MINUTES MEETING AT BUDDHIST MAHA VIHARA, ON 16^TH APRIL, 2025. 10:30 A.M.

ATTENDANCE:-

 

Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana

Buddhist Chief High Priest of Malaysia

Founder and Advisor of the Ti-Ratana Group

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• Official Summary of Key Discussions:

 

• The discourse highlighted Datuk's dedicated efforts in fostering social cohesion through discreet initiatives aimed at bridging community divides. Notably, an incident in Johor Bahru was addressed, wherein a Singaporean Buddhist tourist group inadvertently conducted worship rituals within a hotel Musolla (a designated Muslim prayer space), sparking societal sensitivity. Datuk's office, upon receiving inquiries, engaged the Johor Bahru Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for clarification and subsequently issued a formal public apology on behalf of the Buddhist community to resolve the matter amicably.

 

• Dr. Arzani contextualized the situation by referencing historical precedents, such as Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) gesture of permitting Ethiopian non-Muslims to utilize a Musolla for prayer, underscoring principles of interfaith inclusivity. In response to Dr. Arzani’s inquiries, Datuk clarified that Buddhism constitutes Malaysia’s second-largest religious demographic after Islam.

 

• Further insights revealed that Malaysia hosts approximately 300–400 Buddhist monks, half of whom are ascetic practitioners residing in forest hermitages. The absence of a localized monastic training infrastructure necessitates reliance on institutions in Sri Lanka and China, resulting in limited public engagement expertise among missionary monks. Buddhist scriptures in Malaysia primarily reference Pali (Mahagandhi language) and Sanskrit texts, with the Tripitaka—a tripartite canonical text encompassing liturgical practices (Volume 1), ethical disciplines (Volume 2), and philosophical contemplation (Volume 3)—serving as the doctrinal cornerstone.

 

• Community initiatives include Sunday classes for Buddhist adherents, which integrate interfaith education with language instruction in English and Mandarin. Dr. Arzani extended an invitation to Datuk to participate in an international religious conference at the University of Religious Studies in the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing global scholarly dialogue.

 

• Datuk reiterated Malaysia’s standing as a harmonious, multicultural nation with no systemic interreligious conflicts. A pressing contemporary challenge identified was the need to adapt value-based education to resonate with youth through modernized pedagogical approaches, ensuring the perpetuation of ethical and cultural principles among younger generations.