Sprinkling Ceremony Held for the Groundbreaking of the New DDM Dharma Center in Malaysia

On the morning of September 22^nd, 2024, Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia (DDMBCM) held a groundbreaking ceremony, themed "Spiritual Oasis in the Heart of the City", for its new Dharma center. Nearly 400 guests from Malaysia and overseas came to witness this important milestone in DDM's historical development in Malaysia. With the help of senior members of Buddhist community and dedicated devotees over the years, DDM finally obtained approval from the relevant authorities to build a new half-acre Dharma center in the religious zone in Kwasa Damansara, a new township in Shah Alam, Selangor. Scheduled to be fully completed by 2027, the new facility is expected to be an important site for DDM to promote Chan practice in Southeast Asia.


"Dharma Drum Mountain's mission is to spread Chinese Chan Buddhism, with Protecting the Spiritual Environment as its core; to achieve the purification of the world through the Threefold Education." As DDM Abbot President Ven. Guo Huei (果暉法師) stated, the main function of the new Dharma center is to serve as DDM's Chan practice center in Southeast Asia, where short-term and long-term Chan practice activities will be held regularly, with the aim of purifying people's minds and society through Chan practice. In addition, Ven. Guo Huei also mentioned that the facility, which will be inaugurated in three years, would be suitable not only for Chan practice, but also for a variety of activities such as art exhibitions and classes. Ven. Guo Huei expressed his gratitude for the combinations of causes and conditions that facilitate the establishment of the new facility, saying that "thanks to the kindness and support from people of all walks of life, DDM will complete the construction of this facility on their behalf. In the future, it will be open for other Buddhist organizations to use."

According to DDMBCM, the new Dharma center is conveniently located just 300 meters from the MRT station and has a spacious parking lot. It aims to provide a spiritual space for city dwellers to calm their minds and replenish themselves, as well as to find their own "spiritual oasis" in the midst of their busy lives. With the theme of "Using Chan practice to purify the body and mind, building a pure land on earth," DDM intends to help people apply Buddhist concepts and methods of Chan practice to meet the challenges of daily life by popularizing Chinese Chan and propagating practical Buddhist teachings. Meanwhile, DDM also hopes to help people discover their innate treasures within, thereby realizing that the Pure Land is right where they are.

The new facility will be a five-floor building with a one-story basement. The main floor will be used as a Chan Hall for holding events such as meditation activities, large-scale courses, camps, and international Buddhist seminars, in order to foster international and interdisciplinary learning and exchanges. In addition, the large multifunctional classroom of the new center will be suitable for holding Buddhist courses and activities for people of different backgrounds and levels. There will also be accommodation and open space for long term practice activities. The new facility will also provide venues and resources for tertiary institutions and other orthodox Buddhist organizations to hold activities, in return for their selfless assistance and support.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by the following distinguished guests: Ven. Guo Huei, the Abbot President of DDM; Ven. Ming Ji (明吉法師), the President of Persatuan Buddhist Malaysia Bahagian KL / Selangor Wisma Buddhist; Ven. Chi Chern (繼程法師), the principal of Malaysian Buddhist Institute and Abbot of Puzhao Buddhist Vihara; Ven. Guo Lii (果理法師), the Managing Director of DDM branch monastery administration; Ven. Jue Cheng (覺誠法師), the Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia; Ven. Chuan Zhi(傳智法師), the Abbot of Leong Hua Temple in Klang; Ven. Miao Zan (妙贊法師) of the Prajna Academy; Ven. Sumańgala, the Abbess of Ariya Vihara Buddhist Society; Dato' Ir. Ang Choo Hong (洪祖豐), the Chairman of Yayasan Belia Buddhist Malaysia; Dr. Tan Chan Sin (陳贊欣), the Deputy President of Young Buddhist Association Of Malaysia; Chang Chang-pang (張昌邦), President of DDM General Association of Dharma Supporters, and monastic members, representatives and Dharma upholders of different Buddhist organizations from all over the world. They gathered together to witness this important historic moment.



Photos and original Chinese text / Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Centre Malaysia
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, YKL