Shedding light on decline in Buddhism in Singapore

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=57,9832,0,0,1

Article on the changes in religion demographics in SG. Most of the religion class and non believers had increased slightly except for buddhist who is on the decline.

I would attribute the drop in actual fact a result of more "lean" buddhists. Gone were the days when there are more people "born" into a religion or simply following a family religion. People are more educated, well-informed and thus has more autonomy to live with a faith that suits their needs.

Buddhism to me is a rather empirical studies of how things happen around us. It does not rely on faith alone and alot of emphasis on cultivation of wisdom. Buddha also mentioned how a faith to a teaching is to be established upon in the Kalama Sutta:

. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing,
. nor upon tradition,
. nor upon rumor,
. nor upon what is in a scripture,
. nor upon surmise,
. nor upon an axiom,
. nor upon specious reasoning,
. nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over,
. nor upon another's seeming ability,
. nor upon the consideration, "The monk is our teacher."
Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness," enter on and abide in them.'

My personal take is not to let numbers creates disturbance to our mind. Rather, focus on our personal practise and conduct. When our actions are well praised for, people will seek out to learn more about the religion.

Numbers are just forms and overly-obesses with forms lead to mentally unwholesome thoughts. But to stress that we buddhist should not just hide away like a hermit. Esp for a Buddhist that vow to take on the Bodhisattva path, we should share the teaching widely to help free people from their suffering state.

The number do know shake your faith but your thoughts and conduct will.

Wiping with a dirty rag

Helping out with Spring Cleaning in temple and was wiping away the dust from the statutes of 33 forms of Guan Yin Bodhisattvas. The statutes were in pure white color but were covered with a layer of dust. Attempted to wipe away the dust but end up smearing more stains on it. Only after wiping for even more times, the stains were removed.

To reflected on our daily practices. We tend to see shortcomings of other people especially on their practices. Just like seeing the unsightly dust on the white statutes. While immersed in being critical on others we neglected on our own practices.

While we wipe the white statutes with a dirty rag, we end up dirtying it. When we are not mindful of our practices, our actions were just like the dirty rag. Then what constitutes the right action/advice?

1) Impermeance ( Anicca)
2) Suffering ( Dukkha)
3) Non-self (Anatta)

Simply, an action that is laced with ego, thinking it as absolute, non-changing and relies on forms/formlessness, only motivated by self-interest or inclinations, are what I think to be unwholesome actions or advice to other practitioners.

But impermeance, as stated by Buddha brings hope. The possibility of change and reason to better ourselves. By trying harder, we will manage to get rid of the stains. With right effort, we can cleanse our mind from the daily defilements.

Or maybe the stains we see on others were manifestation of our own stains ......