Bhante Mahinda's Dhamma Talk "What the world really needs today..." on 4 Oct 2013 and on 5 & 6 Oct Bhante Mahinda's Metta Workshop at Pahang Buddhist Association

Bhante Mahinda's Dhamma Talk "What the world really needs today..." on 4 Oct 2013 at 8pm and on 5 & 6 Oct 2013 enrolled Bhante Mahinda's Metta Workshop — at Pahang Buddhist Association.& Pahang Buddhist Association Hemodialisis Centre

Today, Lay people observe the Eight Precepts on Uposatha days, as a support for meditation practice and as a way to re-energize commitment to the Dhamma. Whenever possible, lay people use these days as an opportunity to visit the local monastery, in order to make special offerings to the Sangha, to listen to Dhamma, and to practice meditation with Dhamma companions late into the night. For those not closely affiliated with a local monastery, it can simply be an opportunity to step up one's efforts in meditation, while drawing on the invisible support of millions of other practicing Buddhists around the world.
The calendar of Uposatha days is calculated using a complex traditional formula that is loosely based on the lunar calendar, with the result that the dates do not always coincide with the actual astronomical dates. To further complicate matters, each sect within Theravada Buddhism tends to follow a slightly different calendar.                                                                                                                   * Thus, Uposatha days are times of renewed dedication to Dhamma practice, observed by lay followers and monastics throughout the world of Theravada Buddhism.

For monastics, these are often days of more intensive reflection and meditation. In many monasteries physical labor (construction projects, repairs, etc.) is curtailed. On New Moon and Full Moon days the fortnightly confession and recitation of the Bhikkhu Patimokkha (monastic rules of conduct) takes place. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/uposatha.html

Dear fellow devotees, You and your spouse are cordially invited to our 3D2N Self-Meditation Retreat at Borneo Highlands Resort, Kota Padawan off Kuching, 94200 Sarawak, Malaysia on 12-14 August 2013 Call +60123159527 (David Karuna Tan dktan57@gmail.com) for all future programme. This programme can accomodate maximum 60 participants. Cost: RM 400 inclusive of Airport transfer from Kuching Airport to Borneo Highlands Resort, twin-sharing room, breakfast & lunch (vegetarian) Closing date: (Limited to the first 60 participants on the first come, first serve basis) or till 5th August 2013 (final count) for this special Metta Bhavana Meditation Retreat. Log on to http://www.BorneoHighlands.com.my All are Welcome ! RSVP me at +6012 3159527 early to avoid disappointment ! Undangan: Mohon Kehadiran Bpk/Ibu/Raman/Ramani sekalian untuk hadiri di Retreat Meditasi Metta Bhavana peringkat permulaan yang akan diterjemahkan oleh Pak David Karuna dalam Bahasa Malaysia/ Indonesia pada tgl 12 Agustus hingga tgl 14 Agustus 2013 di Borneo Highlands Resort, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Pesawat sendirian dan kos ialah RM400 dengan Airport Transfer dari Kuching Airport ke Borneo Highlands Resort, 2 sebilik, bersama makan pagi dan siang. Info: Permesanan: Dktan.blogspot.com (SEKRETARIAT) Pak David Karuna Tan +6012 3159527 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) BBM ID: 29D31EAA (Waktu registrasi ialah 1 petang). Sila sebarkan maklumat ini kepada semua sebelum 5hb Agustus 2013. Maklumat boleh di dapati di https://www.facebook.com/events/470858333001895 http://www.BorneoHighlands.com.my Isya Buddha kita dapat berjumpa lagi. Thank you http://dktan.blogspot.com

Malaysian Buddhists celebrate Wesak Day 2013

 

Buddhists celebrate Wesak Day

PRAYERS FOR PEACE, PROSPERITY: Devotees of Subang Jaya Buddhist Association and Chempaka Buddhist Lodge commemorate Buddha’s Day

SUBANG JAYA: THE Subang Jaya Buddhist Association (SJBA) marked the auspicious Wesak Day by officially launching its building extension fundraising campaign yesterday.
The campaign, which aims to collect RM5 million, will go into funding a brand new four-storey block adjacent to existing building which was built back in 1997.
Since the pre-launch of its campaign a week ago, some RM300,000 had already been collected from generous donors and devotees.
The donation collected through three channels, namely, pledges, sales of brick coupons and direct contribution had been positive, said SJBA president Chim Siew Choon.
Chim thanked the donors and hoped the donation for the new building, on a piece of land given by the Selangor government, will continue to increase.
"The vihara (temple) has been well used over the years but we need more space for ongoing activities. With the new building on a piece of 0.05ha land, we will be able to accommodate our members and devotees comfortably.
"We hope to garner more support from the public to make our extension a reality in two years' time," he said.
Chim said the new building will have dhamma school classrooms, a meditation and multipurpose hall, better equipped library, senior citizen centre, and dana hall.
Also present at the launch were SJBA abbot U Nyanaramsi, its patron Datuk Tang See Hang, Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, and Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen.
Meanwhile, some 10,000 members and devotees came together at the SJBA premises to honour the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.
It was a perfect day for families, young and old, to engage in activities such as the lighting of oil lamps and lotus candles, blood donation, offering of robes to monks, offering of flowers to the Buddha, health checks, blessing ceremony, chanting, transfer of merits and traditional Chinese medicine services as well as hanging their wishes on the bodhi tree.
For good friends, Tan Ai Mooi and Yong Yuk Moey, Wesak Day was a chance for them to get away from their families and bond with each other.
The duo from SS15, who were waiting for the blessing ceremony to start, had been going to SJBA for two years together.
"Today is a special occasion and we make time to honour the Buddha. This is also the time when we do self-reflection and seek inner peace by listening to the dhamma and meditate," said the 60-year-old Tan.
Over at the Setenang Buddhist Society in Taman Damai Utama, Jalan Kinrara 6, Puchong, Wesak Day was celebrated with puja, chanting and blessings by the monks at the centre. The theme for this year was A Prosperous Nation, A Peaceful Life.
Greeting the devotees at the premises was the Bathing Buddha built.
Many devotees participated in an event known as bathing of the Buddha at an area in the premises decorated to represent Lumbini Garden.
Lumbini Garden in Nepal was the birthplace of the Buddha.
The act of bathing the Buddha is symbolic of purity, wisdom, dignity, merit and virtue, and devotees do so in return for blessings.
The devotees had also lit candles and joss sticks as offerings to the Buddha.
Setenang Wesak Day organising chairman David Karuna Tan said he was happy to see the crowd who came to take part in the festivities.
"We hope more people will learn about the life of Buddha with us," he said.
The commemoration of Wesak Day at Setenang will culminate in a musical puja by Bro. Chong Su Lim.

Read more: Buddhists celebrate Wesak Day - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/buddhists-celebrate-wesak-day-1.285681#ixzz2UGUmLgHN

Message by Bhante Mahinda on Wesak 2013

As we live in these times of great change and uncertainty we need to recognize the importance of the cultivation of mindfulness and be ready to transform ourselves through a simple, sustainable and spiritual way of life.

We need to wake up to the realities of the dramatic changes taking place around us and the various manifestations of suffering in the world.

We need to recognize the preciousness of our human life and arouse compassion in our hearts as we kindle the light of wisdom within. The qualities of wisdom and compassion are both necessary in order to cope with and adapt to the changes taking place around us, and to be able to live more meaningfully.

The cultivation of light, love and compassion are embodied in all great spiritual tradition around the world.

METTA in Pali or Maithri in Sanskrit language means “loving-kindness” or “boundless love” i.e. love without boundaries. It is the wish for all sentient beings to be well and happy. It is the basis for the cultivation of other great virtues such as compassion, altruistic joy and equanimity.

METTA is a powerful healing force which will transform us into a more compassionate, caring and resilient community, transmuting all negative energies and entities into light, love and harmony.

According to the first verse of Dhammapada “The Sayings of the

Buddha”:

MANO PUBBANGAMĀ DHAMMĀ (Dh1)

Mind is the forerunner of all phenomena…

As such, we need to harness all our positive mental energies to bring about peace, harmony and stability for the nation and for the world we live in.

The intention of this “METTA Round the World” project is to unite all peace-loving people throughout the world with one heart and mind in meditation and prayer for world peace, harmony and stability.

Let us all fill our hearts with pure love and compassion and cherish the wish that all suffering beings be free from suffering; that those in sorrow be free from sorrow; and that those in fear and danger be free from fear and danger. May we grow and evolve from light to light and work for the welfare and happiness of the many. May all beings be well and happy.

About Venerable Mahinda

Born in 1949 into a traditional Chinese family in Malacca, Malaysia, Bhante Mahinda had his early education at the St Francis Institution and the Malacca High School before leaving for tertiary education in Biological Science at Canterbury University, New Zealand. In his final year of tertiary studies he met a lay Buddhist teacher from Sri Lanka and joined him on a two-year Goodwill Mission Tour to New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, the USA, Canada and the UK.
Bhante Mahinda was ordained in 1976 as a Buddhist monk in the Sri Lankan Theravadin tradition under the tutelage of the late Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Thera (a well-known Sri Lankan monk resident in Malaysia for more than 50 years). After his ordination, he undertook a Buddhist studies programme at the Paramadhamma Buddhist Institute in Sri Lanka from 1977 to 1982.
He was trained in meditation by several well-known masters in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and Thailand, and inspired by Mahayana masters from China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, as well as by Vajrayana masters from Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and India.
Bhante Mahinda has taught Mindfulness and Metta Meditation for more than 30 years in 20 countries.
His participation in inter-religious conferences and Dhamma propagation has taken him to more than 30 countries to date.
Currently, Bhante Mahinda is the Abbot of the Aloka Meditation Centre in Australia, (AMC), Founder, Spiritual Director of the Australian Buddhist Mission Inc. (ABM); Buddhist Chaplain to the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS); Trustee of the University Buddhist Education Foundation (UBEF); and Training Committee Member & Training Course Presenter of the Australian Association of Buddhist Counsellors and Psychotherapists (AABCAP).
He is also the Founder and Spiritual Director of the Aloka Foundation, Malaysia; Religious Patron of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM); Religious Advisor to the Buddhist Missionary Society, Malaysia; and a number of other Buddhist organisations in East and West Malaysia and Singapore.

The significance of Wesak

Setenang Buddhist Society Happy Wesak 2013   All are welcome to our Setenang House: 47, Jalan DU 2/10, Taman Damai Utama, 47180 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.

Vesak 2013: Message from Bhante Mahinda The real significance of Vesak lies in the timeless and universal peace message of the Buddha, found in the teachings on the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths explain DUKKHA, the sufferings and unsatisfactoriness of life; SAMUDAYA, the cause of suffering; NIRODHA, the cessation of suffering; and MAGGA the path which leads to the end of all suffering.

Metta and Mindfulness by Venerable Mahinda

Mindfulness is an important technique in the cultivation of metta and can be applied in all day-to-day situations. We can describe ‘mindfulness’ as being present, with clear awareness of our body, feelings and state of mind. Read more

Our Theme Song - Prayer of Love

What is Metta Round The World?

Dramatic changes are taking place around us, with or without our knowledge. Information about the global situation, including predictions and warnings for 2012 and beyond are increasing day by day.These information are meant to prepare us to face the challenges ahead, and to wake up to the realities of life and the world around us. According to the sayings of the Buddha in the first verse of the Dhammapada: Mind is the forerunner of all phenomena. As such, we need to harness all our positive mental energies with one heart and mind through meditation….read more

Message from Venerable Mahinda

As we live in these times of great change and uncertainty we need to recognize the importance of the cultivation of mindfulness and be ready to transform ourselves through a simple, sustainable and spiritual way of life. We need to wake up to the realities of the dramatic changes taking place around us and the various manifestations of suffering in the world. We need to recognize the preciousness of our human life and arouse compassion in our hearts as we kindle the light of wisdom within. The qualities of wisdom and compassion are both necessary in order to cope with and adapt to the changes taking place around us, and to be able to live more meaningfully. The cultivation of light, love and compassion are embodied in all great spiritual tradition around the world. METTA in Pali or Maithri in Sanskrit language means “loving-kindness” or “boundless love”…..read more

What is Metta?

Metta, in Pali, or Maithri in Sanskrit language, means ‘loving-kindness’, or boundless love’. It is the wish for all sentient beings to be well and happy. It is also referred to as boundless or universal love, a love that transcends all barriers, such as caste, colour or creed. Metta is the basis for cultivation of virtues, such as compassion, altruistic joy and equanimity, which are very important qualities to develop as we live through these times of great change and uncertainties.The practice of metta helps to reduce the tendency of anger, hatred and grudges. Metta is a great healing force…..read more

Advisor: Ven. B. Sri Saranankara

Setenang Buddhist Society Wesak Day 2013 Program盛会流程
衛塞節前夕— 星期四 (23/5/2013)
7.00 pm : Arrival of Devotees 賓客莅臨
8.00 pm : Puja/Chanting & Offering of Lights 供佛/ 誦經, 獻灯燭
9.00 pm : Hymns Singing by Bro Chong Su Lim唱頌佛曲
https://www.facebook.com/events/165178480309997/
衛塞節— 星期五 (24/5/2013)
9.00 am : Arrival of Devotees 賓客莅臨
9.30 am : Arrival of Sanga Members 僧侶莅臨
10.00 am :Wesak Puja / Chanting 衛塞節供佛/ 誦經
10.30 am : Dhamma Talk by VenRakkhita 法師開示 :
Topic:“Way of Life as a Buddhist ”"佛教徒的日常生活"
11.30 am : Lunch Dana to Sangha Members 僧团供午餐
12.00 noon : Lunch to Devotees 賓客午餐
1.30 - 2.30 pm : Cleaning up of Center 打掃會所

衛塞節後隔天— 星期六 (25/5/2013)

7.30 am : Puja / Chanting 供佛/ 誦經
8.00 am : Breakfast Dana to Sangha Members 僧团供早餐
8.15 am : Breakfast to Devotees 賓客早餐
11.00 am : Puja / Chanting 供佛/ 誦經
11.30 am : Lunch Dana to Sangha Members 僧团供午餐
11.45 am : Lunch to Devotees 賓客午餐
6.00 pm : Arrival of Devotees 賓客莅臨
7.00 pm : Puja / Chanting followed by Dhamma& Discussion /Sharing/ Q & A
供佛/ 誦經, 隨後佛法論述及疑問解答
9.00 pm : Sharing & Transfer of Merits to all Sentient Beings 功徳回向給衆生

With Metta, 欲知更多详情请联络：
Jerry Khoo: 012-6211098,
Jktp2001@yahoo.com
David Karuna Tan: 012-3159527/016-2231066,
dkarunatan@gmail.com

http://SetenangBuddhistSociety.Blogspot.com