Very happy to know about this forum
-
Hi everyone, I'm new to sgforums. However, I am not really a stranger to Buddhist teachings. In fact, I would like to say that I am now a Buddhist in name (hopefully one day in deed too ^^) after having gone through a simple witness ceremony by the Sangha to take refuge in the Triple Gems.
But my knowledge of Buddhism is very little and anything that I may say or going to say may sound very ignorant or biased,etc, so as such, I ask for all your kind understanding and tolerance when reading or commenting on what I've written. But that say, I will try to keep to the consensus of mutual respect in any case. This is not just about adhering to general forum rules, but it is also a core value of mine.
Serious things aside, I would like to say I'm very happy to be able to find a forum thread dedicated to practioners of the Buddhist faith or those who would like to find out more about Buddhism. One of the best things is I'm talking with fellow Singaporeans who are more or less having the same faith with me.
P.S: Many from my social circle are predominantly Christians, acquaintances or friends alike. It makes me feel a tad alone, a little lost in the sea of world religions, especially when Christians and Muslims are very commonly heard or seen in almost every part of the world. -
AMiTuoFo
Welcome! -
WelcomeOriginally posted by Spnw07:Hi everyone, I'm new to sgforums. However, I am not really a stranger to Buddhist teachings. In fact, I would like to say that I am now a Buddhist in name (hopefully one day in deed too ^^) after having gone through a simple witness ceremony by the Sangha to take refuge in the Triple Gems.
But my knowledge of Buddhism is very little and anything that I may say or going to say may sound very ignorant or biased,etc, so as such, I ask for all your kind understanding and tolerance when reading or commenting on what I've written. But that say, I will try to keep to the consensus of mutual respect in any case. This is not just about adhering to general forum rules, but it is also a core value of mine.
Serious things aside, I would like to say I'm very happy to be able to find a forum thread dedicated to practioners of the Buddhist faith or those who would like to find out more about Buddhism. One of the best things is I'm talking with fellow Singaporeans who are more or less having the same faith with me.
P.S: Many from my social circle are predominantly Christians, acquaintances or friends alike. It makes me feel a tad alone, a little lost in the sea of world religions, especially when Christians and Muslims are very commonly heard or seen in almost every part of the world.
-
welcome
-
welcome to dharma land !!!
-
Welcome
-
Thanks guys for the warm welcome.
-
Welcome and hope to see you around!Originally posted by Spnw07:Hi everyone, I'm new to sgforums. However, I am not really a stranger to Buddhist teachings. In fact, I would like to say that I am now a Buddhist in name (hopefully one day in deed too ^^) after having gone through a simple witness ceremony by the Sangha to take refuge in the Triple Gems.
But my knowledge of Buddhism is very little and anything that I may say or going to say may sound very ignorant or biased,etc, so as such, I ask for all your kind understanding and tolerance when reading or commenting on what I've written. But that say, I will try to keep to the consensus of mutual respect in any case. This is not just about adhering to general forum rules, but it is also a core value of mine.
Serious things aside, I would like to say I'm very happy to be able to find a forum thread dedicated to practioners of the Buddhist faith or those who would like to find out more about Buddhism. One of the best things is I'm talking with fellow Singaporeans who are more or less having the same faith with me.
P.S: Many from my social circle are predominantly Christians, acquaintances or friends alike. It makes me feel a tad alone, a little lost in the sea of world religions, especially when Christians and Muslims are very commonly heard or seen in almost every part of the world.
Glad to meet another fellow Buddhist too. -
Welcome! Always happy to meet a brother in dharma
_/\_ Amituofo -
welcome!!
-
Welcome!
-
Welcome!
-
Welcome
-
welcome to sgforum !!!
I also new to buddhism . -
Religion is not a popularity, kind of in-thing you should be associated with. Nor it is a fashion you wear or flavour of the month ideology. If so, you are just in for the crowd and nothing more. But sad to say, that's what I see in most people who professed a religion or faith or belief. At worst, it is to fulfill 'social' needs - like of the same kind, doing the same thing, saying the same thing, going to the same place, wear the same clothe, speak the same language and all the bull-kind of peer thingy.
The best and sincere thing you could do for yourself is to be open-minded, look, see, learn, observe, study, think, question, discuss, all without fear or coercion. This way, at least you can be objective. Don't be afraid to be different and to be sceptical. Don't confuse scepticism with cynicism. Search and research, and do not take anything at face value the very first time you come across a concept, thought, saying, etc. Give it more thought, verify and validate before you 'blindly' accept. Also, do not take in wholesale what a 'revered' person or authority say. They are all human with all the trappings and fallibility. -
you're an owl.Originally posted by TheGoodEarth:Religion is not a popularity, kind of in-thing you should be associated with. Nor it is a fashion you wear or flavour of the month ideology. If so, you are just in for the crowd and nothing more. But sad to say, that's what I see in most people who professed a religion or faith or belief. At worst, it is to fulfill 'social' needs - like of the same kind, doing the same thing, saying the same thing, going to the same place, wear the same clothe, speak the same language and all the bull-kind of peer thingy.
The best and sincere thing you could do for yourself is to be open-minded, look, see, learn, observe, study, think, question, discuss, all without fear or coercion. This way, at least you can be objective. Don't be afraid to be different and to be sceptical. Don't confuse scepticism with cynicism. Search and research, and do not take anything at face value the very first time you come across a concept, thought, saying, etc. Give it more thought, verify and validate before you 'blindly' accept. Also, do not take in wholesale what a 'revered' person or authority say. They are all human with all the trappings and fallibility. -
I can roughly understand what you are trying to say in the 1st paragraph. I am a Buddhist or am studying Buddhist teachings not because I want to follow the crowd. If that's the case, I think I should be a Christian instead. Cos like I've said in my introduction, almost 99% of my friends are Christians of different denominations (but still my knowledge of Christianity is very primitive or limited). It has been hard to have to constantly tell my Christian friends that I'm ok with not going to church when they invite me to every now and then.Originally posted by TheGoodEarth:Religion is not a popularity, kind of in-thing you should be associated with. Nor it is a fashion you wear or flavour of the month ideology. If so, you are just in for the crowd and nothing more. But sad to say, that's what I see in most people who professed a religion or faith or belief. At worst, it is to fulfill 'social' needs - like of the same kind, doing the same thing, saying the same thing, going to the same place, wear the same clothe, speak the same language and all the bull-kind of peer thingy.
The best and sincere thing you could do for yourself is to be open-minded, look, see, learn, observe, study, think, question, discuss, all without fear or coercion. This way, at least you can be objective. Don't be afraid to be different and to be sceptical. Don't confuse scepticism with cynicism. Search and research, and do not take anything at face value the very first time you come across a concept, thought, saying, etc. Give it more thought, verify and validate before you 'blindly' accept. Also, do not take in wholesale what a 'revered' person or authority say. They are all human with all the trappings and fallibility.
One primary reason I finally decided to become a Buddhist after many years of being half Taoist, half Buddhist, is because I find it more comfortable to believe in 'Cause and Effect' than an omnipresent spiritual authority that totally exists outside of the laws of creation of life and awareness, and yet be able to create life and awareness at the same time. An absolute being who is unquestionable in the ways of rewards and punishments for wrongdoings restricted to mainly humans, is not something I can accept readily as my guiding faith. But I accord respect to all religions and teachings that impart core wholesome values such as universal love and respect for all living things. That is my core value.
One of those secondary reasons would be that I can now formally tell people that I'm a Buddhist not just because I like Buddhism, it's about taking a further step to commit myself to learning and practising the Buddhist teachings in real life. I usually elaborate further by saying I intend to continue learning about my faith, and it should have no adverse effects at all on how I shall conduct my relationships with my friends and family. In fact, my relationships with people should be getting better as I understand and practise more of what I have learnt in Buddhism.
Thanks for your advice, GoodEarth. I too have the same thoughts on learning to be open minded and objective throughout my discovery process in life's journey. I can almost say this is what I am trying to be that leads me to choose Buddhism as my faith.
I will keep your words in mind. -
Hi Spnw07
welcome to this forum and path to enlightenment.
We also feel very happy of having a new member on board.
So which buddhist organisation you normally visit currently. -
Well, actually, I don't have any buddhist organisations that I can count as a often visited place... I'm not a very active Buddhist so to say. Places like Guang Ming Shan Temple are one of those that I would visit when I'm free.Originally posted by justdoit77:Hi Spnw07
welcome to this forum and path to enlightenment.
We also feel very happy of having a new member on board.
So which buddhist organisation you normally visit currently.
How about you, justdoit77? -
I normally go to the metta school at Simei or the sakya tenphel ling at pasir ris, both are convenient for people who stay at east.Originally posted by Spnw07:Well, actually, I don't have any buddhist organisations that I can count as a often visited place... I'm not a very active Buddhist so to say. Places like Guang Ming Shan Temple are one of those that I would visit when I'm free.
How about you, justdoit77?
The usual activities are like dharma talk, meditation class and puja. As a beginner, one should attend more dharma talk to set the understanding right so you will know how to practise subsequently. -
Thanks for sharing.Originally posted by justdoit77:I normally go to the metta school at Simei or the sakya tenphel ling at pasir ris, both are convenient for people who stay at east.
The usual activities are like dharma talk, meditation class and puja. As a beginner, one should attend more dharma talk to set the understanding right so you will know how to practise subsequently. -
Is the sakya tenphel ling the Tibetian Buddhist temple near Pasir Ris Drive 4? Didn't know that they have dharma talks there... Any webbie?Originally posted by justdoit77:I normally go to the metta school at Simei or the sakya tenphel ling at pasir ris, both are convenient for people who stay at east.
The usual activities are like dharma talk, meditation class and puja. As a beginner, one should attend more dharma talk to set the understanding right so you will know how to practise subsequently. -
Oh wow gt new member ... welcome welcome here feel free to ask any dharma questions here . I believe the pple here will be happy to answer them . Ok byee
-
The dharma talk at metta school is more regular every friday open to everyoneOriginally posted by Beyond Religion:Is the sakya tenphel ling the Tibetian Buddhist temple near Pasir Ris Drive 4? Didn't know that they have dharma talks there... Any webbie?
The sakya tenphel ling one quite adhoc, their website is http://www.sakyatenphelling.org/ but not so updated. You need to call them or physically go down to see the timetable -
OK.. Thanks for the info.