Farewell to The Chief

Our most Venerable Chief Reverend,Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Nayaka Thera was cremated yesterday afternoon in a solemn ceremony steeped in Buddhist tradition.
I had the chance to witness the event as I travelled with the Kota Kemuning Buddhist Centre entourage to Semenyih Nilai Memorial Park.
Before that, Chief's body was lying in state at Brickfield's Buddhist Maha Vihara since Thursday, when he was brought back from Subang Jaya Medical Centre where he breathed his last.

Ten of thousands went to the Maha Vihara, tears were welling in the eyes of the devotees as the eulogies were delivered. Two of the presidents of the societies closest to him, Sasana Abiwurdhi Wardana and Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia, Sarath W Surendre and Ang Choo Hong were seen desperately fighting back their tears, trying hard to contain their sorrow as they delivered their eulogies. I understood how they felt. When I received the SMS from my brother on Thursday afternnon at 3.30pm informing about his passing, I was shaken and felt a sudden sense of remorse.

People are not supposed to be sad.

People are supposed to be happy for him, for he has contributed greatly to the Buddha Sasana and the time is ripe for him to leave this world and enjoyed the nibbanic bliss. We know that this day is forthcoming. Birth, sickness, old age,and death are part and parcel of the cycle in Samsara. But somehow, the Buddhist community will miss him dearly.
Mood was solemn, people were silently grieving for this man we fondly called Chief. Perhaps there was not a soul at the temple who were not touched by this great man.