Bite-sized Dharma on the go!
Public Service Announcements:
We are moving to a new web hosting company, so in the event that something breaks during migration … … don’t fret, we’ll be right back. 🙂
Update: We seem to have made it! 🙂 … If the colors seem off, let me know. The style sheets on this new location seem to be stubborn! 😉
It’s official – Digital Buddha Vacana is now available on Facebook.
So facebook users can have a Dharma verse while they “throw a sheep” at their friend or “poke” at them! 😉
A brief on the chain of events leading to my ‘escape’ from Myanmar.
9th July – Arrived in Yangon, Myanmar. Travelled to Chanmyay Yeiktha Hmawbhi and registered for meditation retreat.
12th July – Started Formal Meditation Retreat.
30th July – Started Rains Retreat.
August – Happily Meditating and observing the rains.
September – Still Happily Meditating and observing the rains. Sometimes it rains for three whole days … geez.
27th September – 10am: Received call from my family and told that there was protest in Yangon and it’s unsafe to stay in Myanmar. Sayadaw in centre assures that it is not serious and is safe.
28th September – 12pm: Received 2nd call and told that there were casualties and should evacuate. Called the Singapore Embassy in Yangon and was advised by Mr. Sim Siong Chye, the Embassy’s 1st Secretary, to evacuate the same day to the embassy if possible
– 2pm: Took leave from the Chanmyay Sayadaw and left via the centre’s transport.
– Late afternoon 5pm: Arrived at the Singapore Embassy and was received by Mr. Sim.
– 9+pm: Internet access had been severed. Contacted sister in Singapore to reschedule the return flight to 30th September 10:35am flight.
29th September – 8:40am: Left for the airport under escort by Mr. Sim in an Embassy vehicle.
– 9:30am: Arrived at the airport and began check-in procedures at the JetStar counter. Waited for awhile as their internet access is also down and they could not confirm our new schedule. They only had a piece of name list at the counter. Finally at 10:10am, the counter staffs somehow confirmed our seats.
– 10:40+am: Jetstar flight took off for Singapore.
– 3:00pm (SIN): Arrived safely in Singapore.
1st October – Back in KMSPKS.
FOOTNOTE:
In all, I didn’t really witness any action or violence, though there was visible tension when we neared Yangon. The usual busy streets were reduced to a trickle of cars while the tea houses that commonly line the background were mostly closed.
Except for some stares, the time at the airport was mostly normal, though somewhat confusing as there weren’t visible attempts by the Jetstar staffs to help verify our e-tickets. With the internet access severed, we understand that it would be back to manual confirmation, but given the tense situation, a bit more of an effort would have been
appreciated.
Special Thanks to Mr. Sim and Mr. Kenneth Kwah for their assistance in arranging for our admission and lodging at their apartments in the Embassy, and arranging for the flight back to Singapore. Thank you!
Last but not least, kudos to the two Sayadaws who escorted us to the Embassy, at possible risk to themselves. I am still puzzled why they didn’t seem to be concerned at all that they would be mistaken for protesters and duly dealt with. Oh well. I am always indebted to them anyway. Thank you!
Hello all,
Decided to write to let all know that I’m safe and sound in Singapore. Got ‘evacuated’ back on Saturday and am now back in KMSPKS.
I’m back, but not quite back as I’m resuming my rains retreat in Singapore, either in KMSPKS or some vihara. Will be totally back by end October. 🙂
Till then, take care!
Oh yes … it’s that time of the year, for the annual Rains Retreat!
So, I’m off tomorrow to Myanmar for three months at Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre (Hmawbi, pronounced “Mobi”). For those of you who wish to contact me … short of making a trip to Myanmar, you can’t.
Feel free to send me your thoughts and questions but please have patience to wait for the replies as I won’t be checking anything there! 😉
As always, meditate. Meditate. Meditate!
Be well.
Dear friends,
I had lunch with Ven. Dhammika yesterday at BDMS, and he asked if I know of any web wizards who can help him come up with some web page for him. It’s basically a web page/site comprising a map of the sacred Buddhist sites in India. All content and pictures are ready, waiting to be pieced together by the volunteer-to-be.
The candidate(s) should be:
and be expected to:
So if you’ve got what it takes and are in Singapore, contact me via the comments today!
PS: Screening of suitable volunteers last till 7th July, 2007.