“Buddhism in Daily Life” – A New Course

A new non-examination structured course, “Buddhism in Daily Life” made its debut on March 18, 2013.  To date the enrollment attracted more than fifty attendees although there was not much publicity or advertisement.

For many, such a course has been a long awaited dream come true when they can dispense with the academic learning and the tears that come with the preparation for examinations.  The course is tailored towards right understanding and practice in our daily lives and is especially welcomed by the older devotees and those who want to learn and practise the Dhamma in their daily chores at home, work, in the classrooms and simply wherever they are, with no more examinations, no difficult words and phrases to memorise.  Just come with an open mind on how to apply what you have learnt straightaway to your everyday life – the people you meet, the things you do and the events that will confront you as you go about your businesses.

Lesson in session.

 

The course is conducted on Mondays.  The facilitators are Bhantes Cakkapala and Raja, Teacher Raymond Yow, assisted by Teacher Lily Chan, Brother Alex Lim and Sisters Suriaty Simon and Alice Lim.

 

Course Outline

To equip the students with the knowledge of what Buddhism really is.  It is a religion to be experienced and not just believed blindly.

To understand the teachings of the Buddha who selflessly propagated this religion for 45 years during his Lifetime, without holding back what is essential in achieving enlightenment through self-diligence.

To see for oneself the true nature of what life it truly is – that of sufferings, impermanence and non-soul – thereby providing a direction to hone our practise along a Path to gain our Liberation from the Wheel of Life and Death.

The objective of the course is: AS WE LEARN, SO WE WILL PRACTISE.

 

 Time Schedule

7:30 pm to 7:45 pm – Short Recitation and Short Meditation

7:45 pm to 8:30 pm – Lesson Part 1

8:30 pm to 8:45 pm – Break

8:45 pm to 9:25 pm – Lesson Part 2

9:25 pm to 9:30 pm – Sharing of Merits and Chatta Manava Gatha

 

Meditation in session.

My Takeaway

On the fourth lesson, I learned that the story about the Buddha’s three visits to Ceylon is a legend that was not mentioned in the Buddhist Scriptures.  Although, much heralded and included in some textbooks and taught in some classes on Buddhism , as well as included in syllabuses for examinations, we should be discerning to know that legends, superstitions and hearsays are not compatible to the teachings of the Buddha.

“For, Brahmin, if, when one speaks about what one has heard, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline, I say that one should not speak about what one has heard. 

But if, when one speaks about what one has heard, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase, I say that one should speak about what one has heard.”

– Anguttara Nikaya, The Book of the Fours, Sutta 183 (3) Heard. (Wisdom Publication).

 

In the course of our daily lives, we will encounter multitude of events, word, experiences, and so on.  How do we deal with these?

If there is something devoid of truth, it is not Buddhism.”

– Venerable Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero, (“The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, The Supreme Buddha”).

 

For those who are interested to learn the right understanding and practice of Buddhism in our daily lives, you may contact Brother Raymond Yow at his emails: aaaa_rayymk@yahoo.com, or raymondyow@eshine.com.sg.

Sahsu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Contributor: Chin Kee Thou

Class Representative

English Dhamma Class

16th April, 2013