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【宏慈寺】
寺院的規模逐漸清晰，尊者斯里沙拉南加拉長老歷經千辛萬苦，排除萬難，凡事親力親為。他親自視察工地，尽可能參與每場工程會議，憑藉慈愛之願力凝聚人心，鼓勵義工堅守初心。
終於，寺院如積沙成塔般慢慢地成型。
尊者以善巧的方式牵引佛弟子布施、持戒、禪修；忍辱、謙卑、不误导、不執著、不攀緣。
馬來西亞宏慈佛教會成立22年，首次以其名義興建佛寺。
宏慈佛教會深知沒有固定道場之不便。除了佛教傳統教育，透過禪修淨化人心，協助各国南传佛教道場培訓僧團，比丘辦道弘揚佛法，憶念佛陀功德的傳統禮儀，连年不断供千僧万僧于世界各地佛寺等；然而每當啟建社區福利項目如年度關懷教育和慈悲敬老節時，佛教會需要尋找或租借可容納逾2000人的場地。
2018年3月，善心人士拜訪尊者斯里沙拉南加拉長老，獻出位於Elmina的0.5英畝永久土地。經過深思熟慮，長老欣然接受，指示工作人員進行土地申請和轉讓登記等事宜。這也意味著使命和責任的承擔與傳承。宏慈寺總建設概括5層樓，底層大佛殿可容納500人。
2019年9月29日，宏慈寺建設啟建奠基儀式，逾500名僧俗善信參與。這也說明唯一一所佛寺將立於5000英畝地段的沙亞南艾爾米納市，惠及目前当地居民至少2000名華裔子民。宏慈寺在此地段的建立也將同時惠及方圓以外至少20公里的居民。
2020年2月，全球疫情籠罩，宏慈寺建設工程暫時擱下。然而佛寺建設策劃大藍圖仍在專業工程團隊線上線下每每数小时的會議中逐漸定案。
2022年1月，宏慈寺建設正式啟動，至今歷時24個月。宏慈佛教會秘書處紧锣密鼓策劃及籌辦活動湊集佛寺建设工程基金。每位僧俗善翁、社會賢達、宏慈佛教會執委、各地佛教團體、義工團隊- 从幕后搬运到台前大会司仪，出錢出力用心圓滿每次的使命。對于每位善翁佛弟子的貢獻无论是资金或建筑材料或给予意见鼓励等，宏慈佛教會心存感激。若无大家的护持，今日我们也无法见证宏慈寺的逐渐成型。
工程團隊由Raymond Ang主帥項目經理，工程師Ir Ng PK，Ir Leong KF，設計師Alex Tan，土木工程師Ar Chan CW，電子机械工程師Louis Chan，精算師Sis Janice Choo，工程監理Mr Teh TB及数位幕后功臣等人盡心盡力監督執行，盼宏慈寺早日落成，利益有情眾生。
在經歷疫情的艱難、困苦時期，身為引路人的長老要有多大心量、多大慈悲才能支撐這片福田供佛弟子继续耕耘。任何时刻首位现身活动现场工作的都是长老高大魁伟的身影，长老每每也是最后一个退下休息的。高龄七秩的长老不言语，不言累，佛弟子們都看得見、都知道。
一座寺院存在世上短則百年、乃至千年，每位進入寺院的佛友、或升起一念對佛法僧三寶的恭敬心，都可以種植無量善根，培植福報。
功德利益不僅是這一生一世，而是千秋萬代。得人身已經罕有，還能建寺安僧，為千千萬萬眾生作度因緣，這是罕見的機緣福德！
以歡喜心隨喜，不論多寡，就如滴水匯入海洋，海不枯則水一滴不滅。清凈的發心最為重要。
马来西亚宏慈佛教會（雪隆）乃獨立體制，不屬於任何佛寺支會，亦无分会。
随喜各界善士对宏慈寺建设的信任与护持。
祈愿宏慈寺建设早日圆满，廣利有情！
愿这份建寺功德成为一切众生在解脱道上的坚定基础。善哉！
乙心 笔
宏慈佛教会秘书
2024年1月6日
印度菩提迦耶
【Maha Karuna Vihara】
The scale of the temple is gradually becoming clear. Chief Reverend B Sri Saranankara Maha Thera , the leader, has gone through countless hardships, overcoming obstacles. He is personally involved in every aspect, inspecting the construction site, attending every construction meeting possible, uniting people with his compassionate vows, and encouraging volunteers to stay true to their initial aspirations.
Finally, the temple is taking shape, like the accumulation of sand forming a tower.
Chief Reverend Saranankara inspires and guides Buddhist disciples in the practice of generosity, ethical conduct, and meditation. He embodies qualities such as patience, humility, non-misleading, non-attachment, and non-clinging.
The Maha Karuna Buddhist Society Malaysia, established for 22 years, is, for the first time, constructing a temple under its name.
The association recognizes the inconvenience of not having a fixed place of Buddhist educational, spiritual and welfare activities. Apart from traditional Buddhist education, purification of mind through meditation, assist other Buddhist temples worldwide in training monk communities, propagate the Dharma through sermon preaching of Bhikkhu Sangha , uphold traditional rituals commemorating the merits of the Buddha, and consistently support thousands of monks in various temples worldwide. However, whenever community welfare projects like annual EDUcare and Senior Citizen Appreciation events are initiated, Maha Karuna needs to find venues that can accommodate over 2000 people.
In March 2018, a benevolent person visited Venerable Sri Saranankara Thero, offering a 0.5-acre permanent land in Elmina. After careful consideration, Chief Reverend gladly accepted the land, instructing the administrator to proceed with land applications and transfer registrations. This signifies the undertaking and passing on of the mission and responsibility. The overall construction of Maha Karuna Vihara encompasses 5 floors, with the ground floor’s main Buddha hall capable of accommodating 500 people.
On September 29, 2019, the groundbreaking ceremony for Maha Karuna Vihara took place, with over 500 monks and lay devotees participating. This also indicates that the only temple will now stand in the new city of Shah Alam Elmina, benefiting at least the current 2000 Chinese residents in the area. The establishment of Maha Karuna Vihara in this area will also benefit residents within a radius of at least 20 kilometers onwards.
In February 2020, the global pandemic temporarily halted the construction of Maha Karuna Vihara. However, the planning for the temple’s construction continued as a dedicated professional building team held numerous online and offline meetings.
In January 2022, the construction of Maha Karuna Vihara officially began and has been ongoing for 24 months as of now. The secretariat of the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society is actively planning and organizing various activities to raise funds for the construction project. Every Sangha Member, lay benefactor, committee member of the Maha Karuna Buddhist Society, various Buddhist organisations, and volunteer teams from the transportation behind the stage until the Master Ceremony on stage, contribute with dedication and sincerity to fulfill each mission. Maha Karuna is grateful to each and every contributor, regardless of the form of their contribution whereas in kind of building material, monetary contribution, advice or encouragement. Without your support, we would not had walked this far.
The building project team, led by Brother Raymond Ang as the project manager, includes architects, Ir Ng PK, Ir Leong KF, interior designer Alex Tan, civil engineer Ar Chan CW, mechanical & electronic engineer Louis Chan, quantity surveyor Sis Janice Choo, project supervisor Mr. Teh TB and others who supervise and execute the project wholeheartedly. The hope is for the early completion of Maha Karuna Vihara, benefiting sentient beings.
In the challenging and difficult times of the pandemic, one can only imagine the vastness of heart and compassion Chief Reverend Saranankara, as a guide, to sustain this merit field of blessings for Buddhist disciples to continue to work on it. Whenever present at the activity site, Chief Reverend towering figure is that of a resolute leader. He is often the last one to retire to rest. Despite being in his seventies, he remains silent and always motivated. Buddhist disciples know about it.
Once a temple is built, it can exist in the world for a short or long period, from a hundred to a thousand years. Every person entering the temple, or cultivating a respectful mind towards the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, can plant immeasurable wholesome roots and accumulate blessings.
The merit and benefits are not only for this lifetime but extend to future generations. It is rare to obtain a human birth, and even rarer to build a temple and support monks, creating karmic conditions for the liberation of countless beings. This is an extraordinary opportunity and fortune!
With a joyful heart, rejoicing in the goodness, regardless of the volume; it is like a drop of water merging into the ocean. The ocean does not dry up, and similarly, the principle is that one drop of water does not extinguish. It is inconceivable, and the purity of the aspiring mind is paramount.
Maha Karuna Buddhist Society Malaysia (Selangor)is an independent entity, not affiliated with any temple, and has no sub-branches.
Rejoicing in the trust and support of all virtuous individuals towards the establishment of Maha Karuna Vihara.
May the construction of Maha Karuna Vihara be completed soon, bringing widespread benefits to sentient beings!
May this merit of building temple become the firm foundation for all sentient beings on the path to liberation. Anumodana!
Yee Shin
Secretary of Maha Karuna Buddhist Society
January 6, 2024,
Bodh Gaya, India
