NEWS
Looking for a place to get some Buddhist news? Look no further!
Check out all of our news and latest updates below.
JAN 2024
BEYOND TIME: THE LEGACY OF
BUDDHA'S BONE RELICS
THE BUDDHA'S RELICS IN SINGAPORE
The inaugural Kapilavastu Buddha Relics Exhibition was held on 24-28 November 2023 at Rise of Asia Museum, Haw Par Villa. It drew nearly 9,000 visitors across the five-day showcase. Find out more in Issue 417.
MAR 2024
CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUDDHISM IN SINGAPORE
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SPECIAL
Women have always been part of Buddhist narrative since its earliest years, and their monastic ordination dates back to more than 2,500 years ago. Check out Issue 419.
FEB 2024
AFFINITY IN NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARD CEREMONY
FO GUANG SHAN SINGAPORE
Fo Guang Shan (Singapore) held an "Affinity in our Neighborhoods Bursary Awards Ceremony" and close to 250 youths from across all cultures and beliefs were proud recipients of the bursary award this year. Find out more in Issue 418.
APR 2024
BLOSSOMS OF LOVE, COMPASSION & DEDICATION
SINGAPORE BUDDHIST FEDERATION AT 2024 CHINGAY
Singapore Buddhist Federation has been part of the Chingay Parade since 2016 and we interviewed their long-serving volunteers. So do find out more about the interview in Issue 420.
Past News Features
2022-2023
FO GUANG SHAN
Anniversary Commemoration
Fo Guang Shan commemorated its 56th Anniversary with ‘Sutra Calligraphy Across the World’ event on Buddha’s Light Day on 16 May 2022. In view of the current COVID-19 Safe Management Measures (SMM), the commemoration event was held virtually, bringing everyone together in the cyber space to simultaneously transcribe The Heart Sutra to commemorate of Fo Guang Shan’s Founding Day. May the merits from Sutra Transcription bless all with safety from the COVID-19 pandemic, peace and wellbeing.
BODHIYANA SINGAPORE
Half-Day Onsite Retreat
On 8 May 2022, Ajahn Brahm led an onsite half-day retreat, 9.30am-2.30pm at Chui Huay Lim Club Ballroom with a full turnout of attendees, reaching full capacity for ballroom (following withint SMM guidelines). This onsite retreat is the first retreat by Ajahn Brahm outside of Australia, since COVID-19 outbreak, after 2 years! The first segement of the retreat was a Dharma talk, followed by Guided Meditation, a Question-and-Answer session and lunch. The second segment resumed after lunch with a closing talk and meditation.
MY LITTLE GEMS
Gifting the Four Requisites
The Buddha taught, ‘Before giving, the mind of the giver is happy; while giving, the mind of the giver is made peaceful and having given, the mind of the giver is uplifted’.
On 21 May 2022, My Little Gems School received Phra Goh as a special guest speaker at their centre, providing a chance for their preschoolers to learn from and interact with members of the Sangha. They learnt from Phra Goh the daily routine of a monk, how to pay respects to them, how to offer requisites and how to make the offerings. In addition, they also had a chance to practise giving when interacting with Phra Goh.
METTA WELFARE ASSOCIATION
Me + You, Shine the Light Forward
The Metta Welfare Association (MWA) unveiled their 30th Anniversary Logo on 6 May 2022. Comprising a collection of colourful dots, the logo symbolises the collaborative efforts of individuals as MWA commits to serve the community. Themed, ‘Me + You, Shine the Light Forward’, it represents the collective journey; present and in the future, where MWA hopes to continue making a difference and an impact in the lives of the people they serve.
DI ZANG LIN
Publication of Diamond Sutra Liturgy
Di Zang Lin (DZL) is publishing both the print and audio version of the Diamond Sutra Liturgy, a liturgy is commonly used to dedicate merits to the deceased but could be used for auspicious events. Due to it fast losing circulation, DZL hopes to preserve this beautiful piece of Buddhist literature by printing it. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/dizanglin.
GREEN HAVEN
Plant a Seed of Hope
Green Haven Halfway House is a division of Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services (SBWS) established in 1992. It provides a 6-month to 12-month residential rehabilitation programme for ex-drug offenders, and accepts referrals and individuals who request for direct walk-in. For more information, please visit https://sbws.org.sg/en/home.
SINGAPORE BUDDHIST FEDERATION
Vesak Day 2566
This year, The Singapore Buddhist Federation (SBF) will be holding a series of activities for Vesak Day 2566 such as virtual light offering and workshops – watercolour brush calligraphy, floral arrangement and resin crystal trinke. SBF has launched ‘AskShifu Series: What is happening on Our Vesak Day 2566?’ in preparation for the upcoming Vesak celebration.
Check out their Facebook for more AskShifu Series LIVE at their Vesak Day event (1-3 May 2022) that will be held at SBF at https://linktr.ee/sbfyouth.
SINGAPORE BUDDHIST MISSION
Vesak Day 2566 Live Celebrations
Celebrate Vesak Day together with Singapore Buddhist Mission (physically) on 15 May 2022 at SAFRA Toa Payoh ballroom! Rejoice in this joyous Buddhist festivity with morning blessings, prayers and meditation with Maha Sangha, and #MusicForMetta LIVE concert with Buddhist hymns. Programme highlights include Merit Sharing and Vesak Greetings from Venerables around the world and vegetarian Gratitude lunch.
Event jointly brought to you by Singapore Buddhist Mission, Buddhist Youth Network and Happy Productions.
BUDDHIST FELLOWSHIP
BF Indonesian Buddhist Community
BF Indonesian Buddhist Community held a Dharma talk with special guest speaker Bhante Atthadhiro Thera to share the Dhamma Live via Zoom and YouTube simultaneously for Indonesian Service on 17 April 2022, 2-4pm. Titled ‘Finding Balance Between Ambition and Contentment’, the Dharma talk was delivered in Bahasa Indonesian.
To watch recorded talk, visit https://tinyurl.com/IBCYoutube.
AMITABHA BUDDHIST CENTRE
Welcoming Walk-In Visitors
From 19 April 2022, Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC) welcomes walk-in visitors who are fully vaccinated (above 12 years old) for visitation during the Centre’s operation hours from 10.30am-6pm, from Tuesday to Sunday. Registration will be required for unvaccinated visitors prior to visit.
For more details and registration, please visit: https://fpmtabc.appointlet.com.
THE BUDDHIST LIBRARY
Saturday Meditation &
Dharma Class
The Buddhist Library commenced Saturday Meditation and Dharma Class from 12 March 2022, every Saturday, 3-5pm with the last session ending on 14 May 2022. Held via Zoom, the class requires no registration.
For more details, visit https://buddhlib.org.sg/.
BUDDHIST AND PALI COLLEGE OF SINGAPORE
One Teacher, Many Traditions
Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC) hosted a visit for the Diploma students from Buddhist and Pali College at Mangala Vihara on 2 April 2022. ABC’s President Tan Hup Cheng introduced key aspects of Vajrayana Buddhism as a set of specialised practices within the Mahayana Tradition and explained the significance of various sacred objects. He also shared that the 1000-armed Chenrezig statue and 21 Tara statues on the main altar represent the two essential qualities of compassion and wisdom that practitioners have to cultivate to gain Enlightenment and to fulfil their aspiration to benefit all sentient beings. In addition, the group also watched a short clip from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s talk on how Tibetan Buddhism can be traced to the great Nalanda tradition of India, and the emphasis on the use of logic, reasoning and analysis in one’s Dharma practice. Lastly, Bro Tan also shared that ABC looks forward to further opportunities to interact with our Dharma brothers and sisters across the different Buddhist traditions.
SAKYA TENPHEL LING
The 43rd Sakya Trinzin Enthronement Ceremony
The Enthronement Ceremony of His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin was broadcast live over 5 sessions on 16 and 17 March 2022.
To watch the recorded sessions, visit https://www.facebook.com/sakyatrizinenthronement/live
KONG MING SAN PHOR KARK SEE MONASTERY
Qing Ming Festival
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery for has listing opening hours for Qing Ming-related events at the monastery from 19 March to 17 April 2022.
For more information, https://www.kmspks.org.
THE BUDDHIST UNION
Memorial Service
At 11am on 9 March 2022, The Buddhist Union held a memorial service for the first anniversary of the death of late Venerable Master Bao Shi, the former Chairman of the Buddhist Union with invited guests, members and devotees gracing the occasion. Continuing the practice compassion and commitment to charity and betterment of lives in society, donation funds and awards were also presented during the service.
The current Abbot of The Buddhist Union, Venerable Bao Tong, delivered the Opening Address, expressing gratitude and respect for the work late Venerable Master Bao Shi demonstrated as a trustworthy teacher, a cherished colleague, and a visionary leader. Over the years, Master Bao Shi has spared no effort to care about the poor and disadvantaged groups in society, and actively promote charity and welfare undertakings. The spirit and legacy of the Buddha Drama work of the late Venerable Master Bao Shi will inspire successors to follow her example and continue to light the cause for Buddhist charity and education.
BUDDHIST FELLOWSHIP
Inspiring Sundays
In Buddhist Fellowship’s Inspiring Sunday Dhamma talk held on 6 March 2022, 10.30am at the Buddhist Fellowship West Centre as well as via BF’s Facebook Live, Sis Sylvia Bay gave a Dharma Talk titled, “Finding Time for Daily Dhamma Practice”. In the talk, she tackled common experiences by the lay community as well as excuses for not practising the Dharma consistently, and revealed how we can find time to practise the Dharma.
Video and slides from the session can be found at https://www.facebook.com/buddhistfellowship/.
MEMBER COUNTRIES OF SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION
Online Exhibition
The first ever Online Exhibition on Shared Buddhist Heritage of member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is developed and curated by the National Museum, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, India. The exhibition showcases rare Buddhist treasures form the following countries and institutions: India (National Museum, New Delhi and Indian Museum, Kolkata), Kazakhstan (National Museum of Kazakhstan), China (Dun Huang Academy China), Kyrgyzstan (National Hisotrical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic), Pakistan (Museums of Pakistan), Russia (State Museum of Oriental Art, Moscow), Tajikistan (renowned archaeological sites of Uzbekistan).
TRIBUTE TO 3 MASTERS
Dedication of Merits
Locally and overseas, there were Dharma assemblies such as light offering ceremonies, offering to the Sangha and life liberation where these meritorious deeds were also dedicated to the swift return of Venerable Guang Chao, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh and Kyabje Dodrubchen Rinpoche for the benefits of all suffering beings.
Photos by Bhante L A Thero via Jin Xing Facebook [Saving Cows Again 19 February 2022 - Part 4]
DODRUPCHEN CHORTEN TRUST
Mahaparinirvana of His Holiness Kyabje Dodrupchen Rinpoche
The Dodrupchen Chorten Trust announced that His Holiness Kyabje Dodrupchen Rinpoche, the Fourth Dodrupchen Rinpoche and one of the most important contemporary Masters in the Nyingma and Dzogchen traditions of Tibetan Buddhism attained Mahaparinirvana on the afternoon of 25 January 2022 and the public audience of the KUDUNG of HH Kyabje Rinpoche commenced on 1 February 2022.
2022 SPECIAL KAGYU MONLAM
Live Webcast
The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, said, “Kagyu Monlam is to spread the seeds of loving kindness and pure motivation, to activate their power, and hence bring about genuine peace, love, happiness and well-being in the world.” This year, Kagyu Monlam was held from 10-17 February 2022 and the live webcast can be viewed at http://www.kagyumonlam.org/.
THE BUDDHIST LIBRARY
Online Fundraising
The Buddhist Library Family Day Funfair has been the annual fundraising event that keeps their programmes and activities running and enabling them to provide free Dharma. However, this annual funfair has pivoted online due to the COVID-19 Safe Management Measures, the online fundraising activities include offering of candles, flowers and also purchase of Thangka by the late Thangka Artist Tenzin Khedup.
BUDDHIST FELLOWSHIP
HAPPY Workout
Buddhist Fellowship held HAPPY workout sessions since 2 October 2021, and the last session of the year will be on 18 Dec, 1-.30am-12pm. ‘HAPPY’ –Healthy Ageing Promotion Programme for YOU! – is a programme, designed in Nagoya, Japan to help that region cope with an increase in the number of seniors dealing with mental health problems ranging from depression to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Dual-task exercises are activities where the individual performs a physical and a mental task. An example would be stepping on the spot and counting out loud.
KONG MENG SAN
PHOR KARK SEE MONASTERY
KMS Dharma School Admission
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery has commenced KMS Dharma School registration, open to both existing students and prospective new students. KMS Dharma School has programmes aimed at instilling positive Buddhism values in students who are in Primary school (Primary 1-6) and Secondary school (Secondary 1-4), and youths (aged 17 to 20 years old).
