Beware of Bogus Monks Begging for Alms and Seeking Donations
Have you been approached by saffron-robed monk who in his alms bowl consist of some orange or yellow or red amulets(or talisman, pendants, beads and strings), which he or she offers to you in exchange for money donation?
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Do You Know the Monk’s bowls are meant for devotees to put in offerings of Food(NOT Money) for their daily sustenance?
Before you dip into your pocket to donate to the saffron-robed monk, please be warned!
They are NOT MONKS, they are CON MEN!
BOGUS Monks are roaming the streets especially at Klang Valley, cashing in on the public sympathies, kindness and generosity of the people to make money.
Please be wary of the existence of bogus monks and be aware that Real Monks do not approach the public for money.
A strict real Buddhist monk or nun DOES NOT walk around in public places to beg for monetary donations and certainly not to sell amulets.
Read also Beware of Bogus Buddhist Monks in Kuala Lumpur
In accordance with the Vinaya Pitaka (Code of Discipline) laid down by Buddha 2,550 years ago, monks and nuns are, in fact, disallowed from handling gold and silver or, in today’s context, Money.
BOGUS Monks in Action
I am deeply concerned over the existence of such Bogus Monks as it would jeopardize the image of Buddhism in the country.
Please Click the Picture for Clearer View
In conclusion, we shall NOT offer cash to saffron-robed monks or nuns in the Streets.
It is not going for a good cause.
Money or Donations should be donated to a temple directly, Buddhist centre or monastery that in turn supports the monks and nuns.
The monks are supported by the monastery or temple that they are hosted at.
Again, DO NOT give in and donate money to them(BOGUS Monks)
The ‘bogus monks’ problem can only go away if (and only if) members of the public cooperate by not entertaining to give anything to them.
Very good move 😀
Malacca names road after local Buddhist monk
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The state created history recently when it became the first to name a road after a Buddhist monk – the late Rev Seet Kim Beng who founded the Malaysian Buddhist Association.
Jalan Pelanduk Putih was renamed Jalan Rev Seet Kim Beng at a simple ceremony on Sunday near the famous Seck Kia Eenh Temple in Gajah Berang.
In his speech, Malacca MCA deputy chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo said the state decided to rename the road in honour of Seet for his work in the country.
Seet was responsible for establishing the Siang Lin Primary School (now SJK (C) Siang Lin) in 1951, which became the first Chinese primary school in Malaysia that taught Buddhism as a subject, said Gan before unveiling the road sign with the new name.
He said that Seet managed to get the Government to declare Wesak Day as a public holiday for peninsular Malaysia in 1962. It subsequently became a national holiday in 1988.
Later, at a ceremony to commemorate the 96th anniversary of Seet’s birth, Malaysian Young Buddhist Association president Dr Ong See Yew said that communities grew in stature when it was culturally tolerant towards others.
This sentiment was expressed by the late Rev Seet and was similar to the 1Malaysia concept, he added.
Dr Ong said that all Malaysians should abide by noble values and reject extremism and racism.
He said that no community should dominate another culturally as this led to strife between them.
Also present at the ceremony were Malaysian Buddhist Association president Ven Seet Jit Heng, past president Ven Seet Jik Huang and SJK (C) Siang Lin board of governors chairman Rev Seet Lee Terk.
fr:thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/1/13/southneast/5451125&sec=southneast
Abbot from England visits Ipoh monasteries
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THE abbot of Amaravati Monastery in Hertfordshire, England, Ajahn Sumedho had a taste of Ipoh food when he took time off to visit fellow Thai Forest Tradition monks from two monasteries.
Devotees from the Sukhavana Meditation Monastery in Bercham prepared a wide spread of dishes and desserts as food offering (dana) for the visiting monk and his entourage yesterday.
Ajahan Sumedho later offered blessings to the devotees and gave a dharma talk.
He then left for a brief visit to the Dhamma Piti Meditation Monastery in Gunung Lang.
This was the first trip to Ipoh for Ajahn Sumedho since he was ordained as monk in Thailand in 1966.
Born Robert Jackman in Seattle, Washing-ton, in 1934, he served four years in the US Navy as a medic and also served in Sabah for two years in the Peace Corps in the early 1960s.
He is in Malaysia for the Ajahn Chah Rememberance Day Buddhist dharma talk to be held on Jan 16 at the HGH Convention Centre in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.
Ajahn Sumedho and his teacher Ajahn Chah founded the International Forest Monastery Wat Pah Nanachat in Thailand in 1975.
Ajahn Chah was also instrumental in spreading Theradava buddhism in the west when he and Ajahn Sumedho set up a Theravada Buddhism monastery in England in 1979.
Ajahn Chah was an influential teacher of the Buddhadharma who is respected in Thailand. Over one million people attended his funeral in 1992, including the Thai royal family.
fr:thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/1/13/north/5459105&sec=north
Look how profitable the begging business!
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Beggars from China caught making RM1,000 monthly
By M. KUMAR
KUALA LUMPUR: They came to Malaysia on tourist visas but it was not for sight-seeing. Instead, a group of Chinese nationals took to the streets to beg for money.
Given the typical Malaysians kindness, some of them made up to RM1,000 a month from begging at popular spots in the city.
The syndicate involving 14 Chinese nationals, including four women, was busted yesterday when Immigration officers raided a flat in Brickfields here.
Federal Territory Immigration Department director Mohd Sufian Omar said the officers seized RM16,000 believed to have been collected from begging in the last four to 12 months.
Those arrested, aged between 40 and 80, were believed to have entered Malaysia between nine months and a year ago.
“The travel documents of 10 of them have expired,” he said, adding that some local people were behind the syndicate.
“We estimate that they made RM800 to RM1,000 monthly by begging in areas popular with tourists and shoppers like Petaling Street and Central Market,” Mohd Sufian said.
He said that during questioning, they claimed they had been cheated by fellow countrymen who had promised them lucrative jobs here.
“In the end, they were forced to beg,” he said.
The 14 are now at the Federal Territory immigration detention centre and will be deported.
One of those detained, a woman, said she became a beggar after she realised that she could earn up to RM8,000 a month.
The woman, in her 40s claimed that she was forced to beg by a syndicate.
“They conned me and took away all my money and forced me to become a beggar.
“However after a while, I did not want to stop as I realised that I could make so much money,” she said.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/25/nation/6914126&sec=nation