By Wakeupnow, on 14th August, 2008 With the Olympic starting in just two days, the whole world goes into a frenzy, soaking in every bit of Olympic titbits they can find, lavishing in the news of all the different sports man and woman people and the history and background of the Games.
Suddenly everyone wants to know the psyche behind these sports folks, what their favorites are, what books they read. Ok, maybe not everybody wants to know, but at least the news people seem to be rather keen. So who is driving who? Are the readers driving the news or the journalists driving the content read? Hmmm …
Regardless, I read of some athletes and how they excel in their field. Without fail, the story would describe how they train for hours, days and years before they reach their present state of athletic perfection! While some may have had a flair for their sports since young, non attained their excellence by sitting on their butts for the past 10 years! :p
This is something common in sports, in the arts, in sciences and yes, even in business! In all fields, individuals excel through their diligence and repeated efforts, and even then only some succeed to . . . → Read More: So the Olympics is around the corner
By Wakeupnow, on 28th May, 2008 The one place you would not expect to find demand of “Human Rights” would be in a college, a Buddhist College I mean. One would think that 1) a Buddhist College would be extolling values above and beyond mere human rights and 2) students (monks in this case) would not really care much about human rights (HR). Afterall, Buddhism as a whole seem to point towards an attitude of non-attachment and non-self (no-self or not-self if you will!), it seem strange that they while working towards these ideals, would be so concerned with human rights. After all, without a self, who is to enjoy the rights or suffer their absence?
But this article is not about that. This article is about what I think Human Rights is and its place in an Asian society vs the role of Human Responsibilities.
. . . → Read More: Human Rights vs Human Responsibilities
By Wakeupnow, on 12th December, 2007 Today is not Mother’s day, nor is it Father’s day. It is also not my parent’s birthday. Least of all, it’s also not my birthday. Today, they accompanied me to run an errand to Funan. (Yes, sometimes monks also need stuffs … *grin*)
Here I am back in the monastery, after a meditation class/session with NUSBS in FuHai Monastery, reflecting about the day, thinking about how my parents accompanied me to run an errand to Funan at a short notice. Color me silly, but I found myself teary just reflecting over it.
I just sent them an sms and thought I would share with you all here:
Thanks Mom and Dad! For accompanying me to Funan today at such a short notice. For giving me your time, incessant care and love since my birth! For giving me this precious human life! For bringing me into Buddhism and giving me away to the Buddha! Thank you! THANK YOU! Thank you! 
Before this day ends and we rest for the day, do take the time to reflect over the day. Ponder on the kindness, love and care that our parents had . . . → Read More: To my Mom and Dad! …
By Wakeupnow, on 18th June, 2007 The Buddha said “The Highest Gift of all is the the Gift of Dhamma”.
For most lay people, Dana, the practice of giving, means giving material support. This includes giving Robes, Food, Lodging and Medicine, the four requisites. Some communities provide avenues for lay people to offer food on a daily basis before noon. Others also put up their phone and utilities bill for voluntary offerings. All these requisites support existing sangha members in their monastic life, so that they can focus on their learning and practice of the Buddha’s teachings.
. . . → Read More: How much would you give?
By Wakeupnow, on 21st May, 2007 Putting money where one’s mouth is basically means showing due support for what we advocate. Also interpreted as “stop giving lip service and taking some real actions.”
Yesterday, Puay Khim commented to me that there is an interesting debate going on in some online forum about how it is wasteful or pointless or both to have a stupa cast in gold. The theme here is that Buddhism should focus on its teachings and not so much on devotional aspects that it becomes the main focus. Such views are commonly upheld by a strata of Buddhists who are supposedly the intellects. They are inclined towards Buddhism because of its teachings and see little value in devotional practises like chanting, prostrations or having Buddha statues or stupas built.
. . . → Read More: Putting one’s money where one’s mouth is
By Wakeupnow, on 16th May, 2007 In-Brief
The significance of Vesak Day @ 25 May 2007 (Private talk, Maris Stella High School) Million Lotus Celebrations @25 ~ 26 May 2007 (Public, Ngee Ann City) NTU Buddhist Society Alumni Vesak Celebration @ 27 May 2007 (Alumnus & friends, Venue TBC) Dharma talk for Little India Vesak Celebration @ 29 May 2007 (Public, See below for venue) Meditation Practice @ 31 May 2007 (Public, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery)
Details after the jump …
. . . → Read More: News: Upcoming talks and events
By Wakeupnow, on 1st May, 2007 OT stands for Off Topic, and in this series, we take a look at a BBC web site showing a very impressive view of the British History Timeline.
I’m not exactly a fan of BBC or the British folks, but hey, always good to have some general knowledge. Last I check, it’s good for small talk, party conversation and the Bodhisattva Path.  Enjoi!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/timelines/british/index.shtml
By Shi ChuanGuan, on 2nd April, 2007 There will be an “Om Mani Padme Hum” 12hr chanting day on 6th April, 2007 at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Singapore.
Location:
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery 88 Bright Hill Road Singapore 574117
Participation fee: Sincerity and kindness
Date & Time: 6th April 9:00am ~ 9:00pm
Details:
The chanting day will be split into 6 continuous sessions of 2hrs each.
Session 1: 9:00am ~ 11:00am Session 2: 11:00am ~ 1:00pm Session 3: 1:00am ~ 3:00pm Session 4: 3:00am ~ 5:00pm Session 5: 5:00am ~ 7:00pm Session 6: 7:00am ~ 9:00pm
Each session will have:
Homage to the Buddha Triple Refuge Mantra chanting Dedication of Merits
Guiding Monastic:
Chuanguan bhikkhu
Please contact KMSPKS Youth Ministry, Billy @ you…@kmspks.org or 6849 5346 or sms: 9765 4322 for participation slots.
By Wakeupnow, on 27th February, 2007 Here’s a first segment of a series of talks by Master MiuKing on the Mahaprajnaparamita sutra. I’ll continue to encode the talks from DVD for upload to google video.
摩訶般若波羅蜜經系列 三歎品第30 / 現滅諍品第31（四之一） 妙境長老宣講 （1999年溫哥華） 1 of 4
By Wakeupnow, on 22nd February, 2007 I mentioned in one of the talks that our physical bodies are replaced totally over a period of time. I got curious and went looking for a reference.
Here’s one:
http://www.contouring.com/chapter1.html
The physical body that each of us possess (or possesses us) is made up of roughly 50 trillion cells. About 30 billion of these are nerve cells. Every day millions of cells throughout our bodies are being replaced. This takes place through the normal process of attrition and replacement. Indeed 98% of our body is replaced within one year. The remaining cells are replaced the following year. In fact, 10% of all cells in your body are replaced every 3 weeks, 25% of the cells are replaced every 5-6 weeks. The cells that make up our skin is totally new every thirty days. The cells that make up the soft muscle tissue of our internal organs is replaced in two to three months. The liver is replaced within six weeks, while the stomach lining takes as little as four days. Some cells, such as those closely involved in the process of digestion, are replaced as rapidly as every five minutes!
. . . → Read More: We are being replaced … as we speak!
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