Welcoming Ven. Luang Por Viradhammo back to Nalanda Centre.

On Sunday 29 December – the last Sunday Service of the year – we were indeed blessed to host and learn from Ven. Luang Por Viradhammo, the Abbot of Tisarana Monastery in Ottawa, Canada and one of the most senior Western disciples of Ven. Luang Por Chah.  It was also a Samaggi Sunday Service, a tradition at Nalanda where the whole community gathers on the last Sunday of the month in unity and harmony.

In his Dhamma teaching, Venerable Luang Por explained that it is normal to have negative emotions arise within us.  Non-grasping allows us to fully realise and experience our emotions without becoming entangled in them.  The challenging part is to witness their arising to cessation, without letting them harm others.  For the full Dhamma teaching by Venerable, please visit Nalanda’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/hh-P1QLKMPM .

Ven. Luang Por making offerings at the altar of the Level 1 Shrine Hall.

The Samaggi Service started with the congregation making offerings to the Three Jewels.

Cultivating serenity with meditation.

Deputy President Bro. Charlie Teng delivering the Samaggi message.

The congregation paying their respects to Venerable.

An inspiring and insightful Dhamma teaching by Ven. Luang Por Viradhammo.

The joy continued with devotees offering lunch dāna to Venerable Luang Por.  After the meal-offering, members of Nalanda Dhammaduta Collegiate (the collection of Nalanda’s in-house Dhamma speakers) also took the opportunity to seek advice from Venerable on pertinent Dhamma matters to ensure that the teachings shared are accurate and leading to proper development of the mind.

We deeply appreciate Venerable Luang Por Viradhammo for his weighty presence that created many opportunities for our community to learn, grow and make merits.  We wish Venerable the best of health and the highest blessings in life.

Devotees clarifying their doubts by asking questions.

Concurrently, Sis. Nandinī Tan delivered a Dhamma talk to the Mandarin audience.

Offering lunch dāna to Venerable.

Nalanda leaders having a chat with Venerable.

Members of Nalanda Dhammaduta Collegiate clarifying their doubts on the Dhamma with Ven. Luang Por.

We deeply appreciate Venerable Luang Por for his weighty presence that created many opportunities for our community to learn, grow and make merits. We wish Venerable the best of health and the highest blessings in life.

Sending Venerable off with much joy.