Singapore Buddhist Calendar
2024 AD ( 2566 BE ) ACTIVITIES
- Recognise the possible different reasons why burning paper money became a tradition. Understand that there may be more than one reason. For example read Mothership.sg’s take on it here
- Though one may have more knowledge on Ghost Month, do not seek to aggressively change other’s behaviour (e.g. burning paper money). Instead, start a conversation to understand why others perform certain rituals. At times, being kind is better than being right. Sharing at the right time matters too!
- When walking past burning paper and effigies during this month, reflect on the impermanence of all our possessions
All are welcome
| July | August |
| DATE | VENUE | ACTIVITIES |
| Jul 13 | Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall Level 4, Hall of No Form
88 Bright Hill Road, Singapore, Singapore By Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery and Dot Connections Growth Centre |  即将举办的佛教与心理健康座谈会—“聊心·疗心” 活动是由圆点心宁中心与光明山普觉禅寺合办。请在您的日历上标记这一重要日期：2024年7月13日，并欢迎您参与7月14日的工作坊。 这次活动着重于探索佛教与心理健康交汇的独特机会，涵盖了深刻的讲座、互动环节和实用的工作坊。 欲了解更多详情并报名，请浏览我们的网站或查看脸书页面。不要错过这个改变生活的机会！ Join us for the Buddhism and Mental Health Symposium 2024! We're excited to announce the upcoming BMHS - Listening Heart, Healing Mind, organised by Dot Connection Growth Centre and in collaboration with Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery. Mark your calendars for 13th July 2024, with an enriching workshop on 14th July 2024. This event is a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of Buddhism and mental health, featuring insightful talks, interactive sessions, and practical workshops. For more details and to register, visit our website or check out our Facebook page. Don't miss out on this transformative experience! Get your tickets here 预购从速： https://2024bmhsdc.eventbrite.sg 早鸟/Early Bird: S$20/pax Usual (From 14 June ): S$30/pax Website : Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery Website 网站： https://dc.org.sg/%e6%b4%bb%e5%8a%a8-activities/">https://dc.org.sg/%e6%b4%bb%e5%8a%a8-activities/ FB : KMSPKS FB FB 脸书： https://www.facebook.com/dotconnections?mibextid=LQQJ4d #BMHS2024 #BuddhistMentalHealth #DotConnectionGrowthCentre #KongMengSanMonastery #Mindfulness #Wellbeing #佛教与心理健康 #圆点心宁中心 #光明山普觉禅寺 #正念 #幸福 |
| Jul 21 | Full Moon in the Chinese Sixth Lunar Month | Asalha Puja or Dhamma Day. This commemorates the Buddha's first discourse, the Dhamma-Cakka-Pavattana Sutta (the Discourse on the Turning of the Wheel of Truth) in Sarnath (Isipatana, Benares) - the Deer Park , which he gave to the group of five monks with whom he had practised in the forest for many years. Upon hearing this discourse, one of the monks -- Ven. Kondañña -- gained his first glimpse of Nibbana, thus giving birth to the Noble Sangha. The annual rains retreat (vassa) commences the following day. Note: At the end of this first sermon, the Venerable Kondañña became a Sotapanna (a person at the first stage of enlightenment) and then, according to the Commentaries, for example, the Commentary on Vinaya, the other four disciples became Sotapannas, one on each of the four following days. On the first day after the full-moon day in July, the monk Vappa became a Sotapanna; on the second day, Bhaddiya; on the third day, Mahanama; and on the fourth day, Assaji. After they became Sotapannas, they all asked Buddha for ordination. Buddha ordained each of them by calling to them, "Come monks." On the fifth day after the full-moon day, the Buddha assembled them and preached to them this discourse Anatta-lakkhana Sutta. -The Discourse on the Not-self Characteristic (no-soul or anatta) ( Note: Try this site which is my favourite explanation for :- NO INNER CORE - ANATTA . By Sayadaw U Silananda ) |
| By |
| DATE | VENUE | ACTIVITIES | Aug 18 | Full Moon of the Chinese Seventh Month | Ullambana Day  Most Chinese Buddhists celebrate the Full Moon of the Chinese Seventh month by having prayers, general transferring of merits to the beloved departed ones and to the wandering spirits during Ullambana Day. Read about the Ullambana Sutra. |
Aug 18 | Full Moon of the Chinese Seventh Month |  Artical by Nalanda Institute, Malaysia. Reproduced here for intellectual discussion ONLY During a funeral ceremony in ancient China, paper-made models of houses, sedan chairs, treasure chests, clothes, daily utensils, and even effigies of servants, were burnt as the cortege was leaving home for burial in the cemetery. The original meaning of such an act is to show everyone present that all former possessions of the deceased cannot be brought along to the next life. At one’s death, everything one had ever owned has to be left behind. The burning only emphasizes this message, as it is the most graphical, symbolic, and dramatic way of showing total loss! There is a Chinese saying that ‘no possessions can be brought along to the next existence; the only thing that follows one is his deeds, or ‘kamma’ ‘ ( 万般带不去，唯有业随身 ). Furthermore, his relatives and friends only follow the deceased up to the grave, but soon turn to go home, leaving the dead alone in his tomb! Thus, the burning of cheaply-produced paper models and effigies served as an effective educational tool. Witnessing how fire consumes every ‘former possession’ of the deceased, even an illiterate peasant or young child was able to understand this sense of total relinquishment at death. Today, this practice is completely misunderstood by the majority of Chinese. Instead of the original meaning, paper-made models have been turned into “paper offerings” – with the mistaken thought that whatever one burns, his departed relatives will obtain in the netherworld! Hence people nowadays burn paper models of the latest i-Pads, smartphones, LED screens, and “paper money” in inflated sums in order to please the dead. All these will not help the departed ones at all. In fact, this misunderstanding will only harm the living by maintaining their ignorance and delusions. Many people assume that whatever is fancied in life is also fancied in the netherworld. Instead of burning “paper offerings”, one can perform ‘Dedication of Merits’ (Pāli, ‘Pattidāna ’) to help their departed relatives. Wise Steps: |
Aug 18 | Full Moon of the Chinese Seventh Month |
| By |
Return to Singapore Dharma Net Homepage