A
full Bhikkhuni Sangha will again come together for Vassa 2012 at
Aranya Bodhi Hermitage, practicing close to nature, living very
simply, and carrying out the ancient monastic forms set forth by the
Buddha.
~
Vassa
is a traditional yearly retreat period when Buddhist monastics give
up wandering and practice in one place for three months. In order to
synchronize the lunar calendar and the solar calendar, 2012 has been
determined as a Buddhist “leap year” by Thai astrologers, which
means that our Vassa will be later than usual, from August 3rd
to October 30th.
~
Most
of our Bhikkhuni Sangha will also be on the land before Vassa, for
the long, pleasant days of May, June and July. We hope to make
these months a special time to share with our lay supporters and
friends. We will be welcoming visitors at the Aranya Bodhi Hermitage
on the Sonoma Coast; maintaining a presence at our in-town center,
the Bodhi House in Fremont; and teaching in both places.
~
Ayya
Tathaaloka Theri (left), will be dividing her time between Aranya
Bodhi Hermitage and the Bodhi House in Fremont. Ayya Sobhana
Bhikkhuni (right), will be on the land at our hermitage.
Ayya
Sudinna Theri, who participated in our first Bhikkhuni Sangha Camping
Retreat four years ago and led at Dhammadharini Vihara
while Ayya Tathaaloka was in India 5 years ago, will join the
Hermitage at the beginning of May and plans to stay through Vassa. What a
blessing it will be to have two theris with us!
~
Ven.
Suvijjana, member of the Dhammadharini women's monastic community
since 2006, will be continuing on at the Hermitage. Ayya
Anandabodhi Bhikkhuni (right) and Ayya Santacitta Bhikkhuni (left),
will be staying at the Aloka Vihara in San Francisco, and frequently
visiting the hermitage on Uposatha full moon and new moon days.
Ven.
Munissara Bhikkhuni (left) and Ven. Pasada Bhikkhuni (right) recently
ordained at Dhammasara Monastery in Australia under Ayya Tathaaloka's
auspices. Ven. Pasada hopes to be at the hermitage this Vassa and Ven Munissara for the 2013 Vassa.
Samaneri
Marajina, trained here on the land, plans to receive full bhikkhuni
ordination on May 6, and hopes to divide her time between the
hermitage and outside training. She will be at the hermitage for
Vassa.
Samaneri
Nibbida plans to receive full bhikkhuni ordination on May 6 returning on June 12 to Australia on June 12 to continue her training at Sanghamittarama.
Sayalay
Santacari (from Australia), trained with Ven. Ariya Ñani in Myanmar,
and is now with Ayya Upekkha Bhikkhuni at Sanghamitttarama,
Australia. She will be joining the Hermitage in June and staying
through Vassa. She aspires to going forth as a samaneri.
Our lay residents will include Upasika-to-be Margaret Darby, who served at the Dhammadharini Vihara in 2010, along with Geri Feldman and Sherene Smith. There is still room for another lay resident, particularly during May-June and September-October.
Our
friends around the world
The
renascent Theravada Bhikkhuni Sangha is still young, and we are
developing our communities, building traditions, and supporting
younger monastic women to establish
themselves and grow in the Dhamma.
We
rejoice in all the new bhikkhunis and samaneris obtaining ordination
this year, here at Aranya Bodhi, at the Dhammasara Monastery of
Australia, and at the Dharma Vijaya Temple in
Los Angeles. Every year they are more abundant, like the luxurious
crop of dandelions on our lower landing. And
we rejoice for those who trained with us over the past two years, now
riding the wind like dandelion seeds to far corners of our world.
- Amma Thanasanti Bhikkhuni at Awakening Truth, Colorado. http://awakeningtruth.org/
- Ven. Phalanyani Bhikkhuni at the Ekayana Magga Aranya, Sri Lanka. http://phalanyani.sirimangalo.org/
Ven. Adhimutta Bhikkhuni, creating a new community under care of the New Zealand Bhikkhuni Trust- Sister (soon to be Ven.) Nibbida, returning to Sanghamittarama, in Australia, where she will join with Ayya Upekkha Bhikkhuni (of Singapore) and Bhante Jaganatha in creation of a new Dual Sangha monastery. http://bsv.net.au/
A
net of friendship and sangha is gradually evolving, as the various
centers are established. We are particularly close to
these monastic women at other places who were ordained with Ayya
Tathaaloka as preceptor.
We
also share the special ties of friendship with our colleagues who
have frequently joined together in the ordaining sangha.
