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Chinese New Year Fund Raising
Dinner

24/2
Futsing Building, Level 2, Function Hall
MICA (P) No. 003/05/2012
5/1

73 Zen Meditation Course for

Beginners - by Ven. Chi Boon
(Pls register)

Chinese Brush Painting Class

(Pls register)
9/2
6-7:30pm
Reunion Dinner (Pls register)
8-9:30pm
Medicine Buddha Repentance
Chanting
1/1

Whole Year Offering of Lights

(Pls register)

Observance of 8-Precepts 1-Day

retreat (Pls register)
15/2 - 17/2

CNY Liang Huang Repentance

Chanting (Pls register)
PENGERANG
KYCL ZEN BUILDING
13/1

Children Sunday Class (Pls register)

Sunday Buddhism Class

(Pls register)

==

102 - 13/2

CNY Liang Huang Repentance
Chanting (Pls register)
242

CNY Fund Raising Dinner
(Pls book tickets early)

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Former President Nathan, members of Parliament,
venerable monks and nuns, and all honoured guests.
I like to thank you all for coming here today to help
us celebrate the opening of this wonderful new build-
ing. Yesterday, was walking to the open feld by the
MRT station here, Aljunied. And I started thinking,
Where does the Zen Centre come from? Where do
all these come from? Then suddenly I was struck
with this very strong feeling of gratitude inside for
our teaching lineage down from the Buddha. Inside
I had a very strong feelingfor thousands of years
people have been giving their lives to teach us about
how to be a correct human being. So one of the jobs
of a place like this is to give good teaching to people.
Most recently our founding teacher Zen Master
Seung Sahn established these Zen Centres all
around the world and he completely gave himself to
us. This giving, compassion, this spirit, comes down
from the Buddha, person to person, heart to heart.
Actually, its not about books, or buildings, its about
this heart-connection. Thats the number one job
giving this good teaching about how we are all con-
nected here on the planet earth.
A Zen Centres job is also to provide a place for peo-
ple to practise. Most of you heard about the Bud-
dha giving good teaching, but he also provided his
monks with a good place to practise. So thats the
second important thing.
The third most important thing is how we all come to-
gether to make this happen. You all understand that
this couldnt be without many, many people coming
together to make it happen. Actually they give their
life so this can be here. So thank you all very much
for making this happen.
This is also the 22nd anniversary of Kwan Yin Chan
Lin. When frst came 20 years ago, it was just a
small place on an island (at Pulau Ubin). And since
then, it grew bigger, bigger, bigger, stronger, stron-
Zen Master Dae Kwang
Where does the Zen Centre come
from?
ger, and better and better. This doesnt happen over-
night, but it is the peoples commitment for a very,
very long time.
In Buddhism, we always say if you hear good teach-
ing then you have a big responsibility. That means
if you come here, and if you hear this and if you
eat food and if you socialise, that means inside you
also have a responsibility to do something. And that
do something is exactly like the Buddha. That do
something' means 'fnd my true self'that's what the
Buddha did, and then help the worldthats what
the Buddha did.
This may be a very small building. Maybe the neigh-
bourhood always isnt the nicest, but the job is al-
ways the same. Because this is a suffering world.
Our job is to fnd our self and give our self to help re-
lieve this suffering. I want to thank you all for coming
to help us celebrate and then do this big job. Thats
a human being. Thank you all for coming.

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It is really a humbling experience to be here to-
day, Im really delighted to be in the presence of
dignitaries, Mr. President, and all distinguished
guests coming from Las Vegas, Nevada. I noticed
that in recent years, the culture of Las Vegas has
found its way to Singapore. When I left Las Ve-
gas at the airport, they have slot machines. And
its 9100 milesI looked it up from Googlefrom
Las Vegas to Singapore. And then on the ride in
from Changi, I notice the casino, so I felt right at
home! It was like moment mind, I never left, Im
here in the casino area!
I remember in the beginning of our Zen Centre in
Las Vegas, we met actually at a doctor's offce.
This doctor was a friend of our founding teach-
ing Zen Master Seung Sahn. Somehow our ven-
erable founding teacher convinced this doctor
to give me the keys to his offce. So three times
weekly, I would pull up to the front of this doctors
offce with all the cushions, mats, Buddha, altar,
everything. We would move all the furniture from
his waiting offce into the hallway and then set up
the Dharma room and have practice. And then
when practice was complete. We would bring all
the furniture back in and load my car back up with
all the mats and cushions. We did this 3 times
a week for 3 years. After the 3 years, we fnally
got a place and Zen Master Seung Sahn came to
give our dedication. This morning listening to the
other speakers and I was reminded of a couple of
things he said at that time, that in a gambling city,
I think that are very appropriate to repeat.
Zen Master Seung Sahn said in Las Vegas, there
are many desire and distraction. This city not
only tolerates these distractions, it actually exalts
them. So gambling, shows, alcohol, no problem.
But this Zen Centre now, must become like an
oasis in a desert. A desert is a very dry place,
not much water. And all those, he said, who are
thirsty for the Dharma can come drink. We stay
at that particular place for another 10 years, and
then just last May we open also a really big Zen
Centre. Its near the Las Vegas gambling strip, as
they call it. So we do sitting practice, gambling
practice. No, just joking!
The important thing, out of all of this, is that this
place appear due to the work and dedication
of people who see that everything is imperma-
nent. So going to casino having good time, is not
a problem. But if it controls your life, then it be-
comes big problem.
I leave you with one quote from a famous teach-
er. One time, a young monk was looking at his
teacher walking around in the temple. And he
kind of have this perplexed look on his face and
Thom Pastor, JDPSN
An Oasis in a Desert
5
he went up to his teacher, the Zen Master, and he said, Master, everyday
we wake up at the same time, we work together here at the temple, we
also eat the same food, so how come you have the high seat and I sit
here? The Master said, Very simple, he said, I use the 24 hours and
you are used by the 24 hours.
Every teacher so far, has hinted that the true memorial monument, that
is this Zen Centre of our life, is right here. And this right here points to
moment mind. That is why it was very ftting that when we cut the ribbon,
it was Just Do It! So whatever we are doing then helps this world, helps
this place, and helps spread the Dharma.
Buddha centuries ago said this world is an ocean of suffering. Turning on
the television, here in Singapore and watching the news, we see many,
many perilous situations prevail throughout the world. So let us all make
a vow to keep this still body, still breath, still mind and work together for
true world peace. Thank you.
Everybody comes into this world carrying nothing, Zen Master Seung Sahn has said. Everyone
leaves for someplace, also carrying nothing. We cannot take anything with us. Yet in between, every-
body wants things, chases things, and is attached to things very much.
These are the maxims which command Las Vegas. The spiteful snakes of sex, money, rich food and
power are the deities of choice here, insulated by an industry that not only tolerates them, but, in fact,
exalts them. The mouth of the lion is a wonderful place to practise.
- extracted from In Search of Neon Nirvana, Thom Pastor, JDPSN
Death Valley, Eastern California
The Mouth of the Lion is a Wonderful
place to practise
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The Meaning of Dry shit on a Stick
A monk asked Zen Master Hyang Gok, What does Un Muns Dry shit on a stick
mean?
Hyang Gok answered, The bright sun appears in the sky at midnight. Above
heaven, below heaven, without equal.
1. What does Un Muns Dry shit on a stick mean?
2. Is Hyang Goks answer correct?
3. Did you see the bright sun appear in the sky at midnight?
Commentary: You must go to a farm and ask the farmer, Where is the dry shit on
a stick?
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3.
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Joseph Wu

Rosalind Ong Lay Eng & Family

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To Date
Sponsors for Commencement of
Construction of KYCL Zen Building
New Members
578






Bi-monthly Issue / Issue No. 73
Spiritual Leader : Zen Master Seung Sahn
Abbot : Ven. Chi Boon
Chief Editor : Leow Wee Kheng
Publisher : Kwan Yin Chan Lin
Printer : Qiantai Printing & Publishing
Pte. Ltd.
kyclzen@singnet.com.sg
http://www.kyclzen.org
Kwan Yin Chan Lin
Zen Meditation Centre
21 Lorong 25 Geylang, Singapore 388299
(T) +65 6392 0265 , +65 6747 6215
(F) +65 6392 4256
Pengerang International
Zen Meditation Centre
Lot. 109 Telok Ramunia, 81620, Pengerang Johor
(T) 0207 826 4848
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