Brazil is a very new country when it comes to the teachings of the Buddha. To spread the Dhamma in Brazil is not easy. There are no communities of Lao, Thai, Burmese or Sinhalese descend, people usually associated to Theravada Buddhism. It means no initial support, financial or motivational, no Bhikkhu Sangha, no specialized literature in Portuguese language, no support whatsoever from associations or groups from outside.
Buddhist literature in Portuguese language is almost non-existent, or for that matter Dhamma literature as a whole. To close this gap, Nalanda has started to add writings and translations into their publication work. Through Nalanda Editions, names like Maha Ghosananda, Ajahn Buddhadasa, Rewata Dhamma Sayadaw, Ajahn Chah, Upasika Kee Nanayon, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Ajahn Sumedho and many others are now available for Portuguese speaking people.
The Nalanda's webpage is an important media for its outreach work. The site was one of the first multi service sites to appear in Brazilian virtual space. It does not only give information about the center and its activities, but provides a number of services to the visiting public.
In early 1998, Nalanda created Buddhismo-L, the first mailing list through the internet for the discussion of Buddhism in Portuguese language, which has become the major open email-based forum for discussion about Buddhism in Brazil. The forum have enabled beginners and experienced practitioners coming from all Buddhist schools to get together, exchange ideas and get their questions answered.
Through the mailing list many friendships were established among members living in distant places in Brazil, located away from Buddhist centers. Interested Buddhists from Portugal, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and other countries - whether Spanish or Portuguese speaking - are also counted as its members.
In 1999 Nalanda established Nalandarama Retreat Center, the first Theravada center in South America exclusively dedicated to intensive meditation retreats in the forest tradition. Since then it has hosted a number of retreats, courses and community oriented events, with local and international teachers, lay and monks alike. For the first time, Brazilians were able to experience longer retreats and receive guidance and teachings from renowned teachers. All international Theravada activity which have taken place in Brazil in the last seventeen years began from Nalanda's initiative.
In Nalanda's true spirit of fostering friendship and understanding among the various traditions, Nalanda in Brazil is one of the few Buddhist centers that actively opened its doors to other Buddhist schools besides its own.
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To further the efforts of Nalanda Theravada Buddhist Community of Brazil, it has been included as one of the recipient of the Bodhi Mandala grant.