On Sunday 17 April, Sister Buddhini Tan gave a talk on ‘Going for Refuge’ to participants of BPS 033 ‘Buddhist Practice & Devotion’ course. Sis. Buddhini explained that the practice of ‘Going for Refuge’ existed even before the Buddha’s time. It was customary for a follower to proclaim his or her faith in the teacher or a higher power.
Read moreOn Sunday 17 April, the Superintendent of Dharma Drum Malaysia, Venerable Bhikshuni Chang Zao (常藻法师), was invited to Nalanda to give a Mandarin Dhamma talk on ‘Correct Practices & Devotion’ for Buddhists (“正信的佛教是什么?”). She highlighted the essential teachings of Buddhism, and how it spread throughout the world.
Read moreOn Sunday 17 April, Nalanda founder Bro. Tan led a special service in memory of Sayādaw U Panditābhivamsa, who passed away a day earlier. The service began at 9.00am with meditation, followed by offerings and Pāli chanting. The 300-strong congregation then listened to an insightful talk by Bro. Tan, who started by asking rhetorically, “Do kings have suffering?”
Read moreOn Sunday 10 April, Achariya Vijaya Samarawickrama gave a talk on ‘Rites & Rituals’, which is part of the BPS 033 Buddhist Devotional Practice course. He explained how rites and rituals evolved with human development and had an important role in binding communities culturally.
Read moreOn Sunday 3 April, Sis. Sunanda gave a sharing on the ‘Dhammapada’ for our daily reflection. She quoted the popular twin verses: “In the unessential they imagine the essential, in the essential they see the unessential ̶ they who entertain (such) wrong thoughts never realise the essence.”
Read moreOn Sunday 27 March, Sis. Paru conducted the first of six modules of BPS 033 ‘Buddhist Devotional Practice’ course, where she touched on the topic of ‘What is Buddhism?’ and ‘The Three Jewels’. She explained that the coined English term ‘Buddhism’ refers to the religious tenets and practices centred upon the Buddha’s teachings. When Buddhism spread to other parts of the world, it took on different forms due to the influence of local beliefs and culture of the indigenous peoples.
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 February 28, Achariya Tan Siang Chye gave a Dhamma talk on living in accordance with the Dhamma. He explained that the root word of ‘Dhamma’ in Pāli, and ‘Dharma’ in Sanskrit’ is ‘dhṛ’ which means ‘to hold up or maintain’; while the Buddhist meaning of Dhamma is the teachings of the Buddha. Hence, when we live the Dhamma, it is to hold us up, and stop us from falling into the woeful states of existence, and to fulfill our potential for Nibbāna.
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