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开善法师展望与发展篇寻找生命的灵山
Rulai Pavilion
Cultural nourishment is a precious treasure of the spirit; art is the expression of truth, goodness, and beauty — a dialogue between mind and form.
Chinese culture is one of the four great civilisations of the world. While other civilisations of the same era have long since dispersed, Chinese culture remains ever-new, because it contains rich humanistic spirit and high artistic value. In changing times, it continuously manifests its enduring vitality. Today, if we wish to rank among modern nations, high-quality cultural and artistic activities are indispensable. Buddhist art is precisely a treasure mountain that gathers all crafts into one.
Art is a form of craftsmanship (silpa-vidya), one of the Five Sciences of Buddhism, used to embrace and guide sentient beings — this is the fundamental purpose of Rulai Pavilion (Buddhist Culture and Art Gallery). It not only gives new life to Buddhist culture, helping everyone better understand how to appreciate the essence of Buddhist art, but also affirms that with a belief in art returning home and culture taking root, humanistic cultivation always helps temper one's character, making people more humane and culturally grounded. The beauty of Buddhist images lies in their infinite, indescribable compassion, possessing inconceivable solemnity and stillness that can dispel all distracting thoughts and give rise to a profound sense of reverence from within. To enable more people to experience the truth, goodness, and beauty of Buddhist images, Rulai Pavilion comprehensively promotes the integration of Buddhist art into daily life, offering exquisite Buddhist images of various kinds, hoping that their truth, goodness, and beauty can move from the shrine into studies and other living spaces, no longer limited to altar offerings, so that more people can share in them, hoping that through Buddhist promotion, the goal of purifying the mind and clarifying society can be achieved.
The compassionate gaze of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, various Buddhist artefacts, malas of various materials, offering vessels, and Tang-style altar lamps — everywhere exudes tranquillity and serenity, all manifesting the profound truth of the Dharma. In the moment of utmost sincerity, the pure and offering mind that arises, one cannot help but pause and reflect deeply, understanding that artistic creation requires focus and immersion of mind to accomplish. Fixing the mind on one point, nothing is impossible — both creation and appreciation reside in this one thought. Understanding the Dharma begins with the bits of knowledge around us; carefully contemplating the true meaning of the Buddhas' teachings, experiencing the unity of Dharma and life in everyday practice.
That solid as a rock Buddha-realm, stubbornly existing in the hearts of devotees, praying for the protection of the good and the fulfilment of vows, yearning for the refuge of peace across the four seas — this is the pure heart of Buddhist culture and humanistic cultivation towards the Buddha's world, transcendent yet resilient as a fine thread. Through the accumulation of time, braving the stars and the moon, merging with the mountains and rivers and the great earth, using external forms to awaken the heart; thought after thought returning to right mindfulness, returning to bodhi, to nirvana.
Shandao Welfare Centre
Inheriting the selfless spirit of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas' compassionate relief of suffering, SHAN DAO JING SHE began providing Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment and free medication services to people of all ethnicities in 1999, and in 2005 began offering TCM tuina therapy services. As Venerable Kai Shan hoped to provide more patients with proper medical care, he initiated the rental of a unit at No. 1, Lorong 19, Section 1, Old Petaling Jaya, as the temporary premises of the Shandao Welfare Centre.
The Shandao Welfare Centre began operations in 2006, simultaneously offering acupuncture treatment services for stroke patients to assist in their rehabilitation. In early 2009, the Shandao Welfare Centre relocated to a two-storey detached house next to the Vihara, providing medical welfare to those suffering with a larger space. Venerable Kai Shan aspires to build a Shandao Integrative Medical Centre in the near future, providing ever-better medical services.
On 30 November 2024, the Shandao Welfare Centre in the old district of Petaling Jaya, Selangor, held its grand opening. Upholding the philosophy of "Guiding Lives, Serving Society," guided by compassion and wisdom, it spread love and care. On the day of the event, Venerable Kai Shan, President of the ShanDao, resident masters, representatives from educational institutions, and guests from all sectors of society attended the event.
In his compassionate teaching, Venerable Kai Shan explained the original intention and vision behind the establishment of the Shandao Welfare Centre. He mentioned that the centre is not only a platform for serving the community but also a bridge of love and goodwill, dedicated to promoting social harmony and happiness through multi-dimensional services including education, welfare, and cultural promotion. The Master encouraged everyone to participate together, spreading the power of compassion further and wider. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, witnessed by the guests, Venerable Kai Shan and many distinguished guests jointly unveiled the Shandao Welfare Centre, marking the beginning of a new chapter in serving society.
According to the centre director: "The Shandao Welfare Centre will always uphold the compassionate spirit of Buddhism, warming hearts with practical action and bringing positive change to the community. We look forward to cooperating with more social institutions, enterprises, and individuals in the future to jointly promote community harmony and happiness." To deepen understanding of the Shandao Welfare Centre, the organisers specially arranged a tour, detailing the centre's facilities, functions, and future development direction. The guests expressed high recognition of the centre's service mission, centred on educational counselling, social welfare, and cultural promotion, and praised it for injecting new vitality and hope into the community.
The establishment of the Shandao Welfare Centre reflects deep concern for disadvantaged groups in society. Through diverse service programmes, the centre will provide comprehensive assistance to those in need, including educational resources, psychological counselling, and material support. At the same time, the centre plans to regularly organise community activities, Buddhist education courses, and cultural outreach activities to help the public improve their physical, mental, and spiritual health and enhance social cohesion.
Compared to selfless great love, personal fame and wealth are insignificant. The Contemplation Sutra says: "The Buddha's heart is great compassion." Possessing selfless compassion and a heart that empathises with the suffering of the sick, extending compassion from oneself to others — this is a sound life. We hope your loving heart can carry this great love forward.
「Guiding Lives, Serving Society」
Shandao Kitchen
Shandao Kitchen is hidden in the residential area of Old Petaling Jaya. It is not an ordinary vegetarian restaurant, nor a typical cafe, because it is rooted in goodness, a place fragrant with the scent of the Dharma. Visiting Shandao Kitchen often, you may come close to spiritual friends, close to Venerable Kai Shan, close to the Dharma.
Uncle wears a singlet and uncle pants with a few drops of sauce on his vest, always with a white towel on his shoulder; Aunty wears simple floral clothes with permed hair, though without makeup, she remains spirited and energetic. They are always so easygoing and warm, smiling and chatting with every customer, adding warmth and human connection to people's mornings.
Aunty, I would like a pack of fried rice noodles.
Would you like chili sauce?
Would you like chili sauce?
Okay! Aunty will give you extra noodles.
Aunty quickly and deftly handed over the fried rice noodles wrapped in newspaper. The other customers were all neighbours from the kampung, sitting around shared tables, drinking Kopi O, eating heartily from their plates, chatting about this and that.
— A Warmth of Goodness
The food may not be fancy, but eating it, you taste the fullness of human warmth and comfort. Yes! It is about the human touch and a warmth of goodness.
Located next to the Petaling Jaya SHAN DAO JING SHE, Shandao Kitchen is just like this — without ostentatious decoration, yet with honest warmth. Shandao Kitchen is hidden in the residential area of Old Petaling Jaya, on the private open space in front of a house, with several simple tables and chairs — a low-profile yet heartwarming vegetarian restaurant. The decor features greenery, with a touch of rustic old-house charm, yet retains the cafe style that young people enjoy.
Venerable Kai Shan pointed out that this vegetarian restaurant was established through the collective devotion of devotees, hoping to promote vegetarian culture rather than for commercial profit. The Master emphasised promoting vegetarianism through the concept of respecting life, using vegetarian eating as a substitute for traditional animal release, because improper release methods may harm the ecological environment, contrary to good intentions.
This vegetarian restaurant, open for nearly half a year, maintains a low profile without much promotion. It is both a practice ground for Shandao Temple devotees and a gathering place for celebrations, coffee, and Dharma exchange, while also hoping to attract those with karmic connections.
— Simple Cuisine as the Focus
The restaurant menu focuses on simple cuisine, served à la carte, with dishes mostly in local Malaysian flavours, minimising the use of mock meat to present natural, original tastes. Prices are reasonable and suitable for the general public.
Perhaps the food here is exactly those familiar and comforting flavours — simple, unpretentious, commonly seen, filling the stomach, without ostentatious decoration or complicated processes. Simple is good; fewer desires is also a form of life practice.
A bowl of plain porridge, paired with braised egg, tofu, peanuts, and pickled vegetables, warms the stomach with a rich old-fashioned flavour that evokes nostalgia. Vegetarian Asam Laksa — not too spicy, not too rich, just the right flavour, especially suitable for those who prefer milder tastes. Vegetarian Roasted Chicken Rice — for rice lovers, it is a simple satisfaction. Paired with ginger and chili, the aroma is enticing, making you want to order more rice.
As for kueh chap, this is a popular traditional snack from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong, part of Teochew cuisine. Kueh chap is different from kway teow — its texture is more chewy and bouncy, uniquely distinctive. It is rare to find vegetarian kueh chap here, and it tastes quite good. If you do not fancy Chinese food, young people can also choose vegetarian burgers. A bite of burger, a bite of fries dipped in chili sauce, and a sip of a cold drink — youthful energy overflows! It is also a way to relax and relieve stress.
The food options are quite diverse, also including ginger thread noodle soup, pasta, vegetable salad, and more. The chefs work hard in the kitchen, developing more delicious dishes to provide richer choices. For drinks, there are various Americanos and refreshing beverages, meeting different customer needs and adding more options to the dining experience. Worth mentioning is the Osmanthus Latte — a regular latte is one part coffee, three parts milk, but the magic is in sprinkling golden osmanthus flowers, adding a touch of fragrance — it has beauty! It has surprise!
Sunlight gently streams in, the breeze carries the fresh fragrance of plants and trees, warm on hot days, with the pitter-patter of coolness on rainy days. Shandao Kitchen is not just a vegetarian restaurant, but more like a harbour for the soul. Here, food and nature blend harmoniously, conveying the power of goodness. Just as its name Shandao suggests — a warm and pure guidance.
The food here is not flashy, but particularly grounding, like the home-cooked meals grandma made when we were young, reassuring. Shandao Kitchen carries not only the satisfaction of taste buds but also a rustic nostalgia, a pursuit of simplicity and purity. Perhaps it is this simplicity and unpretentiousness that makes Shandao Kitchen a comforting place in people's hearts. Here, what you find is not just a meal, but a pure good heart, a simple good thought.
— True Blessings Come from Within
With the Lunar New Year approaching, a representative from Compassion Magazine asked Venerable Kai Shan for a wisdom red packet on behalf of readers. The Master spoke gently, blessing everyone:
「Peace of Mind is Blessing」
We often hear "peace is a blessing," but not "peace of mind is a blessing," right? Peace is sought outward, whilst peace of mind is sought inward.
Venerable Kai Shan believes that true blessings are sought from within. Only with peace of mind can one find true happiness. With peace of mind, one can face everything external, including the changes of impermanence and all challenges. The Master emphasised the power of a calm mind. When the mind can be still, one will not panic when encountering situations. Even major issues can be minimised and resolved, without excessive worry or fear. The Master stated that through understanding the Dharma, people can comprehend the truth of impermanence and gradually learn to let go.
Shandao Kitchen is not an ordinary vegetarian restaurant, nor a typical cafe, because it is rooted in goodness, a place fragrant with the scent of the Dharma. Visiting Shandao Kitchen often, you may come close to spiritual friends, close to Venerable Kai Shan, close to the Dharma. At Shandao Kitchen, besides eating and drinking tea, you may also gain many wisdom treasures — big blessing packages that can bring peace of mind!