Page 166 - YBAM 50th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine

can come about when we are able to
synergise various conditions into a wishful
product.

Nowadays visitors to Penang, particularly
Buddhist visitors, would like to visit the
gallery instead of the stereotype way of Benny Liow Woon Khin

visiting temples. Editor of Eastern Horizon, journal of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia
SPREADING THE DHARMA
Creativity in Buddhist Movement
IN THE DIGITAL AGE
The above description outlined at least

6 major creative initiatives implemented
by the Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia,
namely,

The Malaysian Sangha Fund
Personal Charity Fund One of the nine qualities of the Buddha understanding and practice of Buddhism

Bodhi Park is “Teacher of gods and men”. This naturally comes to the fore. None of us is
GIFT Project implies that the Buddha was a master in exempt from the challenge of maintaining
Heartbiz Project communicating his teachings to others. He ‘presence’ in the midst of an always-on

World Buddhist Stamps Gallery knew fully the most effective methods of digital environment. Each of us must figure
transmitting his teachings to each human out how to live with a barrage of e-mails,

being, according to the ever-changing social media updates, on-line news, and
It is a demonstration of how creative
conditions of time. The enlightening quality other information, and try to make some
Buddhist movement could be. A careful
of the Buddha’s speech enabled each sort of coherent meaning out of it all.
scrutiny would reveal that practically none
listener to understand his teachings in their
of the above initiatives were a repetition of
own language, until they were enlightened As modern day Dharma practitioners,
some old practices. They are all new and
themselves. It is said that the Buddha one question likely to arise in the midst
creative ideas to bring forth the Dharma
spoke in the vernacular and encouraged of such an influx of stimuli is this: how do
to the masses, in a much more effective
his monks to do likewise (as stated in the we practice mindfulness, lovingkindness,
way.
Araṇavibhanga Sutta, MN 139) rather and concentration in the relentless
than in esoteric priestly language which digital age? And how do we continue to
The above case example serves as
few people could understand. He did this propagate Buddhism in this modern age?
a reminder for leaders of Buddhist
out of compassion, giving ordinary people Is this new epoch making it harder or
organisations to seriously ponder, how
龙运佛教会 the ability to understand his teachings too. easier to realise the truths taught by the
creative Buddhist activities could be in
Today, as we plunge deeply into the Buddha here and now? Is this new era a
carrying out their Buddhist works.
Internet Age, the question of how rapid reminder that we are indeed at the tail-
164 technological innovation is changing our end of the dharma-ending age, or does 165

50 YEARS OF DHARMA PRO PA GATION CO NTINUING THE MIS SION IN THE 5G ER A