Dear members of BUBS, friends.

 

We had three significant events so far this year.  First of all as you already know, the Society has been granted a piece of land measuring 20,000 sq ft in Bandar Utama.  This is a major step in the direction of our efforts to build a Buddhist Centre in this locality. We can truly rejoice in this development.  Now before us lies the challenges of raising funds and  receiving the necessary approvals to construct our Centre.  These are major challenges and we wish to call upon our members to support and contribute towards this project.  The result would be well worth our efforts - a purpose built Centre right here in Bandar Utama!   This will be very valuable for our members and the local community in their practice of the Dhamma.  We also see strategic opportunities for the propagation of the Buddha Sasana before us, as the location of the Centre will facilitate our communication of the Dhamma to the largest middle class population, comprising professionals and corporate people, residing in  Malaysia. 

 

Secondly, we held our AGM in March 2004 and a new Committee has been elected to hold office for the next two years.  We wish to thank the outgoing Committee for their past efforts, hard work, and successes.  We also extend a warm welcome to the incoming Committee and trust that the ongoing efforts and successes would continue for the benefit of us all living in the refuge of the precious Dhamma.

 

And thirdly, we have expanded or rather doubled our operating capacity by renting the house next door!  The Dhamma School has been a popular feature of the Society from its very inception.  As the waiting list of students appears to become longer with the passing of every year, we finally took the bold step of committing ourselves towards renting the adjoining house.  We have knocked down a part of the wall separating the patios of the two houses to enable easy access. One of the rooms in the "old" house would be used for our Secretariat.  And the additional space in the new house would be used for Dhamma classes. Naturally, we are tremendously grateful and happy for this opportunity to bring the Dhamma to more children.  However, tagging along with this opportunity is the increased rental expenses, the requirement for more Facilitators and the added burden of maintaining and cleaning the new house.  Our cash flow has been in the red since May and we would appreciate your financial support towards this new commitment.  But more than this, we need more members to participate in running our programs.  Help us bring the light of Dhamma into more lives.  We have immediate needs for volunteer teams to maintain cleanliness, to act as Facilitators, and to assist in the other areas described below.  If you would like to volunteer your services, please contact any EXCO member. 

 

1. Society Matters

1.1 Committee for 2004-2006
At the fifth AGM on the 28 March 2004, the Committee holding office for the tenure ending March 2006 was elected.  Charlie Chia has been nominated by the incoming Committee to hold office as president. The other members of the Committee are:

Deputy President: Tan Buck Soon
Secretary: Pat Boey Lean Gek
Assistant Secretary: Jacy Beh Poi Luang
Treasurer: Lee Lean Hock
Assistant Treasurer: David Lai Wai Chuan
Dhammaduta: Lee Ming Tzyy and Teoh Tiang Kwang
Dhamma School: Ananda Fong Choong Fatt
Building Fund: Lim Kim See
Building: Leong Wai Tak
Publication & Website: Lee Yu Ban
Welfare & Fellowship: Raymond Tang Choon Lim
Hon Auditors: Low Choon Sing and Tan Cheong Hock

The following two members were later co-opted into the EXCO.
Youth: Joanne Mah
Dhammaduta: Robert Yap, to replace Ming Tzyy who resigned from the Committee

1.2 Establishment of Building sub-Committees

To coordinate and implement our plans to construct the Buddhist Centre we have established two sub committees drawn from our members to handle fund raising and the construction.  The Building Consultants Committee, which would coordinate the technical consultants and professionals involved in the construction of the building is led by Ir Leong Wai Tak. At the moment, they have submitted building plans to the Planning Department of MPPJ for its approval. The Building Fund Raising Committee is headed by Dato Lim Say Chong, a respected entrepreneur.  The contact person for this sub committee is our EXCO member Ms Lim Kim See. 

1.3 Emails

Our Yahoo records indicate that many of the emails we sent out to subscribers are bouncing.  We urge members who have had their emails account discontinued for whatever reason to check your settings, reactivate dormant accounts or re-subscribe under your new email account.  All you need to do is to send a blank email to "bubsoc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com".  We'd like to keep in touch with you and continue to inform you of our activities.

1.4 BUBS Welfare Team

We would like the Society to play a greater role in the welfare and spiritual support of our members.  Thus we are setting up a Welfare Team to provide support to members and friends who may be experiencing difficulties such as serious illnesses.  We require more volunteers to participate in this meritorious effort.   We strongly encourage members to play a greater participatory role in the Society and to contribute their efforts in this project.  The Buddha has set us an example by personally ministering to his sick monks and advised, "He who would serve me, let him serve the sick". If you are interested, please contact Raymond Tang at 012-2222338.

1.5  Humanitarian Fund
In the first half of this year the Society has continued with its practice of providing monetary assistance to those in need. Early this year, we donated  RM17,179 to Lim Shi Ying, aged 13 months who is suffering from chronic liver failure.  Of this amount RM5,000 was drawn from the Society's Humanitarian Fund while the balance of RM12,129 was donated by our members and friends after announcements of appeals. 

Thank you for your compassion in these acts of charity.

2. Regular Activities update

2.1 Dhamma School

Parents whose children have been on the Dhamma school waiting list for some time may finally have some relief.  With the new house next door, we would be able to accommodate several more classes.  With the increase, we would need more Facilitators.   We encourage parents to actively participate in their children's Dhamma education.  Volunteers who do not have good knowledge of the Dhamma or Classroom Facilitation would be provided skill training.  So those with an inclination to share the Dhamma with our younger generation, please contact Ananda Fong at cffong@yahoo.com. 

2.2 Visits by Monastics
We had the good opportunity to invite several monks to the Centre for Dana.  They include Ven Aggacitta of Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary, Ven Tejadhammo from Sangha Lodge, Australia, and Ven Siripanno of Wat Pah Nanachat.  Bhante Yogavacara Rahula of USA gave us a talk in February and also distributed free copies of his amazing autobiography "One Night's Shelter".

3. Special Events & News 

3.1 Chap Goh Meh Fellowship Dinner (1 February)

Continuing our grand tradition of enjoying each other's delicious home cooked food we had a potluck dinner to celebrate our fellowship in the Dhamma on Chap Goh Meh Nite.

3.2 Five week Metta Meditation course (commenced 26 March)

A Metta meditaion course covering topics as intriguing as "Love in its Truest Sense", "Expanding the Boundless Mind" and "Being Creative with Metta" was conducted by Hor Tuck Loon.  

3.3 Special Puja and Memorial Service in conjunction with Ching Ming ("All Souls Day) (4 April)

A Special Puja was held on this Sunday morning for the making and dedication of merits to our departed relatives.  Monks were invited to recite parittas and conduct the rituals for the transference of merits, to invoke the power of the Three Jewels and seek the protection of powerful devas for members and devotees present. 

3.4 Visit by National Service trainees (18 April)

With the initiative of local Buddhist activist Loka Ng, it appears that visits by NS trainees to local Buddhist viharas and organizations would be a regular feature. The first such visit to our Society was by about 40 trainees in April.  Despite the rather brief notice we  organized a Puja, some devotional song singing and a Dhamma talk.  For many of the NS trainees, such a visit could be their first contact with the Dhamma.  As their kamma has given them this opportunity, it becomes our responsibility to provide suitable events and introductory activities to lead them deeper into the Dhamma.  We would be putting in greater effort to plan and organize such activities in the future.

3.5 Wesak (7 May)

Barely a few months before the all important date, BL Tan gallantly volunteered to take the lead in organizing events for Wesak 2004. With the close cooperation of his crew the celebration was another success.

We started the celebration with a Blood Donation Campaign on 17 April 2004 at the Community Hall, One Utama. YB Ms Chew Mei Fun (Parliamentery Secretary of Family, Women and Community Development Ministry, MP: PJ Utara) was the Guest of Honor.  A total of 103 people registered and 91 were accepted.  On Wesak day itself, Tan Sri Dato' Dr KS Nijhar, Member of Parliament, and YB Yong Dai Ying launched our Wesak celebrations.  More than a thousand people came to the Centre to attend Puja and to make merits. The Charity Food Fair on that day was very well patronized.  We raised about RM75,000 from the Charity Food Fair, lighting of oil lamps and other activities for the Society's Building Fund.

Ven Tejadhammo of Australia started our Wesak celebrations with a talk a few days before Wesak on the topic "Transforming Problems into Happiness". 

On behalf of the members, the Society also made donations of food & gifts to Ci Hang Chempaka Old Folks Home, Taman Megah Handicapped Home, Rumah Hope, Lovely Nursing Centre, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Sri Jayanti, Ti Ratana Orphanage and Shepherd Boys Home, Seminyih.

3.6 Printing of Dhamma Books (7 May)

In conjunction with Wesak, we printed two very popular Dhamma book titles; "Why Worry" by Ven K Sri Dhammananda released in a new attactive cover, and the evergreen "Good Question, Good Answer" by Ven Dhammika. These books are for free distribution and are available at the Centre.

3.7 Dhamma School Facilitators Training Program (23 & 30 May)

In order to cater to the expected increase in number of classes and students arising from our physical expansion, the Dhamma School has increased its staff of Facilitators.  A training program was held over two weekends in May to enhance the skills and knowledge of our Facilitators.  The short course, which is the first in a series aimed at providing the knowledge and skills required, covered major doctrinal issues, class management, and teaching practicals.  About 16 of our Facilitators participated in the Course.

4. Future Events 

4.1 Buddhist Expo (25 to 28 July)

A Buddhist Expo would be held at the Thean Hou Temple, KL from 25 to 28 July.  Initiated and led by Ven Saranankara of the Sri Jayanti Temple, Sentul, this event is jointly organised by 7 Societies in the Klang Valley, including our Society.  The main attractions of this Expo are an exhibition of the Buddha's relics, giant lanterns from Sri Lanka, Taiwanese floral arrangement, Chinese calligraphy, Buddhist theme stamp exhibition and other Buddhist cultural items. 

Coupons for the sponsorship of the light bulbs are available for sale and proceeds from these would go towards the organizing societies.

 

 

Sabbe danam, Dhamma danam jinati
Of all gifts, the gift of Dhamma is supreme