Gratitude Day 2014

To end the academic year in a meaning way, the Sunday Dhamma School organised a Gratitude Day on 26 October 2014. The purpose of this event is to encourage students to express their gratitude toward elders such as Sayadaw, teachers, parents as well as kitchen helper.

We started off the event by paying Puja to the Buddha, followed by chanting led by our Dhamma and mediation teacher Sayadaw U Pannananda.  Thereafter our teacher, Sister Malini led the parents, teachers and students to pay our gratitude to Sayadaw for his Dhamma teaching and guidance. We also ask Sayadaw for forgiveness for wrongful bodily, verbal and mental actions that we did intentionally or unintentionally.  Then everyone offered a robe to Sayadaw to show our appreciation to him before taking group photo.

Buddha said:

"I tell you, monks, there are two people who are not easy to repay. Which two? Your mother & father. Even if you were to carry your mother on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, and were to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs, and they were to defecate & urinate right there (on your shoulders), you would not in that way pay or repay your parents."

AN 2.32 shows that the only true way to repay your parents is to strengthen them in four qualities: Establish your parent in conviction towards Buddha, Dhamma Sangha; establish them in virtue, in generosity and in discernment.

To this extent one pays & repays one's mother & father.

Mother & father, compassionate to their family,

    are called Brahma, first teachers, those worthy of gifts from their children. 

So the wise should pay them homage, honor 

    with food & drink, clothing & bedding, anointing & bathing, washing their feet.

Performing these services to their parents, 

    the wise are praised right here and after death rejoice in heaven.

-- Iti 106

After the lively explanation of these two Suttas by Sister Malini, she invited the parents and students to take part in a game called "How much do you know your father and mother?"

Firstly she asked the students to identify his/her father feet, then followed by identifying the mothers' hands.

The purpose of this game was to give student the opportunity to get intimate with their parents and show their loves and appreciation for the contributions made by their fathers and mothers.

Hopefully the students will have endless love for their fathers and mothers.



Finally the most touching moment had come - the time to ask for forgiveness!  The students offered drink to their parents and paid respect by touching their feet.

At last. the students showed their appreciation to Auntie Annie and all the teachers of the Sunday Dhamma School and ask for forgiveness from them too.

We wish all present have enjoyed very much and we wish every one has a Happy Family! 

The Sunday Dhamma School wishes our students continue to practice Sila, Samadhi and Panna in the holiday and see every one (together with your family members, relatives, neighbors, classmates and friends) of back in 18 Jan 2015!!!  Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

The Sunday Dhamma School wishes our students continue to practice Sila, Samadhi and Panna in the school holiday and hope to see every one (together with your family members, relatives, neighbors, classmates and friends) of back in 18 Jan 2015!!

 Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Dhamma Camp Mar 2014

In order to let all Dhamma school students to have a good, with fun and meaningful holiday, MBMC Dhamma teachers decided to organize a Dhamma Camp for students to participate. The main project of this 2 days Dhamma Camp is to prepare children for drama performance on the Wesak day.

The Dhamma Camp started at 9.00am with Puja. After morning Puja, we went out and had our Qi Gong and simple Yoga exercise, Qi Gong was taught by a parent and Yoga was led by teach Malini. Around 30 minutes later, we went back to Mudita room, continue the second events which is our Wesak day project.

We have divided students into 4 groups to show 4 different acts and led by teachers

1. The past life of Gautama Buddha
2. The born of Gautama Buddha
3. Buddha Enlightenment
4. Parinibbana of the Buddha

Select casts, discussing the script, memorize individual dialogue, practicing

After lunch, all students were full of energy, we started our first game. All the games in the Dhamma Camp were prepared by teacher Eng Lee and teacher Liew. The objective of the game is to cultivate team work.

Game 1: Back-to-back Raise Up

Next event was hymns song, teacher Pei Lin have prepared 4 English songs and 2 Chinese songs. We sung together and in the middle of the event, impromptu teacher Malini introduce a very tradition game, which was passing down an item in a circle while playing the music, whoever hold the passing item upon music stop, will be called to sing the song.

Singing hymns songs

Although the outside and room temperature was high, students were too excited and looking for more games. Game 2 was another team work and strategy game, to be a winner, the head and tail of the caterpillar must be well coordinated. We allocated around 10-15 minutes for each group to practice and dress rehearsal. Finally the winner was from a group of younger age girls.

Video for the game

Game 2: Caterpillar

Around 3.15pm, tea break was prepared for student after consuming so much stamina and energy. Time to enjoy food and beverage together.

Tea Break

After the tea break, day 1 program drew to close, we ended by Metta Chanting and dismissed around 4.30pm.

Day 2 program on the morning session, as usual we did morning puja, chanting and meditation. After that we started Yoga exercise, doing some simple stretching to relax our body and mind.

Exercise

Next, we continue with the ice-breaking program, to let students to know each other. The program was called Knowing you and knowing me. Basically each group was required to introduce themselves and shared with another groups about their similarity and their different. At the afternoon session, we practiced the drama play and performed a simple rehearsal for each acts and scene.

Knowing you and knowing me

Sumedha the Hermit

The birth of Prince Siddhartha

Enlightenment

The Buddha's Parinibbana

The day 2 program was ended by Metta Chanting and merits sharing. Thus, we have successfully accomplished these 2 days events. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu! to all the teachers, helpers, students and parents.