24 Hours Metta Chanting 2013

24 Hours Metta Chanting 2013 was held in Samadhi Vihara on the 28 to 29 December 2013. It was jointly organised by Aloka Foundation and Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM).The event started with Bhante Mahinda Mahathero leading the Maha Sangha circumbulating the lotus shrine clockwise 3 times.On the opening speech Bhante Mahinda gave a short history on how the idea of starting the 24 hours Metta chanting started. Bhante was inspired when he was in Sri Lanka 3 years before the great tsunami of 2004. The monks in Sri Lanka started chanting the Karaniya Metta Sutta 4 hours daily as some monks predicted there was a great disaster coming to Sri Lanka.Chief Saranankara Mahathero continued on his experience in Sri Lanka shortly after the tsunami. He mentioned the great compassion of Malaysian Buddhist in helping with donations and supplies for the victims in Sri Lanka. One incident he couldn't understand when he was in Sri Lanka as he saw many damaged concrete buildings, twisted railroads and trains but in a few places there were some Buddha statues encased in glass were completely unharmed.The event continued with the lighting of oil lamps by the Maha Sangha.The Metta chanting started with the Mahayana tradition, Vajarana tradition followed by the Theravada tradition lead by Bhante Dhammananda from Sri Lanka.The first Buddhist society to start chanting the Karaniya Metta Sutta were from Nalanda Buddhist Society.More photosmore on 24HrMettamore on Samadi ViharaPosted by Terence Seow