Backpacking & Outdoor adventures by ChingNengBin - Namaste! Everest BaseCamp 5,364m : 2014

Wesak Day (13.05.2014) at Wat Sitawanaram, Kampong Koh, Sitiawan, Malaysia - is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death. "On this thrice-sacred Wesak Day, Resolve to Walk The Middle Way. May we always practice ardently come what may. To you and your family 'Happy Buddha Day' " — Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak.

Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak . The new temple building. Wesak Day is one of the most important festivals in the Buddhist calendar as it commemorates three significant events in Gautama Buddha’s life – namely his birthday, his enlightenment, and his passing away.

The main entrance of the Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

The old temple of Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Blood Donation Campaign Volunteers. Every year my sister Ching Bee Geok would organise the blood donation drive at the temple ground during Wesak Day. L-R: Subra Arumugam, Josephine Ooi, Yanti Ching, Mr. Chua, Loo Peckim, Ching Bee Geok, Pc Toh and Toh Poh Leng at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Blood Donation Campaign Volunteers. — with Subra Arumugam, Josephine Ooi, Ching Bee Geok, Mr. Chua, Loo Peckim and Pc Toh at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Ching Bee Geok said, "A big "Thank YOU" to all blood donors and my team of Blood Donation Campaign Volunteers. This year although more than 170 people willingly came forward to donate their blood, the Manjung Hospital only accepted blood from 145 eligible donors. We broke our earlier record of 140 donors in 2010." Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

National Service (NS) students with Tan Kien Ai, Jolene Wan and Subra Arumugam at Wat Sitawanaram .

My sister Ching Bee Geok with her former staff Ms. Bharati Sinakarupiah Indhu with Jeevaindhu Jeeva, Ching Bee Geok and Yanti Ching at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Hospital Seri Manjung medical staff would do the blood test first before taking blood. Wat Sitawanaram .

Dr Goh Chooi Beow, my brother-in-law was seen helping Hospital Seri Manjung medical staff in examining donors. His son is Dr Ian Goh who is now working in Tasmania, Australia. Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Many devotees were doing their good deed for the day by donating blood. Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan .

Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan. A giant seated Buddha statue is in the main hall and a smaller reclining Buddha is under it. The core of the Buddha's teachings lies in the teachings of the Four Noble Truths: The sublime truth of suffering. The origin or cause of suffering. An end or cessation of suffering. The way to the end of all suffering.

The First Noble Truth is the Truth of Dukkha which has been generally translated as `suffering'. But the term Dukkha, which represents the Buddha's view of life and the world, has a deeper philosophical meaning. Birth, old age, sickness, and death are universal. All beings are subject to this dissatisfaction. Separation from beloved ones and pleasant conditions, association with unpleasant persons and conditions, and not getting what one desire - are also sources of suffering and dissatisfaction. The Buddha summaries Dukkha in what is known as the Five Grasping Aggregates. Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia .

The Second Noble Truth explains the Origin or Cause of suffering. Tanha or craving is the universal cause of suffering. It includes not only a desire for sensual pleasures, wealth, and power, but also an attachment to ideas, views, opinions, concepts, and beliefs. It is the lust for flesh, the lust for continued existence (or eternalism) in the sensual realms of existence, as well as the realms of form and the formless realms. And there is also the lust and craving for non-existence (or nihilism). These are all different forms of selfishness, desiring things for oneself, even at the expense of others.

Not realizing the true nature of one`s Self, one clings to things that are impermanent, changeable, and perishable. The failure to satisfy one's desires through these things; causes disappointment and suffering. Craving is a powerful mental force present in all of us. It is the root cause of our suffering. It is this craving that binds us in Samsara - the repeated cycle of birth and death.

The Third Noble Truth points to the cessation of suffering. Where there is no craving, there is no becoming, no rebirth. Where there is no rebirth, there is no decay. no, old age, no death, hence no suffering. That is how suffering is ended, once and for all.

The Fourth Noble Truth explains the Path or the Way which leads to the cessation of suffering. It is called the Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path avoids the extremes of self-indulgence on one hand and self-torture on the other. It consists of Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia .

The Noble Eightfold path avoids the extremes of self-indulgence on one hand and self-torture on the other. It consists of Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia .

Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia .

Members of Buddhist Meditation Society Sitiawan helped to distribute free CDs and Buddhist books to the public on Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan with Jeffrey CK Ong and Ching Neng Bin

The ‘Bathing the Buddha’ ceremony is important and often a part of the celebration where water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha. This traditional cleansing ritual reminds us to constantly strive to purify our body and mind from all defilement and to uproot the 3 evils of Greed, Hatred and Delusion. Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

This serves to remind fellow Buddhists to purify the mind from greed, lead noble lives and practice morality and kindness. Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Chanting and praying are an important part of Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan .

Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

Buddhists set free some captive birds as a sign of liberation from captivity. — at Wat Sitawanaram.

Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

During this festival, devotees bring offerings of flowers, joss-sticks and candles. This is to remind them that, just as flowers wither and die, and joss sticks and candles burn away, so too is life – temporary and nothing is permanent.

Wat Sitawanaram, a Buddhist temple established by Thai Buddhist monks more than 100 years ago.

Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .

When Buddhism was first introduced to Sitiawan more than 100 years ago by Buddhist monks from Thailand most of the Chinese in Sitiawan then were Taoists. Buddhism is a liberal religion which allows the local culture to be incorporated wherever it goes. Thus, this statue of a Tiger God still stands at Wat Sitawanaram. Wesak Day on 13.05.2014 at Wat Sitawanaram, Sitiawan, Perak .