In the 7th Century BCE, Rājagaha (modern-day Rajgir) was the old capital city of Magadha Kingdom. During the reign of King Bimbisara, it was one of the largest cities in the world. King Bimbisara was a good administrator and a generous, spiritual person. Thus, many religious and meditation teachers of the day were attracted to Rājagaha due to his munificent support.
Read moreIn the 7th Century BCE, Kapilavatthu was the capital of Sakka (also spelled ‘Sakya’) Kingdom, a small but prosperous principality south of the Himalayas rich in agriculture. The most famous king to have reigned there was King Suddhodana and his consort Queen Māyādevī, who were the parents of Prince Siddhattha Gotama (who later became Sakyamuni Buddha).
Read moreLumbini Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Nepal, just 26km from the border with India. It is an important pilgrimage destination for Buddhists along with Bodhgaya, Sarnath, and Kusinara, because Prince Siddhattha Gotama (who later became Sakyamuni Buddha) was born there in 623 BCE.
Read moreThe ruins of the majestic ‘Nālandā Māha Vihāra’ stands proudly in the State of Bihar, India. Even in its present derelict condition, the large foundations and thick walls of its structures still inspire awe in the thousands of people who visit it annually.
Read moreToday marks the first anniversary of renowned meditation teacher, Acharya Satya Narayan Goenka’s passing on 29 September 2013. Nalanda Buddhist Society would like to pay tribute to a prodigious teacher who had created the conditions for millions of practitioners to experience the technique and bliss of ‘Vipassana Meditation’ first taught by the Buddha 2,600 years ago!
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 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
Today 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 moreOn Wednesday 6 November, the most Venerable Sanghasena Mahathero from Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) in Ladakh, India, visited Nalanda Centre together with 4 staff members. The party was earlier received at Nalanda House, where Ven. Sanghasena had a meeting with Ven. Aggacitta Mahathero (Abbot of Sasanārakkha Buddhist Sanctuary in Taiping) and Sayadaw U Kevala of Myanmar.
Read moreDr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in 1891 into the ‘untouchables’, a segment of India’s population that was hitherto deprived, degraded, and often mistreated by the other castes. Yet despite his early deprivation, Dr. Ambedkar later rose in stature and prominence through hard work and fortitude to become the first Law Minister of independent India. He is also popularly regarded as the ‘principal architect of the Indian Constitution’ – a social contract that granted liberties, justice, and respectability to India’s dejected millions.
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