May I know if the talk conducted at the humanbliss centre is in
English? I have also been wondering if there are any buddhist
group that we can joined and develop fellowship instead of
attending talks and talks .....after the talk everyone just go home
and we never get to know each other. Is buddhism a religion
that encourages us to practice on our own unlike some other
religions that have strong fellowship and bonding?
The center at humanbliss.com.sg is teaching in Chinese.
The center that runs jenchen.org.sg teaches in English.
The address of the English center is as follows:
Jen Chen Buddhism Centre
Blk 186, Toa Payoh Central
#01-424 Singapore 310186
Tel: (65) 6254 8036
Fax: (65) 6484 6037
As for fellowship, the people at my dharma center bond very
well. We also have activities, outings, etc. There is also
different classes - adult class, youth class, children class.
Having spiritual friendship is important because we can help and
encourage each other on the path.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.002.than.html
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was living
among the Sakyans.
Now there is a Sakyan town named Sakkara. There Ven. Ananda went to the Blessed One and, on arrival,
having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side. As he was
sitting there, Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, "This is half
of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable
companionship, admirable camaraderie."[1]
"Don't say that, Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship,
admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the
whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as
friends, companions, & comrades, he can be expected to develop
& pursue the noble eightfold path.
"And how
does a monk who has admirable people as friends, companions, &
comrades, develop & pursue the noble eightfold path? There is
the case where a monk develops right view dependent on seclusion,
dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in
relinquishment. He develops right resolve ... right speech ...
right action ... right livelihood ... right effort ... right
mindfulness ... right concentration dependent on seclusion,
dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in
relinquishment. This is how a monk who has admirable people as
friends, companions, & colleagues, develops & pursues the
noble eightfold path.
"And through this line of reasoning one may know how admirable
friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is
actually the whole of the holy life: It is in dependence on me as
an admirable friend that beings subject to birth have gained
release from birth, that beings subject to aging have gained
release from aging, that beings subject to death have gained
release from death, that beings subject to sorrow, lamentation,
pain, distress, & despair have gained release from sorrow,
lamentation, pain, distress, & despair. It is through this line
of reasoning that one may know how admirable friendship, admirable
companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the
holy life."
See also: MN 95; AN 4.192; AN 8.54; AN 9.1; Ud 4.1; Iti 17.