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"The time has come for us to do something or there will be no future for Buddhism in
Malaysia."
Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, a.k.a. "Chief Reverend", Religious Patron of
Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary (in his speech during the launching of the SBS fund
raising project in May 2000)
Sasanarakkha# Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS)
is a training centre (in the making) for Malaysian Theravada Buddhist monks to learn how
to live in accordance with the Dhammavinaya — the name the Buddha gave his
"religion" — as enshrined in the original scriptures.
The Sanctuary dedicates its resources to groom eligible
Malaysian monks to become conscientious in the study and practice of the Dhammavinaya, and
thereby help to perpetuate our Sasana and protect it from decline in learning, morals and
meditative wisdom. In doing so, it hopes to answer the urgent calls of the Malaysian
Buddhist community to overcome the acute shortage of suitably trained local monks.
We hope that SBS will also lay the groundwork for evolving
a truly Malaysian Theravada Buddhist identity that accords with the scriptural tradition
in the spirit and the letter.
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How can we vitalise the Sasana
in Malaysia?
Venerable Mahamahinda's conversation with Sri Lankan king
Devanampiya Tissa is a historic lesson from
which we can learn how to do it . As a modern
response to ancient hopes, the curriculum of SBS
offers a unique blend of theory and practice, oriented towards inspiring a new breed of
Malaysian Theravada monks to help protect the Buddha Sasana from decline in learning,
morals and meditative wisdom.
 To read more about the importance of a monk training
centre in Malaysia, see the excerpt from Eastern
Horizon's interview with Venerable Aggacitta on this noble project conducted by Mitra
Chong and Selena Chew in Klang on February 19, 2000.
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We therefore appeal to the generosity of everyone to help
us make this project a reality. Find out how to
donate . [Note: Names of donors who contribute RM1000 and above will be displayed
at the main hall of SBS.]
Spirit of the SBS Fund-raising
Project:
Commitment, Open-door
policy, Modesty, Fraternity, Integrity and Transparency (COMFIT)
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The proposed Sanctuary is envisioned by Venerable
Aggacitta , a Malaysian born and bred in Penang. He answered the Buddha's call to go
forth on the Wesak of 1978. In pursuit of the pure Theravada teachings, he journeyed to
Myanmar and Thailand, where he underwent rigorous study and training for 15 years. Now, 5
years after his return to Malaysia, he realises the need to establish a centre to train
Malaysian monks to live up to the expectations of the ancient Elders. |
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| Sasanarakkha [Guardian
of the Sasana] is a compound formed from the Pali words sasana and arakkha .
For Theravada Buddhists, Sasana is an abbreviation of Buddhasasana [the Buddha's
Teaching], which is basically three-fold: to study, practise and realise the Dhammavinaya.
Arakkha means guardian or protector. |
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