moment.

The first step you took with noble intention and courage made you tread a long way overcoming its barriers and passing the milestones of success. Among many successful Dhamma activities the youth wing has left, I appreciated a lot the Dhamma camps and interactive programs with other youth teams in Singapore. These kinds of programs help to develop spiritual life as well as enhance friendship, right understanding, unity and brotherhood among various Buddhist youth communities.You have inherited a rich Buddhist culture which is more than two thousand five hundred years old. Enriched with that rich culture, realizing modern youth trends and needs, you can be creative and lead the youth in the twentieth century in order to become perfect noble human beings.

Eventually this Dhamma will disappear from the world. There will be a time when nobody will know the path to get out of this immense suffering. Rare is the life of a human being. Fortunate are you to have come across the teachings of the Buddha.
Dhamma is the Light of Wisdom. It is the True Knowledge of Vision. Dhamma is the Cure for all Suffering. It is the unique Path for one's freedom.Practise the Dhamma whenever and wherever possible. Refrain from evil. Cultivate good. Purify your thoughts. You will move from dark to light. You will go from light to light.

May the members of the youth group have mental and physical strength and power to work for the well-beings and happiness of multitude. May you all be well and happy!

With Metta,
Venerable K. Dhammika

Chief Resident Monk and Religious Adviser
Singapore Buddhist Mission

Monday, October 15, 2012

Welcome!

Dear friends, our main homepage, www.singaporebuddhistmission.net, is currently undergoing construction. This web blog will function as our main website for the time being. Thank you for your patience.

Sadhu!

The General Committee
Singapore Buddhist Mission