19 November 2008

Successful Mission to Receive the Royal Gift of Tipitaka

Namo Buddhaya!

We are pleased to inform all our members, benefactors, devotees and friends of Nalanda that the mission to receive the Royal Gift of Tipitaka has returned from Bangkok successfully on 16 November 2008.

Nalanda Institute Malaysia was nominated by the World Tipitaka Council of Sri Lanka to receive the first complete set of Pāli Tipitaka in Roman Script of the Mahāsangīti Tipitaka Buddhavasse 2500 Edition. The Royal Gift was presented by the Dhamma Society of Thailand in memory of Her Late Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra, the eldest sister of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Director of Nalanda Institute, Bro.Tan Ho Soon, received the Royal Gift from H.E. the President of Thailand’s Constitutional Court (the highest judicial body in Thailand), in a special presentation at the Constitutional Court Room on 14 November 2008.

The Malaysian delegation comprised Bro. H.S.Tan, Patrons Mr. & Mrs.Tee Kian, and Mr.Vijaya Samarawickrama, Senior Lecturer at Nalanda Institute. The delegation was honoured with public and private receptions from 13 – 16 November, including ceremonies at the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority at the invitation of H.E. the Governor of Bangkok, at the Constitutional Court, and at the Dhurakij Pundit University. Bro. H.S.Tan was also honoured by an invitation to attend the Royal Cremation of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, presided by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and deepest appreciation to the Royal Family of Thailand, the Dhamma Society, the Constitutional Court, government agencies and private institutions in Thailand, as well as patrons, groups and individuals there who have given the highest honour and rendered great hospitality to the Malaysian delegation.

We would also like to thank the members of the delegation for representing the Malaysian Buddhist Community in general and Nalanda Institute in particular to receive the great gift of Tipitaka. A traditional, formal ceremony to celebrate the arrival of the Buddhavasse 2500 Pāli Tipitaka to Malaysia is planned for the later half of 2009.

We thank unreservedly all concerned Malaysian institutions, societies and individuals for your well-wishes, support and encouragement for the mission. We sincerely thank all our members and devotees who attended the Special Puja on 12 November Uposatha Day to invoke the blessings of the Three Jewels for the success of the mission. We share this tremendous joy and merits with all of you.

Anumodana!

With appreciation,
The Management Committee of Nalanda Buddhist Society, and
Nalanda Institute, Malaysia


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Bro. Tan giving an inspiring speech at
the World Tipitaka
Presentation Ceremony
at the Constitutional Court of Thailand.

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Appreciative statement by the Norwegian National Library
representative in the Constitutional Court Room.

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The prelude to the World Tipitaka Presentation Ceremony.

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Patrons and recipients and the World Tipitaka -
a royal gift in
memory of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana.

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The 40-volume Pali Tipitaka and the joyful Malaysian delegation.
From left: Bro.Tan, Mr. Tee, Mrs.Tee and Mr.Vijaya.

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Bro.Tan and other special guests at the
Royal Cremation Ceremony of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana.

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The sombre but majestic funeral procession.

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The Royal Cremation of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana was held
in a specially constructed pavillion at Sanam Luang, Bangkok.

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At the Royal Cremation Ceremony presided by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
From left: Bro.Tan, Chancellor Major Suradhaj Bunnag, the Norwegian representative,
and Dr.G.A.Somaratne, Secretary-General of the World Tipitaka Council.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Congratulation to Nalanda Buddhist Institute! It's the highest recognition by the Buddhist fraternity on the contribution of Nalanda Institute in nurturing the students to be good Buddhist and future leaders. I also watched the live coverage of the Royal Funeral and Cremation of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana on Thai Global Network. From: Saudi Arabia

Ajahn Balavuddho said...

Sadhu...Sadhu... Sadhu.......
These are the best words for all Nalanda family, keep moving and all the best...

From: Ven.Ajahn Balavuddho