I know there are many websites, and I've visited some of the links in the sticky thread, but I'm looking for something a little more offline. Is there somewhere in Singapore where someone who had never even considered something like Buddhism can go and learn about it and try to begin practicing? I can sit on my floor all day and recite a phrase, but I'd just be wasting my time without some face to face guidance. Any help?
Try accessing Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple's Website. The temple is sited along Bright Hill Road off Sin Ming Ave. They conduct quite a lot of Buddhist courses.
I am recomending a right thai buddhist temple who teach philosophy of buddhism and life(not any kind of magic) in english and thai >>
Address: Wat Ananda Metyarama Buddhist Temple, 50B Jalan Bukit Merah 169545 (near Silat Road)
Hi Argyle,
for me, i went temple hopping twice... but end up at the first place...
I don't know how to explain, sitting there in a sea of strangers and listened to a fa shi i never expected it.
Listening for clues and don't even know what is taking refuge all about...
during chanting, i peeped at others which page they are chanting frequently... haha
I was quite embarrassed to ask questions and so i approached the counter auntie and ask her what is taking refuge and when...
after taking refuge, all seems to fall in place... chanting and joining some of the activities if i am able to make it..
but now i am waiting for new intake of class lessons... to study more... now zero knowledge.. haha
hope u can meet someone who can guide you easier and less troublesome lol
Originally posted by Argyle:I know there are many websites, and I've visited some of the links in the sticky thread, but I'm looking for something a little more offline. Is there somewhere in Singapore where someone who had never even considered something like Buddhism can go and learn about it and try to begin practicing? I can sit on my floor all day and recite a phrase, but I'd just be wasting my time without some face to face guidance. Any help?
I frequent this dharma center, which teaches very practical dharma teachings you can apply to your daily life (rather than giving scholarly talks about sutras and so on) so that one may experience freedom, wisdom, awareness, enlightenment even in our daily lives.
Timetable also here: http://www.humanbliss.com.sg/B_target-F3.html
English version is http://www.jenchen.org.sg
May I know if the talk conducted at the humanbliss centre is in English? I have also been wondering if there are any buddhist group that we can joined and develop fellowship instead of attending talks and talks .....after the talk everyone just go home and we never get to know each other. Is buddhism a religion that encourages us to practice on our own unlike some other religions that have strong fellowship and bonding?
Originally posted by SeekTruth:May I know if the talk conducted at the humanbliss centre is in English? I have also been wondering if there are any buddhist group that we can joined and develop fellowship instead of attending talks and talks .....after the talk everyone just go home and we never get to know each other. Is buddhism a religion that encourages us to practice on our own unlike some other religions that have strong fellowship and bonding?
The center at humanbliss.com.sg is teaching in Chinese.
The center that runs jenchen.org.sg teaches in English.
The address of the English center is as follows:
Jen Chen Buddhism Centre
Blk 186, Toa Payoh Central
#01-424 Singapore 310186
Tel: (65) 6254 8036
Fax: (65) 6484 6037
As for fellowship, the people at my dharma center bond very well. We also have activities, outings, etc. There is also different classes - adult class, youth class, children class. Having spiritual friendship is important because we can help and encourage each other on the path.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.002.than.html
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was living among the Sakyans. Now there is a Sakyan town named Sakkara. There Ven. Ananda went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side. As he was sitting there, Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, "This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie."[1]
"Don't say that, Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions, & comrades, he can be expected to develop & pursue the noble eightfold path.
"And how does a monk who has admirable people as friends, companions, & comrades, develop & pursue the noble eightfold path? There is the case where a monk develops right view dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in relinquishment. He develops right resolve ... right speech ... right action ... right livelihood ... right effort ... right mindfulness ... right concentration dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in relinquishment. This is how a monk who has admirable people as friends, companions, & colleagues, develops & pursues the noble eightfold path.
"And through this line of reasoning one may know how admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life: It is in dependence on me as an admirable friend that beings subject to birth have gained release from birth, that beings subject to aging have gained release from aging, that beings subject to death have gained release from death, that beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair have gained release from sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair. It is through this line of reasoning that one may know how admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life."
Originally posted by Argyle:I know there are many websites, and I've visited some of the links in the sticky thread, but I'm looking for something a little more offline. Is there somewhere in Singapore where someone who had never even considered something like Buddhism can go and learn about it and try to begin practicing? I can sit on my floor all day and recite a phrase, but I'd just be wasting my time without some face to face guidance. Any help?
Buddhist Fellowship is mainly for people who speaks English. Their website is as follow. You can find out more about Buddhism from there.
Amituofo Argyle,
sorry, i'm a bit on the opposition side from the others. i think nowaday ppl really need Deligency and/or maybe encounter some tough surrounding, so u have Enduranceå¿�. once my Dharma senior who use to be 护法 always use this phrase, "è¦�ä½ èƒ½ä¹…!" in hokkien. however he said, he had retrogressed. i'm around there. haha..
Old MCK also know that those that practice around him are not doing it right, but instead those far away that he had never saw and had been listening to his cd/dvd are the ones that are doing it right. they are the ones that really listen daily all the time, 4-8hrs a day! they are the ones that really get it. He said 5 yrs to 10 years listening to the teachings on one particular sutra, u'll be able to talk/explain on stage.
Buddha once said, u don't have to be close to Him in order to really learn Dharma.
§ 92. {Iti 3.43; Iti 91}
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard: "Even if a monk, taking hold of my outer cloak, were to follow right behind me, placing his feet in my footsteps, yet if he were to be greedy for sensual pleasures, strong in his passions, malevolent in mind, corrupt in his resolves, his mindfulness muddled, unalert, uncentered, his mind scattered, & his faculties uncontrolled, then he would be far from me, and I from him. Why is that? Because he does not see the Dhamma. Not seeing the Dhamma, he does not see me.
"But even if a monk were to live one hundred leagues away, yet if he were to have no greed for sensual objects, were not strong in his passions, not malevolent in mind, uncorrupt in his resolves, his mindfulness established, alert, centered, his mind at singleness, & his faculties well-restrained, then he would be near to me, and I to him. Why is that? Because he sees the Dhamma. Seeing the Dhamma, he sees me."
Though following right behind, full of desire, vexation: see how far he is! — the perturbed from the unperturbed, the bound from the Unbound, the greedy one from the one with no greed. But the wise person who, through direct knowledge of Dhamma, gnosis of Dhamma, grows still & unperturbed like a lake unruffled by wind: see how close he is! — the unperturbed to the unperturbed, the Unbound to the Unbound, the greedless one to the one with no greed.
we want to å¦ä½› learn to be like Buddha rather than learn to take exam ä½›å¦. ;)
/\
read this topic for your alternative (Tibetan Buddhism)
Teaching and Retreat with Khenchen Rinpoche Sep 17-22 > http://sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/410747
Originally posted by Argyle:I know there are many websites, and I've visited some of the links in the sticky thread, but I'm looking for something a little more offline. Is there somewhere in Singapore where someone who had never even considered something like Buddhism can go and learn about it and try to begin practicing? I can sit on my floor all day and recite a phrase, but I'd just be wasting my time without some face to face guidance. Any help?
Hi Argyle,
There are 3 places which can be suggested to you in learning Buddhism:
1) Lotus Sutra Buddhist Association
9, Lorong 29 Geylang, #07-01. Singapore 388065
Tel: 6748-2018, Email: [email protected]
- Specialised in the Studies & Practice of the Lotus Sutra.
2) The Mahaprajna Buddhist Society (TMBS)
11, Lorong 35 Geylang. Singapore 387943
Tel: 6748-6625, Website: http://tmbs.org.sg/
- Specialised in Buddhist Education through Dharma courses.
3) Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society
567A, Balestier Road. Singapore 329884
Tel: 6352-2859, Website: http://www.bdms.org.sg/
- Dedicated to making known the teachings of the Buddha. The Society organises talks and courses, observes and performs Buddhist celebrations, and publishes books to encourage the study and practice of Buddhism.
Originally posted by sinweiy:Amituofo Argyle,
sorry, i'm a bit on the opposition side from the others. i think nowaday ppl really need Deligency and/or maybe encounter some tough surrounding, so u have Enduranceå¿�. once my Dharma senior who use to be 护法 always use this phrase, "è¦�ä½ èƒ½ä¹…!" in hokkien. however he said, he had retrogressed. i'm around there. haha..
Old MCK also know that those that practice around him are not doing it right, but instead those far away that he had never saw and had been listening to his cd/dvd are the ones that are doing it right. they are the ones that really listen daily all the time, 4-8hrs a day! they are the ones that really get it. He said 5 yrs to 10 years listening to the teachings on one particular sutra, u'll be able to talk/explain on stage.
Buddha once said, u don't have to be close to Him in order to really learn Dharma.
we want to å¦ä½› learn to be like Buddha rather than learn to take exam ä½›å¦. ;)
/\
I share the same sentiment as you. I like your last sentence "we want to å¦ä½› learn to be like Buddha rather than learn to take exam ä½›å¦" but not many people understand this.
Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:I share the same sentiment as you. I like your last sentence "we want to å¦ä½› learn to be like Buddha rather than learn to take exam ä½›å¦" but not many people understand this.
yea, the former can lead one out of samsara and liberation. :)
/\
Originally posted by Argyle:I know there are many websites, and I've visited some of the links in the sticky thread, but I'm looking for something a little more offline. Is there somewhere in Singapore where someone who had never even considered something like Buddhism can go and learn about it and try to begin practicing? I can sit on my floor all day and recite a phrase, but I'd just be wasting my time without some face to face guidance. Any help?