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| Guan Yin - Goddess of Mercy" |
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| http://thanhsiang.org/en/
Than Hsiang Foundation was established in January 1990 to promote
Buddhist education, welfare and cultivation based on the Conviction of:
"The Young to Learn, The Strong and Healthy to Serve, The Aged and Sick
to be Cared For, The Departed to Find Spiritual Destination."
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Ven Wei Wu (right) speaking at a dialogue
commemorating the 25th
anniversary of his renunciation on April 29, 2017.
Retiring engineer-turned-abbot has made big contributions to education, culture and welfare |
He learned Total Quality Management (TQM) from his Japanese teacher and friend, Prof Noriaki Kano, and implemented it successfully at his workplace in Penang, a sales office in Kuala Lumpur, and many government and private organisations.
For 19 years after graduating from a New Zealand university, Neoh worked tirelessly as an engineer, manager and consultant in New Zealand, Malaysia, Asia, the United States and Europe.
He also travelled extensively during this period and learned about the various cultures and acquiring knowledge while building up a wide network.
When he became a monk at 43, Neoh took up the name Venerable Wei Wu and continued to implement the TQM system at Bayan Baru’s Than Hsiang Temple which he founded with a group of friends working in Penang’s multi-national companies, mostly from Hewlett Packard.
“There was no looking back. With the help of my colleagues, friends, benefactors and supporters, we embarked on the mammoth task to build up the Buddhist organisation till today,” he said.
For many years, the Buddhist fraternity, especially those staying in Penang and the northern states, have regarded Ven Wei Wu as synonymous with Than Hsiang and vice versa. He is highly revered as a fatherly religious figure.
However, come March 16 this Saturday, Ven Wei Wu will retire as the Than Hsiang abbot at a ceremony where Ven Zhen Dian will be installed as the new abbot.
Born into a wealthy family, Ven Wei Wu, now 70, said his parents passed away before he was ordained.
“My eldest sister and foster mother were initially concerned about me abandoning my successful career. But they soon came to accept my decision and happily witnessed my ordination by Senior Ven Xiu Jing.”
He recalled that Than Hsiang was mooted at the Hewlett Packard canteen when his colleagues questioned him about his vegetarian diet.
“They also questioned me about Buddhism and its practices. We then started meditating and doing puja together in a colleague’s house before setting up a centre in Bayan Baru, which later became Than Hsiang.
“I received my higher ordination at the Hsi Lye Temple in the United States. I later received my Chan (Zen) Dharma transmission from Senior Venerable Bo Yuan in the Zhaodong Chan Dharma lineage,” he added.
Than Hsiang Temple was initially a place mainly for spiritual practice.
Later, it extended to play a social role in promoting education, welfare and cultural activities.
According to Ven Wei Wu, although Than Hsiang is a spiritual organisation, it is also active in education, social and cultural work.
“I believe that Than Hsiang will become better when I retire as abbot but I will still play a different (advisory) role.
“My successor Ven Zhen Dian was among the first batch of monks and nuns to be ordained at Than Hsiang Temple after me, so he is no stranger to the older devotees,” he said.
On his future plans, Ven Wei Wu said he would want to attain spiritual liberation, ultimately Buddhahood. He would also like to share the Dharma with friends in China and Western countries, if necessary to continue in future lives.
Than Hsiang started with about 20 members in the 80s, today it has 20,000 members and some 200,000 who support the organisation directly or indirectly in and outside Malaysia.
They have set up facilities such as a Metta Free Clinic, 10 kindergartens, two Mitra counselling centres and four senior citizens’ homes.
In Malaysia, there have branches in Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Wilayah, Negri Sembilan and Perak.
In Thailand, they have a Foundation and the International Buddhist College (IBC) which will be celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.
International Buddhist College IBC
https://youtu.be/4ONLBYIa0VA
https://youtu.be/4ONLBYIa0VA
IBC is an accredited institution offering BA, MA and PHD degree in English and Chinese mediums.
They have produced graduates from more than 30 countries. The students were recruited from top schools and universities such as Yale, Columbia, HKU, MU and NUS.
IBC graduates have been accepted into top universities of the world.
Currently, Than Hsiang is supporting the four Phor Tay schools financially as well as providing teachers with Buddhist classes.
The good work of Ven Wei Wu is the visible outcome of Than Hsiang’s noble mission: “For the young to learn, the strong and healthy to serve, the aged and sick to be cared for, and the departed to find spiritual destination.”
Source: Metro News
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