Got back from the retreat at noon, had a parents’ class, followed by children’s classes. The day ended with the KMSPKS Volunteers’ Appreciation Dinner 2014! (Address by my shifu and my reflections down below)
The whole dinning hall on the 2nd floor of Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall is filled to the rim with volunteers tonight!
The night started with shifu’s address, emphasising on gratitude towards the volunteers’ contribution to the Buddhist community and the monastery. He also highlighted how while lay buddhists come and volunteer, it is a form of giving (dana, 布施), and we should contribute happily. And by happily, it means we must learn the Dharma (Buddha’s teachings) so that we can overcome our defilements (烦恼), which is the aim of Buddhism.
He then urge all to continue to serve the community and at the same time learn more of the Buddha Dharma, by attending the Dharma classes and talks, and concluded once again with much thanks and gratitude for the support and effort by the volunteers.
Performance by our monastery choir starting off the evening’s programme. Feeling a crooning humming? Come sign up with us http://youth.kmspks.org
Second performance by the lovely children from the Saturday Sunday School in KMSPKS ^.^
Our volunteer teacher instructor for their dance performance … wow!
More performances by our youths!! woo hoo!! ^_^
And here comes the finale performances.
TIL* that instagram video capture requires you to press … AND HOLD!! *face palm* myself. -.-“””
So the only video clip I took of the ACC performance during the KMSPKS Volunteers’ Appreciation Dinner was three short spurts … … o_O
TIL – Today I Learn
But what a night! One thing that the students from ACC said about their choice of the song “龙的传人” touched me. They heard that many Singaporean Chinese do not speak Mandarin, so they wanted to come here and share with us the Chinese song, to encourage us, that if they being Africans can sing the song “龙的传人” those “gan-dang” among us can also learn and appreciate Chinese language and culture.
Shifu used to be “gan-dang” too. But after ordaining as a monk, I had to learn Chinese from scratch. Sutras are in classical Chinese and all lessons were in Mandarin, taught by my late compassionate ordination teacher, Master Miu Jing. Over the years, lugging around thick dictionaries (for Mandarin and Buddhist technical terms), and much much support and guidance from senior venerables, I’ve managed to shed my “gan-dang”ness to become more bi-lingual. ^_^ (y)
So, take up the challenge today! Come learn Chinese, and unlock the marvel and wisdom within the Chinese culture and the Buddhist sutras (scriptures) translated by our lineage Masters!