The 15th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women will be held at the University of Hong Kong on June 22-28 2017. The Conference theme is “Contemporary Buddhist Women: Contemplation, Cultural Exchange & Social Action.”Proposals are now being accepted for panel presentations and workshops on topics related to the conference theme. All proposals (250-500 words in length) must be submitted by June 15, 2016.
More >>
Announcement of Successful Acquisition of Property for New Dhammadharini Monastery/Vihara
From Ayya Tathaaloka:
On behalf of the Board of Dhammadharini Support Foundation and the Monastics, I am pleased to announce the long-awaited news on our finalizing the purchase of a property suitable to be our permanent bhikkhuni monastery.
This property is located just south of Santa Rosa in the town of Penngrove at 6791 Sturtevant Drive, approximately three miles from our current, rented vihara on Grange Road. It is a single level home with large glass doors and windows allowing plenty of natural light, containing 3 spacious bedrooms with lofts, 5 additional rooms, 2 large living rooms (a future quiet meditation hall and a dana sala), situated on 1.33 acres of rural residential land, providing plenty of privacy and room and ambience for outdoor walking meditation.
More >>
April 3, 2016
Meditation Retreat with Ayya Sudhamma
Ayya Sudhamma will lead a half day meditation retreat at the nearby Great Woods Zen center on the 1st Sunday in April (April 3rd) 9 AM – 2:30 PM. This half-day retreat will mostly be outdoors, weather permitting. The center is nestled in 28 beautiful acres of woods out Hickory Grove Rd – a lovely oasis in the City.
The focus will be on “Feelings” (Vedana) as taught by the Buddha (which is the subject of the retreat she is co-leading at Southern Dharma Center this week).
For directions and all details, and to RSVP, please see: http://www.meetup.com/Meditate-with-Monk-Buddhism-in-Charlotte/events/229745622/
Vesakhā 2016 & Inauguration of the Meditation Hall at Karuṇā Sevena
Bhikkhuni Visuddhi and her Dhamma-friends started to lay the foundation for a small monastic dwelling in the Czech Republic back in 2009. Bhikkhunī Visuddhi eventually moved back from Sri Lanka to her land of birth in 2012. Since then, she has been settling back in Europe while trying to make the Buddha’s teachings available in the Czech Republic. Many – men, women, and lots of children – have come to bhikkhunī Visuddhi to study and practice the Dhamma and meditation. Her small bhikkhunī residence has soon become much too small to host friends and practitioners. Our bhikkhunī has been generously sharing her space and private facilities with many laywomen in order to allow them to stay and practice with her.
At long last, the attic of Karuṇā Sevena has now been transformed into a shrine room to host meditation groups. The construction of the meditation room is nearing completion. The rough structure of the shrine is done, as well as the windows. A roof is insulated and covered and is expected to be finished soon. Work started on the interior. If all goes well, it is anticipated that the completion would be just on time for the upcoming Vesakhā festival season.
A simple opening ceremony will be held on Sunday May 29th to celebrate the Vesakhā festival and bless the new space. Download the flyer for this event and a pdf with more information.
March 22, 2016
Publication of Christine Toomey’s New Book,
“In Search of Buddha’s Daughters”
Excerpt from Tricycle review:
Toomey paints vivid portraits of women who are emboldened in the face of gender discrimination, from the Jang Gonchoe festival at the Gelugpa nunnery Dolma Ling, where nuns have been engaging in the (previously male) art of debate since the mid-1990s, to the Redwoods of Aranya Bodhi, a Theravada hermitage in California where the American nun Ayya Tathaaloka is working with her fellow nuns to revive the tradition of bhikkhunis.
The Winter 2016 Issue of American Buddhist Women is Now Available Online
In this issue, American Buddhist Women presents a collection of essays of remembrance by those who knew Rita Gross (July 6, 1943 – November 11, 2015) longest and best, and perhaps appreciated her gifts the most.
Sakyadhita USA writes, “We are grief-stricken to have lost Rita, our irreplaceable friend and guide in Buddhist feminism. We are enormously grateful to the writers who so generously contributed their own remembrances about Rita to this issue.”
More >>
March, 2016
Announcing Anukampa Bhikkhuni Monastery Project in UK
In October 2015, Ajahn Brahm asked Venerable Candā of Dhammasara monastery Perth, to take steps towards establishing a monastery in the UK. In response to this, the Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project was born. The Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project aims to promote the teachings and practices of Early Buddhism, through establishing a Bhikkhuni presence in the UK.
The long term aspiration is to develop a monastery with a harmonious and meditative atmosphere, for women who wish to train towards full ordination.
AfB contributed $1000 towards a trip for Ayya Canda to come to the US to visit with Ayyas Anandabodhi and Santacitta. This trip was valuable for their advice on how to set up the monastery.
From Venerable Canda: Today our website, anukampaproject.org, is up and running! It is basic to begin with, until we have a bit more time to develop it. So far there are just two pages, explaining Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project’s aims, and posting Ajahn Brahm’s tour schedule.
May this project be a cause for Dhamma to spread in the West!
A YouTube video has been posted of Ajahn Brahm endorsing the Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project.
March, 2016
Printing of the Bhikkhunī Paṭimokkha Third Edition is Complete.
From Friends of Dhammadharini: The precepts of the Patimokkha are the discipline for Buddhist monastics. This third edition corrects the errors of previous editions, as well as adding useful information requested by many bhikkhunīs themselves in support of their knowledge and practice of Vinaya. The first and second editions in 2008 and 2009 were printed in smaller quantities for when the numbers of Theravada bhikkhunis in the world was less, but as the numbers of bhikkhunis increased, they quickly ran out.
Thanks to all generous donors, 1000 copies have now been printed and will be distributed to bhikkhunis around the world. The two hundred copies coming to Dhammadharini for distribution are being posted by sea-mail and should arrive in California around three months from now.
Please note: This is not the same thing as the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project for which support is still needed.
Ayya Tathaaloka explains the difference between this printing and the Vibhanga Project:
The Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project is much much larger, and involves retranslation of and multiple language comparison of the whole Vibhanga which is the entire Canonical Explication and Analysis of the Patimokkha. It is the second stage.
The first step is the third edition reprint of the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha booklet, in roman Pali and English, to be used for the bhikkhunis’ Patimokkha recitation on our fortnightly Uposatha observance. It is newly reedited, correcting previous errors which were noted over the past five years, and also contains an updated appendix of a few of the related procedures associated with the Uposatha observance and Patimokkha recitation, that have been requested by the bhikkhunis to be included. It is a small pocket book, containing very basic essential information.
This booklet is meant to “hold us over” for the next 5-10 years while the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project work is going on. When finally complete, the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project will auto-generate a new concordant edition of the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha.
The work with the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project is ongoing, and will take at least 5, if not 10, more years to complete.
Feb. 24 – Mar. 16, 2016
Ven. (Ayya) Tathaaloka Theri Teaching LIVE Online!
For the first time, Ayya Tathaaloka will offer live teaching online beginning this Lunar New Year.
Scholastic Institute Chokyi Gyaltsen University (SICGU) – the newly-founded International/USA branch of renowned Sera Je Buddhist Monastic University in Tibet and India – has invited Ayya T to offer a series of live teachings on the web.
For her first talk and Dhamma discussion on Wednesday, Feb 24th, Ayya will speak on a big topic in the USA and around the world at this time: “Moral Awakening.”
Read more on Facebook >>
February, 2016
Achie (Grandma) Satima’s visit to the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara
Achie (Grandma) Satima, an 80 year-old Theravada bhikkhuni, arrived at at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara from Colorado in early February, undeterred by a big snowstorm at the Denver airport. AfB paid for her airline ticket.
Achie will bless with her loving presence through the 1st of March.
Read about this and more news at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara here.
February 4, 2016
Report on the International Theravada bhikkhuni ordination
From thaibhikkhunis.org
I am reporting this on a happy note. The bhikkhunis in Thailand are ready to form the bhikkhuni chapter necessary for the ceremony. Ven.Bhikkhuni Dhammananda has completed 12 vassas and appointed to become the first Pavattini in Thailand. The appointment was given on Nov.29,2014 by Most Ven.Mahindavamsa, Maha Nayaka of Amarpura who came to act as Upajjhaya at the ordination given to 8 bhikkhunis in Thailand. The appointment was made in front of a chapter of 20 bhikkhus, Sri Lankan and Thai, and 12 bhikkhunis from Thailand,Vietnam,Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
More >>
February, 2016
Shakti Vihara News
Read this moving account of “The Unchosen Path of Illness and a Time of Transition” by Amma Thanasanti in their February Newsletter. Also in this newsletter is an account of the New Year’s Retreat by Ayya Dhammadhira. More >>
“Sometimes bitter practice yields very sweet fruit.”
– Ayya Thanasanti
January 15 – March 31, 2016
Winter Retreat at the Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery
The Aloka Vihara community is in annual Winter Retreat from January 15 – March 31, 2016. Amma Thanasanti will be joining for 3 weeks of solitary retreat in their yurt through Feburary 4th. You can offer meal dana during the nuns’ winter retreat. Read more >>
New Issue of American Buddhist Women, Sakyadhita USA
The new issue of American Buddhist Women, Sakyadhita USA’s electronic quarterly, is now online with the theme of “Inclusiveness and Opening the Path” Take a look! >>
Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony 2015 at Santi Forest Monastery
This year’s Kathina celebration together with the consecration of the beautiful marble Kwan Yin statue (donated by a Vietnamese supporter) were an outstanding success.
The Santi nuns’ community was joined by Bhikkhunis from Perth and New Zealand as well as Vietnamese Bhikkhunis and Bhikkhus from Sydney, and it was a wonderful sight to behold.
Watch the video of the ceremony
Sakyadhita USA Conference Coming in 2017
SUSA is gearing up to hold its first conference in Spring 2017. Please consider volunteering to be on one of the planning committees. This conference will take place on the west coast but the exact location is not yet determined. It will be a one-day conference with a panel of speakers and related workshops. More >>
New Meditation Huts at Mahapajapati Monastery
In mid-November, building will commence on three new structures on the Mahapajapati monastery grounds. These simple huts/kutis are designed to meet the needs of lay and monastic meditators who come to stay at the monastery. In conjunction with Ayya Gunasari and with the generous support of Dhammapali, a local builder has designed these huts to serve as dwellings for yogis who wish to deepen their practice in a monastic setting. We are hoping that they will be completed by February 2016. Your support is much appreciated.
More >>
To Donate, visit our projects page at https://www.bhikkhuni.net/projects-2/project-requests/#kutis
International Monastic Training/2016
Songdhammakalyani Bhikkhuni Arama and Buddhasavika Foundation organize an International Monastic Training every year. For 2016, the training is scheduled for 4 weeks in June. This is to allow the participants to return to keep the vassa in their home town. If you are Buddhist and interested in the training in a monastic setting, then you might be interested in joining. The participants attend classes on Buddhism, history of Buddhism, history of the bhikkhunis, important points on the Vinaya, and how the Vinaya is put into practice. More >>
News Archive 2016
April 3, 2016
Heartbreaking News From Thailand
From Saranaloka FaceBook:
This bhikkhuni monastery in Thailand received threats and an attempted night attack before being bombed on April 3. Thankfully the resident bhikkhuni, who has been an advocate of bhikkhuni ordination and women in Buddhism for many years, was not physically harmed. We are all shaken….
View this on the Saranaloka FB page >>
Call for Papers for the 15th Sakyadhita International Conference
The 15th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women will be held at the University of Hong Kong on June 22-28 2017. The Conference theme is “Contemporary Buddhist Women: Contemplation, Cultural Exchange & Social Action.”Proposals are now being accepted for panel presentations and workshops on topics related to the conference theme. All proposals (250-500 words in length) must be submitted by June 15, 2016.
More >>
Announcement of Successful Acquisition of Property for New Dhammadharini Monastery/Vihara
From Ayya Tathaaloka:
On behalf of the Board of Dhammadharini Support Foundation and the Monastics, I am pleased to announce the long-awaited news on our finalizing the purchase of a property suitable to be our permanent bhikkhuni monastery.
This property is located just south of Santa Rosa in the town of Penngrove at 6791 Sturtevant Drive, approximately three miles from our current, rented vihara on Grange Road. It is a single level home with large glass doors and windows allowing plenty of natural light, containing 3 spacious bedrooms with lofts, 5 additional rooms, 2 large living rooms (a future quiet meditation hall and a dana sala), situated on 1.33 acres of rural residential land, providing plenty of privacy and room and ambience for outdoor walking meditation.
More >>
April 3, 2016
Meditation Retreat with Ayya Sudhamma
The focus will be on “Feelings” (Vedana) as taught by the Buddha (which is the subject of the retreat she is co-leading at Southern Dharma Center this week).
For directions and all details, and to RSVP, please see: http://www.meetup.com/Meditate-with-Monk-Buddhism-in-Charlotte/events/229745622/
Vesakhā 2016 & Inauguration of the Meditation Hall at Karuṇā Sevena
At long last, the attic of Karuṇā Sevena has now been transformed into a shrine room to host meditation groups. The construction of the meditation room is nearing completion. The rough structure of the shrine is done, as well as the windows. A roof is insulated and covered and is expected to be finished soon. Work started on the interior. If all goes well, it is anticipated that the completion would be just on time for the upcoming Vesakhā festival season.
A simple opening ceremony will be held on Sunday May 29th to celebrate the Vesakhā festival and bless the new space. Download the flyer for this event and a pdf with more information.
March 22, 2016
Publication of Christine Toomey’s New Book,
“In Search of Buddha’s Daughters”
Excerpt from Tricycle review:
Toomey paints vivid portraits of women who are emboldened in the face of gender discrimination, from the Jang Gonchoe festival at the Gelugpa nunnery Dolma Ling, where nuns have been engaging in the (previously male) art of debate since the mid-1990s, to the Redwoods of Aranya Bodhi, a Theravada hermitage in California where the American nun Ayya Tathaaloka is working with her fellow nuns to revive the tradition of bhikkhunis.
The Winter 2016 Issue of American Buddhist Women is Now Available Online
Sakyadhita USA writes, “We are grief-stricken to have lost Rita, our irreplaceable friend and guide in Buddhist feminism. We are enormously grateful to the writers who so generously contributed their own remembrances about Rita to this issue.”
More >>
March, 2016
Announcing Anukampa Bhikkhuni Monastery Project in UK
The long term aspiration is to develop a monastery with a harmonious and meditative atmosphere, for women who wish to train towards full ordination.
AfB contributed $1000 towards a trip for Ayya Canda to come to the US to visit with Ayyas Anandabodhi and Santacitta. This trip was valuable for their advice on how to set up the monastery.
From Venerable Canda: Today our website, anukampaproject.org, is up and running! It is basic to begin with, until we have a bit more time to develop it. So far there are just two pages, explaining Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project’s aims, and posting Ajahn Brahm’s tour schedule.
May this project be a cause for Dhamma to spread in the West!
A YouTube video has been posted of Ajahn Brahm endorsing the Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project.
March, 2016
Printing of the Bhikkhunī Paṭimokkha Third Edition is Complete.
Thanks to all generous donors, 1000 copies have now been printed and will be distributed to bhikkhunis around the world. The two hundred copies coming to Dhammadharini for distribution are being posted by sea-mail and should arrive in California around three months from now.
Please note: This is not the same thing as the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project for which support is still needed.
Ayya Tathaaloka explains the difference between this printing and the Vibhanga Project:
The Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project is much much larger, and involves retranslation of and multiple language comparison of the whole Vibhanga which is the entire Canonical Explication and Analysis of the Patimokkha. It is the second stage.
The first step is the third edition reprint of the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha booklet, in roman Pali and English, to be used for the bhikkhunis’ Patimokkha recitation on our fortnightly Uposatha observance. It is newly reedited, correcting previous errors which were noted over the past five years, and also contains an updated appendix of a few of the related procedures associated with the Uposatha observance and Patimokkha recitation, that have been requested by the bhikkhunis to be included. It is a small pocket book, containing very basic essential information.
This booklet is meant to “hold us over” for the next 5-10 years while the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project work is going on. When finally complete, the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project will auto-generate a new concordant edition of the Bhikkhuni Patimokkha.
The work with the Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project is ongoing, and will take at least 5, if not 10, more years to complete.
Feb. 24 – Mar. 16, 2016
Ven. (Ayya) Tathaaloka Theri Teaching LIVE Online!
Scholastic Institute Chokyi Gyaltsen University (SICGU) – the newly-founded International/USA branch of renowned Sera Je Buddhist Monastic University in Tibet and India – has invited Ayya T to offer a series of live teachings on the web.
For her first talk and Dhamma discussion on Wednesday, Feb 24th, Ayya will speak on a big topic in the USA and around the world at this time: “Moral Awakening.”
Read more on Facebook >>
February, 2016
Achie (Grandma) Satima’s visit to the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara
Achie (Grandma) Satima, an 80 year-old Theravada bhikkhuni, arrived at at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara from Colorado in early February, undeterred by a big snowstorm at the Denver airport. AfB paid for her airline ticket.
Achie will bless with her loving presence through the 1st of March.
Read about this and more news at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara here.
February 4, 2016
Report on the International Theravada bhikkhuni ordination
From thaibhikkhunis.org
I am reporting this on a happy note. The bhikkhunis in Thailand are ready to form the bhikkhuni chapter necessary for the ceremony. Ven.Bhikkhuni Dhammananda has completed 12 vassas and appointed to become the first Pavattini in Thailand. The appointment was given on Nov.29,2014 by Most Ven.Mahindavamsa, Maha Nayaka of Amarpura who came to act as Upajjhaya at the ordination given to 8 bhikkhunis in Thailand. The appointment was made in front of a chapter of 20 bhikkhus, Sri Lankan and Thai, and 12 bhikkhunis from Thailand,Vietnam,Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
More >>
February, 2016
Shakti Vihara News
January 15 – March 31, 2016
Winter Retreat at the Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery
The Aloka Vihara community is in annual Winter Retreat from January 15 – March 31, 2016. Amma Thanasanti will be joining for 3 weeks of solitary retreat in their yurt through Feburary 4th. You can offer meal dana during the nuns’ winter retreat. Read more >>
New Issue of American Buddhist Women, Sakyadhita USA
Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony 2015 at Santi Forest Monastery
This year’s Kathina celebration together with the consecration of the beautiful marble Kwan Yin statue (donated by a Vietnamese supporter) were an outstanding success.
The Santi nuns’ community was joined by Bhikkhunis from Perth and New Zealand as well as Vietnamese Bhikkhunis and Bhikkhus from Sydney, and it was a wonderful sight to behold.
Watch the video of the ceremony
Sakyadhita USA Conference Coming in 2017
SUSA is gearing up to hold its first conference in Spring 2017. Please consider volunteering to be on one of the planning committees. This conference will take place on the west coast but the exact location is not yet determined. It will be a one-day conference with a panel of speakers and related workshops. More >>
New Meditation Huts at Mahapajapati Monastery
In mid-November, building will commence on three new structures on the Mahapajapati monastery grounds. These simple huts/kutis are designed to meet the needs of lay and monastic meditators who come to stay at the monastery. In conjunction with Ayya Gunasari and with the generous support of Dhammapali, a local builder has designed these huts to serve as dwellings for yogis who wish to deepen their practice in a monastic setting. We are hoping that they will be completed by February 2016. Your support is much appreciated.
More >>
To Donate, visit our projects page at https://www.bhikkhuni.net/projects-2/project-requests/#kutis
International Monastic Training/2016
Songdhammakalyani Bhikkhuni Arama and Buddhasavika Foundation organize an International Monastic Training every year. For 2016, the training is scheduled for 4 weeks in June. This is to allow the participants to return to keep the vassa in their home town. If you are Buddhist and interested in the training in a monastic setting, then you might be interested in joining. The participants attend classes on Buddhism, history of Buddhism, history of the bhikkhunis, important points on the Vinaya, and how the Vinaya is put into practice. More >>
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