On Thursday 5 January, Nalanda Centre was honoured by a visit by well-known Sri Lankan social activist Dr. Charika Marasinghe and her husband Dr. Upali, M.D. Dr. Charika is the daughter of Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, the founder of Sarvodaya Shramadana, the largest social-development organisation in Sri Lanka.
Read moreClose to midnight on 31 December 2016, members, devotees and students traditionally gathered at Nalanda Centre to participate in the New Year Eve pūja and chanting. Instead of the worldly way of ‘counting down’ to the stroke of 12am, Nalandians choose to ‘calm down’ with meditation, reflection, and making spiritual aspirations.
Read moreReport by Chan Jia Xin.
On Saturday 17 December 2016, Nalandian volunteers and devotees gathered with much enthusiasm for the educational ‘Pindacāra’ programme in Seri Kembangan. Market-goers once again had the opportunity to offer food to two venerable monks from the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple.
Read moreAs the pace picks up after the Lunar New Year holidays and heading towards the month of Vesakha (April-May), Nalandians will get busier with educational and community outreach programmes in the coming weeks. It is time again for members to attend important meetings to discuss and plan for the year ahead. Nalanda Buddhist Society is happy to invite members to the following meetings:
Read moreThai media reported that the Prime Minister of Thailand led his entire cabinet of ministers and deputy ministers to pay respects to the newly-appointed ‘Sangharaja’, Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, on Tuesday, 14 February.
Read moreOn Tuesday 13 December, Nalanda Centre welcomed the visit by Venerable Ajahn Kalyāno, a disciple of the late Ajahn Chah, a celebrated teacher in the Thai forest tradition. Ajahn Kalyāno is the abbot of Buddha Bodhivana Monastery in Melbourne, Australia.
Read moreToday is the full-moon of the first lunar month, also known locally as “Chap Goh Meh”, which means ‘the fifteenth night’ in the Hokkien dialect. It marks the end of the 15-day Lunar New Year celebrations, and is a significant day for the Chinese community. Traditionally, families would celebrate the festival with another round of joyous reunion, and aspirations for a happy, harmonious and bountiful year ahead.
Read moreNalanda Buddhist Society wishes our Hindu friends who observe ‘Thaipusam’ today a fulfilling celebration of faith and devotion. May your wholesome deeds be rightly blessed.
Read moreAt the weekly Wednesday meditation on 21 December, Nalandians lent ear to an enlightening Dhamma talk by Ven. Ñanukkamsa on the purpose of becoming a Buddhist. In the Mahā Sāropama Sutta, the Buddha expounded that the purpose of holy life does not have gain or fame or even the accomplishments of virtue, concentration, or knowledge as its end goal. Instead, its ultimate goal is to attain the unshakeable liberation of the mind.
Read moreReport by Chan Jia Xin.
In December 2016, Nalanda was honoured to host Venerable Ñanukkamsa and Venerable Alokavamsa, two well-practised Theravada bhikkhus from Indonesia. After a warm reception, the venerables were brought on a building tour and invited to meet participants of the Children’s Learning Camp which was held at Nalanda Centre that time.
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