LAMP OF HOPE & RELIEF

Malaysian Buddhist organizations are coming together in one united act of compassion to raise funds and alleviate the sufferings of Haitian earthquake victims.

More than 40 Buddhist organizations responded to the call by The Most Venerable B Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thera, Chief Monk of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple and Chief Monk (Judiciary) of Malaysia, to come together and help out in the catastrophe that hit Haiti recently.

A mass oil lamp offering -- symbolic of lighting up the darkness and transmuting the negativity of untold sufferings into positive energy of peace, love and harmony – will be a key initiative to raise funds among the Buddhist community.

An all-Buddhist simultaneous chanting of Paritta and meditation session in various Buddhist temples are also being planned on the full moon of 30 March 2010 for the well being and happiness of the people of Haiti.

These collective efforts will culminate with a concert "The Sound of Compassion" which will bring together famed Buddhist singing groups like i-gemz, Messengers of Dhamma (MOD), D2Y Choir Group, Choir of Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Bodhi and many others at the HGH Convention Centre, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, on 18 April 2010 at 7.00pm.

Venerable Saranankara said he initiated this “LIGHT A LAMP OF HOPE & RELIEF” as he felt that together, much can be achieved speedily and effectively especially in raising the much needed funds to help bring relief to the devastated & traumatized Haitians.

Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Americas, is already home to 380,000 orphans and this number has increased exponentially with the January 12 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people, severely injuring another 300,000 and left more than one million homeless.

“The suffering is unfathomable. I have heard in the news that a bottle of water and some snacks are just all it takes to make the people happy there,” he added.

Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation is at the forefront providing aid and helping to bring relief to the victims. Venerable Saranankara said all the funds raised from the oil lamp offering and the concert will be channelled to Tzu Chi so that it can speedily reach the suffering Haitians.

The Launch of the Malaysian Buddhist “Haiti Relief Fund” will be at the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple, Jalan Tujuh, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur on the full moon night of ‘Chap Goh Mei’ on Sunday, 28 February 2010 at 8.00pm with the Lighting of Lamps.

Other venues organizing the Chanting and Meditation sessions and Lighting of Oil Lamps are as follows:

10 March 2010 – 8.00pm: Sakyamuni Dharma Center, Taman Kanagapuram, Jalan Kelang Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

16 March 2010 – 8.00pm: Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur

16 March 2010 – 8.00pm: Shah Alam Buddhist Society, Bukit Rimau, Shah Alam

27 March 2010 – 8.00pm: Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Monastery, Jenjarom, Selangor

27 March 2010 – 7.00pm: Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM) Shah Alam Branch, Kota Kemuning

11 April 2010 – 8.00am: Subang Jaya Buddhist Association, Subang Jaya

Members of the public are invited to partake in these meaningful programs. Those interested and for further information on the events can log in to: www.bovis.tv/helphaiti or contact any of the following:

Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple: 03 – 4041 9459 (Contact hours: 9.00 am to 5.00pm)

Bro.Roland Lee: 012 - 225 4722

Sis. Julie Tan: 016 - 270 2120

Issued by Secretariat of Malaysian Buddhist ‘Haiti Relief Fund’ Organizing Committee

27 February 2010

The above is a public service announcement by Loka Vacana