Sunday, May 31, 2009

Appreciation High Tea Gathering

In appreciation to our friends and supporters who either contributed generously or helped us during the recent Wesak Charity Sales at Buddhist Maha Vihara, a High Tea gathering was held at Mrs. Kow's house at 4:00pm - 7:00m today.

It was a potluck style gathering which only the committee members were required to bring the food. (but quite a few non-committee members brought the food too)

Officially, the High Tea was supposed to commence at 4:00pm, but many members and friends came as early as 3:00pm.

Maha saddhu to Mrs. Kow for hosting this joyful and meaningful fellowship which about fifty friends and supporters have attended. We enjoyed this fellowship very much and many of us stayed until 8:00pm. It definitely has strengthened our relationship and Buddhist fellowship further.

The ladies were chewing the fat with each other.
Bro. Soon Kok, Bro. Koy and Bro. Steven were having a chat with Dr. Koh, our supporter who has sponsored the high quality soaps to us for sales to raise fund for the last two years. The soap contains 10% glycerin, an emollient that moisturises and softens our skin. An ordinary soap contains only 1% glycerin.

Sis. Suan See, Sis. Dora et al took the opportunity to look at the eco-enzyme made by Mrs Kow. The eco-enzyme is made from 1 ratio of black sugar , 3 ratio of kitchen waste (preferably fruit peels such as pineapple peels, papaya peels etc) and 10 ratio of filtered water. It is then allow to ferment in an air tight container for 3 months.

Eco-enzyme is a wonder cleaner. Testimonies on its uses appear endless: to do the dishes and laundry, mop the floor, scrub the toilet and bathroom, remove stubborn stains, for body care, as deodoriser and antiseptic and to clear blockages in pipes and drains. It will even repel ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, lizards.

In farms, garbage enzymes have found use as a natural pesticide,herbicide, fertiliser and odour remover, and is also added to animal feed to improve digestion of livestock. And in the garden, it will make your plants flourish, bloom and fruit.
Sis. Sally is a good story teller. The audience were laughing their
hearts out while listening to her "Chicken Story".

Hand gestured by Sis. Sally - "I told you from the bottom of my heart"

Thursday, May 28, 2009

An Innovative Fund Raising Scheme

Air Asia's maxim is "Now everyone can fly". Probably the government-backed NGO Chinese Foundation For Poverty Alleviation (CFFPA) in China has taken a leaf from Air Asia, they have launched a new charity scheme on 1 April 2009 to enable any citizens to set up a private charity foundation under their name with a mere 5 yuan (RM2.50) per month after registering with them. Private charity foundation with personal name attached is no longer a privilege reserved for the wealthiest in China.

The procedure to set up the foundation is hassle-free. Applicants need only send a text message about his intention and his personal particulars to 10699999.CFFPA will reply by sending back the applicants' particulars by text messages, e-mail or telephone for confirmation. The foundation is considered established once applicants have confirmed his personal particulars.

To donate to the fund, donors need only send a text message containing the digits "9" followed by an amount and the donor's name to 10699999.

Example: If I have set up a private foundation under my name and you wish to support my foundation by donating 10 yuan per month. You need only to send a text message "910" followed by "Lim Choon Line" and send this text message to 10699999.

The fund will be managed by CFFPA but the foundation sponsors are given online access to monitor the collection and the disbursement of the fund to ensure that the money is spent on the intended purpose only.

CFFPA has been established for 20 years and they currently manage several charity funds such as "Microfinance Project", "Maternal and Infant Health Project", "Disaster Relief Project, etc.

Here is the link to their website in English : Chinese Foundation For Poverty Alleviation

Source: Every citizen can set up a private charity foundation with only 5 yuan a month (in Chinese)

Sunday, May 24, 2009

BMSM Welfare Section 12th AGM


BMSM Welfare held its 12th AGM at 11:30am today for the election of its new committee for year 2009-2011.

After the minutes of 11th AGM, the 12th annual report and the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2008 have been adopted and approved by the members, Bro. Jerry Khoo was appointed as the returning officer to conduct the election. The new committee was succcessfully elected without any contest.

Below is the new committee line-up :

Chairman : Bro. Ooi Soon Kok
Vice Chairman : Bro. Wong Ong
Vice Chairman : Sis. Janifer Koh Chin Guat
Hon. Secretary : Bro. Lim Choon Line
Assist. Hon. Secretary : Sis. Lim Mee Sew
Hon. Treasurer : Bro. Pheng Kian Guan
Assist. Hon. Treasurer : Bro. Koy Chow Huat

Committee members
Bro. Joseph Loh Kui Yong
Sis. Chan Kwai Ying
Bro. Tan Chin Lin
Bro. Chang Lam Yen
Sis. Beatrice De Alwis
Sis. Selina Lim Poh Choo
Sis. Dora Lau Swee Leng
Sis. Thum Ngit Fong

Dog saves dog

It's derogatory to dogs if we say "It's a dog eats dog world" because dogs have compassion too.

That happened in Santiago Chile, in Costanera Norte Highway. This video shows a dog used its mouth pulling another injured dog to safety on a busy highway. Sadly, the commuters kept driving and didn't at least try to swerve and avoid the dog.

Both dogs survived, according to the comments posted to Youtube.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Chanting cum potluck fellowship

About twenty Welfare Section members and friends gathered at Sis. Carol's house at about 3:00 pm today for chanting and fellowship.

We did chanting for about an hour. Regular chanting gives us confidence, joy and satisfaction, and increases devotion within us. Chanting, if it is done with proper concentration, makes our mind contemplative, not wandering and engaging in wholesome thoughts.

After the chanting, we have our hi-tea. Look at the ladies! Happiness was written on their faces. Obviously they have picked up where they had left off last month and were happy to see each other again. Maha sadhu to Sis. Carol (sitting in the middle on the sofa) for hosting this gathering.

Look at Dora's expression you know the men were engaging in a more serious topic.

Maha sadhu to Sis. Chan Kwai Ying for volunteering as the host for the next fellowship on Saturday, 20 June 2009. Her house is located at 9 Jln SM 5, Taman Sri Manja, Petaling Jaya. She can be contacted at 012-2283262.


Attachment to sensual pleasure

This video has been viewed more than 1 million times after it has been posted to youku (China's video portal) and has receieved more than 3,000 comments. It shows a lady in Hongkong went berserk because she missed her favourite shark fin soup.



The lady : Where are the sharkfins?
The waiter : No more, totally sold out.
The lady : Impossible. I don't care, I want to eat sharkfins.
The waiter : please order other dishes.
The lady : I don't care, I don't understand why there are no more sharfins. There are so many fish in the sea.
The waiter : Order other dishes please.
The lady : Where do you hide all the sharkfins? I want to eat sharkfins.
The waiter : Please order other dishes.
The lady : Why other people are so selfish and leave nothing for me. I purposely come here to eat sharkfins! wooooooo.. I want to eat sharkfins! wooooooo ...I want to eat sharkfins!
The lady : I don't care. I purposely come here to eat sharkfins, please give me some. aaaaaah! I want to eat sharkfins! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I want to eat sharkfins....
..........
Many viewers commented that the lady was crazy.

In the second Noble Truth, the Buddha asked us to recognise that our attachment to sensual pleasure is dangerous to our happiness. He compared sensual pleasure with a bone with no meat thrown to a hungry dog. Though the dog gnaws at the bone for a long time, the bone never sastifies his hunger. On reflection, you may find that you are like that, too. No matter how much sensual pleasure you have, you're still hungry for more.

How many potatoes chips are enough? How many pieces of chocolates? How many video games must you play or novels must you read to fulfil your longing for such experiences? Sometimes people stay up and party all night until they pass out. Did they get enough? You can always think of some pleasurable things that you haven't yet tried.

How do you overcome craving for sensual pleasure ? Please click here to read the book "Eight mindful steps to happiness" by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Express that loving feeling

Most men are lacking in the maternal perspective. They can’t see things the way a woman does, enriching every relationship with depth, a healing touch and compassion.

Women can express their love, adoration and joy for the kids in their care much easier than men. Most men usually find it difficult to express, but even if they do decide to express, more often than not, it is likely a clumsy attempt.

And for Sis. Chan, Mrs Kow, Sis. Janifer, Mrs Tang, Sis Chi Lan, Sis Geok Looi et al... what can be more fulfilling than to hug the kids, give them a loving touch and to express that loving feeling ?

At Taman Megah Handicapped Children Home, Petaling Jaya

At Taman Megah Handicapped Children Home, Petaling Jaya

At Selangor Family Association Children Welfare Home, Ulu Yam

What good deed have I done today ?




"Don't you think this world would be a better place if we can care for one another ?" said Mr.Bugs Tan in the video he has created.

Here is what he said in the video:

Hi.
"... ...We would like to run a contest to ask children to do good things
We create a virtual log book for children to write down what good things they have done
On the receiving end are the angels.
They don’t see the children, but give points based on merits
Children with lots of merits win a prize
So, please vote for me
Let children from rich & poor nation, a chance to do good deeds."

Please go to YouTube to vote for him and give this project a chance. Follow this link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQH27yjETKI

Mr. Bugs Tan is a full time professional inventor with 13 inventions filed in his name. Some of the inventions have been successfully commercialized. He is the vice president of the Malaysia Association of Creativity and Innovations (MACRI).

He also has a Buddhist blog http://buddhistbugs.blogspot.com/


Thursday, May 21, 2009

You have two choices

Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk every situation is a choice.

You choose how you react to situations.

You choose how people will affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.

It's your choice how you live your life.

The only thing that is truly yours -- that no one can control or take from you- is your attitude. So if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier.

Watch the slide show below to learn from Jerry how he confronts the vissitudes of life.


Please click at the arrow key to flip through the slides.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Our upcoming activities

Hi BMSM Welfare Committee, friends & supporters,

Below are our activities scheduled for the month of May 2009:

23 May 2009, Saturday (3:00pm - 5:30pm) - our monthly chanting cum potluck gathering will be held at Sis. Carol Foo's house at 2, Jln 5/10D, Petaling Jaya. Please call her at 03-79550653 if you need direction to her house.

24 May 2009, Sunday (11:00am - 1:00pm) - BMSM Welfare Section 12th AGM will be held at P H Henry Hall, Buddhist Maha Vihara, 123, Jln Berhala, Off Jln Tun Sambanthan, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.

This year we will elect a new committee to operate for the next two years. We welcome new members to join the committee to inject new ideas.

Please bring along your annual report. Refreshment will be served after the AGM.

31 May 2009, Sunday (4:00pm - 7:00pm) - All friends and supporters are invited to a Wesak Appreciation Hi-Tea to be held at Mrs. Kow's house at 56, Jln Sri Hartamas 17 (Behind Plaza Damas), Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Her contact number is 012-4361169.

A big sadhu to all our friends and regular supporters who ave helped us in our annual fund raising drive on Wesak eve and Wesak Day (8 & 9 May 2009). May you be blessed with happiness, good health and all the best things in life.


Wesak Eve & Wesak Day Charity Sales

On 8 and 9 May 2009, we operated an exhibition stall and a food stall inside and outside the Buddhist Maha Vihara during Wesak Eve and Wesak Day to raise fund for our charitable activities. Apart from a photograph exhibition of welfare activities and distribution of free dhamma books, we also sold soaps, enzyme, towels etc. At the food stall, we sold a variety of vegetarian food, ais kacang, acar, nasi lemak, curry puff, etc which were mostly donated by generous friends and committee members.

A big sadhu to all our friends and regular supporters who have helped us in the fund raising drive on these two days. May you be blessed with happiness, good health and all the best things in life.

Our banner was hanged prominently
at the donation counter inside Buddhist Maha Vihara

Bro. Richard and Sis Suan See were preparing the ais kacang at the food stall
Sis. Janifer and all other supporters were very busy at the foodstall
A hive of activities at the food stall.
Mrs. Tang, Sis. Janifer, Sis. Chi Lan et al were busy serving the customers
Bro. Lim was interviewed by RTM2
(Bro. Soon Kok and Bro. Pheng were interviewed by them too, which was
part of a documentary about Wesak celebration produced by RTM)
Sis. Chan was trying to take photograph of Sis. Dora, unaware
that she was being photographed
Bro. Pheng, Bro. Joseph, Sis. Linda and Bro. Koy were serving the customers
Bro. Lim was discussing dhamma with a donor.


A lesson from the snail

We can learn something from the snail too. Watch the slide below to see how the snail overcomes its obstacle.




To flip through the slides, please click at the "arrow" located at the bottom left corner of the slide.

Ipoh Trip in November 2008

With the assistance of Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Asoociation, we organised a religious cum charity trip to Temoh and Ipoh on 8 & 9 November 2008.

We started our journey with offering dana to Bhante Hye at Vihara Buddha Gotama in Temoh, we then distributed gifts in cash and kind to 38 children at Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Welfare Home and 35 children at the Foundation of Training Centre & Home for the Handicapped at Taman Camay, Pasir Putih, Ipoh. On the second day, we distributed gifts in cash and kind to 35 children at Pertubuhan Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Setia in Silibin and 48 inmates of Jelapang Old Folk Home.

Here were some of the photographs taken by Bro. Soon Kok during the trip:

Delicious and healthy food!
Offering dana
Offering dana
At Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Welfare Home.
A loving touch by Sis. Chi Lan
Group photo with the "children"
Sis. Chi Lan and Sis. Sally Teh with the Children
Group photo
Sis Sally and Sis Dora were having a friendly chat with the caretaker.
Group photograph at the front of the home.
Briefing by the the President of the home.
At Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home, Silibin, Ipoh
He was happy to see so many visitors.
Group photo

As a token of appreciation to IBDA's kind assistance and warm reception, Bro. Pheng presented a cheque to IBDA's president. Bro. Kang, and witnessed by Bro. Soon Kok.
Having fun at IPDA's garden
Mrs Ho, Bro. Pheng and Sis Sally were rendering a song
Group photo at Dhammapiti Forest Monastery, Ipoh
A kuti being built on the hill top, Dhammapiti Forest Monastery, Ipoh
Dhamma talk by the abbot of Dhammapiti Forest Monastery, Ipoh
Angpaus distribution to the old folks at Jelapang Old Folk Home
Sis. Sally and Mrs. Ho presented a dance while the uncle
from the Jelapang Old Folk Home was rendering a song.
A presentation by Bro. Pheng, Sis Sally, Sis Geok Looi ... to cheer up the old folks
Mrs. Kow, Sis Patricia, Sis. Lai also joined in to cheer up the old folks
The old folk home is not short of musical talent.

Idam vo natinam hotu, sukhita hontu natayo!
Idam vo natinam hotu, sukhita hontu natayo!
Idam vo natinam hotu, sukhita hontu natayo!

Photographs of past activities

Due to a virus infection that had corrupted my hard disk early last year, I've lost almost all the activity photographs I've accumulated over the last few years.

Below are the photographs I have managed to salvage.

In March 2008, we visited six needy families in Klang.


Please click at the "arrow key" to flip through the slides.

In August 2008, we organised a charity trip to visit 3 old folk homes in Sg. Ruan, Kg. Sempalit and Sg. Lui, a handicapped children welfare home (Persatuan Kebajikan Rumah Gembira), and 6 deserving poor families in Raub.

Series 1


Please click at the arrow key to flip through the slides

Series 2


Please click at the arrow key to flip through the slides

We visited Taman Megah Hadicapped Children Welfare Home in May 2007 and Selangor Family Association Welfare Home in July 2007.


Please click at the arrow key to flip through the slides

We would like express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to all kind dhamma friends who have given us their ardent encouragement and support by participating in our programmes, rendering their services or donating generously in cash or in kind to support our charitable cause. They have touched the hearts of those less fortunate families we have together tried to help.


Sunday, May 10, 2009

BMSM Membership Services

We would like to appeal to all BMSM members to come forward to lend a helping hand in our welfare activities. There is more joy in giving that receiving. With the spirit of metta and karuna we can strive together to bring cheers and joy to the less fortunate, the poor and the aged.

All BMSM members are eligible to be a member of Welfare Section. If you are interested to join us, please download and fill up this form and submit to us at Buddhist Maha Vihara. Pdf_16x16 BMSM Welfare Section Registration Form (pdf) (Click here to check our contact)

If you are not a BMSM member, you can download and fill up this form to apply for BMSM's membership Pdf_16x16 Membership Application Form (73.2 kb)

Membership Fee : Ordinary members - RM20 p.a.
Life members - RM150 (one time payment)

BMSM members, do you wish to upgrade your membership to life member ? Have you recently moved to new house and wish to update your personal information ? You can download and fill up this form and mail to the BMSM Hon. General Secretary Pdf_16x16 Membership Update Form (25.3 kb)

About Us

BMSM Welfare Section was established as a Section of Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM) http://www.bmsm.org.my in November 1997.

The folloiwng members are serving in the Welfare Section Committee for year 2009/2011. They were elected during the 12th AGM on 24 May 2009.

Chairman : Bro. Ooi Soon Kok
Vice Chairman : Bro. Wong Ong
Vice Chairman : Sis. Janifer Koh
Hon Secretary : Bro. Lim Choon Line
Hon Asst Secretary : Sis. Lim Mee Sew
Hon Treasurer : Bro. Pheng Kian Guan
Hon Asst Treasurer : Bro. Koy Chow Huat

Committee members
Sis. Beatrice De Alwis
Sis. Chan Kwai Ying
Bro. Joseph Loh
Bro. Tan Chin Lin
Bro. Chang Lam Yen
Sis. Dora Lau Swee Leng
Sis. Lim Poh Choo
Sis. Thum Ngit Fong

Coopted members
Sis. Kong Saik King
Bro. Steven Low

We receive donations in cash and in kind, and administer such fund to bring cheers and joy to the less fortunate through the practice of the teachings of Buddha, to support the sangha and to contribute towards religious and social welfare. Our objective can be summarised as follows :

1. Renders service and assistance to the aged, the mentally and physically handicapped children, the needy and neglected.

2. Supports welfare homes.

3. Provide moral support and comfort to poor patients during hospital visits.

4. Organises informal gatherings, holidays and retreats to foster Buddhist fellowship and strengthen faith and confidence in the teachings of the Buddha.

5. Organises weekly chanting sessions and assists devotees and friends to arrange Pujas and Blessing Services as well as chanting for bereaved families.

6. Supports all activities of the Buddhist Maha Vihara.

We would like to appeal to all BMSM members to come forward to lend a helping hand in our welfare activities. There is more joy in giving that receiving. With the spirit of metta and karuna we can strive together to bring cheers and joy to the less fortunate, the poor and the aged.

All BMSM members are eligible to be a member of Welfare Section. If you are interested to join us, please download and fill up this form and submit to us at Buddhist Maha Vihara. Pdf_16x16 BMSM Welfare Section Registration Form (pdf) (Click here to check our contact).

If you are not a member, you can download and fill up this form to apply for BMSM's membership Pdf_16x16 Membership Application Form (73.2 kb)