Pertaining to the annual Nalandian Gimhana Retreat. Any report, news or notice concerning this programme should be tagged.
For the fourth consecutive year, Nalanda will hold its 7-week Annual Gimhāna Retreat from 17 May to 1 July. Gimhāna Retreat focuses on one’s spiritual growth and personal transformation effected through the Dhamma. During this period, everyone is encouraged to commit to 7 weeks of intensive Dhamma learning and spiritual cultivation. Dhamma teachings and meditation sessions are arranged at Nalanda Centre every Wednesday, Sunday and Uposatha (New-moon and Full-moon) Day.
Read moreReport by Gan Bee Ching | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Wednesday 16 July, Nalanda Centre was packed with devotees eager to listen to the last Gimhāna teachings for 2014. It was indeed a worthwhile effort as Bro. Tan delivered an illuminating finale on the gradual development of a ‘good mind’. Recalling his earlier talks about a ‘good heart’ versus a ‘good mind’, he asked rhetorically –‘What is this “mind”?’
Read moreReport by Gan Bee Ching | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Sunday 13 July, more than 100 devotees gathered at Nalanda Centre to commemorate ‘Dhamma Day’. As the day signifies the preaching of Buddha’s first discourse after his Enlightenment, Bro. Tan led devotees in reciting the famous ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’.
Read moreReport by Muditā | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
The Āsālha full-moon day fell on Friday, 11 July this year. This special day commemorates the anniversaries of the Bodhisatta’s Conception, His Great Renunciation and the Buddha’s preaching of the first sermon – the ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’ (Discourse on ‘Turning the Wheel of Dhamma’). It was also on this day, too, that the Sangha was established and the ‘Three Refuges’ complete.
Read moreReport by Yee Sook Fen | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Wednesday 9 July, Nalanda Centre was again filled with devotees eager to learn and practice Dhamma. In his Dhamma talk, Bro. Tan shared some practical and beneficial tips on how to deal with disappointments. In our daily life, it is not uncommon to encounter disappointments of varying degrees, which constantly disturb our mental serenity. To deal with it, Bro. Tan shared that we need to put ‘problems’ in the proper perspective, and thus gradually developing ‘Right View’.
Read moreReport by Thong Fee Shen | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Sunday 6 July, Bro. Tan gave an uplifting Dhamma teaching quoting a discourse in the Anguttara Nikāya, whereby the Buddha described 4 kinds of good practitioners using the ‘simile of thoroughbreds’. They are (1) one who upon hearing about the pain or death of a man or woman, realises that the same could happen to him, and thus stirred to cultivate; (2) one who sees before his eyes a man or woman in pain or dead, and feels the urgency to cultivate; (3) one whose family members, closed friends or loved ones are in pain or dead, and he feels the urgency to cultivate; and (4) one who experiences pain himself, and feels the urgency to cultivate. Read more
This year’s 7-week long Gimhāna Period Retreat, which began on 28 May, came to a wonderful and inspiring close last night. Over the weeks, more than 200 devotees packed Nalanda Centre especially on Wednesdays and weekends for meditation, chanting, and community service.
Read moreTonight marks the last session of the 8-week meditation course under the guidance of Bro Tan. It also marks the end of this year’s inspiring ‘Gimhāna Retreat’. We would like to invite everyone to Nalanda Centre at 8.00pm tonight to join us in meditation and for the Dhamma teaching by Bro Tan. All are welcome!
Read moreReport by Gan Bee Ching | Photographs by Gan Jia Cheng
On Wednesday 2 July, devotees rejoiced in a meditation session and Dhamma teaching by Bro Tan. As the day commemorates the anniversary of his late teacher’s renunciation, Bro. Tan dedicated that evening’s teachings on ‘dutiful conduct’ to him.
Read moreOn Sunday 29 June, devotees continued the ‘Gimhana Retreat’ with more learning at Nalanda Centre. Sis. Sunanda Ong gave a lively and interactive Dhamma sharing where she encouraged everyone to cultivate a ‘good mind’ daily in order to have calmness and peace.
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