Saturday 31 October was Group Assignment Presentation Day for participants of BPS 303 – Buddhist Studies course. It was the ‘grand finale’ to a 10-session course which began on 4 July. The participants were divided into 11 groups and they had two options to choose from. The first option was to conduct a survey to find out how much Buddhists themselves understood Buddhism, and the second was to take part in an activity which reflected the ‘Ten Wholesome Deeds’.
Read moreLecture 6 of the BPS 101- Mandarin Buddhist Studies course at Nalanda Centre was conducted by Bro. Aggaphala Yap on Sunday 11 October. The topic was on the Four Noble Truths (Cattāri Ariyasaccāni). Two months after the Buddha’s enlightenment, the Blessed One delivered his first discourse – the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta – to His first five disciples at a deer park in Isipatana, near the city of Benares.
Read moreOn Saturday 17 October, the Director of Nalanda Institute Achariya Tan Siang Chye gave the last lecture of the BPS 303 – Certificate in Buddhist Studies course at Nalanda Centre. The topic was on the “Historical Development of Buddhist Texts and Scriptures”. Before passing away, the Buddha declared to his His disciples that, “the Dhamma and Vinaya (doctrine and discipline) I have set forth and laid down for you shall be your teacher after I am gone…” Thus, the Buddha did not appoint a successor but enshrined the Dhamma-vinaya as the guiding principle in one’s practice and quest for liberation.
Read moreOn Saturday 3 October, students of BPS 303 – Certificate in Buddhist Studies turned up for their second tutorial session with Bro. Ananda Fong. The focus of the tutorial was to recapitulate on earlier lectures about the Ten Wholesome and Ten Unwholesome deeds.
Read moreOn Sunday 27 September 2015, Bro. Aggaphala Yap conducted Lecture 4 of the BPS 101 Mandarin Buddhist Studies course at Nalanda Centre. The topic of the lecture was “Ten Unwholesome Deeds” (Dasa Akusala Kamma).
Read moreOn Saturday 26 September, Lecture 10 of BPS 303 – Certificate in Buddhist Studies – was conducted at Nalanda Centre in Sri Serdang by Achariya Vijaya Samarawickrama. Achariya Vijaya explained the origin of devotional practices in Buddhism and why it was important to carry out these practices with wisdom and right understanding, and not just on blind faith. He also explained the meaning of Saddha (faith) in the Buddhist context.
Read moreOn Sunday 20 September, Sis. Tan Yee Yong conducted Lecture 3 of BPS 101 course – Buddhist Studies in Mandarin – on the topic of “Ten Wholesome Deeds” (‘Dasa Kusala Kamma’). She began the session by explaining the beneficial results of practising the ten wholesome actions that lead us to a happy life.
Read moreOn Sunday 13 September, Sis. Tan Yee Yong conducted Lecture 2 of BPS 101 course – Buddhist Studies in Mandarin – which discussed reasons why human beings seek refuge in religion. It could be due to fear, greed, ignorance or to overcome difficulties in facing challenges in life. She further explained that by ‘taking refuge’ in the ‘Three Jewels’ – the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha – we are actually resolving to uphold the Buddha’s teaching as the guiding principle in our lives, and gradually work towards liberation from suffering.
Read moreSunday 6 September marked the commencement of BPS 101 – Buddhist Studies in Mandarin – offered by Nalanda Institute’s Department of Buddhist & Pāli Studies, with more than 70 eager participants taking part.
Read moreOn Sunday 6 September, Nalanda Centre was ‘buzzing’ with various programmes and activities from Level 1 to Level 4, besides the usual Junior Dhamma Class at Nalanda House, and Service Sunday for young adults at Nalanda Youth Centre.
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