Video on Family Reunion Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsK19OK16VM

lovelydaughter:

The Family Reunion Day was really meaningful in instilling family values & allows more family bonding.

Main Activities like Tang Yuan 汤圆 making session, 拜年与奉茶 Mass \"Bai-Nian\" & Tea ceremony to inculcate gratitude (饮水思源).

The Family Reunion Day was really meaningful in instilling family values & allows more family bonding.


Main Activities like <COLOR color="#0000FF"><span style="color: #0000FF;">Tang Yuan 汤圆 making session, 拜年与奉茶 Mass "Bai-Nian" & Tea ceremony to inculcate gratitude (饮水思源).

<IMG src="http://i49.tinypic.com/34gvvnr.png\"><img src="http://i49.tinypic.com/34gvvnr.png">

Speech by Ms Sim Ann, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Education, at the <COLOR color="#BF0000"><span style="color: #BF0000;">Blossom World Society Family Reunion Day on Sunday, 24 February 2013, at 2.40pm at the Orchid Country Club.

喜悦世界协会总裁
杨耀平先生

各位嘉宾,

大家下午好！

1. 新年快乐！ 我很开心能够在元宵节和这么多家庭感受共享天伦的乐趣。

2. 新春佳节期间，亲朋戚友相互拜年、齐聚一堂享用美食是一件很有意义的事。喜悦世界协会借着这个春节，让两百多户家庭通过搓汤圆、拜年、奉茶等活动来传递敬长辈、孝尊亲的美德，这份推动传统文化的努力是值得表扬的。

3. 对在场的年轻朋友来说，搓汤圆应该是一件新鲜的事。我虽然算不上特别年轻，但是也只有煮过超市里售卖的包装好的汤圆， 没有亲手自制过。所以很期待一会儿和大家一起动手搓汤圆。<COLOR color="#4000FF"><span style="color: #4000FF;">两三代家人围在一起搓汤圆、话家常，既温馨又有趣，充分体现了吃汤圆，庆团圆的意义。

4. 我们常听人家说，现代人的生活忙碌，与亲友相聚的时间有限。

<COLOR color="#BF0000"><span style="color: #BF0000;"> 我很高兴看到<SIZE size="150"><span style="font-size: 150;">喜悦世界协会的志愿工作者积极地提倡家庭凝聚力，试图通过不同的渠道宣扬这个信念，让大家了解安排家庭活动并非难如登天。

在座出席今天这场活动的家庭就是最好的见证。圆满、和乐的家庭奠定了社会的基石，而安定的社会则是国家昌盛的基础。

5. 今天是一个美好的开始，给平日忙于生活、工作和学业的我们一个共同学习的机会，让传统文化和家庭价值观薪火相传，为我们打造一个更美好、具凝聚力及和谐的家园。

6. 祝福大家在新的一年，阖府平安、家庭美满。谢谢。




7. I will now continue my address in English. I am honoured to be able to celebrate Yuan Xiao with all the families gathered here today.

Underscoring the activities organised by the Blossom World Society today are the values of respect and care.

These are also values MOE wants to nurture in our students, as part of Character and Citizenship Education in schools. In order to succeed, schools partner parents and the community so that these values are reinforced at home and through community activities.

<COLOR color="#BF0040"><span style="color: #BF0040;"><SIZE size="150"><span style="font-size: 150;">As parents, we are our children’s first teachers. I encourage parents to forge a strong partnership with our children’s schools so that our children will receive a holistic learning experience.

8.<COLOR color="#BF0000"><span style="color: #BF0000;"> With the support of the community and organisations, like Blossom World Society, our students can take part in meaningful activities, bond with family and friends, learn life-skills, and pick up the values we cherish as a society. I look forward to seeing more of such activities.

9. I wish all of you happiness, good health and prosperity for the New Year. Thank you.


http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2013/02/25/speech-by-ms-sim-ann-at-the-blossom-world-society-family-reunion-day.php

Below are extract during the seminar conducted by 蔡礼旭老师:


有一位老师读了《弟子规》, 有一天他在整理桌子，突然抬头一看，有二、三个孩子跟着他在擦桌子，其他的孩子一看别人在做也跟着做，结果全班同学都动手擦桌子。他说那时内心很感动，以身作则的力量真的很大。
After reading di zi gui, a teacher was wiping the table in the classroom one day, he discovered all his students in the class also mimic his action. The teacher was overwhelmed by the power of setting a role model himself.


那个星期他们去公园做教学考察，在公园里，他很自然的蹲下去捡起一个纸屑，捡了差不多二、三张，他回头一看，发现几十个学生都在捡垃圾。他说那时看了，眼泪几乎要流下来。
That week, they went to the park to conduct teaching, the teacher squat down to pick up a piece of paper, after collecting 2 to 3 papers, he noticed a number of students also followed suit.

他发现一个真理，为人父母、为人老师、为人领导者最重要的是以身作则，教育的力量、教化的力量、感化别人的力量就特别大。
He discovered the truth, by setting a good example ourselves, whether as parents, teachers or leaders, never underestimate our enormous power to influence others.

细讲《弟子规》第1集 蔡礼旭老师主讲 - 2005年幸福人生讲座


诸位家长，现在孩子生日，第一个想到什么？蛋糕。还有没有？
What does it come to mind for your children's birthday? Is it Cake? Anything else?

教子使作善也！请问第一个念头想到蛋糕，是善吗？
Teach our children to perform good deed.

If the first thought is cake, is this teaching goodness?


所以孩子很多的反应都已经流露出教育的结果，我们要冷静看看这个种子是播对了，还是播错了，要慎思慎思。
From the reaction of the child will reveal the outcome of the education . We need to examine whether we are Sowing the Right Seed.

这么好的机会教育，应该让他第一个想到的是，生日即是母亲的受难日。
This is a great opportunity to teach our children by enabling him to Associate his birthday as the Day of Suffering for the Mother.

http://i47.tinypic.com/20if79x.png\">

要谨记母亲怀胎的辛劳、生产的辛苦，让他能够生起知恩报恩之心，这叫教育。
Need to remember the hardship that mother undergone during 9 months pregnancy and labour pain, we educate the child through cultivating the sense of Gratitude in him.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwL2qZz_glw

有爱和感恩的地方是家 :grphug:

2012-12-29 作者：蔡礼旭老师　

哪里是家？
Where is Home?

有爱的地方是家，有感恩的地方是家。
Homes are places where Love and Gratitude prevail.

假如没有爱，没有感恩，那只是旅馆 :scared: 而已不是家。
Without Love and Gratitude, it is only a hotel instead of a home.

所以每个地方，我们都深深感受到当地人对我们的那分爱，而我们时时记住他们那分恩德，不然我孤身一个人在那里，怎麽可以发展起来？
When we receive the love from others, we need to always remember this gift.

多少人尽心竭力的护持帮助，这样的恩我们要记在心上。
We must be grateful for the assistance & guidance bestowed by others,

所以每次回到这些地方都是回家的感觉。
Whenever we revisit those places, you re-live the feeling of being home.


Background of 蔡礼旭老师:
蔡礼旭老师出生于台湾，曾任小学教师，课余从事儿童经典教学。

在教学相长中，有感于圣贤教育为人生首要教育，遂辞去公职，远赴澳洲净宗学院研习传统文化，并师承儒学耆老徐醒民老师学习儒学。 　

Inspiring quotes:

1) There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though Everything is a Miracle.
-- Albert Einstein

2) “Be Thankful for what You Have; you'll end up Having More. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”
-- Oprah Winfrey

弟子规 is conducted at Yew Tee CC


Date: 4 January 2012 till 22 March 2012 (Friday)
Time: 8pm to 9.30pm
Fee: $40
Age: 4 to 13

Had attended the 1st lesson on 4 January but feel that the teaching methods are more suitable for obedient kids who can sit still (not for my 4 year old girl & 11 year old boy though).

怎么教孝道?

How to teach Filial Piety?

(1) 以身作则
Set a good example ourselves

小时候冰箱一打开, 我的父母拿水果给谁吃?
拿给父母吃。
拿给爷爷奶奶吃。

When we take out the fruits from the fridge, who do we give to?
Should give the fruits to our Parents first or rather grandparents of our kids (instead of giving to our children first, teaching them selfishness)


(2) 亲师配合
Parents-teachers coordination

父母懂得跟老师配合,
孩子行为规范就变特别快。
Parents who know how to coordinate with teachers will see tremendous improvement in the behaviour of their children.

(3) 夫妻配合教孝 :hugs:
Husband and Wife synergy in teaching filial piety

父亲要跟孩子讲, 你知不知道, 你母亲 怀胎 的 时候, 吐 成 什么 样子.
你母亲在生产 的 时候, 叫成 什么 样子.
你三岁以前, 抱得那个手臂都要断了
Father should describe to the children the difficult ordeal that their mother went through during process of pregnancy (morning sickness) , at the time of giving birth (screaming due to extreme pain) and raising him up (her hands are in great pain as a result of constantly carrying them before they are 3 years)

母亲要跟孩子讲, 你父亲长期以来,
工作有多辛苦, 佷多亊都点点滴滴为你在规划。
Mother should describe to the children how tough their father spends long-term on his work so as to support and plan for the children

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fdCk03N9eo

Was heart-broken to hear my 11-year old boy mentioned that the assignments given by parents are not worth doing compared to his teachers as there was incentive of marks allocated in school.


Moral value is a crucial foundation but was overlooked in today society , with emphasize on academic performance.

It was even depressing last year when he mentioned that he threatened that he will rather commit suicide than studied. :frustrated: (he didn't study di zi gui <弟子规> when he was younger as we are not aware of this gem teaching)

lovelydaughter:

Below is the television program segment that Master Jing Kong 淨空法師 emphasizes on the importance of di zi gui <弟子规> which has been successfully implemented in China 中国汤池小镇

主持人：所以现在很多老师、校长都非常痛苦，家长也很痛苦，孩子很难教，你稍微对他严厉一点，他会跳楼，大人怎麽活！

主持人：你不给他讲，他又胡作非为。

How should we (principals, teachers and parents) teach children nowadays who threaten to commit suicide if we are too stern to them or misbehave if we don't discipline the them?

主持人：他们要请教您，怎麽办？

老法师：学《弟子规》，我们在汤池做的没有别的，就是落实《弟子规》，就能把人整个唤醒过来、醒悟过来。

Teach di zi gui. By implementing di zi gui in China Tang Chi, people will be awakened to reality and see the truth.


For video, please refer to link below, 0:16:28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u348fZlqaPs

For full text:
http://smbk.hebnews.cn/blog-37435-29532.html

Below phrases are some teaching of dizigui 弟子规, under the category, 余力学文 which explain effective studying methods:


读书法　
Appropriate Methods to Study

有三到　心眼口　
They involve CONCENTRATION in three areas:
- Your Mind
- your Eyes and
- your Mouth

信皆要
To BELIEVE in what you read is equally important.

方读此　勿慕彼　
When you start to read a book, do not Think about another.

此未终　彼勿起
If you have not completed the book, do not Start another.

宽为限　紧用功　
Give yourself lots of time to study, and Study Hard

工夫到　滞塞通
Given Time and Effort, you will Thoroughly Understand.

心有疑　随札记　就人问　求确义
If you have a Question,
- Make a Note of it,
- Ask the person who has the Knowledge, for the Right Answer.

Explanation of methods to study under 余力学文 can be viewed from 11.59 to 14:19
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/P_EUAnYvRPM/

Below is the television program segment that Master Jing Kong 淨空法師 emphasizes on the importance of di zi gui <弟子规>:


主持人：其实学《弟子规》比较简单，做起来也方便，首先受益的是我这个家庭。

淨空法師：自己，不是家庭，你自己本身第一个受益。为什麽？现在讲和谐，《弟子规》做到的时候，你身心和谐，无论是你的思惟、言行，自自然然它就合规矩，这个规矩是跟性德相应，所以舒畅！

The First person to benefit from Di zi gui will be YOURSELF. :imcool:

When you practise Di zi gui, you can attain Harmony both physically and spiritually. Your thought and action will naturally correspond with the standards (standards that synchronise with moral values) .


主持人：所以要想实现和谐社会，是先要让每个人自己都和谐。

老法师：不错，你每个人不和谐，他的家就不和，家不和社会怎麽会和？所以中国人讲的是修身、齐家、治国、平天下。

By cultivating one's moral values, this will ensure harmony in family and ultimately a peaceful society.


For video, please refer to link below, 0:19:27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFOlaRFQfRM&feature=relmfu

For full text:
http://smbk.hebnews.cn/blog-37435-29532.html