Sukhi Hotu to all....
PHBS scheduled Dhamma talk started off on a positive note. Members and non-members alike took a great interest in the topic. Today's talk by Bro Ngeow was about "Our Precious Human Life".
A little introduction about Bro Ngeow, a very experienced Dhamma speaker who has been to our centre before. Those who are not familiar with his style, his delivery was unconventional (nodding is a no...no.. of course) and on a lighter note as there is a lot of laughter but also a lot of inferring to do..
Mr. Ngeow is a Chartered Civil Engineer by profession. He
received his tertiary education from University of Birmingham ( U.K. ) graduating
in 1976.
After serving the government in JKR for 3 years, he
practised as a consultant. He later joined a public listed company as Managing
Director of one of its subsidiary, specializing in construction & housing
development.
In 1988, he decided
to start his own construction & property development company.
In 2000, he semi-retired to focus on spiritual development. In
2003, he and his wife set up a branch
dharma centre in PJ. When the centre moved to another location, Mr. Ngeow served in another bigger
organization as the Head of Education Dept , a Dharma teacher, and a Pastor.
In 2012, he left the organization to focus on community
work. He is now an advisor to an NGO, "Because Community Care Society" which focuses on educating and empowering
volunteers, especially the youths.
Mr.Ngeow had found a new direction to further his spiritual development as a
freelance dharma teacher and pastor. His passion is to share dharma which is
more relational than theoretical , more modernistic than traditional and more
open than conservative.On today's topic Bro ngeow emphasizes on our precious human life.
The human rebirth is extremely rare... the Majjhima Nikaya (129 Balapandita Sutta) compares it to a wooden cattle yoke floating on the waves of the sea, tossed this way and that by the winds and currents.The likelihood of a blind turtle , rising from the depths of the ocean to the surface once in 100 years, putting its head through the hole in the yoke is considered greater than that of a being in the lower realms achieving rebirth as a human.
As such, if we are born a human we should not let go of our opportunity to put it to best use that is to cultivate a mind that engages well in Dharma.
How to do it?
Well one just needs to cultivate a conviction in the qualities of the Buddha, reflect on the value of current life's situation and the certainty of death. This is because to be born a human we have 18 perfect opportune conditions; 8 freedom and 10 endowments which can help us in our practice. For instance, we are born without any impaired faculties, born during the age when Buddha has appeared,the Dharma has spread far and wide etc..... no reason why we are not able to put more value to our birth.
With this Bro Ngeow ended the first part.
His parting question for us to ponder is.... have you aspired to be born a human in your next life??
The second part will continue in a fortnight's time..... seeya....
Saddhu! Saddhu! Saddhu!
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