Vesak Roundup -- by Weidu

Never had the activities of Vesak day captured the hearts of any aspiring Buddhists like this one. Putting herself on a ¡°Vesak expedition¡±, our reporter found out from the organisers what exciting activities took place; their turn-out rates and what the participants had to say.

Transforming the self with a retreat

Friends of CAS had the most special Vesak this year as this was the first time CAS had ever hosted a retreat.

According to the organizing committee, the need for a retreat came from both the teachers and students as they felt there is a “need for change in the way Tibetan Buddhist practices are transmitted and practised here.¡± The above suggestion gave birth to two retreats: one on Phowa (practices on Tibetan Buddhist Pure Land) from 25 - 26 May and one on Mahamudra (practices on Mind-Awareness) from 1 - 3 June.

Running the retreat during Vesak was not entirely deliberate as they took into consideration the time-schedule of many of the organizing committee who are teachers and Vesak this year coincided with the school holidays.

The Tanjong Katong student hostel’s auditorium was chosen as the location for both retreats and the participants had the freedom to choose to stay in the student hostel or out depending on their respective circumstances while observation of the 8 precepts was encouraged but not mandatory.

Mr Lim (35) a part-time participant, opted to travel back and forth daily from Eunos to Tanjong Katong student hostel during the retreat. Did the trip take his attention away? “No, the conducting teacher had reminded us at the start of the retreat to stay in focus and not be distracted whether inside or outside the retreat.¡±

An event on 2 June evening called ¡°The Thousand-Arm Guan Yin Empowerment¡± turned out to be the most popular as it attracted about 200 participants, while regular attendance hovered around 40 people daily.

Having been drawn to the retreat because of its conducting teacher and the teaching, Mr Chan and Konchok Yeshi in their 30s, both felt they have gained more spiritual knowledge. Konchok admitted the retreat would have been better if it had been longer and if it were held in temples or more secluded places with full stay-in facilities. “There is a need for more retreat centres in Singapore,¡± she added.

New building lent wings to Dhamma propagation

Vesak took on a different quality in Palelai as a two-day retreat program was held for the first time during Vesak day celebrations in the spacious meditation hall of the Chedi building (Phra Maha Chedi Dhammasathit) officially opened on 25th Feb this year. The building is not only conducive to the conduct of retreats but also offers minimum interference from other celebration activities in Palelai's compound.

From 30th May evening till 1st June, the retreatants stayed in, observed the 8 precepts and practised the Buddha's teachings on mental cultivation through sitting and walking meditation practice under the guidance of Palelai Buddhist Temple’s resident monk, Phra Ajaan Keng Khemako. The rest of the day was well spent in Dhamma talks and chanting. It attracted a total of 50 participants.

Jacqueline Ho, 28, from Thailand was glad she did the retreat. She remarked that the Dhamma talks had not only cleared her doubts about meditation, but also left her greatly inspired. By living and eating simply during the stay-in, she felt she could cultivate her inner self more.

For devotees not doing the retreat, they could browse the English, Chinese and Thai collection of Dhamma books at the Palelai library open house; watch video clips on the history of Palelai, on the opening of Phra Maha Chedi Dhammasathit and biographies of great masters of the Thai forest meditation tradition, or participate in the candle-light procession around the temple compound, followed by paritta chanting in the main shrine hall.

Connecting the world with 100 million recitations

The Karma Kagyud Buddhist Centre (KKBC) organised a twelve-day 100 Million Recitations of Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hung from 20th to 31th May on their premises in Geylang Lorong 22. KKBC was the first to kick-start a 100 Million Recitations of the six-syllable mantra of Avalokiteshvara in Singapore. It took place in December of 1999, and continued in 2001 and 2002, way before KMS Phor Kark See Monastery started in 2001. This year, KKBC decided to do it again, but in the month of Vesak (unprecedented in Singapore). Strengthened by the Tibetan belief that whatever merits accumulated will multiply by 10 million folds during the month of Vesak, they hoped the recitation would encourage old students to practise and new-comers to take a first step into Buddhism.

The event which started in Singapore, received global participation from KKBCs worldwide, a total of 22 countries participated. Monks from Jangchub Choeling Monastery in Pokhara, Nepal went into 8 pairs of Nyungne retreats and contributed their chants. Recitations counted were marked in counting sheets and sent in person (for local participants), via email or fax to KKBC.

With worldwide participation, the total counts hit 120,039,500 at 6 pm on the 31st May. Participation from 782 Singaporeans produced 47.8 million counts, making up one third of the total counts. The recitation ended with a dedication of merits to world peace and well-being of all sentient beings at 8 pm.

Pat Goh (41), was among one of the many new people involved in planning and running this event. Asked how she felt about being tied down on Vesak for the past 12 days, she replied she was not missing out on anything. Rather, the experience had enriched her life and in event management.

Teo Hock Boon (49), a participant of the past three 100 million mani recitations by KKBC remarked that he did 1-2 sessions of practice daily, in-between his work schedule during the twelve days. His counts totalled to 5 sheets (125K). His wife and 3 children also participated in the recitations.

A million-light offering in the accessibility of the crowd

With the aim of enabling people to create as much merits as possible, especially on a ¡°merit-multiplying¡± day like Vesak, Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC) has embarked on large scale Vesak celebrations in the open ground in front of Aljunied MRT station since ten years ago in 1998. “The location was chosen because of its convenience for access,¡± said Tan Hup Cheng, president of ABC.

Started from a 4-storey high tibetan stupa feature in 1998, the Vesak celebration this year had expanded to include a million-light offering cum lighting up ceremony and prayers for global harmony from representatives of nine major religions. The idea of inviting the 9 religious orders was to reach out to more people so that we could all create merits together and pray for world peace and harmony,¡± Hup Cheng added.

With the presence of many holy objects such as the Mahabodhi stupa, Buddha statues, 21 taras, the public was given plenty of opportunities to create merits. Ms Lim, 45, a Buddhist who stays in the west of Singapore, was one of the walk-ins for the first time. She had been copying the Sanghata Sutra before she chatted with our reporter. Referring to the effects of copying the scripture, she replied with a smile that she “felt one with the Buddha¡±.

According to Hup Cheng, the event drew the highest number of crowds of 8-10K on Vesak day itself while the light up attracted 5K. The planning started shortly after Chinese New Year while the actual set-up started a few days before Vesak. With all the members bringing their friends and family members to form a pool of more than 200 hundred volunteers, “it was like a big family gathering he said.

Extending compassion & charity beyond race and religion

Supported by 12 Buddhist organisations, the Singapore Buddhist Lodge jointly organised a 5-day Vesak celebration with Hindu Endowment Board (HEB), Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association (LiSHA) and Jamiyah Singapore in the open field opposite Serangoon Plaza from 27-31 May. Having started in 2002, this is the largest cross-religious and cross-cultural event in Little India.

President S R Nathan who graced the opening, accepted a 630K cheque on behalf of the NTU- Rajaratnam School of International Studies Endowment Fund from the organisers. Needy old folks and handicaps from various races and religions were treated to a charity dinner and given ¡°ang-pows¡±, while over 200 Indian students received bursary awards totalling 10K. The program included Dharma talks in English, Tamil or Mandarin, and a candlelight procession led by the representatives from various religions.

The aspiring yogins sand the great Drikung Ontrul.

Meditation retreat during Vesak at

the new meditation hall of Palelai.

At KKBC, Four-Arm Chenrezig Empowerment & Oral Transmission by

Ven. Shangpa Rinpoche.