ATTENTION!

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SESSION THIS EVENING. 

THE NEXT EVENT WILL BE A CHRISTMAS SOCIAL JOINTLY ORGANISED BY DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES. DO SIGN UP ON THE LINK GIVEN ON THE WEEKLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER. THANK YOU

ADVERTORIAL

FOR ALL WHO WANT TO GO TO BUDDHAPADIPA TEMPLE ON SUNDAY (25 Nov 2012) FOR KATHINA FESTIVAL, BE AT PUTNEY BRIDGE TUBE STATION (OUTSIDE THE GANTRY) AT 8.30AM

*** CALL ME, XIN, AT 07563265326 IF YOU CAN'T FIND US ***

ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN GET THERE YOURSELF.
 14 Calonne Road  London SW19 5HJ

CHEERS, HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

(P.S. please read the following documents on temple etiquettea before coming. )

http://www.buddhapadipa.org/files/2011/04/regs.pdf

Meditation or Dhyāna or Jhāna and BFoW #3

A sharing by Assaji, written by an attendee.

Meditation is usually misunderstood by many as a session to contemplate, to blank out or to bring oneself to a mental holiday. But the type of meditation, founded by the Buddha, or a state of vipassana is not a temporary solution to our daily stressful life. It is a method that brings us to a higher mental state which allows us to cope better with future problems. 

Two types of meditation

Samatha - usually associated with mindfulness. calmness. clearing your mind, focusing on the breath. most people regardless of religion usually practice this state of meditation

Vipassana - distinct(vi) observation(passana). It is encouraged to be practice together with Samatha. When one is in the state of vipassan, one is able to accept noise as noise and the changes to the environment or our body as the changes itself - being aware yet not disturbed or wavered by these changes. Soon, you will find how all these disturbances are impermanent and the state of peace during meditation can be brought out into our working life. People may be harsh on you but you will gain the ability to separate the content from the emotions, using the former to improve on yourself and ignoring the latter. 

Eventually, meditation will help to reach a point where the mind is free from the five hindrances — craving, aversion, sloth, agitation and doubt

Some people in the west tends to practice meditation without the understanding of the dhamma while some in the east perform rituals (check out buddhist fact of the week #3 below!) without much application of the dhamma to their life or having regular meditation. Both are not advised as they do not help with the improvement to our mental state. 

Below are a few types of meditation. 

- meditation on breath

- walking meditation

- mantra meditation

- metta meditation

    11 benefits to practicing Metta (loving kindness meditation:

             1.      You will sleep easily

             2.      You will wake easily

             3.      You will have pleasant dreams

             4.      People will love you

             5.      Devas (gods or angels) and animals will love you

             6.      Devas will protect you

             7.      External dangers, such as poisons, weapons, and fire, will not harm you

             8.      Your face will be radiant

             9.      Your mind will be serene

             10.  You will die unconfused

             11.  You will be re-born in happy realms

          (from Anguttara Nikaya 11.16)

          (from http://www.dhammawiki.com)

Quick sharing: I was at a bowling competition this weekend and i manage to make it to the semi-finals for the first time. It was very stressful as all eyes were down to the 2 competing trios team. Semi-final and finals were in the form of step-ladder, hence it was all down to one game each, adding more stress to every player. At that moment, I tried to practice mantra meditation. It was the most time-effective meditation in the noisy environment. I manage to cope with the mental stress and bowl my way into the finals, winning the highest game for female in the category I participate in. This goes to show that meditation can be a quick fix for our lives especially when we have so much emotions built up within ourselves that we can not handle it alone. Different meditation works differently with different people and under different situations.

So do take some time each week to try them all to find out what is best for you!

Buddhist Fact of the Week  #3

 Are you a victim of the Ten defilements that cause negativity in oneself?

1.       The Pali canon's Sutta Pitaka identifies ten "fetters of becoming"

2.       belief in a self (Pali: sakkāya-diṭṭhi)

3.       doubt or uncertainty, especially about the teachings (vicikicchā)

4.       attachment to rites and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmāso)

5.       sensual desire (kāmacchando)

6.       ill will (vyāpādo or byāpādo)

7.       lust for material existence, lust for material rebirth (rūparāgo)

8.       lust for immaterial existence, lust for rebirth in a formless realm (arūparāgo)

9.       conceit (māna)

10.   restlessness (uddhacca)

11.   ignorance (avijjā)

Another version of Ten defilements

1.       sensual lust (Pali: kāma-rāga)

2.       anger (paṭigha)

3.       conceit (māna)

4.       views (diṭṭhi)

5.       doubt (vicikicchā)

6.       attachment to rites and rituals (sīlabbata-parāmāsa)

7.       lust for existence (bhava-rāga)

8.       jealousy (issā)

9.       greed (macchariya)

10.   ignorance (avijjā).


Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

The Heart Sutra - Maha Prajñāpāramitā Sutra

Last week's session was really light hearted and full of laughter. Quite the opposite of what I expected as the Heart Sutra, or Maha Prajnāpāramitā Sutra, is the most concise yet the one of the most profound scripture one can come across. 

So much was covered within the hour, and I am sorry to say it is pretty impossible for me to summarize everything here. I tried jotting the points into my phone but they had unfortunately been accidentally deleted as I was clearing the files in my phone. So I won't be doing a summary here but only putting up some relevant documents we have discussed, an incentive for those have went for the session ;) 

Here is one thing I clearly remember from the session:

 In the heart sutra, it emphasizes greatly on compassion: compassion is the greatest gift one can have and give for all beings. 

The discussion was based on a book, which Natasha found on Amazon and it looks like this:

The discussion started off trying to unfold what 'maha' and 'prajna' meant. 

**CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TEXT ON THE 'MAHA' AND 'PRAJNA' FROM THE BOOK**

I cannot scan the entire book, so you can try Amazon if you are interested in purchasing the book. 

For the benefit of all, I have also uploaded a copy of Heart Sutra translated into English and given out to us during a similar session with Ch'an Meditation Group last year. Hope you will find it beneficial. 

**CLICK HERE TO VIEW The English translation of the Heart Sutra**

P.S.  Once again, I apologize for the absence of a proper summary. To prevent missing out on such a good discussion in the future, I do suggest all of you to come for the session actively. 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Talk #1 - How to apply Buddhism to our (school) life and Fun Fact #2

Dear all,

Sorry for the delay in session updates.
Last week, we had a talk on 'How to apply Buddhism to our (school) life'
We were honoured to have Ven. Ariyarathana from London Buddhist Vihara to share with us how can we lead a more wholesome life in a learning environment.

**CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SYNOPSIS OF THE TALK**

A point to note, Bhante (or Ven.) replied to a question regarding how to meet deadlines, especially when there is still much to do with the limited time. He mentioned that, when needed, we have to sacrifice our time in order to meet your target or yield desired results. Waking at 4.30am to work is a good way to coop with your piling work as dawn is the time your brain function best.

Some may find it surprising that Bhante had such a view point and feel that buddhism should be about taking better care of the body than to risk your health in exchange for academic grades. Personally, I am sure that you all know piling up your work to the last minute is never the best plan. But if you are stuck in this situation, plan to sacrifice your sleep now only when you know you have sufficient time to recuperate after your deadline. Also, you may try to practice short meditations after you wake up, before your meals, before you start working and before you turn in. Soon, you will find that you do not have to sleep for a full 8 hours to feel refresh.

This leads to Buddhist Fact of the week #2: Buddhist Monks usually have 4 to 5 hours of sleep each day, to have physical rest. It is their mediation sessions that keep them mentally refreshed throughout the day.

A session update for this week's heart sutra sharing will be up soon.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Buddhist Fact of the Week #1

The first lesson in all Sunday schools around the world introduces children to the Triple Gem (also known as "Three Jewels", "Three Treasures" or "Three Refuges")

A brief explanation of the Triple Gem

The triple gem consists of Buddha, Dhamma (Dharma), and Sangha.
It is the central focus of inspiration and devotion for Buddhists.

Buddha means 'Enlightened One' or 'Awakened One,' and is generally used to refer to the founder of Buddhism. There have been other Buddhas before him, however, and will be other Buddhas in the future. 

The word Dhamma (in Sanskrit, Dharma) is often used to refer to the Buddha's teachings, but it also means the eternal Truth which the teachings convey to us. Dhamma is threefold: the Dhamma that we study, that which we practice, and the Dhamma of Realization.

 Sangha literally means 'community' or 'assembly.' The word has two meanings in proper Buddhist usage: the community of disciples (whether ordained or not) who have gained Realization of any of the stages of Awakening; and the community of ordained disciples--bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns)

.Source: http://mettajon.tripod.com/

Temple visit to London Fo Guang Shan

On 27th October 2012, a few of us from Imperial College's Buddhist Society visited a Mahayana temple located a stone throw away from Oxford Street, which was Fo Guang Shan(FGS) temple. It was a fun-filled day with informative talks and fun games. Not only did all participants learn more about FGS, we were also given dhamma talk which complements with a meditation session in the temple.

London's Fo Guang Shan temple's entrance. FGS temple was once used as a church.

 

A statue near the entrance

  

The visit began at 9.30am where everyone was gathered at its library. We were shown a video on the history behind the founding of Fo Guang Shan temples all around the world. It was a concise and informative session where we were introduced to the organisation behind Fo Guang Shan (Buddhist Light International Association) and the work the temple has undertaken for the past year. The day could have started out as another boring day but it was not because light breakfast was served. I helped myself to a cup of tea and biscuit to kick start the long day.

 
 Watching a video on Fo Guang Shan

We were then led to the Main Shrine. The room itself was filled with peacefulness and tranquility that anyone who enters right through the door will be amazed by the three Buddha's statutes and the room's decoration.


 
The 3 Buddha statues in Main Shrine

 
 Buddha's pantings on the wall. Each painting is representing either North, South, East, West or Center.

 
Tools used for service. Brown "wooden fish" is on the left and a black "drum" is on the right


Preparation for service on Sunday.



Jue Ru Master began by welcoming us to the temple. She introduced us to a few important points about Mahayana Buddhism's etiquette and practice. To name one point she brought up, she taught us that visitors to a shrine usually enter through the two side doors. This cannot apply to FGS London because there are only two doors and one is usually used for entrance and another one leads to another smaller shrine. Jue Ru Master spoke in Mandarin but English translation was given by a member of the Youth Adult Division(YAD) called Roxy. Fluent in both Mandarin and English, she translated Jue Ru Master's words into English so that non-Mandarin listener could comprehend what was being delivered.

We were then split into two groups for a short temple tour: one in Mandarin while another in English. We visited the Avalokitesvara  Shrine which was adjacent to the Main Shrine.

 
Avalokitesvara has a prominent significance on Mahayana Buddhism. She is depicted as woman in this statue, but is said to be able to change into different forms.

We then visited another shrine and the meditation hall situated above of all the shrines. We also visited the cafe which is situated a floor below the library.

 

The meditation hall

We then gathered in the library again and a few member of staffs at the temple were asked to introduce themselves. After that, visitors were asked to introduce themselves as well. Visitors came from all walks of life. There were roughly the same number of students and working adults. They were many interesting stories on how others were attracted to Buddhism. Some even learnt about Buddhism through meditation retreat!

And.... it's lunch time! Before we began our lunch, a short blessing recital was recited to thank those who have prepared the food. We were served with delicious fried bee hoon(rice vermicelli), vegetable curry, spring roll and assorted vegetables. Being a non-vegetarian, I think the food was delicious even without the usual meat I would have. The scrumptious meal was prepared by volunteers. The asian taste and delicacies really made me feel at home.

After the hearty lunch, walking meditation ensued. We were led to walk around the meditation hall for around 20 minutes where we walked and swung our hands. This practice, usually done after a meal, helps to circulate our blood to all parts of our body to prevent drowsiness.

And then, there was ice-breaking games. The first game was interesting. We sat in a big circle. Each person had to say his/her own name and the names of the persons before them. For the second game, we were divided into two groups and played charades. That was not the typical charades but was rather difficult because the words given can be as hard as "running out of toilet roll". The third game was the most memorable one. Each team will send 6 representatives who will each write one letter, forming the word "Buddha". The representative had to do so in blindfolded. Then, a person from each team will guide the representative to write the word. Team with the best writing won.

After much laughter from the ice-breaking games, we were given a talk by Helen Mi. She has immense experience in giving dhamma talk. She gives talk on every Sunday at 3.30pm. Her topic was "Busy, Blind and Bewilderment". Her topic relates to how our lives are full of activities, which is associated with "Busy". Our lives can also be "Blind" because we do not know the truth. Finally, our lives are can also be described as "Bewilderment" which tells us that we may know we are not practicing the right lifestyle, but has not repented. She spoke in Mandarin but non-Mandarin speaker listened to Roxy's translation to English using walkies-talkie.

 

Helen Mi, standing at the far right and wearing a yellow vest, answering questions

The temple visit was not close to the end yet. We were brought up to the meditation hall where Jue Ru Master led the meditation session. She taught us how to perform exercise before meditation and its importance. We then meditated for around 10 minutes because time was running out. It was about 5pm when we ended our meditation.

 
 Waiting for Jue Ru Master before starting the meditation session

Lastly, we gathered at library for a final Q&A session with Jue Ru Master


Jue Ru Master answering questions from visitors. Note the number of books in the library.

The temple visit officially ended at 6pm. It was a long day starting from 9.30am but the visit was made better by the hospitality shown by all member of staffs and volunteers. I felt that I learnt a lot from the visit. No doubt I will be coming back to FGS again in the future because they have so much to offer - from warm hospitality to knowledge in Buddhism.

Thank you all for reading! =)

By: Siew, Ming Jin

**Most photos are owned by Adrian Lin.**

Ming Jin is the typical teenager who is attracted to Buddhism's philosophy for its teaching which brings happiness to him. He is currently a second year student of Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London. He enjoys visiting temples around London, joining meditation sessions and attending dhamma talks. He can be contacted via mingjin[DOT]siew11[AT]imperial[DOT]ac[DOT]uk