*w*s*d*p

weekly personal and spiritual development activities supporting young adults

organized by the Youth Ministry at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

 

August 2006

03 Thur                                                      

Living Happily Despite Life’s Challenges

Talk and Q&A session by Brother Sebastian

 

The Buddha taught that the person whose mind remains unshaken in the face of life’s changes (praise & blame, fame & ill-fame, happiness & unhappiness, profit & loss) is indeed blessed.  How are lay Buddhists to understand this teaching and how can we achieve this ability to rise above life’s challenges so that we can remain sane in this stressful world? These and other answers on how the practice of Buddhism and Buddhist meditation in particular, can help us live a stress free life will be addressed.

 

10 Thur

Of Ghosts & Other Unseen Beings: The Buddhist Perspective of the Supernatural

Sharing session with Brother Shi An

 

Confused about the upcoming "Hungry Ghost Festival"? How much of it is true Buddhist belief and practice? Puzzled by the differences between wandering spirits, hungry ghosts and hell beings? Are they real? Do "ghosts" wander our world on annual monthly holidays? Can they communicate with "Ghost Whisperers"? Do you know that Buddhism has probably the most thorough yet compassionate outlook on the nature of unseen beings? Be you a skeptic or not into the supernatural, do join us - for an interactive session to demystify the "invisible" dimension. True spine-chilling ghost stories included!

 

17 Thur

Why Buddhism For Me, Born in the West?

Sharing session with Karen Dorton

 

Karen will share with you how and why she has been a practising Buddhist for almost 3 years. She wants to share particularly what has influenced her; active participation in various temple and volunteer activities; reading the Dharma and the Buddhist teachings which have been the most meaningful for her. Karen feels we never stop learning from each other and she hopes that this will be very much a sharing evening.

  

24 Thur

Life Lessons from Dying Patients

Talk and Q&A session by Dr. Tan Yew Seng

 

Many people only start to reflect on their lives and the way they live when they are dying.  Some may eventually grasp what is really "meaningful" and make the necessary changes in life goals and lifestyle towards a "good death".  Others may however remain in a state of persistent regret or distress. This interactive session will incorporate the use of video clips to discuss about the concept of "good death", and the lessons it holds for the living.

31 Thur                        

The Buddha in the Office

Talk and Q&A session by Kweh Soon Han

 

The Office is a microcosm of the world in which we work and live in. For many of us, our lives are centered on our work. Conflicts commonly arise from working alongside colleagues and the dreaded office politics make our work more stressful than those relentless deadlines. How do Buddhists handle all these? The speaker will draw on Buddhist principles and his personal experiences in this interactive session, inviting everyone to come together to share his/her experiences and solutions. Together, we can transform the hotbed of ugly office politics and nasty bosses and colleagues into an enriching and fulfilling experience for practising the Dharma.

 

5, 12, 19, 26  Sat                 2.00pm to 4.30pm      

Heart of the Heart Sutra Workshop

Y_Cultivation with Venerable Zhi Xing

 

The Heart Sutra is commonly recited in temples and monasteries, but what is embodied in this sutra? How do we translate the teachings into a language we can understand and practice it in our daily lives? The sutra will be introduced in this four-part workshop. Each session covers recitation of the Heart Sutra, teachings and explanations, applications in daily life and meditation.


Venue   

All sessions are at Awareness Place [Well Being] Level 3, #03-39

Blk 231 Bain Street, Bras Basah Complex (Near City Hall & Bugis MRT stations)

 

Time            

7.30pm – 9.30pm

 

Register

Email  wsdp@kmspks.org or tel  (65) 6849 5346 or (65) 9765 4322 (Cell)

 

 

About the Speakers / Facilitators 

Bro. Sebastian started his research into the Buddhist teachings since 1971 in an attempt to answer the question “Why Buddhists worship idols?” As part of his search, he had the good kamma to encounter the meditation teachings of Phra Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, a student of the renowned Phra Ajaan Mun. He later studied under his teacher, Phra Ajaan Fuang Jotiko and is presently receiving instructions from Phra Ajaan Thanissaro.  He is currently the President of Palelai Buddhist Temple’s management committee. He gives introductory meditation courses in Palelai and meditation instructions to student Buddhist societies and other Buddhist temples.

 

Shen Shian was one of the founding members of the Dharma Propagation Division of Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in 1997. He was the editor/writer of the "Awaken: Gateway to Buddhism" CD-ROM, "Be a Lamp Upon Yourself" and "The Daily Enlightenment Book I (Jan-Dec)". He is the founder and editor of TheDailyEnlightenment.com, a Singapore-based Buddhist portal and e-newsletter. Currently, he heads the temple's web department, which also co-supports Buddhanet.net. He is also a feature writer for BuddhistChannel.tv and runs http://www.moonpointer.com/, a Buddhist blog community which hopes to promote writing as part of spiritual practice.

 

Karen Dorton was born in England. She came to live and work in Singapore in 1998. She teaches Economics and Business at a Singapore school. Karen is divorced and has 2 daughters, one who is married and lives in England and the other who is a student and lives in Singapore. Karen started practising Buddhism in 2003 and took the Three Refuge and Five Precepts in September 2004. She tries to do volunteer work whenever possible, with Buddhists and the elderly poor.

 

Dr Tan Yew Seng is currently the Acting Medical Director of Assisi Home and Hospice. He is trained as a family physician and with additional interests in geriatric medicine and psychotherapy.  He is also a clinical advisor to Shan You Counselling Centre.

 

Kweh Soon Han is a lawyer by profession and runs his own small law practice. He sits in a number of charitable and grassroots organisations. He is the immediate Past President of the Buddhist Fellowship, Patron to the Wat Ananda Youth Circle and the Nanyang Polytechnic Buddhist Society, Deputy Chairman of the Dharma Propagation Division, Singapore Buddhist Federation. He sits as a Council Member of the Singapore Human Resources Institute and the Singapore Professional and Executives Co-operatives. At the NUS, he is non-resident Fellow of the Temasek Hall's Senior Common Room Committee.

 

Venerable Zhi Xing was born in Singapore and graduated from NTU Computer Engineering in 1997. After attending a meditation retreat in Fa Yun Monastery, Venerable Zhi Xing decided to renounce in 2002. He stayed and studied Mahayana Buddhism in Fa Yun Monastery at New Mexico, United States for more than 3 years and received the higher ordination becoming a fully ordained monk (Bhikkhu) in 2003. He is currently residing in Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.

 

 

If you wish others to know about your good deeds,
 they are not truly good deeds.
If you fear others will find out about your bad deeds,
 those are truly bad deeds
.
- Master Hsuan Hua

 

www.TheDailyEnlightenment.com

 

 

Youth Ministry Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

 

aims to make a positive difference in the lives of young adults by supporting your career aspirations and spiritual growths in a relevant and practical way. Staffed by a team of young professionals, the Youth Ministry offers you effective ways to get in touch with Buddhism. Contact us if you wish to find out more about Buddhism, attend our activities, volunteer, initiate a project, or just make a difference. Don’t hesitate!

 

|  6849 5346  |  youth@kmspks.org  |  www.kmspks.org/youth  |

 

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