On Saturday 5 March, Nalanda Institute Malaysia welcomed about 50 participants to its new course, BPS 201 Intermediate-level Buddhist Studies in Mandarin. The participants consisted mainly of students who had successfully completed last year’s BPS 101 – Basic Buddhist Studies.
Read moreOn Sunday 14 February, Bro. Tan gave a Dhamma talk at Vihāra Sanghamitta in Karawang, about 70km east of Jakarta. He was there as a guest speaker at the invitation of its Abbess, Venerable Bhikkhunī Ayya Santinī. The talk was attended by 200 devotees, and was held in honour of Venerable Ayya Sīlavatī’s 63rd birthday.
Read more8 March 2016 marks the second anniversary of Malaysia Airlines MH370′s mysterious disappearance over the Indian Ocean. Even after two years of intensive and extensive search, the main wreckage of the B777 aircraft is still not found.
Read moreOn Thursday 3 March, the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Buddhist Society held its first weekly group meditation for the new semester at Nalanda Centre. It was led by Venerable Chi Xiang (持向法师), who also gave the undergraduates a Dhamma talk. The session was well attended and the undergraduates were pleased to resume their regular group sitting after the break.
Read moreOn Sunday 28 February, Ven. Ariyadeva Māha Thero, together with Ven. Swarnajothi and Ven. Wineetha, came to Nalanda Centre for a visit and meeting with founder Bro Tan. The venerable monks were warmly received by Nalandians, and Nalanda Buddhist Society Deputy President Bro. Charlie Teng brought them on a tour of the Centre.
Read moreOn Sunday February 28, Achariya Tan Siang Chye gave a Dhamma talk on living in accordance with the Dhamma. He explained that the root word of ‘Dhamma’ in Pāli, and ‘Dharma’ in Sanskrit’ is ‘dhṛ’ which means ‘to hold up or maintain’; while the Buddhist meaning of Dhamma is the teachings of the Buddha. Hence, when we live the Dhamma, it is to hold us up, and stop us from falling into the woeful states of existence, and to fulfill our potential for Nibbāna.
Read moreOn Saturday 27 February, a team of 10 Nalandians comprising President Sis. Evelyn, Dhamma School Director Sis. Sunanda, Sis. Joanne, and youths helped to pack food for the needy at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Sungai Long campus. The event was organised by the UTAR Sungai Long Buddhist Society, in collaboration with the international hunger-relief organisation, ‘Stop Hunger Now’.
Read moreOn Sunday 28 February, Nalanda founder Bro. Tan shared with us the spirit of ‘Sāmaggī’, which means harmony, peaceful coexistence, and inner tranquility when living with other people. Real ‘Sāmaggī’ can be achieved by noble beings, but is difficult for those without the nobility of mind. When the mind is tranquil, one will experience peace and harmony wherever one lives. A mind that is not peaceful can be easily agitated.
Read moreThe Wisdom Park Development Committee (WPDC) held its 6th meeting on 18 February to continue discussions on the Master Plan for the entire facility. The Committee wants to ensure optimal land-use while maintaining a sense of spaciousness in ‘Wisdom Park’. Native forest trees will be planted throughout the educational facility to create micro-biospheres that are cooling and soothing.
Read moreOn Sunday 21 February, after Nalanda Dhamma School’s annual ‘tea ceremony’, a group of facilitators gathered for a meeting with Nalanda founder Bro. H. S. Tan. In his sharing, Bro. Tan reminded the facilitators that in their noble effort to conduct the school’s sessions, they should always keep in mind to achieve the “best outcome” and not just produce the “highest output”.
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