

首先, 我衷心感恩各位代表对我们第二十届新任全国理事的支持与委托, 让我们能在建设大马佛教的道业上,为大家奉献与服务。
马佛青总会自1970年成立以来,至今已经走过了三十八个年头,而新任全国理事也即将领导马佛青总会走向四十周年的“不惑之年”。与此同时,马佛青总会第五个六年计划也将在这一届(2008-2010年)作出总结,新任全国理事也必须在2010年之前为马佛青总会拟定第六个六年计划。俗话说:创业难,守业更难;我们在享受着前人种树余荫的同时,更希望大家能秉承前人“不忍众生苦,不忍圣教衰”的爱教护法情怀,同心同德来落实马佛青总会“塑造一个充满智慧,慈悲和感恩的社会”的宏愿!
肯定使命 用心耕耘走向四十的“不惑之年”,我们必须更清楚的肯定马佛青的使命与未来发展方向。身为马来西亚唯一的全国性佛教青年组织,凝聚大马佛教青年的力量,并启发佛教青年的智慧,慈悲与感恩心是我们使命;而第五个六年计划也明确的将“成为大马佛教青年领导者”拟定为我们的未来发展方向。马佛青总会如此的理念和定位是不容置疑的,我们也不必要再重新给马佛青一个定位或再考虑我们的理念。
在肯定使命与方向的同时,我们必须了解到马佛青是一个以团体为单位的佛教组织,我们能否落实使命与否有赖于团体会员的认同,支持与参与。因此如何加强和团体会员的关系及取得团体会员的继续认同与支持,甚至增加我们的团体会员是我们主要的成功因素之一。我们希望能在未来的日子里能更积极的加强与团体会员间的互动与交流,并通过各州州联委会,重新出发,用心灌溉与耕耘前人所开垦的这一亩福田。
爱我青年 契机接引自2005年来,马佛青总会积极的把握国民服务计划的契机,凝聚国内团体会员的力量,通过营内佛学课程及营外接待国民服务学员活动,接引了无数的青少年学佛。经过三年的共同努力,我们已经开始看到了一些成果,有些学员升上大专后会主动继续参与大专的佛学活动,而有些学员更在结束国民服务计划后回到团体会员处去协助接待新一批的国民服务学员,这一点是我们应当为彼此喝彩的,而国民服务计划更是我们必须继续努力和加强的。
在关心各州佛教青年发展的同时,我们也必须接受青年人才随着经济活动集中于大都会而从小城镇迁移的事实。在申诉缺乏青年人才的同时,我们更需要调整我们的心态,把危机转化为更积极栽培青少年的契机。除了协助中学成立佛学会,我们也应该继续协助各团体会员成立佛青之友并积极的为青少年提供一个学习佛法,关怀众生与奉献佛教的平台。
“青年发展与青年团体法令”的执行更为我们在团体会员的扎根工作上带来了另一项契机。 为了要继续保留成为青年组织,马佛青总会就必须转移到此法令下注册。在此法令的要求之下,马佛青也必须更积极的协助现有的团体会员成立青年团甚至于感召更多的佛教青年来成立以佛教青年为会员的佛教青年会。
整合资源 建设佛教立足于马来西亚这个多元文化及宗教的国家,未来依然是充满挑战的。因此,我们在建设大马佛教的道路上,不能掉以轻心,必须居安思危,小心谨慎的把护持佛教的工作做好,这包括维护佛教的形象及佛教徒的基本权益。
建设大马佛教是一个长远及充满挑战的工作,这项工作并非单一佛教组织能够独自胜任的。在发掘佛教资源的同时,如何有效率的整合佛教资源,与国内其他佛教组织来缔造良好的互动双赢关系,共同建设大马佛教,更是一项重要的工作。马佛青总会将继续通过马来西亚协调委员会,与理念相同的佛教组织共同建设一个以佛陀教育为基础,以人间佛教为中心,以大马文化为指标,以四众和谐为典范的大马佛教。
同体共生 履行关怀在实践佛教对众生的关怀之同时,我们应当抱着“人溺己溺,人饥己饥”的同体共生精神,优先处理当代众生所面对的生活问题和生命议题 。马佛青总会将继续通过在第五个六年计划里所归纳的六大服务领域,就是弘法,教育,文化,福利,训练及出版,为佛教社群提供前瞻性及杰出的服务并落实对众生的当代关怀。
在弘法方面,我们将继续举办佛教当代关怀研讨会以表达佛教对当代课题的立场,举办“行者培训营”及编写“弘法讲座管理及操作手册”;在教育领域,我们将继续完成小学四至六年级的佛学课本,并提供佛学班师资培训以应对佛学班师资普遍短缺的问题;在文化方面, 我们必须落实理念,把重点工作放在“佛化家庭”及“佛教文艺”两个领域;除了持续推广捐血及捐献器官运动,心灯辅导将是福利领域另一项必须发展的工作之一,我们将继续研发并完成以本土佛教为基础模式之辅导工作;为佛教青年提供领袖训练是我们大重点工作之一,我们将持续提供优质训练课程予全国理事,州理事,团体会员理事,佛青之友乃至于更广大的佛教社群;在出版方面,除了在素质上继续提升以应对时代的需求,我们也必须为增加订户制定明确的目标及策略。
最后,我们要再次感谢马佛青彭亨州州联委会的用心承办,以及彭亨佛教会的全力支持来圆满此次的全国代表大会。
祝福大家:六时吉祥 法喜充满!
Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank all delegates for their supports, which has helped us to be able to give our service and contribution to the development of Malaysian Buddhism.
Since its establishment in 1970, YBAM has gone through 38 years, and the incoming national council will be bringing the YBAM to its 40th anniversary. At the same time, the fifth six year plan will be concluded in this term. In addition, the incoming national council will need to propose the sixth six year plan by the end of this term, that is, by the year 2010. There is a Chinese saying that, “it is difficult to start a work, but it is more difficult to keep it going”. While enjoying the benefits that have been built for us, hope that everyone will be able to realize the vision of YBAM, that is “to develop a society of wisdom, compassion and gratitude.
Acknowledge Our Mission, Serve Whole HeartedlyProgressing towards YBAM’s 40th anniversary, we have to clearly know about the mission and the direction of our future development. As the only Buddhist Youth Organisation in Malaysia, to unite the Buddhist youths, and to develop the wisdom, compassion and gratitude of the Buddhist youths, has become our mission. In this regard, “to become the leader of the Malaysian Buddhist Youth” in the fifth six year plan of YBAM has drafted the direction of the development. We should not have doubt about YBAM’s mission and positioning, and it is not necessary for us to provide a redefinition or to reconsider our concept.
At the same time, we have to learn that YBAM is a association of various Buddhist organizations, whether or not we are able to realize the mission depends on the agreement and participation of the member organizations. Therefore, to enhance the relationship and to gain the continuous agreement and support from the member organizations, even to increase the number of the member organization is one of the critical success factors to us. We hope that in future we are able to further enhance the interaction among the member organizations, and to continue the good work from seniors through state liaison committee.
Caring for the Youth and Seize the opportunity Since 2005, YBAM grabbed the opportunity of the enforcement of the National Service, and united the power of the member organizations, and through in-camp Buddhist lessons and out-camp reception of the members of the National Service, we have encourage and receive many youths to Buddhism. We have seen some results from our hard works throughout these three years. Some of the members are actively participating in the Buddhist Society in the universities; with some of them even help the member organizations in the reception of the new participants for the National Service. This is something that we should rejoice, and also something we need to keep working on and to enhance on.
In the mean time, we have to accept the fact that most of the talented youth has moved from the villages to big cities to pursue a better career. While thinking that we may be lack of talented youth, we should adjust our perception, and to take this as an opportunity to focus and train more talented adolescent groups instead. Apart from helping in setting the Buddhist Society in secondary schools, we should also continue to assist member organizations to setup the Young Buddhist Fellowship (YBF), and at the same time, to provide a platform for the youth to learn Buddhism, to care for all sentient beings, and to contribute to the Buddhist community.
The enforcement of the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007 (Akta Belia) has brought us another opportunity for strengthening our foundation. To continue becoming as youth organization, YBAM has to register under this act. Under this act, YBAM need to be more actively to assist existing member organization to setup youth section, even more to summon more Buddhist Youths to set up Buddhist Youth Socities.
Bring together the Resources to Develop Malaysian BuddhismIn Malaysia, the country with multi cultures and religions, our future is full of challenges. Hence, we have to be more aware and more conscious in developing the Buddhism in Malaysian, and to protect dharma and basic rights of Buddhism.
Building the Malaysian Buddhism is a long term and challenging task and this cannot be done independently by any Buddhist organization. Apart from discovering the Buddhism resources efficiently, to efficiently bring together these resources, and to build a good interaction with other local Buddhist associations in order to develop the Malaysian Buddhism has become another important task to us. Through Malaysia Buddhist Coordinate Committee, YBAM, together with other Buddhist associations to work together towards a model Malaysian Buddhism that based on the Buddha’s teaching, centered on the engaged Buddhism, and adapted on the Malaysian Culture.
Be Compassionate to all BeingsWhen we practice to be compassion to all beings, we have to first handle the daily chore problems of them. YBAM will continue to serve the Buddhist community in the six areas in the fifth Six Year Plan, that is, Dharma Propagation, Education, Culture, Welfare, Training and Publication.
In Dharma propagation, we will continue to organize contemporary Buddhist Seminar to express our stand in addressing the current issue, to organize Dharma Parishioners Camp and “Management of Dharma Talk and Operating Manual”. In education, we will continue the teacher of Dharma class to address the problems of shortage of Dharma Teacher. In cultural area, we will implement the concept of “Buddhist Family” and “Buddhist Art”, other than continue to promote blood donation and organ donation campaign, Pelita Counseling Unit will continue to study Buddhist Youth and accomplish a local Buddhism counseling model. In term of Buddhist Youth leadership training, we will continue to provide quality training program for national council, state liason committee, committee of member organization, Buddhist Youth Fellowship and other Buddhist community. In publication, we have to determine the objective and strategy to increase the number of subscribers in order to improve the quality while meeting the current demand.
Finally, many thanks to the Pahang State Liason Committee and Pahang Buddhist Association for their support to make this Biennial National Convention a success.
May you all be well and happy!