A PRACTITIONER’S REFLECTION #19 @BW MONASTERY ～ GOLDEN MRD OFFERING THROWBACK S20Z142E

My Personal Take Away for T.H.I.S. Buddhist Film Festival 2018 Movie, “One Mind”

No electrical tools, just your hands and a parang (knife) to harvest the bamboo and a mallet to split the bamboo for use as fuel. No modern conveniences of gas, fans or air-conditioning.
The renunciates live in this remote sanctuary to look inwards and reflect on their inner self. A community where each individual has to do his part to cultivate their own food, gather their own fuel, prepare and cook their own food.
Such a simple but focused way of life, without the constant barrage of news pertaining to meaningless violence or conflict between races, religious groups or political parties; economic and human life losses due to climatic catastrophes caused by our unsustainable exploitation and pollution of the lands and seas.

The message: “Everything you need is in your alms bowl” resonates with me. Actually, we do not need much for sustenance, but we are spoilt for choice having the good fortune to be born in Singapore and often end up wasting a lot of time deliberating on food and leisure options.

The movie was presented without any background music, perhaps with much thought from the director who wants us to experience what is it really like without romanticising life in a monastery. But it does seem to me that the monks while they live far from society, may be closer to their humanity than any of us.

Penned by Sock Choo

* This is the 19th featured sharing in our launch of a new series: A Practitioner’s Reflection. Tiong Boon is the Monitor of our S15G027E class. He is joined by Sister Serena and Brother Samuel who are our Co-Monitors. The class also has two care co-ordinators who look into the welfare of the students and assist in administrative and logistic matters of the class.

From 2015-2017, we were well-taken care of by care co-ordinators： Jasmine and Angela. In 2018 we continue to have Angela who is joined by Nina as our care co-ordinator. Jasmine currently serves in another volunteer group of BW Monastery. Rejoice!

Starting from 4 June 2018, every Monday morning, we plan to publish a sharing by one of our S15G027E class member.

This series was inspired by our sharing done during our Lamrim Discussion Class when a new student came to join us on 21 May 2018. Often people wonder, what makes people put aside precious time once a week amidst all the busy schedule and commitments to attend the class. Where’s the “magic”, ‘why”, “benefit” or “output”? Let’s hear from the different individuals from all walks of life, sharing their take on this.

In conjunction with 2018 Master’s Remembrance Day, this is also our way to thank our lineage masters for their wisdom and compassion by reflecting on the merits of the teachings and turning the Dharma Wheel by sharing how Dharma has made us a better person.

We hope that more will be inspired to learn the way of the Buddha and practice it in their daily lives.

GRATITUDE TO THE TRIPLE GEMS AND OUR LINEAGE MASTERS!

MAY THE LIVES OF THE VENERABLE SPIRITUAL MASTERS BE STABLE,

AND THEIR WHITE DIVINE ACTIONS SPREAD IN THE TEN DIRECTIONS, MAY THE LIGHT OF LOBSANG’S TEACHINGS,

DISPELLING THE DARKNESS OF THE BEINGS IN THE HTREE WORLDS ALWAYS STAY!

MAY THESE PROFOUND MERITS AND VIRTUES BE DEDICATED TO OUR LINEAGE MASTERS AND TEACHERS TO HAVE GOOD HEALTH AND TURN THE DHARMA WHEEL INFINITELY!

May sentient beings all be well and happy!