MMU Melaka Buddhist Society B-Camp (28/8/2021-29/8/2021)

 自从参与线上青年佛学营，都是以全国为主，想说如果有一天可以参与家乡举办的佛学营会是什么样的体验呢？当我在刷面子书，看到园盛的个人照底下写着《B-Camp 解忧市集》线上生活营由马六甲多媒体大学佛学会举办。看了之后，我点击链接进去报名。第一次参加家乡的佛学营，心里很期待！

线上B-Camp 的两、三天，我们往常会被分去不同的组。这一次，我被安排到持戒组。到底这些由什么有意义呢？等下大家就会知道咯！在线上营当天，筹委团队为大家解说组别的意义。还记得的持戒吗？是的，它是五戒的意思就是不杀生、不偷盗、不妄语、不邪淫、不饮酒；持戒是六度之一。 另外，我们还有布施、精进、忍辱、禅定以及般若。每次提起六度，我马上联想到目前担任的歌团—— 马六甲唱享六度团队，我是歌手之一！嘿嘿！

每个佛学营，第一堂课会是礼佛。在佛教里我们有三个分别南传、北传和藏传。在我国大马，我们修的是北传或南传。让我有涨知识一点是原来中间坐垫是给主持的法师用的！难怪，我们进佛堂礼佛时候都会鼓励用旁边的坐垫。之后，我们被分去小组进行破冰环节。这让我想起在第一次参与线上佛学营，我们也要对方。当时我画的是捷盈，这一次我画是嘉洋。大家也知道组员们长什么样子，我们回去与其他营员集合。上佛学班啦！

这一次的佛学班是《四谛法》或大家熟悉的《四圣帝》—— 佛陀成道后第一次为桥陈如等五人在鹿野苑说法。《四圣谛》是苦、集、灭、道。正好，我在为来临的全国佛教考试复习。所有课程要完成，唯独《四圣谛》还没有动到。我们很荣幸可以邀请宗平法师为我们解说该课题。

大家再被分去小组来讨论首两个的《四圣谛》—— 苦和集。苦谛是是生命察觉、认清痛苦。每次听长辈们说，我们人生下来是要受苦。是真的吗？大家有对这句有想法或意见可以在评论区留言哦！我们人必定要经过生老病死，逃不了。苦也有坏苦、苦苦和行苦。

集谛则是情绪的运作，痛苦从因缘而生。集谛有另一点是面对情绪，怎么说呢？我们人类为自己的利益，而产生自我的现象，关心自己没意识到他人的情绪。所以们要保持觉知，并且在每一个语言、思维和动作种下美好的因缘。

在副题环节《幸福》，大家的手上有 “一百万” 令吉在手。主讲老师会以 “拍卖” 的方式给一个词汇。过程中，我们还可以 “借钱”。之后，我们再分到小组讨论。在营队一定有派任务的，而我们的任务以最创意的方式来呈现佛曲，隔天要在呈现环节展现成品。

第二天早上，在营队开始之前，我赶快把任务完成。旁白和录影在最短时间内完成，幸好在早课之前完成，休息时间把成品呈交。全国佛教考试总复习在佛学班同时碰上，只好去考试总复习，还剩下两天要应考了。当我回来时候，大家在讨论课堂的总呈现。持戒组是以话剧来呈现两天的课堂内容。

晚上时候，我还有另一个线上活动要出席。出席一个小时，组员要我回来因为佛曲呈现环节要到了！我们呈现是生命中的朋友第二专辑的《微笑》，在最后一段，大家一起唱吧！

颁奖时间到！营队还有颁奖啊？第一次知道呢！“最佳男营员” 落在李浩良来自精进组！“最佳女营员”会是谁呢？当自己的名字出现屏幕上，不知道如何反应过来。 从来没想过自己会是该营的 “最佳女营员” ！谢谢  B-Camp 的筹委团队！特别是我的持戒组，谢谢你们！也谢谢大家！愿大家在学佛路上见，阿弥陀佛！

全国大专佛教青年生活营36：《佛法与人生》

 续全国私立大专举办的《心经的智慧》线上生活营后，觉得很好玩！想要再参与类似的全营多一次。然而，该全营结束后，发现自己的心里有点不踏实。好像失去了方向，不知道要往哪里，有点迷茫的感觉。我决定给自己一个月的休息，看看能够找到心里的答案。

当我在刷社交媒体时候，《佛法与人生》线上生活营，又是一个全营啊！正好我在思考人生，说不定它可以给我一个答案？我毫不犹豫报名参加全营。令我更开心的，好友—— 嘉娣也来参与！全营的前几天收到筹委团的电邮，我立马点击小册子看我是哪个组别，我被安排在大雄力组。而在营队的第一天被选上组长，心里想：“我有能力吗？” 既然组员们选上我，我会全力以赴照顾所有的组员。

我们组长、班长和筹委团被安排在另一个群聊。在选副题环节时候，至少要有一个组长来担任主持人。我看到《真善美的旋律》时，一定要当该副题的主持人因为我也是一名佛曲歌手来自马六甲唱享六度团队! 两年前，我有主持过《生命中的朋友》的十周年校园宣传活动在大学。在活动开始之前，我到测试的 “小房间” 和嘉宾们见一面，看哪个地方须要调整。

调整之后，第一个副题环节正式开始啦！每位歌手分享各自的经历和故事，佛法如何帮助他们在疫情里度过难关。当然，少不了歌唱环节！结束之前，我还唱两句的《心圆满》，我们已经听了男生版本，就来个女生版本吧！副题环节后，大家有个小休准备今晚的第一个静坐课堂。静坐，相信对大家，尤其是初学者有一定的挑战。我无数次关掉摄像头，这样我能够集中精神，可是监香老师又要求我打开。

我们再次被分去小组让监香们去指导我们不足的地方。监香说我的身体有点僵硬，难免也会啦！毕竟是第一次嘛！我们回到 “主房” 让师父和营员对静坐有所的疑问。之后，我们回到小组写心得报告。

在第二个星期之前，我们有个复习环节，消化一个星期的课程。到了第二星期，家里二度停电。第一次是闪电的缘故，第二次则是家里的电器系统出了问题。我在副题环节，我须要用手机的讯号来上课。第二个星期的前几天，我接种第二剂的新冠疫苗，出现一些副作用——头晕，无法在第二堂的静坐课集中精神。反而监香老师建议我修动中修。动中修？组员们在静坐时候，我把注意力放在抱枕。这是动中修吗？

为了制造一些神秘感，大雄力组设定《天使与主人》的游戏。我的天使，他有时 “偷懒” 。心里想：“不知道他的老板会什么反应呢？” 我们往常还是有多一轮的温习时间。到了第三个星期，我在休息时间会去看天使给我的留言，真的让我哭笑不得！两个字我可以给我天使 —— 幽默。 我们有个 “交换礼物” 给自己的主人。而我给主人的是不一样的礼物！是什么呢？不告诉你！嘿嘿！

我们互相猜自己的天使。第一次竟然把自己的天使给猜错！过去的两个类似游戏，我猜对我的天使。大家在玩的时候，我过去其他的小组打个招呼。回来自己的小组，组员们在玩《咖啡或茶》还有一起看新闻，轻松接轨每一天在 《新闻报报看》。虽然我有点内疚，让大家一起陪我看新闻。希望组员们不要介意啦！

三个星期《佛法与人生》的线上全营正式落幕！我不知道几时再见面，心里知道在学佛路上会再次和大家重逢。感谢佛祖！阿弥陀佛！

The Star R. AGE #StandTogether SEA Zoom Party (31/7/2021)

 It's been five months since the #StandTogether expanded its kindness to the Southeast Asia region. Now we are back for a zoom party! Before I proceed with the details, let us have a memory refresher on what #StandTogether is. #StandTogether is a kindness campaign by Star Media Group's (SMG) investigation journalist team - R. AGE, to spread kindness and empathy in our communities and schools. 

I was in a middle of an online Buddhist youth camp. I took some time off from the camp and quietly sneaked into the party. I did accept the email invitation by the #StandTogether team, but I guessed it was good to make a surprise appearance. After Ian was finished, I unmuted my microphone to give a quick hello to the kindness leaders who were at the party. I could see the surprise on their faces. Whenever we are in a kindness workshop or a kindness zoom party, the breakout rooms are always my favourite because we get to know other kindness leaders. 

This time, it was finding the three common points that we have in our respective groups. For my group, we had a little struggle in the beginning as we were trying to figure out what do we have in common. Pinya, from Thailand, pointed out that we were all girls, the second point was we were from Southeast Asia and the last point, we all loved Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. After that, we went back to the main room to share the three points. 

We had a mini sharing session from four SEA countries, Kaveesha representing Malaysia, Chris representing the Philippines, Jun Shan representing Brunei and Neerzara representing Indonesia. Each of the kindness leaders shared their experiences how the campaign helped them to spread kindness in their communities and even conducting their own kindness workshops. I thought "Maybe I should do one too someday". I can't do this alone, need some help with fellow kindness leaders. 

In the middle of the sharing session, the news came in that our badminton men's doubles - Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik delivered the first-ever medal at the Tokyo Olympics - it's a bronze! Yeah, I was in the Olympics mood, I'm sure we all were. 

The party ended with a group picture and a jam board for us to put in our ideas in the next kindness workshop or zoom party. It was time for me to head back to the online camp! Looking forward to more kindness events. For more kindness information, follow #StandTogether's official social media pages. 

FB: StandTogether  

IG: @standtogethermy 

全国私立大专佛教全营：心经的智慧（2/7/2021-4/7/2021）

 “佛教全营” —— 这四个字对我来说，很遥远却很靠近。在疫情之前，就这样错过一次又一次的全营。这一次，绝对不会错过！在营长—— 姵京的鼓励下，于是报名参与第六届全国私立大专全营之《心经的智慧》。

全营的第一天，营员登入Zoom平台 “报到”，全营团队为大家简报这三天的流程以及规则。团康团队给营员们一个小小的任务，就是《小菩萨与守护神》。这活动让我想起大学的活动《Angel and Master》—— 以电邮方式来守护对方或被守护。之后，营员们被派到各自的小组进行在破冰环节。我是在利行组。

在利行组组长—— 康进和蕰莉的领导下破冰，互相认识对方。在全营的前几天，有答应他们要唱一首歌给他们听，唱一小段的《佛法的力量》。在上课程（一）一半时候，晚餐捧到自己的面前，关了摄像机一阵子。心里有点内疚，但是有在听课。课程（一）结束后，大家再次回到小组进行讨论。我记录不多，也是从组员们分享，再加上笔记。晚课，我们念诵华文版的《慈经》，也回向给所有的众生；希望疫情可以早日脱离人间，让我们回归正常生活。

第二天，大家早起出席早课。在早课的十分钟，捷盈还贴心拨电话过来问我是否已经起身了。我们以往会向佛和师父问讯，早课开始啦！原来早课是念诵《心经》、《普贤十大愿》、回向等等。副课话环节可说是有趣的话题—— 《鬼》，如何在佛教的角度看待呢？有一个小总结就是：知道鬼神的存在，互相尊重就不会惹祸上身。在团康环节，第一个联想到是：会不会跳舞啊？或者唱歌？原来动动脑筋来猜猜佛法！可是挑战的是我们完成在特定的游戏站就可以得到一个提示，猜出佛法。利行组是猜到不贪，是十善中的意，“贪” 也是三毒中的 “贪、嗔、痴” 

继续探讨《心经》的内容在课程（二）。在 “空” 的部分，其实不是 “空空洞洞什么也没有”，“空” 是肯定一切存在之存在的，否定有个永恒不变的实体。它是流动的组合。在小组讨论，我们对 ”空“ 有所的疑问，我把所记录的笔记念出来与组员们分享。利和同均嘛！我想也是利行的含义之一吧？

最后一天，可以说是法喜充满一整天。早上时段须要离营一阵子，因为有任务在身—— 教家乡的儿童佛学班；午休时候，再去上家乡的青年佛学班。上完之后，马上 “回营”。师父再给予各组总呈现的评语。我们再次分到各组时候，我们猜着谁是小菩萨和守护神。时间只是五分钟，我们回去 “大厅” 听师父的叮咛。

最大的福利是可以回到各自小组继续互相猜猜小菩萨和守护神。三天的全营短暂，可我们都打成一片了！我的守护神—— 欣仪，都成了姐妹！利行组组员们成了彼此的法侣，希望在学佛的路上可以互相知道彼此。

感谢《心经的智慧》团队，辛苦大家啦！感谢佛祖让我在疫情下参与人生的第一个线上佛教青年全营！愿大家在学佛路上继续走下去，弘扬佛法！

University Nottingham Malaysia Campus MUN 2021: Champions Cup (19/6/2021-20/6/2021 & 25/6/2021-27/6/2021)

 I thought I would hit the 20th MUN conference milestone at Champions Cup 2021 but NightMUN weekend took over the spot, it's okay! First day Champions Cup is quite relaxed, we have games such as the Scavenger Hunt, Sports Tournament and Spy Game. Due to special needs, I only managed to join two out of the three games. I think the Scavenger Hunt is a favourite in my list. Although, I didn't join the Sports Tournament, I heard some of the delegates didn't end up well after that. Ouch, that's harsh! Guess we all need to pump all that muscles despite being in full MCO. 

On the second day, let the brain power begin! I'm in the ECOSOC council once more, delegating as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We have two topics to discuss on:

1. Regulation of Cryptocurrency 
2. Finance and Development of Sustainable Energy in Developing Countries 

As always before formal debate, we are given the primary speakers list for delegates in this council to set which topic we are going to debate on. Although, my personal preference is Topic B, everyone is on Topic A. We still have time for the second topic, if we managed to get the first topic done. For the third session of the conference, it's not debate but the team invited a guest speaker from UNMC - Dr. Andrew Silva to share his experience working in the UN. I did ask a lot of questions, especially on how to get youths to talk about mental health. 

Unfortunately, I didn't stay long because I have a Sunday class to attend. After the a long day of debating, it's time to kick back relax and go on a (virtual) holiday with Global Village. I think out of the three presentations, I love the Kenyan delegation, which really take us on a virtual holiday. We all miss travelling! Hopefully, after the pandemic, we can travel like we used to. 

To make our council interesting and stimulate our brains, Eiman has this idea of making our council into a crisis council but it's the ECOSOC version. I have to admit that crisis is not my best form in MUN conferences but it is worth a shot. At one point, Eiman played as the fictional prince in our council and Angus acts as a advisory to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

The draft resolution  has some acronyms that we would use in daily conversations but personally, I wouldn't recommend to put them, really. Here's a tip please use proper acronyms when writing draft resolutions. Again, I'm off to Sunday class. By the time I came back, I heard the delegate of France commits a fictional murder, which this delegate would not accept at all! She is one revengeful delegate in character! Please do not commit any of the actions above. Diplomacy and peace are the keys in a council, unless we wanna have conspiracy, please, go to a crisis council - where we can fictionally plot any plans. 

We headed to the crisis council- which has some intense discussion, it is, because we know crisis! How I wish they could play the running away music background as what we did in NightMUN weekend council.  I'm hopping on and off the channel to listen the discussion they have in council. 

I can say Champions Cup 2021 is not our traditional MUN. Although, there is some confusion in between prior to the conference, overall the team has done an amazing job to make this first ever virtual Champions Cup a success! Kudos to Yun Ni (Winnie) and team! Not forgetting my fellow delegates in the ECOSOC council and to our honourable chair and co-chair, Eiman and Jesse! 

This is Kar Marn, delegate of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from ECOSOC, signing off! 

Sunway Virtual Intercultural Project: Reitaku University Japan (24/6/2021)

 After an experience with the students from Petra Christian University Indonesia last month, now it's time to "pack" and "fly" to the land of the rising sun with the students of Reitaku University Japan. Okay, I'm not an up riser, but I have to. Luckily, I'm a morning person - which is a good thing. After breakfast, it's time to turn up the computer, log into the Zoom room and let's go to Japan (virtually).

Ms Joey - the coordinator for today's virtual intercultural project. First off we start off by welcoming the students to Malaysia (virtually) since we are the host for this project. I'm impressed with Ms Joey's Jaapnese skills. We showed the students of Reitaku University why Sunway campus is the #MostHappeningCampus, and in turn, they show theirs. 

We are broken up into breakout rooms for the Malaysian and Japanese students to meet. First off, the Japanese students show us a dessert - kakigoori, which is eaten during the summer - which is right about now but Malaysia is summer all-year-round, a tropical country. Marie and I ask the questions to the students whether we go by bike or by train. 

The best way to get to the kakigoori restaurant is by train - a station away with walking distance. It's similar to the one we have in Malaysia - ais kacang batu campur or ABC for short. Marie and I show the students the places in Malaysia. A five-minute break for us to take some time off, we are supposed to stay in the breakout room but I exit the breakout room a few times. We continued with the food in Malaysia and Japan. 

We head back to the main room to share our insights during the interactive session with our new friends. I really love it! It really brings me back to my trip to Japan with my family seven years ago. Hopefully, when the pandemic is over, we can travel again. 

Thank you to everyone who joins the event! Hope to see you at the next one! Please keep in touch! 

UNofficial MUN: NightMUN 2021 (5/6/2021-6/6/2021)

 I was in a middle of a MUN break after a hectic month of April of attending MUN conferences back to back. I was relaxing as always, then, Angus - the secretariat of NightMUN asked me to join in. The thing was just left a couple of days before the mini conference. The reason he gave was "They needed someone who is experienced to guide them in conference - an older sibling to look after them, to show them the ropes on how MUN is done," 

Prior to the conference, I did have a sneak peek of the list of who were in the conference. Veterans like Lim Ke Wen and our famous and friendly MUN detective "Sherlock Holmes" also known as Ernest, they have done more MUN conferences than I have before stepping into the scene in 2018. I was sure, they didn't need me to be there. I couldn't stand the bugging anymore, signed up at the last minute. My role was assigned as MP of Taman Setapak (it's a make believe constitution, imagine we are in the future year of 2053). 

In the beginning of the council, I was doing just fine - giving speeches in the general speakers list (GSL) and raising Points of Information (POI). True enough, I got shot by the new delegates on board and thought to myself: "Am I really in the right council?"

 Some of the delegates thought I was stealing the spotlight by flexing my experiences in MUN. Well, if we wanna to show the new comers on board on how a MUN conference is done, we have other experienced MUNers in the council right? I can just sit back and watch the drama and listen to the debate - which I eventually did, during the second day of council, most of the time. 

Okay, we had to admit the running away music scene it's pretty cool of a fictional crime, which it was because we were in a crisis council with a form of Dewan Rakyat. To new budding MUNers, crisis council might not be the best choice, but if you're adventurous and taking the first step, good for you! 

Kudos to Angus and team on the first ever NightMUN weekend conference! Keep it up! 

This is Kar Marn, MP of Taman Setapak, signing off!