|
Type |
Title/Author |
Language |
Where to get |
Description |
|
DVD |
山西�院 |
Chinese |
www.amtb.og.sg |
interviews with peasants in Shan Xi who cure diseases based on Earth Store Sutra chanting with extracts of Master Chin Kung’s lectures |
|
DVD |
蔡礼æ—: 家和万事兴 |
Chinese |
www.amtb.og.sg |
Focus on confucius education, filial piety, family harmony, teaching. Not a single word about Buddhism yet very motivating and fulfiling… really respectè”¡ç¤¼æ— |
|
VCD |
Cartoons based on traditional Chinese moral stories |
Chinese |
http://www.miaoyin.org/yc.php (view online) |
Very high standard, beautiful drawings, very entertaining yet educational
Can also get VCDs/DVDs from AMTB SG |
Pls contribute what you think worth watching as well .. 阿弥陀佛
I have taken or watched all of those you have listed down here. Glad to know that you are sharing with us here. Also happy to read that you know where to get Buddhist VCD/DVDs.
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Personally I would recommend audio-visual or reading materials according to the person's level of exposure to and/or understanding of any Buddhist concept. I would also recommend based on the person's liking or preference for topics taught by a particular Venerable.
Unless I know, I will not dare to carelessly recommend. I will have to talk with that person more often to know.
For example, some who prefers Zen to Pureland, I will recommend the Heart Sutra, Patriarch Hui Neng and Diamond sutra, etc to him/her.
It is also preferable that these materials, audio-visual or text, are watched or read with the guidance of an wise, patient and compassionate fellow Buddhist or Venerable. This is to prevent any accumulation of doubts or wrong views in any person while or after having listened or read about Buddhist concepts.
I would personally recommend beginner Buddhists to start reading books on what is the Triple Gems, what is the Five precepts. Find books, VCDs or DVDs, that explain these in a simple way and at the same time, gives us clear guidelines on how to apply them in different real-life scenarios.
As I have not yet come across a greater variety of books and cds that meet the above criteria, I cannot recommend any specific title to any of you here at the moment.
I hope to find them as quickly as possible, so that I can share them with all of you.
Thank you Spnw07 for your encouragement. I agree with you that we need to recommend based on a person's capability and his inclination. Personally, my focus is PL (reciting Amitabha with chanting the Amitabha Sutra daily) but notice that the 3 recommendations above is not PL-related.
山西�院 is on Ksitigarbha Sutra:
1. Most of them are farmers/peasants who are very sincere and honest. Some chant due to fillial piety (for their sick mother). This teaches us that pure motivation, sincerity and honesty is the key to success fo any dharma door.
2. The show is interleaved with very basic explanation from Master Chin Kung about Buddhism, which I feel is suitable for most beginners
3. At the end of the show, a nun actually said she chanted Ksitigarbha Sutra with strong focus (一门深入) for many years. This teaches us that once you choose a dharma door, focus on it, do not be greedy and try to learn too many different dharma doors
My wife and I typically distribute 山西�院 to close relatives, cancer patients, old folks with strong Chinese backgrond. It is definitely not suitable for beginners who is English educated or has a very strong logical mind that rejects anything non-scientific.
家和万事兴 and the miaoyin cartoons are on traditional chinese moral values (Confuscicous), family harmony and education. As the content is non-religious, we will typically distribute this to Chinese-speaking colleagues who has primary school kids.
Our education system, teaches our children to compete from primary one (see my other thread on primary school) and children gets rewarded for academic achievement rather than moral values. A reward system based on competition will result in only conflict within (buddha nature vs greed etc), conflict within family (brothers go to court), conflict between students/teachers, conflicts between students. Such conflicts already stirring in our society for years and it is getting worse nowadays.
The cause of prosperity of our Singapore today is a result of selfless contribution by our MM Lee's generation. They planted the seeds of prosperity so we have the fruits right now. But looking forward, what is the new generation like? A group of very intelligent young men/women growing up with cloud of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance in their mind? If they are our future leaders, how long do you think our prosperity will last? The establish a dynasty is tough, to end it is easy. Remember the story of 岳飞？Who actually result in end of Song Dynasty?? It was the Emperor of Song. He feared that if 岳飞 won the war, the previous Kings will return and took over this throne !!! So he put 岳飞 in jail and leading to the end of Song Dynasty.
Therefore, many Buddhist living masters now are pushing for 弟å�规 as the basis for education. 弟å�规 åœ£äººè® é¦–å�æ‚Œ 次谨信 泛爱众 而亲ä»� 有余力 则å¦æ–‡. Isn't this the spirit of Ksitigarbha Sutra?? If all children in Singapore can practise 首å�æ‚Œ 次谨信 泛爱众 而亲ä»�, there will be no conflicts, no need for compulsory annuities, no need for old folks home. And I am sure a pureland/heaven awaits us. Firstly, what we should do is to educate people about 弟å�规 classes and urge them to send their kids. Secondly, distribute such materials to people who has young kids, hopefully they can learn something.
For English version of 弟å�规, pls download from http://www.amitabha-gallery.org/pdf/plc/hzdzge.pdf
Thanks for sharing, I'll just add two more to the list. The two DVDs have helped me a lot in my life:
<<了凡四è®>> (The Four Teachings of Liao Fan)
<<俞净�公��神记>>
There are quite a few versions of äº†å‡¡å››è® and 俞净æ„�å…¬é�‡ç�¶ç¥žè®°. The longest and more complete being the TV series (了凡的故事) available as DVDs. 了凡的故事 is more dramatic and suitable for even non-Buddhists. 俞净æ„�å…¬é�‡ç�¶ç¥žè®° should be watched after 了凡的故事 as its focus is on purifying mind and is more suitable for Buddhists who at least understand things like karma. 俞净æ„�å…¬é�‡ç�¶ç¥žè®° is availbale as cartoon at http://www.miaoyin.org/yc.php as well as DVD/VCD. Both can be obtained from AMTB SG. 阿弥陀佛ï¼�ï¼�