Ipoh Charity/Religious Trip 2011

This year, our annual trip to Ipoh was scheduled on 19 - 20 November 2011. It's encouraging that we received full participation of 44 members (i.e. a full busload!!).

First and foremost, before reporting this trip, I would like to say a big sadhu to Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association, particularly Bro. Fong Chin Onn who helped us to plan our programme in Ipoh, book lunch and dinner from restaurants in Kampar and Ipoh, and led us to the welfare homes and two monasteries in Ipoh.

On 19/11/2011, our bus departed from Buddhist Maha Vihara at around 8:45am and we reached Vihara Buddha Gotama, Temoh at around 11:00am, which was on time for us to participate in the lunch dana offering to the Sangha.

Offering dana to Bhate Hye by Bro. Dennis

Offering dana to Bhante Hye by Bro. Lau

As we were going to have our lunch in Kampar, we partook some fruits and kuihs only.

Bhante Hye conducted a lively Q&A dhamma session after the lunch dana, which gave us a better understanding of the delicate aspect of the Buddha Dhamma. Many members took the opportunity to clear their doubts about dhamma so much so that extra time had to be allocated for asking the final question.

We bid farewell to Bhante Hye at around 12:45pm and proceed to Kampar for lunch. Our next stop was Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Welfare Home.

The Home has 40 inmates with various mental and physical disabilities. It is now more systematically organised. For the first time, we were issued receipt for the groceries we donated. We also donated RM1,000 to the home.

The administrator who joined the Home few months ago told me that she was very happy to work there. She said the "children" were nurtured with a spirit of helping each other. The physically abled children always help to carry (or push the wheelchair of) the disabled one whenever required. The children were quite happy to see us around, particularly this young lady and this young man (in the picture below) who sang along with Sis. Choo.

However, this boy was a bit shy to receive attention from so many uncles and aunties.

We took a group picture for memory before saying bye bye to all the children.

Our journey to Pusat Jagaan Yayasan Latihan Insan Istimewa (a handicapped children welfare home) in Pasir Putih was hampered by heavy rain. Certain part of the road leading to our destination was inundated and was inaccessible to light vehicles causing massive traffic jam. However, we were still able reach the welfare home as scheduled at around 4:15pm. The rain stopped when we reached there. How lucky were we!!!

The home takes care of 35 "children" with various physical and mental disabilities.

Sis. Sumitra distributed sweets and titbits to the children.
Sis. Sally's motherly touch was so soothing !

Bro. Koy cheered up the young boy on wheel chair.

We left the Home at around 5:00pm.

After dinner, we attended a fellowship gathering at the Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association Centre in Canning Garden until 10:00pm.

Welcoming speech by the IBDA's President, Bro. Kiang.

A happy moment. Performance by Bro. Pheng, Sis. Khoo (from Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association), Sis. Thum & Sis. Lily Cheah.

The next morning, we visited the Jelapang Old Folk Home and Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home in Silibin.

The Jelapang Old Folk Home has about 50 old folks. It was conferred with the "Excellent Organisation Award" by the Registrar of Society in 2008. We donated RM1,000 to the Home and also distributed angpows to the old folks.

Bro. Dr. Koh and Sis. Lily Cheah distributed angpows to the old folks at Jalapang Old Folk Home

This uncle (above) is the best singer in Jelapang Old Folk Home.

Sis. Lily Cheah (left) and Bro. Pheng (right) rendered a song to entertain the old folks

The Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home is located at No. 17, Lorong Silibin, 30100 Ipoh. It was was established in 1999 and has about 39 "children" of various severe disabilities. We donated RM1,000 and some groceries to the home.

Group photograph with the children at Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home. The man in in purple batik shirt is the founder and care taker of  this home.

Next we visited two monasteries, Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery in Gunung Lang and Sukhavana Meditation Monastery in Bercham.

Listening to dhamma talk by Ven.  Thitavijjo Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery.

Bro. Koh offered robe to Ven. Thitavijjo

Sukhavana Meditation Monastery is housed in a cave in Bercham next to Huat Thien Keong Chinese Temple. Here are some snapshots of the monastery.

Raub Charity Trip 2011

We organised a charity outing in Raub on 6 - 7/8/2011. It was participated by 40 members and friends.
On 6/8/2011, our bus departed from Buddhist Maha Vihara, KL at 8:45am. Upon our arrival in Raub, our host, Raub Buddhist Association (RBA Committee) gave us sumptuous welcoming vegetarian lunch at Silver City Restaurant.

Sis Cheoh, Sis Janifer, Sis Mary & Sis Sally surely had enjoyed their lunch very much. All the bowls and plates before them were empty.

After lunch, our host brought us to visit five needy families to give them moral and financial support.

(1) Two brothers who suffers from glaucoma. The elder brother's wife has breast cancer and his grandson has eye cancer. Bro. Terry Ng (a Reiki expert) gave reiki treatment to the two brothers.
(2) A jobless single father with an eleven year old daughter. He also has to look after his 86 year old mother. Sis. Tiau Min also arranged a single lady who suffers from a stubborn skin disease and arthritis to meet us at the same place. Sis. Mary and Sis. Tan gave Reiki treatment to the single lady.
(3) A single mother with two mentally challenged sons.
One of her son bid farewell to us when we were leaving their house.

(4) A couple with two children. The husband is ill and unable to work.
(5) A single mother who suffers from SLE and kidney failure.
After dinner at Ah Fatt Restaurant, we attended an inspiring dhamma talk delivered by Dato' Ang Choo Hong. The title of the talk was "Engaged Buddhism and self-cultivation".
On the 2nd day, we commenced our program by visiting the "Pasar Tani" (Farmers' Market). Due to Muslims' fasting month, there were fewer stalls than last year.
We then visited three old folk homes and and another six needy families. Below are the snapshots of our visits.

At Sg Lui Old Folk Home. This home has 7 inmates.

Group photograph at Sg. Ruan Old Folk Home. This home has 10 inmates.

A single mother, who has breast cancer and uterine cancer. She has two daughters.

A mentally challenged boy. He is looked after by his maternal grandmother, who has breast cancer.

Photograph with a bachelor who has cancer.

A bachelor with brain tumour.

An Indian family with 11 children. The husband is bedridden.

We have a group photograph with the committee of Raub Buddhist Association before bidding farewell to them.

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.