The NakhonpathomRajabhat University, Nakhonpathom, Thailand is hosting the 1st ASEAN Buddhist Conference on ASEAN Buddhists: Beyond 26th Buddhist Century to be held at Nakhonpathom(a suburb of Bangkok) during September 22-23,2016.
The First ABC (ASEAN Buddhist Conference) aims at addressing the issues which are very central to Buddhism, its relativity and relevance in the contemporary world scenario while at the same time, safeguarding both its present and future.
The organizing committee takes pride also in celebrating the completion of the 6th cycle of the Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Dhammananda (Asso. Prof. Dr Chatsumarn Kabilsingh) whose contribution as a monastic practitioner has paved way for many Buddhist women, enabling them to earn a respectful position in Theravadin society. More >>
Thailand’s Rebel Buddhist Nun
Read this new article on Venerable Dhammananda in the OZY magazine.
Sitting in the lotus position in a quiet meditation room, surrounded by young women wearing saffron robes, 71-year-old Chatsumarn Kabilsingh doesn’t look like much of a rabble-rouser. But according to Thai authorities, she is a dangerous dissident.More >>
July 16 & 17, 2016
Friends & Supporters Welcome to Opening Blessings of New Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni Monastery
Warm greetings of mettā for the Chinese Lunar New Year. I have emerged from my period of secluded winter retreat a few days ago, refreshed and most grateful and appreciative for the excellence of this opportunity in this life.
I have some important news to share with you. Many of you know me as something of a historian or “her-storian” of our Bhikkhunī Sangha. This is historical – in our lifetimes.
This coming year, from the 2016 September full moon to the 2017 September full moon, is the 2600-year Anniversary of our worldwide Bhikkhunī Sangha.
This is according to Theravāda/Pāli-text tradition counting, including three factors: (1) the Thai Theravāda Buddhist Era calendar, together with(2) the traditional Sri Lankan Theravāda commemorative date of Bhikkhunī Sangha’s founding (Nikini Poya/September full moon), plus(3) the year of founding of Bhikkhuni Sangha found in the Pali-text Canonical Khuddaka Nikāya Therī Apadāna, five years after the founding of the Bhikkhu Sangha.
The yearlong period of observance/celebration is for two reasons:
1. the auspiciousness and greatness of the occasion
2. to be inclusive of both Chinese/East Asian and Western anniversary counting methods, as well as small variances in South and Southeast Asian Buddhist dating.
Here in North American, in celebration, we hope to offer several commemorative events: two bhikkhunīs’ Dhamma Dana book publications, one or two commemorative bhikkhunī art series, and hopefully the establishement of the first two or three “permanent” bhikkhunī monasteries’ sīmās. (Let me know if you have any special ideas, or anything special you would like to offer.)
And, a second very important and related matter:
All those bhikkhunis who received the bhikkhunī upasampadā full ordination in 1996, 1997 and Feb 1998 will also have entered or completed their 20th Vassa during this time, and become Mahātherīs. (That includes this letter writer.)
Our Theravada bhikkhunīs’ tradition will no longer be bereft of therīs and mahātherīs anymore. This is a wonderful thing for us.
I hope our Dhammadharini, Saranaloka, the Alliance for Bhikkhunis, our North American Bhikkhuni Association, the Asian Bhikkhuni Association, Sakyadhita International, and all the other support foundations and associations, together with all our bhikkhunis, samaneris, nuns and supporters–and together with our venerable bhikkhu brothers and teachers–will be able to join in the observance and celebration in so many wonderful ways. We have certainly made very significant progress with regards to Women in Buddhism and Bhikkhuni Sangha in the past 100 years.
With very best wishes and lovingkindness to all,
in the Path,
Tathālokā Therī
June, 2016
Inauguration of New Hall at Karuṇā Sevena
At long last, the attic of at Karuṇā Sevena in the Czech Republic has been transformed into a shrine room to host meditation groups.
The inauguration occurred during Visakha 2016.
More support is needed and you can contribute here. View description of the event by President of Karuṇā Sevena,
Ing. Ivona Mollberg, MBA
From Rinchen Khando Choegyal
Founder and Director, Tibetan Nuns Project
On behalf of the Tibetan Nuns Project and the over 700 nuns that we support in India and Nepal, it gives me great pleasure to announce that this year there will be a formal ceremony to mark the graduation of the first ever Tibetan Geshemas.
The event is scheduled to take place in Dharamsala on October 3 in a function at Thekchen Choling, main temple in Dharamsala. We are extremely grateful to the Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Exile Administration, which is graciously organizing the function. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will personally bestow the degrees on the nuns who have earned them.
This event marks a very important milestone in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and in the education and empowerment of Tibetan Buddhist nuns. For the first time ever, Tibetan nuns will receive the Geshema degree, equivalent to a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhism.
The opening up of this opportunity for nuns would not have been possible without the unwavering support and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and from the Tibetan Department of Religion and Culture, and from high lamas and teachers.
The 20 degree candidates have just completed the final round of examinations at Geden Choeling Nunnery in Dharamsala, and test results will be released in early July. The Geshema examination process is a rigorous one that takes place over four years and is the culmination of the nuns’ 17-year course of study.
Attaining the Geshema degree will mark a turning point for the nuns. The degrees will make them eligible to assume various leadership roles in the monastic and lay communities reserved for degree holders and hence previously not possible for women to attain.
The nuns’ achievements are all the more remarkable because some of the women sitting the doctoral exams were totally illiterate when they escaped from Tibet. Some could not even write their own names.
We are extremely grateful to our supporters around the world for your compassion for the nuns and your generosity. This dedication from our global family of supporters has made it possible for the nuns to fulfill long-held aspirations that at one time seemed only dreams.
More information will be posted on our website as plans develop.
May 20, 2016
Update on Flooding Disaster in Sri Lanka
From Ayya Tathaaloka:
The Sakyadhita (Ayya Khema) Bhikkhuni Meditation & Training Center, the location of the recent international bhikkhuni ordinations, is in the Colombo area of Sri Lanka, where the flooding disaster is occurring. Several other bhikkhuni centers are also located in this area. In the past three days there have been around 36 inches of rain, very severe mountain mudslides destroying 200 mountain village families and severe flooding in the valley of Colombo below, with several hundred thousand evacuees and numerous lives lost.
Update from Bhikkhuni Suvimalee in Sri Lanka:
Our bhikkhunis seem to be okay. The Sakyadhita Centre in Moratuwa near Colombo is safe from what I hear. It is a different river that has flooded – the Keleni river and not the river near the Bolgoda lake on the banks of which Sakhyadhita Centre is situated.
Our Head Nun, Ven. Badalgama Dhammanandani (of Visakharamaya, Galgamuva, Veyangoda) went with some other nuns and a few dayikas to Aranayaka in the mountainous area of Kegalle where there were three villages which were destroyed completely by a horrendous landslide. The villagers who escaped death are housed in the Aranayake temple hall. She went with provisions and 300 parcels of food for the night meal, many water bottles, provisions, etc., etc. The government is getting ready to build them new houses, presumably in another area for the scooped out hill is hovering over the destroyed villages as a warning of further land slides. It all results from the denudation of the hill sides, destruction of the forest cover. We have heard of the death of a monk but not bhikkhunis, so far.
From Ayya Tathaaloka:
There is concern as to the levies and the Vesaka full moon high tides. Please do send your very best wishes for everyone’s safety and well-being, and if you know any blessing chants or Parittas, please do share and dedicate them to support those in disaster and those who are giving aid.
Mahapajapati Monastery in Pioneertown, CA is growing! Two new meditation kutis, as well as a bathhouse with a shower and toilets have now been built at the monastery. With the additional space for residents and guests, three new long-term residents moved to the monastery: Sayalay Kawsala, originally from South Korea, but most recently from New Jersey; Anagarika Martha, from New Mexico, via Dhammadharini Vihara; and Talia, from North Carolina. This August, Sayalay Kawsala and Anagarika Martha will take ordination as samaneris (novices), and Talia will ordain as an anagarika (postulant).
From Ayya Gunasari, Abbess and Spiritual Director:
Mahapajapati Monastery is growing, and I hope to help it continue to develop as a thriving place for bhikkhunis and lay guests. We now have a total of four meditation kutis and a trailer for individual practice, as well as a library that meets our needs for study. Most importantly, we have a harmonious group of residents, which makes continued growth inevitable. We hope to be able to build two more kutis and a large extension to the main monastery building for meditation and for additional space for visiting yogis. The residents can rotate times of intensive retreat and study, and as the community matures, more of us will be available to share our Dhamma knowledge with lay followers. With all of these things happening at Mahapajapati Monastery, will it surprise you that I can envision future generations of wonderful bhikkhunis here?
Ayya Sudhamma Delivered Speech at the 2016 Interfaith Climate Statement at the UN in NY
On April 18th, at the Church Center for the UN, Ambassador Mogens Lykketoft, President of the UN General Assembly took delivery of the Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders signed by 270 high-level religious leaders, 4970 individuals and 176 religious groups from around the world
Ayya Sudhamma delivered a speech at this time and participated in the handing over of the Statement to World Leaders.
Amma Thanasanti Bhikkhuni and Sharon Beckkman-Brindley lead a Vipassana/Insight Dialogue meditation retreat on dependent co-arising at Dhamma Dena in the Mojave Desert of California.
News Archive 2016
September 22 – 23, 2016
1st ASEAN Buddhist Conference
The First ABC (ASEAN Buddhist Conference) aims at addressing the issues which are very central to Buddhism, its relativity and relevance in the contemporary world scenario while at the same time, safeguarding both its present and future.
The organizing committee takes pride also in celebrating the completion of the 6th cycle of the Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Dhammananda (Asso. Prof. Dr Chatsumarn Kabilsingh) whose contribution as a monastic practitioner has paved way for many Buddhist women, enabling them to earn a respectful position in Theravadin society. More >>
Thailand’s Rebel Buddhist Nun
Read this new article on Venerable Dhammananda in the OZY magazine.
July 16 & 17, 2016
Friends & Supporters Welcome to Opening Blessings of New Dhammadharini Bhikkhuni Monastery
View the invitation/program.
Sept 2016 – Sep 2017
2600 Year Anniversary of the Worldwide Bhikkhuni Sangha
Letter from Aaya Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni:
All dear Venerables and Dhamma Friends,
Warm greetings of mettā for the Chinese Lunar New Year. I have emerged from my period of secluded winter retreat a few days ago, refreshed and most grateful and appreciative for the excellence of this opportunity in this life.
I have some important news to share with you. Many of you know me as something of a historian or “her-storian” of our Bhikkhunī Sangha. This is historical – in our lifetimes.
This coming year, from the 2016 September full moon to the 2017 September full moon, is the 2600-year Anniversary of our worldwide Bhikkhunī Sangha.
This is according to Theravāda/Pāli-text tradition counting, including three factors: (1) the Thai Theravāda Buddhist Era calendar, together with(2) the traditional Sri Lankan Theravāda commemorative date of Bhikkhunī Sangha’s founding (Nikini Poya/September full moon), plus(3) the year of founding of Bhikkhuni Sangha found in the Pali-text Canonical Khuddaka Nikāya Therī Apadāna, five years after the founding of the Bhikkhu Sangha.
The yearlong period of observance/celebration is for two reasons:
1. the auspiciousness and greatness of the occasion
2. to be inclusive of both Chinese/East Asian and Western anniversary counting methods, as well as small variances in South and Southeast Asian Buddhist dating.
Here in North American, in celebration, we hope to offer several commemorative events: two bhikkhunīs’ Dhamma Dana book publications, one or two commemorative bhikkhunī art series, and hopefully the establishement of the first two or three “permanent” bhikkhunī monasteries’ sīmās. (Let me know if you have any special ideas, or anything special you would like to offer.)
And, a second very important and related matter:
All those bhikkhunis who received the bhikkhunī upasampadā full ordination in 1996, 1997 and Feb 1998 will also have entered or completed their 20th Vassa during this time, and become Mahātherīs. (That includes this letter writer.)
Our Theravada bhikkhunīs’ tradition will no longer be bereft of therīs and mahātherīs anymore. This is a wonderful thing for us.
I hope our Dhammadharini, Saranaloka, the Alliance for Bhikkhunis, our North American Bhikkhuni Association, the Asian Bhikkhuni Association, Sakyadhita International, and all the other support foundations and associations, together with all our bhikkhunis, samaneris, nuns and supporters–and together with our venerable bhikkhu brothers and teachers–will be able to join in the observance and celebration in so many wonderful ways. We have certainly made very significant progress with regards to Women in Buddhism and Bhikkhuni Sangha in the past 100 years.
With very best wishes and lovingkindness to all,
in the Path,
Tathālokā Therī
June, 2016
Inauguration of New Hall at Karuṇā Sevena
At long last, the attic of at Karuṇā Sevena in the Czech Republic has been transformed into a shrine room to host meditation groups.
The inauguration occurred during Visakha 2016.
More support is needed and you can contribute here.
View description of the event by President of Karuṇā Sevena,
Ing. Ivona Mollberg, MBA
View photos of the event.
May 25, 2016
Tibetan nuns to Receive the Geshema Degree
From Rinchen Khando Choegyal
Founder and Director, Tibetan Nuns Project
On behalf of the Tibetan Nuns Project and the over 700 nuns that we support in India and Nepal, it gives me great pleasure to announce that this year there will be a formal ceremony to mark the graduation of the first ever Tibetan Geshemas.
The event is scheduled to take place in Dharamsala on October 3 in a function at Thekchen Choling, main temple in Dharamsala. We are extremely grateful to the Department of Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Exile Administration, which is graciously organizing the function. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will personally bestow the degrees on the nuns who have earned them.
This event marks a very important milestone in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and in the education and empowerment of Tibetan Buddhist nuns. For the first time ever, Tibetan nuns will receive the Geshema degree, equivalent to a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhism.
The opening up of this opportunity for nuns would not have been possible without the unwavering support and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and from the Tibetan Department of Religion and Culture, and from high lamas and teachers.
The 20 degree candidates have just completed the final round of examinations at Geden Choeling Nunnery in Dharamsala, and test results will be released in early July. The Geshema examination process is a rigorous one that takes place over four years and is the culmination of the nuns’ 17-year course of study.
Attaining the Geshema degree will mark a turning point for the nuns. The degrees will make them eligible to assume various leadership roles in the monastic and lay communities reserved for degree holders and hence previously not possible for women to attain.
The nuns’ achievements are all the more remarkable because some of the women sitting the doctoral exams were totally illiterate when they escaped from Tibet. Some could not even write their own names.
We are extremely grateful to our supporters around the world for your compassion for the nuns and your generosity. This dedication from our global family of supporters has made it possible for the nuns to fulfill long-held aspirations that at one time seemed only dreams.
More information will be posted on our website as plans develop.
May 20, 2016
Update on Flooding Disaster in Sri Lanka
From Ayya Tathaaloka:
The Sakyadhita (Ayya Khema) Bhikkhuni Meditation & Training Center, the location of the recent international bhikkhuni ordinations, is in the Colombo area of Sri Lanka, where the flooding disaster is occurring. Several other bhikkhuni centers are also located in this area. In the past three days there have been around 36 inches of rain, very severe mountain mudslides destroying 200 mountain village families and severe flooding in the valley of Colombo below, with several hundred thousand evacuees and numerous lives lost.
Update from Bhikkhuni Suvimalee in Sri Lanka:
Our bhikkhunis seem to be okay. The Sakyadhita Centre in Moratuwa near Colombo is safe from what I hear. It is a different river that has flooded – the Keleni river and not the river near the Bolgoda lake on the banks of which Sakhyadhita Centre is situated.
Our Head Nun, Ven. Badalgama Dhammanandani (of Visakharamaya, Galgamuva, Veyangoda) went with some other nuns and a few dayikas to Aranayaka in the mountainous area of Kegalle where there were three villages which were destroyed completely by a horrendous landslide. The villagers who escaped death are housed in the Aranayake temple hall. She went with provisions and 300 parcels of food for the night meal, many water bottles, provisions, etc., etc. The government is getting ready to build them new houses, presumably in another area for the scooped out hill is hovering over the destroyed villages as a warning of further land slides. It all results from the denudation of the hill sides, destruction of the forest cover. We have heard of the death of a monk but not bhikkhunis, so far.
From Ayya Tathaaloka:
There is concern as to the levies and the Vesaka full moon high tides. Please do send your very best wishes for everyone’s safety and well-being, and if you know any blessing chants or Parittas, please do share and dedicate them to support those in disaster and those who are giving aid.
More photos >>
May, 2016
Mahapajapati Monastery is Growing!
Mahapajapati Monastery in Pioneertown, CA is growing! Two new meditation kutis, as well as a bathhouse with a shower and toilets have now been built at the monastery. With the additional space for residents and guests, three new long-term residents moved to the monastery: Sayalay Kawsala, originally from South Korea, but most recently from New Jersey; Anagarika Martha, from New Mexico, via Dhammadharini Vihara; and Talia, from North Carolina. This August, Sayalay Kawsala and Anagarika Martha will take ordination as samaneris (novices), and Talia will ordain as an anagarika (postulant).
Mahapajapati Monastery is growing, and I hope to help it continue to develop as a thriving place for bhikkhunis and lay guests. We now have a total of four meditation kutis and a trailer for individual practice, as well as a library that meets our needs for study. Most importantly, we have a harmonious group of residents, which makes continued growth inevitable. We hope to be able to build two more kutis and a large extension to the main monastery building for meditation and for additional space for visiting yogis. The residents can rotate times of intensive retreat and study, and as the community matures, more of us will be available to share our Dhamma knowledge with lay followers. With all of these things happening at Mahapajapati Monastery, will it surprise you that I can envision future generations of wonderful bhikkhunis here?
Take a look at their new website and Facebook page.
April 18, 2016
Ayya Sudhamma Delivered Speech at the 2016 Interfaith Climate Statement at the UN in NY
On April 18th, at the Church Center for the UN, Ambassador Mogens Lykketoft, President of the UN General Assembly took delivery of the Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders signed by 270 high-level religious leaders, 4970 individuals and 176 religious groups from around the world
Ayya Sudhamma delivered a speech at this time and participated in the handing over of the Statement to World Leaders.
More >>
May 27 – June 2, 2016
Breaking the Cycle of Suffering
Download the flyer >>
Upcoming
June 22 to 28, 2017
15th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women
The conference in 2017 will be held in Hong Kong with the theme, “Contemporary Buddhist Women:
Contemplation, Cultural Exchange & Social Action”
More >>
April 11, 2016
Aloka Vihara certified as Wildlife Habitat
The Saranaloka Foundation is proud to announce that Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery has been certified as a Wildlife Habitat.
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