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18 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

After graduating from university, I returned to my nuns promoting Buddhist education, as their presence
hometown, intending to spend time with my mother was mainly at funerals. He insisted on quality Buddhist
and contributing to Zheng Xing Hui. I became a teacher education, and taught that anyone aspiring to be
at a private secondary school as my Dharma teacher ordained should be trained in Buddhist colleges so that
Venerable Chi Chern reminded me that it’s useful to they build a solid foundation and right views.
gain some life experience before being ordained. My
mother and Mr. Liu also advised me to utilise the time in One day, I was brought to Venerable Zhu Mo’s study to
the university to learn and grow, and more importantly assist with proofreading his teaching materials. I saw
reflecting on the decision to be ordained was really stacks of hand-written teaching materials that he had
what I wanted. made. I was deeply inspired by the time and effort he
had put in to ensure the accuracy of the contents by
With a determined mind, I started studying at the going through countless sutras.
Malaysian Buddhist Institute. My mother did not
object to my decision to be ordained. Instead, she also Venerable Zhu Mo was also known for his kindness,
reminded me to always live in harmony with other friendliness and strong sense of humor. He treated
people and use the Dharma as my guide. After two everyone equally, and everyone would feel at ease and
years, I was ordained under Venerable Zhu Mo in 1996. joyful around him. I first met him when I was still a
I chose this path because I knew the importance of secondary school student, as he would come to Muar
Buddhist education, and I wanted to be a part of the almost every year for the ceremony of Taking Three
continuation of Buddha’s teachings. Refuges and Five Precepts. In fact, the name of the local
Buddhist association Zheng Xing Hui was given by him. I
How was Venerable Zhu Mo as a teacher? And how was deeply impressed by his Dharma talks as they were
had he inspired you? very systematic and concise. Even now, I refer to his
books and teaching materials when I need to share on
Ven. Zhu Mo was credited as the Father of Malaysian similar topics to get more insights. These are the fond
Mahayana Buddhism. He hailed from China because memories of my teacher, even though I did not have
of a vision in his dream telling him that many sentient many direct teacher-student experiences with him like
beings in Southeast Asia needed his help. My teacher my seniors had.
was ordained at a very young age. He had a very
strong foundation in the Dharma, and put a lot of It is evident that you have invested significant time
emphasis on faith, vow, and practice. He was a diligent and effort in training university students. What
and dedicated practitioner of the Original Vows of advice can you give these students so that they would
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra. Even in his old age, he continue their learning of Dharma after graduation?
still recited and practiced this Sutra consistently. He
tirelessly commuted to different parts of the country Personally, I have immensely benefited from the period
to spread Buddha’s teachings, build schools and a of learning Buddhism in the university. Entering
Buddhist Institute. Back then, you rarely see monks and university marks a transition where you start to learn