The St. Xavier's Institution Buddhist Students' Society, Penang, was the brainchild of a group of students led by Benny Liow who had dreams of setting up such a society which will help Buddhist students of St Xavier's Institution be aware of their religion heritage and to promote their spiritual and moral development. They then approached Mr Chong Swee Lee and Mr Lai Kwan Yew (both devout Buddhists and teachers of St Xavier's Institution) for help.

Happy with the idea of setting up a Buddhist society in the school, they approached Brother Calestine (then, the Brother Director of St Xavier's Institution). With his blessing, they wrote in to the Ministry of Education and were granted the approval to set up the Society.

Mr Lai and Mr Chong, then both became the co-Advisers of the Society and Benny Liow became the first Chairman. The Society has weekly meetings on Fridays from 1:15 pm to 3:00 pm at the Arts Lecture Theatre. During these meetings, devotional practices like chanting and meditation, Dhamma talks, discussions and counselling are carried out. These enable the members to practise Buddhism correctly by respecting their elders, especially their parents and teachers. By doing so the students make a better life for themselves. The Society believes that meritorious actions can lead all her members to better rebirths.

On its formation in 1975, there were more than 200 members. The Society's effort in promoting Buddhism was certainly met with good response.

In 1979, Mr Lai took over as the sole advisor when Mr Chong was transferred to S.M. Sungai Ara. Under Mr Lai's invaluable guidance, a more systematic record of all activities were carried out. A constitution was drawn up in 1980 to help in the running of the Society. From the beginning of 1980 onwards the Society achieved progressive growth and there was no looking back since.

The Society has then scored many firsts to its credit. It was:

• the first to introduce collar badges to all its members
• the first to give out certificates of appreciation to outstanding members
• the first society to have a library consisting of Dhamma books, cassette tapes and video tapes
• the first Buddhist Society in Malaysia to be chief main sponsor of a Kathina
• the first Buddhist Society in Malaysia to print Dhamma books for free distribution
• the first to start a scholarship fund to help needy students pay their SPM or STPM examination fees.

Besides all these deeds, the Society without fail give annual donations to the Spastic Centre, Mt Miriam Cancer Hospital and the Little Sisters of the Poor. The Society has been looking after Ms Patricia Kor, a handicap in the Spastic Centre, for the past 18 years.

The Society has a full share in the Sangha-Yogi Free Meals Fund, a project of the Malaysian Buddhist Meditation Centre (MBMC) in Penang. The interest derived from the Fund is used to provide free meals to yogis doing intensive meditation there. The Society also gives contribution to help to build temples, buy medicine for the Sangha (noble monks), and performs Dana (offering of alms) to the Sangha in MBMC. In addition, the Society performs Kathina (presenting of robes to the Sangha) in Malaysia, Burma, Thailand, Australia, Nepal, USA, and Britain.

In line with the Society's objectives, the Society organises Moral Week, Parents' Week and Loving-Kindness Week. Annually the Society organises a blood donation campaign in the school for the Blood Bank of Hospital Pulau Pinang.

The Society continued to progress under the supervision of the late Ms Khaw Siew Tuan after Mr Lai retired as a senior teacher of St Xavier's Institution in 1990. Ms Khaw was a staunch Buddhist herself, going for retreats regularly during the holidays. She was also a committee member of the Mahindarama Sunday Pali School. Ms Khaw passed away after a short illness in 1999.

Mr Sim and Pn Tok took over as the new advisors of the Buddhist Students' Society from 2000. Mr Sim was an ex-student and ex-member of the Society while Pn Tok was a staunch Buddhist herself.

- adapted from Puja book of Buddhist Students' Society (Nov, 1993)

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Created 4 January 1998
Last updated 2 February 2000
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