Kathina on Wesak Day

Taken on Wesak Day (5 May) at the Kathina held by Seck Kia Eenh Temple in Melaka.  Devotees of the temple offer rice to the Sangha (monk) members.

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This is my 1,000th posting.  I am so glad to achieve this milestone!!  Hope to have many more postings from Subang Jaya Daily Photo to share with everyone!!  Thank you to visitors who have stopped by my blog for visits. Thank you for your kind support.

ABC Wednesday - 'B' is for "Bodhi Wishing Tree"

This is a Bodhi tree made of papers and tree branches. It was set up at the entrance of the Shah Alam Buddhist Association. Wishes are written on the card made in the shape of a Bodhi leaf and tied up to branches. Many children from the Sunday School placed their wishes on the tree.



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Traditional Malay Dance

These beautifully attired dancers who are from the Melaka Cultural Performing Troupe performed at the Wesak International Cultural Nite at Brickfields Buddhist Maha Vihara.

Aren't their costumes beautiful?

Wesak Evening in Melaka

My family went to Seck Kia Eenh Temple in Melaka on Wesak evening. These are the scenes that we saw. It was a very spritual evening for devotees.

In the first photo, a chanting was held in front of the white bell-like structure, called stupa. In the stupa, is where the relics of Buddha is kept. After the chanting, a closing ceremony for this year's Wesak celebration was held. The crowd gathered at the flag posts to sing the Buddhist anthem, 'In Unity We Stand', Melaka state song, 'Melaka Maju Jaya' and lastly our national anthem, 'Negaraku'.

My World Tues - Offering of Lights

Offering of lights in the form of oil lamps to the Buddha is a common practice among Buddhist. This is a practice that is very similar to the Hindus offering of ghee lamp. The symbolic meaning of this offering is the lights would cast away the darkness and bring wisdom and brightness into one's life.

Thus, on Wesak Day many Buddhists will offer oil lamps or candles in temples. They will usually put a note with the name of the offerer on the oil lamp and a message may the person be well and happy.

The photos that I shared today shows volunteers in Brickfields Vihara helping to light up the oil lamps offered by devotees in conjunction with Wesak celebration. Aren't they beautiful?

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In the News!

What a great news to find out that the launch of our Buddhist song book, Dharma Tunes, on last Sunday got published in The Star's Metro section today!!! Wow, it's really an honour and we hope the book will be widely used in Sunday Dharma School in Malaysia! For more information about this book, you may go to: http://sulimation.webs.com/dharmatunes.html. -------------------------------------------- The news of Dharma Tunes launch was also highlighted in Buddhist Channel:

Launch of Dharma Tunes

I spent our National Day in a very significant manner with a group of Buddhist music enthusiasts. We had a launch of Dharma Tunes, a Buddhist Hymns book that contains lyrics, full music notation for piano and also guitar chords. It has been a long tradition that Buddhist hymns are learnt orally and passed on from one generation to another. Thus, now we have a paradigm shift, where anyone who has this book, could learn a hymn easily. During the launch, we saw many young performers from various Buddhist organizations in Klang Valley spreading the joy of Dharma (Buddhist teachings) through music, dance and songs.

Malaysia has been a powerhouse of Buddhist music. The local Buddhist organizations give strong and ardent support to cultivate Buddhist musicians and singers. The publishing of Dharma Tunes is another commendable effort to further encourage the growth and development of Buddhist music that would benefit all!

Youth Fellowship

The Subang Jaya Buddhist Association Youth Section (SJBA YS) launched D'Lot, a centre in SS15 so that they could have their activities at a convenient location for their members who comprised of mainly young working adult and college students. To those of us who used to be members of the YS, it was a reunion where we were able to catch up with old friends and also meet up with new friends from the current YS. I feel so much energetic and young mingling with the youthful members!

Seen here in the photo is the new SJBA YS musical group performing some new hymns and getting us all to sing along. In my shot, I cheekily included the two YS members who were shooting photographs of the choir performance.

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Added on 25 Aug 2008:

Here is the video that I recorded of this musical group performing a hymn entitled "Buddha The Lord" written and composed by Nee Wern, an inspiring young leader, the one dressed in white shirt and beige pants. Hope you enjoy it!

Wedding - Lunch Dana

This is another practice of Dana (generosity) by offering lunch to the Sangha (monk) members.
The couple was doing the offering and the Reverends were doing the Sharing of Merits. May the blessing of the offerings made by the couple be shared with all beings.

A Buddhist Wedding

What a lovely wedding we had yesterday!!! The wedding ceremony was held at shrine hall of the Chempaka Buddhist Lodge in Petaling Jaya. The bridal couple had the Chief Monk, Rev. Saranankara to do a blessing at this ceremony. It was such a happy occasion for the couples, their families and friends. Fortunately all the programmes went smoothly despite Murphy Law came into actions several times. It was indeed a blessed wedding.

My wish for the couple, Sim Keong & Phaik Loo, is may they always be blessed by the Triple Gems as they start their lives together as husband and wife!

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I will be sharing more photos from the wedding in the next few days. Hope you would enjoy them!