DOT CONNECTIONS GROWTH CENTRE MENTAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

Transcription

1 DOT CONNECTIONS GROWTH CENTRE MENTAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM 2015 Participants with Dr Ong S H (2 nd from left) and Venerable Ding Rong Mental well-being is the foundation of one s overall well being. It is mental health that helps us make good life choices, motivates one to maintain his mental wellbeing and even physical health, as well as strengthens his ability to handle the ups and downs of life. On the other hand, excessive anxiety and stress can affect the immune system and make us more prone to illnesses. And leaving such mental issues unattended can subsequently lead to the onset of depression that makes one persistently feel hopelessness and despair. Depression is indeed one of the biggest health challenges the world faces, with more than 350 million sufferers worldwide. It is in accordance with the call for a multi-faceted approach to this mental illness that Dot Connections Growth Centre organised its inaugural symposium, The Mental Health Symposium 2015 with the theme, Change Your Mind, Change Your Life to raise the awareness of the public towards depression. The symposium was held on 29 Aug at Chui Huay Lim Club in Keng Lee Road with five distinguished speakers from different establishments sharing and discussing depression-related issues from the perspectives of psychology, psychiatry and spirituality as well as providing practical ways for prevention and care. Some 400 participants took part in the symposium. Publicity corner of Dot Communication Growth Centre Soon after, Dr Ong She Hong, senior consultant of psychological medicine at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, was invited to speak on depression-related emotions, like hopelessness and despair always faced by sufferers. He emphasized his points by showing interesting slides on the screen. He also explained the causes, symptoms and development, detection of depression and its treatment with drugs. Following that, Dr Wong Mei Yin, principal psychologist at Clinical Services National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, gave insights on the detection and management of depression. She suggested the use of SPEAK method to relieve depression. This method encompasses: Scheduling the daily living events, such as work, sleep and dating; involving in Pleasurable hobbies and activities; doing more Exercises; being Assertive and having the courage to say No when necessary, as well as having Kind-thoughts, such as compassion and love. Apart from sharing clinical theories pratices, the symposium also presented pewrsonal strategies in dealing with depression, shared by Dr Lim Kok Kwang, lecturer of psychology at James Cook University Singapore and by Dr Phang Cheng Kar, consultant psychiatrist and mindfulness-based therapist and president of Buddhist Mental Health Association in Malaysia, who offered his take and also tips on the treatment of depression from a psycho-spiritual perspective. At 9.50am on that day, Dr Gouk Sok Siam, president of DCGC, kicked off the symposium with her welcome speech and words of thanks to the sponsors, speakers and participants. She was followed on stage by Venerable Ding Rong, founder and mentor of DCGC, who elaborated on the purpose of the symposium and introduced the speakers. Besides the symposium proper, DCGC, Kampong Senang, Shan You Counselling Centre, Awareness Place Wellbeing Centre, Singapore Mental Health Association and Psychological Department of KTPH also set up publicity corners in the lobby to introduce their organisations and explain the services they offer. 55

2 SHUANG LIN MONASTERY Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration From 19 to 27 Sep, the oldest Buddhist temple in Singapore, Shuang Lin Monastery, celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival for nine days in a row with an extensive display of colourful lanterns in its compound, along with a myriad of activities, including dragon and lion dances, songs and dances of different races, singing by choir groups, Cantonese melodies by Hong Kong artistes, drama, opera, cross-talk, magic show, lantern riddles, tea ceremony demonstration, martial art display, balloon sculpting, Chinese calligraphy as well as guitar, Guzheng, Ukulele, Chinese orchestra and wind symphony performances and so on. The monastery also set up a small wishing pond and organised a food fair at the Guanyin Hall. There was a games corner for children as well. Throughout the celebration, tens of thousands of people, young and old, thronged the monastery to imbue in the fun and joy of the festival. On 19 Sep evening, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, was invited as the Guest of Honour to officiate at the light-up ceremony. He turned the monastery compound instantly into a fairyland of lanterns and lights at the press of a button. And on the following evening, Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo was invited to conduct the eye-opening ceremony of a lion dance troupe. The gorgeous celebration also attracted the presence of Minister Khaw Boon Wan on 24 Sep and a number of newly elected Members of Parliament who found it a good occasion to mingle with the crowds. KARMA KAGYUD CENTRE Charity Sales Fair & Concert KKBC is still short of $3.5 million to complete its rebuilding project and hence, intensive efforts are now underway to raise this required amount, one of which will be the upcoming charity sales fair and concert to be held on 11 Oct at Foo Chow Building along Tyrwhitt Rd. The sales fair will start from 3pm, while the concert at 7.30pm, and both will end at 10.30pm. The concert will be staged by Mr Jackie Goh and his students. Mr Goh, former Mediacorp artiste and founder of Jack Singing Training & Musical Centre, has been extremely helpful to KKBC in its various fundraising projects. He and his students many a time helped raise funds by selling vouchers and moon-cakes, by donating individual piggy banks, and by holding auctions at birthday parties. To date, they have together raised more than $100,000 for the centre. It is learnt that, all proceeds from this concert will be donated to the centre as well. Do give them your support for a worthy cause. Spiritual Assemblies & Mini Fair KKBC organised the SG 50 Grand Prayers on Sep and the auspicious Kagyu Monlam on 20 Sep, together and a fundraising mini fair throughout the two spiritual events at Singapore Expo Hall 2B. The three days saw intensive recitations of prayers and empowerments for the blessings of all sentient beings and the world. The Kagyu Molam began in the morning of 20 Sep with the pompous reception of the Buddha s relics by Sangha members of different traditions and faithful devotees. The relics were then placed in a lotus-shaped bowl at the centre of the ceremonial altar for veneration and offering. Before the commencement of the ceremony, Shangpa Rinpoche, abbot of KKBC, gave a short introduction of Kagyu Molam and its significance. Soon after, the auspicious ceremony began with recitation of prayers by the Rinpoche and his accompanying monks. Many devotees paid their respects to the relics and made offerings of flower before receiving blessings. 56

3 PHOR KARK SEE MONASTERY Buddhism & Science Symposium The fifth in this series of public forums, themed: The Mind: The Window to Our Well-being, will be conducted on 3 Oct from 8.30am to 12.30pm by a panel of distinguished speakers comprising A/Prof John Wong Chee Meng, head of the Department of Psychological Medicine at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS; Prof Kua Ee Heok, professor of psychiatry & neuroscience at the same medical institution; Venerable Dr Somaloka, founder of Mindfulness Meditation and Counselling Centre in Sydney; Dr B. Alan Wallace, founder of Santa Barbara Insitute for Consciouness Study, and with Ms Tracey Woon, vice-chairman of Citigroup Singapore as the chairperson for the panel discussion. The abbot of PKSM, Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng, will be invited to deliver the welcome address. At this symposium, great minds in science (psychology and psychiatry in particular) and spirituality will share their insights on the impact of mindfulness on health and emotional well-being. The two NUS psychiatrists will touch on the importance of nurturing the developing mind of adolescents as well as research findings on a mindfulness intervention program to prevent depression and dementia in the elderly in Singapore. Participants will also learn how the practice of mindfulness is used in psychotherapy and in cultivating mental resilience. For more information and registration, call Novitiate Programme From 4 to 15 Nov, PKSM will be organising a cross-nation novitiate programme for males aged between 16 and 65. During the novitiate, novices will reside at the monastery for the first two days, then for the remaining days, they will take part in a spiritual retreat at Bodhgaya - where the Buddha attained enlightenment, to experience a monastic life and practise wisdom and compassion. Hymns Composition Workshops This series of workshops will be held at 9am-5pm on Sundays from 22 Nov to 27 Dec. Instructed by Ng Kang Kee and Wilson Tan, both producers, arrangers and composers, participants will learn the fundamentals of the craft of composition, work their creative minds and be inspired to compose meaningful hymns that will inspire others. The highlights include recognizing and analyzing common song structures, practical song writing exercises, crafting melodies as well as an excursion to music studio. For registration, call Awareness Camp From 4 to 6 Dec, PKMS will be organizing a camp for youths aged between 15 and 20. Participants will be able to learn from the wisdom of the Buddha s teachings through interactive activities and sharing sessions and no less, experience a fulfilling Buddhist life through such a learning process. For registration, call EAN KENG SI TEMPLE Guanyin Consecration Ceremony EKS Buddhist Temple will be inviting Venerable Ti Zheng from Taiwan to consecrate the exquisitely crafted wooden statue of Songzi Guanyin at the temple on Oct 31 at 8.30am, in conjunction with the birth anniversary of Guanyin. All are welcome. There will be a free shuttle bus service from Kembangan MRT station on that day from 7.45am onwards. Songzi Guanyin, regarded as the patron saint of babies, is worshipped by many, especially married couples, either for conceiving a baby or for a smooth labour or for children to grow up safely and healthily. For making offerings or enquiries, call LIBRARY Family Day Funfair The Buddhist Library will holding its annual funfair on 22 Nov at the open ground in front of Aljunied MRT, with exciting new games, food and souvenir stalls. This event is a fundraising activity for the library. You may help in sponsoring part of the expenses or in purchasing the tickets. This year, you may also do charity by donating tickets to the elderly from Thye Hua Kwan Seniors Activity Centre. Art Course & Retreat Ms Carmen Mensink, an internationally renowned painter of Tibetan Buddhist art, will be conducting a Tibetan art weekend course on 9-10 Jan, Thereafter, she will lead in a special art retreat that includes a 3-day sightseeing tour to the great Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka. During this retreat, participants can draw and color Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) or Buddha with colored pencils or paint and also learn how to work with the special thangka painting techniques. Prior experience in drawing or painting is not necessary. For enquiries and participation, call YOUTH NETWORK Bodhi Seed Fund This is a new initiative by BYN to financially support young people to succeed beyond spiritual practice and turn ideas of benefiting community or spiritual developments into realities. If you have any good project on mind, you may submit a proposal detailing your project, budget, deliverables together with your or your team members biodata to: byn@buddhistyouth.sg. Shortlisted applicants are required to attend an interview. FO GUANG SHAN (SINGAPORE) Musical Nite On 1 Nov at 6.30pm at Victoria Concert Hall, FGS(S) will be staging a musical nite, Future & Hope, with performances by special guest, Dr Ayke Agus, and Broadway Harmonica from USA together with local VIVA RAVE Harp Ensemble, FGS Harmonica Ensemble, FGS performers and children from Fo Guang Xiao Pu Sa and Ci Ai Education Incubator. For more information, call English Dharma Talks The personal English interpreter of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, Venerable Miao Guang, will be in town to deliver two talks on the Vimalakirti Sutra on 3 Oct at pm and on 4 Oct at 2-3pm. For free tickets, call

4 DEVACHAN A PURELAND BUILT ON DESERT LAND IN LADAKH From 21 Aug to 1 Sep, 20 members of Malaysia s Buddhist Gem Fellowship and 10 members of Singapore s Buddhist Fellowship, headed by the president of BGF, Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee, went on a tour to Ladakh to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the 4th International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh, and pay visits to age-old monasteries and a few Buddhist schools as well as go on sightseeing around this high-altitude, arid but scenic region of the Himalayas that is tucked away in the far northwest of India. The two groups of tour participants first met and transited overnight in New Delhi before flying to Leh, the capital town in Ladakh, where they were warmly received by Venerable Sanghasena, founder and president of Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), with his elaborate and rousing welcoming party. They were then put up comfortably at the Global Family Guest House in Devachan. Devachan When told, any newcomer to this sprawling 200-acre lush and well built-up campus could hardly believe that it was just a piece of barren desert land some two and a half decades ago. Nonetheless, it is the dream of the far-sighted, charismatic, energetic and committed Venerable Sanghasena that has become a reality. Today, it is an oasis of greenery and life, a spiritual pureland for Buddhists and truth-seekers as well as a vibrant hub for various educational, social, cultural and humanitarian activities in north-western Himalayan region. Devachan is located in the heartland of Ladakh, which is the only place in India where the majority of its population are Buddhist, though of the Vajrayana tradition. It started to be built up from scratch under MIMC in the year 1991, with a vision of providing a comprehensive care to all segments of society in Ladakh through sustainable and ecological development. Its humble beginning saw only three single-storey mud-brick buildings eompleted in 1992 on moonlike ground, surrounded by parched, treeless, rocky mountains, with no water and no proper road access. In spite of such challenging physical conditions, the determined Venerable Sanghasena, on seeing the need of education for children from the under-priviledged families living in the far flung corners of Ladakh, single-mindedly established the first residential school for 25 girls. And now, it is very remarkable that the mini-sized school has grown into a full-fledged coeducation institution with an enrolment of 490 students, with one of its pioneer students, Mrs Tsewang Dolma, serving as its principal. Mahabodhi Residential School Principal, Mrs Tsewang Dolma However, Venerable Sanghasena clearly understood that in that initial stage, the limited resources that he had could not lead him very far in his vision. So, he decided to embark on a publicity and fundraising tour to other countries, including Malaysia and Singapore. And not in vain, his compassion, sincerity, dedication and well-formulated plan of action for Devachan eventually touched the hearts of many a Buddhist and philanthropist, who readily came forward 58

5 and offered their financial and technical assistance in various amenities projects, such as the artesian water project, solar hot water project and orchard project, etc. Moreover, words of his great humanitarian work spread across the globe and he soon also gained support from Buddhists and well-wishers in different parts of the world. Under the able guidance of Venerable Sanghasena, coupled with the commitment of his team and the help from all corners, Devachan has since grown and flourished into a campus of multifarious establishments, be they spiritual, educational, cultural or humanitarian, that include Jetavana Monastery, Phandeyling Nunnery, kindergarten, residential school, boys and girls hostels, charitable hospital, mobile health clinic, hostel for the blind, home for the aged and destitute, etc. Kindergarten students Venerable Sanghasena was born in Tingmosgang village, about 100 km from Leh, and brought up in a traditional Buddhist medical family. At age 17, he joined the Indian army. But then in 1977, he felt strongly the inner spiritual calling and left the army to become a disciple of the celebrated scholarly monk, Venerable Buddharakkhita Mahathera, the abbot of the Mahabodhi Society in Bangalore in South India. In 1986, he established MIMC in a rented room in Leh. But over the next few years, he found that the room was too small to fulfil his burning mission of offering humanitarian and spiritual services to the people of Ladakh and as a result, he moved the centre to the current site of Devachan where he miraculously transformed the desert land into a spiritual pureland. Because of his selfless services to the society, particularly, the poor and needy, Venerable Sanghasena was awarded honours by the government of India and by many international organisations. Currently, he travels extensively around the world, participating in many international conferences and seminars, promoting spiritual and cultural values, literacy, environmental protection, inter-religious harmony, peaceful co-existence, improvement of women s status, etc. Touring Beyond Devachan During the stay, the tour group of 30 did not spend all their time in Devachan, but attended two full-day events at the Buddhist heritage festival that was held at an auditorium in Leh. Thereafter, they embarked on a tortuous tour around the rugged but majestic terrain of Ladakh, especially to the breath-taking Nubra valley. They visited the famed Deskit Monastery, the legendary eleventh-century Lamayuru Monastery that houses the cave where the great yogi Naropa meditated, and also Hemis Monastery, the most famous in Ladakh, where the masked dances were performed for visitors in its central courtyard in summer. Besides, they also visited two MIMC branch schools and were entertained by their students with local songs and dances. Finally, on 30 Aug, they attended the felicitation ceremony of the Buddhist heritage festival held in the cultural hall in Devachan, before packing up for departure early in the following morning. A senior at home for the aged Devachan also conducts various spiritual, social, environmental and cultural programs, such as meditation and trekking program, eco-resort camp, adult women literacy project, interfaith program, Maitri charity program, handicap rehabilitation project and so on. Founder of Devachan 4 th International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh Guests and speakers on the dais Colourful Ladakhi cultural performance The Buddhist heritage festival with the theme - Sustainable and Responsible Tourism for Ladakh was celebrated from 22 to 30 Aug. The inauguration ceremony, held on 23 Aug at the Nagarjuna Auditorium, was graced by the princess of Bhutan, Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuk and Minister of Defence of India, Manohar Parrikar, as the Chief Guest. It was attended by many guests and dignitaries, both local and from abroad. There were also colourful cultural performances after congratulatory speeches. Datuk Seri Dr. Victor Wee and Dr. Tan Ho Soon, founding director of Nalanda Institute Malaysia, were among the invited speakers. 59