Than Hsiang Sunday school successfully convened its 2008 Buddhist youth camp from 29 May to 1 June at the 5th floor Multi-purpose hall. The total 130 participants were seperated into 10 groups, named after the Paramita classifications.

The theme of the camp is “search, discover and grow”. The camp was declared opened by Ven. Zhen Xin, accompanied by the chairman of the organizing committee and the camp superintendent at 7.30pm in the evening of 29 May, followed by offerings to the Buddha and dharma-sharing by the Venerable.

The venerable Shifu was heartened to see many old faces among the participants. The fact that they returned proves that the camp is a good place for learning and growth. Shifu also praised the theme for this year: very meaningful and creative. Youth, in their growth, are undergoing a process of searching and discovering the purpose and meaning of life and invariably along the way, they would stumble and face the hard knocks of life.

Shifu further mentioned that before one succeeds in any undertaking, one would face obstacles in the process. Therefore, it is important for one to persevere by searching, discovering and finally lead to a positive mental and spiritual growth. One must learn to utilize one’s wisdom to see the positive aspect in an adverse situation. In so doing one will always succeed in overturning an adverse situation into a favorable one.

An important topic emphasized in the training camp is character building based on the Buddha’s teachings. The first lesson, entitled “why must we learn the Dharma?”, was conducted by Bro. Yee Cheng Guan. The second lesson,“the five precepts and ten wholesome deeds” by Ven Zhen Xin was followed by Bro. Yong Ka Yee’s lecture on “the practice of the five precepts and ten wholesome deeds”. The final lecture was delivered by Ms Lim, the assistant principal of Phor Tay High school on the “the four principal gratitudes”.

The gratitude night was a night full of touching scenes where we witness the display of emotion between the parents and their children when each shared their feelings, thoughts and most of all the love and gratitude for one another.

The final day saw the participants interacting with the old folks, warming their hearts with- care, concerns and loving-kindness.

Other than character-building, the participants also had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the knowledge of Buddhist rites and ceremonies and- important issues of environmental protection.

Of course, the camp was not short of entertainment programmes such as opera, singing, hand-sign performance and movie that stressed on the inculcation of positive aspects of life.

One very obvious and positive effect that we observed after the camp was the fostering of closer kinship between the participants and their parents. With that positive note, we brought yet another successful youth camp to a close.