Guan Yin World Peace & Harmony Puja 2007

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

This coming wednesday, MMUDSG will be having an Outing to Guan Yin World Peace & Harmony Puja 2007.
http://www.guanyinworld.org/main_e.html

The details are as below:

Date: 1st Aug 2007(wednesday)

Time: 5pm-10:30pm

Venue: Stadium Bukit Jalil

Attire: Awakening T-shirt (charity for only RM5)

For those who dun hv awakening t-shirt, pls join us in white t-shirt. No shorts and fancy colours costumes allowed.
Transportation will be provided(F.O.C). Please gather at STAD building at 5pm sharp.

Guan Yin World Peace & Harmony Puja 2007
2007 is the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's Independence. As such the Deputy Home Affairs Minister of Malaysia Datuk Tan Chai Ho initiated the Guan Yin World Peace & Harmony Puja 2007 (for full info http://www.guanyinworld.org/main_e.html ) so as to do our part in repaying the debts of gratitude to the Buddha, teachers and elders, nation, and all sentient beings.

Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery is proud to be associated with the Guan Yin World Peace & Harmony Puja 2007 as the volunteer corps assisting the official vegetarian caterer.

We now humbly appeal to all in the world to join hearts and hands for 3 days, from July 30, 2007 to August 1, 2007, by abstaining from killing, taking a pure vegetarian diet (omitting dairy products, eggs, alcohol and the five pungent plants), and reciting the holy name of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, to accomplish this Great Assembly. You can bestow happiness and reach for world peace, all it takes are wholesome act and all calamities and sufferings will melt away.

May every living being,
Our minds as one and radiant with light,
Share the fruits of peace,
With hearts of goodness, luminous and bright.
If people hear and see,
How hands and hearts can find in giving unity,
May their minds awake,
To Great Compassion, wisdom and to joy.
May kindness find reward,
May all who sorrow leave their grief and pain;
May this boundless light,
Break the darkness of their endless night.
Because our hearts are one,
This world of pain turns into Paradise,
May all become compassionate and wise...
May all become compassionate and wise...

It is not a problem if we do not have much material things to share with sentient beings, for the most important thing is to spread the practice of loving kindness and compassion far and wide, to every corner of the world.

For more information,
Log on to: http://www.guanyinworld.org/main_e.html
or http://www.guanyinworld.org/
Contact: Wai Chin 012-5477185 waichinc826@Y!

With Metta,
MMU Dharma Sharing Group

Daily Dana
By Rasika Wijayaratne

A question that arises is what can we do as a dâna (giving) on top of making offerings to the Lord Buddha’s unequalled qualities? There are other forms of daily dâna we can practice in addition to this, the emphasis being on it being daily, or regular, and also the letting go aspect of true dâna.

We can donate money to beggars and buskers on a daily basis. For those who work in the city this is not a problem as there is a beggar or a busker on every street corner, but for everyone else another approach maybe required. For example a till or another container can be kept aside and each day a small amount can be deposited into it for the purposes of dâna. When its full, the contents can be donated to a beggar, a busker or alternatively to a charity of choice including the temple. Giving money like this reduces our attachment to it.

Treating our friends to meals either when we go out or by inviting them over is another dâna. Even sharing simple things such as sweets with friends is a dâna. Offering refreshments to guests and friends when they arrive is an act of kindness that not only strengthens ties, but is also a valid dâna. Letting someone merge into your lane while driving is also a form of dâna!

Another good dâna to perform is giving to animals in and around your home. Any unprocessed and uncooked food items such as bread, plain rice, fruit and cereals that is thrown out, but is still fit for consumption, can be kept aside and offered to birds on a daily basis. Don't give animals something you wouldn't eat! Alternatively bird feed can be obtained from shops. Even our lunch break is a good time to feed birds or other animals. Even feeding and looking after the pets, making sure that their water bowl is always full is a dâna of our time.

Sometimes the most valuable thing we can give to others is our time, energy and knowledge. Taking the time to listen to someone, to talk to and comfort a patient, to help a younger brother or sister with their home work and giving up our time and energy to help someone out are all good forms of dâna that involve the giving of our precious time, energy and knowledge. In fact the word sramadâna, the Sinhala word for a working bee means the giving of effort (srama = effort, dâna = to give). Here the emphasis needs to be on not expecting anything in return, not even a thanks or a smile, from the person you are benefiting; it needs to be completely self-less.

In all of the above letting go of something valuable is what is occurring, whether it be money, food, time, energy or knowledge, which is also called renunciation (nekkhamma) in Buddhism. It's important to not remain attached to what you give after you give it as otherwise dâna does not occur, in fact it is important to not be attached to what you give before giving, when giving it and after giving it. You may have noticed that everything outlined here requires effort on our parts.

To do anything good and worthwhile requires effort, but the results are worth it in the end.

Happy giving!

Hymns Sharing Session With Our DSG Advisor

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

I believe that most of the people love to listen to the music to relax their mind, soul and body. It is really a good way to release our pressure. However, have you ever been listen to the teachings of the Buddha through Buddhist Hymns? Perhaps this is a better way for us to relax besides that can gained deep inspiration and peace after listening to the Buddhist Hymns.

Actually there are many advantages of buddisht hymns
•Improves the quality of life.
• Creates positive attitudes.
• Help people share experience and understand each other.
• Contribute to lifelong learning and personal development.
• Helps to build confidence and self esteem.
• Contribute to one’s well being.
• Helps people to find positive means of expression.

WANT TO KNOW MORE AND SHARE WITH US?

This coming Wednesday (25/7/07) MMUDSG will be having a Hymns Sharing Session.
We are proudly and happy to invited Bro Ong Boon Hoong to be with us in this hymns sharing session. The details are as below:

Date: 25th July 2007 (Wednesday)

Time: 8pm-10pm

Venue: FOE CR1024

Activity: Hymns Sharing Session

Bro Ong Boon Hoong is a lecturer of FOE. Besides is a active Buddhist, Bro Ong is also our DSG advisor. On that night, Bro Ong will share his dharma learning experiences during his university time with us. Beside that, Hymns will be play with guitar by Bro Ong and we will have some sharing on those hymns played.

So what are you waiting for? Let's come to grow in understanding and developing faith in the Triple Gem through the buddisht hymns besides having fun and relaxing your mind. Hope to see you there lo. *(n_n)

#Refreshment will be provided after the session.

Sukhi Hotu
May you be well and happy always
MMU Dharma Sharing Group

Daily Thoughts with Dhamma values

Some short sharing for your reading...

"Buddhist painting - wheel of life"

The bits and pieces of our lives may seem routine and mundane - getting up, bathing, going to the bathroom, cooking, eating, washing dishes, cleaning, take care of children and grandchildren, being with friends, gardening, working, driving etc.

The joy of the practice is doing everything in mindfulness, no matter how routine, because all these little things when put together equal our lives.

This is what we do. The practice is now or never, with what we do and where we are. We can experience the joy of moving through our days in freedom and with equanimity, walking with peaceful steps and looking at all beings with our eyes of compassion.

So, dear friends, please share with us any Dhamma readings of yours, tell us how it(they) has(have) enhanced your daily dose of mindfulness ...

A bow to you, let's breathe and smile :))

With Metta

The cultivation of good mind

Feel TENSION with the study now?
This week we trying the different way to apply dharma into our life, a relaxing and cultivate our mind section.
Cultivation practice of mind and body which is practised through different physical exercises and meditation~

Date: 18/07/2007(wednesday)
Time: 8.00m
Venue: Cr 1024

See you there!

Regards,
Dharma Sharing Group(DSG)

Movies Screening: [[A Monk Off ]] 《一休和尚》影片分享

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

What a bored wednesday night, already watched <> somemore no transport to go Cheras Pasar Malam.....sien~~~

Haha...got nothing to do on this coming wednesday night? Do drop by FOE CR1024!!!

MMUDSG will be having a movies screening & sharing on of some of the "A Monk Off's cartoons" on this coming wednesday night, the details are as below:

Date: 11th July 2007 (WED)

Time: 8pm-10pm

Venue: FOE CR1024

Activity: Movie Screening & Sharing [[A Monk Off's cartoon]]

[A Monk Off]

Master is a closed Japanese Shogunate era of moral high priest, cartoon classic works off a description of a monk is off. Master early age with wisdom and savvy for ordinary people to overcome their difficulties, in addition to the strong support the weak story, each story is replete with mechanisms, giving, very spiritual enlightment.

Funny and enjoyable yet you can gain and understand a lot of dharma values from the movie.. So, don't miss out this movie sharing. Hope to see you there!!!

*refreshment will be provided in the end of the session.

-conduct in mandarin

唉...又是个沉闷的星期三，最新影片《Transformer》已看了，又没交通去焦赖夜市场...好闲啊~~~

哈哈...这星期三晚上没约会，在宿舍闲着没事做吗？到FOE CR1024去走一趟吧！！！

佛法分享小组将带给您一项“一休和尚”的卡通影片分享,详情如下：

日期： 2007年7月11日

时间：8pm-10pm

地点：FOE CR1024

活动：《一休和尚》卡通影片分享

[一休和尚]

一休法师是日本幕府时代的道德高僧，卡通经典名作一休和尚是描述一休法师幼年时期以智慧及悟性为市井小民解决困难，锄强扶弱的真实故事，每集故事中都充满机制，善心。

此影片即精彩又好看而且能从中摄取佛法，因此切勿错过咯，我们不见不散哦！！！

*分享会后备有茶点。

With Metta,

MMU Dharma Sharing Group

Dhamma Sharing: Existance Of Evil

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

This week MMUDSG are grateful to have invited Uncle Vijaya Samarawickrama to come and share with us regarding to the Existance Of Evil.

Date: 4th July 2007

Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm

Venue: FOE CR1024

Activity: Dhamma Sharing=[Existance Of Evil]

What is evil meant to you? Do you think evil exists in this world? It is something awful? It is something creepy? Have you ever felt that you yourself might be the evil of your life?!

As what stated in the first noble truth, our life is suffering. To live, you must suffer. It is impossible to live without experiencing some kind of suffering. Sickness, injury, tiredness, old age and eventually death, loneliness, frustrations, fear, embarrassment, disappointment, anger…

However, doesn’t u feel that we should find an exit for all these? What should we do? What can we do?

All your doubts will be answered in this wonderful sharing session. So what are you waiting for?
Do come and join us on this coming wednesday at CR1024.
#Refreshment will be provided in the end of the sharing.

===Speakers’s Biodata===

Vijaya Samarawickrama, or more fondly know as Uncle Vijaya in the Buddhist community, has begun his teaching career after trained as a specialist in the teaching of English as a second language at the Malayan Teachers’ Training College in Liverpool , England . He later obtained a B.A. (Hons) in England and Linguistic from the University of Malaya and M.A. (Drama and Theater) from the University of Hawaii in the U.S. He is now is a retired lecturer from the University Teknologi MARA in 1990, after 20 years of teaching there. Uncle Vijaya is currently lecturing on the subject of World Religions and Theater in Taylor ’s College. He has traveled widely to give Dhamma talks and to participate in seminars, and has delivered papers at international Buddhist conferences. He also actively involved in interfaith dialogues through the Malaysia consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS).

Sukhi Hotu

With Metta,
MMU Dharma Sharing Group