Upcoming Events
A. Kathina Ceremony – 25th October @ 7.00am
A special day for devotees to offer basic requisites to the templeand the Maha Sangha. Devotees will circumambulate the Shrine Hall three times and then make their offerings together with the Kathina Cheevera (Kathina cloth) to the Maha Sangha. The requisites offered include robes, medicines, toiletries, cleaning equipment and kitchen items. You may offer Kathina requisites to the Sangha members at the Vihara during the one month Kathina season which starts from the full moon of 24th October to the full moon of 23rd November 2026. May the merits of your wholesome deeds bring you and your loved ones peace, good health and abundant blessings.
B. FOV Grocery Bag Orang Asli Project – 21st November
C. 48TH Novitiate Programme – 12th Dec to 20th Dec
Buddhist Maha Vihara is pleased to announce the 48th Novitiate Programme from 12th December to 20th December. This programme offers an opportunity for participants to experience a simple monastic lifestyle, develop mindfulness, cultivate compassion, and nurture wisdom for greater inner peace and joy.
Key Programme Details:-
Shaving Ceremony – Saturday, 12th December
Pindapata – Sunday, 20th December
Venue:- Buddhist Maha Vihara,123, Jalan Berhala, Brickfields
Past Events from June to August 2026
Dhamma Activities
A. In-Person Dhamma Talks @ 8pm
1. Bhante Rakkhita Thera (UK)
a) Sun, 21st June – The Noble Truth of Surfing
b) Sun, 28th June – Trouble and Strife
c) Fri, 3rd July – Castles Made of Sand
d) Fri, 24th July – Dr Who? Dr No
e) Sun, 26th July = The Talk with No Name
2. Dr Ashoke Priyadarshana (Sri Lanka)
a) Fri, 10th July – Mindfulness vs Mindlessness
b) Sun, 12th July – Mind-Body Duo and Mental Disorders
c) Fri, 17th July – Buddha’s Remedies for Stress
d) Sun, 19th July – How to Find Peace Within: The Buddha’s way
B. Meditation Retreats – Non-Stay-In Retreats in English
1. Bhante Dr Gangodawila Chandima Thera (Canada)
Saturday, 27th June from 8.00am to 5.00pm
Theme:- Right Mindfulness through the Contemplation of Dhammas
Participants were guided by Bhante in knowing mental processes and experiential phenomena – including the 5 hindrances, 5 aggregates, 6 sense-bases, 7 factors of awakening, and the 4 Noble Truths – through the cultivation of wisdom.
B. Meditation Retreats – Non-Stay-In Retreats in Mandarin
1. Bhante Paññajothi Thera (Malaysia)
Saturday, 8th August from 8.00am to 6.00 pm
Theme:- Four Foundations of Mindfulness
C. Sutta Class with Bhante Gangodawila Chandima Thera (Canada)
Bhante Chandima has conducted 132 continuous classes as at 17th August 2026 since he started in July 2023. Bhante has covered 13 suttas and is now on the 14th Sutta which is the Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovāda Sutta (MN 61)
D. Esala Full Moon Puja – 28th July
The Esala Full Moon marks the beginning of the Vassana period where the Maha Sangha will be invited to observe the rainy season for the 3 months at BMV by the Sasana Committee of Management. The Acting President, Bro A Hemadasa and the President of BMS Sis Loh Pai Ling offered the traditional tray of betel leaves to the Maha Sangha led by BMV Chief Incumbent Most Venerable Datuk Dr K Sri Dhammaratana Nayaka Maha Thero.
E. 20th Year Memorial Programme of Ven Dr K Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha TheraEsala Full Moon Puja – 28th July
Buddhist Maha Vihara presented a series of commemorative programmes throughout the month of August at the Vihara, honouring the life, teachings, and enduring contributions of the Most Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera. Presidents of main Buddhist Societies in the Klang Valley were in attendance.
a) Opening & Blessing Ceremony – Sunday, 9th August @ 7.00pm
BMV held the Opening and Blessing Ceremony in honour of the 20th Year Memorial of Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera at the Asoka Hall. Ven Datuk Dr K Sri Dhammaratana Nayaka Maha Thera and the Maha Sangha conducted the Buddha puja followed by blessings for one hundred over people.
b) Interfaith Unity Dialogue 2: National Unity – Saturday, 15th August from 3.00pm to 5.00pm
The Interfaith Unity Dialogue on National Unity was held on 15 August 2026 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, at Dewan Asoka. The event was held in conjunction with the 20th Memorial Commemoration of our late Chief Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera.
In this highly engaging and enlightening session, leaders, NGOs, and community members came together to explore how we can empower ourselves to become solution providers for national unity.
The distinguished panel of speakers shared their insights on how we can empower ourselves to become solution providers for national unity. They were:-
• Ust. Dr Hussain Abdeen, Head of Outreach and Interfaith Engagement, Islamic Outreach ABIM (IOAC Malaysia)
• Professor Dr Suresh Govind, Chairman, Fellowship of Inter-religious Service (FGIS)
• Brother Sunil Hasmukharay, Assistant General Secretary, Fellowship of Inter-religious Service (FGIS)
• Dr Amir Farid Isahak, Chairman, INSaF (Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship), Kuala Lumpur
• Datuk Seri Dr Victor Wee, Founding Member and former President, Buddhist Gem Fellowship (BGF)
• Rev. Dr Hermen Priyaraj Shastri, Former General Secretary, Council of Churches of Malaysia
• Pn. Gowri A/P P.S. Thangaya, Director, Government Records Management Division, National Archives of Malaysia
• Dr Hardev Kaur, Associate Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), specialising in English Literature
• Dr Yam Kah Kean, Taoist Priest and Founding President, Taoist Association of Malaysia
Note by Editor – Due to production deadlines, the rest of the month long programme will be covered in the Nov-Dec issue.
Other BMV Activities
A. BMV Seniors Club Talk on ‘Mental Well Being and Ageing’ – 18th July
The 4th event in 2026 for the Seniors Club was on a topic that was of interest and relevance to our members, ‘Mental Well Being and Ageing’ which started at 10am and ended at 1.00pm with lunch provided. It drew in good registration of 62 persons. Dr Ashoke Priyadarshana, a consultant psychologist and gerontologist, is a much sort after speaker not only in Malaysia but also in other South East Asian countries. He presented this topic in an interesting and entertaining manner. He engaged the audience with humour, thought provoking questions that stir the mind and a voice to speak up. It was a fruitful morning interacting with Dr Ashoke and other fellow seniors.
Report by Sis Jian Yip – BMV Seniors Club Coordinator
B. FOV 35th Grocery Bag Distribution – 20th June
(To Kg Gading and Kg Batu 3 – Kuala Rompin, Pahang)
On Saturday 20th June 2026, 18 volunteers arrived at Buddhist Maha Vihara and commenced removing the grocery items from FOV store and loading onto the 5 vehicles and a 3-ton lorry. Volunteers had a simple breakfast & short briefing by Bro Ng before departing at 6.15am. After a gruelling 5-hour journey, the convoy arrived at the 1st village (Kg Gading). The volunteers immediately swung into action with unloading of grocery items and distribution completed by 12.00noon. The team then proceeded to the 2nd village (Kg Batu 3) and completed the distribution there by 3.45pm. The team had an overnight stay in Kuala Rompin before returning to KL the next day. We wish to thank all the volunteers and drivers who sacrificed their weekend to bring joy and smiles to the orang asli community in Kg Gading & Kg Batu 3. And also our sincere appreciation to all sponsors and donors for their generous contributions in supporting and making this distribution a success.
Report by Sis Dinah Lau – FOV
C. Visit by UCSI Students – 16th June and 2nd July
BMV recently hosted students from UCSI’s School of Architecture and Built Environment. Bro Sirisena Perera who represented BMV met up with five of the 1st year students on 16th June for their first assignment on Historical Origins of Religious Architecture which last about 3 hours. After which Sis Malenee Jinadasa took them on a guided tour of BMV premises. The second session took place on 2nd July and this covered another 2 assignments which lasted 2 hours. Prior to these 2 sessions, the students visited BMV on a Sunday morning to observe a Sunday morning service and the Sunday Dhamma School (BISDS).
Report by Bro Sirisena Perera – Sasana Committee member
D. Financial Literacy Workshop for Children
A Financial Literacy Workshop for children aged between 8 years to 12 years was held on 4 Sundays i.e July 5th and 12th and August 9th and 16th. The Chief Facilitator, Sis Yap Cheng Theng (HRDC Accredited Trainer) conducted the sessions with 32 children in attendance and a few facilitators to assist. The aim of these sessions was to teach the children to make smart money choices, grow their savings and plan their future.
E. Dhamma Session ‘Art Thera’ for Sasana Youth – 18th July
On Sunday, 18th July visiting monk Bhante Rakkitha Thera (UK)engaged BMV Sasana Youth in a joyful and interesting way to make Buddhist teaching relevant in their daily lives. The session titled ‘Art Thera’ was held at the Bhavana Sala from 9.30am- 11.30am, combining story-telling, group activities and creative expression. The session concluded with Art Thera, where participants created 4 simple drawings representing the 4 Noble Truths.
F. SAWS Sinhala Cultural Dance Troupe (SCDT)
a. MBCC Volunteers’ Appreciation Dinner
On 13 June 2026, the SAWS Sinhala Cultural Dance Troupe opened the Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) Volunteer’s Appreciation Dinner with a devotional dance. The dinner was held at Dewan Asoka, Wisma Dharma Cakra, Buddhist Maha Vihara.
b. ‘Terima Kasih Dhammananda’ Exhibition at Nalanda Buddhist Society
On 18 July 2026, Buddhist Maha Vihara organised an educational trip to the Nalanda Buddhist Society in Sri Serdang. The society is currently hosting an exhibition titled “Terima Kasih, Dhammananda”, which will run until 31December 2026. The exhibition highlights the late Venerable Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda’s efforts to propagate Buddhism around the world, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore. The Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society donated RM2,000 and a Buddha image to the Nalanda Buddhist Society.
BMV Digest 