Mission

Founded in 2007, the Alliance for Bhikkhunis is a US-based 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization committed to supporting fully ordained Theravada Buddhist women (bhikkhunis). Our focus is to support and protect the development of the international Bhikkhuni Sangha through education, sustainable economic empowerment, provisioning of health care, and organizing and mobilizing for a gender-balanced approach to Theravada monasticism.

 

What We Do

  • We educate lay practitioners about the essential role bhikkhunis play in protecting and spreading the Dhamma.
  • We raise funds to support bhikkhunis as they assume leadership roles and develop skills that enable them to be of service to their communities, both practically and spiritually.
  • We uphold the indispensable role monasticism plays in preserving the Buddha’s teachings.

 

Mission Statement

  • Work diligently toward the establishment of a thriving Theravada bhikkhuni sangha in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Encourage the emergence of bhikkhuni Dhamma teachers and support them as they enter communities new to the Buddha’s teachings.
  • Develop community-based viharas which address the practical and spiritual needs of families and individuals, enabling lay practitioners to integrate the Dhamma into every facet of their life.

 

Actions to Achieve our Mission

  • Foster spiritual dialogue, teaching, and counseling between monastics and the lay community.
  • Assist viharas and fourfold monasteries that are already in existence and donate funds for the development and construction of new temples and monastery.
  • Assist viharas and monasteries that are dedicated to training female monastics in preparation for full ordination.
  • Develop community-based viharas which instruct lay practitioners in the Dhamma and provide opportunities for practice. These viharas help educate children and adolescents on morality and skillful living, offer hospice care and other needed services to the ill and to aging populations, and provide services which enable lay practitioners to place the Dhamma at the center of their lives.

 

Current Activities

In 2012, funds are being allocated toward the following:

  • Ordination and monastic training-related expenses.
  • Paying medical and dental expenses, including contributing to health insurance costs for bhikkhunis.
  • Construction and maintenance costs of viharas and monasteries.
  • Paying transportation costs and related travel expenses to enable bhikkhunis to attend monastic conferences, teachings, retreats, and to undertake teaching tours.
  • Costs associated with Buddhist studies including purchasing books and computers for viharas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help celebrate and support Alliance for Bhikkhunis!
Alliance for Bhikkhunis allocates 93% of all donations to support and nourish the worldwide Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha. Your donations contribute to bhikkhuni ordination and training costs; bhikkhuni medical, dental and health insurance expenses; bhikkhuni travel costs to conferences and retreats; and to providing requisites, including books and computers, to bhikkhuni viharas.

We depend completely upon dana for funding, so deeply appreciate your financial support.

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Dhamma Talks by Ayya Khema
 Venerable Ayya Khema (1923-1997) was a Theravada Buddhist bhikkhuni ordained in Sri Lanka. Her teachings describe simple and effective meditation methods for development of calm and insight, for expanding feelings of loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity towards others, and for overcoming obstacles to practice. She also gives detailed and lucid instructions for the meditative absorptions (jhanas) which provide access to higher states of consciousness, the way the Buddha himself practiced.

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