In this course, you will learn about meditating on loving kindness to oneself and others, mindfulness of the breath and how to progressively develop insight and deepen your understanding of Buddha’s Teachings.
Guided By: Venerable Mahinda, Sister Sumitra
Section 1. Pre-preparation instruction
Pre-preparation instruction for the mind and body. You will learn how to clear away distraction, pave the way for the mind to settle down in a home environment setting.
Section 2. Start your self-retreat with guided instructions
Throughout the day, you follow some instructed routine. You will receive more specific guidance and interaction at the assigned time slot with the conducting teacher (when needed).
Section 3. Live teachings with Venerable
Live teachings with Venerable will guide you on how to overcome challenging experiences through Dhamma applications and inspire you to continue your practice on and off retreat.
2021 – the Year of the Ox in the Chinese zodiac – is like any other year… good for some and not so good for others. Despite all the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 virus pandemic, many of you are still able to smile. Those who have joined our 3-month Dhamma Course and the Online Retreat in the past year will naturally be more prepared to accept things as they come. Those who have not joined our online Dhamma Course should try to join us from March to May this year, when we launch a new series of online Dhamma talks and guided meditation. In order to make the most out of the course, your commitment is necessary.
New Year celebrations are a time when we practise age-old values such as respecting our elders, seeking forgiveness, sharing what we have with others and making resolutions. The impact and challenges of Covid-19 will continue through most of this coming year. So we need to remain vigilant and resilient, by cultivating values such as METTA, KARUNA, MUDITA, UPPEKHA. We need to immerse and suffuse ourselves with METTA so that we will be able to reach out to others in times of need. METTA has the power to attract the blessings of devas and Dhamma protectors, as well as bringing into maturity all our perfections (PARAMI) and accumulated merits so that we will have the necessary strength and support to face the challenges of our times.
At the individual level, METTA or loving-kindness meditation helps to boost our immune system by reducing and overcoming negative emotions such as anger, hatred, grudges, fear, anxiety, suspicion and so on. It also promotes acts of kindness, such as extending a helping hand to the needy, bringing us joy and happiness. On a wider societal and global level, METTA can play a tremendous role in developing community support through benevolent activities such as creating employment through social enterprise. Communal support is essential to help us all go through the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and especially to reach out to the poor and needy, as poverty breeds crime and conflict in society, nations and world.
We rejoice with all our dana providers over the year, who despite the lockdown and restricted movement, made a point of delivering groceries and other essential items in support of the spiritual community at Aloka.
For the forthcoming 3-month online Dhamma course and guided meditation from March to May 2021, please take note that registration is necessary. Look out for announcements and more information on this website in the near future.
The Covid 19 pandemic has served as a wake-up call for us to return to righteousness, to lead a more contented and Dhammic way of life. It is in the Dhamma that we will find the highest form of protection:
DHAMMO HAVE RAKKHATI DHAMMACĀRI
The Dhamma protects those who live in accordance with the Dhamma
May the Blessings of the BUDDHA DHAMMA SANGHA be with you all always.
A series of Dhamma talks by Venerable Mahinda on the Mangala Sutta, the Buddha’s discourse on Life’s Highest Blessings. In the words of Venerable Mahinda, “The Mangala Sutta provides meaning and direction in our lives. It can help both the young and the old to avoid making mistakes in life that will cause suffering to ourselves and others. When we listen to or read the teachings, we will realise what we have done right and what mistakes we have made, and what we need to do to compensate for our negligence and shortcomings.”
“Parents should not think that they have finished their duties towards their children after sending them to universities and training in certain professions. That is only the worldly aspect of life. They need to inspire them to walk the Dhamma’s path and lead a more spiritual way of life by way of example… especially in this time of crises”.
The contemplation on the realities of life prepares us to face the challenges of life, especially the challenges of old age, sickness and death, so that we will not be caught by surprise. It also gives rise to a sense of urgency to put into practise the Dhamma, without postponing or procrastinating.
This series of talks touches on the cultivation of the worldly dhamma such as the practice of Right Speech, Right Bodily Action, and Right Livelihood, as well as the learning, practising, and realisation of the supramundane Dhamma through the understanding of the Four Noble Truth and the Noble Eightfold Path as expounded by the Buddha.
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