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A Piṇḍapāta in Subang Jaya

by Rasika Quek
Dharma Aftermath

The late Chief Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda left us almost 12 years ago but the
memory of him and his influence is still strong even till today. Recently, the Subang Jaya
Buddhist Association (SJBA) organized their Third Samaneri Novitiate Program from
the June 12-24, 2018. To mark the late Chief Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda’s birth
centennial and to honor his contribution to the development of Theravāda Buddhism in
Malaysia, the SJBA also organized a Pindapata in conjunction, for the sāmaṇerīs on the
last day of the novitiate.

Samaneris being novice Buddhist nuns in training also had their heads shaven like
their male counterparts. Piṇḍapāta is the practice of collecting alms-food observed by
Buddhist monks and nuns as they go round outside the temple grounds in the morning.
The Piṇḍapāta began at about 8.00 am following the designated route which used the
pedestrian bridge next to the SJBA temple to cross the Persiaran Kewajipan main road
to go over to the other side. Devotees already started streaming in for the event just
after 7.00 am or so and began parking their vehicles along the slip road off Persiaran
Kewajipan.

Altogether about 110 sāmaṇerīs treaded bare-footed mindfully with their alms-bowl in
a single line when the Piṇḍapāta commenced. We could see them using the pedestrian
bridge to cross the busy road from afar. The number of volunteers accompanying them
to help carry the items being offered to the sāmaṇerīs was probably equal in number. We
were told that this time around the number of sāmaṇerīs participating in the novitiate
was about doubled compared to the previous one organized.

The devotees stood in line, some kneeling, to put the various items into the alms-bowl
carried by the sāmaṇerīs. They waited patiently along the road shoulder of the slip road
which is a straight route before the line turned left to the morning market area and
shops in Jalan SS 14 for a short distance. Besides carrying items offered to the sāmaṇerīs,
the volunteers also helped in safe-guarding their safety by taking care of traffic. At the
market, the sāmaṇerīs u-turned and back-tracked to the Persiaran Kewajipan slip road
and made their way back to the temple, again crossing the pedestrian bridge. My guess
is that the entire route would have taken about 5km or so. Although there were many
curious onlookers at the market area, not many offered alms as they were not familiar
with the sight of so many shaven head nuns in their saffron robes and alms bowls.
Nevertheless, the nuns had completed their dignified task and who knows in future
the onlookers may become devotees themselves offering alms once they know what
Piṇḍapāta was all about.