Venerable Dr. Yifa

Dhamma Enrichment Camp 930am-500pm.18th June 2005.
Topic on : Prajnaparamita Sutra (better known as Diamond Sutra)
-Intro to Diamond Sutra, Non-Dualism & The Principle of Reality & The Real Meaning of Emptiness.

Venerable Dr.Yifa obtained her Law degree from the prestigious national universtity of Taiwan and later her MAA in Philosophy in the University of Hawaii.She later went on to obtain her Phd in Religious Studies in Yale University and am currently the professor of *Mcquire Uni?She has been ordained as a nun in Fo Guang Shan since she was in her early 20s and been nominated as one of the leading women in Taiwan.

How admirable.Not much of her titles,but more of her as a person.She has this-..just something about her that I definitely look up to.
I went for her talk a year before this on the topic of the Heart Sutra-by Avalokitesvera(wrong spelling?),better known as Kuan Yin Pusa.

Overload of information,I came home with a headache.
:) Maybe in due time,I'll get the concept of the Diamond sutra.
In summary,she tries to help us understand the major idea/structure and language of the sutra,in which,deals with lots of repetition.She began with explaining several important words-sunyata,paramita,the main idea of buddhism,why things change,madhyamika and then on towards vajracchedika(the diamond sutra)

What is the main idea of Buddhisam?
The core idea deals with patitasammupatda(wrong spelling),the interdependent origination,cause and effect,in which,is the universal truth.

Why things change?
Anatta-non self nature in which the Diamond sutra helps us to further understand anatta.Self should not be confused with 'I' factor but rather,Self should be defined as,something which is -unchangeable,independent and indivisible.Ppl suffer because of the idea/concept of self(i.e,definition above).,that things are permanent,rather,unchangeable.Non-self,on the other hand,should be approached as changeable,interdependent and divisible. (And,that is how we should look at life?)

After understanding the destruction of things as they are(anatta),we need to reconstruct and lead on with the provisional self.Meaning,even after we have understood anatta,non-self concept,we should still take things as they are.In which-is the middle path.This,is -what the Mahayanese approach on non-dualism.

It talks about reality and non reality.(non dualism).Not real does not mean do not exist.Not real means, temporary existence.In which,all conditioned things are like a bubble,dew,mirage, dream.It does not mean it does not exist,but rather,it's only temporary.

Then,move on to vajracchedika.The 2 kinds of illusion and ignorance-on person and illussion on the dharma(the teachings of the Buddha).
She then went on to explain the hindrances which is caused by our defilements/afflictions,our emotions and by our wrong views.Then,on towards the technical part of the sutra(several verses through the text) and ended the session with a thorough read through of the Diamond Sutra.

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!

@ Marché in The Curve on 18/06/05

First there were JS and CO, followed by MJ and LY, then Fred and Ann came, later joined in by Jo and Aaron! It was not a 'buffet' dinner but somehow, these bunch of people just wallop the food at Marché (French word for market) like its free :P well sorta... we must all thank JS :) our camp chairman! Hahah... just too bad SF was too exhausted to join us that night, and we miss AR, CH, Sue and Oscar.

The 1st group photo was taken, as Jo & Aaron had to leave early.
but the dinner did not end there!

Just when all of us were really full, BTatt, Mabel and Adrian arrived. By then I think I'd had enough of chocolate icecream and fresh fruit juices! Everybody was taking a sip from everyone's glass of various flavours. Rootbeer was nice, my orange + lemon was unique, the kiwi mix something was special... I think everyone was high on overdoze of drinks!

There was this Johnny the clown that came to join our table, playing magic tricks and singing "Happy Father's Day" song to Adrian, and "Happy Mother's Day" song to Mabel. I was just the video-camera girl, the clown was trying to live up to his pranks and wits for the video-shooting. Here's Johnny and the rest of us :)


The 23IDC was over 2 weeks ago, and this appreciation dinner was held for all the committees. We wish that the memories remain and the friendship last a life time!

23rd INCOVAR Dhamma Camp - report

If the previous camp (22nd IDC) was the sweetest camp, then this time, the 23rd
INCOVAR Dhamma Camp is the most motivating or inspiring camp! That's just my thought,
as I see the smiley happy faces of the participants, and hearing compliments from
participants on how inspired they were with our activities! Even the talks were NOT
boring and infact mind stimulating for most of them.

I wished that I was there for day 2 of Metta session which something new. But I'm
thankful to have all the invited guests to grace to camp from 1st day to the last day.
*drumroll* we had Uncle Vijaya, Datuk Dr. Wee, Bhante Aggacitta, Sumi Loundon, Bro.
Tan Ho Soon, Bro. Hor Tuck Loon, and finally Bro. Oh Kim Leng! These are very
prominent and well-known speakers within our community.

Day 2 was the most happening day! From station games in the morning vis-a-vis
waterballoon scare, to upclose with Sumi Loundon, not from London but from Boston.
Then everyone immediately went down for Dana with Bhante Aggacitta, followed by this
cool Thai dance-along session. Then there's talk by Bhante followed by workshop2. In
the evening we had this memorable offering session, then for the 1st time we had a
different style of "Metta" meditation session conducted by Bro. Hor Tuck Loon. Heard
that it was creepy to stare at another person for so long - but that sounds fun to me!

Day 3 started with us the committees and facilitators leading the pack with Dance
-along Incovar style! Big thank you to sis. SeenLan and gang for dropping by at night
to teach us the dance movement to "Reach" by SClub7 and "I Lay My Love On You" by
Westlife. It keeps the spirit alive to move everybody to dance along together with
some powerful songs.

Workshop 3 saw Fred & Aaron telling stories. In the afternoon we had the most loud
applauding performance by who else ::I-gemz:: They almost brought down the SJBA Shrine
Hall with the never ending applause! Thanks to the whole bunch who turned up. Later in
the afternoon, we had Bro. Tan Ho Soon with the "Rewrite Your Destiny" talk. From then
on, it was silent-mode for all, as we geared participants for the highlight of the
night -- IXP! Well, you just have to 'hear' it to believe it yourself. This time we
did it rather differently, not without the major support from all the helpers and
facilitators. A huge stage setting up was taking place in the out-of-bound area and
the highlight ended on a very inspiring note for everyone. Just wish that participants
will relish and appreciate the experience unfolded for them.

Then night ended, really late... actually I went to sleep as I was so sleepy by
the last programme but participants continued sharing. It was a really tiring day for
me, being programmer of the day nonetheless it was sweet and rewarding.

On the morning of day 4, the invited speaker Bro. Oh Kim Leng, came down all the
way from Melaka early in the morning with his friends! The talk by Bro. Oh was
empowering and always inspiring. He was even funnier than Uncle Vijaya (for me :P)!
Well that's just my viewpoint, because its not very often I get to listen to Bro. Oh's
moving yet light-hearted talk, especially for the Malaysians, when he used Malay and
Hokkien for his jokes. Pity the Thais, but everyone seemed laughing along altogether.

Then we have D2Y choir to perform some acappella before we finally wind down the
camp eventually. When I made the announcement "the camp is official closed" -- I
breath a sigh of relief. Then came the desire to go round hugging everyone! It was
sweet farewell for the Thais and Malaysians of course.

A bus came to pick up the group from YBAT to return to Penang, then another bus
came later to pick up the DKF group. Parents and siblings came to pick up the
Malaysians. Some stayed back to help committees to pack up the hall before we all left
SJBA with a heavy heart.

All in all, this camp was just amazingly wonderful. I wish I was a participant!
*When will I see you again?!

reported by Mei Joon23iDC - Programmer

Songs for Incovarians

As an Incovarian, especially of the 23rd INCOVAR Dhamma Camp, this is a list of must-have songs, some are "people specific" must-haves... those who know will know who lar... :p

1. Perhaps Love by John Denver and Placido Domingo
2. Reach by SClub7
3. I Lay My Love on You by Westlife
4. The Lion Sleeps Tonight (I like the acapella version by Kingston Trio)
5. What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
6. Blue Moon by The Platters, as performed by D2Y (and you will find dozens of other versions online!!!!)
7. Short People by Randy Newman (lots of acapella versions are available online)
8. If We Hold On Together by Diana Ross

The I-Gemz songs no need to mention lar... we wait for the CD!!!

Feel free to add to the list... and vote for your fav songs?

p/s: I actually have the audio files of the above, but due to copyright issues they are not posted here...

Quick Recap on 2nd Metta Session by Bro Hor

Seems like most of the committees missed the second metta session of the camp... should I say I'm very lucky to be able to join some of the sessions, which turned out to be great for me...

Ok... Bro Hor Tuck Loon makes the session a "fun" one, and get the participants to move around... a quick recap:
* First, he asked everyone to face the person beside them, anyone sitting beside you, look into your partners' eyes for a couple of minutes, of course people start laughing...
* Then he questioned, why did we laugh? Cause you are not comfortable with the person you are with, your heart is not open to the other party.
* He got us to move around, just walk and look at people, the next round shake hands, then bow to each other, then bow with hands clasped together in a salutation posture, then salutation posture again but with the hands at the forhead (semething like this, can't remember the exact sequence)
* Now, sit back with the same partner and look into each others' eyes again... you may close your eyes if you feel uncomfortable, and open them again when you are more relaxed, close and open as many times as you need to... do you feel more relaxed and open up, more trust in your partner? Feeling warm? Cause you are generating metta... we turned the air-cond stronger, lower the temperature... can you believe we did this, for the first time, when usually participants would be asking to lower the power of the air-cond/raise the temperature!
* Next, form two circles, a smaller circle within a bigger circle. Hold hands, close eyes, think of the person right of you, left of you, in front/back, the world... radiate metta, feel the vibration... in my case, I felt the pulse of the two people beside me, left and right, were exactly the same...very strong pulse in their fingers as I was holding their hands... Bro Hor said can happen... the vibration passes in the circle... Wonder good or bad, cause I was kind of electrified when I realised the pulses were the same that I missed his narration on the radiation of metta...

Let's try this again if we have the chance... Sadhu sadhu sadhu, a great session indeed!!!

23rd INCOVAR Dhamma Camp

The 23rd IDC was held from 2-5 June, 2005 at SJBA.
The theme for this camp was "Live Wisely; Rewrite Your Destiny".

If the previous camp (22nd IDC) was the sweetest camp, then this time, the 23rd INCOVAR Dhamma Camp is the most motivating or inspiring camp! That's just my thought, as I see the smiley happy faces of the participants, and hearing compliments from participants on how inspired they were with our activities! Even the talks were NOT boring and infact mind stimulating for most of them.

I wished that I was there for day 2 of Metta session which something new. But I'm thankful to have all the invited guests to grace to camp from 1st day to the last day. *drumroll* we had Uncle Vijaya, Datuk Dr. Wee, Bhante Aggacitta, Sumi Loundon, Bro. Tan Ho Soon, Bro. Hor Tuck Loon, and finally Bro. Oh Kim Leng! These are very prominent and well-known speakers within our community.

Day 2 was the most happening day! From station games in the morning vis-a-vis waterballoon scare, to upclose with Sumi Loundon, not from London but from Boston. Then everyone immediately went down for Dana with Bhante Aggacitta, followed by this cool Thai dance-along session. Then there's talk by Bhante followed by workshop2. In the evening we had this memorable offering session, then for the 1st time we had a different style of "Metta" meditation session conducted by Bro. Hor Tuck Loon. Heard that it was creepy to stare at another person for so long - but that sounds fun to me!

Day 3 started with us the committees and facilitators leading the pack with Dance -along Incovar style! Big thank you to sis. SeenLan and gang for dropping by at night to teach us the dance movement to "Reach" by SClub7 and "I Lay My Love On You" by Westlife. It keeps the spirit alive to move everybody to dance along together with some powerful songs.

Workshop 3 saw Fred & Aaron telling stories. In the afternoon we had the most loud applauding performance by who else ::I-gemz:: They almost brought down the SJBA Shrine Hall with the never ending applause! Thanks to the whole bunch who turned up. Later in the afternoon, we had Bro. Tan Ho Soon with the "Rewrite Your Destiny" talk. From then on, it was silent-mode for all, as we geared participants for the highlight of the night -- IXP! Well, you just have to 'hear' it to believe it yourself. This time we did it rather differently, not without the major support from all the helpers and facilitators. A huge stage setting up was taking place in the out-of-bound area and the highlight ended on a very inspiring note for everyone. Just wish that participants will relish and appreciate the experience unfolded for them.

Then night ended, really late... actually I went to sleep as I was so sleepy by the last programme but participants continued sharing. It was a really tiring day for me, being programmer of the day nonetheless it was sweet and rewarding.

On the morning of day 4, the invited speaker Bro. Oh Kim Leng, came down all the way from Melaka early in the morning with his friends! The talk by Bro. Oh was empowering and always inspiring. He was even funnier than Uncle Vijaya (for me :P)! Well that's just my viewpoint, because its not very often I get to listen to Bro. Oh's moving yet light-hearted talk, especially for the Malaysians, when he used Malay and Hokkien for his jokes. Pity the Thais, but everyone seemed laughing along altogether.

Then we have D2Y choir to perform some acappella before we finally wind down the camp eventually. When I made the announcement "the camp is official closed" -- I breath a sigh of relief. Then came the desire to go round hugging everyone! It was sweet farewell for the Thais and Malaysians of course.

A bus came to pick up the group from YBAT to return to Penang, then another bus came later to pick up the DKF group. Parents and siblings came to pick up the Malaysians. Some stayed back to help committees to pack up the hall before we all left SJBA with a heavy heart.

All in all, this camp was just amazingly wonderful. I wish I was a participant! *When will I see you again?!

reported by Mei Joon 23iDC - Programmer

chat about the 23IDC :)

Participant says:
...all I can say is you guys were amazing to be able to come up with such an empowering camp
MJ says:
I told u, how u'd like it. not only u met Sumi Loundon, the lady herself, am sure u've "discovered" certain things abt urself and how you'd wanna rewrite your destiny, and take the effort to be a better man.
MJ says:
what was the most inspiring moment you felt during the camp?
Participant says:
the Metta one
MJ says:
1st or 2nd metta?
Participant says:
2nd 1
MJ says:
I missed 2nd day Metta. Heard it was great.
Participant says:
Really had to re-open some things that I just sorta ignored.
MJ says:
what really happen in 2nd metta?!
MJ says:
am really curious! How cud i MISS that?!
Participant says:
we had to stare at each other
MJ says:
were u staring at a girl!?
Participant says:
ya.
Participant says:
if guy ah habis lo.
MJ says:
how does it feel staring at another girl?! for how long?
Participant says:
around 1-2 mins
Participant says:
me was blank coz I was telling myself that I am only staring at eyeballs.
MJ says:
so how does staring at eyeballs moved u?
Participant says:
that didint but what the speaker said did.
Participant says:
that when u love someone u do not expect a return
MJ says:
wow..
MJ says:
even bro. Oh Kim Leng said something abt love
Participant says:
coz..like so far
Participant says:
I fall in love with a girl, try to impress her, give her love and now i find out it isnt.
MJ says:
yes... u were hurt...
Participant says:
very
MJ says:
.. I first heard from Bro. Tan Ho Soon... in one of incovar camp long time ago "True Love is letting go"
Participant says:
which is y I let go my ex
Participant says:
coz I realize I was limiting her from her true potential.
Participant says:
so let go...
MJ says:
hey... i wonder... what its like for girl to stare at another girl!!
Participant says:
I dunno but I certainly wont feel comfortable if a guy stare at me
MJ says:
haha
MJ says:
must be a pretty Thai girl u were staring at!
Participant says:
nolah
MJ says:
so all in all.... im glad to know that it has really benefit u, not in 1 way.. but in a more deeper meaning way
Participant says:
in many ways, it was very geng
…
…
Participant says:
anyway, how did u guys came up with the idea for the experience
MJ says:
what was the significant part of the experience?
Participant says:
the sharing was the most significant. made me feel like crying. But the rest of the elements did play a very important role in setting the right mind frame
MJ says:
did anyone in your group cry?
MJ says:
of cos it's secret
Participant says:
everyone did I think
Participant says:
I did a lil too
MJ says:
I've been holding the secret of IXP for every camp.
MJ says:
u cannot reveal ppl's ixp secret.
Participant says:
Yup. At least not anyone within incovar.
Participant says:
like, briefly for me to explain to friends when necessary.
MJ says:
yeah..
Participant says:
I mean before starting to teach people how to prepare to accept other people's problems...
Participant says:
like counselors do. its amazing that u guys actually did all these for free,,.
MJ says:
Its Incovar that's why
MJ says:
the tag line .. we inspire ...
MJ says:
can i save this conversation?!
Participant says:
sure.
Participant says:
I think more importantly as Buddhists we should be able to sorta like learn about true love and show the world that Buddhists truly love instead of being like the rest
MJ says:
u dun have to show
MJ says:
love will conquer hate
MJ says:
that's the 1st verse in Dhammapada
Participant says:
yep
MJ says:
thanks...
Participant says:
but then again since only Buddhists have the privilege of learning what true love is compared to other people who just play with the word I love you
MJ says:
people are just people, with flaws… people have not learnt the meaning of love...
Participant says:
and also bout friendship
MJ says:
u should probably take pity on them, instead of getting hurt by them...
MJ says:
cos someday, u can inspire people to truly understand what love means?