Urban Retreat 2014 Feb
Join us for a retreat!
Rest your mind and body!
Email sem@kmspks.org or call 68495300 for enquiry.
Registration info http://www.kmspks.org/events/featured/rejuvenate-your-mind-and-body-2/
FAQ: Eight Precepts
1) Drinks such as milo considered liquid is allowed after noon? What are the beverages allowable or only plain water allowed?
Milo while liquid is a food drink. It is allowed if one requires medication etc. Plain water and non food drinks are allowed, eg tea, coffee etc. In some traditions, coffee and tea are respectively forbidden for various reasons but not due to this rule.
Fruit juice without pulp is allowed. Avoid sweetened drinks as it causes the stomach to be more acidic.
Lime juice is excellent and surprisingly does not cause churning.
2) Wearing of watches considered jewellery ? If not wearing but putting in bag ok for reference of time?
Wearing of watches for time keeping is generally not an issue unless it is more ornamental in design. If one has a mobile phone, keep it in flight mode for retreats and you can use it as a time keeper.
3) Will watching of internet blogs or facebook considered breaching the Entertainment precept?
It depends on the nature of the articles or materials that one view. Many blogs are very informative and youtube has a huge selection of academic videos. If one is in a 8 precepts retreat, then one should refrain from all these altogether. But as a lay person observing the 8 precepts on various days in a month, it is ok to browse blogs and facebook for information etc.
4) Are general hotel or hostel single beds considered high beds?
Hotel beds are usually quite posh. Some would put the blankets on the floor to sleep. Hostel beds are usually quite spartan in design and so are mostly ok unless layers of mattresses, comforters and quilts are piled on with the air-con blasting … then it defeats the whole point! haha
5) Can face or body moisturers or lip gross or sunblock lotion be applied if it is non fragrant (no perfume)?
Moisturisers, lip balm and sun-block lotion are allowed as they serve to protect the body and not to embellish it. The mild fragrant some of these contain is not an issue as long as the purpose of application is not for relishing in such scent!
6) Any good weblink to reference to share with other friends who are also unsure of the 8 precepts adherence?
Simple Year End Reflection
As 2013 draws to a close, some of us may clearing their last quarter accounts for their work while others are wrapping up the year with some sale grabs. For those who are working today, thank you for working to bring the rest of us life’s simple conveniences so that we may cross over to the next year with ease.
While the western calendar year end and New Year is not celebrated with as much festive fanfare as the Chinese New Year, in a way, it marks the closing of a chapter. As the year draws to an end, take a deep breath and really let it fill your very being. See how much you can take in and just hold it there for a moment. And then let it out. Let the breath out. Feel it. Go ahead.
We survived 2013.
For some of us, we experienced the joy of a new born in our family, for others the challenge of a new job, and yet for some it is the doldrums of every day life. Together, we all saw several events that awed and shook the
world. From the meteors over Russia, to the resignation of Pope Benedict and election of Pope Francis who champions frugality; from the Snowden leaks to the haze that brought Singapore into a frenzy for N95 (not the phone!); from several freakish once-in-50-years torrential rains to breakdowns in MRT lines … … what a year!
We were devastated by nature through the typhoon “Haiyan” that hit our brothers and sisters in Philippines and Vietnam even as China conquers it by launching and landing on the moon in December, their Chang’e 3 (嫦娥三号) robotic lander spacecraft and Yutu (玉兔, Jade Rabbit) lunar rover.
Some of us lost our loved ones, others welcomed new ones into their fold. Not all of these appear in the news, but all these matter to us nonetheless. I’ve been privileged to be present with some of you, to accompany you through those tough moments, and I want all of you to know that we are here for you.
2013 was also especially tough for some of us who may have suffered injustice or hurt. Regardless of how much hardship or wrong we have experienced, let us try and find forgiveness for those who may have harmed or hurt us, intentionally or unintentionally. For forgiveness removes the weight in our heart and frees us from the burden of grudge.
The other burden is that of guilt. Maybe we are the one at fault, then apologise and make peace. Sometimes it is not possible to do so, then start with coming clean with a family member, a close friend or confidant, your spiritual teacher or guide, or whichever divinity your heart speaks to. Reflect on how our past actions are less than ideal or plain wrong and also consider how we acted in those ways given certain habits, mindsets and circumstances. We do this not to give ourselves excuses but to know deeply that we are capable of more than that.
We are capable of change.
Part of making peace with our past is really to make a firm resolve to change ourselves so that we don’t repeat those acts again. Instead of simply feeling guilt-stricken or remorseful to the point of depression, identify the factors that led to those deeds and resolve to first change one’s mindset, avoid those factors when not yet ready, then apply effort to not repeat those actions even when the circumstances present themselves again!
And lastly, look back at the achievements we have had this year. Reflect on the conditions and individuals who made it possible. Be thankful! Consider the very simple things in our life, and reflect on how our simple life is made possible through the inconveniences of many many others!
A grateful person is a happy person!
Wishing all good health and peace for the new year! Happy 2014! ^.^
Going, Going, … … Gone?
A fellow Buddhist posted a comment on my facebook page about the decline of Buddhism in Singapore.
I wrote some comments and it grew so long, I decided to share it here. haha 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/wakeupnow/posts/10152484859734008
Again, thanks for sharing about the decline of Buddhism in Singapore and your thoughts on it.
Many people echo your concerns and observations. I myself grew up with many Christian friends and had many wonderful friends and colleagues who were Christians. Even back then, it seems Christians are everywhere! The funny thing is that I was quite often mistaken for being a Christian!! haha … I believe it could partly be because of my group of friends but also due to my more outspoken nature and my slightly “gan-dang” (potato), which was back then quite atypical of Buddhists in general.
Much like society is not something other than us, Buddhism is not something out there apart from us Buddhists. Buddhism is us. If Buddhism is declining, it is because we are declining. If there is a perception that there are few Buddhists around, maybe it is because, for better or worse, we Buddhists do not stand up to be seen.
There has always been a stigma that if one let others know that we are Buddhists, then we would be sidelined at work. ha! There is nothing further to the truth than this! When I finished my studies and started work, I was pretty forthcoming about myself being a Buddhist. And interestingly, many of my colleagues came forward to ask about Buddhism and share with me that they are Buddhists too! 🙂
Buddhist parents also tell me that they let their children have the freedom to choose their own religion and so they don’t bring them to the temple to learn about Buddhism. That is like going to the voting booth and not know anything about who we are voting for! There is absolutely nothing wrong with having the freedom of choice. For that matter, one cannot be forced into Buddhism, for being a Buddhist is really about the conscious choice of choosing to living in a wholesome manner, filled with love and compassion, grounded in wisdom!
Buddhist parents have the responsibility to educate their children in the Dharma so that when they come of age to choose their religion for themselves, they can choose wisely!!
Today, many can be a Buddhist all their life and not know a thing about Buddhism. Buddhists need to know about the teachings of the Buddha and apply it in their life to benefit from being a Buddhist! If we experience the liberating joy of the Dharma, we will know it in our heart that the Truth that the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Arahants experienced and taught, is indeed the Truth! And no matter how many others give up the religion “Buddhism”, no one can take away or change the unshakable Truth.
Then all is ok. 🙂