Baha’i Community
There is great stress on developing the spiritual potential in every human being and this education begins in the womb and is carried on through the spiritual education of Baha’I children. From their youthful years, Baha’is participate in programmes of devotional and spiritual upliftment which are continued throughout their adult lives. The Baha’i community has no clergy.
Baha’is are encouraged to marry Baha’is or non-Baha’is, but consent is necessary from Baha’i or non-Baha’i parents. If such consent is withheld, Baha’i marriages cannot take place.
The development of women has a very important place in many Baha’i communities. Baha’u’ullah taught that “Men and women are two wings of one bird. If one wing is weak, the bird cannot fly towards the apex of progress and prosperity. “Literacy classes are conducted in many rural areas to try and eradicate illiteracy from Baha’i communities. Women are freely elected to Baha’i local spiritual assemblies and their voices are heard at many Baha’i conferences. A large delegation of Baha’i women from Sarawak went to Beijing in 1995 to take part in the UN Conference on Women. Baha’i women have also attended conferences on various social programmes on adult literacy in various parts of the world.
In 1969, permission was given for spiritual guidance for the Baha’i community over radio. The Sarawak government has legally sanctioned the faith’s marriage ceremony, gazetted burial grounds and approved Baha’i religious festivities for unrecorded leave.
The administration of Baha’i communities is through local spiritual assemblies, elected annually by secret ballot without nomination or canvassing. Men and women are equally eligible for election, and once elected, must serve. There are 108 local spiritual assemblies in all the big towns any many rural communities in Sarawak with a good mix of Chinese and native membership.
Decision-making in all Baha’i gatherings in cities and longhouses is through consultation. It takes much experience and patience to consult and arrive at a just decision. Baha’is accept the majority decision without holding firmly to their own wishes. All decisions are made by the local spiritual assemblies and accepted by the community.
The local spiritual assemblies are in charge of all organized Baha’i activities such as promoting the welfare of women, the spiritual education of children, youth activities and welfare, all regular Baha’i social activities and Holy Day observances and encouraging social progress and programmes through adult literacy.
Women have equal rights in the Baha’i faith in all activities. The promotion of women’s welfare and education is especially important, because they are the first educators of their children and an uneducated woman cannot fulfil her role to her full potential.
The Baha’i calendar consists of 19 days a month and 19 months in the year with four intercalary days to make a solar year of 365 days. Every 19 days, the Baha’i community gathers for consultations. These 19 days feasts have elements of devotional, administrative and social content. At these gatherings, the community consults on matters affecting their progress and welfare.
Baha’i Centres
Administrative and spiritual gatherings are held in the local Baha’i centres. Baha’is gather for devotional gatherings, children’s classes, youth programmes and women’s conferences. In towns, the local Baha’i community rents and later buys the centres when their strength increases. Such purchases develop slowly, because Baha’i funds are supported only by Baha’is, who do not apply to non-Baha’i sources for financing their activities. In rural communities, it builds its own Baha’i centre.
Early Baha’i Beginnings
Jamshed Fozdar, his wife Parvati and their son Vijay arrived in Kuching in 1951. He worked with Pacific Traders because Baha’i missionaries were not paid. Fozdar returned to the U.S.A. once the first local spiritual assembly of the Baha’is in Kuching was formed in April 1953. Marjorie Lighthall, Earl Mock, Lele, Doree Thomas, M. Maniam, K. Krishnan and Beyzaiee were among the early Baha’i teachers.
Philip Suning and Jantom ak Ugo were the first Ibans to enrol as Baha’is in 1961. Ibans formed a sizeable segment of the Baha’is in Limbang area. In 1963, Endam, a Baha’i from Limbang, went to London for the centenary celebrations. After 1964, the need for teachers from outside Sarawak diminished. From a few isolated localities, the Baha’i faith has spread to more than 100 local spiritual assemblies in towns and longhouses. Members of the Penan tribe have also embraced the Baha’i faith.
The Baha’i community has increased greatly in numbers with almost 50,000 Baha’is throughout Sarawak, which includes members of all races and religious background except Muslims. Baha’is are urged to mix with people of all backgrounds with joy. According to Baha’i holy writings, “Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one ocean.”
The Baha’i Faith was born in 1844 in Persia (Iran today). The Baha’i Faith teaches that the earth is one country and mankind its citizens. Baha’u’llah’s teaching of unity in diversity works against prejudice, and strives to forge a global society that reflects the oneness of human nature. The United Nations has recognized Baha’i as an international non-governmental organisation and given it consultative status in numerous UN-related bodies.
Oldest Buddhist Temple
The founder of the Lim Fah San monastery and temple in Kuching was a Confucian vegetarian called Tan Choon Teck (1854-1914). He dreamt that Lord Buddha wanted a temple on high land at Tabuan Road. With support from two prominent businessmen, Yeo Ban Hock and Yeo Ngee Ho, Tan obtained land from Rajah James Brooke and built the temple in 1859 and named it “Lim Fah San” meaning a beautiful land. It was expanded between 1880-1885.
The temple was renovated in 1907. Originally divided into two parts, the main temple was dedicated to Confucius, Lord Buddha and Kwan Yin and manned by monks. The rear temple, Aik Siang Teng, worshipped the same deities and Buddha was run by nuns known for their fortune telling skills.
The temple experienced an internal tussle for power until 1978 when a restructure limited membership to 100. During 1980 to 1986 under the leadership of Lee Thian Yew, two new wings were added to the main temple. An old signboard inscribed to glorify Kwan Yin dated 1859 provides proof that Lim Fah San is the oldest Buddhist temple in Sarawak. A 36-foot high Goddess of Mercy statue built in 1989 has become a landmark as the tallest Buddhist statue in Sarawak.
The temple is now managed by a committee elected by its members. The property is placed under a charitable Trust Board under the Charitable Trust Ordinance 1994.
Most Decorative Buddhist Temple
The Ching San Yen (Green Hill Temple) sited on a hill 102 feet above sea level at Kampung Muara Tebas lies on the left bank of the Sarawak river estuary. It is about 30km by road and 40km by river from Kuching city. Kampung Muara Tebas is a national model fishing village with 2,000 Malay and 60 Chinese residents. The temple is about 125 metres from the landing pier.
According to oral history, the Buddhist temple had its beginnings about 200 years ago when Chinese businessmen traded in the village. Historical records show the main temple was completed in 1903 and managed by monks. It belongs to the Kuching Hockien Association. Temple expansion in mid-1996 increased the area to 9,278 sq. feet.
The second phase of temple expansion was completed in August 1988.
Among all the Buddhist temples in Sarawak, it is the most decorative with Buddhist designs and emblems on internal and external walls.
There is a wall sculpture with four heavenly protectors, 18 Arahat and 40 auspicious Buddhist symbols. The representation of a huge pair of Lord Buddha’s feet with 108 auspicious signs on each foot is in the main temple.
The 2 ½ -acre compound has landscaped gardens, a fountain and many Bodhi trees which are revered as Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the tree’s shade over 2,500 years ago.
The annual pilgrimage to the temple begins on the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year and lasts one month. Some 200,000 devotees go to pay homage and seek fortune readings from Lord Buddha yearly.
(To be continued)
