Dhamma Talk

24 April 2016

Emulate the Buddha’s qualities

On Sunday 17 April, the Superintendent of Dharma Drum Malaysia, Venerable Bhikshuni Chang Zao (常藻法师), was invited to Nalanda to give a Mandarin Dhamma talk on ‘Correct Practices & Devotion’ for Buddhists (“正信的佛教是什么?”).  She highlighted the essential teachings of Buddhism, and how it spread throughout the world.

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23 April 2016

Service in honour of Sayādaw U Panditā

On Sunday 17 April, Nalanda founder Bro. Tan led a special service in memory of Sayādaw U Panditābhivamsa, who passed away a day earlier.  The service began at 9.00am with meditation, followed by offerings and Pāli chanting.  The 300-strong congregation then listened to an insightful talk by Bro. Tan, who started by asking rhetorically, “Do kings have suffering?”

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18 April 2016

Being good is a ‘gift’ to others

On Wednesday 13 April, we were fortunate to have Venerable Ajahn Chandako leading the weekly meditation session and giving a Dhamma talk at Nalanda Centre.  Ajahn Chandako hails from the Thai forest tradition of Ajahn Chah, and is the abbot of Vimutti Forest Monastery in New Zealand.

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16 April 2016

Perform rites and rituals intelligently

On Sunday 10 April, Achariya Vijaya Samarawickrama gave a talk on ‘Rites & Rituals’, which is part of the BPS 033 Buddhist Devotional Practice course.  He explained how rites and rituals evolved with human development and had an important role in binding communities culturally.

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5 April 2016

Prioritising Dhamma practice

On Sunday 3 April, Sis. Sunanda gave a sharing on the ‘Dhammapada’ for our daily reflection.  She quoted the popular twin verses: “In the unessential they imagine the essential, in the essential they see the unessential  ̶  they who entertain (such) wrong thoughts never realise the essence.”

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31 March 2016

Observing ‘Cheng Beng’ meritoriously

Although ‘Cheng Beng’ (or ‘Qing Ming’, 清明节) was not originally a Buddhist tradition, it has nevertheless  been observed by Chinese Buddhists for centuries.  The Buddha taught that our duties towards parents and relatives do not end with their death.  After their demise, we should continue to honour them by performing wholesome, meritorious and noble deeds, and thereafter dedicate merits to them.

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9 March 2016

Dhamma talk in Karawang, Indonesia

On 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.

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4 March 2016

Dhamma is our ‘safety net’

On 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.

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2 March 2016

Meaning of ‘Sāmaggī’ explained

On 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.

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22 February 2016

New Year ‘Open House’ in Kedah

On Friday 12 February, Nalanda Sungai Petani Branch organized an “Open House” for the public at NEO Centre Bandar Mutiara in conjunction with the Lunar New Year celebration.  Members of the public began streaming in continuously as the Centre opened at 10 am.

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