Chanting

Chanting, an act that is not really important in the practice of Buddhism, said Sayadaw U Sumana in tonight Wesak talk.

Chanting cannot let a Buddhist attains Nibbana, only by bhavana can one achieved the highest goal in the Buddha

However, if one chants and practiced what is being chanted, then there are some benefits from this action of chanting.

Chanting at the right time and place is important. Doing the chanting correctly can become a form of Samatha meditation. This can lead to higher goal.

In certain cases, chanting in proper manner can enable one to gain the protection of the Deva. This is shown in the story of Nandamata who had practised chanting and gain the protection from a Deva from Catumaharajika Heaven. The Deva is impressed with the chanting of this disciple of the Buddha that praise the virtues of the Buddha

Lastly, Sayadaw advises the members to practice chanting with understanding for the benefits of chanting.

Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu

Wesak at BMBMC 2010

Today is Wesak Day. Both of us arrived at BMBMC at 9 am, an hour earlier than last year. Not many people yet.

At 930 the pindapada begins. Not many devotees turn up for the pindapatta, maybe they do not know aboat it as there was none. There are six bhikkhus in this occassion and it lasted in less than half an hour. Everybody proceeds to the dining cum lecture hall to listen to a Dhamma talk given by Sayadaw U Sumana.

Amy and I are busy at the counter with request from the devotees wanting to make the offering of the robes and bowls. By 10.30, many devotees begins to turn up and the hall were full of people.


Tonight there will be a Dhamma talk and Metta chanting. If we go early, we may have the chance to do some meditation.

Sadhu to all, Happy Wesak.

Hope that Ah Hooi will be able to join us in full health in the next year Wesak Day, his absence this time is truly felt.

Wesak Eve

Happy Wesak to all Buddhists.

In conjunction to this auspicious day of the year, tonight Dhamma talk by Sayadaw U Sumana is about the messges of the Buddha.

What are the messages of the Buddha to us as the Buddha's devotees? asked Sayadaw U Sumana.

Not by just looking at the Buddha and admiring His appearance, but by practicing the Dhamma.

Seeing the Dhamma through personal knowledge

Practice with mindfulness

These are the messages of the Buddha to us.

Noble 8 fold Path

Tonight at BMBMC, a Dhamma talk about the Noble Eightfold Path is given by Sayalay. The Noble Eightfold Path is essence of what a person practicing Vipassana Meditation should have.

The Noble Eightfold Path comprises of

1. Samma Ditthi
2. Samma Sankappa
3. Samma Vaca
4. Samma Kammanta
5. Samma Ajiva
6. Samma Vayama
7. Samma Sati
8. Samma Samadhi
   

Let it go

After many weeks not attending the Meditation class cum Dhamma talk at BMBMC, it is delight to be able to hear this Dhamma talk given by Sayadaw U Sumana on Kamatanha.

It not uncommon for us to cling to sensual pleasure, said Sayadaw U Sumana. "This clinging is like a glue that sticked one object to another. Sometimes, the objects are stuck to one another that it is difficult for us to separate them."

As meditators, we must try to practice how to minimize our clinging to sensual pleasure. Coming to night for a two-hour meditation class helps to minimize our clinging to sensual pleasure. Otherwise, we will be at home enjoying ourselves by watching the television's programs.

May he be well and happy again

Ah Hooi and I at Wat Sam Naht Song, Kpg Song

Today Amy and I follow a group of BMBMC members to Gleneagle Hospital to visit Ah Hooi, BMBMC secretary who met with a serious road accident ten days ago. Ah Hooi is still in coma but had been put in the High Dependency Unit.

Seeing him in his present condition allow me to reflect on how fragile is our life, one second I see him healthy and well, and now he is unconscious and weak. Life is suffering as we are subjected to death, old age and illness as long as we are still in the cycle of Samsara.

But I believe that Ah Hooi as a good Upasaka with many good deeds done, will be able to overcome this suffering and will be well and healthy again.

If readers of this blog know Ah Hooi (a.k.a Ah Chai) and want to help be it in kind or deeds please contact Uncle Lim at BMBMC.

Let us radiate the our metta to Ah Hooi, may he be well and happy again.

Pati Dana

Today in BMBMC, a Pati Dana is held in conjunction with the Qing Ming week. A Sanghikadana is organised for this event with 7 Bhikkhus. A short Dhamma talk was given by Bhante Kusara.