TLDR: Young people are drifting, seniors feel left out, volunteers are burning out. This conference tackles those exact pain points head-on.

Keeping Buddhism Relevant

WACANA 2025 is not your typical Buddhist conference.

Yes, you’ll meet some of Southeast Asia’s most respected teachers and community leaders. But more importantly, you’ll leave with ideas you can actually use and ways to build stronger, healthier Buddhist communities right where you are.

Whether you’re from Singapore or Malaysia, this is your chance to be part of something meaningful.

Join us Saturday, 20 December at Menara KEN TTDI, Kuala Lumpur

This year’s theme “Awakening to Community Well-being: Contemporary Approaches” asks a question we’re all grappling with: How do we keep Buddhism relevant and rewarding when modern life pulls us in a hundred different directions?

The Challenge Facing Our Communities

You know the scene: temples that used to be alive with families and activities, now wondering why young people aren’t showing up. 

Parents trying to figure out how to share Buddhist teachings with kids who’ve grown up completely digital. Seniors feeling left behind by technology. Dedicated volunteers burning out because they’re running on empty.

Sound familiar? If you’re in Singapore or Malaysia, you’re probably nodding right now.

And that’s exactly why WACANA 2025 matters. We’re bringing together monks, nuns, and community leaders who get it, because they’re living it too.

Here’s what people told us after last conference: Someone they met over tea became a project partner. A forum discussion changed how their temple runs programs. A quiet conversation with a monastic reignited something they thought they’d lost.

This isn’t about feeling inspired for a weekend and then forgetting everything by Monday. It’s about walking away with real connections and practical ideas that actually stick.

Meet Your Teachers & Fellow Buddhists

Keynote: Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro

The day begins with Venerable Ajahn Jayasāro, whose gift lies in translating Thai forest monastic wisdom to everyday practical advice.  His Dhamma teaching and guided meditation session promises to be thought-provoking and applicable to your daily challenges.  

BONUS: You will also have the opportunity to ask Venerable questions later in the evening!

Youth Forum Leaders Who Walk The Talk

The conference features four specialised forums addressing the unique needs of families, youths, seniors, and volunteers.  A standout is the Youth Forum led by Bro. Yeo Disheng and Bro. Teo Heng Xuan who are two dynamic leaders recognised throughout Singapore and Malaysia for championing youth empowerment and community building.

These aren’t passive lectures. They are interactive spaces where your voice matters, your questions are answered, and you are given strategies you can immediately apply effectively in your local group, family, or workplace.

Your Action Plan: Before, During, and After

Before You Go: Be Clear On What You Need

Take 15 minutes to reflect: What are the challenges faced by your Buddhist community? What does “well-being” actually mean for you right now—not in theory, but in your daily life? Write down three questions you want answered. This preparation transforms WACANA from interesting to transformative.

During the Conference: Engage Fully

Come ready to participate. Whether you choose the youth, family, seniors, or volunteer forum, prepare to share what’s working in your community and learn from facilitators who have navigated these challenges successfully.

Network intentionally. Genuine, sustained well-being doesn’t come from one inspiring day but from ongoing support. The person sitting next to you might become your accountability partner, a collaborator on a youth project, or a mentor who will be able to guide you on how to skilfully handle difficult temple dynamics.

Extend Your Learning: Field Engagement Sessions

WACANA offers something extraordinary: optional field engagement sessions where you can visit organisations run by forum speakers; see Dhamma-inspired projects in action; and chat personally with the speakers. These sessions bridge the gap between theory and practice, showing you what’s possible when community work is based on Buddhist principles in Malaysia.

After The Conference: Multiply The Impact

Don’t let insights evaporate. Within two weeks after the conference, organise a sharing session at your temple, workplace, or online. Many past attendees have set up meditation groups, introduced parenting forums, launched youth mentorship circles, and held mindfulness breakfast gatherings after a single WACANA conference.  One person’s participation can spark change for dozens.

Why This Matters

The Buddhist community in Singapore, which is both vibrant and diverse, will certainly benefit from connecting with fellow Buddhists from across the Causeway.  With our different traditions, challenges and capacity for innovation, Singaporeans will have the opportunity to broaden their perspective and further strengthen regional solidarity.

The practical benefits are immediate: fresh ideas for engaging youths, new approaches to senior care, innovative volunteer structures, and friendships that span borders. Past Singaporean participants have often described their WACANA experience as “beyond expectation”.

Getting there is easy: Direct flights and buses run frequently between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.  If you are considering joining the Field Engagement Session, you will have to stay another day.

Essential Details

Date: Saturday, 20 December 2025
Time: 9 AM – 6 PM
Venue: Menara KEN TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Lunch and refreshments provided

Register now at wacana.nalanda.org.my

For more details, please e-mail [email protected] or drop Nalanda a WhatsApp at +60 10-274 1543.

Spaces are limited, and field engagement slots fill quickly.  Bring a friend, youth group member, or family member to multiply your impact.

Bonus Sessions

If you’re already making the trip up to KL, why not extend your WACANA experience with these fruitful sessions?

Friday, 19 December 2025
Dhamma teaching by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro
⏱️8 pm – 10 pm
📍Nalanda Centre, Sri Serdang
ℹ️No registration required.

Sunday, 21 December 2025
Nalanda Youth Dialogue ft. Bro. Yeo Disheng (MY), Bro. Teo Heng Xuan (SG) and Bro. Willing Chen (ID)
⏱️9am – 12pm
📍Nalanda Centre, Sri Serdang
ℹ️Register at wacana.nalanda.org.my under “Field Engagement Session – O1”.