Dear members of BUBS, friends.

Many members of BUBS have been serving the Society devotedly for many years.  We feel that to serve the Society is a privilege, and not a duty.  There are not many opportunities to serve the Dhamma, and we are happy to be part of something that affects the lives of people in a positive way for the present time as well as for the future.  The Buddha taught that his path starts with Dana, or Giving.  To progress on the path of purification, service to the Dhamma is important. If we want to purify our mind but do not make efforts to generate love and compassion for others, if we do not contribute towards helping others on the path, then we are making little progress ourselves.  Of all the gifts, the gift of Dhamma is the highest. Every bit of help offered or every donation made to someone is helpful but giving to the cause of the Dhamma gives you the maximum benefit because we give something of maximum value to the recipient. Someone who receives the gift of Dhamma gets on to the path, loses his superstitious beliefs and starts to come out of all the miseries of life. Therefore, the Buddha announced, Sabba danam dhammadanam jinati-The gift of Dhamma is the highest gift.
 
Someone remarked to famous Vipassana teacher SN Goenka, "It is wonderful that you have been successful in distributing Dhamma single-handedly to so many people around the world." Goenka replied “I have not done this single-handedly. I have only two hands but Dhamma has thousands of hands - the hands of the Dhamma servers.”

Looking towards 2007, BUBS hopes that you too will join hands with us this year in the cause of the Society and for the Dhamma.

1. Society Matters

1.1 Passing away of our spiritual advisor Ven K Sri Dhammananda and appointment of Ven Saranankara.

When Ven K Sri Dhammananda passed away on 31 August 2006, it marked the closing of a chapter in Malaysian Buddhism. Having dedicated his life to the teaching of the Dhamma in Malaysia for half a century, his passing was a poignant part of the lives of thousands of Malaysians who attended the funeral with reflection and solemnity.   Members of BUBS will always remember the wisdom and gentle kindness of “Chief”.  A memorial Puja was held at the Centre on every Wednesday for 7 weeks following his passing.

Subsequent to the passing of Ven K Sri Dhammananda, Ven Saranankara Maha Thera accepted the invitation to be the Spiritual Advisor of the Society.  Ven Saranankara  Maha Thera was born in Sri Lanka. He has been residing in Malaysia since 1984. For the last 22 years, he has worked very hard to bring the Dhamma to the Buddhist community and to develop social work programs for the benefit of the general population.

Venerable Saranankara is especially noted for his social work particularly through the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society and the Siri Jayanti Welfare Organization.

1.2 Change of Treasurer

In December, Bro Choo Heng Jin resigned as our Treasurer due to pressing work commitments. He is replaced by Bro Ho Yew Kong.  Bro Yew Kong works as a unit head of the information technology division of a bank.  We thank both Bro Choo and Bro Yew Kong for their contribution to the Society.

1.3 Progress of approvals for new center

The approvals for our new centre are progressing as well as can be expected. On 26 October 2006, Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya issued the Development Order for the building. Subsequently, the Building Consultant team worked very hard to get the infrastructure and building plans submitted on 24 November 2006. If everything goes according to plan, we hope to receive the necessary approvals to start work before mid 2007.  Earlier this month, the Society sent an email out through our mailing list to notify those who may be interested to tender for contracts, to register their interest.

1.4 New Project – Dhamma Aid Cambodia

BUBS does not exist in isolation but is a member of the global Buddhist Community.  We have benefited from visits and teachers from other Societies and communities across the world and we feel it is also our responsibility to help other Buddhist communities in need of assistance.

BUBS took a significant step in its development with Dhamma Aid Cambodia – an effort to support Dhamma propagation efforts in disadvantaged countries.  

With the defeat of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the Cambodian people have struggled to revive their culture and religion. However they face immense difficulty due to severe shortages in resources and teachers. BUBS is supporting the revival of Buddhism in Cambodia through this humble effort.  As its first project, it sponsored the publication of a Khmer edition of Ven Dhammika’s popular book “Good Question, Good Answer”. 3,000 copies of this book was distributed free to monks and teaching institutions in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.  A separate website for Dhamma Aid Cambodia, has been set up at http://www.parami.org/dhammaaidcambodia/.  Your support of this project will assist our Cambodian brothers and sisters in reclaiming their religion and culture. 

2 Visits by Monastics

The presence of monastics at BUBS is always a joy. They inspire us and guide us in our practice and are always ready to listen to our problems.  In the last six months, we were specially blessed to receive visits from monks and nuns from the Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan traditions.

Ven Dr Yifa, visited us on Sunday, 23 July and gave a talk entitled “How to Manage a Crisis the Buddhist Way”.  Ven. Dr Yifa has been a nun in the Fo Guang Shan Order since 1979. She received her B.A. in law from National Taiwan University (1982), M.A. in Philosophy from University of Hawaii (1990), and Ph.D. in religious studies from Yale University (1996). Her awards include the “Ten Outstanding Young Persons” in Taiwan in 1997 and “Outstanding Women in Buddhism” in 2003. currently serves as the chair of Department of Religious Studies at the University of the West in Los Angeles. She has taught Buddhism at University of California, Berkeley, Boston University and Harvard University. Her current research focuses on Buddhist monasticism and the role of women in Buddhism.

Ven Tenzin Chönyi visited BUBS on 25 August and gave a talk titled “Psychological Problems, Buddhist Solutions”. As Dr Diana Taylor, Ven Tenzin Chönyi was a psychologist at Monash University Counseling Service and later in private practice. She graduated with a B.Sc. from University of Melbourne, and received an M. Ed and Ph.D. in Psychology from Monash University. While working on her doctorate, she was also studying Buddhism and bringing up her three children. She ran workshops with Community Communication and Kagyu Evam Buddhist Institute on self-expression and self-awareness, and taught meditation at Tara institute, Melbourne.  After ordination by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, she was active in the Buddhist palliative care group of Atisha Centre and Karuna Hospice in Australia. In her three years at Vajrayana Institute, Sydney, she has taught Buddhism from simple to advanced levels.

Sayadaw Indaka visited us on 24 September and gave a talk on the “The 4 Types of Happiness”. Sayadaw U Indaka was in 1952 in Myanmar.  In 1972, he ordained as a monk in the Mahagandhayon Monastery with U Janaka as his preceptor. He subsequently taught the scriptures to monks and novices for about 10 years in Mandalay. Sayadaw U Indaka started practising vipassana meditation under Chanmyay Sayadaw also known as U Janaka in 1989. In 1996, Chanmyay Sayadaw appointed him to be the abbot of Chanmyay Yeiktha Meditation Centre in Hmawbi.  In 2005 Sayadaw U Indaka moved into his own Chanmyay Myaing Monastery at Mingaladon Township outside Yangon.

Ven Saranankara, the spiritual advisor was invited to BUBS for a Dana on 13 November.

Bhante Wimala gave a talk on “Compassion: How we can bring it to Africa and why Africa?” on Wednesday, 6 December. Bhante Wimala runs the Lotus Buddhist Center and the Samadhi Meditation Centre at the Czech Republic and the Triple Gem Society in the US. The Triple Gem Society runs the Prison Sangha Ministries in the US while the Prague centers conduct Dhamma classes and meditation retreats. Through his Nairobi Buddhist Center in Kenya, he also coordinates humanitarian work in East Africa. Among his humanitarian activities are distribution of wheel chairs, crutches, mosquito nets, malaria detection kits, used and new computers to hospitals and orphanages, sponsorship of cataract operations, providing aid for women and children, etc.

Venerable Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald) gave a talk “How to Meditate” on December 8. The Venerable was born in California in 1952, and took her first courses in Buddhism in Dharamsala, India in 1973. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in Kopan Monastery, Nepal, in 1974. She has studied Buddhism with various teachers such as Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Thubten Yeshe and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  She began teaching in 1979, while living in England, and since then has taught in many countries around the world, including at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, for 11 years. Her book, “How To Meditate”, is a best selling book of Wisdom Publications, now in its 14th printing.

3. Special Events & News

3.1 Buddhism for Beginners Course

We held the 2^nd Buddhism for Beginners Course from 12 July to 4 October to introduce the basic tenets of Buddhism to those new to the religion.  It was fairly well attended and we hope to run an improved course in 2007.

3.2 Charity Golf on 28 July

The Fund raising for the new center was given another boost with the successful Charity Golf event held at Kelab Golf Sultan Aziz Shah in Shah Alam.  This raised in excess of RM100,000 and we hope to make this an annual affair until the new center is completed.

3.3 Special sutta recitations for Examination Blessing, 27 August

As in previous year, a large crowd of students of members of the Society attended the Special Blessing Service held at the Centre.  Monks from the Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara led in the chanting of parittas and a dana was offered after the event. There was also lively talk by Sis Pat Boey on pointers for examinations.

3.4 Mooncake Festival Celebration organized by Dhamma School and Youth Group. – 30 September

This annual event was held on a grander scale this year with the joint involvement of the Dhamma School and the Youth Group. The night started with hymn singing by members and a choir presented by the Dhamma School children.  We then went on to watch a very interesting slide show about a trip made by several of our members to Ladakh, the Himalayan state of India. The children also had a great time parading their lanterns on a walk around the neighborhood.

3.5 Trip to Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary, 22 October

SBS held its Kathina ceremony on Sunday, 22 October.  Two busloads of members and friends left BUBS on the early morning of Saturday, 21 October to participate in the event and festivities.

3.6 Dhamma Outreach stall, Nov and December

With the kind consent of Ming Tien Food Court in Taman Megah, BUBS set up an Outreach Stall to distribute free books and to provide information on the Dhamma to diners.  The stall, an idea of Bugs Tan, was open on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.  It was quite successful and about 90 people signed up on our email list in addition to taking the free books. If we have enough volunteers, we may extend for another period next year. If you are interested, contact Bro Bugs Tan at 013-3887800.

3.7 Dhamma School Concert – 26 November

The Dhamma School held its first concert in its history.  Held at the Community Hall in Damansara Jaya, 600 parents and friends attended this grand event.  The various classes put up a variety of interesting events.  There were choir singing, a ballet dance, group dances, a re-make of the teen flick “High School Musical” and others.  But the twin highlights goes to the hilarious play titled “What is Happiness” and a dance presentation by the Dhamma school staff. The Society is thankful to the Organizing Committee, Bro Yip who managed the Play for us, and the many helpers who made this event the success it was.  At the Concert, the Society also launched the sale of Brick Coupon tickets in aid of the Building Fund.

3.8 Sunday School Junior camp – 4 to 6 December

The popular teacher Bro. Jeff Oliver conducted a camp held in Subang 2 for children and teenagers, the way that he learnt it; in an exploring, engaging, experiential & enjoyable manner.   All 48 children and teens that attended the camp thoroughly enjoyed themselves and look forward to his future camps again. Jeff Oliver from Australia, was a monk with the name of Dhammarakkhita for about eight years.  He first ordained in Myanmar in 1993 to practice vipassana.  He disrobed in late 1995 for a short period to manage worldly affairs back at home and then became a monk again in 1996 until 2002.  During that period, Dhammarakkhita shared vipassana in East and West Malaysia, Japan, Myanmar, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand. He helped establish a Buddhist monastery in South Africa and stayed there for three years.  Now living in Thailand, he conducts ten days or longer retreats, weekend retreats, one-day workshops and gives talks to schools, government departments and NGO's.

And lastly………..HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!

May this year see greater growth and deeper commitment to the Buddha Dhamma.