TLDR: Discover how embracing impermanence and interbeing can empower individuals to contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s future and collective well-being

“All of us must come to know and undertake practice ourselves. The timing for our practice is in the present moment. The present is the “national agenda” for cultivating practice, because it is here and now that causes and conditions arise and take effect.”

Luang Por Ganha (translated by Kung Isarankura)

Seeing that Singapore’s National Day (9 August) is just around the corner, I took some time to reflect on this teaching from Luang Por Ganha. What does it mean that the present is the “national agenda”? 

For Buddhists, and other wisdom traditions, spiritual practice is often rooted in the Here and Now. The present moment is one of keen importance, one that needs to be tended to with care, and perfect mindfulness (Also known as ‘Right Mindfulness’, as the seventh fold of the Noble Eightfold Path). 

Luang Por Ganha’s phrase “national agenda” calls to mind this sense of spiritual urgency and priority, for each of us to live in a way that is awakened and aware. Note also that the concept of ‘national’ acknowledges, at its bare minimum, a group identity or collective of which we are assumed to be a part. When we are able to cultivate our present moment practice individually, we can progress together. Majulah!

Now, what might present moment practice have to do with celebration of our history on National Day, and the Singaporean identity? Aren’t we supposed to be ‘thought-less’ and embracing ‘no-self’ as Buddhists?

Ajahn Jayasaro provides some useful clarification: “In the Buddhist sense, being in the present moment includes being aware of mental phenomena as mental phenomena, not as self and belonging to self. It does not require an absence of thoughts of the past or future, simply an awareness that they are just that. Past and future are names for presently occurring memories and thoughts. Problems arise when we forget this truth.”

On the path of practice, memories and thoughts are not to be rejected out of hand, but, when appropriate, wisely utilized.”

Bearing this in mind, I hope the following reflection can be useful in helping you to bridge your identities as a dharma practitioner and as a Singaporean – whatever that connotes for you.

“It’ll never happen to us”: Embrace impermanence in the national context

Our everyday reality in Singapore is a far-flung fantasy for those sentient beings stricken by famine and war, living in regions of the world that are disaster-prone and conflict-ridden. As we go about our relatively peaceful existence, it becomes easy for us to be carried away with a national story and imagination that things will always be onwards and upwards for Singapore’s future.

Yet we see national headlines in the news such as those written here and here, that remind us our future is not certain.

These reminders by Singapore’s ministers are very much in line with the dhamma teaching that ‘All conditions are impermanent’. Reflecting deeply, we might even begin to sense fear and insecurity arising when we confront the possibility that, one day, there may not be a ‘Singapore’ – or at least not the Singapore that we recognise.

Rather than retreating into blind optimism, these are uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that could be wisely utilised, in order to motivate our meaningful contribution to the national fabric. 

Returning to Ajahn Jayasaro, also fondly known as the Yellow Pages monk for his handwritten reflections: “In AN5.78, monks are encouraged to reflect on future dangers. The Buddha says that at present the monks are young, in good health, harvests are good, the country is at peace, the Sangha in harmony. But in (the) future, sickness and old age await the monks. There may be drought and famine, social unrest and war, schism in the Sangha. At such times, practice will be much more difficult, Therefore, the monks should use such thoughts of the future to inspire their efforts in the present.”

Just as monks reflecting on future threats, come to practise with greater inspiration and effort in the present,we too have a role to play as civil servants, voters, employees, social workers etc. of Singapore. This includes looking after the present moment, which includes the national fabric of Singapore, through our work. 

When we embrace impermanence, we also see that this Singaporean fabric which allows us to host great Buddhist teachers, to travel easefully for practice and retreat, to support our practice through honest and upright livelihoods cannot be taken for granted.

“What’s it got to do with me?”: Recognise our interdependence

We may not all have positive feelings about the place in which we live, and we may not even feel motivated to contribute meaningfully. After all, we’re just a cog in the ‘Singapore Inc.’ machine, aren’t we?

Yet history has shown the difference an individual can make, for better or for worse, and especially when our circumstances are dissatisfying. In the Buddhist tradition, we can always refer to Buddha as a positive example. Buddha’s life story is the prime example of how one individual, cultivating boundless merit and the spiritual perfections over countless eons, was able to be of great benefit to many sentient beings.

The Buddhist teaching of dependent origination, is expressed by the Zen master Thich Nhat Hahn as ‘interbeing’. Holding up a sheet of paper, he said:

If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there can be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are.

On a mundane level, and in the present moment, we can already see the reality of our interbeing in everyday settings. 

• Wherever we may be in the world, we carry our parents with us – in our hands, the shapes of our faces and features, the way we laugh, and the way we cry. This shows us how we already ‘inter-are’ on the level of the body.
• Reading Dharma and chanting Pali texts and formulations from centuries ago, or speaking Singlish that was borne of the languages of our ancestors, we ‘inter-are’ on the level of speech.
• Tapping our transportation cards, queuing to order our chicken rice, or collecting our e-commerce parcel delivery, we ‘inter-are’ on the level of action.

Recognising our ‘interbeing’, we become aware of the effects of our body speech and actions on ourselves, and on others. We see that not just what we do, but how we abide in the present moment will have an impact on those around us. 

It turns out that we ARE in fact a cog in the ‘Singapore Inc’ machine. Turning away from this present moment, is failing to recognise the significance of this. Rather than disavowing our responsibilities and retreating from conventional duties, wise reflections on interdependence empower us to renew our commitments towards our roles and duties as a family member, a citizen, a dharma practitioner, and so on.

“Our common bond is suffering”: Act in solidarity

As per the teaching of the Four Noble Truths, Buddhists recognise that our common bond is suffering. However, unlike the Buddha who apparently grew up ensconced in privilege such that the realities of aging, sickness and death were initially hidden from his sight  – these three ‘divine messagers’ or devaduttas are everyday realities for those living in a densely populated city like us.

In relation to these phenomena of aging, sickness and death, Luang Por Sumedho ponders in his dhamma reflection entitled ‘Buddhist Angels’: “Covid-19 was a great teacher. But how many are willing to learn from Covid? Or from ageing parents? Or from ageing monks, or nuns?”. Perhaps in our eagerness to investigate ‘suffering’ as a Noble Truth, we might be passing off the opportunity to investigate ‘suffering’ that is right under our noses.

Speaking of ageing, Singapore is one of the fastest-ageing nations in the world. By 2030, one in four will be aged 65 and above. While taking the public transport, or eating at your nearby hawker, we see many of our elderly out and about, and some are still working hard to make ends meet. 

Singapore’s ageing population is our present moment reality. Buddhist-aligned organisations that have recognised this have stepped up to plug the gaps in financial assistance, capacity-building and/or practical care for the elderly, sick, and those in palliative care stages. 

These organisations include, without limitation (in alphabetical order):

• Aranya Sangha Dana Fellowship (阿兰若护僧团) 
• Blossom Seeds
• Bright Hill Evergreen Home (光明山修身院)
• Care for Elderly Foundation (新加坡老人福利基金会) 
• Ehipassiko Chanting Group (Contact Buddhist Fellowship if interested)
• Foo Hai Rehabilitation Centre @ Bedok (福海佛教文化及福利协会)
• Fu Hui Golden Care Centre
• Grace Lodge (慈恩林)
• Man Fut Tong Nursing Home (万佛堂疗养院)
• Medicine Dhamma Circle
• Metta Day Rehabilitation Centre for the Elderly (慈光乐龄日间康复中心)
• O’ Joy (海悦辅导中心)
• Ren Ci (仁慈)
• Shan You (善友) 
• Tai Pei Old People’s Home (大悲安老院)
• Tzu Chi  (新加坡慈济)
• Viriya Community Services (进觉福利协会)

Read Handful of Leaves’s interview with Aranya Sangha Dana Fellowship’s General Manager, Cell Lim, to find out more about how Aranya looks after the needs of community-based Buddhist monastics.

These communities are examples of how Buddhist teachings and the cultivation of wisdom, compassion and a collective resilience can give rise to greater benefit for other sentient beings. And it all takes us back to how we look after the present moment.

Are we absorbed into our mobile devices, or looking up to connect with fellow Singaporeans? Are we spinning in stories about our own struggles, or reaching out to our neighbours with wisdom and compassion? 

It is possible that we might experience the most agency and opportunity to make beneficial decisions for ourselves and for others, when we are attentive to Here and Now.

With thanks to Geraldine, Wei Li and their networks, Pei Shan, Loh Wei, Ching Wi, Dr Ng Wai Chong, and any other sangha, friends, and colleagues that have contributed to this article, as well as the growth in my understanding of Singapore’s aging demographic and dhamma practice, in one way or another.

Wise Steps:

1. Recognise the importance of living in the present moment to foster personal and national well-being, starting with mindfulness practices.
2. Understand impermanence as a key aspect of Buddhist teachings, essential for embracing Singaporean identity and civic duties.
3. Reflect on interdependence in everyday life, realizing how our actions impact others in the community