Inspiration for Monkhood Programme

Inspiration for Monkhood Programme 2009
5 – 19 December 2009

A programme for lay men to have a feel ofmonastic life at the edge of the forest.

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  Ven Aggacitta's Papers for GCB 2007
Bhante Aggacitta's papers (in PDF) for the Global Conference on Buddhism 2007:

  SBS Prospectus
    -Bhikkhu Training 2003



"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.

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.

Eastern Horizon coverTo 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.
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)

Venerable Aggacitta 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.
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.