Bro. Tan elaborated that the Buddha taught the Dhamma, without creating a religion or belief system.

On Sunday 26 July, devotees gathered at Nalanda Centre to observe ‘Dhamma Day’.   ‘Dhamma Day’ commemorates the preaching of Buddha’s first discourse after His Enlightenment – the ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’ –  where He taught His first five disciples the fundamental teachings of the ‘Four Noble Truths’.  As the day signifies the preaching of Buddha’s first discourse, Bro. Tan led devotees in reciting the famous ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’.

The large congregation at Dhamma Teaching Hall were inspired by Bro. Tan’s Dhamma teaching.  He elaborated that the Buddha taught the Dhamma, without creating a religion or belief system.  Instead, the Dhamma should be approached as a system of education (pariyatti); and when undertaken as a practice, it becomes a system of cultivation (patipatti), leading to a state of realization (pativedha).  Bro. Tan urged devotees to closely investigate and understand the Four Noble Truths, diligent in cultivation in order to stop wandering (in ‘Samsara’) and to cross over to the other shore.

Bro. Tan leading the congregation in reciting the famous ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’.

It was indeed a spiritual and joyful ‘Dhamma Day’ which concluded with the offering of lunch dāna to venerable monks and thereafter, lunch was served to all devotees.  Sadhu!

Devotees offering lunch dāna to venerable monks at Dāna Hall, Nalanda Centre.