Pearls of Wisdom
The Tathāgatas Only Show the Way
“Tumhehi kiccam ātappaṁ, akkhātāro Tathāgatā.”
“You yourselves must strive; the Tathāgatas only show the
way.”
~Dhammapada 276~
The Buddha speaks clearly here, reminding us of the true nature of practice.
Throughout countless lives, beings wander, seeking peace, freedom, and happiness. They go to teachers, temples, holy places, hoping to find something that will solve their suffering. But here, the Buddha points to the essence of the path: self-effort.
The Buddha is called Tathāgata—the One Who Has Gone to the Truth, the Fully Awakened One. He discovered the way to freedom from suffering and compassionately revealed it. But he also made it clear: “I only show the way. You must walk it yourself.”
No one can hand us wisdom. No one can remove our anger, greed, or delusion for us. We must practice patiently, sincerely through virtue, concentration, and wisdom.
When we develop mindfulness, cultivate loving-kindness, and see clearly the nature of impermanence, suffering, and non-self, we begin to free ourselves. But this freedom depends on our own effort.
We may respect the Buddha, bow to him, chant his words but if we do not practice, nothing changes.
May we all walk the path diligently and reach the end of suffering.
Why do we say Sadhu 3 times
In Buddhism, the term “Sadhu” is an expression of appreciation and affirmation. It is often used to commend someone for a good deed or to express joy and approval of a teaching or truth that has been shared. The word itself translates to “good” or “excellent.”
Significance of saying “Sadhu” in Buddhism:-
- Affirmation – It is a way of affirming the truth and value of the teachings or actions being discussed.
- Encouragement – Saying “Sadhu” encourages both the speaker and the listener to continue in their practice and appreciation of the Dharma.
- Community Bonding – It helps in building a sense of community and shared values among practitioners.
Meaning of “Sadhu”:-
The literal meaning of “Sadhu” is “good” or “excellent.”
It is used to express approval, joy, or satisfaction in a spiritual context.
Regarding saying it four times instead of three:-
Traditionally, “Sadhu” is often repeated three times to show strong agreement or joy. However, the number of times it is said can vary based on individual or cultural practices.
Lim Kooi Fong – NORBU AI
Resistance to Meditation
There are times when you don’t feel like meditating. The very idea seems obnoxious. Missing a single practice session is scarcely important, but it very easily becomes a habit. It is wiser to push on through the resistance. Go sit anyway. Observe this feeling of aversion. In most cases it is a passing emotion, a flash in the pan that will evaporate right in front of your eyes. Five minutes after you sit down it is gone. In other cases, it is due to some sour mood that day, and it lasts longer. Still, it does pass. And it is better to get rid of it in twenty or thirty minutes of meditation than to carry it around with you and let it ruin the rest of your day. Another time, resistance may be due to some difficulty you are having with the practice itself. You may or may not know what that difficulty is. If the problem is known, handle it by one of the techniques given in this book. Once the problem is gone, resistance will be gone. If the problem is unknown, then you are going to have to tough it out. Just sit through the resistance and observe that mindfully. When it has finally run its course, it will pass. Then the problem causing it will probably bubble up in its wake, and you can deal with that.
If resistance to meditation is a common feature of your practice, then you should suspect some subtle error in your basic attitude. Meditation is not a ritual conducted in a particular posture. It is not a painful exercise, or period of enforced boredom. And it is not some grim, solemn obligation. Meditation is mindfulness. it is a new way of seeing and it is a form of play. Meditation is your friend. Come to regard it as such and resistance will wash away like smoke on a summer breeze.
From – Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana
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LEND A HAND
The Buddhist Maha Vihara “Lend A Hand” programme is to support the undertaking of a number of crucial projects that are needed for continuous maintenance and upgrading for the benefit of all devotees. We appeal to your kind generosity to help us realise the following:
We are pleased to announce the commencement of work to refurbish the now renamed Wisma K Sri Dhammananda (previously Wisma Sri Dhamma). This 5-storey building will incorporate 2 floors of private accommodation space for Bhikkhunis and female devotees.
If you wish to contribute towards the building fund, the bank details are as follows:-
Account Name: Buddhist Maha Vihara
Account Number: 8000-8611-91 Bank: CIMB
Contact BMV Admin Office for assistance at
Tel: 03-22741141/011-2689 6123
eMAIL: info@buddhistmahavihara.org
Buddha Frieze for the sponsorship @Meditation Pavilion, BMV
Seated Buddha Frieze
RM 18,000 each
22 statues left to be sponsored
We have the above Seated Buddha Frieze available for sponsorship. Please contact the office for further details. A big Sadhu to all who have sponsored the Standing Buddha Frieze.
WISMA DHAMMA CAKRA
2 nos Elevators on the Ground Floor available for sponsorship
– RM150,000 each
Many families are struggling with the rising cost of essentials, including diapers. Through this initiative, BMV aims to provide clean, dry diapers to families in need – bringing comfort and relief, one family at a time. Your support will make a meaningful difference.
We kindly seek donations of diapers in all sizes (Adults & Children)
Drop–off Location: Buddhist Maha Vihara
Drop-off Hours: 9.00am-8.00pm (Daily)
123, Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur
General Items for Temple and Devotees’ Use
Vehicle for Transport
Balance Required: RM31,900
CONTACT BMV ADMIN OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE
Account Name: Buddhist Maha Vihara
Account Number: 292-00-01161-8 Bank: Hong Leong Bank
TEL:03 – 2274 1141 / 011- 2689 6123
eMAIL: info@buddhistmahavihara.org
PRAYER FOR FREEDOM FROM SUFFERING
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses. May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may people think of befriending each other. May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wilderness– the children, the aged, the unprotected– be guarded by beneficent celestials.
Buddhist Maha Vihara
(Established in 1895)
The Vihara was founded by the Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society, which is the oldest registered Buddhist Society in the country. The Vihara was elevated to that of a Maha Vihara since 1994 with the full complement of the three main sacred objects of veneration namely the Buddha image (1894); the Bodhi Tree (1911) and the International Buddhist Pagoda (1971). Being the oldest Buddhist temple in the Klang Valley, we have served the community selflessly as follows:
Religious Activities
•Daily Buddha Puja at designated hours
•Full Moon and New Moon Buddha Puja
•Bojjangha Puja for good health
•Dhamma Talks
•Meditation Classes and Retreats
•8 Precept Programme
•Chanting Classes
•Wesak Programme and Candle Light Procession
•All Night Chanting to invoke Blessings
•Kathina Ceremony
•Novitiate Programme
Education Programme
FREE Buddhist education for children and adults via the Sunday School since 1929.
Systematic tertiary Buddhist education.
Distributed more than 2 MILLION free publications and CDs/MP3/DVD/VCD in 30 languages since the 1950s.
Dharma for the Deaf class since 1999
Socio-Welfare Activities
Weekly Feeding the Homeless and Needy
Festive Season Midnight Aid Distribution to the Homeless
Grocery Aid Distribution to Welfare Homes and Orang Asli Settlements
Weekly Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic
Weekly Qigong and Yoga Classes
Weekly Sinhala Language And Cultural Dance Classes
Pursuing inter-religious harmony through the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST)ION
VISION
To be a leading international center for the Learning, Practise and Dissemination of the Buddha Dhamma
MISSION
To provide a conducive environment to:
• promote scholarship and study of the Buddha Dhamma
• propagate the Buddha Dhamma
• be the focus of Buddhist activities for the larger community
• foster Theravada Buddhist cultural and traditional practices
Six Strategic Objectives
To be the Buddhist center of choice for:
1. Pariyatti – Structured Buddhist education for children and adults.
2. Patipatti, Pativedha – Regular programmes for the practice and the realization of the Buddha Dhamma.
3. Dhammadutta – Dhamma materials for the masses locally and abroad
4. Karuna – Compassion in Action
5. Kalyana Mitrata – Networking and Fellowship with Buddhist and non Buddhist organisations to sustain the Buddha Sasana.
6. Samajivikata – Financial viability while committing to Religious and Cultural Obligations.
Four Ennoblers
1. Loving Kindness
2. Compassion
3. Altruistic Joy
4. Equanimity
Motto
Go forth, for the good, happiness and welfare of the many, out of compassion for the world.
BMV DAILY OPERATING HOURS & PROGRAMMES
BMV GATES 1
Monday – Sunday
Open from – 6.00am – 10.00pm
BMV ADMIN OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Saturday – 9.00am – 9.00pm
Sunday – 9.00am – 7.00pm
Public Holidays – 9.00am – 5.00pm
Daily Activities
PUJA
Daily Evening Puja (7.30pm at Shrine Hall)
Saturdays Bhojjangha Puja (7.30pm at Shrine Hall)
Full/New Moon Puja (7.30pm at Shrine Hall)
Sunday Morning Puja (8.30am at Shrine Hall)
MONKS DANA
Daily Morning Buddha Puja – 7.30am
Breakfast Dana – 8.00am
Daily Noon Buddha Puja – 11.30am
Lunch Dana – 12.00pm
Weekly Activities
DHAMMA TALK
Friday at @Bhāvanā Sālā (8.00pm – 9.30pm)
Sunday at @Bhāvanā Sālā (10.00am – 11.30am)
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE –
Sunday at TCM Room (10.00am – 2.00pm)
FRIENDS OF THE VIHARA (Feeding the Homeless)
Sunday – Cooking (2.00pm)
– Delivery of Food (5.00pm)
MEDITATION CLASSES
Monday & Thursday at Activity Room Level 3, WDC (7.00pm to 9.00pm)
QI GONG CLASS
Saturday @Bhāvanā Sālā (8.30am – 10.30am)
YOGA CLASS
Tuesday @Asoka Hall (10.30am – 12.00pm)
Thursday @ Asoka Hall (7.00pm – 8.30pm)
(Please register with BMV Office)
SUNDAY SCHOOL DHAMMA CLASS
Sunday at WDC (9.00am to 12.00pm)
PALLI & SUTTA CLASS
Sunday at Mezzanine Floor, WDC (11.00am to 12.30pm)
ABHIDHAMMA CLASS
Sunday at Mezzanine Floor, WDC (9.30am to 11.00am)
DHAMMA FOR THE DEAF
Sunday at Pagoda – (fortnightly) (3.00pm to 4.30pm)
SINHALA LANGUAGE & CULTURAL DANCE CLASS
Sunday at Wisma Annex level 2 (Room 1) (1.30pm to 5.00pm)
ONLINE BUDDHISM CLASS
Saturday for Degree & Master (2.00pm to 7.00pm)
Sunday for Diploma & Degree (2.00pm to 7.00pm)
You can donate towards our many projects :
• Dhammadutta
• Free Buddhist Publications
• Welfare Activities
• Monks Dana
• Sunday Dhamma School
• Maintenance of Shrine Hall
• K Sri Dhammananda Library
• Temple Lighting
• Wisma K Sri Dhammananda (WKSD) Building Fund
Payments can be made via :
BMV Office Counter : Cash, cheques & credit cards
Postage : Make cheques payable to “Buddhist Maha Vihara” & write your name & contact telephone at back of the cheque.
Direct Debit : Hong Leong Bank Brickfields – Acct : 292-00-01161-8
BUDDHIST MAHA VIHARA
123 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2274 1141 H/P: 6011-2689 6123
Email: info@buddhistmahavihara.org
Website: www.buddhistmahavihara.org
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