Religious & Charity Trip to Temoh/Batu Gajah/Ipoh

BMSM Welfare Section organised a religious and charity trip to Temoh, Batu Gajah and Ipoh on 27 - 28 November 2010, visiting 3 monasteries, 3 handicapped children homes and 1 old folk home.

We departed from Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields at 8:45am. We brought along with us some daily supplies (i.e. milo, vico, biscuits, condensed milk, sugar, toilet rolls etc) donated by our suporters. We had also purchased 10 bags (10kg ea) of rice, 10 bottles (5kg ea) of cooking oil and 10 packs of bihoon from Buddhist Maha Vihra for distribution to the Welfare Homes. Few friends entrusted us with 10 pcs of robes for offering to the Sangha in the 3 monasteries which we would be visiting.

Our first stop was at Vihara Buddha Gotama, a 15 acre forest monastery located in Temoh. The vihara has 9 kutis for monks, a sala builing which houses the sala hall, an office, a library, sangha room and 4 male dormitories (which can accomodate up to 30 men), a 2-storey female quarters (which can accoumodate up to 32 women) and a 2-rooms building houses the Sangha Library and Sangha Store. A 3 storey building is planned to be constructed at the site of the existing Old Store. Plans have been submitted to the Tapah District Council.

We offered dana and robes to the Sangha at the sala hall and had an inspiring dhamma Q&A session with Ven. Dhammavuddho Thero (Bhante Hye) until12:30pm.

We had our lunch in Kampar. We then visited Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Home and The Foundation of Training Centre & Home for the Handicapped in Pasir Putih.

Other than the daily supplies, BMSM Welfare Section donated RM1,000 to each home. The particpants had also individually donated to the homes.

The Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Home is located at JKR511, Lorong Aman, 3100 Batu Gajah Perak. The home was established in 1968. It takes care of about 39 inmates of various severe disabilities, age 11 to 54.

Cheque presentation to Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Home.

The Foundation of Training Centre & Home for the Handicapped (FTCHH) is located at No.2, Jln Hor Hock Lung, Taman Camay, 31650 Ipoh. The home was established in 1998. It take cares of about 35 inmates of various severe disabilities.

A few participants conversed with the caretaker to find out the well being of the children at FTCHH

Sis. Patricia Cheong presented a gift to a children at FTCHH.

We completed our welfare home visits at around 5:00pm. We then checked in to Tong Lian Siao Chu (东莲小筑), a Mahayanist nunnery located in Green Town, where we would put up a night on 27/11/2010.

After having our dinner at the Marpoh Restaurant in Ipoh, we proceeded to Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association (IBDA) Centre to listen to a dhamma talk delivered by Bro. Datuk Ang Choo Hong.

The title of the dhamma talk was "Self cultivation vs social engagement", it was a very thought provoking talk.

The next day on 28/11/2010, we visited Sukhavana Meditation Monastery in Bercham, Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery in Gunung Lang, Rumah Sehjatera Jelapang and Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home in Silibin.

Sukhavana Meditation Monastery is a monastery in Thai Forest Tradition of Theravada lineage. It is housed in a cave in Bercham, next to Huat Thien Keong Chinese Temple (法天宫仙洞). Its current abbot is Ajahn Tong Bai. Unfortunately, during our visit all the monks were away in KL.

Here are some snapshots of the Monastery:

The shrine hall was partially completed.

A kuti on hillside surrounded by greenery.

A steel staircase for reaching to another kuti up the hill.

The preaching hall that is decorated like a hotel lobby.

The Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery is also housed in a cave. It has a monk's quarter which is built a the back of the cave. The monastery has held a Kathina ceremony with more than 60 monks in November 2010.

Front view of the Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery

The monastery has about 4 kutis, here is the one built on top of a hill.

The monk's quarter.

Listening to a dhamma talk delivered by the abbot of the monastery at the shrine hall which is housed in a cave.

The Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home is located at No. 17, Lorong Silibin, 30100 Ipoh. The home was established in 1999. It takes care of more than 39 inmates of various severe disabilities.

Group photograph with the children and caretaker of the home. Other than daily supplies, BMSM Welfare Section also donated RM1,000 to the home.

Sis Lim (Mrs Kow)and Sis Cheong with the children.

Sis. Wendy and Sis. Evon with the children

Rumah Sehjatera Jelapang is an old folk old which takes care about 50 senior citizens. The home was conferred with the "Excellent Organisation Award" by the Registrar of Society in 2008.

Bro. Pheng entertained the old folks with a Chinese evergreen song “春天里“

The Secretary of Rumah Sehjatera Jelapang presented a banner as a token of appreciation to BMSM Welfare Section. Other than daily supplies, BMSM Welfare Section also donated RM1,000 to the home, and RM10 to each old folks.

On our way home, we sang to our heart's content to entertain ourselves. Most first timers told us they enjoyed the trip very much.

The lead singers in the bus, Sis. Sally Teh and Sis Jannifer Koh

We wish to express our appreciation and gratitude to the Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association, particularly, Bro. Fong Chin Onn (the advisor of IBDA) for his thoughtful and kind assistance in our welfare program and our visits to three monasteries.

Maha sadhu to Bro. Dato' Ang Choo Hong for taking time out of his busy schedule to share his dhamma with us at IBDA, The gift of dhamma excels all gifts.

We also wish to thank all generous donors for their kind contribution in cash and in kind towards this charitable trip, and all participants of this trip for their valuable support and kind participation.

Delivery of Endowment Fund to 3 Students in Raub

We (BMSM Welfare committee members, Bro. Wong Ong, Bro. Koy, Bro. Lim and Bro. Quah who represent BMSM Endowment Fund) went to Raub today to deliver endowment fund to 3 students in Raub at Taman Simpang Kallang. We also brought the family some groceries (i.e. milo, instant mee, condensed milk, baked bean, biscuits and sardine, cooking oil, beehoon and rice) which were donated by devotees from Buddhist Maha Vihara.

The 3 students' mother was injured in a road accident and will not be able to work for at least another 9 months. Currently, Raub Buddhist Association helps the students to pay for their bus transport to school.

Bro. Wong presented some cash to one of the student.

Group photo graph with the endowment recipient, together with

Sis. Mei Hua and Sis. Chao Min from Raub Buddhist Association

We wish to express our sincere appreciation to Sis. Mei Hua and Sis. Chao Min from Raub Buddhist Association for taking us to the students' house and giving us a delicious vegetarian lunch treat.

A Stupa Specially Built in MIMC in Memory of Sis. GG Tan/Sis. Julie Ang/Sis. Lee Ah Yem/Sis. Jennie Cheong

On 25 August 2010, Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) in Ladakh held a special prayer to commemorate the First Death Anniversary of Sis. Tan Guat Gnoh, Sis. Julie Ang, Sis. Lee Ah Yem and Sis Jennie Cheong, who lost their precious lives in an accident on 25 August 2009 near Saspol village, Ladakh. An inauguration ceremony of a stupa specially built in memory of them was also conducted on that day.

Here are some of the photographs shared by Ven. Nagasena Thupstan Lundup in his Facebook photo album:

Visits to Kim Loo Ting Hong Ying Home and Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre

We made our third visit this year to Kim Loo Ting Hong Ying Home in Setapak (No.4 & 6 & 8, Lrg Ayer Puteh Off Jln Ayer Panas, 53200 Setapak, Kuala Lumpur) this morning. Ten of us in two cars reached the home at about 11:30am.

Ven. Seck Fa Yin (the Chief Master of the home) told us the home receives homeless patients from government hospitals ONLY. The homeless from other sources will not be accepted. The average age of the inmates is above seventy. Two inmates have passed away last month.

We donated RM1,600 towards the home's bereavement fund.

The inmates were having their lunch at about 12:00noon

This uncle has lost his eyesight. Mrs Kow helped to feed him.

We stopped by for lunch in Salak South. We then proceeded to Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre at 21, Jalan Penchala, 46000 Petaling Jaya. We were welcomed by Sis. Irene and Sis. Honey who gave us a very informative briefing about the centre.

A two-storey building Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre.

The centre has commenced operation since 26 April 2009. It is a member of Ti-Ratana Welfare Society. Its services include :

(a) Councseling to help increase self confidence

(b) Teaching and understanding of Buddhism

(c) Providing women the avenue to enrich their lives and teach them to be self sufficient. (Arts for all program)

(d) To feed the poor, homeless & destitute. (Meals on Wheel outreach program)

The meals on wheels outreach program currently focuses on providing lunch to selected welfare homes only, which operates fortnightly. They will be sending lunch to Sri Sayang Home in Ulu Yam tomorrow (5/9/2010).

The activity starts from 2:00pm today, the food preparation volunteers (consists of 3 -4 persons) come to the centre to prepare food for cooking on Sunday. The food will be cooked by the cooking team (consist of 3 -4 persons also) on Sunday, which shall be ready by 10:30am. The delivery of the food shall reach the Sri Sayang Home before 12:30pm. The delivery team will also serve the food to the inmates of the home.

Sis. Honey also briefed us on the home's "Arts for All" program, which is a vehicle to help raise funds for the centre. It involves many forms of arts and crafts.

These handicrafts are sold at RM30-RM40 per pc to help the Myanmarese who make

them. The beads are quite costly. The centre does not make much profit.

The bag and the gift box are not made from rattan but newspapers.

How the gift boxes look like before being painted.

The bowl and beads are made from newspaper too.

Paper handicraft on display.

We have a group photograph session in the shrine hall before bidding farewell to Sis. Honey.

For more information about Ti-Ratana Penchala Community Centre, please log on to www.ti-ratana-penchala.com.my

Pesta Nalanda 2010

In supporting educational and developmental programmes held by Nalanda Institute, Welfare Section participated in the Pesta Nalanda 2010 today at Taman Sri Serdang, Sri Kembangan today.

We sponsored and operated a drink stall, which we sold soya drink, tofufah and leongfun. Sis. Jannifer's friends sponsored otak-otak, tuna sandwiches and muffins. We managed to collect RM1,101 worth of coupons.

Raub Charity Trip 7 - 8 August 2010

We'd a very fulfilling 2-days charity trip in Raub on 7 - 8 August 2010.

On 7 August 2010, we started our journey at around 9:00am, half an hour later than the scheduled time. Fortunately, the traffic was quite smooth and we managed to reach Raub on time at 11:30am.

Raub Buddhist Association gave us a sumptuous welcoming vegetarian lunch at City Vegetarian Restaurant.

See, how happy Sis. Dora was enjoying the vegetarian lunch!

She laughed to her heart's content with her teeth fully exposed.

Our next itinerary is to meet six skin disease patients (or their representatives) at Bukit Koman Community Centre. We reached the destination at about 1:00pm, but the coordinator was late because his daughter fell sick and he'd to send her to hospital for treatment.

The banner reveals every feeling of the residents of Bukit Koman, Raub

While awaiting the coordinator to come, the ladies in white have a photo session.

The coordinator and six skin disease patients arrived at about 1:45pm. We were informed that villagers of Kampung Bukit Koman began experiencing headaches, breathing difficulties and skin irritation after a gold mine operator started using cyanide in the extraction method.

A photo session with the six skin disease patients at Bukit Koman Community Centre

Sis. Thum was giving a helping hand to one of the skin disease patients leaving the centre.

We then proceeded to Sg. Ruan Old Folk Home, which accommodated nine old folks. Unlike Old Folk Homes in Klang Valley, there is no caretaker looking after their daily living. The abled old folks have to take up odd jobs to supplement their incomes.

One of the old folks make a small nursery beside the home. Many of our lady members love plants and they had a good time buying some potted plant home.

We stopped by at Jeram Besu Countryview Recreation Park & Resort. Here were two beautiful shots taken by Sis. Cheoh Siew Cheng:

We then visited a handicapped bachelor (who is paralysed from waist down) at Taman Kenaga, Sempalit.

We had our dinner at Ah Fatt Restaurant at about 6:30pm. It was then followed by a dhamma talk by Rev Ru Chi at Raub Buddhist Association Shrine Hall.

We'd a great durian feast after the dhamma talk. Look at some photos below and you can figure out how much we love durians.

On 8/8/2010, we met eleven needy families/patients.

A kidney patient with one of his leg amputated. He is unemployed.

Another kidney patient, her husband who suffered from full body paralysis has recently passed away.

Another kidney patient who is a bachelor. The above three kidney patients share a taxi to a dialysis centre in KL 3 times a week, which cost each of them about RM250 a month.

A single mother, with 6 children, in coma due to a road accident. Her husband was killed in the same accident.

A mother with 5 children, suffered from breast cancer (terminal stage). I was informed by Sis. Mei Hwa of Raub Buddhist Association on 21/8/2010 that she has passed away 1 week after our visit. Our condolences to her family members. May she have a good rebirth.

A single mother with SLE and kidney failure.

A single mother with 7 children, both her legs were injured in a road accident and she will not be able to work for at least another 6 months . Three of her children are still attending schools.

A stroke patient. Her husband suffers from depression.

Her daughter suffers from depression, whom she depends upon.

Being hailed from Bukit Koman (a place plagued by cyanide problem), she suffers from hard-to-cure skin disease.

We also visited two old folk homes.

There were only six inmates in Sg. Lui Old Folk Home.

Sis. Cheoh and another twelve members were presenting a gift to thirteen old folks at Kg Sempalit Old Folk Home.

All the photos (except two photos which are not sharp) are courtesy of Sis. Cheoh Siew Cheng. Maha Sadhu to her for sharing the photos!