31st May 2025 DEW (Dharma Enrichment Workshop) : The Gift of A Lotus Pond

It was an amazing day for the 435 bilingual Lamrim students who attended the DEW “The Gift of A Lotus Pond”, at BW Monastery Main Shrine Hall. 62 of the students are from Malaysia Lamrim classes and attended via zoom.

The day began with a discourse by Venerable Ben Wen, who invited us to reflect on two questions: “What is the fundamental rule we must follow on the path to a high-status rebirth?” and “How can we attain our ultimate goal?”  Venerable emphasized that the Dharma Enterprise is not merely an organization, but a living embodiment of a noble intention, a collective aspiration to reach the ultimate goal, by faithfully following the guiding principles of the Dharma.

Lesson 1 of the DEW began with Senior Monitor Dr. Pua guiding us in revisiting the life objective and master plan that Master Jih-Chang laid out for us disciples more than 22 years ago. Dr. Pua reminded that the Buddha’s teachings provide the true path to lasting happiness and freedom from suffering. Attaining Buddhahood is a gradual journey – beginning with generating the Spirit of Enlightenment, followed by accumulation of merits and wisdom, and clearing obstacles across many lifetimes.

This Mahayana path naturally leads to progressive high-status rebirths and is inseparable from the Dharma Enterprise, which offers the ideal conditions for our spiritual growth—with Excellent Teachers, Perfect Teachings, and Harmonious Community. We are truly fortunate to have this rare and precious opportunity to walk this noble path together!

After a hearty lunch, Senior Monitor Jennifer guided us in Lesson 2 on how the efforts of our Master and Teacher have established a comprehensive Academic System to nurture us toward greater happiness & ultimate Buddhahood. Jennifer also shared two discourses in The Great Ocean of Lamrim, explaining that in a Lamrim class, we help one another eliminate obstacles and accumulate merits together, as we persist on this learning journey. These teachings hold profound meaning and relevance in our lives!

Next,  Monitor Rosalind led us through an engaging activity that helped us understand how our learning and actions are guided by the Academic System.

In Lesson 3, Senior Monitor Julie highlighted that fellow practitioners are essential virtuous companions on this path. Thus, our teachers have gifted us with our class cadres, who play a vital role in guiding and supporting our learning journey.

Participants conducted an interview with their class cadres. They shared their experiences, including time needed to prepare for class, challenges involved in facilitating class. Monitor Julie shared a video in which the class cadres reflected on the question, “Why am I willing to devote my time and effort to support my fellow learners?” A key takeaway was that their dedication is rooted in the admirable qualities and genuine kindness of our teachers. Their unwavering commitment to our growth and learning is both humbling and deeply inspiring. The lesson concluded with everyone singing the Insightful Praise “The Vow”, bringing the session to a heartfelt and uplifting close.

One of the most inspiring moments of DEW was the visit by Venerable Jingyuan. The visit not only made us feel cared for, but also brought valuable guidance and direction to our Dharma learning journey, along with important news from Teacher Zhen-Ru

It was definitely a spiritually uplifting workshop for all of us, and we all look forward to the next DEW on 16th Nov 2025!

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Discovering Dharma Series: Karma & Clarity

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Timeless Wisdom: Buddha Stories Seminar