In archaeology, every brick or stone seems to tell a story. And so it was when well-known Nepali archaeologist Dr. Basanta Bidari took to the podium and delivered a special lecture at Nalanda Centre on Thursday, 5 May. Dr. Basanta shared his recent discoveries in the last two years at the ancient site of Kapilavatthu – the hometown of Siddhatha Gotama, who later became the Buddha.
Read moreOn Thursday 21 April, Sis. Ruby Tan gave a sharing on the purpose and benefits of visiting a Buddhist centre in conjunction with the Full-moon Uposatha Service at Nalanda Centre. She explained that although people go to temples for various purposes, a knowledgeable devotee may visit a centre or temple for the following reasons:
Read moreOn Saturday 9 April, Nalandians from the Klang Valley gathered for their monthly Members’ Day meeting to deliberate and discuss on matters involving the Society. During the gathering, Nalanda founder Bro. Tan shared about the Buddha’s teaching to Venerable Ananda in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16) on the conditions which would contribute to the progress of a community.
Read moreOn Sunday 10 April, 70 participants of the Dhamma Living Camp 2016 which was held last month at Genting Highlands, gathered at Nalanda Centre for a cheerful ‘reunion’. It was a happy occasion as the campers greeted each other with great warmth and joy. Participants said that their experiences at the camp had made a huge difference in their lives, and given their spiritual practice a boost.
Read moreOn Thursday 7 April, Bro. Gan gave a sharing at the New-moon Uposatha Service on the significance of keeping the Eight Precepts on Uposatha days. He referred to the Visakhuposatha Sutta, a discourse given by the Buddha to Lady Visakha, a generous female lay-disciple.
Read moreAlthough ‘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.
Read moreOn Sunday 27 March, Sis. Joyce gave a sharing on the spirit of Sāmaggī, explaining that it is the spirit of harmony, peaceful co-existence, and having inner tranquility. When there is harmony in the community, there will be goodwill and peace, and the community will prosper and be strong.
Read moreOn Sunday 13 March, Sis. Buddhini Tan shared with us the importance of daily meditation as Buddhists. She explained that practising Sīla (Morality) and Dāna (Generosity) alone were not enough as the Buddha also taught Bhāvanā (Mental cultivation) – leading to the purification of our minds through meditation.
Read moreOn Sunday 6 March Sis. Santi Cheang gave a sharing based on the Buddha’s advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭikā in the Ambalatthikārāhulovāda Sutta (Majjhima Nikāya 61). In the sutta, the Buddha admonishes his young son, Venerable Rāhula, on why one should never utter a falsehood, not even in jest. The Buddha exhorts Rāhula: “So, too, Rāhula, when one is not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie, there is no evil, I say, that one would not do”.
Read moreOn Sunday 21 February, after Nalanda Dhamma School’s annual ‘tea ceremony’, a group of facilitators gathered for a meeting with Nalanda founder Bro. H. S. Tan. In his sharing, Bro. Tan reminded the facilitators that in their noble effort to conduct the school’s sessions, they should always keep in mind to achieve the “best outcome” and not just produce the “highest output”.
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