Blessing session for UPSR students

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Hong Yew Chye

With the school examinations season approaching at the last quarter of the year, the candidates, as usual, found themselves in a state of exam phobia. The standard six students sat for their assessment on 9th September 2008. To ease and relieve their tension and calm their nerves for their final preparation before the exam, Than Hsiang Sunday school specially organized a simple yet meaningful blessing session on the morning of 31st August at 9.30am at Than Hsiang fifth floor multipurpose hall.

Besides the students from the Than Hsiang Sunday school, the parents of the students involved and students of Bukit Mertajam Sunday school also took part. The session began with the singing praise or “Lu Xiang Zhan”, the chanting of heart sutra, circumambulation of the Buddha statue. Next, we have dharma teaching by Ven. Zhen Ru, who graciously shared with us stories highlighting three important aspects as follow:

1. Gratitude---- Ven. reminded the students that we must cultivate and inculcate a strong mindset of gratitude to those who have help us in one way or another. Particularly, parents who painstakingly bring up, shelter, feed and educate their children. Likewise, the teachers teach us to distinguish between the good and the bad, respect or disrespect but also love from hatred. Parents and teachers are worthy of our respect and honor. Therefore, we must forever be grateful towards our parents and teachers.

2. Belief in Karma----The law of karma is one of the laws of nature. Simply put, you reap what you sow. Our actions create seeds that in turn produce fruits. Good actions lead to good results and vice versa. Karma is directly link to our intention or motives. Therefore, our motivation determines whether we get good or bad result. Venerable further stressed the importance of being sensible (“down to earth”) in our daily activities.

3. Belief in the The Triple Gem and Buddha name recitation (Nien Fo) ---- The triple Gem refers to the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha. To begin with, Buddha teaches that children must be filial to their parents. Ven narrated a story that once there was a man who wished to go forth after sensing all phenomena being impermanent. In his journey in search for a master, he met a monk. The monk asked where he was heading and he replied that he was looking for a master to ordain and teach him. The monk asked him not to look any further because the parents are the master / Bodhisattva. The moral of the story is that parents are the bodhisattva or Brahma in accordance with Buddhist tradition. One must practice filial piety to one’s parents.

Besides, one must also have faith in Amitabha and constantly chant his name to keep the mind focused and pure. With a well- focused and clear mind, we would be able to develop wisdom to acquire knowledge to face the challenge of life.

Lastly, students took turn for the blessing by Venerable and were given each a bean bracelet. With the blessing of the triple Gem, it is our sincere hope that the students would now have better confidence in facing the impending UPSR examination