Tonight is our book out night, doo dah doo dah...! 0000 hrs and the camp gates will open.
- Thread starter Balls2U
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Most current NS recruits spend book out days at home in front of their laptops. In the late 1980s, we recruits went to movies, meals, shopping and other outdoor activities with our girlfriends, buddies and family. There was no social media, online shopping, Netflix, food deliveries etc. We actually had so much more to do and places to go to.
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Does this old fart only get to go out w/o his wife on Friday nights???
If he want to go geylang for r&r , not convenient to bring the wife along.555
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If that old fart is going to Geylang for the chicken without the rice, he just needs to bring Viagra along, and not his wife.
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His dotter will wait for him at Scotland sea
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The eldest and his wife will be returning with him next month. Together then they'll visit Scotland to see the dotter.
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Sigh...tat means not safe to hang out late
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It's safer than hanging out at Jurong East in the day when you can be accused of whistling and harassment anytime.
He just need to lie flat and enjoy a nice BJ.555
Who brought the ashes from Singapore to London for the Little Lamb ?
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The Hungry Ghost Month, or Hungry Ghost Festival, is a significant tradition observed by Chinese communities, particularly in East and Southeast Asia.
In Singapore, it's a month-long affair that holds deep cultural and religious importance. As mentioned, the Hungry Ghost Month in 2025 begins on August 23rd. 0000 hr .
Here's a breakdown of what this tradition is all about, and how it started:
What the Tradition is All About
The central belief of the Hungry Ghost Festival is that during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the gates of the underworld open, allowing spirits and ghosts to wander the mortal world.
These are not just any ghosts; they are the "hungry ghosts"—spirits who died in a tragic manner, or whose families have not given them a proper burial or offerings.
They are said to be filled with unfulfilled desires, hunger, and thirst.
The main purpose of the festival is to appease these wandering spirits and to honor one's ancestors. This is done through various rituals and practices:
* Offerings: People leave out food, drinks, and incense for the spirits. They also burn "joss paper" or "hell money," and other paper-made items like cars, houses, and clothes, believing that these will be transferred to the spirits for their use in the afterlife.
* Ancestor Worship: Families pay respect to their deceased relatives, ensuring their ancestors are well-cared for in the spirit world. This often involves offering food and burning incense at home or at ancestral altars.
* Cultural Performances: Temporary stages, known as getai in Singapore, are set up to host live performances, including Chinese opera, music, and comedy.
These shows are meant to entertain both the living and the spirits.
The front row seats are often left empty for the "special guests."
* Taboos: Many people observe a list of taboos during this month to avoid offending the spirits. Common taboos include:
* Avoiding swimming, as spirits are believed to reside in the water.
* Not whistling or hanging wind chimes, which might attract spirits.
* Avoiding major life events like weddings or moving into a new house.
* Not stepping on offerings left on the ground.
The most important day of the festival is the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, known as "Ghost Day" (or Zhong Yuan Jie), when it's believed the spirits are most active.
How It All Started and From Where
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a blend of Buddhist and Taoist traditions, with roots that can be traced back to ancient China.
* Buddhist Origin: One of the most famous origin stories comes from the Buddhist text Yulanpen Sutra.
It tells the story of Maudgalyayana (also known as Mu Lian), a disciple of the Buddha who used his supernatural powers to search for his deceased mother.
He found her in the realm of hungry ghosts, suffering from insatiable hunger. He sought the Buddha's help, who instructed him to make offerings to the community of monks on the 15th day of the seventh month.
This act of collective merit-making helped his mother escape her suffering and be reborn. This story emphasizes the Buddhist concept of filial piety and the transfer of merit to help the deceased.
* Taoist Origin: The festival is also known as Zhong Yuan Jie in Taoism. This tradition relates to the birthday of the Earth Official (Diguan), who is responsible for pardoning the sins of both the living and the dead.
During this period, the gates of the underworld are said to be opened to allow spirits to receive forgiveness and offerings from the living.
Over time, these two traditions merged and evolved into the festival we know today.
The festival's origins are deeply rooted in a desire to honor ancestors, show filial piety, and ensure the well-being of the deceased in the afterlife, while also appeasing and showing respect to all wandering spirits to prevent misfortune.
In Singapore, it's a month-long affair that holds deep cultural and religious importance. As mentioned, the Hungry Ghost Month in 2025 begins on August 23rd. 0000 hr .
Here's a breakdown of what this tradition is all about, and how it started:
What the Tradition is All About
The central belief of the Hungry Ghost Festival is that during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the gates of the underworld open, allowing spirits and ghosts to wander the mortal world.
These are not just any ghosts; they are the "hungry ghosts"—spirits who died in a tragic manner, or whose families have not given them a proper burial or offerings.
They are said to be filled with unfulfilled desires, hunger, and thirst.
The main purpose of the festival is to appease these wandering spirits and to honor one's ancestors. This is done through various rituals and practices:
* Offerings: People leave out food, drinks, and incense for the spirits. They also burn "joss paper" or "hell money," and other paper-made items like cars, houses, and clothes, believing that these will be transferred to the spirits for their use in the afterlife.
* Ancestor Worship: Families pay respect to their deceased relatives, ensuring their ancestors are well-cared for in the spirit world. This often involves offering food and burning incense at home or at ancestral altars.
* Cultural Performances: Temporary stages, known as getai in Singapore, are set up to host live performances, including Chinese opera, music, and comedy.
These shows are meant to entertain both the living and the spirits.
The front row seats are often left empty for the "special guests."
* Taboos: Many people observe a list of taboos during this month to avoid offending the spirits. Common taboos include:
* Avoiding swimming, as spirits are believed to reside in the water.
* Not whistling or hanging wind chimes, which might attract spirits.
* Avoiding major life events like weddings or moving into a new house.
* Not stepping on offerings left on the ground.
The most important day of the festival is the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, known as "Ghost Day" (or Zhong Yuan Jie), when it's believed the spirits are most active.
How It All Started and From Where
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a blend of Buddhist and Taoist traditions, with roots that can be traced back to ancient China.
* Buddhist Origin: One of the most famous origin stories comes from the Buddhist text Yulanpen Sutra.
It tells the story of Maudgalyayana (also known as Mu Lian), a disciple of the Buddha who used his supernatural powers to search for his deceased mother.
He found her in the realm of hungry ghosts, suffering from insatiable hunger. He sought the Buddha's help, who instructed him to make offerings to the community of monks on the 15th day of the seventh month.
This act of collective merit-making helped his mother escape her suffering and be reborn. This story emphasizes the Buddhist concept of filial piety and the transfer of merit to help the deceased.
* Taoist Origin: The festival is also known as Zhong Yuan Jie in Taoism. This tradition relates to the birthday of the Earth Official (Diguan), who is responsible for pardoning the sins of both the living and the dead.
During this period, the gates of the underworld are said to be opened to allow spirits to receive forgiveness and offerings from the living.
Over time, these two traditions merged and evolved into the festival we know today.
The festival's origins are deeply rooted in a desire to honor ancestors, show filial piety, and ensure the well-being of the deceased in the afterlife, while also appeasing and showing respect to all wandering spirits to prevent misfortune.
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Some of them are confined and doing extra (getting tortured in hell) for eternity. They are not allowed to leave.
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