Evina Chen
33, Sustainability Specialist
Evina Chen has been a volunteer at Thekchen Choling since 2010, for 14 years now. She has volunteered for many roles at the temple, including the front desk, various events, Dharma Junior, and the most recent one, which is Youth. She has been volunteering with Youth for eight years now, and has gone through a journey of growth.
Evina Chen has been a volunteer at Thekchen Choling since 2010, for 14 years now. She has volunteered for many roles at the temple, including the front desk, various events, Dharma Junior, and the most recent one, which is Youth. She has been volunteering with Youth for eight years now, and has gone through a journey of growth.
Q: Out of all the various roles you have helped out with, it seems like you have been with the youth group for the longest. Can you share how your volunteering experience was like there?
A:
I find working with youths to be more complex compared to children. However, I also realised that being with the youth group was a good opportunity to give back to the temple through volunteering, which is why I stayed on for so long.
Q: What were some challenges you faced while volunteering with the youth group?
A: It was difficult to connect with the youths and build a good rapport with them, but slowly, after I changed my approach and came from a different angle, I was able to connect with them better. What I did was to let go of all my expectations of managing them and began to understand where they are coming from. With time, it became easier to talk to them, and to find the balance between being firm and fun.
Q:
Since there are so many benefits to volunteering, what would you say to those who are hesitant about it?
A: I understand that sometimes one may feel hesitant because it is a new social setting. However, Thekchen Choling is a safe community that respects diversity. All of us, including myself, are still learning to open our hearts more so as to build meaningful connections with others. So, let's not be too hard ourselves. Just come to the temple with an open and relaxed mind. Who knows? This could be your next personal growth journey, and the temple becomes like your second home like it is for me and for many others too, I'm sure.
Q: Out of all the various roles you have helped out with, it seems like you have been with the youth group for the longest. Can you share how your volunteering experience was like there?
A: I find working with youths to be more complex compared to children. However, I also realised that being with the youth group was a good opportunity to give back to the temple through volunteering, which is why I stayed on for so long.
Q: What were some challenges you faced while volunteering with the youth group?
A: I find working with youths to be more complex compared to children. However, I also realised that being with the youth group was a good opportunity to give back to the temple through volunteering, which is why I stayed on for so long.
Q: What were some challenges you faced while volunteering with the youth group?
A: It was difficult to connect with the youths and build a good rapport with them, but slowly, after I changed my approach and came from a different angle, I was able to connect with them better. What I did was to let go of all my expectations of managing them and began to understand where they are coming from. With time, it became easier to talk to them, and to find the balance between being firm and fun.
Q:
Since there are so many benefits to volunteering, what would you say to those who are hesitant about it?
A: I understand that sometimes one may feel hesitant because it is a new social setting. However, Thekchen Choling is a safe community that respects diversity. All of us, including myself, are still learning to open our hearts more so as to build meaningful connections with others. So, let's not be too hard ourselves. Just come to the temple with an open and relaxed mind. Who knows? This could be your next personal growth journey, and the temple becomes like your second home like it is for me and for many others too, I'm sure.
Lum Hong Li
52, Technician
Hongli has been a disciple of Singha Rinpoche for a few decades and has supported the Dharma activities of Thekchen Choling Singapore in many different ways.
Hongli has been a disciple of Singha Rinpoche for a few decades and has supported the Dharma activities of Thekchen Choling Singapore in many different ways.
Q: What were your volunteering experiences with the temple like? Is there any difference from then to now?
A: In the past, I used to be a volunteer of the Ullambana Festival, helping out with the preparation work since Bukit Timah days. I would help to set up the tables including the table skirtings, and so on. Over the years, the Ullambana Festival set up has changed a lot. It’s a lot simpler now and it is held in the temple grounds instead of a vast open field back when our temple was at the foot of Bukit Timah Hill. I also used to play the hezi and dangzi for the Ullambana Festival Chinese Sutra recitation back then too.
During the recent Guru Rinpoche retreat, I helped to play the Tibetan longhorn as part of the music offering team.
Q:
Why did you decide to do volunteering work with the temple?
A: It is a way for me to express my thanks to my Guru – Singha Rinpoche – for his loving-kindness. It is important to seize the opportunities to volunteer so that it is a meaningful experience for oneself. For me, through offering my service and time to the temple, I feel contented and happy.
Q:
After so many years of volunteering, do you encounter any challenges while offering your service to the temple?
A: Actually, I would say that I don’t encounter obstacles during volunteering, as I believe obstacles are usually a result of someone who is hesitant to do volunteering work. If you are doing it out of your own will, you will not encounter obstacles.
Q:
As someone who has spent so many years with Singha Rinpoche and Thekchen Choling Singapore, what would you say to a person who is hesitant about volunteering due to fear of encountering difficulties?
A: You should [think of it as] offer your body, speech, and mind, to Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha during volunteering work. It will help a lot in terms of removing obstacles.
Even if a person does not have money, by offering time and service to Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, it helps a lot in benefitting others and oneself. There is no harm in trying, and it can be fun. You can feel it when you like it. I feel happy with the right motivation and will do whatever I can to help.
I can suggest people trying to do volunteer work and offer service as a form of expressing our gratitude . Volunteer work to the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Jiayou to those who wants to do volunteer work!
Q: What were your volunteering experiences with the temple like? Is there any difference from then to now?
A: In the past, I used to be a volunteer of the Ullambana Festival, helping out with the preparation work since Bukit Timah days. I would help to set up the tables including the table skirtings, and so on. Over the years, the Ullambana Festival set up has changed a lot. It’s a lot simpler now and it is held in the temple grounds instead of a vast open field back when our temple was at the foot of Bukit Timah Hill. I also used to play the hezi and dangzi for the Ullambana Festival Chinese Sutra recitation back then too.
During the recent Guru Rinpoche retreat, I helped to play the Tibetan longhorn as part of the music offering team.
Q: Why did you decide to do volunteering work with the temple?
A: In the past, I used to be a volunteer of the Ullambana Festival, helping out with the preparation work since Bukit Timah days. I would help to set up the tables including the table skirtings, and so on. Over the years, the Ullambana Festival set up has changed a lot. It’s a lot simpler now and it is held in the temple grounds instead of a vast open field back when our temple was at the foot of Bukit Timah Hill. I also used to play the hezi and dangzi for the Ullambana Festival Chinese Sutra recitation back then too.
During the recent Guru Rinpoche retreat, I helped to play the Tibetan longhorn as part of the music offering team.
Q: Why did you decide to do volunteering work with the temple?
A: It is a way for me to express my thanks to my Guru – Singha Rinpoche – for his loving-kindness. It is important to seize the opportunities to volunteer so that it is a meaningful experience for oneself. For me, through offering my service and time to the temple, I feel contented and happy.
Q: After so many years of volunteering, do you encounter any challenges while offering your service to the temple?
Q: After so many years of volunteering, do you encounter any challenges while offering your service to the temple?
A: Actually, I would say that I don’t encounter obstacles during volunteering, as I believe obstacles are usually a result of someone who is hesitant to do volunteering work. If you are doing it out of your own will, you will not encounter obstacles.
Q:
As someone who has spent so many years with Singha Rinpoche and Thekchen Choling Singapore, what would you say to a person who is hesitant about volunteering due to fear of encountering difficulties?
A: You should [think of it as] offer your body, speech, and mind, to Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha during volunteering work. It will help a lot in terms of removing obstacles.
Even if a person does not have money, by offering time and service to Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, it helps a lot in benefitting others and oneself. There is no harm in trying, and it can be fun. You can feel it when you like it. I feel happy with the right motivation and will do whatever I can to help.
Even if a person does not have money, by offering time and service to Guru, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, it helps a lot in benefitting others and oneself. There is no harm in trying, and it can be fun. You can feel it when you like it. I feel happy with the right motivation and will do whatever I can to help.
I can suggest people trying to do volunteer work and offer service as a form of expressing our gratitude . Volunteer work to the Guru, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Jiayou to those who wants to do volunteer work!