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.
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.
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