By Shi ChuanGuan, on 25th February, 2012 Earlier last month on 7 / 8 January 2012, I was invited to share at the Christian Meditation Seminar "Common Ground" in Catholic Junior College.
It was eye opening to hear speakers from five different religions coming together to share their religion's way of meditation as I was for the longest time under the impression that meditation was found mainly in Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and various Indian religion.
As most religions were theistic, meditation was for them, a way to "reach God through silence". For Buddhist, meditation was a way to purify our mind.
What to me is a step forward was to have people from different religions, using different meditation techniques to meditate together, without a need to convert the other, or to prove that "mine is better than yours".
During the seminar, I took the opportunity to share the "common human experience" that we all shared. When we don't get what we want, we fret, we are disappointed, we are unhappy. Depending on the degree of our want, craving or attachment, we may experience suffering differently. This does not depend on your gender, age, race, beliefs or nationality. It is a fact, a Truth of our human . . . → Read More: Sharing at a Christian Meditation Seminar
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 24th February, 2012 Once again, vandals are at work. This time, the target was 30 Buddhist statues in a Maldives National Museum.
“The whole pre-Islamic history is gone.” said Mr. Waheed, the director of the National Museum.
It is not gone. The statues are gone. But one cannot change or remove history simply by destroying the statues. Instead, they have written history, of how in modern day Maldive, inspite of the destruction, Buddhists do not return blow for blow, hatred for hatred. They have helped affirm the Buddhist teaching on loving kindness, compassion and true inner peace and calm.
Fellow friends, keep in mind. The expression of the Buddha's and Bodhisattva's qualities and teachings in the statues can be destroyed, and has been harmed and destroyed numerous times. Dharma books can be burnt, and has been burnt numerous times. Teachings memorised in our heart can be lost if we die or are killed, and has happened before.
But the Truth pointed by the teachings, the learning and application of the teachings, the fruit of inner peace and calm, and the unshakable cessation of suffering, Nirvana … that cannot be harmed by words and blows nor destroyed by guns and bombs.
. . . → Read More: Attack by vandals destroys nearly 30 Buddhist statues in a Maldives National Museum
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 22nd February, 2012 All human beings, young or old, man or woman, regardless of race, language or religion, nationality or beliefs have two abilities.
When faced with agreeable, pleasant people, situations or things, we can get happy, joyful, at ease, calm and do nice stuffs, say nice words. That's easy. We all can do that.
When faced with disagreeable, unpleasant people, situations or things, we can get unhappy, sad, frustrated, angry, and may do crazy stuffs, say angry words. That's also easy. We all can do that too.
These are the two abilities that all unenlightened beings have. Conversely, it is true as well. If you can only react in this two ways, then you are probably unenlightened. But don't fret about it, 'cos you are like the rest of us 99.9999999999999999999999% sentient beings.
But wait. There is a third ability we can have.
When faced with the agreeable … or disagreeable … we can still have inner peace and happiness. This inner peace and happiness is somewhat different from the happiness above. The happiness above is based on getting what we want. This is worldly happiness. Losing what we want brings unhappiness. This is worldly suffering. Both are intertwined, like two . . . → Read More: The two abilities we all have, and a third we can have.
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 22nd February, 2012
Facebook page "Say Yes to Religious Harmony" http://goo.gl/4Mabw
We request the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony to make a stand on this.
This page is for people of all faiths (Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism*) and people with no religion.
Recently Campus Crusade for Christ has made some insensitive and seditious promotional materials against Buddhism & Islam. We call upon the Presidential Council of Religious Harmony to issue a strong statement against such acts of abuse from one religion to another.
Like this page if you believe in Religious Harmony and respect for all faiths and practices.
Let the voice of the silent moderate majority be heard!
Facebook page "Say Yes to Religious Harmony" http://goo.gl/4Mabw
Say Yes to Religious Harmony today! Go to the facebook link above, Click Like, Share with your friends, share your interfaith experiences and thoughts on the page! Religious Peace and Harmony is a reality! Do your part! Note: These are the ten religions recognised by the government in Singapore.
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 22nd February, 2012 In an experiment conducted by Washing Post [1] back in 2007, they explore questions such as
"Do you stop and listen? Do you hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation, aware of your cupidity but annoyed by the unbidden demand on your time and your wallet? Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite? Does your decision change if he's really bad? What if he's really good? Do you have time for beauty? Shouldn't you? What's the moral mathematics of the moment? "
Will one of the U.S.'s greatest violinists be noticed in a D.C. Metro stop during rush hour? Joshua Bell [2] experimented for Gene Weingarten's story in The Washington Post: http://wpo.st/-vP (Video by John W. Poole)
Video after the break.
Do we truly see things as they are? How coloured are we by the external environment and our inner preconception?
Do we see the goodness in our friends or do we judge influenced by the above factors?
When we study in school, do we learn the most from the teacher regardless of the environment and our perception of him? Or do we blame it on the teacher when we fail?
At work, who do . . . → Read More: Perception ~ Coloured by the external environment and our inner preconception, can we truly see this world?
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 17th February, 2012 A peaceful response to an insensitive posting?
http://news.insing.com/tabloid/nus-christian-student-group-insults-other-religions/id-8d303f00 *updated*
I just read a couple of different blogs and forum postings on the latest of "Christians vs Buddhism" religious knock-out matches. Actually, for the most part, it is "Christians vs ________" 'cos we Buddhits were not invited to the match, so it is mostly some of these evangelical Christians doing a one-man boxing match, on their rounds of spreading Fear-Uncertainty-Doubt, to borrow a term from the tech industry where I came from before donning the robes.
This turn, it is the Christian Crusade for Christ (CCC) NUS chapter, who put up a denigrating poster on Buddhism and Thailand, and one on Islam. Click the images below for a bigger clearer picture.
 
According to Rubati (Dominic Foo), author of "Logic of Faith", he is "offended for Singaporean Buddhists".
From Logic of Faith, Rubati writes
"I am offended that the NBS would insult Buddhists in NUS and Singapore by insinuating that they are so insecure about their faith and joy in Buddha that they would have to resort to censorship to answer this slanderous attack by . . . → Read More: Freedom … …
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 15th February, 2012 https://www.facebook.com/notes/shi-chuan-guan/singapore-buddhist-federation-bursary-award-2012/10150672051786125
The Singapore Buddhist Federation is giving out Bursary Awards to students in primary schools, secondary schools, ITEs, JCs and CIs (Centralised Institutes).
The aim of this award is to aid students in their studies and encourage them to strive for excellence in their academic path.
If you are a student of this category, apply today!
. . . → Read More: Singapore Buddhist Federation Bursary Award 2012
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 14th February, 2012
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 14th February, 2012 For registration, please go to pmt web site http://pmt.org.sg/ActivityDetail.aspx?Id=166
https://www.facebook.com/events/324019570968833/
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 14th February, 2012 
From http://xkcd.com/1016/
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