Forum articles by WACANA 2025 speakers exploring Buddhist approaches to community well-being for families, youths, seniors, and volunteers. They offer practical reflections and reference materials for individuals and Buddhist organisations engaged in education, service, and community development in Malaysia and the region.
Read moreIn the early morning of 31 August 1957, Malaya celebrated its Independence with a solemn ceremony at the newly-completed Merdeka Stadium, witnessed in person by more than 20,000 people. Among the dignitaries and guests present at the historic event was Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda.
Read moreAfter 127 years, the Piprahwa relics — precious gemstones and bone fragments believed to belong to Gotama Buddha — have returned to India on 30 July 2025. Originally discovered in 1898 near the India-Nepal border, these sacred items were taken abroad during colonial times.
Read moreThe Buddha is the greatest being ever to have existed in the history of mankind. Born as Prince Siddhattha Gotama, heir to the throne of the ‘Sakya Clan’ in 623 BCE, He relinquished the luxuries of royalty and went forth in search of the true meaning of existence when he was 29 years old.
Read moreBuddha Day or ‘Wesak Day’ commemorates the Enlightenment of the Buddha – His liberation from ignorance and suffering. This event took place over 27 centuries ago on the full-moon day in the lunar month of Vesakhā, which falls between April and May in our conventional calendar.
Read moreToday marks the historical occasion where the Buddha preached the ‘Ovada Patimokkha’ – the summary of His Teachings – at the famed Veluvana Monastery in Rājagaha more than 2,600 years ago. The Buddha taught the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 Arahant bhikkhus the outline of Dhamma practice – “To abandon evil; cultivate virtues; and to purify one’s own mind”.
Read moreThe majestic ‘Nālandā Māha Vihāra’ was established during the Gupta Period in the 5th Century CE, in the city of Nalanda, where once the Buddha delivered the Kevatta Sutta and spoke about the ‘Miracle of Education’. This key learning institution was not just for Buddhist monastics, but also for students of secular subjects including medicine, mathematics and philosophy. At its peak, the university hosted over 10,000 students from all around the world, the most famous of which is Ven. Xuan Zang.
Read moreAfter the British took over the administration of Kedah in 1911, colonial surveyors were surprised to discover many remains of stone and brick temple structures in the state which showed Indian influence, dating from as early as the 5th century CE. These antiquities were scattered in an area extending from the southern foothills of Gunung Jerai (Kedah Peak) to Merbok River in Kuala Muda District. This 225 km² expanse of land is known today as the Bujang Valley – and it is by far the richest archaeological site discovered in Malaysia.
Read moreToday Malaysians went back for their first working day after the 14th General Elections with a new federal government and many new state leaders at the helm. It was Malaysia’s first transfer of power at the federal level since independence, and we should be proud that it was a remarkably peaceful one.
Read moreArticle by H. S. Tan
On the historic day of 9 May 2018, the people of Malaysia have spoken loud and clear. In a courageous move, the Rakyat* repudiated a regime that was seen as corrupt, racist, and not in line with our collective aspirations. But we did not effect change in a violent revolution — that is not the Malaysian way. We did it by discovering a national conscience, and through exercising our constitutional right to vote.
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