首邦再也佛教会 * Subang Jaya Buddhist Association* Tel: 03-56348181, 03-56315299* Fax: 03-56315262 MESSAGE FROM THE EXCO Good news! We finally realize our long cherished dream of getting approval of the land next to SJBA (5,000 sq ft) from the Selangor State Government for our Vihara s extension. The Selangor State Exco at their MMKN Meeting on 6 th February 2013 has approved the gazette of the said piece of land as Tapak Rumah Ibadat Bukan Islam (Tokong) for Subang Jaya Buddhist Association. Subsequently, the official approval letter from the Land Office was issued to SJBA on 27 th March 2013. We wish to thank YB Hannah Yeoh who has gone through so much hassle with the various Authorities to get the land approved for us. We also thank YB Hannah Yeoh for her strong support and assistance in many of SJBA projects or issues like, besides others, SJBA Educare Program, Traditional Chinese Medicine Services, arranging for carparks at the Monash University for Wesak Day devotees, and the building of the RM1.35 million overhead pedestrian bridge in front of SJBA. Due to the untiring and selfless effort of YB Hannah Yeoh in getting the bridge built, our devotees do not have to risk their personal safety by crossing Jalan Kewajipan to SJBA. For the first time during this coming Wesak Day Celebration, our devotees can use the overhead pedestrian bridge in front of SJBA. Hence, this year s Wesak Celebration will be especially joyous for members and devotees of SJBA. We plan to officially launch our Building Fund for our Vihara Extension on this Wesak Day. Fellow Mitras, this year s Wesak Day falls on 24 th May 2013. It is a day of celebration, contemplation and reflection and cultivation for millions of Buddhists all over the world. On Wesak Day (Full Moon Day of May) in 623BC, the Sakyamuni Buddha was born in his final birth as Prince Siddhartha Gotama. Thirty five years later, he attained Full Enlightenment and became the Buddha, also on Wesak Day. Another 45 years later, the Buddha attained Parinibanna, also on Wesak Day. Therefore, Wesak Day is a thrice sacred day because of these three significant events which happened on the Full Moon Day of May.
Wesak Day is a good time for us to cultivate ourselves mentally and spiritually. It is a good day for us do good deeds like doing charity such as donating blood to relieve the suffering of others, etc. Wesak Day is also a good day for us to reflect on our duty to bring about a better world for ourselves, our children and for our fellow beings in this world. As Buddhists, we have a duty to help spread the Buddha s message of love, compassion and wisdom to make our community, our country and our world a better one for all of us, a place of peace and harmony, where we are at peace and harmony with other beings, with nature and with ourselves. Our Wesak Celebration will commence 23 rd May 2013, Wesak Eve, with the lighting of Blessings Oil Lamps at 7.30pm followed by Wesak Eve Buddha Puja, Dhamma Talk by our Abbot, Ven. Nyanaramsi, Procession Round the Vihara and Bodhi Tree, followed by Chanting and Meditation. On Wesak Day itself, Puja Service will commence at 8.00am followed by the official launching of the Wesak Day Celebration and chanting of Parittas by the Sangha. Blessings Service will be carried out by the Venerable Members of the Maha Sangha. From 11.00am to 2.00pm, vegetarian food will be provided. There will be a Blood Donation & Organ Pledge Campaign, Free Health Check and Buddhist film shows and Buddhist calligraphy exhibition. We need around 200 volunteer helpers to help organize our Wesak Celebration. If you can help, please call Sis. Lily at Tel. 03-56315299. This year, Monash University, Sunway Campus, will again allow us to use their car parks, free of charge. We strongly recommend devotees to park there, due to its good security. Our SJBA van will provide shuttle service to and from Monash University. We look forward to welcome you to celebrate Wesak Day together. May the Blessings of the Triple Gem be with you. May you be well and happy! Happy Wesak Day! Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu! With Metta, SJBA Exco SJBA - Your Friendly & Caring Dhamma Centre
Wesak Day Celebration Date: Day: Venue 24 th May 2013 Friday SJBA Vihara This year s Wesak day falls on 24 th May 2013. Our Wesak Celebration will start on Wesak Eve, 23 rd May with lighting of Blessings Oil Lamps at 7.30pm followed by Wesak Eve Buddha Puja, Dhamma Talk, Procession Round the Vihara and Bodhi Tree, Chanting and Meditation. On Wesak Day, Puja Service will commence at 8.00am followed by the official launching of the Wesak Day Celebration at 9.45am. Blessings Service will be carried by the Maha Sangha. From 11.00am to 2.00pm, vegetarian food will be provided. There will be a Blood Donation & Organ Pledge Campaign, Free Health Check and Buddhist films shows and Buddhist calligraphy. We need around 200 volunteer helpers to help organize all these activities. Please register yourselves by writing your name at our Notice Board or call Sis. Lily at Tel. 03-56315299. Annual General Meeting Date: Day: Time Venue: 2 nd June 2013 Sunday 9.30am Shrine Hall SJBA will be holding our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 2 nd June 2013 at 9.30am. The Agenda include receiving and adopting the Executive Committee s Annual Report, Audited Statement of Accounts and deliberation of other matters as deemed fit by the Assembly. You are cordially invited to join us. Introduction to Meditation Course followed by Meditation Retreat Date: Venue: 26 May to 1 Jun 2013 Shrine Hall SJBA is organising an Introduction to Meditation Course conducted by our Abbot, Ven. Nyanaramsi from 26 May to 1 Jun, 8.30pm to 10.30pm (first day orientation followed by 6 lessons) followed by a short Meditation Retreat from 1 Jun to 4 Jun. Ven. Nyanaramsi was an accountant before he was ordained as Bhikkhu in 1995 at Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre, practicing under Sayadaw U Janakabhivamsa for a total of 9 years. Ven. Nyanaramsi was giving various support for foreign meditators in the Centre before accepting Subang Jaya Buddhist Association s invitation to come back in 2003 to teach the Malaysian Buddhists. He travels frequently to other countries like Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, China, etc to teach meditation. If you wish to join in the Retreat as a yogi, helper or sponsor, please inform Sis. Lily at 03-56348181.
7 th Lunar Month Pattidana In conjunction with the 7 th Lunar Month, SJBA is organising a Date: 18th Aug 2013 Pattidana (Dedication of Merits) Ceremony for the departed ones. When those departed relatives and friends, who may Day: Sunday been reborn in certain unfortunate state of existence, become Time 8.00am aware that their departed relatives performing meritorious Venue: Shrine Hall deeds dedicated to them, they can feel relief. If they rejoice repeatedly, their unhappy birth can be transformed into a happy one. It is the duty of relatives to perform acts of merits for the departed ones. The program will start at 8.00am with the offering of flowers, candles and pure water, followed by Pindahcara, chanting, Dhamma Talk, offering of requisites, dedication of merits to the departed ones and followed by Blessings by the Sangha and lunch dana. All are welcome to partake in this Pattidana Merdeka Celebration, Academic Excellence Award and Blessings Service for students sitting for major examinations in 2013 Date: Venue Time: 31Aug 2013 SJBA 7.45am SJBA is celebrating our country s 56 th Merdeka Day on 31 st August 2013 (Saturday), The Celebration will start with a Merdeka Breakfast at 7.45am, followed by Flag Raising Ceremony, Blessings by the Venerable Monks, cutting of Merdeka cake and fellowship. Members and devotees are invited to join us for the Celebration. To encourage our members children to strive for excellence in their academic performance, SJBA will present Academic Excellence Awards to students who excelled in their examinations in 2012. The Awards will be given out on Merdeka Day, 31 st August 2013. For more information, please call Sis. Lily at tel. 03-56315299; On the same day, SJBA is also organizing a Blessings Service for students sitting for UPSR, PMR, SPM, STPM, etc. examinations this year. The Blessings will be conducted by the Venerable Sangha Members. 1) Subang Jaya Buddhist Association is pleased to announce our new Assistant Registrar of Marriage, Mdm Cheah Gaik Kew (Mrs, Lam), who was formally approved by JPN in April of 2013. Mrs Lam is a former school teacher and a life member of SJBA. She has served SJBA with great dedication for many years, including as the Master of Ceremony in most of SJBA s functions. 2) In recognition of SJBA s highly successful annual BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN, the Universiti Malaya Blood Bank, KL has awarded SJBA as the Champion under Non-Government organization for year 2009-2010 and 2011-2012. Sadhu to Bro Lee Jaik Chin and Sis Lily Chang and all the helpers for organizing the Campaign all these years and also to all the donors.
Buddhism and Politics There is an inherent problem of trying to intermingle religion with politics. The basis of religion is morality, purity, faith and wisdom while that for politics is power. In the course of history, religion has often been used to give legitimacy to those in power and their exercise of that power. When religion is used to pander to political whims, it has to forego its high moral ideals and become debased by worldly political demands. It is in these circumstances that religion was used to justify wars and conquests, persecutions, atrocities, rebellions, destruction of works of art and culture. The Buddha Dharma is not directed at the creation of new political institutions and establishing political arrangements. Basically, it seeks to approach the problems of society by reforming the individuals constituting that society and by suggesting some general principles through which the society can be guided towards greater humanism, improved welfare of its members, and more equitable sharing of resources. There is a limit to the extent to which a political system can safeguard the happiness and prosperity of its people. No political system, regardless of how ideal it may appear to be, can bring about peace and happiness as long as the people in the system are dominated by greed, hatred and delusion. In addition, no matter what political system is adopted, there are certain universal factors which the members of that society will have to experience: the effects of good and bad karma, the lack of real satisfaction or everlasting happiness in the world characterised by dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), anicca (impermanence), and anatta (unsubstantiality/egolessness). Although a good and just political system which guarantees basic human rights and which contains checks and balances to the use of power is an important condition for a happy life in society, people should not fritter away their time by endlessly searching for the ultimate political system where men can be completely free, because complete freedom cannot be found in any system but only in minds which are free. To be free, people will have to look within their own minds and work towards freeing themselves from the chains of ignorance and craving. Freedom in the truest sense is only possible when a person uses the Dharma to develop character through good speech and action and to train the mind so as to expand the mental potential and achieve the ultimate aim of enlightenment. While recognising the usefulness of separating religion from politics and the limitations of political systems in bringing about peace and happiness, there are several aspects of the Buddha s teaching which have close correspondence to the political arrangements of the present day. Firstly, the Buddha spoke about the equality of all human beings long before Abraham Lincoln and taught that classes and castes are artificial barriers erected by society. According to the AGGANNA SUTRA, the only classification of human beings, according to the Buddha, is based on the quality of their moral conduct. Secondly, the Buddha encouraged the spirit of social co-operation and active participation in society. This spirit is actively promoted in the political process of modern societies. Thirdly, since no one was appointed as the Buddha s successor, the members of the Order were to be guided by the Dharma and Vinaya, or the Righteous Rule of Law. Until today every member of the Sangha agrees to abide by the Rule of Law which governs and guides his conduct. Fourthly, the Buddha encouraged the spirit of consultation and the democratic process. This is shown within the community of the Order in which all members have the right to decide on matters of general concern. When a serious question arose demanding attention, the issues were put before the monks and discussed in a manner similar to the democratic parliamentary system used today. The Buddhist approach to political power is the moralization and the responsible use of public power. The Buddha preached non-violence and peace as a universal message. He did not approve of violence or the destruction of life, and declared that there is no such thing
as a just war. He taught : The victor breeds hatred, the defeated lives in misery. He who renounces both victory and defeat is happy and peaceful. Not only did the Buddha teach non-violence and peace, He was perhaps the first and only religious teacher who went to the battlefield personally to prevent the outbreak of a war. He diffused tension between the Sakyas and the Koliyas who were about to wage war over distribution rights of the waters of Rohini. He also dissuaded King Ajatasattu from attacking the Kingdom of the Vajjis. The Buddha discussed the importance and the prerequisites of a good government. He showed how the country could become corrupt, degenerate and unhappy when the head of the government becomes corrupt and unjust. He spoke against corruption and how a government should act based on humanitarian principles. The Buddha once said: When the ruler of a country is just and good, the ministers become just and good, when the ministers are just and good, the higher officials become just and good, when the higher officials are just and good, the rank and file become just and good, when the rank and file become just and good, the people become just and good. (ANGUTTARA NIKAYA) In the CAKKAVATTI SIHANADA SUTTA, the Buddha said that im-morality and crime, such as theft, falsehood, violence, hatred, cruelty, could arise from poverty. Kings and governments may try to suppress crime through punishment, but it is futile to eradicate crimes through force. In the KUTADANTA SUTTA, the Buddha suggested economic development instead of force to reduce crime. The government should use the country s resources to improve the economic conditions of the country. It could embark on agricultural and rural development, provide financial support to those who undertake an enterprise and business, provide adequate wages for workers to maintain a decent life with human dignity. In the JATAKA stories, the Buddha gave 10 rules for Good Government, known as Dasa Raja Dharma.These ten rules can be applied even today by any government which wishes to rule the country peacefully. According to these rules a ruler must: 1. be liberal and avoid selfishness, 2. maintain a high moral character, 3. be prepared to sacrifice his own pleasure for the well being of the subjects, 4. be honest and maintain absolute integrity, 5. be kind and gentle, 6. lead a simple life for the subjects to emulate, 7. be free from hatred of any kind, 8. exercise non violence, 9. practise patience, and 10. respect public opinion to promote peace and harmony. Regarding the behavior of rulers, He further advised: 1. A good ruler should act impartially and should not be biased and discriminate between one particular group of subjects against another. 2. A good ruler should not harbor any form of hatred against any of his subjects. 3. A good ruler should show no fear whatsoever in the enforcement of the law, if it is justifiable. 4. A good ruler must possess a clear understanding of the law to be enforced. It should not be enforced just because the ruler has the authority to enforce the law. It must be done in a reasonable manner and with common sense. (CAKKAVATTI SIHANADA SUTTA) Extracted from What Buddhists Believe Expanded 4 th Edition by K Sri Dhammananda
SJBA Academic Excellence Award 2013 Aim : To encourage the children of our members to strive for excellent academic performances. Terms & Conditions : (a) This award is open to all children of SJBA life members (registered on or before 31 Dec 2012). (b) Application is now open to students who sat for the following Examinations in the year 2012. (i) UPSR (ii) PMR (iii) SPM (iv) STPM (or equivalent) - SK : 5 As SJK : 6 As & above - 7 As & above - 8 As & above - 3 As & above (c) (d) Application forms can be obtained from the SJBA office. Eligible applicants are required to submit the form together with (i) a copy of the examination result certified by the respective school principals. (ii) a copy of the Birth Certificate (e) Closing date of application : 31-7-2013 ( Applications after this date will not be considered ) (e) The award will be given out on 31-8- 2013 during the Blessings Ceremony for this year s examination candidates. (f) Successful applicants must attend the ceremony personally to receive the award. (f) The SJBA Exco s decision is final.
MERDEKA DAY CELEBRATION & EXAMINATION BLESSING PROGRAM (31 st August 2013) 7.45am 8.00am 8.30am Arrival of devotees and guests Merdeka Breakfast at SJBA Dana Hall Raising of Malaysian Flag, Selangor Flag, Buddhist Flag and Singing of National Anthem, Lagu Selangor, & Anthem of Unity, Keranu Mu Malaysia and Tanggal 31. 9.00am Merdeka Message by President, SJBA 9.10am Cutting of Merdeka Cake 9.15am Blessings by Venerable Monks 9.20am Fellowship 9.30am Puja at Shrine Hall 9.50am Congratulatory Message by Principal, SJBA SDS 9.55am Blessings by Venerable monks for examination students 10.30am Presenting Excellence Award to students 11.00am Lunch Dana to Sangha by participating students 11.30am Refreshment