SGI-UK Women's Div Inspiration Meeting

Sensei's message: 

The fundamental spirit of Buddhism is to practice for "both present and future existence". Each day is a fresh departure and a new beginning. Even though you may encounter times of struggle or adversity, it is imperative that you take a bold step forward. 

March 2014 Disc Meeting

March Discussion Meeting

Theme: Believe in Your Infinite Potential 

Moderator: Nia 

So happy that we have a new Italian MD, who used to work in S'pore for 3 years, joining our district. We could speak Singlish to each other! He said that he used to go to Telok Blangah Soka Centre to chant, and I shared with him about opening of SPC. There is no coincident that we are all living in Cardiff now and practising in the same district! Cheers! 

Jan 2014 Disc Mtg - The Great Vow

Since a few people could not join our discussion mtg held yesterday, we held an additional mini discussion meeting at my place this morning attended by 11 pax including 3 guests. Also, out of the 11, 7 of us are Malaysians!

The theme of the meeting was "The heart of the great vow for kosen-rufu and the life-state of Buddhahood are one and the same."

Dec '13 District Kosen Rufu Gongyo

It's our district Sunday Kosen Rufu Gongyo cum Sensei's video at our place today. (U can catch SGI European WD leader Suzanne Pritchard from the UK speaking in the video)

After that, we made pancake and sharing different ways of eating this common food - namely Dorayaki in Japanese style, Mang Jiang Kuek (面煎糕) S'pore & M'sia style , and the English style with lemon & sugar.

Look how I managed to make a chameleon pancake! But don't ask me to make a second one, lol!

Hope everyone enjoyed it & let's have more such session in the future!

Nov ‘13 Discussion Mtg

We have such wonderful meeting today，although we have a few people who could not come as there are down with cold. Nevertheless, we have 18 attendance, including 5 guests! Also, out of the 18, 8 of them are youth (first time we have so many youth!) Also, thks Barry who came just to take photo for us. Just as the theme of today meeting, let's continue to create many victories in our life & never be defeated! :)

Theme of the meeting: Winning in Life

Moderator: Johnathon Wong

Oct '13 Disc Mtg - Addressing the 'One Evil'

Beautiful autumn leaves

What a vibrant & fruitful discussion meeting we had yesterday with 5 guests attending! 

Theme: 

How do we use the "one evil" to fuel our human revolution? 

Everyone enjoyed it, most stayed on for tea, no one seemed to want to leave!

July 2013 Disc Mtg - 'On Courage'

It was so nice to hv such courageous young musician to perform for us in our disc mtg today! 

Also, we have a wonderful discussion & sharing of experiences on how our buddhist practise gives us courage. We began the mtg with everyone sharing what comes to their mind when talking about courage, below were some of the sharing:

Courage is:

• - to take action
• - to persevere
• - to have hope
• - a necessity
• - to stand alone
• - to do what is needed even if one is afraid
• - one step closer to my dream
• - to hv conviction
• - not to give up
• - Buddhahood

Let's look forward to another great meeting next month! Cheers!

WD Summer Course

 It was my first WD Summer Course in the UK! Thk you everyone for your great supports & contributions! Cheers!

June Disc Mtg - Changing Society Thru Dialogue

We have such a great discussion mtg today under the theme "How can we use dialogue to change the society for the better?" It's also Chloe Partridge's last mtg. Chloe, it's really wonderful having you in our district, we love you & we will miss you! May you always be cheerful & happy! All the best for your future endeavors!

May 2013 Disc Mtg - On 'Gratitude'

We have 8 guests at our disc mtg this morning! 

The theme of the discussion is "Why gratitude is a source of fundamental human strength?"

3 Cheers to Heath & Cathay District - Apr '13 'Spirit of Lion King'

Have had a wonderful district planning last night attended by 5 ldrs & 6 mbrs! We hv inspiration sharing, planning for April disc mtg agenda and working out schedule for May activities. Theme for April disc mtg : "What does the Spirit of the Lion King mean to our Buddhist practice?"

In addition, we decided to start a collective daimoku campaign as a district for the happiness of each mbr in our district and to achieve our individual actual proof campaign. Everyone is looking forward to find out how fast it will take to achieve our first million (2nd, 3rd millions.....) of daimoku as a district!

3 cheers to our Heath & Cathay District !!!

HQ Course at Taplow Court 'Stand Up to Win;

Small group dialogue

Morning Gongyo

Q&A session by Robert Samuel, GD of SGI UK

Sharing by Justine, Marchant, WD Chief of SGI UK

Study by Robert Harrap, MD Chief of SGI UK

Culture Night at Canteen

Rabbab & Celia

We have so much fun at the culture night

Course leaders, Woon & Bridget

Song practise for culture night

What a good topic to discuss!

These are the topics we are going to discuss at our district discussion meeting tonight:

• Have you had an experience where contributing or supporting the lives of others has had an effect on your own life?


• What do you think are the keys to being able to consistently 'give' without becoming exhausted or 'burning out'?

I think these topics are also very relevant to teachers - how to become a good teacher without suffering from burn out?

Banner

In case you are worrying that you have to make a professional looking banner for the coming meeting, and that you are no good in drawing, and that you have no time and no budget to buy materials to make the banner looks good, have a look at this banner of our recent East Anglia HQ Day.

This banner was made by the children who came for the meeting. Isn't it an authentic piece of art work? By doing so, not only that we have a nice piece of banner (一得), it helped to save time (二得). The old children did the lettering, and the younger children did the colouring. In this case, not only we were letting the children to contribute towards the meeting (三得), we are also helping them to develope a sense of belonging to the organization (四得). 真是一举多得。

Now, I am thinking for the next banner, we can engage the children to do collage using recylce materials like old newspapers or magazines. This this way, children can learn differ form of art (五得) and it is environment friendly (六得).

Chapter Study Mtg@Cambridge

Yesterday, I attended my first gakkai activity in Cambridge, and it was also the 4th anniversary of the Chapter Study Meeting held at the family and children's room in Meadows Community Centre.

East Anglia HQ Traning Course@Taplow

Before even my arrival to Cambridge, the leaders in Cambridge invited me to attend their HQ (East Anglia) Training Course in Taplow last weekend (26-28/9). What a great way to start my new life in Cambridge and getting to know all the members in Cambridge! Although this was my first activity with the HQ, I felt really at home and welcomed by the memebers.

Taplow Court in a misty morning at 7am, yes, it was very cold!

This is where we have our accommodation.

Although this was my first mtg with the HQ, I was asked to perform Lilac (Byakuren) duty to support the course and be part of the action team. This is our Lilac uniform, black bottom and white top with red scarf. There were only 4 of us in the Lilac. Danielle (the tallest lady) was the Lilac Chief for the course. The 3 of us, me, I I from Taiwan, and Sanjutha from India (first left) were first time doing our Lilac duty!

It was entertainment time on Saturday night, where members sang, cheer, clapped, drank and have fun together.

Diana, Siong Hee and me presenting a Singapore gakkai song 'Grow Now Together'

Me and Diana from Singapore

Although it was misty and cold early in the morning, it was sunny through out the day.

Group photo before the closing ceremony.

Same as the previous training course I attended with the Wales members, there were a lot of small group discussions through out the course where everyone shared their experiences, voiced their views and raised questions. Ikemi Bayne, WD advisor, gave a study on Mentor & Disciple Spirit; she stressed that Master &Disciple spirit is not something that one can feel by using one's head, it can only be felt through one's heart. Pete Morris, Vice MD Chief, gave a study on Sensei's lecture on Shakubuku, and GD Robert Samuel conducted a Q&A session.

Last but not least, the most wonderful and inspiring part of the entire training course for me is that the members really open up their hearts to share what they are going through in their life, their reflection and realisation through the course, and how they prepare to face the challenges in their life.

I must say that after the training course, I am fully charged and ready to begin my new life in Cambridge!