by Loh Lee Lee
Metta Bhavana. Does it sound familiar to you? What does it mean to you? Do you know we have Metta Bhavana session every night at Aloka House?
What is Metta Bhavana? Metta Bhavana(MB) is a daily chanting and meditation session at Aloka House. For most people MB is just another chanting session held in a temple or any Buddhist Center. For me, it is more than that.
I have been leading the 3rd Wednesday MB session for some time until one day I was requested to chant solo! Normally, we will chant following Bhante Mahinda's chanting CD when leading the session. I panicked! Chanting without the CD as guide is new for me! What if I could not remember the full sequence? What if I chanted wrongly? What if I forget the words! What if this happen? What if that happen? Lots of things played in my mind! With the encouragement given by the senior MB coordinator, I braved myself to lead the session. To my surprise... I enjoyed the whole experience... the feeling of being a follower in chanting and a person who actually lead was very different. It was as though I was talking to the Buddha directly during the chant. I could feel the connection with the Triple Gem! My whole body was energised and happy at the end of the session. It was an amazing experience!
I also discovered the correct pronunciation to some of the chant (as advised later by the senior MB coordinator); which means that all these years I chanted the Pali words wrong while I thought I chanted right :P
Now, I look forward to the MB session! After a stressful day at work, my mind will become peaceful, energised and happy after the MB session. So, for all of you who have not attended any MB session I strongly encouraged you to attend. And try to lead some of the sessions. I can guarantee that you will not regret it! Do not worry! I will be most happy to guide you through the whole session. And those who have been away for some time in participating in the MB session, do come back and connect yourself to the Triple Gem again!
See you all during the Metta Bhavana session every 3rd Wednesday evening!
NOTE:
Metta Bhavana is conducted daily at Aloka House. 3C team leads lead the sessions as follows:
1st Wednesday. Lim Chung Lu, PJ Group Lead
2nd Monday...... Ang Cheng Tuan, Sakyan Group Lead
3rd Wednesday Loh Lee Lee, Sati Group Lead
All other evenings are led by one of the committee members of Metta Bhavana.
Weekdays: 8pm ~ 9pm
Weekends: 6pm ~ 7pm
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