18 July 2014 marked the late Nelson Mandela’s 96th birth anniversary. This year, we do not have the good fortune of celebrating his birthday with the man himself, as he had passed on in December last year. This is Mandela’s first birthday, without Mr. Nelson Mandela.
Read moreIn view of the tragic crash of Malaysia Airlines MH17, we would like to invite devotees to participate in ‘Pindacāra’ (monk going on alms-round) at Seri Kembangan market tomorrow, and thereafter transfer merits to the 298 casualties. Giving alms is among many wholesome deeds we can perform in memory of the unfortunate victims.
Read moreIn a Media Statement issued on Friday, 18 July at 7.30am, Malaysia Airlines confirmed that all 298 people on board MH17 (as opposed to 295 people inferred earlier) had perished in the tragic air crash. MH17 was on a regular scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. As the Boeing 777 was flying over Eastern Ukraine, it was purportedly shot down by a ground-to-air missile.
Read moreNews agencies reported yesterday evening (17 July) that a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 – flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur – has crashed in the Ukraine. It was reportedly shot while flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters over the eastern part of that country, and crashed shortly afterwards. 280 passengers and 15 crew members were on board; all 295 were feared dead.
Read moreReport by Thong Fee Shen | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Sunday 6 July, Bro. Tan gave an uplifting Dhamma teaching quoting a discourse in the Anguttara Nikāya, whereby the Buddha described 4 kinds of good practitioners using the ‘simile of thoroughbreds’. They are (1) one who upon hearing about the pain or death of a man or woman, realises that the same could happen to him, and thus stirred to cultivate; (2) one who sees before his eyes a man or woman in pain or dead, and feels the urgency to cultivate; (3) one whose family members, closed friends or loved ones are in pain or dead, and he feels the urgency to cultivate; and (4) one who experiences pain himself, and feels the urgency to cultivate. Read more
This year’s 7-week long Gimhāna Period Retreat, which began on 28 May, came to a wonderful and inspiring close last night. Over the weeks, more than 200 devotees packed Nalanda Centre especially on Wednesdays and weekends for meditation, chanting, and community service.
Read moreTonight marks the last session of the 8-week meditation course under the guidance of Bro Tan. It also marks the end of this year’s inspiring ‘Gimhāna Retreat’. We would like to invite everyone to Nalanda Centre at 8.00pm tonight to join us in meditation and for the Dhamma teaching by Bro Tan. All are welcome!
Read moreDear friends, Episode 9 of NalandaTV is now available for viewing on-line! This episode reports on the National Members’ Convention held in Sri Serdang from 1 – 3 May, in conjunction with Nalanda Buddhist Society’s 11th Anniversary.
Nalanda members from all over the country had a wonderful time spent in great camaraderie and spiritual solidarity. There were many touching personal sharing by Nalandians about their good friends. Founder Bro. Tan also gave a moving and stirring talk on what it means to be a ‘good practitioner and friend’.
Watch inspiring scenes and interviews in this interesting episode! Please click on the screen below to enjoy the broadcast, and kindly SHARE with your family and friends.
Report by Gan Bee Ching | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Wednesday 2 July, devotees rejoiced in a meditation session and Dhamma teaching by Bro Tan. As the day commemorates the anniversary of his late teacher’s renunciation, Bro. Tan dedicated that evening’s teachings on ‘dutiful conduct’ to him.
Read moreThe tradition of ‘Rains Retreat’ was started by the Buddha Himself in the year 588 BCE, where the Lord and 60 bhikkhus resided in Sarnath near Varanasi. The Buddha, seeing that the period of intense spiritual practice and communal discipline had greatly benefited the monks, formally instituted the 3-month ‘Rains Retreat’ whereby monks and nuns were to refrain from traveling and engaging in much activity to focus their attention inwardly towards spiritual development and purification.
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