Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia explained

Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia
Native Name:Majlis Penganut Buddha Vajrayana Malaysia
马来西亚金刚乘佛教总会
Abbreviation:VBCM
Formation:1998
Type:Umbrella council
Status:Council
Purpose:To represent the Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism interest in Malaysia.
Headquarters:36A (First Floor), Jalan 52/18, PJ New Town, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Region Served:Malaysia
Key People:Rev. K. Dhammaratana Thera (Chief High Priest Malaysia)
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Chew Eng Ghee

The Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (Malay: Majlis Penganut Buddha Vajrayana Malaysia; ; abbrev: VBCM) is a council or umbrella body consisting of member organizations which represents all Tibetan's Vajrayana Buddhism traditions in Malaysia. It also accepts individuals who are inclined towards Vajrayana Buddhism as associate members.[1]

The VBCM is a council body whereby Buddhist Societies from the four Tibetan Buddhist Traditions in Malaysia work together under one umbrella to coordinate the religious activities of Vajrayana Buddhists.[2]

The motto of the council is: "To Uphold the Unity, Harmony and Understanding among Vajrayana Buddhist Organisations in Malaysia."

Background information

In 1998, with the encouragement of the Malaysian Government, a Malaysian Buddhist Coordinating Committee (MBCC) was formed, consisting of several national Buddhist councils.[1]

At that time, there was no council representing the Vajrayana Buddhist organizations in Malaysia. Hence, a proposal to form a council representing Vajrayana Buddhist organizations was first mooted in 1998. The number of Tibetan-based Buddhist organizations also had increased and there was a need for a representation of the Vajrayana Buddhist Community in dealing with the Government and other Buddhist umbrella bodies.

After several years of discussion, a pro-tem committee was formed in April 2000. After many rounds of discussions, the formation of the VBCM was finally proposed with more encompassing aims. The VBCM was included as a participating member of the Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) from 2000.[3] Eventually, the VBCM was also recognized and registered by the Malaysian Registrar of Societies (RoS) on 12 June 2002. There were 20 founding member organizations in the VBCM.[1]

In 2008, VCBM supported the call by the Chief High Priest of Malaysia Rev. K. Dhammaratana Thera that politics should be kept out of the coming Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games[2] and has urge all its member organisations, all other Tibetan Buddhist Societies or Centers in Malaysia and the general public, not to disrupt the Olympic torch relay.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us: Introduction. Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM). 5 August 2019.
  2. Web site: Press Statement from Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia on the Impending Olympics Torch Run in Kuala Lumpur. 19 April 2008. The Buddhist Channel. Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM). 5 August 2019 .
  3. Web site: MBCC Press Statement. 9 December 2017. Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC). 5 August 2019. Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia (TBCM).
  4. Web site: Press Statement from Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia on the Impending Olympics Torch Run in Kuala Lumpur. 19 April 2008. The Buddhist Channel. Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM). 5 August 2019. Havard.edu.