PDF 4th COHORT GRADUATES' STUDY TRIP TO CHINA BUDDHIST COLLEGE OF ...

4th COHORT GRADUATES' STUDY TRIP TO CHINA

BUDDHIST COLLEGE OF SINGAPORE

The 4th Cohort of BCS English BA and Chinese BA graduates embarked on a study trip to China for 9 days from 22-30 June 2017 in order to strengthen dharmic friendship amongst Mahayana Buddhist colleges and visit the founding temples of Chinese Buddhism. This overseas study trip comprised a delegation of 30 people led by Rector Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng. The delegation visited the State Administration for Religious Affairs of P.R.C. (ARAP) in Beijing on 22 June and was warmly received by ARAP's Deputy Director-General Zhang Yantong, Deputy Director of Department Xue Shuqi, and Directors of Division Xue Hui and Wang Lei. After visiting Ling Guang Temple and Fa Yuan Temple on 23 June, the delegation visited Long Quan Temple the following day and was warmly welcomed by Venerable Xue Cheng, President of the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) and Abbot of Long Quan Temple, Deputy Secretary Venerable Pu Zheng, Director of Education Department Venerable Yuan Ci and the temple's monastics. In the final leg of the trip from 26 to 29 June, the delegation stayed in Xi'an and visited Da Ci En Temple,

the founding temple of the Chinese Yogacara school, where Venerable Dao Hong, the Venerable-In-Charge, led the delegation on a tour of Da Yan Pagoda and Venerable Xuan Zang Memorial Hall. They also visited Cao Tang Temple (the founding temple of the Three Sastra School), Xiang Ji Temple (the founding temple of the Pure Land School), Jing Ye Temple (the founding temple of the Discipline School), Hua Yan Temple, (the founding temple of the Avatamsaka School), Great Xing Shan Temple (the founding temple of the Chinese Esoteric School), Xing Jiao Temple where a San Zang Pagoda stands, and finally the world famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Qin Dynasty.

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TAI PEI BUDDHIST CENTRE

Ullambana

September 2017, 9.30am-5pm. Mid-Autumn Festival

BUDDNHeIwST s

from 7-8 October 2017. Throughout the two days, there will be puja conducted to bring one healing and peace. For details, please visit .

BUDDHIST FELLOWSHIP

Anapanasati Meditation Retreat

Ullambana is a transliteration of the Sanskrit word meaning "deliverance from suffering", and specifically refers to the salvation of anguished souls and to obtain liberation. The Ullambana Sutra is a Mahayana sutra given by the Gautama Buddha on the practice of filial piety. TPBC held an Ullambana Sutra Dharma Assembly on 27 August 2017, 10am. Shurangama Sutra

TPBC is organisng a seminar on the Shurangama Sutra from 26-29 October 2017, 9am-5pm. For more information and registration, please visit .sg. KWAN YIN CHAN LIN ZEN

MEDITATION CENTRE Repentance Chanting Ceremony

There will be a Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration held from 30 September to 4 October 2017 at LSSLM, 6.30-10pm. For details, visit shuanglin.sg.

Palelai Buddhist Temple Devo Day

PBT will be holding a prayer session on 6 October 2017, 9am commemorating the Lord Buddha's descent from Tavatimsa Heaven after preaching the Abhidhamma to his mother as a mark of gratitude. For more information, please call 6443 3324.

KARMA KAGYUD BUDDHIST CENTRE New Building Grand Opening

KYCL held a Di Zang Repentance Chanting Ceremony from 1-5 September 2017 for the deceased. This ceremony was led by Venerable Chi Boon where the Emperor Liang Repentance Chant took 4 entire days to complete.

LIAN SHAN SHUANG LIN MONASTERY

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

The new building of Karma Kagyud will be officially opened on 8 October 2017 by His Holiness The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaya Dorje. Starting 2 October 2017, KKBC will commence a series of programmes such as the Offering of Mandala, Body, Speech and Mind, Mahakala Puja, Dharma Teaching and Public Blessing Ceremony to celebrate the new building's opening till 10 October. For more details, please visit karma-.sg.

AMITABHA BUDDHIST CENTRE

Medicine Buddha Healing

LSSLM held a Dharma Assembly to celebrate the birthday of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva with the recitation of the

Ksitigarbha Pranidhana Sutra on 16

The Medicine Buddha Healing Festival is organised by ABC and it will be held

BF will be holding a Anapanasati Meditation Retreat with Ajahn Kai Zhao on 21-22 October 2017, 9am-5pm at BF East and this retreat is suitable for all levels of practitioners. For more information and registration, please visit .

FO GUANG SHAN SINGAPORE

Water and Land Dharma

FGS has commenced registration for the Water and Land Dharma Service Youth Voluntary Trip @ Taiwan 2017 from 18 November ? 2 December 2017. The objectives are to enhance and deepen the learning of Humanistic Buddhism and also encourage self-discipline and independence. Do note that an interview is required. For more information, please contact Venerable Zhi Hai (6411 0590) or register online at TWtrip17.

BUDDHIST LIBRARY Kathina Robes Offering

Robes offering is an important annual event in the Buddhist tradition where lay devotees show their appreciation and gratitude to the Sangha by offering robes and books. Robes and books are available for offering now at the BL and the actual ceremony will take place on 22 October 2017, 7pm. For more information and registration, please visit .sg.

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2017 ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL

SANGHA DAY / BUDDHA'S JOYFUL DAY

For this year's Ullambana Festival, the People's Buddhism Study Society (PBSS) held a series of Dharma assemblies and prayer sessions, "Avatamska Sutra Puja" from 5-10 September 2017. The Puja was led by the Sangha from the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, truly reflecting the essence of the Ullambana Festival which is also known as the Sangha Day or the Buddha's Joyful Day. Historically, this is the day when the Sangha community had completed their summer retreat and the laity would make offerings to them. Hence, the origin and meaning of Ullambana, and the making of offerings to the Sangha through the Ullambana Sangha Offering Ceremony is for Buddhist laity to offer a meal to the Buddha and the Sangha as an act of reverence. And through this act of reverence by supporting the Sangha, it reflects one's virtuous deed of upholding the Buddha's teaching of filial piety. In addition, this is a very meaningful and meritorious act as it allows the Sangha to practise without obstructions and to cultivate merits for the living and their ancestors. 54

According to the Ullambana Sutra, when Maudgalyayana, the Chief Disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha, was unable to alleviate the suffering of his mother in the realm of the hungry ghosts, the World-Honored One told him that the only way to for his mother to have deliverance from the pain of suffering is to rely upon the strength of the monastics of all directions in their cultivation of meritorious virtues. The Buddha then instructed his disciples to dedicate an elaborate offering of food and fruits to all Sangha members in the name(s) of his parents from the past seven lifetimes as well as the present lifetime.

This practice of Sangha offering to all Sangha members in the name(s) of one's past and present parents, has the power to

transform and deliver all sentient beings. Thus, many Buddhists till today take the opportunity during the Ullambana Dharma

assemblies to join in the Sangha's chanting to dedicate blessings to the living and merits to the departed as in the sutra it says:

"If one thus makes offerings to these Provarana Sangha, one's present father and mother, parents of seven generations, as well as

the six kinds of close relatives, will escape from the three paths of sufferings. And at that time attain release. Their clothing and

food will spontaneously appear. If the parents are still alive, they will have wealth and blessings for a hundred years. Parents of

seven generations will be born in the heavens. Transformationally born, they will independently enter the celestial flower light,

and experience limitless bliss."

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS:

The Buddha also told all the good men and good women to

The Ullambana Sutra

repay their parents' kindness in the sutra: "Those disciples of

the Buddha who cultivate filial conduct should in thought after

thought, constantly recall their present fathers and mothers when

making offerings, as well as the fathers and mothers of seven

lives past. And every year, on the fifteenth day of the seventh

month, they should always, out of filial compassion, recall their

parents who bore them and those of seven lives past, and for their

sakes perform the offering of the Ullambana basin to the Buddha

and the Sangha and thus repay the loving kindness of the parents

who raised and nourished them. All Buddhas' disciples should

respectfully receive this dharma."

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GREEN AND HEALTHY FESTIVAL 2017

KAMPUNG SENANG AND VEGETARIAN SOCIETY

The Green and Healthy Festival 2017 with the theme, "Towards a Harmonious One Earth Home" was organised by Kampung Senang and supported by Vegetarian Society (Singapore), as well as co-working NGOs such as INLA, Tzu Chi, Universal and various volunteers. This 2-day festival was held from 19-20 August 2017 at the Singapore Expo with an estimated turnout of 10,000 visitors. The Festival was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Edwin Tong and invited guests, sponsors, speakers, regional experts, leading chefs and authors who also gave insights during the educational talks and activities. The highlights included a convergence of more than 60 stalls of vegan and vegetarian food, farmers' market as well as exhibitors that featured wellness services and products on top of the festival sharing sessions, yoga, music performances and sustainability talks. What drew a crowd, especially the attention of the younger families were the child-friendly activities and space; Kids EcoCalligraphy and Children's Nature Play Area. Attendess were treated to a myraid of healthy food information, products and services to enhance eco-conscious lifestyle changes such as starting the week with "Green and Healthy Monday" pledge where on Mondays, one switches the meat, dairy and eggs in the meals to plant-based foods like tofu and soya milk to reduce environmental impact, improve wellbeing, and of course, be kinder to animals! To support this social movement that promotes green and healthy living, there were also sustainability talks as well as sharings by invited guests such as Dr. Omalpe Sobhita who gave a talk on the reasons why embracing vegetarianism can help to reduce animal killing and suffering. For more on Dr. Omalpe's speech, please check out pages 58-59 for an extract of his speech on 19 August 2017.

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