Page 92 - YBAM 50th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine
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talks were held across the country! things about Malaysian Buddhists is they rural areas refused to organise the event old and could not climb the stairs to
are not concerned with the speakers’ due to many considerations, such as clean the Sangha’s Kuti on the second
Since 2010, speakers have been invited background and fame, as long as they are logistic arrangement. In rural areas, there floor. This was heartrending! These
for Dharma talk series across the country the Dharma speakers arranged by YBAM, are no young people, only the elderly and situations are also the hidden concerns
annually. It is indeed a very challenging everyone will give the speakers a warm children are one of the most common of many Buddhist organisations. What
and meticulous task in coordinating the welcome. Since everyone trusts YBAM, problems. There was once I need to are the consequences of urbanisation to
series for all 13 states in the country. The the DPC is very careful in selecting leave a mountainous area after a talk, Buddhist organisations in rural areas? It is
workflow started from inviting speaker, and inviting speakers. The committee a couple from a Buddhist organisation a challenge of the great era that has been
setting a date, along with the coordination pays great attention to the speaker’s of another town drove an old car to pick evolving rapidly!
of the State Liaison Committee and knowledge and disciplinary precepts, and me up. Unfortunately, the car broke down
member organisations to the finalisation not celebrity status. on the road and the elderly couple was ‘STATE DHARMA PROPAGATION TEAM
of the itinerary, constant adjustments must not familiar with GPS, so they took some LEADER EXCHANGE MEETING’
be made to fit each other’s schedules. Recently, during a dialogue session in time to locate the Buddhist organisation. COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION
This coordinating work is based on Perak, the former Chairperson of the During the return trip, they told me that
everyone’s piecemeal time while they are Perak State Liaison Committee, Choy they were not usually driving because ‘Dharma Dew’ has been halted for a long
occupied with work and family. Although it Seong Keong shared that the speakers their children are worried. But, the couple, time, so in the first few years, DPC also
is complicated and meticulous, everyone arranged by YBAM ‘Dharma Dew’ who could easily be my parents’ age, organised the ‘State Dharma Propagation
tries their best to coordinate the Dharma series are ‘clean’! I was touched and drove me to their Buddhist organisation to Team Leader Exchange Meeting’ in
talks as it is not merely an event, but moved by such a comment. The solemn give Dharma talk. It touched me, and I was various states. It was hoped that by
an opportunity for Buddhists to listen to responsibility of ‘Turning the Wheel grateful from the bottom of my heart, they communicating directly with MOs, DPC
Dharma. Therefore, all the coordinations of Dharma for The Sake of All Beings’ are the children’s treasures at home, and can better understand the challenges and
are ‘Turning the Wheel of Dharma for The must be strictly governed; speakers’ they become guardian Bodhisattvas dilemmas faced by states and MOs in
Sake of All Beings’! qualifications need to be carefully verified. when they are in Buddhist organisation! coordinating the Dharma talk series. The
The Buddhist says: ‘We should rather meeting also created greater awareness
THE SOLEMN DUTY OF DPC enter the hell than use the Dharma to win The major concerns of Buddhist of the State Liaison Committees (SLC)
CAREFUL SELECTION OF SPEAKERS favours with people!’ I hope that YBAM will organisations in the rural area are always on their role and mission in aligning the
continue to uphold the spirit of protecting the attendance and older audience. In objectives and direction between the
To implement the works of Dharma the Dharma and Buddhism to safeguard fact, the speakers agree to go to rural DPC and MOs! Moreover, it allowed
education in all parts of the country, the Buddhists’ wisdom of more than 200 areas for Dharma talk usually and the Dharma propagation team leads
including rural areas to have access to MOs nationwide! won’t mind the attendance numbers. I of Buddhist organisations to gain a
the Dharma, YBAM has been working remember going to a place where there better understanding of the Dharma talk
untiringly to arrange Dharma talks no DHARMA TALK SERIES - ‘THE LAY BUDDHIST was no Dharma talk held for three years series workflow and to achieve effective
matter how remote the area is. Speakers TURNS THE WHEEL OF CAR, THE SANGHA consecutively. At first, I heard that it was coordination of the activity. Besides,
were arranged to the states that they TURNS THE WHEEL OF DHARMA’ because the organisation worried that the DPC also collected and shared the
have never been to, with the hope that all no one would attend the Dharma talk. success stories and problems of each
will have had the opportunity to listen to When coordinating the Dharma talk When I asked further, I found that it was state in arranging the Dharma talk series,
different speakers. One of the impressive series at an early stage, some MOs in because the committee members were hoping that the states can learn from
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50 YEARS OF DHARMA PRO PA GATION CO NTINUING THE MIS SION IN THE 5G ER A
