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Devotees could offer any type of cooked food such as plain rice, vegetable dishes, cakes,
ripened fruits, biscuits, etc. but they had to be suitably wrapped or placed in a clean
container. Uncooked food or uncut fruits could be handed over to the volunteers who
would then hand them over to the temple kitchen to be prepared and offered to the
Saṅgha during meal time. As the Saṅgha does not accept uncooked meat, raw eggs, fish or
money, such items could however be offered at the temple’s kitchen/office.
Unlike Malaysia, it is a daily practice in Buddhist countries such as Thailand, Myanmar
and Sri Lanka for monks and nuns to go on Piṇḍapāta where they walk through a village
from one household to another, allowing devotees to offer alms food. Piṇḍapāta is not
common in Malaysia as it is the usual practice for the monks and nuns to be served with
food within the temple itself, without doing the alms rounds. Hence, the last day of the
novitiate which was June 24 was a memorable one not only for the sāmaṇerīs but also for
the devotees to accumulate merits.

Since the time of the Buddha, especially in Buddhist countries, Buddhist monks and nuns
have been supported through the Piṇḍapāta of lay devotees. The Saṅgha need not worry
about food, robes, medicines and even shelter as lay devotees would provide for these.
Freed from such worry, the Saṅgha could have the time to practice the Dhamma.

The debt owed to the late Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda is beyond measure for the cause of
Theravāda Buddhism in Malaysia. The SJBA has done a commendable effort in organizing
such a Piṇḍapāta to commemorate his birth centennial and to honor his contribution to
the Dhamma. In a similar vein, the Brickfields Maha Vihara will also commemorate the
late Chief Venerable’s birth centennial during the coming August 31 and September 1 by
requesting Ven. Uttama, an accomplished Nepalese monk-artist to paint the late Chief
Venerable’s portrait and to hold a Buddhist art exhibition. Ven. Uttama was recently
invited by the Buddhist Gem Fellowship to hold a Buddhist art exhibition during the
Wesak period which was very successful. The Bandar Utama Buddhist Society also
organized an event to commemorate the late Chief Venerable’s birth centennial on August
11 and 12 recently.

We rejoice with all devotees and the Saṅgha who have kept the memory and legacy of
the late Chief Venerable alive. The gratitude we have for him in receiving the priceless
Dhamma and compassion he had imparted to us all is immense. May All Beings Be Well
And Happy! Sādhu, sādhu, sādhu! EH