History of Buddhism; history of Nalanda; history or heritage-related topics.
8 August 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of ASEAN – the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Malaysia, along with Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore were its founding members back in 1967. Brunei joined ASEAN after its independence in 1984, followed by Vietnam (in 1995), Laos (1997), Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999).
Read moreAccording to Theravāda tradition, fully-ordained monks and nuns (bhikkhus and bhikkhunis) are required to observe ‘Vassana’ or ‘Rains Retreat’ for a 3-month period, beginning the day after the full-moon of Asalha month, which is today.
Read moreReported by the Jakarta Post, 30 June 2017.
During his visit to the iconic Borobudur Stupa in Central Java last Wednesday, former President of the United States Barack Obama said the monument brought back fond memories of his childhood.
Read moreOn Friday 14 April, Bro. Tan was invited to present a special lecture on Pāli language by Persatuan Buddhist Universiti Malaya’s (PBUM) Miao Xi Dhamma Speaker Training Workshop. The talk held at the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia (YBAM) Headquarters was well-attended by young Dhamma-speaker trainees and Nalandians.
Read moreFrom 7 to 9 April, Persatuan Buddhist Universiti Malaya (PBUM) held a camp at Nalanda Centre on the history of Buddhism. 30 students gathered for three wholesome days to learn from Venerable Ji Chi the development of Buddhism throughout the past 2,500 years – from its emergence in ancient India to how it evolved into three main traditions of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, today.
Read moreToday is the beginning (New-moon day) of ‘Vesakha’ – the month commemorating Buddha’s Enlightenment 2,606 years ago. We invite everyone to join us at Nalanda Centre for chanting, meditation and Dhamma talk this evening starting at 8.00pm.
Read moreAt the Service Sunday on 9 October, Sis. Tan Yee Yong was invited to deliver a talk on ‘Meditation’. She recounted history by stating that certain meditation practices already existed before the Buddha’s time. In fact, the Buddha-to-be Siddhattha Gotama learned from two prominent meditation teachers of His time – Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta.
Read moreOn Sunday 4 September, the Director of Pustaka Nalanda Bro. Ananda Fong gave a talk on the contributions of Professor Thomas William Rhys Davids (1843 – 1922), founder of the Pāli Text Society (PTS) based in London. This was part of Pustaka Nalanda’s programme to commemorate historical personalities who had contributed significantly to the propagation of Buddhism over the last century.
Read moreOn 16 September, Nalanda members took part in a simple gathering to mark the “International Bhikkhunī Day” organised by Gotamī Vihāra in Puchong. The gathering was meant to honour the historical Bhikkhuni Sangha which was established during the Buddha’s lifetime; among its illustrious members were Elders Khemā, Upalavannā, Dhammadinnā and Mahapajapattī Gotamī.
Read moreYesterday, Nalanda Centre had the great honour to be bequeathed with a Buddha Relic (Pāli, “Śarīra”) – a single bone fragment of the Blessed One. The Relic was previously under the custodianship of the late Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Nāyaka Thero and Achariya Vijaya Samarawickrama for many decades.
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