Pertaining to the annual Nalandian Gimhana Retreat. Any report, news or notice concerning this programme should be tagged.
On Wednesday 15 June, at the weekly group practice, Sis. Buddhinī shared with new participants the basics of meditation. She explained the purpose of meditation, important factors to consider, the different meditation postures, and led participants through a sitting session.
Read moreOn Sunday, 12 June, Bro. Tan gave a Dhamma talk which re-energised our spiritual learning and practice, after the busy Wesak Buddha Day period. He reminded us that we needed to grow with wisdom after years of learning the Dhamma. Wisdom helps us to be more humane, kind and considerate.
Read moreSunday 5 June marked the beginning of the annual 7-week Gimhāna (Summer) Retreat, organised by Nalanda for the fifth consecutive year. This year’s retreat spans from 5 June to 20 July. Director of Nalanda Institute, Achariya Tan Siang Chye, heralded an uplifting start to the retreat by giving a talk on the Buddha as a ‘unique Teacher’, and also his ‘incomparable Teachings’.
Read moreBeginning Sunday, Nalanda will observe its 4th ‘Gimhāna Retreat’ lasting 7 weeks – from 17 May to 1 July. The Annual ‘Gimhāna Retreat’ focuses on one’s spiritual growth and personal transformation effected through the Dhamma. During this period, everyone is encouraged to commit to progressive Dhamma learning and deeper spiritual cultivation.
Read moreFor 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