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44 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE
Tan Buck Soon has a
Bachelor of Engineering Bringing
degree from Universiti
Malaya. He began his
engineering career with Buddhism to
the Government, and later
founded his own highly
successful engineering Beginners
consultancy. He was the former President of the
Methodist Boys’ School (Penang) Buddhist Society, By Tan Buck Soon and Datuk Charlie Chia Lui Meng
Publication Secretary of the University of Malaya Both of you have been active in Dharma work
Buddhist Society, former President of the Buddhist for over 40 years since your student days in the
Graduates Fellowship, and founding President of university. What started you on Buddhism?
the Bandar Utama Buddhist Society. He is a regular
Dhamma speaker at colleges and universities and a Buck Soon: I came into contact with Buddhism in 1972,
meditation teacher. at the age of 14 when I attended a Buddhist Sunday
School in Wat Ping Bang Onn, Penang. At that time, I
Charlie Chia is an Advocate was very keen to study the life of the Buddha, how he
and Solicitor and a Non- taught the Dharma to different types of people, and how
Executive Director of he established the Sangha. I was also fascinated with the
GDB Holdings Berhad. Pali chanting (Thai style) that was done every Sunday.
A Chartered Quantity In 1975, together with a few schoolmates, I started a
Surveyor, he was a former Buddhist society at the Methodist Boys’ School, Penang.
When I entered University Malaya, I continued to be
Group CEO of United
active and served as an executive committee member
Malayan Land Bhd, CEO of
of the campus Buddhist Society. After graduation, I was
Malton Berhad, and Director of Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd.
part of a group of friends who started the Buddhist
He has founded various Buddhist organizations, Graduates Fellowship (now known as Buddhist Gem
namely the Buddhist Missionary Society Youth Fellowship). In 2000, together with some Buddhist
Section, Kota Tinggi Buddhist Society, Metta Lodge friends, we started the Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
Johor Bahru, and Kuantan Buddhist Association. In (BUBS) in a popular residential area in Petaling Jaya.
2017 he was conferred the Nalanda Award for his
contribution to Buddhism in Malaysia. Charlie: It was in 1970, as a young 15-year-old, that I
was first introduced by a friend to Seck Kia Eenh (SKE)
Benny Liow, who has known both Buck Soon and Buddhist Temple, Melaka. As I had stated in my school
Charlie for decades, regards them as role models of report card that I was Buddhist, I was curious to find
highly successful lay Buddhist leaders, and therefore out about Buddhism. So I enrolled in the temple’s
an inspiration for young Buddhists to emulate. Both Sunday School. After a few classes in Sunday School, I
of them very happily share with Eastern Horizon seemed to be naturally attracted to Buddhism, like a fish
would take to water!
their passion for the Dharma and what motivates
them in their missionary zeal all these years.
However, at SKE I was just a normal participant who
enjoyed the activities of Sunday School but didn’t join
any Committee or volunteer to support any missionary
activities. It was while studying at Universiti Teknologi
