Buddhist Mahavihara Carnival 2013

On 28 July, 2013, Buddhist Mahavihara held its Carnival 2013 to raise fund to build additional Sunday School classrooms. It was a great opportunity for us to get involved in a good cause. We took up a stall and sponsored to sell variety of cakes, candy, bubur caca, leongfun and punch.

Cakes made by Sis. Chan/
Candies made by Mrs Kow

Suji cake made by Mrs Kow
Chiffon cakes made by Sis. Chan

Herbal eggs made by Bro. Koy's
mother and butter cup cake made
by Sis. Chan

Bro. Koy, Bro. Wong Ong and Sis. Selvi were manning the stall

Sis. Chan was making a sales

Mrs. Tang and Mrs. Kow were attending to a customer

We had a brisk business. All items were sold by 1:00pm.

A Tribute To the late Bro. Pheng Kian Guan

Our beloved friend and ex-Treasurer, the late Bro. Pheng Kian Guan passed away on 10 July 2013. 

It is with great sadness that he was taken away from us so soon and it is hard to understand why such a good person died before his due time. However, his death taught us that death is certain but the time of death is very uncertain. Hence, we must always try to do something good or we may miss the opportunity to do so. In our busy lives, we sometimes tend to take each other and things for granted.

Bro. Pheng had contributed invaluable service to the needy community through his involvement in Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia – Welfare Section. He had also played an active role in the Buddhist Maha Vihara Chanting Group, of which he was the leader every Tuesday. He had been a people’s person in Buddhist Maha Vihara. He was warm, caring and a delight to be around. He loved to share dhmma with any one he came in contact with, particularly new acquaintances and had touched many of them in a positive way. 

Bro. Pheng served the Welfare Committee as an ordinary committee member from 1999 to 2005 and  as the Honorary Treasurer since 1 January 2006until he passed away on 10 July 2013. He had all the good qualities of a good treasurer –attentive to details and meticulous in recording the funds down to the cents. He was very transparent in his accounts. During every welfare trip, he announced to the participants the detailed receipts and payments and  balances  for the trip even before the bus reached Kuala Lumpur.

Being physically strongest among all of us, he wasn’t just our treasurer, but also our frontman providing physical support for all our welfare activities. During Wesak Day, he helped to put up the banners for our stalls and fetching water for the food stall. During the charity trips, he ensured that all the provisions were moved from the store to the bus and distributed to each beneficiary correctly. Our bus journey was full of fun because of him. He was always the first to sing and he got other participants to join in the fun.

He certainly left his mark and no-one will forget his kindness, dedication and commitment. A big crowd turned up during his wake at Kwang Tung Funeral Parlour Kuala Lumpur on 12 July 2013 and the 7thday  memorial service at Buddhist Maha Vihara on 17 July 2013.

We wish him a good rebirth and the earliest opportunity to attain the bliss of Nibbana.

Charity Food Fair at Sri Lanka Temple, Sentul

In supporting the charity programs conducted by Sri Lanka Temple, Sentul, we participated in their Charity Food Fair in the temple's compound on 9/12/2012.

We sponsored and operated a drink and food stall, which we sold taufufah, soya drink, leongfun, tomyam beehoon and biscuits. Sadhu to Sis. Shirley Teh for sponsoring about 40 tins of biscuits.

Our stall managed to collect RM1,303 worth of coupons. Saddhu to all members and friends who had participated in the Charity Sales: Bro.Wong Ong, Bro.Koy Chow Huat, Sis.Selina Lim, Sis. Thum Ngit Fong, Sis. Chu Ah Leng, Sis. Chan Kwai Ying, Sis. Sally Teh, Mdm Lim Saw Bee (Bro. Koy's mother), Sis. Shirley Teh and her husband.

Ipoh Charity/Religious Charity Trip 2012

Our annual Ipoh charity/religious trip for 2012 was scheduled on 1 - 2 December 2012 to enable BISDS teachers to participate. The trip was fully booked.

Our program was similar to last year except we visited the Bao En Shi Anning Old Folk Home instead of Jelapang Old Folk Home.

On 1/12/2012, our bus couldn't leave for Temoh on time as we were delayed by a participant who couldn't make it to Buddhist Maha Vihara on time. We left without her eventually as we were one hour behind time. As the result of this, we missed the lunch dana offering ceremony. After the lunch dana, we had a very inspiring and educational Dhamma Q&A session with Bhante Hye.

We donated RM1,000 towards the Sangha Fund for Vihara Buddha Gotama.

A dhamma Q&A session with Bhante Hye

After lunch at Kampar, we visited Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Welfare Home and Pusat Jagaan Yayasan Latihan Insan Istimewa in Pasir Putih. We donated RM1,000 each to the these two homes.

Members interacted and showing affection to the children at Pusat Jagaan Yayasan Latihan Insan Istimewa

We were in happy mood after the charity work during the day.After dinner, our happy moods were elevated further by a dhamma talk about happiness by Dato' Ang Choo Hong.

We ended the night with a sing together session with our host. The session  was superb in bringing us closer together.

On the following day (2/12/2012), we visited two welfare homes and two monasteries,

(a) Anning Old Folks and Orphanage Home

(b) Pertubuhan Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Setia

(c) Dhammapiti Forest Monastery

(d) Sukhavana Forest Monastery

We donated RM1,000 each towards the Welfare Homes and RM500 each towards the monasteries.

Annning Old Folks and Orphanage Home is located at Lot 157366, off Jln Ampang Baru 6, Ampang Baru New Village, 31350 Ipoh, Perak. The Old Folks Home was founded by Master Kong Chan (a Mahayanist Buddhist Monk) in 2012 and the orphanage was established in January 2009. The new building for the home was completed in June 2011 and is now known as Bao En Shi (报恩寺). It currently has 49 old folks and 37 children.

The home is well equipped with various nursing care and and physio-therapy equipments.

Photograph with the residents of the old folk home

Distributing stationary to the children at the Anning Orphanage Home.

A scenic view taken from the first floor of Bao En Shi

Group photograph at the entrance of Bao En Shi

Group photograph at the entrance of Dhammapiti Forest Monastery.

Attending Opening Ceremony of Lay Quarter and New Dining Hall at Vihara Buddha Gotama

On 19 August 2012, we organised a trip to Vihara Buddha Gotama, Temoh to attend the opening ceremony of lay quarters and new dining hall.

The trip was very well received. It was participated by 43 members and friends. We charged RM50 (without travel insurance) or RM60 (with travel insurance) per participant. After deducting bus rental and travel insurance, the balance of RM1,156 was fully donated towards the cost of wooden flooring for the lay quarters. Welfare Section also donated RM1,000 towards the Sangha Fund.

Bhante Dhammavuddho's preceptor, Phra Khru Watchara Thamvirot cut the ribbon to officiate the opening of the lay quarters and the new dining hall.

Sanghikadana ceremony at the old dining hall.

We had an audience with Bhante Dhammavuddho before bidding farewell to him.

On our way back to KL, we spent an hour of wonderful relaxing time at the Lata Kinjang waterfall.

The Temple of Fine Art Food, Fun and Cultural Carnival 2012

In response to the Temple of Fine Arts' request, we sponsored and operated a taufufa, soya milk, & cincau drink stall at their Food, Fun and Cultural Carnival 2012 on 19 & 20 May 2012.

The proceeds from the Food and Fun Fair went towards the setting up of their Sivshanta Dialysis Centre, which is located at 128, Jln Berhala, Kuala Lumpur.

Our effort on these two days raised about RM3,000.

Wesak 2012

Wesak Eve and Wesak Day are our fundraising days. Close to 40% of our welfare fund are raised during these two days.


Like our practice in the past Wesak Day, we operated an exhibition stall and a food stall inside and outside the Buddhist Maha Vihara during Wesak Eve and Wesak Day this year to raise fund for our charitable activities. 


At the exhibition stall, we put up a small photograph exhibition to inform the public of our welfare programmes.  We also distributed free dhamma books and sold some merchandise such as towels, umbrella, soft toys, ceramic pottery and gift sets.

At the food stall, we sold a variety of vegetarian food, nasi lemak, pumpkin dessert, leongfun, etc. Sales was not encouraging on the Wesak Eve but we had a brisk business on Wesak Day. Everything was sold out at 4pm.

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.