Have you ever met a child who has learning disabilities? Or kids with behavioural and emotional difficulties? Chances are you have met special children with dyslexia, ADD or ADHD. As part of the continuous development programme of the Than Hsiang Kindergarten Teachers, a one-day workshop was held in Than Hsiang Kindergarten (Bayan Lepas) on 20 June 2009. All teachers from Than Hsiang Kindergartens (Bayan Lepas, Sg Ara, Bukit Mertajam and Sg Petani) attended the event, along with the participation of several Ai Xin Mama.

The four -day- three- nite retreat came to a successful close on the 7/6/09 . One hundred and ten participants diligently recited the name of the Amitaba Buddha single mindedly during the retreat.

We are into the 8th year of the children’s camp “Towards Self-confidence and Independence”. To expose our children more on appreciating the environment and animal life we took them a step closer to nature by taking them to Taiping Zoo. Held on the 30th and 31st May 2009, the camp turned out to be a successful event and an enriching experience for the children and grown-ups alike.

The Buddha day celebration which encompasses the birth, enlightenment and passing (parinirvana) of the Buddha was held on the 9th of May coinciding with the full moon day of the fourth lunar month.

The spectacular sight of a thousand over lighted LED candles flickering in the waving hands of devotees amid the chanting of Buddha’s name was the high light of the 2009 Bodhi-nite . The event in its 3rd consecutive year was held on 2nd May from 7.30pm to 10pm to commemorate the auspicious 2335 years of Buddha day which falls on the 9th of the following week. Jointly organized by Than Hsiang Temple and the Phor Tay Primary, secondary , independent school and their ex-students associations, the event also seek to raise funds for the various schools’ annual expenditures.

About 2500 Buddhist devotees from various Buddhist organizations thronged the funeral service of Venerable Bo Yuan to bid final farewell to one of the most respected and eminent Buddhist monk in recent year. The funeral service was attended by numerous foreign and local monastic and lay luminaries at the Lake Garden Buddhist center. The service began at 10.30 on the morning of 16th April , presided by Ven. Jing Liang, the president of China (Taiwan) Buddhist association and Ven.

Than Hsiang Wan Chin Yuen (WELFARE OLD FOLK HOME) celebrated its 15th anniversary on 26th April 2009 (Sunday) and a vegetarian fair was held from 9am till 3pm on the same day at the temple’s premi

The 2009 Qing Ming Dharma assembly was held on the 29 April from 1pm to 6pm.at the Than Hsiang Multi-purpose hall. Qing ming is the equivalence of the “all soul day “ of the West. The celebration of this festival is an indication of the importance of the filial piety –a virtue much treaured in the oriental society. Therefore, we always expect the huge crowd to thronge the temple every year to perform chanting and pay respect to their departed next of kins .

The Than Hsiang kalyanamitra home and the Than Hsiang Buddhist youth group jointly organized a eight precept cultivation on the 14th and 15th of March 2009 for both undergraduates and graduates from 18 to 45 year old to participate in the one day plus one night retreat. It is hope that the event will promote a better understanding of the significance of Buddhist precepts and grasping the right views of Buddhism.

Ven. Hui Ti became the new addition to the Than Hsiang monastic sangha family. The ordination ceremony was held on Sunday morning of march 15th 2009 at the Main Shrine hall, witnessed by closed relatives, friends and Than Hsiang devotees. The ordination was conducted by the abbot, Ven. Wei Wu and assisted by Ven. Zhen Ru and Ven. Zhen Xin. Hui Ti Fashi, previously knowned Chen Mei Fong is no stranger as she had a long association with Than Hsiang Temple as a staff as well as a volunteer.