26th August 2007 will be remembered as one of the most memorable day for the family of the Sunday Dharma School (SDS). By 8:00am, approximately 120 SDS students, Than Hsiang Youth members and Aixin Jia Zu had assembled at Da Bei Dian. It was our SDS second outing for the year and we had chosen to visit Mahindarama Buddhist Temple this time. The objectives of the outing were primarily to:

• Expose ourselves to other Buddhist traditions and develop better understanding and respect for other Buddhist traditions;

• Perform Sanghikadana; and

• Promote interaction among the SDS students, youth and aixin teachers and ba ma.

We started by chanting Amitabha Buddha-name and had a sitting meditation session before Venerable Zhen Xin delivered a dharma talk on Sanghikadana (offerings for the Sangha). She highlighted and explained the three Buddhist traditions (Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana), the importance and reasons for performing Sanghikadana and the four types of offerings, namely food, medicine, robe and shelter. The students then invited the resident Sangha members of Than Hsiang Temple into the hall and selected student representatives offered requisites to them. After the transference of merits and led by Venerable Zhen Xin, we departed for Mahindarama Buddhist Temple.

On arrival at the destined temple, we were greeted by the Principal of Mahindarama Sunday Pali School, Sister Surya. We were divided into three groups and had a temple tour guided by Mahindarama Youth members. We visited the homely Sarana Old Folks Home and the amazing Amata Free Medical Centre which houses a medical clinic, eye clinic, dental clinic, pharmacy, physiotherapy centre, massage room and others. We were briefed and shown how their Sunday Pali School classes were operated including their Teacher Resource Centre and Library. Other places of interest include the Stupa, the Bodhi Tree (very popular among students sitting for major exams), SIMA Hall and the Buddha's Relics Chamber. The tour ended with a blessing ceremony for us conducted by the resident monks at their quarters.

On that particular Sunday, the temple ground was a hive of activity with the Sunday Pali School having its on-going classes and devotees gathering and busy preparing food. The SDS family was blessed with good fortune as our visit coincided with the last day of Mahindarama Buddhist Temple's Novitiate Program which is held once every 2 years. There were 20 novice monks participating in the program this year. Even though we missed the morning Pindacara (Buddhist monks' practice of collecting alms food) we were fortunate to be able to participate in the lunch Dana (act of giving, offering) to the bhikkhus. Our SDS students and youth members offered requisites to the bhikkhus after the bhikkhus had finished their lunch.

Due to time constraint, we had to cancel our trip to Bukit Dumbar Park where originally we had planned to have a lunch picnic and some nature befriending and study activities to be handled by Than Hsiang Youth members. We headed back to Than Hsiang Temple, performed transference of merits and chanted meal offering gathas before we partake in our simple but delicious lunch. We did manage to contribute to greening the environment as we brought along and used our own food containers and cutlery for lunch.

While some bemoaned and complained about missing the picnic at Bukit Dumbar Park, most of us rejoiced at the rare and precious opportunity of being able to participate in the lunch offering to some 30 bhikkhus.

It was indeed a truly meaningful day for us to be able to perform Sanghikadana according to the Mahayana and Theravada Traditions on the same day. We are indebted and grateful to everyone in our Aixin Family who has contributed in making this outing a success, notably our Aixin Ba Ma for organizing the trip and arranging the transportation and food, Aixin Youth willingness to handle the nature study activities and Aixin Students for participating in the outing.

May the merits accumulated be transferred to all sentient beings. May all beings be blessed with Dharmic Joy and be free from all sufferings.