Venerable Wei Wu alias Shao Kai, abbot of Than Hsiang Temple whose secular name is Neoh Kah Thong of Fujian (Hokkien) ancestry, was born in Penang, Malaysia in 1949. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1992 by Venerable Siew Ching, abbot of Buddha Light Vihara, Penang Hill.

It was raining in the evening. Prior to the float procession the next day on May 5th, Than Hsiang Temple held a Cleansing Ceremony for the float at the Great Compassion Hall at 8 p.m.

Wan Ching Yuen Centre for senior citizens, is under the aegis of the Than Hsiang Buddhist Welfare Association. This Home was founded by Venerable Wei Wu on a charitable basis following the Buddhist spirit of "benevolence, compassion, joy, and equanimity".

The ritual of bathing the Buddha is conducted every year on Buddha's birthday. This practice has been inherited from ancient time and is still observed by Buddhists around the world.

Wesak Day is celebrated throughout the world to commemorate and honor the Birthday of Lord Buddha, the Enlightened One. It is the most auspicious day in the Buddhist calendar, marking the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.

On 27 April 2012, Than Hsiang Temple organized Bathing the Buddha Ceremony for kindergarten and Wan Ching Yuen. At 9 a.m. in the morning, more than 100 kindergarten children and teachers attended the Bathing the Buddha Ceremony at the Great Compassion Hall. Venerable Wu Guo led them in chanting and delivered a talk afterwards. In her talk, Venerable Wu Guo explained the origin of Wesak and the significance of Bathing the Buddha to the children and the teachers.

Wesak, now a.k.a. Buddha Day is traditionally celebrated by Buddhists in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and South East Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia. Sometimes informally called "Buddha's Birthday", it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment , and passing away of Gautama Buddha. Here in Malaysia there are many activities organized by temples including Buddha statue bathing ceremonies and float processions during Wesak celebration.

Than Hsiang Kindergarten held a simple ceremony for imparting the Ten Good Deeds to parents, teachers, children of Before and After School Care and 6-year-old children of Than Hsiang Kindergarten at 9am on 27 March 2012.

The ceremony was held in two stages. First, Venerable Zhen Ti imparted the Ten Good Deeds to teachers, parents and Ai Xin Ma Ma. Then, witnessed by Venerable Zhen Ti, Fu Yek Ming, headmistress of Than Hsiang Kindergarten imparted the Ten Good Deeds to the children.

Story by Lim Peng Theam / Photos by H.S. Seow

Than Hsiang Foundation - Annual Report 2011

I. Cultivation Activities