Ven Seck Kai Xin

I met Ven Seak Kai Sin last year at Santavana ( site in English).  He was interested to know how we educate children, especially after Wai Leng's book, "Learning Beyond Schooling"came out. We had an interesting discussion.  I also learnt that he is from Pusing (Perak).  He inspired be an someone who is always very eager to learn and full of energy!

Ven Seak Kai Sin in Santavana (2008)

I met Ven Kai Xin again last night at Istana Budaya in KL - he was also invited to watch "Prince Siddhartha - The Musical"

With Ven Seak Kai Sin and Bro Calvin in Istana Budaya (2009)

This time our discussion drifted to the history of Buddhism, the origins of Mahayana teachings, comparative Theravada and Mahayana. We touched on Nagarjuna & Madyamika, Ashavaghosa, Avatamsaka Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Nikaya Buddhism...... all in the twenty minutes at the entrace to the hall!  The Venerable also shared that he uses the Lamrim approach to express the teachings and it's history.

I had not had such and interesting discussion for a very, very long time. It was really great! It was one of those rare times, I felt if there were those who could see all Dharma as Buddha Dharma, not Mahayana or Theravada or Vajrayana, it would be Ven Kai Xin. We just need to find the roots, appreciate and experience it. Indeed, one need to transcend words if one wants to develop insight as words are just fingers point to the moon, not the moon itself.  

Anyway, after I got back from the musical, I pulled out the old Sutras and some stuff I wrote about Nagarjuna and started reading them again. 

I have been invited to dialogue with Ven Kan Xin, I better brush up my rusty mind first!

I just got an email from Ven Kai Xin recommending that I read "Human centered Buddhism"by Yin Shun  (契理契機的人間佛教). Of course it is in English.  Better start reading, otherwise, how to discuss? ;-)

Metta!