History of Buddhism; history of Nalanda; history or heritage-related topics.
Nalanda Buddhist Society proudly present an original musical by Han Production – <Xuan Zang Journey to the West> – to be performed at Istana Budaya Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 1 November, 7.45pm. This fabulous musical depicts the ‘real’ Master Xuan Zang – who was bestowed the title of “Great Tripitaka Master of Tang Dynasty” (唐三藏) on account of his great scholarship and mastery of Buddhist teachings by the Emperor of China.
Read moreOn Saturday 27 September, Nalanda Institute’s BPS402 Higher Certificate Course participants attended Lecture 7 on “The Buddha’s Mission”. The session was conducted by Achariya Tan Siang Chye, the Director of Nalanda Institute. He gave a great account of the early development of Buddha-Sasana and the Buddha’s own lifetime. The next session of this 5-month course is scheduled on Saturday, 11 October.
Read moreNalanda Institute’s BPS402 Higher Certificate Course participants have recently advanced into Module 2 of the programme covering the “Historical Development of Buddhism”. On Saturday 6 September, Achariya Vijaya Samarawickrama conducted Lecture 6 on the subject of “Pre-Buddhist Indian Religious Thoughts”.
Read moreParticipants of Nalanda Institute’s BPS402 Higher Certificate Course recently had the privilege of attending a lecture on the “Historical Development of Buddhism in Southeast Asia” by Nalanda Founder Bro. Tan on Saturday, 30 August. Bro. Tan, an acknowledged expert on Buddhist history in Southeast Asia, gave the expected ‘virtuoso performance’ on his pet subject. Participants were mesmerized by broad historical vistas and insightful views on Buddhist expansion across Southeast Asian polities over a span of 1,500 years!
Read moreToday is the full-moon day for the month of ‘Potthapāda’ (or ‘Binara’ [ බිනර ] in Sinhalese). According to Sri Lankan Theravada tradition, this day commemorates the occasion where the Buddha allowed the ordination of ‘bhikkhunīs’ (women renunciates), and thus is a very important anniversary.
Read more817 years after its appalling destruction in 1197 CE, the ancient university of ‘Nālandā’ has been revived when classes started yesterday in Rajgir, Bihar State, India. The latest incarnation of ‘Nālandā University’ opened with a low-key ceremony. With only 15 students and a few faculty members, it has a lot more growth to achieve to even come close to its heydays 1,300 years ago, where an estimated 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers came from every corner of Asia to acquire knowledge and wisdom at the world’s premier university! Read more
The 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.
Read moreAccording to Theravada Buddhist tradition, monks are required to observe ‘Vassana’ or ‘Rains Retreat’ for a duration of 3 months beginning the day after the full-moon of Asalha month, which is today. The 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 monks learned and practised Dhamma intensively under the direct guidance of the Buddha; at the end of that period, all of them had attained the highest spiritual goal of Arahantship.
Read moreIn conjunction with their visit to Jakarta last month, Nalandian officers had the opportunity to tour the National Museum of Indonesia together with our hosts from Buddhist Fellowship Indonesia, and friends from Buddhist Fellowship Singapore.
Read moreToday marks the 123rd birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar – the great Indian Statesman, Social Reformist and Buddhist leader. Nalanda Buddhist Society Malaysia pays tribute to the late Dr. Ambedkar for his seminal work to improve the lives of downtrodden millions in India, and in reintroducing and propagating Buddhism in its country of origin. Anumodantu.
Read more