Monday, January 09, 2012
Om mani padme hum chanting at PES Singapore
It was a beautiful Sunday, and we have managed 108 x 10 times x 11 people = 11880. At this practice pace, we hope to achieve One Million (good to have but not important) Recitation for the benefits of all
sentient beings.
Our first official chanting was officiated by Venerable Zhang Dao, who led the chanting sessions for a substantial period of time until he was too busy to continue due to other commitments. Volunteers, disciples and fellow dharma friends came and went, the practice went on every 15th of the lunar month, unless the organisers are travelling (2 occasions) or the premises were taken up by other groups (2 occasions). I was personally absent for a few sessions because of my heart surgery in 18 Feb 2009.
I kept a record of our activities via facebook and blogs. We have achieved 36 chanting session from Aug 2008 to Dec 2011.. Quite incredible, isn't it.
People continued to come and go and I enjoyed every session. An usual monthly practice would include Chanting of Om Mani Padme Hum (10 x 108 times), walking meditation (circumbating the Buddha 6
rounds) and a sitting meditation of about 15 mins. This is normally followed by a short Dharma talk by me on Buddhism, its Philosophy and the Sutra. On the last year, I took the opportunity
to share on my learning of the heart sutra.
On its peak, we can have up to 100 people attending the session. and on its low, I have done the practice with one person. Our vows were to achieve 1million chants… and based on the records, I am sure that we have more than achieve our objectives, since 1 person will chant at least 1080 per session.
The last practice for this project was held on 8 Jan 2012. This marked the end of this beautiful project. All good things must end as everything is impermanent.
And also, I think it is appropriate for all of us to start writing our own sutra of our heart.
A special thanks to Connie and Mr Lee for building and maintaining this wonderful temple for everyone to use and to provide a conducive place to practice. For Venerable Zhang Dao who officiated the many
sessions. For Ms Emily Lee and Lilian Chow, who assisted in the starting of the wonderful project. For those who continued attending, even when they have certainly more important thing they could do with
their time.. and all sentient beings, who patiently allowed us to continue this practice of loving kindness, compassion and wisdom.
Lets Rejoice.. Om Mani Padme Hum.
--
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Thursday, December 15, 2011
"Deviant" Monks?
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Friday, December 09, 2011
My Lectures On End of Life, Palliative care and A Good Death

My Lectures On End of Life, Palliative care and A Good Death
I am conducting an online research survey on End of Life and a Good Death and need your help. It was my PhD project which I have completed the pilot study and now going into full research.
Pls Click here to take 5 mins survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/687QMT3
Thank you for your help and pls invite your friends by sharing this msg.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Pls take 5 mins to think about A Good Death...
I am conducting an online research survey on End of Life and a Good Death and need your help. It was my PhD project which I have completed the pilot study and now going into full research.
Pls Click here to take 5 mins survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/687QMT3
Thank you for your help and pls invite your friends by sharing this msg.
This is the event link
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222832181110793
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Instruction on living wills and AMD in Singapore
http://www.lawsociety.org.sg/public/you_and_the_law/advance_medical_directive.aspx
Making an AMD is a voluntary decision. It is entirely up to you whether you wish to make one. In fact, it is a criminal offence for any person to force you to make one against your will. An AMD can be done by anyone from the age of 21 in the presence of a doctor. Only about 10,000 Singaporeans have taken it up because many do not know about it or may be uncomfortable talking about death.
3. Making a Lasting Power of Attorney
- LPA-Form 1 contains mostly checkboxes for donors to grant general powers to their donees with the option to select basic conditions or restrictions to these powers. This form can be self-completed by the donors.
- LPA-Form 2 contains mostly free text spaces where individuals can give specific powers to their needs. This form is to be drafted by a lawyer.
- A practising lawyer
- A psychiatrist
- An accredited general practitioner
Monday, October 17, 2011
Is there really a Good Death?
I held back my tears as I see her doing the same. I smiled, and gave me my name card. I wrote down my personal handphone number on the card and told her to call me if she needed any help. I didn't carry on my conversation, because I know both of us will cry if we continued.May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Friday, October 14, 2011
Purification of previous karma
THE FOUR POWERS OF PURIFICATION
This is summarised in the following Four Powers of Purification:
- Power of the Object: One should practice thinking of all sentient beings one may have hurt. Traditionally, one remembers all sentient beings and the Three Jewels of Refuge (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), by generating compassion for all sentient beings and taking refuge.
- Power of Regret: This should not be senseless guilt or self-recrimination, which are said to be useless emotional torture. What is intended here is to examine oneself and one's actions and to recognise that negative actions done in the past were very unwise.
- Power of Promise: As a logical consequence of the above, one should promise not to repeat these negative actions. It is good if one can promise to avoid a negative behaviour for a specific time, or at least promise that one will put effort in avoiding repetition. Not being honest at this stage makes the practice useless or even harmful to oneself.
- Power of Practice: Basically any positive action with a good motivation can be used as practice. Traditionally in Buddhism, one can practice e.g. making prostrations (throwing oneself to the floor - as a means to destroy pride), making offerings (to counteract greed), reading Buddhist texts (to counteract ignorance and negative thoughts), reciting mantras etc.
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Monday, September 26, 2011
The ' L I T T L E ' Things
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May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Dash
The Dashby Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matter not, how much we own,
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard;
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile...
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A tribute to a scientist and a good friend - 24 June 1954 to 12 Sep 2011, 1638hrs



May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Monday, August 29, 2011
A tribute to a Cancer Fighter – Mr Steven Lee (06 Dec 1955 – 27 Aug 2011)
Steven was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC-Cancer of the Nose Ear and Throat) Stage IV in September 2006. The cancer cells had spread to the brain and at the base of skull, despite the fact elsewhere in the body was cleared of tumor.
He was given multiple treatments rounds of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy in 2006 to 2010.
He had struggled to seek treatment everywhere (for proton treatment, even to Loma Linda and Harvard) but was rejected by most centres. He then turned to all alternative and complementary medicine, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic, Gerson Diet, Chi Gong and spiritual healing. Anyone who suggested any new treatments will be taken up by Steven and his family of 10 brothers and sister. They pooled their resources to help finance expensive and painful treatment which did not seem to have any effects and the least… a cure.
Meanwhile Steven health and general conditions deteriorated. When he was finally referred by me to see the palliative care consultant in June 2010, he was extremely reluctant to receive palliative care, as he wanted to fight on and did not believe that he cannot be cured. He also refused to take morphine to relieve his pain as he believed that it will make his condition even worst.
He thought that morphine was poisonous, addictive and dangerous. He also knew that by starting on morphine, it was an end for him. He is a fighter and wants to continue to "fight till the end" (in his own words). Death seems like an unspeakable word and I can only use all my knowledge on counseling to make sure he makes the right decision.
The Oncologists were definitely supportive of his fight for survival. At this time, they continued to recommend chemotherapy and radiotherapy as if it was like murder (due to the side effects) and profiteering. Palliative radiotherapy or chemotherapy was the oncologists' offer for such terminally illed patients. When will they ever give up and hand the patient to a palliative care physician to managed quality of life issues and pain management? I must say I am not impressed by some of the doctors Steven had consulted in the private hospital, who insisted that 3 more dose of radiotherapy should be given even at the last stages of his life at S$10,000 each.
Steven's condition deteriorated in 2011. He could hardly hear from his left ear (due to the treatment) and his right ear was deaf by Jan 2011. He was completely blind (both eyes) in early Mar 2011. In May 2011, he could not swallow and have to be tube-fed through the nose. It was extremely uncomfortable for Steven. Soon, he could no longer walk. In June 2011, he could not longer hear nor speak nor walk, nor swallow, and remained in his room most of the time.
Steven was alert, in his own world, with no sound, no sight and no speech. He would response if you shouted near his ear, touch his hand and call out his name. I continued to see him weekly, whenever possible, except when I have a flu, or when I was too tired to see him in this condition. He recognised that it was me when he touch my hand and felt my mala.
His family's support also went down with his condition, perhaps with compassion fatigue, or caregiver fatigue. Care for Steven was entrusted to the Burmese maid, who placed a TV in Steven's room and watches the TV by the bedside while keep a lookout on him. On many visits, the children were watching TV in the living room as I walked up the stair alone to sit next to Steven. I gave instructions on tube-feeding and physiotherapy to exercise the muscle to the maid and the children. Everyone seemed to be so exhausted from the daily bed care.
As a counselor, the most difficult part for me was the final phone call from the family informing that the patient was dying. I received an SMS sent by his wife from Steven's handphone at 4.41pm on 27 Aug 2011. I was driving at the time and once I could get off the steering wheel, I called Steven's wife. She asked for my opinion as they were considering whether they should call the ambulance and send Steven to the hospital. He had fever and his breathing was rather slow. His urine was also very little and was brown in colour. I was aware that similar situations of high fever had occurred in May and in June 2011, and the family sent Steven via ambulance to Changi General Hospital. He then stayed in the ICU for a few days and then discharged back to home in one or two weeks.
I spoke to the family, who this time thought that it would be a futile effort to send Steven to the hospital. His eldest son had agreed since they had all the required medicined at home and they would be administering the same medicine at the hospital. Since they asked me for my opinion, I told them that Steven would prefer to die at home in the company of his loved one and families. If they called for the ambulance, he could die in the ambulance or the hospital. I suggested to let him feel comfortable and informed all his families members to come and say their final goodbyes. I told them that they could call me again if they need further assistance and I would come the next morning to see Steven.
Steven passed peacefully at 11.45pm on that night 27 Aug 2011.
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Why 108 beads ?
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Letting go and Enlightenment
Letting go need practice and then putting the practice into your daily activities.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
To see what you will do.
If you fail to recognize what is before you,
You will have to start anew!
看爾怎麼辦?
覿面若不識,
須再從頭煉。
--
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Friday, July 15, 2011
No Blind Faith?
May you be well, happy, peaceful.
With Gratitude,
ROBIN
Monday, July 11, 2011
「面對生死與善生善終」佛學講座
馬來西亞八打靈佛光文教中心
「面對生死與善生善終」佛學講座
【人間社記者陳玉苗 馬來西亞八打靈報導】
http://life.fgs.org.tw/
馬來西亞八打靈佛光文教中心於6月21日邀請陳德威講師主講「
人其實是很脆弱的,不管你是馬拉松健將、
另外,要以什麼儀式來處理也應該寫清楚,火化是最環保的方法。
佛光文教中心举办 佛学讲座来源:星洲日报 点击: 6
主办:佛光文教中心日期:21/06/2011
地点:八打灵再也佛光文教中心
时间:晚上8时
主题:面对生死与善终善生
主讲:陈德威医生
详情:陈德威医生是一位新加坡注册的药剂师,曾获美国旧金山金门大学工商管理硕士学位,他也是亚洲首
个获得美国应用研究伦理协会认证的内部专业人员。
生死学专家表示,人生的三大事莫过于生得健康、活得快乐和一定要好死。懂得死亡,我们才懂得如何
生活。一个人临终前也要保有尊严,让他舒适和没有痛苦地走完人生的最后旅程。
备注:佛光文教中心诚邀大家一起前来共沾法益
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洽询:03-7877 6533
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