NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM OUR ABBOT and exco

To : The Exco and members of SJBA, and devotees of Triple Gem
Sukhi Hotu ! Happy New Year 2021 !
May you and your family members, and Dhamma friends be calm and peaceful, and be healthy always. And may you live a virtuous life in accordance with the Teachings of the Buddha.
On this new year 2021, it is always important to reflect on one’s own practice of Dhamma, whether or not it is in line with the Teachings. As we live in the world with desirable and undesirable conditions, the proper practice of Dhamma is the way to strengthen the mind, to live in equanimity, and not overwhelmed by the vicissitudes of life. Thus, the practice of the Dhamma becomes one’s refuge (in mind).
Quote :
“One who abides in the Dhamma, who delights in the Dhamma, who meditates on the Dhamma and bears the Dhamma well in the mind, does not fall away from the sublime Dhamma.”
The important teaching of the Buddha is the sublime Dhamma, which refers to the Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment and Nine Supramundane Dhamma, i.e., the four stages of path knowledge, four stages of fruition knowledge and Nibbāna. And the most important factor in the practice is mindfulness, which is the only way to the purification of mind. A mind which is defiled by greed, hatred and delusion, and other unwholesome mental states is the cause of sufferings, whereas a complete purified mind brings abundance of bliss and happiness. The Buddha can only show the way, but you yourself have to strive to realize it.
The last words of the Buddha is “Be Heedful” (Appamāda), which is the keyword in the Teachings. All wholesome things are founded in heedfulness, converge on heedlessness. And one who is heedful, will endeavour to be mindful, in order to purify the mind from defilements. This is the practice of Dhamma that one needs to bear in mind.
I sincerely wish that all followers of Triple Gem, the seekers of the Noble Truths, be heedful and mindful always, and make a firm resolution to practise the Dhamma diligently. By virtue of your heedfulness and mindfulness, evil mental states and unwholesome qualities will be abandoned, and good thoughts and wholesome qualities will be developed, and may you be able to realize the Four Noble Truths soon and live in ultimate bliss.
With thoughts of loving-kindness,
U Nyanaramsi.

Brothers & Sisters in the Dhamma,
Happy New Year!
It must have been a challenging year, last year, for many of us due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This Covid-19 pandemic change the whole world so drastically. We have to learn to adjust ourselves to many new norms, including social distancing, wearing masks, personal hygiene and socially connected via social media, etc.
It is unfortunate that the world has to go through this Covid-19 pandemic. It has caused misery and hardship to so many people. SJBA Vihara as well as the other places of worship in Malaysia have to be closed during the MCO. When the Government introduced the RMCO in Selangor in June 2020, SJBA began to gradually reopen the Vihara in early July with strict compliance with Standard Operating Procedures. However, the Government reimpose the CMCO in Selangor on 12 October 2020 and SJBA have to be closed again.
In the meantime, we are conducting our Sunday Buddha Puja Service and Friday Dhamma Sessions on-line, thanks to the hard work of our Digital Team. With such online programs, we can continue to learn and practice the Teachings of the Buddha.
We hope that this pandemic will be over soon and we can go back to our normal life like the good old days. We hope all of you will be well, safe and happy. We seek for forgiveness from all those that we have done wrong to, by our actions, speech or thoughts, intentionally or unintentionally, and also forgive anyone who may have done wrong to us by action, speech or thoughts in order that all of us can live in peace and harmony.
May we continue to follow the Path as taught by the Buddha, cultivating ourselves in Dana, Sila and Bhavana, abstaining from evil, doing good and purifying our mind. By the power of our merits and with the Blessings of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, may we be blessed with good health, happiness and success in life in the year 2021 and beyond, until our attainment of Nibbana.
With metta,
SJBA Exco
1 January 2021

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