31st Dec 2008

Time really flies.. it's time to countdown to 2009 as we bade farewell to 2008.

With the impending economic uncertainty in 2009, Buddhist youths in Singapore decided to come together to pray for the wellbeing of Singapore.  Led by the Youth Ministry of the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, buddhist groups like the Ambitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore Buddhist Mission (Youth) and Wat Ananda Youth organised a series of prayers on the last week of Dec as part of the Year-end Relay Prayers.

In addition to this, Wat Ananda Youth also kept to our tradition of organising an Overnight Chanting session to usher in 2009 on 31 Dec 2008.  As usual, the Overnight chanting started with chanting in the Main Shrine at 11pm led by the Sangha.  Thereafter, members adjourned to the meditation hall to chant 108 times of "Iti-pi-so" (Salutation to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha) till 7am on 1 Jan.  The end of the chanting does not signify the end of the countdown.

At 7.30am on 1 Jan, about 50 Sangha gathered in the temple for Pindapat (alms-round offering).  Members and devotees waited patiently outside the Main Shrine as the Sangha does the Morning chants before the Pindapat.  Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu! May all of us be able to face the economic uncertainties calmly and may we be blessed and guided by the Triple Gem during this period.

Year-end Prayers in the Dhamma Hall, Wat Ananda , led by Bro Kwan.
Blessings and a short speech by Venerable Maha Rian at the end of the Year-end Prayers
Gathering in the Main Shrine on 31 Dec 08 to start the Overnight chanting led by the Sangha
Marathon-like Chanting ... passing the mics around the Brothers and Sisters to lead the chanting of Iti-pi-so.
Ven Chao Chun, Abbot, joining us at the end of the chanting in the morning ... to give us blessings and a short talk
Ven Chao Khun, Abbot, leading the Sangha for pindapat (alms-round offering)... kids waiting patiently for Venerables to approach
Yeah! it's our turn to offer.. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
Some of the participants.. 1am in Dhamma Hall (left) and 7am outside Main Shrine waiting to offer alms (right) ... we made it till 7am! do we look tired?