Page 32 - Little Stories of a Great Monk

P. 32

12th September 2006, Tuesday
My Days With Chief Reverend
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Chief Reverend Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda was my teacher when I first started learning
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B Buddhism. He was the light that showed me the way to Buddhism. He was also my
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colleague for so many years. I have always called him “Chief Reverend”. In the past, ,

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he liked to call me “Uncle Choo Hong”, When I became the President of BMSM,
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then he called me “President”. Whenever he saw me, he always liked to use

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“An Zhua Lu?”
“An Zhua Lu?”
(How are you?)
(How are you?)
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Whenever Chief Reverend went overseas, he did not like his disciples to send him off or to
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In 1972, I studied at University Technology Malaysia and I joined its Buddhist Society. I In 1972, I studied at University Technology Malaysia and I joined its Buddhist Society. I r receive him at the airport. He simply did not like to trouble anybody.

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g got to know Chief Reverend through this Society. The Buddhist Society always invited
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Chief Reverend for Dhamma Talks in the University. I was attracted to his humorous yet Since the completion of an ERL (mass rapid transit) service linking the KL Sentral (city) Since the completion of an ERL (mass rapid transit) service linking the KL Sentral (city)
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e enlightening Dhamma talks. I attended almost all his talks. During my first year semester and the airport, Chief Reverend preferred to ride on the ERL to and from the airport by
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himself. One night three years ago, the eighty-five years old Chief Reverend was spotted
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When I was elected as the President of the University’s Buddhist Society, I always When I was elected as the President of the University’s Buddhist Society, I always I It was then late in the night; there were no taxis available and he had waited there for more
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who would come to the Society to deliver Dhamma talks. I could still remember Chief
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Reverend coming to the University alone in a taxi and we would be waiting for him at the After the incident, I felt bad. Thereafter, I sent e-mails to leaders of Buddhist After the incident, I felt bad. Thereafter, I sent e-mails to leaders of Buddhist
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University gate to receive him and later sending him off after paying the taxi driver. . o organisations requesting that whenever Chief Reverend was invited to their organisations,

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In the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, only Chief Reverend alone came to the various campuses in In the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, only Chief Reverend alone came to the various campuses in t to book him on the business class of the airplane. Chief Reverend mentioned once before that
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b biggest contribution of Chief Reverend towards development of Buddhism in Malaysia. us, allowing an elderly man to travel alone would be neglectful on our part. .

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