Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Campfire Wood Preparation
Date: 30th November
Time: 3pm
Venue: SBM
You're supposed to just go there and help there to settle the campfire stuffs. Maybe chopping the woods and stuffs, just some rough matters. Girls, you can try tagging along and see what you can do about it, maybe picking up the woods and tie them into a bundle? Sorry guys, I won't be able to make it due to my commitment in work. I'm sorry !!
-wanlingx
Mogallana was here at 1:15 AM
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Countdown to Camp Ehi-Passiko Sequel '06: 10days!
So do remember to call your friends/ex-campers down and hand in your consent forms asap(:
Btw, there's a collection/sawing/nail-plucking/packing for the firewood on 30Nov&1Dec(Upcoming thursday&friday) Not sure about the time yet. However, should you be able to come down to help, it would be most appreciated(:
lurrves,evelyn<3
Mogallana was here at 12:08 AM
Sunday, November 19, 2006
This is another challenging camp. Each camp organised really requires a lot of sweat and brain juices from each and every one of us. No matter wad role you are playing in the camp, everyone is just as impt as anyone else. I do not believe that a machine can operate with just the system program itself, within the small srews, it'll not be standing as a piece. Similarly, without any single one of you, the camp will not be a possible thing!
Do press on and work hard for the camp. Whenever you are so tired from doing Dhamma work and being asking yourself y are you doing so much, why are you tiring out yourself like this.Tell yourself this: Nothing can be more joyous than spreading the Dhamma to others, nothing can be more fruitful than seeing other pple benefit from what is good and what you benefitted from.
Therefore, inviting more pple to the camp, to the youth group is a practice of Generosity, you are basically sharing the good, not being selfish in safeguarding the Dhamma for your own benefit. Bring pple to the group and to the camp with this intention and I promise you that you will experience 10x the joy.
The camp is only 18 DAYS AWAY!!! At this point of time, I need to make this last call to all: All SBMYians Pls bring at least 1 friend with you to the camp. (I'll be bringing my cousins) This is our 10th Anniversary, let's give ourselves a BIG present! Let's be an inspiration to the Buddhist Society Club of Manjusri Secondary, so that they will aspire to do a Youth Buddhist Camp.
Let's impress the the teachers, parents and principal of Manjusri Secondary that a group our youths can actually do such a good job in running a Buddhist Camp. Let's dispel the boring image that pple hold of Buddhists and show everyone that Buddhists can be FUN too! All this will in turn arouse interest amongst pple to find out more abt our group and from there we can then introduce the religion to them.
Message from Camp Mistress (Kaiyi) of Camp Ehi Passiko 2006 Sequel
[Extracted] from Forum :)
-wanlingx
Mogallana was here at 11:06 PM
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Mogallana's Supernatural Powers - Communication with the Buddha
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Mogallana had the divine powers to hear any sounds, whether near or far, and to see things through obstructions. He could also travel to any place he liked in an instant. Many a time he used his miraculous powers to help Buddha in His propagation of Dharma.
Once, the people of Sravasti gave a banquet to make offering to the monks and nuns of many religions. Mogallana was the first guest to arrive at the banquet which was held at a big square opposite a river.
Soon, many heretics also came for the offerings and they hoped to get the best seat first. Unexpectedly, the river suddenly rose and they had difficulty on crossing it. Just then, Mogallana saw Buddha and His disciples approaching from far. He therefore transformed into a bridge decorated with gems across the river and awaited Buddha's arrival.
Upon seeing the bridge, the heretics were delighted and they rushed across the bridge. However, before they could reach the other side of the river, the bridge collapsed suddenly. As a result, they fell into the river, all yelling for help.
The bridge reappeared across the river when Buddha arrived. Walking across the bridge with His disciples, Buddha saw the heretics struggling in the river. The compassionate Buddha immediately saved the heretics through His supernatural power and then allowed them to follow Him. Once they reached the other side of the river, safe and sound, the bridge vanished in the air.
This incident had led the heretics to the conclusion that they could not stand comparison with the Buddha and His disciples.
Once Mogallana and Sariputra were assigned to lead the Sangha and to propagate the Dharma at Karanda-venuvana in Rajagrha. Both of them stayed in the same meditation room.
Once night, all was quiet and there was only a lamp glimmering in the meditation room. In the depth of night, Sariputra broke the silence and asked Mogallana:" Venerable Mogallana, pardon my asking a blunt question, but have you been meditating on one pointedness tonight?"
"Why did you ask this?" Mogallana asked softy in reply.
"Because I have not heard you breathe for quite some time," explained Sariputra.
"Venerable Sariputra, I have gone to seek Buddha's instruction on a question on the meditation practice. During the silence just now, I was actually talking to the Buddha."
"How could it be? Lord Buddha is now in Jetavana in the north and we are staying at Karandu-venuvana in the south. The two places are a long way away from each other. How could you possibly talk to the Buddha?"
"Venerable Sariputra, the Buddha has divine vision and hearing which both of us have also attained. That is why we can always communicate with each other no matter where we are."
As a matter of fact, Sariputra had known this already, but he always maintained his modesty.
After hearing Mogallana's words, he was very pleased and said in admiration, "Venerable Mogallana, it's the highest honour that I can learn with you under the same teacher because your supernatural powers and virtues are so great."
Mogallana replied smilingly, "Venerable Sariputra, I, too, feel greatly honoured for being able to associate with a wise and virtuous venerable like you."
Sariputra and Mogallana respected and admired each other and their friendship had never faded.
Signed By hungry
Mogallana was here at 1:00 PM
Sharing Session by Venerable Sumana
Date: 18th November
Time: 2pm
Venue: SBM
GLs!
If you have receive a call from Kaiyi, please remember to turn up for the GLs' training after the Sharing Session. Please try to come for the training. :)
Games Team!
There'll be a meeting tomorrow at SBM. The people who are in the Games' team please help out in the planning. More brains, more helps!
Date: 15th November (Wed)
Time: 6pm
Venue: SBM
We shall have a outing this holiday! Let's have a few outing ! Hmmm, please give some suggestions!! :))
-wanlingx
Mogallana was here at 12:28 AM
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Maha Mogalana -Pre-eminent In Supernatural Powers
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The statue of Buddha that we see in any Buddhist temple today is normally accompanied by the statues of His two great disciples. The one standing at the left side of Buddha's statue is Maha Mogallan while the one at the right side is Ananda. However this was not the situation when Buddha began propagating Dharma. Not long after Buddha attained enlightenment, Sariputra and Mogallana entered the Sangha and became His attendants. Mogallana always stood on Buddha's left while Sariputra stood on His right.
After becoming Buddha's disciples, Sariputra attained liberation from bondage and reincarnation within two weeks while Mogallana did it in seven days and was already an Arhat with supernatural powers.
Mogallana was very optimistic and brave and he always took up the cudgels for justice. In addition, he was pre-eminent above all Buddha's disciples in terms of supernatural powers as he always utilized his powers during Dharma propagation. Though Buddha disallowed His disciples to reveal their divine power and delude others, He always praised Mogallana for his supernatural powers.
Mogallana's Past Life - Vow to Attain Supernatural Powers
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If we want to know how Mogallana achieved his supernatural powers, we have to trace back to his past life.
He was actually a fisherman in his previous life. Later he realised that earning his livelihood by catching fish was a karma of great suffering. He also felt that one must cultivate merits for a better future life; therefore, he decided to change his line. Then one day, he met a Pratyeka-buddha and was impressed with his dignified manner. With reverence, he invited the Pratyeka-buddha to his house to receive offerings. As the Pratyeka-buddha was not good in preaching, he could only use his divine powers to save the world. After his meal, he jumped into the air and moved freely in all directions. Mogallana was so impressed that he vowed to attain supernatural powers in his next life.
Where there's a will there's a way. Hence, Mogallana finally achieved pre-eminence in supernatural powers during his next life when he was Buddha's disciple.
Signed by Hungry goose...( ghost)
Mogallana was here at 4:34 PM
" Health is the greatest gain,
Contentment is the greatest wealth,
A trusted friend is the best relative,
Nirvana is the highest happiness"
- By The Buddha
Signed by: Hungry Goose ( Hungry Ghost)
Mogallana was here at 4:10 PM
Monday, November 06, 2006
Guys!
You saw what Raymond Tham had written on the blog? Join us and make our blog a learning place for everyone. No matter in the dharma, about your daily life or the things you needed help in, just write in and we'll all help you. =D Those who still do not have the password and username, please kindly get it from me. =D I'll definitely be glad to share it with you guys. CHEERS!
Anyway remember to look below for this coming saturday's activites =D
-wanlingx
Mogallana was here at 11:28 PM
The 4 Nobles Truths ( No. 3a)
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The Buddha's realization of the END OF SUFFERING and His attainment of Nirvana at the age of 35, crowned his search for the Truth with success. For 6 years, he had spread no effort to find a solution to the problem of suffering.. He had tried the principal methods of ending suffering and had found them inadequate. Eventually He found His own solution to the problems of life.
Confidence In The Buddha's Teaching
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Having realised the Truth through His own efforts, the BUddha offered it to all who were ready to listen.. There is an old story of a turtle and a fish.. The turtle lives on land as well as in the water while the fish lives only in the water.. One day, when the turtle had returned from a visit to the land, it told the fish of its experiences.. It explained that creatures living on land walked on solid ground.. However, the fish could not imagine a place where other fish did not live and where creatures walked rather than swam. The fish refused to believed that dry land really existed because that was something beyond its experience.. In the same way, we may not have experience the end of suffering, but it does not mean that the end of sufferings is not possible.. A patient must have confidence in an experienced doctor, otherwise he will never take the medicine that the doctor has prescribed for him and will not be cured of his sickness.. Similarly, pepole must have confidence in the Teaching of the Buddha (or your own religion) who has shown that the end of sufferings is really possible.
The End Of Suffering
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The end of suffering is the final goal of the Buddha's teaching.. It can be experienced by anyone here and now.. For example, when greed and anger arise in our minds, we experience unhappiness, and when thoughts of greed and anger cease, we become happy and peaceful.. To end sufferings completely, we must remove desire, ill will ?, and ignorance.. This is the Third Noble Truth, that is, the End Of Suffering..
Signed out by hungry ghost
Mogallana was here at 5:22 PM
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Dear guys!
Wencai will be having a meeting for the games organiser, whoever has ideas to add in for him, please meet them at SBM.
Date: 6th November (Monday)
Time: 7pm
Venue: SBM
Saturday Sharing
Date: 11th November
Time: 3pm
Venue: SBM
Check out our new SBM website!
http://www.sbmyouth.org/
Mogallana was here at 4:31 PM