Today marks exactly 5 months since ‘MH370’ vanished over the Indian Ocean on 8 March 2014. The mystery of its disappearance remains unsolved; and the memory and pain of those who lost their loved ones remain fresh. Since ‘MH370’, we have again been shocked by the crashing of a few other airliners in July, including another Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 – the ‘MH17’ – with a great loss of lives.
Read moreExcerpt from Bro. H S Tan’s article, “Reflections on 6 August”.
On 6 August 1945, the horrific ‘Atomic bomb’ was first used in warfare and dropped over Hiroshima, Japan. Today marks the 69th anniversary of that tragic event. More than 100,000 people were killed by the Hiroshima bomb and the subsequent fires and radiation. 220,000 more were injured, and scarred for life. The Atomic bomb was until then the most destructive weapon used by man against man. With its deployment, Hiroshima was completely destroyed; so was humanity on that fateful day.
Read moreReport by Gan Bee Ching | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Sunday 20 July, devotees continued with Dhamma learning and spiritual cultivation at Nalanda Centre. We were privileged to hear Bro. Charlie Chia deliver a light-hearted Dhamma talk titled, ‘It’s all in the breath’.
Read moreJust days after the tragic downing of MH17, another commercial airliner crashed in Taiwan yesterday evening, killing at least 48 people on board. The ATR-72 turboprop airplane belonging to TransAsia Airways was en route from Kaohsiung to Penghu Island off Taiwan when it crashed in severe weather. Flight GE 222 was carrying 54 passengers and 4 crew members.
Read moreDear friends, a special evening Service in memory of the casualties of MH17 will be held at Nalanda Centre on Wednesday 23 July, from 8pm to 10pm. We invite you to participate in this Service with meditation, chanting, and a Dhamma teaching by Bro. Tan, who will talk about the Buddhist response to the vicissitudes of life. All are welcome.
Read moreExcerpt of a Dhamma talk by Bro Tan.
“Spiritual strength and resilience is essential to help us face disasters with calmness and kindness. It is important that we cultivate our minds and nourish our spirits with a lot of positive and wholesome qualities, such as patience, moral virtues, fortitude, perseverance, right understanding and wisdom. Read more
The Malaysian Government today called for flags to be flown at half-mast until Monday 21 July, to mourn the loss of 298 lives on board MH17. At tomorrow morning’s Service Sunday, Nalanda Founder Bro. Tan will offer a reflection on the tragic air-crash as well as recite prayers for the victims and their loved ones.
Read moreIn a Media Statement issued on Friday, 18 July at 7.30am, Malaysia Airlines confirmed that all 298 people on board MH17 (as opposed to 295 people inferred earlier) had perished in the tragic air crash. MH17 was on a regular scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. As the Boeing 777 was flying over Eastern Ukraine, it was purportedly shot down by a ground-to-air missile.
Read moreNews agencies reported yesterday evening (17 July) that a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 – flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur – has crashed in the Ukraine. It was reportedly shot while flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters over the eastern part of that country, and crashed shortly afterwards. 280 passengers and 15 crew members were on board; all 295 were feared dead.
Read moreIt has been 100 days since the disappearance of MH370 on 8 March 2014; and it appears we are no closer to solving this mystery today. Understandably, without concrete evidence and answers to the tragedy, there is perhaps a large void in the hearts of the victims’ families, and still no closure for many loved ones of the 239 people on board.
Read more