Boarding the southbound train at around 9.45pm after work, an uplifting sight caught my eye. The man with outstretched legs in the photo above was reading a copy of ‘Be a Lamp Upon Yourself‘ (which introduces basic Buddhism with abridged materials from a few good books plus some original sections). First published in 1999 and expanded over the years, the latest edition is the sixth. I happen to be thinking of expanding it further, though there’s the problem of it becoming too thick. To memory, it was the first local ‘one-stop’ introductory free distribution book of my generation designed specifically to be pocket-sized.
I wanted it to fit in ladies’ handbags then, which were small. Who would have known, that handbags would evolve over the years to be huge enough to contain phone books (Yellow Pages)! Over the years, I had looked forward to seeing commuters on trains or buses reading it – the way some would read the Bible or a novel. It took me 10 years to finally see the above. I wonder if the size or contents ‘worked’. A book is a bestseller when more than 5,000 copies are sold. Tens of thousands of ‘Lamp’ have been distributed so far, with a Chinese version (点亮心灯）available too. Does that make it a bestgiver, since it is a gift of Dharma given free? Even if so, there are really many other bestgivers too. Isn’t it wonderful, the Buddhist culture of sponsoring books to share the Dharma? Sadhu!
Hi, May I know if there is feedback channel to kmspks publication if we find nice Dharma books to recommend for free distribution printing?
Hi, you can email publication@kmspks.org ^_^ Amituofo
Me always encountered weird things, must be my karma attracting all these … anyway it is a good learning platform …
Ha..ha…, I even received phone call from stranger (Buddhist of Pureland Practise), telling me my mother was going to die and I should do this and that. They even brought my mother to settle important issue without us knowing. Even brought non-vegetarian food for vegetarian mom… OMG, there were many ridiculous things …
There is a person after a retreat decides to embark on a very challenging task – Introducing Buddhism to a Dying person. Good intention but from certain thing this person did, I felt that there was something lacking –
are we doing thing which we think is right or want to do OR are we doing thing with correct understanding and doing correctly?
Reason for bring this up, is not to talk bad … Positive and Negative Feedbacks are equally important to move forward …
Hmmm… That’s an example of a lousy Buddhist, if really Buddhist at all. 🙁 Good intentions should be coupled with appropriate skilful means.
I share the same wish as shian.
I really hope one day I can get to see people who are taking public transport reading a pocket or hangbag-sized (LOL) introductory and one-stop Buddhist guidebook, much like a Bible or a novel.
I appeal to all who share the wish to continue to get honest and constructive feedback from those who had read or are still reading the latest version.
Every book published is a work-in-progress. There’s always room for improvement.
Yes indeed! Always can improve… to better suit the a’changing times especially. 😉
At the time when I was young and getting lots of influence from the missionary secondary school i was attending, “Be a Lamp” was the book that struck me and kept my faith.
Thanks loads!
I think jilexin’s appeal is very valid – “I appeal to all who share the wish to continue to get honest and constructive feedback …â€
There is an important task for Buddhists and also doing good, helping the current and future world, beautifying our world via carrying on spreading Dharma … Only this, can we ensure for those who waiting to be reborn or those who miss the “plane†to Pureland or opt to be reborn as human …to be able to born into Buddhist communities and hear the Dharma
I like to share some of my feedbacks (not that I know a lot, not all are good) but hope that it can be of any use, if not just let them goes. It is ok, if it is of no benefits why waste time.
I think there are many talented, capable people out there who can contribute even MORE and BETTER, but are very quiet and WHERE ARE THEY? The world NEEDS them …
Bookcross@SG NLB thingy, sometimes, I wonder where they got the idea from. Could it be from the Free Dharma books that were around at Veg stalls/eateries?
Spreading dharma, some are already working very hard (like Dharma Propagation Division of KMSPKS etc) and some are silently doing it …
There is this Vegetarian Eatery – Rice House @ Blk 129 Geylang East Ave 2 #01-102, that I went in January. I am so impressed by how treated the free Dharma books for distribution … WOW, nice wooden shelves to place these dharma books and so neat, you just got to go and have a look at it before believing what I say..
It is just like the Bookcrossing@SG ‘Hotspot’ (the Café Galilee @ library). The ambience there is relaxing, you can just go have some vegetarian food there and pick up some free dharma books …
I think BUDDHIST (Vegetarian or Non-vegetarian) should support these eateries that are helping to spread Dharma, they are helping to bring them nearer to the public. Just like Buddhist supporting the Sangha (referring to Monks,right?) so that they can become Buddha and return to save ALL from Samsara.
Buddhists should go there to dine often (very easy and cost not much) so that these Buddhist ‘Hotspots’ can continue to survive to help to spread the Dharma a bit …
To us, we are helping a good cause, therefore is doing goods, can I say that? If I happen to be reborn as human, at least, the world still has Dharma for me to learn …
I think I saw a list of such eateries from Vaidurya Mag (a free Buddhist Lifestyle Mag Distribution Pts), some of them are Kwan Yin Zhai Vegetarian, Rice House, Southern Palace Veg Restaurant, The Whole Earth Vegetarian Restaurant, Ci Yan Vegetarian Health Food, Angel’s Heart, 7 Sensations, Just Greens Vegetarian Food, Miao Yi Vegetarian, Grand Court Vegetarian, Zi Yean Centre, Fo Lai Ping Vegetarian …
There could be more, I just don’t know yet … =]
Dharma books for “bookcrossing†can be fun and easy reading books like ‘Just say OM – by Soren Gordhamer’ (I got it from Awareness Place many years back) or ‘The Buddha Next Door – by Zan Gaudioso’ (just read one story at Kinokuniya, can’t resist it) or a list of those books recommend in Buddhist free Lifestyle Magazine …or Zen Comic Books …
Something that is simple, can zoom into any chapter (not necessary to read whole books) that can be read within a short time like waiting for the ordered food to come …
It can be some beautiful Buddhist free Lifestyle Magazine (old or current issues) or some vegetarian cookbooks … I don’t know …