An initiative by engaged Buddhists

The Ngee Ann Cultural Centre was set up in 1998 in the distinctive Teochew Building on Tank Road. The Centre aims to promote awareness of Chinese culture, in particular Teochew heritage - through the medium of visual and performing arts - among Singaporeans.

In keeping with its strong track record of community involvement, the Ngee Ann Cultural Centre has decided to expand its engagement with the Singaporean Teochew community and its artists. Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, Teochew opera, dance, music and drama are some of the avenues for this continuing involvement. The Centre has also been active in supporting artists and performers by offering exhibition space, facilities and organisational resources for local and international artistic and cultural activities.

n the promotion of spiritual well being, the Cultural Centre has been involved in hosting many Dharma / Buddhist spiritual talks and initiations by Tibetan and Chinese religious teachers from all over the world. Inter-religious organisations have also held talks at the Centre.

Apart from a spacious exhibition space and an auditorium, the Centre also has 2 smaller function rooms on its premises to cater for events of a smaller scale.

Please visit their website at www.ngeeann.com.sg for more information.

The NUSBS Alumni is an informal grouping of Buddhist alumni from the National University of Singapore. Their main objectives are establishing a platform for alumni to continue practising the Dharma and to support the activities of the NUS Buddhist Society.

They organise monthly meditation sessions and annual meditation retreats. They are also closely involved with the activities of the NUS Buddhist Society. The Alumni also supports the activities of external Buddhist organisations.

For more information on NUSBS Alumni, please visit their website at www.nusbs.org.sg

Dana Citta, where "dana" means "giving" and "citta" means "a state of consciousness" in the Pali language. Collectively, Dana Citta refers to a mind that is always aware and conscious about giving for the benefit of others.

This is the motivation behind the establishment of Dana Citta which was set up in 2007 by a group of Singapore volunteers. Besides promoting the learning, understanding and practice of Buddhism, Dana Citta also provides the platform for members and well-wishers to make offerings to the Triple Gem and serve other fellow mankind, especially those in less well-off countries.

For more information on Dana Citta Buddhist Society, please visit their website at www.danacitta.org

Our deepest gratitude - Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Dharma in Action : Buddhist Youth Conference 2008 would not have been possible without the encouragement, blessings and support of the Bodhisattvas amongst us today. We would like to acknowledge the help and support given to us by the following:

Cheng Beng Buddhist Society for financial support

Dharma Cakra Society for financial support

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery for financial support

Sagaramudra Buddhist Society for financial support

Singapore Buddhist Mission for financial support

Sister Pearl Goh for financial support

Brother Djong Witoyo Sucianto - Graphic Designer for Graphic Design. Contact: si.anak.hilang@gmail.com

Brother Kyle Neo - Flick Design for Graphic Design

Brother Geelyn - Graphic Designer for Graphic Design. Contact: geelyn@qzeedesign.com

Brother Sylvester Sim and Brother Derek Tan for videography

Brother Vincent Kwan for photography

The Dharma in Action team

The Dharma in Action : Buddhist Youth Conference 2008 team is made up of Buddhist enthusiasts with many years of experience in Buddhist work. Our goal is to see a vibrant Buddhist culture in Singapore where Buddhists can work together to benefit both Singapore and the world. Following the conclusion of the Buddhist Youth Conference, we intend to start on another project to bring Buddhism to residents in Singapore. A new team will be formed and we welcome all interested parties to email admin@dharmainaction.net to contact us. May the Triple Gems bless all sentient beings and help all to gain Enlightenment!

Jason Chiew is the Executive Editor of Vaidurya, a bi-monthly, bi-lingual Buddhist lifestyle magazine published by Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple (GPBT). He started work with the magazine in 2002 to be part of the temple's effort to revamp their newsletter into a full-colour magazine. Despite being exposed to Buddhist Teachings since young, Jason considers himself a Buddhist only a few years prior to joining GPBT. Jason's media career began as a broadcast journalist with American cable business news network CNBC Asia, and subsequently with local private television production houses as a television scriptwriter and director. Prior to joining GPBT, he was an Executive Producer with DigitalOne TV, a Singapore-based satellite television station.

Chong Kwek Yan (or "Kwek" as he commonly introduces himself) is currently a graduate student at the National University of Singapore. Being also a Ministry of Education Teaching Award recipient, he would be proceeding to the National Institute of Education after completing his M.Sc. to be trained as a school teacher. He served two terms on the NUS Buddhist Society Management Committee; he was the President of the Society during the second term.

Kwek is extremely grateful for how smoothly his life has proceeded in stark contrast to the many unfortunate events that befell his family and relatives, and hence he feels strongly about spreading the Buddhadharma to as many people as possible when they are still young and able to practise before they become too weighed down by life's negativities. He himself is still earnestly learning and currently hopes to focus on developing youth leaders for Buddhism.

Alvin Chua, BA (Social Work), has been practicing as a social worker for more than five years. Alvin currently works in a centre which specialises in assisting individuals and families who face issues of family violence and elder abuse. Alvin has been actively involved in setting up and delivering the elder protection service in Singapore. He has experiences in providing casework and counselling services to the elderly and their families and conducting training and public education talks for elderly, professionals and members of public to raise awareness on the issue of elder abuse.

Alvin's interest in Buddhism was brought on by one of his uncles when he was a teenager. However, his faith in the religion only deepened when he started his three-year Dharma course with The Mahaprajna Buddhist Society (TMBS) in July 2004. Since completing his Dharma course, he has been looking for opportunities to 'put theory into practice' by volunteering for different Buddhist projects on an ad hoc basis.

Elis Ch'ng, a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Shenton since 2005, is the club's Interact Club Rotarian Advisor Chairman and Newsletter Director. She is also responsible for identifying and organising the club's community projects. It is, and has always been, her passion to contribute to projects benefiting the elderly, children and animals.

Growing up in a family praying to various religions: Taoism, Christianity, Catholicism and Japanese Buddhism, her belief, knowledge and practice of Buddhism stem from many years of volunteering and participating in activities by the KMSPKS. Elis is now actively volunteering with the KMSPKS Youth Ministry as a member of 3GEMS, a Buddhist tour guiding group and a facilitator with Y_Fellowship. A strong believer in practicing Loving Kindness and Compassion daily and every moment, Elis aspires to always be humble, bring happiness to all that she met (including animals) but most of all, to have good Teachers and great friends/companions in her journey of Buddhism discovery and cultivation.

Foo Choon Li is a Bachelor of Arts graduate from the National University of Singapore and is currently working in the consumer healthcare industry. She came into contact with Buddhism during her university years and took up a three-year course in Buddhism at the Mahaprajna Buddhist Society to deepen her Buddhist knowledge. She is currently helping out in Mahaprajna Buddhist Society.

Over the years, Buddhism has guided her through tough periods in her life and helped her in decision making.

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Melissa Koh is currently working as a Radiation Therapist in National Cancer Centre after graduating from the University of Sydney. Growing up in a Buddhist family, Melissa attended Buddhist classes since young. However, she only started to seriously learn and ponder over the Teachings of the Buddha after completing her studies in junior college when she started asking herself what she wanted in life. Inspired by the Bodhisattvas' compassion, she decided to pursue further education in the area of Health Science.

Melissa actively volunteers with the KMSPKS Youth Ministry as the secretary of 3GEMS, a Buddhist tour guiding group and as a facilitator with Y_Fellowship. Melissa finds that applying the Buddha's Teachings of mindfulness, impermanence, compassion and gratitude has helped her greatly in her daily life and hopes to spread the Buddhadharma to other youths who are searching for directions in their lives.

Victor Lim is currently the Head of Department for Fund Raising and Volunteer Development in Man Fut Tong Nursing Home. Prior to joining the Home in 2004, Victor was with Singapore Airlines for 15 years as a Cabin Crew.

Born into a Buddhist family, Victor was introduced to Buddhism at a very young age which greatly influenced his lifestyle and his outlook in life. Even with his hectic schedule during his stint with Singapore Airlines, Victor managed to devote time helping the less fortunate and serving the Buddhist community. Victor is a founding member and current President of Dana Citta Buddhist Society (DCBS). Established in June 2007, the main objective of DCBS is to provide a platform for well-wishers to make contributions to serve the Triple Gem and other fellow mankind, especially in developing countries where there is a genuine need. Prior to setting up DCBS, Victor set up Sutra Foundation in 2004 with the objective of printing sutras for temples and monasteries in less well-off countries, which do not have the financial means to do so. To date, Victor has spearheaded 13 sutra printing projects in various countries across Asia.

Tan Siang Meng has been with the Monetary Authority of Singapore after graduation from NUS in 2000 and is currently a Senior Economist with the Economic Policy Department. He got to know more about Buddhism through his wife even though he has been a Buddhist since young. Eager to have a more structured understanding of what the Buddha taught, he enrolled in a three year Buddhism course at the Mahaprajna Society in 2004. This year marks the end of the course, and he is grateful that all the causes and conditions have been conducive for him to complete the programme.

Siang Meng feels that the way to Buddhahood does not stop with the conclusion of the programme; he will continue to practise and to be more mindful of his thoughts and actions. He also believes in the sharing and giving of the Dharma, and will strive to bring joy to others. Indeed, joining the Dharma In Action :Buddhist Youth Conference 2008 organising committee is the first step toward contributing back to the society.

Tan Soon Lee is currently a project director with an MNC specializing in IT outsourcing services for the public sector. Since 1988, he has worked in several IT companies and trying to put Buddhist teachings into practice while striving to climb the corporate ladder.

The demise of his father in 1994 woke Soon Lee up to seek the answers on life and death, and Buddhism provides convincing answers for him to take refuge in the Triple Gem. Soon Lee’s ideal is a more compassionate society in urban Singapore with the Bodhisattva as his role model. He channels his free time serving the Buddhist community through Dana Citta Buddhist Society where he is the current secretary.

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Teo Puay Kim graduated with an honours degree in Business Administration from NUS in 1998. His first job was with the Singapore Tourism Board where he worked for four years before taking the leap into entrepreneurship. Following participation in a string of businesses, Puay Kim returned to the tourism industry where, today, he works as a Tourism Consultant for foreign tourism authorities and has the good karma of being paid to visit exotic, far flung tourism spots.

Puay Kim started learning Buddhism seriously when he joined the NUS Buddhist Society in 1994. After practising the faith sporadically for almost 15 years, Puay Kim realises that the key to happiness in Buddhism is to give and to share. Today, Puay Kim is active in the Buddhist circle as the current head of the NUS Buddhist Society Alumni and a member of 3GEMS, a Buddhist tour guiding group. Puay Kim knows that Buddhism has a lot to offer to today's society and he actively searches for new ways to propagate the Dharma.

Jason Wee studied Engineering during his polytechnic days and he later decided to take up a Business Degree course as he felt a combination of both skill sets would prove useful in his career. After spending 15 years in construction industry, he joined the social services sector last year and found both skills to be relevant to his work. When he visited the Non Profit Organisations (NPOs) and noting their maintenance problems, he would provide technical advice and make recommendations on reliable contractors, especially those who wants to do pro bono. Likewise for NPOs who requires funding. He noticed that nowadays, individuals or corporate companies would rather not give money directly to these organisations. They would prefer to fund programmes developed by the NPOs and in the process, have the opportunity to be directly involved in the operations of these NPOs and appreciate the work they do. In addition, they will also get first hand experiences with the beneficiaries. Hence, with his Business skill sets, he is able to advise the NPOs on structuring of their programs and funding requirements to suit the current social trends. However, Jason recognised that it is not always smooth sailing but being a Buddhist, who is constantly learning the profound philosophy of Lord Buddha's Teachings, made him better equipped to handle these challenges.

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