Children respectfully bow to their parents at the tea ceremony.

The recently-held “Chap Goh Meh” celebrations at Nalanda Centre received more coverage in the local press.  Malaysia’s leading Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh (星洲日报) reported the event in its Metro Edition on Wednesday, 24 February.  On 22 February, the leading English daily The Star had covered the same activity.

The focus of these two press reports was the meaningful way how “Chap Goh Meh” was observed by Nalandians.  Instead of indulging in frivolous material things such as food and entertainment, Nalanda Dhamma School had organised a traditional ‘tea-offering’ ceremony for children and grandchildren to pay respect to their elders in the family.

Heartwarming scenes of family togetherness, love and harmony.

Junior members of the family expressed their appreciation and gratitude in earnest to their elders.  In return, the elders gave their blessings and good wishes for the success of their children and grandchildren.  Heart-warming scenes of family togetherness, love and harmony played out throughout the ceremony, and not few people present were moved to tears.

A young boy feeding his parents ‘tang yuan’ as a gesture of appreciation and gratitude.

In his talk before the ceremony, Nalanda founder Bro. Tan warned of the dangers of increasing materialistic lifestyle of the Malaysian Chinese community, where traditional occasions are celebrated with meaningless and immoderate sensual indulgence.  He urged the community to learn about ancient wisdom, where tradition was guided by wholesome values.

Bro. Tan urged the community to learn about ancient wisdom and wholesome values.

Bro. Tan also said that a purely materialistic way of life is ultimately unsatisfying and ‘empty’.  A more satisfying way of living is by balancing material pursuits with spiritual growth – leading to a balanced personality who lives wisely, modestly, and moderately.

A happy father and his sons beaming with joy.

To read the report in Sin Chew Jit Poh, click here.

For the report in The Star, please visit their website.