Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary

KCBA youths pay respects to Ven Aggacitta before leaving. The Abbot reminds them to watch their minds whenever possible and not to forget to practise formal meditation to calm and focus their minds.

The monastics have a discussion over herbal tea on various issues in SBS.

Ven Kumara gives his monthly Dhamma talk in Mandarin in Taiping Buddhist Society. The topic of his talk is one that we often wonder: “What can we do about our past bad kamma”.

For today’s Dhamma talk, Ven Kumara recounts his one-month Dhamma tour of East Malaysia. He relates his experience, the Dhamma talks given and workshops conducted in various Buddhist centres in Sabah and Sarawak.

Twelve members from Klang & Coast Buddhist Association (KCBA) Youth Circle arrive for a weekend meditation retreat under Ven Kumara.

A group of Buddhists from Bagan Serai come to visit and request for construction drawings of the mini-kutis because they intend to build similar units in an oil-palm estate there.

Yesterday’s Uposatha Dhamma talk and discussion is postponed to today because of last night’s meditation class for the public. The topic is “Must one experience / perceive Nibbana first in order to become a Sotapanna?”

Ven Aggacitta gives a Dhamma talk in Pali, English and Hokkien after pindacara. The talk, Four Unthinkables, is based on Acinteyya Sutta (AN 4:77). The four mentioned are the range of the Buddha, the range of jhana, the results of Kamma and the origin of the world. Thinking of these by mere conjecture may lead to some degree of madness and suffering.

Ven Kumara returns from his month-long Dhamma tour of East Malaysia.

Evening chanting is held at the newly tiled deck in front of the open-air Buddha shrine, which has been decorated so that some night shots can be taken for our Wesak Celebration poster. Tonight’s weather is exceptionally good after a spate of daily evening rain.

Ven Kumara has a Dhamma discussion with a large group of students from Unimas after his meal at BDFA. In the evening, he gives a talk on “What we can do about our past bad kamma”.

Yesterday’s Uposatha Dhamma discussion is postponed to today. The topic is on Dr Jill Taylor’s dramatic presentation of her experience of ‘Nirvana’ during a left-brain stroke.

Ven Balacitta gives a Dhamma talk to devotees after receiving alms on how to handle depression. He explains that there is no better way than meditation and encourages devotees, both new to and experienced in meditation to come for guidance on Saturday evenings in SBS. He also answers some written questions posed by devotees.

In the afternoon at Kuching Buddhist Society (KBS), Ven Kumara demonstrated how a sutta discussion can be conducted, using Ananya Sutta (AN 4:62) as an example. In the evening he again conducts a “Letting Go” Workshop. This was not as successful as the earlier ones, probably due to having too many participants.

Ven Vivekananda comes to stay for a few days on his way from Kuala Lumpur to Penang.

In the evening, Ven Kumara conducts a discussion in Mandarin on “Mindfulness in Daily Life” at Kuching Bhagavan Buddhist Society (KBBS).

Ven Kumara leaves Sarikei for Kuching. In the evening, he conducts a discussion on “Mindfulness in Daily Life” at Buddha Dhamma Fellowship Association (BDFA).

Realising that the Buddhists at Sarikei have very limited knowledge of the Dhamma, Ven Kumara conducts a Q&A session in which attendees seek answers to personal issues that are brought up.

At SSGBA, Ven Kumara conducts a discussion on kamma based on Vitthara Sutta (AN 4:232).

Ven Kumara leaves Miri for Sibu on route to Sarikei where he shares the Dhamma on the following two days in Mandarin at Sarikei Siddharta Gautama Buddhist Association (SSGBA).

Ven Kumara conducts a discussion on “Mindfulness in Daily Life” at MIPC.

Ven Thitavijjo gives a Dhamma talk in Cantonese after pindacara. His talk, “Subjects of Contemplation”, is based on (AN 5:57). The Buddha explains we should contemplate on five subjects daily—old age, sickness, death, loss of loved ones and we are the owners of our own kamma—so that we can avoid doing a lot of unskilful actions.

Ven Kumara has an interesting Dhamma discussion with lay Buddhists at MIPC in the afternoon, and in the evening he conducts a “Letting Go” Workshop, which offers some guidance to release some issues that the attendees have been holding on to.