DHAMMA LEARNING, THE ARK WAY

Aloka Rainbow Kids beamed into Aloka House @ Dana One on 25 April 2010, heralding a specially designed experiential and fun-filled Dhamma education programme.

ARK, as it is known by its acronym, was received with excitement as it introduced a modern and contemporary approach to Dhamma learning for children that also required the presence and participation of parents.

Fifteen children and 16 adults arrived with eagerness in anticipation for the first programme to roll out after their interest was heightened by a sneak preview at the previous Sunday’s orientation.

Just like the how the rainbow never fails to bring the child-like in us with spontaneous joy and outbursts of excitement “look, look, the rainbow!”, the ARK programme aims to bring joy and optimism for both children and adults as the Dhamma unfolds for them.

This activity-based interactive programme that forges bonding and cross learning lends a new perspective for the timeless teachings of the Buddha to be imparted and nurtured.

The kids and parents -- four to five in each group -- were assigned to their new Dhamma families named Dana, Sila, Kalyana and Mitta; and in togetherness, they will learn, practise, serve and help one another.

ARK programme, which is run on a fortnightly frequency on the 2^nd and 4^th Sunday of the month, begins with a puja followed by metta bhavana to start the day with thoughts and feeling of loving kindness.

Brain integration exercise comes next. Kids and parents get on their feet for some simple exercises to harmonise their energy and align their bodies and minds for better learning and performance.

Mind and body now prepared, they are now ready for the Dhamma which is delivered in a manner that brings out its brilliance like that of a rainbow which never ceases to amaze children and adults with its wonder and splendour.

A departure from the classroom-style of teaching, the Dhamma is presented vividly in colourful and eye-catching visuals that accompany the messages which are conveyed in clear, simple and succinct manner.

The facilitators too have thought of activities that aptly impart and reinforce certain values. For example, the simple activity of keeping a tissue in the air which drew squeals of laughter from young and old drew home the point of team work and support for one another. Not only that, what dawned upon all was the realisation that it takes only 15 muscles to be happy (laugh) and 72 to frown!

Through another simple exercise of putting on paper good and bad habits, children quickly realised how easily the habitual tendencies grow in them. Owning up to it, they were then guided to make conscious efforts in replacing the bad habits with good ones.

In the first programme,parents had their separate session on “Parents as Role Models”. Trainer Bro Mitra Chong sparked off an interesting discussion on parenting skills. Parents also shared their own personal trials and tribulations in bringing up children.

Kids and adults regroups for hymn singing session which is followed by offering of lunch dana and contemplation on partaking of food. More parent and child group activities and Dhamma learning follow.

Since the inaugural programme, Aloka Rainbow Kids have been enthusiastic, looking forward to the next sessions. Parents too are just as enthusiastic, for they are involved.

ARK indeed shines brightly as in the brilliance of a rainbow. Parents beam with pride at their children’s excitement and enthusiasm. And facilitators are over the moon with the appreciative response.

Vesak and its Significance

Vesak is the time for all of us to reaffirm our faith and confidence in the Triple Gem.

Vesak is the time for us to commit ourselves to walk the Dhamma’s path, to sow the seeds of enlightenment in our hearts and to cultivate wisdom the compassion so as to be able to reach out to help sentient beings in times of need.

Vesak is the time for us to open our hearts to cultivate the compassionate love and cherish the good wish for all that all beings to be well and happy and to pray for the peace, harmony, and stability of this world we live in and to extend goodwill to all irrespective of race, of colour, creed or religious beliefs.

Bhante Mahinda gave this timely reminders in his recorded video Vesak B.E. 2554 message for all.

Recalling the significance of this thrice blessed day of the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha, Bhante traced how each of these events were special and held deep meaning for us till today.

“The birth of the Buddha was a very special occasion. It marked the culmination of the all the great virtues and qualities which the Buddha had perfected from life to life,” he said.

“These virtues or perfections are perfections of dana or generosity, sila (morality), nekkhama (renunciation), panna (wisdom), viriya (effort), khanti (patience), sacca (truthfulness) , adhithanna (resolution), metta (loving kindness), upekkha (equanimity).”

Bhante said the nature of the Buddha’s birth was not an ordinary one. Before he was born as Siddharta Gautama, he was in Tusita Heaven as a great Boddhisatta. He was able to choose the proper time, the place, the country, the family, the clan as well as the mother to whom he is to be born.

Ordinary human beings do not have such privilege but because of the virtues practiced from life to life and perfected, he had the great privilege which indeed made his birth special.

The enlightenment of the Buddha, added Bhante, was also an unique event. “It opened path of deathlessness. It showed the way how mankind can cross that ocean of samsara, the cycle of birth and death, to put an end to old age, sickness and death, once and for all.”

On the full moon day of May in the place now revered as Bodhgaya, Northern India, wisdom dawned upon the Buddha under the bodhi tree. Three important insights arose in him – in the first insight during the first watch of the night (from 6 pm to 10 pm), he saw his previous lives in great detail; in the next watch (between 10 pm and 2 am), he saw how beings die and are born according to their karma; and in the third watch (between 2 am and 6 am), he had the insight of how to put an end to the defiling tendencies of greed, hatred and delusion.

This knowledge or insights have been passed down in a form of a formula known as Paticca Samupaddha or Dependent Origination which explains how suffering arises and ceases. With these three insights, the Buddha was free, having overcome the pains or cravings and attachments. His mind was liberated and the Buddha was endowed with various spiritual powers and unique abilities to teach and enlighten others.

“That is the uniqueness of the enlightenment of the Buddha, which opened the way for human kind to go beyond the shores of suffering to put an end to the cycle of birth and death and overcome old age, sickness and death,” Bhante emphasised.

The third event is referred to as the Maha Parinabbana or the great passing because the Buddha did not die like an ordinary human being. The Buddha passed away with great clarity of mind.

Bhante explained: “We are told how in his reclining posture, his mind was composed. He was able to raise his mind from the first level of mental absorption, from the first jhana, to the second, to the third, to the fourth, and then right up to the eighth jhana. From the eighth jhana, he was able to bring his mind back to the first jhana and from the first, to the second, to the third and to the fourth and then he entered Maha Parinabbana.

“His mind was absolutely clear. He had no more clinging and attachments. No more fear. No more confusion whatsoever. This is how the Buddha he passed away – in a great and unique manner. “

Bhante also reminded us of the very important message that the Buddha left for the world.

Vaya Dhamma Sankara
All component things are subject change or transient are all component things

Apamadena Sampadetha
Work out your deliverance with heedfulness, with mindfulness

Bhante emphasised that it is important that “we all heed this message that the Buddha left for the world as we live in this time of great change and uncertainty”.

Conversations

Three friends – Ah Moe, Lar Lee and Kir Lee – were at their usual mamak stall at the corner. The usual evening bantering took a slightly more serious turn when Lar Lee raised the topic of approaching Vesak...

Lar Lee: Oh, how time flies! Vesak is approaching. Aloka Foundation is seeking volunteers for their stall outside the Buddhist Maha Vihara on Vesak eve and Vesak day.I want to participate in their all-night chanting at Aloka House on the eve and how am I going to volunteer my services at their stall on Vesak day?

Kir Lee: Aiyah, what’s the problem. You make it like a b-i-g problem! Simple. What is Vesak? The thrice-blessed day, right? So, what to do you in this thrice blessed day? Spend your time in practice lah! Why waste time doing unbeneficial things like selling things at the stall?

Reflect on the birth of the Buddha, which is the culmination of many virtues he had perfected from life to life. Didn’t Bhante (Mahinda) tell us that whilst remembering the birth of the Buddha, we must also recall how he perfected the virtues of generosity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, effort, patience, truthfulness, resolution, compassion, loving kindness and equamity...

Lar Lee: But, but...

Kir Lee: What but, but! Reflect on the Buddha and his Enlightenment. Didn’t you read Bhante’s article on the Significance of Vesak? Bhante reminded us the Buddha’s unique and most profound knowledge and insight which arose in him on the night of his enlightenment that led to Him showing us the way...

Lar Lee: I know, but being of service at the stall...

Kir Lee: Let me finish. Reflecting on his attainment of Parinibbana. Don’t you recall the Buddha’s last message. Bhante always recite it in Pali, vayadhamma... i can remember but it means Transient are all component things. Work out your deliverance with heedfulness. Ah, ah... shouldn’t we then spend Vesak in honour of the Buddha to strive on with diligence?

Lar Lee: I agree with you. But you don’t allow me to talk. Now have you finished? Can I talk now?

Ah Moe: Kir Lee, you have said so much. Let Lar Lee speak his mind.

Lar Lee: Thousands flock to the Buddhist Maha Vihara on the eve as well as on Vesak each year. They may be just ‘once-a-year Buddhist’, as what some of us might want to refer to them. But let us look at their intentions. Isn’t it in reverence...to pay homage...to seek blessing?

Shouldn’t we then rejoice with this demonstration of faith and devotion? Shouldn’t we be of service to them and pave the way for them to further strengthen their faith and confidence? You may view it differently but joss stick clearance, crowd control etc etc etc are noble and meritorious efforts – service for the happiness of the many.

Isn’t service listed by the Buddha as one of the ten meritorious deeds? Isn’t service a form of dana, which in turn is one of the ten paramis or perfections?

On top of that, what Aloka Foundation is doing at its stall has more spiritual significance than just selling of tickets for light offering. It is promoting the offering of lights at the Buddha’s holy places which will be Kushinara, Sravasti and Lumbini in conjunction with its Novitiate Programme at the end of this year. It is creating the opportunity for those who will not be going to these holy sites to at least offer lights.

By being a volunteer at the stall to promote this, we will be paving the way for others to connect with the Buddha, illuminating the darkness of our ignorance as a result of our delusions. Isn’t this a noble effort and exemplary service?

And my dear friend, aren’t all these practice. Practice is not just chanting and meditating. Please do not get me wrong. I am not belittling chanting and meditation practice on Vesak. I am weighing it against the practice of service, dana, metta, karuna, mudita, upekkha and many more virtues.

So Kir Lee don’t have this blinkered view.

Kir Lee: How can you say that of me!

Ah Moe: Hold it the two of you. I have been listening to both of you. You have put forward strong points in your view of how Vesak should be celebrated. I agree with both of you. There’s no right or wrong in what both of you have said. Is a zebra black with white stripes or white with black stripes? Is the cup half empty or half full?

What both you have put forth underlines that Vesak should be celebrated as an opportunity to draw inspiration and to reaffirm our commitment to the Buddha, as the fully enlightened teacher; the Dhamma, as the sublime teachings that has liberated many and has potential to liberate many more; and the Sangha, the noble disciples that have kept the dispensation of the Buddha still available today.

It is a day of devotion, a day of inspiration, a day of celebration of what the Buddha has prized us with a gift that excels all gifts.

I’ll be celebrating it by joining in the metta bhavana in Aloka House on the eve and stay for the first hour of the all-night chanting. On Vesak Day, I’ll volunteer to be of service at the Aloka Foundation stall and help in promoting the light offering.

I get to be devotional in practice and also inspirational in practice. And I suggest that both of you join me.

With open mouths, Both Lar Lee and Kir Lee looked at Ah Moe. The wisdom... lighting up the darkness instead of complaining of the darkness.

Lar Lee & Kir Lee: Wah Ah Moe, you terror lah!

ALERT in the Last Message of the Buddha

Rescue efforts after Qinghai earthquake

Survivor of Haiti earthquake

Iceland fiery volcano


Qinghai. Perth. Iceland. Chile. Haiti. Names that equate to untold suffering.

The spate of earthquakes and natural disasters of late are just too close for comfort.

What are we to do? How are we to prepare for the unexpected?

Aloka Foundation's Dhamma Devotion Day or 3D, on Saturday, 24 April 2010 at Aloka House @ Dana 1 will devote to spiritual preparedness.


Aptly titled ALERT in the Last Message of the Buddha, this 3D session will feature a never-shown-before recording of Bhante Mahinda on the Buddha's last message and its context of spiritual preparedness.

Come and listen and be guided by Bhante on how to be ALERT spiritually as well as in the context of Aloka Emergency Readiness Team, how to be prepared physically and psychologically.

This is monthly gathering of all Friends of Aloka to engage in communal Dhamma practice and sharing will start at 3.30 pm. Bhante's recording will be followed by group discussion. The session will end with metta bhavana to dedicate merits to the victims and survivors of the earthquakes.

Do register by providing the Aloka Foundation office at 03.7842.7001 your name, email address & contact.

BEYOND CAPACITY

Registration for Bhante Mahinda's Public Talk titled Beyond Self has touched 1,000! The Imperial Ballroom in One World Hotel is now filled to the brim and no more registration will be accepted.

Sadhu! We rejoice with the good response.

BEYOND EXPECTATIONS!

The response to Bhante Mahinda's public talk "Beyond Self" on March 12 is hot!

600 seats of the 1,000-capacity Imperial Ballroom in One World Hotel, Bandar Utama, have already been filled up! And the organiser, Innovate Solutions Sdn Bhd, is still counting.

The online registration has been outstanding just from awareness created from email blast alone. It was even before the printed posters have been distributed to temples and centres for display.

Expectations are that there will be a surge following the quarter-page advertisement in the Star on March 3 and subsequent write up in the Metro Section on March 5.

Please hurry to register if you have not done so! Confirmation of seat is via seat number given immediately receipt of online registration.

Since the email blast, the Aloka Foundation office has been flooded with enquiries as why online registration... why Friday... why hotel...

Through the kind auspices of sponsor and organiser, Innovate Solutions, this is the first time that a Dhamma talk by Bhante Mahinda is held at a hotel venue with such a large seating capacity. It is the intention of the sponsor and organiser for many to be able to listen to Bhante in what it considers a "rare and much awaited talk"

Friday? It is a celebration of Bhante's 61st birthday. For this occasion, Bhante has aptly chosen to teach "Beyond Self".

As we all know, peace and happiness can be so fleeting. One moment we are happy, the next, sad. And often, we blame it on a myriad of external factors. Undoubtedly, it is only through an understanding of the true nature of self that one will realise that it is the importance attached to self that peace and happiness elude us.

The idea of 'self' -- i, my, me, mine -- is the greatest stumbling block to lasting peace and happiness. Bhante Mahinda will provide an insight of going beyond self to overcome this and in the process, find the pure and unconditional love, paving the way for the true meaning and purpose of life to unfold!

If this has stirred your interest in the talk, log on to http://dhammatalk.org.my for more information and register online.