On November 14, 1993, our most respected guidance; the Venerable Master Chin Kung arrived at Kuala Lumpur to begin a six day dharma talk entitled "The essence of the Amitabha Sutra". This dharma talk was no doubt a great inspiration to the organization of Pure Land Buddhism in this country later.

According to Master Chin Kung, there are four types of Buddhism being practiced today: (1) The traditional Buddhist School; (2) The religious Buddhist School; (3) The academic Buddhist School and (4) The cultist Buddhist school. The Buddhism being practiced today is mostly from the last three schools and few are practising Buddhism as taught by traditional Buddhist School based on the teachings of Buddha.

Master Chin Kung's talk was a breath of fresh air to the Buddhist community in Malaysia. We really must thank Master Chin Kung for showing us a clear direction in Buddhist cultivation amidst a complex and confusing web work of Buddhist practices.

Goal

Master Chin Kung has often advised us with the words of the renowned Pure Land practitioner, Huang Nian Zu that, "what is needed is not a large number but a few who are truly the practitioners of Pure Land Buddhism; a way place that values solid results rather than formalities and a cultivation goal aimed at attaining a pure mind as opposed to receiving extra sensory responses." These have become important guidelines for our Management Committee Members in their management of societal affairs.

In our cultivation to Buddhahood, we follow the Five Guidelines tabled by Master Chin Kung consisting of "The Three Conditions; The Six Harmonies; The Three Learnings; The Six Principles and The Ten Vows of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva." In seeking to understand the Pure Land School, we relied upon teachings based on the "Five Pure Land Sutras and One Sastra."

Our activities are organized according to the needs of the time but never deviated from our goal based on the Third Vow of the Universal Worthy(Samantabadhra) Bodhisattva.

The Ten Great Vows of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva, were taught to us by the Buddha in the Flower Adornment Sutra, as the last stage of our cultivation leading to Buddhahood. The primary characteristic of Universal Worthy(Samantabadra) Bodhisattvas is an immeasurably broad mind, which in Mahayana Buddhism is considered as the perfect function of the self-nature. Every one of his vows is complete and perfect, and all his vows are directed to all beings in the universe.

In his Third Vow to make Offerings Extensively, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva told us that of all the many kinds of offerings, that of the teachings is supreme. However, only the Buddha's teachings can help sentient beings break through confusion and delusion, to uncover the perfect self-nature, to become enlightened. No other kind of offering can do this. As Buddhism is an education, we are to honor the teacher and revere his or her teachings."

With this in mind, the Amitabha Buddhist Society of Malaysia has set its operation objective on distributing Pure Land's dharma materials in the forms of books, audio cassettes, VCDs and CDs free of charge to the receivers. Funding for these projects and our activities have been coming from the public who wished to contribute to help others to get enlightened.

To date we have over 33 distribution centres run by volunteers throughout Malaysia. We have also helped others, at their requests, to establish Amitabha Buddhist Societies in Malaysia. It is our goal to spread the Pure Land teachings widely, following our teacher guidance's words to implement the ideals embedded in "True Sincerity towards others; Purity of Mind within; Equality in everything we see; Proper Understanding of life and the universe; Compassion, helping others in a wise and unconditional way; See Through to the truth of impermanence; Let Go of all wandering thoughts and attachments; Freedom of mind and spirit; Accord With Conditions, go along with the environment; Be Mindful of Amitabha Buddha, wishing to reach the Pure Land and follow in His Teachings."

It is our hope that everyone who comes to understand Pure Land Buddhism shall attain enlightenment and be free of delusions and sufferings, eventually.

Amituofo. Amitabha Buddhist Society (M)