Ajahn Brahm is coming to Singapore!
Yes, he is giving 3 talks at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
- 08 Jan 2013 7:45pm – The Happiness Journey
- 17 Jan 2013 7:45pm – Life Beyond Death
- 24 Feb 2013 7:45pm – How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep
I first knew heard his loooooong speech over a post shared by Sze, which initially I thought an hour long of video will makes me fall asleep but I didn’t! I find it very inspiring and enlightening, from then on, I begin to subscribe to his YouTube channel on: http://www.youtube.com/user/BuddhistSocietyWA and listen to his talk frequently. 😛 His witty, lively and humorous presentation really got me, everything is presented in such a way that it’s easy to understand, and so close to our heart.
I was so excited when I came across the news that he is coming over to Singapore to give talks and marked my calendar with all the dates he is giving talk in Singapore. Unfortunately, I missed the first one as I need to do some overtime.
Managed to attend the second talk which is Life Beyond Death. He mentioned how meditation helped us to ‘review’ our past and understand why we are the person whom we are now. He also shared with us some stories he learnt from others on death – a topic a lot consider taboo… He reminded us to forgive others who commit suicide and when someone closed to us passed away, or is passing away, the most important things for us to do is – to let go. Yes, attachment might be good to a certain extend, but to someone who passed away, it just make the deceased unable to be release to reincarnation. Instead of keep missing of the deceased, and think that in this way you can ‘bless’ your loved one, just let go… this is the best way.
Also, when someone asked if the deceased will be able to received the things burnt by their family, and if the funeral rites and chanting really helps to give them a better ‘life’ in the other world, he replied with a answer which I was quite surprise, and maybe will not be accepted by most – the funeral chanting is actually a time when the monk can ‘earn’ most out of a person, the deceased will not able to receive them. Instead of thinking that paying such huge amount of money can help a person after his death to gain merit, why not advise the person to gain the merits while he is still alive? See, that’s is the reason why I like his talk, so unconventional, he is so fearless of offending others with his directness which is something I admired him from the bottom of my heart!
Side track from his speech, on my way to attend the talk, I missed the crowded bus, and decided to take a cab. Although I guess the two ladies in front of me might be heading to the same direction as me, I just stay quiet and wait for the cabs to come… then another lady came to me and asked if I am going to Ajahn Brahm’s talk, she offered to share cab with me, and also go forward to ask the two ladies in front of us the same questions. Since sharing cab can split cost and save the waiting time (3 cabs instead of 1), we board the same cab… the lady who offered to share cab subsequently said that since we have the fate to share the same cab, the cab fare will be on her. Nice lady! Such nice luck to me! I begin to reflect on myself and wonder if I am too reserved these days…
