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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 15

religious places like temples, churches, or mosques. realized the benefit of the Dharma.
Such places probably have an atmosphere of spirituality,
peacefulness, calmness and serenity so lacking in the What kind of programs would attract youngsters to
outside world. Over the past 30 years we had our share come to a Buddhist center in our current internet
of visits by mentally-ill patients seeking a sort of solace age?
at our association from their mental pain and anguish.
It is indeed a great challenge to attract the younger
Boh Ho (not his real name) was afflicted with generation to come to a Buddhist Center in the age of
schizophrenia when he was in his early twenties. I the internet with its many alluring high-tech gadgets.
befriended him in the early 1990s. At our association, I think the following programs should attract young
he helped out by cleaning the premises and doing other people:
general manual work. I used to remind him to keep his
precepts well and to learn and practice the Dharma a) Buddhist / Dharma / Motivation / Leadership /
sincerely. He was quite regular in joining our Pali Musical / English Camps
chanting sessions and also in our Sutta class. He even b) The Use of Multimedia
participated in our wake services. c) Group Dynamics
d) Academic Guidance Classes
I remember a few occasions when Boh Ho’s e) Music, Choreographing, Action with Dances
schizophrenic attacks came because he stopped taking f) Organized Trips and Excursions
his medication. He would have hallucinations, behaved g) Games and Sport Activities
in a disorganized manner, and sank into painful h) Group Discussions, Brainstorms, Forums and
depressive moods. Some Dharma friends and I helped Workshops EH
him to get medical treatment and he recovered. Over the
years as he continued to study and practice the Dharma,
he found it a great help with his mental affliction.
Though he passed away peacefully in 2012, he had