Ven. Thipako and Ven. Foo accepting devotees’ offering of lunch dāna.

On Saturday 6 August, members of Nalanda Sungai Petani Branch invited Venerable Thipako and Venerable Foo from Sammāditthi Meditation Grove in Sungai Pasir for lunch dāna.  The appreciation dāna was specifically to thank Ven. Thipako (“Bhante Lim”) for his kind and generous support in the construction of Nalanda Outreach & Education (NEO) Centre, located in Bandar Mutiara, Sungai Petani last year.

Ven. Thipako had also been invited to receive dāna at the old premises on 28 March last year, just before it was demolished for reconstruction into the present building.  (Read the report at “Dāna at proposed NEO Centre”.)

The morning Service started with offerings to the ‘Three Jewels’ and Pāli chanting.

Devotees attending the Service at NEO Centre Sungai Petani.

Ven. Thipako expressed his joy in seeing the completion of the new NEO Centre, stating that it is an important facility in Sungai Petani to learn Dhamma.  He congratulated Nalandians on accomplishing the mission and offered his blessings and encouragement to carry on with the good work.

Ven. Thipako (right) giving a Dhamma talk and expressing his joy in seeing the successful completion of NEO Centre.

Donors and benefactors were also invited to the appreciation dāna, where a video was shown on the progress of construction from April to December 2015.  First time visitors had a joyful guided tour of the 4,300 sf centre which is equipped with a meditation hall, library, rooms and administrative office.

Devotees visiting the Centre and its Library.

Students from nearby AIMST University also took part in the Service.