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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 47

Charlie: The late Chief Reverend was a pioneer in
helping cleared misconceptions about Buddhism among
Malaysian Buddhists. As misconceptions are a result of
ignorance, we need to keep educating the community
about what are true Buddhist beliefs and practices. Many
of misconceptions are derived from old customs and
traditions and strong adherence to animism and fear of
nature. Such fear and misconceptions can be alleviated
by Right Understanding and Right View. So we have to
continue the good work of the late Chief Reverend.

As a leader of the Buddhist community, what are
your hopes and aspirations for the Buddhists in
Malaysia?

Buck Soon: My hopes and aspirations for Buddhists
in Malaysia are that more so-called Buddhists will
come to Buddhist centers to learn the Dharma or even
through the internet and other online media. If there
people offered to them. As not all lay Buddhists were are Buddhist centers that have Sunday schools for
vegetarians, meat would also be offered as part of children, parents should take the opportunity to send
the meal. The principle is that as monks they were to their children to these Dharma school so that they can
accept whatever food is offered to them, vegetarian be trained from a very young age. It is easier to teach
or non-vegetarian. But as Buddhism spread to other them when they are young because they have less
parts of the world, the local culture was incorporated preconceived ideas. Of course, there are also adults
into the religion. In China, there was no practice of laity who come to learn the Dharma and progress very
offering food to monastics, and if monks were to go for fast in their practice. Besides that, I also hope that
alms round, it would be perceived as “begging”. Hence, more Buddhists would seriously take up the practice
monastics prepared their own in the monastery. As the of meditation besides practicing generosity and
first precept is to abstain from killing, the monks did morality. It is through meditation that we can develop
not consume meat and became vegetarians. I always mindfulness and wisdom which is a pre-requisite for
remember what our late Ven. Dr. K Sri Dhammananda liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
said in one of his Dharma talks: “What you put into your
mouth is not important but what comes out from your Charlie: There was a renaissance of Buddhism in the
mouth is more important”. early 1980s when young student leaders graduated
from the universities and began to organize outreach
Secondly, Buddhism is not pessimistic even though activities. We also had the presence of great Dharma
the Buddha talked about suffering as part of the Four teachers like the late Chief Reverend during the period.
Noble Truths. If the Buddha had only proclaimed there Through the efforts of these young leaders, many new
is suffering (first noble truth) and explained the cause Buddhist centers were set up and they became the focal
(second noble truth), then he can be accused of being point for many educated Buddhists to attend Dharma
a pessimist However, it is important to note that the classes and learn meditation. As many of these leaders
Buddha explained that there is an end to suffering (third are no longer the young leaders they used to be, I hope
noble truth), and that the solution to ending our suffering we will have more leaders who are younger who can
is to follow the noble eight-fold path (fourth noble truth). then take over the Dharma torch for the Buddha’s
If we fully understand the four noble truths in totality, teachings to shine for the benefit and well-being of
future generations of Buddhists in Malaysia. EH
then Buddhism is realistic rather than pessimistic.