(WAki International Media Center 24th April) The speech of Chief Rev.B.Sri.Saranankara Maha Thera on 22nd January 2022.

Good afternoon, President and committee members of Segamat Buddhist Society, wonderful devotees, Datuk and Datin. Today, I am very glad to be invited to attend the Ascension Ceremony of Segamat Buddhist Society Grand Buddha and 132 mini Buddha Statutes.

Today is an auspicious occasion, I can see everyone is full of happiness and joyful. Although everyone is wearing a mask, I can feel that all the guests and devotees are happy to be here. We have to keep a youthful mind like the President. Do you want to know the secret to be youthful? One should always smile and be loving-kindness to boost our immune system as happiness leads us to have a healthy life.

The Segamat Buddhist Association has established for 36 years; I see it travels a wonderful journey.  Please raise your hands and let’s see how many senior committees are here? In Segamat Buddhist Society, there are many senior committee members who have contributed their efforts and work hard to build up and complete this place. If you haven't planted the seed, it will not have the results like now. In the course of life, when we are giving and contributing to the Buddhism work, we are accumulating the merits for our next life journey. The external materials such as houses, clothes and property cannot follow us to our next life. Therefore, contribution to Buddhism depends on one's sincere efforts to give but not the amount one offers. The merits and blessings will follow us to the next life journey.

Although we may sometimes avoid talking about the life and death, this is something that we all must face in reality . The Segamat Buddhist Society has organized many activities including the Chanting Class and Dharma Class for us to accumulate the merits and blessings for our next life journey.

I still remember the poem my teacher taught me in the Sunday class when I was a child. The meaning of poem was:

If the ocean doesn't have sand and shells, then the beauty of the ocean doesn’t exist.

If there is no sun and moon, the world wouldn’t be beautiful.

If you turn off the light at night, you cannot see the beauty of that place.

If there is no propagation and practice of the dhamma, then our inner self will not be cultivated and developed.

In the process of learning, we must practise the dhamma and purify our minds in order to enlighten ourselves and help the others. Therefore, we need to have courage and faith to face all the challenges, turning the difficulties into success in our lives.

The Segamat Buddhist Association is a good place for all of you to do the merits and learn the dhamma. We are not just learning the dhamma and enriching our knowledge, but we must also apply and practise the knowledge in our daily life so that we can live in harmony in our multi racial environment.  Lastly, may you overcome all difficulties and achieve success and happiness in life.