Ayyā Soma is cofounder, with Bhante (Ayya) Suddhāso, of Empty Cloud Monastery in New Jersey (USA). Ayyā Soma grew up in Italy and moved to New York for her career. While she had encountered the Buddha’s teachings previously, meeting Bhante Suddhāso became a turning point. As a lay woman, she helped start Buddhist Insights in …
Posted: September 2, 2025 by Alliance Bhikkhunis
15th International Bhikkhuni Day
15th Annual International Bhikkhuni Day September 6/7, 2025, Full Moon of September Celebrating the 2609th Anniversary of the Founding of the Bhikkhuni Sangha Theme: Walking in the Footsteps of the Bhikkhuni Arahants The full moon of September is recalled as the ordination day of Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī Therī & the Courageous 500 Founding Mothers of the …
Posted: June 2, 2025 by Alliance Bhikkhunis
Bhikkhuni Dhammananda: A Lesson on Forgiveness
Author Cindy Rasicot writes, “I have been blessed in this life to have a wise and loving Thai Theravada teacher. Bhikkhuni Dhammananda Mahatheri defied convention to become the first woman fully ordained in the Thai Theravada Buddhist tradition. In the twenty years since I have known Venerable Dhammananda, she has taught me everything I know …
Posted: May 11, 2024 by Alliance Bhikkhunis
Interview with Ayya Soma
Ayyā Soma is cofounder, with Bhante (Ayya) Suddhāso, of Empty Cloud Monastery in New Jersey (USA). Ayyā Soma grew up in Italy and moved to New York for her career. While she had encountered the Buddha’s teachings previously, meeting Bhante Suddhāso became a turning point. As a lay woman, she helped start Buddhist Insights in …