And so another year is almost over and a new one is about to begin.
December is a time of celebration and spending time with family and friends. It is also a time of reflection and giving thanks. There is, of course, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as we usher in 2025.
With plenty of Buddhist activities around Singapore and across the causeway to take part in, from camps for kids to Dhamma talks by venerable Buddhists, let this holiday season be a memorable and meaningful one for you!
(1) Venerable Thubten Chodron Dhamma Talk: Three Principal Aspects of the Path
Wondering how to establish a firm foundation for your Dhamma practice? In this talk, Ven. Chodron shares the advice in the text “Three Principal Aspects of the Path” by the great Tibetan scholar and practitioner Lama Tsongkhapa. The text focuses on cultivating renunciation, bodhicitta, and the wisdom of realising emptiness.
- Participants are requested to consider wearing a mask out of courtesy toward Ven. Chodron.
- Hard copies of the text will be made available during the talk itself. You may wish to first read it here.
When: 5th December (Thursday) 7:30pm – 9pm
Venue: The Buddhist Library, 2 Lorong 24A, Geylang, Singapore 398526
Want to know more? You can find out here!
(2) Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco
Did you know that pagodas are related to Buddhism?
Pagodas are typically built as monuments within Buddhist temples and their design and structure can be traced back to that of the first stupa built in ancient India.
This exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum showcases a set of 84-hand-carved model pagodas that embody the diversity of iconic pagodas from different regions and historical periods.
These were originally made in Shanghai and travelled thousands of miles away to San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915.
When: 31st May 2024 – 1st June 2025
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Pl, Singapore 179555
Want to know more? You can find out here!
(3) Camp for Children: “Spread Love, Share Gratitude, Grow Kindness”
The Buddhist Library Sunday School is organising a two-day camp by Ven. Faxun, who has taught at various Buddhist centres in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. .
The BLs Sunday School Teachers and Volunteers are planning a series of well-crafted and meaningful activities. It is aimed at children from primary grades three to six.
When: 13th – 14th December (Friday – Saturday)
Venue: Sports Hub, Kallang at 8.45 am for Day 1. Remainder at The Buddhist Library, The Buddhist Library, 2 Lorong 24A, Geylang, Singapore 398526
Want to know more? Find out here!
(4) Seven-Day Zen Meditation Retreat
Sitting and walking meditation, chanting, Kong An practice, breathing, fasting.
By practising Zen meditation, we can find the correct direction for our lives and realise our true nature. We can live in wisdom and compassion.
When: 23-29th December (Monday to Sunday)
Venue: Pengerang International Zen Meditation Centre. Lot. 109 Telok Ramunia, 81620 Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia
Want to know more? You can find out here!
(5) Spring Cleaning
Come and join Poh Ming Tse Temple for Spring Cleaning! Take part in this working meditation and experience the joy of letting go and creating space for new things.
When: 22nd December (Friday), 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Poh Ming Tse Temple, Dunearn Road, Singapore 289613
Want to know more? You can find out here!
(6) Eight Precepts Retreat
The Eight Precepts is the code of ethics laid down by Buddha to aid lay Buddhists in their spiritual practice where they get to experience short-term monastic life. Other than being auspicious to observe the Eight Precepts, it also helps one to dilute out the bad kamma one has created.
When: 31st December (Tuesday), 7pm to 1st January (Wednesday) 8am
Venue: Kwan Yin Chan Lin Zen Meditation Centre No. 21 Lorong 25 Geylang, Singapore 388299
Want to know more? You can find out here!
(7) Youth Mindful Hiking Retreat
Join Youth Dhammafarers as they get hands-on applying mindfulness and learning the Dhamma through hiking with Āyasmā Aggacitta!
When: 5-8th December
Venue: BSF Retreat Centre, Hulu Langat, on the eastern outskirts of Kuala Lumpur
Want to know more? You can find out here!
(8) 1000-Armed Chenrezig Retreat
Ven. Thubten Chodron explains and guides the practice of visualizing and meditating on the Chenrezig/ Guan Yin with a thousand arms and eyes reaching out to alleviate the sufferings of all beings.
When: 8th December (Sunday), 10am-4pm
Venue: Amitabha Buddhist Centre, 44 Lorong 25A Geylang
Want to know more? Find out here!
(9) One Day Shurangama Mantra Retreat
Welcome the new year with peace, clarity, and purpose. Join Poh Ming Tse Temple for a one-day Shurangama Retreat on New Year’s Day. This special retreat offers an opportunity for us all to put aside worldly concerns, and to experience the power of immersing ourselves in meditation, chanting, and reflection in a community setting.
When: January 1st (Wednesday), 8.30am-5pm
Venue: Poh Ming Tse Temple, 438 Dunearn Rd, Singapore 289613
Want to know more? You can find out here!
(10) New Year Celebration
Join Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery for festivities, heartfelt prayers, and offerings to the Triple Gem. Let us aspire to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings together and usher in a new year filled with prosperity and abundant blessings for all.
When: 1st January (Wednesday), 6am to mid-afternoon
Venue: 88 Bright Hill Rd, Singapore 574117
Want to know more? You can find out here!
