Buddhist News THE SINGAPORE BUDDHIST LODGE MANDATORY SAFE MANAGEMENT 2020 Bursary Award MEASURES Pre-Visit Information Checks Visitors to all Buddhist monas- walk in cyber space. Close to 300 teries, temples and organisa- participants took part in this virtual tions are advised to conduct walk during the stipulated period pre-visit information checks to that ended on 7 June 2020. Par- ensure mandatory safe man- ticipants’ individual mileage of 3km agement measures compliance. was completed at their own time, Below are 2 examples: Gradual pace and venue using their step Resumption of Temple Activities trackers. Aimed at not only promot- The application for 2020 Tertiary ing a healthy lifestyle, it was held to Level Bursary Award has com- (Palelai Buddhist Temple) and also raise funds to support the pro- menced and the closing date is 11 Partial Resumption of Opera- grammes with over 1,200 beneficia- August 2020. For more informa- tions (People’s Buddhism Study ries (regardless of race or religion) tion on eligibility, please visit http:// Society). at different centres that provide www.sbl.org.sg/. disability care, medical care, spe- cial education and early interven- BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC tion programmes and alumni care. TEMPLE (SINGAPORE) For more information, please visit https://mettawelfareassociation. wordpress.com/2020/06/25/walk- Dharma Assembly ing-to-good-health/. THE BUDDHIST UNION Anniversary Memorial Service The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Singapore) held a Dharma As- sembly, “Chanting of Great Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom 300 chapters and Offering to Pretas” on The Buddhist Union held a Dharma 23 June 2020, 9am-8pm. This one- service on 5 July 2020 to commem- day session was led by Venerable orate their late Founder, Venerable Chao Khun Fa Zhao. To watch this Dhammasukha (1900-1966), and video and past Dharma assemblies, his contributions to the Buddhist please visit https://www.facebook. community. com/BuddhaToothRelicTemple. BUDDHIST LIBRARY Virtual Temple Sunday Puja The BTRTS recently refreshed and updated their website to include The Buddhist Library reopened for more functions, including a virtual METTA WELFARE Sunday Puja session on 12 July site tour experience. Visitors can ASSOCIATION 2020, 10-11.30am with a maximum register online for upcoming cer- of 30 attendees allowed on-site (all emonies, group practices, sponsor- Virtual Charity Walk were required to pre-register). Face- ship, adoption, donations and check book Live sessions will continue to latest updates on safe re-opening The annual Metta Charity Walk took be available, and for more informa- measures. For more information, on a different form this year due to tion, please visit https://www.face- please visit www.btrts.org.sg. the COVID-19 situation – virtual book.com/BuddhistLibrary. 32 For You Information 佛友资讯 PB p32 - News.indd 32 23/7/2020 8:22:54 AM EVENTS A MONTH HONOURING THE BUDDHA’S LIFE SAGA DAWA – MONTH OF MERITS The fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar is called the Saga Dawa (Sanskrit: Vaisakha) – name derived from the clan of Sakya, and the Generating Merits Buddha’s epithet, Sakyamuni, translates as “The Sage of the Sakyas”. On significant days of the Buddhist culture regardless of traditions, Bud- This month is also known as Bumgyur Dawa, the “100,000 Multiplying dhists, other than commemorate the Month” or “Month of Merits” as all skillful and unskillful actions are said to be multiplied by 100,000 times and is considered the most important Buddhist kindness of the Buddha and reflect period of the year, especially for the Bhutanese and Tibetans. This is even on his teachings and qualities, they more so for the first 15 days – which is considered auspicious for Dharma also take opportunities to practise practice and cultivating any positive actions with the body, speech and mind. skillful ways to generate and accu- It is also important to make special efforts in avoiding unwholesome activities mulate merits as well as to magnify as any positive or negative karma created are also multiplied. virtues. Below are some examples: 1. Visit sacred sites and places. This year, Saga Dawa fell in the period of 23 May-21 June and many Buddhist 2. Practise meditation, prostration, monasteries, temples, organisations and practitioners held various Dharma- mantra recitation/chanting, sutra related events and activities. However, these are vastly different compared to previous years' due to compliance with respective safe management reading/recitation etc. measures locally and overseas, in view of the COVID-19 situation. 3. Perform good/virtuous deeds. 4. Realign intention by reflect- Saga Dawa Duchen ing on the motivation of all the Also, on 5 June 2020, the 15th day of the lunar calendar – full moon day in the virtuous thoughts, speech and month of Saga Dawa, which is also known as Saga Dawa Duchen; (“Duchen” actions; and to perform all acts means “great occasion”), the day to commemorate the Buddha’s birth, with virtue and the intent that awakening and parinirvana. This is because, on the same day of different all sentient beings be freed from years, Buddha Sakyamuni whose birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana, all took place on the 15th day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar. suffering and to attain enlighten- ment. Like how Buddhists around the world celebrate Vesak, Saga Dawa Duchen 5. Dedicate practice and virtuous is also celebrated with Dharma assemblies, ceremonies, processions, talks, activities to humanity and all sutra recitation and offerings of lamps etc. sentient beings. Offering of Mandala Oil Lamps at the Land of Enlightenment, Bodhgaya There were mandala oil lamps offered by the Venerable monks and Lamas at the Bodhgaya Temple premises on this sacred day of Saga Dawa Duchen. For more photos and live videos, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ btmcbodhgaya. PB For You Information 佛友资讯 33 p33 34 EVENTS.indd 33 23/7/2020 8:45:16 AM 24-Hour Heart Sutra Global Recitation Khyentse Foundation and Siddhartha’s Intent Global jointly organised a first ever 24-hour “Heart Sutra Global Recitation” on 4-5 June 2020. This incorporated a new choral arrangement of the Heart Sutra presented as a "virtual choir” (at the request of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche). The Heart Sutra was sung as separate tracks by over 30 participants in 10 different countries, which were then compiled together to create the choral arrangement. The melody is based on of a musical setting of the Nilakantha Dharani, a dharani associated with Avalokiteshvara in Japanese Buddhism, written by Kanho Yakushiji, a Zen priest. The English translation of the Heart The final total count for lamp Sutra was done by the Nalanda Translation Committee with video editing by offerings collected was 9336 Sophie Perks and the choral arrangement by Harry Einhorn. lamps, far exceeding the originally expected. In addition, e-Dharma group practices was also another option for Buddhists to participate in, and one example is the Chenrezig Sadhana by Lama Dawa via Facebook Live. Hoisting and Offering of New Prayer Flags The video was produced and edited using Zoom and broadcast across the world on Zoom, YouTube and Facebook Live for 24 hours to commemorate Saga Dawa Duchen. This Heart Sutra recitation was produced with the intention of pacifying the turmoil of the world at this time, in the words of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, “May we invoke love, kindness, and healing, and open our hearts for the earth. (And) There is nothing better to recite than the Heart Sutra from every point of view." Online Light Offerings, Dharma Talks and Group Practices On the island of Pulau Ubin, 63 new sets of prayer flags were hung by devotees, led by Venerable Zhi Zheng (智真法师) on 21 June 2020, the last day of the auspicious month, In the borderless world of cyberspace, various temples and members of the at the Life Awareness Buddhist Sangha also held online talks on the eve of Saga Dawa Duchen, such as and Arts Society – all merits and Singha Rinpoche’s Dharma Teaching on 4 June 2020 on Thekchen Choling blessings were dedicated to all Singapore’s Facebook. To celebrate Saga Dawa Duchen, Tulku Migmar sentient beings. gave an online Dharma talk where he shared teachings and offered best Photo credits: wishes to all. Also, prior to the actual day, Tulku Migmar initiated an “Online Bodhgaya Temple, Khyentse Foundation, 1000-lamp Offering Worldwide” initiation, where anyone was welcomed to Siddhartha’s Intent Global, Thekchen Choling Singapore, Rangjing Yeshe Oddiyana, Lama send in a picture of their light offering to Rangjung Yeshe Oddiyana. Dawa, Tan Cher Serm and Sam Goh. 34 For You Information 佛友资讯 PB p33 34 EVENTS.indd 34 23/7/2020 8:45:42 AM COVER STORY AN ECOSATTVA FIRST, BEFORE A BODHISATTVA? OUR PLACE AND DUTY IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN (PART 1) – PEMA RINCHEN – Life as the Buddha describes in the Four Noble Truths, has a narrative The Four Noble Truths of dukkha ascribed to it. Aspects of dukkha can include anxiety, distress, 1. Dukkha – Suffering frustration, dis-ease, and with the subtlest un-satisfactoriness though many Includes all forms of suffering from severe 1 loosely translate dukkha as “suffering” . agony to the pervasive un-satisfactoriness and the instability inherent in individual “This, bhikkhus, is the noble truth that is suffering. Birth is suffering; old existence in all planes of becoming; age is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering; sorrow and grief, 2. Samudaya – Origin of Dukkha physical and mental suffering, and disturbance are suffering. [...] In short, Cause of suffering – craving (tanha), which all life is suffering, according to the Buddha’s first sermon.” drives the mind outwards after sense ob- jects in a state of perpetual unrest; 3. Nirodha – Cessation of Suffering Within the Buddhist sutras, dukkha is divided in three categories: Nibbana, which is attained when the causes • Dukkha-dukkha, the dukkha of painful experiences of suffering, ignorance and craving, have These include the physical and mental sufferings related to birth, aging, been utterly uprooted; and illness and dying as well as dis-ease or distress from what is undesirable.