19th Book Sharing: <em>Guiding Thousands of Households: The History, Development, and Dissemination of the Cempaka Buddhist Lodge in Malaysia</em>
Upcoming Event
| Introduction | Introduction: Organized by New Era University College and planned by Institute of International Education, the " International Academic and Cultural Exchange Series " lectures will be held periodically throughout 2025. The series invites esteemed scholars and experts from both domestic and international institutions who have made significant achievements in their respective research fields. The fifth lecture in this series will be delivered by PhD candidate Han Pengyu from New Era University College. His lecture is titled “Calamity from the Flames of War: The Tumu Crisis and Its Impact on the Ming Dynasty”. This lecture will delve into the historical event known as the Tumu Crisis. As one of the most devastating defeats in the early Ming Dynasty, the Tumu Crisis marked a major turning point in Ming history. It had significant consequences not only in the short term but also long-lasting effects on the dynasty’s mid-to-late development. The lecture will focus on three main aspects: the causes of the battle, its immediate aftermath, and its long-term historical impact. |
| Speaker | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tey Shi Bin, Asst. Prof. Dr. Wong Wai Shee, Asst. Prof. Dr. Lew Siew Boon, Dr. Wong Siew Jye, Mr. Lee Ming Ren, Ms. Phang Hui Ting |
| Reading Material | Tey, S.B. and Wong, W.S. (2024) Guiding Thousands of Households: The History, Development, and Dissemination of the Chempaka Buddisht Lodge in Malaysia. New Era University College. |
| Content Overview | Rooted in the Selangor-Kuala Lumpur region in 1985, the Cempaka Buddhist Lodge has flourished over four decades, nurturing its community with compassion and wisdom while propagating Buddhist teachings and serving the people.While promoting the Buddhist teachings, the society has also actively engaged in social welfare and recreational initiatives, offering free medical care and medicine to those in need, as well as organizing diverse activities such as blood donation drives, flower arrangement classes, and cooking workshops for the benefit of society. This book compiles eight papers that comprehensively examine the history, religious philosophy, social impact, and future vision of the Chempaka Buddhist Lodge from multiple perspectives. Through scholarly analysis, it seeks to illuminate the cultural significance and practical relevance of Buddhist faith in contemporary life. The publication of this volume aims to deepen public understanding of Buddhist practice, foster mutual harmony among religion, faith, academia, and daily life, and ultimately promote compassion and unity in society. |
| Seminar Information | Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Platform: Zoom Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/bp4uyeav *Free registration, due by June 11, 2025. |
Book Sharing Postscript
The Institute of International Education hosted a book talk on June 12, 2025 (Thursday) at 7:30pm for the newly published book entitled Guiding Thousands of Households: The History, Development, and Dissemination of the Cempaka Buddhist Lodge in Malaysia, published by New Era University College.
The book was co-edited by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tey Shi Bin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Corporate Development) of New Era University College, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Wong Wai Shee, Head of the Chinese Department. The event, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tey Shi Bin, attracted around 90 attendees, including faculty members, students, and the public.
Prof. Tey began by introducing the book’s background and core concepts. Subsequently, the contributing authors presented their research findings. Ms. Phang Hui Ting traced the establishment of Cempaka Buddhist Lodge and discussed its mission in Dharma propagation, charity, and cultural initiatives. Mr. Lee Ming Ren examined the syncretism of Buddhism and Chinese folk beliefs, using the Avatamsaka & Emperor Liang’s Repentance Ullambana Ceremony as a case study. Asst. Prof. Dr. Lew Siew Boon analysed the social impact of the organisation’s charitable activities since its founding. In another article, she also made close observation to the contributions of female devotees in religious communities.
Following this, Asst. Prof. Dr. Wong Wai Shee explored the founding of the Malaysian Buddhist Kulapati Association and its role in advancing Buddhist causes. Dr. Wong Siew Jye then compared different management models of Buddhist organisations and their multi-faceted approaches to promoting Buddhism. To conclude, Prof. Tey shared insights from an exclusive interview with Buddhist artisan Mr. Liu Qing-Gao, documenting the artistry and craftsmanship behind Cempaka’s Buddhist statues and the preservation of this traditional skill.The session was informative and engaging, offering participants a valuable platform for learning and discussion. For those interested in purchasing the book, it is available at New Era University College’s Online Cultural and Creative Shop:
https://www.newera.edu.my/onlineshop/shop-category/3/item/5
