The following is a comment written by Eileena Lee on her blog @ Yahoo 360
Spent the last few days of 2007 at the 100 Million Mani Recitation Retreat at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastory where more then 1000 of us chanted Om Mani Padme Hung for 7 1/2days.
To prep myself for the retreat, I googled for Om Mani Padme Hung and found this.
The meaning of Om Mani Padme Hung.
Still… I did not quite understand the significance of chanting the six syllable mantra.
But I did tell myself that since chanting is one of the disciplines of Buddhism, I should give myself a chance to experience it.
The first day was extremely tough for me after a hectic one and a half months, the quiet hum of over 1000 people chanting, was a nice reprief. Plus the monk who was leading the chant had this baritone voice – so soothing. I had problems staying awake and was dozing off. Initially I was struggling to stay awake, after a while, told myself that I probably needed the rest anyway, and allowed myself to drift off.
Perhaps it was tough because I told myself it would be so. And when I looked around at the numerous aunties who hobbled around with tongkats, sitting and chanting for as many hours as me, and not complaining AND doing this for the 3rd consecutive year….
Alamak, how can I complain about back aches!
I better learn to motivate myself for this!
It seems all so easy to chant and stay focus, or so I thought! I presumed that it would be easier then meditation. Boy was I wrong. Once I got into an automatic mode, the mind just goes out of control! I’ll be thinking of how much I miss yoga, facebook, should be blogging about this, what’s the next meat meal that I’m gonna have etc..
(attachments, attachments…..)
And so I learnt the significance of chanting and more importantly how we need to constantly practise to rein in our mind.
What stuck in my mind is also at one particular session of dhamma talk, the Rinpoche said that Bodhisattva is not a Buddhist monopoly – and that out there, are Bodhisattvas who are non-Buddhists.
Very cool – very IRO – I like!
On New Year’s eve, the lovely people from KMSPKS Youth Ministry invited me to attend the Spiritual Countdown at the Temple – got Sheung to come as my date.
*scroll down to the first video of us*
We went on a nice little tour of the temple, followed by a mini concert and welcomed 2008 at the open air area where the Abbot of the KMSPKS, Venerable Kwang Sheng, struck the gong 108 times (108 beads in a Buddhist mala/rosary). It was amazing how he got so many people amidst the festivities, to quieten down our minds – nice calm start to the new year.
*scroll down to the last video*
So I welcomed the new year at the Temple instead of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church where I would attend Watch Night with Charm – different venues, but in the same quiet and reflective way.
As you will see in the pix, I was seated on the left of the Buddha. It was away from the bulk of the retreat participants. If I am not wrong, there’s roughly about 80 of us on that side of the hall. Quite a nice little corner away from the crowd. As my neighbours Yvonne (on my left) and Carol (on my right) put it – “The energy here very nice.”
Sitting at front row helps as there’s no distraction. The whole time we were staring at the flowers at the base of The Buddha and the numerous boxes of distilled water placed there to be blessed by the chants.
As usual, here are some pix from the retreat – I’ll let the pix tell the rest of the story.
The Buddha
Hall of No Form – KMSPKS
View from where I was sitting
When I start to chant Oh-Mummy-Take-Me-Home 
, it’s when I stop for a breather – whip out my ph and snap away. These some pix from where I’ve been parked for 8days.
The Sutra
-this is the page that I turn to everyday to remain focus
circumabulating The Buddha
- clockwise with your right shoulder nearest to The Buddha
- right shoulder more holy (was told during the temple tour)
-just like how the right shoulders of the Theravadan monks are exposed.
The Sangha
My daily morning stroll (which I enjoyed tremendously) to the temple.
This is what greets me everyday. 
shot with W880i at 2007-12-31
New Year’s eve – Waiting for countdown
shot with W880i at 2007-12-31
Taking Refuge – New Year’s Day
shot with W880i at 2008-01-01
My neighbour Carol, taking Refuge.
shot with W880i at 2008-01-01
Carol recieving the documents of her baptism.
shot with W880i at 2008-01-02
Youtube videos -
The Abbot striking the gong 108 times
