The Than Hsiang Fund KL Branch recently organised its 2004 CNY Gathering on the 1st of February. (11 th day of Chinese New Year) Many devotees attended this auspicious event.

The K.L. branch of Than Hsiang Foundation celebrated its tenth Anniversary with a Vegetarian Banquet in October. We have also planted the seeds for more branches to be set up in other parts of Malaysia in 2004.

Religious
We organized a nine-day Amitabha Recitation Retreat in November; nearly 200 participants took part in this retreat. A nine-day Mani Mantra Recitation Puja was led by His Eminence Druwang Rinpoche in December. Please refer to reports on these for details.

First I would like to welcome all of you to this Chinese New Year gathering of buddhists in northern states. It is very auspicious that we can gather here to celebrate Chinese New Year together.

Hundreds of devotees, staff and volunteers alike thronged to the 5th floor of Wisma Than Hsiang to celebrate the annual reunion dinner, which was held to commemorate the efforts of the people who had contributed to the success of Than Hsiang, be it in education, welfare or cultivation. It was not only a social gathering for friends and families but provided a chance for those present to meet new acquaintances.

Than Hsiang Temple vowed devotees with a boisterous celebration of songs and dances to usher in the year of the monkey . Various Buddhist organizations from neighbouring states also participated in the Chinese New Year celebration which was held at the Multipurpose Hall, located in the 5 th floor of Than Hsiang Temple.

The preceptors from the Seven-Day Amitabha Recitation Retreat share their experiences during the event…

Qiu Yu Ru

Than Hsiang Temple recently organized an event known as the Seven-Day Amitabha Recitation Retreat (Novitiate Programme). This event was opened to all Buddhists aged between 18 to 60 years of age. Its main objectives were to fully comprehend the Buddha's teaching on understanding the dharma and putting it into practice; also it is a means to provide an intensive course on chanting. Among the activities conducted during the event were chanting, praying, circumambulating, etc and a talk on the method of chanting.

January 25, 2004:-

January 10 , 2004:-

Working for Than Hsiang Temple, I have the opportunity to come in contact with those old bodhisattvas(old folks) staying in Wan Ching Yuen daily. It is like looking at my own future whenever I meet them. Both their joys and sorrows reveal a lot of things to me, urging me to get ready and face the wearing effect of time.