What an eventful year this has been for BUBS!  It is indeed remarkable that this young society has received such tremendous support from members and the Buddhist populace in Petaling Jaya.  The Dhamma talks, meditation sessions and even the children's Sunday school are increasingly popular.   There is little doubt that the thirst for Dhamma today far outstrips what is available.  This is indicative that Malaysians are increasingly attuned to the great wealth that the Dhamma offers.  While there are several possible reasons for this, one of them is perhaps reflective of the times we live in - that our lives are constantly tainted with uncertainty, doubt and stress.  And we realize that the comforts and pleasures that we have achieved by itself is unable to provide us relief.  Those of us who study and practice the Dhamma know it is in the Dhamma that we find clear answers in a world that appears to be as confused as ever.

The 2nd half of Year 2001

Membership
Membership is presently at 272 members, and is increasing monthly.  We believe we can increase our membership even more if we were to organize a membership drive.  However, our premises is filled to capacity for major functions and there is a waiting list for the Sunday school.  So members do come in generally by word of mouth.

Sunday Dhamma School ("SDS")
We now have about 225 students attending the SDS in two sessions, i.e. from 9.00am to 10.15am and from 10.45am to 11.45am. In appreciation of the effort and commitment of the SDS staff, an sumptuous lunch was held in October.  Even as we celebrate a successful year, we were preparing for the next term. In preparation for the coming year, additional teachers were recruited and a training camp held for all staff.  The trainers at the camp were Tan Buck Soon, Ananda Fong, Benny Liow, Charlie Chia and Lim Teik Leong.  Besides our own teachers, those from other societies such as the Buddhist Missionary Society Kajang also attended the camp.  Held over the two week-ends in December, the teachers received instruction in Dhamma knowledge and pedagogy skills.

Sunday Puja and Dhamma Talks
The Sunday Puja is the primary activity of BUBS where the members unite in the veneration of the Triple Gem. In conjunction with our Sunday Puja, we also hold Sunday Dhamma talks.  These are lectures on various aspects of the Dhamma, delivered by various monks and lay teachers.  Among the speakers in the 2nd half of the year were Vens Dr K Sri Dhammananda, Aggacitta and Kumara, Ven Sumangalo from the UK, Ven Dhammika of Australia and Ven Thubten Chodron, an American nun from the Vajrayana tradition.

Dhamma Study Group
The Dhamma Study Group which leads participants to study the Dhamma on a systematic and progressive basis started in mid-July.  The DSG  uses the book "Introductory Course in Buddhism" as a reference. The book is available free at the Center.  Presently, the DSG is about half-way through the book.

Meditation
Vipassana sessions are conducted at the Center on Thursday nights. This sessions are conducted by Jong Ah Wah, Leong kok Wai and Lee Theng San.  A six week course on Vipassana was conducted by Quek Jin Keat in October and November.   Metta meditation sessions are presently conducted on Friday nights by Hor Tuck Loon of Sukhihotu.

Member Relations
In July, the EXCO co-opted Ms Pat Teoh to oversee Member Relations.  One of the initiatives undertaken is the setting up of Cell Groups to administer to the interests of members.

Members are also encouraged to register their email addresses with BUBS to receive timely notices of activities and news. To do so, simply send an email to bubsoc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Membership
Members are reminded to renew their membership subscriptions for Year 2002 at RM30.  Better yet, we would encourage members to apply for life membership at RM300. 

Maintenance  of the Centre
The Centre's monthly operational costs consists largely of rental of RM1300 per month and utilities of about RM400. If you wish to contribute towards the operational cost of maintaining the Centre, please make your contribution at the Sunday Counter

Building Fund
We are receiving donations for the Building Fund in anticipation of constructing our own purpose-built center in Bandar Utama.  Presently, the fund stands at RM94,000.

Cassette Library
Missed a talk you really wanted to  hear?  Chances are you'll be able to borrow the tape at our tape library.  Contact the Counter on Sunday mornings.

Special Events

Dialogue with Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia - 5 August 
YBAM visited BUBS in August as part of their policy to meet up with new member organizations.  At the meeting we exchanged ideas and described our objectives and activities.  

Blessing Service for school children taking exams - 2 September
The Blessing service for students preparing for the national school exams was held in September and was very well attended. Several monks who were invited from the Sri Jayanti Temple of Sentul chanted the Metta Sutta, Ratana Sutta and the Mangala Sutta at this event. The event was rounded up by the sprinkling of blessed water and the distribution of wrist-strings to the participants. Apparently this Special Blessing Service was very effective as several parents reported that their children achieved results beyond their expectations!

Mooncake Festival - 29 September
A fellowship gathering was held in conjunction with the Chinese mid-autumn (aka mooncake ) festival.  We helped ourselves to a generous variety of mooncakes. Students from the Sunday Dhamma School also presented a couple of songs.

Fellowship trip to Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary ("SBS") - 20 & 21 October 
Three bus-loads of members and children made a trip to SBS (http://www.sasanarakkha.cjb.net) over a weekend in October for the purpose of fellowship, to visit SBS and to familiarise ourselves with the practices of a forest monastery.  Of course, we took the opportunity to have some fun along the way, by means of an arm-chair treasure hunt in the bus and some hymn singing.

SBS is a forest monastery established by Ven Aggacitta in the hills of Taiping for the purpose of training Malaysian monks. Bhante Aggacitta gave two Dhamma talks - "The Benefits of Saving Lives" and " 4 qualities for Social Integration and Harmony".  During the trip, we offered food to the resident monks on pindapata and also took the opportunity to practice  an act of compassion - the release of birds into the surrounding forests.  The day's fun and fellowship was further augmented with a frolic in the cool waterfall on the border of SBS.

Forthcoming Events

Annual General Meeting (20 January)
The third AGM shall be held at the Center at 9.30 am on Sunday, 20 January, 2002.  Members are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the AGM to vote in the office bearers for the next two years.

New Year Blessing Service (3 February)
A blessing service to herald in the new year shall be held at 9.00 am on Sunday 3rd February.

Chinese New Year Fellowship pot-luck dinner (23 February)
Come make new friends at the pot-luck dinner at 7.30 pm on 23 February.  Good food, good company and a common vision of the Dhamma.  What else can we ask?

Young BUBS Activiites
We are introducing special activities for teenagers and youth.  If you have an interest with working with this age-group, have special skills to impart, play the guitar, etc please contact Pat Teoh (017-3337389).

One of the primary objectives of the BUBS is to provide members the opportunity to encounter and practice the Dhamma.  In view of this, members are strongly encouraged to participate more frequently in our activities such as the Sunday Puja, the Dhamma talks, and meditation sessions.  As we are a young society, we also wish to build strong bonds of fellowship among our members.  So please attend our activities and social gatherings and let us get to know one another better.

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

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This newsletter is also available at our web-site http://www.quantrum.com.my/bubs/