Working toward USM PPB Alumni….

Restarting, reviving, retrieving or whatever words deem suitable, a group of people are working on it which hopefully can benefit its member. It started because of someone thought (maybe somewhere and someone else too had occurred the similar thought) to revive the Alumni. Therefore, a slot was allocated during the 2nd ex USM PPB Reunion Dharma Camp 2010 to discuss about whether do we need alumni or not?. The verdict is yes, maybe, perhaps and non say no (absolutely). So we moved on from the 1st discussion (during camp) to the recently 3rd discussion. In between these people asked for specialist advice – the teacher – what should be alumni objective and where to draw a line. Drawing a line is because we do not wish to become another organization that will use up the resources which were already very limited. Three objectives for alumni to exist were drawn up as following;

1) To encourage member to continue learning and cultivating the dharma.
2) To provide information and networking platform for dharma learning and cultivation.
3) To foster warm fellowship among members.

If you have any suggestion or comment, please write to me / the undersigned.

Echoes of the Rainbow .... @ Sis Vicky's house on 25.9.2010

It was a raining and thundering and we were watching this movie… what a somber atmosphere!
Despite the rain, we all came and were delighted because it was movie time and it is “free”. Seldom we got something free without string attached (I still believe there are). The jolly and happy atmosphere slowly moves to poignant as of causing a sharp sense of pity because something unfortunate befell this family. The elder brother was diagnosed with leukemia………. thou the movie didn’t end up likes a fairly tale but it does show us that life move on …. human do have the capacity to store what life handle to us.

When life gives you Lemons …. Make a Lemonade!

Below was the write up by Sis. Poh Lian (Vicky) ;

打从这部电影一上映就很喜欢，喜欢的原因不是因为它在国外得奖，而是它真的很“好看”，没有说教，也不是沉闷或深奥难懂的艺术电影。因此，到戏院捧场之后，我决定买下其正版光碟，再与同修们分享。
五个人…与当天在戏院观赏本片时的入场观众人数一样多。感谢Ley Kah， Sia Thuan， Eric， 耀明及淑蓉夫妻俩的赏脸出席。影片一开始是以一个孩童的倒叙作为序幕，孩子们的天真、60年代香港的浓浓人情味，令整部片子如行云流水般开展着故事的情节。
导演描写生活的手法非常细腻，令人觉得那么熟悉而不知不觉融入了电影中。然而，细嚼之下，不难发现“苦”味无处不在。首先，60、70年代的物资还不发达，身为鞋匠的父亲为人勤劳而踏实，却总是受尽英殖民政府里的白人小官员的欺压，生活清苦得只能有半盒月饼让一家人分享。但是，为人乐观的母亲却拥有快乐的能量去感染了丈夫与孩子。她总是说：“作人，总要信（念）”，还有，“鞋子半边难、另一边就是“佳”…这样一种生活态度是值得我们去学习的，开朗的心胸，遇到难题时，也会take it easy，所以往往就会调剂并冲淡了生活中的“苦味”。
影片前半部的节拍有点慢，其实一些伏线正是在悄悄酝酿着高潮戏- 哥哥罗建一考试成绩一落千丈，原来不是因为挂念着移民了的女友，而是因为患上了血癌，身体状态越来越差。这样的情节虽然有点“老套”（据说是导演的真实故事），但是“无常”的显现，令人倍感嘘唏！可不是，花样年华的优质生，课业、运动、吉他无一不精，前途一片光明；还有一个两情相悦的女友…偏偏生命来一个急转弯，所有的快乐（荣耀）与悲伤，都化作尘土了。还是老话一句：珍惜眼前人！
“岁月神偷”对于亲子关系着墨许多，尤其是在描述父母管教孩子时所面对的冲突及挑战。现场所见，身为两个孩子的爸爸，耀明对这一类情节看得非常投入，不知是否有点感同身受？电影结束后的闲聊，也多集中在“家庭”这个话题，可见家人对我们的影响非常深。同样的，我们的一举一动、一言一行也会影响家人（或身边其他人）的心情与想法，不可不慎。
希望未来还有更多类似的温情影片上映，让我们学习与反省。毕竟我们的社会，需要更多的爱与温暖，来抵御及缓冲日益恶化的暴力问题。
~ 分享者：宝莲

The journey continues….. A gathering at sis CP’s house @ 19.9.2010

I was greeted by the warmest smile and instantly felt the connection even though we have not met for some time apart from the recent RDC camp. Then, I was totally mesmerized by Gami, the cat. Not that I was a born cat lover but maybe I’m after some imprint on my mind by cats who adopted me one year ago. Interestingly this animal creature who does not speak human language is able to give the affection in its truest sense. Human are just too shy :-) I guess.

So, what we did at sister CP’s house? Well, she bribed us with foods. But I think the person who came late that day may not know we started the gathering with foods first. After satisfying our taste sense desire, we continued with the food for our mind. There was no specific topic but a random kind of conversation. But interestingly, the conversation came up to be kind of open mind for me, and hopefully some got the lightning effect like …. Ooo…maybe …yes. Besides, it was good to hear people pouring out their views and opinions without holding back. Be it right or partially wrong because that was secondary for me. Nobody say yours is better, or mine is better, right?

A nice, quiet and cozy apartment for Gami , she has definitely found a home sweet home and for us to spend the afternoon and do some homework. Ya, Ven. KB said do homework la…….remember?

May all be well and happy in your daily worldly venture ( p/s: don’t venture too far away from the BDS)

2nd Ex-PPB USM RDC 2010

May we all continue the journey with good companions and wise teachers to guide us.
At the same time, may we also be a good companion and wise friend to others.

The journey continue.....

"The journey continue"...... the title for our RDC 2010 booklet. A gift :-) made possible due to someone idea ... someone aspiration....someone effort.... someone contribution. May we all continue to give and receive , it is a blessing to be able to do so.

Updates... for the coming 2nd camp

Dear all,

We have Rev Khai Bao (all the way from Penang) and Bhante Hye (all the way from Temoh, Perak) as the respected Venerables to guide us through the camp.Plus another enigmatic KL lay speaker with an equally intriguing title of talk. Guess who la. And guess the title. Guess again.I have heard the talk before, and thought it could be an interesting talk that could relate back to our practice. The title of the talk is '2012 - Doomsday?' - scope of the talk include the cultural (Mayan, Hindu, Chinese school of thought) and scientific aspect of 2012 predicted catastrophe. And yes...it is a Dhamma talk.The speaker? Shall be revealed later. Will keep u folks in suspense first. Just make sure u sign up for the camp. ~ WH ~

Meanwhile please take a look on some of the photos taken during meeting under the Bodhi Tree last Saturday. We have discussed in length x width x depth of all we can in order to cater for both the english and mandarin speaking group. During the camp you may even hear us speaking Hokkien ! Don't believe me , check it out yourself (",)

2nd Ex-PPBUSM Dhamma Camp 2010 Application Form

Flyer for 2nd Camp ...

Newsletter for 2nd ex-PPBUSM Reunion Dhamma Camp 2010

Dear friends of PPB USM,

It has been a year since the 1st reunion camp in 2009. This year 2010, we are glad that the 2nd reunion Dhamma camp is still possible and it will be held at Selayang Buddhist Association, KL from 27-29 Aug 2010. This year camp theme is still the same " Each heart beats toward the Dhamma, Each hand holds a Kalyana Mitra " because the committee find that it is better to continue with the same theme rather than change it every year ( actually we got this funny idea for the theme ..one Malaysia one Buddhist )

The objective :
i) Get together to facilitate & create awareness – “Reunion, Reconnect & Revitalise the cultivation of Dhamma in daily life”.
ii) Peer group support and to foster closer relationship among Kalyana Mitra
iii) To strengthen the Dhamma and increase cultivation practice in daily working life

Later we will upload the application form for you to fill in / register and the applicants must be an Ex-PPB USM member. The organising committees will inform you if you have succeeded in securing a place for the camp. The fee is Rm 50 per person and closing date for the application is July 31, 2010.

May you find your way to this camp :-) ...Sadhu sadhu sadhu.

From ,
The committee

In the making of ...2nd Ex-PPB USM Reunion camp

Just as our past & present teachers have tirelessly spreading the Teaching, we too can play our part if not in a BIG circle but in a smaller circle we are in. And I believe we are all doing this same thing maybe in different degree or way.

I would like to think we are like the beachcomber - a person who searches beaches for valuable things. I hope each and everyone will find his/her treasure in this 2nd camp. As the famous phrase said "Seek and you shall find", so in this case "come and see" because the treasure is to be realized by oneself.

May the begining of the thought until the actual carry out of this 2nd camp bring more happiness and truth to all our friends and family (beings) around us. May all be well and happy.