1 November 2024

Dear devotees & friends,

Today marks the first day of the 10 th lunar month, the last quarter of the Year of Dragon. The special event for this quarter includes Amitabha Buddha's Birthday Blessing Ceremony 南無阿彌陀佛聖誕法會. Amitabha Buddha (阿彌陀佛) is the Buddha of the Pure Land of the Western Paradise. He made 48 great vows to save all sentient beings. The 18th vow is most significant. It says:

"If upon attainment of Buddhahood, all sentient beings in the ten quarters who aspire in sincerity and faith to be reborn in my land, recite my name up to 10 times and fail to be born there, then may I not attain the Perfect Enlightenment..." Through his devotion, we learn to practise compassion and loving kindness to the less fortunate and extend happiness to all sentient beings.

As in the past years, we will have the 8-precept retreat (八関齋戒) on Saturday, 14 December 2024. The retreat offers lay Buddhists an opportunity to retreat from the world, in a peaceful and tranquil environment to cultivate spiritual development, and practise self- cultivation.

八關戒齋：又稱八齋戒、八戒，佛教術語，八條基本戒律，為五戒的進階。佛教戒律 種類之一，由佛教在家眾精進修行時遵守。在布薩期間，由出家僧侶為一般的信眾傳 授。比五戒嚴格，但較出家眾的十戒寬鬆。佛陀為了在家弟子眾修行而製定的、暫時 的出家修行人的戒律與齋法。因為在家修行的人，家庭的、社會的種種繁雜事務很繁 忙，要想修行佛法，業障也很多。佛陀慈悲憐憫在家弟子眾讓他們能夠過的清淨齋戒 生活，又能夠適應在家普通人生活的特點，所以特別制定了在家修行人的齋戒，就是 「八關齋戒」。

On Sunday, 15 December 2024, our Abbot will lead us in reciting 'San Shi Xi Nian' Sutra (三時繫念).

三時係念是元朝的中峰國師所提倡的佛事，屬淨土法門殊勝的行持之一，藉著繫念阿 彌陀佛萬德洪名，規勸我們依淨土念佛的修持而得度。同時也依阿彌陀佛之願，勸導 亡者往生西方極樂世界，永離茫茫業海與輪迴之苦，是冥陽兩利的佛事。透過三時繫 念，可以增長我們自身的智慧和福報，使我們法喜充滿，心安道隆，身輕體健，夜夢 吉祥，生活和命運充滿快樂，一帆風順，隨緣自在。 更重要的是為我們今生今世求生 西方極樂世界，修積功德，累積資糧，使我們臨終時能夠身無病苦、心不貪戀，順利 圓滿地往生西方方。

In year 2025, we will be conducting Offering Food Ritual at Damengshan ceremony大蒙山施食儀法 on Sunday, four times a year. The dates are: 16 March 2025 二月十七日, 22 June 2025 五月廿七日, 28 September 2025 八月初七日and 21 December 2025 十一月初二日.

If you wish to dedicate merits to your loved ones and or participate in the above events, kindly call Alice or Danny on telephone 6253 3532, what's app 8950 1883 or visit our Monastery.

Go Green SG Visits to Monastery 新加坡綠色計劃 參觀龍華藏院

We embrace the Singapore Green Plan 2030 which seeks to galvanise a whole-of-nation movement and advance Singapore's national agenda on sustainable development and take steps to support it. It is all about practicing and learning an eco-friendly lifestyle such as reducing the burning of joss papers and other paper offerings and use only smokeless joss sticks. For this reason, with immediate effect,

  1. we will only allow smokeless incense to be used in our 3 Halls, Cundi Hall at Level 1, Amitabha Hall at Level B1 and Ksitigarbha Hall at Level B2. These halls have recently been renovated and are fully air-conditioned. To facilitate you during your visits to the Monastery we have packaged a pack of 15 incense sticks @ 50 cents each which can be purchased from our Level 1 counter.

  2. we strongly urge all not to bring any joss papers or other paper offering items for offerings to your ancestors as there is strictly no burning within our premises. If, however you wish to do so, please bring them home as well as clear your food offerings after your prayers.

Going green leads to a healthier lifestyle and a cleaner environment. A clean environment is essential for human health and the well-being of ecosystems. Keeping our air, soil, and water pollutant-free can help reduce illness, protect wildlife habitats, and provide a healthy and vibrant atmosphere for our future generations.

While there is no requirement to wear masks, we still encourage you to continue with this practice especially if you are elderly or having respiratory infection. This helps to protect you and others.

Thank you all for your co-operation. May the Merits of the Triple Gems be Always with you!

 

 

 



Yours sincerely









 

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