You care?

I did so much things today tat I could hardly pen them down.

1) Took a new route to work but ended up paying ERP twice
2) Ventured deep down into the hidden WWII bunkers on Kent Ridge (behind the now modern looking Uni Hall)
3) Quarreled on phone again abt work, wat else?
4) Had a nice dinner with OWY and CK at Arts canteen
5) Attended the NUSBS Forum and have a great time helping the jnrs tpt back the stuffs to YIH

Was very upset the once well camouflaged WWII bunkers on Kent Ridge were now pretty much exposed. My last visit to this place was in 2001 and the place was still pretty untouched. Now, the natural green surrounding the place showed signs of human destructions. Although the place is already fenced up, somehow, i managed to climb my way down the steep kent ridge slopes to reach it. Today, under the broad day light, i found out there were even more hidden bunkers down the slopes of kent ridge. Quite a contrasting view to the modernised looking University Hall and Ext A hostel.

Was having a chat with Fenny on our way home, when she asked my opinion on the trend of NUSBS. Frankly speaking, I think the objectives of the society has taken a great change in recent yrs. When i was a freshie in NUSBS, it was greatly emphasized by the leaders then that NUSBS is NOT supposed to be mistakened as a buddhist sch/org that teaches Dharma to the campus community. Instead, it's primary role is to act as a link or bridge between the campus community and the Dharma. I was not around then, but i heard the primary focus of NUSBS then were the Chinese and English Dharma camps, Dharma talks and weekly faculty DC. Other than tat, its mostly thru the fellowship built up in the society, tat members introduce to one another on any available external Buddhist courses like the ones at Mahaprajna and SBF.

Some yrs back, NUSBS was flourishing and was at its peak. The leaders soon found out that they have enough resources to organise Dharma courses on our own ie. Basic Buddhism Course + Meditation Course, bringing buddhism even closer to the campus. Gradually, I realise that the objectives of NUSBS has sinced shifted from acting as a link to become a campus society who offer buddhism teachings to the campus community. It is not necc a bad shift, but definitely NOT under circumstances when resources (manpower) are no longer easily available.

Instead, I wud rather BS goes back to the olden days, when the leaders effectively tap on the available external resources to bring Dharma to the campus community. Eg1. Without the link made by Peifen, there wudnt be so many members getting to know Sayalay Dipankara and participating in the annual meditation retreat. I am sure many members have benefitted from this link. Eg2. With Vincent's link with Sagaramudra Society, several members got the chance to under take the 3 refuges and 5 precepts + benefitted from the various Dharma classes/talks organised by Hai Yin. Not forgetting the link with NDR, where Ven Kaizhao effectively motivates many many more members in the Dharma.

I have not spoken my thoughts on BS for a long time, cos what i feel or say may not be necc true and applicable. Probably wat i wrote now is jus for myself, haha... anyone bothers?