Two-days visit of Ven. Prof. Man Ben Covers Series of Dharma Talks
reported by: Liu Setiawan
Jakarta, July 10, 2024/Indonesia Media – two-days visit of Buddhist nun, Ven. Prof. Man Ben, vice chancellor of Dharma Buddhist University, Malaysia to Indonesia covered a series of dharma talk in Guna Dharma Buddhist temple, Tiang Bendera street (literally, flagpole), Roa Malaka area, west Jakarta and the inauguration of status change, from College (STAB) into Institute of Nalanda. The visit of Ven. Prof. Man Ben was sponsored by Indonesian businessman, Siwie Honoris.
“STAB Nalanda, starting from July 10 (Wednesday) has changed its status into the Institute of Nalanda. The visit of Ven. Man Sen, is expected to deliver both speech and Dharma talk during the inauguration ceremony at Indonesian Ministry of Religion affairs, MH Thamrin street,” said Siwie Honoris.
Ven. Prof. Man Sen, during the speech, always needs to call on the devotees to be thankful each day for what they get. Her sermon was a nuance of Dharma lesson, which was related to many aspects and factors of life attitude and human behavior from the side of cultural hierarchy among Chinese families, particularly on discrimination against female children whose age 30 – 40 years old. Male children are always prioritized for many things, in any circumstances. But for her, Ven. Prof. Man Ben, the isolation and refusal towards benevolence or anything in which she has experiences, was actually a path leading to make her as what she appears a Buddhist nun. She has passed and overcome disturbance in cognition, emotional regulation, behavior in front of her. “At least, we still have to be thankful for what we experience, and get opportunities to learn, practice Dharma,” said Ven. Prof. Man Ben in front of around 400 devotees of Guna Dharma Buddhist temple.
Meanwhile, a figure and former director general of Buddhist affairs, Indonesian Ministry of Religion (1991 – 1998) Budi Setyawan has really seen the condition of freedom of religion/belief in both Indonesia and Malaysia. There is a correlation between those conditions, in the two countries, that is an assimilation. The government respects religious freedom for the sex officially recognized religions including Buddhism. The same things happen in Malaysia, all religions have equal rights according to the law. “Malaysia, is a country with many nations. Indonesia has around 600 races. In Malaysia, there are only three races; Malay, Chinese and Indian. But the population in the two countries feel convenient, feel safe when attending ceremonies and pray,” said Budi Setyawan. (LS/IM)
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