Page 17 - EH 73 May 2024

FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 15

Ayasma Aggacitta Mindfulness hiking Program Luangpor Viradhammo Dhamma talk Ani Thubten Chodron Dhamma talk

Benny: Were you born into heavily influenced me in choosing to professional career and answer a
a Buddhist family or did you serve the Buddha Sāsana. Working higher calling to serve the Buddha
discover Buddhism later in life? as a full-time Dhamma worker Sāsana by working at PBHS.

provides me with a right livelihood,
Leonard: Born into a typical and also offers many opportunities What do you find most fulfilling in
Malaysian Chinese family, as a child, to serve and learn from the your role as Program Director for
I prayed to deities from the Taoist, monastics and Dhamma teachers Bodhi Heart Sanctuary?
Chinese folk religion, and Buddhist visiting PBHS.
pantheon. After my beloved maternal On a personal level, I am content
grandmother passed away in my Brother Hor Kwei Loon, one of the in the knowledge that the efforts
early teens, I turned to spirituality invited teachers to our Dhamma and hard work I put into organizing
for solace. After a few spiritual mis- Study Group in USM, introduced or scheduling Dhamma talks,
adventures, I finally (re)turned to me to PBHS after its establishment. teachings and meditation retreats is
Buddhism and joined the regular After graduation, I joined some accumulating puñña and kusala for
evening chanting at Si Qing Zhu of the Dhamma classes and talks my own spiritual development. At
Shuang Lin Monastery, where my irregularly but took up the role to the same time, I am able to cultivate
grandmother’s memorial plaque was offer Sunday breakfast dāna for the compassion and loving kindness by
interred. Being Mandarin illiterate, monastics in PBHS. creating opportunities for interested
I chanted sutras using hanyu pinyin individuals to learn and practice
and rote memorization. When I In 2011, a family tragedy which the Dhamma to ease themselves
entered Penang Free School, I joined claimed the lives of my paternal from their defilements. Also, being
the Buddhist Students Society grandparents and my dad’s able to serve visiting monastics and
then affiliated with Mahindarama longtime employee happened on Dhamma teachers means that I have
Buddhist Temple. That started the the same night that I had been unique opportunities to discuss
journey of my formal Dhamma discharged from Penang Adventist the Dhamma, clear my doubts and
learning up to today. Hospital for severe dengue to learn directly from them on a
hemorrhagic fever. Following that, personal basis while accumulating
What inspired you in the Buddha’s I faced severe panic attacks and merits and blessings through my acts
teaching that you have chosen to bouts of depression for about two of serving and looking after them.
be a full time Dharma worker, and years. A Tibetan nun visiting PBHS
why Bodhi Heart Sanctuary? helped me to begin my journey The aim of a Buddhist

toward recovery. Encouraged practitioner is to cultivate the
The Buddha’s teachings on by the positive changes, I made Bodhi heart. How would a non-
interdependent cause and effect the decision to relinquish my sectarian Buddhist do it?