Pertaining to the annual Nalandian Gimhana Retreat. Any report, news or notice concerning this programme should be tagged.
We invite you to join us this Friday 19 May for the Jeṭṭha New-moon Uposatha Service, which will mark the start of Nalanda’s ‘Gimhana Retreat’. The service commences at 8pm with evening chanting and a Dhamma talk by Venerable Rāhula, a monk of Mexican descent who ordained in 2015. Ven. Rāhula has learned and practiced with respected teachers including Ven. Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Ven. Sayadaw Dr. Ukkamsacara and his preceptor Ven. Sayadaw Dr. Nandamālābhivaṃsa.
Read moreOn Sunday 26 June, Nalandians gathered for ‘Samaggi Day’, which falls on the last Sunday of every month. Members and devotees were joined by Nalanda youths and Dhamma School students for the morning meditation, offerings and chanting. Sis. Buddhini Tan, President of the Society, encouraged us to pay more attention to our daily practice, so that we can stop unwholesome practices from repeating, and develop habits which are conducive to spiritual development.
Read moreOn Sunday 19 June, Sis. Buddhinī Tan gave a Dhamma sharing on ‘Living in harmony with family’. She explained the importance of the Four Bonds of Fellowship (Sangaha Sutta AN 4.32) in enhancing the interconnectedness of those living together and cultivating harmony within our families. When applied with right understanding, we become more caring, relate well and are more useful to one another, leading to everyone dwelling in happiness and unity.
Read moreOn Sunday 5 June, Bro. Tan Siang Chye delivered a Dhamma sharing on this year’s ‘Gimhāna Period’ theme – ‘Living in Harmony’. He shared that when we have harmony within, we are free from internal conflict and are confident in our life purpose. This in itself leads to us having a peaceful and happy nature which positively impacts those around us.
Read moreOn Sunday 29 May, Nalanda members and volunteers entered into the Gimhāna Period as they gathered for its first Sunday Morning Service. After the morning meditation, offerings and chanting, an appreciation session for Buddha Day volunteers was held, where everyone rejoiced in the selfless efforts of all who contributed to the joyous celebrations held the week before. Thereafter, Sis. Paruadi Ramasamy delivered a talk on the purpose of this 7-week Gimhāna ‘retreat’, that of reflecting on Dhamma and strengthening our spiritual practice which develops into wholesome life-long habits.
Read moreNalanda observes the ‘Gimhāna Period’ annually by committing to a period of relatively intensive Dhamma learning and practice. This year’s retreat carry the theme “Living in Harmony”. Join us in observing this spiritual period together as a community.
Read moreBeing mindful and staying in the present moment is a cornerstone of Buddhist practice. Yet, we frequently find our thoughts wandering off due to external stimuli of all kinds and proliferation of thoughts. This inability to focus results in a mind that is not calm, serene and concentrated. The distracted mind also drains our energy level and hinders our spiritual progress.
Read moreCraving (tañha) occupies the mind when wisdom is not applied to pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Without the wisdom of seeing their impermanent and transient nature, we react in unwise ways that lead to our affliction. We are unable to see straight because we are blinded by craving, and even allow emotions to control us. The Buddha explains the unwise reaction to tañha in Sallatha Sutta (SN 36.6).
Read moreAt times, we may be in a state of doubt, either in ourselves, or in the Dhamma principles. “I meditate everyday but still can’t calm the mind”, or “I have learnt so much over the years, yet I don’t have the deep level of faith”; thoughts like these are common. We may even think that we are too deep down the ‘rabbit hole’ in this life to realise our mind’s full potential. If left unchecked, the sceptical mind will ebb our determination to reach our spiritual goals.
Read moreAnger and aversion arise when someone does or says something we don’t like, or things are not done our way. It is the result of unwise attention to the un-ending desires in our mind. The Buddha taught that anger inflames the mind and only brings about loss, pain, loneliness and misery; an angry person does not see the true nature of things (Kodhana Sutta, AN 7.60).
Read more