Monday, March 22, 2010

Discovering Buddhism

This semester, great changes have been made to Discovering Buddhism. From its usual Monday nights, it has been shifted to Thursday night and two special courses have developed: Freeing your Heart and Buddhist Psychology. They each last for 4 sessions and each session is 90 minutes long. The course is conducted by Bro. Piya, a former monk for 20 years and currently working on translating the sutras.

In Freeing the Heart, we learn how to let go of anger and lust and to identify the defence mechanism that the mind uses against mental attacks. While in Buddhist Psychology, the interaction between western Psychology and Buddhism is studied and knowledge from both sides is shared in order to deepen the understanding of the mind. Both courses are non-religious explorations and sources for much food for thought. Participants are given a “textbook” to read so that they can self-study on their own and also share with others.

The one of the basis of Dharma is great learning, and Discovering Buddhism provides the best opportunity for that purpose. Many thanks to Bro. Piya and Soe Lin Myat for organising the course and deepening our understanding of the Dharma. As Bro Piya says: may all strive to attain to enlightment in this very life!

By Ng Xin Zhao, Deputy Dharma Director of NUSBS

No comments: