寂晃法師=Venerable Seck Chek Huang; 贈醫施藥=Buddhist medical aid; 馬來西亞佛教總會=Malaysia Buddhist Association; 醫僧=Medical Monk; 漢傳佛教現代化=Modernization of Chinese Buddhist
Venerable Seck Chek Huang (1920-2011) was the first generation Chinese monk migrated from China to Malay(si)a and served as the president of Malaysian Buddhist Association from 1995 to 2004. He was also a prominent advocate for Buddhist medical aid, dedicating his life to providing medical services to the underprivileged. Despite not being a medical monk when he first arrived in Malaysia, Venerable Seck Chek Huang pursued medical studies and became a medical monk, leading to the establishment of the medical aid department in the Malaysian Buddhist Association. He provided voluntary medical services to the marginalized communities for a long period of time. As the first generation Chinese monk in Malaysia, Venerable Seck Chek Huang faced challenges in adapting to the local society, but he successfully navigated the challenges and became a prominent figure in the Malaysian Buddhist community. This article explores how Venerable Seck Chek Huang's life experiences and practice reflect his transition from tradition to modernity, particularly in his response to the challenges posed by the national and social systems. Prior to coming to Malaysia, Venerable Seck Chek Huang lacked exposure to modern culture and Buddhist practices. However, through his experiences in Malaysia, he demonstrated his ability to adapt to modern society and practices while still upholding the traditions of Buddhism.
