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Kalyana Mitra
Cultivation Day
March 30, 2003:-

A Kalyana Mitra Cultivation Day aimed at fostering spiritual cultivation among residents, staff members, volunteers and devotees was held on 30th March.

After registration the participants were briefed on the agenda of the day by Ven. Zhen Xin. Ven. Wei Wu then explained the concepts of Kalyana Mitra and the need for holding group cultivation of this type. He elaborated that it is sometimes difficult for individuals to set aside time for practice and also to maintain the perseverance needed for serious practice.

The cultivation sessions includes Buddha name recitation, sitting and walking meditation with a break in between for lunch. The group broke up for dinner after the evening service and gathered together in smaller groups lead by a facilitator for a sharing session. Here group members shared experiences either in their practice or participation in voluntary work and how these experiences helped in their quest to overcome the five hindrances.

Representatives from each group then shared their group discussion with the other participants. Members of the English section agreed that volunteers in Than Hsiang presented good team spirit and effort even in face of adversity. They quoted an example like how the volunteers managed to overcome the problems and confusion caused by having too many leaders in a group at the same time. However they agreed that the experiences gained in treading the path of Buddhism and being a volunteer in Than Hsiang have greatly helped them in their lives.

These invaluable experiences are the reasons why the English educated volunteers who speak no mandarin kept coming back to offer their services. In fact there are many who have been volunteers for more than a decade.

The day came to a close with an update on the bold step taken by Than Hsiang Temple in the use of cyberspace for the circulation of reports of the development, services and activities run by Than Hsiang as well as information about Than Hsiang Temple through the launchng of the e-magazine and AV website. The venerable also reminded members of the staff and volunteers that a Kalyana Mitra Cultivation Day will be held on every last Sunday of the month.

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