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12 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

There are no major problems in our association • Inviting members from all traditions to join the
adopting a non-sectarian approach in our activities. management committee
Problems that arose usually pertain to inter-personal • Teaching the value of respect towards all traditions,
conflicts among members due to lack of communication e.g. combined Buddha pūja from time to time, in
or misunderstanding. However, such problems are youth camps and some big functions
limited as our association preaches loving kindness as a • Regular practice of loving kindness through Mettā
practice among the devotees. Bhavana
• Organizing bi-lingual fellowship programs such
The management committee holds strongly to the as excursions, Family Day, Welfare projects, Hymn
belief that despite different Buddhist traditions, the singing, film shows, and recreational activities.
core teachings of the Buddha are similar. Devotees
understand there are differences in the devotional The challenge facing many Buddhist organizations
practices and rituals among the three traditions, but is the lack of young leaders to take over from the
they have learnt to appreciate such diversities as part pioneers who would eventually be retiring. How
and parcel of the richness of Buddhism as it evolved do you identify or groom younger members with
over the centuries. Such harmony in the association is potential as future leaders for the association?
also a result of several key initiatives that have been
inculcated among the devotees over the past 30 years This is the biggest challenge facing our association.
such as: Currently, more than half of our management committee
• Proper learning and understanding of the core is made up of retirees, most of whom are teachers.
Buddhist teachings Indeed, we need to identify and groom younger
members with leadership potential to take over from