Buddhism As Education

We are pleased to inform you that Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) is hosting the ASEAN International Buddhist Youth Exchange (IBYE) on 1-10 January 2010. The ASEAN International Buddhist Youth Exchange is initiated by the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) and aims to reach out to young Buddhist youths from the ASEAN countries. It is a platform for the exchange of minds and cultures. The program exposes delegates to various areas of leadership qualities and self development. It is with great pleasure for us to invite you to come to the 'Joy, Fellowship, Leadership' Concert on 9 January 2009 at Malaysian Tourism Centre (MaTiC) organised in conjunction with the ASEAN International Buddhist Youth Exchange Programme. The concert will features songs and dances of the three Buddhism traditions. The ticket is available at a minimum donation of RM20. You can enquire the ticket from the organising committee as well as from Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBA...

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Date: 8th Dec 2009 Venue: Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam Grand opening ceremony of Octagon Pavilion on 8th Dec 2009. THE Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam is will soon be lighted with the newly completed 20-storey pavilion. The three-tiered 60.9m roof pavilion, which is supported by 16 granite pillars, serves as a canopy to shelter the 30.2m-tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin.

We wish to express our gratitude and thanks to Venerables Hai Tao, Khenpo Karpo Rinpoche and Chuen Hei for their attendance and Dharma discourse, Blessings and Liberation Services given on 10 November 2009.

Padmasambhava in the form of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen. Devotees participating in the fire offering service at the Palme Gon Buddhist Society ground Ven Hai Tao, Ven Khenpo Karpo Rinpoche and Ven Chuen Hei in the Dharma session with the devotees.

Devotees lining up to liberate the fishes and crabs into the nearby river. Palme Gon Buddhist Society members distributing the fishes and crabs to the devotees. Fishes, crabs and tortoises being relieased into the river. Fishes, crabs and tortoises awaiting to be liberated into the river. Crabs are transferred into the pails to be released into the river.

Venerable Hai Tao, Venerable Khenpo Karpo Rinpoche and Venerable Chuen Hei on the stage Venerable Hai Tao gaves his openning speech and Dharma talk. Venerable Hai Tao introduced Ven. Khenpo Karpo Rinpoche and Ven. Chuen Hei to the devotees. Ven. Hai Tao leading the blessing service on liberation site. Ven. Hai Tao leading the blessing and chanting at the anchesters' tablet.

The 20-storey pavilion constructed to shelter the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at the Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam may be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest pavilion in the world. Temple abbot Rev Seck Jit Heng said the temple management was planning to get the RM40mil project included in the record book. “It is rare to see an octagonal pavilion with such a height. This landmark should be recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records,” he said during a press conference at the temple’s office here yesterday. The 60.9m three-tiered roof pavilion, which is supported by 16 granite pillars, serves as a canopy to shelter the 30.2m-tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin. Each pillar consists of 40 circular blocks of granite, with a thickness of 45cm and a circumference of 2.1m. The core is filled with reinforced concrete. Rev Jit Heng said the temple would hold a double celebration on Dec 6. “We will celebrate not only the grand opening of the pavilion expected to b...

NAMO BHAGAVATE TRAILOKYA PRATIVISISTAYA BUDDHAYA BHAGAVATE. TADYATHA, OM, VISUDDHAYA-VISUDDHAYA, ASAMA-SAMA SAMANTAVABHASA- SPHARANA GATI GAHANA SVABHAVA VISUDDHE, ABHINSINCATU MAM. SUGATA VARA VACANA AMRTA ABHISEKAI MAHA MANTRA-PADAI. AHARA-AHARA AYUH SAM-DHARANI. SODHAYA-SODHAYA, GAGANA VISUDDHE. USNISA VIJAYA VISUDDHE. SAHASRA-RASMI, SAMCODITE, SARVA TATHAGATA AVALOKANI, SAT-PARAMITA, PARIPURANI, SARVA TATHAGATA MATI DASA-BHUMI, PRATI-STHITE, SARVA TATHAGATA HRDAYA ADHISTHANADHISTHITA MAHA-MUDRE. VAJRA KAYA, SAM-HATANA VISUDDHE. SARVAVARANA APAYA DURGATI, PARI-VISUDDHE, PRATI-NIVARTAYA AYUH SUDDHE. SAMAYA ADHISTHITE. MANI-MANI MAHA MANI. TATHATA BHUTAKOTI PARISUDDHE. VISPHUTA BUDDHI SUDDHE. JAYA-JAYA, VIJAYA-VIJAYA, SMARA-SMARA. SARVA BUDDHA ADHISTHITA SUDDHE. VAJRI VAJRAGARBHE, VAJRAM BHAVATU MAMA SARIRAM. SARVA SATTVANAM CA KAYA PARI VISUDDHE. SARVA GATI PARISUDDHE. SARVA TATHAGATA SINCA ME SAMASVASAYANTU. SARVA TATHAGATA SAMASVASA ADHISTHITE, BUDDHYA-BUDDHYA, VIBUDDHYA-VIBUDDHYA,...

The Penang Palme Gon Buddhist Society had confirmed that Venerable Hai Tao will be in Bagan Lallang, Butterworth on 10 November 2009. The event shall commence on that day with chanting of sutras and liberations of animals at 2.00pm then followed by Dhamma discourse at 7.00pm which will be personally conducted by Ven. Hai Tao.

Venerable Hai Tao has been invited by the Palme Gon Buddhist Society, Penang to conduct a Dhamma discourse in Bagan Lallang, Butterworth on 10 November 2009. More information on this Dhamma event shall follow soon.

The Taiping Bodhi Lankarama Buddhist Temple will be organising its Kathina (Annual Robes Offering Ceremony) on 1 November 2009 from 7.15 am to 1.00pm. All Buddhist devotees and friends are invited to participate in this annual meritoruos deed. Apart from Robes offering, a Dhamma Talk will also be held, follow by Pindacara and offering of Pindapata and Maha Sanghikadana..

Heong Sun See Temple will be organising a Vegetarian Food Fair in conjunction with the 9th Lunar Month (Nine Emperor Gods' Festival) to support the temple's Education Fund, Buddhist and Cultural Activities Fund. The Vegetarian Food Fair shall commence from 17 to 26 October 2009 from 7.30 am to 8.30pm at the temple's premises. Lighting of "Medicine Buddha's Lotus Lamp" for good fortune and to eliminate obstacles will be incorporated in the Medicine Buddha Repetence Puja on the 8th day of the 9th Lunar month corresponding to 25 October 2009. To light a lotus lamp it will be RM10.00 for individual and RM20.00 for family. We look forward for your generous and continuous support. For more information on the above events, kindly contact 04-8999067 or 04-8999629.

Karma means action. It refers to the intentional deeds we do with our body, speech and mind through action, talking and thinking. Karma is the law that every deed done, given the conditions will bear certain fruits. All deeds leaves imprints or seeds on our consciousness which ripens into our experiences when appropriate conditions come together. For example, if we help someone with a kind heart, this action leaves a positive imprint on our mindstream. When conditions are suitable, this imprint will ripen in our receiving of help when we need it. Karmic seeds continue with us from lifetime to lifetime. However, if we do not create the cause or Karma for something, we will not experience that result. If one does not plant a certain seed, that plant will not grow. The Buddha taught: According to the seed that is sown, So is the fruit you reap, The doer of good will gather good results, The doer of evil will gather evil results, If you plant a good seed well, Then you will enjoy the good ...

The simplest expression of one's intention of taking the Threefold Refuge in the Triple Gem as refuge is by repeating the following lines three times: I go to the Buddha for refuge; I go to the Dharma for refuge; I go to the Sangha for refuge. These lines can be repeated by one alone before an image of the Buddha or repeated line by line after a monk or nun. The formal ceremony is very simple, but it is the commitment that one has in the heart that truly matters. A Buddhist may repeat the Threefold Refuge daily to remind himself that he has made a commitment to attain the goal of happiness and Enlightenment through the guidance and inspiration of the Triple Gem. Benefits of Taking Refuge Taking the Threefold Refuge is the first step on the path to Enlightenment. Therefore, through Moral Conduct and Mental Development, Self-Mastery, Wisdom and Compassion is achieved. Even if Enlightenment is not achieved in this life, one who takes the Threefold Refuge is more likely to have favoura...

Taking Refuge means to "return and to rely". From where do we return from and to what we do we rely upon? When we take refuge in the Buddha, we are returning from our deluded state of mind and relying upon an Awakened and Understanding mind. When we take refuge in the Dharma, we are returning from deviant view and understanding. When we take refuge in the Sangha, we are returning from pollution and disharmony and relying upon Purity of Mind and the Six Principles of Harmony. Taking refuge in the Triple Jewels restores the complete wisdom and abilities of our Self-Nature. We will attain purity, equality, honesty, contentment, compassion and overall true happiness.

To understand the Complete Teachings of the Buddha thoroughly, one must first cultivate the Pure Heart. When the Pure Heart is attained, the Teachings would naturally be learned and understood. Without the Pure Heart, one can study the Teachings for a hundred years and still would not be able to understand it at all. Those of you who are interested in explaining sutras in the future must memorise the sutra you plan to lecture plus its explanation by an authorised teacher. This is the way practiced by all successful lecturers of the past. If that person is not able to memorise the material and cannot meet the standards, the person should let go of all their attachment to the world and single-mindedly recite Amitabha's name. There is no need to feel upset and feel sorry for not being able to lectur the sutras. In putting the teachings into practice, the first thing we should cultivate is the Pure Heart. The Pure Heart is a mind without discrimination or attachments. We must also deve...

How do we know when our our cultivation has improved? The time comes when we begin to understand the sutras deeper, when we can read between the lines and realise the true meaning of the Buddha's teachings. This is when our cultivation has improved. Is your mind really set on reaching the Pure Land? Wanting to reach the Western Pure Land is a great wish. We must let go of our worldy affinities and single-mindedly recide Amitabha's name. To be mindful of the Buddha is to dwell in true wisdom. The ultimate goal to which all methods of cultivation lead is the complete pure and equanimous mind. It is our original nature, our Buddha nature. During Dharma Assemblies, we must be sincere when reciting the sutra texts in order to touch the hearts of the attending Assembly. The words of the sutra should flow forth from our hearts and not merely spoken. We must truly cultivate. Those who have the ability can just take one look at us and tell if we are sincere or just putting on a show. Du...

Buddhism is an education, not a religion. We do not worship the Buddha, but we respect him as a teacher. His teachings enable us to leave sufferings and attain happiness. What does Buddha mean? Buddha means enlightenment and understanding. Complete understanding is when one realises the truth about life and the universe. It is when one is apart from all delusions. What is purity? Purity is apart from defilement which is the greed, hatred and stupidity in our minds. Cultivation is cleansing these impurities from our hearts. To keep our mind pure and at peace is like keeping a pond clean and undisturbed. When the water is clear and still, it can reflect the sky, sun and trees just as they are, without distortion. Our mind is the same, when we are polluted by greed, hatred, ignorance and disturbed by discriminations and attachments, we distort our picture of reality and fail to see things as they are. Wrong perception of reality can prevent us from enjoying clear and happy life. Learn to ...

A Maha Sanghikadana will be held on 11 October 2009 at the Butterworth Buddhist Association located at 7156, Tingkat Mak Mandin 3, Mak Mandin,13400 Butterworth, Penang. Monks from the Mahayana and Theravada traditions will be invited to this event and all devotees and friends are welcomed to participate in this meritoruous deed. For all information and those who want to make contributions to support this event please contact the association's office at Tel : 04-333 4499.

The Most Venerable Hai Tao will be in Butterworth again soon on this coming 10 November. He has been invited by the Penang Palme Gon Buddhist Society to conduct a Dharma discourse to our devotees and members. We will keep you informed on the latest updates on our Ven. Hai Tao's upcoming event.

The Most Venerable Tulku Palme Khyentse Rinpoche was invited by the Penang Palme Gon Buddhist Society to give a Dharma discourse in Bagan Lallang, Butterworth recently from 10 September to 11 September in the evenings. During the Dharma discourse, Khyentse Rinpoche also led our members and devotees in performing liberation, smoke offerings and chants of the mantras in conjunction with the 7th lunar month. Tulku Palme Khyentse Rinpoche is acknowledged as the mind manifestation of the first Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892) that was born into the Palme Monastery in Nangchen, Eastern Tibet. The 2nd Palme Khyentse Kunzang Drodul (1897-1945) took the 34th Drikung Kagyu Throne Holder H.H. Tenzin Shiwe Lodrö (6th Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche (1886-1943) as his root guru and discovered with pure vision as well as from earth and mind treasures eight volumes of Treasure Texts (terma). His remarkable achievement also earned him the name ‘Chakaravarti of all treasure revealers’, a compliment paid b...

The fire offering held at night on 23rd August 2009 officiated by the Rinpoches. Despite heavy down pour, all devotees took active part in the offering, while the monks conduct their chanting and blessings. Liberation in action. Seen here are Mr Teh (the president of the Palme Gon Buddhist Society) and Mdm Chan Poh Choo (the vice-president) offering their assistance to the Rinpoche to conduct their blessing to the crabs to be released into the river. Sangha members from the Mahayana tradition offering their blessings and prayers before the altar and the makeshift tablets of the departed ones. Devotees joined the prayers and offering session on 22nd August 2009 with full concentration. The offerings of food and other items, such as fruits, sweets, cookies, milk, flowers, crystals, candle lights, oil lamps at the main shrine in front of the river.

The afternoon service on that day was conducted by three Rinpoches from the Vajrayana Tradition specially invited from Tibet's renowned Palme Gon Monastery. In the evening, a fire offering service was held to relay the blessed foods and items to the departed ones and wandering spirits at the nearby vicinity. The Rinpoches also conducted prayers and blessing services for a mass liberation of animals, such as fish, crabs, crickets and birds. After liberation, passing of merits was carried out to benefit our devotees and departed ones. In the morning, a Dana lunch was held for invited monks of the Theravada Tradition. Devotees and members joined in the session to make their food and cloth offerings. Seen here are the Theravda monks offering their chantings and blessings for the devotees and members at large. Devotees and members gathered in the morning to offer their respect to the Sangha community from the Threvada tradition.

Devotees conducting their liberation by releasing the fish into the river. Monks from the Mahayana Tradition offering prayers and blessing to the animals. Prayer service ongoing at the main shrine and altar. The altar of the Earth Store Bodhisattva and the offerings. The main shrine and stage. The Palme Gon Buddhist Society held its prayer and offering services for the 7th Lunar Month with a lots of activities and programmes. The initial session was conducted by invited monks from the Mahayana Tradition. On the later day, liberation of animals, such as fish, crickets and birds were released as a mark of live saving effort in order to generate good merit for our devotees and our departed ones.

This coming Sunday 9 August 2009 is corresponding to the Lunar's 19th day of the sixth month is the Enlightenment Day of our Kuan Yin. Therefore, on the eve of this event do recite the sutras and mantra of Kuan Yin, like the Heart Sutra, Om Mane Padme Hom and to light up oil lamps, lotus candles to brighten up your stars and future. Let us all utilise this event to our fullest benefit of all beings and past the merit to our love ones.

The Buddhist Missionary Society of Malaysia (BMSM) will be organising this event starting from 22 August 2009 to 23 August 2009 at the Kajang Buddhist Center which also housed the BMSM Kajang Branch office. This event is also called Ulambana ceremony which falls on the 7th month of the lunar calender each year. This is the time for children to perform dana, observe precepts and to chant sutta so as to transfer merits to the departed parents and relatives as well as to honour our living parents by sharing merits with them. You may decide on your own the amount of contribution you wish to donate. No amount is too small or too big. All contributions will be used for the construction of the BMSM Kajang Branch building. For donors of RM300 and above, the name (living or deceased) will be printed on the plaque. Kindly make your cheque payable to BMSM Kajang Building Fund and send it to BMSM, No. 123 Jalan Berhala off Jalan Tun Sambanthan, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. All contributions must reach BMSM...

In conjuction with the 120th anniversary celebration, the Taiping Bodi Lankarama Buddhist Temple will be holding an All Night Chanting and Blessing Ceremony on 5 September 2009 (Saturday) throught the night till the following morning. The over night service will be conducted by 20 monks from Sri Lanka. Besides, you will be also provided with a rare opportunity to light up an oil lamp to receive blessing for the well-being of yourselves, your family and friends and to transfer your merits to the departed ones. For those who are interested to participate in this event and dedicate the merit to your beloved ones, please contact the temple at 05-8077216 for more details and assistance. May your generosity bring you much peace and happiness. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.

It has been a common situation till today that leaders of Buddhist association and societies often discourage its members from being politically active or being sympathetic to any political ideologies or its cause. This is because Buddhists as the whole has been ingrained for decades that they should not address any issues or raise matters that show signs of political connotations or support of any political organizations. In any Buddhist association or societies normally, if there are any of its committee members or leaders show any signs of interest in politics or being part of a political party or comments in political development of our nation, they will be often treated with suspicion and frowned. I personally agreed with Loka Ng, a former leader of the Buddhist Missionary Society of Malaysia (BMSM) and Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM). Such thought and perception are completely inaccurate, wronged and should be corrected as quickly as possible. By encouraging leaders...

In conjunction with the Yu Lan Pheng festival, the Heong Sun See Temple in Penang will be organising a series of Pujas with the aim of promoting Filial Piety, Praying for World Peace as well as Transferring of Merits to the Departed, thus releasing them from sufferings and be reborn in a higher realm. The Grand Sad Dharma Pundarika Puja will be performed on 16 August 2009 from 8.00pm to 9.30pm. The recititation of the Sad Dharma Pundarika Puja for seven nights will be led by reverend monks of Heong Sun See Temple. This Puja, also known as the Lotus of the True Law Sutra contains teaching of the Buddha for different levels of sentient beings to attain enlightenment with the spirit of Boddhisattva's vow of willing to preach the limitless sentient beings. The Compassionate Water Repentence Puja and Mong Sun will be held on 23 August 2009 from 8.00am to 6.00pm. The history of this Puja started when a highly respected monk named Venerable Wu Tat who had a pus that resembled a human face...

The Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia (YBBM) is organising a large scale Maha Sanghika Dana on Sunday, 5 July 2009 at Che Hoon Khor Moral Uplifting Society, Jalan Macalister, Penang. The Sanghika Dana will commence at 7.00 am. Last year, a total of four thousand devotees took part in the event through sponsorship and two hundred forty members of the Sangha community attended the said function. In Buddhism, Maha Sanghika Dana is an act of providing alms food to a group of homeless ordained people who had renounced the world (called the Sangha) to strive for peace and enlightenment through Buddha's teachings. The Maha Sanghika Dana is considered very meritorious action and therefore according to the Scriptures, will accrue good results such as long live, beauty, happiness, strength and wisdom. According to the Mahayana Tradition, Ven. Monggallana performed his meritorious deeds on advice of the Buddha and successfully rescued his mother who was released from the suffering of the hell. ...

The Malaysian Sangha Fund was launched on 25 August 1991 during the first Maha Sanghika Dana organised by the Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia (YBBM), which was held at the Penang Chinese Town Hall, Pitt Street, Penang. The proceeds of the Maha Sanghika Dana are then channeled into the Malaysian Sangha Fund with the main objective of supporting the welfare of the Malaysian Sangha and offering opportunities for Buddhist devotees to do so. The Malaysian Sangha Fund is managed by a committee consisting of Ven. Chao Phra Raj Dhammathada (Chairman), Ven. Phra Kru Pannya Sasananurak (Vice Chairman I), Ven. Chi Chern (Vice Chairman II), Ven. Boon Kean (Vice Chairman III), Ven. Phra Khru Siddhikhanarak Chamriang Candano (Hon. Secretary), Ven. Indratana Maha Thero (Hon. Treasurer) and two lay representatives from the YBBM management board. The committee which began operations in early 1992 has: 1) offered annual scholarship to monks and nuns studying in various institutions 2) offered book prize...