By Seun Son
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Phnom Penh Post
While the majority of Cambodian people claim the Buddhist faith and many
Buddhist traditions are deeply embedded in Cambodians’ minds, not many
can recite the precise rules that, for example, ban killing or intruding
with someone’s wealth.
Last August, Srong Channa, 30, a director of Mobility One Company,
decided to share the knowledge of Buddhist teachings with lay followers
by investing his time and money to create a Buddhist resource website, 5000-years.org.
“My
purpose behind this website is to give good information and
experiences,” Srong Channa says, adding: “My ancestors were followers,
so am I. Buddhist Dharma is priceless and if we do good, we receive
good.”
Srong Channa says that education of Buddhist knowledge
for lay people is still limited in the Kingdom since programmes that
teach the Dhamma, or the Buddha’s teachings, are conducted mainly in
pagodas and monasteries for monks.
Yet with the increased
popularity of the internet as a form of communication in the Kingdom, he
saw an untapped opportunity to disseminate Buddhist teachings and
resources to Cambodians so that they can learn the Dhamma at home,
school, and elsewhere.
Since its August launch, 5000-years.org has become a popular site among Cambodian faithfuls, and now sees at least 1,000 visitors per day.
The
website, which is primarily in Khmer with a few English translations,
allows guests to download Buddhist articles, listen to lectures and
traditional “smot” music, and access different Dhamma, or teachings,
such as those on the code of ethics.
Dhamma teachings are also available in eBook form on 5000-years.org, and the site broadcasts live audio streams from Buddhist radios in Siem Reap and Battambang.
“I
want all Cambodian people to take some time outside of their studies or
their jobs to learn about Dhamma more and more in order to find the way
to Nirvana,” Srong Channa says, referring to the Buddhist concept of
ultimate enlightenment.
To contact the reporter on this story: Seun Son at seun.son@phnompenhpost.com
2 comments:
I am against teaching Religions (any religion) in School.we must hold the principle of secularism in the Education sector.
I don't care too much about religion, but I respect the belief of other people.
You do not care about religions, one day you will.
I used to have the same attitude as yours, but after I have read a lot of books...now I become a religious man ... lot of prominent people read religious books because it help them to live a more productive life...even Albert Einstein did it, Abraham Lincoln as well.
I am now in my late 40, still listening to those stuffs every day. If your only aim in life is only money and education, you will face an empty life. This ebooks/audiobooks can help you to move in the right direction.
1. change your thought change your life
2. the 4 agreements
Universities in the west have faculty of religious/philosophy. If it is useless it does not exist
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