Monday 18 July was the Asalha Full-Moon Uposatha Day, whereupon this day 2600 years ago, the Buddha delivered the First Sermon on the ‘Four Noble Truths’ and the ‘Noble Eightfold Path’ to the world. The occasion is also known as ‘Dhamma Day’, and is one of the seven* observance days at Nalanda.
Read moreOn Friday 1 July, Director of Nalanda Dhamma School Sis. Sunanda Ong was invited to S.M.K. Desa Mahkota, Kuala Lumpur, to participate in ‘Program Kerohanian Sekolah’ for 300 sixth-form students. Sis. Sunanda gave a talk on the ‘Importance of Having a Belief’ where she introduced the basics of Buddhist spirituality – that it was a way of life to reduce our distress, and ultimately to end all suffering. She also spoke about the ‘Three Refuges’ and the Buddha’s ‘Middle Path’ to Enlightenment.
Read moreOn Saturday 2 July, Nalanda Centre was honoured by the presence of Luang Por Sophon, the Abbot of Wat Bueng Latthiwan, which is a branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong in the Ajahn Chah Thai forest tradition. As a boon, Luang Por Sophon was accompanied by Luang Por Nusin Santajitto (Abbot of Wat Katthaliwan), Luang Por Siri, Ajahn Thinakorn, Ajahn Pramual, Phra Jirapat and Phra Somchay. The monastic entourage was on a 2-week visit through Malaysia.
Read moreOn Saturday 25 June, Nalandians were honoured to have Venerable Ajahn Vajiro leading our weekly meditation session and delivering a Dhamma talk. Ajahn reminded us to live a life of wisdom by ‘knowing’ and ‘upholding’ the truth. He also urged Dhamma practitioners to constantly develop happiness independent of conditions by cultivating a sense of contentment.
Read moreOn Saturday 23 July, Bro. Tan gave an uplifting Dhamma talk at Sudhamma Buddhist Society in Seremban. It was his first visit and talk at Sudhamma in more than 4 years, and he remarked that, “it’s great to be back at a homely centre and a familiar crowd”.
Read moreToday is the full-moon day of Asalha month, which marks the occasion when the Buddha first taught the Dhamma after His Enlightenment. He spoke about the ‘Four Noble Truths’ – of ‘Dukkha’ (suffering); its causes; its cessation; and the Path to its cessation – to His first five disciples at Isipatana. That sermon which the Buddha gave became known as the famed ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’ – the ‘Discourse on turning the Wheel of Dhamma’.
Read moreOn Wednesday 15 June, at the weekly group practice, Sis. Buddhinī shared with new participants the basics of meditation. She explained the purpose of meditation, important factors to consider, the different meditation postures, and led participants through a sitting session.
Read moreOn Thursday 9 June, Nalanda Centre was honoured to host Venerable Geshe Dorji Damdul for a special Dhamma Lecture on “The essence of Tibetan Buddhism and its general misconceptions”. It was His Eminence’s first visit to Malaysia, which was coordinated by the Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM). Besides Nalanda Centre, Geshe-la also gave lectures at the Buddhist Gem Fellowship and Universiti Malaya (hosted by the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia) during his brief tour.
Read moreOn 1 June, we were blessed to have Venerable U Vijaya from Indonesia to lead the weekly meditation at Nalanda Centre, Sri Serdang. Ven. Vijaya explained that if we had faith in the Buddha, then we must be ready to walk the path He taught, and practise the Dhamma well. We must strengthen our Viriya (Right Effort) and keep our Sīla (virtue) strong.
Read moreSunday 5 June marked the beginning of the annual 7-week Gimhāna (Summer) Retreat, organised by Nalanda for the fifth consecutive year. This year’s retreat spans from 5 June to 20 July. Director of Nalanda Institute, Achariya Tan Siang Chye, heralded an uplifting start to the retreat by giving a talk on the Buddha as a ‘unique Teacher’, and also his ‘incomparable Teachings’.
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