Pertaining to the annual Nalandian Gimhana Retreat. Any report, news or notice concerning this programme should be tagged.
On Monday 15 June, devotees gathered at Nalanda Centre for the evening Uposatha Service at the start of the annual Gimhāna Period, a special time dedicated to intensified practice and spiritual cultivation. Sis. Nandinī Tan led a reflection on the gradual spiritual evolution from an anāriya (unenlightened being) to an ariya (noble disciple), for devotees to gain clarity on the path of inner transformation. Devotees also deep-dived into the Five Daily Practices observed during the Gimhāna period.
Read moreToday, 15 June, on the New-moon Uposatha day of the month of Jeṭṭha, Nalanda members and volunteers begin the Gimhāna period, a season for coming together to deepen our understanding and practice of the Dhamma. In the seven weeks after the Buddha’s Enlightenment, the Buddha contemplated the Dhamma with perfectly purified and clear faculties of wisdom and insight. Inspired by this, we too take this period as an opportunity to strengthen our practice.
Read moreThe annual Gimhāna Period begins today at Nalanda and continues for seven weeks until 28 July. This observance commemorates the period following the Buddha’s Enlightenment on the Wesak full-moon day, when He spent seven weeks in the vicinity of the Bodhi Tree contemplating the profound Dhamma He had realised.
Read moreWe warmly invite you to join the Gimhāna Uposatha Service at Nalanda Centre next Monday in observance of the New-moon day of the month of Jeṭṭha. The service will begin with offerings to the Three Jewels, chanting, and meditation, followed by a Dhamma talk by Sis. Nandinī Tan. Let us spend a wholesome and uplifting evening in the company of spiritual friends, cultivating the path through practice, reflection, and learning the Dhamma on this meaningful Uposatha observance day.
Read moreOn Tuesday 10 June, Sis. Nandinī Tan delivered an insightful talk during the Gimhāna Full-moon Uposatha service on the “Iddhipada – The Four Bases of Power” which make the mind powerful. The Four Bases of Power are Chanda, Viriya, Citta and Vīmaṃsā.
Read moreThe full moon of the Jettha month is fast approaching, and soon we will be entering the third week of the Gimhāna Retreat, which began on 27 May. We warmly invite you to join the Uposātha Full Moon Service on Tuesday 10 June, featuring a Dhamma Talk by Sis. Nandinī Tan, who will guide us in contemplating the interesting topic: “What Makes the Mind Powerful.”
Read moreOn Tuesday 27 May, Nalanda held an Uposātha evening service in conjunction with the new-moon day of the month Jeṭṭha, marking the beginning of the 2025 Gimhāna Retreat for all Nalanda members and devotees. The evening service featured chanting, meditation and a Dhamma talk by Sis. Nandini Tan. Tracing the origin of Nalanda’s Gimhāna Retreat to 2012, Sis. Nandini reminded us of the purpose of Gimhāna Retreat – a 7-week intensive self-practice programme based on Five Daily Practices.
Read moreThe fifth daily practice during the Gimhāna Retreat is do ground ourselves in evening chanting and reflection of our day. Take time at the end of the day to recollect and reflect on our actions, speech and thoughts throughout the day. The more that we reflect, the clearer we can see our progress and journey.
Read moreHoning wholesome habits would not be complete without efforts to perform acts generosity and kindness towards others as part of our daily practice. Giving (Dāna) can be performed in everyday life, even when we don’t leave out home; donating online, purchasing requisites to be delivered to another, or even a kind word to someone suffering.
Read moreOne of the wholesome habits we can develop is to dedicate time to read Dhamma books and listen to Dhamma talks. Just as how we brush our teeth daily to ensure healthy teeth and gums, and to prevent tooth decay, we nourish our minds with Dhamma daily so that we purify our minds from the stains of defilements.
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