It was just last year we had an enjoyable trip to Tangkak to sample some of the finest durians in Malaysia, Mao Shan, Jin Feng, etc. Not to mention the great seafood and shopping.
The Durian Season is here again…
In conjunction with the Graduation of the 2012 YMBA Diploma Class this year, by popular demand, we will do it one more time.
It is also a time for great fellowship and getting to know each other more. Guess what, during the last trip I know more of everyone in one day than the last few years combined… haha.
Block out this date on your calendar … 21st July 2012, Saturday. The cost is expected to be around $80.
To the 2012 YMBA Graduation Class members, pls indicate your response in the survey below …
Move above scroll bar slightly to the right and click on “Start Survey” to begin the survey.
On demand, Bro Koh Yew Wah has kindly consented to conduct Pali class at Mangala Vihara.
Bro Koh is a well learned Pali student of Ven Somananda of Ruwan Temple and has benefited greatly from his style of teaching Pali.
Lessons will be conducted at a slow pace to ensure the understanding of each participants.
If interested, pls indicate your intentions from the link below.
*
[polldaddy survey=”C74364531CA3BDB5″ type=”button” title=”Learn Pali from Bro Koh Yew Wah” style=”inline” text_color=”000000″]
Pls register latest by 2nd Mar 2012. Start date will be informed later.
Bro Lee is a recent graduate of the Sri Lanka YMBA 5-year Diploma programme conducted at the Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple and a current Teacher in the 5th year Diploma class. He also holds a Diploma from the Buddhist & Pali College of Singapore which is affiliated to the Buddhist & Pali University of Sri Lanka, also conducted at the Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple.
Bro Lee setup and manage the informative Buddhist website JustBeGood.net, sharing the Dhamma with the community at large.
In a short period of time, Bro Lee has authored, published and distributed more than 1 MILLION Dhamma books for free. Among the books Bro Lee has authored are:
1. Anyone Can go to Heaven, Just Be Good
2. A Life of Blessings
3. Island of Light
His books have been translated into several languages. In China and India, they are being printed in tens of thousands for free distributions.
His latest book, The Island of Light was launched on 4th Feb 2011, coinciding the independence day of Sri Lanka, with the presentation of the book to H.E. Dr. D.D. Ranasinghe, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, at the at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. It was subsequently presented to the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore, H.E. Ms. Jayathri Samarakone on 20th Feb 2011 at the Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple. The book is a concise history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and a guide to its sacred sites.
Presentation of the book "Island of Light" to H.E. Ms. Jayathri Samarakone, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, at the Mangala Vihara Buddhist Temple
On 26 Nov 2011, Bro Lee was invited by the South Manila Inter-Institutional Consortium (SMI-IC) Ethics Committee to an inter-college symposium on “Understanding Ethics Today”. This was held at the St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. Founded in 1909, St. Scholastica’s is one of the most prestigious Catholic learning institutions in the Philippines. At the symposium, he gave a talk on “Buddhist Ethics and Morality” to several hundred very attentive students and teachers from six different colleges, many of whom had no previous knowledge of Buddhism. He then distributed his Dhamma booklets to many students.
The next day, Bro Lee delivered a talk on “The Uniqueness of Buddhism” to a very enthusiastic Filipino crowd at the Universal Wisdom Foundation. The Foundation was started by a wealthy Filipino businessman, Mr. M. Yupitun, who is a very staunch Buddhist. It is a non-sectarian Buddhist organization and one of the most active Buddhist groups in the country. The members of the Foundation are highly pro-active in the propagation of the Dhamma and are distributing the Dhamma booklets to schools, offices, prisons, interested groups and government organizations, including the Philippine Tourist Board.
Bro Lee has truly set a benchmark for Dhammadutta propagation!
On his recent visit to Sri Lanka, I have requested him to provide a writeup and he has obligingly granted the following article:
I arrived just after midnight in Colombo on Wednesday 9th November. Later that morning I was brought to the head office of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, the largest and oldest newspaper chain in Sri Lanka. One of their publications, the Sunday Observer, had printed 160,000 copies of my book “Island of Light” in magazine format earlier this year and gave them out as a free supplement to their subscribers which was very well received. I was invited to give a speech to the board of directors, editors and heads of departments, and then presented with a souvenir recognizing my works for Buddhism by the Chairman, Mr. Bandula Padmakumara. It was a pleasant surprise to see my visit and speech covered in the front and inside pages of the Daily News the next morning.
On Thursday, I made an official presentation of my “Island of Light” book to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, H.E. D. M. Jayaratne. It was great to see a familiar face, Ven. Dr. I. Indasara Thero, who graced the occasion with his presence and gave a speech too.
That evening, I gave a Dhamma talk at the International Buddhist Centre and was extremely honoured that Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne came to meet me and listen to the talk. Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne is the Founder and President of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, by far the largest and most important NGO and humanitarian organization in Sri Lanka.
Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne invited me to his 80th birthday celebrations the next day, and in the presence of around a hundred monks and a huge crowd, presented me with a letter of commendation for my works. This was truly a humbling experience, being honoured in this way by a person of Dr. Ariyaratne’s stature.
I was then whisked to the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, a training centre for the cadets of the Sri Lankan army, navy and air force where I was invited to give their Dhamma lecture for the month.
Specially selected by members of the Teachers Day Ministry, Sandra, Teresa, Juliet & Poh Leng
Note: This voting is only open to 2011/2012 YMBA Diploma class students.
Before you cast your votes, ask yourselves this question:
For the Greater Good, not just Your Own Good, who would you select?
1. The tried and tested.
2. The potential and untested (not given leadership opportunities).
One man, one vote. Your vote is Secret.
Voting closed on 8th Jul 2011.
Vote mindfully & wisely.
Organised by the Pa-Auk Meditation Centre:
Talk by speaker Dr. Mehm Tin Mon, M.Sc, Ph.D(USA)
Professor, International Theravada Buddhist University
Venue: Room 9, 1st Flr,
Veneral Hong Choon Memorial Hall,
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See, 88 Bright Hill Road.
Time: 7.00pm to 9.30pm (weekdays)
5.00pm to 9.30pm (weekends)
Program 1: Visuddhi Magga Part 1 & Basic Meditation by Dr. Mehm Tin Mon
Date: 10 – 18 October 2008
Program 2: Abhidhamma Part 1 Dr. Mehm Tin Mon
Date: 19 – 27 October 2008