Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary

After pindacara, Ven Balacitta gives a Dhamma talk, “Why do we meditate?” He expounds that meditation helps us to destroy tanha (craving), dosa (aversion) and moha (delusion), clear all defilements and realise that getting out of samsara is the most important thing to pursue. But, meditation must be done with Right Effort (Samma-vayama), Right Mindfulness (Samma-sati) and Right Concentration (Samma-samadhi). It is only through meditation that we can realise the path leading to enlightenment.

Today marks the last day of IMP 2008.

A Luang Phor (37 vassas) and an Ajahn (4 vassas) from Sungai Petani come for a visit.

Teens Dhamma Camp conducted by D2Y starts today.

At night, the monastics and IMPians go to Hokkien Cemetery for meditation.

A big group of volunteers give Main Office building a spring-cleaning.

Ven Kumara is in TBS again. He talks on “Metta, Karuna, Mudita and Upekkha” with a practical session added. He emphasises at the end that we need to begin from ourselves. For without self-love, self-compassion, self-rejoicing and self-acceptance, it can only mean that we carry anger within us wherever we go. How then can we relate well to others?

Ven Thitavijjo gives a Dhamma talk in Mandarin: “Who is the Buddha? Why take Refuge?” In Dona Sutta (AN 4:36), the Buddha explains to Dona, a brahmin, that he has overcome all defilements, lives in the world but is not smeared by it and is now an Awakened One. Ven Thitavijjo further explains that taking refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha will guide us to eliminate present and future suffering.

SBS purchases a new mobile phone (017 5182011) to temporarily replace the damaged line o5 8084429.


IMPian5 Akatankara (Dr Yeoh) and IMPian7 Dhammavamsa (Tan Kok Fuh) join IMPian retreat, which begins today.

A thunderstorm in the evening wipes out our interphone system and the wireless telephone transmitter for 05 8084429. A pulai tree near Farm House is blown down and breaks.

In the evening, Ven Kumara goes to Semanggol National Service Camp to talk on metta, karuna, mudita and upekkha to the trainees. He concludes with a guided session to give them a practical understanding of the four states.

Today is Wesak Day. After pindacara, Ven Kumara gives a Dhamma talk on Wesak. He says Wesak is the day celebrating the triple occasions of the birth, enlightenment and final passing away of the Buddha. There are three quotes in the scriptures that were uttered by the Buddha during each of the three occasions. Immediately after his birth, the Buddha said that it will be his last birth and there will not be another existence for him. After his enlightenment, he said that his mind had attained the Unconditioned, the destruction of craving. Just before his passing away, he reminded the monks that conditioned things are subject to change and urged them to heedfully fulfil their training, so that they may be free from samsara.
Ven Aggacitta then explains three meanings to the chant of “Araham SammaSambuddho” and leads the group chanting.

Wesak Eve celebrations begin at 7.30 pm with the lighting of candles along the roads and pathways from the main entrance gate right up to the Open Shrine. A record of more than 1,000 people turn up. There is a fantastic display of fireworks after the guided meditation, which is conducted in three languages.

IMP 2008 begins in the afternoon with six participants. Postulants Meghiya and Sampajana help to teach the IMPians how to wear robes.

After pindacara at Cantonese Cemetery Pavilion, the monks go to the house of SBS staff, Lim Ewe Seng, to chant some parittas as his daughter is afflicted by ill health suspected to be caused by evil spirits.

Uposatha Dhamma discussion is held at Sima Hall. The topic is “Does Eckhart Tolle’s teachings contradict the Buddha’s DhammaVinaya?”

Postulant Mokkhesi decides to leave SBS for some personal and family reasons.

Monastics go to Bee Hwa’s house for pindacara. Ven Aggacitta gives a Dhamma talk, explaining Karaniya Metta Sutta and “Yasmin Padese” (a verse on dedicating offerings to devas after dana to the Sangha in a new dwelling place).


Ajahn Javana, Ven Ghosananda, Ven Paññasami and a group of devotees from Penang come for a visit.

Collection for Myanmar cyclone victims’ relief funds from the devotees start after pindacara at Cantonese Cemetery Pavilion.