SMALL BUT BIG INSPIRATION

Why would a boy not yet ten make a choice to leave the comfort of his home and spend weeks in a near spartan living conditions in India for three successive years?

Accommodation has been very bare rooms with just nailed together wooden beds and thin mattresses. Water is cold. If there water heater, it does not often work. The pipes too do not work well. Electricity supply is erratic with power outages common day and night.

The air is always filled with dust and the streets, everywhere is dirty.

Food is simple. No fancy fare. Days on end, it can be cauliflower and cabbage. And it is also just two meals a day, no dinner.

Strict discipline and regiment have also be followed, like waking up as early as 5 am and being out and about by 5.45 am for daily morning chanting.

Any boy that age would not want to make such a sacrifice of his school holidays which would mean endless hours of fun, playing online games, watching movies or TV etc etc etc. But not Samita Lee Kah Peng (left in top picture with Ven Sumedha, the High Priest of Mulaghanda Kuty Vihara and fellow samanera Vajira Nanda).

It is astounding that he chose this, not for one year but so far three in a row! Why is he a picture of contentment and happiness without TV, Internet and the luxuries and comfort of modern living?

I don't have the answer and my guess is that Samita doesn't exactly know either. He just likes it. He will probably know later in age when the purpose of life unfolds for him.

Samita first made his choice in 2007 when he was seven to join the Aloka Novitiate in Lumbini as a pilgrim. I learnt that he wanted to celebrate his birthday at the place where the Buddha was born.

Accompanied by his mother, Samita was just an observer of the goings-on at the Novitiate programme. This cute little boy was resplendent and princely looking in his special white attire on his birthday. He was personally coached by Bhante Mahinda on how to make birthday wishes as well as taught to recite in Pali and English, the first three highest blessings of the Mangala Sutta.

Samita must have been inspiration on his return home that year. The following year, he came to the Aloka Novitiate in Bodhgaya not just with his mother but also grand parents. In his princely white, he participated in the programme, observing the Eight Precepts.

He made up his mind in Bodhgaya that he would be in Sarnath the following year and he would be a samanera, this time observing the Ten Precepts.

This year, Samita went to Sarnath not just with his mother and grand parents but also his father and aunt in tow. Father Lee Siew Kee joined as a samanera while the rest of the family members were pilgrims.

Samita wowed many by keeping to the discipline and regiment -- donning the robes, being mindful as much as he could in his actions and also delivering a speech at the closing ceremony where he recited what he had learnt in Pali for all three Novitiate programmes.

Small as he may be, but he is indeed big in inspiration!

YOUNG INSPIRATION

I want to improve my spiritual development
I want to train myself not to eat at night
I like to experience life in Sarnath
I want to continue my practice this year because I have been studying for UPSR this whole year
I am inspired by Samita because he is a samanera
I want to practice noble silence/less talk
I want to walk the right path to Nibbana
I want to develop contentment. No 'I'. No 'My'
I want to plant the seed of Enlightenment
I want to get your guidance the next 3 weeks

Lee Ji Wen or Vajira Nanda, who was going on 12, wrote this on why he wanted to be a samanera and why he should be accepted as a last minute entrant of the Aloka Novitiate Programme in Sarnath.

Wen (centre in photo with grandpa Lee Kim Hiang and sister Yu Feng)had arrived in Sarnath on Nov 10 to be a helper in this Aloka Novitiate 2009 but nine-year-old Lee Kah Peng aka Samita was an inspiration for him to want to switch to be a samanera.

He approached Sister Sumitra to seek permission and was asked to give 10 reasons. He wrote the above and with those reasons, he could not be denied even though the organisers had not come prepared with robes of his size. But it was meant to be for him. The Mahabodhi Society of India which operates the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara had just the robes for him. Never mind that the colour was brighter saffron rather than the darker shade that the others adorn.

This was not his first novitiate. As a nine year old, he had joined the Aloka Novitiate 2007 in Lumbini with his father, Lee Ming Tzyy. If I am not mistaken, he had also participated, at a much younger age, in the novitiate programme conducted in the Sri Jayanti Vihara in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

Little Wen has been an inspiration for me even at the age of four. He left an idelible imprint in my mind with his acts of dana at my first novitiate at the Buddhist Maha Vihara at Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur then.

I can recall with clarity this little boy who would come around the lunch table to distribute chocolates to the samaneras and upasikas. I was moved by his act of generosity -- wouldn't any four year old want to keep the chocolates for himself than give them away! Each time, I would keep the chocolates to give it to him after lunch. I was not the only one with the same thought and Wen always ended up with lots and lots of chocolates. It was instant rewards. Wen learnt about dana and the benefits of giving!

Well exposed to the Dhamma, Wen with his two sisters are a familiar sight at the Buddhist Maha Vihara. They can be a riotous bunch but wouldn't carefree kids be! What impressed me were their independence and this is what gave confidence to their parents to allow 15-year-old Yu Feng and Wen to be in India just by themselves to be helpers.

I must admit that I didn't share their confidence. I recalled telling their father who had come to send us off at the airport that I would take them to see Sister Sumitra if they were mischevious. I did not have to. They taught me not to type cast. In their own way, they taught me precious lessons.

Indeed, I am very proud of them, both of them.

BLESSED NOVITIATE

Samaneras, Anagarikas, Upasikas, Sangha members, Pilgrims & Helpers of the Aloka Novitiate 2009 at the Dhamekh Stupa

"Recall to mind that you are in the vicinity of the sacred site where the Buddha preached the first sermon..." Bhante Mahinda guided all at the Aloka Novitiate 2009 in Sarnath, India in this contemplation daily.

"Rejoice with the merits that have brought you to this sacred site... and have a sense of gratitude for your parents, teachers and all those who have made it possible for you to be here..."

This constant reminder and guidance enabled us to -- slowly and surely -- connect with this sacred land, one of the four that the Buddha in the Mahaparinibbana sutta exhorted all pious persons to visit and look upon with feelings of reverence after his Mahaparinibbana.

To be up close and personal to the very site where the Buddha preached the Dhammacakkapvatana Sutta and turned the wheel of Dhamma was indeed a blessed experience. Day by day in the two-week stay -- some three weeks being in the advance preparation team -- one can feel enveloped by the blissful serenity that this holy land exudes.

Without a care in the world as to how the next meal will be coming, what food will be on the table, what to wear, whether you are colour co-ordinated, etc etc etc. Meal times are fixed. 7.30 for breakfast and 11.30 for lunch. Attire is also fixed. Just the simple saffron robes for samaneras and whites for anagarikas and upasikas.

No worries. No handphones to answer. No emails to reply. No deadlines to meet. Just be focussed, experience the bliss of monastic life. Drink in the air of serenity and peace as one calms and feels the quietness of the mind.

In brief, this surmises what the 32 samaneras, 11 anagarikas, 76 upasikas went through in the Aloka Novitiate from Dec 14-29 -- the third in a series of Novitiate Programmes that Bhante Mahinda is conducting in the Buddha's holy places.

ALOKA NOVITIATE IN SARNATH

A scene from the Aloka Novitiate 2008 in Bohdgaya -- Samaneras in their robes and Upasikas in their white -- which will be repeated in Sarnath soon.

The first batch of the 152 participants will depart from Kuala Lumpur for Sarnath later this morning for the Aloka Novitiate 2009.

This Novitiate, the third in the series conducted by Ven Mahinda in the Buddha's holy sites, will begin on Nov 14 with the shaving ceremony followed by the ordination ceremony on Nov 15. It will end on Nov 29.

There will be a total of 30 samaneras and 76 upasikas in this novitiate at the place where the Buddha, following his Enlightenment in Bodhgaya, preached the first sermon and turned the wheel of Dhamma. Participants this year are from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Bhutan.

Bhante Mahinda started the first in the series of Novitiates in the Buddha's holy sites in Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, in 2007. Last year's Novitiate was held in Bodhgaya drew the largest number of participants at over 300. Next year, the Novitiate will be held in Kushinara where the Buddha passed away.

We wish the participants together with helpers and pilgrims a spiritually enriching Novitiate.

OFFER OF LIGHTS IN SARNATH

3,000 lights will be lit and offered in Sarnath, India --where the Buddha turned the wheel of Dhamma -- nightly for ten nights starting from Nov 17.

This offer of lights close to where the Dhamekh Stupa is located is in conjunction with the Aloka Novitiate 2009 -- the third in a series of Novitiate programmes conducted by Ven Mahinda in Buddha's holy site.

We rejoice with the many who have joined in in this offer of lights even though they will not be physical present in Sarnath. Rejoice in the merits and make your aspirations on the night or nights (Nov 17-26) that you have chosen to make the offer of lights.

May this meritorious act of yours kindle the light of wisdom and dispel the darkness of ignorance. May your aspirations be realised. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

SPIRITUALITY WAY OF FACING CRISIS

We need to start now! Bhante Mahinda has this underlying message in his keynote address on Spirituality in Times of Crisis at the recent ALERT National Workshop

"We need to take time to cultivate and purify our minds to realise the true nature of life, our self and the world around us..." This is the spiritual preparedness Bhante Mahinda advocates.

Sprituality prepares us to face crises but we must not wait until a crisis occurs to be spiritual.

Lest it is misunderstood, Bhante points out the difference between being spiritual and being religious.

He says: "We often associate spirituality with religion because religion provides the basis of faith and belief -- which are very important in spirituality. But a religious person may not always be spiritual. They may be able to chant, preach the scriptures and perform other rites and rituals but they may also be very self-centred and egoistic, acting with all sorts of ulterior motives."

What then is a spiritual person? Bhante adds that a true spiritual person, whether monastic or laity, is one who has developed his/her mind to a certain degree of purity -- possessing all the qualities of reverence, humility, contentment and gratitude. He/She has gone beyond the gross idea of self or ego and has realised the state of emptiness in the mind.

Sprituality is about transcending our "self" and the ego. We need to go beyond our deluded idea of "self" and "ownership" and transcend our materialistic outlook on life. Everything that we think is 'ours' -- including our bodies, minds, children, partners, possessions -- are simply made up of causes and conditions. At best, we are their temporary custodians. In times of crisis, there is a very real possibility that we will lose some or all of these things. The only way to effectively prepare ourselves to cope with crisis is to cultivate our spirituality and go beyond the idea of 'I', 'my', 'me' and 'mine'.

In addition to going beyond self, we need more faith and loving kindness to cope with pangs of sorrow, grief and lamentation. Bhante points out that once the shock and numbness stage is over, anger, confusion and self pity may then set it. "Why is this happening to me?","Why did this bad thing happen to my loved one who has been a good person?", "What did he or she do to deserve this?" and other questions that question the unfairness of it all will arise.

This therefore calls for an understanding of the impartial law of cause and effect, which then takes away the pain and lessen the suffering.

EXPERT TIPS ON SAFETY AT HOME

Fit smoke alarms and test them regularly
Have a fire escape plan and practise it often
Check and rectify fire dangers at home
Carry out last-thing-at-night routine

These are just the Four Golden Rules that Supt M Murugiah, Special Operation Unit Officer of Fire and Rescue Department recommends to adhere to for fire safety at home.

Why smoke alarms? Speaking on "Individual and Family Fire Safety" at the recent ALERT National Workshop, Supt Murugiah says one's sense of smell does not work when one is asleep and smoke can put one into even deeper sleep!

He advises fitting at least two smoke alarms (see picture of participants checking out the smoke alarms on display at ALERT Workshop) for a double-storey house, one on each floor. For better protection, have a smoke alarm in every room except the bathroom, kitchen and garage. And fit the alarms at the highest point of the room as close to the centre of the room as possible.


Escape Plan
Supt Murugiah shared the following tips on escaping from a fire:
* Check doors with back of hand and don't open them when they are hot. This means that the fire is one the other side
* Get down and crawl along the floor is there is smoke. The air is cleaner and easier to breathe
* Don't go and look for the cause of the fire
* Head for your pre-determined assembly point outside the house


Check Fire Dangers
According to Supt Murugiah, common places in the house for fire to start are living room, bedroom amd kitchen at night when the occupants are asleep. He cautions on usage of electrical items such as mobile phone chargers. Unplug them after use and allow them to cool completely before putting them away.

Last Thing At Night
Do not leave the television, radio or audio system on standby mode. Only applicances designed for 24-hour use such as refrigerators, freezers should be left unplugged in the night. Also check every room and close all doors before going to bed.

And remember, unplug mobile phone charger when not in use.

BE ALERT, BE PREPARED

"The Alert National Workshop was awesome! Hope we have it in Singapore..."

"...the experience was unforgettable."

"Good balance of practical and theory..."

"...fantastic, very useful."

These were some of the accolades received for the two-day ALERT National Workshop which turned out to be eye-opener for many on our individual state of preparedness for emergencies.

The workshop held on Oct 24 & 25 achieved its over-arching objectives of raising awareness on the importance of emergency readiness and call to action for preparedness.

It was a giant effort by the small Aloka Emergency Readiness Team (ALERT). Their efforts drew participation of more than 200 despite the rather luke warm and often dismal reaction to earlier promotional efforts.

Interest was high throughout -- from Ven Mahinda's keynote address on Spirituality in Times of Crisis at the outset to his closing session on the second day. Significant was attendance did not dwindle towards the later part of the day as would be the norm in workshops.

The good mix of speakers and topics -- ranging from Psychological First Aid to Eco-Karma to Individual & Family Safety -- sustained interest. Popular were the Living and Surival Skills in which participants experienced through simulated sessions what it takes to be in the thick of emergency situations.

The speaker from Australia, Ranmal Samarawickrama, who shared his experience in humanitarian relief work, had the workshop attentive with his tips on preparedness like simply being aware of one's community like knowing your neighbourhood, where's the nearest hospital/clinic etc etc.

The closing session in which Ven Mahinda posed the question quo vadis was much appreciated as one participant aptly put it: "It did not end with telling us what to do after listening, seeing and experiencing. It ended on a very thought provoking note with Ven Mahinda getting us to reflect and work out our individual action plan..."

Awareness is now heightened. It is our hope that the interest sparked can be fanned for a greater burning desire for emergency preparedness. Post-workshop requests to conduct similar workshops in other locations signal that the ALERT fame and flame can keep on light up for the great good, welfare and happiness of the many.